Monday/ Tuesday October 24-25

Class began with a debrief of the election of 1860 role play, including reviewing which cultural groups supported which candidate and why.

Classes engaged in discussion and analysis of the "Great Compromise" of 1787 and it's effects in creating the electoral college, and how the electoral college played out in 1860 as well as 2000, and 2012.

Next the class reviewed the first reading assignment in Kindred. Students were asked to show self-care as they read the novel which includes violence. Mr. Zartler asked students to refrain from using the "N-word" which shows up in the text during in-class discussion. Students were told that much confusion that is present in their minds at the end of "The River" would become clearer as the book progresses. Butler seems to be mirroring the confusion and disorientation of the protagonist for the reader.

Lincoln Jigsaw:

Students were broken into five expert groups. Each group was assigned 1 or 2 texts  from a collection built around changes in Lincoln's views between 1860 and 1865. Students were given time to analyze their documents to create a summary, and an analysis of message. Next class students will be asked to work in expert groups (groups of the "number" to further analyze the documents to verify their original findings and to consider if the document shows the "gain" or the "setback" of a group. Students will need to see Zartler for the handouts.

Zartler will have Ms. Robbins as a sub Wednesday afternoon.