Monday, February 13th, 2012

Dear Juniors,

STOP MISSING CLASS! STOP MISSING CLASS! MISSING CLASS IS LIKE CRAMPTON FORGETTING TO TAKE HER INSULIN (Simile.....sorry, I couldn't resist)

Each student who submitted a "Crucible Essay" last Thursday, received one for peer evaluation. Each essay was accompanied with a rubric to follow when giving feedback. This assignment is due on Friday, February 17th!

1. We then  completed Journal #1 for Poetry entitled: "How I feel about Poetry?"
I asked each student to tell me how they feel about poetry? Why or why not do you enjoy it? Please include specifics to support your response. 

RELAX! I think the reason most students fear poetry is that they don't have the tools to appreciate poetic texts. My goal isn't to make you like poetry, my goal is to help you interpret it based upon some tools that I will give you. I have no doubt that you will appreciate this literary genre more once we are finished.

4. We then began with a pre-quiz regarding about figurative language elements. This quiz did not count, but it gave me insight  into what you currently know.

5. We then started our review of Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Allusion and Hyperbole using the following handout. Please print this off and place it in the handout section of your notebook.

The POWER of POETRY

“Words are, of course, the greatest drug used by mankind!”

For as long as strong writers have been putting their quill pens, lead pencils, or word processors to paper, they have attempted to express themselves in the most colorful, imaginative, and descriptive ways possible. They have attempted to create lively, rich word pictures so that their readers can see the images and understand the feelings focused on by writers. Writers have tried to give their audience members the taste, smell, feel, sound and look of the scenes they are describing. They have tried to give vivid expression to their feelings and thoughts about people, places, and events so that their readers could share these impressions.  Writers often use figurative language to add sharp, clear and strong impressions to their work. Through figures of speech, the audience gains a more heightened and vivid realization about the writers’ subjects.

Simile:

Metaphor: Implied Metaphor:

You’re a mean one, Mr. Grinch.                                                         You’re a foul one Mr Grinch

You really are a heel.                                                                           You’re a nasty wasty skunk

You’re as cuddly as a cactus,                                                            Your heart is full of unwashed socks

You’re has charming as an eel                                                           Your soul is full of gunk, Mr Grinch

Mr. Grinch                                                                                             The three words that describe you are

You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel.                               As follows and I quote

                                                                                                                Stink, Stank, Stunk

You’re a monster, Mr. Grinch

Your hearts an empty hole

Your brain is full of spiders

You’ve got garlic in your soul

Mr. Grinch

I wouldn’t touch you with a 39 and a half foot pole.

You’re a vile one, Mr. Grinch

You have termites in your smile

You have al the tendeder sweetness of a seasick

Crocodile, Mr. Grinch

Given the choice between the two of you,

I’d take the seasick crocodile

Personification: “The water beckoned invitingly to the hot swimmers.”

Allusion: “John failed to act as his brother’s keeper.”

Hyperbole: “If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times.”

Idioms: 1. 2. 3. —         He is the apple of my eye, bright eyed and bushy tailed , cool as a cumber, down to earth, and an eager beaver. Oh, and sometimes full of beans. He has a heart of gold, and he is a jack of all trades. He keeps a stiff upper lip, always lends an ear and minds his p’s and q’s. He is nothing to sneeze at, on the ball, and quick on the uptake. He runs rings around others (literally), he is a sight for sore eyes and he tickles my funny bone.

Connotation vs. Denotation Denotation: Connotation: Childlike vs. Childish: —         And on a day we meet to walk the line And set the wall between us once again. We keep the wall between us as we go. To each the boulders that have fallen to each.

Imagery: 1. 2. 3.

Elements of Sound

Alliteration: “The darksome burn, horseback brown, His rollrock highroad roaring down.” Sibilance: “Sing a song of six Pence”

Assonance: —         Pink Floyd’s “Hear the lark and harken to the barking of the dark fox gone to ground.”

Consonance: —         “Betty bought butter but the butter was bitter, so Betty bought better butter to make the bitter butter better.”

Onomatopoeia:

HOMEWORK:

1. READ YOUR BOOK! 

2. Offer feedback regarding the Crucible Essay you were given to evaluate. This is due on Friday. If you did not initially submit an essay, then completing this assignment is not option. COMPLETE YOUR ASSIGNMENTS, cute kids!