Ms. Neville's Class Resources

By popular demand, here it is: Hamlet act 5 SG

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Please print these two pages and bring them to class on Tuesday.

Hamlet Act 2 Notes & Quotes

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Cultural Literacy List #5: French words and terms used in English

1.)  joie de vivre – exuberance; love of life

2.)  je ne sais quoi – an elusive, mysterious quality (literally translates to “I don’t know what”)

3.)  au contraire – on the contrary

4.)  c’est la vie – that’s life

5.)  du jour – of the day

6.)  touché – “you got me!” (literally translates to “touch”)

7.)  faux pas – a social blunder

8.)  haute couture – hot/high fashion

9.)  savoir –faire – social adeptness

10.) raison d’être – reason for being; justification; basis

11.) en route – on the way

12.) femme fatale – an attractive but dangerous woman

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Idioms

1.) To throw the book at someone means to punish him or her to the fullest extent possible.

2.) To air your dirty laundry means to speak about private matters publicly.

3.) The elephant in the room is the issue or situation that everyone is aware of, but no one is speaking about. Eventually it will have to be addressed.

4.) Having skeletons in the closet refers to having things in your past that you aren’t proud of and therefore wish to keep hidden.

5.) Making a tongue-in-cheek comment means speaking ironically; not meaning what is said.

6.) A sacred cow is a value or belief so deeply rooted that it cannot be criticized or challenged.

7.) To quit something cold turkey means to stop immediately and completely.

8.) To pay lip service to someone means to tell him/her what he/she wants to hear, despite having no plans to follow through with actions.

9.) To play second fiddle to someone else means to take a subordinate role to them.

10.) The idiom “the pot calling the kettle black” is used to indicate that a person is being hypocritical, especially if criticizing someone else.

11.) A crackpot idea is useless or impractical.

12.) Getting cold feet means backing out of a commitment at the last moment.

13.) The eleventh hour is the last possible moment to take action on something.

14.) The writing on the wall is a sign of impending doom.

15.) A golden parachute is a large payment or other financial compensation provided for an employee (usually an executive) when he or she leaves a company.

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For either your February 17^th or April 7^th AR book, you must read one of the following:

• Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

• The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

• A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway

• Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

• In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

• Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut

• The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Amongst Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen  (or Persuasion, or Mansfield Park)

EVERYONE will also need to read one of these books for your final AR selection of the year (due May 19^th). This means that between now and the end of the year, you need to read any TWO of the books on this list.

This list is compiled of books that have a high level of frequency on the AP Lit test, have appeared on the College Board’s list of books for college-bound students, are present on the reading lists of nearby public and private schools, and that I personally/professionally believe are developmentally appropriate and valuable in helping my students gain insight into the world we occupy.

That said, please be forewarned that some of the books contain small amounts of language that occasionally a parent finds objectionable (however, the anxiety usually subsides once the overall literary merit of the work is considered). I encourage you to keep an open dialogue with your parents about what you are reading, and to feel free to approach me with any problems or questions that arise as a result.

“Words can be like x-rays if you use them right. You read and you’re pierced.”

– Brave New World by Aldus Huxley

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As indicated in class, there will be an objective portion of your midterm exam AND a written portion. Each will take approximately half of the exam period.

I have provided you with the essay prompt in advance so that you can prepare your ideas, but the essay itself must be generated DURING THE EXAM PERIOD. Please do not bring a completed essay to class with you; you will not be permitted to use it.

The prompt and evaluation criteria are:

In the space provided, please compose an essay that explores the similarities and differences between any TWO of the following characters: Clarisse McClellan, Antigone, Scout Finch, Peyton Bragg.

Your essay should consist of 4-6 paragraphs, including an introduction and conclusion. Be sure to use specific examples from both pieces of literature to substantiate your claims.

Your writing will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Content – Ideas should be logical, insightful, and sufficiently supported.

Organization – Your essay should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Each major argument should be developed in its own paragraph. Transitions between thoughts should be smooth and effective.

Sentence Fluency – The structure of your sentences should enhance, not encumber, your message.

Conventions — Your punctuation, capitalization, usage, etc. should adhere to generally accepted rules and not interfere with the reader’s understanding.

Word choice – Diction should be varied, accurate, and fresh.

Voice – Each of the above criteria contribute to creating voice. Does the reader get the impression that the essay was produced by a machine, or by a human? Are cliches abused? Are arguments predictable? Is sentence structure stale? These are elements that the mature writer should avoid.

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Many students loved reading the book The Maze Runner by James Dashner last year when Mrs. Janosek picked it as a book club feature. As of this week, it’s officially slated to be made into a movie — let’s hope it turns out good!

http://www.slashfilm.com/youngadult-the-maze-runner-adds-screenwriter/#more-95183

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Remember to complete these questions before class tomorrow!

1.)Which EIGHT of the vocabulary words are individual PEOPLE? (Bonus: there are also 3 that are groups of people).

2.)Which of the verbs are KIND actions? (10)

3.)Which of the verbs are things you would do if you were ANGRY? (10)

4.)Which words relate to STARTING or STOPPING something? (9)

5.)Which vocabulary words have to do with MONEY? (6 possibilities, perhaps 7)

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