BESIDES TAKING THE COMMON essay assessment on the novel When the Emperor Was Divine, we will begin some analysis of both characters and symbols within the novel. Once done with the summer reading, we will begin reading J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye. Students should pick up their copy of the text as we will start it next week.

Monday

No school for Labor Day.
HW: No homework.

Tuesday

Collecting your freedom essay. We will also create a seating chart. Today we will examine FDR's four freedoms more closely in the context of the novel. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom from fear, and freedom from want: of the main characters--father, mother, sister, and son--which is most important to each, and why? Provide evidence for your responses via a diagram.
HW: The mind-map note sheet can be 8.5"x11", and one sided. It should be handwritten and is due tomorrow.

Wednesday

In class writing assessment. This will be taken by all sophomores in 3-level English courses today, and will take the entire period. It will be assessed not for a typical letter grade, but to provide a baseline for growth as a writer.
HW: Listening to one 1/2-hour podcast interview with our author, as well as four shorter-recordings of the author discussing the characters. Go to this NEA Big Read web page, select the "multimedia" tab, and listen to all four podcast recordings (the last 3 are just a few minutes each).

Thursday

Character analysis: What do we know about each character? How does internment shape each character? What would Otsuka want her reader to realize about internment, because of each character? We will examine the difference between plot (what happens in the story) and theme (what the author wants her audience to realize via the story).
HW: Choose one of the four main characters and trace their development through the novel in a plot line. Due Tuesday.

Friday

English classes at Winnetka Campus are cancelled for the English Dept. retreat.
HW: Next week we will review body paragraph, argumentative structure, and students will write a short character analysis toward that end. Finish your character plot line for Tuesday.