I had shared a scholarly article titled"Pride and Prejudice and the Purpose of Marriage" with Alexa. She had read it before class. We discussed the article and highlighted the sections that would help Alexa with her analysis for her literary paper. We also discussed the novel. We began to select some of the textual evidence Alexa will use in her paper. We wrote the introduction to the paper. Alexa needs to continue reading the novel for homework.

Vlad agreed that he could do a good job writing a research paper on the Coronavirus pandemic. We first brainstormed what a plan for the organization of the paper would look like: A Cause Paper, providing quotes from various sources as to the causes of the pandemic; or an Effect Paper, providing quotes from various sources as to the effects of the pandemic; or a paper that discusses both the causes and the effects. We started with a working title: What Caused the Coronavirus Pandemic? Given the question, the rest of the paper would answer that question. We discussed using terms like: contributing cause, secondary cause, primary cause, root cause, and triggering event. We were after finding two good block quotes, one from the Mayo Clinic website and one from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. We started the Works Cited page.

Alexa and I discussed where she is in the novel. She briefly summarized the novel and did a good job. We talked about the writing prompt. I created a google doc and shared it with Alexa. We will write together on the document. We composed a thesis and then we created an outline for her essay. We began to look for textual evidence to support her outline. We ran out of time. Alexa will continue to read the novel for homework.

Discussed and edited Vlad's final draft of Comparison and Contrast Paper. Made sure Vlad's paper has all the organizational and developmental items required, and, second, Vlad followed all the required formats governing page setup; title; introductory paragraph; three paragraphs analyzinig Rembrandt painting, followed by two paragraphs citing art critics (using block quoting); transition; three paragraphs analyzing Wright painting, followed by two paragraphs citing art critics; concluding paragraph, and Works Cited page. Vlad to send me a copy of the final product. Next, discussed what is our next paper: the Cause and Effect Paper. Told Vald to look for three handouts re Cause and Effect Paper to read before our session on Wednesday.

Today's lesson addressed Huck Finn as an archetypal American hero. We reviewed language from the reading wherein Tom Sawyer criticizes Huck for "always wanting a fresh start" and not doing things "regular". Olivia expanded on the significance of this statement noting that doing things "regular" referenced adhering to conventions. We then discussed the reference to " a fresh start" as a reference to Americanism separate from European cultural influence. We then analyzed the ongoing satire of the Romantic melodramatic genre in the final chapters of the novel. Last ,Olivia discussed that in contrast to Huck , Tom Sawyer lacks empathy as evidenced by his disregard for Jim's imprisonment while Tom unnecessarily concocts an elaborate drawn out plan to free Jim. We questioned Huck's acquiescence to Tom's insistence on prolonging Jim's imprisonment. For homework, I assigned reading the next two chapters .

Alexa was absent

Alexa was absent both hours. I stayed by the computer and texted and called, also notified Nicole.

We continued reading Pride and Prejudice with discussion, and in preparation for Alexa's major documented essay. She will submit a rough draft in the next class. I have sent her samples of MLA formatting with citing as well as Works Cited with detailed examples and explanations. Alexa is doing research for this essay. She is also thinking about the senior project on literature that we have discussed and of which she has read excerpts.

Vlad and I worked for two hours (1) editing his draft, (2) researching additional commentaries written by art critics, (3) rewiting his introductory paragraph, and (4) discussiing where in his essay Vlad might think of inserting reproductions of the two paintings he's comparing.

Vlad and I had to move his paper forward. He made no progress since our last class. We started with his own three paragraphs analyzing Rembrandt's painting "The Anatomy Lesson." He has a block quote from one art critic. That paragraph we had to set up using the three parts of The Sandwich. We then discussed Joseph Wright's painting "Experiment of a Bird in an Air Pump." It took time to analyze all the people in the painting for the suggestiveness of their faces and body language, but we got three paragraphs written analyzing Wright's painting. Did a lot of mechanical editing along the way. Vlad for Wednesday is to add: Title, introductory paragraph, three block quotes from art critics, and end with a concluding paragraph.