Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Homework for All Classes - 10/30 and 10/31

Happy second nine weeks!  Now that we've gotten off to a good start it's time to continue moving forward into the rest of the year.  Here are your reminders for all classes:

Freshman Focus

Next class will be our final class in the computer lab.  I would ask that you be prepared to either submit your final project (the career brochure) at the end of our computer time tomorrow or at our class immediately following that.  We will also continue our debate next class with the refutation and closing statements.  Be sure that you've participated to earn full credit for this activity.

AP English III

I was happy to see all of you dive right in to this The Great Gatsby skit assignment.  Remember to work effectively with your group members to accomplish and create a strong and thorough skit.  Make sure that you follow the guidelines in the assignment sheet.  Remember that this will count as a major grade for you and serve as your review before your exam on The Great Gatsby.

Besides working on your skit, I'd like for you to finish reading The Great Gatsby tonight.  You should take this time to finish up your annotations and continue working on vocabulary.  Next class we will be spending a good amount of time discussing "The Death of the Moth" and the final chapters of The Great Gatsby.  Be prepared for a quickly moving class on Thursday/Friday.

English IV

Tonight I want you to finish reading Book Two - but I don't want you to read all of chapter nine.  Only focus on reading pages 148-151, 164-165, and 179.  The other pages of the chapter are Goldstein's book and I don't think that you don't need to understand these portions to understand the book.  You also are going to want to focus on studying your vocabulary.  We'll soon have our Book Two test, which will be structured very similarly to your first test.  Try not to repeat the same mistakes.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Homework for 10/25 and 10/29

You can look at this as either your last homework assignment of the first nine weeks or your first homework assignment of the second nine weeks.  Either way, as long as you get your tasks completed, we'll all start off on the right note.

Freshman Focus

Next class we will be returning to the computer lab to continue constructing our career pamphlets.  I think that most of you will probably finish during this time.  I would also like to remind you that we will be doing the opening statements of our debate.  I think that the groups have clarified what they are trying to argue; I would remind you that this is a team effort.  Make sure that you are being an active participant.

AP English III

This weekend/Monday you've got a few things to take care of for me.  First, I'd like for you to read chapter eight of The Great Gatsby.  As we're now moving to the conclusion of the novel, I would remind you that you want to start seeing how Fitzgerald is tying up his loose ends and creating a message on these different topics and motifs.  Continue to annotate heavily and update your covers and vocabulary bookmarks.

Additionally, I would like for you to read Virginia Woolf's "The Death of the Moth" - this piece is available in 50 Essays or also at this link.  Be sure to annotate this piece and feel free to use it to stock your vocabulary bookmarks.  After you read this piece, take another look at the description of Myrtle's death scene.  There are some interesting parallels.

Lastly, I gave you your skit assignment today - think about what you'd like to do and who you'd like to work with; don't worry about making any progress on these assignments yet -- we'll start on that Tuesday/Wednesday of next week.

English IV

This weekend I'd like for you to read chapters seven and eight of 1984.  Continue to watch Julia, Winston, and O'Brien as they start to form different relationships and push the ideas in the text further.  We will soon start wrapping up this book.  Be sure to be prepared for any pop reading quizzes!

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Homework for All Classes - 10/23 and 10/24

There is just one more A-day left this quarter.  Here are some final notes as we wind down this quarter and prepare for the next:

Freshman Focus

You do not have any homework tonight, but it would be a good idea to continue to prepare for your team debate as well as your research assignment.  Next class will be our final class in the Computer Lab to work on research, from there we will focus on putting the pamphlets together.  Be ready!

AP English III

Tonight for homework you need to read chapter seven of The Great Gatsby.  Chapter seven is relatively lengthy, but there is a lot happening in this chapter.  Make sure that you've read and annotated heavily as we will be working through a lot of ideas in this chapter in class on Thursday/Monday.  In addition, if you saw anything on your progress report today which was suspect or didn't seem right, please see me.  Be aware that Thursday by 3:00 PM is the last chance you have to see me about anything this quarter.

English IV

For tonight I'd like for you to read chapter six of 1984.  As you read chapter six, pay attention to the relationship between Winston and O'Brien that is developing.  What do you think of this relationship?  What are you finding about O'Brien which you didn't know before?  The book is starting to move in a very different direction and I want you to have a handle on that before you come to class next time.

Progress reports went out for all classes.  Please make sure you're using your progress report as a final check for the quarter.  See me if you have any questions or concerns.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Homework for the Weekend and Monday - 10/19 and 10/22

We're about to begin our final week of the first nine weeks!  Pay attention to the details below and finish strong!

Freshman Focus

Tonight for homework I'd like for you finish reading the New York Times article about paying students for their success in school.  On Tuesday/Wednesday we will participate in a small debate which will attempt to answer the following question:

Is this method a useful and effective one for dealing with the issue of laziness in American students?

Remember that we will begin our day in the computer lab across the hall working on more research for our career projects.

AP English III

Over the weekend you have a few things to prepare.  Let's go through those in the order of their importance:

1.  Your revised summer essays are due on Tuesday/Wednesday.  In order to receive credit you must submit the original essay with your rubric.  I have to see your improvements in order to score your work again.

2.  Your vocabulary bookmarks will be checked.  You need to have twenty entries - all with page numbers and personal definitions.

3.  You need to read chapter six of The Great Gatsby - remember to focus on the idea of the past and time as you read.  Use that as a lens to help you interpret the chapter.

I'll be here very late on Monday - feel free to make an appointment with me if you need additional assistance before the due date.  I will not be available for help over e-mail this weekend or on Tuesday.

English IV

Before next class I would like for you to read chapters four and five of 1984.  While you read, I would suggest taking notes due to the fact that you will have a reading quiz on these chapters when we see each other next class.  The quiz will likely be one of your final grades of the nine weeks.

All classes - You will be getting progress reports on Tuesday/Wednesday which will be updated to that date.  This provides you a chance to see where you stand before the quarter ends.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Notes and Reminders 10/17 and 10/18

Freshman Focus

Tonight for homework I'd like for you to finish your future success sketches.  I'll be checking these on Friday/Monday.  Pay special attention to the boxes for twenty or thirty years from now.  I want to make sure that you've thought about what career or job you'd have in your idea of success.  We'll then talk about what one needs to do to reach that point in terms of education.

AP English III

I'm extending the deadline on the conversation board until Friday/Monday for all classes.  Please make sure that you find the proper post for your class and post your response in the comment thread.  Don't forget your name at the end.  Be aware that I'm giving you this extension because this is the first time we've done this type of assignment - this extension will not be given again.

For tonight, be sure that you've read chapter five of The Great Gatsby and annotated it heavily.  Also, you will want to review your writing notes - we will be doing a copious amount of writing on Friday/Monday; make sure that you have your favorite pen.

English IV

With the presentations today and the test corrections I don't need you all doing any more work for me tonight.  If you did not get your project turned in today you're going to want to make sure that's done for our very next class.  Remember that you're losing points every day that the project is late.

All classes will get new progress reports next week.  Be aware of this.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

B Day Discussion Board

B-day AP English III Students,

Please respond to the following question in a comment. Be sure to sign your name at the end of the comment to ensure you get credit.

Identify examples of informal language in this essay.  Is it appropriate and effective to her purpose or is it distracting?

Be sure that as you craft your response you use appropriate and convincing examples and explanation. This response will count as a homework grade.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Homework for 15 and 16 October

There's a lot to get through for this Monday's posting.  Pay close attention to the instructions for each class.

Freshman Focus

Tonight I would like for you to sit down and talk with someone older than you about their high school or educational experiences.  Generate five questions about high school or education and then conduct an interview.  Remember that the person should be someone from your parent's generation or older.  No asking older siblings or cousins for thier feedback.  Write down your questions and the interview answers.  We'll begin by discussing our findings on Wednesday/Thursday.

AP English III

With the PSAT gracing our presence on Wednesday things are going to be a bit out of place.  Consider the assignments below due for Friday/Monday with the exception of the blog post which is due Wednesday/Thursday.

First, I would like for you to find your favorite pen.  It can be an ink pen, ball point, whichever you prefer, a fountain pen would work too.  Whichever type of pen you like to use, find it and bring it to class with you on Friday/Monday.  Additionally, be sure that you've read to the end of chapter four and five by Friday/Monday's class.  I know we didn't get through as much as I wanted today, but we will continue to get through more as we work through the text.  I think that even in our limited conversation we still hit on a lot of major ideas that work themselves out throughout the text.  Continue to pay attention to the different questions we raised, and how these questions are answered.  Additionally, now that you have your vocabulary assignment, be working on that.  I would like to collect your first bookmarks on 10/23 and 10/24.

Finally, in the post below this there is a discussion thread for A-day students and one for B-day students (coming after class on Tuesday).  Please respond to the thread question in a comment.  When you finish your comment, be sure to leave your name so that I can assign credit.  Only responses posted before class begins will be eligable for credit.

English IV

Next class you'll be getting up and presenting your Propaganda projects.  For tonight, I would like for you to spend some time finishing these projects so that they show your best work.  Be sure that you have completed all of the steps on the back and that you have completed a writing assignment which follows the guidelines given to you on the assignment sheet.  As part of your grade you will present your poster, explain your message, and take questions from the audience.  Be sure that you're ready.

A-Day AP English III Discussion Board

Students,

Please respond to the following question in a comment.  Be sure to sign your name at the end of the comment to ensure you get credit.

Ericsson uses her personal experience to illustrate some but not all of her categories of lying.  Is her allotment of personal reference effective, or does it fragment the essay?

Be sure that as you craft your response you use appropriate and convincing examples and explanation.  This response will count as a homework grade.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Homework for the Weekend 10/11 and 10/12

It's crazy to think that we've had almost a full nine weeks of class already.  Remember to catch up if you're falling behind, especially with the end of the quarter coming so quickly.

Freshman Focus

Today in class most students finished their essays and then we began to present essays to the class.  We will continue this on Monday/Tuesday.  Please make sure that your essay is complete, it is correctly formatted, and that you have submitted all of your drafts.  These essays will likely be your last major grade for the quarter - be sure to make it count!

AP English III

I was very impressed to see you all getting so quickly into The Great Gatsby and unlocking a lot of meaning connected to the characters.  We didn't have a chance to work through the first two chapters, so we'll hold that off until Monday/Tuesday.  For the weekend, I would like for you to read Stephanie Ericsson's "The Ways We Lie" which is in 50 Essays or at this link.  Be sure to read carefully and annotate.  Also, you should read chapter three of The Great Gatsby.  It's my hope that next week we will begin to pull together some of these ideas and have some really amazing conversations.

Lastly, don't forget that the window for revised essays is closing soon.  Make sure that you are actively working to revise your summer essays and submit them for a new score.  Submissions must be turned in by 10/23 and 10/24.

English IV

Next week you will have your propaganda projects collected.  Please make sure that you are putting time and effort into these projects as they will count as a large major test grade.  Over the weekend you should put time into your explanation of the poster.  Explain what message you are trying to convey to the viewer of the poster and how it is that you are communicating that message.  Be sure to focus on the details of your poster.  Also, continue moving forward in Book Two of 1984.  Read chapter three and continue to note the changes in Winston as he and Julia's relationship continues to develop.

I'll see you all on the flip side!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Homework for 10/9 and 10/10

Now that you have had a bit of time off from your first test, it's time to get back to business.  Here are some reminders for all of you as we move foward.

Freshman Focus

You have now completed the first draft of each part of your essay.  What you need to do is to begin putting the two parts together with the feedback you've received from your peers.  In class on Wednesday/Thursday we will be returning to the media center to finish our drafts.  Make sure that no matter what, you are prepared to present your draft on Monday/Tuesday the 15th/16th as this will be the day that your essays will be collected.

AP English III

I hope that you all enjoyed the discussion today on art and culture in the 1920's.  I was happy to see that many students who haven't participated that much began to open up and share to create knowledge in the room.  Please continue to open up - it's more fun that way.  For tonight, I would like for you to finish reading chapter one and two of The Great Gatsby.  As you read, continue to annotate.  Look especially at information for your front and back covers and continue to build on the ideas we've been discussing.  Show me what you can come up with and be an active reader.

English IV

I was impressed with what you all were seeing in our reading circle today about Winston, Julia, their budding relationship, and the society in which they live.  Tonight, I want you to finish reading chapter one of book two - continue adding to your notes and observations regarding our two characters and the questions I posed for you at the beginning of class.  After you finish chapter one, please continue on to chapter two.

It would also be a good idea to review your new vocabulary words as these will be asked about soon on a quiz.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Homework/Reminders for 10/2 and 10/3

Happy October!  С НОВЫМ ОКТЯБРЕМ!

A little bit of Russian for all of ya.  Now, let's move on to the business.

Freshman Focus

If you didn't finish your brainstorming about the three most important moments in your life and what you learned from that moment - you will need to finish that tonight for homework.  Remember, the hardest thing is getting started when it comes to writing -- overtake that blank page.  That way when we meet in the Media Center on Friday/Monday you'll begin to immediately write.

AP English III

Study.  And then after that, study some more.  Then, keep studying :)  Here's an abbreviated list for where you should focus your energy as you prepare. 
  • tone words - study your chart, know positives and negatives, learn definitions for new words, prepare yourselves for multiple choice questions regarding tone.
  • the rhetorical appeals - know the difference between these
  • your writing notes - you'll have four short answers and I'll be looking to see improvement and an embrace of AP writing with complete arguments and explanations.
  • you'll be asked specific questions about King, Eighner, White, Thoreau, and Emerson
  • visual rhetoric
A tip for studying - I learned this at Carolina - write the types of questions you think I would ask you (think about the types of questions I have you consider during class) and then practice responding.  Collect your ideas.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all produce.

English IV

You all also need to study.  You'll have your first test on Book One of 1984 on Friday/Monday.  You should be prepared on the following ideas specifically:
  • your vocabulary - you will have fill in the blanks questions regarding vocabulary words
  • the characters we've met in Book One, their importance to the story, and their connection to Winston
  • there will also be multiple choice questions regarding literary devices, overall ideas, and other topics related to the text.
  • I would be sure to reread chapter eight, some multiple choice questions will be focused directly from here.
The exam will be open book, except for the multiple choice portion.  Prepare yourself accordingly.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Apologies. Again.

For yet another entry I forget to make the post during my planning period, and just now am I doing it, after dinner. Here are your reminders.

Freshman Focus

You should begin to brainstorm your ideas for the This I Believe essays. Today I gave you the assignment sheet which goes over some ideas. Tomorrow in class we'll spend some time developing these ideas and planning.

AP English III

You all have your first big test coming up soon! Your Transcendentalism unit test. Tonight you should begin to study and prepare for the test on Friday. Remember that I will not give you a study guide or prepared review sheet. It is your responsibility to generate questions to ask during class on Wednesday/Thursday.

We'll begin our next novel soon, The Great Gatsby. We won't start reading until next week. Try to get yourselves a copy before next week. I'll have copies to check out the day of the test for you if you don't plan to get your own.

Lastly, today was really the last day of bootcamp you may want to begin revising. The window for revisions is only open for the next few weeks.

English IV

At the end of the week you all will be having your first test on book one of 1984. You should begin studying now. Know your vocabulary words very well as there will be part of your test asking you to apply these words. The test will be open book, but you still need to be ready. One part of the test will be closed book.

You should also do work on your propaganda assignment. We will work on these more next class after we watch the first part of the film version of 1984.