14 March - Pi Day and Writing Day!

AP Language and Composition

Really solid day in AP Language today to end our week together. We listened to a great piece of late 1980's hip hop, explored some key passages in Invisible Man, and ended our day with writing. A full and productive day. I'm looking forward to reading and scoring your essays. Be sure that they are all submitted today. Take the extra time (about 10 minutes or so) to read, revise, and finish your arguments. I'll hopefully have feedback for you the next time that I see you, definitely before Spring Break.

Next class we'll be looking at Chapter 23. This is where we get to see the new TIM in action. Watch how he's changed and continuing to change as he moves into the world. He's finally understanding and seeing the world in a more authentic way - it's what we've been waiting for. I completely understand that you may be behind in your reading tasks. Complete your discussion boards as you can. Remember that you should be actively working on your research right now to prepare for presentations after Spring Break.

 

As always, let me know what I can do to help and assist. We have three Lion Times next week available for help with reading, researching, or writing. Have a great weekend!

12 March - Writing, Feedback, and Invisible Man

AP Language and Composition

Pretty simple and straightforward day today in AP Language with a day focused on our research and our writing. We started off class with some time to dig into sources and our research write-up document. This document is super important as you are farming your sources and constructing your final synthesis sourcepack to support your presentation. Remember that part of working with the sources is to write about them in order to determine their possible use in your work. If you think that you can use the source, then put it in your sourcepack. We'll be checking on reading skills soon, this Annotated Bibliography is designed to help you develop those skills.

We also spent time today discussing our writing skills. Some of us are showing some growth, others maybe are still hitting speedbumps. Let's make sure that we're focused on pushing forward and solving problems. Use your class time and Lion Time effectively. A writing conference is key! Let's set a goal and accomplish it together. Remember, we have just nine weeks until the AP Examination!

Don't forget your reading and discussion board posts for Invisible Man. Next class we're looking at Chapters 20-22. This is a really important section of the novel. Trigger Warning: There is police violence in this section. Read, annotate, and think. I'll look forward to seeing you on Thursday. 

6 March - Bonus Grey Day!

AP Language

Easy day today in AP Language land as we had a bit of a bonus day. I hope that you found it helpful and useful. We had the chance to settle up business related to writing, reading, or our research work. Here are some guidepoints for you to consider where we are at this moment.

1. Researching - Do you have a finalized research question? Have you begun to collect sources in your sourcepack? Are you building an argument? Do you have some annotated bibliography entries written? At this point you should have 2-3 documents in your sourcepack and processed through an annotated bibliography.

2. Reading - Have you completed the reading of Invisible Man - Chapters 13-15? Have you watched the videos and participated in the discussion? Have you read and annotated Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" for next class? Engage in reading to be a better reader!

3. Writing - Have you met for a writing conference? Completed your most recent timed write? Have a plan to do so if it's missing? Remember that writing takes time, so it's important to work diligently and often. I'm available to assist outside of class as needed! We'll have another timed write coming up soon!

Looking forward to seeing everyone on Friday! For those of you participating in the Cultural Celebration - be sure to keep up with the class time that you're missing. We can always use Lion Time next week or after school to get caught up!

4 March - Timed Writing Day!

AP Language and Composition

What a Monday in AP Language land as we had a simulated examination task with another practice FRQ 1. Today we discussed the factors that should be considered when planning a monument. Esoteric, right? Sometimes these synthesis prompts are strange, they can seem hard to argue, but I think that we can all eventually find a way in to the conversation with the sources. I'm looking forward to seeing what you put up today - what you found in the mines.

This task is important because it helps us with our eventual task in this unit and in this class - the synthesis argument. How's your research coming? Have you finalized your research question? Begun to curate sources? Written an Annotated Bibliography entry or two? Keep in mind that these related tasks do help with the skill development to write a solid synthesis essay. Come in to Lion Time or visit after school in March for help with these essential tasks.

For Invisible Man, we're at a bit of a choose your own adventure spot. This section of the novel is pretty straightforward. TIM is in his Brotherhood section of the novel (Chapters 12 to 19). Consider the cycles that we're continuing to see as they assert themselves. I've posted a discussion board for your key takeaway from this chapter. Follow the instructions and complete the post as you read through this section. There will be another discussion board for the next section of chapters.

For tonight, we have a bit of a sidetrack with Greek philosophy and connections to Invisible Man and life in general. Enjoy Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" - the cartoon posted below may be helpful as you read on your own. We'll read it again in class together on Friday, so be ready and annotated!

29 February - Happy Leap Year Day!

AP Language and Composition

Solid day today in AP Language as we investigated allusions in Chapters 11 and 12. Allusions are so important in a text because they are a chance for an author to add deep meaning and connections in their texts. Also, in a complex text like Invisible Man allusions can provide a lot of clarity. Identifying and explaining the purpose of allusions can be a great route to solid analysis on the AP Examination. Today we explored allusions to The Bible, Greek Mythology, and music. These allusions helped us to understand the end of this transition moment in the text and where TIM is in his journey to understand and create his identity.

At the end of class, we looked at two final articles. These articles could be helpful for a lot of you in your research work. Add them to your research write-up. Remember that you should be working on this project daily as it is a big project with lots of pieces. For the weekend, focus on reading Invisible Man and preparing to do another writing task. Some of you have already revised, and that's great, we're going to have another chance to demonstrate our skills soon! Be ready!

23 February - Chapter 10 and Explosions!

AP Language and Composition

Such a fun Friday today in AP Language as we got to do some arts and crafts to display our understanding of key passages in Invisible Man. I loved the way that you were all engaged today in the ideas and uncovering the arguments in the text. Keep in mind that this is a fulcrum chapter - it divides the novel in two and serves to really pull together ideas well. Be sure that you're seeing connections and pulling ideas together as we keep going forward. Take some time to use our key passages and your understandings so far to complete your motif tracker for the book - remember that this is a tool to aid your comprehension and your interpretation, not an assignment, but still a great resource. Next week on Thursday, we'll be diving in to Chapter 11 and 12. It's a short bit and provides a bit of a strange look at TIM in the hospital. Read with your symbolism glasses on, it's a wild ride.

The most important thing to complete right now is your research question and argument (at this point). If you don't know your side right now, write two potential arguments. Part of doing the research process is figuring out where you stand. No matter your topic or position, you need a starting point from which to move forward. Lock in, complete the checkpoint, and get ready to move forward. Remember that you have the document AND the discussion board as part of the revision step, there's also the first document on research questions if you need that too.

I'm loving how busy I am at Lion Time with all of you. Remember that you can rewrite this essay or write a new one; if you're satisfied, then in the words of Romeo from Romeo and Juliet, "Be satisfied." As always, keep reading, thinking, writing, communicating, and collaborating. I'm headed to North Carolina this weekend to see some friends and celebrate some good things. I'll look forward to seeing you Tuesday for a research focused day!

21 February - Oratory and Argument

AP Language and Composition

A rollercoaster day in AP Language, but I think we ended on a high and came to some good understandings about finishing out the year. Remember, you need to put in the real work. No more coasting, no more cruise control, it's time to move with purpose and intention. So, let's make that happen. Take the slides, feedback, and thinking to begin to revise your essays from our practice. Don't delete anything. I have some sample papers and other tools that are helpful - let's keep working together to revise and change scores to get to a 1/4/0. The goal is for you to figure out a method to devise an argument so that you can always employ that tool.

We started the day with reading skills and dug into reasoning and organization as well as rhetorical situation. I hope you all saw our connection to the AP Examination and some of the key questions and skills we're asked to demonstrate in our work. Take some time to read Chapter 10 for Friday's class. It's a strange chapter with a lot of symbolism, but I have faith in you. Pay attention to white paint, power, vision, and the connections to the American government. Use the video on Chapter 10 to get a handle on what's happening.

12 February - Chapters 5-7: Saying Goodbye to the South

AP Language and Composition

Fantastic day today in AP Language as we leaned into our reading skills and our presentation skills to work through Chapters 5, 6, and 7. In these chapters, we finish up our time in the South and at the College. TIM won't be returning, but the lessons - or lack thereof - will continue to follow him into New York. I really love the fact that so many of us were contributing to our class learning today. Great work with your new approach to Key Passages. Remember to continue to use these tools as you are working through this novel - especially the motif tracker.

Next class we'll be revising research questions and working through Brent Staples's "Just Walk on By: Black Men and the Public Space." It's a short article, so read deeply and carefully. Consider the connection to stereotypes and invisibility. This is a key connection between Ellison and Staples. We'll have our next set of chapters on Friday. Try to get ahead, we have some large chunks coming later. If you haven't submitted your research work, please do so ASAP so that you can fully participate in our lesson on Wednesday.

6 February - Chapters 3 and 4

AP Language and Composition

Really fantastic work today everyone digging into the key conversations in Chapters 3 and 4. As we worked through today's class we saw the way in which characters function as symbols of key ideas. Remember, characters aren't real. As we watch characters interact in be in conflict, it's important to ask yourself which characters aka ideas win and why that is. Also consider what TIM understands, what he doesn't and why. He's trapped in a cycle, so we need to follow how he's continuing to repeat mistakes and what helps him to break free. Thanks Arianna Grande...

Remember that you may have some small housekeeping to complete. Log in to AP Classroom and check on your Unit 2 Progress Check. Next class we have an argumentative writing assignment, so you'll want the feedback before writing again in the same way. Please email me when complete since I don't get notifications from AP Classroom. You also have the beginning of the research topic to complete - this is a means to revise and refine, so please submit to show me where you are. Remember you're defining America. If you'd like to come to Lion Time or after school to work with me, please do so.

Looking further ahead, we have Chapters 5, 6, and 7 coming up next week. As you read these chapters, you'll be confused by Chapter 5. It's a story within a story, the story of The Founder. Try to understand what you can about him and then understand how this sits in the same cycle as we've seen today - TIM and older men. Chapter 6 is a great look at Bledsoe, and Chapter 7 will take us to New York and the end of Section 1. 

See you Thursday for writing!

2 February - Substitute Day

AP Language

Friday, February 2 is a substitute day. Sorry to be away, but duty calls. I'm off at Herndon High School today doing some project work for the district on assessments. All of your tasks have been posted today as assignments on Schoology. You should be able to finish everything during class.

First, complete your jazz journal discussion board. If you access the slides, you can watch the music video - please use headphones. The lyrics are posted for you in the discussion board as well. Post a takeaway using the guiding questions. Second, finish your study of James Baldwin's "Notes of a Native Son" using the document posted. If you don't have your paper copy of the article, use the posted PDF on Schoology. Be sure to submit your answers and thoughts to demonstrate your thinking. Lastly, begin your research topic development. Use the guiding questions to refine your idea and topic. We'll continue to develop the research topic as we keep moving through this unit. 

Submit your tasks and I'll be providing feedback as soon as I can. Next class, we'll be looking at Chapters 3 and 4, be read and prepared for class and I'll see you on Tuesday! Please complete the substitute form linked on Schoology at the end of your day.

31 January - Chapter 2 and Jim Trueblood

AP Language

Great day in AP Language today as we dealt with one of the most difficult and complex chapters of the book, Chapter 2. During today's class we focused a lot on characters and their importance in the novel. As we move through this opening section of the book, it's important to see the way in which TIM interacts with different characters and how they affect him. Consider what he understands and what he doesn't understand. We often will understand more than he does because we can see things that he doesn't. 

Remember to use your motif trackers as you are moving through the book. All of the motifs are present in the Prologue, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2. As we move to Chapter 3, you'll start to see some gaps in the motif chart. 

Next class we'll be finishing up our work on James Baldwin. Be sure to read and annotate the second half of the article. If you lost your paper copy, the PDF is posted for you. Next week we'll get into Chapter 3 and 4. Keep reading and getting into this fantastic and challenging novel. I'm excited to help you continue to discover. Next class I'll be out and you'll have a substitute. Be sure to complete all of the tasks by the end of the day.

29 January - Kicking Off Quarter 3 and Semester 2

AP Language and Composition

Fantastic day with James Baldwin today in AP Language. I was glad to see the way in which you were understanding his father on multiple levels and the way in which Baldwin makes a complex relationship very real. The conversations we had around the past, racism, inherited trauma and burdens, and identity are key connection points over to Invisible Man as we see TIM go through many of the same questions and complex relationships with older males in his life. 

For tonight, be sure to read Chapter 2 (Trigger Warning: Rape/Sexual Assault Descriptions). We'll be working through this very important chapter next class. It's a beast, but important for the effect that it has on TIM and on us, the reader. You'll be challenged. Get what you can out of it and come to class with questions. We'll delve into key passages in order to understand what this chapter is telling us. We'll finish Baldwin on Friday. Be on the lookout for assignments posted on Friday since I'll be out working at another school in the district.

See you Wednesday!

24 January - End of Semester 1

AP Language and Composition

Wonderful day to end things in AP Language for the first semester. We started our dive into Invisible Man and worked through the major ideas of the Battle Royale in Chapter One. This scene is so important because it is the major cycle for the text. We used our resources such as our motif chart, our annotations document, and our key passages to unlock meaning and collaborate to understand.

Remember, you are not expected to understand this book as you read. You are expected to read and to try. Failure to do so will not improve your reading skills, which is something that needs to happen.

Over the weekend focus on continuing your reading into Invisible Man; we have Chapter 2 coming up next week. You also have James Baldwin to read for next class. You can read the whole article if you'd like to, but be sure to read the first portion. The stop is highlighted for you. Build connections between Baldwin and TIM as well as the other authors in this unit.

See you in Semester Two!

22 January - Registration Day

AP Language and Composition

Today was registration day for senior year. I hope that you had productive meetings with your counselors to make your plan for next year. Of course, it's not really about next year this year, it's about the year after and after. When you're making your choices for senior year, consider your plans for after graduation. What's going to set you up for the best success? How are you going to achieve some balance for yourself to give yourself the time you need for everything? 

Next class we should meet and have a normal day. Be ready for Chapter 1. We've got the video guide, the motif tracking document, and the annotation anchor document. Use your resources to tackle this difficult text. We'll also start jumping into the research project next class. Chapter 1 is rough for a lot of reasons, but it's also super important because of the cycles that it sets up. Read carefully!

I'm looking forward to a normal class with y'all next time. All the best!

9 January - Zora Neale Hurston

AP Language

We spent a great class with Ms. Zora Neale Hurston today in AP Lang. She is definitely one of my top ten writers, probably top five if we're just looking at American literature and writers. We didn't quite finish our work at the end looking at Hurston's piece through the frame of an argument, so I'd recommend finishing by reflecting on those questions tonight. How does she use evidence and commentary throughout her essay to support her thesis? In what ways does she create clear organization between sections and ideas using her main argument? How does she develop and employ an engaging voice throughout the essay? All of these are key questions in FRQ 1 and 3 - the argument questions - so it's important to see how authors do this so that we can too.

Next class we're looking at Langston Hughes. His text is pretty difficult, so we'll work through it in class - no reading necessary for next class. Use this time to get into Invisible Man - use the audiobook, YouTube playlist, and other resources. Don't forget to check in with your motif tracker as you read - it's a great tool too. We'll be working through Chapter 1 next week!

Welcome Back! Three Weeks to Winter Break - 27 November

AP Language

What an incredible day to start our three weeks before Winter Break. We focused our work on Chapter 9 and examined two key passages in order to understand Fitzgerald's conclusion and main arguments about his society in the 1920's. All of this work is key as you are considering your final projects with this book. We started to summarize our main takeaways via a precis and considered how effective Fitzgerald was with the text he produced. All of this work will pay off well on Friday when we complete our in-class analysis. For Friday you'll be selecting your own passage from the novel and writing an analytical essay explaining how this passage conveys a significant argument through the use of motifs and other choices. 

Your visual will be due next week. For the visual be sure to answer the accompanying questions, you may find it easier to do that before building the visual to help guide your construction process. As always, come to Lion Time or after school if you need extra assistance.

Next class we'll be looking at one of our final pieces of this year - Andrew Sullivan's "What Are Homosexuals For?" As you read this text, consider connections to characters such as Jordan Baker, Nick Carraway, and Jay Gatsby/Jay Gatz. Consider how each of them live outside of the normal rules of society and what happens to them because of this. It's an interesting text with creative parallels for us to explore in our final seminar.

31 October - Happy Halloween!

AP Language

Solid day today in AP Language as we had some really big conversations about the power of the past, memory, truth, and identity. I appreciated the way in which you were closely reading the chapters to understand the way in which our motifs are interacting with each other to create arguments in the text. We're hitting the back half of the novel, so it's important to see how things are shifting to create key meanings. Remember, the characters aren't really characters - they're ideas. It's time to pay attention to who's winning, who's losing, and why. 

For next class, focus on reading Chapter 6. There are some major changes that occur in Chapter 6, so pay close attention and see the shifts as they occur. Don't forget that as we are working in class, you should be filling out your motif charts. As the ideas are activated in conversation note the ideas in the chart. Remember, you don't need quotes or page numbers, just collect the data. Next week we'll have a bit of a catch-up space to work on projects, draw some big connections, and collaborate together. I'm really enjoying the energy that I'm seeing in class around Gatsby and the increasing depth of analysis and reading. Keep practicing! Keep writing!

19 October - End of HoCo Week

AP Language

Wowza! What a day in AP Language as we discussed Chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby. I loved the depth of your analysis and your reading and the way in which you reflected that in your discussion. Keep in mind that everything we're doing right now is about strengthening your analytical reading and writing skills. This is the key work to do in order to improve the skills assessed in your rhetorical analysis - FRQ 2. This is also a great skill that will apply in your other classes; remember, it's always about close reading and deriving patterns. Apply our reading strategies as you read on your own to deepen annotations and remember more of what you read. Annotating is making your thinking visible, so do it!

Over the weekend, read Chapter 3. You're going to get into your first party at Gatsby's house. Look at who comes and what happens. Pay attention to the imagery, the words, and the choices. Keep developing your list of big ideas in the back of the book and see how these ideas are developed in the body of the narrative.

If you're struggling with analytical writing, come in to Lion Time next week. I'm here to support you and provide more practice and feedback with your skills. We'll discuss more feedback and reassessment options next week!

13 October - Spooky Friday

AP Language

Great day in AP Language! It was so long since I'd seen you last, that we had a lot of stored up energy for today's work. Today we began Unit 3 and looked at WEB DuBois's From the Souls of Black Folk. This is one of our main texts for the next few units - it's foundational. We'll keep coming back to it and focus on ideas related to identity and perception and self-perception. The conversation we had and ideas we derived were quite rich. Go back to the recording or collaborative slides to review.

We ended class by looking at a video related to the social context for the novel we're studying, The Great Gatsby. Over the weekend, read Chapter 1. Focus on big ideas, characters, and the patterns that you're noticing in the literature. Annotate with post-it notes or on paper to track your findings. Consider how this book is a reaction to the moment of the culture of the 1920's.

See you on Tuesday! If you missed the timed write, we can make it up next week.

Kicking off the Week - 22 May

AP Language

Great day starting our Final Examination working sessions today. Today was a reading day. I loved reading days at UNC Chapel Hill - they were days for studying and resting during final exams. For me, they were studying and preparing days - the joys of being an English and Russian double major. 

The reading assignment we began today will be completed through the week. Be active in your notes and reading. Answer the questions with evidence from the readings and your ideas on that evidence. Complete sentences aren't needed, but complete thoughts are. This will be scored for thoroughness and completion. It's due on Friday (Blue Day) / Tuesday (Grey Day). 

Next class we'll be working to collaborate and discuss these texts and groups. We'll share takeaways and ideas together to complete our own work. We'll really focus in on the reflection questions next class, but you can feel free to start those now. 

If you have any choice board item still to complete (letters or choice tasks) be sure to submit and meet with me as needed. I am still processing letters and other items. Reach out with any questions - the Quarter Gradebook will close on June 1 as that is the day I start grading for College Board.

AP Research

We are now firmly in our final push before Final Examinations for Seniors. Your examination for me is on May 31. We'll meet, have some snacks, and enjoy our final presentations for the year. You've come a long way, let's finish with style and grace.