Pre-AP English II: Thematic Links between Lord of the Flies and ???

Compare one of the themes in Lord of the Flies to that of another work we’ve studied this year (see below). Summarize evidence that supports your asserted theme from both texts.

• Fahrenheit 451
• The Pearl
• A Christmas Carol
• Anthem
• Othello
• Julius Caesar

Pre-AP English II: IWA Opportunity

IF you turn in your IWA at your class period on March 8, I will return it to you in PA*, and you can do one last draft over the break.

IF you turn in your IWA at the beginning of PA, I will review it and return it to you there and then, and you can do one last draft over the break.

IF you turn in your IWA at the end of PA, I will review it when we return from break -- you won't get another draft opportunity.

IF PA is cancelled, you must come by my room after 8th period to participate in this opportunity. If it looks to me like no one (else) is coming, I will go home and the opportunity will over.

IF you do not turn in your IWA at some point on the 8th, you will not have any further opportunity. Folders left under my door after I have left will be ignored when I return. Or stepped on. I may step on them. We'll see. At any rate they won't be evaluated.

DOING THE SPRING BREAK PACKET HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ANTHEM IWA.

*I may have to review it in PA; do not expect to pick it up first thing (you will have priority over those who turn in the draft at PA, though).

Pre-AP English II: Anthem Socratic Seminar Questions

Be prepared to discuss these questions in class on Monday, March 4, 2013. Remember to support your answers -- even the World Connection questions -- with evidence from the book.

WORLD CONNECTION QUESTIONS
What would you do if your parents expected you to take a career that you didn't like? --B.C. (2nd)

If you were a member of the Anthem society, which "House" do you think/hope you would be assigned to? --J.C. (2nd)

If you made a new discovery, what would you do about it? --A.G. (1st)


CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS
Where did Equality 7 first see his reflection? --M.B. (1st)

Until what age did people go to school? --J.L. (1st)

How did Equality 7 react when he finally saw his reflection? --E.V. (2nd)


OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
Why does Equality 7 run from his society? --S.A. (2nd)

Why was there little to no technology in the Anthem society? --F.P. (1st)

Why was International 6 afraid to enter the tunnel? --A.S. (1st)


UNIVERSAL THEME / CORE QUESTIONS
Why is being "different" frowned upon by society? --A.E. (2nd)

At times when your life seems "dystopian" what do you do to improve it? --K.L. (1st)


LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
How and why is the word "EGO" personified at the end of the end of the novel? --A.M. (1st)

What does the "Uncharted Forest" in Anthem (as well as many fairy tales) symbolize? --Mr. Mikesell

Pre-AP English II: Plot v. Theme

Click through the following examples to see how to change a plot-based statement into a theme-based statement.

Example 1:
Rand uses irony and symbolism in the characters' name changes to help the reader understand that
Equality 7's society is [PLOT] a Collectivist society is [THEME] based on a lie.

Example 2:
Rand uses images of darkness and light to help the reader arrive at the conclusion that
Equality 7 [PLOT]everybody [THEME] should be able to choose their own fate.

Pre-AP English II: Anthem Socratic Seminar Question Types

Submit and answer one of each of the following by Thursday, February 28. I will pick several and post them to the website that evening. Be prepared to discuss them in class on Friday, March 1st. Questions may come from any section of Anthem; preference will likely be given to questions in the final half to third of the book. Include answers for each question.

WORLD CONNECTION QUESTIONS
Write one question connecting the text to the real world.

Example: If you could change your name, what would you change it to?


CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS
Write one question about the text that will help everyone in the class come to an agreement about events or characters in the text. This question usually has a “correct” answer.

Example: How did Equality-7 make light?


OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
Write one insightful question about the text that will require proof and group discussion and “construction of logic” to discover or explore the answer to the question.

Example: Why did Equality-7 rename Liberty-5 "The Golden One"?


UNIVERSAL THEME/ CORE QUESTIONS
Write one question dealing with a theme(s) of the text that will encourage group discussion about the universality of the text.

Example: Why is it wrong to not be given a choice in determining your destiny?


LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
Write one question dealing with HOW an author chose to compose a literary piece. How did the author manipulate point of view, characterization, poetic form, archetypal hero patterns, for example?

Example: Why is Equality-7's/Liberty-5's/International-6's name ironic?

Due Thursday, February 28.

Pre-AP English II: IWA Sample

In class on Friday we walked through the IWA thesis. We ran out of time before we got to the body paragraph. So here's a walkthrough on both....

The thesis paragraph has two parts. One part is the thesis, what you'll prove in your essay, which will include the theme of the novel (a theme is always a complete sentence). The other part is how you'll prove it, what literary devices you'll use to prove your thesis.

Ayn Rand uses the names of her characters to add to the meaning of her work. She uses symbolism and irony to help the reader understand that collectivism is based on lies.

The paragraph would probably be a little better if I revised it so the theme appeared in the first paragraph, something like this:

Ayn Rand uses the names of her characters to help the reader understand that collectivism is based on lies. She accomplishes this with the symbolism and irony inherent in her characters' names.

In the first body paragraph, you'll use text evidence from the novel to make your point using the first literary device mentioned in your thesis paragraph. In the case of this essay, you'll need the symbolic characters' names as part of your quoted evidence.

Nowhere is this more apparent than in the scene involving Equality 7-2521's visit to the Home of Scholars in Chapter VII. "Collective 0-0009, the oldest and wisest of the Council" quizzes Equality 7 about his discovery of electric light. When Equality 7 says he worked on the invention on his own, Collective 0 says, "'What is not thought by all men cannot be true.'" Clearly, this is a lie. Collective 0's name acts symbolically for the collectivist society Rand so strongly opposes. By putting the falsehood in his mouth, Rand implies that the collectivism he represents is also based on lies.

To complete this body paragraph, I'd need to look at another symbolic name and link it to a lie of the collectivist society, too.

In the second body paragraph, I'd look at two ironically-named characters, and analyze how the irony in their names demonstrates the falsity of the society.

Of course, in your essay you'll be looking at names and name changes, but you'll still need at least two quotes from the book to make your case for each body paragraph (four total for an 85%, six total for 100%).

Pre-AP English II: Anthem Test Preview

Tomorrow you will be taking an AP-style test on Anthem. The excerpt you'll be tested on is somewhere in the first half of the novel, so be prepared. Also, you'll need to know the following...

Literary Devices

• Alliteration
• Allusion
• Flashback
• Foreshadowing
• Irony
• Metaphor
• Onomatopoeia
• Oxymoron
• Paradox
• Personification
• Simile

Wouldn't hurt you to know the meaning of the word abstract, either.

Pre-AP English II: IWA for Anthem

Base your IWA on one of the following prompts:

Novelists and playwrights often use the names of their characters to add meaning to their work.In a well-organized essay, analyze the significance of character names and name-changes in Anthem, and explain how they contribute to the novella’s meaning.


Darkness and light have long been used to symbolize ignorance and knowledge or sin and redemption. In a well-organized essay, analyze Rand’s use of darkness and light in Anthem, and discuss the way these symbols contribute to the overall meaning of the novella.

Tips to success:

Extensive plot summary will result in a REDO grade (no points), not a REVISE (85 points). Look at diction, metaphor, imagery, etc., and how the author’s use of these techniques contributes to meaning.

Remember that only REVISE and ACCEPTED essays will be taken for a grade, so submit your IWA early, rather than at the last minute to ensure that your essay will count!

*** More than 10 careless spelling mistakes***
will result in a REDO grade

All essays must be typed and adhere to the MLA formatting requirements (see below). All essays must be submitted with the draft in the LEFT pocket (inside front cover) of a 2-pocket portfolio folder. Failure to meet these minimum requirements will result in the draft being returned to the student unevaluated and with no score recorded.

• Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
  
  
• Double-space the text of your paper (paragraph settings). Use Times New Roman (Garamond if you're “fancy”); the font size should be 12 pt. (font settings).
  
  
• Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks.
  
  
• Set the margins of your document to 1" on all sides.
  
  
• Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times, or set your paragraphs to indent the first line 0.5". Do not skip a line (i.e., leave a blank line) between paragraphs.
  
  

Draft Deadline: Friday, February 15
85 Minimum Deadline: Friday, February 22
Drop Dead Deadline: Friday, March 1

English Students: Weekend Reading Assignments

Pre-AP English II: Read through Chapter III (3) of Anthem.

English I (Pre-AP) Read the first chapter of Of Mice and Men.

Pre-AP English II: Anthem Background

Below is today's presentation on things that influenced Anthem. After viewing it, please write a quick paragraph exploring your personal anthem, bearing in mind that an anthem identifies and celebrates your personal values:

1. Identify a song that you relate to and makes you feel good about yourself;
2. If no song really does the trick, identify what your values are and how a song might celebrate those.

Due: Monday 1/28

Pre-AP English II: Ayn Rand Presentation

Below is this morning's Ayn Rand presentation. After viewing it, please write a quick paragraph

1. Identifying two life events that have changed the way you see the world, and
2. What conclusion about life you've drawn because of those events

Due: Friday 1/25

Intro to Ayn Rand on Prezi