Dr. Blanchard's Blog

Hello Everyone:

I am excited to join the Lassiter community. As I have already told my students, literacy is my passion, and I am so looking forward to getting to know all of them as the semester progresses. We will read and reflect on some outstanding literature. Students of the twenty-first century must learn to think and communicate critically, and I believe that all students must reach this goal to be successful after leaving school. I am available for extra help in the mornings between 7:45 and 8:15 and by appointment.

I am also the faculty sponsor for the literary magazine, Arete. I welcome your thoughts as we embark on this learning adventure! Please feel free to contact me.

Also, feel free to use the course links at the left, which will take you directly to important information about your course. AB

anne.blanchard@cobbk12.org

Week of 4/20/09

This week we will finish Madame Bovary and continue preparation for the AP exam on May 7, 2009.

4/20 MB quote test

4/21 Lecture on poetry approaches--Discuss poetry project

4/22 Practice AP exam (electronic)

4/23 Continue exam practice

4/24 Discuss poems (assigned on Tuesday)

AP Literature Week of 3/23/09

We will continue reading and discussing Madame Bovary. You should plan to complete Part II by Friday.

3/23 Finish compatibility worksheet and comments. Select 2 colors (red, green, blue, yellow, white, black) to trace throughout the novel. Go back to Part I and mark key instances of your 2 colors; continue marking other chapters as you read.

3/24 Roundtable discussion: Part I

3/25 Independent work: Motif examples, color marking, and reading

3/26 Independent work: Continued

3/27 Discussion: Part II, point of view, color

HW: Finish Madame Bovary by 4/1--Motif project is also due 4/1. Mark an example of each motif in Part I, II, and III. Select ONE of these motifs and write a paragraph on the significance of each quotation (3 total--one from each part); this should be typed and turned in on 4/1, 2-3 pages. SEE MOTIFS BELOW:

Windows as a reflection of restraint/freedom

The monotony of provincial life

The role of the church and clergy

Middle class ambition

The arts--poetry, fiction, and the opera

The role of money (in revealing class)

Link between financial and moral corruption

Clothing as a reflection of social status/character

American Literature Week of 3/23/09

We will continue with our study of literature from 1850-1914. Please be sure to get a copy of The Great Gatsby for Monday (3/30).

3/23 Finish quiz and read the Twain story, p. 569

3/24 Answer question #6 on p. 574; read "To Build a Fire" on page 608 and answer questions 1 and 7 on page 622. Write a well-developed paragraph for each response.

3/25 Read "The Story of an Hour" p. 633 and answer questions 1-8 under Analyzing Literature p. 639

3/26 Biography: F. Scott Fitzgerald

3/27 Discussion of stories (above)

HW: Prepare research paper final draft due 3/30; be sure to submit earlier draft and rubric too.

3/12-3/20 AP literature

We are working hard this week on the research paper, so continue gathering sources and writing your paper. Please remember that you MUST include ALL sources with the paper in a large envelope OR I will NOT accept it and you will receive a zero. Also, ALL papers must be submitted to turnitin.com--more details to follow in class on 3/16/09. Go ahead and get a copy of Madame Bovary for next week.

3/12  Library

3/13  Discussion of documentation, sources, works cited

3/16  Test prep--MC practice

3/17  Discussion of irony, in-class essays

3/18  Paper due--

3/19  In-class writing/AP practice

3/20  Madame Bovary

Week of 3/2/09 AP Literature

3/2  Death of a Salesman  HW: Working thesis statements due 3/3

***Remember, I have to approve your topic.

3/3  Death of a Salesman 

3/4  Death of a Salesman  How  does the film enhance our understanding of the play, especially as a modern tragedy?  Give back thesis statements.

3/5  Writing effective thesis statements AND roundtable discussion:  What killed the salesman?

HW: 5 criticle articles (print outs) and summaries of each (200-300 words each--typed) due 3/6

3/6  Library--Research for paper  HW: Continue with research

Week of 3/2/09 American Literature

This week will demonstrate a heavy research paper focus.

3/2/09 Library research--Cart and databases--Notecards

HW: Working outline and thesis due on 3/3, along with dialectical journal.

3/3/09 Novel groups--Bring entire dialectical journal to use and turn in for a grade.

3/4/09 Notecard discussion--Discuss thesis statements and outlines

3/5/09 Library research--Cart and databases HW: First 15 notecards are due tomorrow!

3/6/09 Spirituals, realism, and poetry on Douglass/vocab 9

HW: 30 notecards are due on 3/10 (15 from the first installment).

Week of 2/23/09

This week we will continue with the research paper. Remember that you should be reading your second book (if applicable) and exploring possible topics. Your topic is due 3/3/09--Critical article summaries are now due 3/6/09; you must turn in actual copies of the articles with the summaries.

2/23  Library session: databases and other secondary sources

2/24  Motifs in Death of a Salesman

2/25  Comparative organizational structure/examples

2/26  Comma workshop

2/27  Film: Death of a Salesman

Week of 2/23/09

This week we will work on a variety of things, including the research paper.

2/23  Novel meeting/dialectical journal due (first 1/2)

2/24  Go over reading packets

2/25  Frederick Douglass/Realism

2/26  Douglass continued

2/27  Research paper discussion

HW: Finish reading your novel and bring the second 1/2 of the dialectical journal for Monday, 3/2.

Do database research for paper topic. Working outline and thesis are due next Tuesday! (3/3)

Week of 2/16/09

This week we will work with Death of a Salesman. You should be considering your works for the research paper (and reading if necessary).

2/16  Holiday

2/17  "Tragedy and the Common Man"--Arthur Miller

HW: Write a 2-page (typed) precis--assignment given in class

2/18  Discussion--foil relationships

2/19  Grammar packet--commas (Done in class)

2/20  Arthur Miller video/commas

HW: How did viewing the Miller interview enhance your understanding of the play? 1 page typed, due 2/23

Week of 2/16/09

This week we will begin the research process by attending an informational session on library databases and by exploring JStore in a class activity. Students should all be reading their novels; the first half is due next Monday (2/23/09) ALONG with the dialectical journal (typed).

2/16  Holiday

2/17  Informational session

2/18  Practice with JStore

2/19  Reading practice

2/20  Into the Wild--Panel #4

HW: Read novel and be prepared for discussion on Monday, 2/23 WITH dialectical journal. Be sure to include several GOOD quotes that pertain to your individual theme so that your group can have a productive discussion.