9 December - End of the Week

English 10

Solid work today in English 10. We had a great conversation and seminar around some major themes in this unit including heroism, bravery, villany, and justice. I was happy to see a lot of engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking. We ended class with reading "Misrule of Law" and discussing the rhetorical triangle in the text. Keep in mind that you can use this text as you are writing your essay, which we'll get started with next week. We have one more thing to read too - it's a fun story about ghosts and Russia.

Enjoy the weekend. If you have missing assignments, be sure to get them in!

September 8th and 9th

AP Language

Great day today everyone! We worked through Abraham Lincoln's "Gettsburg Address" in order to understand the rhetorical appeals of logos, pathos, and ethos as well as the way in which meaning is created and layered through the text.

For tonight, I want you to interact with another speech. It's on page 272 in your textbook - Mario Cuomo's Speech to the 1984 Democratic National Convention. Read the speech or interact with it via the video linked on Schoology. Apply one of our note taking structures to help you pull apart the meaning in the speech.

Don't forget to submit your dirty outlines. For this remember to use the Singer prompt and spell out your thesis, body paragraph claims, evidence, and explanation, and a refutation. This should appear like a bullet point list, not a full essay.

Next class we're looking at letters.

English 10

Great work today in class as we worked through Archbishop Tutu's "Let South Africa Show the World How to Forgive". We focused on his main claims as well as the evidence he provided to spell out and support those claims. Remember that claims can be spread across paragraphs as can evidence. 

From there, we spent time with another South African text, before we took time to finish our day with a writing assignment. For homework, be sure to complete and submit your South Africa reflection. You can use any text that we've studied for your evidence. Be sure to answer the question clearly and provide a clear piece of evidence to support your claim. Submit to Schoology!

15 September - Blue Day

Good Afternoon Students and Grown-Ups,

Be sure to continue to check Google Classroom for daily updates and reminders. Please ensure that any work from Week 1 is turned in today, including the Homework Assignment 1. Also, remember that in this class I will grade on standards, not assignments, and you have the opportunity to resubmit work after it is scored to improve your grade. Here are your class specific reminders.

English 10

If you didn't submit your Homework Assignment 1 - "My Single Story" please do so. I'd love to take this opportunity to better know you and your story more. Be sure to follow the instructions on Google Classroom.

AP Language

Today we focused on visual rhetoric and the rhetorical situation. We practiced with a painting, and tonight you'll continue that practice with a prescient image. Use your online textbook to find Ana Juan's New Yorker Cover. Apply your strategy from class. Answer the three "READ" questions with this text. You can answer them quickly (no more than a paragraph for each question). Submit your work as a quick practice with our skill.

Also, be sure that you've submitted HW Assignment 1 and your Summer Assignment. If there are questions or concerns, please let me know.

Homework for A-Day - 3 October 2018

AP English III

Today we did a lot! We got through Act I of The Crucible, we set up our annotations for the text on our covers, and we started to work through the final project in this unit. I've put the contract, link to the instructions, and the slides from today's class in the Google Classroom page. Take a look.

For tonight, you need to focus on your vocabulary and your reading. First, vocabulary. Complete your next set of FIVE vocabulary cards and turn them in! Be sure that you apply your feedback from the last round to these. Your words should come from Miller, Edwards, Solzhenitsyn, or any other documents we have given you.

Next, reading. We'll be looking at Act II on Thursday the 11th. And you should be at the point in Denisovich where he is going out to work from the camp.

The main reading for next class is Mary Rowlandson's "Narrative of the Captivity". As you read, remember that you are looking at a primary source. Consider how Rowlandson views herself as a woman, her views of the Native Americans she is with, and how this text reinforces what we already know about Puritan society. Always remember the RHETORICAL TRIANGLE as you read - she has a very specific audience in mind.

English IV

We are really working intensely on our "This I Believe" essays and you're getting consistent feedback. Be sure that you are reflecting on your feedback and applying our lessons in grammar and writing in order to make your draft stronger. By the end of next class, most everyone should have a complete draft!

DON'T FORGET YOUR PERMISSION SLIPS!

Homework for B-Day Students: 11/17/2014

AP English III

Tonight AP students you have two big goals.  Make sure that you accomplish them by the dates listed.  First, for Wednesday you will need to aim to be to the end of chapter three for our class discussion.  Make sure that you have been adding to your annotations especially under motifs, characters, and satire.  You'll need to be to the end of chapter six by Friday, so if you want to keep reading tonight, go ahead.  Don't forget as well that you need to keep up with new vocabulary - there's a LOT of slang in here.

Secondly, make sure that for Friday's class you have read, annotated, and considered thoroughly the ideas brought up by Amy Tan in her piece called "Mother Tongue" which is in 50 Essays or available at this link.  As you read this piece - consider the link between language and identity as well as language and power.  These will be major ideas we will continue to discuss as we move through Twain.

English II

Your homework is the same as the A-day students below.  Make sure that you have finished reading the chapter called "The Shabbat" and then completed your character changes chart.  Follow the instructions on the graphic organizer and have that ready to be handed in on Wednesday.  In addition, you'll need to make sure that you're feeling solid on the information as you will likely have a quiz coming soon.

Lastly, don't forget that your projects are due next week before Thanksgiving Break - we'll be in the computer labs the next few days, but make sure that you're working hard to complete this due date.

Homework for A-Day Students - 9/24/2013

AP English III

Tonight you need to finish your reading and annotation of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's "Letter from a Birmingham City Jail".  As you read, remember the connection between this piece and the shorter letter we read today in class.  Make sure that you draw connections between the two pieces so that you can see just how effectively King refutes and then utterly destroys their argument.  Remember to always read closely and to draw connections!  Also, be sure that you continue to develop your vocabulary lists.  I will collect a bookmark next week.

Russian I

Your alphabet unit test is coming on Thursday and Friday.  Be sure that you are studying your cultural notes on formality and names as this will be an important part of your exam.  Review your phonics, handwriting, and all notes up to this point.  Consider this your last chance to solidify your skills before we move on to the grammar and structure of the language.

A-Day Homework for Labor Day Weekend - 8/30

AP English III

Over the weekend for homework I would like for you to read Lars Eighner's "On Dumpster Diving" - it is available in 50 Essays or at this link.  If you use the online version you will want to have some post its as well due to the fact that there is not a lot of space in the margins for annotating.  As you read continue to look for the elements of rhetoric we have discussed as well as participating in your own analysis of the piece.  Look for elements of writing that Eighner uses and consider how these elements contribute and strengthen his overall argument. 

This is a really enjoyable piece - pay special attention to his use of TONE - it varies throughout, notice the shifts.  I look forward to a thorough discussion on Wednesday as well as more work on The Working Poor - be sure that you have your copies with you on Wednesday.

Russian I

Today in class we finished learning all of the letters in the Russian alphabet.  Congratulations!  Now we can move forward with our study of the grammar and the more high-level elements of the language.  I'm putting below links to several .mp3 files to help you with your pronunciation of the sounds in Russian.  Over the weekend it should be your priority to memorize all of the letters and become more fluent in your handwriting.  Use the worksheet I gave you in class as well as the notes we've taken over the past few days to practice more. 

Study!  Then study some more!  Your first quiz is coming soon!

Here is the link to the files on the alphabet.  Use the file names to download individual letter sounds or the whole alphabet.

Homework and Announcements - 8/28

AP English III

Apologies for not getting to the peer editing of our introduction pieces today in class.  I just got so caught up with "On Compassion" and the elements of RHETORIC that I lost all track of time.  For next class you will definitely want to arrive with a complete version of your rough draft.  I'll be available next week for conferencing if you would like.  In addition, I would like for you to complete the multiple choice practice for "On Compassion" - give yourselves just ten minutes to complete the questions.  It is open book, so use the text.  In addition, be sure that you mark any words that are new to you so that you can begin your vocabulary logs. 

Lastly, I want you to reread the Introduction and the chapter called "Harvest of Shame" from The Working Poor.  As you reread and reannotate these pieces I would ask that you apply what we learned today in class about the rhetorical appeals:  How do you see ethos, pathos, and logos at play in Shipler's writing?  How does this help to make his argument more effective?

Russian I

At this point in class we have reviewed letters in groups one, two and three.  You now know the majority of the alphabet.  Next class we will finish with our alphabet study and begin working on writing words.  Tonight for homework I would like for you to complete the "Pre Lesson" handout to improve your handwriting.  As you write, make sure to fill the line with the writing and also be sure that you are saying the letters, sounds and words as you write them.  Saying as you write will help you to remember the sounds. 

As a head's up - be aware that you will have your first quiz at the end of next week on the alphabet.  Prepare yourselves accordingly.