BOOK CHOICE UNIT

I am going to be make this as complete as possible, but for today, I'm just going to pick up with the Background Information assignment that I discussed in class today with each group. 

There are different formats/length suggestions for each group; one group has very little to write, but much to read and digest.  So don't worry about what another group is/is not doing--just focus on your own task.

For all groups, DO write down the sources you consult, but you do not need to provide "citations" for everything you include.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Look up both autism and Asberger's syndrome.  Write one substantial (but obviously general) paragraph about autism, and then write a description of Asberger's syndrome.  The Asberger's section should include a list (bulleted is fine) of common traits/characteristics/symptoms of this condition.  And why is it often called a "spectrum"?

Grendel

• You received a packet on existentialism.  Study it thoroughly.  Now look up nihilism, using at least two sources OTHER THAN a regular dictionary.  One may be Wikipedia, but the other source must be this one:     http://www.iep.utm.edu/nihilism/

         Now boil down what you've learned into what you consider to be the FIVE (5) most essential
         bullet points.  These bullet points will need some explanation to make each point clear.

• Your other task:  read the following source carefully (you'll be using it later).  WAIT.  We talked about the zodiac signs . ..I thought I had one generic piece I wanted  you to read.  I've got to add to this later tonight.  The essential thing is to know the signs, know which chapters--but beyond that, what they MEAN is a controversy for later on . . . Zodiac signs are an art, not a science, and how much Gardner wanted them to mean is controversial.

Frankenstein

• Look up galvanism, making sure that the name Erasmus Darwin is mentioned at some point (otherwise you might have the process for strengthening metal . . .) Just summarize briefly.
• Look up the Gothic novel:  list the time period, list some well-known authors/books, and provide a list of characteristics (bullet points are OK)

Jane Eyre

Find out what you can about the plight of orphans in the 19th century, particularly in England (but things weren't much different in America, though we had some novel solutions. . . the orphan trains, for example). Of course you should find out what you can about orphanages, but you do not need to restrict yourself to this one way of dealing with them.

Pride and Prejudice

Find out what you can about inheritance law, and particularly what is meant by the term entailment. We are especially concerned with the early 19th century in England for it to best relate to Austen's novel.

Brave New World

. . . I'll add to this post later tonight.  If you were in class today, you've already got the assignment.  If not, well, hope it doesn't inconvenience you not to be working on a Friday afternoon!

OK, so I slacked on this one, because it got complicated, and we talked it over in class-but for the record, here's what we decided upon:
2nd period originally wanted to write about how the aftermath of World War I affected Huxley--the focus being on the effects of the war, not so much on the biography.  But 4th period had a different plan, and 2nd period people were allowed to switch if the so desired.  So 4th period--a mix of specific people or other cultural phenomena; quite a few ideas were mentioned.  We settled on each person choosing three elements (terms, people, ideas, . . . ) but one of them HAD to be Henry Ford.  (The expectation is to know more about him and his social and political ideas than just that he developed the assembly line. . . ).