Homework for Monday, Feb. 4

Read and annotate the articles by Geneva Smitherman and Randall Kennedy that were handed out in class. You have nothing to write, but in class we will work on paraphrasing and summarizing sections of these articles. Also, if you didn't do the vocabulary work, complete pp. 51-56 in your vocabulary book and go through the additional suffixes on pp. 57-71.

The section that missed class because of the STP workshop will finish watching The Black Power Mixtape on Monday.

Homework for Thursday, Jan. 31

In preparation for reading and seeing a performance of August Wilson's Two Trains Running, read and annotate the handout of entries from the Encyclopedia Africana on "Black Power," "Black Nationalism," and "Hair and Beauty Culture." Also, click here to read about "urban renewal" in Syracuse. (This is a cached copy of the link; be patient while it loads. The current page wasn't working when I tried to post it here.) There is no writing for tonight; you will write in class.

For Friday's Synthesis Essay on Gatsby

Read and grade the student essays on the 2010 synthesis FRQ. We'll discuss them prior to your writing the Gatsby synthesis essay on Friday. Although it's unorthodox, bring your book to class for the synthesis essay; you will be able to use it if you feel a need for it.

Assignment for Wednesday, Jan. 23

Go to JSTOR to access the articles listed below. (Use the login information given in class; if you don't have it, you can get it at the MPH library website by clicking the link for online databases.) Write a one paragraph summary for each article.

Thomas Boyle, "Unreliable Narration in The Great Gatsby" 

Dan Coleman, "'A World Complete in Itself': Gastby's Elegiac Narration" 

On Friday, Jan. 25, you will write a synthesis essay involving The Great Gatsby. We will review the synthesis essay during Wednesday's class.

Homework for Friday, Jan. 18

Finish reading and annotating The Great Gatsby (about 55 pages.) You have no writing for today.

Homework for Wednesday, Jan. 16

Apologies for posting this late. Read and annotate pp. 80-125 of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. (Stop at the break at the top of p. 125.) You do not have a writing component due with this reading assignment; instead, you'll write in class. During Monday's class, we talked about how Nick loses control of the narrative of Gatsby, first with Gatsby telling his own story, and then with Daisy taking over the narration. We talked about how that might indicate that Nick is no longer capable of telling this story. This is what you'll have to write about in class: In reading this section of the reading, do you find that Nick is up to the challenge of telling Gatsby's story, or do other factors interfere with his ability to be a reliable narrator? You will be able to use your book.

Homework for Monday, Jan. 14

Read and annotate pp. 39-80 of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby and complete the following writing assignment: You are F. Scott Fitzgerald. Chapter IV of The Great Gatsby includes two stories that involve Gatsby, one told by Gatsby himself, and one told by Jordan Baker. Explain how you approached writing Gatsby's story about himself (pp. 65-67) and Jordan Baker's story about him (pp. 74-77). You may want to reflect on the purpose of each story in the narrative, dialogue, characterization,  flashback, internal narration, detail, punctuation, diction, Nick's involvement in each story, and so on.  (Not more than one page in length.)  

Assignment for Thursday, Jan. 10

Read and annotate chapters I and II of Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby (to p. 38). Read the first two pages at least three times, paying close attention to Nick's consistency. Answer this question in one or two well-developed paragraphs: Do you trust Nick as a narrator? Discuss how Nick establishes his credibility with the reader, and whether he maintains that credibility in his narration.

Homework for Friday, January 4

Read two of the pieces linked below. The first is a news analysis of the fiscal cliff by a New York Times reporter. The others are opinion pieces published over the last few days in the print edition of The New York Times. For the two pieces you select, do the following: First, complete a SOAPSTone analysis of each essay. The analysis does not have to be written in the form of an essay; simply list the SOAPSTone elements and write two-to-four sentences for each one. Second, identify the best sentence in each essay and write at one or two sentences that explain or describe why it stands out.

Lines of Resistance on Fiscal Deal
The Emancipation of Abe Lincoln
Let's Give Up on the Constitution
How Many Slaves Work for You?

Homework for Wednesday, Dec. 12

Read and annotate Act 5 of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. Also, write your own definition of a sentence (I don't want you to look it up). Then, go through Henry IV, Part 1, and write your five favorite sentences from the play. Provide brief explanations of what you like about each sentence.

Homework for Monday, Dec. 10

Read and annotate from Act 3, Scene 3 to Act 4, scene 2 in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. Pay particular attention to the rebels' situation and their hopes for dethroning King Henry IV. How do they see themselves, and how do they see Henry IV, Hal, and their supporters? You do not have anything to write with this reading, so start or continue working on the speech explication that is due on December 18. If you've misplaced the handout, it is posted to the right.

If you did not watch Act 3, scene 2 (where Hal talks to his father), you can watch it in this video starting at the 53:48 mark.

Homework for Thursday, Dec. 6

Read and annotate Act 3, scenes 1-2 of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. Answer one of the questions below in a good paragraph. Be sure to use quotes from the text to support your insights.

1. Act 3, scene 1 may seem strange in its introduction of characters and the arguments and interactions that ensue among them. Consider Hotspur and Glendower's interactions. Identify their rhetorical situations, and explain how each of them achieves their rhetorical purposes.

2. In Act 3, scene 1, Worcester rebukes his nephew (lines 179-191). What is the purpose of this rebuke, and how does Worcester accomplish it rhetorically?

3. In Act 3, scene 2, what is the point of King Henry IV's question (lines 11-17), and what is he trying to accomplish rhetorically in his response to Hal (lines 29-91)?

Homework for Tuesday, Dec. 4

Click here for the video we didn't get to watch in class. Act 1 takes up the first twenty minutes. Warning: it's noisy, and they cut a lot of lines.

Here's your assignment for the weekend: Read and annotate Act 2 of Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1. Answer one of the questions below in a well-developed paragraph:

1. A major aim of Act 2, scene 2 is to make the audience laugh as much as possible. Nevertheless, is Falstaff  serious in parts of this scene? Write a rhetorical analysis of Falstaff's language that explains whether he is jesting throughout the scene, or if he turns serious at key moments.
2. Do Hotspur and Lady Percy really love each other? Write a rhetorical analysis of Hotspur and Lady Percy's conversations in scene 3, and explain why they speak to each other as they do. You should consider the context of the conversation as well as each character's purpose and persona in developing your response.
3. In Act 2, scene 4, Hal and Falstaff take roles as Henry IV and Hal in preparation for Hal's impending visit with his father. With an emphasis on their language, explain how Hal and Falstaff convey the king's seriousness.