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Catcher in the Rye Intro

Mr. Naymik — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 10:36:02 +0000

To wrap up the unit on identity, we will be reading The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger. Published in 1951, this story features typical, poignant, and sometimes crude episodes from protagonist Holden Caufield’s searching journey to New York City. The story begins:

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. In the first place, that stuff bores me, and in the second place, my parents would have about two hemorrhages apiece if I told anything pretty personal about them.”

We will be reading the novel together in class, though silent reading will occasionally be assigned. Students will be responsible for tracking themes and symbols throughout the book (by using a tracking sheet) and for completing study questions as we read.

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Catcher resources:

Character Map

Click for an interactive map of Manhattan

Reading guide Ch 1-4
Here are the notes we took in class:

[goog doc="dc4kzt6f_55fzfc5hd6"]Catcher notes[/goog]

Catcher Pics

[Show as slideshow]

Allie's baseball mitt

American Museum of Natural History

Field of Rye

Carousel in Central Park

Central Park, N.Y.

Duck on a frozen pond

Red hunting cap

Old-time skates

Pencey Prep

Radio City Music Hall

Museum of Art

J.D. Salinger

Custom Cover

Catcher Videos

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Identity

Mr. Naymik — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 09:00:12 +0000

The things we are…

Who are you? Do you Know? This unit is designed to find the answers to these questions (well, maybe). We are all products of our experiences. The things we encounter everyday in some way shape our personality. Rarely, however, do we stop and think about our own nature. By studying a variety of materials, the goal is to identify our personality and the influences that helped shape it. Also, we need to recognize that the decisions we make are a result of those experiences.

What does Holden’s red hunting hat have to do with identity? This will make sense later, don’t worry.

To help you think about your own Identity, complete the following “Me Map” ( Me Map) if you did not get one in class.

This unit on identity will encourage you to think about yourself and how the world around you influences you by reading a variety of materials (essay, poetry, short story, novel). This will focus on students—how do they become who they are and how do they end up making decisions.

Who am I?

How did it become who I am?

Think about how these authors explore their identities in relation to others:

“It’s Hard Enough Being Me”

It\'s Hard Enough Being Me

Questions about Hard Enough

Did the author’s identity change in college? How so?
What do people expect of her (at college)?
What is the contradiction she expresses with her situation? (3rd paragraph)
Why was learning in college difficult for her? (explain paragraph 10)
The author states it was difficult when she moved to New York to define herself as “Latina.” Do you think it is good, bad, or some of each to be forced to define oneself in terms of ethnicity?
What conclusion does the author draw at the end about her identity?

“For the white person who wants to know how to be my friend”

by Pat Parker

Think about

Why do the first two lines of the poem contradict each other? What is the author trying to say?
What stereotypes does the author bring up? Why does she?
How would the author identify herself?

What would your own poem look like? What things about you are true?

the first thing you do is to forget that i’m Black.
Second, you must never forget that i’m Black.

You should be able to dig Aretha,
but don’t play here every time i come over.
An if you decide to play Beethoven-don’t tell me
his life story. They make us take music appreciation too.

Eat soul food if you like it, but don’t expect me
to locate your restaurants
of cook it for you.

And if some Black person insults you,
mugs you, rapes your sister, rapes you,
rips your house or is just being an ass-
please do not apologize to me
for wanting to do them bodily harm.
It makes me wonder if you’re foolish.

And even if you really believe Blacks are better lovers than
whites-don’t tell me. I start thinking of charging stud fees.

In other words-if you really want to be my friend-don’t
make a labor of it. I’m lazy. Remember.

-from Making Face, Make Soul
edited by Gloria Anzaldua
( For the White Person Who Wants to Be My Friend)

San Francisco: Aunt Lute Foundation Books, 1990.

Identity

The act of being oneself.

In class we discussed all the things that make up who you are and how you form those things. We considered the role nature (environment) vs. nurture (DNA) in forming ourselves. What role to these things play in our lives.

In the comments below, select one of the topics that follow and write your take on the issue. There is no correct answer and research is often mixed. Then comment on a classmate. You must login to complete.

Homosexuality
Criminal behavior, either a thief, serial killer or both
Alcoholic

Do you think one of these are a result of environment or DNA?

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Literary terms

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:02:26 +0000

Litery elements are the parts, or components of a story. Literary elements make those parts better. Understanding them will enhance your understanding and enjoyment of things you read and even the movies that you watch.

Here are the notes on literary terms, or elements, that we went over in class. For quick reference, here they are:

Literary elements

Plot
Character
Point of View
Setting
Theme

Literary Devices

Tone
Simile
Metaphor
Imagery
Allusion
Irony
Symbolism

[goog doc="dc4kzt6f_227g5qfxwgw"]Literary Terms Notes[/goog]

For practice, download and read the following story and answer the questions (if you didn’t in class).
Three Little Pigs Wolf Version

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Raisin Review Quiz

Mr. Naymik — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 11:49:44 +0000

Take the following quiz to test your knowledge of the play and earn some extra credit. You must log in to complete it. Best in Firefox, but works in new Internet Explorer. Sorry, quiz closed. Due Monday, March 22, 2010 Related posts:Raisin in the Sun Essay Now that we’ve finished the , combine your knowledge of... More [...] Related posts:

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Raisin in the Sun Essay

Mr. Naymik — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:55:08 +0000

Now that we’ve finished the play, combine your knowledge of the play with what you have learned about quoting sources and writing a literary analysis by using one of the topics below. You will have some class time to work on this and I will be providing assistance with different aspects of the writing process.

Topics:

Compare and contrast Bennie and Walter.
Compare and contrast Asagai and George.
In thinking of the Langston Hughes poem from which the title of this play was taken, the key concept of dreams deferred comes to mind. Choose one character in the play and explore what that character’s dream is.
Do you think it is right of George Murchison to call Walter “Prometheus”?
Symbols play a role in the play. Choose a symbol (sunlight, Mama’s plant, the garden, liquor store, etc.) and explore what it adds to the play.
The play features generations interacting. Examine Walter Lee and how he attempts to live up to his father or examine how Walter Lee serves (or doesn’t serve) as a role model for Travis.
The play is or isn’t still relevant today.
Your choice, with approval

Requirements:

Raisin Essay Thesis Plan
Raisin Essay Body Plan

handouts

Create a thesis statement from the topic of your choice. I must check this.
Create a short outline showing your main ideas to support your thesis.
Create a list of possible quotes/evidence
Use explanation (your words) and evidence from the text to back up your main ideas.
Your essay should have an introduction, 2 to 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Type your essay (according to guidelines), print and hand in, submit through website or email it. Paper Format Page 1
Use class time appropriately

Literary Analysis Rubric

Thesis statement created from topic	15
Focused on thesis, main ideas back it up (your words	20
Strong introduction ending with thesis statement, body paragraphs to develop argument, conclusion to wrap it up	20
Use of quotes to main ideas, and done so correctly	20
Typed, format, grammar and mechanics	15
Turned in on due date: Monday, March 22	10
	100

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HTML Info for Basic Formatting

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:35:13 +0000

Simple HTML can be used to mark up, or format, text for a web page. HTML uses tags to label text so the browser knows how to display the text. Most tags have an opening tag and a closing tags. Opening tags always enclosed in < > and closing tags in .The basics are as follows:

Paragraphs

paragraph text

is used to indicate a paragraph. Otherwise the text would run together.

all paragraphs of regular text should be marked this way

Bold and Italic

bold is used to indicate bold

italic is used to indicate italic

strong and em are newer tags that can also be used.

Lists

 first item 
 second item
 third item

indicates a list

first item
second item
third item

Lists are good for quick summaries because they are easy to read.

Headings

Use h for headings of various size

These should be used sparingly and consistently

Advanced

Links

google is used to make a link. Put the url, or address, of the page in the quote marks. The text to be “linked” will be in between the a tags. google.

very important for web journalism

Images

is used to show the image to the right. “Src” represents the location of the image to be shown. The image can be placed on the left or right (left is automatic). Right aligned images use align=”right” in the tag.

Images are also very important to web journalism

It can get much more complicated than that, however, this is enough information to enter text for most purposes. Here is an example of an article.

Full Article Markup

The code for this…

CLEVELAND--Grady Sizemore has started a new streak--one he wants to soon end.

The Indians' All-Star center fielder missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle on Monday. He also sat out Sunday's game against the New York Yankees, ending the majors' longest consecutive games played streak at 382.



Sizemore hurt his ankle when he stepped awkwardly on second base during the ninth inning Saturday. He remained in the game, and scored the winning run. However, Sizemore's ankle was sore the following day and the Indians decided to rest him. Visit Major League Baseball for more information.

So, for example here is some code for a simple news story with 3 paragraphs and some links. Also, the last paragraph has two words that are bold. There is also an image to go with the story that is aligned with the right side of the page.

Full Article Result

CLEVELAND — Grady Sizemore has started a new streak — one he wants to soon end.

The Indians’ All-Star center fielder missed his second straight game with a sprained right ankle on Monday. He also sat out Sunday’s game against the New York Yankees, ending the majors’ longest consecutive games played streak at 382.

Sizemore hurt his ankle when he stepped awkwardly on second base during the ninth inning Saturday. He remained in the game, and scored the winning run. However, Sizemore’s ankle was sore the following day and the Indians decided to rest him. Visit Major League Baseball for more information.

Notice how spaces and line breaks don’t really matter. The tags to all the work when the page is displayed by the browser.

Hyper Text Markup Language

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The American Dream

Mr. Naymik — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 12:58:20 +0000

The central idea behind A Raisin in Sun is the American Dream. What is it? Where did it come from? How do you obtain it? These are essential questions to understanding the concept that has been around since America has been formed.

As this unit progresses, you will form your own notion of what the American Dream is. In class, we will also read other people’s idea of what it means. The following is from an old speech by Barack Obama:

In big cities and small towns; among men and women; young and old; black, white, and brown – Americans share a faith in simple dreams. A job with wages that can support a family. Health care that we can count on and afford. A retirement that is dignified and secure. Education and opportunity for our kids. Common hopes. American dreams…

What is unique about America is that we want these dreams for more than ourselves – we want them for each other. That’s why we call it the American dream. We want it for the kid who doesn’t go to college because she cannot afford it; for the worker whose wondering if his wages will pay this winter’s heating bill; for 47 million Americans living without health care; for the millions more who worry if they have enough to retire with the dignity they have earned.

When our fellow Americans are denied the American dream, our own dreams are diminished. And today, the cost of that dream is rising faster than ever before. While some have prospered beyond imagination in this global economy, middle-class Americans – as well as those working hard to become middle class – are seeing the American dream slip further and further away.

President Barack Obama, 2007–Read the full speach

He is not alone in his ideas of what the American dream means. Here are two items we read in class.

Question on King and Obama

Dr. King

Summarize Dr. King’s definition of the American Dream
In what way are all men created equal?
What obstacles does Dr. King explain stand in the way of the American Dream?
How does he suggest people overcome those obstacles

President Obama

Summarize Obama’s definition of the American Dream
Is Obama’s American dream a selfish dream? Explain
What obstacles does Obama explain stand in the way of the American Dream?
How does he suggest people overcome those obstacles

Questions are based on the links above. We read these in class.

“Let America be America Again”

Hear it:

Read it:

“Let America Be America Again” by Langston Hughes (printable)

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Writing a Literary Analysis

Mr. Naymik — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:40:04 +0000

When you read for pleasure, your only goal is enjoyment. You might find yourself reading to get caught up in an exciting story, to learn about an interesting time or place, or just to pass time. Maybe you’re looking for inspiration, guidance, or a reflection of your own life. There are as many different, valid ways of reading a book as there are books in the world.

When you read a work of literature in an English class, however, you’re being asked to read in a special way: You’re being asked to perform literary analysis. To analyze something means to break it down into smaller parts and then examine how those parts work, both individually and together. Literary analysis involves examining all the parts of a novel, play, short story, or poem—elements such as character, setting, tone, and imagery—and thinking about how the author uses those elements to create certain effects.

A literary essay isn’t a book review: you’re not being asked whether you liked a book or whether you’d recommend it to another reader. A literary essay also isn’t like the kind of book report you wrote when you were younger, where your teacher wanted you to summarize the book’s action. A high school- or college-level literary essay asks, “How does this piece of literature actually work?” “How does it do what it does?” and, “Why might the author have made the choices he or she did?”

The following notes provide a definition and explanation for writing a literary analysis. Writing about literature is the only way to really learn how to do it, but this presentation provides the background.

[goog doc="dc4kzt6f_12ff395nfv"]Writing a literary analysis[/goog]

One skill necessary for writing a literary analysis is summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting. Also, refresh yourself on quoting material (quote sandwich).

An example is presented below. We will go over it in class. Use the practice sheet to select the right quotes and create your quote sandwiches for each main idea.

Writing an Analysis

Read carefully

Read carefully
Ask yourself question as you read
Take notes

Brainstorm

List ideas you might have and ask questions

What struck you?
Did you notice any patterns?
What confused you? Maybe you were surprised to see a character act in a certain way, or maybe you didn’t understand why the book ended the way it did.
Did you notice any contradictions or ironies?
What did it have to say about life?

At this point, you don’t need to know exactly what you’re going to say about your topic; you just need a place to begin your exploration. You can help direct your reading and brainstorming by formulating your topic as a question, which you’ll then try to answer in your essay. Question → Thesis statement

Write a thesis statement

Start with a thesis statement. You want to argue about what the author is doing in the story or how the story works. Here is a common pattern that can be modified:

In (title of poem/novel/play), (author’s name) uses (1st literary device), (2nd literary device), and (3rd literary device) to (show/criticize/explain/etc.) (some aspect of human nature).

The following is a possible thesis statement for a literary analysis based on a fairytale:

In “Goldilocks and the Three Bears,” Goldilocks is filled with misconceptions about the world around her but ultimately learns to accept things that are different.

Create an outline to visualize your support

I. Intro
a. Hook
b. Summary
c. Thesis
II. Goldilocks view of the world (bears)
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
III. How the bears actually are
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
IV. Goldilocks change
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
V. Conclusion
a. Restate
b. Interpretation
c. What’s the bigger meaning
I. Intro
a. Hook
b. Summary
c. Thesis
II. Goldilocks view of the world (bears)
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
III. How the bears actually are
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
IV. Goldilocks change
a. Evidence/Explanation
b. Evidence/Explanation
V. Conclusion
a. Restate
b. Interpretation
c. What’s the bigger meaning

Example essay

Example Essay

Click the picture to see how a lit analysis works

Goldilocks lit analysis practice Lit analysis practice Usher (2 hits)

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Finding and fixing fragments

Mr. Naymik — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:03:56 +0000

Login, then double click on any blue section, make changes, then click the check mark. Save, continue at a later time or mark complete for grading. If you prefer to do this on paper, see me. (Works best in FireFox, but some I. E. ok)

, this assignment, Fragments, is not completed. Make changes, SAVE, then click "mark as completed" at the bottom.

Fragments: A fragment is a group of words that does not express a complete thought.

Fragment	Sentence
At the end of a long path	There is a hut at the end of the long path.
Walking in circles.	The girl, walking in circles, asked for help.
A pen, some notes, and a dictionary.	To the library she brought a pen, some notes, and a dictionary..

Select whether each group of words is a sentence or a fragment.

Since your appointment is later in the day. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
She enjoys waffles and ice cream. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
Two pounds of apples and a bag of potatoes. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
What you asked me yesterday choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
In the morning the police called. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
In the back room of the library. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
Because we wanted it very much. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
My friends, my family, and my teachers. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
This is the absolute truth. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment
Whom you asked me about. choose... sentence:sentence,fragment:fragment

Each item is a fragment. Edit the fragment to make a complete sentence.

In back of the book.
Feeling sad.
When she called.
Bread, milk, and soap.
Which you offered
If you can come.
Walking in the park.
Near us.
As they expected.
Along the road very close to the bridge.

Double click to enter article

Started: Jul 29 2010 21:07 | Updated: Jul 29 2010 21:07

Delete this | Mark as complete | View original | Help?

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Inverted pyramid and news lead

Mr. Naymik — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:06:27 +0000

Log in first. Double click on the areas that are blue to edit them. After making several changes, make sure you save. You may work on this anytime, just make sure you save before you quit each time. When done, mark as complete.

, this assignment, inverted pyramid, is not completed. Make changes, SAVE, then click "mark as completed" at the bottom.

inverted pyramid: An inverted pyramid story with summary lead

Default headline change this

Change this. Start with lead then move onto rest of article. Remember, short paragraphs are best.

News Value choose...

Started: Jul 29 2010 21:07 | Updated: Jul 29 2010 21:07

Delete this | Mark as complete | View original | Help?

Started: 3 Completed: 1

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