Bert Church English 30-2
Welcome to the course! I am excited to be teaching you this year.
Introduction to me
Expectations/Guidelines
Lates/Missed Assignments
Course Outline
Diploma Review Website
To start, we will play a little game to get to know everyone. It's called five questions:
Pick a partner, and ask them these five questions:
1. What's your name?
2. What's your favourite memory from the summer?
3. What are you most looking forward to this year?
4. What do you hate about English?
5. What do you like about English?
Then, you will have to share about your partner. I will also share my answers.
We will begin by looking at tattoos.
Here is a short video on the history of tattoos.
Here is a longer documentary:
And we will look at the research of Lars Krutak.
Ultimately, a tattoo is representation of who you are. It tells a part of your story, and can incorporate elements of your individual and collective identity.
Now we will design our own. You must design a tattoo(or tattoos) that communicate at least four components of your identity. When complete, you will also have to write a 300 word(minimum) description of your tattoo that demonstrates the folllowing:
1. What parts of your identity does your tattoo communicate? Why did you choose these symbols to communicate this part of your identity?
2. What is the style of the tattoo? What are the origins of this style?
Rubric can be found here:
Before we start short stories, we are going to break down what I expect from you in terms of essays. Remember that essays need the followinf:
Thesis:(what is your main point?)
Evidence:(what supports your main point?)
Explanation:(how does your evidence support your main point?)
For example, if I was writing a paper on "Which Batman film is your favorite?" I would begin an outline in this manner:
Thesis: The Dark Knight is my favourite Batman film.
Evidence: The character of the Joker.
Explanation: The Dark Knight establishes the true madness of the Joker. The level of evil that this character introduces into the series takes it from a comic book film to a great film in its own right.
We are going to watch a clip from the John Oliver show, "Last Week Tonight."
There is bit of bad language, especially at the 9:35-9:45 mark.
As it is on, please answer the following questions:
1. What is the thesis?
2. What are three pieces of evidence that he uses to prove his thesis?
Now, we will do the following assignment:
Write a paragraph that answers the following:
What is your opinion of the idea that life sometimes isn't fair?
Thesis: what is your answer to the question?
Evidence/Explanation: what adversity have you faced that made you a better person? How did that adversity, ultimately, help you?
Lastly, we will read the story, "The Lottery"
Pre Reading Questions:
1. What are some traditions we celebrate as big groups? As a town? As a school?
2. What is the purpose of traditions?
3. What are superstitions? Do you have any?
4. What is the mob mentality? Has it ever affected you?
Post Reading Questions:
1. Why has Jackson chosen common people for her characters?
2. What do you think is the original purpose of the lottery?
3. Is it important that the original box for the lottery had been lost? What do you suppose the original ceremony was like? Why have some of the villages given up this practice? Why hasn't this one?
4. What is the significance of Tessie's final scream, "It isn't fair, it isn't right"?
5. Is the lottery a collective act of murder? Is it morally justified?
6. Describe the point of view of the story. How does the point of view affect what we know about the situation? How does it preserve the story's suspense?
Go back to the essay question of "What is your opinion of the idea that sometimes life isn't fair?"
Write another paragraph that includes evidence from this short story.
Example:
Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery" relates to the theme of life not being fair. A lottery is, by definition random....
Our next story is a take on the end of the world. Please complete these questions as we read.
Last Contact - Stephen Baxter
March 15
1. What is the main conflict in the story?
2. What type of conflict is it?
3. What is the relationship between Maureen and Caitlin?
4. What is meant by the phrase, "You mustn't think like that."
June 5
5. What is implied by the line, '"Joe, eh?" Caitlin grinned.'
6. Why will the stars look funny by Autumn?
7. How would you describe the mood of Caitlin and Maureen?
October 14
8. Why did Maureen wake up early?
9. Why did Maureen continue to grow her garden? Would you?
10. What were the alien signals saying?
11. What is the theme of this story?
Last Night of the World
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
We will finish by watching the film, "Interstellar" and completing our essay.
Topic: What is your opinion of the idea that sometimes life isn't fair?
We will go through examples of what this should look like, and then we will be writing our own.
Night
By Elie Wiesel
Reflective Journal
-Every Chapter or two, there will be a personal reflection writing prompt. I will check them periodically, but will only take the whole thing in for marks at the end of the novel study.
You will be marked on the depth of your response and the quality of your writing.
Questions from http://www.sps186.org/downloads/basic/293431/Night%20comprehension%20questions.pdf
1. Who was Moshe the Beadle? Why was he an important figure in Mr. Wiesel’s life?
2. Discuss the importance of religion in Mr. Wiesel’s young life.
3. What significant event happened to Moshe the Beadle? Why? What story did he tell upon his return? How did Moshe escape this wretchedness?
4. Why did people refuse to listen to his stories of what had happened?
5. Moshe said, “I wanted to come back to Sighet to tell you the story of my death. So that you could prepare yourselves while there was still time.” What did he mean by this?
6. Why did Elie’s father refuse to sell his business and move to Palestine? What is your opinion of his decision? Why?
7. What were the Fascists doing to the Jews in Budapest? Why did the others refuse to take this action seriously?
8. After the leaders of the Jewish community were arrested, what were the orders to
the other Jews?
9. What was the ghetto? At first, why were the Jews unconcerned about being placed in the ghettos? Soon afterwards, what happened to make them change their minds?
10.The inspector from the Hungarian police knocked on the window, but by the time someone went to see who it was, he was gone. What is the significance of this?
11.How did the Hungarian police treat the Jews as they told them the time had come?
12.Why did the Jews leave their valuables behind?
13.Explain why Elie and his older sisters refused to go to Martha’s village with her.
14.What were the conditions in the cattle car?
Chapter 2 Questions
1. What had happened to Madame Schächter to make her behave as she did? What did she continually shout about to the Jews?
2. How did the men finally subdue her?
3. When they reached a station, where were they? What would they do there?
4. What did Madame Schächter’s cries foreshadow?
Auschwitz Video
Auschwitz Video Questions:
1. Describe what Auschwitz looked like.
2. What was the purpose of Auschwitz?
3. Where was Auschwitz?
4. How did people arrive in Auschwitz?
5. How does the main character describe how people in Auschwitz(prisoners) looked?
6. How did the guards maintain control in Auschwitz?
Chapter 3 Questions
Chapter 3 Questions
1. As they arrived at Auschwitz, why do you think Elie was apprehensive when the women went one way and the men went the other way? Were his fears realistic? Explain.
2. “Behind me, an old man fell to the ground. Near him was an SS man, putting his revolver back in its holster.” What had actually happened in this scene?
3. Explain why the prisoner told Elie to say that he was eighteen, rather than fifteen.
4. Why, when the young men with the knives tried to incite the others to revolution, did the wind of revolt die down?
5. What was Dr. Mengele’s role at Auschwitz?
6. What was in the lorry that was brought to the ditch? How did Elie react to what he saw?
7. What was the first sign that Elie was beginning to question God?
8. Elie made up his mind what he would do if he were forced into the ditch with the burning bodies. What was his plan of action? What kept him from doing it?
9. As Elie and the others made their way into the barracks, why were some of the prisoners armed with truncheons and ready to use them?
10.What was the job of the men of the Sonder-Kommando? How were they chosen?
11.Beginning with giving up their clothes, describe the process all new prisoners went through when they came to the camp. Why do you think they had to do this?
12.Why do you suppose Elie did nothing when the Gypsy in charge gave his father a clout that knocked him to the ground?
13.Why do you think the young Pole, the prisoner in charge, spoke those “first human words”?
14.Why did Elie lie to Stein, Reizel’s husband?
15.Do you think Elie and his father believed that Tzipora and his mother were still alive? Explain.
Chapter 3 Discussion Points
Imagine someone who you are close to. Perhaps someone who you talk to every day. Now, imagine that you will never see them again. I would like you to write a letter to them. Say the things you would like to say if you knew you would never see them.
This will be a completion mark only. I will not be reading these or marking them for content. I will be coming around to take a quick look to see if they are completed.
What you choose to do with them is completely up to you. You may want to give them to the person now, or at some point in the future, or maybe never.
Why is it important to think about these types of things?
Chapter 4 Discussion: John Green Explanation of Israel/Palestine conflict
Why would the Israelis defend their homeland so fiercely?
1. Why did the officer take such an interest in the younger children?
2. What was the unfortunate incident with Elie’s shoes?
3. How were the medical exam and the dental exam different for Elie?
4. What did Yossi, Tibi, and Elie have in common that made them become friends?
5. When Elie was summoned to the dentist, what was odd about the way the dentist looked?
6. How was Elie able to get out of having his crown pulled from his mouth? What warning did the dentist give him?
7. Briefly describe the incident between Idek and Elie.
8. What did the French girl do that surprised Elie? How was she able to pass as Aryan?
9. Why was Elie angry with his father when Idek beat him?
10.Franek wanted Elie’s gold crown. What did he do to convince him to give it up?
11.Why and for whom were the gallows set up the first time?
12.What happened to the pipel, the one with the face of a sad angel? What had he done?
Chapter 5
1. On the last day of this year, how was the way the prisoners looked at Rosh Hashanah different from the way they used to view the Jewish New Year?
2. How do Elie’s thoughts show that he is losing faith in God?
3. Analyze Wiesel’s meaning in the following statements: “I was no longer capable of lamentation... I felt very strong. I was the accuser, God the accused.... I stood amid that praying congregation, observing it like a stranger.”
4. What was the “fine New Year’s gift” the SS gave the prisoners?
5. Rations had become more meager. Is that a good or a bad thing? Why?
6. What was Elie’s “inheritance”?
7. What was Elie’s father’s fate at the second selection?
8. Describe Elie’s surgery.
9. What would have happened to Elie if he had stayed in the hospital after his surgery?
10.What was the last act performed by the men an hour before leaving camp? Why?
Chapter 6 Discussion Questions:
The literal events of Ch 6 – what happened?
What’s happening to Elie? How is he able to proceed on ‘the Deathmarches?’
Why has Elie got no right to let himself die? What does this tell us about Elie and Chlomo? How does this differ from the scene in Ch 5 when Chlomo was confronted with death?
Put distance into relevant terms – 42 miles = Airdrie to Olds, and that’s only the beginning. Could any of you do it?
What does no one care about trampling his or her fellow prisoners to death?
How has Elie’s attitude of death changed in this chapter?
What does the snow symbolize?
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
1. After waiting so long in the snow and icy wind, why were the prisoners finally allowed to go into the blocks?
2. What did Elie do that made him feel “ashamed forever”?
3. Why weren’t the sick prisoners given anything to eat?
4. As Chlomo lie on his bed near death, what did he feel he needed to tell Elie?
5. Elie took his father to see the doctor who would not treat him for his dysentery because he was a surgeon and that wasn’t his business. When a second doctor came to the block, he was there for only one reason. What was this reason?
6. What was most likely the major contributing factor in Elie’s father’s death?
Chapter 9
1. After Elie’s father died, Elie could think of only one thing. What was that?
2. Where was Elie sent to live?
3. Although over the loudspeakers came the order to assemble, some prisoners whispered to the children that they should go back. Why?
4. The evacuations did not take place and were postponed until the following day. Instead, the resistance decided to act. What was the result?
5. Coincidentally, what took place at 6:00 that evening?
6. What was ironic about Elie’s bout with food poisoning shortly after the liberation?
Literary Exploration
Persuasive Writing
The American Dream
Twenty Years From Now Project
We will spend the next two days building a Ten Years From Now Project.
You will be putting together a visual presentation(powerpoint, prezi, or poster) that outlines where you would like to be in about ten or so years. Really think about the answers, and put time into thinking about this. It will help tremendously with the next unit.
Your powerpoint should answer the following questions of yourself in ten years:
1. What job do you have? Are you self employed? If so, what type of business?
2. Where do you live
-what city or town?(visual)
-house, apartment, acreage, farm?
3. What kind of car do you drive?(visual)
4. What does your family look like? Are you married? Do you have kids? How many?
5. Are you close with your family? Siblings?
6. Are you still close to your high school friends? Which ones? Why?
7. How did yo get to this point? Where did you go to school?(visual)
8. How long did you go to school?
9. Have you travelled? Where to?
10. What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun?
11. When will you retire?
12. What will you do when you retire(visual)
I've written 'visual' besides the questions that will need to be accompanied with a visual response.
Rubric
Stage Design:
Read the first Stage Directions. From what it says in the italics, draw what you think the stage should look like.
Include any lighting instructions you may want to include.
Colour it if you like, but this is not necessary.
Where is the audience sitting? How does this affect the viewing of the play?
What are your impressions of Willy?
*Remember, there is a lot of direction, but there is also a huge amount of creative license you can take.
We will watch and read up to page 38 in the play.
Biff Snapchat/Instagram/Twitter Assignment
We will be working on a Social Media presence for Biff. You can use any of the following:
Snapchat: http://snapsr.com/
Instagram:
Twitter:
I would like your Profile to reflect Biff in two distinct stages:
1. Our first introduction to him(his conversation with Happy(pgs. 19-25)
2. WIlly's Recollection of the Past(pgs. 26-39)
Each section must have at least 5 entries(Tweets, Instagram Posts, Snapchats)
You must incorporate three exact quotes from the play.
Your account must demonstrate an understanding of Biff and his relationship with his family, specifically Willy.
Rubric can be found here.
Death of a Salesman
Act One
1. Why is Willy home? Why is Linda alarmed that he’s home?
2. Why is Willy annoyed at Biff? How does he describe Biff? What does this tell us about Willy?
3. How has the neighborhood changed? Why does it matter to the story that his surroundings are no longer the way they used to be?
4. How does Linda treat Willy? How do the boys feel about him? Is Biff trying to spite Willy? Why does Biff come home in the spring?
5. Why won’t Happy go out West with Biff, and why won’t Biff stay? Why doesn’t either son get married and settle down?
6. How does Willy act toward the boys when they are young? How do they act toward him? How does Willy feel about Charley and Bernard?
7. What does Willy’s reaction to Biff’s theft of the football tell us about Willy? He says the boys look like Adonises. What other clues show that Willy believes in appearances?
8. Willy praises and then curses the Chevrolet; he tells Linda that he’s very well liked, and then says that people don’t seem to take to him. What do these inconsistencies tell us about Willy?
9. “Five hundred gross in Providence” becomes “roughly two hundred gross on the whole trip.” How does Linda take Willy’s stories? What does this reveal about her? Why does Willy make a fuss about Linda’s mending stockings? How is this important to the play?
10. Why does Charley visit? How does he feel about Willy? How and why do they insult each other?
11. Who is Ben? Why does Ben appear? What does Willy think about the future? About the past? What does Ben teach Biff? Why does Willy feel “kind of temporary” about himself and want Ben to stay?
12. What does Linda think is the trouble with Willy’s life? Why is she angry at her sons? Why does she put the rubber hose back after she had taken it? What does this tell about her?
13. Why is Willy interested when Biff mentions Bill Oliver? Why do they argue? How does Happy try to capture attention?
Act Two
1. Why is Willy’s mood upbeat at the start of Act Two? What does he expect to happen?
2. Why does Willy tell Howard about Dave Singleman? Describe the dramatic effect when Howard listens to the voices of his family while Willy tries to talk business. Why does Howard tell Willy to drop off his samples and forbid him to go to Boston? Why is this such a blow to Willy?
3. What is Willy’s philosophy? How does Biff as a football hero embody his father’s dreams? Why does Charley say Willy hasn’t grown up?
4. What is Willy’s impression of Bernard when he sees him in his father’s office? Why does Willy exaggerate Biff’s importance? Why does Bernard ask what happened after the game at Ebbets Field?
5. Why won’t Willy work for Charley? Why is Willy able to ask Charley for money? How is Charley’s view of what a salesman needs different from Willy’s view?
6. In the restaurant, how does Happy reflect Willy’s values? Why does Miller have the girls come in?
7. How does Biff’s realization that his life is a lie underline the theme of the play? Why does Biff take Bill Oliver’s fountain pen? Why can’t he tell his father what happened with Bill Oliver? Why do Biff and Happy leave Willy at the restaurant?
8. Why did Biff go to Boston? What does he discover when he sees the Woman? Why is it that Biff never went to summer school? Why can’t he believe in his father?
9. Why does Linda tell the boys, “Get out of here, both of you, and don’t come back!”?
10. Why does Willy keep planting seeds where they’ve never grown before? Why does Willy think Biff will be impressed with his funeral? Why does Ben say that Biff will call Willy a fool?
11. Why doesn’t Willy want to see Linda? Why does he think Biff is spiting him? Why does Biff show him the rubber hose? Why does Biff confront Willy and Happy?
12. What does Biff do that elates Willy? How does Happy try to attract Willy’s attention? How does Ben influence Willy at this point?
Requiem
1. What is a requiem? What is the purpose of this final act? To what extent is it successful?
2. Charley says: “No man only needs a little salary.” To what is he referring? What else does a man need?
3. Explain the irony of Linda’s last speech.
Write a one page, double spaced, Eulogy for Willy Loman. You need to take the perspective of a character from the play(Happy, Biff, Linda, etc).
Feel free to research examples of eulogies to see what types of things people say in these types of speeches.
Willy's Eulogy Rubric
WIlly Project:
You will create a visual or textual representation to demonstrate your understanding of Willy Loman. You may use any of the following formats:
Rubric
You will be assessed on the following:
Thought and Support:
Willy Project Rubric
To begin, we will look at a poem called "The Tortoise and the Scorpion" by David Rakoff, as read on an episode of "This American Life" from NPR
We will listen to it being read by the author. Again, from "This American Life" on NPR
As we listen, identify the 'facts.'
Who is the speaker?
Who are the other characters?
When is it happening?
Where is it happening?
What is happening?
What is the main idea?
What do we notice about this poem?
This poem is written in rhyming couplets. The couplets serve to make the story seem more comical, and give it a bit of lightness. Your assignment is to write out a story of your own in rhyming couplets.
Your poem must be at least thirty lines in length. How you choose to divide up your stanzas is up to you. We will break this assignment into a few manageable bits. To start, I would like you to decide on the event you will be describing, and start to write out an outline of your poem.
Then
*You may want to do a holiday, a family vacation, a concert, a sporting event, or even a night out with friends(keep this appropriate, of course)
Have fun!
Introduction to me
Expectations/Guidelines
Lates/Missed Assignments
Course Outline
Diploma Review Website
To start, we will play a little game to get to know everyone. It's called five questions:
Pick a partner, and ask them these five questions:
1. What's your name?
2. What's your favourite memory from the summer?
3. What are you most looking forward to this year?
4. What do you hate about English?
5. What do you like about English?
Then, you will have to share about your partner. I will also share my answers.
We will begin by looking at tattoos.
Here is a short video on the history of tattoos.
Here is a longer documentary:
And we will look at the research of Lars Krutak.
Ultimately, a tattoo is representation of who you are. It tells a part of your story, and can incorporate elements of your individual and collective identity.
Now we will design our own. You must design a tattoo(or tattoos) that communicate at least four components of your identity. When complete, you will also have to write a 300 word(minimum) description of your tattoo that demonstrates the folllowing:
1. What parts of your identity does your tattoo communicate? Why did you choose these symbols to communicate this part of your identity?
2. What is the style of the tattoo? What are the origins of this style?
Rubric can be found here:
Before we start short stories, we are going to break down what I expect from you in terms of essays. Remember that essays need the followinf:
Thesis:(what is your main point?)
Evidence:(what supports your main point?)
Explanation:(how does your evidence support your main point?)
For example, if I was writing a paper on "Which Batman film is your favorite?" I would begin an outline in this manner:
Thesis: The Dark Knight is my favourite Batman film.
Evidence: The character of the Joker.
Explanation: The Dark Knight establishes the true madness of the Joker. The level of evil that this character introduces into the series takes it from a comic book film to a great film in its own right.
We are going to watch a clip from the John Oliver show, "Last Week Tonight."
There is bit of bad language, especially at the 9:35-9:45 mark.
As it is on, please answer the following questions:
1. What is the thesis?
2. What are three pieces of evidence that he uses to prove his thesis?
Now, we will do the following assignment:
Write a paragraph that answers the following:
What is your opinion of the idea that life sometimes isn't fair?
Thesis: what is your answer to the question?
Evidence/Explanation: what adversity have you faced that made you a better person? How did that adversity, ultimately, help you?
Lastly, we will read the story, "The Lottery"
Pre Reading Questions:
1. What are some traditions we celebrate as big groups? As a town? As a school?
2. What is the purpose of traditions?
3. What are superstitions? Do you have any?
4. What is the mob mentality? Has it ever affected you?
Post Reading Questions:
1. Why has Jackson chosen common people for her characters?
2. What do you think is the original purpose of the lottery?
3. Is it important that the original box for the lottery had been lost? What do you suppose the original ceremony was like? Why have some of the villages given up this practice? Why hasn't this one?
4. What is the significance of Tessie's final scream, "It isn't fair, it isn't right"?
5. Is the lottery a collective act of murder? Is it morally justified?
6. Describe the point of view of the story. How does the point of view affect what we know about the situation? How does it preserve the story's suspense?
Go back to the essay question of "What is your opinion of the idea that sometimes life isn't fair?"
Write another paragraph that includes evidence from this short story.
Example:
Shirley Jackson's short story, "The Lottery" relates to the theme of life not being fair. A lottery is, by definition random....
Our next story is a take on the end of the world. Please complete these questions as we read.
Last Contact - Stephen Baxter
March 15
1. What is the main conflict in the story?
2. What type of conflict is it?
3. What is the relationship between Maureen and Caitlin?
4. What is meant by the phrase, "You mustn't think like that."
June 5
5. What is implied by the line, '"Joe, eh?" Caitlin grinned.'
6. Why will the stars look funny by Autumn?
7. How would you describe the mood of Caitlin and Maureen?
October 14
8. Why did Maureen wake up early?
9. Why did Maureen continue to grow her garden? Would you?
10. What were the alien signals saying?
11. What is the theme of this story?
Last Night of the World
Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night
- Do you agree with the speaker that people should fiercely resist death, clinging passionately to their lives? Or should people die calmly?
- How does the repetition of the villanelle's two refrains, "Do not go gentle into that good night" and "Rage, rage against the dying of the light" make you feel as a reader? Does your reaction to these repeated lines change as the poem progresses?
We will finish by watching the film, "Interstellar" and completing our essay.
Topic: What is your opinion of the idea that sometimes life isn't fair?
We will go through examples of what this should look like, and then we will be writing our own.
Night
By Elie Wiesel
Reflective Journal
-Every Chapter or two, there will be a personal reflection writing prompt. I will check them periodically, but will only take the whole thing in for marks at the end of the novel study.
You will be marked on the depth of your response and the quality of your writing.
Questions from http://www.sps186.org/downloads/basic/293431/Night%20comprehension%20questions.pdf
1. Who was Moshe the Beadle? Why was he an important figure in Mr. Wiesel’s life?
2. Discuss the importance of religion in Mr. Wiesel’s young life.
3. What significant event happened to Moshe the Beadle? Why? What story did he tell upon his return? How did Moshe escape this wretchedness?
4. Why did people refuse to listen to his stories of what had happened?
5. Moshe said, “I wanted to come back to Sighet to tell you the story of my death. So that you could prepare yourselves while there was still time.” What did he mean by this?
6. Why did Elie’s father refuse to sell his business and move to Palestine? What is your opinion of his decision? Why?
7. What were the Fascists doing to the Jews in Budapest? Why did the others refuse to take this action seriously?
8. After the leaders of the Jewish community were arrested, what were the orders to
the other Jews?
9. What was the ghetto? At first, why were the Jews unconcerned about being placed in the ghettos? Soon afterwards, what happened to make them change their minds?
10.The inspector from the Hungarian police knocked on the window, but by the time someone went to see who it was, he was gone. What is the significance of this?
11.How did the Hungarian police treat the Jews as they told them the time had come?
12.Why did the Jews leave their valuables behind?
13.Explain why Elie and his older sisters refused to go to Martha’s village with her.
14.What were the conditions in the cattle car?
Chapter 2 Questions
1. What had happened to Madame Schächter to make her behave as she did? What did she continually shout about to the Jews?
2. How did the men finally subdue her?
3. When they reached a station, where were they? What would they do there?
4. What did Madame Schächter’s cries foreshadow?
Auschwitz Video
Auschwitz Video Questions:
1. Describe what Auschwitz looked like.
2. What was the purpose of Auschwitz?
3. Where was Auschwitz?
4. How did people arrive in Auschwitz?
5. How does the main character describe how people in Auschwitz(prisoners) looked?
6. How did the guards maintain control in Auschwitz?
Chapter 3 Questions
Chapter 3 Questions
1. As they arrived at Auschwitz, why do you think Elie was apprehensive when the women went one way and the men went the other way? Were his fears realistic? Explain.
2. “Behind me, an old man fell to the ground. Near him was an SS man, putting his revolver back in its holster.” What had actually happened in this scene?
3. Explain why the prisoner told Elie to say that he was eighteen, rather than fifteen.
4. Why, when the young men with the knives tried to incite the others to revolution, did the wind of revolt die down?
5. What was Dr. Mengele’s role at Auschwitz?
6. What was in the lorry that was brought to the ditch? How did Elie react to what he saw?
7. What was the first sign that Elie was beginning to question God?
8. Elie made up his mind what he would do if he were forced into the ditch with the burning bodies. What was his plan of action? What kept him from doing it?
9. As Elie and the others made their way into the barracks, why were some of the prisoners armed with truncheons and ready to use them?
10.What was the job of the men of the Sonder-Kommando? How were they chosen?
11.Beginning with giving up their clothes, describe the process all new prisoners went through when they came to the camp. Why do you think they had to do this?
12.Why do you suppose Elie did nothing when the Gypsy in charge gave his father a clout that knocked him to the ground?
13.Why do you think the young Pole, the prisoner in charge, spoke those “first human words”?
14.Why did Elie lie to Stein, Reizel’s husband?
15.Do you think Elie and his father believed that Tzipora and his mother were still alive? Explain.
Chapter 3 Discussion Points
Imagine someone who you are close to. Perhaps someone who you talk to every day. Now, imagine that you will never see them again. I would like you to write a letter to them. Say the things you would like to say if you knew you would never see them.
This will be a completion mark only. I will not be reading these or marking them for content. I will be coming around to take a quick look to see if they are completed.
What you choose to do with them is completely up to you. You may want to give them to the person now, or at some point in the future, or maybe never.
Why is it important to think about these types of things?
Chapter 4 Discussion: John Green Explanation of Israel/Palestine conflict
Why would the Israelis defend their homeland so fiercely?
1. Why did the officer take such an interest in the younger children?
2. What was the unfortunate incident with Elie’s shoes?
3. How were the medical exam and the dental exam different for Elie?
4. What did Yossi, Tibi, and Elie have in common that made them become friends?
5. When Elie was summoned to the dentist, what was odd about the way the dentist looked?
6. How was Elie able to get out of having his crown pulled from his mouth? What warning did the dentist give him?
7. Briefly describe the incident between Idek and Elie.
8. What did the French girl do that surprised Elie? How was she able to pass as Aryan?
9. Why was Elie angry with his father when Idek beat him?
10.Franek wanted Elie’s gold crown. What did he do to convince him to give it up?
11.Why and for whom were the gallows set up the first time?
12.What happened to the pipel, the one with the face of a sad angel? What had he done?
Chapter 5
1. On the last day of this year, how was the way the prisoners looked at Rosh Hashanah different from the way they used to view the Jewish New Year?
2. How do Elie’s thoughts show that he is losing faith in God?
3. Analyze Wiesel’s meaning in the following statements: “I was no longer capable of lamentation... I felt very strong. I was the accuser, God the accused.... I stood amid that praying congregation, observing it like a stranger.”
4. What was the “fine New Year’s gift” the SS gave the prisoners?
5. Rations had become more meager. Is that a good or a bad thing? Why?
6. What was Elie’s “inheritance”?
7. What was Elie’s father’s fate at the second selection?
8. Describe Elie’s surgery.
9. What would have happened to Elie if he had stayed in the hospital after his surgery?
10.What was the last act performed by the men an hour before leaving camp? Why?
Chapter 6 Discussion Questions:
The literal events of Ch 6 – what happened?
What’s happening to Elie? How is he able to proceed on ‘the Deathmarches?’
Why has Elie got no right to let himself die? What does this tell us about Elie and Chlomo? How does this differ from the scene in Ch 5 when Chlomo was confronted with death?
Put distance into relevant terms – 42 miles = Airdrie to Olds, and that’s only the beginning. Could any of you do it?
What does no one care about trampling his or her fellow prisoners to death?
How has Elie’s attitude of death changed in this chapter?
What does the snow symbolize?
Chapter 6
- Why do you think the men were forced to run? What would be their fate if they did not?
- Why were men underfoot crushed, trampled, dying? Why did no one pay attention?
- Why wouldn’t Elie allow himself to go to sleep again in the shed, even as his father watched over him?
- As Rabbi Eliahou came looking for his son, what did we learn about his son?
- Upon arrival at Gleiwitz, Elie and his father were thrown into a mass of bodies. How did this happen to them and what did they do to free themselves?
- While he was trapped under the many bodies, Elie heard a rattling cry from somewhere beneath them. It was an old friend Juliek. What was Juliek most concerned about? What did he do with it?
- What do you think happened to Juliek that night?
- What happened to Elie’s father as the selection was taking place? How did the confusion save him?
Chapter 7
- Why had so many of the prisoners died during the night?
- Why did the train stop in the middle of a deserted field? Why did this make the prisoners so happy?
- How long was the journey?
- To what did Wiesel liken the story of the Germans throwing bread into the wagon? Why was it so upsetting to him?
- Briefly recount the story of the father who got the bread for himself and his son.
- Of the one hundred who had started the journey, how many climbed down from the train at Buchenwald?
Chapter 8
1. After waiting so long in the snow and icy wind, why were the prisoners finally allowed to go into the blocks?
2. What did Elie do that made him feel “ashamed forever”?
3. Why weren’t the sick prisoners given anything to eat?
4. As Chlomo lie on his bed near death, what did he feel he needed to tell Elie?
5. Elie took his father to see the doctor who would not treat him for his dysentery because he was a surgeon and that wasn’t his business. When a second doctor came to the block, he was there for only one reason. What was this reason?
6. What was most likely the major contributing factor in Elie’s father’s death?
Chapter 9
1. After Elie’s father died, Elie could think of only one thing. What was that?
2. Where was Elie sent to live?
3. Although over the loudspeakers came the order to assemble, some prisoners whispered to the children that they should go back. Why?
4. The evacuations did not take place and were postponed until the following day. Instead, the resistance decided to act. What was the result?
5. Coincidentally, what took place at 6:00 that evening?
6. What was ironic about Elie’s bout with food poisoning shortly after the liberation?
Literary Exploration
Persuasive Writing
The American Dream
Twenty Years From Now Project
We will spend the next two days building a Ten Years From Now Project.
You will be putting together a visual presentation(powerpoint, prezi, or poster) that outlines where you would like to be in about ten or so years. Really think about the answers, and put time into thinking about this. It will help tremendously with the next unit.
Your powerpoint should answer the following questions of yourself in ten years:
1. What job do you have? Are you self employed? If so, what type of business?
2. Where do you live
-what city or town?(visual)
-house, apartment, acreage, farm?
3. What kind of car do you drive?(visual)
4. What does your family look like? Are you married? Do you have kids? How many?
5. Are you close with your family? Siblings?
6. Are you still close to your high school friends? Which ones? Why?
7. How did yo get to this point? Where did you go to school?(visual)
8. How long did you go to school?
9. Have you travelled? Where to?
10. What are your hobbies? What do you do for fun?
11. When will you retire?
12. What will you do when you retire(visual)
I've written 'visual' besides the questions that will need to be accompanied with a visual response.
Rubric
Stage Design:
Read the first Stage Directions. From what it says in the italics, draw what you think the stage should look like.
Include any lighting instructions you may want to include.
Colour it if you like, but this is not necessary.
Where is the audience sitting? How does this affect the viewing of the play?
What are your impressions of Willy?
*Remember, there is a lot of direction, but there is also a huge amount of creative license you can take.
We will watch and read up to page 38 in the play.
Biff Snapchat/Instagram/Twitter Assignment
We will be working on a Social Media presence for Biff. You can use any of the following:
Snapchat: http://snapsr.com/
Instagram:
Twitter:
I would like your Profile to reflect Biff in two distinct stages:
1. Our first introduction to him(his conversation with Happy(pgs. 19-25)
2. WIlly's Recollection of the Past(pgs. 26-39)
Each section must have at least 5 entries(Tweets, Instagram Posts, Snapchats)
You must incorporate three exact quotes from the play.
Your account must demonstrate an understanding of Biff and his relationship with his family, specifically Willy.
Rubric can be found here.
Death of a Salesman
Act One
1. Why is Willy home? Why is Linda alarmed that he’s home?
2. Why is Willy annoyed at Biff? How does he describe Biff? What does this tell us about Willy?
3. How has the neighborhood changed? Why does it matter to the story that his surroundings are no longer the way they used to be?
4. How does Linda treat Willy? How do the boys feel about him? Is Biff trying to spite Willy? Why does Biff come home in the spring?
5. Why won’t Happy go out West with Biff, and why won’t Biff stay? Why doesn’t either son get married and settle down?
6. How does Willy act toward the boys when they are young? How do they act toward him? How does Willy feel about Charley and Bernard?
7. What does Willy’s reaction to Biff’s theft of the football tell us about Willy? He says the boys look like Adonises. What other clues show that Willy believes in appearances?
8. Willy praises and then curses the Chevrolet; he tells Linda that he’s very well liked, and then says that people don’t seem to take to him. What do these inconsistencies tell us about Willy?
9. “Five hundred gross in Providence” becomes “roughly two hundred gross on the whole trip.” How does Linda take Willy’s stories? What does this reveal about her? Why does Willy make a fuss about Linda’s mending stockings? How is this important to the play?
10. Why does Charley visit? How does he feel about Willy? How and why do they insult each other?
11. Who is Ben? Why does Ben appear? What does Willy think about the future? About the past? What does Ben teach Biff? Why does Willy feel “kind of temporary” about himself and want Ben to stay?
12. What does Linda think is the trouble with Willy’s life? Why is she angry at her sons? Why does she put the rubber hose back after she had taken it? What does this tell about her?
13. Why is Willy interested when Biff mentions Bill Oliver? Why do they argue? How does Happy try to capture attention?
Act Two
1. Why is Willy’s mood upbeat at the start of Act Two? What does he expect to happen?
2. Why does Willy tell Howard about Dave Singleman? Describe the dramatic effect when Howard listens to the voices of his family while Willy tries to talk business. Why does Howard tell Willy to drop off his samples and forbid him to go to Boston? Why is this such a blow to Willy?
3. What is Willy’s philosophy? How does Biff as a football hero embody his father’s dreams? Why does Charley say Willy hasn’t grown up?
4. What is Willy’s impression of Bernard when he sees him in his father’s office? Why does Willy exaggerate Biff’s importance? Why does Bernard ask what happened after the game at Ebbets Field?
5. Why won’t Willy work for Charley? Why is Willy able to ask Charley for money? How is Charley’s view of what a salesman needs different from Willy’s view?
6. In the restaurant, how does Happy reflect Willy’s values? Why does Miller have the girls come in?
7. How does Biff’s realization that his life is a lie underline the theme of the play? Why does Biff take Bill Oliver’s fountain pen? Why can’t he tell his father what happened with Bill Oliver? Why do Biff and Happy leave Willy at the restaurant?
8. Why did Biff go to Boston? What does he discover when he sees the Woman? Why is it that Biff never went to summer school? Why can’t he believe in his father?
9. Why does Linda tell the boys, “Get out of here, both of you, and don’t come back!”?
10. Why does Willy keep planting seeds where they’ve never grown before? Why does Willy think Biff will be impressed with his funeral? Why does Ben say that Biff will call Willy a fool?
11. Why doesn’t Willy want to see Linda? Why does he think Biff is spiting him? Why does Biff show him the rubber hose? Why does Biff confront Willy and Happy?
12. What does Biff do that elates Willy? How does Happy try to attract Willy’s attention? How does Ben influence Willy at this point?
Requiem
1. What is a requiem? What is the purpose of this final act? To what extent is it successful?
2. Charley says: “No man only needs a little salary.” To what is he referring? What else does a man need?
3. Explain the irony of Linda’s last speech.
Write a one page, double spaced, Eulogy for Willy Loman. You need to take the perspective of a character from the play(Happy, Biff, Linda, etc).
Feel free to research examples of eulogies to see what types of things people say in these types of speeches.
Willy's Eulogy Rubric
WIlly Project:
You will create a visual or textual representation to demonstrate your understanding of Willy Loman. You may use any of the following formats:
- Pecha Kucha: a 10 image presentation accompanied by 50-60 words per image. Record your voice for a multimedia presentation roughly 4 minutes long.
- Podcast: an interview with Willy and a host. Create 7 or 8 questions that Willy will respond to in order to demonstrate Willy’s character traits.
- Monologue
- Painting/self-portrait and artists statement: draw or paint an image of Willy. Your piece must be accompanied by an artist’s statement that explains the significance of your piece and how it represents Willy.
- Radio show dedication: select 3-5 songs that you think represent Willy. Explain them and how they relate to the content of the book.
- Collage: create a collage with images that represent Willy. You must have an artist’s statement to go along with your collage that expresses your understanding of Willy.
- Draw-my-life (moovly.com): create an animated presentation that explains the character of Willy through images and audio recording.
Rubric
You will be assessed on the following:
Thought and Support:
- Understanding of the topic
- Supported with quotes
- Supported with response
- Developed with an unifying idea
- Introduced and concluded
- Word choice
- Sentence structure
- Absence of error
- Grammar
Willy Project Rubric
To begin, we will look at a poem called "The Tortoise and the Scorpion" by David Rakoff, as read on an episode of "This American Life" from NPR
We will listen to it being read by the author. Again, from "This American Life" on NPR
As we listen, identify the 'facts.'
Who is the speaker?
Who are the other characters?
When is it happening?
Where is it happening?
What is happening?
What is the main idea?
What do we notice about this poem?
This poem is written in rhyming couplets. The couplets serve to make the story seem more comical, and give it a bit of lightness. Your assignment is to write out a story of your own in rhyming couplets.
Your poem must be at least thirty lines in length. How you choose to divide up your stanzas is up to you. We will break this assignment into a few manageable bits. To start, I would like you to decide on the event you will be describing, and start to write out an outline of your poem.
Then
*You may want to do a holiday, a family vacation, a concert, a sporting event, or even a night out with friends(keep this appropriate, of course)
Have fun!
Poetry - War and Peace
We will look at two poems today. One relating to war and one relating to peace.
Dulce Et Decorum Est - by Wilfred Owen
Today, we will be looking at imagery and symbolism.
Imagery is any language that appeals to the senses.
Sound, Sight, Taste, Touch, Smell
Before we read the poem, though, we will watch this video explaining World War 1.
ex. - "If you could hear, at every jolt, the blood
Come gargling from the froth-corrupted lungs"
The word 'gargling' portrays a very clear image of what is occurring, and is used for effect here.
1. Why are the soldiers knock-kneed and coughing like hags?
2. Notice the verb in line two, which states the soldiers "cursed through sludge." What are the connotations of this verb, as opposed to "marched" or "walked?"
3. What are Five-Nines?
4. Why does the poet capitalize the word "GAS" when he repeats it?
5. When the Five-Nines hit, why does the world become filled with "thick green light" "as under a green sea"? Why does the poet say the man next to him is "drowning"? How can you be drowning when there is no water nearby? How can he be drowning in fire or lime?
6. What does the poet see each night in his dreams?
7. In the description, the dying man "plunges" at the speaker. Why would he be reaching out for the speaker, and why is that particularly disturbing?
8. In the last stanza, the poet uses some particularly bitter imagery in a string of similes. Give one example of such visual imagery, taste imagery, touch imagery, and audio imagery.
9. What is the meaning of the Latin phrase "dulce et decorum est, pro patria mori?
10. How would the Latin phrase change in its meaning if we read it without the context of the rest of the poem?
11. Does the meaning of the poem change if we know that Owen died a few months after writing it?
12. Why is the title of this poem ironic? Why do you think the author chose to use this as the title?
Songs, Illustrated Project
Just Lather, That's All
1. What is the significance of the title of "Just Lather, That's All?"
2. What is the central conflict in "Just Lather, That's All"?
3. Write a well-constructed paragraph in which you identify and explain 3 ways the story develops suspense for the reader.
4. Would the barber have been a hero or a coward had he killed the captain?
5. Initially, Torres seems ignorant of the danger he is in. At the end of the story, he reveals otherwise. Why, then, does he go to the barber’s?
6. What is the difference between a revolutionary and a murderer?
7. How is the razor a symbol in this story?
8. State the story’s theme. For support, choose sentences that come closest to the theme. What elements of the story contribute most to its theme? (character? point of view? symbolism? irony? plot? conflict? suspense? ending?)
Final Essay Topic:
What is your opinion of the idea that the ability to face hardship is an essential human quality?