Author: litalive

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Assignments for 04/21/2025

Field of tulips

Assignments for April 21st, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

For next week, finish the book — To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. (Chapters 15-31) This is easy reading and short chapters! I think you’ll be a bit surprised at the ending.) Complete study guide questions 35-72. The trial itself is a big surprise as to that happening in the United States at that time in history.

Watch the following clips from the movie version of this story.

The dialogue is so true to the book!

American History

Today, we took the test on the states and capitals. I hope this will be a good grade for everyone! We then did our President’s reports. If you did not do yours today, please bring it for the class to hear. We had a great group today. We will finish our reports on April 28 and May 5. (Ana, Tyson, and Sam will do theirs next week.

Next week, we will have our test on Chapters 21-24. We will play a game review before the test. The test will be objective as usual. Just study the terms I gave you in the Chapter Review. Of course, know the dates of World War I. We will review the people and events in these chapters in our game. It is the last test we will have on chapters in the book. We will have a quiz on Chapter 25 (World War II) on April 28. The remaining chapters will be on the final exam.

Watch these brief videos of our Presidents.

William McKinley

Woodrow Wilson

Warren Harding

No-Spin Economics

We reviewed Chapters 5 and 6 and then went to what you have read in Chapters 7-9. I will give you sheets to study for each of these chapters as we finish the book. Next week, read Chapters 10-13, and we will finish our discussion We went over the Federal Reserve districts, and each student received a sheet explaining the Fed even further. We then went over your sheet on Deficits and Debts so that you could see the difference. The other “d” word was default and was defined as well. We will finish Crash Course Economics #10 on Monetary Policy and the Fed next week. For those of you who watched the debt clock, it IS a scary thing! Note all the information on that page!

Practical Public Speaking

We started our Informative speeches today, which proved to be extremely interesting, I think all of you chose something or someone you really were interested in and that you knew something about! Please be prepared to give your speech next week and try to apply all that you have learned this semester!

Adventures in American Literature

We spent the entire time discussing their new book, The Giver by Lois Lowry. It is a dystopian novel in which Jonas takes matters into his own hands to change his world. Next week, finish reading this book by completing Chapters 13-23 and answering study guide questions 31-50. It will be interesting to hear your view of the end of the story! We will take both of the quizzes for this book and also the quiz on the two short stories you read earlier. (The Outcasts of Poker Flat and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County)

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 04/14/2025

Field of tulips

Assignments for April 14th, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

We’re starting a new book this week – To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Here are the chapters.

Chapters 1-14
Study Guide Questions 1-34

If this is your first experience with a dystopian novel, try to see why the community does what they do!

American History

We had a great review today of our states and capitals. If you are still not sure of some of them, study page 539 in your text. We will take our test on the states and capitals at the beginning of the hour and then go through all our Presidents’ reports. For next week, too, read Chapter 25, and we will go over the basics of what you need to know for our quiz.

Watch this attack that led to our entering the war.

No-Spin Economics

We spent our second day examining our currency. We examined the one, two, five, ten, twenty, fifty, and hundred dollar bills. Next week, we will have our quiz on our coins and currency. There will be two matching sections—one on the obverse (heads) side of our coins and currency. The other side (reverse or tails) will have its own section. The rest of the quiz will be True/False about the notes on the Coins and Currency sheet, front and back. Also, study the notes on the front and back of the $100 bill page you were given. Also, for next week, watch the next two videos—#9 and #10. (We are skipping #8.)

Crash Course Economics #9—Deficits and Debts

Crash Course Economics #10—Monetary Policy & The Fed

Next week, we’ll go over all that you have read, but don’t have sheets for,

Watch the U.S. debt clock in real time.

Practical Public Speaking

We first went over how to make a key word outline, use strategies in introductions, and strategies in conclusions. We then did our impromptu speeches for the class.

Next week, prepare your Informative speech for the class. If you still have speeches to make-up, prepare them as well. When you give your speech, be sure to give me an outline of your efforts. I look forward to hearing about all these subjects that you are interested in!

Adventures in American Literature

Many of you have already read the two short stories we had a couple of weeks ago. (The Outcasts of Poker Flat and The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County) Hope gave us a nice summery of the second story today. We will take the final quiz next week.

Today you were given a study guide for our next book, The Giver by Lois Lowry. Read the first twelve chapters and answer the study guide questions 1-30.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 03/24/2025

Assignments for March 24th, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

We’re finishing the book this week. Here are the chapters.

  • Chapters 64-71 (abridged version)
  • Chapters 104-117 (unabridged version)

Answer the questions in your study guide 94-105.

American History

The students did really well on the Presidents’ test. All they had to do was study what I gave them! Today, we went over Chapters 22 and 23—World War I and the Roaring Twenties. Then we reviewed the states and capitals for our test on April 14. That same day, we will have our next Presidential reports.

Watch this short video on the Great Depression.

Watch this one-minute review of the Presidency of Herbert Hoover.

For next week, read Chapter 24. When we return from Spring Break, we will be ready for our test on Chapters 21-24 in your text. Remember, you don’t have to know everything in the chapter, just what I give you to circle in the Chapter Review.

No-Spin Economics

The students received their quizzes back from last week. After taking questions from the quiz, we began a competitive review of Crash Course Economics 1-6. Then, we took our test on 1-6. For next week, read Chapters 7-9 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?
Also, watch Crash Course Economics #7.

Inflation, Bubbles, and Tulips

Practical Public Speaking

We first went over the homework for next week. On page 41 in your text, brainstorm a number of ideas and interests for your Informative speech. Narrow the topics to three, and I will meet with each one of you and help you decide which one is best. You should leave class with a certain topic for your next speech!

After that, we finished with the Manuscript speeches and then the extemporaneous News Articles. Next week will be a make-up week for any speeches you are missing.

Adventures in American Literature

We watched the Huck Finn movie to see the portrayal of the pretended Wilks brothers. It helps so much to see the two con men in action! Then we took any questions of the reading of the book or the study guide questions. The quizzes really are about what happened in the story, It was fun to see Tom Sawyer again, but it was hard not to compare the two!! (T0m Sawyer and Huck Finn)

For next week, study for the final test on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. We will have a game review before we take the test.

Also, read the following two short stories.

The Outcasts of Poker Flat

For this story, answer question #2 (a, b, and c) on page 129. (We will do the rest together.)

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 03/17/2025

Clover leaves

Assignments for March 17th, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

Here is the reading for The Count of Monte Cristo this week.

  • Chapters 54-63 (abridged version)
  • Chapters 82-103 (unabridged version)

Answer the questions in your study guide 83-93.

American History

We had the last of the Presidents’ reports today—Rutherford B. Hayes, Benjamin Harrison, and Grover Cleveland before we took our test. We did review the things we needed to know about these three Presidents. Then we took our test, and I think they did really well.

For next week, read Chapter 23, and we will discuss both 22 and 23 as well as give the terms you need to know in the Chapter Reviews.

Watch the short video about why the Americans finally entered World War I.

The Sinking of the Lusitania and the Zimmernan Note

Watch these two one minute videos about the first two of the second half of our Presidents.

William McKinley

Theodore Roosevelt

No-Spin Economics

We went over last week’s quizzes and reviewed both Crash Course Economics #3 and #5. Then, we took our quiz on these two worksheets. Crash Course #5 and #3 are both on Macroeconomics. Then we went over the entire sheet on Productivity and Growth. (#6)

Next week, we will have a competitive game review of Crash Course Economics 1-6. Just study the first six sheets you have from the Crash Course videos. After the review, we will take the test on these videos. A country’s GDP is directly related to Productivity and Growth.

Practical Public Speaking

We first went over the Extemporaneous speech for next week as a short version (3 min.) based on the speeches we will be doing the rest of the year. Here is the new assignment.

Choose a news article that you find interesting to you. You may choose from a newspaper (if you have one), WWMT.com (Channel 3 news) Fox News, CBS, NBC, etc. Choose the title of the article, and do a basic outline. (see page 39 in your notebook) You will tell it in your own words, using the main points of your outline.

Do not READ it to us or memorize it. You can just TELL it to us. You should be able to talk to us, and it may change slightly as you do it. You can adapt it to your audience. You may use index cards to write specifics you don’t want to forget. (3 x 5, 4 x 6, or 5 x 7 cards) If you have any questions at all, please email me.

Adventures in American Literature

We took any questions the students had before we took the quiz. (Chapters 19-29) Then we discussed all of your study guide questions and filled out the events on the illustrated sheet at the back of your study guide. We will finish answering the questions in your Chronolog when you have read the last chapters.

For next week, read the rest of the novel. (Chapters 30-43) Answer the remaining study guide questions and finish the Chronolog questions. We will watch the video and see the King and the Duke portraying the Wilks’ brothers. it’s very helpful in understanding the story.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 03/10/2025

Clover leaves

Assignments for March 10th, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

Here is the reading for The Count of Monte Cristo this week.

  • Chapters 42-53 (abridged version)
  • Chapters 63-81 (unabridged version)

Answer the questions in your study guide 67-82.

Watch this video about Carnival in Europe.

American History

We had several Presidential reports today. Then we had an extensive review for our Presidential test next week on Presidents 1-24. (Washington-Cleveland) I gave them everything they needed to know for this test. There will be 51 multiple choice questions and a list of the Presidents in order that they served. I will give you the first name, and you will give the last name. This will be an easy grade for most of the students. Just study what I gave you in class today. Also, for next week, read Chapter 22 in your text. We will go over 21 and 22, and I will give you the terms to know from the Chapter Reviews. Chapter 22 is on World War I. We will also cover the sinking of the Titanic. How appropriate!

Watch these short Presidential summaries.

Benjamin Harrison

Grover Cleveland

No-Spin Economics

We had two quizzes today on Crash Course Economics #4 on Supply and Demand and on Penny Candy Chapters 3 and 4. Next week, we will have a quiz on Crash Course Economics #3 and #5. We went over the worksheet on #5 today and then reviewed #3. Just study these two worksheets for the quiz. Also, watch Crash Course Economics #6 on Productivity and Growth and complete the worksheet you were given.

Productivity and Growth

Practical Public Speaking

Great variety today on the second and last Memorization speech. Your toasts also included birthday celebrations, grandparent tributes as well as traditional wedding celebrations! After the speeches, we started our coverage of phonation and vocalization.

For next week, prepare the Manuscript speech you chose form the list in class. Don’t forget to email me if you choose to select one of your own instead of the ones I suggested. Once you have found what you want, I will free that one up on the list.

Please locate the speech online as soon as possible and let me know if you have any problems at all. Research the background for your selected speech and deliver it with the passion that the original author intended! Please mark your “script” as we discussed in class today to help you with your delivery. (Refer to page 36 in your notebook to help in preparing your speech.) Concentrate particularly on inflection, eye contact, and articulation. If you had chosen a longer speech, condense it so that it is around 5-8 minutes.

Adventures in American Literature

We took any questions students had and then took our quiz on Chapters 11-18. We then discussed the study guide questions and other questions that might lead to a better understanding of the story line. Then we watched a few minutes of the video to see this tale in action.

For next week, read Chapters 19-29 and answer questions 48-68 in your study guide, Bring any questions you have about what was going on in the story or study guide questions you don’t know how to answer. We will answer those before we take the quiz.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 03/03/2025

Clover leaves

Assignments for March 3rd, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

Here is the reading for The Count of Monte Cristo this week.

Chapters 28-41 (abridged version)
Chapters 35-62 (unabridged version)

Answer the questions in your study guides #52-#66.

American History

We had a competitive game review between two teams before we took our test on Chapters 18-20. Students who listened as we reviewed should do really well. Students will receive their tests next week.

For next week, read Chapter 21, which we will go over. Don’t forget about the Presidential reports next week.

  • Ana — Zachary Taylor
  • Eden — Andrew Johnson
  • Selah —U.S. Grant
  • Keanna — Rutherford B. Hayes
  • Inga — James Garfield
  • Inga — Chester Arthur
  • Nolan — Grover Cleveland

Isaiah will do Benjamin Harrison the following week.

Watch these Presidential summaries.

Andrew Johnson

Ulysses S. Grant

Rutherford B. Hayes

James Garfield

Chester Arthur

I will review all you need to know for the first Presidents’ test next Monday. (Washington-Cleveland)

No-Spin Economics

We went over all of the homework today—Chapters 3 and 4 in Penny Candy and Crash Course Economics #4 on Supply and Demand. There is so much information on these worksheets! Study the sheets to prepare for quizzes. One will be on Penny Candy 3 and 4. (Multiple choice and True/False) The quiz on Crash Course Economics #4 is only ten True/False statements. Again, just study the sheets you were given for these chapters.

For next week, watch Crash Course Economics #5 on Macroeconomics. Also, fill out the study sheet you were given. (True/False for each statement)

Practical Public Speaking

Great job today on your Introduction speeches. You did a super job with them. Next week, you have one last Memorization speech. On these speeches, you may choose from either a toast (for a wedding, banquet, etc.) to honor a friend, sibling, grandparents, aunt, uncle, etc. or prepare a presentation speech. (Presenting an award of some kind) You will need to write out what you plan to say and then memorize it. Plan to turn in a copy of your speech to me. It should be approximately one minute.

Toast—Identify the occasion, your relationship to the person, and a few opening remarks to the couple. (if it’s a wedding) Then list some personal examples of good qualities of the honoree and how that will serve him/her well in the future.. You might also or instead tell some humorous events tat the two of you shred in the past that would be entertaining to the audience. Congratulate the person again!

Presentation—Comment on any special features of the occasion and on the purpose of the occasion. Describe the award and what it represents. If appropriate, mention your relationship with the recipient (coach, teacher, student, friend). List the recipient’s achievements. Present the award, prize, or gift and congratulate the recipient.

Adventures in American Literature

We discussed all of the study guide questions and went over why Twain might have chosen Huck Finn as the narrator of the book. Before our quiz, we also watched some of the same events on a video of the book.

For next week, read Chapters 11-18 and answer questions 27-47 in your study guide. Bring any questions you may have to class, and we will answer anything you didn’t understand before we take the quiz. Then, after the quiz, we will discuss the study guide questions and watch some more of the video.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 02/24/2025

Assignments for February 24th, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

Here is the reading in The Count of Monte Cristo for this week.

  • Chapters 13-27 (abridged version)
  • Chapters 16-35 (unabridged version)

Answer questions 19-51 for this reading.

Watch this tour of the current Chateau d’If.

American History

Today we reviewed for next week’s test on Chapters 18-20. In case you were absent, here are the things to study from the Chapter Reviews.

Chapter 18 Chapter Review

People

1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 12, 16, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, and 30.

Terms

3, 7, 10, 12, 20, 21, 30, and 34.

Chapter 19 Chapter Review

People

7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, and 27.

Terms

1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11, 12, and 17.

Identify

5, 9, 12, 13, 14, and 15. (Many of these overlap.)

Chapter 20 Chapter Review

People

4, 5, 9, 16, 18, 19, 23, 27, and 30.

Terms

6, 9, 13, 16, and 19

Places

1, 3, 5, 7, and 8.

Identify

1 and 3

For next week, study only these numbered items from each chapter.

No-Spin Economics

We took questions and then took Test #1 on the notes from Bastiat’s The Law, Crash Course Economics #1, and Penny Candy Chapters 1 and 2. We then went over Crash Course Economics #3 on Economic Systems and Macroeconomics.

For next week, read Chapters 3 and 4 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? Students were given a sheet to fill out on Chapter 3. I will give each of you a filled out sheet for Chapter 4 next week. Then we can go over both chapters. There are really important facts in Chapter 3 on Inflation. Here is the Chapter 3 Inflation sheet the students were given today in case you were absent.

Also, watch Crash Course Economics #4 on Supply and Demand.

 

Here is the study sheet for Crash Course Economics #4 passed out in class today in case you were absent.

Practical Public Speaking

We finished the last of the second set of interviews this week and began our study of the art of listening. We went through several pages in our workbook and will continue next week.

Next week we will begin our practical public speaking by writing an introduction of a speaker to our class. Write it out (around one minute) and then memorize it. You can introduce a speaker to the class by giving his/her qualifications for this topic, what he/she is speaking on, and finally the name itself. This can be a famous athlete, famous musician, Bible character, fictional character, historical character, or whatever you would like. (dead or alive!) You don’t have to really know the person personally or bring that person to class. It can be a family person—anyone who is an expert at something they could share with us. (father, mother, sister, brother, aunt, uncle, friend, etc.) Have fun with this!

Adventures in American Literature

We went through all of Mark Twain’s short stories as well as the excerpt from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain is a master satirist which we noted in each of his stories.

For next week, we are ready to begin our next novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Read the first ten chapters and answer the corresponding questions 1-26 in the study guide you were given today in class. (You can get it next week if you were absent.) We will discuss these first ten chapters BEFORE we take the quiz (all multiple choice). After this, we will take the quiz first and then go over the study guide questions. The quiz will mainly check to see if you read the chapters.

Watch this biography of Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens).

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 02/17/2025

Pink heart hanging ornament

Assignments for February 17th, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

Today, we did a game review and then took the final test on Cyrano de Bergerac. This test will still go on first semester, and second semester begins with The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Since this is a full year course, students will receive a transcript at the end of the year. If you need to know how your student is doing, just email me, and I will average his/her grade for first semester. For next week, begin The Count of Monte Cristo by reading the following chapters:

  • Chapters 1-12 (abridged version)
  • Chapters 1-15 (unabridged version)

The students received study guides today for this book. Answer questions 1-18 for this reading.

Watch this short biography of Dumas.

American History

Today, we reviewed our Crossword Puzzles on Jefferson and Lincoln. Then we had our Presidential reports on Millard Fillmore—Abraham Lincoln. Watch the following one-minute summaries of the lives of some of our Presidents.

Franklin Pierce

James Buchanan

Abraham Lincoln

We then started going through the rest of our current chapters. For next week, read Chapter 20. We will have a test the following week on Chapters 18-20.

Listen to these fun facts about the Statue of Liberty, a gift from France to celebrate the 100th anniversary of our independence.

No-Spin Economics

Today, we finished going over the worksheet on Crash Course Economics #2—Specialization and Trade. We then played a game to show how EVERYONE benefits from free trade. The more partners you can trade with, the more success you will have in getting what you want. Then we went over the worksheet for Chapters 1 and 2 in our Penny Candy book. Next week, we will have our first test on the notes (from the video) on Bastiat’s The Law, Crash Course Economics #1—Introduction to Economics, and Chapters 1 and 2 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? You don’t need to watch the videos or read the chapters again. Just study the sheets you were given to prepare for the test.

Also, for next week, watch Crash Course Economics #3 on Economic Systems and Macroeconomics.

Please download and print worksheet for this Crash Course Economics Lesson #3.

Practical Public Speaking

We finished one set of interviews and are almost done with the second set. With that done, everyone will have had a chance to be the interviewer and the interviewee. It is a great chance to get to know our classmates better.

If you did not hand in your ads today, be sure to bring them next week. Put them on a sheet of paper with your name on it. List the ads, where you got them, and what strategy they illustrate. Tell me a little bit about the ad as well.

Next week, we will finish our interviews and cover the lesson on Listening, an important attribute we all need. We will then begin some short assignments that are very practical and very likely to occur in your life.

Adventures in American Literature

We covered today’s homework: Emily Dickenson and her work, Walt Whitman and his work before, during, and after the Civil War, and Harriet Beecher Stowe’s classic novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin. (excerpt and questions) For next week, read the following short stories (works of satire) and the excerpt from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer on pages 114 to 125. Next week’s assignment will be to start our next novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Make sure you have a copy of the book by next week.

Watch this short video for 5 facts you probably didn’t know about Mark Twain.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 02/10/2025

Pink heart hanging ornament

Assignments for February 10th, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

We reviewed Acts IV and V and went over the rest of the study guide for Cyrano de Bergerac. We will have a game review next week and then take our final test. I will give out the study guides for The Count of Monte Cristo next week and give the assignments for both the abridged and unabridged version of the book.

Watch this ending of the play.

American History

We did a review game today and then took our final test on Chapters 10-17. This test will go on with the first semester grade. If you would like to know the grade your student has for first semester, please email me and I will average it for you. Next week, we will go over Chapters 18 and 19. Please bring the crosswords on Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. Also, we will do our Presidential reports on Zachary Taylor through Abraham Lincoln.

Watch this short video that explains The Gilded Age.

No-Spin Economics

Next week, we will finish the Specialization and Trade sheet (Crash Course Economics #2). Read Chapters 1 and 2 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? and complete the worksheet you were given. In your notebook, it is advisable to keep your Penny Candy worksheets together and your Crash Course Economics sheets together for study purposes. We will have our first quiz a week from next Monday (Feb. 17). We will go over the worksheet on the Penny Candy chapters and finish Crash Course Economics #2. We will then play a game that illustrates how free trade benefits everyone.

Practical Public Speaking

Next week, we will begin our personal interviews and get to know each other even better! Also, using page 12 in your text, find three ads to illustrate at least two of the strategies listed there. This week is a great time to watch the ads on the Super Bowl, but you don’t have to use those. You can find any online, on TV, on billboards, or on the radio.

Adventures in American Literature

We went over all of the students’ reading thus far. (Redburn, The Minister’s Black Veil, Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, Thanatopsis, and the works of the Fireside poets.) For next week, read about the poetry of Emily Dickenson through the play written about her, The Belle of Amherst. Read her poetry and answer the questions on pages 100-104. Then read the poetry of Walt Whitman and answer the questions on pages 105-111. Lastly, read the excerpt of Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe and answer the questions that follow. (pages you were given in class)

Watch this short biography of Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025:

litalive

Assignments for 02/03/2025

Pink heart hanging ornament

Assignments for February 3rd, 2025

Quick Looks at Great Books

Since we did not meet today, I need you to go ahead and fill out the rest of your study guide. Normally, we would have done this together in class. To save time, we will just go over all the details and discuss Acts IV and V. We will also take the quizzes on the two assignments. We will have a game review and test next week. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas is our next book. Remember, do not purchase the Bantam version of the book. The translation is quite different from what we will cover.

American History

Continue to study for your test on Chapters 10-17. We will have a game review and then take the test. Just so we don’t lose any time, read Chapter 18 this week. We will discuss it next week, along with Chapter 19, and I will give you a list of things you have to know. (from the Chapter Review) Our next test will be over 3 chapters only! Those with Presidential reports will present them on February 10 instead of February 3.

Watch this explanation of the Reconstruction covered in Chapter 17.

No-Spin Economics

Next week, we will go over the worksheets you have completed so far: Bastiat’s The Law and Introduction to Economics (Crash Course Economics #1). Hopefully, you have a good understanding of these. For next week, also watch and do the worksheet for Crash Course Economics #2. Specialization and Trade are such interesting subjects that we will discuss in class.

Crash Course Economics #2

Please complete the Crash Course in Economics Lesson #2 sheet (PDF).

Practical Public Speaking

Hopefully, you picked up your text at KAT today. Since we are missing another week of Public Speaking, please complete pages 1-6 in your notebook. (Put the Public Speaking text in a three-ring binder.) We can then go over all the pages thus far. We will also have some homework that involves the Super Bowl. (Or really the ads on the Super Bowl.)

Adventures in American Literature

Today, we would have gone over Redburn, Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment, and The Minister’s Black Veil. We will go over all of those when I’m back with you. Since you have the second semester booklet (text) now, you can do the homework we were going to do, and we can go over all of it at once. We would have done Thanatopsis by William Jennings Bryan in class. Read the poem on pages 89 and 90 and answer the questions on page 91. Thanatopsis is a poem about Death. He wrote the poem at the age of 17; even then he was surrounded by death, so he took a positive approach to it.

Read the works of the Fireside Poets on pages 92-97 and answer the questions about each. Oliver Wendell Holmes was the class poet at Harvard, and this is a poem he wrote for his 30th reunion. We have two other famous poets before we start novels and Mark Twain.

Watch this introduction to the Fireside Poets.

Previous Assignments for School Year 2024 – 2025: