Thursday

Share your novels that you started yesterday.

Questions for discussion. With a partner, discuss the following two questions and write your answers in your journal. Each person has to write the answers in his or her journal.
1.On page 43 Lorna and Wade talk about the money that Jesse will get from the government as compensation for tribal lands being flooded. Lorna says, "I don't see how money would do it," and Wade agrees. What is "it"? And what might it "do"? To answer this, think about what Jesse needs in his life.
2.Why is Link’s name appropriate? What or who could he “link” together? List two or more ideas.

Let's Drain Lake Powell

Wednesday

HOMEWORK: Read chapter 7, 8
Reading calendar (dates listed are due dates): 4/30 ch 8; 5/1 ch 9; 5/4 ch 12; 5/5 ch 13 and 1 ch/ day every day from here on out. 5/11 ch 19; 5/18 ch 25 (the end)

Book Report due May 13!! That's a Wednesday.  Click Book Reports to see requirements.

April 29 JOURNAL prompt (1/2 page)

Robin Cody has written a story that we all want to read because it deals with the themes we all experience in our own lives. Let's all pretend that we are novelists and write (begin) novels of our own. Have fun with it. This will be graded easy.

Write 3/4 page of your novel/story!
If you didn't come up with a good idea last time, here are some common issues dealt with in novels. To write a novel, first you have to think of the issue you want to deal with (see list below--"loss," etc.). Then you will be able to imagine a story that deals with this. Often the plot is similar to a real life experience that you or someone else has had. But novelists don't just tell that story. They write a story that focuses on an issue and is  meaningful (usually) in some way. Sadly, real life is kind of blah quite often, and people don't always find meaning in the things they do, and endings are rarely all that happy. In good novels they often aren't, either, or if they are, there is sadness mixed with joy, but the novel will be crafted in a way that makes a point. We read good novels because they make some point about what it is to be a human being. Of course, I don't expect you to do all of this since many novelists don't do a very good job of it themselves! But try!! So, when you write, you get to do what Mark Twain was talking about when he said, "Sometimes, if you want to tell the truth, you have to do more than just tell the truth." Similarly, Picasso said, "Art is a lie that helps us understand the truth." You exaggerate details so that they fit the story better. People say the right things; extra characters are added, it's rainy on a sad day,etc.


Sometimes novels deal with:
Divorce. Week on/week off. I felt caught in the middle. Parents wouldn't talk to each other, etc.  Felt like I had to be the parent to my immature parents. When: July 1, 2010. Just had 9th birthday when parents sat me down on the couch. I felt . . .
Adolescents trying to work through the challenges they face.
      Fear of not fitting in
      What they're going to do in the future
      Relationships--family, friends, enemies,
      Power; hatred; racism
Death in the family
Love. Relationships. What is love? Am I loveable?
Friendships.
Peer pressure.
Loss. Loss of friends. The anguish of knowing that this is you last adventure together . . .
Transitions. Into highschool, puberty, moving to a new city,
Juggling too many things: sports, friends, job, school
Identity. What do I believe in? Who am I? Do I really want to be like my parents? Do I really want to follow societal roles? Gender identification.
Religion. As Susan faced the depths of loneliness, a new girl at school introduced her to the Bible . . .
          Horrible thing happens and Susan can no longer believe that there could be a God in such an unjust world.
Suicide. 1. Friend takes life and there doesn't seem to be any reason why he would have chosen to do so. 2. The loneliness is unbearable.
Police shootings. Pick a specific example--either real life of fictional, but exactly like real life.

Monday

Journal: 1/2-3/4 page: (If you're really focused, maybe we can just discuss instead of writing)
Why does Lorna feel the way she does about Calamus? Cite specific examples. Do you feel that she is justified in feeling this way? Remember, Wade likes Calamus, and many of you probably would, too.

HOMEWORK: Read chapter 6

Friday

HOMEWORK: Finish chapter 5 of Ricochet River for Tuesday

Ricochet River is a somewhat autobiographical novel. At the very least, Robin Cody got many of the ideas for the book from his experiences in Estacada, OR during the 1960's.
Most writers get the ideas for their novels from their own life experiences.

April 24 JOURNAL prompt (1/2 page)
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Sometimes novels deal with:
Divorce. Week on/week off. I felt caught in the middle. Parents wouldn't talk to each other, etc.  Felt like I had to be the parent to my immature parents. When: July 1, 2010. Just had 9th birthday when parents sat me down on the couch. I felt . . .
Adolescents trying to work through the challenges they face.
      Fear of not fitting in
      What they're going to do in the future
      Relationships--family, friends, enemies,
      Power; hatred; racism
Death in the family
Love. Relationships. What is love? Am I loveable?
Friendships.
Peer pressure.
Loss. Loss of friends. The anguish of knowing that this is you last adventure together . . .
Transitions. Into highschool, puberty, moving to a new city,
Juggling too many things: sports, friends, job, school
Identity. What do I believe in? Who am I? Do I really want to be like my parents? Do I really want to follow societal roles? Gender identification.
Religion. As Susan faced the depths of loneliness, a new girl at school introduced her to the Bible . . .
          Horrible thing happens and Susan can no longer believe that there could be a God in such an unjust world.
Suicide. 1. Friend takes life and there doesn't seem to be any reason why he would have chosen to do so. 2. The loneliness is unbearable.
Police shootings. Pick a specific example--either real life of fictional, but exactly like real life.




Each day you will answer one or more questions about the novel and keep them in your journal. You will receive 40 points for all of them on the last day we study the book (probably Thursday, May 14).


Robin Cody's study guide to his own novel:
Ricochet River

Journal: 3/4 page:
Robin Cody, through Wade’s narration, paints a very distinct picture of the townspeople at the baseball game and at the barbershop. How are they characterized in this chapter? Use specific examples from the text.
Remember, characters are developed through:

• what the narrator says
• what the character says and does
• what other people say about the character and how they react to that character

Celilo Falls Images
Celilo--epicenter of culture and trade
Map of Different Native American Tribes and Languages

JOURNAL
Each day you will answer one or more questions about the novel and keep them in your journal. You will receive 40 points for all of them on the last day we study the book (probably Thursday, May 14).

Wednesday

jOURNAL (1/2 page):
Today you will start the period answering this question:
The book opens with Wade (narrator) and Jesse (Native American kid) floating down the river on a boat, a scene in which some important information can be inferred about our two main characters. Based on this opening conversation, what can be inferred about Wade? About Jesse?
In other words, what do you learn about Wade and Jesse?


Robin Cody's study guide to his own novel:
Ricochet River

JOURNAL
Each day you will answer one or more questions about the novel and keep them in your journal. You will receive 40 points for all of them on the last day we study the book (probably Thursday, May 14).

Thursday

Vocabulary for Friday
Bean Trees test Monday

Hand in 3/4 page on the following prompt:
In what ways is Sister Husband (Thelma) similar to Mattie in The Bean Trees?
Use the notes that you took (characterization charts) or the book to find two examples to discuss. Two examples from the book and two examples from the movie.

Write 3/4 page  on the following prompt:
What is your favorite part of the novel The Bean Trees? What do you like about it? Do not use more than two sentences of summary of the plot. Most of what you write should be the explanation of why you like it (that is, why you find it interesting, touching, well-written, etc.)

Remember, when you write a paragraph, support your assertions with examples. The best way to do this is to write a topic sentence stating your idea, then a sentence with a quoted example (and page #), then a sentence explaining why you like this part. A strong paragraph will have at least one other sentence explaininig that point you're making, preferably begun with a transitional phrase.

Wednesday

Vocabulary for Friday
Bean Trees test Monday

Write 3/4 page on the following prompt:
In what ways is Sister Husband (Thelma) similar to Mattie in The Bean Trees?
Use the notes that you took (characterization charts) or the book to find two examples to discuss. Two examples from the book and two examples from the movie.

Vocabulary for Friday
Gregarious, Segregate, Congregate, Junction, Conjunction, Juncture, Adjunct, Injunction, Eloquent, Soliloquy

--"dialog"
Example sentences:

He was a popular and gregarious man.
The workhouse were designed to strictly segregate different types of inmates.
In many ways this is a defining juncture for the future..
Am I able to grant an injuction against a party that is not present?
His touching soliloqy at the end of the party.


Immigration Reform Summary
Immigration Argumentative Essay

Immigration Argumentative Essay

Vocabulary words for Friday 10th Grade Words
Memorize the following:
dissension, subsequent, consecutive, soliloquy, desolate,
consolidate, speculate, stringent, tactile, tactful
EXAMPLE SENTENCES:

• This is a clear attempt to cause division and dissension within the ranks of the Unionist family.
• The former FBI agent was appalled (shocked) over the attack by Owen Bryce and his subsequent (comes after) death.
• Two consecutive birdies had left him high and dry on 17 under, a stroke clear of 35th place.
• The population clings precariously to the brink of extinction, scattered across the desolate land, living in the darkest age in history.
• He thinks he'll be able to consolidate all debts by withdrawing equity in a couple of years time.
• It is interesting to speculate what other archeological evidence was lost when the railroad cutting was constructed in 1887.
• There is, I am told, tactile memory as well as visual and aural memory.
• At least once a year each grower must pass a stringent inspection by an authorized inspector
• The more tactful approach is to let your guests know about your registry indirectly.

Discuss page 209, 229, 239,, 249

Journal:
Write 3/4 page answering the following prompt:
“I would like you to visualize your life at age 34. What will you be doing? With whom? What kinds of struggles will you be dealing with? How will you be able to find happiness despite your struggles? What kinds of things will bring you the greatest happiness? One way to do this assignment is to try to think of a specific moment in the future, such as “I will be running out the door on my way to . . .”
Read chapter 15 tonight

Immigration:
Journal: 12 million people in the United States are undocumented immigrants ("illegal immigrants").
What do you think should be done about this issue? Write as much as you can for 3 minutes, and then write 2 questions that you feel need to be answered for you to more fully and objectively answer the question.
1. What makes it difficult to come to this country legally?
2. What is the process of applying for citizenship like and why is it so long and difficult?
3. Why are people opposed to new immigrants entering our country?
4. Are undocumented children allowed to attend public school? Go to the hospital?
5. Why are people so desperate to come to this country?
6. What are the consequences for people who are caught living here illegally?
7. What dangers do people face trying to cross the border?
8. Should we help make disadvantaged countries better so people stay?
9. Will allowing people to stay (amnesty) undermine our legal system?
10. If we are all immigrants, why are we worried about others becoming like us?
11. How much does it cost the U.S. Government to have undocumented immigrants here?
12. Do "illegal aliens" pay taxes?
13. If undocumented immigrants were deported, would the cost of food go up?
14. Do these immigrants make the country richer?