16 Siddhartha 2 // Due the week of Jan. 7, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Read the rest of Siddhartha and bring 5 discussion questions—thanks!

15 Siddhartha 1 // Due the week of Dec. 16, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week, read part 1 of Siddhartha. **Not "chapter 1" but "part 1" which includes multiple chapters.

Thanks!

14 Colonialism in Africa // Due the week of Dec. 8, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Next week, we will be having a debate on colonialism in Africa—whether it was generally good or bad for the people/area. Therefore, for homework, I'd like you to do some research so you feel like you're ready. I will be grading you next week on how many thoughtful/insightful comments you make :)

African Colonialism Debate Prep

As we have briefly discussed in class already, colonialism in Africa in the late 1800s and early 1900s had controversial effects on Africa.

It can be argued that colonialism brought better schools, medical care, infrastructure, and more to the African continent, thereby improving the people’s quality of life and their ability to compete in the modern world and compete.

However, it can also be argued that through colonialism, western colonizers took advantage of the African people by using their resources and land, while also putting down and even destroying the native culture.

You will be assigned one side of the debate; use this week and homework time to research your side of the debate (as well as the other side, so you are prepared for counterarguments). You will want to have specific evidence to cite for your side (specific cases, examples, quotes, facts, etc).

You will probably want to look into the following questions:

• What is colonialism?
• What are some reasons that westerners colonized Africa?
• What are some exact effects of the colonization on Africa? on the West?
• What are some well-known African/Western people’s opinions on the colonization?
• How is Africa different today because of colonialism?
• What methods were used to colonize Africa?

13 Things Fall Apart 3 // Due the week of Dec. 2, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Go ahead and finish the book over the next two weeks and write 5 discussion questions!

Thanks!

12 Things Fall Apart 2 // Due the week of Nov. 17, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week, read chapters 7-13 of Things Fall Apart and write 5 discussion questions. You can find the free online book on my previous post (look below).

Email me if you have questions or can't find the post!

11 Things Fall Apart // Due the week of Nov. 12, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week you will read the assigned reading in Things Fall Apart and write 5 discussion questions.

You can find the book free at:

Read Online Free

Email me if you have questions!

10 Book Thief Book Review // Due the week of Nov. 3, 2014

Hi Everyone!

For homework this week, write a 1-2 page book review in which you tell me what you did or did not like about The Book Thief and your overall opinion!

Be sure to use specific references to the books and examples of what you like or don't like. (For example, if you want to say you didn't like the narrator being death, you might talk about how he gives away the ending half-way through the book—the part where Rudy dies.)

No reading this week!

09 Book Thief 4 // Due the week of Oct. 28, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week, just finish the book and write 5 discussion questions—thanks!

08 Book Thief 3 // Due the week of Oct. 21, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week, read parts 5-7 of The Book Thief and write 5 discussion questions. Let me know if you have any questions!

07 Book Thief 2 // Due the week of Oct. 14, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Some people had trouble finding the book last week so I'm going to be a little easy on the homework this week (it will be a lot if you just got the book, not much if you already did last week's homework).

By next week you should have read parts 1-4 and write 5 discussion questions.

Email me if you have questions or still do not have the book!

06 The Book Thief // Due the week of October 7, 2014

Hi Everyone!

This week, you will begin reading The Book Thief! At this point of the year, it is very important that you have the book on time and begin reading—if you can't find the book at the library (because all copies are taken), or it is too late to order it online, you may just need to buy it at the bookstore.

For this week, read chapters 1-28 (don't worry, they're about two-page chapters :D)

Then, write 5 discussion questions for class.

Email me on Engrade if you have any questions!


**A little hint if you're confused at the first chapter: The narrator is Death speaking.

05 Memoir // Due the week of Sept. 30, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Night was a great memoir by Elie Wiesel that we read over the last few weeks!

A memoir is a true story from your life that had a major impact on your life—that changed who you are and has made you who you are.

You are to write a 1-2 page memoir in which you tell a story of an important time in your life. Probably, since you aren't going to write 100 pages like Wiesel, your story will encompass a shorter amount of time, like maybe a really important day or moment even.

Let me know if you have any questions!

04 Night 2 // Due the week of Sept. 23, 2014

Hi Everyone!

Go ahead and finish the book this week and write 5 more discussion questions!

You can read it free at:

Book Free

Also—I suggest ordering the next book "The Book Thief" now as we will be starting it next week!

03 Night

Hi Everyone!

This week, I want you to read chapters 1-5 of Night by Elie Wiesel. Based on the audiobook, this reading should take about 2 hours—more or less depending on your reading speed.

Then, write at least 5 discussion questions having to do with the book. Remember that discussion questions should be questions that create discussion—that could have multiple different answers to them.

I don't want to see comprehension questions like: What does Johnny talk to Jenny about in the 3rd chapter? or How old is Johnny? or What type of car does Johnny have?

Instead, I want to see deeper questions that question the motivation of the characters or of the author, or questions about the quality of the writing. If you're struggling with ideas, think of asking questions related to your pre-test that we took in class which I'll post at the bottom of this post. For example, Do you think Johnny is a round or flat character? Why do you say so? or What do you think the theme is so far?

You don't have to answer your questions on paper, just ask them :)

Keep in mind, you have to get the book yourself, so check out book-selling websites like Amazon.com (you can find books there for a dollar or two—but you may want to go there for other books, as you'll need this one soon and shipping can take a while), bookstores, or sometimes you can find the book free online.

One last thing: be sure to have the homework done on time; otherwise, you will have nothing to talk about next week and you'll be totally lost, which is no fun for anyone.

Literary Devices Pre-Test Name:

Draw the plot diagram with all 6 elements included.

Define the following terms in 1-2 sentences. (Not the bold words)

• Literary Elements:

• Setting

• Dialogue

• Conflict

• Mood

• Theme

• Characters:
• Protagonist

• Antagonist

• Types:
• Flat characters

• Round characters

• Static characters

• Dynamic characters

• Narrator’s Point of View:

• First person

• Second person

• Third person

• Alternating person

• Narrator’s Voice:

• Omniscient

• Limited

• Epistolary

• Unreliable

• Literary techniques:
• Juxtaposition

• Allusion

• Personification

• Imagery

• Metaphor

• Simile

02 How to Read Literature 1

Hi Everyone!

Sorry for the delay in posting the first homework for this year—there were a few complications but here goes!


Read the following chapters and answers the questions in about a paragraph each.

• Read the Introduction 
• Write down a brief explanation of the three things that contribute to literary analysis: Memory, Symbols, Patterns.
• Read Chapter 5
• How might this chapter explain why we read classics?
• Read the chapter called "Interlude: One Story"
• Do you agree that all literature is "one story," the human story? Why or why not? *Keep in mind—there is no right or wrong answer, as long as it's well thought out!

Remember:

• Every assignment should be typed up and printed out for class in the following format:

Times New Roman; 12 pt. Font; double spaced; 1/2-1” margins

Including a header at the top left that reads:

◦ Student name

◦ Teacher name

◦ Class name

◦ Date

Including a title

• Every assignment should be saved on the computer in a folder specifically for this class. Typing and saving assignments will make revising papers much easier and will help clear up any situations of lost papers.

01 Syllabus

Hello! In this Literature class, we will be reading great literary novels and interacting with them in several different ways. We will ask critical questions, discuss major ideas in class, write creatively, and learn relevant literary elements. The class hopes to create a love of reading, a personal connection to texts, and a deeper understanding of the art form.

I am very excited to meet you all, and if you have any questions throughout the year, feel free to come talk to or email me any time!

Three main keys of this class:

• Critical discussion about readings

• Creative connection to readings

• Understanding of literary elements relevant to reading

Grades will be calculated on a ten point scale:

90 - 100 = A

80 - 89 = B

70 -79 = C

60 - 69 = D

00 - 59 = F

If you are struggling with the homework or not understanding anything in class, come talk to me or email me—I'm always happy to help and we can certainly figure something out!

Absences:

• We complete a lot of work in-class, and as I see you only 1 day per week, this time is invaluable. Most days, class will include graded activities. If the class is missed--even for excused absences--that grade will show up as a zero. However, these grades can be made up within 2 weeks of class by completing a writing assignment of my choice that relates to the in-class work. Email me within one week of the missed class to ask what make-up assignment can be completed.

Late Homework:

• Due to the nature of this class, late homework will quite negatively affect you on a practical level. Without the work being done on time each week, there may be little for you to discuss and you will likely miss the discussion grade.
• You can still turn in homework up to one week late for ½ credit or within one day for full credit (you’ll still probably miss the in-class discussion grade).

Homework:

• Homework will be posted each week at worldlit-options.blogspot.com.

• If it is not posted, I may have had technical difficulties without realizing it (sometimes I will post but the internet will not actually send it through. It happens occasionally). Feel free to email me and I will repost as soon as possible.
• Every assignment should be typed up and printed out for class in the following format:

Times New Roman; 12 pt. Font; double spaced; 1/2-1” margins

Including a header at the top left that reads:

◦ Student name

◦ Teacher name

◦ Class name

◦ Date

Including a title

• Every assignment should be saved on the computer in a folder specifically for this class. Typing and saving assignments will make revising papers much easier and will help clear up any situations of lost papers.

Bring to class:

• Homework
• Pen/pencil
• Notebook/Paper

Book List:

• We may not get through all of these books, but they are all on the list as options.
• All of these books are frequently read as high school classic literature that is important for college-bound students to know.

Book	Author
How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines	Thomas Foster
Night	Elie Wiesel
The Book Thief	Markus Zusak
Things Fall Apart	Chinua Achebe
Siddhartha	Hermann Hesse
The Kite Runner	Khaled Hosseini
The Joy Luck Club	Amy Tan
Love in the Time of Cholera	Gabriel García Márquez
Oedipus Rex	Sophocles