Collaboration, Engagement, Integrity,
Creative & Critical Thinkers
Our school-wide core values
Mr. David Ambrose
Medford High School
English Language Arts Department
Mister Ambrose
489 Winthrop St.
Medford, MA 02155
ph: 781.393.2345
dambrose
- Home
- 2022-2023 English 10
- English 10 Daily Plans 2020-2021
- English 10 Unit Plans
- English 10 Daily Plans 2019-2020
- Summer School 2019
- English 10 2018-2019
- Yearbook 2018-2019
- Nexus 2018-2019
- Homeroom C114, 2018-2022
- Summer School 2018
- English 10 2017-2018
- Yearbook 2017-2018
- Nexus 2017-2018
- Summer School 2017
- Nexus
- Yearbook 2016-2017
- English 10 2016-2017
- Summer School 2016
- Lesson Plan Library
- Outdoor Education
- Juniors 2015-2016
- Sophomores 2015-2016
- Advisory 2015-2016
- Yearbook 2015-2016
- Humans of Medford Project
- Summer School 2015
- Ambrose's Core Beliefs
- Testimonials
- MCAS Academy
- Sophomores 2014-2015
- Juniors 2014-2015
- Advisory 2014-2015
- Yearbook 2014-2015
- Mr. Ambrose's Writing
- Courses
- Summer School 2014
- Ideas for 2014-2015
- Mr. Ambrose's Reflections
- Evidence for SMART GOALS
- Homeroom Advisory 2013-2014
- Sophomores 2013-2014
- Juniors 2013-2014
- Yearbook 2013-2014
- Common Core
- Word of the Day
- Photos
- Contact Mr. Ambrose
- Links
- Student Showcase
- Ideas for 2012-2013
- Summer School 2013
- Summer School 2012
- Juniors 2012-2013
- Juniors 2011-2012
- Juniors 2010-2011
- Juniors 2009-2010
- Juniors 2008-2009
- Sophomores 2012-2013
- Sophomores 2011-2012
- Sophomores 2010-2011
- Sophomores 2009-2010
- Sophomores 2008-2009
- Summer School Archives
- Yearbook 2012-2013
- Yearbook 2011-2012
- Yearbook Archives
Lesson Plan Library
Mr. Ambrose's Lessons
Units of Study for Juniors:
Southern Gothic Literature Unit
Click the above link for daily lesson plans, handouts, links, etc.
Overview: This four to six week unit, to be incorporated at any time during the junior year, focuses on the emerging movement of American Gothicism, with a particular focus on Southern writers, in the years following the Civil War.
Students explore this movement by examining works from Harper Lee to William Faulkner to Flannery O’Connor. In this prominent period in American literature, classic archetypes are re-imagined in modern, Southern setting. Students will analyze how the works of this time period distinctly reflect Americana, and, particularly the South, while offering social commentary on the darker side of humanity.
Teachers are encouraged to select at least one novel and a variety of the other poetry and prose in order to give students maximum exposure to the various works of the period.
Click the above link for daily lesson plans, handouts, links, etc.
College Exploration Unit
Click on the above link for assignments, rubrics, student work samples, etc.
Overview: This unit is designed to help juniors explore the option of attending a four-year college.
Lost Generation Unit
Day One Lesson Plan (Introduction, Ezra Pound poetry)
Day Two Lesson Plan (Poetry by William Carlos Williams and Anne Sexton, inspired by the story of Icarus)
- Handout for "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus"
- Handout for "To a Friend Whose Work Has Come to Triumph"
- Link to Lego video about Icarus
Day Three Lesson Plan (Poetry by Wilfred Owen about WWI)
Day Four Lesson Plan (Poetry by important female writers)
- Edna St. Vincent Millay biographical PPT slides
- Emily Dickinson biographical PPT slides
- Dickinson handout
- more detailed Dickinson lesson plan
- Ambrose's graduate school essay on Dickinson
Hemingway
Hemingway Day One Lesson Plan ("Old Man at the Bridge")
- Graphic Organizer: Hemingway Short Story Analysis
- Graphic Organizer: Defining Elements of Hem's style
- Dr. J's analysis of the story (external link)
- Brief PowerPoint about Hemingway in Michigan
Hemingway Essay Assignment Sheet
Gatsby
Last Word Discussion game (for after ch. 6)
Around the Horn Discussion game (for after ch. 9)
Great AP packet with quiz, test, etc.
Tuesdays with Morrie
Tuesdays with Morrie discussion questions
Tuesdays with Morrie test review
Monomyth: The Hero's Journey
This is an article about the acts of heroism aboard United flight 93 on the morning of September 11, 2001. I read it to introduce the idea of what hero is to me.
Monomyth PowerPoint
E-mail me for a copy of this PowerPoint created by Mr. Esner that introduces Joseph Campbell's theory.
Students can complete this in school or at home for their favorite book, movie, or TV series.
Monomyth Poster and Essay Assignment
Sample of the Assignment created by Brandon Breen '12 for his independent study for student teaching
Sample of the Assignment created by Ryan Wells '14
Sample of the Assignment by Kristen McCarthy '14
Female Villain Archetype Notes
Create Your Own Hero's Journey Story
This interactive site from Read-Write-Think would be suitable for an in-class activity on the laptops or as a homework or project assignment.
Canterbury Tales
This presentation reviews archetypes and stereotypes with a definition and a few examples from popular TV shows. Also includes an opener journal and a small group task.
Animal Farm
Day 1:
George OrwellIntroductory PowerPoint
Day 2:
Character ListHandout (Standard)
Day 3:
Chapter 2 Discussion Notes and Mini-Project
Day 4:
Chapter 3 Discussion Notes and Mini-Project
Day 5:
Day 6:
Russian Revolution Allegorical Symbolism PPT 1
Day 7:
Ch. 5 and 6 In-Context Vocabulary
Russian Revolution Allegorical Symbolism PPT 2
Day 8:
Techniques of Propaganda Handout
Propaganda Poster Sheet
Letter from Birmingham Jail
Day 1:
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Birmingham Segregation Ordinances
Mr. Ambrose's Writing Stations
Writing Stations General Lesson Plans
7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Seven Habits ofDEFECTIVE Teens Worksheet
Seven Habits and Parts of Speech Test Review
Magazine Project
Short Stories
Introduction
Introductory PowerPoint with Free Write Activity
Intro PowerPoint updated Fall 2013
Girl
Mr. Ambrose'sSample Homework Assignment
Female Gender Role Song Lyrics
Everyday Use
PowerPoint with Visual Aids (what the quilt looks like)
Mirrors and Windows Response Sheet
Mr. Ambrose's Version of the Short Story
A & P
Mr. Ambroses's A & P Discussion Questions
Awaiting Orders
Mr. Ambroses's Awaiting Orders Discussion Questions
A Retrieved Reformation
Plot Structure PowerPoint Presentation
Plot Diagram Graphic Organizer
A Retrieved Reformation Lesson Plan
Trying to Save Piggy Sneed
Why I Live at the PO
Mr. Ambrose's Discussion Sheet
Chicago Poems
Discussion Questions for selected Chicago poems by Carl Sandberg
~
Student-directed lesson assignment
ACT Preparation
2009-2010 ACT Practice Test, Section 3 Qwizdom PPT
SAT
SAT Essay Writing Prompts - May 2011
Final SAT tips. updated 3.8.2013
Ballads
Mr. Ambrose's Ballad Basics PowerPoint
"Ballad of Gilligan's Isle" handout
"Scarborough Fair" Explanation of the Ballad
"Scarborough Fair" Explanation of the Refrain
"A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" Video
Mr. Esner's Write Your Own Ballad Assignment
Hamlet
Sample Log Assignments
Mr. Ambrose's Handouts
Hamlet 1.2: Hamlet's FirstSoilloquy
Hamlet Act 1 Guided Viewing Sheet
Hamlet 2.2: O What A Rogue Soliloquy
Hamlet 3.2-3.3: Physicalizing the Soliliquies
Hamlet Response Paper Assignment
Mr. Ambrose's Projects, PowerPoints, and Essay Prompts
Hamlet Festival Video Project Assignment
Hamlet Final Discussion Questions PowerPoint
Hamlet Character Analysis Short Essay Prompt
Videos
Hamlet 2.2 - Comparing Different Interpretations
Hamlet 3.2, part 1 - David Tennant as Hamlet
Hamlet 3.2, part 2 - David Tennant as Hamlet
Hamlet 3.4 - David Tennant as Hamlet
Hamlet 4.5, part 1- Kenneth Branaugh as Hamlet
Hamlet 4.5, part 2 - Kenneth Branaugh as Hamlet
The Importance of Being Earnest
Life in the Victorian Age PowerPoint
Standard guided note-taking handout for this PowerPoint
Types of Comedy Introductory Lesson Plan
Good for an honors class to complete at home independently and a standard class to complete as classwork.
Comedy Movie Essay Graphic Organizer
The Catcher in theRye
Experiencing the Death of a Sibling
- (good for use after chapter 6)
Ch. 10-12 Discussion Questions
Ch. 13-15 Discussion Questions
Ch. 16-17 Discussion Questions
Ch. 18-20 Discussion Questions
The Catcher in Rye Soundtrack Project
The Catcher in the Rye Final Discussion PowerPoint
The Catcher in the Rye Comparison Essay
Hemingway
Hemingway Short Story Essay Assignment
Ernest Hemingway Online Resources
Satire
A comprehensive PowerPoint presentation thattakes oneclass to complete. Includes examples from Shrek, Will Ferrell, and The Onion. Teaches the fourbasic satirical techniques. Features two short videos and one article.
Lyrics to the Weird Al parody of Coolio's "Gangsta's Paradise." Simple guiding questions follow. Music video easily found on the web.
Eggplant Satirical Newspaper Project Assignment and Rubric
This project can be completed by individual students or by a group of students working together. Students will create their own satirical newspaper, modelled after The Onion.
In-context vocabulary for Modest Proposal
This can be used as a do now or a homework.
Your Own Modest Proposal Essay Assignment
This essay rubric guides the student through a five-paragraph essay modeled after Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal."
When does satire go too far PPT
When does satire go too far handout
Banned TV Episode Has its Day on DVD HONORS
Banned TV Episode Has its Day on DVD STANDARD
This lesson takes one class period to complete and is good to do during or after the Modest Proposal unit. Students examine articles and video clips and discuss whether the controversial satire is appropriate or inappropriate and why. Uses examples from the New York Times, Family Guy, Borat, South Park, and The Colbert Report.
Elements of Style
Parts of Speech PowerPoint Review
Parts of Speech Guided Practice Handout
Ethan Frome
Daily Lesson Plans
Ethan Frome 3: Chapters 1 and 2
Ethan Frome 6: Chapters 5 and 6
Ethan Frome 7: Chapters 7 and8
Ethan Frome 8: Chapter 9 and Epilogue
Technology-Based Lessons
Marriage in the Victorian Age Assignment
Marriage in the Victorian Age Web Links Handout
Quizdom Discussion on Marriage
Essay Topics
Essay Topics/Final Discussion Questions
The Crucible
A brief introduction including the biography of Arthur Miller and the themes of The Crucible.
Red Scare netTrekker Lesson Plan
This lesson allowsstudents to use the netTrekker search engine to create a PowerPoint presentationthat explains how Arthur Millerused the Salem Witch trials as anallegory for the Red Scare.
Vocabulary and Discussion Handouts
Lord of the Flies
Chapter 3 Discussion Questions
To Kill A Mockingbird
Introductory Material
PowerPoint on Harper Lee and Southern Gothicnovels
Discussion Guides
Notes for Dicussion - Chapters 1 and 2
Notes for Discussion - Chapters 3 and 4
Around the Horn Discussion Game
These discussion questionsare suitable once students have read up through chapter 17. The questions are in the format of ESPN's game show Around the Horn.
Quotes for Discussion - Chapters 18-24
Culminating Essay Assignments
Literary Criticism:8 Essay Prompts
CreativeWriting:Scouting Your Own Personal Narrative
Vocabulary Lists
Sections 4 and 5 - Chapters 18-31
State of the Union
State of the Union Vocabulary Exercise
This exercise has studentsexamine SAT-level vocabulary words in the context of quotes fromPresident Obama's speech and discern their own definitions.
State of the Union Reading Comprehension
This Word document features excerpts from the State of the Union address as well as the Republican response. Additionally, there are several analysis questions decide to provoke discussion about the tone and main points of the speeches.
Courtesy of the Boston Globe, this graphic representation of what words were used with frequency in President Obama's address helps students to visualize the effectiveness of motifs and rhetoric.
The Jungle
This essay prompt, concerning pardoxes ofcapitalism and the American Dream, is formatted to look exactly like an SAT essay prompt.This canbe used as an in-class essay assignment or a more in-depth homework assignment.
This activity designed by Mr. Ambrosesplits the class into five groups, each representing a different historical ethical dilemma in journalism.
Distribute handout to groups in class, and give them the opportunity to discuss the ethics of the issue. Have each group divide into two sides - one to argue that the decisions made by the journalist were ethical, and the other to argue that they were unethical. Have students research their topic for homework and prepare a brief statement for a debate that will take place the next day in class.
History of the FDA Mini-Project
This activity allows students to synthesize information from the FDA website to create a brief PowerPoint presenation on the history of the FDA.
Have students divide into six groups (representing six eras outlined on the FDA website). Allow each group a class period to work ona PowerPoint presentation which they will use to teach the class on the following day.
Othello
Act 1
Othello 1.1 Analysis Video with Mr. Ambrose
Seven-minute Youtube lecture from Mr. Ambrose on topics such as intial impressions of Iago and Iago's engineering a meeting between Roderigo and Brabantio.
Act 2
2.1 "Theriches of the ship is come on shore"
This lesson, courtesy ofthe Folger Shakespeare Library, will take one class period to complete. It introduces students to actors' objectives and basic stageblocking techniques by having the students "stand up" the events of Othello 2.1.
2.1-2.3 "Knavery's plain face is never seen till used"
This lesson, adapted from lessons from the Folger Shakespeare library, will take one class period to complete. It begins by reviewing the previous lesson's concepts, allows students to stand up some of the scene, and concludes with students writing their own stage direction for a scene they will present later in class.
2.1 Daily Paraphrase
Iago's second soliloquy, which ends 2.1, triple-spaced for students to write their own translations.
Acts 3 and 4
3.4 - 4.2 Questions for Discussion
4.2 Daily Paraphrase
Act 5
5.2 Othello as a Dynamic Character Lesson
Test Materials
Culminating Assignments
This assignment, adapted from a lesson plan from the Folger library, can be completed by individual students or small groups of students. Students will create a director's promptbook for one particular scene in the play.
Harold Bloom's Literary Criticism
These excerpts from Yale professor Harold Bloom's essays may be used as secondary sources in student's culminating essays.
PSAT Preparation
Final PSAT Tips and Strategies and FAQ
Walden
Introductory Material
PowerPoint Slideshow with Images of Walden
- Good to use as a prompt for a journal reflection as an introduction to the unit
5 Things You Didn't Know About HDT
- A brief synopsis of five interesting biographical details from Thoreau's lifeHDT Timeline
- Courtesy of Robin Strizhak, this is a great overview of the major events of Thoreau's life.
- Six statements with which Thoreau would have heartily agreed or disagreed; great to use as a catalyst for discussion during concept introduction
Economy
- A worksheet that guides students through completing a budget as Thoreau does in his "Economy" chapter
Where I Lived and What I Lived For
Where I Lived and What I Lived For Homework Questions
- 18 quotes and other items for students to respond to after reading
Chapter 1 and 2 Quote Carousel
- A list of a dozen quotes from "Economy" and "Where I Lived..." to be used to spark discussion in a number of ways (Carousel activity, Socratic discussion, close reading in small groups, etc.)
- Six quotes from Thoreau's "Reading" chapter, acompanied by analysis questions to spark discussion
- 9 quotes from Thoreau's "Solitude" chapter to spark discussion
6 Signs You Might be a Transcendentalist
- A quick and essay way for students to review and discuss the tenets of Transcendentalism, how the movement grew from Romanticism, and whether they agree or disagree with Thoreau's ideologies
Walden Journal Essay Assignment
- An essay assignment and rubric for students to synthesize their homework reflection, class discussion, and a two-hour visit to the woods to mimic the form of Thoreau's text
Beowulf
- Three options for Beowulf projects, including (1) creating a graphic novel, (2) writing your own epic, and (3) reimagining Beowulf from Grendel's perspective. Can be assigned to individual students, partners, or groups
- An essay prompt which asks students to explain how their favorite movie, TV series, or work of literature follows the form of Beowulf and the formula of Joseph Campbell's monomyth theory.
Beowulf Translation Essay Assignment
- An essay assignment for honor students. This assignments asks students to provide an analysis and evaulation of portions of three various translations of the epic poem.
- This project has students use the netTrekker educational search engine to create a visual representation of Beowulf in a new setting and culture.
Graphic Organizers
Mr. Esner's Lessons
Beowulf
This graphic organizer guides students in plotting the elements of the hero's journey, as defined by Joseph Campbell's monomyth theory (Hero with a Thousand Faces).
Students may use it to plot the journey of Beowulf and/or a hero from their favorite movie, TV series, or work of literature.
This PowerPoint presentation is a cumulative review of the poem's major themes, characters, historical context, etc.
Ms. Duffy's Lessons
Shakespeare's Sonnets
This PowerPoint presentation features images of what was considered "beautiful" in a variety of eras, from the Victorian Age right up through the present day.
The presentation also features the original text of Shakespeare's Sonnet 130, as well as statistics from the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty.
This is a wonderful introduction to the themes addressed in the sonnet, and a good launching point to open up discussion with students.
Public Domain
The following works of literature are a part of the public domain, and therfore can be viewed on the internet at no cost.
Walden
MCAS Materials
The following are links to actual test items from previous MCAS exams. They address literature studied during the sophomore year.
Beowulf
- This features multiple choice and open response questions about the Seamus Heaney translation.
- These questions were actually originally designed for middle school students, but actually look similar to what some of our 10th graders might see in 2010.
Shakespeare
March 2010 Retest
Spring 2008 Test
Mister Ambrose
489 Winthrop St.
Medford, MA 02155
ph: 781.393.2345
dambrose