Novel Unit
In the Time of the Butterflies
In this novel written by Julia Alvarez, the reader is introduced to four rotating narrators: Dede, Minerva, Patria, and Maria Teresa (Mate) Mirabal. This piece of historical fiction is set in the Dominican Republic during 1940-1960. This was a time of great political and social unrest in this small country. Alvarez details how this unrest affects the lives of the four sisters. |
You can purchase your own copy here. Or, I'll order you a copy if you bring me $6-7. Then, If you choose, I'll purchase it back for you for $3.
Assignment One:
Time to do some research. Start with this question: What struggle for power was occurring in the Dominican Republic during the time period in which this novel is set? Each person at your table should take on one of the following: Trujillo, The Mirabal sisters, the Dominican Republic, and Julia Alvarez. Use any format other than Pages (PowerPoint, Google slides, Smore, Piktchart, ThingLink, Emaze, etc.) to organize your research into an informative and visually pleasing presentation. Your classmates should be able to learn from your presentation WITHOUT you presenting it verbally to them!
Time to do some research. Start with this question: What struggle for power was occurring in the Dominican Republic during the time period in which this novel is set? Each person at your table should take on one of the following: Trujillo, The Mirabal sisters, the Dominican Republic, and Julia Alvarez. Use any format other than Pages (PowerPoint, Google slides, Smore, Piktchart, ThingLink, Emaze, etc.) to organize your research into an informative and visually pleasing presentation. Your classmates should be able to learn from your presentation WITHOUT you presenting it verbally to them!
EXTRA CREDIT:
This novel is full of Dominican culture, and what's more cultural than food? Prepare a dish to share with the class from a traditional Dominican Republic inspired recipe. You do not have to sign up to bring your dish. You are responsible for all necessary utensils needed to serve your dish. Your food should be homemade and not store bought, and you should be able to show us the recipe and "prove" it's of DR origin. Dishes can be brought in between February 22nd and March 9th and will get your lowest quiz grade replaced with a 100. let's eat!
This novel is full of Dominican culture, and what's more cultural than food? Prepare a dish to share with the class from a traditional Dominican Republic inspired recipe. You do not have to sign up to bring your dish. You are responsible for all necessary utensils needed to serve your dish. Your food should be homemade and not store bought, and you should be able to show us the recipe and "prove" it's of DR origin. Dishes can be brought in between February 22nd and March 9th and will get your lowest quiz grade replaced with a 100. let's eat!
Assignment Three:
Read the article to the left on Three Kings' Day. You should create a PDF and annotate as you read. Once everyone at your table has finished reading and annotating, discuss this holiday and its uniqueness compared to our traditions/holiday in the USA. |
Assignment Four:
Patria's chapter is full of beautiful language including many instances of figurative language and imagery. FULLY annotate the following passage for any and all of these. You should also note any other important details/revelations in the excerpt. If you follow directions carefully, you should have no problem locating the correct excerpt.
Do a search for the following: "She got so she wouldn't go to church..." and start your annotation there.
End your annotation at "And the two faces merged." which ends a paragraph.
Once you've found the excerpt, you can change the font so your text fits on two screens.
You will submit those two screen shots (one for each page) for a grade on Schoology.
This will be a quiz grade, so be thorough!
Patria's chapter is full of beautiful language including many instances of figurative language and imagery. FULLY annotate the following passage for any and all of these. You should also note any other important details/revelations in the excerpt. If you follow directions carefully, you should have no problem locating the correct excerpt.
Do a search for the following: "She got so she wouldn't go to church..." and start your annotation there.
End your annotation at "And the two faces merged." which ends a paragraph.
Once you've found the excerpt, you can change the font so your text fits on two screens.
You will submit those two screen shots (one for each page) for a grade on Schoology.
This will be a quiz grade, so be thorough!
MAJOR Assignment Five:
The novel is presented chronologically, yet from the perspective of four women. Create an interactive character analysis (in the form of a published Weebly page) for your sister, indicating significant events from the novel and historically. Remember that the climax may be different for each woman's journey.
Use any or all of the following to create your Weebly:
1. quotes from or about the sister (from the book) (include figurative language!)
2. images of the sister (or ones that symbolize her)
3. within your character analysis provide textual evidence (w/ page numbers) supporitng your claims
4. historical facts (research!)
5. identify turning points for your sister (time line, bulleted list)
6. examples of posthumous tributes to your sister
7. create your own art, take a photo, upload it
* You must include at least 5 vocabulary words in your Weebly!
** Simply including the minimum of each of these will NOT earn an A!
Remember, every word you choose to use is important. Make sure each aspect of your character weebly is not only as accurate as possible, but also as descriptive as possible. Impress me! Incorporate technology such as quizziz, quizlet, padlet, thing link, etc. This will be a project/test grade.
Due Friday, March 9th.
www.students.weebly.com
The novel is presented chronologically, yet from the perspective of four women. Create an interactive character analysis (in the form of a published Weebly page) for your sister, indicating significant events from the novel and historically. Remember that the climax may be different for each woman's journey.
Use any or all of the following to create your Weebly:
1. quotes from or about the sister (from the book) (include figurative language!)
2. images of the sister (or ones that symbolize her)
3. within your character analysis provide textual evidence (w/ page numbers) supporitng your claims
4. historical facts (research!)
5. identify turning points for your sister (time line, bulleted list)
6. examples of posthumous tributes to your sister
7. create your own art, take a photo, upload it
* You must include at least 5 vocabulary words in your Weebly!
** Simply including the minimum of each of these will NOT earn an A!
Remember, every word you choose to use is important. Make sure each aspect of your character weebly is not only as accurate as possible, but also as descriptive as possible. Impress me! Incorporate technology such as quizziz, quizlet, padlet, thing link, etc. This will be a project/test grade.
Due Friday, March 9th.
www.students.weebly.com
Assignment Six: Download the summary of chapter 9. Read the summary. Then, mark all important events (especially arrests) in the passage. Mark Dede's plan for her marriage, what changes her mind, and the state of her marriage at the end of the chapter. You will turn this annotation in on Schoology. This will be your quiz grade for Chapter 9, so do a good job!
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Assignment Seven: Timeline
Using a timeline creation program (there are many, but my favorite is the Read Write Think). Create one based on the historical events in the novel. Chapters 7-9 are full of changes in the regime and arrests in the Mirabal family. Make sure you cover all of these! This will be be a great thing to include on your Weebly page! |
Assignment Eight:
Read and discuss the poem with a small group. Individually, annotate it. Make as many connections to the novel as you can and include at least one personal reaction. Make it pretty and include illustrations. Use vocabulary words. |
Song of the Butterflies
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Assignment Nine: Creative Writing: Choose either Mate or Minerva and write from her perspective.
For Minerva: Write a speech of sorts that you would use to inspire your other political to stay the course and not give up. Give reasons, be impassioned, embody Minerva!
For Mate: Write a diary entry that you might've written after your experience at La 40. What might you have to say about your husband and the revolution?
2 paragraph minimum! Type and submit on Schoology.
For Minerva: Write a speech of sorts that you would use to inspire your other political to stay the course and not give up. Give reasons, be impassioned, embody Minerva!
For Mate: Write a diary entry that you might've written after your experience at La 40. What might you have to say about your husband and the revolution?
2 paragraph minimum! Type and submit on Schoology.
Assignment Nine: Annotating Non Fiction
Click on the button to the right to read an article about the assassination of Raphael Trujillo. Please annotate it by tomorrow. You can do so digitally or on a printed copy. In addition to the usual annotation process, please write three multiple choice questions about the reading. |
Use the document to help you prepare for the TOB test!
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Novel Groups
Assignment One: Why Literature Circles?
Click on the button to read and annotate the article on literature circles. Be prepared to discuss. If you don't have answers, you better have questions. |
Assignment Two: Anticipation Guide
Open the Anticipation Guide and INDIVIDUALLY record your answers. When prompted (AND NOT BEFORE) discuss your answers.
Open the Anticipation Guide and INDIVIDUALLY record your answers. When prompted (AND NOT BEFORE) discuss your answers.
Kite RunnerKite Runner tells the story of Amir, a young boy from Kabul, whose closest friend is Hassan, his father's young servant. The story is set against a backdrop of tumultuous events, from the fall of Afghanistan's monarchy to the rise of the Taliban regime.
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A Thousand Splendid SunsMariam, an illegitimate child, suffers from both the stigma surrounding her birth and the abuse she faces throughout her marriage. Laila, born a generation later, is comparatively privileged during her youth until their lives intersect and she is also forced to accept a marriage proposal from Mariam's husband.
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NightNight is a work about a boy's experience with his father in the Nazi German concentration camps at Auschwitz and Buchenwald in 1944–45, at the height of the Holocaust toward the end of the Second World War.
NOTE: Choose either diction detective or bridge builder for this reading.
(If you're reading in the Dark purple book, the supplementary text 1 is on pg. 126-133) NOTE: Choose either diction detective, bridge builder, or discussion leader for this reading.
(If you're reading in the Dark purple book, the supplementary text 1 is on pg. 151-158) |
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How our literature circles will work:
Each night, each group member will choose a role (your role MAY repeat but each person must complete each role at least once). I will check your role work each day. You'll receive 100 or a 0. It's either all done or it does not count. At the end of the unit (8 days of roles) your grade will count as two quiz grades! I will keep up with your roles and grades using a spread sheet and you, as a group, will do the same on a paper I will provide you.
You will complete your roles digitally with the exception of the art work. You will create a folder on your desktop and save each day's work in that folder titled with the due date and the job title. For example, "11/18 Artist." Art work should be photographed and turned in as well. I will randomly ask you to submit your folder on Schoology.
There will be reading quizzes on what you've read. They will be random and not always announced.
IF YOU FAIL TO DO TWO NIGHTS WORTH OF WORK/ROLES AND/OR YOU FAIL TWO READING QUIZZES, YOU WILL BE EXITED FROM YOUR GROUP AND WORK ALONE.
Each night, each group member will choose a role (your role MAY repeat but each person must complete each role at least once). I will check your role work each day. You'll receive 100 or a 0. It's either all done or it does not count. At the end of the unit (8 days of roles) your grade will count as two quiz grades! I will keep up with your roles and grades using a spread sheet and you, as a group, will do the same on a paper I will provide you.
You will complete your roles digitally with the exception of the art work. You will create a folder on your desktop and save each day's work in that folder titled with the due date and the job title. For example, "11/18 Artist." Art work should be photographed and turned in as well. I will randomly ask you to submit your folder on Schoology.
There will be reading quizzes on what you've read. They will be random and not always announced.
IF YOU FAIL TO DO TWO NIGHTS WORTH OF WORK/ROLES AND/OR YOU FAIL TWO READING QUIZZES, YOU WILL BE EXITED FROM YOUR GROUP AND WORK ALONE.
Assignment Three: Character Mind Map
Individually or as a pair, create a mind map showing all the different traits of your protagonist. Include indirect and direct examples of characterization. Consider thoughts, actions, motivations, influences, internal conflicts, external conflicts, etc. Use quotes! You can use coggle.it, easel.ly, piktochart.com or another online program to complete your Character Mind Map. |
MAJOR Assignment Four: FESTIVAL OF TABLES Friday, May 11th During POWER U
Each group will be responsible for creating a unique table-scape that represents their novel. Every element of your table should represent something important from the text. Your table will be judged against the other tables in our class and the other Honors classes by a panel (not just Mrs. Erdman). This will be a test grade and you should do your best!
Your group should consider the following when preparing your table:
* 4 place settings * at least two culturally relevant dishes to share -include a menu with thematic names for your dishes * a beverage * a centerpiece/focal point * party favor/goody bag per place setting * consideration to color, texture, etc. (think symbolically) * utensils (cups, forks, napkins, etc.) * tablecloth * theme, motifs, symbols, characterization, etc. are represented * video/slideshow-to explain your table choices. |
Assignment Five: Tone
Choose an excerpt from your novel. You should choose one 2-3 paragraph selection to use. First, identify the words and phrases that help portray the tone of the selection. To print your selection at school, copy and paste from the pdf, making sure it fits on one page, and take it to the help desk in the media center and have it printed. You will need to have your excerpt printed when you come to class on Thursday, November 30th.
Next, create an image around those words (and over the other words) that portrays the same tone. Somewhere in the margins write/sketch the tone word. Before beginning, check out the student examples below. You can create this digitally or draw it and take a picture. The tone lesson is located at the bottom of the Honors English II main page.
Choose an excerpt from your novel. You should choose one 2-3 paragraph selection to use. First, identify the words and phrases that help portray the tone of the selection. To print your selection at school, copy and paste from the pdf, making sure it fits on one page, and take it to the help desk in the media center and have it printed. You will need to have your excerpt printed when you come to class on Thursday, November 30th.
Next, create an image around those words (and over the other words) that portrays the same tone. Somewhere in the margins write/sketch the tone word. Before beginning, check out the student examples below. You can create this digitally or draw it and take a picture. The tone lesson is located at the bottom of the Honors English II main page.
Night
· Man's inhumanity to man · Mortality · Race and religious discrimination · coming of age · corrupting influence of power · Importance of language |
A Thousand Splendid Suns and Kite Runner
· Man’s inhumanity to man · Gender roles in a patriarchal society · Spousal abuse · Resistance to change · Corrupting influence of power · Importance of religion, culture and custom |
The Alchemist
· Overcoming obstacles · Human interaction/ relationship with nature · Spiritual journey · Achieving dreams · Wisdom · Importance of language |
Writing a Thematic Analysis
You will choose a theme from the novel you just completed to analyze in a piece of formal writing. This is called a thematic analysis. You will determine a theme, identify evidence, and explain how the evidence supports your theme. Use the button above to help you write your paper! You need 2 typed pages double spaced.
You will choose a theme from the novel you just completed to analyze in a piece of formal writing. This is called a thematic analysis. You will determine a theme, identify evidence, and explain how the evidence supports your theme. Use the button above to help you write your paper! You need 2 typed pages double spaced.