English 9Main Hall Room 16

Teacher Kate Joneskate.jones@westtown.edu

Thursday, September 8th

1:45-2:30pm

Welcome to English 9• Texts• Curriculum• Homework rules

Of Mice and Men overview

1st Trimester overview

Literature Novels:

• Of Mice and Men• Things Fall Apart

Short Stories

Drama• The Elephant Man• Antigone

Sophocles Jean Anouilh

• Macbeth

Poetry

Prose• Essays• Articles• Criticism

Writing Essays

• Responding to and interpreting literature• Persuasive writing• Personal narrative• Descriptive writing

Creative writing• Stories• Poetry

Speaking Participation in class discussions

Oral presentations

Vocabulary Vocabulary for the High School

Student• 4th edition

Words drawn from our readings Literary terms

Grammar and Mechanics A Pocket Style Manual by Diana Hacker

Teacher Kate’s P’s and Q’s for written work:1. Contractions and abbreviations should not be used in

formal writing: isn’t, wouldn’t, can’t, it’s, etc.2. Use of the 2nd person (you, your, etc.) is seldom justified.3. Titles should be underlined or italicized (I prefer italics).4. Do not split infinitives: to not depend should be not to

depend5. Avoid ending sentences or clauses with a preposition: The

person he gave it to should be the person to whom he gave it.

6. Avoid beginning sentences with an indefinite pronoun: it or this.

Homework Rules1. Written work for this class should be

type-written and double-spaced. 2. Submit homework by e-mail to:

kate.jones@westtown.edu3. In the subject box of your e-mail,

identify the assignment for which you are submitting.

4. Your full name should be on the top left corner of your work.

5. Give your written work a title.

Of Mice and MenPreview of the days ahead

Friday, 9/9 10:30 - 11:30 A• John Steinbeck: the author and his times• Of Mice and Men: Plot overview• Vocabulary: Red Book

Monday, 9/12 10:30 - 11:30 B• Character foils

George and Lennie Slim and Carlson Candy and Crooks Curley and his wife

Of Mice and Men: Preview Tuesday, 9/13 8:10 - 8:55 B

• Character foils (continued)• Setting• Play-novelette form

Wednesday, 9/14 No class B

Of Mice and Men: Preview Thursday, 9/15 2:30 - 3:15 B

• Topics and themes The American Dream Loneliness and rootlessness The Common Man Naturalism vs. realism Steinbeck’s politics Search for the Holy Grail Cain and Abel

Of Mice and Men: Preview Friday, 9/16 10:30 - 11:30 B

• Themes and topics (continued)• Steinbeck’s style• Point of view• Form and Structure• Review of literary terms

Allegory Allusion Foreshadowing Symbolism

Of Mice and Men: Preview Monday, 9/19 2:30 - 3:15

A• Small group activity:

Chapter 1: At the River Chapter 2: In the Bunkhouse Chapter 3: Violence Erupts Chapter 4: The Outcasts Chapter 5: Death in the Barn Chapter 6: Death at the River

Of Mice and Men: Preview Tuesday, 9/20 10:30 - 11:30 A

• Small group activity (continued)• Critical Response

Wednesday, 9/21 No Class A

Thursday, 9/22 1:45 - 02:30 A• In-class writing workshop

Friday, 9/23 10:30 - 11:30 A• Short paper due on Of Mice and Men

First Trimester 2011September 8th – November 19th

Novels• Of Mice and Men• The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-

Time

Short stories

Vocabulary for the High School Student• Chapters 1 and 2

First Writing Assignment Write a short (one page) composition:

• Describe yourself OR

• an experience you had this summer OR

• where you see yourself in five years.

John Steinbeck(1902-1968)