ACT

You can see some student samples of answers to the ACT Writing Test here, plus the scores they would receive and the reasoning behind those scores.

PHILLIS WHEATLEY

Some biographical background on Wheatley.

"On Being Brought from Africa to America"

"To His Excellency General Washington"

"Phillis Wheatley on Trial" by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

"The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain" by Langston Hughes

INDEPENDENT READING ASSIGNMENT

Your task is to keep a reading log, and to complete 3 Reader Responses, each one to two pages double-spaced typed (Times New Roman font size 12) per entry, or equivalent length hand-written.  Responses should address the following questions, but are to be written in paragraph form. Be sure to clearly include the title of the book you ware working with in each response.

Response 1 Guiding Questions     (For the early chapters of the book – by your determination)

1.      What is the time and place of the book? What evidence in the book tells you this?

2.      Name and describe the main character in the book. Describe him/her physically and describe his/her personality and history, if known. Then give your impression of him/her.

3.      Describe the initial or first conflict faced by the main character.

4.     Name and describe a secondary character. Describe him/her physically and describe his/her personality and history, if known. Explain how she/he is important to the story and the ideas of the book.

5.    Describe one important event in the book and explain why it is significant to the story (to the plot, the characters, the ideas of the book).

6.    Explain one specific aspect of the culture described in the book. Tell how it compares to a specific culture you are familiar with.

7.    Find one specific idea, event, or behavior in the book that relates to real life. Explain how it relates to real life.

8.    Tell about a connection you made with the story (text-to-self, text-to-text/media, or text-to-world). Explain how your connection helps you understand the story better.

Response 2 Guiding Questions     (For the middle chapters of the book – by your determination)

1.    What new events are added to the original problem as the novel progresses?

2.     Describe any new characters that are introduced. What is their purpose and how do they fit into the story?

3.     If the time or place changes during the book, explain how and give examples. How does this switching serve the story?

4.     What is the general feeling or mood of the book? Give specific examples of how the author creates that feeling or mood.

  

5.     Compare and contrast two characters psychologically. To do this, consider their behavior and personality.

6.     Who is the narrator of the story? Is he or she inside or outside the story? What is his or her relationship to the story?

7.     Pick a key quote from this section of the book and record it here. Who says it? What does it mean? Does it fit with a larger theme that is being developed in the book?

Response 3 Guiding Questions     (For the final chapters of the book – by your determination)

1.       Does the author use humor, irony or symbolism within the book? Pick one of the three and give a specific example and explain how it functions within the book overall.

2.       Is the main character static or dynamic? Give evidence.

3.       What is the climax of the novel? What major events lead up to it and what is the resolution?

4.       What is the theme (or themes) of the book? How does the author show this idea? Give evidence that you have correctly discerned the theme. How does it relate to everyday life? Do you agree with the author or not and why?

5.       Having finished the book, why do you suppose it is considered a “classic”? In other words, why do people still read it today?

HISTORICAL RESEARCH

Use Citation Machine to simplify creating your Works Cited page.

It would be helpful to check out a SAMPLE RESEARCH PAPER using MLA guidelines. Pay attention to how sources are cited within the body of the paper and also look closely at the Works Cited page at the very end of the paper.

VOCABULARY LIST 2

Pyrrhic Meter

Trimeter

Tetrameter

Pentameter

Hexameter

Persona

Conceit

Tone

Voice

Symbolism

Aphorism

Autobiography

Blank verse

Balanced sentence

Rhetorical question

Imagery

Point of view

Prose

Colloquialism

Allegory

Free verse

Anaphora

Genre

Character foil

Novel

Satire

Inversion

Figure of speech

Paraphrase

Conflict

Dialogue

THOMAS PAINE

Read some background on Thomas Paine HERE.

I'm not going to ask you to read the entirety of Common Sense, but do read this excellent summary and take notes as you do.

Read this first part of The Crisis and take notes.

PATRICK HENRY

Read some background on Patrick Henry HERE.

Read his famous "Give me liberty or give me death" speech HERE.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN

Read some background on Ben Franklin HERE, scroll down to "Young Franklin in Boston" to start and then finish at the end of "Poor Richard's Almanack".  Take Notes.

Also, read up on "Poor Richard's Almanack" in more detail HERE and take notes.

Read pages 10 through 13 of Franklin's Autobiography HERE where he recounts his move to Philadelphia.

Read pages 38 to 42 HERE, where he recounts his process for his own moral improvement.

JONATHAN EDWARDS

Read the complete text of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" HERE and be prepared for a short quiz over it tomorrow.

EDWARD TAYLOR

Read some background information on Edward Taylor HERE.

He was considered the "American Metaphysical Poet" - read about what distinguished the "Metaphysical Poets" HERE. 

Read his poem, "Huswifery".  What conceit does he use in this poem?

A CAPTIVITY NARRATIVE

Read your assigned part of NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY AND RESTORATION OF MRS. MARY ROWLANDSON and write a short summary of each "remove" which you are assigned.

Everyone needs to read the Intro and Removes One, Two and Twenty.

EARLY PRINTING IN THE COLONIES

Read the information about the beginnings of print production in the early colonies and TAKE NOTES on main ideas.

Read up to and including "The Beginning of a Free Press" but stop before "Young Franklin in Boston". 

JOHN WINTHROP

Read some background on John Winthrop HERE.

Read/Skim "A Model Of Christian Charity".

Answer the questions given in class.

JOHN SMITH AND WILLIAM BRADFORD

Watch this history of Jamestown from History.com for background. 

Read this biography of John Smith.

Read these journal writings from his first expedition.

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Watch this video on the differences between Pilgrims and Puritans and read the accompanying article.

Read this biography of William Bradford.

Watch this goofy, but informative video on the Mayflower and read about the "Mayflower Compact".

Read these excerpts from "Of Plymouth Plantation" by Bradford.

Read "John Calvin and the Puritan Founders of New England".

ANNE BRADSTREET POETRY

Some poetry by Anne Bradstreet for you to read:

"To My Dear and Loving Husband"

Read also some background on this poem and the risk involved in a Puritan woman stepping outside culturally accepted bounds HERE. 

"Verses Upon the Burning of Our House"

Read Bradstreet's poem, "Prologue". 

The Scarlet Letter

Here is the "No Fear" version of The Scarlet Letter.  Please use it responsibly!

And a video summary of the book is HERE.

If you misplace your study guide, HERE IT IS online.



Vocabulary 1:
Narrative
Archetype
Myth
Oral Tradition
Conceit
Oxymoron
Parallelism/Parallel Structure

Research Paper

If you are having trouble brainstorming occupations, check out this extensive alphabetical list of potential jobs and careers:

https://www.bls.gov/soc/2010/soc_alph.htm