I hope you're reading!

You have another week to get your outside reading book and start reading!

Hamlet Memorization Extra Credit

Hi all -- I know some of you are really missing class. If you're bored, memorize some Hamlet!

I'm offering 4 points of extra credit on a quiz (very valuable) for memorizing 14 lines of one of Hamlet's soliloquies. HERE is the explanation of the assignment. Note that in order to receive all 4 points you have to deliver the lines perfectly with flair and feeling!

This is due by January 22nd. Plan to make an appointment with me after class or during lunch to do it.

Happy Break!

Your only homework for the next two weeks:

1. obtain and READ your outside reading book
2. sleep and rebuild your energy for 2016

See you soon!

Hamlet Essay -- NEW PLAN

Hi all, after talking with many of you yesterday and seeing your thesis statements via email, I've made an executive decision to push back the due date of your Hamlet essays. It's clear you need more time and support in this.

Here are the new, important dates:

Friday, December 18: full outline due (with thesis and quotations) to me via email*
January 4-8: work days
January 11: FULL ESSAY DUE

*I will read your outlines and thesis statements and give you some feedback

I do not expect you to work on this over break. We will dedicate a full week to this when you return. Keep in mind, however, that I am expecting really stellar results when you turn in the final product.

Hamlet Essay

Happy Tuesday!

Today we worked in-class on our Hamlet essays. HERE is the mini-lecture I gave about getting started.

Remember: You need to narrow the prompt and stay tightly focused in your research and writing. Your thematic inquiry statement should be active, argumentative and nuanced!

Outside Reading 2 -- CHOICES

Please choose your second outside reading book by Friday (December 18th). Plan to have the book FULLY read by January 19th.

Here are your options:

• Siddhartha (Hesse)
• On the Road (Kerouac)
• Middlesex (Eugenides)
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Angelou)
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X (Haley)
• The Woman Warrior (Hong-Kingston)
• Into the Wild (Krakauer(
• My Antonia (Cather)
• The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Kundera)

Hamlet Essay

This weekend you should begin work on your Hamlet essay. HERE are the prompts.

Important Dates
     Tuesday, December 15 -- research and notes due
     Tuesday, Dec. 15 - Thursday, Dec. 17 -- in class work days
     Friday, December 18 -- ESSAY DUE

Important Steps

1. Research your topic – go back through the text looking closely for quotations related to your prompt. Copy them down. Always record the act, scene and line number! Some ideas:
1. Use notecards to organize your research
2. Keep everything in one part of your notebook
3. Create a special word document for your research
2. Look at all the evidence you gathered. What are the natural arguments or conclusions you can draw? What patterns can you bring together? Let the text speak—don’t try to force an interpretation that isn’t there!
3. Draft a strong thematic inquiry statement.
4. Write! Revise! Edit!

Finish Hamlet tonight!

Tonight you should read Act 5, scene 2. This is the end of Hamlet!

Tonight's Reading

Don't forget to read Act 4, scenes 6 & 7!!

Weekend Reading

This weekend you should read ACT 4, scenes 1-3.

Really read it!

TONIGHT: Read Act 3, scene 3

There *may* be a quiz!

TONIGHT: Read Act 3, scene 2

Today we read and listened to Act 3, scene 1. He heard the audio book version, discussed the passage, and then watched two movie adaptations. We talked about the power of interpretation and differences of staging that can change our understanding of Hamlet's relationship with Ophelia.

Post Socratic Seminar Response

Oops! HERE is the good link.