Writing Workshop

Schema: quiz

We will examine verbs to start today.

The purpose of today is to write. For once, you don’t analyze someone else’s work but create your own. These works will begin in class, but it is expected that they will also be edited, revised and lovingly sculpted outside of class. The works created in the workshop will be put into your electronic portfolio.

First task: create an electronic portfolio in your student folder.

Second task: think about an idea, emotion, event, person about whom/which you’d like to write. Write this as a sentence; for example, “I will write about my grandfather who had polio and used to walk with a terrible limp, yet never complained.”

Third task: write an English sonnet (about topic in task two)

Fourth task: write an Italian sonnet (about topic in task two)

You may allot time to revising your Dante essay – but no more than a ½ hour.

Italian sonnet - Petrarch visits

Schema: SAT – remember to skim the readings and then read the questions carefully and refer back to the passage.

Petrarch was in class today, sort of. His sonnets are called Italian sonnets and have a different structure than an English sonnet: 14 lines, iambic pentameter, an octave/octet and sestet/sextet, and a rhyme structure of abbaabba (for the octave), and cdcdcd, or cdecde (sestet). The octave starts the conversation with a problem, issue, idea, etc, and the sestet responds. The point the second topic or response begins is called the ‘volta.”

"Scorn Not the Sonnet"

Scorn not the Sonnet; Critic, you have frowned,
Mindless of its just honours; with this key
Shakespeare unlocked his heart; the melody
Of this small lute gave ease to Petrarch's wound;
A thousand times this pipe did Tasso sound;
With it Camoens soothed an exile's grief;
The Sonnet glittered a gay myrtle leaf
Amid the cypress wtih which Dante crowned
His visionary brow: a glow-worm lamp,
It cheered mild Spenser, called from Faery-land
To struggle through dark ways; and when a damp
Fell round the path of Milton, in his hand
The Thing became a trumpet; whence he blew
Soul-animating strains--alas, too few!

Wm. Wordsworth

Homework: essay and study for quiz (tomorrow)

Classwork for 11-28-06

Now that we have reviewed the mechanics of English and Italian sonnets, you need to read and study sonnets. We will focus on Shakespeare since he is the standard for most of us and there are many great resources available to us. Before doing so, let me point you to several, additional resources on sonnets. The first is "Sonnet Central" that has all kinds of sonnets and links to explore other sites. There are also sites from UCONN and elsewhere that have interesting information.

Classwork

Your task is to look at two Shakespeare sonnet sites, the first is this one (The Place 2 Be...) and the second is this one (The amazing web...). Pick the one you like best, read some sonnets, look at the analysis, and then write a brief comment on this blog about the sonnet; list the number (e.g. Sonnet 38), and one thing you learned about it (theme, tie words, metaphor). When you comment, you must make up a short name, a pseudonym for yourself, no more than 5-7 letter, that you will always use to comment with - tell me the name in class. Under no circumstances will you use your own name. This is classwork and will be graded.

Dante Essay and English Sonnets

Schema: SAT

Question: What is poetry?

The Dante essay drafts were due today. The class peer reviewed the draft essays. Please make sure you quickly read the essay to find the thesis and support for the thesis (are the quotes appropriate); make sure that the ideas connect and make sense; check for any mechanical errors (just like looking at the SAT questions); be positive before you begin to make critical comments about the essay. I was concerned with the number of students who came unprepared to class. Not a good idea right before progress reports are due.

The class also began its examination of different types of poetry by looking at Shakespeare's wonderful, lyrical sonnets. Make sure you understand the structure of the sonnet – 14 lines; 3 quatrains ending with a rhyming couplet; the meter is iambic pentameter (unstressed, stressed, 5 feet); rhyme is ababcdcdefefgg; each quatrain is unique and their issues are resolved in the couplet.

Homework: essay - due on 11/30. Quiz on Wednesday so review your sonnet notes.

Unit Test

I think all that needed to be covered was done so today.

Get a good nights sleep, relax, and you'll do just fine.

Next week we begin with Shakespeare's sonnets, a little Petrarch, some haiku, and more

Dante is in flames
To study is to succeed
Use free will wisely

Ciao!

Dante Test and essay

Schema: quiz on canti

This is a great website for your essay development. Read about thesis statements, how to use quotes, and how to write a conclusion. This will really help you as you are writing your essays.

The outline is due tomorrow. Make sure you have quotes for each body paragraph and that the quotes are correctly cited (see Cerberus post for info).

Quiz tomorrow on Canti 32-34. Keep in mind: Cocytus, Dis, the fate of Judas, Cassius and Brutus, the punishment (frozen), how this is a reverse archetype, Cain, Judecca, and Count Ugolino.

We'll do the quiz game tomorrow in preparation for Wednesday's unit test.

Reviewing for the test

Begin by looking at the previous posts on this site; you'll find what I've stressed in class and will probably ask on the unit test. There will be many questions from the first six cantos. I tend to ask about mythical characters and sinners and their punishments that seem well connected. The cantos to review are 11,12,13,17,19,20,23,24,25,27, 32,33,34. Review your presentation notes and the summary for each canto.

Make sure you review the material covered in the beginning of the unit on Dante's life, the use of numbers, the literary concepts from the text, and the theological connections. The PowerPoints are on Student Public.

The essay outline is due Tuesday. Back up your computer when you get into school and print a copy for review. No excuses will be accepted.

Monday's quiz will focus on the cantos.

Unit Test and essay outline

Schema: Quiz on previous days canto presentations.

We should finish student presentations tomorrow and then wrap up the Inferno tomorrow or Monday.

There will not be a quiz tomorrow; however, review this site for important points for a quiz on Monday and to prepare for the unit test on Wednesday. Our schema will be review questions. Your homework for the next few days and over the weekend will be reviewing for the unit test and completing the outline due 11/21.

Go to Student Public and check out the Dante PowerPoint presentations. I will also post canti that I'm likely to use for the unit test. There is an awful lot of information so I will focus on the items stressed in class. Think about Beatrice an Virgil, who they are and what areas they lead Dante through. Know the archetypes in the poem and other literary concepts we've studied.

More Student presentations

Schema: Quiz on previous day's canto presentations.

A Block - covered canti 8, 12, 13 and 14
B Block - covered canti 13 - 18
C Block - covered canti 10, 13, 15, 17, 18

Review notes from the beginning of the unit. Look on Student Public for the Dante PowerPoint presentations for fun facts that might appear on tests. Look at definitions for free will, allegory, parody, satire, imagery, King of Time. Review facts such as:

• Dante goes to the Inferno to recognize sin
• He goes to Purgatorio to renounce sin
• This journey is a quest and his 'neukia'
• The long list of mythical creatures (Centaurs, Minos, Minotaur, Charon, Styx)
• Minos condemns sinner to their circle by wrapping his tail
• Why the number 3 is important (Trinity)
• That Dis is Lucifer and a parody of the Trinity
• Dante starts his journey in the 'Dark Wood of Error'
• His journey is an allegory

Homework: review notes, work on essay ideas

Student Presentations

Schema: fixing PowerPoint and e-mailing to Mr. Little.

A Block covered canti 7,8,9 & 11. Good job by all, especially Raymond.

B Block covered canti 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Good job by all. Excellent work by Chanti.

C Block covered canti 8,9, 11&12.

Start thinking about what essay question you will use.

There will be a quiz tomorrow. Remember: the two rivers of the Inferno, the Acheron and Styx; that Phlegyas is the riverman of Styx and Charon of Acheron; that Medusa (C.IX) was used to threaten Dante - turn him to stone; who we unexpectedly find in a fiery tomb in Canto 11, Pope Anastasius; that the rings of inferno holding the violent are the rings of the lion; the bloody river that holds the murderers and their guards, the Centaurs. You are also responsible for basic info like the names of the books of the Comedy, the number of books in each, three beasts, and literary terms used in the rubric.

Cerbeus - http://danteworlds.laits.utexas.edu

Schema: we reviewed what is needed in the project PowerPoint.

Use the rubric below as a guide to make sure you have covered all the critical information.

1. Canto ___ ________________________________
2. Circle ___ ________________________________
3. Sin ___ ________________________________
4. Punishment ________________________________
5. Mythic figure ________________________________
6. Character/sinner ________________________________
7. Citation __ _____________________________
8. Discussion Basic Proficient Goal Exemplar
9.Literary concepts Basic Proficient Goal Exemplar
10.Class work Basic Proficient Goal Exemplar
11.PowerPoint Basic Proficient Goal Exemplar
12.Presentation Basic Proficient Goal Exemplar

Remember to discuss literary concepts - allegory, archetypes, imagery, symbols. Also, don't confuse imagery and symbol. Imagery is language used to create a vivid image, like when you were grossed out by the worms and maggots eating the offal from the Opportunists. A symbol has a meaning outside of itself and its story context.

Edit the PowerPoint using the rule of six - no more that 6 bullet points and six words per point. We can violate this somewhat because of the quotes and the fact that this will be a resource to be read later on, not simply presented.

Two quotes are needed and they will be cited as such: (X. 23-24) A quote from the summary or notes simply lists a page number: (163).

I expect you'll have read the canti before and after your canto and that you'll use them if necessary to define the sin, sinner, or punishment.

Good luck - we begin presenting tomorrow.

November 9, 2006

Schema: SAT

Class reviewed Canto presentation rubric and selected information from Canto VI that might be used for a presentation.

Class time was given to work on projects.

Homework: canto project

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Michelangelos' Minos - Sistine Chapel

Schema: SAT question of the day – vocabulary.

We reviewed first section of Success with Words - the influence of Latin roots.

The Student Canto project was introduced. Students are assigned a canto that they will teach to the class. They must read the canto along with the canti that precede and follow. This will allow for a better understanding of the canto’s action, from where Dante came and where he is going. The PowerPoint must present specific information, have appropriate visuals, and quotes from the poem to support the presentation. The rubric and sample canto presentations are on Student Public (section below)

• Read assigned canto + canto before and after
• Create a PowerPoint with visuals to teach the canto to the class
• The PowerPoint will list:
– Canto # and Circle #
– the sin/sinners and their punishment
– Mythic figure (if in canto)
– primary sinner(s) if named
• and
– provide a brief description of the action
– Discuss symbols, allegory, imagery, archetypes
– Must cite from the text at least twice

Canto V finds us in the Second Circle with the Carnal. We meet Minos who assigns sinners to their appropriate circle with his tail (e.g. circle five is five wraps of the tail). The carnal are caught up in a terrible whirlwind (reflecting their passions) and see a number of lusty sinners such as Helen of Troy and Achilles. Dante is still sympathetic with the sinners and swoons; this is key since he must learn that the sinners choose to be in the inferno and he should not feel sorry for them.

Monday, November 6, 2006

Quiz Wednesday (11-8) on material covered to date. This will include highlights from Canti I - IV, and a reading check on Canti V - VI.

Schema was SAT question of the day. Remember to look for pronoun antecedents to make sure they work.

We covered Canti III - IV. Remember the Acheron as the first river in the Inferno, and the odd Charon as its ferryman. Remember the inclusion of Pope Celestine V into the Vestibule of Hell. Please note that Celestine, while reviled by Dante, was made a Saint by the Catholic Church.

The souls are "eager" to go into the inferno since they have exercised their free will and chosen their path to darkness. This concept of free will is critical to this section and others. Free will, as I understand it, is the power of moral beings (us) to chose without physical or other restraints - there are no excuses. Canto IV is about Limbo and Dante meeting the great poets, who embrace him as one of their own. This concept of Limbo is controversial and confusing.

Satire, parody, irony, allegory, imagery are all important concepts to keep in mind while reading Dante (and for the quiz). For those who are interested, here is the Cagle cartoon link. I think there is an interesting connection to Dante's imagistic writing and today's political cartoons. In case you missed it, Dante starts his journey on Good Friday, the day Christ was said to be crucified, and will exit on Easter, a symbolic resurrection. Look for all the water images in the text - the archetype of rebirth.

Homework: Canti V-VI, complete organizer

Friday, November 3, 2006

Schema today was on Canto I. Keep those facts in mind as they will help you understand why Dante is going to the inferno and how Dante uses allegory and symbols. You'll also see these questions on future quizzes and tests.

We did an SAT practice test - the reading section.

We reviewed Canti I and II and slide 3, main characters. II explains some facts and gives background that is helpful, not a lot happens. Remember Limbo and Aeneas for future reference. Dante's journey is a quest to find salvation or heaven. Virgil, human reason can only get him so far. To get to Paradise he needs divine love, represented by Beatrice and the three female saints. He can't get by the beasts, or sins, until he recognizes them and renounces them. Note that the day is Good Friday, the day Christ died according to Christians.

Homework: Canti III and IV - complete the organizer. Prepare for quiz...

Thursday, November 2, 2006

A Block caught up with slide 2. Myth presentations made up most of class. More than 1/2 the class was at the college expo.

Canto I finds Dante lost in the Dark Wood of Error - you need to use this full name when asked where we find him in Canto I. He is on his way to The Mount of Joy when blocked by the three beasts (leopard, lion, she-wolf). He meets Virgil, symbol of human reason, the Roman poet of the Aeneid, who was sent by Dante's great love, Beatrice. Virgil tells him he must go the long way to reach the mount.

When reading the canti, start with the prose introduction, review the notes at the back of the canto, and then read the canto. Complete the organizer. Make sure you look for archetypes.

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Street sign in Florence with Dante quote.

This post's links are for information only - not required reading.

We began with a quiz on the Dante video and last night’s reading. A Block did slide 1 and B, C Blocks did slides 1-2. Keep in mind the importance of structure, order and numbers in the Divine Comedy, and the Inferno. Remember - you must list the books, Inferno, Purgatory, Paradise, in order, and the beasts, Leopard, Lion and She-wolf, in order. The number 3 is critical because of the Trinity and its parody, Dis, with his three hideous faces. 9 is the square of 3 and the number of rings in the Inferno. 100, the square of 10, is the number of canti in the Comedy: 33 + intro, 34 in the Inferno, and 33 each in Purgatory and Paradise. Also, keep in mind the concept of free will, which is important to the theology of Dante. It is the sinners who condemn themselves to the inferno, not God. Dante’s God is just but always offers grace, love and forgiveness. The horrors of the Inferno reflect Dante’s world of Florence and Italy; the physical torture a reflection of what he saw in his life. Keep in mind that as we walk with Dante through the inferno, it is Dante’s task (and ours, which is why he wrote the poem) to recognize that it is the sinners who brought this upon themselves.

We had Myth PowerPoint presentations today – good job by everyone.

Homework: Read Canto I and complete the organizer.

Ciao