Peer Review / The Silver Kiss XIII

Grade 12

• Peer review of final college app essay
• For tomorrow: make sure The Horse God chapter is finished and annotated.
• Final copy of essay due on Monday

Grade 10

• Quiz 3 on chapters 9 through 12.
• After quiz, continue reading.
• Book and all reading logs should be done by Monday.
• Exam scheduled for Wednesday

The King Horse III / The Silver Kiss XII

Grade 12

• Started with an in-class journal entry on the application of the functions of myth so far in the story.
• Discussed the the evolution of the functions of myth in society. Do they still operate? What has changed? Why?
• Peer review on final college app essay tomorrow. Your choice of question or topic.

Grade 10

•  Journal; On page 148, Simon asks himself if he’s doomed to be a shallow youth forever. Is he a shallow youth? Explain.
• Discuss.
• HW: Read chapter 14.

The King Horse II / The Silver Kiss XI

Grade 12

• Yesterday: began reading chapter one of Mary Renault's The King Must Die for illustrations of the functions of myth.
• Today: Continued reading. Discussed that myths "are for kids" and form the foundation of cultural initiation, and the image from the story of the "Navel Stone" as the axis mundi of Theseus' society.
• HW: Read through page 113 with special attention to the horse sacrifice and Theseus' reaction to it. Be prepared to write about the story in class.

Grade 10

• Yesterday: Read forst hapf of chapter 13 while reading logs were checked. Finish through page 162 plus log.
• Today: Scan chapter 11. In journals, write about the significance of the character development and/or irony on page 138.
• Discussed the importance of the conversation between Zoe and Simon, and what it says about their relationship.
• HW: Finish chapter 13 plus log.

Theseus, continued / The Silver Kiss IX

Grade 12

• Yesterday was peer review for essay number 5 (question 88).
• Today the psychological/metaphorical significance of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur was discussed. We'll visit the story of Perseus on Monday
• Final copies of essay 5 are due Monday.
• Next essay (due for peer review next Thursday) will be on a topic of personal choice. It casn be one of the questions from the packet, from the Common Application or from a specific college application. This can be an essay being prepared for actual submission to a college.
• Note: No rewrites of essays 1 through 5, including the Samuai essay, will be accepted after November 1st. 

Grade 10

• Yesterday: Journal: What is irony is revealed in chapter 9? Discussed chapter 9.
• Today: Journal: what are the plot elements leading up to Simon's change to a vampire?
• Discussed most of chapter 10.
• HW: Chapter 12 plus log.

The Legend of Theseus / The Silver Kiss VIII - Quiz Ch. 5-8

Grade 12

• Distributed the Rules for Writing Dialogue. This sheet should be used for College App essay due for peer review on Thursday.
• Reviewed the definitions of myth.
• Read "The Legend of Theseus" with attention to symbolism and metaphor.

Grade 10

• Quiz on chapters 5 through 8.
• Finish reading chapter 10 and write reading log.
• Chapter 11 will be read in class tomorrow. Reading logs will be checked by the end of the week.

Essay Writing Review / The Silver Kiss VII

Grade 12

• Gave back Samurai essays to periods 1 and 5.
• Went over how they should have been structured and detailed.
• Rewrites are expected in amny cases....
• Forgot to mention in class today, but Group 'A' journals due tomorrow! (Pd 1 and part of pd. 3.)

Grade 10

• Journal: How is Zoe’s is a ‘dynamic’ character in chapter 7? Provide evidence from the chapter.
• Discussed the journal entry and literary elements applicable to chapter 8.
• HW: Chapter 10 to the last full paragraph on page 112 plus reading log.
• Be familiar with vocabulary through number 20 by Friday.
• Quiz on chapters 5 through 8 tomorrow.

The Last Samurai, essay III / The Silver Kiss VI

Grade 12

• Last day in computer lab writing Samurai essay. Due on Friday!
• College app question number 6 due tomorrow for peer review.

Grade 10

• Quiz on chapters 1-4
• Begin reading chapter 7. Finish for hw plur reading log.

The Last Samurai, essay II / The Silver Kiss V

Grade 12

• In the lab to continue essay
• Samurai essay due Friday.
• Next college app essay due for peer review Thursday.

Grade 10

• Checked reading logs today.
• Discussed chapter four in terms of literary elements
• HW: Chapter 6 plus log

The Last Samurai, essay I / The Silver Kiss IV

Grade 12

• Day 1 in computer lab working on essay. I've added a day, so we'll be in the lab on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• College app essay #6 (.First experiences can be defining. Cite a first experience that you have had and explain its impact on you. (University of Pennsylvania))
   will be peer reviewed on Thursday, final copy due Monday 10/17
• Group B journals remain due on Tuesday.

Grade 10

• Journal: Discuss the intraction between Zoe and simon at the end of chapter 3.
• Discuss.
• Discuss the three scenes of chapter three in terms of character development, symbolism, conflict, developing theme.
• HW: Chapters 4 and 5 and reading logs.
• Note: Reading logs will not be checked every day but could be checked at any time.

The Last Samurai, conclusion/ The Silver Kiss III

Grade 12

• Distributed essay question for movie (see below)
• Finished movie, discussed conclusion
• Next college app essay is question 6: First experiences can be defining. Cite a first experience that you have had and explain its impact on you. (University of Pennsylvania)
• Due Wednesday for peer review. Final copy due 10/14 (Fri.)
• Tomorrow and Tuesday in computer lab (Mr. G's room) working essay for movie.
• Tuesday, Groub 'B' journals due on Tuesday
• Samurai essay:

“The journey the hero gets is the one he’s ready for.” ~Joseph Campbell

“The hero journey is a going out and a returning. It’s a cycle.” ~Joseph Campbell


“The hero quest does not involve simply the hero’s discovery of some boon or Holy Grail, however; it also involves finding him or herself, which ultimately means finding a home in the universe.” ~ Susan Mackey-Kallis

“They say Japan was made by a sword. They say the old gods dipped a coral blade into the ocean, and when they pulled it out four perfect drops fell back into the sea, and those drops became the islands of Japan. I say, Japan was made by a handful of brave men. Warriors, willing to give their lives for what seems to have become a forgotten word: honor.” ~Simon Graham (from the movie).

Joseph Campbell says there are two types of hero: the psycho-spiritual and the physical. The Last Samurai is an archetypal story of the hero in both aspects. Indeed, Nathan Algren cannot complete the physical hero journey until he completes the other. Nathan’s psycho-spiritual transformation required a journey into the unknown, where he was subject to the functions of myth of traditional Japanese culture.



In a well written essay containing specific details from the story, explain Nathan’s hero journey in terms of the stages of the hero journey and the four functions of myth.


Remember that the hero journey is not linear, is not a rigid formula. This will be an explanation of Nathan’s transformation. Consider the importance of ‘gifts’ and the concept of ‘atonement with the father,’ in your treatment of this subject.

Characters:

Katsumoto
Nathan Algren
Sergeant Gant
Colonel Bagley
Omura
Simon Graham: translator, photographer
General Hasegawa: committed suicide with Katsumoto’s assistance
Ujio: Nathan’s adversary/foil
Taka
Taka’s sons
Nobutada: Katsumoto’s son
Emperor Meiji


Grade 10

• Journal: What is revealed about Christopher in chapter 2?
• Check Reading Logs for grade
• Discuss journal entry, and chapter 2
• (Note: Too many did NOT do last night's hw. Students who did were allowed to begin tonights, everyone else had finish what was due today.)
• HW: Chapter 3 plus reading log.

The Last Samurai, continued / The Silver Kiss II

Grade 12

• Showed classes the essay question. Everyone will get a copy of it tomorrow, depending on the health of the copy machine.
• Discussed the story in terms of the functions of myth and steps of the hero journey
• Continued movie to around 2:00:00
• Willl finish tomorrow, sum up, and begin planning essay.
• Note: Anyone who missed part of the movie should arrange viewing that part with me or at home!

Grade 10

• Journal: How does the author reveal Zoe's character in chapter 1?
• Discuss.
• Finished chapter 1, discussed imagery.
• Students copied a model reading log. (see below) Each log should follow this format: Date, page numbers, chapter number and come up with a suitable title. Then a brief summary and a discussion of one or more literary elements.
• HW: Read chapter 2 and write a reading log. Will be checked for a major grade.
• Book Log Model
• 
  The Silver Kiss by Annette Klause
  10/5    Chapter 1    Pg. 1-12    “Alone”
  Summary:
  
  Zoë’s Mom may be dying from cancer, her father has become distant, her best friend is moving. She’s alone, frustrated, hurt, and angry. Her friends don’t know how to deal with her, she isn’t allowed to spend time with her mother. She sits in the park at night, sees a boy whose beauty breaks through her defenses and she cries.
  Literary Elements:
  
  The mood is lonely and sad. This is revealed in the very first sentence: “The house was empty.” Death, abandonment and isolation seem to be developing motifs. Zoë is very depressed. She sleeps a lot and doesn’t eat enough. She may feel abandoned by her father while her mother is sick.
  
  Zoe is contrasted with her mother in the chapter. While they have a similar appearance, her mom is an artist whose work is vibrant and alive, while Zoe is a poet whose work is dark and thoughtful.
  Imagery is used effectively. Author’s language is very descriptive.
  
  

The Last Samurai, continued / The Silver Kiss I

Grade 12

• Continued The Last Samurai to 1:41:00
• Discussed the contiued transformation of the main character and the application of the steps of the hero journey

Grade 10

• Introduced The Silver Kiss by Annette Curtis Klause
• Discussed requirements for reading logs and importance of keeping up and completing them
• read most of chapter 1 to the class, discussing literary elements: mood, character development, motif
• Will finish chapter 1 tomorrow and complete a reading log togehter as a model.