Lord of the Flies Illustrations

Almost 10 students...

...have viewed this blog today, and it is not even 11 in the morning. I guess we still have some reading to do. LOL.

PS BTW

I am not sure how this "dialectical journal" assignment I have been hearing about from some of you became associated with AP English.
We don't really like those dialectical journals.
The ONLY assignment is the one in the post below, which we do like.

We also like

Thoughts on and Questions for Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five

Hi. I hope you are doing some good work and having some good fun this summer. I also trust, that despite the intensity of this book at times and some of its somber ideas, you will find some genuine pleasure in the freshness (still, after all these years) of the the narrative voice, the bizzare plot, and the depth of insight into our world Vonnegut is able to deliver.

It is important to understand that the firebombing of Dresden during WWII, around which the plot of the novel revolves, was real, and Vonnegut was there as a POW. 

The story centers on protagonist Billy Pilgrim. Your first task is to briefly summarize the literal plot of the novel in a quick paragraph. This is the basic starting point of any analysis of any work of art. This should be done in broad strokes, not minute detail. We simply want to know what happens, literally.

The back cover jacket of your copy of the novel claims Slaughterhouse-Five is "one of the world's great antiwar books". Focusing on Billy Pilgrim (not on the the obvious destruction and death of the literal firebombing), what happens to him and what does he do that supports this idea? Compose another brief paragraph. (Notice: In the first paragraph, we merely need to describe what happens. In this paragraph, we need describe what happens and then explain how those details demonstrate the "antiwar" claim.

The three most common words in the book are "So it goes". In what type of situations does Vonnegut employ the phrase? What does it suggest about his attitude? How does it fit, or not fit, with events in the book such as war and the belief system of the Tralfamadorians? This is another paragraph.

Lastly, if possible, tell me what insights you gained into human nature and society from this book.

Make yourself think patiently and write clearly while you do answer these few questions.

Bring this work with you on the first day of class.

Later,

McCurnin

David Foster Wallace Graduation Speech

This is Water (audio) (text)

AP Form Bubbling Party!

We will be filling out our AP test forms and student booklets in class on April 16th & 17th. If you are absent on this day, you will need to come in on your own time and get yours filled out.

If you are in Ms. Ali's AP Psychology class, you will be doing this beginning April 10th. If you are in that class, you will need to bring the little AP number stickers you get there to my class on these days. The rest of you will get your stickers with me in AP Lit.

This can be a real pain in the rear if a bunch of people are absent or if you forget your stickers. Please do your best to take care of business.

As a result of this, the reading schedule for Invisible Man has been altered. The final discussion will be on April 20 & 21.

Invisible Man Reading Schedule

for                         chapters             pages
4/2 and 4/3             14-15              296-332
4/6 and 4/7             16-17              333-382
4/8 and 4/9             18-19              383-422
4/10 and 4/13         20-22              423-478
4/14 and 4/15         23-24              479-534
4/16 and 4/17         25-Epilogue    535-581

Peetie Wheatstraw

Pick Poor Robin Clean (1927)

Bledsoe's "favorite spiritual"

Recorded in 1914 by the Tuskegee Institute Singers