Ms. Kiefer's Homework Page       February                                                                                                 English II Note: Where response papers are assigned, questions are provided as possible themes, motifs or simple notions to facilitate, generate and develop thinking about the assigned chapters. Response papers will be used to begin class discussions. ***Reading assignments are subject to vary according to class discussion or student needs. Link to online textbook:    http://my.hrw.com                                         Class username: smary52                                         Class password: e4j9s Homework is organized by DUE DATE not the day it was assigned! Analysis: The following information are questions that MAY be helpful in writing your analysis. DO NOT follow these as a guide e.g. answering the questions without attention to transitions or the thesis of your analysis. First, create a thesis statement that you will use to guide your 2-3 analysis paragraphs. Next, consider if any of the questions listed below would be helpful in thinking about supporting your thesis. How is this character revealed at the beginning of the novel? Give two specific examples and include one direct quote that describes this character. How do these examples show what kind of character he or she is? How does this character change throughout the course of this novel? Give two specific examples and include one direct quote which illustrates a change in the character (i.e. changes in their actions, attitudes, beliefs, or self-concept). Explain why this change is important to the character. Describe the character near or at the end of the novel. Give two specific examples and include one direct quote which illustrates how or why they have changed. Do you think the change is for the better or for the worse? How do the actions of the main character affect the plot of the story? A Thematic Stetement usually includes the following elements:         a) Convey the message of the whole work in one sentence.         b) There should be no specifics. It should answer why it all happened.         c) Avoids generalizations and absolutes.         d) No morals or cliches.         e) It is an abstract idea coupled with                 human motivation                 human condition                 human ambition         f) Observes, weighs, considers         g) Often the begins with--Sometimes, One, frequently                                  English II  & English II Honors Reflection paper hints: 1) Begin by jotting down notes on your ideas about the quote: What do you think? What has affected this thinking? What examples or experiences can you relate to this quote/idea? 2) Use an essay format. Your writing should be organized into paragraphs. 3) Begin writing your body paragraphs first. 4) Writer your conclusion before your introduction. 5) Try to "catch" the reader's attention with an intriquing opening in your introductory paragraph. 6) Final essay should be at least 300 words and typed, 12 pt. Times New Roman font. No emails will be accepted. Date: Feb. 3 Due: Read The Great Gatsby Ch. 1--pages 1-13. Begin Character notes. Date: Feb. 6 Due: 1) Complete Study Island assignments!        2) Complete reading The Great Gatsby Ch. 1--pages 14-26. Continue Character Notes. Complete Study questions. Chapter 1 1. Who is the narrator of the story? 2. From what part of the country does Nick originally come? 3. Why has Nick moved to New York? 4. How does Nick come to live by Jay Gatsby? 5. Where had Nick known Tom Buchanan before? 6. What is Jordan Baker’s relationship to Daisy? 7. What does Nick learn from Jordan when Tom is called to the phone? 8. What is the “secret society”? 9. What does Nick see Gatsby doing at the end of the chapter? Date: Feb. 7 Due: Read The Great Gatsby Ch. 2. pages 27-42. Continue Character Notes. Chapter 2 1.      What is the Valley of the Ashes, literally? 2.      Who or what is Dr. J. Ecklesburg? 3.      What is George Wilson’s occupation? 4.      What items does Myrtle purchase in the city? 5.      Who is Catherine? 6.      What effect does the change of dress have on Myrtle? 7.      How does Myrtle talk about the help at the hotel? 8.      What rumor has Catherine heard about Gatsby? 9.      How does Catherine explain to Nick the affair of Tom and Myrtle? Date: Feb. 8 Due: Continue Character Notes. Do Study questions. Date: Feb. 9 Due: Review forThe Great Gatsby Quiz. Continue Character Notes. Date: Feb. 10 Due: The Great Gatsby, Chapters 1-2 quiz today! Continue Character Notes. Date: Feb. 13 Due: Read The Great Gatsby Ch. 3 pages 43-53 Continue Character Notes. Chapter 3 1.      What kind of car does Gatsby use to transport his guests? 2.      How do the guests behave? 3.      What does Nick where to the party? 4.      How does Gatsby interact with the guest and why do you think he reacts this way? 5.      What happens at the end of the party as the guests are leaving? 6.      How does Nick provide a foil top the character of Jordan? Date: Feb. 14 Due: Read The Great Gatsby Complete Ch. 3 pages 54-64. Continue Character Notes. Date: Feb. 15 Due: Read The Great Gatsby Ch.4 p. 65-75 Date: Feb. 16 Due: Read The Great Gatsby Ch.4 p. 75-85 Complete Study questions. Chapter 4 1.      What is the date at this point in the novel? 2.      Who does Nick encounter at Gatsby’s party? 3.      What is the suggestion about Henry L. Palmetto’s death? 4.      In the description of Gatsby’s car, what is the significance of its being bright with nickel and swollen in its monstrous length with all kinds of boxes? 5.      What phrase does Gatsby repeatedly use to address Nick and the others? What does this imply? 6.      Why is daisy’s reputation so pristine? 7.      For how long has Gatsby been pursuing Daisy? 8.      What phrase keeps coming back to Nick? Date: Feb. 17 Due: The Great Gatsby, Chapters 3-4 quiz today! Date: Feb. 20 Due: President's Day. Date: Feb. 21 Due: Read The Great Gatsby Ch.5 p. 86-102. Complete Study questions. Chapter 5 1.      Why does Nick say that Gatsby’s house looks like the World’s fair? 2.      How does Gatsby’s gardener help prepare for daisy’s visit? 3.      How does Gatsby dress for the rendezvous with Daisy? 4.      Who is the Finn referred to in Chapter 5? 5.      How long has it been since Daisy and Gatsby have seen each other? 6.      In what ways are the various rooms in Gatsby’s mansion described in historical terms? 7.      Who was Gatsby’s first benefactor? 8.      Who provides the musical background for the love scene? Date: Feb. 22 Due: Journalism I--Read our blog at Homework is organized by DUE DATE not the day it was assigned! Date: Feb. 2 Due: Short Story Date: Feb. 3 Due: Short Story Rough draft due. Date: Feb. 6 Due: Date: Feb. 7 Due: Short Story final draft due. Date: Feb. 8 Due: Stories out loud! Date: Feb. 9 Due: Stories out loud! Date: Feb. 10 Due: Intro to Love poetry Date: Feb. 13 Due: Love poetry Date: Feb. 14 Due: Loev poetry Date: Feb. 15 Due: Date: Feb. 16 Due: Date: Feb. 17 Due: _______________________________________________________  Read online! Click here Class Announcements an Reminders     Supplies: All students should come prepared each day with writing utensils, paper and a binder for English class. FAQ Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents. What are Ms. Kiefer's grading policies? Class Participation - Discussion of the readings and student writings will be done as a class and in small groups so each studentÕs participation during class is crucial.  Each studentÕs daily participation is required for metacognitive development and for large and small group progress.   Grading/Assessment - 40% homework/classwork 10% participation/engagement, 50% essays, daily quizzes, and tests.  Very Important!! Work Completion - All essays and accompanying prewriting, outlines and rough drafts are to be stapled together onto the back of the final draft.  It is strongly recommended that final drafts of papers are typed. Make two (2) copies of your final drafts and be sure to keep one.  Late work is marked down a letter grade for each day it is overdue. Requests for due date extensions must be made prior to that due date and will be considered on an individual basis.  Daily homework will not be accepted more than 3 days late.  There will be no exceptions to these policies. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What are homework/project completion policies? Students are given three days to hand in any work to be graded.  Each day a homework, essay, project is late its grade is lowered. After three days no homework is accepted. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Is it possible to receive an extension on a homework, essay or project? Yes, but only if the extension is requested before the due date.  There are no exceptions to this policy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Is class participation important to my grade? Class participation is 10% of a students grade for this marking period. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ How often is homework assigned? For AP and Honors students there is nightly studying or reading. AP and Honors students are expected to be reading novels and poetry on their own when there is not a specific written assignment due the following day.  English 4 students are assigned written homework, at a minimum 5 nights per week. When a written assignment is not due students are expected to study class or SAT vocabulary Links Metacrawler-- Best overall search engine http://www.metacrawler.com Excellent grammar help http://englishplus.com/grammar/ AP Students --Great Resource for Wordworth http://members.aol.com/wordspage/home.htm English 3 Students Another Writer's Guide with help on usage http://www.andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Writing/ Calendar