Frankenstein
If you would like your own copy of Frankenstein, you should obtain one and bring it to class by Tues/Wed at the latest. I still have nine used copies in very good shape. See me if you're interested.

For next class: Vocab and European Geography
You will have your first Frankenstein vocabulary quiz (list A words), which will be combined with the Euro/UK geography quiz. The Euro-geography quiz will be exactly the same as the diagnostic quiz I gave you a month ago. Study materials are below

    DOWNLOAD: Frankenstein Vocabulary & Allusions List A & B
    LINK: Frankenstein flashcard deck -- list A

    DOWNLOAD: European Geography Map (PDF)
    DOWNLOAD: United Kingdom & Ireland Map (PDF)

First off...
Please note well that you will have your first unit exam of the year on Friday/Monday. In order to be very clear about the material that will be covered, please download and review carefully my download Victorian Unit Exam Study Sheet.

    Note: Victorian project PowerPoints are available on the Great Expectations page

     DOWNLOAD: Tips on How to Answer Short Essay Questions on Exams (F451)

Extra Credit Books: Please bring both your books to the unit exam. You will be permitted to use those on the extended response part of the exam. If you have your own annotated copies, you also have the opportunity to donate those to the school for 10 XC points per book.

Also, an LRJ reminder: I will be collecting and grading your LRJ's before the exam on Monday. You should have completed all three Great Expectations prompts and all three Dracula prompts by that time. Remember, each entry should be 2-3 pages of single-spaced thoughtful writing. 

In-class assignment
After the Victorian presentations, you will be preparing a study sheet for the unit exam -- you'll need the following two downloads for reference:

    1 -- Introduction to Gothic Literature & Bram Stoker's Dracula
    2 -- Victorian Literature -- An Overview (PDF)

and the following eWorksheet on Victorian literature:

    3 -- eWorksheet on Victorian literature (PDF)

Drop-box when finished.

Victorian Presentation Submission Guidelines
All parts of your group presentation are due today. Here are the requirements for submission:

    1. Written Paper + Works Cited: Print this out and turn this in to me.
    2. PowerPoint: You must deposit this in a specific file on the X drive as follows:
        A3: X:/Teacher Folders/Rose/Vic Presentations A3
        B1: X:/Teacher Folders/Rose/Vic Presentations B1
    3. Oral Presentations: Should be between 10 and 15 minutes!

IMPORTANT: Please deposit your PowerPoint by 7:50 a.m. (Monday for A3 and Tuesday for B1). I need only one per group!

Frankenstein
The next novel we'll be reading is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. If you want to buy your own copy, now would be a good time to do so. I have 10 used copies in very good condition for $5 each. The money goes toward the English department book budget.

Unit Exam -- Friday (A)/Monday(B)
Please note well that you will have your first unit exam of the year on Monday. We will review next class.

Also, an LRJ reminder: I will be collecting and grading your LRJ's before the exam on Friday/Monday. You should have completed Dracula prompt #3 (in addition to previous ones) by that time. Remember, each entry should be 2-3 pages of single-spaced thoughtful writing.

You should come to class today with your revised and developed Dracula essay printed out and stapled to the back of your in-class draft and self-evaluation sheet.

We'll be finishing up our discussion of Dracula today with Chapters 19-27. After that we'll be working with your essays.

Victorian Presentation Submission Guidelines
All parts of your group presentation are due next class: on Monday(A)/Tuesday(B). Here are the requirements for submission:

    1. Written Paper + Works Cited: Print this out and turn this in to me.
    2. PowerPoint: You must deposit this in a specific file on the X drive as follows:
        A2: X:/Teacher Folders/Rose/Vic Presentations/A3
        A4: X:/Teacher Folders/Rose/Vic Presentations/B1
    3. Oral Presentations: Should be between 10 and 15 minutes!

IMPORTANT: Please deposit your PowerPoint by 8:00 a.m. on the morning it's due. I need only one per group!

Frankenstein
The next novel we'll be reading is Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. If you want to buy your own copy, now would be a good time to do so. I have 10 used copies in very good condition for $5 each. The money goes toward the English department book budget.

As you work on revising your Dracula essay, have a read through this exemplary sample student essay, which provides a model for literary analysis. 

    DOWNLOAD: Sample Literary analysis Essay -- use this as a model (PDF)

LRJ's #1-2 should be complete before class today. We'll be discussing and working with the "Patterns of Language" LRJ responses.

Upcoming important dates:
Thursday/Friday, September 18-19: Dracula essay, revised & developed DUE

Monday/Tuesday, September 22-23: Victorian Presentations -- all materials due
Wednesday/Thursday, September 24/25: Dracula Vocabulary + Euro Geo quiz

    DOWNLOAD: Vocabulary Sheet for Dracula (PDF)
    LINK: Dracula Vocab List at Dictionary.com
    DOWNLOAD: European Geography Map (PDF)
    DOWNLOAD: United Kingdom & Ireland Map (PDF)

Dracula Essay Revision -- Due Sept 18 (A)/19(B)
If you missed class on Thursday you should view this PowerPoint:
How to Move Beyond the Formulaic Essay 

and review this very, very, very, very important document:
"How to Write a Literary Essay."

Dracula Unit Page
Second, if you haven't already, check out the Dracula unit page on this website, especially the lovely slideshow I spent all summer preparing for you. It also includes many resources that may be helpful for you in developing your essay and on your Victorian unit exam. It also includes the vocabulary list and Euro geography maps. Remember you'll need to know all the countries and capitals by next week (September 19). Explore the page!

Dracula LRJ#2
You should have already completed LRJ#1 on "Dracula: A Primer". If you haven't already -- shame -- you should download the LRJ prompts, which are available in the previous blog post and on the Dracula unit page.

LRJ #2 on "Patterns of Language" is due on Wednesday, September 16 (A)/17(B). Important note: Although the prompt asks you to use five key words, you need only do three.

According to Greek Mythology, when Achilles was a baby, his mother dipped him in the River Styx because the waters from this river gave immortality to humans.  His mother held him by his heel, so that was the only place on his body not touched by the water. From them on, Achilles’ heel was his one area of vulnerability.  Eventually, Achilles was killed during the Trojan War when a poisoned arrow struck his heel.  

Today, the term has come to refer to a person’s area of particular vulnerability.  

Examples: 
Maria's inability to resist rich desserts was her Achilles’ heel, keeping her from losing the ten pounds she wanted to lose. 
 
Senator Cianci's desire to be liked by everyone was his Achilles’ heel, preventing him from taking a strong stand on any issue and leading to his eventual defeat in the elections.