Welcome to AP English, Seniors!

Heart of Darkness Part I Study Guide (Due at the start of class, 10/7/2014)

Introduction & DICTION Analysis Paragraph Example

(2 Chunks! Henry James passage)

Class Activities and Assignments for AP English Lit. & Comp. (all periods):

Monday, September 15, 2014:  Students took some bell work time to register online for the college fair.  Students then completed a bell work "voice lesson" over diction.  Students took a few notes over diction.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014:  Students completed a diction "voice lesson" as bell work.  Students then received a tone words list and an introduction to tone analysis sheet.  Students are to define all tone words on the provided list and complete all tasks on the tone analysis sheet as homework.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014:  Students completed a third diction "voice lesson" as bell work.  Students received a DIDLS notes sheet, as well as a DICTION packet.  Students began working through the packet with the teacher's guidance.  As homework, students are to finish all work and reading in the packet.

Thursday, September 18, 2014:  Students entered class and completed their first graded round of multiple-choice practice as bell work.  Students who had them turned in parent-signed mid-quarter grade reports.  Students then discussed their findings and progress in the DICTION packet with the teacher.  As homework, students are to read and annotate an excerpt written by Frederick Douglass, then write an introductory ("major thesis paragraph") paragraph and DICTION analysis paragraph, according to the style and structure described in the DICTION packet.  That work will be due tomorrow.

Friday, September 19, 2014:  Students entered class and showed the teacher their homework from yesterday.  A class discussion followed about student performance on constructing the two paragraphs in response to the Douglass excerpt.  First period worked in small groups to review student responses, and the other classes looked at a student sample.  In all classes, the teacher repeated and emphasized specific expectations for completion of introduction and body paragraphs.  As homework, students are to read and annotate the Henry James excerpt and write an introductory paragraph and DICTION analysis paragraph, according the the style and structure described in the DICTION packet.  The DICTION packet is to serve as a resource of both instructions and examples for students as they complete this task.  The work will be due Monday and will be taken up for a grade.

Monday, September 22, 2014:  Students turned in their two paragraphs that were due and completed an IMAGERY voice lesson as bell work.  Students received the IMAGERY packet and began working on it.  Students are to complete both sides of the first page of the packet, using "The Rattler" as the source text for IMAGERY analysis.  Students will continue working on the rest of the packet in class tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014:  Students entered class and took short notes to help improve their attempts at commentary.  Students then worked in pairs, sharing their IMAGERY chunks and discussing ways to improve their composition, while also working together to compose the final opinion statement.  Students received short topics to research briefly as homework.  They are to come back to class with approximately one half a page of notes on their assigned topics.  They will share their information with classmates tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014:  First period students received historical and social topics for research before reading Heart of Darkness.  They used time in class to complete their research.  All other classes reviewed research notes taken before class, leading to a full discussion of historical and social matters relevant to the setting of the novel.

Thursday, September 25, 2014:  Students completed multiple-choice as bell work.  First period students had a quick review of social and historical issues relevant to reading Heart of Darkness.  Most other classes took a few notes before reading.  All classes received page one of a study guide for the novel, and began reading together.  As homework, students are to read all of the first three pages and answer #1-4 of their study guide, as well as close reading questions/annotation prompts.

Friday, September 26, 2014:  Students reviewed correct answers with explanations to the multiple-choice practice from the previous day.  Students then discussed their first day's reading of Heart of Darkness.  Some students will be out for one or two days early next week (FBLA and choir).  They received instructions and materials to stay caught up with class.  All students received another sheet of pages from Heart of Darkness to read over the weekend.

Monday, September 29, 2014:  Students received a DETAIL analysis packet as they entered class.  Students had the entire class period to complete all practice activities in the packet, and compose two paragraphs using the prompt and prose passage on the final page of the packet.  The paragraphs and all work in the packet are due at the start of class Tuesday, September 30, 2014.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014:  Students completed a DETAIL voice lesson as bell work.  Students reviewed the first seven pages of Heart of Darkness with the teacher, and received a new set of pages from the novel.  Students are to read and annotate, and stay current with the study guide.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014:  Students entered class and completed another DETAIL voice lesson as bell work.  Students then continued to discuss and annotate early pages of Heart of Darkness with the teacher, and received four more pages of assigned reading.  Students are to continue reading, annotating, and completing work on the study guide.

Thursday, October 2, 2014:  Students completed another round of multiple-choice practice as bell work.  Students received a new reading assignment for Heart of Darkness, as well as a copy of the remaining study guide questions.  All study guide work for Part I of the novel will be due at the start of class Tuesday, October 7, 2014.  Students are to continue reading and completing the study guide as homework.

Friday, October 3, 2014:  Students entered class and picked up a SYNTAX analysis packet and the new pages of Heart of Darkness that are to be read and annotated by Monday.  Students had class time for completing the exercises in the SYNTAX packet, and continuing their reading and annotating, as well as study guide completion.  The SYNTAX packet work will be due at the start of class Monday, and the students are also to be prepared for a reading quiz.

Archived Class Activities & Assignments for APE Lit. & Comp. (all periods):

Weeks 3 & 4 (September 2-12, 2014)

Weeks 1 & 2 (August 18-29, 2014)