Course Evaluation

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Part I
Part II

Crucible Pre-Reading Blog

Annotated Bibliography

WHAT IS AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY?
An annotated bibliography is a list of citations to books, articles, and documents. Each citation is followed by a brief (usually about 150 words) descriptive and evaluative paragraph, the annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.  You will be required to complete many annotated bibliographies throughout your academic career.  From high school to a doctorate degree, every academic does annotated bibliographies.  Learning and sharpening the skill now will help you improve the critical analysis skills required in college.

THE PROCESS
Creating an annotated bibliography calls for the application of a variety of intellectual skills: concise exposition, brief and snappy analysis, and informed library research.  First, locate and record citations to books, periodicals, and documents that may contain useful information and ideas on your topic. Briefly examine and review the actual items. Then choose those works that provide a variety of perspectives on your topic.  Cite the book, article, or document using the appropriate style.  Write a concise annotation that summarizes the central theme and scope of the book or article. Include one or more sentences that (a) evaluate the authority or background of the author, (b) comment on its application to your topic (how it helps to prove your point), AND (c) summarize and analyze the content.

EXAMPLES

Fryer, Sarah Beebe. "Beneath the Mask: The Plight of Daisy Buchanan."

Critical Essays on F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. Ed. Scott Donaldson. Boston: G.K. Hall, 1984. 153-166.

This is a feminist essay that argues that Daisy is trapped in cultural constructions of Rich Wife and Pretty Girl - she chooses the "unsatisfactory stability" of her marriage because of those constructions. Fryer's only mention of Jordan is a foil to Daisy - - "Like Jordan, Daisy is affected" (156).

Gaines, Ernest J. A Lesson Before Dying. Vintage Books: New York, 1997.

This novel by Ernest J. Gaines, a contemporary African-American writer, is a very moving novel.  It is the story of Jefferson, a young student living in a Cajun community who is sentenced to death by a white jury and judge.  He must prepare to die for a crime he did not commit.  The minute complexities offered up by Gaines in this carefully written story bring to mind much greater issues such as racism, death, and spirituality.  Ernest J. Gaines puts on his best display of storytelling in this intriguing journey into the human mind and soul.

Ugaz, Cecilia.  “Africa’s Water Crisis.”  FDCH Congressional Testimony.  United

Nations Development Programme.  United States Congress, Washington, D.C.  16

May 2007.

In her speech to the U.S. Congress, U.N. Human Development Deputy Director, Cecilia Ugaz delivers an impassioned plea to the U.S. House of Representatives for increased U.S. aid to facilitate solving sub-Saharan’s water crisis which is being exacerbated by “inequalities based on wealth, and location” (2).  She states that it is becoming apparent that the U.N. will drastically miss the Millennium Development Goals if the U.S. does not allocate an additional 10 billion dollars a year.  Her article affirms my persuasive speech’s stance that the U.N should do more to provide clean water to Africa (3). 

Bio-Historical Poems

Follow the links below for help writing your Bio-Historical poem.

Acrostic Poem
Diamante Poem

War Unit: Key Questions

Respond to one of the key questions at the bottom of your green War Unit Rational sheet.  Respond in a five-sentence minimum paragraph using proper English grammar and spelling.  Remember to include your name and the prompt to which you are responding.

Comparing MLK Jr. to Thoreau

 Use the link below to create a Venn Diagram illustrating similarities and differences between Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Nonviolent Resistance" and Henry David Thoreau's "Resistance to Civil Government."  When you have finished, please print your copy, write the names of your group memebers, and turn it in to the front basket.

Online Venn Diagram

Transcendentalism

Edgar Allan Poe

Annotating Tell Tale Heart

Rip Van You

Rip Van You!

Suppose that you walked into the woods one day and met some strange-looking people. After having drunk their liquor you sleep for twenty years. What changes do you see in society after a twenty year sleep? Entitle your narrative “Rip Van (your name).”

Raisin Anticipation Survey: After Reading

In the “After” column of the Anticipation Survey you started at the beginning of the Raisin in the Sun unit, respond again to the statements.  Then, read your original journal response on the blog post.  Finally, journal a reply (200 words or more) to a statement in your belief has changed since reading the story.  If your view has not changed, write about a different statement than to which you responded in Part II.

Raisin in the Sun Webquest

http://mrsmurray.org/RITSWQ.aspx

Raisin Anticipation Survey

Choose one of the prompts you evaluated and write a 200 word minimum response in paragraph form.

Dreams and Disillusionment

Describe one dream you had as a child which was disillusioned as you grew older and gained a more mature perspective and information about the topic.  How did you feel after this realization?

Blog example:  When I was a child, I used to dream about becoming a famous actor.  I fell asleep imagining what I would say when I was invited to guest star on Beverly Hills 90210.  I wrote my acceptance speech for the inevitable time when my name would be called at the Academy Awards.  I signed up for acting classes at a local college and auditioned for community theater.  However, it was toward the end of my eighth grade year of school that my dream was disillusioned.  The local community theater had closed due to bankruptcy, and in researching colleges, I learned that very few offered theatre programs. I knew I had to give up on being a famous actor.   I was disappointed, but I knew I would have more dreams to come.

Note:  Remember this topic because you will need it for your worksheet following today’s reading.

Westward ho!

http://www.globalgamenetwork.com/westward_trail.html

Daydreams

Choose one of the following two prompts and respond in a well-organized, five-sentnece minimum paragraph using proper English conventions. 

1.  Describe your favorite (school appropriate) daydream.

2.  Other than boredom, why do people daydream?

American Dream

In a five sentence paragraph using proper conventions, respond to the following prompt:

Define the "American Dream."

Here are some questions to help you get thinking.
What is your personal dream?  Are there similar characteristics of the dreams of all Americans?  Is it a static or dynamic defnition?  What are factors in society which alter the defintion?  Does the definition apply to all Americans? 

Unit One Selections

Native American creation Stories

Langston Hughes- Let American Be America

Neil Diamond- They’re Coming to America

Proud to be an American- Lee Greenwood

What is an America- Crevecoeur

Angry American- Toby Keith

Of Plymouth Plantation- Bradford

Blue Highway Least-Moon

Narrative of Captivity-Mary Rowlandson

Interesting Narrative- Olaudah

Grandpa and the Statue- Miller

Autobiography- Ben Franklin

“The New Collossus”  by Emma Lazarus copy

 “I Hear America Singing” by Walt Whitman  page 352

“I, Too” by Langston Hughes  page 733

“America” by Claude McKay  page 744

“Freedom” by William Stafford

“Spirit of a Nation” by Deborah Whipp

“Running to America” by Luis Rodriguez

“Shine, Perishing Republic” by Robinson Jeffers

Playing Pilgrims 2/9

Click on the link below to be directed to an interactive site about the Pilgrims, their journey, and the colonization of Plymouth Plantation.  Please answer the following questions in your notebook while you peruse the tons of great information. 
Playing Pilgrims


1.  Since the pilgrims on the Mayflower traveled for months at sea, they needed to have food that would not spoil easily. Name six different foods that the pilgrims ate on the ship.
2.  The master of the ship needed great math skills in order to navigate the ship. Back in the 1600s, there were no radar or navigation systems. What did the master use to keep the ships on course?
3.  The Mayflower wasn't originally built to hold passengers, and because of that the Pilgrims faced many hardships on their voyage. What were the three hardships they faced aboard the Mayflower?
4.  Both the Pilgrims and Wampanoag depended on their environment in order to live.  Which items from their environment did they use to create their homes and clothing?
5.  Name the similarities between the way the Pilgrims and Wampanoag dressed. Name the differences between the way the Pilgrims and Wampanoag dressed.
6. The East Coast of the United States is covered by woodlands, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean.  How did this location effect what the Pilgrims and Wampanoag ate for food?
7.  Children in the 1600s performed chores that helped their families survive.  What type of chores did the children complete?  Were there differences between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag chores?
8. Why does our country celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving?
9.  What is the name of the Wampanoag leader that helped the Pilgrims survive at Plymouth?  What was the meaning of his name?

My Family's Early American Beginnings

Using the family timeline worksheet, please type the prompt to which you responded and your paragraph answer below.  Remember to show proper English conventions and write a complete answer encompassing at least five sentences.  Type your name at the bottom of the prompt if necessary.