Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" Assignment

"The Raven" Assignment
Due: Monday, November 4
This will count as 3 homework assignments and count for quarter 2

Part 1: Identify 1 word from each stanza of the poem that is new to you. Find the definitions. Copy the definitions (18 words total).

My example:

The sentence that contains my word:

"Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door."

Definition:

dreary (adjective): causing unhappiness or sad feelings : not warm, cheerful, etc. (http://www.merriam-webster.com)

Part 2: Annotate the poem. This means you should print out the poem and highlight, underline, circle, and use question marks. Jot down ideas and questions you have as you read.

Part 3: Write a one (or more) sentence summary for each stanza of the poem. This will be my ultimate check that you understand the poem. After finding new vocabulary words and annotating throughout, this should be a lot easier.

Everything you need to complete this assignment is below.

Click here for the full text of the poem

Here's the Vincent Price performance we watched in class:

Here's a good quality version of "The Simpsons" version as well.... (I could not embed the video unfortunately)

You can easily find other versions of the poem on YouTube (including a dramatic reading by Christopher Walken!). Use media to help you with this assignment. Hearing/seeing it performed will help clarify confusing parts.

Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart"

Hey guys,

As you know, we're staying "Halloween themed" this week. Here's the link you need for "The Tell-Tale Heart" questions you'll be working on this week (there's a link to the story as well).






Here's a link to the full text of "The Tell-Tale Heart."

Here's "The Tell-Tale Heart" questions that you need to answer. (remember, the questions open best when logged into your gmail account and when using chrome).

For further interest/insight on the story (it's pretty funny)...



I'll be posting "The Raven" and "The Cask of the Amontillado" with assignments later this week as well.

1st Quarter Book Project FAQ's

Just a few "Frequently Asked Questions" and general advice about the project due on Friday:

1.) With NECAP and a hectic start this year, the project is will most likely be your only "test" grade for this quarter. That means that this project will be half of your first quarter grade.

2.) A "long" assignment is one that reflects 3 (or more) complete paragraphs of writing. Some of the most popular choices for a "long" would be: letter, newspaper or magazine article, an email, a blog post, a journal or diary entry, various kinds of reports, an obituary, and an editorial.

3.) If you're having issues printing the iPhone from the text template we looked at in class, take a screenshot. Paste the screenshot into MS Word (or something similar). You should then be able to crop it and resize it as you see fit.

4.) Use screenshots in general. Many of these tools I provided in my previous post with links will not copy and paste that easily. Using a screenshot, pasting and cropping is a simple way around this problem.

5.) Do not give me poster boards please. I need to take these home to grade so please keep it to 8 1/2 x 11 or smaller. Thank you!

6.) The best piece of advice I can give you on this project is to look at models of whatever it is that you are trying to create. Do not assume you know what a criminal report looks like (if you do, I have some questions for you...) Use Google to find exemplars to use as guidelines.

7.) All your pieces should be original pieces, authored by you. You should not be pulling text out from your book. Original pieces only please.

8.) When in doubt, type it. I prefer most work typed. It's easier for you to write and definitely easier for me to read.


If you have any other questions or concerns, do not hesitate to email me.

1st Quarter Independent Reading Project

Just a reminder that the first quarter independent reading project is due on Friday, October 25th. (That's only 10 days from the publishing of this post folks.)

This will be a large part of students' first quarter grades. Please email me with any questions you may have.

Here's some helpful links:

An Awesome Variety of Tools for this Project
Another Page with a Variety of Tools
Resource to create a character Facebook Page
A Variety of MS Office Templates

If you need another sheet outlining the assignment, click here

The Drummer Boy of Shiloh

You can download and view the story by clicking here

Anyone who is having issues seeing the story above or downloading the PDF can find the story in the text book (link on the side of the blog).

NECAP Practice

Just wanted to provide a quick update as NECAP testing begins over the next three weeks. We have spent the last week in class reviewing various writing prompts that students may encounter and we will continue this work over the course of the coming week. I thought I might share a link to the RI Department of Ed's NECAP prep page. Here you can find the samples we have been working on in class and other additional supplemental material.

I strongly encourage that parents and students discuss the importance of NECAP at home. Make sure you get a good night's rest and a good breakfast before test day so you feel your best.

Here's the link to the NECAP prep page

Summer Reading Assignment #2

I just wanted to update parents and students that I have moved the due date for the second summer reading assignment to Monday, September 23rd.

Today I am talking with all classes about expectations for the assignment to be handed in on Monday.

Period 6:

Students should pick 2 different questions to answer. The best answers will have 3 full paragraphs and use textual support (cited with a page number).

We used some time today and will continue tomorrow discussing which questions will lend themselves to these types of responses.

Periods 2, 3, and 7:

Students should pick 2 different questions to answer. The best answers will have 2 full paragraphs and use clear examples from their book as support.

All classes:

The story map is not mandatory for the second summer reading assignment. If students have already completed this portion of the assignment, they can submit it for extra credit.

I am much more interested in the students generating written responses to the questions over some of the more "artsy" projects of the story map portion.

Please email me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this change.

The homework requiring students to gather a list of 3 independent reading books with book reviews is still due tomorrow, September 20th. 

Open House "Thank You" and Common Core Links

I would like to thank all the parents for coming out to open house on Tuesday night! It was nice to get to meet so many of you. I thought it was a big turnout. I have no doubt that with your support this will continue to be a great year.

If you were one of the parents who came at the end of the night when I ran out of copies, or if you were not able to attend, I wanted to share the handout I passed out regarding the Common Core State Standards. You can find the link here.

I have also added a link to the sidebar that directly takes you to the standards themselves.

Feel free to contact me for more information.

Independent Reading

After reading this article suggested by Mr. Vesey,we had an interesting conversation in class today about our reading habits. Students were given the following assignment on selecting independent reading books of their choosing.

Book Selection Assignment Due Friday, 9/20

(Check out GoodReads.com for some great suggestions!)

Summer Reading

Just a friendly reminder that the first summer reading assignment is due on Monday, September 9th. (The second assignment will be due Friday, September 20th).

Click here for assignment details

The reading list is at the top of the page. The actual assignment details are at the bottom of the page. Please email if you have any questions.

New School Year

I'm looking forward to meeting all my new students this year! Best of luck to this year's 8th grade Cobras!


Click here for a letter addressing parents for the upcoming school year
Click here for class syllabus