Elephants . . .

On Thursday several 3rd period people were asking about the fate of elephants in Africa, asking mainly about the consequences of the ivory trade.  Well, apparently last night's NBC news knew you were asking; due in part to on-going elephant poaching, these animals are still dying, and some cute little babies are being left in the lurch.  Take a look at this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40704375/ns/nightly_news-making_a_difference/

Transition to Ibsen

TODAY IN CLASS
OK--in all classes we finished HoD (last pictures, last scene, last thoughts on "meaning of the book as a whole).

And in all we BEGAN Ibsen's A Doll's House, getting to the entrance of Mrs. Linde in 1st period, not quite so far in 3rd (announcements . . .), and even less in 6th (a slower start--including a Holiday Sweater picture, which I'll post if someone sends it) plus of a couple of college returnees late in the period.  Sorry--but you too will be welcomed back some day.

FOR TOMORROW
SO--there's a 2 or 3 page difference in the homework, but everyone needs to finish reading Act I (p. 1053).  No "direction" needed--just read.

Bring Big Lit Book!!

Sadly, we are NOT quite done with the final scene. We're trying to compare/contrast the women, using close analysis of the text.  But we barely got started with My Intended. 

Tomorrow, we will 1) finish that briefly, 2) look at 2 or 3 final pictures of the Congo at the time of Conrad's trip, and 3) turn our attention to a woman living in Norway at the exact same time.

TODAY--timed write (passage analysis)
TOMORROW--objective HoD test
WEDNESDAY--wrap-up of Conrad (you will be very sharp and knowledgeable), with an eye toward a   post-break critical paper

THURSDAY--bring lit book:  we start A Doll's House.

Thursday, Dec. 9, 2010

TODAY IN CLASS
Still working on Part II--the only other aspect I intend to pick up on is Kurtz's painting.

FOR TOMORROW
At-home timed writes ("grove of death" passage) are due.

FIRST OF NEXT WEEK
Monday--An in-class timed write (text-based passage analysis)
Tuesday--An objective test over HoD (Scantron! Gasp!!)

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010

TODAY IN CLASS
Manager/Manager's Uncle/ Their view of Kurtz and the Russian
For discussion only:  "Going up that river . . . ." passage (will need to finish in 3rd)

FOR TOMORROW
What are the most important ways in which Part III "informs" our reading of Part II?  (That is, what aspects of Part II turn out in retrospect to be most significant to our understanding of Part III?  Have some ideas here(notes/annotations)--nothing to turn in.

But for Friday, to be done either night: the at-home timed write assignment distributed in class today.

Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2010

TODAY IN CLASS
1. Part II HoD questions stamped; short discussion of stray Part I ideas.
2. Group work on selected Part II questions and Kurtz's painting from Part I

(1st period also looked at the Congo photographs, which 3rd and 6th had done on Monday.  If you were absent on the relevant day for your class, ask someone with the Norton edition of the text.)

FOR TOMORROW
Finish reading--many of you have already done so.  If you haven't, be cheered:  Part III is the shortest. (But it's not easy . . . )