The last thing a fourteen-year-old boy expects to find along an old Ozark river bottom is a tree full of monkeys. Jay Berry Lee's grandpa had an explanation, of course--as he did for most things. The monkeys had escaped from a traveling circus, and there was a handsome reward in store for anyone who could catch them. Grandpa said there wasn't any animal that couldn't be caught but we'll see about these monkeys.
Reading Schedule
Monday, Feb. 3
4th Read till Chapter 6
5th Read till Chapter 5
Monday, Feb. 10
Read till Chapter 9
Monday Feb. 17
Read till Chapter 13
Tuesday, Feb. 25 or Friday, March 1
Read till Chapter 16
Monday, March 3
Read till Chapter 18
Monday, March 10
Finish the novel! :)
4th Read till Chapter 6
5th Read till Chapter 5
Monday, Feb. 10
Read till Chapter 9
Monday Feb. 17
Read till Chapter 13
Tuesday, Feb. 25 or Friday, March 1
Read till Chapter 16
Monday, March 3
Read till Chapter 18
Monday, March 10
Finish the novel! :)
Character Summaries Activity 1:
Pick a character: Draw him or her and draw conclusions based on these questions...
Create a brief character study of Jay Berry Lee. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?
Create a brief character study of Daisy Lee. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?
Create a brief character study of Mama. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?
Create a brief character study of Grandpa. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?
Create a brief character study of Papa. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?
Create a brief character study of Jay Berry Lee. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?
Create a brief character study of Daisy Lee. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?
Create a brief character study of Mama. What did she look like? What were her positive personality traits? What were her dreams and fears? What was most valuable to her in her world?
Create a brief character study of Grandpa. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?
Create a brief character study of Papa. What did he look like? What were his positive personality traits? What were his dreams and fears? What was most valuable to him in his world?
Plot Summary Activity 2:
Draw pictures of each way Jay Berry attempts to catch the monkeys. Label the pictures then sequence each drawing/diagram according to the time they occurred in the plot. Happy monkey catching!
Think Critically Activity 3:
Write an expository or analytical essay on this prompt.
Prompt:
How did the fairy ring change the outcome of the story? Did finding the fairy ring make a difference? Why or why not? In real life, how do our beliefs affect our choices and our situations? Give an example.
What is an expository essay?
This is a writer’s explanation of a short theme, idea or issue.
The key here is that you are explaining an issue, theme or idea to your intended audience. Your reaction to a work of literature could be in the form of an expository essay, for example if you decide to simply explain your personal response to a work. The expository essay can also be used to give a personal response to a world event, political debate, football game, work of art and so on.
What are its most important qualities?
You want to get and, of course, keep your reader’s attention. So, you should:
In this type of essay you analyze, examine and interpret such things as an event, book, poem, play or other work of art.
What are its most important qualities?
Your analytical essay should have an:
Tips for writing analytical essays:
The class should be able to identify what type of essay you used. We will be presenting these in class.
Prompt:
How did the fairy ring change the outcome of the story? Did finding the fairy ring make a difference? Why or why not? In real life, how do our beliefs affect our choices and our situations? Give an example.
What is an expository essay?
This is a writer’s explanation of a short theme, idea or issue.
The key here is that you are explaining an issue, theme or idea to your intended audience. Your reaction to a work of literature could be in the form of an expository essay, for example if you decide to simply explain your personal response to a work. The expository essay can also be used to give a personal response to a world event, political debate, football game, work of art and so on.
What are its most important qualities?
You want to get and, of course, keep your reader’s attention. So, you should:
- Have a well defined thesis. Start with a thesis statement/research question/statement of intent. Make sure you answer your question or do what you say you set out to do. Do not wander from your topic.
- Provide evidence to back up what you are saying. Support your arguments with facts and reasoning. Do not simply list facts, incorporate these as examples supporting your position, but at the same time make your point as succinctly as possible.
- The essay should be concise. Make your point and conclude your essay. Don’t make the mistake of believing that repetition and over-stating your case will score points with your readers.
In this type of essay you analyze, examine and interpret such things as an event, book, poem, play or other work of art.
What are its most important qualities?
Your analytical essay should have an:
- Introduction and presentation of argument
The introductory paragraph is used to tell the reader what text or texts you will be discussing. Every literary work raises at least one major issue. In your introduction you will also define the idea or issue of the text that you wish to examine in your analysis. This is sometimes called the thesis or research question. It is important that you narrow the focus of your essay. - Analysis of the text (the longest part of the essay)
The issue you have chosen to analyze is connected to your argument. After stating the problem, present your argument. When you start analyzing the text, pay attention to the stylistic devices (the “hows” of the text) the author uses to convey some specific meaning. You must decide if the author accomplishes his goal of conveying his ideas to the reader. Do not forget to support your assumptions with examples and reasonable judgment. - Personal response
Your personal response will show a deeper understanding of the text and by forming a personal meaning about the text you will get more out of it. Do not make the mistake of thinking that you only have to have a positive response to a text. If a writer is trying to convince you of something but fails to do so, in your opinion, your critical personal response can be very enlightening. The key word here is critical. Base any objections on the text and use evidence from the text. Personal response should be in evidence throughout the essay, not tacked on at the end. - Conclusion (related to the analysis and the argument)
Your conclusion should explain the relation between the analyzed text and the presented argument.
Tips for writing analytical essays:
- Be well organized. Plan what you want to write before you start. It is a good idea to know exactly what your conclusion is going to be before you start to write. When you know where you are going, you tend to get there in a well organized way with logical progression.
- Analytical essays normally use the present tense. When talking about a text, write about it in the present tense.
- Be “objective”: avoid using the first person too much. For example, instead of saying “I think Louisa is imaginative because…”, try: “It appears that Louisa has a vivid imagination, because…”.
- Do not use slang or colloquial language (the language of informal speech).
- Do not use contractions.
- Avoid using “etc.” This is an expression that is generally used by writers who have nothing more to say.
- Create an original title, do not use the title of the text.
- Analysis does not mean retelling the story. Many students fall into the trap of telling the reader what is happening in the text instead of analyzing it. Analysis aims to explain how the writer makes us see what he or she wants us to see, the effect of the writing techniques, the text’s themes and your personal response to these.
The class should be able to identify what type of essay you used. We will be presenting these in class.
Xtra Credit
For extra credit we have two options:
1) Make your own monkey trap. It must be safe. No monkeys or humans can be harmed in the making of the trap. It doesn't have to be strong enough to hold an actual monkey but it does need to be a simple machine that would be triggered once the monkey reaches for the "bait."
2) Make Daisy's cornhusk doll.
http://kids-activities.wonderhowto.com/how-to/make-corn-husk-dolls-330557/
1) Make your own monkey trap. It must be safe. No monkeys or humans can be harmed in the making of the trap. It doesn't have to be strong enough to hold an actual monkey but it does need to be a simple machine that would be triggered once the monkey reaches for the "bait."
2) Make Daisy's cornhusk doll.
http://kids-activities.wonderhowto.com/how-to/make-corn-husk-dolls-330557/