<![CDATA[Hill's English Unleashed.life - Sophomore]]>Tue, 01 Jul 2025 17:16:51 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Fairytales: Symbol, Belief, and Reality]]>Wed, 04 Dec 2019 22:37:49 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/fairy-tales-symbol-belief-and-realityWhat do our fairytales mean? I am asking you to be a Grimm. Choose your fairytale from the tales provided. You are on an adventure to find the truth.
Your assignment:
  • Complete the article assignment on StudySync.
  • Pick from the fairytales provided and get into a group.
  • Read and annotate your story.
  • Create a presentation for the class on:
    • 1) The story's symbolism
    • 2) the story's meaning
    • 3) the story's truth, message, and warning.
]]><![CDATA[Choosing Sources]]>Mon, 28 Oct 2019 19:47:57 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/choosing-sourcesWe noticed some real mistakes when looking at Ancient Monster Hunters. Why did archaeologists throw out bones of dinosaurs? Why did so much literature, culture, and history get ignored? How do we prevent those mistakes?
Sometimes people get confused when looking for sources. Someone might have some easy rules, but they might not realize when or how to use them- or when to break them. We came up with 5 things to look for as a class. 1) Trusted author: What experience does this person have that lends them credibility and what background do they have that could affect their point of view.
2) Date: is it recent enough to be credible. How much has science changed what is known about your topic? If cell phones and technology change every 2 years- maybe we should be careful with things that are older than 10. Even history is changing because of new research in genetics.
3) Primary Source: The date thing could be thrown out of the window if it is a primary source- or rather current dates may be less respected if you are researching something older. A paper on the Constitution- should have a quote from the Constitution- not just modern authors writing about the constitution.
4) Cited Sources: If the author isn't an eye witness- are they using good sources. Do they cite direct quotes and have a work cited?
5) Media: Every type of media is going to have it's own point of view. Blogs are different than documentaries, history books are different than songs.
Be aware of the pros and cons of each and decide what is best for your paper. Remember a bad source makes for a bad paper and a bad reputation- no matter how skilled the author.
]]><![CDATA[Greek Mythology]]>Thu, 17 Oct 2019 21:51:25 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/greek-mythologyGreek Mythology can be fun, scary, exciting, thought provoking, frustrating...and everything else! But as the foundation of the Western World, it not only shows us more about our society and how we came to be, its deep psychological questions teach us more about ourselves and being human, too. ​
Friday and Tuesday:
  • Continue notes on Greeks and Greek Mythology. 
  • We will watch the documentary: History Channel: Ancient Monster Hunters with handout to answer the question--
    • Why do we need to take story seriously?
]]><![CDATA[Symbolism, Archetypes, and Motifs]]>Mon, 16 Sep 2019 18:43:14 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/symbolism-archetypes-and-motifsChapters 11 and 12
In class we will read chapters 11 and 12. There are four questions to answer in MLA format on Google Classroom. You may write the answers on a hard copy or type. 
Arguably beginning with Freud, Jung, and Campbell, the symbolism and archetype discussion has become fundamental, not only to literature, but to sociology, psychology, and religion, etc. Archetypes are symbols, or even structures, that are fundamental to how our brain thinks, remembers, and connects ideas. They are apart of our DNA, spirit, psyche, or wherever you feel comfortable locating them-- because science is still unsure. What we do know is that they seem to be similar (though not exactly the same) across time periods and cultures. They link and connect our mind to our body and our environment.  They seem to be a secret psychological code to understanding story and ourselves. Because they are inherent to you, we just need to tap into them and create our own lists of symbols, archetypes, ​and motifs. Begin with: what does the archetype remind you of, and how does that make you feel...
]]><![CDATA[African Mythologies]]>Thu, 12 Sep 2019 22:08:10 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/african-mythologiesChapter 10
If is important to feel into the way a culture tells a story and to understand the beliefs or ideas of that culture to really listen to them. It doesn't mean that we suppress our own ideas, but that we look at another's to help articulate our own ideas and beliefs and find community together. When you learn about someone else, what also do you learn about yourself or what is human ?
Cultures of West Africa
]]><![CDATA[ALWG: The Importance of Naming]]>Tue, 10 Sep 2019 19:04:13 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/alwg-the-importance-of-naming

Chapters 8 and 9
What does your name mean to you? Really mean? Did you inherit it from a family member? Does it have a story? Do you have a nickname? Did you name yourself?  Make a collage/poster of your name (8x11) that expresses what your name means to you.  

Your life's soundtrack

"When I'm alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall and in the back of my mind I hear my conscience call" (LL Cool J "I Need Love" quoted in Beah 68). What music represents you and what do you need? 
]]><![CDATA[Juxaposition: the sacred and the profane]]>Fri, 06 Sep 2019 17:51:08 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/juxaposition-the-sacred-and-the-profane
Chapters 5-7
Find examples for your literary devices and finish the questions from the other day. Today especially watch the juxtaposition between the sacred and symbolic. When we enter a storytelling time the symbols naturally become richer and start to connect to one another. How many things have come in threes? How often do we see or cross water? In memory and storytelling time we are in a dream or prayer. Images float up and away one after another. 
]]><![CDATA[An Ocean of Reflections: Chapters 2-5]]>Wed, 04 Sep 2019 14:55:46 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/a-long-way-gone-chapters-2-49703371Literary devices are brushes that word artists use to paint their pictures, tools with which they carve our our experiences. This book is an excellent piece to use as a literary cornucopia of devices. Here are the devices we are focusing on today: flashback (review), juxtaposition, genre, tone, symbol/archetype, and motif. We are also starting a soundtrack for our lives. I will give the teacher directions later, for now just think about the music that defines your life. :)
A motif is a reoccurring image or idea in a story. It may reoccur in a single story, an author's work, the work of a cultural period or place, or seem to be a part of a human story. The idea that someone out there is thinking of us under the same moon or across an ocean seems to be a human experience, but also have a special place for people who have had to leave homelands behind. Another motif from A Long Way Gone Chapter 2, is the idea of having to face your own reflection. Some other examples are below. What can you come up with?
]]><![CDATA[A Long Way Gone - Chapter 1-Listen]]>Fri, 30 Aug 2019 17:47:21 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/a-long-way-gone-chapter-12321802
Storytelling is about listening. Are you listening? 
Music plays a huge part in A Long Way Gone, as it does in many cultures as focal point of religion, of history, of revolution. Let's keep track of the songs in A Long Way Gone and discuss the importance of representation, language, and storytelling. ​
Literary Device- Flashbacks
Literary Devices are the meaning- how do flashes of memory overtake you? How do too many flashbacks in a piece of literature make you feel? How does the author feel? How does the method of storytelling help you understand the story?
PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event.
It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger.
Blood Diamond clip- introducing the RUF and the confusion, loss, violence, PTSD- RUF take over in
A Long Way Gone- Chapter 1.
Violence. OPTIONAL. ​
]]><![CDATA[A Long Way Gone]]>Wed, 28 Aug 2019 18:00:33 GMThttp://www.hillsenglishunleashed.life/sophomore/a-long-way-gone1829460
Picture
Destiny is the theme of our unit. How much of our lives are affected by things outside of our control or how much can we change our lives...or the lives of others...when it matters most? How brave are we? What would our ancestors want for us?
A Long Way Gone Slides
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