Vocabulary Practice for Friday, December 21st test

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20557013/vocab%20II%20ii%20practice.notebook

How to write a thesis statement.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/117404273/Writing-a-Thesis-Statement



Writing a Thesis Statement

How to write a thematic statement

http://www.scribd.com/doc/117391445/How-to-Write-a-Thematic-Statement


How to Write a Thematic Statement

Links to shorter works you are using for your paper:

"Choices"  http://www.ctadams.com/nikkigiovanni1.html

"Nikki-Rosa"  http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177827

"Harlem"  http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175884

"The Lesson"  http://cai.ucdavis.edu/gender/thelesson.html

Paper Outline

Download at this site; or take a copy from the table.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/23373393/Worksheet-for-a-Five-Paragraph-Essay

A RAISIN IN THE SUN

Essay

          The works we’ve read this unit all explore the African-American experience in the 20^th century and the obstacles people have faced because of their race and/or culture.

          The speakers/characters in these works are trying to come to terms with events over which they have little or no control.

TASK:  Using A Raisin in the Sun and either “Choices,” “Nikki-Rosa,” “Harlem,” or “The Lesson," write a five paragraph essay analyzing a theme that you find in both works.

Possible thematic topics (you may choose something else, with permission):

·       Stereotyping and prejudice

·       Dreams and dreams deferred

·       The strength of family

·       Selling out

·       Dialect/Use of voice

·       Assimilation

·       Economic Exploitation

·       What it is to be male/female

·       Positive view of African-American culture

Follow the steps below:

1.    Choose a topic from the list above that you are interested in.

2.    Write a thematic statement that expresses what the authors are saying about that topic.  Turn in this statement by Wednesday at the end of class.

3.  All questions for A Raisin in the Sun must be complete by Friday.  That includes Act I, scene i, scene ii, Act II, scene i, ii, and iii, and Act III.  (If you read Fences, all questions must be done for that play).  You should have been doing these for homework last week, so if you're finished, turn them in Monday.

3.  By the end of class on Thursday, turn in a paper topic form that follows the outline below:

4.  If you still have time, start filling out the outline for your paper.

5.  Whatever you don't finish during class time, do for homework.

Paper Topic Form:

Area--What is your thematic statement?

Thesis--What is the claim or point you wish to argue in your paper?

Quotes--Provide three quotes/situations from each work that will support your thesis.

Example:

Area--The opinions of family and community are important in shaping a person's sense of self-worth.

Thesis--Both Sylvia in  "The Lesson" and Walter Lee in A Raisin in the Sun get their sense of self-worth by how others in their families or community see them.  Both need to feel powerful and act arrogantly rather than show weakness.

Quotes--Walter Lee gives Travis extra money when Ruth says they don't have any to give; Walter Lee brags to George about where he's been in the world; Walter Lee yells at Beneatha about how she's just a woman. (Please include page numbers and quotes)

Qu

Qu

R.A.F.T.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN—Creative Writing Assignment

Directions:  Write a document in the voice of one of the main characters of the play following the instructions below. The length depends on the document you write, but 250-words (2 pages handwritten; 1 ½ pages typed) is a good guideline.

ROLE: Choose one of the main characters to be:

Mama, Walter Lee, Beneatha, Ruth.

AUDIENCE:  Choose who you want them to be writing to (or about). 

This could be George, Asagai, Travis, the Clybourn Park community, the abortionist, Beneatha’s college, etc.

FORM:  Choose what kind of document you wish to write. 

Is it a letter, a speech, a phone call, diary entry, song or poem, or something else?

TOPIC: Finally, decide what the document will be about. 

Walter Lee writing a letter to Mr. Lindner telling him that they will take his offer; Beneatha telling George that she’s not interested in him anymore; Ruth, writing to the abortionist relating why she is no longer considering an abortion; Mama writing in her diary about how she feels about Walter Lee’s actions during the play, etc.

REMEMBER: 

1.     You are writing in first person, in the voice of the character!

2.     Stick to the facts of the play without adding anything that contradicts what we know.

3.     Make sure that your document relates to at least one of the themes of the play.

Agenda  Week of 12/17/12

We will be in the computer lab today through Thursday.  You have several things to accomplish in those days.  Then, on Friday, we will have our vocabulary quiz, then food and a movie in the classroom.  Read this whole post before starting your work.

1.  Look up definitions for this week's vocabulary words and study them for Friday's quiz.  Copy and paste the words into a Word document and print it out by the end of Monday's class.  The words are:


oppressive
plaintively
primly
promenades
Prometheus
resignation
sarcastically
submerge
agitation

If you have not been successful on vocabulary quizzes, here are some sites to make flash cards and other vocabulary games:

www.scholastic.com/kids/homework/flashcards.htm
www.kitzkikz.com/flashcards/
http://cambridgeenglishonline.com/Flashcard_maker/

2.  Write your RAFT assignment if you did not do it last marking period. This is a REQUIRED assignment, so do it.  We have learned about voice and how author's create characters' voices.  I want to see how well you can mimic your chosen character's voice and how well you understand your character's thoughts and motivations. Type it. (see RAFT in "labels" for guidelines)  If you did write it, please type it so I can collect them and make class copies.  THIS IS DUE TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18th.  E-mail to amy.canfield@rcsdk12.org

3.  In preparation for an essay that will be due January 11th, read the paper guidelines and follow the steps listed.