Robin was absent for this session.

Today, Robin worked on a nature journal entry using video of natural scenes. I encouraged the use of sensory details. We reviewed the reading by Annie Dillard.

Robin was absent today.

Today, Robin and I read and analyzed an excerpt titled "Seeing" which was published in Annie's Dillard's memoir "Pilgrim at Tinker Creek". We discussed the use of metaphor, and Robin answered reading comprehension and analysis questions by writing her answers on the chat box of our Skype screen.

Today, Robin and I explicated the last few stanzas of "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe, noting the angle of vision differences of the Formalist approach and the Psychological Analysis approach. In other words, should we (readers) trust the narrator, given his recent experience of trauma and resulting depression/psychosis? We also discussed the form of the famous 19th century poem.

Robin was absent on Skype during this session.

Robin was absent on Skype today.

Zach needs to read Persepolis, a wonderful graphic memoir by Maryam Satrapi.

Today, Robin and I met on Skype. We read, annotated, and discussed "The Raven" by Edgar Allan Poe.

We are starting a unit on Edgar Allan Poe in our American Literature book. Today, we watched and discussed a video biography of Poe, produced by the Poe Museum. It included an introduction to the author's life, writings, style, themes, and impact on society.