TODAY IN CLASS
1. We set up a set of hypothetical questions that paved the way for our study of Hamlet, which is to begin shortly.  The essential situation was to take a young man away at college who is suddenly called home to face an unimaginable series of family events and personal setbacks and to imagine how we might feel.  More importantly, it was to set up our expectations for the sometimes erratic way in which Hamlet himself behaves.  Of course, we'll be doing more . . . but it was a start.
Bring your ID with you tomorrow--I hope we will be checking out the books.

2.  We spent some time reviewing why 1485 is the end of the medieval period and the start of the Renaissance.  If you missed class (or missed what we said), look at p. 29.  (Yes, 29.) See the 2nd paragraph under "War and Plague," which explains the reasons for and the outcome of the Wars of the Roses.

That's the backdrop for today's announcement concerning the discovery of the body of Richard III, whose death at the Battle of Bosworth Field over 500 years ago marks the last time an English king was killed in battle.  Read any TWO of the following articles about this discovery:

http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/04/16832540-verdict-issued-on-skeleton-found-under-parking-lot-its-king-richard-iii?lite

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/king-richard-iii-skeleton-found_n_2614269.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leicestershire-21063882

Common Core requirements call for increasing the amount of non-fiction writing that students read, including in traditional English classes.  Thus reading these articles (2 of the 3) that so closely relate to our current subject matter--beginning the Renaissance, about to work with Shakespeare--that this reading is not "extra" but rather closely tied to our standard curriculum.

2.  I returned the homework that was due on Friday, and we barely began going over it.  5th period DID have a few moments to put these in better cause-and-effect order than what your book utilizes.  The following categories look a little different from what I had on the board (a new and improved version here), but you don't have to do this again.  But 1st and 3rd, use the space at the bottom on the last page of the Guided Study Worksheet to list out the questions (just by number, no "content") that belong under each of the following categories:

The Early Renaissance --where it originated, when, early consequences

The Rise of Humanism

The Reformation--how/where/why it began; its political consequences in England (esp. the effect on the monarchy through Queen Elizabeth)

Continued Turmoil--the rise of the Stuarts and the Defeat of the Monarchy

(We'll work with the Literature section without rearranging the order.)

3.  If you did not turn in the homework for 1-day late credit, tomorrow is the last day to turn it in for greatly reduced credit (but better than a zero).  Look back at the information regarding late work in the syllabus.  If you have lost the syllabus, you can access it here .
(As always, "late work" is not the same thing as "make-up work"; moreover, individual learning plans and accomodations are always respected.)