Homework for B-Day Students: 30 October 2015

AP English III

For homework over the weekend you have to complete the next set of chapters - sixteen through nineteen - in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Related to this, check in with your annotations - especially front and back covers.  After this set of reading you will be more than halfway through the text, so your covers should reflect this.  Make sure that characters are paired with important page numbers and that the back covers reflect significant topics/motifs, settings, and symbols.

Related to your reading, you should also be further developing your paper topics.  After this weekend you should have a better idea as to what you are trying to prove or say about this topic or idea in the text.  Remember that this paper is argumentative (you're proving something about the text) and also analytical (you're analyzing the text to prove that you are right).  We'll work through more of this development in class next week.

Lastly, on Tuesday you'll have your next vocabulary cards due.  Use the site http://www.etymonline.com to help you with your word origin section of the card.  Remember to find the specific root of the word and that root's meaning.  Additionally, don't forget the synonyms and explanation of how the synonym is different from the original word.

Any paper resubmissions are due by the 18th of November.

English II:

Your homework for the weekend is the same as the A-day students below.  You have your next two chapters of Persepolis to read - be sure to take notes as you read because you will have a quiz on these chapters next class.  Also, work on your projects, you should be able to pick the specific moment in your life and then try to develop that moment.  What happened first, second, third, et cetera.

Lastly, if you didn't have your compare/contrast paragraph ready for today's class it needs to be turned in next class for credit.

3B and 4B Students - BRING BACK YOUR PERMISSION SLIPS!  MS. GINOCCHIO NEEDS THEM!

Homework for the Weekend - B Day - 5/8/2014

Honors English II

This weekend you all will be doing some textual analysis between chapters two and six focusing on the idea of parallelism.  Your goal within this activity is to investigate the similarities in order to see the underlying differences.  First, set up your paper:  Create four columns (item/chapter two/chapter six/analysis).  For the items, you must analyze Elie and the group/community, you may then choose two other items you see as parallel.  With each chapter, find a quotation which helps you to see the parallelism between the item in chapter two and in chapter six.  Lastly, analyze and explain the larger difference you've identified.

This is a high level activity in analysis and pattern recognition.  Great skills to develop before our EOC.  Also, remember that paper resubmissions are coming due.  If you would like to resubmit, get that settled.

ESL English III

Make sure that if you have a native language to English dictionary that you bring that with you to class so that we can work on strategies for using that tool effectively.

Homework for B-Day Students - This Weekend (4/24/2014)

Honors English II

Over the weekend you have two major tasks ahead of you.

1. Complete your final drafts and assemble your draft portfolio.  In the portfolio you must submit the following documents - Final Draft with Rubric, Rough Draft with Comments, Outline.  Remember that you will get points for each item, so have them all there.
2. In Night you will need to read chapters two and three.  Continue to look for irony in several areas of the text as we started to discover those areas today in our discussion.  

ESL English III

This weekend you should complete the reading of chapters one and two in Night.  As you are doing your reading, answer question three, using notes to help you make sense of the scene on the train.  Then, look over the other questions for chapters one and two - you should be able to answer all of these.  If you cannot, go back and reexamine the text to find the answers.

B-Day Homework/Reminders - 4/22/2014

Honors English II

Tonight for homework there are a few things for you to do concerning our new unit - Night by Elie Wiesel.  First, I would like for you to read chapter one of the text in preparation for next class.  Chapter one in the "blue books" will take you until approximately page fourteen.  Pay special attention to the creation of VOICE in the piece as well as TONE.  Tone will be especially important here because it is a memoir, thus the tone is actually what Wiesel is himself feeling.

In addition, I gave out the rubrics today for your final drafts.  We will go over formatting and citations in class on Thursday, so come prepared to ask questions.  I would recommend bringing your drafts too.  These papers will likely be collected from you on Monday to give me the time to finish reading my AP students' papers first.

Make sure as well that you complete the viewing guide for Die Welle and that your answers are thorough and complete.  I'll check these on Thursday for a grade.  I hope you all enjoyed the film.

ESL English III

I would recommend answering the questions based on what we were able to read today in class.  I also would suggest continuing to read Night at your own pace.

Field Trip Reminders:

• Be to school by 5:20 at the latest.  We will be departing at 5:30 on the dot.  If you are late you will be left.
• Wear comfortable walking shoes, jeans, a t-shirt and a light jacket.  I'd also recommend bringing a towel or a blanket to sit on if we have class outside.
• Bring about twenty dollars for food.  We will go to restaurants in DC for lunch and stop in Virginia on the way home for dinner.  There is a gift shop at the museum if you'd like souvenirs.
• Bring snacks for the bus, but remember that you will need to be neat and clean on the bus.
• You'll need your copy of Night as we will be doing some study of the book.  Bring something to write with as well.  I'll provide you a notebook to record your observations during the trip.

Homework for All Classes - 4/16 and 4/17

Apologies for not posting the homework last night.  I had a very tedious fourth period and it slipped my mind.  Here are your reminders to prepare you for Thursday/Friday.

AP English IV

Your first priority is your papers.  Remember that you have final drafts due on the 22nd.  When you submit your final draft, please make sure to submit any notes or earlier drafts so that I can see how you've developed this paper.  Furthermore, you need to continue to read in Ivan Denisovich until you reach the end of the second meal.  Stop when Shukhov starts looking for a cigarette. 

AP English III

The main priority that all of you have is to make your writing conferences and to continue moving foward on the drafting of your research papers.  One of the major issues that I'm seeing so far is a lack of commentary on the research you're presenting.  Remember that you want to explain the significance of the facts and research which you incorporate into your essay.  What do you have to say about this research?  What is its significance in relation to your argument?  Draw connections.  Make me see what you see.

Furthermore, your reading for tonight is Brent Staples' "Just Walk on By:  Black Men and the Public Space."  The article is in 50 Essays or available here.  Read this carefully paying special attention to the creation of voice in the text.  We'll be working through it next class to unlock the deeper meanings apparent in it.  Be sure that you annotate heavily and draw connections to Invisible Man. 

Lastly, refer to your updated reading bookmarks for your final reading checkpoints!

English IV

You have no homework to complete for next class, but you will have something to do over the weekend.

Homework for the Weekend and Monday - 4/12 and 4/15

Each day of school done is another day closer to summer break!  Remember what I said about this quarter moving quickly - don't allow yourselves to fall behind as we keep moving through the quarter.

AP English IV

This weekend you need to read in Ivan Denisovich until Tyurin returns to the group at the worksite.  As you read, continue to note the use of detail in the text as well as Tyurin's importance to the group.  Also, we didn't start talking about the various types of corruption and injustice which Shukhov sees in the camp, keep track of that too! 

Lastly, your final drafts of your Twelfth Night papers are due on the 22nd.  You'll submit your rough draft with the final draft, so be sure to keep these together.  If you need to meet with me to review your writing, let me know and I'll try to find a time for you.

AP English III

If you haven't signed up for a writing conference yet then you need to take care of that ASAP.  Remember that conferences are really happening in earnest next week.  Don't miss your appointment time!  Be working on your essays - drafting and revising - remembering that you need to bring a 65% complete draft as well as your full works cited page!

In terms of reading, you need to complete chapter twenty-three.  We'll spend time in class discussing twenty-two and twenty three on Tuesday/Wednesday.  Recall that the Invisible Man has seen the light, now he just needs to figure out what he's seen.

English IV

No homework over the weekend.  You may have some reading to do next week, but I'll let you know about that when we get to it.

Homework for 3/13 and 3/14

Apologies for not posting this yesterday.  I left quickly and then it just flew out of my mind.  Here are your reminders to prepare for Friday/Monday.

AP English IV

You all did an amazing job on your teaching aspects for your presentations.  All groups have their performances of the translated scenes on Friday.  We'll go in order of the act, so that you all see how the ideas and the characters and the plot develop through the act.  Remember the requirements for the presentations:  props, costumes, and scripts!  I need a copy of your script turned in to me at the beginning of the period.

Also, I'll be collecting your paper proposals on Friday and reading these over the weekend.  What I'm looking for in these is an (as clear as you can articulate it now) argument you will be exploring and proving in this paper and what your source material will be from Twelfth Night or from other sources (a film or other text for comparison purposes).  Lastly, don't forget about a quick annotation check for Acts I-III.

AP English III

You've completed your first SYNTHESIS prompt - congratulations!  You'll be getting these back on Friday/Monday as well as your term papers.  We'll spend some time reflecting and assessing skills related to writing on Friday.  In addition on Friday we will be getting a visit from Guidance related to the college search process for next year.  Come with questions -- it's never to early to start this process.

Make sure that you're ready for a thorough discussion of chapters three and four for Friday/Monday - we'll start by looking at those quotation posters, and I'll be pointing out some additional elements from these chapters to help your understanding.

Don't forget that you have to have chapters five and six read for Tuesday/Wednesday.  Keep track of your vocabulary and motif charts -- remember that these assignments should be done WHILE you are reading.  Not after.

English IV

Tonight you have a one page response related to the different conflicts encountered so far in Twelfth Night.  Here are your questions for this assignment: 

1. Which conflict in Twelfth Night is the most important conflict in the play? Why? 
2. How has this conflict been developed? 
3. How do you think this will be resolved? Why?

You can approach this assignment by writing a third of a page on each of the questions above.  Remember that once you identify the most important conflict that you need to stay focused on that for the remainder of the assignment -- no switching mid way through.  


That font shift is really bothering me and I can't figure out how to change it.  Oh well, see you Friday! 

Homework for All Classes - 3/11 and 3/12

Students - We're very close to Spring Break which will end the third grading period.  Many of you are currently starting long term projects and these due dates will likely take you into the last grading period of the year.  Stay on your assignments and make sure that you ask for help if you need any.  Don't forget that I'm here on Wednesday afternoons if you need me.

AP English IV

Today in class we started a mini-project which will count as your test grade for Act III.  Remember that the goal of the assignment is to translate the scene and still retain the meaning as well as teach the literary elements of your scene or portion to the class.  On Wednesday each group will present their teaching to the scene; on Friday you will be running through your scenes.  Remember to have your costumes and props ready for Friday.


In addition, on Friday I will be collecting paper proposals from you.  Make sure that you have an outline of your argument (as clearly as you can articulate it right now) and that you also have outlined for me areas of the play that you will use to prove your argument is valid.  Please remember that you have the chance to take a look at any aspect of the play - have fun and be creative as you determine your paper's direction.

AP English III

Wednesday and Thursday are going to be big days for this class.  Here is what I will be collecting from all of you on this day:

• Your research paper proposals will be due.  Please be sure that if you did not get the information from the Durham County Libraries that you get this information from me or from a classmate ASAP.  This is one of those times where you need to make sure that you follow up from your absence due to a field trip.
• Your jazz journals will be checked.  I know that we have had other journals, but I'm really going to focus on these for your grade.
• You will complete an in-class timed SYNTHESIS.  Prepare for this by reviewing your notes on argumentative writing; remember that the synthesis is nothing more than an argument using sources for support.  The argument needs to stay central!

Outside of that you also need to read chapters five and six of Invisible Man.  You have until next week (the 19th and 20th) to get this reading done.  Chapter five is really difficult, it's very stream of consciousness, just get what you can get out of it -- we'll work through it next week.

English IV

After your presentations today I am not assigning any homework for you tonight.  If you are missing assignments I would recommend that you spend time catching up on those tonight as the grading period is going to be over soon.

Only thirteen more days remaining until Spring Break.

Homework for All Classes - 1/9 and 1/10

To prepare for Friday and Monday's classes please be sure that you have completed the following tasks.  Be especially clear about the fact that all work will need to be submitted to me no later than 3:00 pm on Thursday the 17th.  This is the last day of the quarter.  Please use your Jupiter Grades login to see if you are missing assignments; if you are, ask if these assignments can be made up.

AP English IV

For our next class we will be looking at another short story.  I would like for you to read Ha Jin's "A Contract" in our Perrine books -- there are no questions connected to the story, but be sure to annotate it heavily.  Keep an eye out for irony and satire as Jin is pretty critical of the Chinese government, its agencies, and representatives of that power.  Also, the majority of class will be spent working through Donne and Marvell, taking another look at those poems given our work with today's class would be productive.

Lastly, Mrs. Mausi (AP over English) was impressed with your poem dramatizations today.  Mad props!

AP English III

Tonight your priority should be your websites.  I hope that you are now at the point where you are revising your work, putting finishing touches on your site, and beginning to plan for your presentations.  Next class the Guidance department will be coming in to speak with you all about registration for next year.  Following that, we will go through some maintenance issues related to your websites -- If you have any questions related to websites you will want to ask them during Friday/Monday's class.

Also, don't forget that we will be starting our study of The Crucible on the 23rd and 24th of the month.  Be sure that you have your copy of the text.

English IV

I would like for all of you to continue working on your essays for tonight's assignment.  Remember that this will be one of your last major grades of the quarter and will create a large impact on your grade.  Even if you are unable to finish the whole essay you should turn in a partial draft as that will earn you more points than no draft.  On Friday/Monday we will spend our last day in our workshop mode and I will go over the rubric so that all of you understand how you will be graded in this assignment.

Freshman Focus

After our time in the lab you should have your resume finished and ready to submit for Monday's deadline.  Also, be ready to teach your lesson!  Remember to have a formal lesson plan which you can turn in to me as well as any needed materials.  This is our last activity in the education unit and soon we will be moving on to a unit on cultural diversity and appreciation.  Let me know if you need anything from me in completing your assignments.

I am a machine...

At this point I have graded all completed English I tests and vocabulary exams.  If you have not finished either of these two assignments, please try to come tomorrow (Thursday) at A lunch to finish.

Tomorrow I'll be collecting A-day papers from all of you.  All of you have the rubric that I will be using to grade your papers.  Please take a moment to have a parent, friend, or sibling (same age or older, preferably) read over your final draft and score you using the rubric.  You may find some final areas of improvement.

When we begin the next quarter (Tuesday/Wednesday) I'll be handing a lot of work back to all of you and we'll take some time to organize our portfolios and reflect on the first semester.  Reminders about turning in papers are in the post below.  Please follow those guidelines.

The Day Before the End of the Quarter

Alrighty - we're hitting that halfway point.  Keep the momentum going into third and fourth quarter.  Be aware that things are only going to get more difficult from here on out.

AP English III:

Students, you have your final papers due tomorrow.  I am very excited about reading these and giving you some feedback as to your overall improvement in your writing.  Today in class I gave you an envelope into which you will put all of your supporting documents.  Below is the list of what to turn in and how I want it.

• Please STAPLE the following together in the following order:
• Cover sheet
• Final Draft
• Bibliography
• Rubric
• Include any rough drafts, especially the one from peer editing day.
• The Google Docs survey which I will give you on Thursday/Friday.

On Thursday/Friday we'll discuss the last chapter and finish watching Pleasantville.

English I:

Today you had your Animal Farm exam.  I hope that you all felt prepared and successful on this test.  Tomorrow you will have your district test so that I and the powers that be downtown can see how well you're doing on meeting this course's reading goals.  By this point you know the types of questions that you are going to be asked, I would focus on reviewing your notes and looking at your test taking strategies.

You all also have an essay due on Thursday/Friday.  Here is the order in which I would like it submitted.

• Final Draft
• Rubric
• Rough Draft from Peer Editing
• All of these things should be stapled together in this order.  You may bring your papers to the box, but I would prefer that you turn them in to me in class.

I will see all of you on Thursday/Friday for the end of the quarter!  Finish strong!

Homework for the Weekend 1/12 and 1/13

I just realized that tomorrow is Friday the 13th, creepy.  Below is the list of things that you need to accomplish over the weekend.

AP English III:

Next week we are going to finish our discussion of The Catcher in the Rye as well as finish our work on the film Pleasantville.  I would like for all of you this weekend to spend a lot of time on your papers.  Make sure that you've put in effort to make your argument clear and your discussion of the literature clearly relates and proves your argument.  Final drafts are due on 1/19 and 1/20.

English I:

You all also have an essay to work on this weekend.  Make sure that you are following the rubric that I gave you last week as you are editing and revising your essays.  That is the same rubric I'll use to grade your essay, so it's a good tool to use.  Your essays are due on the 19th and 20th.

I also want to remind you to study for your unit exam on Animal Farm.  You will want to be sure that you know the book well, but also spend time reviewing your literary devices as well as your grammar notes.  There will be a bit of that on the test as well.  Your test will be on the 17th and 18th.

Next week is the last week of the quarter, be sure that you're finishing strong.

Homework for 1/4 and 1/5

Sorry for not getting this up earlier for all of you.  I had people with me after school and then I had to run immediately to my optometrist appointment.  So, here's your homework for tonight.

AP English III:


The biggest priority for all of you is to really get drafting on those papers.  You've got a workshop for your drafts on Friday (A-day) and Monday (B-day).  I want you to have as much of your paper together as possible for this draft workshop.  You should have at least your introduction and first body paragraph or two put together.  I'll be available after school next week and Friday of this week for you to get some one-on-one help if needed.  I would recommend that as many of you as possible come to see me to get some extra feedback.

I want to remind you all of something really key to this paper.  This is an argument.  You are creating your argument about whatever topic you see; then you use the literature to support your argument.  Most of you are really strong at writing arguments.  I think that some of you are losing that angle of this paper - keep that in mind and keep your argument at the forefront of your essay.  Then you'll do really well.

Lastly, for Friday/Monday, be to the end of chapter twenty-three in Catcher.  Your next reading check will be to finish the novel - some of you may want to just go ahead and finish it.

English I:


Alright - a few things for you all to get accomplished before our next class.  Your first priority it to also finish your drafts of your definition essays.  It seems from talking to a lot of you today that many of you have finished or nearly finished your essays.  Very good work.  On Friday/Monday we will also have a draft workshop and then we'll have chances after school next week for you all to come see me to get some extra help.

One reminder for all of you is to make sure that you always connect your examples clearly to your topic.  From the drafts I've seen so far, a lot of you are leaving me to see the connection to your examples and the idea of leadership, for example.

The homework assignment that you have to complete builds on the idea of propaganda that we discussed today in class.  Follow the instructions on your worksheet to the letter.  When you turn in your poster, you will also need to turn in your worksheet on the slogans.  Honors students, remember that you have an additional requirement to explain your symbolism.  This poster assignment is due on Tuesday/Wednesday for all of you.

Finally, I gave you all your vocabulary list to prepare you for your quarter two vocabulary exam.  Use that list to study and prepare for your vocabulary exam.  You will have that exam next week - get ready over the weekend.