1. ALIS Its Coming Your Way Kung Fu Fighting

2. The Goals To help you become a more sophisticated and independent critical thinker To prepare you for higher levels of learning (A.P., college, the workforce, etc.) To instill confidence in each of you as a writer To model how to research, read, and incorporate critical (secondary) sources To give you some freedom and independence to connect to acclaimed American texts that we cant read in class

3. The Process: Part I 1 st leg of the race…you finished it! Your summer reading book was your first ALIS book. Well done! Do not lose your books or your writing. Get a dedicated ALIS folder ASAP; if you decorate it, youll love it more. –Should be sturdy, have pockets and brads in the middle ABSOLUTELY NO BINDERS!

4. Part II 2 nd leg of the race: select a second book that somehow relates to your first novel; it may be from the same genre or category: African American Literature or the War category. It could also have similar settings, conflicts, main characters. You will need to do some research to discover connections. You will write an analysis of this text using a critical lens. (Dont worry; well teach you how). You will use both your summer book and your fall book, as well as other texts from the semester and multimedia sources like music, videos and images, to create a wikispace at the end of November that illustrates your learning and reflects your personal philosophy statement. We will teach you how to research and read critical sources so that you can use them in your essays.

5. The Grand Finale… The 3 rd leg of the race will take place next semester. You will select a 3 rd book, preferably from the ALIS suggested reading list, and refine/intensify the skills introduced to you 1 st semester by choosing your own critical lens to analyze your text. You will eventually write a comparison essay between two of the ALIS texts youve read.

6. Dates to Know Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now Wed 9/9: Present ALIS Overview Friday, 9/18: Have 2 nd ALIS book in class (you should buy this; find and purchase soon, in case it has to be ordered) Wednesday, 10/21: Finish reading and annotating 2 nd ALIS novel (annotation expectations will be discussed soon) 10/23-11/7: Individual conferences Monday, 11/9: Rough Draft due IN CLASSone printed copy Wednesday, 11/11: Work day in computer lab Nov. 17-18: Final draft due Wednesday, Dec. 2: wikispace work day in computer lab 12/4-12/7: at least two peer edits on wikispace Wednesday, Dec. 9 by midnight: wikispace to be posted

7. How To Succeed

8. Dont procrastinate

9. Ask for help when you need it it

10. Remain calm

11. Bribe your teacher

12. What to do from here? Choose your next ALIS text Wait, with baited breath, for my approval. Buy your book and begin reading and annotating.

13. Hot Focused on a literary element Answers a question/solves a problem Leads to discovery of something new Involves intellectual risk- taking Examples: The magical woods in A Midsummer Nights Dream are used to convey the idea that love is enchanting and complicated. Cathy [from East of Eden], who incarnates evil, gives insight into the nature of evil and reinforces the underlying idea of free will. Charles Frazier, in Cold Mountain, uses the motif of birds to convey the idea that although there is cruelty and hardship in the world, the human spirit will prevail. Not Merely states the theme States what any good reader knows Is safe and self-evident Leaves one wondering, so what? Examples: Love, in A Midsummer Nights Dream, is enchanting and complicated. The theme of East of Eden is that humans have free will and may resist the powers of evil. Cold Mountain shows that despite cruelty and hardship in the world, the human spirit will prevail.

14. Sample Thesis Statements from The Crucible Abigail, the antagonist in Arthur Millers The Crucible, demonstrates that the most effective leaders rule through intellect, not brute strength. Arthur Miller, in his play The Crucible, uses Abigail Williams to reveal that selfishness is the most detrimental evil a person can commit. Playwright Arthur Miller, in his play The Crucible, uses the protagonist John Proctor to illustrate that man cannot ignore his societal duty, even during times of turmoil, to establish truth and justice.