Today we started Dante’s Inferno. We looked at how Dante’s life influenced his work. Tomorrow we will dig into the first Canto.
There is no homework tonight.
Remember to submit your Beowulf Projects!
New AlbertIO Assignment
Please check AlberIO. You have a new assignment and it is due tomorrow. Remember, all assignments are due at the start of class, not at the end.
AP Review Continued
Remember to check the portal to see due dates for all review material. 
To Kill a Mockingbird – FINAL ASSIGNMENT
Today we wrapped up our discussions of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.
Here is the final assignment:
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Final Essay 2018
Welcome to the your final paper of Freshman year. This assignment will count as a major grade for the 4th marking quarter.
Your question: Throughout our study of To Kill a Mockingbird, we have repeatedly looked at the theme of growth, maturity, & empathy. How is empathy exhibited or learned by at least two major characters in To Kill a Mockingbird? What is Harper Lee trying to tell us regarding empathy?
DUE: Must be uploaded to TurnItIn.com prior to class on May 2, 2018
LATE ESSAYS CAN NOT BE ACCEPTED
Your essay should be a minimum of 4 paragraphs (introduction, 2 body paragraphs, & a conclusion) with a clear and explicit thesis. Your essay will be graded using the the rubric found at this link:
Hard copies will not be accepted. I suggest you make sure you can access your TurnItIn.com account prior to the due date.
Introduction to The Koran
Today we started looking as Islam’s holy text, The Koran. In class we looked at The Exordium. For homework, I’ve asked you to read The Cow, the second surah in The Koran. Click here for a copy. When you finish reading please answer the following question:
Do you find the tone of The Koran to be more like The Old Testament or more like The New Testament? Why? Make sure you support your answer with textual evidence.
AP Review Continued…
We’ll keep moving forward with our AP review.
Remember, all assignments must be submitted before the start of class on the due date. Late assignments can not be made up for credit during this review period.
For tomorrow you should have the following modules completed on CodeHS:
Fill in Missing Code
Programming & Style
Modifying Programs
For Loops
Boolean Expressions
While Loops
List Operations
Bits
Please email me immediately if you have any issues. Remember, as we’ve said in class, things are due when they are due.
The Death of Beowulf
Today we read about Beowulf’s death after being bitten by a dragon. We heard his last words and his concern for his people.
AP Review
We’re digging in to our AP Review using CodeHS. Here is our review schedule:
You’re all enrolled in the AP Review on the site. Look in your playlists for AP Exam Review.
John Gardner’s Grendel
Today we read a piece of John Gardner’s 1971 novel, Grendel. Grendel retells the story of Beowulf from he perspective of the monster. Click here for a copy of the selection. After reading this, do you feel empathy for Grendel? Do you feel differently about Beowulf? How does Grendel’s story differ from the “original” version? After reading this do you still consider Beowulf the hero of the story?
For homework please answer the following question:
What is the central idea of Grendel?
Identify one writing strategy (literary element or literary technique or rhetorical device) develops this central idea.
Send to me *p
Nice to meet you, my name is Grendel
Today we met the first bad guy in Beowulf, the monster Grendel. We listened to Seamus Heaney read line 606-835. After the reading I asked if you felt sorry for Grendel. Some did, some didn’t. Did Beowulf have to be so brutal? Did he have to kill Grendel? We’ll discuss that further tomorrow. Think about what Nietzsche said: “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.” Is Beowulf becoming a monster like Grendel?
Click here for the lesson from today.
For homework, please retell the story of the fight between Grendel and Beowulf from Grendel’s point-of-view. What is he thinking? What is he feeling? What is going on inside Grendel’s head as he fights Beowulf. Send me your first person response with *p in the subject line.