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I am not sure if this will be seen, but I am writing to let several students know that I do not have their finals. I am not sure if they were taken home accidentally, or what, but I know that I do not have them. I am missing finals from: Ann-Marie, John Montoya, Tania Matias, Lorin Patterson, and maybe another student whom I can't recall. Check to see if you have it.

 Also, there are several of you who did not turn in the I.R. assignment. This is worth 250 points. If not turned in, this could damage a grade. If you did not speak to me regarding this matter then you will receive a zero for the assignment. If anyone sees this, perhaps you can forward it. If you are one of these people, please make an effort to get in touch with me. Otherwise, I will see you all when we return. 

Homework 1/21/09

Hello. Sorry that I missed class today. I had to leave early today due to the fact that I was compelled by an involuntary urge to regurgitate. However, I will be in tomorrow for the final. For the exam tomorrow, we will complete a two day AP diagnostic, similar to the one we took at the beginning of the class in September. I will then give you additional instructions for taking the exams home and grading them. To study, I would look back at your old diagnostics, look at your reference materials for literary devices, and be comfortable with your understanding of the language of the exam. Try to prepare for this one. 

I have to apologize for the delay in getting work back to you. I have everything graded, but I am locked out of my snapgrades due to my use of a non-network computer password breach. Once that is resolved, I will enter your grades and get your work back. I am hopeful to have that resolved today. Have a good night.

Homework: 01/20

Good evening, I hope you all enjoyed the Inauguration today. Just a quick reminder to complete the story tonight. We will work in groups tomorrow to discuss some of the major points. I am collecting journals after class. Final on Thursday and Friday. Have a good night.

Weekend Homework: 1/16 - 1/19

Hello. For this weekend I would like you to complete the first two parts to the book. I will try to post some questions later, but I am getting spotty internet service where I am. In addition, you should bring your paragraph for close reading one and your vocabulary from last week. On Tuesday, we will be going to the auditorium for the Obama Inauguration during 6th period. So, we will have a short class that day. We will complete Kafka next week and begin a new unit when we return from break. You should continue to work on your I.R. book project as that is due on the 26th, or sooner. We will resume AP prep on a more regular basis in semester two and I will begin to spend time on specific tasks from the exam. Have a good weekend. 

Homework: 01/14

Sorry for the late post. I taught PM school tonight, and my computer died. In any case, I would like you to complete the handout from today and read the next several pages. We will begin reading more each night soon. I want to start off slow with this book. Read until you reach the lines "... as he could now listen to the head clerk." Have a good night. 

Homework: 01/13

For this evening, I would like you to read - I mean, really read, closely - the two handouts from class today. They provide valuable background on Kafka and introduce us to the Existential framework we will use to examine The Metamorphosis. Do not be surprised if I administer a minor assessment on the readings. So, know the material. Also, please read the first few pages of the story. Read up the the paragraph that ends with "Still, it must be risked." We will have some discussion as well as begin to look at the text closely tomorrow. 

A reminder that all parts of the  I.R. are now due by the 26th. Please turn them in as soon as you finish. End of semester is the same day. Have a good night. 

Homework: 01/09 - 01/11

Hello. For this weekend I would like you to borrow or buy The Metamorphosis by Kafka. We will begin reading the story Next week. You should spend time this weekend really trying to get through your independent reading books and associated assignments. As a reminder, I changed the due dates for the I. R. to January 20th for all work. So, you do not need to give me journals this coming Monday. I hope this helps. The end of the semester is January 26th. We have two weeks. The final for our class is Thursday, January 22nd. I have not yet decided on task, but I assume it will be a full AP practice exam - writing and all. Have a good weekend. 

Homework 1/6/09

I hope you all enjoyed watching the film version of Heart of Darkness over the last two class periods. There is so much more that we can say about its cinematic qualities. Please bring in some observations for discussion tomorrow. They can be comparisons, contrasts, specific scenes, direction, themes, conflicts, quotes, etc. These will serve as a good springboard for discussing the film as it relates to the book. I will likely give you a journal on the film, so bring them to class tomorrow. 

Here are some things happening in the coming days/weeks:

1. Final thoughts on the film

2. Some discussion about The Stranger - possibly some in class activities.

3. Go over the multiple choice test you took before going on break. You should record percentages on your tracking sheet.

4. Henkel Visits Thursday period 6 - the entire period.

5. You need to buy/rent Kafka's Metamorphosis by Thursday - Friday at the latest. It is available as an online text to get started if need be. 

6. Texts I am hoping to get through - at least with some degree of depth:

a. The Bible - Selections

b. Hamlet - Play

c. Homer - The Odyssey

d. Oedipus 

e. Poetry - British

f. Kafka

Ambitious I know. We will see how it goes. Some texts will be examined more closely than others. 

Final thoughts - The Stranger

Hello. This will be the last post for the novel. I hope you all had a nice vacation. Here are some final thoughts/questions on the novel. 

Why does the narrator conclude that he and Marie will no longer mean anything to one another?

In the last paragraph of the novel Camus concludes with these words: "For the first time in  long time I thought about Maman ... I opened myself to the gentle indifference of the world." Why do you think he does this? How are they reflective of the passivity of Existentialism? 

What do you think the novel conveys about the nature of life? How does The Stranger further your understanding of Existentialism?

Checking in

Hello. At this point you should be nearing the end of the assignment. I will post a few final thoughts and questions for the reading later today or tomorrow. Since I removed the questions from the assignment, I did not post a lot of questions for you. I am confident you found your way through the book and were able to form critical opinions of the text. Hope all is well. See you all Monday. Enjoy the last few days of vacation. They tend to go fast.