Dubliners?!

So, I decided that since there's only like 15 stories in the book we have to read, I'm going to read one every day or almost every day when I go to sleep. I've read two so far. I'm not really liking it yet, but we'll see. I think I've gotten into "poetry mode" and now I'm used to it, so it's weird reading something longer and... less meaningful. The first two stories I've read have been kind of pointless to me, but I don't know if that's becasue I have started to like the poetry we've read, or if they really are just not very good. Anyone have any opinion about them so far? I'm probably the only loser who has read them anyway :)

Hope everyone is having a wonderful break!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, AP warriors!!!

 Okay, so this looks more like a Halloween picture than a Christmas one, but I wanted to show off your creative skills from the Oedipus mask project. I can't tell you how impressed I was with the variety of perspectives and approaches you took. Very cool!!

 I hope you are all enjoying time with family and friends. Relaxing, sleeping in, and recharging the mental batteries are all in order these next two weeks.

 

I hope you all know how much I appreciate the work you have put into AP English so far this year - both in and out of class. Our discussions are always filled with creative ideas and energy. I hope to see even MORE participation from some of the quieter members of class - and certainly increased traffic on the blog!

Have yourselves a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!! On with the learning in 2011!!

-MCC

winter break!

hope everyone's break is ultra productive!!!! reading them dubliners....*cough*. last night i had a dream that school started and i hadnt done any of my homework. i woke up in a cold sweat, turned over, and dreamed of more important things like voldemort dancing at the ballet.
just wanted you guys to know, AP is forever in my thoughts.

Dubliners

So I was wondering do we need to do a half page for every story or just make sure we have a half/full page for the entire thing?

Oedipus

Is that a Wookie in the corner? Haha and he just kept showing up...

Family Tree!

Mwahahahahaha I found a family tree for Oedipus Rex!! and it's actually quite thorough. :)

Oedipus Rex

So I just read our homework for tonight and learned a little about Oedipus Rex. I had no idea what to expect but found the information on it rather intresting!! Have any of you read it before??

Spongebob and 1984

So during my usual observing on Saturday morning cartoons, I came across a Spongebob episode I had never watched before. And in it, Mermaidman's enemy ManRay took over the world (because Spongebob went back in time and messed things up bad for Mermaidman and Barnecle Boy) But when hey return to the future, it is exactly like Oceania!!! They have Big Brother is watching you posters and uniforms and telescreens!!! It amused me so much to see real literature being put into children's cartoons. btw Spongebob saved the day. Of course :)

1984 Vs. A Brave New World

A friend of mine in college sent me this link when he found out we were writing essays on 1984. It's pretty funny, especially if you've read A Brave New World.

http://tripontheinter.net/wp-content/uploads/teacher_student.png

If you click on the image it will enlarge it.

1984 ending

I have to say that I was deeply disappointed in the ending of 1984. I know some people said that they liked it because it was realistic, but since when have fiction stories been realistic? Harry Potter goes up against incredible odds, emerging victorious, as well as Elizabeth from P&P, Eragon, and characters in many other books. I feel that there could have been a much better ending than defeat.

1984 is stalking us!

Has anyone noticed how often 1984 shows up in our day and age? Like ive counted like fifty different occurances. But just look up the lyrics to White Sky by Vampire Weekend and Uprising by Muse!

WOOOW.

It's been a while, so since I found something interesting, I thought I'd post. :)
I was starting my paper, going back to the introduction of Victory Gin. On page 9, when Winston tells us about the weird telescreen:
" For some reason the telescreen in the living room was in an unusual position. Instead of being placed, as normal, in the end of the wall, where it could command the whole room, it was in the longer wall, opposite the window... Winston was able to remain outside the range of the telescreen, so far as sight went... But it had also been suggested by the book that he had just taken out of the drawer."

WHAT?!?! So, when we discussed Mr. Charrington selling him the diary on purpose, we were right. They knew about that little alcove in Winston's wall, and had him get the diary just for the purpose to catch him writing in it and insulting the Party. What I don't understand is why the let him actually do that. It was a really good idea, I will admit. It makes me mad that we didn't catch these little things before. All of these little incidents scream at us: "IT'S A LIE! WINSTON IS GOING TO GET CAUGHT!" But we're too hopeful. Gaaahh. That ruined my night.

1984

So I must say that I really like 1984 but I'm kind of nervous about the ending because I can't see it being a good one. There just seems to be no way that it can end happily! :( I mean my hopes were completely crushed when Mr.Charrington turned out to be part of the thought police but I wasn't surprised about O'Brien being a bad person it's just too bad Winston didn't see it in the beginning when he first met him.

bowling for soup says 1984

so this book left me exclaiming my saviours name in agonized befuddlement several times (JESUS MIO). i was terribly anxious to reach the end and, when i finally reached it, i just sat there in a vegetative state. so, without giving anything away, what did everyone think about the ending of this novel??
and hey who would be up to actually watching this movie?? i mean we are all mature seniors now and a little rough housing on the screen shouldn't stunt our mental growth or anything. maybe we could like arrange an adultish movie night thingie.
ps
krysta tried her hardest to sound very educated throughout this post and now her brain is in a pile at her feet. yay)

Talk about suspense...

1984 is not what I expected it to be. I was assuming that it was going to be like Catch-22, a thought that made me twitch. However, this has become one of my favorite books. I love how when I start reading it I just cannot put it down. The way Orwell writes is amazingly descriptive and very fun to read. I was glad that I liked another AP book!! :) Due to its suspense, I already finished it, whoops! Don't worry, I will not be the spoiler; I hate when people do that. But I will let all of you who aren't finished yet, the book is going to be more and more addictive with each section. I look forward to discussing the end!!!!

Busniess math bores me.....

so i'd much rather write on the blog! So 1984 is definetly one of my favourite books. I'm still surprised that they allow high schoolers to read it with it's sexual content, yet not allow us to watch R rated movies. Why just last week I tried to check out One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the movie, from the library, and as a 17 year old...who has student directed the play, watched it constantly on youtube, and has read 3/4of the book (got distracted) I could not check it out. Yet, in a public high school we can read about Winston Smith getting busy with a 50 year old hooker. Flaw in the system? I think so.

I'VE ARRIVED

If you're one of those people who constantly fail to read the title's of blogs, I have arrived! i can now start participating in those fancy things that everyone else metaphorically rubs in my face every day in class, blog posts *gasp*.

So did any one else think it was weird that Winston was so horny that he consumated with an elderly woman? I know I did.

Krysta

My Summary

Hey Rebecca (and anyone who read the comments under Rebecca's post)

I added more to my version of the Rape of the Lock. It is quite good in my opinion, and I hope you guys enjoy it.

Peace

The Rape of the Lock

I kind of felt the same way as Alex about The Rape of the Lock. I normally don't care for old english poetry. But now that I'm understanding it better, I have starting to actually like the poem. Which is rare for me since I usually hate poetry with a passion. :) It bothers me when reading if I don't understand what every word means but hopefully I'll come to love The Rape of the Lock before we're done reading it.

didn't post the link grrrr...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4lAnLk2_OQ

Mr. Pope

So I love Rape of the Lock. It reminds me a bit of Shakespeare's a Midsummer Night's Dream with all the fairies and sprites. Also i got bored. and decided to look up Rape of the Lock on Youtube.....this is what I found.....it's long...but worth it :)

Dear AP English Class:

I hope this year has been going well as far as reading etc. I am in English now at Michigan, and couldn't help but think of you all. Hopefully everyone dutifully checks the blog so you will see this post.

Love,

Jill

Rape of the Lock

I just wanted to add a few thought of my own about The Rape of the Lock... Although I was a little worried at first about reading an epic poem and all of the "old English" language that comes along with it, I now find myself falling in love with this poem. I love how everything is exaggerated and I can even understand most of the language in the poem. The fact that the poem ties in with Greek mythology is absolutely brilliant as well, and makes the poem very interesting for me. So far, The Rape of the Lock ranks right up there with Pride and Prejudice and I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings on my list. We'll see if it gets any better/worse as time goes on...

Hope to see you all at the swim meet tomorrow, we need all the cheering we can get as we face off against St. Joe. I'm nervous already!!

Study Guide for Rape of the Lock

Hey AP Warriors!

The website I've been using to help with Rape of the Lock is http://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides2/Pope.html It's really helpful and really nice if you forgot your book at school! haha! Enjoy!

F in Participation?!

NO WAY. I think it is because of my lack of blog-posting, so here we go. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is an amazing book. It really made me appreciate my life. From growing up in a segregated and horribly racist community, to being taken advantage of and eventually raped by her mother's boyfriend, to finally learning about herself in ways she never knew and having a son because of it, Maya Angelou's life was incredibly eventful. Not always in a good way, either. I give Maya a lot of credit for the hard life she lived. As I was reading this book I related times in my life to it, and thought, I had it so lucky. When my parents divorced, as a six year old, I thought my world was over. However, being sent on a train with no adult as a six year old in the same situation with just tags around your neck is much worse. I am extremely lucky to have the life I do, considering my parents divorce. Many kids don't have nice lives, just like Maya, when their parents don't stay together, so it makes me proud that I have been able, thanks to my mom and step dad, to keep my life organized and sane, even. I feel like if I didn't have my parents to influence me like they have(for the bad qualities as well, mind you), I would have had a fall just like Maya did. However, towards the end of the book, she picked herself up again, and I give her props for that as well. It's not easy to pick up your life from something bad, and it took a lot of determination and bravery on her part.

Well, I think this post is sufficient. I hope everyone else loved their third book. However, I know it was not as good as the one that Lisa, Kelsey, and Alex chose with me! :)

Book 3: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Okay, my third book is definitely my favorite so far. It's REALLY good. I know that Alex and Lena are reading it too...I'm not sure who else. What do you guys think? It's one of those books that I just can't put down. It's strange because for some reason I thought this book would be my least favorite.

Reading

So I LOVE to read and I have sooo many books I want to read and that I've wanted to read over summer but I haven't been able to because of AP books. Is this a problem for anyone else... or just me?

Book 3

I am reading the same book as Lena, and so far it is quite good. I was wondering, however, if we need to do the Reading Log and Vocab like the last two books? I'm assuming we have to, but it would be great to know for sure before I get too far into the book :)

One whole day of school down, so many more to go... We can do it though! Good luck with homework all of you, I know I'm going to need all the luck I can get...

BOOK THREE :)

So, to be honest, I really, really disliked Pride and Prejudice. I thought that I didn't like Catch-22, but the more I read P&P, the more I realized that Catch-22 isn't so bad. When I looked back on it I thought it was funnier than when I was reading it. It took me forever to read Pride and Prejudice, or so it seemed. I just felt like it kept going, and going, and going, and going, etc. But oh well, on to book three! I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings has started out as a really good book, actually. I was uneasy about it considering the lack of interest in the other two books, but this one has caught my attention. I love Maya and Momma. I'm only on chapter 10, I believe. So far it's wonderful!

Hope everyone else is doing well with their books!

Who else is reading the same as me?
What do you think of it?

Welcome Back!

It was great to see your smiling faces this morning! Hope you had a wonderful first day of your senior year!!

I forgot to mention an exciting Shakespeare opportunity in our own backyard. This week, a performance of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream will be performed at Notre Dame's Washington Hall by the Actors from the London Stage - a professional acting company from London. The performances are Wednesday - Friday, September 8-10. I was thinking about heading down for the Thursday performance since there is a home football game on Friday. The performance is at 7:30 and we will carpool from BHS. If you are interested, please let me know ASAP so I can order tickets. Reply to this post or email me at sconklin@bridgmanschools.com  Student tickets are $12.

For more information about the performance, click on the post title above to be directed to the play's web page.

See you in class on Wednesday!

:3 Time for Number Three

I had such a difficult time with Pride and Prejudice. From the sound of it, I'm the complete opposite from everyone else, haha. I'm excited to read Frankenstein, though! BUT I'm wondering, Who else is reading the same book? If you are, you should definitely let me know! :)

P&P

Well, I finished Pride and Prejudice. It seemed like it was longer than Catch 22 but it was definitely an easier read for me. So yeah. Now I guess we just wait to school starts...darn.

Dear Old Books

The assignments for Book #2 of your summer AP reading trickled in during the end of the week before the Friday deadline. Thanks to those who were so prompt in getting your work in. I'm working on some homework of my own, due September 1st to my grad school mentor. It may be cliche', but I do feel your pain with the summer assignments. It's been a while since your fearless leader has had homework!

Click on the title of the post for an article from the UK's Telegraph newspaper regarding the Oxford English Dictionary. You may recall me mentioning the premier authority on the English language. Only two complete OEDs have been published (they take several decades to compile) and it looks like the third OED will NOT be available in print. Read the article to find out why. And I'm interested to hear your thoughts on this...

Book #3, the book you are reading along with other AP students in smaller groups, should be completed by Wednesday, September 23. This will follow our discussion of Catch-22 and Pride and Prejudice, as well as the test over these two books. It would be a good idea to review your reading logs for Book #1 in the days before we come back to school.

Enjoy your last week of freedom! I'll be at school on Wednesday and Thursday of this week, so if you're around feel free to stop by my room.

Happy reading!

-MCC

P and P

Im finished with P & P!! YES!! I never write out the whole title because I can never remember how to spell it!! I always get the "Pride and__" but I always have to look at the book to figure out how to spell the second word and it drives me crazy! :)

mwahahahaha!!

DONE!!!!! :) This makes me very happy indeed!

Here we go...

8 days and 41 chapters to go...

:/

P&P

I too am also reading P&P now. As I continue reading, I realize that this book is easier for me to read. I have seen the movie and realized that there are a number of differences in the first 20 chapters alone. I was flying through the book, then I had to go to camp. I didn't get much reading in there but I will definitely have it finished sooner than Catch-22.

libro numero dos

I have started reading P&P as my 2nd book as well Lena. It is 1000000x better than Catch-22! I am only on Chapter 12 but hope on getting farther in the book soon. :)

Book two!

I've started P&P, and it is better than Catch-22, by far. Although, the more I think about how terrible and ridiculous that book was, the more I start to like it. It's scaring me! It seemed horrible while I was reading it, but now, not so bad. I have been pretty busy with camping, Cedar Point, work, conditioning, etc., so I haven't really gotten into P&P. Only on chapter 6 but I like it so far. It was a little difficult to keep up with at first but it's getting better.

Anyone else reading this one as their second book?

:)

Brontë Sisters Power Dolls

An English professor of mine from Aquinas sent me a link to this. If only kids were encouraged to play with literary action figures they way they are with Barbie and GI Joe, we might have more people take AP English!                      

      I                  H

On to the next one...

I have received a few questions about the due date for the reading log and vocabulary list for the next book. Your assignments for Book #2 will be due to me on Friday, August 27, by 11:59 PM. As before, I welcome all early assignments submitted before the due date.

For the AP Language students from last year, please have The Importance of Being Earnest completed by that time as well. I will be emailing you a quiz and essay questions after August 27 and those will be due to me by email before we return to school in September.

Any questions, you know how to find me! My grad school residency ends tomorrow and I will be continuing my summer journey to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, for vacation. I return home to Michigan on August 9.

Be sure to post to the blog or email me with any questions or concerns.

-MCC

24 hour countdown

You thought this book was dragged out to annoy AP students for their summer reading, but no....

It's EVERYWHERE!!

Including the Borders at New York's LaGuardia Airport! 

I'm currently in New York City on my way back to school. That's right, your fearless leader is going back to school. Tomorrow, I head to Connecticut for the first residency of my Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at Fairfield University. The residency goes until July 26 and I can promise that I will do enough reading and writing to make us even in the summer homework department :) 

This also means that I will have limited email access during the day. If you don't hear back from me immediately, fear not. I'll return your email when I get a chance. I've received several book #1 assignments already - thanks to those who are ahead of the game! The rest of you I trust I will be hearing from tomorrow :)

When I began this post, there were 24 hours left before the vocabulary lists and reading logs for the first book are due. Now it is 12:13 AM. Time is sure a-flying!

Happy reading (and writing)

-MCC

Better Late Than Never?

Well, I've finally posted to the blog. Took me a while, but I've done it. Finished reading Pride & Prejudice and....well....let's just say it was everything I expected it to be. I'm hoping Catch-22 will be a bit more entertaining though. I'm going to be gone for a couple weeks, so I wouldn't expect a comment on this blog from me for quite a while. I'm off to go camping and hopefully acquire a sufficient amount of bug bites. Lewkowitz out....

The Good, The Bad And The Unreadable

I was talking to a friend the other day and she asked me what qualities in a book make it so that I don't want to continue reading or so that I can hardly stand not to read. I thought that this was a good question, and after thinking about it I told her what I thought. Knowing what gives you reader's block or what qualities of a book you really like is helpful, particularly when the reading is required. My friend is doing a presentation for a writing organization she is part of and part of her presentation is what makes a book bad. So I thought that getting the feedback from some of the best and brightest members of the Class of 2011 couldn't hurt. What makes you want to put the book down and spend a ridiculous amount of time on facebook? What makes you finish a book in one day because it was just that good? I know that some of the books that we read last year had qualities that produce reader's block for me, such as not identifying who the speaker is often enough in dialogue. Your feedback would be much appreciated. Good luck getting your logs and vocab lists done by Friday if they're not done already :)

Book #1 reminders

Greetings AP warriors!

Hee hee hee....good question  :-)

Some of you are close. Some of you are finished. Some of you have some long nights ahead of you this week....

Whatever boat you are in, this is a reminder that the vocabulary list and reading log for BOOK #1 (either Catch-22 or Pride and Prejudice) is due to me by 11:59 PM on Friday, July 16.

Your options for submitting these assignments are as follows.

Email: scarter.conklin@gmail.com or sconklin@bridgmanschools.com  Either email is fine.

Snail mail:  Drop off at any post office by 5:00 PM to ensure a July 16 post mark. You can mail them to me at: 2518 Willa Drive, Saint Joseph, MI 49085

Drop off: You can drop them off at my house if you like. Mapquest or Google maps my address. It's about a 17 minute drive from Bridgman. My mailbox is attached to the house, to the left of my front door. It's a yellow house with green shutters with a rabid pit bull chained to the porch (just kidding about the pit bull!).  They need to be IN my mailbox before the end of Friday, July 16 if you do the drop off.

Reminder: Many of you have commented on the extensive vocabulary list you have created for Catch-22. Please be sure you have AT LEAST 50 words on your vocab list. You most likely have more, but 50 is appropriate for P&P and Catch-22.

Let me know if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to hearing about your experiences with the first book!

Happy summer! Happy reading!

-MCC

good book so far

Im reading Catch-22, and its a pretty good book so far, but it gets confusing. I like the humor, but it gets old after a little while

FINISHED!

I just finished Catch-22, and I loved (most of) it. I dislike Heller's writing style, but otherwise, the story was fantastic. I think there should be a Catch-23 since the ending was so abrupt. That's the only problem; there was really no ending.
Anyway, I'll be starting Pride & Prejudice soon, so anyone on that book should keep in contact :)



Happy 4th of July, by the way.

alright book so far

Catch 22 is what I am readin and I am finally strting to get into the book and understanding things in the story.

here ya go

its required for me to post so here ya go.. I'm three chapters in to catch 22 and sick of the humor and lack of story line..

god i hope i'm doing this right...

twss....ANYWAY!! i'm reading Catch 22 and may i say that i hate annotating. i mean i would be DONE reading all of these books by now if i didn't have to write down stuff! *sigh* but anything for you Mrs. Conklin :)

P&P :P

I'm reading Pride and Prejudice and I think Mr. Collins is a creep and he talks to much. It takes a while to read and the fine print is irritating but I like to read books that are set in that time period.
Hope everyone's summer is going well. :D

P&P

Well....I have started reading Pride and Prejudice but I have been so busy that I have not gotten very far into it. I am pretty sure I know who is going to fall in love with whom. The old language is a little difficult but its understandable. Everything is going well!:D

hummm

Humm, im not so sure if i'm writting in the right place but it's worth a shot!
This blog is making me feel a lot better about myself to know that im not the only one struggling with Catch 22. I spend almost more time writting on the sticky notes than I do reading the actual book because there are so many vocabulary notes and things to write down. I talked to the Seniors last year tho and they said that i'll really like the book after discussing it in class so thats good news!
Good luck everyone!
-Lisa

My Book

Yes, I finally figured it out!!! I am also reading Catch-22 and I find that it is getting easier to understand each day. I have been reading 2 chapters each day and am now about halfway through (YES!!!) Also, I have never had more vocab words for one book...EVER.

YAHOO!

Well, I am also reading Catch-22 and have to say I agree with Lena. It seems like a bunch or random nonsense. It took me a while to get into reading it though. It didn't really pull me in at first because I couldn't figure out what was going on. When I got to chapter 15 though, things really turned around. This chapter pulled me in. It was pretty exciting. So far it's my favorite chapter. My book is also annotated like crazy! Probably because I was like "What the heck is going?" the whole time. Well good luck to everyone else. Lena, as long as you read a little over a chapter a day, you should be done in time. I planned on doing my reading log after I finished it, based on my annotations, but I was needed something to keep me awake yesterday, so I did some of it. My vocab list is also constantly growing.

WOO!

Yay, it works! I also started with Catch-22, and it's extremely difficult to read. I tried to read one chapter a day but I'm finding that I have to read more, because the days are running short. However, I'm still very confused on the point of this book. It seems very random to me as well, but it is going easier. I'm doing my vocab list as I go, with my mom's OLD, OLD, OLD Franklin in hand (you should see this thing, it's ancient). I haven't started the reading log yet, but I figure that if I go back and use my annotaions as a box in the chart, that would be okay, huh? Here I go, chapter 15!

Good luck! :)

Lena

First post

I hope this is where I'm supposed to post.....

My Book

I decided to start with what seemed to be the more difficult book to read, Catch-22. It is very confusing at times, but I think I'm starting to get the story line a little... That is, until one or two of the characters starts going on a rant and I have no idea where their conversation came from or even what it's about!! But anyway, the vocab list and reading log are going fine. All I have to say to you guys reading Catch-22 is good luck! You're going to need it...

Which book are you?

Where are my Yossarians, my Major Majors and Dunbars and Milo Minderbinders, my Clevingers, Colonel Cathcarts, Doc Daneekas, McWatts, Snowdens? The list goes on and on, but I'll stop there.

Or perhaps you are more along the lines of Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Mr. Collins, Jane, Lydia, Kitty, Mrs. Bennet or the amusing Mr. Bennet?

Which book have you started with for the summer reading? I'd like to get an idea so I can get a mini-discussion going before the first of July.

Happy reading!!

Posting

For those 2010-2011 AP people who are having trouble posting:
Step 1: Do you have an account? I am not computer savvy (notice I've been a part of this blog for over a year and I still don't have a picture), I couldn't figure out how to get an account with my pre-existing yahoo email. Un-savvy that I am, I just made a g-mail account. Most of you are already to this point, if not, feel free to ask me via facebook or email (andreachristine91@yahoo.com)
Step 2: You are on the AP lit and comp blog. Look up to the right of your screen and you will see (if you are logged in) three things at the very top of the site: your email, New Post, and Sign Out. Once you click on "New Post", you'll be transported through the magical interweb to a page that has a blue banner with spaces for you to type your title, an optional link, and your actual post. Write what you're supposed to, add a few witty remarks if you like, spell check and then you have two options: "Publish Post" or "Save Now". And voila! you have your participation points.

If I was unclear or you need help, just facebook or email, I'll probably get back to you within 24 hours.

Summer Reading

It was a nice July day at family camp. The birds were chirping, the children playing, the old people by their campers playing cards and eating prunes, and I was doing my reading log and vocab list for Catch-22. DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN TO YOU! I had planned on reading five chapters of C-22 every day and I definitely didn't. Instead, I sat on the dryer during the week leading up to camp and forced myself to read about 50 pages per day so that I could finish to book before I left and then I did the reading log during camp. I hated that book. Heck, I still hate that book. Hopefully I will never have to read it again. BUT, I also didn't want to admit that I didn't completely understand the book. You're in a class with a bunch of really intelligent people, that's why it's AP. Talk to each other, it helps a lot. Also, for those of you who haven't started Catch yet, if you tend to read structured books where the time-line is evident, throw that idea out the window. After I was about halfway through the book someone said something about thinking of it like a movie with flash backs and flash forwards, I started doing that and it was a lot easier to read. As a side note, I have my own summer reading because I'm a member of the Lee Honors College at WMU (apparently it can not bee escaped). Good Luck!

Progress Report

It's a rainy Monday and since the beach is probably not an option, maybe you're hunkered down in front of the computer screen. Or better yet, you're curled up on the couch with a good book...one of the books you were so generously given by your new favorite English teacher perhaps?

I'm curious how things are going. A few of you have emailed me directly to let me know how things are going, but remember you have NINE more days to post a comment on the blog before the JUNE 30 deadline. I am making this an assignment of sorts, so yes, you will get points for commenting on what book you are reading and how it's going. If you've been dragging your heels, that's fine, just be honest. I'd like to hear if people are having trouble because chances are your AP peers can probably lend a hand. This also goes for the AP alums who are still receiving blog updates. Feel free to simply yell "HELP!" if you are lost, confused, locked in a closet, or cornered by grizzly bears who are trying to steal your books.

Again, don't forget about that June 30 deadline for blog comment/posting. And if you are still struggling with the whole blog thing, let me know that, too, so I can get you some help. Some people have posted already, so feel free to ask them for help as well.

Happy summer and happy reading!!

Happy Bloomsday!!

Today is Bloomsday, the day depicted in James Joyce's epic novel Ulysses. It's the same day James Joyce went on a date with his future wife, Nora Barnacle, in 1904. The day is celebrated by Joyce enthusiasts all over the world, but no where are the celebrations bigger than in Joyce's native Ireland. The James Joyce society in Dublin sponsors a week long festival that began last Saturday. I had the good fortune of being in Dublin six years ago today for the 100th anniversary Bloomsday. Here is a picture of me in Dublin next to a wall where someone had scrawled some chalk graffiti.

Click on the title of the post "Happy Bloomsday," and you'll be directed to the James Joyce society website for more information on Bloomsday and events happening in Dublin. You'll be reading a collection of James Joyce's short stories, Dubliners, over Christmas break. If you're feeling adventurous, give Ulysses a try. A note of warning, your fearless AP teacher started Ulysses two summers ago with the intention of reading 150 pages every June. So far, I've covered 260 pages. It's a work in progress :)

Happy Bloomsday and Happy Reading!!

Trouble posting?

Greetings bloggers!

If you are having trouble posting to the blog, try following these steps.

1) Make sure you are logged in. You can log in using your email address (doesn't have to be a Google account - any email account will do)

2) Once you log in, you should get to the main screen of the blog (with the title and postings) At the top right corner of the screen next your email address, you should see "New Post" Click on that and post away. You can also comment on postings that have already been made.

Still struggling? Shoot me an email and hopefully we can figure it out together!

Happy blogging and reading!

MCC

What Freshmen Will Read

A nice transition article for the incoming AP students and the outgoing college freshmen (wow...how weird does that sound?) I'm curious how many of your prospective universities have a summer reading assignment for orientation. Michigan State has assigned Zeitoun by Dave Eggers. Check out the website. http://www.onebookeastlansing.com/ I'm pumped for the future Spartans out there (Abby and Grace) - Eggers is a brilliant writer!! Other universities have taken to assigning summer reading as part of freshman orientation and having on-campus activities related to the book (discussion panels, documentary presentations, etc)

The article from Inside Higher education chronicles what some colleges and universities consider to be "required reading" for their students. It was cool to see the collection of essays in "This I Believe" listed as one of the top books. The "This I Believe" essay has been a part of my creative writing curriculum for the last several years.

Happy reading to AP warriors, past and present :)

Mrs. Conklin and everyone else,

I just wanted to say I had an amazing year in AP. I sruggled a lot but it was all of you that kept me motivated. We had a great class and all got along really well. I want to wish all of you GOOD LUCK next year and I hope we can all keep in touch. Mrs. Conklin, GOOD LUCK next year with 6 block and I hope you have a great group like we did this year.

Thanks again,
Nicole :)

This is just to say...

I spent yesterday afternoon reading over your evaluations and I was really touched by the thought and consideration you put into them. I have made a list of "Next year in AP..." and will be adding some of your suggestions to the list.

Above all, thank you for making the first year of AP such an oustanding success! I couldn't have wished for a better class and you will all hold a special place in my heart as the first and only AP guinea pigs. Your work ethic, positive attitudes, and willingness to be flexible made this class a pleasure to teach!

Don't forget that the tee-shirts are finished and I'll be picking them up this afternoon. I'll have them at graduation if you want yours then. If not, I'll be around school until Wednesday of next week. You can drop off your $7.50 in the office and Mrs. Allen or Mrs. Luginbuhl will get it to me. I'm anxious to see how the shirts turned out!

Congratulations with being FINISHED with high school!! Woo hoo!! I'll see you at graduation on Sunday!

~MCC

Fire Up AP Warriors!!

This is it!! The week we've been building up to over the last year - the AP EXAM!!



Ok, it's not going to be nearly as bad as THAT looks!! Is it??

Of course not! You're prepared, you're skilled, you know what "zeugma" means!! Here are a few reminders for the week.

1. For the 12 AP Exam takers on Thursday, please communicate with your AM odd day teachers about being gone. The staff has been informed, but the responsible thing to do would be to get your work TOMORROW or Wednesday since we don't have school on Friday.

2. Don't forget about the AP exam study session on Wednesday. 6:30-9:00 PM in the Community Room at the Bridgman Public Library. You can bring snacks, we just need to be sure we clean up before we leave. We will NOT be in the main library, just the community room inside the front doors.

3. AP English Literature and Composition exam on Thursday at Lakeshore HS. Parking is near the auditorium (north end of the school campus) and between the school and football field (south end of the school campus) Plan to arrive at 7:20 AM so you can park and get to your designated test room on time.

4. On the day of the test, don't forget...



Rule out the two answers you KNOW are wrong - this prevents random guessing
Dress in layers - the room could be chilly or warm
#2 pencils made of wood, not plastic mechanical ones

Click on the title of this posting for a link to the College Board Exam Day tips list. And visit www.collegeboard.com for more information about exam scores and credit policies.

But most of all, remember how insanely proud I am of the hard work you have put into this class and for taking the risk of being my "guinea pigs" as the first AP class at BHS!

Good luck and go with your gut!!

Happy 446th Birthday Will!!

William Shakespeare's birthday is Friday, April 23. In recognition, the city of Chicago has named April 23 "Talk like Shakespeare" day. Click the website link in this post's title.

And for a little Shakespearean fun, see the following website for a plethora of Shakespearean insults http://www.pangloss.com/seidel/Shaker/index.html
I'm going to click through a few times to see if I can find one from the exchange between Kent and Oswald in Act II, scene ii of King Lear. Insults galore!!

Essay contest for an iPad

Our friends at Shmoop have an essay contest going where the winner receives a FREE Apple iPad!!! How cool is that? Click on the title of this post for more details.

Bonjour!! I guess there's never been a better time to read a book with so much French in it.

I do have a question though... who the heck are " the lovers." They seem to be referred to very often, but I don't understand who they are. Maybe I missed some sort of explanation at the beginning, but I don't know.

Don't be afraid of what you've learned...

This is a song, Blitzen Trapper: Furr, and I was listening to it on my way to Minnesota (!!!) when I started thinking about the Apollonian and Dionysian ways that people live.

The man joins a wolf pack and describes how he turned to the wild and let the Dionysian traits take hold:

"And I lost the taste for judging right from wrong

For my flesh had turned to fur
Yeah, and my thoughts they surely were

Turned to instinct and obedience to God"

Oh the ways that we can relate literature to our everyday lives...

So, as Blitzen Trapper says in the song,

If you're gonna get made

Don't be afraid of what you've learned...

Shmoop

I believe Shmoop came up in Thursday's class. Mr. Noll informed me last fall of Shmoop's literature guides and teacher resources, but like most things, it slipped under the radar. This is my favourite description from the "Why You Should Care" opener for The Awakening

Nowadays, Edna would be an artist – you know, paint always under her fingernails. She’d dig smocked dresses and the skinny jeans trend. Not to mention sexual liberation. But in The Awakening, Edna drowns. And that, more than anything else, tells you why you should care.

Even if you didn't have to read this book, wouldn't the mention of skinny jeans and sexual liberation get you to pick it up? Ok, maybe not...

If you are waiting out the rain and wind like I am (or just being plain lazy on Day 2 of Spring Break 2010) check out Shmoop.

The painting featured in this post is titled The Awakening Conscience by William Holman Hunt

It was painted fifty years before Chopin wrote her novel, but could easily serve as a representation of Edna Pontellier.

Prestwick Pictures

On the way down to Florida I started reading The Awakening. A couple chapters in, I noticed that the picture at the beginning of each chapter wasn't the same, which caused great excitement. As the book progresses, the girl's eyes in the picture begin to open. The pupils and the iris begin to become more defined. Finally the picture isn't the same!

Letting Students Choose Their Own Books?

The Canadian Newspaper The Globe and Mail features a story about how letting students choose the books they want to read makes them better readers. Your thoughts?

Fool by Christopher Moore

This is the book Charlie was talking about in class today. It is written from the perspective of Pocket, Lear's fool, and sounds downright hysterical. Thanks for sharing, Charlie! Click on the post title to access a link to the Barnes and Noble review.

I've got a B&N gift card burning a hole in my pocket. I might just have to pick this one up over break.

Harvard bashes AP courses

Interesting article on a recent book published by Harvard Education Press. There are some interesting views on the value of AP courses and the dangers of "teaching to the test"

It presents some good insights. I'm intersted in your thoughts as "near" alums of the first AP class at BHS.

Is it Spring Break Yet????

The answer is no. Sorry.

But we're close, oh yes, we're oh so close!

Did you submit your Law Day Essay? You have 18 more minutes (as of now) to email your essay along with the required info (see previous post) to David_L_Grumbine@Whirlpool.com

For tomorrow's class: please complete the reading of Heart of Darkness along with your vocabulary list for the novel. You should average around 10 words a chapter (a minimum of 30 words).

Your critical examination question is also due. This should be typed, double spaced, 1-2 pages.

See you Thursday!! And remember, the best reading position for the last chapter of Heart of Darkness is sitting upright in an uncomfortable chair with plenty of light and the book open before you on a hard surface. Reading on the couch, in bed, or in a hammock may result in literary apnea - falling asleep while reading.

Heart of Darkness Audiobook!

I hope this works for everyone :) it helped me through 1984 and this book!

LAW DAY ESSAY CONTEST

This is just a reminder that the deadline for the Law Day Essay contest, sponsored by the Berrien County Bar Association, is due on Wednesday, March 31, at 4 PM. I am willing to drop off your essay and don't forget you can email your essay (500-800 words) with the following information:

Student's name
Home address
Email address
Home telephone number
Sponsoring teacher and high school - (Sarah Carter Conklin/Bridgman High School)

The essay can be emailed to David_L_Grumbine@Whirlpool.com
or faxed (269) 923-3919

Winners of the contest will be selected at the sole discretion of the selection committee and will be based upon: Composition, Theme, Creativity, and Details/Research

Email me if you have any questions. I'd be happy to give your essay a quick look before you submit it.

Citing dialogue from Lear...and MORE!!

If you are citing a dialogue exchange between two or more characters from King Lear, you should SINGLE space and block indent (always use a single space indented block quote when citing more than three (3) lines). It should look something like this:
Goneril: Dad is out of control
Regan: This is true. What do we do?
Goneril: No matter what he says, we're cutting his entourage of
knights and not letting him in to the castle.
Regan: But it's storming and really nasty outside.
Goneril: Seriously, Regan, you're such a daddy's girl.
(act. scene. lines)

If you have additional citation questions, see the website from Colby on the back of the assignment handout or drop an email my way.

And thanks to Allie for this clip of the 1974 production of King Lear with James Earl Jones as Lear. And you thought he was good as Darth Vader...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftW7WcoOuU8&feature=related

King Lear/A Thousand Acres

Please be sure to bring your copy of A Thousand Acres to class on Wednesday, March 10. You will have a writing response on ATA due Friday and depending how long it takes to get through the first part of Act IV, you may have time to get started on your homework.

Remember to bring both the play and the novel with you to each class. On the odd day that we finish early (yes, I know this has yet to happen) you can fill your extra time getting caught up on the outside of class reading.

And speaking of that out of class reading, hopefully you were able to make some headway on A Thousand Acres. We only have three more classes before we finish Lear and Act V is a short act.

ALSO: This is a reminder that your registration and check for the AP English exam is due MARCH 17 (a week from this Wednesday). Checks should be made payable to Lakeshore High School and should be dropped off in the guidance office. Please see me or Ms. Cuthbert if you have any questions.

Dubliners

For Wednesday's discussion on Joyce's Dubliners, you need to come prepared with a detailed explanation (on paper) describing the moment of paralysis or epiphany that occur in each of the stories (14 total). See pages 6 and 7 for further explanation. If you are not sure about some of the stories, post your questions on the blog. I expect you to help each other out, so you may not hear much from me.

One of my goals this semester is to encourage discussion outside of class - especially among the rogues who fly under the radar (you know who you are!)

Remember, the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Dubliners, though more accessible as short stories, can be challenging due to Joyce's use of slang, irony, and description.

I look forward to our class discussion. Please let me know if you have questions