Summer+assignment

Summer 2010 (consider replacing 2011)

** ONLINE DISCUSSION/SUMMER ASSIGNMENT ** ** Teacher Questions ** Each student is required to respond to one of the questions provided by the teacher in each text section. Responses should be between 150 and 250 words (about 1/2 a typewritten, single-spaced page). All submissions are due by the first Friday of the school year. No late submission will earn credit.  § The questions provided are aimed at helping you analyze text. To do so, it is necessary to:  § Take the text apart. Break it up.  § Determine what the text is made of.  § Determine the significance (importance) of the different parts.  § Demonstrate how the different parts of the text function together to make a meaningful piece of writing.  § It is essential to the analysis to provide support from the text. This comes in three forms:  § A direct quote cited in MLA format.  § A brief summary of a specific part of the text using exact details.  § Paraphrase a passage from the text.  § Since these are short pieces of writing, it is impossible to focus on every aspect of the text. Instead pick a specific focus:  § Pick are specific passage.  § Reference a literary element: theme, symbolism, irony, etc.  § In order to successfully analyze the text, you must:  § Offer an interpretation of the text.  § Expose issues that express understanding of text.  § Express how the text represents the human experience. <span style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-list: l4 level2 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in 1.0in; text-indent: -.25in;"> § Expose the representation of societal issues.

** Commentary/Response ** Each student is required to make a submission about the text on their own (not based on a teacher question). Each student is also required to respond to at least two of their classmates submissions. Responses should be between 150 and 250 words (about 1/2 a typewritten, single-spaced page) and should appear in the appropriate chapter forum. The purpose of the online discussions is to create active and insightful dialogue among classmates outside of the school walls. Therefore submissions should engage readers through argument, reflections, personal experience or perspective changes. All submissions are due by the first Friday of the school year. No late submission will earn credit. When creating an analysis commentary submission you might want to consider/include the following: <span style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> § Analysis of a character <span style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> § Reader response: how is the author able to evoke emotions from the reader through the text? what is the narrative tone? <span style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> § Historical references: why are the important? what do they tell the reader? what is their purpose? <span style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> § Make a statement about a literary element: metaphors, similes, symbols, allegories, motif, etc. <span style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> § Sequence of events: what is the cause and effect of important events in the text? how is this important to the plot development? <span style="margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in .5in; text-indent: -.25in;"> § Cultural references: what does this tell the reader about our culture? other cultures? how has our culture evolved over time? When creating a response submission you need to: · Agree or disagree with the writer's commentary about the text using direct support from the text. · Provide more insight into their commentary by including a personal experience. · Provide a new way of looking at the text and the commentary. · Make a comment on other literary elements that the writer did not include in their commentary. · Connect the text/commentary to another piece of writing/text. · Do not insult or embarrass the writer. Do not comment on their grammar, punctuation, spelling or general writing style.

While reading //The Scarlet Letter// select fifteen words that are new to you. For each term, you are required to: § Correctly spell the term. § Label the part of speech. § Define the term in your own words. Do NOT merely copy the definition out of the dictionary. Simply use the dictionary as a starting point. § Create an original sentence in which you provide contextual clues that express your understanding of the term. Example: § Term: venerable (104) § Part of speech: adjective § Definition: one who deserves respect, usually because of their age, character or accomplishments. § Sentence: One does not become a venerable politician by accepting gifts from lobbyists, but rather by standing up for high moral standards, conducting ethical business and always fighting for the people.
 * VOCABULARY **

Students are required to submit a personal response letter to Ms. Degenhardt by the first Friday of the school year. Letters should be emailed to Ms. Degenhardt with the subject line: Personal Response Letter. The letter needs to be 350 to 500 words long, roughly 1-2 typed pages. It should be single spaced but there needs to be an extra space between the date and the salutation, the salutation and the body, and the body and the formal closing. Body of the Letter: this letter is intended for you to merely answer the question, "What did I learn while exploring //The Scarlet Letter//?" This question can embody a variety of learning experiences. There is no right or wrong answer as long as you support your opinion with descriptive language about your experience. Answer not only what you have learned by how or why you've learned it. This letter should be viewed as a self reflection in which you consider the writing, reading and thinking you have done this summer. Here are some things to consider when composing your letter: · What did you learn about the use of literary elements in writing? · What did you learn about the human experience or the way society has evolved? · What did you learn about your own reading/writing habits? · How did you grow as a reader/writer? · What did you learn about technology and the social networking experience? What did you like/dislike about this experience? Why? · Anything else you can think to discuss in your letter. This is your personal reflection. The ultimate question presented at the beginning of this assignment is deliberately meant to be open-ended to that each student can form it to meet their own needs. Letter Format: Date: Month spelled out, date and year (Example: August 15, 2010) Dear Ms. Degenhardt: Body of the letter in which you answer the question, "What did I learn while exploring //The Scarlet Letter//?" Formal closing (Sincerely), Your name Points will be lost if: · Subject line of email is incorrect · Grievous convention and spelling errors occur including comma splices, fused sentences, sentence fragments, subject-verb disagreements · Letter format is not followed
 * PERSONAL RESPONSE **

<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">The themes explored in //The Scarlet Letter// are still prevalent today and are frequently evident in other literary texts. Each student needs to write a 600-1000 word (roughly 2-3 pages) literary analysis essay in which theme is investigated through this text. This essay needs to be typewritten, double spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font. The essay is due on or before the first Friday of the school year and should be emailed to Ms. Degenhardt with a subject line of: Literary Analysis. ** Themes ** : here is a list of themes to consider exploring further through your literary analysis essay. These are merely suggestions. Students may also create their own paper topic as long as it is approved by Ms. Degenhardt. ** Support and Evidence: ** the arguments about theme that you make in your literary analysis essay must be supported by evidence in the text. This can be done in three ways; however, all three must be represented in your essay at some point. ** Points will be lost if: **
 * LITERARY ANALYSIS **
 * 1) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Separation of Church and State does not exist in the society found in //The Scarlet Letter//. Instead judgment and justice are a blurring mixture of religion and law. Discuss the differences between those laws associated with the Puritan God and those laws constructed by man. How do these two sets of law affect society? What is the connotative difference between judgment and justice? Who decides this?
 * 2) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">In //The Scarlet Letter// committing a sin equates to breaking the law. At some point in the novel all the characters commit a sin, each of which is placed on a scale of hierarchy. Based on the Puritan society reflected in the text, what determines where a sin falls on the hierarchy scale? Why are some sins considered worse than others? How are these sins a communal problem in the text?
 * 3) <span style="background: white; color: black; line-height: 15.9pt; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo8; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; tab-stops: list .5in;">// The Scarlet Letter // explores the idea that humans have a specific path in life. There is a constant struggle in this book between the Puritan belief that God controls this path and the characters' ability to forge their own journey through life. Discuss which characters in the text exercise their free will and which rely on the guidance of the Puritan God. What are the consequences discussed through choosing either path?
 * 4) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Alienation comes in the form of self-induced and society inflicted in //The Scarlet Letter//. Which characters could be considered isolated based on their alienation? Who or what is responsible for this isolation? How does this alienation affect the character? How does it affect society?
 * 5) <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Nature takes on all the qualities of a character in //The Scarlet Letter//. The various aspects of the setting represent different aspects of Puritan society. Discuss what the different settings represent in the world. How is nature personified in the text? How does the setting of the text affect society's relationship with nature? What is Pearl's role in the text in connection with nature?
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Direct quote: provide a brief quote from the text in MLA format. "Quote," (Page#).
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Paraphrasing: describe a specific scene or passage in the book using a combination of your own words and the author's words. This must also be followed by a page number (4).
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Summarizing: describe an event, scene or problem in the book using your own words.
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Subject line of email is incorrect
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Grievous convention and spelling errors occur including comma splices, fused sentences, sentence fragments, subject-verb disagreements
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">A new topic is not approved by Ms. Degenhardt
 * <span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 15.9pt;">Argument is not supported with textual evidence