Welcome to the Aurora Crew Language Arts website for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain. This website is primarily intended for our students' use while reading the novel. Additionally, students will find copies of journal entries and class assignments. Forgot your book? You're in luck; you can read the entire novel online here. Below are links to general resources for exploration during your reading, or for working on the final project. Students may jump directly to Expectations or Class Assignments for more specific links.
Tom
Sawyer Homepage at the University of Virginia (includes illustrations &
links)
Ban Tom Sawyer &
Huckleberry Finn? Read how Twain responded.
Writing
Tom Sawyer: See Twain's rough
drafts, problems with copyright & piracy
Did
Tom Sawyer have ADHD? A great Webquest by John Fisher at Walter
Krueger Middle
School in San Antonio, TX. Not
all the links are working, so I might update this.
Where did Twain get his ideas? Read some ideas here
and here.
Expectations:
We
will be reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer over the next four weeks.
You will read independently, both in and out of class, and will be
expected to have completed the required chapters on or before the scheduled
dates for each quiz. There will be
no excuses for not having read the chapters and defined the vocabulary in time
for each quiz. The reading will
average about 10-12 pages per day, not including weekends, so make sure you stay
on schedule. Class time will be
reserved for sustained silent reading, as well as discussion of the novel.
Come prepared to participate in the discussion, as the material covered
will definitely be seen on the quizzes and the test at the end of the novel.
Class preparedness will be graded--coming without your book and/or
assigned homework during this period will result in a loss of 5 points per day.
Class preparedness will be equal to 1 quiz grade.
Due
dates:
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1/10
Quiz on Chapters 1-6 and vocab |
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1/17
Quiz on Chapters 7-16 and vocab |
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1/31
Quiz on Chapters 17-25 and vocab |
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1/31
Project chosen |
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2/7
Test on the whole novel |
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2/12
Tom Sawyer project due |
Vocabulary Week 1 |
Vocabulary Week 2 |
Vocabulary
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| Perplexed Contemplate Transparent Inspiration Sagacity Novelty Diligence Unalloyed Advantage Promptly |
Dreary Premature Abide Contribute Bliss Consent Submit Repulse Repent Smite |
Moped Trounce Lingering Exultation Lethargy Languidly Imminence Perplexity Folly Indifference |
** Note on Vocabulary: The definitions will match how the word is used in the novel. If you're having trouble finding the vocabulary words in the book, you can search for the word in the online version of the novel.
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Journal
Entry 1: At the end of chapter two, Twain writes that if Tom Sawyer
"had been a great and wise philosopher, like the writer of
this book, he would now have comprehended that Work consists of whatever a
body is obliged to do, and that Play consists of whatever a body is not
obliged to do." (20) How
does this relate to the whitewashing incident?
How does Twain connect the thought of Work and Play with other
real-life examples? How do
you feel about this quote? Have
you had any experiences that are similar? |
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Journal Entry 2: From your discussion, it seems apparent that Muff Potter will not receive a fair trial, because the public has already been convinced that he is responsible for the murder of Doc Robinson. The public, however, has a different response to Injun Joe. After witnessing the murder, Tom is plagued by a guilty conscience and doesn't participate in the children's versions of inquests and trials, which is unusual, since he usually likes to be the center of attention. Explain how he might feel caught between a variety of feelings and forces. What do you think Tom should do? What might be the consequences of his action? What might be the consequences of inaction? |
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