Comparative Analysis Example

You have finished reading and viewing. Now it is time to write.

Yesterday, we worked on writing introductions and thesis statements. Today, you will read and analyze a student essay and learn how to form your own essay.

Part I
1. Click on this link and open the student example.
2. On the document, click on File, Make Copy, and save a copy to your English Collection in Google Docs.
3. Follow along with me for the first paragraph, and then move on to annotating and highlighting your own copy. (introduction of topic, organization, details, examples, quotations, explanations, transitions, precise language, formal style, conclusion)
4. When you are done, make a list of all the transitions you found and explain how they are used.
5. Outline the essay. Is this a possible outline you could use for your own essay?

Irony, Theme, Mood in Night of the Hunter

Can you believe it, we will write an essay! I bet you are sooooo excited!

The essay will be a comparative analysis of "Cask" and "Night of the Hunter." In order to help you gather evidence, we will work in teams today and gather evidence from the movie. We will sort the evidence as a class and keep it handy for next week.

With a partner, you will need to click on this link and complete the form.

Day 2 and 3 Viewing of Night of the Hunter

If you have been absent, you might have missed the questions for the viewing guide.

Day 2:
1. Based on yesterday's notes, did your predictions come true? What are your new predictions?
2. What possible themes might fit this movie now that you have seen more? Why?
3. What is the overall mood that is created in the film? How is that mood created?
4. From what point of view is the story in the film told? How does this choice affect the film?

Day 3(Finale):
1. Did your final predictions about the film come true? What aspects of the film helped you make the predictions?
2. Choose one theme for this film. Tell what the theme is and give 3 pieces of evidence from the movie to support that decision. (Paragraph)
3. What is the overall mood that is created in the film? What cinematic techniques helped create the mood? Give at least 3 examples. (Paragraph)
4. If you were the director, what would you have done differently? What would you do the same?
5. How was the verbal and dramatic irony used in the film? Give 3 pieces of evidence and explain. (Paragraph)


Be sure to answer all questions for Day 3. Tomorrow, you will be assigned a number and expected to submit that response for a grade. 

Night of the Hunter Day 1

You have viewed the first 24 minutes of the film. I hope you enjoy the film - even though I stop it every few minutes to point out important symbols, foreshadowing, shots, and angles.

Remember to think about and answer the following questions after day 1:

1. What is the film about?
2. What are some possible themes for this movie, so far?
3. How have your predictions changed?
4. What do you think will happen next?
5. What is the purpose of Mrs. Spoons character in the story?

At the Movies

Every student always wants to watch a movie at school. I have never been able to figure this out since the seats are uncomfortable, there is no popcorn, and people talk during the film. Plus the teacher is always stopping the movie and asking questions. Ugh!

Today, I want to know more about what you think and know about movies. Click on the link and take the questionnaire. Answer all the questions, talk to partners, enjoy. Then, we will get to the reel work!

Primal Fears

No, you are not going to be learning about the German power punk band, rather, with a partner, you will comb through Poe's story, "The Cask of Amontillado," and find at least three primal fears (things that most people are afraid of). How did Poe use setting, imagery, or mood to enhance those fears in the story?

Once you and your partner are done scaring yourselves with how smart you are, click here for the writing form. The form will help you organize your thoughts. Then, after you have written your paragraph, in Google Docs, share it with me at english9teacher@gmail.com

Be sure to include your name, date, and period in the upper left hand corner. I will grade these throughout the day, and you will be able to see the comments and grades by this evening. This means, that it is due at the end of the period!


Oh, do you want extra credit? Then turn this one paragraph into a 4 paragraph essay (introduction paragraph, 2 body paragraphs, and a conclusion).  Share it with me by 2:30pm. If it is well done, you could earn some great extra credit because you will be proving to me that you can write a response to literature essay!!

X-Tra Credit? What?

I know you are itching to pass English. You want to show off your abilities.

Besides reading a novel and showing up for discussions on a weekly basis for the next month, you can earn some additional credit by completing the following questions. There are two ways to do this.

Option #1:
Open the Google Doc and copy it to your docs. Then answer the questions in a different color directly on the doc. Once you are done, share it with me.  Here is the link: Questions

Option #2:
Open the form and answer the questions. Submit. You are done.

The Scarlet Ibis

Did you forget your book, again?

Well, grab a computer and use this link to read an online version. Feel free to save it to your Google Docs and annotate or highlight information on the computer.

Feeling techno-savvy? Create your double entry journal in Google Docs and copy and paste quotes rather than writing them all down.

DEJ with Questions
DEJ Template

Double Entry Journals

One way to help you chunk text, remember what you read, make connections, and inspire you to delve deeper into a text (in hopes you have a great understanding and feeling about the story) is using a Double Entry Journal.

As discussed in class, you simply split the page in half and create a t-chart. The goal is to search for quotes that show theme, foreshadowing, characterization, symbolism, etc.

For the short story by James Hurst, "The Scarlet Ibis," you might want some extra support. In order to help you, the 9th grade team created questions. Your goal is to then, as you read, find the quotes that answer the question.

Questions:

How is Doodle different?

Why is Doodle’s nickname better than his real name?

What feelings does the narrator have about his brother?

What is the source of the narrator’s pride?

What does the author want the reader to learn about pride?

How do the brothers’ goals differ?

What events happen to change life for the narrator, his brother, and the rest of his family?

How does the arrival ad sudden death of the bird affect different family members?

What will happen to Doodle?

What does the narrator learn about himself? 

SIFTing through Poetry

I know that at the word poetry, many of you froze and said, "Ugh. This is why I hate English." I bet we are going to have to beat a poem to death. But, you were wrong.

The goal is to become a great reader of poetry. Good readers of poetry go through certain steps in their head as they read. Some know what they are doing as they and others, just do it.

What steps do those readers take? They SIFT through poetry.
Symbolism - while some people believe it doesn't exists in writing, some do. Are they any symbols in the poem? Why are they there? What do they represent? Does the title represent anything? What is the bigger meaning of the title?
Images - what images does the poet create?
Figures of speech - what literary devices exist? How do they tie into or create meaning? What images do they create?
Tone and Theme - what is the author's attitude about the subject and why did the poet write the poem?

Try this technique next time you need to read  poem. Let me know if it works for you.