Homework 11/23-11/30

Tuesday:
* Finish reading chapter 8, then rewrite the events of the chapter from Boo Radley’s point of view. This should be no less than a page. It will be handed in for a grade. The more creative, the better!

Wednesday - Sunday:
* Reread the description of Maycomb, Alabama in chapter 1 of the text. Find details about the town from reading. Using the details from the text and your imagination, draw a picture of Maycomb, Alabama on a piece of unlined paper. Label your picture accordingly. Color it in for extra pizazz!


* Read through chapter 11 of To Kill A Mockingbird and be prepared to take a quiz on Monday, November 30th.

* Also, make sure you are keeping up with your journals! You must have through entry 8 done by Monday, November 30th.

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"To Kill a Mockingbird" Journal Prompts

After completing the assigned chapters of To Kill a Mockingbird you are to respond to the following prompts. Each journal entry should be well thought out and at least ¾ of a page to 1 page in length.
If you are having trouble responding to a prompt, you may select a quote from the chapter, write it out, and then react to it. This too should be well thought out and at least ¾ of a page to 1 page in length.


* Entry 1: The Radley house is both enticing and frightening for the children. Describe a childhood fear or mystery you recall. (Chap. 1-2)

* Entry 2: Scout writes a great deal about first grade. Tell a story from your own first grade experience. (Chap. 3-4)

* Entry 3: Atticus tells Scout “you never really understand a person until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” What does he mean? Is he right? (Chap. 3-4)

* Entry 4: What do Scout and Jem think of Miss Maudie? Describe a special adult friend you had as a child. (Chap. 5-6)

* Entry 5: Scout is at first frightened and then fascinated by the snow. Tell about the first time you remember seeing snow or some other natural wonder. (Chap. 7-8)

* Entry 6: If your house were to catch fire and you could carry out one armload, what would you choose to take and why? (Chap. 7-8)

* Entry 7: Scout and Jem suffered through Christmas at their relatives—are the holiday traditions at your house sometimes more than you can take? Or if your home does not have holiday traditions, what is your experience with others who do not understand your family’s choices. (Chap. 9-10)

* Entry 8: Jem and Scout take some grief over their father’s defense of Tom Robinson. What principles has your family verbally or actively upheld? (Chap. 9-10)

* Entry 9: Filled with spiteful vengeance, Jem destroys Mrs. Dubose’s garden. Tell about a situation in your life when you reacted with such revenge in your heart. (Chap 11)

* Entry 10: Scout has some difficulty understanding Jem as he grows. Why is a four-year age difference more significant now for Jem and Scout that it was before? Describe a time in your life when age difference became more or less of a problem. (Chap. 12-13)

* Entry 11: Scout and Jem visit Calpurnia’s church. How would you feel if you were the visitor under those circumstances? Describe a time when you were an outsider. (Chap. 12-13)

* Entry 12: Dill feels like his parents get along better without him. Do you think parents need their children? How do parents let their children know this? (Chap. 14-15)

* Entry 13: A group of men in the Finch’s front yard frighten the children. Tell about a time a crowd frightened you. (Chap. 14-15)

* Entry 14: Atticus tells Scout that Mr. Cunningham is a good man – “he just has his blind spots along with the rest of us.” What does Atticus mean? What are your blind spots? (Chap. 16-17)

* Entry 15: Atticus catches the Ewells in a terrible lie. Have you ever caught a liar or been caught lying yourself? How did you feel? How did others involved feel? Is it ever okay to lie? When? (Chap. 18-19)

* Entry 16: Atticus differentiates between the law between the law and social code. Explain the difference between the two. Which of these two set of principles of behavior is mores important? Why? (Chap. 20-21)

* Entry 17: Jem’s Confidence in Tom Robinson’s acquittal reflects his naïve belief in the judgment of the jury. Jem’s confidence in their integrity is shattered when the jury convicts an obviously “innocent” man. Describe a time you remember feeling disillusionment because your youthful perceptions were shattered.

* Entry 18: Aunt Alexandra has some definite ideas about with whom Scout may play. Is she wise? Do your parents have certain expectations about the friends you make? What rules will you set as a parent about the kinds of people with whom your children associate? (Chap. 23)

* Entry 19: Scout’s teacher exhibits profound hypocrisy. Describe someone you know who engages in such behavior. How do you and others react to this behavior? What are the impacts? (Chap. 26)

* Entry 20: Boo Radley will never be tried for Ewell’s murder. Did Heck and Atticus make the right decision in this situation? In what way is this murder “cover-up” justified? Consider both sides of the questions—that is, how would you feel about it if you ere part of the Ewell family.

Courtesy of www.hsd.k12.or.us

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Weekend homework: 11/20-11/22

For Monday you must read through chapter 7 of To Kill A Mockingbird (page 63 in the regular book, and page 67 in the yellow cover book). Be prepared for a quiz on Chapters 4-7.

Also, we will be completing journal entries throughout the novel. Using the sheet you were given in class, please complete the first 4 journal entries. If you do not have room in your "House on Mango Street" journal, please write them on seperate pieces of paper and staple them together.

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IMPORTANT!

If any of you, for whatever reason, have a school copy of "The House on Mango Street" laying around you need to return it no later than Monday. Please do a double check of your locker, your bookbag, and your room. All copies must be returned.

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"To Kill A Mockingbird" Assignment through 11/16

You will be responsible for reading through the first three chapters of To Kill A Mockingbird over the weekend.
While reading, you should jot down any questions that you have.
Aside from the vocabulary list I will be giving you, if you do not know a word please write it down and define it.

Over the weekend, you must read through chapter 3 (pg 3-32). As you read chapters 1-8, you will be completing a character chart for the following characters: Scout, Jem, Dill, Boo, Calpurnia, Atticus, and Walter.
The character chart should include:
▪Character’s name
▪A quote describing the character’s appearance
▪A quote spoken by or about the character that shows personality
▪A one sentence description showing the reader’s thoughts/ideas/reflections/speculations about the character

Think about the following questions:
1. What does it mean to "act responsibly?" Explain what a person needs to do in order to "act responsibly" in the 1930's in Maycomb, Alabama.
2. Who can people trust in Maycomb, Alabama? Identify your impressions of Dill, Calpurnia, Jem, the narrator, Atticus, the Radleys, Miss Stephanie Crawford, and Miss Caroline Fisher.
3. What are some essential family values and family history that have shaped the people in this community?
4. What behaviors are acceptable in the Maycomb community? What behaviors are not acceptable in the community?
5. Which characters inform Scout about proper behavior? How do these characters tell her to act?
6. What is Walter Cunningham like? What does his behavior during lunch suggest about his home life?
7. Describe Miss Caroline's interactions with Burris Ewell. What does this suggest about Miss Caroline? What does this suggest about the Ewells?
8. What do you think of the way Atticus treats Walter?
9. Does Scout learn anything from Walter's visit? What do you think this is?
10. Atticus says that you never really understand a person "until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." What does this mean? What does this lesson suggest about Atticus? Is it an easy thing for Scout to learn?

http://www.msconn.net/tkamquestions.html

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Historical Context of "To Kill A Mockingbird"

Here are some helpful links to what we will be discussing in class:
* This site tells all about the Scottsboro Boys.
* This site discusses the Jim Crow Laws.
* This site talks about the causes of the Great Depression.

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Important!

As we begin the new marking period, it is time to go over some basic rules:

Grading
* I firmly believe that a low grade is better than no grade. If you do not hand in a major assignment on the day that it is due you will lose 5% for each day that it is late (IE 3 days late = -15%).
* Homework and class work are just as important as tests, quizzes, and writing assignments. At the end of the marking period I will add up your homework and class work grades and average them in with your tests, quizzes, and writing assignments as a quiz grade.

Absences
* If you are absent or miss class for whatever reason, it is your job to find out what you have missed and to make it up. You can always look at this blog, send me an email (loreboat@yahoo.com), or check in with a classmate.
* If an assignment is given prior to your absence, I expect you to have it completed on your return or it will be late.
* If you miss a quiz or a test you will only have two days to make it up. After that it becomes a zero.

Extra Help
* I am available before and after school just about every day of the week. Do not hesitate to come see me at any point if you have any questions or concerns, especially if you need extra help. I am always available via email as well (loreboat@yahoo.com).

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WebQuest due Monday, November 9th

Before we begin reading “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee on Monday, I want you to do some research and gather information about the author.

To begin, take a piece of paper and fold it into three columns. Label column one “Question, ” column two “Answer,” and column three “Source.”

Next, come up with 20 questions about Harper Lee. Your questions should be along the lines of the following:
* Who was she?
* What is her first name?
* When and where was she born?
* What her life was like growing up?
* Where did the ideas for Scout, Jem and Dill come from?
* What is her prior knowledge of a small southern town?
* What influenced her as a writer?
* What was the basis for the character of Tom Robinson?

Use these links, and others, to gather biographical information about Harper Lee:
http://www.teenreads.com/authors/au-lee-harper.asp
http://www.neabigread.org/books/mockingbird/mockingbird04.php
http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/harper.lee.asp

Using the sheet of paper that you divided into three columns, write your questions in column one, your answers in column two, and where you found your information in column three. You should use at least five different websites. Remember, three have been provided for you.

This WebQuest is due Monday, November 9th when we return from our four day weekend.

Good luck!

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Homework and reminders for 11/2-11/6

Homework:
Monday and Tuesday: Period 7/8 - Work on group project which will be presented on Wednesday

Tuesday: All Periods - Finish grammar worksheet from today

Wednesday-Weekend: All Periods - Work on and complete Harper Lee WebQuest -- details to follow


Reminders:
* Your vignettes were due yesterday, Monday the 2nd. If you did not hand them in please get them to me ASAP so you will get credit. Remember, a low grade is better than no grade!

* As of this week, we are in the 2nd marking period. The persuasive essays and vignettes are the first two grades you will be receiving for the 2nd marking period.

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Punctuation

This website is very helpful if you need help with punctuation.

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