Tuesday

The future holds this: see the calendar. In addition to the critical essays you present, read both Watt (349) and Brantlinger (386). Focus like a laser on what they have to say about Conrad's style. If one of these critics is your assignment for presentation already, read the other one and at least one more criticism.

I am grading blog posts strictly on fulfillment of requirements with a bonus for really thoughtful entries. I am grading the discussions on fulfillment of requirements. Be clear and focused about your three main points. I will not grade your written commentary until you convince me you have read the novel, and you better hurry up and do that. I'm here before and after school, you know. I will then assess the commentaries with the IB commentary rubric available from the IB Handbook posted to the right.

Keep an eye on your WLA 1 revision!

These scheduled events develop your grade on Heart of Darkness and complete the progress report period.

Monday

CORRECTION: WLA 1 is due, file and paper, on Tueday/Wednesday, September 13/14. Sept. 13 is an A day.

Thursday

Reminder: As you bring in your WLA 1 files, be sure they are saved as something compatible with MS Word 2003. Use the drop down "save as type" box and click .doc or .rtf. Documents saved as .docx and .xml do not look right when opened with school computers. WLA 1 revisions will be due September 14.

Now, the assignments for Monday/Tuesday:

A. Read your selected criticism. Note its three main points and compose five good questions on a selection of your choosing from Heart of Darkness that will help others see those main critical points. Confer with your partners about the selection and questions; talk over the implications of the critic's essay. Present your points and lead a short discussion of your selection Monday/Tuesday.

B. Read the passage posted to the right and dated 8.25. Then read all comments from your classmates in this thread. Post here, as "comments" on this assignment posting (Thursday, August 25), a commentary on it. Include a reference to the student who has posted just before you (extend or argue one of her points); an interpretive question on the passage (perhaps based in your critical reading) that will prompt thoughts from your classmates; and an application of some idea from your critic (be sure to acknowledge the critic by name). Develop your thoughts clearly. You may consider speaker, tone, imagery, diction, figures of speech, style, structure, and progression of ideas in the passage. I would write in Word and then copy it to the blog to keep from losing big blocks of material when the internet flickers. Everyone should have an entry posted by Saturday midnight for A-day and Sunday midnight for B-day, or you will be charged a late fee. Think hard and write clearly.

Wednesday

See Tuesday's post for your assignment. Check Parent Portal to see your grade if think you might need to retake the Part 3 quiz.

Tuesday

Bring in your WLA 1 files to work on in class. If you want a retake for H of D reading quiz one, two, or three, come prepared Thursday/Friday.

Monday

Finish Heart of Darkness for next class (Tuesday/Wednesday).

Wednesday

Read Part II. Firm up your choices about WLA 2: rank three sets of options in case the first choice is not available.

Monday

For Wednesday (A)/Thursday (B), read Part I of Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. Bring in your WLA 1 as a file and as a paper copy for revision. Bring your handout "The Social Me" by William James. Begin thinking about the works on which you would like to base your WLA 2.