10 November - Happy Friday and Veterans' Day!

AP Language

Wonderful end to the week today in AP Language. We explored one of my favorite authors, Joan Didion, and her ideas around truth, memory, the past, and the issue of bias. I appreciated the conversation we were having and the connections that we built back to The Great Gatsby and our narrator. Remember that as we look at these parallel pieces we are building our analysis of non-fiction skills, our analytical writing skills, and our reading skills that are key for the AP Examination.

Over the weekend, read and annotate Chapter 7. Focus on using your motif tracker to follow major ideas in the text. Remember that we're moving to the end of the novel, so it's important start to draw your focus in on key motifs and meanings in the novel. We'll be finishing the project in the week after Thanksgiving Break, so putting in adequate time now is important. As always, reach out with anything that I can do for you to assist.

8 November (A Bit Ahead)

AP Language

Happy Wednesday (or whatever day you see this, but this post is for Wednesday, November 8) Everyone! 

I'm away today for some yearly medical appointments today. You've got a pretty straightforward day in class to catch-up and process Chapters 1-6 of The Great Gatsby. The slides posted here and in Materials - Current Lessons will guide you through what you should do and the conversations you should have. Here are the steps for today's class:

1. Get your notebook and have your laptop ready. Open up your Motif Tracker Chart. You may want to access the earlier key passages or the online text to search easily for where motifs are activated.

2. Complete items from the To-Do List (Slide 4). Try to get through 2-3 items. There are some Progress Checks open for you if you want to practice on AP Classroom. The main focus should be your motif trackers. Work with your classmates and use your resources!

3. After spending a bit less than an hour with the text, start to process what you're seeing and think about meanings. Draw connections between motifs and the characters, settings, conflicts, and symbolic objects. Consider the question - Who/What is winning and why? This will take you right into the final slide about Fitzgerald's arguments on American society. Use the DADS structure - and remember to be as specific as you possibly can be!

Next class we'll be looking at the article by Joan Didon. Didion is an amazing author and a bit of a favorite of mine and Mr. Friedman's. As you read, consider our conversation a few days ago related to the past, memory, and truth. This is a great piece to use as you consider Nick and the way in which he operates as a viewer and as a narrator.

18 October - Tuesday!

AP Language

Today's class focused on a recap of the major ideas in Chapter One and the key changes to Chapter Two. We discussed characters, first impressions, Nick's tones, and the importance of Nick's actions in framing the narrative we have. We did some close reading in class as well with some key passages of Chapter Two and noticed the key similarities and differences between Chapters One and Two. The more things change, the more they stay the same, right?

Tonight we're taking a break from The Great Gatsby. Be sure to complete and submit any Unit 2 tasks like vocabulary or your project. I look forward to reviewing your work. You'll also want to go back to Chapters One and Two and begin your color tracker. Follow the directions in the assignment on Schoology. Tonight you're reading and annotating an article by Joan Didion. Focus on the ideas of memory, truth, and accuracy. This is a great way to contrast Nick and consider the ideas of honesty and reliability with narrators.

AP Research

Today was our second AP Research lesson from College Board devoted to our presentations of our research. Our next major assignment is going to be our Research Poster version 1.0 and our Elevator Pitch. This will be our summative assignment to show the completion of our Unit. I hope that you can all also see the connection between the poster, elevator pitch, and your eventual introduction of your paper. In effect, the poster is the outline of your introduction.

Your AB is due. Be sure that you submit no later than Thursday so that I have time to review your work and get you feedback. This is one of your last major grades of the quarter. I'll also open up a space to submit your reflections up to this point. These will be reviewed for thoroughness of thought and apparent effort. I'm sorry that I missed some elements of our work today, I wasn't very good with the recorder. I hope the slides help.

Homework for B-Day - 29 August

English IV

For tonight, just like the A-day class, please finish your brainstorming for "The Me You Don't See" as well as your paperwork (student/parent contact sheet). We'll be using the answers for the brainstorming to guide us into the drafting of the personal essay.

Today was a wonderful first class - I was very happy to see the excitement and energy in the room. Let's keep that going and make sure we have a wonderful year together.

AP English III

Mr. Bernhard and I are working on your summer assignments and will get them back to you as soon as we can. For now, you have reading and paperwork to complete.

Complete the reading of Didion's "On Keeping a Notebook" - it's available in the first edition of 50 Essays and at this link. Read the text and take notes. As you read, find four new words and write them on your vocabulary bookmarks.

Also, don't forget the parent/student contact form. You can fill out the paper copy or the online version in the post below.

Next class we'll be working with Didion and Capote - so have your books and your notes!

B Day Homework and Reminders: 22 April 2015

AP English III

Today we had an abbreviated ending to Invisible Man, but it's all that we had time for unfortunately.  For tonight, you should be working in earnest on your motif projects as well as reading the first text of our next unit related to truth and reality in art.  The piece you're reading tonight is by Joan Didion and it's called "On Keeping a Notebook."  It's available in 50 Essays, first edition, or at this link.  Read the piece carefully and annotate.  Keep an eye on the idea of truth as Didion expresses it.

In addition, remember that if you have a missing assignment from Ms. Alley then you must get in touch with her about submitting that assignment.  Her email address is kta5duke (at) gmail (dot) com.

Your motif projects will be collected on Tuesday.  I hope that I'll have your timed writings done by then as well.

English II

Your homework is in the post below.  You should focus on either revising your argument statement so that it can earn a perfect score, or you should be working on finding evidence for your argument.  Remember to think of examples or moments that prove your idea to be true.  Could you use Anne's diary?  Hotel Rwanda?  A monument or day of remembrance that we've discussed in class?  We'll be in the computer lab next class to do some research and planning.