HW for Week of 10/29

Due Tuesday, 10/30	Journal #2 for grading Make sure to finish 50 New… and crossword puzzle (JE #20/left and right) Table of Contents is on 10/25 post.
Due Wednesday, 10/31	List of 10: 10 Fabulous Facts about Shirley Jackson (author of "The Lottery")
Due Thursday, 11/1	None
Due Friday, 11/2	FD of Self-Eval Letter

Journal Grading

Grading for Journal #2 will be early next week.

Journal Check List:

• Is each item where it's supposed to be according to the table of contents?
• Is my table of contents neat and complete?
• Is each page titled?
• Is my table of contents EXACTLY like the one below?
• Is every assignment complete?
• Is every single page  numbered (1L/1R, 2L/2R, etc.?
• Did I make corrections and edits in a bright color?
• Does my journal reflect pride of ownership? In other words, am I proud of the work I've done in my journal?

Journal #2 Table of Contents (so far...)

JE #11	List of 10: E. A. Poe	Poe Scavenger Hunt
JE #12	"The Raven" worksheet 1-2	"The Raven" worksheet 3-4
JE #13	TTH Comic Strip	TTH Vocab Words Chart
JE #14	Practice Test: TTH Vocab	Blank for now
JE #15	Police Report Info Sheet RD	RD Cont'd
JE #16	"Raven" (whole poem)	--Paraphrase of your stanza --Definitions of difficult words in your stanza
JE #17	"Raven" Copy Change  stanzas)	TQ's Fate, Chance, or Coincidence?
JE #18	RD Movie Poster	Practice Test: MP vocab
JE #19	MP Q's (Please print them out from blog.) MP A's	cont'd
JE #20	50 New Concepts...	Halloween xword puzzle

Extra Credit Challenge

For Extra Credit, try writing a parody of Poe's "Raven."

• Parody =   a humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing
• You can turn this in at any time. Just make sure it's in FD form.

Here are a few examples to inspire you:

The End of the Raven
by Edgar Allen Poe's cat

On a night quite unenchanting, when the rain was downward slanting,
I awakened to the ranting of the man I catch mice for.
Tipsy and a bit unshaven, in a tone I found quite craven,
Poe was talking to a Raven perched above the chamber door.
"Raven's very tasty," thought I, as I tiptoed o'er the floor,
      "There is nothing I like more."

Soft upon the rug I treaded, calm and careful as I headed
Towards his roost atop that dreaded bust of Pallas I deplore.
While the bard and birdie chattered, I made sure that nothing clattered,
Creaked or snapped or fell or shattered, as I crossed the corridor;
For his house is crammed with trinkets, curios and weird decor --
      Bric-a-brac and junk galore.

Still the Raven never fluttered, standing stock-still as he uttered,
In a voice that shrieked and sputtered, his two cents' worth -
      "Nevermore."

While this dirge the birdbrain kept up, oh, so silently I crept up,
Then I crouched and quickly leapt up, pouncing on the feathered bore.
Soon he was a heap of plumage, and a little blood and gore -
      Only this and not much more.

"Oooo!" my pickled poet cried out, "Pussycat, it's time I dried out!
Never sat I in my hideout talking to a bird before;
How I've wallowed in self-pity, while my gallant, valiant kitty
Put an end to that darned ditty" - then I heard him start to snore.
Back atop the door I clambered, eyed that statue I abhor,
     Jumped - and smashed it on the floor.

--Rob Collins

"Monkey's Paw" Questions, etc.

HW for this week:

Due Tuesday, Oct. 23	FD Movie Poster
Due Wednesday, Oct. 24	Go to blog for MP vocab.
Due Thursday, Oct. 25	MP Thought Q's (from board) MP Story Q's (from blog) Do Story Q's in JE #19/Left & Right.
Friday, Oct. 26	MP Vocab Test/Comprehension Test

"Monkey's Paw" TQ's (ones on the front board in class--JE #17/right)

The wording may be slightly different, but the questions are essentially the same.

1. Do you believe that fate, coincidence, or chance determined the outcome of events in the story? Why?
Explain your answer. 

2. In your life (or life in general), what do you believe determines the course of events? Is it:

• fate
• coincidence
• chance
• a combination of these?
• other?

Why do you believe this?  Give examples to support your opinion.

*********************************************************************************************

"Monkey's Paw" Story Questions:

Do Story Q's in JE #19/Left & Right. Flippy in the Q's on the left; use the left and right side for your answers.

• Click on this link to download and print the questions. The chart is a little different on the printout, but both ask for the same info.

          https://www.dropbox.com/s/sf2f09j46nu7lvq/MPstoryQ%27s.doc

• If that doesn't work, copy and paste them into a word document and hope they come out ok.

1.   Why does the story start with the father and son playing chess? Does the father’s strategy at the chess game tell you anything about his personality? If so, what?


2.   Note any of the characters’ actions you feel are significant on the chart below. What conclusions can you draw about each of the characters from analyzing their actions? 

Character	Important Actions (List at least two)	Conclusion you've drawn about the actions of this character
Mr. White
Mrs. White
Herbert White
Major Morris

3.   Sergeant Major Morris describes the monkey's paw in this way: "It had a spell put on it by an old fakir,…a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people’s lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. ". What does Morris’ statement mean when you first read it? What does it mean after you have read the entire story? Is his comment significant? If so, why?

 4.   Why does Major Morris throw the monkey's paw onto the fire and why do the Whites react so strongly?

5. What happens to Herbert White?

 6.   What do you think happened at the end of the story? Why does Mr. White beg his wife not to let "it" into the house? What does he mean? What is he afraid of? Who or what was outside of the house?

 7.   What makes Jacobs' style of writing unique? Read the following passage and think about how he puts his words together to create a mood. Underline words or passages that seem important to you.

"…and a horrible fear that his wish would bring his mangled son before him ere he could escape from the room seized upon him , and he caught his breath as he found he had lost the direction of the door. His brow cold with sweat, he felt his way around the table, and groped along the wall until he found himself in the small passage with the unwholesome thing in his hand."


8.   How does Jacobs set the mood and/or tone of the story? How does he build suspense? Think about the way he uses silence as a way to create a mood. What does he describe at the end as the husband and wife lie in bed waiting for their wish to come true?


9. List three questions about the story that are still puzzling you. Think about: character's
    actions, motives, outdated expressions, details, etc. that don't make sense for you.

    List the questions here:

"Monkey's Paw" Vocab

Test on Friday, Oct. 26!
If you see a little gray square next to the cards, right click until you see "Run plug-in this time."
Then they should work for you.

Movie Poster

Movie Poster Instructions

• Do the RD in JE #18/left (save JE #17/right---keep it blank for now).
• FD due in INK and COLOR (no plain pencil) Tuesday, Oct. 23
• Design a movie poster promoting the movie that might be made out of their book. Include:

• The title and author
• A few quotes from the book
• A list of the cast: Which actors would play which characters?
• One or more strong images that foreshadow what's in the plot (without giving away the ending)
• Anything else that you feel would make people want to see the movie

Here are some examples of movie posters from books that became movies:

Due Friday. 10/19:

• "Raven" Copy Change (two stanzas minimum)
• There may be more blanks in stanza one than I had on the smart board.
• Do this in JE #17 left. 
• This link below might help you with the meter. 

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trochaic_octameter

1. Keep the rhyme scheme (abcbbb).
2. Optional: Use internal rhyme in lines 1 & 3, as Poe does.
3. Maintain the meter of the original as much as possible:

• Lines 1-2-3 = 16 syllables (trochaic octameter)
• Lines 4-5 = 15 syllables
• Line 6 = 7 syllables
• The very  last word  of stanza 1 should be the same as the very last word in stanza 2.
• Make sure to keep the punctuation consistent.

Once upon a _________ ________, while I pondered _______ and _______, Over many a _________ and________ volume of _______ _______, While I ________, _______ _________, suddenly there came a _________, As of someone  _____ ______, __________ at my ___________ _________r. `'Tis ________   ________,' I ____________, `____________ at my _______ _______ - Only ________, and__________  _________.' Ah, _________ I __________ it was in the_______  ________, And each _______   _______ _______ wrought its _______ upon the ______. Eagerly I ______ the ________; - vainly I had ________ ___ _______ From my ________ surcease of ______ - ________ for the ____ _______ - For the ______ and _______  ________ whom the ______  _____ _______ - ________  ______ _______ ________ .

HW for tonight

For HW, look on the right side under "Archives" on Week of 10/15.

To Faithful Blog Visitors...

Email me to let me know you're visiting the blog.

In your subject line, write your name.

In the message, list at least three works by Poe we haven't read.

 

This opportunity is only valid tonight,
Tuesday, Oct. 16.

Week of 10/15

Due Tuesday, 10/16	"Raven" Presentation: Memorize it. Know what it means. Be able to define all words in it.
Due Wednesday, 10/17	For Wednesday: Make sure you've paraphrased your stanza in the  simplest words possible. Be ready to read (or tell) the class what's happening in your  stanza. Be ready to present your stanza dramatically in front of the class with at least one prop. Make sure your "Raven" work in JE #12/left and right is complete.
Due Thursday, 10/18	No HW.
Due Friday, 10/19	"Raven" Copy Change (stanzas 1 & 2)

More "Raven"...

Due Thursday: 

• Have your stanza pretty well memorized! Copy it onto an index card, exactly like it is in the poem. The complete poem is below; I'll have copies for you tomorrow. 

Due Monday:

• FD TTH Police Report

This is the "Raven" link to help you memorize your stanza.
http://legacy.teachersfirst.com/share/raven/st1.html

I'll have the whole poem for you tomorrow in class.

Watch Vincent Price perform "The Raven" here:

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
"'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door -
Only this, and nothing more."

Ah, distinctly I remember it was in the bleak December,
And each separate dying ember wrought its ghost upon the floor.
Eagerly I wished the morrow; - vainly I had sought to borrow
From my books surcease of sorrow - sorrow for the lost Lenore -
For the rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Nameless here for evermore.

And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me - filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door -
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; -
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you"- here I opened wide the door; -
Darkness there, and nothing more.

Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing,
Doubting, dreaming dreams no mortals ever dared to dream before;
But the silence was unbroken, and the stillness gave no token,
And the only word there spoken was the whispered word, "Lenore?"
This I whispered, and an echo murmured back the word, "Lenore!" -
Merely this, and nothing more.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
"Surely," said I, "surely that is something at my window lattice:
Let me see, then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more."

Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven of the saintly days of yore;
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But, with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door -
Perched upon a bust of Pallas just above my chamber door -
Perched, and sat, and nothing more.

Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore.
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven, thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly grim and ancient raven wandering from the Nightly shore -
Tell me what thy lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

Much I marvelled this ungainly fowl to hear discourse so plainly,
Though its answer little meaning- little relevancy bore;
For we cannot help agreeing that no living human being
Ever yet was blest with seeing bird above his chamber door -
Bird or beast upon the sculptured bust above his chamber door,
With such name as "Nevermore."

But the raven, sitting lonely on the placid bust, spoke only
That one word, as if his soul in that one word he did outpour.
Nothing further then he uttered- not a feather then he fluttered -
Till I scarcely more than muttered, "other friends have flown before -
On the morrow he will leave me, as my hopes have flown before."
Then the bird said, "Nevermore."

Startled at the stillness broken by reply so aptly spoken,
"Doubtless," said I, "what it utters is its only stock and store,
Caught from some unhappy master whom unmerciful Disaster
Followed fast and followed faster till his songs one burden bore -
Till the dirges of his Hope that melancholy burden bore
Of 'Never - nevermore'."

But the Raven still beguiling all my fancy into smiling,
Straight I wheeled a cushioned seat in front of bird, and bust and door;
Then upon the velvet sinking, I betook myself to linking
Fancy unto fancy, thinking what this ominous bird of yore -
What this grim, ungainly, ghastly, gaunt and ominous bird of yore
Meant in croaking "Nevermore."

This I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing
To the fowl whose fiery eyes now burned into my bosom's core;
This and more I sat divining, with my head at ease reclining
On the cushion's velvet lining that the lamplight gloated o'er,
But whose velvet violet lining with the lamplight gloating o'er,
She shall press, ah, nevermore!

Then methought the air grew denser, perfumed from an unseen censer
Swung by Seraphim whose footfalls tinkled on the tufted floor.
"Wretch," I cried, "thy God hath lent thee - by these angels he hath sent thee
Respite - respite and nepenthe, from thy memories of Lenore:
Quaff, oh quaff this kind nepenthe and forget this lost Lenore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! -
Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,
Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted -
On this home by horror haunted- tell me truly, I implore -
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil - prophet still, if bird or devil!
By that Heaven that bends above us - by that God we both adore -
Tell this soul with sorrow laden if, within the distant Aidenn,
It shall clasp a sainted maiden whom the angels name Lenore -
Clasp a rare and radiant maiden whom the angels name Lenore."
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

"Be that word our sign in parting, bird or fiend," I shrieked, upstarting -
"Get thee back into the tempest and the Night's Plutonian shore!
Leave no black plume as a token of that lie thy soul hath spoken!
Leave my loneliness unbroken!- quit the bust above my door!
Take thy beak from out my heart, and take thy form from off my door!"
Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore."

And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!

"TTH" Police Report

TTH Police Report:

• RD due: Wed., Oct. 10
• FD due: Monday, Oct. 15

No! No! Don't make me
write a police report!

Pick up where Poe left off in the "Tell Tale Heart."

Assume the perspective of one of the police officers who arrested the narrator, and write up  your police report.  Keep all of the facts and details of the story basically the same. Police officers, by training, are keen observers of people, so note the details and clues you recall from your experience with the narrator. What may have tipped you off that the narrator was the murder--or that a murder had occurred at all?

• Be true to the basic facts of the story.
• Include your own "creative" observations (you can embellish). 
• Write in first person POV.
• Your piece should be 350 words long--at least.
• Be very detailed. Keep the voice of the police person true to his/her personality.
• Make your report sound as authentic as possible.

Make sure your report covers at least the following information:

• Synopsis of the complaint.
• What you observed at the crime scene
• Record what any witnesses said.
• Case status: How was the incident resolved?

Helpful links:

"How to Write a Police Report"

http://www.ehow.com/how_4441251_write-police-report.html

"How to Write a Great Police Report"

http://www.ehow.com/how_5461354_write-great-police-report.html

"How to Write a Police Report Narrative"

http://www.ehow.co.uk/how_6063691_write-police-report-narrative.html

Student Example
(I've corrected the errors since we viewed it in class.)


Admitting the Deed
by Andie Wyatt (former student)

Tip tap tip tap. I could hear and see the harsh raindrops fall down upon the cold, car window beside me. There was a dull, slow melody in the background coming from an old radio. I picked up my chocolate twist donut and chewed with small, intense bites. My police scanner caught me by surprise; there was a concerned and anxious voice notifying me of a suspicious scream had taken place at 1738 Monroe Ave

Police report:

It was 4:00 a.m. as we pulled up to 1738 Monroe Avenue. My two partners (Jordan Kilps and Ronald Peterson) and I approached the door. The neighbor, who went by the name of Martha Bettingsfield, reported that there was a loud screech next door. I rang the door bell. There’s always a slight chill that comes over me as I anticipate what's indeed is behind that door. 

A man--tall, dark and somewhat hunched over--had a welcoming smile yet was very suspicious. Pearls of perspiration were taking form on his forehead. His gaze darted from here to there anxiously, avoiding our faces nervously. We'd dealt with some wackos before, but this one was winning the prize for weirdness.

When asked for his name,  he quickly responded,”Jack. Jack Fember.” He put up no fight whatsoever and led us through his chamber. He explained to us that the screech heard was his own in a dream. He informed my partners and me that an elderly man by the name of Ernest Williams lived in this house. He was, in fact, the owner. Mr. Fember said the old man was presently absent, vacationing in the country.  Mr. F. explained he was watching the house for Mr. W.

I produced a search warrant and Mr. F. feigned nonchalance, inviting us to search as we pleased. We checked every corner, searched every closet, every drawer and still nothing was found. Mr. Fember directed us to old man’s bedroom, and I noticed a severe twitch commencing in Mr. F's left

eye. That's a tell-tale sign if I've ever seen one...

HW for Week of 10/8; TTH Vocab.

HW for the week of Oct. 8-Oct. 12
(No school Oct. 12.)

Due Tuesday:	Be ready for TTH Vocab Test. Flash cards are posted below.
Due Wednesday:	RD of TTH Police Report due Wed.
Due Thursday:	Have your stanza of "The Raven" memorized. (On Wed., I'll assign stanzas.)
Due Monday, 10/15	FD "Tell Tale Heart" Police Report  due Mon., 10/15

"TTH" Vocab Test: Tuesday, Oct. 9

Know: spelling, definition, and part of speech.

"Tell Tale Heart"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tell-Tale_Heart_(1953_film)

Homework is NOW posted here...

From now on, I'm posting your homework here. 

You can access the blog from the link on Zangle, 

or you can just bookmark the blog and come straight here.

Items may be added, so you should still check the blog EVERY DAY!

E.A. Poe Scavenger Hunt: Due Thursday, 10/4

Edgar Allan Poe

To complete your Scavenger Hunt (due Thursday, 10/4), use these sites. You might want to divide the labor if you're working with a partner.

If you use your time well, you can finish the Scavenger Hunt and get started on tonight's HW on "The Raven."

• http://www.poemuseum.org/students-poe-overview.php
• http://www.poemuseum.org/students-mystery.php
• http://www.eapoe.org/geninfo/poechron.htm