Literary Terms #1 (Neruda's "Poetry")

Pre-AP Reading for Week of 8/30

For next week, please read:

• "Oedipus" from Hamilton's Mythology


• Intro and Chapter 9 ("It's Greek to Me") from Foster's How to Read Literature...

Free PSAT/ACT/SAT Study Guide eBooks

If you have an iPhone or iPod Touch (or iPad ... lucky) you can download free study guide eBooks for the PSAT, ACT, and SAT exams. You must have the (free) iBooks app.

How to get eBooks (now through August 30):

1. Launch iBooks app
2. Navigate to the iBooks store
3. Search for Kaplan Publishing
4. When you find the Test Prep guide(s) you want (there are a lot of college exam guides available, too), download it/them.

Even though you may not take the SAT or ACT exam for another year or so, downloading them now is to your advantage.

Essay on Neruda's "Poetry"

Please write a page-and-a-half analytical essay based on the following prompt.

In Pablo Neruda's "Poetry," how does the poet use literary devices (such as, but not limited to, alliteration, hyperbole, metaphor, paradox, and personification) to convey poetry’s power to transform one’s life?

"Poetry" by Pablo Neruda

After reading the poem, below, find a word or phrase that describes how you feel now, at the beginning of this school year. Copy down that word or phrase and then write why it applies to your life.

Poetry
by Pablo Neruda

And it was at that age… Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don't know, I don't know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don't know how or when,
no they were not voices, they were not
words, nor silence,
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there I was without a face
and it touched me.

I did not know what to say, my mouth
had no way
with names,
my eyes were blind,
and something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire,
and I wrote the first faint line,
faint, without substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
of someone who knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the heavens
unfastened
and open,
planets,
palpitating plantations,
shadow perforated,
riddled
with arrows, fire and flowers,
the winding night, the universe.

And I, infinitesimal being,
drunk with the great starry
void,
likeness, image of
mystery,
felt myself a pure part
of the abyss,
I wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind.

(From: 'Memorial de Isla Negra')

We will ALL be sharing our responses out loud, in front of the class.

Past, Present, Future Tense

Write three paragraphs describing your life. In the first paragraph, write about how you used to be (as a child, a grade-schooler, a freshman, etc.) in the past tense (I was, I liked, I ran, etc.). The second paragraph tells about how you are now, and should be written in the present tense (I am, I like, I run, etc.). Third and final paragraph will describe your expectations for yourself in the future (junior, senior, parent, millionaire, etc.) and will be written in the future tense (I will be, I will like, I will run, etc.).

Each paragraph should include an example describing how you were/are/will be. For instance,

When I was six years old I always chewed with my mouth open. One day I was at a picnic with my family and, of course, I was chewing with my mouth open. My sister Rhonda saw a fly land on my mouthful of hamburger and later told me I had eaten the fly. After she told me that, I stopped chewing with my mouth open.

If you can't think of anything, please think harder or make it up. I will not be using my time machine to check out your story.

Stories that are not classroom-appropriate will be returned to you for re-writing in Patriot Academy. Additional consequences may apply.

Tutorial/Conference Hours

I will be in my room available for tutorials on

• Mondays and Thursdays, 4:10–4:30p


• Mornings (by appointment), 7:30–8:15a

My conference period is: Fifth Period (11:58-12:58)

2010/2011 Syllabus

Mr. Mikesell
Rm. 128 / English II (on-level and pre-AP)
cmikesell@dallasisd.org
http://mikesell128.blogspot.com
Tutorial hours: Mon. & Thurs. 4:05–4:30p
Mornings by appointment

SYLLABUS
“Life is short. Learn hard.”

Course Outline
Through this course students will continue to develop higher-order thinking skills through the analysis, evaluation, and critique of literature. This course is also designed to lay and/or build upon the foundation for students as they take advanced levels of English. Students will learn from set objectives established for them to be successful in exams, in other classes, and in life.

Class Norms

• Be Respectful


• Be Prepared


• Be Accountable


• Be Self-Monitoring


• Do Your Best


• (Campus/district policies will be observed also)

Homework
Homework will be assigned regularly. It will usually be due before the tardy bell rings two days after the assignment. Homework will not be accepted the same period that it is assigned. Classwork not finished in class will be treated as homework, with the same deadlines/penalties.

Late Work
Students who have not turned in homework within the first 5 minutes of class the day it is due will be assigned to the after-school Patriot Academy. Work turned in within two days of the due date will be accepted with a 15% grade reduction. Each week an assignment is late will result in an extra 25% reduction in grade.

Classroom Entry Procedure
To make entry into the classroom as smooth as possible, please make sure you’re observing dress code policies. Do not block the door tucking in your shirt, adjusting your ID badge, etc. Once you’ve entered the room, please get your journal. Find your desk and begin the bellringer exercise. Pencils should be sharpened before the tardy bell rings.

Spelling / Vocabulary /
Grammar / Punctuation
All are important, and students are expected to turn in assignments with proper care taken in each of these areas.

Notes and Keeper Sheets
Take notes (we will review the Cornell system in the first semester). You will also be provided with “Keeper” sheets reviewing the basics of key areas we’ll be studying. Keep them all handy. Use them for studying.

Classroom Supplies
Bring these to class every day:

• A 3-ring binder, at least an inch thick


• 5 dividers for the binder (see section on English Binder)


• 2 2-pocket portfolios


• Filler paper (loose-leaf notebook paper)


• Blue or black pens, pencils, highlighters


• A great attitude

Dishonesty
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. At a minimum zeroes will be recorded in the grade book for either offense, for all parties involved in the cheating or copying. Additional consequences may apply.

Consequences
1st Offense: warning
2nd Offense: hallway “conference”
3rd Offense: call to parent
4th Offense: administrative referral
(Fighting, drug- and gang-related activity will result in immediate administrative/security involvement)

Grading Scale (district standard)

• 20% Classwork


• 20% Homework


• 20% Projects


• 25% Tests


• 15% Six-weeks Exam

Major Texts

• Mythology**


• Antigone*


• How to Read Literature Like a Professor**


• Lord of the Flies**


• The Pearl**


• A Christmas Carol**


• Othello**


• Julius Caesar


• Animal Farm*


• Fahrenheit 451**

*On-level class only, subject to change
**Pre-AP class only

Essays
Writing is an integral part of this course. We will spend time reviewing and learning good grammar usage, style, and voice in class, but for many students class time is not enough. If this is the case for you, attending tutoring will help. The essay can “make or break” your TAKS score as well as your 6-weeks grade. Pre-AP students will be responsible for completing at least one Independent Writing Assignment (IWA) per six-weeks.

Leaving the Classroom
Permission to leave the classroom once the tardy bell has rung will be granted in emergency situations. Please monitor your liquid intake: only one restroom pass per student will be granted each month. Student must have student planner in order to receive restroom pass.

TJ Battle Book
This year, TJHS will provide each student with a binder. This will be your “Battle Book.” It is required that you bring it to school EVERY day, as your 5th period teacher will be checking it. It will have 8 dividers, one for each period of the day. Under the English tab, the following must ALWAYS be present:

1. Syllabus for this class (this sheet)


2. Assignment sheet
   (which you must maintain)


3. Personal Dictionary

English Binder
In addition to your Battle Book, you must have a 1-inch English binder (color does not matter), which only contains material from this class. You must have this binder EVERY day, because you will use it EVERY day.

1. You will need to have 5 dividers:


1. Notes/ Handouts


2. Graded CW/ HW


3. Tests/ Quizzes


4. Literary Terms Dictionary


5. Extra Paper


2. Up to two binder grades will be taken every 6-weeks, which will count as project grades.

You CANNOT leave your binder in this classroom. Not only is it a tool to help you study, but in the past, theft/vandalism has been a problem.

Pop Quiz: Mythological Allusion #1

Who is the character shown here, and besides his name, what other characteristic does he share with that mythological character?

Answer in the comments.

Graphic Organizer to Help with Allusions

I've worked with the other pre-AP teachers to come up with a graphic organizer to help you structure your thoughts about the allusions you've found and then write your responses for the project. (We'll be using this, or something similar, during the school year whenever we look at literary and/or rhetorical devices, as well.)

Here's the graphic organizer with an explanation of what to do in the various sections.

And an example of how to fill it out.

Using the example, above, we could compose the following paragraph* about Agatha Christie's choice of name for her detective Hercule Poirot:

In choosing the name Hercule Poirot, Agatha Christie makes an allusion to the mythological character Hercules. Hercules was known for his strength; Poirot, however, is a short, out-of-shape, egg-shaped man. On the other hand Poirot is unmatched when it comes to intellect. The two men are both very strong, just in very different ways. By using irony Christie is able to make Poirot the opposite of Hercules, yet still have them share something in common. Poirot is able to overcome “Herculean” trials with the power of his mind. Instead of flexing his muscles, he merely has to flex his “little gray cells” and great mysteries are solved.

Download and print blank graphic organizers to help you complete the summer assignment.

* Note: This example lacks title and chapter/page & paragraph information and would not receive full credit in a summer project...