Homework (Honors)

JANUARY – 2013

Recent Assignments

Book Clubs Book Review/Essay – (Due January 18th or day of Midterm)

Grammar Midterm-Review Worksheet – (Due January 7th or 8th)

Mega-Vocabulary-Midterm Review Worksheet – (Due January 7th or 8th)

Book Clubs Peer-to-Peer Interview Writing Prompt – (Due January 2nd/3rd)

Poetry Comparison-Contrast Essay – (Due December 21st)

Poetry Devices Worksheets – (Due December 16th/17th)

December – 2012

Beginning after Thanksgiving we will be starting our book clubs unit (see blog entry for entire list of books) along with a brief poetry unit in anticipation of reading Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

November – 2012

By Thanksgiving, students will have completed the second half of To Kill a Mockingbird (chapters 16-31) and will have taken the second unit exam and completed the TKAM essay on topics A,B or C.


September – Weeks 1-4  – Short Story Unit –  See Below –                            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: By now everyone should have read the following list of short stories – in preparation for writing a compare/contrast essay on two of the short stories. See below. I also have asked that students write a narrative using all of the vocabulary words on list #2. See vocabulary list.

“Father and I” by Par Lagerkvist – “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs – “The Beginning of Grief” by Larry Woiwode – “The Storyteller” by H.H. Munro – “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe – “The Bet” by Anton Chekhov – “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut – “The Doll’s House by Katherine Mansfield – “The Secret Lion” by Alberto Alvaro Rios – “Gryphon” (*) by Charles Baxter (*=early next week)

Honor Freshman English I – Short Story Comparison Essay – 1st Tier

Write a 4-6 page (1000-1500 word) formal essay (typed and double-spaced) comparing two short stories from the list of stories we have read. See below. Note: If you would like to go outside of this list, you may choose one story of high literary merit to compare with one of the stories on the list. 

“Father and I” by Par Lagerkvist

“The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs

“The Beginning of Grief” by Larry Woiwode

“The Storyteller” by H.H. Munro (Saki)

“The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe

“The Bet” by Anton Chekhov

“Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut

“The Doll’s House” by Katherine Mansfield

“The Secret Lion” by Alberto Alvaro Rios

“Gryphon” by Charles Baxter

Paragraph 1 (Introduction)

            Topic Sentence – Begin with a topic sentence that identifies author and title of each story and finds some point of comparison between the two stories.

             General Exposition – Next, provide exposition by introducing each story in a general way with some brief mention of subject matter, story-line and historical background of the story or the author (optional).

Narrow the Focus – Narrow the focus of your paper by mentioning either character conflicts, symbolism or theme as the main element that you will be analyzing in your paper.

             Thesis Statement – Make an original assertion about the two stories with regard to characters-in-conflict, symbolism or theme – preferably something beyond the level of  “obvious truth,” and therefore, insightful, thought-provoking and open to debate.

*  BODY OF PAPER * 

Paragraphs 2-3 (Specific Exposition)

             Specific Exposition/Analysis of Story-Line –  Discuss and compare each story with regard to the specifics of plot, setting and character – with some mention of  story-arc –  how each  story unfolds, builds suspense and reaches its conclusion. In these paragraphs you are highly encouraged to mention such terms as: exposition, rising action/complication, climax, falling action and resolution/denouement.

Paragraphs 3-4  or 3-4-5-6  (Specific Points of Comparison)

           Points of Comparison – As indicated in your thesis statement, use thesis paragraphs to analyze and investigate specific points of comparison or contrast regarding either: characters-in- conflict, symbolism or theme. As part of your analysis, please remember to provide relevant quotations as evidence supporting your claims and observations.

Paragraph 5 or 7 (Conclusion)

           Final Editorial Remarks – Finish your essay with some concluding remarks on the ultimate  meaning/ lesson of each story with specific reference to aspects of character, conflict, symbolism  or theme and include final editorial remarks  (your “verdict”) on how effectively each story deals with these.