1) Dearth
2) Magnate
3) Opaque
4) Veneration
5) Florid
6) Esoteric
7) Malleable
8) Evanescent
9) Vitiated
10) Propensity
Monday 24 October 2011
Thursday 20 October 2011
Marking the TEXT
As you read:
1) Circle unknown words (you should look these up latter)
2) Box unclear passages (sections that you do not understand)
3) Underline or highlight key points (you might have different highlight colors for different type of points: yellow for character, orange for sections that back up theme, pink for symbols).
4) Write in the margin questions and/or notes (especially questions/notes about highlighted sections).
5) At the end of each chapter you should write a brief summary of it for yourself (especially if there is room, white space, in the book)
6) Drawings are also good if they help you.
1) Circle unknown words (you should look these up latter)
2) Box unclear passages (sections that you do not understand)
3) Underline or highlight key points (you might have different highlight colors for different type of points: yellow for character, orange for sections that back up theme, pink for symbols).
4) Write in the margin questions and/or notes (especially questions/notes about highlighted sections).
5) At the end of each chapter you should write a brief summary of it for yourself (especially if there is room, white space, in the book)
6) Drawings are also good if they help you.
Thursday 13 October 2011
NOTES and THEMES for THE SCARLET LETTER
THEMES:
Nature vs. Human Law
Nature of Evil
Sin vs. Forgiveness or Punishment vs. Forgiveness
Individual vs. Society
Exile
Public Guilt vs. Private Guilt
Civilization vs. Wilderness or Town vs. Woods
Good vs. Evil
NOTES:
Hester Prynne
Hester: Hestier in Greek mythology, Zeus’s sister, a woman of beauty
hestier (hasty)
Prynne: prurient
prune: purify her sin
pry: probe into the interior of one’s heart
Arthur Dimmesdale
Arthur: Adam, adultery
Dimmesdale: dim + dale: dim interior (to hide one’s sin )
Roger Chillingworth
Roger: rogue (revenge)
Chillingworth: chilly (cruel, inhumane)
+ worth (induce Arthur to speak out his own sin)
Pearl: good, pure and precious
Scarlet: Definition
Function: adjective
1 of the color scarlet
2 a : grossly and glaringly offensive
Function: noun
Middle English scarlat, scarlet, from Anglo-French escarlet, from Medieval Latin scarlata, from Persian saqalAt, a kind of rich cloth
1 : scarlet cloth or clothes
2 : any of various bright reds
Main Entry: scarlet letter
Function: noun_: a scarlet A worn as a punitive mark of adultery
Nature vs. Human Law
Nature of Evil
Sin vs. Forgiveness or Punishment vs. Forgiveness
Individual vs. Society
Exile
Public Guilt vs. Private Guilt
Civilization vs. Wilderness or Town vs. Woods
Good vs. Evil
NOTES:
Hester Prynne
Hester: Hestier in Greek mythology, Zeus’s sister, a woman of beauty
hestier (hasty)
Prynne: prurient
prune: purify her sin
pry: probe into the interior of one’s heart
Arthur Dimmesdale
Arthur: Adam, adultery
Dimmesdale: dim + dale: dim interior (to hide one’s sin )
Roger Chillingworth
Roger: rogue (revenge)
Chillingworth: chilly (cruel, inhumane)
+ worth (induce Arthur to speak out his own sin)
Pearl: good, pure and precious
Scarlet: Definition
Function: adjective
1 of the color scarlet
2 a : grossly and glaringly offensive
Function: noun
Middle English scarlat, scarlet, from Anglo-French escarlet, from Medieval Latin scarlata, from Persian saqalAt, a kind of rich cloth
1 : scarlet cloth or clothes
2 : any of various bright reds
Main Entry: scarlet letter
Function: noun_: a scarlet A worn as a punitive mark of adultery
Friday 7 October 2011
Scarlet Letter
For an example of last year's blog (Rori's) go here
In chapter 2, compare the scarlet letter (the "A") on Hester's chest to the rosebush in chapter 1.
Take into account the title of the chapter: "The Marketplace" - why? What happens in Marketplaces? What is Mistress Hibbins a symbol of? Who was she - historically? Keep in mind that she will be very important in this book. Note the "gossip" of the "Goodwives" (is there an irony here?) Think about word choices and images such as "black shadwo" "grim" "naughty baggage" (what is the naughty baggage? The baby?) Why is Hester's attire so much brighter than the rest of the crowd? What does this mean? What happens on the scaffold (why a scaffold?) - happens in general? Think punishment. "A man well stricken in years, a pale, thin, scholar-like visage, with eyes dim and bleared by lamp-light that had served them to pore over many ponderous books. Yet those same bleared optics had a strange, penetrationg power, when it was their owner's purpose to read the human soul... This figure...was slightly deformed." Interpret that quote. Who does it relate to? What does it mean? Who, besides priests and God, can read the "human soul". Deform is both physical and spiritual. "Indian" - why? There's meaning here. Think history - what did the puritans think of the natives? Nature vs. Society.
Look up meaning of Hester's name (first and last).
Use shmoop if you need it.
Smile. I'm watching you.
In chapter 2, compare the scarlet letter (the "A") on Hester's chest to the rosebush in chapter 1.
Take into account the title of the chapter: "The Marketplace" - why? What happens in Marketplaces? What is Mistress Hibbins a symbol of? Who was she - historically? Keep in mind that she will be very important in this book. Note the "gossip" of the "Goodwives" (is there an irony here?) Think about word choices and images such as "black shadwo" "grim" "naughty baggage" (what is the naughty baggage? The baby?) Why is Hester's attire so much brighter than the rest of the crowd? What does this mean? What happens on the scaffold (why a scaffold?) - happens in general? Think punishment. "A man well stricken in years, a pale, thin, scholar-like visage, with eyes dim and bleared by lamp-light that had served them to pore over many ponderous books. Yet those same bleared optics had a strange, penetrationg power, when it was their owner's purpose to read the human soul... This figure...was slightly deformed." Interpret that quote. Who does it relate to? What does it mean? Who, besides priests and God, can read the "human soul". Deform is both physical and spiritual. "Indian" - why? There's meaning here. Think history - what did the puritans think of the natives? Nature vs. Society.
Look up meaning of Hester's name (first and last).
Use shmoop if you need it.
Smile. I'm watching you.
Wednesday 5 October 2011
The Scarlet Letter Chapter 1
Notes: Remember how the Puritans, the people waiting outside the door, are dressed: very gray and drab: lifeless in many ways. The puritans felt that elaborate dress was sinful. How the people dress reflects their inner lives. Also not that the society itself reflects the prison - the prison door becomes more important in this aspect (the reader wants it to open). The prison symbolizes the society, being trapped within the society, and the graveyard is the only escape. Look at the "wild rose" and remember that it is outside of society. It is the only thing of color: an immense red (ah red - what does red symbolize? what else will be red?). How does the red contrast the door? The people? The society?
Did you look up the allusions? What do they mean or how do they relate to the chapter? (In looking up these allusions keep in mind the puritan view of wealth and Jesus comments about a rich man going to heaven?)
Reread the chapter and take notes.
Did you look up the allusions? What do they mean or how do they relate to the chapter? (In looking up these allusions keep in mind the puritan view of wealth and Jesus comments about a rich man going to heaven?)
Reread the chapter and take notes.
Tuesday 4 October 2011
Word of the Day for Wednesday
To mitigate the lose, the coach talked about all the good things the team did on the court.
The Scarlet Letter
The Dialectical Journal: THE SCARLET LETTER
Effective students have a habit of taking notes as they read. This note-taking can several forms: annotation, post it notes, character lists, idea clusters, and many others. One of the most effective strategies is called a dialectical journal. The word “dialectical” has numerous meanings, but the one most pertinent is the “art of critical examination into the truth of an opinion” or reworded “The art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving question and answer.” As you read, you are forming an opinion about what you are reading (or at least you are SUPPOSED to be forming an opinion). That opinion, however, needs to be based on the text – not just a feeling. Therefore, all of your opinions need to be based on the text.
The procedure is as follows:
1. Purchase a dedicated spiral notebook and draw a line down the center of each page of the notebook. NOTE: I expect you to publish these journal entries on your blogs nightly and number them as you go.
2. As you read, pay close attention to the text.
3. Whenever you encounter something of interest (this could be anything from an interesting turn of phrase to a character note), write down the word/phrase in the LEFT HAND COLUMN making sure that you NOTE THE PAGE NUMBER. If the phrase is especially long just write the first few words, use an ellipsis, then write the last few words.
4. In the RIGHT HAND COLUMN, WRITE YOUR OBSEVRATIONS ABOUT THE TEXT you noted in the left-hand column. This is where you need to interact in detail with the text. Make sure that your observations are THOROUGH, INSIGHTFUL, and FOCUSED CLEARLY ON THE TEXT.
Requirements:
1) For each novel we read you will need to complete a MINIMUM of 55 entries if you wish to be eligible for an “A”. 35 is the minimum for a passing grade. Make sure you number your entries.
2) A completed dialectical journal should be brought to class each day a reading assignment is due.
3) On some short fiction and poetry reading assignments I may ask you to keep a dialectic journal on the reading (usually I’ll ask for 5-10 entries for shorter works).
4) Dialectic journals will be used as part of class discussion and will be randomly collected and graded for homework.
When should you write things down?
• When certain details seem important to you
• When you have an epiphany
• When you learn something significant about a character
• When you recognize a pattern (overlapping images, repetitions of idea, details, etc.)
• When you agree or disagree with something a character says
• When you find an interesting or potentially significant quote.
• When you notice something important or relevant about the writer’s style.
• When you notice effective uses of literary devices.
• When you notice something that makes you think of a question
That is all there is to it. This way, once you have read your text you will already have a great set of notes on which to draw when you write your paper. You also should have gained a great deal of insight about your particular text.
Note: Should you rather type this, just use the COLUMN function in your tool bar and complete steps two-four electronically.
Grading (based on 55 entries, if you have 45 entries an A= B, B= C, 35 entries A=C)
A—Detailed, meaningful passages, plot and quote selections; thoughtful interpretation and commentary about the text; includes comments about literary elements (like theme, diction, imagery, syntax, symbolism, etc.) and how these elements contribute to the meaning of the text; asks thought-provoking, insightful questions; coverage of text is complete and thorough; journal is neat, organized, numbered and readable.
B—Less detailed, but good selections; some intelligent commentary about the text; includes some comments about literary elements (like theme, diction, imagery, syntax, symbolism, etc.) but less than how these elements contribute to the meaning of the text; asks some thought-provoking, insightful questions; coverage of the text is complete and thorough; journal is neat, organized, numbered and readable.
C—A few good details about the text; most of the commentary is vague, unsupported or plot summary/paraphrase; some listing of literary elements, but perhaps inadequate discussion, but not very thoroughly; journal is relatively neat.
D—Hardly any good or meaningful details from the story; notes are plot summary or paraphrase; few literary elements, virtually no discussion on meaning; no good questions; limited coverage of text, and/or too short.
Effective students have a habit of taking notes as they read. This note-taking can several forms: annotation, post it notes, character lists, idea clusters, and many others. One of the most effective strategies is called a dialectical journal. The word “dialectical” has numerous meanings, but the one most pertinent is the “art of critical examination into the truth of an opinion” or reworded “The art or practice of arriving at the truth by using conversation involving question and answer.” As you read, you are forming an opinion about what you are reading (or at least you are SUPPOSED to be forming an opinion). That opinion, however, needs to be based on the text – not just a feeling. Therefore, all of your opinions need to be based on the text.
The procedure is as follows:
1. Purchase a dedicated spiral notebook and draw a line down the center of each page of the notebook. NOTE: I expect you to publish these journal entries on your blogs nightly and number them as you go.
2. As you read, pay close attention to the text.
3. Whenever you encounter something of interest (this could be anything from an interesting turn of phrase to a character note), write down the word/phrase in the LEFT HAND COLUMN making sure that you NOTE THE PAGE NUMBER. If the phrase is especially long just write the first few words, use an ellipsis, then write the last few words.
4. In the RIGHT HAND COLUMN, WRITE YOUR OBSEVRATIONS ABOUT THE TEXT you noted in the left-hand column. This is where you need to interact in detail with the text. Make sure that your observations are THOROUGH, INSIGHTFUL, and FOCUSED CLEARLY ON THE TEXT.
Requirements:
1) For each novel we read you will need to complete a MINIMUM of 55 entries if you wish to be eligible for an “A”. 35 is the minimum for a passing grade. Make sure you number your entries.
2) A completed dialectical journal should be brought to class each day a reading assignment is due.
3) On some short fiction and poetry reading assignments I may ask you to keep a dialectic journal on the reading (usually I’ll ask for 5-10 entries for shorter works).
4) Dialectic journals will be used as part of class discussion and will be randomly collected and graded for homework.
When should you write things down?
• When certain details seem important to you
• When you have an epiphany
• When you learn something significant about a character
• When you recognize a pattern (overlapping images, repetitions of idea, details, etc.)
• When you agree or disagree with something a character says
• When you find an interesting or potentially significant quote.
• When you notice something important or relevant about the writer’s style.
• When you notice effective uses of literary devices.
• When you notice something that makes you think of a question
That is all there is to it. This way, once you have read your text you will already have a great set of notes on which to draw when you write your paper. You also should have gained a great deal of insight about your particular text.
Note: Should you rather type this, just use the COLUMN function in your tool bar and complete steps two-four electronically.
Grading (based on 55 entries, if you have 45 entries an A= B, B= C, 35 entries A=C)
A—Detailed, meaningful passages, plot and quote selections; thoughtful interpretation and commentary about the text; includes comments about literary elements (like theme, diction, imagery, syntax, symbolism, etc.) and how these elements contribute to the meaning of the text; asks thought-provoking, insightful questions; coverage of text is complete and thorough; journal is neat, organized, numbered and readable.
B—Less detailed, but good selections; some intelligent commentary about the text; includes some comments about literary elements (like theme, diction, imagery, syntax, symbolism, etc.) but less than how these elements contribute to the meaning of the text; asks some thought-provoking, insightful questions; coverage of the text is complete and thorough; journal is neat, organized, numbered and readable.
C—A few good details about the text; most of the commentary is vague, unsupported or plot summary/paraphrase; some listing of literary elements, but perhaps inadequate discussion, but not very thoroughly; journal is relatively neat.
D—Hardly any good or meaningful details from the story; notes are plot summary or paraphrase; few literary elements, virtually no discussion on meaning; no good questions; limited coverage of text, and/or too short.
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