Monday, 11.26 In Class Instructions & Homework.

By Today.
You should have read “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong,” “Stockings,” and “Church” over the long weekend.

In Class.
In groups of two or three, read and annotate “The Man I Killed,” “Ambush,” and “Style” (pp.124-136 [13]). Stop a few times to discuss. You should be able to start and finish it in class.

Homework.

1. From the in-class reading and based on your annotations, post a discussion question to The Eighth Block. Only one question per group is needed; be sure to list your group members at the beginning of the post.
2. Review and “amp up” (strengthen) annotations and character maps. I will check both on Wednesday. See below for a reminder about character map expectations.
   

Each student should choose a character to track in their notebook. By “track” a character, you will essentially “zoom in” and following that throughout the book. Establish a few fresh pages in your notebook that you will use exclusively for this purpose. List examples first of what is known about that character, for example: what he carries, physical descriptions, personality traits and tendencies, thoughts, and both what he says and what others say about him. Secondly, list questions that you have about that character, for example, “On page 13, why does he kick the dead boy in the head?” or “On pp. 13-14, what is the moral he is referring to?” Try to speculate answers to your questions based on the reading. * Always give page numbers!

Other considerations: How the character’s personality develops, his background, common expressions or sayings, his job, and motivations, and his significance in the story. What does this soldier’s story contribute to the book? What techniques do you notice when he speaks or is mentioned? Again, support with quotes from the text.