7 March - End of the Week with Emily Dickinson

English 11

And with that, the week is complete. Great work this week, y'all. I'm really excited to see these presentations that you all are putting together based on your books. I appreciate the way that you're focused on presenting your own argument, digging into source material and information, and putting various viewpoints together to support your overall idea. Each team/person is in a slightly different place, and that's totally okay. Next week we'll focus on taking some time to finish our planning and put the final product together. We'll start presenting week after next - remember that you can sign up for any date you'd like - but all presentations must be completed by March 25th.

After our start with our presentations, we moved into reading and studying poetry. We looked at a famous American poet - Emily Dickinson - and we discussed diction, imagery, and figurative language. These poems stretch our brains a bit because they read like riddles, but using the clues the author provides, we were able to figure it out.

We ended the day with vocabulary and began our study of List Six. If you missed the vocabulary quiz, please make an appointment to get that settled. At the end of the quarter, it's important that we settle missing work as soon as possible. 

I look forward to seeing you next week. We'll be finishing our book study next week, so if you have a missing quiz or need to finish reading, make that the priority for the weekend! You may also want to begin to pull together any materials that you'll need for your project.

6 December - Friday Feels

English 11

Solid end of the week in English 11; the only bad thing was that we were missing so many of you. I hope that all of you are doing well. Today we engaged in our final reading for Unit 2 and looked at Brent Staples and Langston Hughes. We chose our adventure for reading and then dove in. We explored ideas like racism and segregation and the way in which each author used personal experience to convey their argument on the topic. We also looked at some art that engaged in similar ideas. The end of class brought out a fantastic synthesizing conversation. See the recording for all of this.

We didn't quite have the time I wanted for the end of class, so I extended your Research Write-Up to Tuesday. Tuesday will be the last day to collect evidence for your letter. We're writing on Thursday. Complete and submit the Write-Up so that you're as prepared as possible. I'll be grading and providing feedback throughout the next few days. Enjoy your weekend and your time with the substitute on Tuesday. Make it a productive day! 

2 December - Welcome Back!

English 11

Great day today in English 11 as we got back together to do some of the great work that we do. We started our day by listening to some jazz and understanding the power of Bessie Smith's lyrics and language. I loved the ideas that you all brought out connected to isolation and the change of fortunes. We then got into our work focused on James Baldwin and his article "Notes of a Native Son". We discussed the difference in genre from a letter to an essay and how that would lead to differences in Baldwin's approach to the text. We read together and studied in order to understand the text and Baldwin's arguments to Americans about racism and its effects.

When we came back from lunch, we were focused on individual tasks. The main focus right now is the Research Write-Up. You'll need to be focused this week on finalizing your research question, argument, and the evidence for your letter. We'll be writing next week on Thursday. You'll submit the Research Write-Up when it's finished, and I'll provide feedback. The goal is that we will finish all major grades before winter break and transition to a new unit when we return. It's time to lock in for a strong finish to the year!

19 November

English 11

Wowza! Great day today in English 11. We were on total fire. We started out our class today with time for learning conferences and understanding where we are with our research process and letter development. Remember, your letter is going to be written before the end of December. We'll have this unit finished BEFORE Winter Break. If you need to resubmit Part 1 or Part 2 - Please do so! I'll get feedback to you as soon as possible. Thursday's class should have everyone working on Part 3 and beginning to plan the letter. We'll be doing a lot of work on writing next class. Don't forget that there's also a vocabulary quiz.

After lunch we did work with Plato. I loved our discussion! You all got it right off the bat. Take some time to keep reading and thinking about this text. It's all over the place. We'll keep diving in to what it means as we move through the rest of our unit. All the best! Thanks for a great day!

13 November - Middle of the Week

English 11

Today was a great day in English 11 because we were working on speeches and arguments. I loved the way that you were making connections to other authors and texts in this unit and the concept of responding to conflict. We focused on Booker T. Washington and ideas like conformity and appealing to audiences. It's also good that we see that there are two different approaches to the same idea in the same time period. There was a multiple choice review to get us ready for next class (we have a quiz) and we did some work on understanding writing and writing structures.

The end of class looked at preparing for future tasks. We've got a vocabulary quiz coming next week on List Three words, and we'll keep working with our research work as well. Remember that the goal is to find multiple sources that you can use in your letter. We'll be moving into the planning and writing phase soon.

Next class is a substitute day - you'll have time to work on your Research Write-Up, focus on vocabulary development, and then you'll take a quiz on reading non-fiction. Follow the rules of the classroom and support our guest in the classroom. I look forward to a good report. I look forward to seeing you all next week!

8 November - End of the Week

English 11

Really good end to the week today in English 11. We started off with a review of the rhetorical situation to understand that we are now writers and responding to the rhetorical situation in which we find ourselves. This is a great exercise for us to come back to as we keep writing and delving into our research work. We also took time to revise and refocus our research topics. Remember the main takeaway from our class today - the more focused the problem, the easier the writing. There is such a thing as being too focused, but it's easy to take a step back if you think that happens. Over the next few classes we'll be spending time with our Research Write-Up and Redefining the Research Question. Don't be worried if you didn't finish that work today.

At the end of class we did our vocabulary work to finish off List Three. We did an activity focused on context clues and word hunting to review our words and review the skill that we have to do on our upcoming vocabulary quiz. Over the weekend, continue to consider your research questions and the evidence for your letters. We'll take a look at another speech next week in order to review the components of an effective argument.

6 November - Welcome to Quarter 2

English 11

It was really great to see you all today and work with you. On hard days, I really enjoy spending some time with you and hearing your thoughts and ideas. Today we had a class focused on letters and our central idea of American problems and possible solutions. We started the class with a bit of a review - there was the review of MLA structure for citations and the review of the elements of a letter. From there we looked at a letter by a famous American, Helen Keller. From our reading, we located the elements of the letter and discussed Keller's use of imagery, irony, and tone. We also discussed the problem that Keller was exploring in her letter as well as a possible solution.

In the second half of class we had time for conversation. We collaborated, listened, and presented our ideas about the various texts we've been reading so far. I'm sorry that the conversation was short - we'll focus on this for longer next time.

Before I see you on Friday, make sure that your research topic is submitted. I've provided feedback in your document, so you might want to start addressing that feedback. We'll be developing our topics further next class through some revision. Also, we'll take a look at another piece of writing to help us understand constructing an argument.

28 October - Happy Monday and End of Quarter 1

English 11

Ugh! Unfortunately there's no recording of today's great class because of a technical issue. I'm sorry about that. At least we have records and learning artifacts, right? I'm really proud of the way that you all worked through two texts with a similar vibe - Public Enemy's "Fight the Power" and then Frederick Douglass's "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July." We explored the way in which both of these texts use tone to express arguments about topics. We also focused in on understanding how Douglass was crafting an effective argument.

We looked at the speech in three phases - his introduction, body, and conclusion. We remembered the elements of each phase of writing and then saw the way in which Douglass did just that. Remember that everything is an argument - so everything has a thesis, body with assertions, evidence, and commentary, clear connections between paragraphs, and a conclusion. We'll be focused a lot on writing in this unit, so we'll be doing a lot of this work to understand reading as writing.

We ended the day with vocabulary and began List 3. If you have any grades to raise here at the end of the quarter, now is the time. If you have anything missing (reading tasks, vocabulary quiz) please come in and make sure that those tasks are complete. As always, be in touch with any questions or concerns. Next class we'll be focused mostly on writing.

1 April - Welcome Back, No Foolin!

AP Language

Welcome back, everyone! I hope that you found some time over the break to rest, recuperate, and relax. The trip to Mexico was a blast. I think my top highlight was seeing whales in the ocean each morning while I was having breakfast. The breakfast was pretty tasty too with all sorts of tropical fruits, juices, and Mexican flavors and products - like cactus (yum, nopales!)

If you have finished with your copy of Invisible Man, please have it ready to return. I'd like to get all the books processed. If you see a stray Gatsby around, be sure to bring him back to me too. If you have any work left to submit, now is the final time to do so. I am still missing a few annotated bibliographies in both classes. Be aware that failure to submit this major reading assignment will negatively affect your grade for the third quarter and could drop you as low as a D. My grades will be finalized and submitted at 3:00 on Tuesday, April 2. If you would like your work scored and reported on this report card, your deadline is clear.

Next class we'll be taking time to understand this final major unit of the year and take time to understand and complete our presentations of research. I'm excited to see you all very soon!

20 March - Working Day and Chapter 24

AP Language

Really productive day in AP Language as we spent a good amount of time completing essential graded tasks for the end of the quarter. We focused primarily on our annotated bibliography assignment in which we process sources and begin to plan out our final presentation of our argument. Keep in mind that you MUST use three sources in your final presentation, so your final annotated bibliography should have at least three entries. 

We also spent some time today discussing Chapter 24 and the discussion board post. Remember that you can complete these at your leisure, read this book over break and finish it when you have the time. Or even into April or May if needed. 

I'll be entering grades for essays today. Then I'll get into your MCQ. The last grade for this quarter is the annotated bibliography. Please reach out with any questions about your grades in the course.

18 March - Sorry for the Delay

AP Language

I guess that FCPS updated the filtering software, so Blogger is blocked again at school. Here's yesterday's update. 

Good day in AP Language as we worked on reading skills and demonstrated those reading skills through a quick MCQ Progress Check. If you did not have time to finish, be sure to submit before the end of the day today when the assessment will lock at 9:00 PM. Everything not submitted will automatically submit at that time.

We had a great discussion today in class around TIM and his quest for identity. It was great to see the way that TIM is finally figuring out the way in which identity can, and should, be fluid. In fluidity there is power. There have been so many characters up to this point who have done this, TIM just didn't see it very clearly. Take this forward with you into Chapter 24. Read and annotate this important chapter to see the way in which TIM starts to act on his newfound knowledge and attempt to destroy the Brotherhood. It's a great conclusion, I hope you enjoy. 

Other significant tasks include submitting any missing essays, writing your Annotated Bibliographies for your sources, and beginning to plan your paper/presentation. Consider what your argument is and then begin to outline that - How will you put sources in conversation to convey your argument? Remember that you have to use three sources in your final "paper" (whatever form that paper takes).

Enjoy the afternoon and the last week of the quarter. I know it's a tough week - but Spring Break is on the horizon! 

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. 

8 March - Happy International Women's Day!

AP Language

Great day in AP Language today as we went into and out of Plato's cave in our study of "The Allegory of the Cave." After reading and studying this text, you're not going to see things the same way again. This text helps us to consider ideas like perception, reality, and if what we are seeing or perceiving is really real. I was glad to see the various connections that you all were able to make between this text and our novel, Invisible Man. These connections will be incredibly huge as we work through the final section of the novel and TIM's conclusion on his quest for truth.

Over the weekend, focus on reading and research. You should be working through Chapters 16-19. Don't forget your discussion board post. It's also important that you're taking time daily to review your research. Continue to use the Research Write-Up Document. Collect sources and process them through an Annotated Bibliography - if you can see use in a source, go ahead and write about it and put a key excerpt in your sourcepack. I'll look forward to seeing you on Tuesday for some feedback on our last essay and some more discussion around Invisible Man.

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!

27 February - Kicking off Research Projects

AP Language

Wonderful day today opening up our research work and topic development. Mrs. Friedman came down from the library to tell us about our database tools, key word searches, and Boolean terms. We got into coding language and defining ideas and remembering that research questions are usually always in flux. Use your research write-up document to start to collect and analyze your sources. Remember that as you find key sources, you should process them with an Annotated Bibliography entry. As you write these entries, you are displaying your reading comprehension, interpretation, and application. Remember this as you write.

Next class we'll be looking at Invisible Man - Chapters 11 and 12. This is a confusing section with the hospital, the machine, and the idea of a new identity for TIM. Consider how there are some key symbols and cycles at play in this moment. Use your motif tracker to help you understand. 

16 February - Three Day Weekend Ahead

AP Language 

Solid work today in AP Language as we worked through Chapter 8 and 9 to look at New York, its impact on TIM, and his job interview with Mr. Emerson in Chapter 9. I was glad to see the way that you're understanding some of the key cycles in this text, the lack of change in TIM, and the way in which key ideas resurface in order to create meaning. Continue to pay attention to the way that TIM interacts with people and what he understands or fails to understand from these interactions.

Next class we'll be doing some feedback on our most recent writing assignments. You'll have the chance to revise these if you'd like - so let's meet together to do that if you'd like to. We'll also look at the two speeches I gave you today in class - read and annotate those this weekend to prepare for next class. We'll be getting into Chapter 10 later next week. Now is a good time to get ahead in reading for Invisible Man since we have some large chunks coming up. Remember to revise and resubmit your research questions as soon as you can!

14 February - Happy Valentine's Day!

AP Language and Composition

Today we spent some time with Brent Staples and his article "Just Walk On By: Black Men and the Public Space". I appreciated the connections that you all were making between this text, Ellison, and all the way back to DuBois. I really like the way that Staples acknowledges alternative perspectives, confronts his audience, and crafts a message for them. Consider this as you write your own arguments.

From there, we looked at our Research Questions and refined them through the lens of the problem statement. Remember that you don't need to be looking at a "problem" per se - you could be looking at the problem of not knowing something and its effect on you or society. No matter what, be sure that you are focusing on being specific in your scope and focus. Use today's slides and assignment to refine and then post in the discussion board. Be sure to get and give feedback in the discussion board.

Next class we're headed back to New York and TIM's adventures. We've got more of the city in Chapter 8 and then a few key conversations in Chapter 9. Enjoy your reading! Try to make sense of what you can. Be sure to refer to your motif charts. See you Friday!

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.