End of Realism, End of Huck

Today we are officially ending our time in and discussions of Huck Finn. In fact, we are concluding our entire study of the epoch of Realism and moving on past the turn of the century. 

Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
2. Huck Finn Quiz: Chapters 36-The Last
3. Read the Publisher's Weekly article on the "Bowdlerization" of Twain's Huck Finn. 
4. ICE (2/9): Racism & Huck
1. When the novel first appeared, elementary school teachers hated it because of its use of poor grammar. Sunday school teachers hated it because of Huck's poor choices and moral idiocy. Today the novel is banned from all public libraries and schools because of its racially offensive language and derogatory depiction of black people. Write a well-developed response to this issue that answers the following questions: 
2. To formulate your Thesis: 
1. Is it good for a publisher (such as NewSouth Books) to revise a new edition of Huck Finn that expunges the "N--" word and other racially offensive language? In other words, do you agree or disagree?
1. Other questions to consider in your essay:
1. If a novel is to teach young people by exemplifying wisdom and eloquence, then why on earth should we read Huck Finn? 
2. Is Mark Twain racist? 
3. Is Huck racist?
2. Guidelines: 
1. Use 5 Vocabulary words from Unit 8 in manner that demonstrates their proper meanings. Word bank is on the wall. Underline vocab words. 
2. 3-4 paragraphs.
3. Underline your Thesis. Highlight your quotes.
4. 3 quotes total to support your point of view taken from the following sources:
1. 2 from Huck Finn the novel
2. 1 from either T. S. Eliot's Introduction or the Publisher's Weekly Article
5. Review HW:
1. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Vocabulary Unit 9 HW:
1. Pick any five words from Unit 9. Know each word's part of speech. Write a short paragraph that correctly uses these five words, is grammatically correct, and addresses of the following prompts:
1. Prompt 1: Describe your experience in the lunch line here at MV, compared to last year.
2. Prompt 2: What do you think is the value of Spiritual Emphasis Week? How was last week's? What like about it? What did you totally not like? 
3. Finish Huck Finn (for your own sake, if you've not already). 
4. Be perfect.

Bowdlerizing Huck Finn

"To be or not to be; that is the bare bodkin."

Today we dealing with a very controversial topic, the censuring of Twain's masterpiece The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, which also exposes the State's misunderstandings and the weakness of the public school system. You are, of course, entitled to disagree.

Agenda:

1. Pater noster
2. Read the Publisher's Weekly article on the "Bowdlerization" of Twain's Huck Finn. 
3. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Begin working on it.
4. Review HW:
1. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Study Bedford 11 and Vocab Unit 8.
3.  Be perfect.

Mr. Clemens, what is man that you are not mindful of him?

Today is an assessment day. There are several recurrent themes we have discussed in relation to Huck Finn, and in order to get greater understanding of the novel we will begin the first of three analytical essays.

Agenda:

1. Pater Noster
2. Discuss Reading Journal on Jack London's "To Build a Fire" 
3. ICE (2/2): Huck Essay #1
1. Recently, you read Twain's essay, "The Lowest Animal" and found his view of mankind to have "descended" from the other animals. His sarcasm is clear enough. From that essay and from T.S. Eliot's introduction, show Twain's "misanthropy" in the novel Huck Finn. Point out specific places in the text of Huck Finn (use quotes) that reveal Twain's low view of mankind.
1. Guidelines for this Essay: 
1. 4-5 paragraphs / MLA Format
2. 3 Quotes Total: 2 from Huck Finn / 1 quote from "The Lowest Animal" 
3. Highlight your quotes.
4. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Begin working on it.
5. Review HW:
1. Read about your upcoming Creative Writing Portfolio Project. 
1. Check out the example here.
2. Study Bedford 11 and Vocab Unit 8.
3.  Be perfect.