A Birthday Cake for Washington has been the subject of much criticism because it portrays slaves as being happy. — *A Birthday Cake for Washington* has been the subject of much criticism because it portrays slaves as being happy.

HOW IS THOREAU THE PRECURSOR TO BOTH the Civil Rights Movement and the 21st century Tea Party? We will examine the essay "Civil Disobedience" and consider a) Thoreau's message and b) the implications for individual action. At the same time, we will finalize novel choices this week.

MONDAY

We'll start reading through Thoreau's famous essay. As with chapter 1 of Walden, it is rich with sarcasm, hyperbole, allusions, and aphorisms. Thematically, think about and annotate for Thoreau's message to common Americans who are faced with institutionalized evil. We will look at the connection between Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Thoreau, and also at Scholastic's controversial President Washington's Birthday Cake.
HW: Read up through and including paragraph 22 of the essay, located here. Remember that the audio is available via libravox. You can find part two here.

TUESDAY

Posting your five novels in the google-sheet, located here. Please make sure to add it to your research group (pay attention to the period tabs, and the groups). We will return to our reading of Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience." We will spend the last ten minutes of class in research groups, sharing your results from research on the five novels.
HW: The annotated bibliography with five novels is due tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY

Collecting the annotated bibs. In small groups, reading through the end of Thoreau. We will return to the google document and work on completing the five novels and where you are in the decision process.
HW: Narrow your novels to your top two, and be prepared to argue why your #1-2 choices would be good selections for a thematic, multi-genre research based argument.

THURSDAY

Working in study groups on the study guide on "Civil Disobedience." This will be the first of two days spent discussing the essay. The
In the library tomorrow. The study guides will be due a week from yesterday (this coming Wednesday).

FRIDAY

Meeting in library. Today you will research your novel in greater depth, adding reviews, scholarly papers on the author and novel, and interviews that provide a deeper understanding of your author and novel.
Monday you will be meeting with your Thoreau study groups again. The typed answers to these questions will be due Monday.