18 January - Langston Hughes and Reflections and Writing Practice

AP Language

Today's class was our day focused on understanding and reflecting on Langston Hughes and what he has to say about the dangers of conformity, especially for African American artists and poets. I enjoyed seeing the way in which you were updating your documents with new ideas, collaborating with each other virtually and in-person, and delving into the text. Wonderful work. Keep reflecting on these authors, their arguments, and the connections between them as we delve into this unit. 

We ended class with AP Classroom and argumentative writing practice. We took a position on the extent to which a truism is true. Keep in mind that with these types of questions, you're explaining nuance and how much something is valid - always, sometimes, or never - the evidence that you use will help to explain that validity and extent. Use key words from your thesis to guide your assertions and your commentary. We'll do some scoring of these next week.

For tonight, keep in mind that we have our first chapter of Invisible Man coming soon. Next class will be our registration meeting, and then we'll be diving into Chapter One and the Battle Royale. Use your motif tracker and resources to get through this text! See you next time!

11 January - Looking at Langston Hughes

AP Language

We had a really lovely day today in AP Language with another fantastic Harlem Renaissance voice - Langston Hughes. Today we got to hear his voice both as a poet and as a social critic; it's interesting to notice how he's saying the same thing (his argument) in various styles. Today's class was a reading, writing, and thinking day -- our essential skills in AP Language! We'll continue to reflect on this essay next class. Be sure that you've completed your discussion board post and submitted your annotations document. Note that the annotations document won't be graded, just the discussion board.

Next class we'll be focused on some writing skills and argumentative writing. There's no reading for next class. Use the time to get into Invisible Man. You'll want to be ahead in the reading so that we can really focus on comprehending and interpreting skills in class.

Homework for the Weekend - B Day Students - 15 December 2017

English IV

Your homework for the weekend is the same as your counterparts from 2A. Make sure you're studying your notes on Act II, and are prepared to answer short and long questions about irony and other details from the play. We also began watching She's The Man, a modern adaptation of Twelfth Night. Next class, we will complete the film and the viewing guide, which will take us into Act III of the play before winter break. Have a good weekend, and see you on Tuesday!

AP English III

Today, we had a good class with a timed writing to kick everything off. Mr. Bernhard will be working on grading and giving feedback to those as soon as he can; he's aiming to have them returned to you on Thursday of next week. The second half of class today functioned as a quick review session before the test on Tuesday. We did careful analysis of each of the five major characters from The Great Gatsby: Nick, Gatsby, Tom, Daisy and Jordan.

In both classes, we didn't get through all of the supplemental essays, so make sure you are revisiting your notes and annotations on those pieces before Tuesday. These essays, in case you don't remember, are Thomas Jefferson's "Declaration of Independence," Langston Hughes's "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," Andrew Carnegie's "The Gospel of Wealth," Virginia Woolf's "The Death of the Moth," and Audre Lorde's "Poetry is Not a Luxury."

For each of these essays, think about the author's central argument/thesis, as well as possible connections between the pieces and the themes of the American Dream and the overall takeaways from Gatsby. Have a great weekend, and see you soon!

Homework for B Day - 11 December 2017

English IV

Today, we learned the terms "projection" and "elocution" as they relate to performance and acting in Shakespeare's plays. We also did some vocabulary practice before moving into group work and a class presentation of Twelfth Night, Act II Scene IV. In this scene, we saw a whole bunch of irony as Viola and Duke Orsino talk about love with each other. For next class, make sure you are prepared to finish up Act II and move onto the rest of the play. For most of today's lesson, we were on-task and focused; thank you. For some of it, however, we need to do a better job putting forth effort to stay engaged and productive. See you all soon!

AP English III

Today, we had a couple of very productive lessons related to Audre Lorde's "Poetry is Not a Luxury." We discussed the ideas of Black feminism and intersectionality, and applied our understandings of rhetorical strategies and devices to Lorde's work. We also laid out the next few weeks. There is a timed writing this Friday, and you will have a test on The Great Gatsby next Tuesday.

For next class, make sure the back covers of your copies of The Great Gatsby are entirely complete; you need to have at least three major themes/motifs identified. For each of these themes, come prepared with a few passages from the novel that support these themes. For example, if one of your themes is disillusionment, you should find passages that express a certain kind of disillusionment. Each of these passages should be longer than a sentence, but less than a page.

In addition, revisit the other readings we have completed this unit: Carnegie, Woolf, Lorde, Hughes, the Declaration of Independence. Check those readings for other passages that may relate to the same theme you are exploring from Gatsby. These will eventually pay off when you complete a lengthy writing/planning assignment to conclude the unit.

Have a wonderful couple of days, and see you soon!

Homework for B Day Students - 27 November 2017

English IV

Today, we finished up Act I of Twelfth Night, reading from the play and watching some of the Globe Production version to clarify the action in the last scene. I'm really excited about how well you all are understanding Shakespeare's language and humor. Next class, we will complete a group project centering on physical comedy, acting, and interpretation of the text! Looking forward to seeing you all on Wednesday!

AP English III

Today, we discussed Chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby, thinking specifically about Daisy and Gatsby as symbols of disillusionment and the American Dream. We also took a quiz focusing on interpretation and extrapolation skills from a single passage. For the second half of class, we discussed Langston Hughes's "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain," thinking about the differences in the American Dream for people if various races/genders/sexual orientations. For next class, please read and thoroughly annotate Chapter 6 of The Great Gatsby. See you soon!

Homework for Thanksgiving Break - English Students of the World, Unite!

English IV 2A:

Today, we finished reading/watching Twelfth Night, Act I. At this point, you should have just about your entire character chart full of notes. You were also split into groups to begin your "Acting a Fool" project, which we will hopefully complete next Tuesday. If you haven't yet made up your Canterbury Tales test, you need to email me ASAP. We have given you many chances to make this up, and you're coming up on a zero in the grade book if it isn't addressed now. For all of you, have a wonderful and safe break, eat a lot of good food, and come back next week ready to learn!

English IV 2B:

Yesterday, we made more progress on Twelfth Night and learned about elements of physical comedy. When we return, we will finish Act I and begin working on a group project. The advice above to students who have not yet taken the Canterbury Tales test applies here as well. I need you to submit your work, or you're looking at a zero. Have a wonderful and safe break, be smart and responsible, eat good food, and come back ready to push towards the winter!

AP English III:

Yesterday, you all completed the third timed writing of the year, but this time it was a rhetorical analysis prompt. I'll be grading these over the break; when we return I will have a set of rules for good writing to go over in response. You also went over color analysis and new information about Gatsby with Mr. Miller, which I hope opened some more doors for you in terms of understanding the language, Fitzgerald's rhetorical devices, and the text's overall themes. When we return from break, we will go over Chapter 5, so make sure you're reading and annotating thoroughly. Also, please read and consider Langston Hughes's "The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain." While you are reading, condense Hughes's argument into one or two sentences and take notes on how you feel in response to his argument. We will have a lengthy discussion of his piece in light of Gatsby on Monday. Have a wonderful break, make good decisions, and I'll see you on Monday!