Mr. Kidd's Blog

December 11, 2009

propaedeutics

this week's theme: ridiculous words!

n. 1. The preliminary learning connected with any art or science; preparatory instruction.

Special Announcement: Make sure that you notice that I will accept revisions until the start of the final exam (Friday, December 18). Also, make sure that you follow the instructions about how to do revisions (including the very important "revision cover letter").

Quote of the Week: "Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Call the Future

American Literature:

Week of 12/7-12/11
1. Read in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Chapters 28-32, pp. 140-169
2. Read in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Chapters 33-37, pp. 169-189
3./4. Finish Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
5. Exam Review

Week of 12/14-12/18 1. Science Exam
2. History Exam
3. English Exam
4. Foreign Language Exam
5. Math Exam (last day for revisions)

English Exam Information:
I. Words of the Day + Literary Terms + The Scarlet Letter High-Frequency Terms (multiple choice) (10%)
II. Quotation Identification (multiple choice) (10%)
III. Short Answer on two poems (10%) (two by Dickinson; two by Whitman – you pick one of each)
IV.Sentence Diagramming (items 1-50 on the list)(10%) (Good website for review: Sentence Diagramming (http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams2/diagrams_frames.htm)
V. The Scarlet Letter and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn comparison essay (60%) For this essay, I will give you (on the exam) three passages from each novel, and you should choose one from each book for a comparison essay that is also a close reading of those passages. All of our lists of literary devices and analytical tools should be potentially engaged by this essay.

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December 09, 2009

recombobulation area

this week's theme: ridiculous words!

recombobulation area: An area at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee in which passengers that have just passed through security screening can get their clothes and belongings back in order. (See the website for the American Dialect Society. You can also vote for the word of the year there!)

Quote of the Week: "Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Call the Future

American Literature:

Week of 12/14-12/18 1. Science Exam
2. History Exam
3. English Exam
4. Foreign Language Exam
5. Math Exam (last day for revisions)

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December 07, 2009

absquatulate

this week's theme: ridiculous words!

intr.v. Midwestern & Western U.S., -lat·ed, -lat·ing, -lates. To depart in a hurry; abscond: "Your horse has absquatulated!" (Robert M. Bird). To die. To argue.

Quote of the Week: "Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Call the Future

American Literature:

Week of 12/14-12/18 1. Science Exam
2. History Exam
3. English Exam
4. Foreign Language Exam
5. Math Exam (last day for revisions)

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sesquipedalian

this week's theme: ridiculous words!

–adjective Also, ses⋅quip⋅e⋅dal /sɛsˈkwɪpɪdl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ses-kwip-i-dl] Show IPA . 1. given to using long words. 2. (of a word) containing many syllables.

Quote of the Week: "Facts are stubborn, but statistics are more pliable."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Call the Future

American Literature:

Week of 12/14-12/18 1. Science Exam
2. History Exam
3. English Exam
4. Foreign Language Exam
5. Math Exam (last day for revisions)

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December 04, 2009

schlemiel/shlemazel

this week's theme: the oy of Yiddish words!

schle·miel also shle·miel (shl-ml) n. Slang A habitual bungler; a dolt.

schli·ma·zel also shli·ma·zel (shl-mäzl) n. Slang An extremely unlucky or inept person; a habitual failure.

Quote of the Week: "Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Wired

American Literature:

Week of 12/14-12/18 1. Science Exam
2. History Exam
3. English Exam
4. Foreign Language Exam
5. Math Exam (last day for revisions)

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December 01, 2009

maven

this week's theme: the oy of Yiddish words!

n. A person who has special knowledge or experience; an expert.

Quote of the Week: "Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Wired

American Literature:

Week of 11/30-12/4
1. Read to chap. 10 in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
2. Read in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Chapters 11-17, pp. 41-79
3./4. Read in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Chapters 18-21, pp. 79-109
5. Read in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Chapters 22-27, pp. 109-140

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yenta

this week's theme: the oy of Yiddish words!

n. Slang A person, especially a woman, who is meddlesome or gossipy. [Yiddish yente, back-formation from the woman's name Yente, alteration of Yentl, from Old Italian Gentile, from gentile, amiable, highborn, from Latin gentlis, of the same clan; see gentle.]

Quote of the Week: "Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Wired

American Literature:

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November 29, 2009

schmaltz

this week's theme: the oy of Yiddish words!

n. 1. Informal a. Excessively sentimental art or music. b. Maudlin sentimentality. 2. Liquid fat, especially chicken fat. [Yiddish shmalts, animal fat, sentimentality, from Middle High German smalz, animal fat, from Old High German; see mel-1 in Indo-European roots.]

Quote of the Week: "Education: that which reveals to the wise, and conceals from the stupid, the vast limits of their knowledge."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Wired

American Literature:

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November 25, 2009

surfeit

this week's theme: words of abundance

v. sur·feit·ed, sur·feit·ing, sur·feits v.tr. To feed or supply to excess, satiety, or disgust. v.intr. Archaic To overindulge. n. 1. a. Overindulgence in food or drink. b. The result of such overindulgence; satiety or disgust. 2. An excessive amount. [Middle English surfeten, from surfait, excess, from Old French, from past participle of surfaire, to overdo : sur-, sur- + faire, to do (from Latin facere; see dh- in Indo-European roots).]

Quote of the Week: "All generalizations are false, including this one."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Prezi

American Literature:

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November 24, 2009

cornucopia

this week's theme: words of abundance

n. 1. A goat's horn overflowing with fruit, flowers, and grain, signifying prosperity. Also called horn of plenty. 2. Greek Mythology The horn of the goat that suckled Zeus, which broke off and became filled with fruit. In folklore, it became full of whatever its owner desired. 3. A cone-shaped ornament or receptacle. 4. An overflowing store; an abundance: a cornucopia of employment opportunities. [Late Latin corncpia, from Latin corn cpiae : corn, horn; see cornu + cpiae, genitive of cpia, plenty; see op- in Indo-European roots.]

Quote of the Week: "All generalizations are false, including this one."
-Mark Twain

Website of the Week: Prezi

American Literature:

1.-2. Intro to Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; Whitman-Dickinson essays due
3. Bring The Pearson Custom Anthology and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to class
4. Thanksgiving holiday
5. holiday
6. Read to chap. 10 in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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November 18, 2009

mugwump

this week's theme: American words
n. 1.A person who acts independently or remains neutral, especially in politics. 2.often Mugwump A Republican who bolted the party in 1884, refusing to support presidential candidate James G. Blaine. [Massachusett mugguomp, mummugguomp, war leader.] mugwumpery mug'wump'er·y n.
Special Bonus Section: Four Sites that Could Help with Dickinson and Whitman!
1.Web Study Text of Whitman's "Song of Myself"
2.Research and Reference Guide to "Song of Myself"
3.Research and Reference Guide to Emily Dickinson's Poetry
4.Poets.org Guide to Emily Dickinson's Collected Poems

Quote of the Week: "The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges, or churches, or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors, but always most in the common people."
-Walt Whitman
Website of the Week: The Oxford English Dictionary
American Literature:
3./4. 5. 6. Monday, November 23: Whitman and Dickinson essay due; bring Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to class

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November 10, 2009

bayou

this week's theme: American words
n. 1. A body of water, such as a creek or small river, that is a tributary of a larger body of water. 2. A sluggish stream that meanders through lowlands, marshes, or plantation grounds. [Louisiana French bayouque, bayou, possibly from Choctaw bayuk.]
Special Bonus Section: Four Sites that Could Help with Dickinson and Whitman!
1.Web Study Text of Whitman's "Song of Myself"
2.Research and Reference Guide to "Song of Myself"
3.Research and Reference Guide to Emily Dickinson's Poetry
4.Poets.org Guide to Emily Dickinson's Collected Poems

Quote of the Week: "The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges, or churches, or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors, but always most in the common people."
-Walt Whitman
Website of the Week: The Oxford English Dictionary
American Literature:
1. Olympiad Seminar
2.-5. Read Walt Whitman all week, and try to come to a deep understanding of every Whitman poem in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature, especially those in "Song of Myself"; begin working on your essay when you can

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caucus

this week's theme: American words
n pl -cuses
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) Chiefly US and Canadian
a. a closed meeting of the members of one party in a legislative chamber, etc., to coordinate policy, choose candidates, etc.
b. such a bloc of politicians the Democratic caucus in Congress
2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) Chiefly US
a. a group of leading politicians of one party
b. a meeting of such a group
3. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) Chiefly US a local meeting of party members
4. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) Brit a group or faction within a larger group, esp a political party, who discuss tactics, choose candidates, etc.
5. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) Austral a meeting of the members of the Federal parliamentary Labor Party
6. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) NZ a formal meeting of all Members of Parliament belonging to one political party
vb
(Government, Politics & Diplomacy) (intr) to hold a caucus
[probably of Algonquian origin; related to caucauasu adviser]

Quote of the Week: "The genius of the United States is not best or most in its executives or legislatures, nor in its ambassadors or authors or colleges, or churches, or parlors, nor even in its newspapers or inventors, but always most in the common people."
-Walt Whitman
Website of the Week: The Oxford English Dictionary
American Literature:
1. Olympiad Seminar
2.-5. Read Walt Whitman all week, and try to come to a deep understanding of every Whitman poem in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature, especially those in "Song of Myself"; begin working on your essay when you can

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November 05, 2009

trammel

this week's theme: words with more than one meaning
noun:
1. Something that limits or hinders.
2. A fishing net having three layers.
3. An instrument for drawing ellipses.
4. A shackle used in training a horse to amble.
5. An instrument for gauging and aligning parts of a machine.
6. A hook for hanging a pot or a kettle over a fire.
verb tr.: To restrain; to hinder.
ETYMOLOGY:
From Old French tramail, from Latin tremaculum, from tres (three) + macula (mesh). Ultimately from the Indo-European root trei- (three) that's also the source of such words as three, testify (to be the third person: to bear witness), and triskaidekaphobia (fear of the number 13).

Website of the Week: Nanowrimo

Quote of the Week: "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
- E.L. Doctorow
American Literature:
1. Olympiad Seminar
2.-5. Read Walt Whitman all week, and try to come to a deep understanding of every Whitman poem in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature, especially those in "Song of Myself"; begin working on your essay when you can

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November 03, 2009

set

this week's theme: words with more than one meaning
(does "set" have more meanings than any other word in English? Find a word with more!)
v. set, set·ting, sets v.tr. 1. To put in a specified position; place: set a book on a table. 2. To put into a specified state: set the prisoner at liberty. 3. a. To put into a stable position: set the fence post into a bed of concrete. b. To fix firmly or in an immobile manner: He set his jaw and concentrated on flying the plane through the storm. 4. To restore to a proper and normal state when dislocated or broken: set a broken arm. 5. a. To adjust for proper functioning. b. To adjust (a saw) by deflecting the teeth. c. Nautical To spread open to the wind: set the sails. 6. To adjust according to a standard. 7. To adjust (an instrument or device) to a specific point or calibration: set an alarm clock. 8. To arrange properly for use: set a place for a dinner guest; set a table. 9. To apply equipment, such as curlers and clips, to (hair) in order to style. 10. Printing a. To arrange (type) into words and sentences preparatory to printing; compose. b. To transpose into type. 11. Music a. To compose (music) to fit a given text. b. To write (words) to fit a given melodic line. 12. To arrange scenery on (a theater stage). 13. To prescribe the unfolding of (a drama or narrative, for instance) in a specific place: a play that is set in Venice. 14. To prescribe or establish: set a precedent. 15. To prescribe as a time for: set June 6 as the day of the invasion. 16. To detail or assign (someone) to a particular duty, service, or station: set the child to cleaning the closets; set guards around the perimeter. 17. To incite to hostile action: a war that set families against one another. 18. a. To establish as the highest level of performance: set a world aviation record. b. To establish as a model: A parent must set a good example for the children. 19. a. To put in a mounting; mount: set an emerald in a pendant. b. To apply jewels to; stud: a tiara that was set with diamonds. 20. To cause to sit. 21. a. To put (a hen) on eggs for the purpose of hatching them. b. To put (eggs) beneath a hen or in an incubator. 22. Sports To position (oneself) in such a way as to be ready to start running a race. 23. Sports To pass (a volleyball), usually with the fingertips, in an arc close to the net so that a teammate can drive it over the net. 24. a. To value or regard something at the rate of: She sets a great deal by good nutrition. b. To fix at a given amount: The judge set bail for the defendant at $50,000. c. To make as an estimate of worth: We set a high value on human life. 25. To point to the location of (game) by holding a fixed attitude. Used of a hunting dog. 26. Botany To produce, as after pollination: set seed. 27. a. To prepare (a trap) for catching prey. b. To fix (a hook) firmly into a fish's jaw. v.intr. 1. To disappear below the horizon: The sun set at seven that evening. 2. To diminish or decline; wane. 3. To sit on eggs. Used of fowl. 4. a. To become fixed; harden. See Synonyms at coagulate. b. To become permanent. Used of dye. 5. To become whole; knit. Used of a broken bone. 6. Botany To mature or develop, as after pollination. 7. Nonstandard To sit: "If Emmett drives, I could set up front" (Bobbie Ann Mason). 8. To position oneself preparatory to an action, such as running a race. adj. 1. Fixed or established by agreement: a set time for the launching. 2. Established by convention: followed set procedures for filing a grievance. 3. Established deliberately; intentional: Our set purpose is to win the conflict. 4. Fixed and rigid: "His bearded face already has a set, hollow look" (Conor Cruise O'Brien). 5. Unwilling or very reluctant to change: He is set in his ways. 6. a. Intent and determined: "He is dead set against rushing abroad to build a plant" (Fortune). b. Ready: We are set to leave early tomorrow morning. n. 1. a. The act or process of setting. b. The condition resulting from setting. 2. The manner in which something is positioned: the set of her cap. 3. A permanent firming or hardening of a substance, as by cooling. 4. The deflection of the teeth of a saw. 5. a. The carriage or bearing of a part of the body. b. A particular psychological state, usually that of anticipation or preparedness: "The mental set of an audience is crucial to his performance" (Psychology Today). 6. A descent below the horizon. 7. The direction or course of wind or water. 8. A seedling, slip, or cutting that is ready for planting. 9. The act of arranging hair by waving and curling it. 10. Sports The act of setting a volleyball for a teammate. Phrasal Verbs: set about To begin or start: set about solving the problem. set apart 1. To reserve for a specific use. 2. To make noticeable: character traits that set her apart. set aside 1. To separate and reserve for a special purpose. 2. To discard or reject. 3. To declare invalid; annul or overrule: The court has set aside the conviction. set at To attack or assail: The dogs set at the fox. set back 1. To slow down the progress of; hinder. 2. Informal To cost: That coat set me back $1,000. set by To reserve for future use: It is wise to set food and money by in case of a future emergency. set down 1. To cause to sit; seat: Set the baby down here. 2. To put in writing; record: We set down the facts. 3. a. To regard; consider: Just set him down as a sneak. b. To assign to a cause; attribute: Let's set the error down to inexperience. 4. To land (an aircraft): The pilot set the plane down hard. 5. Baseball To put out (a batter); retire. Used of a pitcher. set forth 1. To present for consideration; propose: set forth a sound plan. 2. To express in words: She has set forth her ideas. set forward To begin a journey. set in 1. To insert: set in the sleeve of a gown. 2. To begin to happen or be apparent: "Evening was setting in as I took the road over Mountain Top" (Charles Siebert). 3. To move toward the shore. Used of wind or water. set off 1. a. To give rise to; cause to occur: set off a chemical reaction. b. To cause to explode: set off a bomb. c. To make suddenly or demonstrably angry: The clerk's indifference finally set me off. 2. To indicate as being different; distinguish: features setting him off from the crowd. 3. To direct attention to by contrast; accentuate: set off a passage with italics. 4. To counterbalance, counteract, or compensate for: Our dismay at her leaving was set off by our knowing that she was happy. 5. To start on a journey: set off for Europe. set out 1. To begin an earnest attempt; undertake: He set out to understand why the plan had failed. 2. To lay out systematically or graphically: set out a terrace. 3. To display for exhibition or sale. 4. To plant: set out seedlings. 5. To start a journey: She set out at dawn for town. set to 1. To begin working energetically; start in. 2. To begin fighting. set up 1. To place in an upright position. 2. a. To elevate; raise. b. To raise in authority or power; invest with power: They set the general up as a dictator. c. To put (oneself) forward as; claim to be: He has set himself up as an authority on the English language. d. To assemble and erect: set up a new machine. 3. To establish; found: set up a charity. 4. To cause: They set up howls of protest over new taxes. 5. To establish in business by providing capital, equipment, or other backing. 6. Informal a. To treat (someone) to drinks. b. To pay for (drinks). 7. Informal To stimulate or exhilarate: a victory that really set the team up. 8. To lay plans for: set up a kidnapping. 9. Informal To put (someone else) into a compromising situation by deceit or trickery: Swindlers have set me up. 10. Sports To make a pass to (a teammate), creating a scoring opportunity. set upon To attack violently: Guards set dogs upon the escaping prisoners. Idioms: set fire to To cause to ignite and burn. set foot in To enter. set foot on To step on. set in motion To give impetus to: The indictment set the judicial process in motion. set (one's) heart on To be determined to do something. set (one's) sights on To have as a goal: She set her sights on medical school. set on fire 1. To cause to ignite and burn. 2. To cause to become excited: The music set the audience on fire. set sail Nautical To begin a voyage on water. set (someone) straight To correct (someone) by providing full and accurate information. set store by To regard as valuable or worthwhile. set the pace 1. To go at a speed that other competitors attempt to match or surpass. 2. To behave or perform in a way that others try to emulate. set the stage for To provide the underlying basis for: saber rattling that set the stage for war. set up housekeeping To establish a household. set up shop To establish one's business operations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Middle English setten, from Old English settan; see sed- in Indo-European roots.] Usage Note: Originally set meant "to cause (something) to sit," so that it is now in most cases a transitive verb: She sets the book on the table. He sets the table. Sit is generally an intransitive verb: He sits at the table. There are some exceptions: The sun sets (not sits). A hen sets (or sits) on her eggs.

Website of the Week: Nanowrimo

Quote of the Week: "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
- E.L. Doctorow
American Literature:
1.-5. Read Emily Dickinson all week, and try to come to a deep understanding of every Dickinson poem in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature; begin reading Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" in the Pearson when you can.

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November 02, 2009

cleave

this week's theme: words with more than one meaning
v. cleft (klft) or cleaved or clove (klv), cleft or cleaved or clo·ven (klvn), cleav·ing, cleaves
v.tr.
1. To split with or as if with a sharp instrument.
2. To make or accomplish by or as if by cutting: cleave a path through the ice.
3. To pierce or penetrate: The wings cleaved the foggy air.
4. Chemistry To split (a complex molecule) into simpler molecules.
v.intr.
1. Mineralogy To split or separate, especially along a natural line of division.
2. To penetrate or pass through something, such as water or air.
[Middle English cleven, from Old English clofan; see gleubh- in Indo-European roots.]
cleava·ble adj.
cleave 2 (klv)
intr.v. cleaved, cleav·ing, cleaves
1. To adhere, cling, or stick fast.
2. To be faithful: cleave to one's principles.
[Middle English cleven, from Old English cleofian.]

Website of the Week: Nanowrimo (http://www.nanowrimo.org/)

Quote of the Week: "Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way."
- E.L. Doctorow
American Literature:
1.-5. Read Emily Dickinson all week, and try to come to a deep understanding of every Dickinson poem in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature; begin reading Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" in the Pearson when you can.

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October 30, 2009

grangerize

this week's theme: words about censorship and the destruction of books
verb tr.:
1. To mutilate a book by clipping pictures out of it.
2. To illustrate a book by adding pictures cut from other books.
ETYMOLOGY: After James Granger (1723-1776), an English clergyman whose Biographical History of England had blank leaves for illustrations, to be filled with pictures, clippings, etc. by the reader.

Website of the Week: ManyBooks

Quote of the Week: "I picked up a pencil and held it over a sheet of white paper, but my feelings stood in the way of my words. Well, I would wait day and night, until I knew what to say. Humbly now, with no vaulting dream of achieving a vast unity, I wanted to try to build a bridge of words between me and that world outside, that world which was so distant and elusive that it seemed unreal. I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of the hunger for life that gnaws in us all, to keep alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human." -Richard Wright
American Literature:
1.-5. Read Emily Dickinson all week, and try to come to a deep understanding of every Dickinson poem in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature; begin reading Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" in the Pearson when you can.

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October 28, 2009

imprimatur

this week's theme: words about censorship and the destruction of books
n. 1. Official approval or license to print or publish, especially under conditions of censorship. 2. a. Official approval; sanction. b. A mark of official approval: a directive bearing the imprimatur of high officials. [From New Latin imprimtur, let it be printed, third person sing. present subjunctive passive of Latin imprimere, to imprint; see impress1.]

Website of the Week: ManyBooks

Quote of the Week: "I picked up a pencil and held it over a sheet of white paper, but my feelings stood in the way of my words. Well, I would wait day and night, until I knew what to say. Humbly now, with no vaulting dream of achieving a vast unity, I wanted to try to build a bridge of words between me and that world outside, that world which was so distant and elusive that it seemed unreal. I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of the hunger for life that gnaws in us all, to keep alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human." -Richard Wright
American Literature:

1. Read "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, p. 181
2. Post a response to livejournal about a quotation by Emerson or Thoreau; write as philosophically as you can
3./4. Read "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe, p. 155 in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature In class: "The Man in the Black Suit" by Stephen King
5. Read as many poems by Emily Dickinson as you can. Her section in the anthology starts on p. 281

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October 26, 2009

bowdlerize

this week's theme: words about censorship and the destruction of books
tr.v. bowd·ler·ized, bowd·ler·iz·ing, bowd·ler·iz·es To remove material that is considered offensive or objectionable from (a book, for example). [After Thomas Bowdler (1754-1825), who published an expurgated edition of Shakespeare in 1818.] bowdler·ism n. bowdler·i·zation (-lr--zshn) n. bowdler·izer n.

Website of the Week: ManyBooks

Quote of the Week: "I picked up a pencil and held it over a sheet of white paper, but my feelings stood in the way of my words. Well, I would wait day and night, until I knew what to say. Humbly now, with no vaulting dream of achieving a vast unity, I wanted to try to build a bridge of words between me and that world outside, that world which was so distant and elusive that it seemed unreal. I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of the hunger for life that gnaws in us all, to keep alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human." -Richard Wright
American Literature:

1. Read "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, p. 181
2. Post a response to livejournal about a quotation by Emerson or Thoreau; write as philosophically as you can
3./4. Read "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe, p. 155 in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature In class: "The Man in the Black Suit" by Stephen King
5. Read as many poems by Emily Dickinson as you can. Her section in the anthology starts on p. 281

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comstockery

this week's theme: words about censorship and the destruction of books
noun: Overzealous censorship of material considered obscene.
ETYMOLOGY:
After Anthony Comstock (1844-1915), founder of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. He crusaded against anything he considered immoral. Nothing escaped his wrath -- even anatomy textbooks for medical students and the draping of mannequins in public view in shop windows were obscene to him. He lobbied for laws against mailing any material that could be perceived as promoting immorality.
He was appointed postal inspector and he seized books, postcards, and other materials by the boatload. He boasted that he had arrested more than 3,000 people and driven more than 15 to suicide. George Bernard Shaw coined the word comstockery after him when he attacked the American production of Shaw's play Mrs. Warren's Profession.

Website of the Week: ManyBooks

Quote of the Week: "I picked up a pencil and held it over a sheet of white paper, but my feelings stood in the way of my words. Well, I would wait day and night, until I knew what to say. Humbly now, with no vaulting dream of achieving a vast unity, I wanted to try to build a bridge of words between me and that world outside, that world which was so distant and elusive that it seemed unreal. I would hurl words into this darkness and wait for an echo, and if an echo sounded, no matter how faintly, I would send other words to tell, to march, to fight, to create a sense of the hunger for life that gnaws in us all, to keep alive in our hearts a sense of the inexpressibly human." -Richard Wright
American Literature:

1. Read "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, p. 181
2. Post a response to livejournal about a quotation by Emerson or Thoreau; write as philosophically as you can
3./4. Read "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe, p. 155 in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature In class: "The Man in the Black Suit" by Stephen King
5. Read as many poems by Emily Dickinson as you can. Her section in the anthology starts on p. 281

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October 22, 2009

feckless

this week's theme: words you (wish you?) knew last week
adj.
feeble; weak; ineffectual; irresponsible
[from obsolete feck value, effect + -less]

Websites of the Week: Slate

Quote of the Week: "The impulse to dream was slowly beaten out of me by experience. Now it surged up again and I hungered for books, new ways of looking and seeing."
-Richard Wright
American Literature:

1. Read "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, p. 181
2. Post a response to livejournal about a quotation by Emerson or Thoreau; write as philosophically as you can
3./4. Read "The Fall of the House of Usher" by Edgar Allen Poe, p. 155 in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature In class: "The Man in the Black Suit" by Stephen King
5. Read as many poems by Emily Dickinson as you can. Her section in the anthology starts on p. 281

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October 21, 2009

diffidence

this week's theme: words you (wish you?) knew last week
n.
The quality or state of being diffident; timidity or shyness.

Websites of the Week: Slate

Quote of the Week: "The impulse to dream was slowly beaten out of me by experience. Now it surged up again and I hungered for books, new ways of looking and seeing."
-Richard Wright
American Literature:

1. & 2. In-class writing on your prose analysis question for The Scarlet Letter; You should plan to finish your essay by the end of class on Tuesday, October 20
3./4. Read "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, p. 62 in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature
5. Read "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, p. 99
6. Read "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, p. 181

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October 20, 2009

munificence

this week's theme: words you (wish you?) knew last week
adj.
1. Very liberal in giving; generous.
2. Showing great generosity: a munificent gift..

Websites of the Week: Slate

Quote of the Week: "The impulse to dream was slowly beaten out of me by experience. Now it surged up again and I hungered for books, new ways of looking and seeing."
-Richard Wright
American Literature:

1. & 2. In-class writing on your prose analysis question for The Scarlet Letter; You should plan to finish your essay by the end of class on Tuesday, October 20
3./4. Read "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, p. 62 in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature
5. Read "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, p. 99
6. Read "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, p. 181

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October 19, 2009

halcyon

this week's theme: words you (wish you?) knew last week
n. 1. A kingfisher, especially one of the genus Halcyon. 2. A fabled bird, identified with the kingfisher, that was supposed to have had the power to calm the wind and the waves while it nested on the sea during the winter solstice. adj. 1. Calm and peaceful; tranquil. 2. Prosperous; golden: halcyon years.

Websites of the Week: Slate

Quote of the Week: "The impulse to dream was slowly beaten out of me by experience. Now it surged up again and I hungered for books, new ways of looking and seeing."
-Richard Wright
American Literature:

1. & 2. In-class writing on your prose analysis question for The Scarlet Letter; You should plan to finish your essay by the end of class on Tuesday, October 20
3./4. Read "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, p. 62 in the Pearson Custom Anthology of American Literature
5. Read "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, p. 99
6. Read "Walking" by Henry David Thoreau, p. 181

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October 16, 2009

anachronism

this week's theme: words related to time
noun
Etymology: probably from Middle Greek anachronismos, from anachronizesthai to be an anachronism, from Late Greek anachronizein to be late, from Greek ana- + chronos time Date: 1617
1 : an error in chronology; especially : a chronological misplacing of persons, events, objects, or customs in regard to each other
2 : a person or a thing that is chronologically out of place; especially : one from a former age that is incongruous in the present
3 : the state or condition of being chronologically out of place

Quote of the Week: "True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, / As those move easiest who have learned to dance" -Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Criticism" (362-363)
Websites of the Week: Brainerd's Brainchild: Graded Lessons in English

American Literature:
1. Columbus Day!
2. Reading Quiz on The Scarlet Letter
3. PSAT!
4. Write a question for your passage from The Scarlet Letter in the style of the AP Essay Questions we have examined from Mary Oliver and William Shakespeare; post your question with your passage on your LiveJournal blog
5. All Revisions Due on Friday, October 16!

October 19th and 20th: 1. & 2. In-class writing on your prose analysis question for The Scarlet Letter; You should plan to finish your essay by the end of class on Tuesday, October 20

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October 15, 2009

atavism

this week's theme: words related to time
n.
The reappearance of a characteristic in an organism after several generations of absence, usually caused by the chance recombination of genes.
An individual or a part that exhibits atavism. Also called throwback.
The return of a trait or recurrence of previous behavior after a period of absence.
[French atavisme, from Latin atavus, ancestor : atta, father + avus, grandfather.]

Quote of the Week: "True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, / As those move easiest who have learned to dance" -Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Criticism" (362-363)
Websites of the Week: Brainerd's Brainchild: Graded Lessons in English

American Literature:
1. Columbus Day!
2. Reading Quiz on The Scarlet Letter
3. PSAT!
4. Write a question for your passage from The Scarlet Letter in the style of the AP Essay Questions we have examined from Mary Oliver and William Shakespeare; post your question with your passage on your LiveJournal blog
5. All Revisions Due on Friday, October 16!

October 19th and 20th: 1. & 2. In-class writing on your prose analysis question for The Scarlet Letter; You should plan to finish your essay by the end of class on Tuesday, October 20

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October 12, 2009

perennial

this week's theme: words related to time
adj.
1. Lasting or active through the year or through many years.
2. a. Lasting an indefinitely long time; enduring: perennial happiness.
b. Appearing again and again; recurrent. See Synonyms at continual.
3. Botany Living three or more years.
n.
1. Botany A perennial plant.
2. Something that recurs or seems to recur on a yearly or continual basis: "that hardy perennial, the budget deficit" (David S. Broder).
[Latin perennis (per-, throughout; see per- + annus, year; see at- in Indo-European roots) + -al.]

Quote of the Week: "True ease in writing comes from art, not chance, / As those move easiest who have learned to dance" -Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Criticism" (362-363)
Websites of the Week: Brainerd's Brainchild: Graded Lessons in English

American Literature:
1. Columbus Day!
2. Reading Quiz on The Scarlet Letter
3. PSAT!
4. Write a question for your passage from The Scarlet Letter in the style of the AP Essay Questions we have examined from Mary Oliver and William Shakespeare; post your question with your passage on your LiveJournal blog
5. All Revisions Due on Friday, October 16!

October 19th and 20th: 1. & 2. In-class writing on your prose analysis question for The Scarlet Letter; You should plan to finish your essay by the end of class on Tuesday, October 20

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October 09, 2009

gainsay

this week's theme: portmanteaux words
tr.v. gain·said (-sd, -sd), gain·say·ing, gain·says (-sz, -sz) 1. To declare false; deny. See Synonyms at deny. 2. To oppose, especially by contradiction. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Middle English gainsayen : gain-, against (from Old English gegn-) + sayen, to say (from Old English secgan; see say).]

Quote of the Week: "Nobody, I think, ought to read poetry, or look at pictures or statues, who cannot find a great deal more in them than the poet or artist has actually expressed. Their highest merit is suggestiveness." - Nathaniel Hawthorne
95 Websites of the Week: 95 Websites

American Literature:
1. Columbus Day!
2. Reading Quiz on The Scarlet Letter
3. PSAT!
4. Write a question for your passage from The Scarlet Letter in the style of the AP Essay Questions we have examined from Mary Oliver and William Shakespeare; post your question with your passage on your LiveJournal blog
5. All Revisions Due on Friday, October 16!

October 19th and 20th: 1. & 2. In-class writing on your prose analysis question for The Scarlet Letter; You should plan to finish your essay by the end of class on Tuesday, October 20

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October 07, 2009

backronym

this week's theme: portmanteaux words
A backronym or bacronym[1] is a phrase constructed after the fact to make an existing word or words into an acronym. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology.
The word is understood as a portmanteau combining back and acronym. Its earliest known citation in print is "bacronym" in the November 1983[1] edition of the Washington Post. Bob Levey quoted winning reader "Meredith G. Williams of Potomac" defining it as the "same as an acronym, except that the words were chosen to fit the letters."[1] Actual use of the word is found in texts since at least 1994

Quote of the Week: Nobody, I think, ought to read poetry, or look at pictures or statues, who cannot find a great deal more in them than the poet or artist has actually expressed. Their highest merit is suggestiveness.
95 Websites of the Week: 95 Websites

American Literature:
1. Read chapters 18-20, pp. 136-154 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Bring Hacker to class! Review the grammar sheet of concepts and errors!
3./4. Finish The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; In class: sentence diagramming!
5. Bring in a diagrammed sentence from The Scarlet Letter

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October 06, 2009

gerrymander

this week's theme: portmanteaux words
tr.v. ger·ry·man·dered, ger·ry·man·der·ing, ger·ry·man·ders
To divide (a geographic area) into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections.
n.
1. The act, process, or an instance of gerrymandering.
2. A district or configuration of districts differing widely in size or population because of gerrymandering.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [After Elbridge Gerry + (sala)mander (from the shape of an election district created while Gerry was governor of Massachusetts).]

Quote of the Week: Nobody, I think, ought to read poetry, or look at pictures or statues, who cannot find a great deal more in them than the poet or artist has actually expressed. Their highest merit is suggestiveness.
95 Websites of the Week: 95 Websites

American Literature:
1. Read chapters 18-20, pp. 136-154 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Bring Hacker to class! Review the grammar sheet of concepts and errors!
3./4. Finish The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; In class: sentence diagramming!
5. Bring in a diagrammed sentence from The Scarlet Letter

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October 04, 2009

sitcom

this week's theme: portmanteaux words
sitcom
Noun
Informal (on television or radio) a comedy series involving the same characters in various everyday situations: yet another unfunny sitcom set in Liverpool

Quote of the Week: Nobody, I think, ought to read poetry, or look at pictures or statues, who cannot find a great deal more in them than the poet or artist has actually expressed. Their highest merit is suggestiveness.
95 Websites of the Week: 95 Websites

American Literature:
1. Read chapters 18-20, pp. 136-154 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Bring Hacker to class! Review the grammar sheet of concepts and errors!
3./4. Finish The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; In class: sentence diagramming!
5. Bring in a diagrammed sentence from The Scarlet Letter

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October 01, 2009

termagant

this week's theme: eponymous words
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English
Date: 13th century
1 capitalized : a deity erroneously ascribed to Islam by medieval European Christians and represented in early English drama as a violent character
2 : an overbearing or nagging woman : shrew

Quote of the Week: "To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here." - Jonathan Edwards
Website of the Week: Internet Archive
American Literature:
1. Read chapters 18-20, pp. 136-154 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Bring Hacker to class! Review the grammar sheet of concepts and errors!
3./4. Finish The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; In class: sentence diagramming!
5. Bring in a diagrammed sentence from The Scarlet Letter

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September 30, 2009

Lothario

Lothario
this week's theme: eponymous words Lo·thar·i·o also lo·thar·i·o (l-thâr-) n. pl. Lo·thar·i·os also lo·thar·i·os A man who seduces women. [After Lothario, a character in The Fair Penitent, a play by Nicholas Rowe.]

Quote of the Week: "To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here." - Jonathan Edwards
Website of the Week: Internet Archive
American Literature:
1. Yom Kippur
2. Read chapters 12-14, pp. 101-120 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. Post to LiveJournal a passage from The Scarlet Letter you would like to use for your close-reading analysis paper; also, write a couple of sentences about why you like that passage (Hint: use the online text to search for your passage, select it, copy it, and paste it)
5. Read chapters 15-17, pp. 120-136 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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September 29, 2009

Malapropism

this week's theme: eponymous words
malapropism 1. the unconscious use of an inappropriate word, especially in a cliché, as fender for feather in “You could have knocked me over with a fender.” [Named after Mrs. Malaprop, a character prone to such uses, in The Rivals, by Richard Brinsley Sheridan] 2. an instance of such misuse. Cf. heterophemism.

Quote of the Week: "To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here." - Jonathan Edwards

Website of the Week: Internet Archive
American Literature:
1. Yom Kippur
2. Read chapters 12-14, pp. 101-120 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. Post to LiveJournal a passage from The Scarlet Letter you would like to use for your close-reading analysis paper; also, write a couple of sentences about why you like that passage (Hint: use the online text to search for your passage, select it, copy it, and paste it)
5. Read chapters 15-17, pp. 120-136 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Posted at 09:12 AM in Word, Quote, and Assignments | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

September 24, 2009

vis-à-vis

this week's theme: words from French
–adverb 1. face to face: They sat vis-à-vis at the table.
–adjective 2. face-to-face: a vis-à-vis encounter. 3. Numismatics. (of a coin) having two portraits facing each other.
–preposition 4. in relation to; compared with: income vis-à-vis expenditures. 5. facing; opposite: They were now vis-à-vis the most famous painting in the Louvre.
–noun 6. a person face to face with or situated opposite to another: He offered a cigarette to his vis-à-vis. 7. a date at a social affair: She introduced her vis-à-vis to the hostess. 8. a person of equal authority, rank, or the like: my vis-à-vis in the Louisville office. 9. a carriage in which the occupants sit face to face. 10. Furniture. tête-à-tête (def. 2).

Quote of the Week: "Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." H. L. Mencken US editor (1880 - 1956)

Website of the Week: Lifehacker
American Literature:
1. Yom Kippur
2. Read chapters 12-14, pp. 101-120 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn
3./4. Post to LiveJournal a passage from The Scarlet Letter you would like to use for your close-reading analysis paper; also, write a couple of sentences about why you like that passage (Hint: use the online text to search for your passage, select it, copy it, and paste it)
5. Read chapters 15-17, pp. 120-136 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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September 23, 2009

faux pas

this week's theme: words from French
n. pl. faux pas (f päz) A social blunder. [French : faux, false + pas, step.]

Quote of the Week: "Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." H. L. Mencken US editor (1880 - 1956)

Website of the Week: Lifehacker
American Literature:
1. Bring in decorated folders for your portfolio; Read chapters 3-5, pp. 41-61 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Read chapters 6-8, pp. 61-80 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. Quiz on high-frequency vocabulary words in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; corrections/supplementary explanations/rebuttals to the Literary Terms Quiz due
5. Read chapters 9-11, pp. 80-100 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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September 22, 2009

billet doux

this week's theme: words from French
n. pl. bil·lets-doux (bl-dz) A love letter. [French : billet, short note; see billet1 + doux, sweet (from Latin dulcis).]

Quote of the Week: "Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." H. L. Mencken US editor (1880 - 1956)

Website of the Week: Lifehacker
American Literature:
1. Bring in decorated folders for your portfolio; Read chapters 3-5, pp. 41-61 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Read chapters 6-8, pp. 61-80 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. Quiz on high-frequency vocabulary words in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; corrections/supplementary explanations/rebuttals to the Literary Terms Quiz due
5. Read chapters 9-11, pp. 80-100 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

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September 21, 2009

sang froid

this week's theme: words from French
n. Coolness and composure, especially in trying circumstances. [French : sang, blood (from Old French, from Latin sanguis) + froid, cold (from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *frigidus, alteration of Latin frgidus; see frigid).]

Quote of the Week: "Puritanism: The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy." H. L. Mencken US editor (1880 - 1956)

Website of the Week: Lifehacker
American Literature:
1. Bring in decorated folders for your portfolio; Read chapters 3-5, pp. 41-61 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Read chapters 6-8, pp. 61-80 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. Quiz on high-frequency vocabulary words in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; corrections/supplementary explanations/rebuttals to the Literary Terms Quiz due
5. Read chapters 9-11, pp. 80-100 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Posted at 06:17 AM in Word, Quote, and Assignments | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

September 17, 2009

hoosegow

this week's theme: words from Spanish
n. Slang A jail. [Spanish juzgado, tribunal, courtroom, from past participle of juzgar, to judge, from Latin idicre, from idex, idic-, judge; see judge.

Quote of the Week: “No man for any considerable period can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Website of the Week: Salon
American Literature:
1. Bring in decorated folders for your portfolio; Read chapters 3-5, pp. 41-61 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
2. Read chapters 6-8, pp. 61-80 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. Quiz on high-frequency vocabulary words in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; corrections/supplementary explanations/rebuttals to the Literary Terms Quiz due
5. Read chapters 9-11, pp. 80-100 in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Posted at 06:27 PM in Word, Quote, and Assignments | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

September 16, 2009

picaresque

this week's theme: words from Spanish
adj. 1. Of or involving clever rogues or adventurers. 2. Of or relating to a genre of usually satiric prose fiction originating in Spain and depicting in realistic, often humorous detail the adventures of a roguish hero of low social degree living by his or her wits in a corrupt society.

Quote of the Week: “No man for any considerable period can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Website of the Week: Salon
American Literature:
1. College Day for juniors
2. Read chapters one and two of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. post a rough draft of your p. 167 to your live journal blog; class in the Tunstall lab
5. p. 167 due

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September 15, 2009

quixotic

this week's theme: words from Spanish
adj. 1. Caught up in the romance of noble deeds and the pursuit of unreachable goals; idealistic without regard to practicality. 2. Capricious; impulsive: "At worst his scruples must have been quixotic, not malicious" (Louis Auchincloss).

Quote of the Week: “No man for any considerable period can wear one face to himself and another to the multitude, without finally getting bewildered as to which may be the true." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Website of the Week: Salon
American Literature:
1. College Day for juniors
2. Read chapters one and two of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. post a rough draft of your p. 167 to your live journal blog; class in the Tunstall lab
5. p. 167 due

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September 11, 2009

urtext

this week's theme: words from German
n. The original text, as of a musical score or a literary work.

Quote of the Week: “It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health, to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Website of the Week: Hacker Online!
American Literature:
1. College Day for juniors
2. Read chapters one and two of The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
3./4. post a rough draft of your p. 167 to your live journal blog; class in the Tunstall lab
5. p. 167 due

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September 10, 2009

doppelgänger

this week's theme: words from German
noun Etymology: German Doppelgänger, from doppel- double + -gänger goer 1 : a ghostly counterpart of a living person 2 a : double 2a b : alter ego b c : a person who has the same name as another

Quote of the Week: “It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health, to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Website of the Week: Hacker Online!
American Literature:
1. Labor Day
2. Read "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor, p. 579 in the PAAL; study literary terms; in-class: go to the Tunstall computer lab
3. "Good Country People" continued; study literary terms
4. Read "A Model of Christian Charity" by John Winthrop
photocopied handout and on the web
http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/charity.html
5. Quiz on literary terms

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September 09, 2009

schadenfreude

this week's theme: words from German
n Etymology: German, from Schaden damage + Freude joy Date: 1895 : enjoyment obtained from the troubles of others

Quote of the Week: “It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health, to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Website of the Week: Hacker Online!
American Literature:
1. Labor Day
2. Read "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor, p. 579 in the PAAL; study literary terms; in-class: go to the Tunstall computer lab
3. "Good Country People" continued; study literary terms
4. Read "A Model of Christian Charity" by John Winthrop
photocopied handout and on the web
http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/charity.html
5. Quiz on literary terms

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September 07, 2009

Weltanschauung

this week's theme: words from German
n. pl. Welt·an·schau·ungs or Welt·an·schau·ung·en (-ng-n) See worldview. [German : Welt, world (from Middle High German wërlt, from Old High German weralt; see w-ro- in Indo-European roots) + Anschauung, view (from Middle High German anschouwunge, observation, mystical contemplation : an-, on, at from Old High German ana-; see anlage + schouwunge, look from schouwen, to look at, from Old High German scouwn).]

Quote of the Week: “It contributes greatly towards a man's moral and intellectual health, to be brought into habits of companionship with individuals unlike himself, who care little for his pursuits, and whose sphere and abilities he must go out of himself to appreciate." - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Website of the Week: Hacker Online!
American Literature:
1. Labor Day
2. Read "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor, p. 579 in the PAAL; study literary terms; in-class: go to the Tunstall computer lab
3. "Good Country People" continued; study literary terms
4. Read "A Model of Christian Charity" by John Winthrop
photocopied handout and on the web
http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/charity.html
5. Quiz on literary terms

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September 04, 2009

orthodox

this week's theme: words from Greek
adj. 1. Adhering to the accepted or traditional and established faith, especially in religion. 2. Adhering to the Christian faith as expressed in the early Christian ecumenical creeds. 3. Orthodox a. Of or relating to any of the churches or rites of the Eastern Orthodox Church. b. Of or relating to Orthodox Judaism. 4. Adhering to what is commonly accepted, customary, or traditional: an orthodox view of world affairs. n. 1. One that is orthodox. 2. Orthodox A member of an Eastern Orthodox church.

Quote of the Week: “The apple cannot be stuck back on the Tree of Knowledge; once we begin to see, we are doomed and challenged to seek the strength to see more, not less." - Arthur Miller

Website of the Week: OWL

American Literature:
1. Labor Day
2. Read "Good Country People" by Flannery O'Connor, p. 579 in the PAAL; study literary terms; in-class: go to the Tunstall computer lab
3. "Good Country People" continued; study literary terms
4. Read "A Model of Christian Charity" by John Winthrop
photocopied handout and on the web
http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/sacred/charity.html
5. Quiz on literary terms

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September 03, 2009

hermeneutics

this week's theme: words from Greek

n.,
hher·me·neu·tics (hûrm-ntks, -ny-)
n. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of scriptural text. herme·neutist n.

Quote of the Week: “The apple cannot be stuck back on the Tree of Knowledge; once we begin to see, we are doomed and challenged to seek the strength to see more, not less." - Arthur Miller

Website of the Week: OWL

American Literature:
1. Intro. and syllabus
2. Read “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, p. 491 in the Pearson Anthology of American Literature (a.k.a. PAAL)
3.-4 Bring The Crucible by Arthur Miller to class with five passages marked in it (one to five stars, based on their significance); begin preparing for Friday's essay test
5. In-Class, Open-Book, Open-Note Crucible Essay Test (outline and thesis permitted)
Blog posts below this are from the 2008-2009 School Year

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September 02, 2009

hubris

this week's theme: words from Greek

n.,
hu·bris (hybrs) also hy·bris (h-) n. Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance: "There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris" (McGeorge Bundy). [Greek, excessive pride, wanton violence; see ud- in Indo-European roots.] hu·bristic (-brstk) adj. hu·bristic·al·ly adv. (Frank Maier).

Quote of the Week: “The apple cannot be stuck back on the Tree of Knowledge; once we begin to see, we are doomed and challenged to seek the strength to see more, not less." - Arthur Miller

Website of the Week: OWL

American Literature:
1. Intro. and syllabus
2. Read “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, p. 491 in the Pearson Anthology of American Literature (a.k.a. PAAL)
3.-4 Bring The Crucible by Arthur Miller to class with five passages marked in it (one to five stars, based on their significance); begin preparing for Friday's essay test
5. In-Class, Open-Book, Open-Note Crucible Essay Test (outline and thesis permitted)
Blog posts below this are from the 2008-2009 School Year

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September 01, 2009

epiphany

this week's theme: words from Greek

n.,
n. pl. e·piph·a·nies 1. Epiphany a. A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi. b. January 6, on which this feast is traditionally observed. 2. A revelatory manifestation of a divine being. 3. a. A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something. b. A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: "I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself" (Frank Maier).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Middle English epiphanie, from Old French, from Late Latin epiphania, from Greek epiphaneia, manifestation, from epiphainesthai, to appear : epi-, forth; see epi- + phainein, phan-, to show; see bh-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Quote of the Week: “The apple cannot be stuck back on the Tree of Knowledge; once we begin to see, we are doomed and challenged to seek the strength to see more, not less." - Arthur Miller

Website of the Week: OWL

American Literature:
1. Intro. and syllabus
2. Read “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, p. 491 in the Pearson Anthology of American Literature (a.k.a. PAAL)
3.-4 Bring The Crucible by Arthur Miller to class with five passages marked in it (one to five stars, based on their significance); begin preparing for Friday's essay test
5. In-Class, Open-Book, Open-Note Crucible Essay Test (outline and thesis permitted)
Blog posts below this are from the 2008-2009 School Year

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August 30, 2009

peripatetic

this week's theme: words from Greek

n.,
noun
Date: 15th century
1 capitalized : a follower of Aristotle or adherent of Aristotelianism
2 : pedestrian, itinerant
3 plural : movement or journeys hither and thither

Quote of the Week: “The apple cannot be stuck back on the Tree of Knowledge; once we begin to see, we are doomed and challenged to seek the strength to see more, not less." - Arthur Miller

Website of the Week: OWL

American Literature:
1. Intro. and syllabus
2. Read “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver, p. 491 in the Pearson Anthology of American Literature (a.k.a. PAAL)
3.-4 Bring The Crucible by Arthur Miller to class with five passages marked in it (one to five stars, based on their significance); begin preparing for Friday's essay test
5. In-Class, Open-Book, Open-Note Crucible Essay Test (outline and thesis permitted)
Blog posts below this are from the 2008-2009 School Year

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