The essay begins.

It begins. Think of your essay as a fresh start.
A new opportunity to get better at writing.

Today's Goal: Now that we have some evidence to work with for our literary analysis, we need to examine that evidence and decide what argument to build and defend.

The Plan:

1. Book Love!

2. Examine your collected evidence

3. Create a thesis.

4. Socrative

5. Start outlining your essay

Romeo and Juliet Essay

I have sent you a new document in Google Drive. It will be in your "Shared With Me" folder. Make sure you click and drag it into your "My Drive." Do not change the title I have given it.

You will find the prompt and due date inside the document, as well as a bunch of resources at the bottom.

CLICK HERE to view the evidence you gathered as a class to use as a resource. (It's not perfect, but it's a starting place.)

Below are some slides that can help you,too:

HOMEWORK:

• Your Vocab Test (SENS/SEQU) is on Tuesday, March 1 (That's tomorrow.)
• • CLICK HERE for the slides.
• Your second book review is due Wednesday, March 2
• Turnitin.com submitted by midnight on Tuesday, March 1.
• Paper copy due in class on March 2.
• You must do both to avoid a zero.
• Your Romeo and Juliet Essay is due on March 7.
• Turnitin.com submitted by midnight on Sunday, March 6.
• Paper copy printed, due in class on March 7.
• You must do both to avoid a zero.
• Bring in a picture of someone or something that inspires you. We're making a wall.

Gathering Evidence

Today's Goal: Gather evidence related to the thematic concepts we have been discussing related to Romeo and Juliet. The goal is to build a database of evidence that we can ALL use when crafting our essays.

The Plan:

1. Book Love Reading! (Finished with your book? Work on your book review. Finished with that? Start another book. You'll need to read for English 1B anyway!)
2. Introduction to your Romeo and Juliet essay
3. Gather Evidence!!

Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis Essay

THE PROMPT:

Explain and justify the development of a theme in Romeo and Juliet. 

In a clear thesis statement describe how this theme is seen throughout the text (in language, in plot, in character relationships, etc.) and detail Shakespeare’s message about this theme.

A THEME IS NOT ONE WORD.

Need a reminder about theme? Here's the powerpoint of possible themes we discussed in your "Last Lesson On Theme" (will add link soon. I promise)

HERE IS THE EVIDENCE FORM WE ARE USING TODAY

Fate's Final Play

Today's Goal: Finish this play and brainstorm the possible messages that Shakespeare wants us to walk away with.

The Plan:

1. Book Love: Read!
2. Finish Romeo and Juliet
3. CLICK HERE for a form for brainstorming
4. If time, we will watch the final scenes in the movie.

As we finish the play, here are some things to watch out for (you don't need to put it in your English Journal unless you really really want to. It might be helpful to YOU because these questions aren't going away due to the essay assignment we're going to talk about tomorrow):

1. When all is said and done, was fate the cause of everything?
2. How does family loyalty affect our actions?
3. Is it possible to fall in love that quickly? Are their actions for love justified?
4. How does hatred drive the character's actions? What are the consequences?
5. In what ways does gender affect the characters of this story?

Homework:

• FILL OUT THIS FORM ASAP
• Your Vocab Test (SENS/SEQU) is on Tuesday, March 1.
• • CLICK HERE for the slides.
• Your second book review is due Wednesday, March 2
• Turnitin.com submitted by midnight on Tuesday, March 1.
• Paper copy due in class on March 2.
• Bring in a picture of someone or something that inspires you. We're making a wall.

A Day for Book Love

Today's Goal: Write a scholarly review of your book love selection.

The Plan:

1. Read the rest of Act IV
2. Work on Book Reviews. As indicated to me yesterday, you are all in different places, which is fine. I have reseated you so that you are, for the most part, near others that are in the same place you are.
   
   Group 5 and 6? You have some reading to do. That's how you'll need to spend your time today.
   
   Group 1? I want to answer any and all questions you might have to help easy any confusion.
   
   Group 2, 3, 4? The resources/list/tips below should be helpful to you.

Helpful Book Review Resources:

• Use the chart as a guide for your book review
• A model of a good book review from a 9th grader
• Another model of a good book review by a 9th grader
• Are they perfect? no.
• Can you use them to help you organize? Yes.

Helpful Book Review TIPS:

• Don't just hit all of the things in the chart. You want to go into more detail on a few aspects of your book more than you want to write one sentence for each thing to check off the boxes. That doesn't cut it, and is generally too vague.
• Start by telling your reader why you read that book! What made it look interesting to you? Who told you to read it? What made it appealing?
• Keep your summary brief. Shoot for about 3 sentences of summary. It's okay if you miss, but it's important that you practice writing shorter reviews that are focused on the main plot of the story. What is the MAIN conflict/struggle for the main character(s)?
• You ARE allowed to use the word "I" in a piece of writing like this. It is meant to be conversational and friendly.
• You are allowed to hate the book, but you have to give reasons, and that doesn't mean you shouldn't include details.
• If you don't include details that indicate you read the book, I assume you didn't read the book, and you don't get higher than a D.

Some ideas you could include in the Opinion/Response part of your book review:

• Your favorite character
• The character that made you the angriest
• The most memorable quote
• An important choice that a character made and whether you agree with that choice
• Does it remind you of something in your life or in the world you live in?
• Funniest scene
• Favorite scene
• What song or movie relates to this book?
• What do you think the lesson of the book was? What did you learn about friendship, family, struggle, etc?

Homework

• SEC/SEQU Vocab Work due TOMORROW Thursday, February 25.
• • CLICK HERE for the slides.
  • Your Vocab Test (SENS/SEQU) is on Tuesday, March 1.
• Your second book review is due Wednesday, March 2
• Turnitin.com submitted by midnight on Tuesday, March 1.
• Paper copy due in class on March 2.
• Bring in a picture of someone or something that inspires you and might inspire others. We're making a wall.
• NOTE: Literally anyone should be able to walk into our room and appreciate our wall of inspiration. I will not allow inappropriate things to decorate our space, and get complete veto power over anything. This is a safe classroom for positivity and encouragement. Nothing less.

Act 4: The Escape?

The Goal: Yesterday you made a play for Romeo and Juliet so that they could be together, and hopefully still reunite the families. Today, we're going to start to read to learn what plans are actually made for her and Romeo to be together again.

The Plan:

1. Read.
2. Review citations, puns, and dramatic irony.
3. Answer two quick questions for me.
4. Read Act 4
5. English Journal Entry

PUNS:

Source

Dramatic Irony:

Source

Questions for Your English Journal:

1. How have Friar Laurence and the Nurse impacted this plot thus far? Who are they loyal to? How have they handled the love affair between Romeo and Juliet? Are they helping or hurting? (Think about their actions in the whole story.)
2. In Act IV, Scene i, how does Shakespeare use a minor character to impact the plot? How does this scene illustrate how passion and deep emotion sway our better judgement?
3. What is one instance of dramatic irony in Act IV? Using the evidence, explain what the characters think they know, and what we, the audience, actually know. 

Homework

• SEC/SEQU Vocab Work due Thursday, February 25.
• • CLICK HERE for the slides.
  • Your Vocab Test (SENS/SEQU) is on Tuesday, March 1.
• Your second book review is due Wednesday, March 2
• Turnitin.com submitted by midnight on Tuesday, March 1.
• Paper copy due in class on March 2.
• Bring in a picture of someone or something that inspires you. We're making a wall.

How do we get out of a sticky situation?

Today's Goal: Put ourselves in the shoes of these characters for the purpose of critically thinking about the choices they have, the plans they need to make, and the best way to create an ending they want and/or deserve.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Take a short quiz on Act III.
3. I have a question for the class: Who inspires you to be your best? (Real. Fake. Someone you know. Someone you've never met in your life. Doesn't matter. Everyone should be prepared to share.)
4. Solving Romeo and Juliet's Predicament
5. Read Act 4, Scene 1, 2, and maybe 3.

Solving Romeo and Juliet's Predicament:

With your partner, you're going to use THIS FORM to see if you can put yourself in Juliet's shoes and make a plan that will result in the best possible ending for her and Romeo.

The Rules (uh-oh): 

• Juliet cannot sneak out the window. Pretend there are bars on them, and don't forget she can't go anywhere alone, either, except when she's talking to Friar Laurence.
• Romeo cannot get back into Verona without being seen, arrested, and put to death.
• She has TWO days in which to enact this plan. (It's Tuesday. She's getting married to Paris on Thursday.)
• Try not to let anyone else die.

Can you do it?

Homework/Important Dates

• Bring in a picture tomorrow of someone or something that inspires you. We're making a wall.
• Revision of Fate/Free Will Paragraph (Due Tuesday, February 23)
• Your homework is to REVISE your paragraph. I have given you notes, and indicated missing MLA formatting. 
• You must turn in BOTH your old paragraph, and your revised/rewritten new one. 
• It must follow MLA requirements (heading, citations, last name/page number in top right corner). 
• Your final version must be printed.
• I will be here TODAY (Monday) after school if you need assistance or guidance in your revisions.
• Right now, these are not in the gradebook. If you don't turn in the revision, you'll have a zero on the assignment (you don't want that).
• Vocab Practice Due Wednesday, February 24
• CLICK HERE for the slides.
• Your second book review is due Wednesday, March 2 
• THAT'S NEXT WEEK.
• Turnitin.com submitted by midnight on Tuesday, March 1.
• Paper copy due in class on March 2.

Happy Hoopcoming!

Today's Goal: Finish Act III, and watch the film version of Act III.

The Plan:

1. Read!
2. Finish Act III together
3. Watch the film version

Homework and Important Dates!

• Act III Quiz Monday, February 22
• Revision of Fate/Free Will Paragraph
• I am handing your paragraphs back today. Right now, they are not in the gradebook.
• Your homework is to REVISE your paragraph. I have given you notes, and indicated missing MLA formatting. 
• You must turn in BOTH your old paragraph, and your revised/rewritten new one. 
• It must follow MLA requirements (heading, citations, last name/page number in top right corner). 
• Your final version must be printed.
• Your revision is due on Tuesday, February 23.
• I will be here on Monday after school if you need assistance or guidance in your revisions.
• If you don't turn in the revision, you'll have a zero on the assignment (you don't want that).
• Your second book review is due Wednesday, March 2
• Turnitin.com submitted by midnight on Tuesday, March 1.
• Paper copy due in class on March 2.