End of Quarter

Thank you to the Reading Toni Morrison class for your efforts in very difficult literary analysis. Morrison's works are not easy. You persevered in your reading, thinking, and discussing.

Have a great summer!

The Bluest Eye -- Reading Schedule

The Bluest Eye
Reading Schedule

4/14 – P. 1-32

4/15 – P. 33-58

4/17 – P. 61-80

4/20 – P. 81-109

4/22 – P. 110-131

4/24 – P. 132-163

4/27 – P. 164-183

4/30 – P.183-215

Course Guidelines -- Quarter Four

Reading Toni Morrison
Course Overview and Guidelines
Fourth Quarter – 3rd Hour

This college preparatory course will explore the fiction and criticism of Nobel Prize winning author, Toni Morrison. We will consider the complex ways in which Morrison approaches themes such as identity and the complex intersections of race, gender, and socio-economic class. The class will focus on two of Morrison’s novels, The Bluest Eye and Beloved, but will be reading critical essays on the texts as well.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. Identify and analyze the major themes and motifs of Toni Morrison's fiction.
2. Further develop their critical thinking skills and demonstrate improvement in their writing abilities by composing well-organized, analytical essays that illustrate comprehension of the major themes and close textual analysis.

Course Guidelines:

1. Attendance – Each student is responsible for being in class – on time – everyday. However, students will occasionally miss class for one reason or another. In case of an absence, it is the student’s responsibility to ask for any assignments or readings missed. It is your responsibility to see me if you have any questions or concerns.

2. Participation – Along with coming to class, students are responsible for participating in daily activities and discussions. Students who use their time wisely in class will receive credit for it. Keep in mind – discussion is how I will be assessing if students are doing the reading over the quarter. If a student is not participating in class discussion I’m left to assume he or she is not reading the material.

3. Homework – When homework is assigned, students are expected to have it finished, and in class, on the date it is due. Although we will spend time reading and writing during class time, students should expect extensive outside reading.

4. Textual Analysis Essays – There will be two close textual analysis essays required for the two main texts in this class, The Bluest Eye and Beloved. In order to pass the course, students are required to complete these two essays. Due dates are yet to be determined.


Textual Analysis Essays

As stated above, there will be one essay required for each text we will be reading in this course. For each essay the students will be given a list of different themes of motifs to focus their paper on. There will be more information provided for the essays as the quarter moves forward.

Requirements for the papers are:
- 2-3 Pages in length
- Double spaced
- 12 pt. size
- Time New Roman font


Late Work Policy

Assignments for this class will be centered on the reading of two texts, The Bluest Eye and Beloved. It is extremely important that students keep up with the reading throughout the quarter to ensure meaningful discussions in class.
Though most assignments for this class will be reading, there may be other assignments as well. All assignments for this class are to be turned in on time and fully completed. An extension may be granted if the students come to talk to Amanda PRIOR to the assignment deadline. Without an extension, work that is turned in late will not receive full credit.
Students who are absent will be given one extra day to complete assignments that he or she missed.


Attendance Policy

The Shabazz attendance policy will be enforced in this classroom. Students will be dropped from the course after their 6th absence. Tardies will be accounted for – remember that three tardies is equal to one absence. Also, students who arrive more than fifteen minutes late or leave more than fifteen minutes before the end of the period will be marked absent.


Cell Phones and MP3 Players

There are no cell phones allowed in my classroom. If I see a cell phone, I will take it away. MP3 players are to be turned off (headphones out) when you walk into my classroom. They are to remain in your bags or pockets unless I have given permission to use them during individual work time in class.

Basic Course Description -- Q4 2008-09

The lead teacher for this class will be Amanda Rhyner, pre-service teacher from Edgewood College.

This college preparatory course will explore the fiction and criticism of Nobel Prize winning author, Toni Morrison. We will consider the complex ways in which Morrison approaches themes such as identity and the complex intersections of race, gender, and socio-economic class. The class will focus on two of Morrison’s novels, The Bluest Eye and Beloved, but we will be reading critical essays on the texts, as well. Although we will be reading and writing during class time, extensive outside of class reading will be required.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. Identify and analyze the major themes and motifs of Toni Morrison's fiction.
   
2. Further develop their critical thinking skills and demonstrate improvement in their writing abilities by composing well-organized, analytical essays that illustrate comprehension of the major themes and close textual analysis

Student Assessment: Students will be assessed based on their attendance, participation in class discussion, journal entries, completion of readings on time, and two literary analysis essays.

Course Emphasis Checklist:

• college prep level
• discussion requirements
• group work
• independent projects (essays)
• outside of class work
• oral presentations possible
• research project possible