The new Journal Bible has arrived! Make your notes, highlight versus, inspirational messages, etc. etc. I look forward to reading your messages!
"The American people have determined that the good to be derived from capital punishment—in deterrence, and perhaps most of all in the meting out of condign justice for horrible crimes—outweighs the risk of error."
— Antonin Scalia
Lesson
We will
evaluate the narrator’s reliability and decide if his confession proves guilt or supports an insanity defense.
organize textual evidence into a mind map that can be used by both the prosecution and the defense in a court case.
I will
complete a detailed mind map that includes identifying and collecting textual evidence of characterization, symbolism, theme, conflict, irony, and unreliable narration to build arguments for a mock trial.
Strategy
Stop-n-Jot
Characterization
Symbolism
Theme
Literary Elements: Personification, Simile, Irony
Conflict
Readings
"The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe
Activity
#35 - Bell Work
#36 - The Tell-Tale Heart: Mind Map
""
—
Lesson
We will
I will
Strategy
Readings
Activity
# -
# -
""
—
Lesson
We will
I will
Strategy
Readings
Activity
# -
# -
Lesson
We will actively annotate and discuss The Cask of Amontillado by identifying key literary elements such as irony, symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery while analyzing Montresor’s psychological motivations and unreliable narration, connecting these to the thematic topics of revenge and deception to deepen our collective understanding of the text’s narrative and emotional impact.
I will engage with The Cask of Amontillado by annotating textual evidence of Montresor’s manipulation, the story’s atmospheric details, and Poe’s use of literary devices, while reflecting in my notes on how these elements reveal the psychological complexity of the characters and the moral ambiguity of revenge, to form a personal interpretation of the narrative’s meaning and tone.
Strategy
Interact with the text
Annotating & Note taking
Questioning the text
Readings
"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Poison Tree" by William Blake
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Activity
#22 - Bell Work
#23 - Note-Taking Reference Sheet
Lesson
We will actively annotate and discuss The Cask of Amontillado by identifying key literary elements such as irony, symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery while analyzing Montresor’s psychological motivations and unreliable narration, connecting these to the thematic topics of revenge and deception to deepen our collective understanding of the text’s narrative and emotional impact.
I will engage with The Cask of Amontillado by annotating textual evidence of Montresor’s manipulation, the story’s atmospheric details, and Poe’s use of literary devices, while reflecting in my notes on how these elements reveal the psychological complexity of the characters and the moral ambiguity of revenge, to form a personal interpretation of the narrative’s meaning and tone.
Strategy
Interact with the text
Annotating & Note taking
Questioning the text
Readings
"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Poison Tree" by William Blake
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Activity
#24 - Bell Work
#25 - ATC Response
Lesson
We will
collaboratively explore the excerpt from Hamlet to identify and interpret dramatic conventions, structure, and plot elements, while connecting historical and cultural elements of the setting to the themes, mood, tone, and voice, to uncover how these components collectively shape Shakespeare’s narrative and message.
I will
closely examine the excerpt’s use of literary devices, such as irony, motifs, diction, and syntax, to analyze how they reveal character conflicts, enhance characterization through foils, and establish the playwright’s unique voice, while determining how these elements contribute to the overall mood and tone of the scene.
Strategy
Interact with the text
Annotating & Note taking
Questioning the text
Readings
"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Poison Tree" by William Blake
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Activity
#26 - Bell Work
#27 - Three Readings Test
Lesson
We will
collaboratively explore the excerpt from Hamlet to identify and interpret dramatic conventions, structure, and plot elements, while connecting historical and cultural elements of the setting to the themes, mood, tone, and voice, to uncover how these components collectively shape Shakespeare’s narrative and message.
I will
closely examine the excerpt’s use of literary devices, such as irony, motifs, diction, and syntax, to analyze how they reveal character conflicts, enhance characterization through foils, and establish the playwright’s unique voice, while determining how these elements contribute to the overall mood and tone of the scene.
Strategy
Interact with the text
Annotating & Note taking
Questioning the text
Readings
"The Cask of Amontillado" by Edgar Allan Poe
"The Poison Tree" by William Blake
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Activity
#28 - Bell Work
#29 - Extended Literary Analysis Constructed Response
"Government cannot make us equal; it can only recognize, respect, and protect us as equal before the law."
— Clarence Thomas
Lesson
We will
review genre characteristics for literary nonfiction.
brainstorm topics or experiences to share through a creative nonfiction piece.
brainstorm ideas for content.
I will
plan or outline, create, revise, and edit my project as necessary in order to show genre characteristics for an original literary nonfiction piece.
Strategy
Literary Nonfiction Genre Characteristics
Author's Craft
Readings
N/A
Activity
#30 - Bell Work
#31 - Original Literary Non-Fiction
Lesson
We will
analyze Patrick Henry’s speech as a masterpiece of revolutionary rhetoric, exploring how he uses persuasive techniques to galvanize the Virginia Convention toward independence.
I will
write a modern persuasive speech (300–500 words) modeled on Henry’s structure and intensity while addressing a current issue of your choice (AI, social media censorship, school policy, gun control, cost of college, standardized testing, etc.etc.).
Strategy
Ethos
Pathos
Logos
Antithesis
Repetition/Anaphora
Rhetorical Question
Allusion (biblical, classical, or historical)
Readings
Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty of Give Me Death" (1775)
Activity
#32 - Bell Work
#33 - “Give Me Liberty of Give Me Death" (1775) by Patrick Henry's