English Curry

It seems, my dear people, that our criteria for greatness in a novel are not standing up to scrutiny.

Let’s focus on two aspects. Firstly, (a terrible way to start a sentence) our criterion of ‘Depth of meaning’ is causing confusion. Erin pointed out that it was similar to Insight. Is she right?

Secondly, is the more contentious idea that has arisen about whether your emotional response to a novel is a sign of greatness. The three students who classified the novel as great loved it. The rest, who didn’t, hated it. Discuss.

The great author study unit that I‘m teaching with the grade 10 honors English class is a strange one. Not because of the structure of the unit itself, or the tasks that the students have to complete, rather it’s the meaning of the word ‘great’, and the need to define it. How do you tell if a piece of writing is great? (My honest answer is ‘not sure, really’).
Read more…

a href=”http://curryp.ism-online.org/files/2010/09/pride-and-prejudice-picture.jpg”>Attached is the packet for the whole study. Go.
great authors task
Author study rubric
Jane Austen – P&P ch 4 presentation<

Cast a Mr Darcy-like glance over this activity and complete it with all the good humor of Mr Bingley.
Pride & Prejudice ch 4 analysis

According to the ISM calendar, with its celebration of 90 years of success at the top of every page, it’s still August. The Great Author Study (which could last 90 years or more) is, therefore, in its nascent stage. We have tentatively agreed upon a set of criteria which we will put to the test with Pride and Prejudice in a few weeks time.
Time seems to play a considerable role in this – a text can be of its time, before its time, remembered throughout time or forgotten by the time it lands in the bargain bin. You are reading these authors at a particularly early time in your lives and if you re-read the texts at a different (later) time in your life your understanding and reaction to them will no doubt be different. It is something to consider in how to judge a text.
It has been universally acknowledged that we shall write a journal throughout this study. You will need to hand this in to me at the end of the unit in May. It is not a necessary part of your presentation to the Lady Catherines of the English department, but you may want to personalize your presentation with your thoughts and emotions that you experienced as you read your chosen texts. This could be the difference between a dry speech and the display of a life-changing epiphany. I, most certainly, will regard this highly indeed. There is no set length for your journal, it should just show genuine reactions to your reading. It can be presented as a written piece, podcast, video or interpretive dance. For some guidance of length and effort for the journal, remember that this is only one piece of (major) assessment.
The following authors have been ‘taken’ so far – Murakami, Dickens, Toni Morrison, Oscar Wilde, Tolstoy, Jonathon Safran Foer and Kurt Vonnegut Jr. There is interest in authors such as Margaret Atwood, Anne Tyler, Salman Rushdie and Dante, but they are still available.
You are welcome, even encouraged, to post comments to this blog about your reading adventures.
Great Authors List
great authors task