Tim Wise Video- Culture of Power

Questions to Consider as you watch

1. Why is it that people of color are not taken seriously when talking about race?

2. Is race still a determining factor in a person's success in life? IOW, is race still an issue? If so, why?

3. What is White Denial?

Survey Responses

Link to Response Summary

Click Here

The Culture of Power and Me Survey

Native Son Weekly Assessment

Example Outline with George Wilson

The 1920’s American society was focused on what you had or your possessions rather than your contribution to society.  In a well developed essay, analyze a character’s response to the influences of money.  Analyze how the characters identity is impacted by their financial standing. How is this theme still relevant today?

Money plays an important role in our everyday lives.  In 1920s America, society focused on what you had or your possessions rather than your contributions to society.  This is not to far off from today.  Society still tends to be money driven rather than focused on applauding people for their contributions.  The media focuses on people’s wealth and what famous people are doing rather than highlighting individuals who are actually helping the community.  F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby depicts the evils of money and wealth.  Fitzgerald’s shows this through his character George Wilson.  Wilson symbolizes the struggling lower middle class Americans during the 1920s.  His lack of wealth eventually drove him to his demise. Through this character, Fitzgerald is showing the immoral values of Americans.

• Use quotes from Ch. 2, 7, 8 to show his downfall into becoming so angry or distraught that he kills himself and Gatsby because he felt he needed to save some sort of dignity.
• His unsuccessful relationship with Myrtle.
• lack of friends/social life
• The failed American Dream?
• Media shows when a celebrity adopts a baby or donates money but doesn’t show the people who dedicate their lives to helping others.  
• Ex. Angelina Jolie, people who work in homeless shelters, people who are fighting for gay marriage, etc.

Gatsby Paper

PAPER DUE 3. 30.14

Essential Question: How does money influence one's identity?

ESSAY PROMPT: The 1920’s American society was focused on what you had or your possessions rather than your contribution to society. In a well developed essay, analyze a character’s response to the influences of money. Analyze how the character's identity is impacted by their financial standing. How is this theme still relevant today?

March 13, 2014

Preparation for 3.14.2014

Read Ch.4

Tomorrow we will have a Socratic Seminar focusing on the Ch. 3 & 4


Socratic Seminar opening questions:

1) Why does Fitzgerald choose to highlight this specific class of the 1920s?

2) Do you agree that nick is honest and Nonjudgemental? Can you call yourself honest and nonjudgemental?

3) Is Nick a trustworthy narrator?

4) "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired" (pg 78). Why do you think Nick repeats this over and over? What do you think it means? What does it say about his lifestyle and the people who he hangs out with?

March 9, 2014

As you read "The Great Gatsby" chapter 2 &3 please read to understand the significance of the following:

Chapter 2

1. Tom's New York city apartment
2. What Mr. Wilson wants/needs from Tom
3. The Valley of Ashes
4. The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg 
1. These eyes represent most clearly a God figure, specifically to George Wilson. They also represent a moral judge of society.  As the story progresses you will learn how Mr. Wilson is slightly mentally unstable. 

Chapter 3

1. Nick' connection to Gatsby
2. The rumors surrounding who Gatsby really is and how he got his money
3. Gatsby's behavior and presence during his parties

March 5, 2013

Read Chapter One of The Great Gatsby

You're looking at the characterizations of the main characters, as well as the setting of the story.

Here is a link to help you with looking at characterization: Click Here

March 4, 2014--Old Money v. New Money

Complete this chart in your notes

An important idea that plays out in The Great Gatsby is the interplay between "Old Money" and "New Money."  Today's goal is to gather and discuss your ideas about Old Money and New Money.

March 3, 2014 --Jigsawing the Twenties

Complete this before class Tuesday

Essay Help

Unit 5 Essay Minutae

Watch the video below and ace the quiz!

Also, remember that you have an outline due tomorrow.

February 15, 2014

Please watch the following video and complete the Quiz

Do not forget to do the reading of Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper".

Remember that we will also have a Mid Unit Assessment on Wednesday 2.19.14 where we will be covering the following:

Irony, Dialect, Diction, Theme, Plot, Characterization, Point of View, Grammar (Commas, Independent Clauses, Dependent Clauses, Subject/Verb, Coordinating Conjunctions, etc)

Today's Meet Links for Gilman, "The Yellow Wall Paper"

Use this site to ask questions you want discussed in the next class.

Remember to use your number or your name to post your question so we can track your participation and give you a grade.

Ms. Williams' 3rd Period: http://today.io/kx6v

Ms. Williams' 4th Period: http://today.io/kx6w

Mr. Smith's 3rd Period: http://today.io/kxkx

Mr. Smith's 4th Period: http://today.io/kxl0

Mr. Smith's 6th period: http://today.io/kxl2

This is your chance to ask the questions we all know you have about the reading, but you're too shy to ask in class.  You CANNOT be successful if you do not ask questions about things you do not understand.

Flipped Video over Bierce, Plot, and POV

Watch the video below, complete the quiz, and read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

Remember, you need to complete your PIXTON comic and share it with Mr. Smith or Ms. Williams.

Whether you are reading the hard copy of the story or reading an electronic version, you need to be annotating for point-of-view, stream of consciousness, and plot structure.

Flipped Video for Twain and "Regional Color"

Watch the video below, complete the quiz, and read "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"

Whether you are reading the hard copy of the story or reading an electronic version, you need to be annotating for irony and "regional color"/dialect.

Unit 5 Introduction Flipped Video for February 6

Watch the video, take notes, ace the quiz.

Notes should cover:

1865-1914

• The Frontier and Expansion
• Immigration
• Industrialization & The Social Classes
• Literature
• New characters
• New styles
• Realism
• Naturalism

VIDEO NOT WORKING?  click here or click YouTube Channel link to the Right -------> 

Unit 5 Vocabulary

Here are the words you should have for Unit 5 in Section 1 of your notebook.

Here is a sample of what your Vocabulary Notebook will look like as we work through it.

February 5, 2014

Please complete the following Vocabulary Inventory