Tuesday, January 6th

Goals:

• Determine whether or not Harold Crick is the absurd hero in Stranger than Fiction
  
• Understand the protocol for lit circles
  
• Get organized with your Lit Circle group
  

Announcements:

• Honors lunch meeting tomorrow

Agenda

1. Finish Stranger than Fiction 

2. Journal #2: Answer these questions as best as you can:

• What were your general reactions to the film? Did you like it? Why or why not? What stood out as interesting/entertaining/thought-provoking, etc...?
• “But a man who knows about his own death and willing accepts it and dies anyway, isn’t that the type of man  you want to keep alive?” (paraphrased, Ms. Eiffel)  Is Harold from the movie Stranger than Fiction an “Absurd Hero”?  
• What is Ms. Eiffel supposed to represent? 
•  Are the film producers suggesting there is a higher power that controls our fate or was Harold able to have free will?
• Would you rather live a long life and die by choking on a mint or would you rather die in a meaningful way that helps you leave a powerful legacy?
  

3. Whole class seminar on the film

4. Introduction to Lit Circles!

• Get into groups!
• Quick tutorial on how to find lit circle (and ALL project) resources
• Go over the Lit Circle Guidelines handout/document

5. Get organized with your lit circle!
A. Share out how long it took each of you to read (don't be embarrassed! Your reading speed is NOT a sign of intelligence)

B. Divide up the reading and fill in the page numbers/chapter numbers on page 1 under "READING SCHEDULE"

C. Decide which role each of you will play on the assigned days

• Fill in your role for each day on the blank lines under "READING SCHEDULE".
  
• Fill in the master schedule on page 2 under "LITERATURE CIRCLE SCHEDULE"

6. Research your book!

• Read the introduction/preface/reviews in the front of the book as relevant
• Learn about the author. When were they born? Where? What was their life like? What experiences may have influenced this book?
• When was the book published and/or when does the book take place? What important historical/social/political events were occurring then that may influence the plot/themes, etc..?
• What important themes stick out in this book?

7. Time to read 

Resources:
Wikipedia

Catcher in the Rye

• Short article in The Guardian: "10 Things You Should Know"
• Great resources from New York Times with relevant article from modern time and discussion questions. 
• NPR radio clip about the book with interview with the creator of "Gossip Girl"
• John Green on Catcher in the Rye (10 minute video)

A Tale for the Time Being

• About the book and author
• Videos about the book and author and trailer for the upcoming film
• Interview with Ruth Ozeki
• Discussion Questions

This Side of Paradise

• Document with helpful link for historical and literary references
• New York Times review of the novel
• Good summary Fitzgerald's life and influences on the novel

The Glass Castle

• Summary and discussion questions
• Article about the author and the book from New York TImes

House on Mango Street

• Author's Bio
• About the book and praise for it (scroll down)
• Good resource from PBS
• Article about Mexicans in Chicago (scroll down to pages 14-17)