Week at a glance Nov 8 - 12, 2010

Curriculum focus: identifies, interprets, and analyzes figurative language including: simile, metaphor, idiom, analogy, hyperbole, onomatopoeia, personification, imagery, and symbolism (11.1.2.K4a-i), compares/contrasts textual aspects: character traits (11.1.4.K7a), compare/contrasts textual aspects: character motives (11.1.4.K7h), compares/contrasts textual aspects: author's purpose (11.1.4.K7i), analyzes and evaluates how the author's style (word choice and sentence structure) and use of literary devices work together to achieve his/her purpose by using tone, mood, and imagery (11.1.4.K11d, e, and h), and analyzes contextual aspects of setting and their influence on characters and events in the story including the contexts of history, society, and culture (11.2.1.K2a-c).

Root words for this week (root - definition - examples):

1. aud - hear or listen - audience, audio, audition
   
2. dict - say or speak - dictate, dictionary, diction
   
3. path - emotion - pathetic, sympathy, empathy
   
4. test - witness or declare - contest, protest, testify
   
5. logia, ology - science or study of - biology, psychology, etymology
   
6. -ist - one who does or practices - racist, terrorist, Buddhist, novelist
   

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - students will check out their own books this Monday. Students will do the majority of the reading of the novel on their own; however, we will occasionally have some time in class to be reading it. Students struggling with the novel have multiple options. I would prefer that they come see me either before or after school first. Another possible option is to use the online resource I have posted under the Course Materials section of this site. The site is done well and ties to what we are doing in class. The site also has chapter summaries that students may wish to use as a guide when they read. The chapter summaries will be best used only as a guide and not a substitute for reading as much of our work will be far more detailed than a simple summary of a chapter.

This week will be busy. We'll begin the week checking out and discussing Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Students will have their first reading and writing assignments over the novel this week. We'll also cover our last set of six new root words. With this being our last set, that means our second 30-root exam will be next week. Finally, we'll be back in the computer lab to type the final draft of the Problem/Solution Research Essay, due by the end of the hour on Friday.

• Mon: New root words. Preview Huck Finn and resources. Check out Huck Finn books. For Tuesday: Huck Finn, read Ch 1 - 4, pgs 1 - 18.
  
• Tues: Huck Finn - quiz over Ch 1 - 4; complete 1 - 4 study guide by the end of the hour. Begin reading and discussing Chapters V - VII, pages 18-36.
  
• Wed: Continue reading and discussing Chapters V - VII, pages 18-36. Finish what we don't read in class. Be ready for a quiz and study guide on Monday.
• Thurs: Meet in the computer lab to begin typing the final draft of the Problem/Solution Research Essay.
  
• Fri: Root words quiz. Problem/Solution Research Essay final draft due by the end of the hour.