Contemporary Literature

Week 13 November 14-18, 2011

Monday, November 14, 2011

Walk-IN: Take out a new sheet of paper and title it The World According to Garp movie viewing note sheet.

Learning Objective: Students will compare and contrast a film adaptation to the

original source text and analyze how successful in remaining true to the overall purpose, context of the novel, the situation in which they can work within (film), and the affect it has on the audience.

Agenda: The World According to Garp Film Study

Due Today:

Homework:Read and prepare for Book

Club # 5 on Tuesday(Page 277)

The World According To Garp Film Study Movie Viewing Note Sheet. On a piece of paper, make a list

of “Narrative Elements” Plot, character, setting, conflict, theme

Create a chart with the following categories. Narrative elements / Similar / Different / Affect on purpose, context,

situation, and audience. List narrative elements down left hand column of chart:

While Viewing: We want you to recognize changes and then think critically about whether

or not the change matters: Does the difference change the story in a way that makes the story fundamentally different from the book? Is it still the same story, or is it a different story?

Whole class discussion: Students volunteer changes they noticed, the class discusses

possible effects of these changes (see 3rd bullet above) Try and tie together the “flying” theme based on student

contributions.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Walk-IN: Sit with your book club group and take out your book, book club jobs, and a new sheet of paper.

Learning Objective: Students will increase enjoyment and understanding of a novel by

discussion questions, passages, characters, vocabulary, artistic interpretations, and areas of synthesis.

Students will assume responsibilities for effective dialogues by posing and responding to questions that probe reasoning and evidence; listening to a full range of positions on a topic or issue; clarifying, verifying, or challenging ideas and conclusions; and promoting divergent and creative viewpoints.

Agenda: Book Club # 5

Due Today:Book Club #5 Creative

Job

Homework:Read and prepare for

Book Cub # 6(Page 335)

Book Club before discussionSet up header:Book Club #5Name:Novel: Date:Collage of Jobs:Pages Read:

Summary Paragraph Write a summary paragraph about what happened in your

book so far. Include information about the setting, characters, conflict, and any other important ideas or events.

When finished, discuss your summaries with your group.

Book Club DiscussionQuestion Job Procedures

Lead the group in a discussion about each question. Allow everyone in your group to participate before you say anything. Take notes on who said what during the discussion of each question. Once everyone has contributed, share your own ideas about the answer to the question. Repeat with each question

Passage Job ProceduresDirect your group to that passage in the book, and have them read along with you as you read the passage out loud. Allow everyone in your group to comment on your passage before you say anything about it, and take notes on who said what during discussion. After everyone has participated, share your written explanation with the group.

Character Job ProceduresShare your Introduction/Update about each character with your group. After sharing about all characters, lead your group in a discussion about relationships, conflicts, and predictions about each character. Allow all members of your group to participate before you offer your own ideas, and take notes on your chart about discussion.

Art Job ProceduresPresent artwork to the group. Allow all members to make observations and ask questions before you say anything about the image, and take notes who said what during discussion. Share your ideas about your image after everyone has participated.

Vocabulary Job ProceduresIdentify word/phrase/term and direct group to where it appears in the text. Read the sentence/paragraph in which the word appears out loud with the group. Ask the group to share ideas about the word’s meaning and/or significance to the story, and take notes on who said what. After everyone has participated, share your definitions, explanations with the group. Repeat process with each word.

Synthesis Job ProceduresOne example at a time, lead the group in a discussion of each example, how it relates to the question. Allow your group to suggest In-Class and Beyond-Class connections BEFORE you suggest any. Fill out your chart as you discuss with your group. For each question, discuss with your group what how all the examples work together to suggest a common answer to each question, the Emerging Message; this should be written in the form of a theme statement.

Book Club After discussion Reflection Paragraph:

In a detailed paragraph, explain how your overall experience in book club increased your enjoyment or understanding of the novel. Was your group successful? Were you successful? How did your creative selection of your jobs and others help you better enjoy or understand The World According To Garp?

The World According to Garp Reflection Questions How is language a powerful tool for understanding and expression? How does a text affect my perspectives? How do my perspectives

influence my understanding of a text? What was the author trying to make us feel, see, and believe? Why consider the viewpoints in a text? How does reading help me

understand others’ experiences? Why and how does reading change my thinking? Why do readers make sense of texts in different ways? How do authors create the aesthetics of a literary work? How does

the aesthetics of a literary work affect the meaning of the text? How does constructing a generalization affect my thinking? What

and why do I need to generalize in order to draw a sound conclusion?

How do the generalizations and conclusions that I form and draw from various literary works stretch, compress, and focus my perspective?

Wed/Thurs November 16-17, 2011

Walk-IN: Please take out your outline or rough drafts of your body paragraphs of the synthesis essay.

Learning Objective: Students will understand the outline for the introduction and

conclusion and the purpose behind the ideas and organization of the opening and closing of synthesis essay.

Agenda: Synthesis Essay Introduction and Conclusions Synthesis Essay Work Time The World According to Garp Reading/Prep Time

Silent Reading Expectations Book Club Preparation

Due Today:Synthesis Essay Outline or Rough Drafts of Body

Paragraphs

Homework:

Read and prepare for

Book Club # 6

(Page 335)

The Background Synthesis

The background synthesis requires that you bring together background information on a topic and organize it by topic rather than by source.  Instructors often assign background syntheses at the early stages of the research process, before students have developed a thesis--and they can be helpful to students conducting large research projects even if they are not assigned.  Frequently writers of background synthesis papers develop a thesis before they have finished. 

A Synthesis of Literature  Your primary purpose is to show readers that

you are familiar with the field and are thus qualified to offer your own opinions.  But your larger purpose is to show that in spite of all this wonderful research, no one has addressed the problem in the way that you intend to in your paper.  This gives your synthesis a purpose, and even a thesis of sorts. 

Synthesis Essay IntroductionIntroduction

Introduce main topic in an interesting way that grab’s the reader’s attention with a hook. Why and how do writers do this? What are two ways?

a. Uses a quote that introduces importanceb. Provides own level 3 statement of importance or statement of interest Try out both of these techniques for your essay and then CHOOSE ONE.

Define your topic—anticipate the reader’s questions. What questions might the reader have at this point? Respond to any potential questions.

a. Is the topic clear? Why is it important?b. What background information do the readers need?c. Do any terms need to be defined?

Introduce your source texts—Why do we identify our source texts? What might the reader need to know about them?

1. title and author2. genre (fiction: novels, short stories, poetry/ non-fiction: articles, essays, websites)3. brief summary of content (what is this text about?)

Present Thesis Statement—what is the overarching claim you are asserting about your topic? As a writer what questions should you ask yourself about your thesis? What is the purpose of a thesis?

Synthesis Essay ConclusionConnect back to hook in the introduction—this sends a cue to the reader

that the body of your essay is over and the conclusion has begun. How do writers do this what are some ways that you can connect back to the introduction?

a. Provide a quote that builds off of your quote to start your essay—maybe one that shows a cause and effect relationship

b. Provide a concluding statement of importance that sums up your overall thinking. This may be similar to your thesis. Practice both techniques and see which one connects best to the introduction and

you prefer and then CHOOSE ONE.Review main points: why is it necessary to review main points? What

purpose does it serve?1. Refer to the text examples you used for each main point.2. Do NOT just list all your main points in one sentence.3. Take it further—explain how all the main points work together to prove

your thesis.

Concluding sentence what are some ways to close your essay? What purpose should this serve for the reader? What does the reader need? Or what do you want to leave the reader with?

The World According To Garp: Reading and Preparation Day While reading be conscious or aware of the

strategies you use to improve your stamina and engagement while reading (these are most likely similar to strategies you use to stay involved in the moment in anything new you are learning).

Be aware of the things that distract you. Keep in mind the creative ways in which you

may want to represent you learning, analysis, and reaction to the novel for your Book Club Preparation.

Begin creating your prepartion:

The World According to Garp Book Club Book Club Job Expectations

Creative Freedom for Jobs: collage approach to Book Club Jobs.

Students will need to collage or piece together 4 aspects of the previous six jobs. This may include one passage, a smaller detailed drawing, two level 3 questions, 3 vocabulary words, a character chart on one person, or a smaller synthesis chart. Your choice, just chose 4 of the above and have fun and be creative.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Walk-IN: Sit with your book club group and take out your book, book club jobs, and a new sheet of paper.

Learning Objective: Students will increase enjoyment and understanding of a novel by

discussion questions, passages, characters, vocabulary, artistic interpretations, and areas of synthesis.

Students will assume responsibilities for effective dialogues by posing and responding to questions that probe reasoning and evidence; listening to a full range of positions on a topic or issue; clarifying, verifying, or challenging ideas and conclusions; and promoting divergent and creative viewpoints.

Agenda: Book Club # 6

Due Today:Book Club #6 Creative

Job

Homework:Read and prepare for

Book Cub # 7(Page 400)

Book Club before discussionSet up header:Book Club #6Name:Novel: Date:Collage of Jobs:Pages Read:

Summary Paragraph Write a summary paragraph about what happened in your

book so far. Include information about the setting, characters, conflict, and any other important ideas or events.

When finished, discuss your summaries with your group.

Book Club DiscussionMajor Events General Subject (Motif)

1. Jenny retaliates against the soldier

Violence

Book Club DiscussionReoccurring Subject (MOTIF)

Examples (events) that addressed the motif

Messages about subject/motif (theme)

1. Violence 1.2.3.

1.

Book Club After discussion Reflection Paragraph:

In a detailed paragraph, explain how your overall experience in book club increased your enjoyment or understanding of the novel. Was your group successful? Were you successful? How did your creative selection of your jobs and others help you better enjoy or understand The World According To Garp?

The World According to Garp Reflection Questions How is language a powerful tool for understanding and expression? How does a text affect my perspectives? How do my perspectives

influence my understanding of a text? What was the author trying to make us feel, see, and believe? Why consider the viewpoints in a text? How does reading help me

understand others’ experiences? Why and how does reading change my thinking? Why do readers make sense of texts in different ways? How do authors create the aesthetics of a literary work? How does

the aesthetics of a literary work affect the meaning of the text? How does constructing a generalization affect my thinking? What

and why do I need to generalize in order to draw a sound conclusion?

How do the generalizations and conclusions that I form and draw from various literary works stretch, compress, and focus my perspective?