Independent Novel "Review"



This was my Independent Novel.  I
finished it this weekend.  Highly
recommended!

For the final blog post for your independent novel, I was going to make you write a stuffy book review.  I've decided against that; I would like to read something creative instead!  From the following genres, please choose one of the following to sum up your independent novel.  Again, please give me a bit of background information on the resolution of your novel, simply due to the fact that I have not read each and every one of them!

1. Biography of one of the characters - one of them should have an interesting life; a book was made about them!

2. Condolence letter - characters die; it's just what they do!  Write a condolence letter that expresses another character's sympathy.

3. Crossword puzzle (with clues and answers) - these never get old.  Include details on characters, setting, symbols, etc.

4. Family Tree - sometimes it's difficult to keep characters and their families straight.  Create a family tree that illustrates the complexities of a family and write a brief analysis of your tree.

5. Interview - what would one of the characters have to say in an interview?  What would they be uncomfortable speaking of?  Make them talk about it!

6. Newspaper Article - pretend you're a journalist and you're covering the story of your novel.  What would an objective party have to say about the events that took place?

7. Philosophy of Life - what message did the author send to you as a reader?  What would his/her philosophy of life be based on the novel?

8. Resume - create a character resume.  What would he/she list as previous employers?  Volunteer work?  Interests?  Hobbies?  References?

9. SAT Prompt - write an SAT prompt that deals with a central theme in your novel.  After you have written the prompt, respond to it in your best academic writing voice.  Be sure to incorporate your knowledge of literary devices such as plot, theme, tone, metaphor, irony, etc.

10. TV or Play Script - someone wants to make your novel into a TV show.  Write a script, and be sure to include details on setting, characters, their lines, and actions on-stage/screen.

Vocab Link

Here is the vocab list link so you can study for your test that will be on Monday!  Have an awesome weekend! :)

http://www.cibacs.org/teacherpages/jbronkar/PDFs/Separate%20Peace%20Vocabulary%20List.pdf

Chapters 9-10 "Discussion"

Taken from Google Images

Below are five quotes from chapters 9 and 10 that are incredibly important to these chapters.  Choose one that speaks to you and illustrate its importance in your journal.  Be sure to use your multi-genre sheet for this journal prompt and be ready to share!

"I'm almost glad this war came along.  It's like a test, isn't it, and only the things and the people who've been evolving the right way survive" -Leper (117).

"Winter's occupation seems to have conquered, overrun and destroyed everything, so that now there is no longer any resistance movement left in nature; all the juices are dead, every sprig of vitality snapped, and now winter itself, an old, corrupt, tired conqueror, loosens its grip on the desolation, recedes a little, grows careless in its watch; sick of victory and enfeebled by the absence of challenge, it begins to withdraw from the ruined countryside" -Gene narrating (120).

"It wasn't the cider which made me surpass myself, it was this liberation we had torn from the gray encroachments of 1943 the escape we had concocted, this afternoon of momentary, illusory, special and separate peace" -Gene narrating (128).

"You always were a lord of the manor, weren't you?  A swell guy, except when the chips were down.  You always were a savage underneath.  I always knew that only I never admitted it.  But in the last few weeks I admitted a hell of a lot to myself.  Not about you.  Don't flatter yourself.  I wasn't thinking about you  Why the hell should I think about you?  Did you ever think about me?...Like a savage underneath.  Like, like that time you knocked Finny out of the tree" -Leper (136-7).

"...I couldn't yell soon enough or loud enough, and when somebody did finally come up to me, it was this man with the cough who slept in the next cot, and he was holding a broom because we had been sweeping out the barracks, but I saw right away that it wasn't a broom, it was a man's leg which had been cut off.  I remember thinking that he must have been at the hospital helping with an amputation when he heard me yell.  You can see there's logic in that" -Leper (142).

From Gene's Perspective

Taken from Google Images

For this journal prompt, I want you to write from Gene's perspective.  You just intentionally jounced your best friend out of a tree; the result is that he fell to the ground below and shattered his leg, ruining his chances of playing sports ever again.

What's interesting about Gene is that he is the narrator of the novel, which means that he should act as the protagonist - we should "root" for his character; we should be on Gene's side.  However, many readers often find it difficult to empathize with Gene for what he did to the good-natured Finny.  What do you think about his character?

And if you were Gene, what would you have to say for your actions?

Foil Characters

Gene and Finny
Taken from Google Images



In your first reading of A Separate Peace, you have met the two main characters: Gene and Finny.  These sixteen year old boys could not be more different, and yet they are still friends.  In what ways are these two boys different?  How do their personalities compliment each other?  Have you ever had a friendship like theirs?

From your reading of chapters 1 and 2, what can you determine about the narrator's tone?  Do you think that Gene and Finny will be able to live in peace with one another's differences forever?  Explain your reasoning, and use examples from the text.

Mayella: Sympathetic or Not?



Mayella - a sympathetic character?
Taken from Google Images



Many readers have mixed feelings about Mayella's character.  It is evident from her testimony that she lies about Tom Robinson allegedly beating and raping her, but it is also evident that she has had a pretty rough life.  What do you think about Mayella?  Should readers feel sorry for her?  If so, why?  If not, why?  Give specific evidence for your reasoning!

"Mob Mentality"

"Mr. Cunningham is basically a good man.  He has blind spots along with the rest of us...a mob's always made up of people, no matter what.  Mr. Cunningham was part of a mob last night, but he was still a man.  Every mob in every little Southern town is always made up of people you know...it took an eight year old child to bring 'em to their senses, didn't it?  That proves something - that a gang of wild animals can be stopped, simply because they're still human" (157).

Taken from Google Images

Journal Prompt - Tell a story about a time when you were functioning with the "mob mentality" like Walter Cunningham.  What did you do that you normally wouldn't have done, but because you were with others it seemed okay at the time?  What was the outcome?

Mockingbird = Innocence



Taken from Google Images

 http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/20/10775671-trayvon-martin-case-to-go-to-grand-jury-fla-state-attorney-announces

After watching the clip above, I want you to ponder one question regarding To Kill a Mockingbird:

What has changed (if anything) since the 1930's regarding race and injustice?  What can be done to stop racism and senseless killing?  How is Trayvon Martin a "mockingbird" himself?

Taken from Google Images

60 Minutes Special on "The N-Word"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_VlJGtYiR8

The use of the "N-Word" is prominent much of literature - Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird use the word quite frequently.  But why?  What is the word's purpose in these pieces of classic literature?

After watching this video clip, I want you to think about the viewpoints that were expressed in the 60 Minutes segment and determine what you think: should the "N-word" be taken out of literature all together, or should the word stay? 

Does eliminating the word from these classic texts make it more powerful than it needs to be, or does its eradication take away the power?  Reflect on what you viewed in this film clip, and make sure to explain the reasoning behind your response.



Taken from Google Images



Trouble in TKAM

Taken from Google Images



Jem, Dill, and Scout are oftentimes in trouble, as you have seen from the chapters you read over the weekend.  The Finch kids and their sidekick always seem to be into something.  For this journal prompt, I want you to think back in your day - a time when your bike could take you anywhere, a time when your imagination never stopped (even in your sleep), a time when "pretend" was reality, a time when you were young and innocent (well, mostly innocent).  Who was your "Dill" AKA the instigator?  What kind of trouble would you get into? (Hopefully you were never shot at by the neighbors...)  What did you do to stress out your parents?  Did your older siblings try to ward you off like Jem does? 

Use your genre sheet to write about yourself and some adventures you had as a child - have fun with this!

TKAM Journal Prompt!

Taken from Google Images



I know you guys don't have to post a blog this week, but it's been soooo long since we've done a journal due to this crazy week, so we're doing one!

Soooo...

Take on the perspective of one of the minor characters of To Kill a Mockingbird (no Jem, Scout, or Atticus).  Write a diary/journal entry from that particular character's perspective about the current events in the novel.  What would Burris Ewell have to say about what happened in school?  What would Walter Cunningham talk about after his supper with the Finches?  What about Miss Caroline in her first horrific days of teaching 1st grade?  Maybe you want to take on the perspective of Dill at his home in Meridian, longing to come back to Maycomb so he could hang out with the Finch children.  Be creative with this!

What Were They Before They Were Savages?

Look! Ralph, Simon, and Jack during happier times!
Taken from Google Images

For this journal prompt, I want you to think about each of the boys' lives before the plane crashed on the island.  We know that they went to a British prep school, but we know little about the characters pre-pig killing, pre-keeping the fire going, pre-survival mode.  Do you think Jack was overly privileged, so that is why he acts in the power hungry manner that he does?  Or do you think that he wasn't privileged enough, which is why he is acting out now?  What about Simon?  What did his parents do for a living? What has made his character so good, so wise beyond his years?  Choose one of the characters, and create a history for them that explains why they act the way they do.  Keep in mind that they are merely little boys, so what did they do for fun during a more simple time?

Illustrate a day-in-the-life of one of the boys prior to this tragedy that brought them to the island.

Campaign Speech!

Who will it be?! Jack or Ralph?  Cast your vote!
Taken from Google Images

Now that tensions are really rising between Jack and Ralph, it's time to consider this: which one is more apt to run a successful government on the island and why?  Both of the boys have strengths, but both of them have major weaknesses as well.  Your task for this journal prompt is to imagine if the boys were running and campaigning for "Chief of the Island" and had to present a campaign speech to the rest of the boys.  What would they say in their speeches in order to sway the other boys and nab their votes?  Remember that politicians are oftentimes slimy - they lie and paint idealistic pictures of what life would be like in order to get votes.  What would Ralph have to say in his campaign speech to get votes?  What would Jack have to say? 

If you don't wish to have Ralph or Jack as your leader, focus on a more minor character: Simon, Piggy, Roger, Maurice, or maybe even a little 'un!

What's Your Beastie?

Taken from Google Images



When the little 'uns are fretting the beastie from sea, the beastie from air, the beastie from the forest - the all-encompassing beastie - Simon suggests something simple: "...maybe it's only us."  Perhaps the beastie is only a figment of their imaginations - the boys' internal fear of the unknown.  Fear is a tricky thing; it has the capability of swallowing its victims whole, much like it is doing to the boys on the island.

For this journal prompt, I want you to look inside of yourself - what is it that you fear?  What is your beastie?  Keep in mind that the beastie does not have to be typical things that people fear: spiders, the dark, flying.  Go a little deeper - what scares you?  And how do you plan to overcome this fear? How are you going to kick your beastie's butt before it swallows you whole?

Gender Bender - Mean Girls

Taken from Google Images

We have witnessed the boys on the island being rather mean to one another.  Name-calling.  Throwing rocks.  Breaking the little 'uns sand castles on the beach.  Leaving Piggy out.  Boys can be cruel - but so can girls (in a very different way)!  For this journal entry, I want you to imagine that a plane full of girls had crashed on the island, not boys.  Rewrite a scene in the novel and consider:  how would the fighting and malicious behavior towards one another be different?  Or would there be fighting at all?  How would the little 'uns be treated differently if our characters represented the XX chromosome - not XY?  Where would the girls' priorities lay compared to the boys'?

Have fun with this journal entry! :)

Perspective in LOTF

Taken from Google Images

Each of the boys view the island in a different manner than the next.  At the end of chapter 3, we see that Simon is absolutely enthralled with the beauty of the island and the forest while Ralph struggles on the beach to make shelter.  Jack "goes native" while Piggy is still concerned about order and doing things in a rational manner.  Piggy's views would be far different from Jack's, while Ralph's would be far different than Simon's. 

For this journal prompt, choose one of the boys in the novel (the character does not have to be a major one - you may also choose one of the little 'uns) and write a journal entry about how this particular character views life on the island.  Think about the island from his perspective - what does he see?

Bullying in LOTF



Taken from Google Images





I hope all of you found an article on bullying yesterday!  Bullying is a modern problem (even in this school) that is seen throughout William Golding's Lord of the Flies.  For your journal today, I want you to write about your article using one of the writing styles on your genre sheet.  Here are some ideas if you are stumped:

- a poem from the perspective of the bully or victim

- a diary entry from the perspective of the bully or victim

- a philosophy of life regarding respecting others

- a letter of complaint from the victim's parent or guardian

- a series of text messages between the victim and bullies

- a dramatized story of the events that took place  (take it out of its objective newspaper style!)

Homework: READ CHAPTER 2 TONIGHT!

Happy Monday!

- Lord of the Flies vocabulary bookmarks due today!  (20 points)

- Journal Prompt:

If I was stranded on an island...

-Read chapter 1 tonight for homework!  Be prepared for discussion tomorrow!

Vocab Words

Define Vocabulary Terms for Lord of the Flies:

Chapter 1

efflorescence
enmity
decorous
chorister
bastion
hiatus

Chapter 2

ebullience
recrimination
tumult
tirade

Chapter 3

oppressive
inscrutable
vicissitudes
declivities
tacit

Chapter 4

blatant
taboo
sinewy
malevolently

Chapter 5

ludicrous
ineffectual
jeer
inarticulate

Chapter 6

leviathan
clamor
mutinously

Chapter 7

crestfallen
impervious
enterprise

Chapter 8

glowered
rebuke
demure
fervor

Chapter 9

corpulent
sauntered

Chapter 10

compelled

Chapter 11

luminous
myopia
sniveling
quavered
parried
talisman

Chapter 12

Acrid
cordon
elephantine
epaulettes

Welcome to Novel!

Taken from Google Images

Hello, my novel-reading friends!  Welcome to...Novel!  What do you suppose we'll be doing in this class?  We will be reading...NOVELS!  Not only will we be reading novels, but we will be having some fantastic discussions regarding what we read, we will be doing some writing, and we will complete some fun projects!

Please come into my classroom with a strong work ethic and an open mind!  I am expecting a lot out of you guys this semester, and my main goal is for us to have fun as we learn.  I know that with the class list I'm looking at right now, we will indeed have some fun!  See you Tuesday, January 17th!

-Miss P.