This coming Sunday will be our last class together!  I can't believe it myself, and I am so very proud of all the progress and hard work I've seen from you.  I hope you enjoyed this class as much as I enjoyed teaching all of you. You've really made this a special year for me.

For homework this week, please finish memorizing your speeches (for real this time, no exceptions).  All of you will be expected to bring a hard copy to class, otherwise we won't be able to cue you if you forget a line during your recitation.

Also for homework, tell me in no less than ten complete sentences, which of the books that we read in class was your favorite and why.

In addition, please compare and contrast the books we read this year. Now that we've learned some storytelling terms (theme, symbolism, mood, etc) please answer the following:

1. Of the books we read this year, can you think two books that have a similar theme or themes? Which two? What are the themes?

2. Do any of the symbols contained in any of the books have the same meaning as those in another book we read?  If so, what books and what symbols?

3. Which of the characters did you identify with the most?  

4. Did any of the books have a mood or tone that was the opposite of that of another book? If so, which two books and which two moods?

5. What do you think you learned from these books, or from the class, that you didn't know when the class started in the fall?