Current activities
We have begun practicing how to respond to the Short Answer questions of the TAKS test. We are using our present and past novels for this year and current reading material under the short fiction category.
Our novel for this term is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. Discussions are held every Friday. This book is a Gothic Romance which uses imagery and foreshadowing to explore the dark past and continued difficulties of the both the main character Jane and her employer Rochester. Major themes include fixed economic and social positions, women's rights and dark imagery. A three part project has now started. The first two parts are ceative and focus on the novel. The third part is analytical and involves a choice of critical analysis of literary types: Gothic, Romantic, Natural imagery, etc.
Our unit focus is short fiction. We have begun reading various short stories. We will soon be working on our own short stories by applying many of the features we have been examining: dialogue, characterization, conflicts, metaphor, imagery, plot, theme, etc.
Our new novel for reading through the third term is Tale of Two Cities.
We have new literature textbooks this year, which come in hardback, DVD and have online access. We are working on acquiring a DVD burner so we can supply all students with a DVD as well as the necessary information to access their textbook online. The hardback textbooks are limited in quantity, and we are reserving those for in-class use and students who do not have a computer. This interactivity of the online and DVD textbook should add a new dimension to understanding literature and connecting with it. The DVD provides more than just the textbook. Students may highlight text, make notes and complete workbook assignments.
