Wednesday, October 17, 2012

HW for tonight

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

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

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.

Monday, October 15, 2012

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)

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

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!


Sunday, October 7, 2012

"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"




    "How to Write a Great Police Report"




    "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)