Agenda for 2/25/14

• Permission Slips• Introduction to The Bean Trees– Studyguide– Definitions– Questionnaire – Essential Questions – Poetry– Background Info on KingsolverHOMEWORK: GET PERMISSION SLIP SIGNED; READ CH. 1-3 FOR TUES.; READ SECTION II IN IR BOOK FOR MON. AND COMPLETE 2 DJS IN JOURNAL

The Bean Trees

• Before we get started, I would like you to consider the following words and think about what they mean to you. I will ask that you write down either a definition of the word or a sentence in which you use it in context. Please do this in your Quickwrite section of your journal.

Words, Words, Words

• Fair

• Equal

• ‘The American Dream’

• Justice

• Morality

• Now that you have had the chance to think about what these words mean to you, I would like you to turn to your elbow partner and share what you wrote. Tell your partner why you defined the word the way you did, or explain the sentence you came up with.

Questionnaire

• Now that you’ve had the chance to consider the meaning of these specific words, please complete the Opinion Survey that has been given to you. Keep in mind the definitions or sentences you came up with, using them to help you answer these questions honestly.

• Once everyone has completed the survey, we will discuss the questions as a class.

1. The United States is a fair, compassionate place populated with generally kind Americans.

2. Everybody has equal access to the American Dream in this country and that the system is set up to ensure that this dream is possible for all people.

3. Beyond my family and close friends, I have no responsibility to anyone else or anything else in society.

4. I think the law is more important than morality (right vs. wrong).5. In general, differences or ‘otherness’ in people are tolerated and

accepted in American society.6. When it comes to the idea of ‘family,’ true and stable families

consist of a father, mother, and their children.

Essential Questions

• Do we have any responsibilities toward other people outside of our personal world? If not, why not? If so, what responsibilities do we have?

• Is the law more or less important than morality? How do we make that decision?

• Describe what you think it means to be an “outsider.” How do groups, i.e., society, treat outsiders? Why? What does it take to be an “insider”?

• What is “family”? What are the qualities of a successful family? What are the qualities of an unsuccessful one? On a related note, what does it mean to be a friend? Can relationships between friends be as strong as family bonds?

“Walking Away” : TPCASTT

– Title—predictions?– Paraphrase—line by line, surface level.– Connotation—diction, imagery, symbolism, rhyme,

rhythm, punctuation, sound devices, personification, allusions, etc.

– Attitude—author’s tone– Shifts—in tone, action, rhythm—and their effects.– Title-re-evaluate the title as it pertains to the poem. – Theme—message of the poem?

“Lullaby for 17”

• Now you will work with your groups to answer the questions provided in the studyguide with regard to Linda Pastan’s poem “Lullaby for 17”

February 27, 2014

Agenda• Collect Permission Slips and Goldenrods• Pass back IR book quizzes• Pass out calendars• Introduce research project• “Lullaby for 17” • Background info on novel

HW: READ SECTION 2 OF IR BOOK AND COMPLETE 2 DJS FOR MON.; READ CH. 1-3 IN TBT FOR TUES.; COMPLETE GRAMMAR 65-66 FOR MON.

Class Business

• Collect permission slips• Collect goldenrods• Pass back work• Pass out calendars• Get ready… here’s the research project!!

“Lullaby for 17”

• Let’s start by reading it out loud.• The first time I read it, don’t write anything, just listen• The second time I read it, highlight words or phrases

that grab you, or that you don’t understand • Once we’ve done these, I will ask you to visit some of

the questions on the handout and discuss them with your group. We will be sharing as a whole class so make sure everyone is participating in the discussion.

Social Issues research• Choose a topic that interests you and become an expert on it

through research, using academic sources.• Write a thesis, a research outline, a Works Cited.• Present findings to the class in a formal presentation.• Write an essay from your outline and presentation.

Research project deadlines• Topic choice ranking: Tues 3/4• Articles: 2 saved to folder 3/6; 5 by 3/13• Notecards: 10 by 3/13; 20 by 3/25• Outline RD: Mon 3/31• Outline FD: Thu 4/3• Presentations: Tues 4/15• Essay RD: Thurs 4/17• Essay FD: Mon 4/21

March 3, 2014

Agenda

• Review Grammar Lessons 65-66• Meet with LC groups – Complete quiz– Complete tasks

HW: READ CH. 1-3 IN TBT; COMPLETE RESEARCH PROJECT SURVEY; READ LAST SECTION OF IR BOOK BY NEXT MON.

Grammar Lesson 65• Use a before words that begin with a consonant and before

words that begin with a ‘yew’ sound. Use an before words that begin with a vowel or an unsounded h.– A basketball, a heart, a unit– An article, an hour, an umbrella

• Try to avoid using the expression a lot; replace it with much, many, or a specific number.

• The expression a while is formed by the article a and the noun while. It is used after a preposition. Awhile is one word and is an adverb.– We went to the arcade for a while. – We played awhile before we went to the movie.

Grammar Lesson 65• Accept is a verb that means “to receive” or “to agree to.” Except

is usually a preposition and means “but” or “other than.”– Will he accept the assignment?– Everything is finished except the paperwork.

• Affect is a verb that means “to cause a change in; to influence.” Effect is usually a noun and means “a result; that which has been brought about.” Less often, effect can be a verb meaning “to bring about or accomplish.”– The referee’s call will affect the score.– The referee’s call has an effect on the score.– The referee’s call will effect a change in the score.

• Avoid using ain’t.

Grammar Lesson 65: Ex. 11. My little brother rode (a, an) elephant at the zoo.2. We ate (a lot, a lot) of candy.3. Let me rest (a while, awhile) before we walk farther.4. Please (accept, except) charges for the phone call.5. Did yesterday’s rain (affect, effect) the traffic?6. Pedro (isn’t, ain’t) going to attend the orientation.7. Janice will probably attend (a, an) university in her home state.8. I finished my science report (except, accept) for the

bibliography.9. The (affect, effect) of the rain was to erode our garden.10. We’ll have lunch after (a while, awhile).

Grammar Lesson 65

• All ready means “completely ready” • Already is an adverb meaning “before or by this

time”• All right is always two words• Use as far as and as fast as instead of ‘all the

farther’ and ‘all the faster’• All together means “in a group.” Altogether is an

adverb meaning “completely” or “on the whole.”

Grammar Lesson 65: Ex. 21. Please file the computer chips all together.2. Kai was so excited about the trip that she was all ready by ten

o’clock.3. Alfonso jogged two miles, but that was as far as he could go.4. The speech was altogether too long.5. My audition went all right, but I don’t know if I’ll get a part.6. Julie walked as fast as she could around the track.7. The hedge clippers we bought were altogether useless.8. Is it all right to feed a cat ice cream?9. The choir members were all ready (or already) in their robes when

the director arrived.10. The basketball team rode all together on one bus.

Grammar Lesson 66• Use number when referring to nouns that can be counted, and

use amount when referring to nouns that cannot be counted.– A small amount of rain fell yesterday.– A number of raindrops dotted the patio.

• Avoid being as and being that in your formal writing and speaking. Replace them with because or since.– We were late to the concert because we had a flat tire.

– Since Mark made the team, we seldom see him.• Beside is a preposition meaning “located at the side of.” Besides

is usually an adverb meaning “in addition to.”– We spent several days beside the ocean.– Besides the two pencils, you will need a pen.

Grammar Lesson 66

• Between shows the relationship of one person or thing to another. Among shows the relationship of more than two persons or things.– A friendship developed between Buzz and William.– Friendship among team members usually

improves performance.

Lesson 66: Ex. 11. There was little difference among the ten proposals submitted.2. The amount of fat in your diet can be important to your health.3. Since the movie started at three o’clock, we decided not to go.4. There are four years between Marcus and his younger brother.5. Did you buy anything besides a new shirt?6. A large number of people enrolled in the new computer course.7. The body builder ate five chicken breasts for dinner because he had a

competition the next day.8. Gina put her new sweater beside the skirt to see if they would match.9. No amount of encouragement would convince me to sing a solo!10. The staff of our school paper took a poll among the students to learn

how many would prefer changing the school’s hours.

Grammar Lesson 66• Bring means “to carry from a distant place to a closer one.” Take means “to

carry from a nearby place to a more distant one.”– Please bring the potato salad to our picnic.– Joe will take his car when he visits his aunt.

• Can implies the ability to do something. May implies permission to do it. May also means “might.”– How many pounds can you lift?– May I go with you to the gym?– I may go tonight.

• Don’t use can’t hardly and can’t scarcely – they’re double negatives. Use can hardly and can scarcely.

• Don’t use could of, might of, must of, should of, would of – in these expressions, the helping verb have should follow could, might, must, should, and would.– I should have remembered you were leaving early this morning.

Grammar Lesson 66: Ex. 21. I can hardly believe you didn’t do well on the test.2. Please bring all your records when you come to your appointment after school.3. The delivery person must have misplaced the address.4. I can do twenty push-ups if I try really hard.5. Kenji, will you take the trash out to the garbage?6. Moira would have watched the basketball play-offs, but she had an exam the

next day.7. Zinc can be combined with other metals to form alloys such as brass or bronze.8. The Drama Club should have put up posters in the community to advertise the

school play.9. I can scarcely believe that the American eagle is an endangered species!10. May I go to the restroom, Mrs. Moore?

The Bean TreesAn Introduction

Barbara Kingsolver• General Information

– Her writing is an attempt to change the world and make it a better place to live.

– Writes about current social issues such as the environment, human rights, and injustice.

– Protagonists are generally resilient survivors who deal with typical day-to-day struggles.

Biographical Facts• Born on April 8, 1955 in Maryland.

• Grew up in eastern Kentucky (Nicholas County) in between poverty stricken coal fields and affluence of horse farms.

• Very much a storyteller from a young age, spending most of her time reading and writing stories and essays.

• In 1962, her physician father uprooted the family and moved them to St. Lucia, an island nation in the Caribbean and then to central Africa.

Biographical Facts Continued…• As the only white child living in a remote region of Africa,

Kingsolver experienced firsthand what it was like to be a minority.

• Returned to Kentucky to finish high school and eventually attended DePauw University in Indiana where she majored in Biology.

• Started her career as a biologist/research assistant before moving on to writing for science journals.

• After marrying in 1985, she soon found herself pregnant and unable to sleep at night.

• Her doctor suggested that she scrub bathroom tiles with a toothbrush to battle her insomnia, but instead she sat in her closet and began writing her first novel, The Bean Trees.

The Novel - Major Characters

• “Taylor” Greer - Leaves her Kentucky home to begin a new life.

• Mattie - Kindly widow and owner of Jesus Is Lord Used Tires.

• Lou Ann Ruiz - A single mother living in Tucson.

The Novel• Plot: Follows the “quest or journey” blueprint.

– A journeyer or “questor”– A place to go– A reason for going– Trials and obstacles– Truth - What’s uncovered is the real reason for the

journey.

• Themes: Focus on the essential questions as you read; jot down new themes as they come to you.

• Make sure to keep the topics of the opinion survey in mind while reading.

• Symbols: rhizobia; corn and beans; bean trees (wisteria); bones; mud; birds; check for others!

IR Book Quiz

• Please put away everything except a piece of paper and something to write with.