Balzac Essay

THESE ARE ALL HARD DEADLINES!

Monday Nov 29^th                    Thesis statement (end of class)           20 points

Tuesday Nov 30^th                    All quotes due                                     30 points

Tuesday Nov 30^th                    First body paragraph (end of class)     50 points

Wednesday Dec 1                    Second body paragraph due                50 points

Wednesday Dec 1                    Third body paragraph (end of class)    50 points

Thursday Dec 2                       Intro and conclusion due                     50 points

Thursday Dec 2                       LAB DAY TO TYPE DRAFT

Friday Dec 3                            Complete, typed rough draft due        100 points

Thursday Dec 8                       LAB DAY TO REVISE DRAFT

Friday Dec 9                            Complete, typed final draft due           100 points

                                                                        TOTAL:                      450 project points

Essay prompt: Your job is to answer this question: How does one character change, and what causes this change?

Thesis:

(Character’s Name) changes from a ___________________ _{(Body Paragraph #1)}

to ____________________{(Body Paragraph # 2)}, because  ______________________{(Body Paragraph # 3)}.

Example:

Four Eyes changes from a timid intellectual to a secretive, rebellious young man because of his desperation to leave the mountain village.

ESSAY STRUCTURE

1. Introduction Paragraph = The first sentence should state title and author and a brief summary. Then, finish briefly summarizing the novel, focusing on the character you chose. The final sentence of the introduction is the thesis.

2. Paragraph One = Analyze what the character is like at the beginning of the novel.

3. Paragraph Two = Analyze the change the character goes through by the end of the novel

4. Paragraph Three = Analyze what/who influences this change in the character.

5. Brief Conclusion = 3-5 sentences that answer the question “So What?” Conclusion must explain why the character’s change is important. DO NOT repeat earlier commentary. GO DEEP.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

« Write in third person only

« Write in present tense

« Title of novel is underlined or in italics.

« Please use transition words (However, In addition, Consequently, Thus, As a result of, etc)

« Body Paragraphs: Topic sentences must connect to thesis. Look at the blanks in the thesis templates!  Each one corresponds to a body paragraph in the essay. Follow proper chunk format for the rest of the paragraph.

« Use quotes for your concrete details. Properly introduce your quotes. Remember to add page numbers in parenthesis after quotes. 

« Commentary must thoughtfully connect CDs to topic sentences, but of course you already know this. I am looking for thoughtful and deep analysis—it’s time to step up your game on your commentaries!

« If you have already discussed being “let off” chunks, or you think you’re ready, come speak to me for permission.

Weekend homework

This weekend, you need to finish Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, and complete your last double-entry journal. Be prepared to hand in all of your journals on Monday.

In addition, you have a quiz on Monday on the plot of the whole book, as well as the history of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.

Balzac Overview and Reading Assignments

ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS

Throughout the two weeks of reading the novel, you will be required to complete all readings as assigned and complete both classwork and homework related to the readings.

Assignments

SQQR~ (Summarize, Question, Quote, Respond)	20 points per SQQR
DEJ~(Double Entry Journal)	20 points per DEJ

 Reading Schedule

Pages	WHAT’S    DUE?	DUE DATE
3-20	SQQR	11/9
21-41	SQQR	11/10
45-65	SQQR	11/12
66-89	SQQR	11/15
90-105	DEJ	11/16
109-130	DEJ	11/17
131-146	DEJ	11/18
147-157	DEJ	11/19
157-end	DEJ	11/22

First half of the book: SQQR

Instructions: While reading Chapters 1-4, you will use the SQQR format to do a close reading of the novel.

Step 1:  Summarize

You will write a 5-7 sentence summary of the assigned reading.  Your summary should be written in your own and words and should include information about the plot, setting, characters and important details about the characters’ personality traits.

Step 2:  Question

You will write a question that you have about the assigned reading. Your question could be something you’re confused about or something you are wondering; you can even speak directly to one of the characters, or question the author’s choices while they writing this particular part of the novel. DO NOT WRITE ANY “RIGHT THERE” QUESTIONS, LIKE “What is the name of the town where the boys live?”

Good examples: “How did the boys feel when they had to move to a different village?” or “Why did the author choose to have the boys read books that would get them in trouble?” or “I’m confused about the boys’ relationship with the seamstress…how can they do this?” or “Luo, why did you feel the need to punch the narrator?”

Step 3: Quote

Choose a quote from the reading that stood out for you. It is a good idea to choose a quote that shows some change or development in one of the characters.  Write this quote on the SQQR worksheet. If you choose a long quote, shorten it with an ellipse (…) Make a note of who said this quote and the page #. Ex.  “…Quote quote quote quote” (Narrator, pg.66)

Step 4: Respond

Respond to the quote that you chose for Step 3. You may write about why this quote is important to the rest of the novel, what it shows about the character or the plot, or you may explain your own ideas and analysis about why this quote is significant.  This should be at least 3 sentences.

You can complete the SQQR on a sheet of binder paper, by folding it into four squares and labeling each one as follows:

SUMMARIZE 5-7 sentence summary of the night’s reading	QUESTION One question that you have about the reading
QUOTE An important quote that shows a change or development in a character	RESPOND A three sentence analysis of why this quote is important to the novel.

Second Half of the Book: Double Entry Journal (DEJ)

After completing the first 4 chapters of the novel, you will choose a character to focus on.  You will complete a Double Entry Journal in which you select quotes that show change in your selected character.  You will provide analysis for each of your quotes that explain how this quote shows change in your character and how this change affects the story. FYI, another character may say something that shows a change in your chosen character…this is fine too; write it down. 

You must select two quotes a night and analyze each one separately.

Your quote should be on the left side of the page, and include a text note. Your analysis (the right side of the page) should be at least 4 sentences long FOR EACH QUOTE. 

     

     CHARACTER NAME

Quote 1.  “The only thing Luo was good at was telling stories…” (18).

THIS QUOTE SHOWS This shows change because Luo…and this change affects the story because… (this should be at least 4 sentences!)

Guiding questions for the fishbowls:

-What person/thing/idea influences one character the most and why?

-What causes one character to change? In what ways does that character change?

Survey, Short Story

Please click on this link to complete the sophomore survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XVZTBLJ

Homework:

Humanities 10 Homework

Write a short story. There are three main characters—two boys and a girl. They are Chinese and have been sent to be re-educated. Your story must include one of the following symbols: a raven, a natural pool of water, a scary cliff, or books. You also must include :

1.    At least two literary devices.

2.    At least two vocabulary words.

3.    One simple sentence, one compound sentence, and one complex sentence.

Please highlight, underline, or otherwise mark these elements so we can see them clearly.

Please type or neatly write (in pen). 100 points, due Monday.

Election Night homework

1.       Go online to http://www.smartvoter.org/ and pick a current state or local proposition.

2.        Summarize what the proposition is about, in your own words, on a sheet of binder paper.

3. Stay online or watch the local news. Write down how the proposition is doing. Is it winning? Is it losing? Does it seem to be doing better in one part of California than another?

4. Bring in this work tomorrow so we can discuss the election.