Your Assignments over Break

I have extended the due date for the work until January 18 if you want or need the extra time. You must participate fully in class, now though, and finish any work and reading you have on David Copperfield outside of class.

After the 18th, you will have a short test about the events of David Copperfield.

Finish Reading David Copperfield

By January 18th complete the following:

A) Write a literary analysis
B) Create a presentation such as a video, power point or another format that informs and educates others about the Dickens and this novel.

Literary Analysis Paper
Charles Dickens uses a wide variety of literary devices to express the book's themes. Develop a thesis on some aspect of the novel. The exposition of your essay should lead readers to a higher understanding of the story. You must incorporate quotations from the novel into your paper. For some topics it is required that you do outside research, but I recommend you do some research on any of these topics to help you understand more deeply.

Narrow your topic to a manageable focus. Create a thesis, or what you plan to prove or explain. You must incorporate direct quotations from the novel into the paper. Include an MLA format bibliography of research sources.

Title your paper with an appropriate and interesting title. Type your paper and check to be sure it is grammatically correct and error free.

Suggested writing topics are:

1) Dickens’ Style
Write about some aspect(s) of Dickens’ writing style. His writing is both unique and reflects the time in which he wrote. He uses detailed observation, dramatic and tragic situations, figurative language, irony, and humor. You could also explore how the setting of the book affected the mood of the story. Another topic is Dickens’ use of contrasts in the novel.

2) Theme
Your thesis might be related to what you feel is the most important theme in the novel. Dickens made strong social commentary through the novel and its characters, Discuss the moral judgments and attitudes towards life portrayed in this novel.

3) Biographical Correlation
Research Dickens' life and his early childhood. Look at the characters portrayed in David Copperfield. Explore how the characters in the novel are a reflection of the life that Dickens led. You could explain how and why Dickens wrote novels that showed the ruling classes in a negative light. You might integrate a discussion of how this social view compares and contrasts with modern life.
If you have other suggestions for a topic, please feel free to run it by me.
**************************************************************************
Write and produce a drama

So you want to create a movie!

Here are some suggestions if you are going to create a video or movie.

I will need to see a complete written script at the end. Practice your parts and plan your production. Do some research on how to write a script.

Story Action and Plot

Think about what you want to happen in your play and in what order. A classic three act Hollywood structure could be adapted.
Introduce your protagonist, give him a conflict, have him overcome obstacles and then resolve the story. Keep your plot active to keep the audience from snoring.

Characterization and Language
How do your characters talk? Use dialogue to show both character and to move the plot forward. You don’t want to affect British accents, but do attempt to show character through dialect and vocabulary.

Theme and Ideas
Your central theme should manifest itself in every aspect of your play. Stay true to the themes of David Copperfield. David experiences many things and interacts with many people; in the process he grows up and gains understanding of himself and the world around him. Choose scenes that fit together to show the arc of the story, such as David’s early life, his school years, his young adulthood, his life with his friends and relatives and his married life. Choose favorite scenes. You may blend scenes to create an effective story and plot.

Work together to make a great production!

Read through to the end of Chapter 23 by Monday

This is just a little more than a chapter a night.

I'll have the assignments for over the break posted by the end of next week so you can ask any clarifying questions if you need to.

See you Monday!

Ms. Clear

Dialectical Journal Due Friday

Make Blog entry in the style of a "Dialectical Journal." Choose three significant quotes from the novel so far. Typically a dialectical journal is done on paper and on one side is the quote, the other side has your remarks, comments and explanations of the quotes. Arrange it in some way on the Blog that separates the two sections.

Choose three passages that leave you thoughtful or in some way make you wonder about the deeper meaning that Dickens was striving for. Grapple with the meaning of the passage. As you write your comments, attempt to give us, your readers, your insight into the meaning of the passages and the themes of the book. You may also find a passage that has a particularly interesting literary style, such as humor, description, figurative language. You may choose one of those notable literary style passages. Tailor your comments to fit the passages you choose.

Possible themes to consider are:
The plight of the weak
Equality in marriage (especially in the social context of the time of the story)
Wealth and class (especially in the context of the time of the story)

Update for Thursday, Dec 2

Have your Vocabulary Assignment ready by tomorrow. If you can print out five copies so you can hand one out to each group member and one for me, that would be helpful. Make an answer key!

Questions from Chapters 1-10 are due by Friday. Hand in your paper to the basket for your own Block period.

Read through at least Chapter 15 by Monday.

Keep your reading Journal current. I encourage you talk to each other on e-mail or the Blog if there is something you have a question or comment about. Also of course, I like to know the ones you have trouble with so I can learn too.
Ms. Clear

Tuesday November 30

Please answer these comprehension and interpretation questions on the novel up to and through Chapter Ten. Use examples and quotations from the novel to support your answers whenever possible, and in some cases it is required. Do these responses on paper. Complete these by Thursday, December 2.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday please post on the Blog what chapter you have completed. This will help the other readers to keep up and to correspond with each other on what they know about the story so far.

You need to read at least one chapter per night to stay on track.

1) Relate two examples of figurative language in the book between Chapters One and Ten.

2) How does David know he is not liked by Miss Murdstone? Find at least two examples from the book that relate how we, and David, know this. Cite the chapter in which you found the passage.

3) Find two passages that are excellent examples of characterization of any characters other than David.

4) What nugget of wisdom does the tailor, Mr. Omer, give David as he fits him for clothes for the funeral?

5) Explain why you believe that Mrs. Copperfield died. Cite a quotation from the novel that supports your inference.

6) Describe how Peggoty and her family give David a sense of happiness.

7) What do you think Dickens is saying about the social class system of the time when you compare the motivations and actions of Peggoty and the Murdstones?

8) Give two examples of Davy’s characterization in his actions and/or speech. Interpret how you feel Dickens intended to show David’s characterization in the passages you choose.

9) Compare and contrast the marriages that we have seen so far through the end of Chapter Ten.

Daily reading

You should plan to average one chapter a night at a minimum. If you can read more, please feel free to do so.

You should be through Chapter 10 by Wednesday.

Snow days and weekend

Continue reading David Copperfield and maintain your reading journal as you read. The reading journal helps. The character list keeps order of the complex array of characters, and a plot summary of each chapter works well because the chapters are vignettes that are build upon each other. Of course, also note literary devices and the chapter in which they occur, and interesting or difficult vocabulary. I will update specific questions for the chapters and post them here on the Blog. Enjoy your uninterrupted reading!

Chapters 5-7

Make sure to make an entry in your plot summary Reading Journal after you read each chapter. A few sentences are sufficient.
Add vocabulary words to your vocabulary list as you read. You should have approximately 5-10 words on this list by the end of Chapter 5.

Chapter 5 is a transitional chapter that takes place in several locations. Please answer these questions on a separate document and mail them to me or hand them in on paper.

Chapter 5
The night David stays at the inn in Yarmouth, he has a conversation with the waiter. How does the waiter’s dialect and actions show the characterization of this man?

What does the narrator observe that most people do not like to confess to doing?

Describe what David imagines might happen to him as he sits waiting at the coach station. Explain various reasons why you think he would imagine this.

Describe David’s first impressions of the school and how his feelings begin to affect his experience there. In your answer, include this quotation: “Take care of him. He bites.”

Chapter 6
This chapter introduces several of the main characters at Salem House. Add the characters and details about their characterization thus far to your character list.

Make a prediction about these new characters’ impact in David’s life in the future either on their character lists or in your plot summary section.

Add a paragraph of details describing new characters traits and actions of David in his adventures on the way to London and now that he is starting his life at Salem House.

Chapter 7
Assume the character of Charles. Write a letter home to Clara, David’s mother. Post this letter on the Blog.

Maintain your Reading Journal.

Chapters 1-5

Reflect upon the story so far. Analyze what theme(s) you think Dickens may be illustrating.  Explain your reasoning. Give a quotation from the novel that supports your opinion.

Interpret how the actions and interactions of the characters thus far in the novel demonstrate the theme(s).

For Monday, November 22 read one more chapter and maintain the book log and character list.

David Copperfield

"Whether I shall turn out to be a hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show." - David Copperfield