HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS (AS OF 3/2/07 [A], 3/5/07 [B])

DAILY ASSIGNMENTS

*NOTE: These are assignments that you should be doning whether we have homework or not. There is a level of expectation that requires you as the student to claim some responsibility for your academic career.

1. Study SAT Vocabulary Terms (LIST 5 and 6 TERMS). You should review the following:

a. word definitions
b. part(s) of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs)
c. related forms (family words)
d. synonyms and antonyms notes on how to distinguish the varied parts of speech.

In addition, students should prepare to work on additional in-class vocabulary assignments by reviewing words nightly. For test/quiz dates see calendar in class or upcoming dates post. To prepare for the in-class study and tests/quizzes, students are encouraged to create 3x5 study cards. STANDARD [EV1]

2. Students should conduct a nightly/daily review of the elements of POETRY (and prose fiction). Students will be expected to adequate mastery and knowledge of ALL terms. They should employ the same study method that is suggested for the SAT terms. STANDARD [ER2]

3. Students should conduct a nightly/daily review of the elements of grammar. Students will be expected to adequate mastery and knowledge of all elements.

4. Bring Materials/Supplies to class; this includes textbooks, paper, pens, notebooks, writing journals, etc. (NO EXCEPTIONS)

5. You should conduct a nightly/daily review of the course orientation notes. You will be expected to have adequate mastery and knowledge of all course policies and procedures.

6. You should conduct a nightly/daily review of the course standards. You will be expected to have adequate mastery and knowledge of all course standards.

7. WORK ON YOUR ORAL ASSIGNMENT PROJECTS...DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. YOU HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO COMPLETE THEM.

TONIGHT'S ASSIGNMENTS

*NOTE: The following assignments should be completed prior to the next class meeting or by the posted due date. Please read all standards and directions when completing.

I. Complete the explication assignment for "I Want to Die in My Own Bed" by Yehuda Amachai. You must complete the explication before the next class meeting. I will check this assignment and issue a grade after you have had an opportunity to revise it...please complete the assignment.

Make sure that you read the rubic/guide sheet...don't give away much needed points:

Name on front of rubric (-5)
No honor code (-2)
No name (-5)
No rubric/guide sheet (-10)

The rubric/guide sheet has been designed to help you earn the best possible grade...USE IT!!! The explication should be ready for presentation to me for checking on the next class meeting. Please print and staple before coming to class. DUE 3/6 [A] OR 3/7 [B]

Here is the rubric/guide:

Explication Assignment: "I Want to Die in My Own Bed"
Pre-AP English I/KNIGHT

Task: Using their knowledge of annotations, poetry terms, and the poem, I Want to Die in My Own Bed, by Yehuda Amichai, please type a complete and thorough (detailed) explication for each line or stanza of the poem. Students should clearly and legibly type the explication on a separate sheet of paper in the discussed format and then staple to the back of this guide sheet. If the work requires two pages, please number the pages, and staple both to the sheet. FOLLOW ALL FORMATS.

Objective: Students should be able to demonstrate their knowledge of explications, poetry literary elements, and their ability to type a complete and thorough (detailed) discussion explication using the appropriate format.

Standards: ER2, 3 and EW 1, 2, 3, 4

Evaluation: Students’ work will be evaluated based on the following specific areas:

Specific Ideas [SI]: To receive the maximum points in this area, students should submit an assignment that is well organized. Ideas presented in the assignment must be relevant, clear and specific. Students’ assignments should produce a feeling of cohesion (unity) that demonstrate their ability to take ideas and place them into an assignment that has a clear beginning, middle, and end. YOU MUST IDENTIFY THE MAIN IDEA!!!!

Attention given to each image in the line or stanza [A]: To receive the maximum points in this area, students should discuss each image presented in the line or stanza. Overlooking relevant images will result in a lesser grade.

Connecting Comments [CC]: To receive the maximum points in this area, students’ assignments should demonstrate that they are able to not only connect the image to the passage, but also to the story. Connections should be logical and supported with evidence pulled from the poem. Students must provide an extended analysis of the assigned poem.

Evidence of Time Spent [ETS]: To receive the maximum points in this area, students’ assignments should clearly indicate that a sufficient amount of time, effort and thought was put into it. Assignments should reflect a serious study of the poem, and should not reflect a rushed completion of work.

Typesetting [TS]: To receive maximum points in this area, the students’ assignments should be written per the discussed standards. The entire line or stanza should be typed first in a clear and legible single space format. Then the annotation should be typed in a clear and legible double space format beneath it (see model below). Students must use 11 point Times New Roman font. The following heading for the assignment should be included at the top of the paper: EXPLICATIONS FOR THE POEM ‘I WANT TO DIE IN MY OWN BED’ BY YEHUDA AMICHAI

Model: Students should use the following as a model for the format of their explications:

EXPLICATIONS FOR THE POEM ‘JAZZ FANTASIA’ BY CARL SANDBURG

Lines 1-3: Drum on your drums, batter on your banjoes,
sob on the long cool winding saxophones.
Go to it, O jazzmen.

Explication: Figurative language (imagery), modern poetry, lyric poetry, speaker: The speaker is pleading with the musicians, begging them to play their instruments. Here the use of imagery is seen because there is invocation of sound. It is a non-traditional poem because there is no set rhyme pattern. Also, it is a lyric poem because it is conveying the feeling the speaker has for jazz music. The poet is using these devices to connect with the reader and establish a bond of sorts. The overall interpretation or main idea of this stanza is a call to arms so to speak, in which the poet is summoning the musicians to play their instruments and commence the merriment. The poet also uses…(12)

Lines 4-6: Sling your knuckles on the bottoms of the happy
tin pans, let your trombones ooze, and go husha-
husha-hush with the slippery sandpaper.

FYI:
You MUST include the author’s purpose for writing the specific lines and images.
Explication commentaries for each line or stanza should be at least 8 sentences in length with both OBJECTIVE and SUBJECTIVE remarks.

You will lose points if all format rules are not followed.

‘I Want to Die in My Own Bed’
by Yehuda Amichai

All night the army came up from Gilgal
To get to the killing field, and that's all.
In the ground, warf and woof, lay the dead.
I want to die in My own bed.

Like slits in a tank, their eyes were uncanny,
I'm always the few and they are the many.
I must answer. They can interrogate My head.
But I want to die in My own bed.

(SEE PACKET FOR THE REST OF THE POEM)

NOTE: Explication instructions: Write your commentary for each stanza (5) of the poem.

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10 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN WORKING ON YOUR ANNOTATION ASSIGNMENT

NOTE TO STUDENTS: This, as well as the previously mentioned items, is what I will be looking for:

1. Evidence that you have READ the EVALUATION GUIDELINES that were given on this rubric. Following directions on this and all assignments is vital.

2. You must have at least 8-10 sentences in your subjective analysis of the assigned passage. This does not include the passage from the text.

3. Your subjective analysis must be your own thoughts…not a retelling of what happened in the passage. You must be able to write an analysis that clearly analyzes how and why the author used certain literary devices in the assigned passage.

4. Your work should offer the notion that you seriously read the passages and chose to write a serious analysis. If you offer a poorly written, poorly thought-out analysis, your grade will show evidence of your choice.

5. USE POETIC LITERARY DEVICES; the devices presented in the model are not to be taken literally….they are only examples. Failing to identify key devices/images will result in a loss of points. YOU MUST IDENTIFY AT LEAST 6 POETRY TERMS IN YOUR COMMENTARY (I wonder how many students read this? hmm…we’ll see.)

6. HONOR CODE, HONOR CODE, HONOR CODE!!! Please write this on the back and sign/date.

7. Please number your stanzas or lines for easy reference.

8. Underline your main idea statement/interpretation statement.

9. Include a sentence count at the end of your annotation commentary. This number should be written in parenthesis. For example: (9)

10. You will lose points if all format rules are not followed. Here is a rough breakdown:


No Name = -10
No Honor Code = -2
No Rubric = -10