Judy Hill

This chart lists 15 major similarities between FRANKENSTEIN and "Rime of the Ancient Mariner." The chart is an excellent springboard for class discussion on the two literary works. Mary Shelley actually heard Coleridge recite "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" in her home as a child. The haunting poem never left her, and there are many allusions to Coleridge's poem in her novel. This would be a great group activity by requiring small groups to examine 2 or 3 of the similarities and presenting an

This is the perfect way to interest students in root words. Colorful slides (80) with animated clip art enable students to attach a "visual" to the root word, its definition and its examples. Every 10 slides, the background changes(colorful fractals). Also included is an excel spreadsheet with all the roots typed, their definitions and word examples; an open column for students to illustrate each of the 80 roots is also included. Based on my experience of teaching SAT and PSAT for 22 years, I

This is an easy trick to share with your students on when to use "affect" and when to use "effect." I have used this trick with both my on-level students as well as my AP students. I even share this trick when I conduct teacher workshops. This product includes a one-page explanation, practice exercises and 10 PowerPoint slides. It works! Enjoy!

Students use this packet for EVERY timed writing throughout the year. Although the packet is tailored for AP English Literature, the packet can be tailored for the writing questions on any AP exam. This packet has proven invaluable for my AP Literature students. The packet includes important AP essay writing strategies for Q1, Q2 and Q3 as well as tone words, allusions, archetypes and poetic devices. My AP students asked me to create a "tangible" for them to use and specifically said they di

Seniors love this! I use this project for the last six weeks of the school year to help ward off senioritis. Students study various poets, watch a clip from DEAD POETS' SOCIETY for the "carpe diem" poem, listen to Loreena McKennitt's "The Lady of Shalott" as they study Tennyson, and watch the Simpsons' "Nightmare Cafeteria" to delve into satire and write their own satirical poem. These are just a few of the assignments included in the poetry project. I am amazed at the poems the students wri

This 40-page power point includes the following: author information; highlights from Kafka's letter to his father (discuss parallels to Gregor and his father); questions posed by the novella; Existentialism, Surrealism, Expressionism, and Freudianism; quote from Socrates; definition of Grotesque Humor; 14 important pictures and quotes from the novella; and 4 pictures of Tim Roth in the 1987 movie. This is a very colorful depiction of the novel! Enjoy! I love this strange little tale.

This 30-page power point on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern includes the following: (1) author information (2) Existentialism and how applicable to the play (3) quotes on death (4) images discernible in the play (5) points to ponder (great for class discussion) (6) comments on Ros and Guil (7) "To be or not to be" and how applicable to the play and more. This is not a summary of the play. It is a thought-provoking presentation for Tom Stoppard's great play.

REVISED! This 43-page power point (with animated clip art) introduces students to Emily Bronte and to her Yorkshire background. The section on the novel includes archetypes, questions to ponder, themes and setting. This is a colorful power point with carefully selected pictures and animated clip art. There are no spoilers in this power point.

This is a list of 20 projects for students to choose from as they delve into FRANKENSTEIN. Over 20 years, I have seen all of these projects presented. The list also includes 45 titles of FRANKENSTEIN movies to aid students in selecting movies for critical reviews. CHECK OUT my FRANKENSTEIN PowerPoint -- 47 slides with animation -- just added 02/2012.

This is a comprehensive 21-page list of allusions that I give to my AP Literature students. This list has 4 separate divisions: Mythological, Literary, Biblical and Historical. Students use the list for reference throughout the year--for analytical discussions and for formal essays.

Students work in groups or solo to make a soundtrack project for MACBETH. This is a six-page handout that includes instructions for the students and a grading rubric. There is also a list of 52 songs that students have used over the past several years. Students employ critical thinking skills as they discuss each act, major themes and applicable songs. This is a favorite activity for students studying MACBETH. Also, check out my MACBETH PowerPoint. I have visited the Globe Theatre in Londo

UPDATED! This 43-page power point (with animated clip art) starts with the intriguing art display of the narrator in his basement with 1,369 light bulbs. This power point has information on the artist of the display, background on Ralph Ellison, background on the Harlem Renaissance, jazz and blues images, and a copy of Louis Armstrong's song "What did I do to be so black and blue?" Major themes from the novel are listed with a short overview of the novel as well as major symbols. Quotes are al

This is a colorful, animated Power Point with 47 slides that address the following: Mary Shelley's background, Romanticism, Gothic elements, the novel's background, themes, movies, points to ponder and many wonderful images and pictures. The slides are set on fractal backgrounds that add a flair to the presentation. The points made on many of the slides make for great class discussion. A summary of the novel is not included so as not to give the novel away. FRANKENSTEIN is a favorite of mine.

My AP students claim that this is their favorite activity. It may also be used with English 4 students. After the AP exam is over in May, AP Literature students create multimedia projects, choosing from one of the following: author, literary work, literary period or genre of music. This project must include six elements, and those are delineated on the handout. The packet includes the actual assignment, the grading rubric and a list of 69 actual titles that my AP students have done. I love

This essay allows students to delve into their own personal dragons. It is an excellent assignment for the beginning of the senior year. Students really "get into" this writing assignment as they ponder their own dragons that they would like to conquer. I published an article on this assignment in TEXAS ENGLISH JOURNAL.

INVISIBLE MAN is the most tested novel on the open-ended essay question on the AP English Literature exam. This 25-page activity packet worked very well with my AP students, and many students chose to use Ellison's INVISIBLE MAN on question #3 of the AP exam. I assigned this novel a month before the AP exam in order for the students to be well-immersed in the novel in preparation for the open-ended question. The packet includes the following: (1) artwork from the Harlem Renaissance, (2) theme

Memory Triggers are an amazing way to engage high school students in creating personal narratives. Personal narrative writing is becoming a lost art due to state mandated tests that focus strictly on exposition, persuasive, and analytical writing. This activity involves 20 tangible objects that students peruse, record their memories, and choose one special memory for their personal narrative. Both student and teacher will take an emotional journey using Memory Triggers. This is also a great

Can Chaucer truly be fun for students? Yes! This has been one of my students' favorite activities because it allows them to present their assigned pilgrims in medieval, modern or any mode they wish to use. Trait Sheets are ready to copy and distribute with instructions included. A rubric is also included. What the students do with this assignment has always amazed me.

This 24-page list is an excellent source of literary terms and targets AP English Literature students. This list may also be used for Pre-AP students. In addition to the definitions, many literary examples have also been added to make this very user friendly (especially student friendly). I gave this list to students the first week of school, and the students annotated in the left margin the first encounter with each literary term.The list is divided alpha (A, B, etc.) so that teachers may ad

This four-page handout consisting of 21 high-level questions and quotes challenges students to ponder the deeper meaning of Mary Shelley's masterpiece. Some of these questions could be turned into projects or full literary discussions. I have gotten much mileage out of these questions with both my AP Literature students and English 4 students. CHECK OUT my new FRANKENSTEIN PowerPoint with 47 slides (and animation)--added 02/2012.