Category: American Lit.

Week 9: Rhetoric and The Crucible

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This week, we will cover rhetorical appeals, devices, and techniques, and start our reading of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. Please be sure you are on time and present each day! 

Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together; scroll past the calendar for downloads: 

Monday, October 191. Warm-up: What is ethos, pathos, and logos?
2. Rhetorical Appeals Sketchnotes
3. Assignment: “National Address to Schoolchildren,” President Obama
4. Assignment: Text-dependent questions via Google Forms (click here!)
Tuesday, October 201. Review: situational, dramatic, and verbal irony Sketchnotes
2. Anticipation Guide class debate
3. Start reading The Crucible
4. Ongoing Assignment: Act 1 text-dependent questions
Wednesday, October 21Please note that Wednesdays are reserved for independent work time, tutoring, and small group learning.
Click here to sign up for a check-in and/or tutoring session with Ms. Antonacci!
Thursday, October 221. The Crucible first impressions AEIOU (Zoom Chat)
2. Continue reading The Crucible
3. Ongoing Assignment: Act 1 text-dependent questions
Friday, October 231. Continue reading The Crucible
2. Ongoing Assignment: Act 1 text-dependent questions
President Obama’s National Address to SchoolchildrenDownload
The Crucible Vocab ChartDownload

The Crucible Act 1 QuestionsDownload
Click here for a copy of The Crucible!

Week 8: The Power of Persuasion

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This week, we will start on our next unit, The Power of Persuasion. This unit will cover rhetorical appeals, devices, and techniques, and we will examine the power of language. You will have many opportunities to effectively argue and debate! Please be sure you are on time and present each day! Scroll past the calendar for downloadable files.

Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together: 

Monday, October 121. Warm-up: What do we already know about the Puritans? About the Salem Witch Trials?
2. Assignment: “Salem (and Other) Witch Hunts” by Mike Kubic
3. Text-dependent questions via Quizizz
Tuesday, October 131. Padlet: Fear as a Motivator
2. Review: simile, metaphor, alliteration, analogy, personification
3. Assignment: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Jonathan Edwards 
Wednesday, October 14Please note that Wednesdays are reserved for independent work time, tutoring, and small group learning.
Click here to sign up for a check-in and/or tutoring session with Ms. Antonacci!
***Optional: Unit 1 tutoring, standards review, and assessment re-take
Sign up using the Google Form here!
Thursday, October 15Assignment due: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Jonathan Edwards
Friday, October 161. Assignment: The Crucible Anticipation Guide
2. If you finish early, complete this week’s NoRedInk assignment
3. If time permits: start class debate!
“The Salem (and Other) Witch Hunts”Download
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” ReadingDownload
“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” QuestionsDownload
The Crucible Anticipation GuideDownload

Week 7: Wrapping up Unit 1

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This week, we will wrap up our reading Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun, as well as the American Dream unit. Since we are approaching the end of our unit, we will have a unit 1 test over the American Dream unit this Friday. Please be sure you are on time and present each day!

Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together; scroll down for file downloads.

Monday, October 51. Review: Act 1 and 2 plot points and characters
2. Complete A Raisin in the Sun (film viewing)
3. Wrap up play and discuss
Tuesday, October 61. Introduce Embedded Assessment #2: Synthesizing the American Dream
2. Assignment: Synthesis Graphic Organizer
3. Resource: Unit 1 Assessment Study Guide
4. Resource: MLA Citations
Wednesday, October 7Please note that Wednesdays are reserved for independent work time, tutoring, and small group learning.
Click here to sign up for a check-in and/or tutoring session with Ms. Antonacci!
You must complete the synthesis graphic organizer BEFORE class on Thursday.
Thursday, October 81. Review expectations and rubric for Embedded Assessment #2
2. Assignment: Type and submit responses for Embedded Assessment #2
3. Optional: Opportunity to retest (mid-assessment; Q2 mini 2)
Friday, October 9CTLS Assessment: Unit 1 Post-assessment
If you finish early, complete this week’s NoRedInk assignment
Unit 1 Assessment Study GuideDownload
Unit 1 Embedded Assessment Synthesis Graphic OrganizerDownload
MLA Parenthetical CitationsDownload

Click here for some transition words to use in your embedded assessment: https://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/transition-words.html

Week 6: Continue A Raisin in the Sun

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This week, we will continue reading Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun. As I said in class last week, please do your best to be on time and present each day. It is particularly difficult to read a play and get caught up by yourself. We will also be discussig a great deal, and you won’t want to miss out! 

Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together: 

Monday, September 211. Review: Act 1 plot points and characters
2. Continue reading A Raisin in the Sun
3. Ongoing Assignment: A Raisin in the Sun Character Charts
4. Q2 Mini 2 Touchstone (mid assessment)
Tuesday. September 221. Review: situational, dramatic, and verbal irony
2. Continue reading A Raisin in the Sun
3. Ongoing Assignment: A Raisin in the Sun Character Charts
Wednesday, September 23Please note that Wednesdays are reserved for independent work time, tutoring, and small group learning.
Click here to sign up for a check-in and/or tutoring session with Ms. Antonacci!
Thursday, September 241. Act I Assessment (Quizizz)
2. Continue reading A Raisin in the Sun
3. Ongoing Assignment: A Raisin in the Sun Character Charts
4. Practice RACE response
Friday, September 251. Ongoing Assignment: A Raisin in the Sun Character Charts
2. Continue reading A Raisin in the Sun
A Raisin in the Sun Act 1 RACE ResponseDownload

Week 5: Start A Raisin in the Sun

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It’s already week five – can you believe it?! Over the last few weeks, you all have been doing a great job analyzing poetry from different perspectives across America. This week, we will start with one more analysis of a Langston Hughes poem before diving in to Lorraine Hansberry’s play, A Raisin in the Sun. As I said in class on Friday, please do your best to be on time and present each day. It is particularly difficult to read a play and get caught up by yourself. We will also be discussig a great deal, and you won’t want to miss out! 

Click here for a copy of the play.

Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together: 

Monday, September 14
  1. Review: symbolism in literature
  2. Annotate and analyze: “Harlem,” by Langston Hughes
  3. What is a SIFT Analysis?
  4. Assignment: SIFT Analysis for “Harlem”
Tuesday. September 15
  1. Review: situational, dramatic, and verbal irony
  2. Background on Lorraine Hansberry and historical context of the play
  3. Start reading A Raisin in the Sun
Wednesday, September 16 Please note that Wednesdays are reserved for independent work time, tutoring, and small group learning.

 
Thursday, September 17
  1. What are some of your personal values?: Ready to Order Padlet
  2. Continue reading A Raisin in the Sun
Friday, September 18
  1. Discussion: identity and heritage
  2. Ongoing Assignment: A Raisin in the Sun Character Charts
  3. Continue reading A Raisin in the Sun

Week 4: American Perspectives Through Poetry

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Welcome to week four! We will continue working with poetry this week, with a focus on different perspectives on America and the American Dream. Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:

Monday, September 7No school – Have a great Labor Day!
Tuesday. September 8Discussion: How is the American Dream different for different populations?
Compare and Contrast: “I, Too,” by Langston Hughes and “I, Too, Sing America,” by Julia Alvarez
Assignment: poetry comparison
Wednesday, September 9Please note that Wednesdays are reserved for independent work time, tutoring, and small group learning.
Click here to sign up for a check-in and/or tutoring session with Ms. Antonacci!
Thursday, September 10Pre-course Assessment
Friday, September 11Figurative Language Review
“Ellis Island,” Joseph Bruchac
“Sonnet: The Ladies’ Home Journal,” Sandra Gilbert (download below!)
Assignment: TSPFASTT Poetry Analysis (download below!)
Poetry Analysis TSPFASTTDownload
Poems for Friday’s classDownload

Week 3: Different Perspectives on The American Dream

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Monday: Click here to download the Bill of Rights Graphic Organizer

Welcome to week three! Last week, we discussed the American Dream, its history, how it has changed over time, as well as barriers to attaining the American Dream. This week, we will focus on different perspectives on America and the American Dream. Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:

Monday, August 31
  1. Unpacking the RACE response and the essential question: “Does America Still Provide Access to the American Dream?”
  2. Assignment: The Bill of Rights: In Your Own Words Graphic Organizer
  3. Exit Ticket
Tuesday. September 1
  1. Review tone, audience, and purpose
  2. “The Two Clashing Meanings of Free Speech,” Teresa M. Bejan (Springboard 1.5; click here for text)
  3. AEIOU Padlet
  4. Discussion of Springboard questions
Wednesday, September 2 Please note that Wednesdays are reserved for independent work time, tutoring, and small group learning.
Thursday, September 3
  1. Review tone, theme, and imagery
    1. Click here for some tone words!
  2. Walt Whitman bio video
  3. “America” and “I Hear America Singing,” Whitman (Springboard 1.10)
  4. Padlet questions
Friday, September 4
  1. Discussion: How is the American Dream different for different populations?
  2. Compare and Contrast: “I, Too,” by Langston Hughes and “I, Too, Sing America,” by Julia Alvarez
  3. Assignment: poetry comparison
  4. What’s the theme of the poem? Sketchnotes

Sign up for NoRedInk and USA Test Prep!

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Outside of class, we will have weekly enrichment activities for you to complete. Every week, you will have a NoRedInk assignment, as well as a USA Test Prep assignment to complete. Both will go in the gradebook as grades! Please follow the steps below to join our classes on each website.

1. Sign up for NoRedInk and add our class

noredink

Follow the steps below to join our class, create an account, and take your diagnostic test.

After you join the correct class, please make an account. The easiest way to do this is to sign up through Google!

Once you have set up your account, please complete the diagnostic test. Due to technical issues, the diagnostic is now due by 11:59 pm on Sunday, September 6th. 

 

2. Sign up for USA Test Prep and add our class

usatestprep

Follow the steps below to create an account and add our class. If you know you’ve made a USA Test Prep account at Pebblebrook but don’t remember your password, Ms. Antonacci can look it up for you.

  1. Go to http://www.usatestprep.com
    • Access ID: pebblebrook (all lowercase)
    • Student activation code: stu1223 (all lowercase)
  3. Once you have entered this information, create your personal user ID and password. Make sure you remember this information – write it down!
  4. Once you log in, click “Join a Class” (orange button on home page – NOT class party!).
  5. Find my name: Mariko Antonacci and add yourself to your class. Make sure you’re adding the correct class period!
  6. Once you have been added to the class, you’re done! Your first USA Test Prep assignment will be posted on Monday, August 31.

All USA Test Prep and NoRedInk assignments are due by 11:59pm every Sunday. I would recommend scheduling one day each for yourself to complete these so that you don’t get overwhelmed on Sunday night. Go ahead and put it in your iCal, planner, reminders list, whatever works for you!

Week 2: Intro to The American Dream

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american-immigrants-fate-is-everyones

Welcome to week two! The American Dream: we’ve all heard of it, but is it the same for everyone? Is it even a thing anymore? This week, we’ll create a working definition of the American Dream and discuss its history, how it has changed, and barriers one may face when pursuing their Dream. You will also have an opportunity to create plans for your American Dream.

Monday, August 24
  1. “What is your American Dream?” Video by UCLA and AEIOU Padlet
  2. American Dream Zoom Chat Discussion
  3. How has the American Dream changed?
Tuesday, August 25
  1. Your American Dream Timeline Mini-Project (scroll down for details and directions)
Wednesday, August 26 Please note that Wednesdays are reserved for independent work time, tutoring, and small group learning.
Thursday, August 27
  1. American Literature Course Pre-assessment
Friday, August 28
  1. How to log in through Clever for access to the Springboard textbook
  2. Assignment: American Dream OPTIC Analysis

This week, you will start on your American Dream timeline mini-project!

  1. You will create a timeline with a starting point of your current grade/age and an ending point of ten years from now. You should be between the ages of 26-28, depending on your current age. What does YOUR American Dream include? Be specific and make sure you have a place for every age (10 years; 3 bullet points each year).
    • What are your plans and what will you do to be successful between now and then? Please remember everyone’s idea of what the “American Dream” looks like is different. Some may include going to college, getting married and starting a family, while others may only include doing what is necessary to ensure they are financially stable. Please make sure you are considering EACH step in your journey. For example, if you would like to attend college, make sure that taking the SAT/ACT is on your timeline, as it is a requirement for college admission.
  2. Your timeline should be colorful, creative and detailed. You have choice in your presentation. You can draw and color your timeline by hand and upload a picture, or use online tools such as Google Slides/PowerPoint, Canva.com, Adobe Spark, or any other digital software to illustrate your timeline.
  3. A 3-4 paragraph response that describes what’s included your “American Dream” is mandatory. This should be an extension of your bullet points.

We will start on this in class on Tuesday, and you will have Wednesday and Thursday to complete it. Please make sure to take advantage of class time by asking questions and working diligently. Your project with the writing component (two separate files) is due by 11:59 pm on Thursday, August 27th. Please click here for your rubric and checklist!