WE MEET MR. STU IN THE LIBRARY on Monday. Something to consider: New Trier’s library has been helping juniors find their theme book every year. Over the last 10 years, they’ve helped approximately 10,000 alumni find their theme books as juniors. That makes our librarian staff the #1 source for help finding junior theme books. Your goal is to find three quality choices for your project. But more importantly, I want you examining and researching novels and examining books that wouldn’t be a good fit. That part of the process—and the research skills used to find and dismiss choices—will be more valuable that which book(s) you eventually select.

MONDAY

Meeting today in the library to continue searching for a) novels by b) American authors that c) are suitable for a thematic research project. Mr. Stu will review some research sources that you should take advantage of, and some tips that you would be well served to utilize.
HW: Spend half-an hour researching novels. Investigate titles, finding out about that authors other works and themes she explores, reading published reviews.

TUESDAY

Back to Buffy! A short discussion on social invisibility. What is it like to be a person in the world that everyone treats as a cipher? We will listen to the “Preface” together, and I will lecture intermittently to fill in “the blanks” of interpretive meaning, the historical allusions that might be beyond us.
HW: Read chapter one of Ellison’s Invisible Man. It’s a longer read, but also a great read. Use the audio!

WEDNESDAY

Short lecture on the symbolism in chapter one, and review of annotations. Which details provide insight into Ellison's view of American racism? Novel journal assignment one: The details of the Smoker are likely heightened--carefully so--for symbolic purpose. But we shouldn't dismiss it's events flat-out. What is the likely (and hopefully historical) reality that Ellison describes? What events likely did take place in a 1940s battle royal such as this?
HW: Read chapter 2 of IM by Friday.

THURSDAY

Mr. Norton: who is this rich, old, white man, and what is he doing at an all-black college? We will explore what the college looks like in terms of visual imagery, and also Mr. Norton, and why he recommends that the IM read Emerson. Read this overview of Emerson’s essay, “Fate.”
HW: Finish reading Trueblood's account of his treatment by the white community. We'll discuss his story in depth tomorrow.

FRIDAY

Paternalism and Trueblood's dream. Why isn't he welcome in the black community? Why does the white community treat him kindly? What is he doing in this novel at the outskirts of the college?
HW: Break. Take a break, and have a happy new year!