August 28, 2018 - Day 15

EQ: Black Lab. 5Ws - Trail of Tears
Who did the Cherokee side with? What makes Cherokee different from all other tribes? What party wanted to leave? Who wanted to stay?
Is two years enough time?
You (A) buy and Xbox for $350, (B) steals it from you and then sells it to person (C) for $350. Who does that Xbox belong to? 

August 23, 2018 - Day 13

EQ:

1. Where's the gas money?
1. been drunk
2. Actions or words?
1. actions
3. 
   

August 22, 2018 - Day 12

EQ: Why do you think Rowdy punched and hurt Junior?
Jealousy

1. What does Junior believe he is worth?
1. Nothing
2. What are you worth, how much per year?
1. Answers Vary
3. How do you get that?
1. Knowing your worth/value
4. What is his real name?
1. Arnold Spirit Jr. 
5. Why does Junior say that he is a potential killer?
1. He is
6. What's a scalping?
1. cutting your scalp off 
7. What are stereotypes?
1. generalized statements/beliefs people have about others
8. Are stereotypes true?
1. for the most part
9. How do you get stereotypes?
1. you earn them
10. 
    

August 20, 2018 - Day 11

EQ: Who is the author of today's Origin Myth? What modern day state are they from ? What natural land mark is there for them? What do they say are the best things in life? Is this true? When does food taste best, water, sleep?
Modoc tribe
California
Mt. Shasta
Free
Yes.
When you need it most

Modoc - Grizzlies Walked Upright

1. What is heaven called?
1. Above World
2. Why did she look?
1. curosity
3. All of these are called?
1. archetypes
4. Why are the animals that are mentioned, mentioned?
1. they are mentioned because they are native to the area
5. What animals would be mentioned in an origin myth that takes place in Acworth?
1. deer, possum, raccoon, squirrel
6. This origin myth explains what?
1. why grizzlies walk upright

Part Time Indians

1. What was the point of this chapter?
1. to introduce and explain Rowdy
2. What argument does Junior make about friends?
1. friends are more important than family
3. What does it say to you if I don't care?
1. That I'm not important
4. 
   

August 17, 2018 - Day 10

ATPTI

1. Why did explorers explore?
1. Gold, glory, God
2. What wiped out the NA?
1. smallpox
3. What year are we in in class?
1. 1500's
4. Where does the world sit?
1. on Turtle's Back
5. If you know the truth, should you share it with those that don't?
1. Yes
6. By sharing truths, do you change cultures?
1. Yes
7. What is the earth made up of?
1. turtle's back
8.  What is heaven called?
1. skyland
9.  What is in heaven?
1. Chief of Skyland and his wife
10.  What was her dream?
1. the great tree was uprooted
11.  Do Native Americans have a history book?
1. no
12. Why not?
1. culture of oral history
13. Why does she lean further over?
1. curiosity
14. What does this origin myth explain?
1. beginning of the earth
15. Which culture wrote the bible?
1. Hebrews
16. What argument is he making about stuttering?
1. it's cute when you are 5; not when you are a teenager
17. What happens to you?
1. you get beat up
18. What's the worst thing about being poor?
1. no food
19. Who is Oscar?
1. his dog
20. What happened to Oscar?
1. he got sick and had to be shot 
21. Why?
1. because they couldn't afford the vet
22.  Who else is poor?
1. Rowdy
23.  What is a common theme running through the parent's lifestyles?
1. alcoholism
24. What is the most abused drug in the world?
1. alcohol
25. What drug destroys the most families?
1. alcohol

Web Quest Link

https://tinyurl.com/y8fxybnh 

August 14, 2018 - Day 9

EQ: How much time has passed in the novel and how many things has Lennie killed during this time?

Questions:

Chapter 5

1. What should have been the normal response?
1.  Rage and grief
2. What's Curley's response?
1.  Revenge
3. Is the hand an influence to his response?
1. Yes
4. Does Lennie deserve death?
1. Yes - killed someone; No - scared and didn't know what he was doing
5. What is Lennie (1st, 2nd, 3rd, manslaughter)
1. Manslaughter 
6. Lennie went...
1. to the ditch to hide

Chapter 6

1. What disorder does Lennie have?
1. schizophrenia
2. Why has George never been mad at Lennie?
1. doesn't know better
3. Why did George kill Lennie?
1. keep Lennie from torture from Curley
4. Why did George go to the bunkhouse really?
1. to create a diversion and get the gun
5. What does the last sentence mean?
1.  Carlson doesn't get it. 
6. What is the last thing Lennie sees?
1. the rabbits
7. Does George do that on purpose?
1. yes. Make it a peaceful ending

Of Mice and Men Study Guide

https://www.scribd.com/document/386099131/Of-Mice-and-Men-Study-Guide-With-Answers


For +1 on the test... What was Lennie's Aunt's name?

August 13, 2018 - Day 8

EQ: What are the two themes running through the book
Unable to trust people
Loss

Questions:

1. What has Lennie done?
1. killed the puppy
2. Why is it dead?
1. he doesn't know his strength
3. Why is the actor saying she could be in the show?
1. tells her what she wants to hear... 
4. Where is that letter?
1. never came
5. Why did she marry Curley?
1. to leave town
6. Where is Lennie going?
1. to hide in the brush
7. 
   

August 10, 2018 - Day 7

Journal #4

Just write down your reaction to this article?

What should his punishment be?

What are the top 3 factors in all car accidents?

Who are the worst drivers on the road?

EQ: What complaints is Crooks making to Lennie? What is Lennie's response?
His life is difficult as a black man on a ranch in the 1930's. He wants to hold the puppies and tend the rabbits.

Questions

1. What is Crooks doing to Lennie?
1. making him doubt. hurting his feelings
2. What is Crooks talking about?
1.  himself
3. Will he?
1. no
4. Why not?
1. hard to start over
5. How do you know you are not insane?
1. you have someone to confirm or deny insanity
6. What is Candy doing wrong?
1. sharing the dream with Crooks and also encouraging Lennie's dream of rabbits.
7. What is Crooks' dream? 
1. to just work for a roof over his head
8. What is she there?
1. lonely
9. What is her dream?
1. to be in movies
10. two bits?
1.  paycheck
11. what is she saying these men do with their paychecks?
1.  drink their check away
12. What could she do?
1. claim rape and get him killed
13. What is meant by she moves quietly?
1. she knows her power
14. Why does Crooks decline his offer?
1. The threat of Curley's wife knowing, as soon as the men come in the room, trouble happens, some people like being miserable/drama
15. 
    

Bonus for +1 = what was the score of the football game Friday night?

Vocab 11-20

1. aloof - distant
2. crestfallen - sad, disappointed, upset
3. origin - beginning, where it starts
4. myth - made up story to explain something
5. origin myth - made up story meant to explain a beginning
6. archetype - when similar stories are found from culture to culture
7. Assimilation - to adapt and adjust to your surroundings
8. Stereotype - generalizations about groups of people
9. cyclical - when it goes around and around over and over
10. exacerbate - to add to, to multiply

August 9, 2018 - Day 6

EQ: Why is George so defensive when Candy questions them about the farm? Is the system rigged?
It's his dream and it can be stolen from them. Yes

Journal: Predict the ending of OMM

New Vocab:
Aloof - distant


Questions:

1.  How much does Candy have?
1. $350
2.   How much is your hand worth?
1. priceless
3.  Why don't they have any money?
1. Discipline
4.  Do people change?
1. Yes & No
5.  Do you want to see other people more successful than you?
1. No
6.  One of the most important qualities you can have in life?
1. Work Ethic
7.  What's Candy's American Dream?
1. Have a piece of land
8.  What's the rule?
9.  Its 1 vs. 3
10.  Can Curley beat up Candy?
1. Yes
11.  What's Lennie doing?
1. trying to avoid a fight
12.  What is Curley's greatest fear?
1. being beat
13.  Where is George going?
1. cat house
14.  What is wrong with that?
1. they are supposed to be saving money and he is spending it within 3 hours of agreeing to save $$$
15.  In the book, how much time has passed?
1. 24 hours

Chapter 4

1.  Where does Crooks live?
1. in a barn
2.  How does where we live make who we are?
1. raised well = good life; raised poorly = poor life
3.  Who is Crook's friend?
1. books and animals
4. How does he have more things?
1. he's permanent
5. how does Crooks treat Lennie?
1. mean
6. Why?
1. Don't trust anyone
7. What rule is he breaking?
1. live off the fatta the land
8. Why is Crooks trying to hurt Lennie?
1. Hurt people hurt people
9. Crooks is trying to say he gets no 
1. respect
10. Shoot the Breeze
1. talking about nothing
11. What might be the worst feeling?
1. loneliness
12. 
    

Of Mice and Men Resources

Of Mice and Men Study Guide

August 8, 2018 - Day 5

EQ: What is the ominous warning that Lennie and George had?
Bad feeling about this place

1. What will JS do at the beginning of Chapter 3?
1. set the scene
2. Why is it better alone?
1. easier
3. When you get a job, whose dream are you working for?
1. the boss
4. Who are the rich in this country?
1. Small business owners
5. Why is he hunched over?
1. he has a crooked back
6. These last couple of pages, trying to show Lennie in what light?
1. innocent and harmless
7. What's rheumatism?
1. arthritis
8. Who is old and crippled?
1. Candy and Candy's dog
9. Take a shovel shows what?
1. Carlson wasn't even going to bury the dog
10. Why does Candy give in?
1. Peer Pressure
11. How real is it?
1. VERY real
12. How much time has passed in the novel?
1. Whole novel takes place over about 30 hours
13. What is the rumor about the girl?
1. she is a tart
14. What do they all have in common?
1. the only thing they have work and enough for a drink on the weekend
15. What adds insult to injury?
1. he's cleaning his gun in front of Candy
16. Who is still in the room?
1. Candy
17. Why is George so defensive?
1. it's his own dream and he doesn't have much. tough to share.

What two sports does Coach Fridborg coach for +1 points?

August 7, 2018 - Day 4

EQ: When George calls Curley's wife a rat trap, what does he mean? Put these characters in a pecking order... George, Lennie, Candy, Curley, Boss, Stable Buck, Carlson, Slim, Curly's Wife? What book do you need by Monday?
Jail bait.
Boss, Curley, Curley's Wife, Carlson, George, Lennie, Candy, Stable Buck
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

August 6, 2018 - Day 3

Of Mice and Men Questions

1. what are pants rabbits?
1. crabs
2. What are the three things about the stable buck that are different?
1.  he's black, he lives in a separate cabin, he has a crooked back from being kicked by a horse
3. What happened on Christmas night?
1. the stable buck was invited in and a gallon of whiskey was shared between all of the men
4. Who is the newest character?
1. the boss' son
5. What is a pecking order?
1. hierarchy of people in power
6. what's his body language saying?
1. he wants a fight
7. What's handy?
1. good fighter
8. What lit term?
1. foreshadowing
9. When does Curley lose?
1. never
10. Are there unwritten rules to fights?
1. Yes
11. Hell Hath No Fury Like a Woman Scorned
12. Got the eye?
1. she's always looking
13. Tart?
1. Ho-Ho
14. Why does she run?
1. she wasn't supposed to be there
15. Why can't they go?
1. They didn't make any money in Weed and they need to make money

There is no bonus point opportunity today for the blog... check back tomorrow for a chance!

August 3, 2018 - Day 2

Notebook

EQ: What is En Media Res, what about Of Mice and Men is En Media Res. Tell me another story that has EMR.
             Shrek, Forrest Gump, Fairy Tales, etc.

Of Mice and Men

Chapter 1

1. Words like An, and gonna are what English Lit terms?
1. dialect
2. Why did they leave Weed?
1. they got in trouble with a girl
3. Why is the mouse dead?
1. He doesn't know his own strength
4. Tell me three specific details about George's dream?
1. get whatever he wants, stay in a cat house, get a gallon of whiskey, play cards and shoot pool
5. What happened in Weed?
1. he held onto a dress of a girl because it was soft, but he doesn't know his own strength or boundaries
6. IS the American Dream partying all weekend?
1. For some
7. Why is George with Lennie?
1. I think he deep down doesn't want to party all weekend and feels obligated to take care of him
8. If Lennie left, what would happen?
1. he wouldn't be able to take care of himself
9. What's the promise?
1. he will be able to get a puppy
10. What's Lennie's dream?
1. to get Rabbits
2. It's not how much you make, it's how much you save
11. What's George's dream?
1. to get his own piece of land and run a ranch
12. What lit term is that?
1. foreshadowing

Chapter 2

1. What is the rule for Lennie?
1. Don't talk
2. What is John Steinbeck about to do?
1. describe the setting
3. Why aren't mattresses made out of cotton?
1. it is too expensive to do that

Mrs. Civitella's favorite football team is: the New Orleans Saints

On Monday, if you tell her what number Drew Brees is, you can get 1 bonus point. 

Have a great weekend!

Of Mice and Men Character List

• George Milton - smaller guy, leader
• Lennie Small - giant, strong, and dumb "strong as a bull, p.22"
• Candy - missing a hand, old and crippled
• Boss - stocky man, well dressed. Cold and mean. Owns the Ranch. Paranoid
• Whit - Ranch hand
• Slim - quiet man, big and tall. leader and mule driver
• Carlson - powerful, big stomached man. insensitive. Complains about Candy's dog. 
• Crooks - stable buck, has a crooked back, African American. Isolated from the workers cabin due to his skin color. 
• Curly - boss' son. mean, fighter
• Curly's wife - tart. easy. pretty girl. Was promised to be in the movies, but she doesn't understand that she is just a trophy

Vocab 1-10

1. Symbolism - a deeper/hidden meaning of something. Ex the stars and stripes of the flag
2. Morosely - gloomy, upset
3. En Media Res - In the middle 
4. Dialect - The way you pronounce words
5. Dialogue - conversation between people in writing with "..."
6. foreshadowing - hint to the future of the story
7. mood - feeling in the story
8. ominous - something bad will happen, impending doom
9. apprehensive - worried or nervous, unsure
10. pecking order - power structure in order

August 2, 2018 - Day 1

Journal: What is the American Dream?

EQ: Who is the author of Of Mice and Men? What do you think it means?
John Steinbeck. Mice are lowly and men are great. The lows and the highs. Powerful vs. powerless

Vocab
Symbolism - a deeper/hidden meaning of something. Ex the stars and stripes of the flag.
Morosely - gloomy, upset
En Media Res - in the middle

OMM Questions

1. JS - what does he do at the beginning of each chapter? 
1. describes the setting
2.  What is denim?
1. blue jeans
3.  What do we know about them?
1. they are blue collar
4. What is white collar?
1. business worker
5. What does it tell us that they walk single file?
1. George is in charge of Lennie. One relies on the other
6. What's the bigger guy's name?
1. Lennie
7. Small guy?
1. George
8. What is it about Lennie?
1. he has special needs
9. Where are they going?
1. to a ranch to walk
10. Why did the bus driver drop them early?
1. because they don't have any money
11. Mentally, how old is Lennie?
1. a young child. 7 or 8

Syllabus - American Literature!

AHS English Department Syllabus – Fall 2018

American Literature and Composition

Mr. Erik Fridborg & Mrs. Lindsay Civitella

Room 2214

Phone: (770) 975 – 6503 x7012214

Email Address: Erik.Fridborg@cobbk12.org     Lindsay.civitella@cobbk12.org

Blog: FridborgAmericanLit.blogspot.com

This course is designed for the student who has an interest in the interpretation of American literature. This examination is accomplished through argumentative and expository writing. This course integrates writing, grammar and usage, speaking and listening. It includes a variety of literary genres: short stories, novels, poetry, drama, and nonfiction. I will utilize our school blog daily to communicate and provide resources. Please check out the amazing resources there!

Required Text: Students will be assigned a consumable textbook that closely aligns with the Georgia Standards for ELA. Textbook will remain in the classroom, unless homework is assigned.  

Students will also need to obtain a copy of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. We will be utilizing this text to explore the American Dream, graphic novels, and conflict. If you need assistance acquiring this text, please reach out to Coach Fridborg or Mrs. Civitella. Students will need this book no later than August 10th.

Grading: The gradebook will be updated weekly. Formative grades are those where your student is practicing the standard(s). Summative grades are those where your student is proving mastery of the standard(s). Please monitor your student’s progress via ParentVue. Information for login may be obtained through the counseling office.

A: 100-90                       B: 89-80                            C: 79-74                        D: 73-70                     F: 69 and below

We are an EOC course. The grading will be as follows:

Formative assessments – 30%

Summative assessments – 50%

EOC – 20%

Make-up Policies and Late Work

·       Late work may be turned in for ½ credit (½ of the actual grade earned) for up to 5 days from the assignment due date.  A zero will be recorded in the gradebook until the assignment is turned in.  On the 6^th day, if the assignment is still not turned in, no credit will be awarded for the assignment.

·       When absent, students are expected to make-up or arrange to make up missed assignments. Please check our class blog – there are valuable resources there.

Tutoring: If you need additional help, please come see me. We can arrange before or after school, or during Buc Block.

Supplies: Students will need tools daily to be successful in this course. It is an expectation that students arrive with:

·       Pencil

·       Blue or black pen

·       Highlighter

·       Spiral/Composition Notebook

Teachers will provide supplies to complete group projects; however, your students may prefer their own: scissors, glue stick, markers, crayons, and/or colored pencils.

Class Rules:

1.       Be in the classroom when the bell rings

2.       Come prepared with supplies to learn

3.       Be respectful of teachers and fellow classmates

4.       No food or drink

5.       Cell phones remain in backpacks unless BYOD is announced by the teachers.

Cell Phone Policy: Allatoona is utilizing CCSD’s Bring Your Own Device Policy. Students may bring their own tablet or cell phone as a learning tool, and will only be permitted to use this when announced by the teacher. If BYOD is not in place during instruction, I will take up the device and turn it into the front office, as outlined in the Student Handbook on pg. 16.

Movies and Media: We firmly believe that multimedia assists in bringing the literature alive for students. We will be watching film clips of stories we read, and in some cases, will be watching the entire movie. All movies will have a subsequent assignment and purpose in their viewing. Please review the movie permission slip (attached), sign, and return to me no later than August 3^rd. If you have any questions, please contact me.

What will we learn?

Reading *Short Stories – We will read several short stories in class and for homework.  You will be required to complete assignments aligned with these stories. *Non-fiction and informational texts – We will read several pieces of informational texts, such as newspaper articles, biographies and other essays.  *Novels – We will read at least three novels in this course: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck. These novels connect to our unit themes.  

Writing I will give you the guidelines and rubrics (grading scale) for all of our writings.*Response to literature – You will be required to write short essays about selected works of literature.  We will write these in and out of class.*Autobiographical – You will be required to write an autobiography about your life.  *Compare and contrast – You will be required to compose at least one essay in which you compare and contrast two or more things.  *Persuasive – You will be required to compose a research paper in which you will argue one topic. *Warm-ups – Students will be writing daily as their warm up. This may be in the form of journals, literary analysis, or vocabulary.

We look forward to working with your child! American Literature is a subject that we are both very passionate about teaching. We hope that through this course, your child will explore and enjoy the dynamic stories, writings, and projects encompassed in this course.