JUNIOR THEME IS UPON US. This week we will begin work on our junior theme. Our first task is choosing a novel. For the purposes of the project, you should choose an American novel. But choose one that you haven’t read AND one that could support thematic research. Eventually, you will research what other writers (poets, playwrights, journalists, scholars) and artists (painters, sculptors, architects, musicians, film-directors) have said about the theme of your chosen, core text.

MONDAY

After collecting essays, everyone will sign up for a writing conference. Discussion of junior theme. What is the project? What will I be required to do? And how shall I begin? We will start by discussing the criteria for the theme. The first assignment is selecting an American novel to read independently. We will discuss these expectations, and also watch the following video about what makes for a quality read.
HW: Revisit your annotations in the play. For your writing conference, please please come either on time (or a few minutes early) so we can finish the conference in a timely way. Revised essays will be due one week from the conference.

TUESDAY

Continuing research into junior theme novels. We will take a deeper dive into what makes for a good book for your junior theme. Students will continue researching titles. Remember, you want to have THREE good choices for your theme. The books themselves can be very different! But all of them should be best choices.
HW: Purchase your copy of Ellison’s Invisible Man.

WEDNESDAY

Collecting annotations and packets. Introduction to our next book, Ralph Waldo Ellison’s Invisible Man. We will start a documentary about race relations in early 20th century America, called Many Rivers to Cross: Making a Way Out of No Way.
HW: Once you have met with me outside of class, you should revise your essay. You have one week from the conference to revise your paper. When you turn it in, you should include the first draft with my handwritten notes.

THURSDAY

Continuing and finishing the documentary from yesterday. We will watch the first 5 minutes of a Buffy: Vampire Slayer episode that pertains to our novel. How does a white, female Californian teenaged-vampire killer have to do with Ellison’s novel, you ask? You shall SEE…
HW: Revising your paper. Obtain IM.

FRIDAY

Buffy day.
HW: Read, and then re-read the prologue in IM. Make sure to circle words and write questions that you have. We will answer these questions in class on Monday.