Fri. Jan. 24, 2014

Today, you worked on researching for your in-class essay mid-term on February 4. While you were working, I continued calling on students to discuss an introductory paragraph written last week. I still have four students who were not met with. If you want to meet with me during test week, I will be available any day except Monday (as that is my test day). Please come in and see me. It will really help you down the road.

Wed. Jan. 22, 2, 2014

Today, you worked on essay preparation (I gave you the question on Monday). You will have to write your in-class essay mid-term exam on Tuesday, February 4. While you will not be able to bring any preparation materials into class, this time will allow you to work on your ideas and format, thus cutting down on the time needed to write.

Mon. Jan. 20, 2014

Today, I gave you to topic for your in-class essay (midterm) which will be done on Tuesday, February 4. Read the instructions carefully. If you were not here, they are in your portfolio. I also gave you two handouts: one is a proofreading checklist, and one is a revisioning checklist. Read these carefully. If you were not here, they are in your portfolio.

Thurs. Jan. 16, 2014

Today, we discussed essay conclusions. I then gave you the following assignment to complete for Monday's class:

Write a seven sentence essay introductory paragraph answering this question: How imporatn is friendship in achieving ones goals?

You must use The Merchant of Venice for your text.

Tues, Jan. 14, 2014

Today, I presented a PowerPoint on Essay structure. I also gave you a handout on how to structure an introductory paragraph in seven sentences. I also reviewed transitions by providing you with a list of transiton words and a worksheet. It is due on Thursday. If you were not here, it is in your portfolio. Retrieve it and get it completed.

Fri. Jan. 10, 2014 Finding the Main Point

Today, we discussed how to locate a main point in an essay (and create one). If you were not here, I put a copy of the PowerPoint in your portfolio. Pick it up Monday morning.
I also gave students questions to answer relating to finding the main point. These are also in your portfolio if you were not here. They are not labour intensive, so you should have no problem completing them for Tuesday's class.

Wed. Jan. 8, 2013 Merchant Themes Cont.

Today, we continued our discussion of the themes in The Merchant of Venice. For some of it, you worked in groups to come up with evidence. I am posting the class notes below:
Your midterm will also be the first day back after test week which, if I am not mistaken, is Tuesday, February 4.

1.      Law, Mercy and Revenge

 

Law: Bond

              Courtroom scene

              Casket situation

              Duke

              Lawyer (Portia, Balthasar)

              Citizenship laws (Jews)

 

Mercy: To show compassion, forgiveness

            Antonio shows Shylock compassion

            Antonio helping Bassanio

            Portia and Nerissa stop torturing their husbands

            Prince of Aragon is allowed to marry (silver casket)

            Duke shows Shylock compassion (allows him to live)

            Jessica gives Launcelot a coin

           

           

Revenge

            A revenger is often responding to what he or she thinks of as a “higher” law. They want to take the law into their own hands. However, Shylock has found a legal way to do this. He is not prepared to be merciful (as the Duke and Portia encourage him to be). When his law is found lacking and Antonio and the Duke show him mercy, it is something he doesn’t want. If he has his money taken and he’s forced to be a Christian, he will be unable to work (as a money lender) and will lose his religious identity.

 

Portia and Nerissa with husbands over the rings

Jessica stealing from her father

Antonio helping people with debts

 

2.      Greed vs. Generosity

 

Antonio sees Shylock as greedy

Antonio is generous to Bassanio

Antonio helps Christians by loaning them money

Bassanio wants Portia (greed?)

Nerissa and Portia give rings but they come with strings

 

 

3.      Reading and Interpretation

Reading is woven into the structures of prejudice and intolerance, love, law and justice – it is central to everyday life

 

Biblical scriptures (interpretive differences)

The riddles on the caskets

Portia in the courtroom scene

 

4.      Love and Friendship

 

Love

Shylock and Jessica

Portia and Bassanio

Jessica and Lorenzo

Portia and her father

Nerissa and Gratiano

 

Friendship

Lorenzo and Bassanio

Nerissa and Portia

Bassanio and Antonio

Lorenzo and Gratiano

Salanio and Salerio

Launcelot and Jessica (at beginning)

Launcelot and dad (?)

Monday, January 6, 2014

Today, we discussed the themes present in Merchant of Venice. There are six themes presented and then, as a class, we located main points/evidence to support that they were themes. We only got through two of them today. The notes are posted below:

Merchant of Venice

Themes

 

The Theme is the message or idea the author is trying to present us with. In larger works, such as novels and plays, there are more than one. In The Merchant of Venice, there were a number of plots which we spoke about at the beginning. Now, we will address the themes in preparation for your upcoming essay.

 

1.      Prejudice and Intolerance

2.      Human and Animal (the idea of humanity)

3.      Law, Mercy and Revenge

4.      Greed vs. Generosity

5.      Reading and Interpretation

6.      Love and Friendship

 

 

1.      Prejudice and Intolerance

Antonio’s treatment of Shylock (Jew)

·         Spits on him

·         Calls him “dog”

·         Kicks him

·         Accuses him of usury (which is the case), but yells about it in the Rialto

 

The way Jewish people are treated generally

·         Had to wear different clothing (red hat)

·         Forced to live in a ghetto

·         Had to practice their trade in allocated areas

·         Were not citizens

·         Curfews imposed on them

 

The way Shylock treats Launcelot

·         Not enough food

·         Rude to him

·         Improperly clothed

·         Overworked

 

The way Launcelot treats Jessica

·         She WILL go to hell!

·         Raising the prices of pork!!!

·         Basically implies that she is still a person of lesser status because of who her father is (unless she’s illegitimate!)

 

The way Portia talks about the prince of Morocco

·         Black skin is seen as bad

·         Would rather be dead than be married to him

·         Personality doesn’t matter if he is black

 

2.      The idea of humanity (man or animal)

When we talk about humanity – or inhumanity – we are talking about treating some as equal and others as not. If we can find a way to convince ourselves that others are, in essence, animals, then we find an easy way to justify our mistreatment of them.

 

·         Shylock tries to dehumanize Antonio

o   “Buys” Antonio’s flesh in the bond itself

o   Keep in mind that, at this time and right up to TODAY in some countries, people are STILL bought or held as slaves!!!

o   Ready to cut off the flesh in the courtroom scene (shows no remorse or hesitation)

o   Shylock, in frustration, attempts to explain that all people, at least on a biological level, are the same.