Homework for the Weekend - 2/21 and 2/22

I hope that all we have tomorrow is a delay and not a full cancellation.  No matter what the weather has in store for us, here is what you need to make sure you complete before I see you again.

AP English IV

Today you need to continue moving forward into Act I of Twelfth Night.  I want you to read to the end of scene four, paying particular attention to characters, conflicts, and significant topics as you move through.  I believe that you're really going to like this play, so get to know the characters well to help begin your appreciation.  Also, be sure to keep track of vocabulary as you read.  Shakespeare is rife with new words and expressions for you.  Look at what he's saying and pick up some new material.

AP English III

This weekend you have two major priorities.  The first is your final assessment on The Crucible.  With your partner you are to present a dialogue of no more than three to four minutes; as you present your dialogue, I will be grading you on your tone, your creation of character, and your blocking and interaction with your partner as you speak.  You should practice a lot to make this fluid and dramatic.  Also, you will submit a brief paragraph to me stating your dialogue's importance to the overall play.  Other than this, you need to revise your papers.  Make sure that you work hard to get this major assignment completed. 

English IV

Over the weekend, now that you have your categories, I would like for you to begin planning your presentation.  Make sure that if you need to do additional research that you get that done.  We won't have many more days in the library to prepare.

Homework for Tuesday/Wednesday - 2/19 and 2/20

So, we're settling down into a nice long stretch of school before Spring Break.  Make sure that you realize that at this point in the year you're running a marathon, not a sprint.  Think about all of the things that you have left to accomplish and don't allow yourself to burn out too quickly.  Here are your notes to prepare you for your next class.

AP English IV

You've survived your first test.  This was definitely more of a skills based examination than a content based test - I look forward to grading these and getting them back to you by the start of next week.  If you were absent please see me ASAP to schedule a time to make up the test.  For tonight, you don't have any homework - you worked hard enough in class.  Just be sure that you come to class with a copy of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night as we will begin our study of this play!

AP English III

There's a lot for you all to accomplish tonight, please let me know if you have any questions about any of the following:

1. Your first priority is to finish your Crucible synthesis assignment as well as your questions tied to the document packet.  Remember that the questions must be answered in complete sentences using specific details from the documents.  You will submit both assignments to me at the beginning of class on Thursday/Friday.
2. You have a final assessment coming up on The Crucible.  Please be reviewing the text and preparing yourself for this.
3. Your final drafts of your term papers are due on the 27th and 28th.  Use the rubric to prepare yourself and tweak your draft to make it sing.  Feel free to ask for additional help if you need it, but remember that I will not answer questions about this assignment starting on the 26th.
4. If you haven't already done so - get a copy of Invisible Man.  You're going to want to get this book as it's probably one of the best books we'll read all year.

English IV

Continue working on your research projects and pulling together information.  If you didn't get your cards checked today make sure that you have them ready for Thursday/Friday. 

AP Writing Conferences

Students. If you missed a conference chance this week I will be available on Friday the 15th from 1-2 pm. Please email me in advance if you plan on attending. I will make it a priority to see as many of you as possible. Please email me to let me know you're coming so that I stick around.

Homework for the Long Weekend and Monday - 2/14 and 2/18

I hope that all of you enjoy your Friday off this week.  Please think of me while I'm here leading some staff development and working hard!  Here are your reminders and announcements.

AP English IV

Your biggest task for the weekend is to spend your time preparing for your exam.  I think that one of the best ways to prepare is to practice annotating and pulling out meaning quickly since you will have two timed writings ahead of you.  Use what we did today in class but then also use your Perrine book to get more opportunities for analysis.  You will have a prose analysis and a poetry analysis.  So spend time looking at both.

Also, use your Perrine books to look at examples of explications.  From pages forty to forty-nine you have several different examples of prose and poetry explications which you can use to look at proper structure and analysis techniques.

AP English III

This weekend your biggest priority is your term papers.  Next class we will be spending approximately half the class workshopping drafts and preparing to move on to our final drafts.  Please make sure that you are constantly reviewing and revising your argument to make it as strong as you can.  I will be sharing the rubric which I will use on this assignment with you next class, which will help you create your final product.

Finally, your synthesis related to the primary source documents from the Salem Witch Trials will be due on the 21st and 22nd.  You will turn in your argumentative editorial as well as your complete answers to the questions.  This is a change of date from earlier!

English IV

Now that you know about your notecard structure for researching I would like for you to continue researching over the weekend.  We will be spending more time in the library next week to continue this process, but the more time you spend working on this at home, the better you'll be.  Remember that you will be having several checkpoints on this project.  Keep up and ask questions to make up the work if needed.

Homework and Reminders for 2/12 and 2/13

Today's been a bit of a whirlwind of a day - here are your reminders to get you on track for tonight and on into tomorrow.

AP English IV

Students, tonight you are going to want to begin studying for your first unit exam on short stories and poetry.  The test will be structured with two timed writings (one poetry explication, one prose explication) as well as several brief identifications from the stories and poems we've read.  To prepare for this, I would begin by reviewing your notes (or the stories if you don't take good notes) as well as your writing strategies for completing an explication.  Next class we will look at some sample prompts and responses in order to determine strategies which lead to a higher scoring paper.  Bring any questions which you may have.

Also, we will soon start our study of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.  If you would like your own copy, go ahead and get one.

AP English III

Tonight for homework you have a few tasks, I'm also going to speak about some long-term things we have going on to alleviate some confusion in the air.  You have two main goals for tonight:  FIRST - you need to complete the questions using the sample texts.  These questions can be completed as notes for right now as long as you realize that with the final writing assignment you will submit complete sentences.  SECOND - you need to be drafting your term paper.  Your draft workshop will be on the 19th and 20th of February.  I expect that you will all have a draft to work with on that date.  I know that many of you want to see me this week to conference, so I've given you a bit more time for drafting.

Beyond this, you should also begin to construct your editorial based on the documents we looked at today in class.  You may want to wait until after next class to complete this writing assignment as we will begin talking about what a synthesis assignment does next class.  No matter when you start - your editorials will be due on the 21st and 22nd of February along with your completed answers. 

Finally, if you haven't already finished The Crucible - make sure that you do so.  We'll wrap up our work with this text soon and move forward!

English IV

Based on your work today in class you should have finished your proposal for your research project - continue to research tonight and build up your knowledge on your topic.  We'll look at this project more next class.

Homework for the Weekend and Monday - 2/8 and 2/11

Students - Here are your reminders/announcements for the weekend or Monday.  Whichever you see fit.

AP English IV

This weekend you're reading John Updike's "A&P" as our final story in our short stories and poetry unit.  You also may find it useful to begin preparing for your final exam in this unit by reviewing the other texts that we've studied.  More information coming on your test soon.

AP English III

You all need to finish the reading of The Crucible this weekend as well as devote some time to your papers.  My suggestion with your papers is that you spend the time on your outline so that the actual body of the paper is much easier to compose.  Put your time in the beginning so that the ending goes more smoothly.  Several of you have started to conference with me, I invite more of you to do that too!

English IV

No homework this weekend - if Jupiter Grades indicates a missing assignment for you then you will want to spend this time getting that made up.

Homework for 2/6 and 2/7

Here are your reminders for tonight.  I'm not going to be here for the B-day classes - so if any of you have any specific questions please be sure to e-mail me or see me on Friday.

AP English IV

Next class we are going to take a full length AP Multiple Choice exam.  To prepare for this, I would recommend that you spend time taking a look at our previous practice sets to look over question types and the reasons why you got questions wrong before.  You'll have sixty minutes to complete this in class on Friday - come prepared.  

Also, you'll need to read Wilfred Owens' "Anthem for Doomed Youth" - it's our bridge text to our final short story in this unit.

AP English III

You all are also going to have a full length AP Multiple Choice exam next class.  You've had a lot of practice sets, so be sure that you use those to review.  Look at question types, review your terms and tone words, and be sure that you're always thinking!  Outside of this you need to put in some good work on your essay outlines.  I would like to remind you that next week is still open for conferences and toward the end of next week you should have at least half of your draft done.  Work hard, ask for help if you need it.

English IV

You all tested today, so no homework tonight.  We'll continue with Act II next class, it's just going to get zanier from here!

Freshman Focus

With the news article you all read in class today with the substitute you have a reflection to complete for homework.  Please make sure that you follow those guidelines on the assignment so that you get full credit for this assignment.  Have it ready to turn in on Monday!

Homework for 2/4 and 2/5

Students - Here are your assignments or reminders for tonight.  Be aware that I will not be in on Thursday due to the fact that I'll be at the North Carolina State Swimming Championship.  You'll have a substitute who will take you through your assignments for the day.

AP English IV

Tonight for homework you've got a good amount of reading to do, let me outline that for you here.  First, you need to finish reading Graham Greene's "The Destructors" - you have chapters two, three, and four left.  When you finish the story, consider questions three, four, five, six and eight.  I'm hoping that these will be discussion questions for us to work through in class on Wednesday.  Furthermore, I would like for you to also read Hopkins' "Spring" and Heaney's "Digging" available in the Perrine book.

Finally, as a spot check, I will be looking at vocabulary logs on Wednesday.  Please make sure that you have a few words from each of the texts that has been assigned so far and that you have defined or marked synonyms for all of those words.  Be sure that your finished log is with you on Wednesday to be checked.

AP English III

Tonight I would like for you to read George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" which is available in 50 Essays or at the following link. When you read this piece I want you to think about the ideas of conformity, free will, and power which Orwell works through pretty thoroughly in this text.  We'll do some analysis, multiple choice work, and some connection building between this text and The Crucible.  Any connections you can make in advance would be welcome. 

Furthermore, you should review Act III so that you are clear with that content.  We will study this act next class by looking at the film - lots to do there.  Lastly, please make sure that you are working on your papers/outlines.  This week should be the week for outlines, by the end of next week, you will want to be to drafting.  Please let me know if you need help or if you would like to conference.

English IV

Next class you have a test on Act I of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.  Here is a rundown of what you will need to do in each section of the test:

• Section One:  Character identifications - know characteristics, behaviors, and names of characters, know their conflicts, understand their importance.
• Section Two:  Translation - be able to put Shakespeare's language into your own words so that you can show me you know what he's saying.
• Section Three:  Reading Comprehension - you'll get a bit of text from Act I, Scene 5 and I will ask you several reading comprehension questions based on that text.
• Section Four:  Grammar Corrections
• Section Five:  Short Answer - the topics will be comedy and love - you will need to use textual evidence to make your answer clear.

AP English III Students - Announcement

If you have not yet taken _The Crucible_ Act I and II Quest, then you need to make an arrangement to make this up. I would prefer you stay after school on Monday to finish the assessment. Please email me or see me tomorrow.

Homework for the Weekend 1/31 and 2/1

Sorry for not posting the announcements and reminders yesterday.  I had meetings during my planning and after school, so this just slipped my mind.  Here are your reminders to prepare for the weekend.

AP English IV

Over the weekend your main priority is to complete your poetry projects, which will be submitted to me on Monday.  During Monday's class, each of you will come to the front to present your memorized poem - as a class we will clap - you'll then turn in your work and we'll go from there.  The rest of class will be spent doing a read aloud/think aloud of another short story, so Monday will be a pretty relaxed day.

AP English III

This weekend you have two main things to occupy your time.  First, you need to read Act III of The Crucible.  This is the climax of the play and also provides a lot of important development of key motifs and ideas that we've seen Miller establish in the first two acts of the play.  Remember to add to your annotations and start to notice how particular characters are changing.  Be sure that you note why they change, to and from what they change, and if that change is particularly significant.

Besides reading you should also be working on your outlines.  Now that you have my feedback on your proposals you should begin fine tuning your argument and finding your specific textual support which you will use in your essay.  I fully expect that next week you will all want to begin conferring with me about your papers and your outlines -- be sure that before you come in to meet me that you have completed a full outline with citations and that you are coming with questions.

English IV

You have no official homework this weekend but you will want to start to prepare for your test on Act I of Twelfth Night.  I would focus this weekend on studying characters and what we have learned about them thus far.  If you missed any reading in class I would get those notes from me or from a classmate so that you can begin to prepare.

Freshman Focus

You have no homework this weekend.

Homework for 1/29 and 1/30

So yesterday we have a delayed start because of freezing rain, and today we have seventy degrees and sunshine.  What the heck?!  Anyway, while you're enjoying this amazing weather, I hope that you also enjoy your homework assignments outlined for you below.

AP English IV

We didn't get a chance to touch Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" so we have that on our agenda for Thursday.  I would suggest that you review the text so that it's fresh in your heads.  Also, I want you to also read "When in Rome" by Mari Evans and "Kitchenette Building" by Gwendolyn Brooks.  All three are excellent African-American female writers; I hope that you enjoy these pieces.

AP English III

On Thursday/Friday you will be having a quiz on Acts I and II of The Crucible.  You will be asked relatively basic multiple choice questions about plot, characters, conflicts, and the allegory in the play.  Furthermore, you'll be asked to complete quote identifications for Act I and II.  The quotes are relatively significant ones, think about your motif lists and use your annotations to help you prepare.

I also want you to read a piece of non-fiction for Thursday/Friday's class from the 50 Essays book.  You will need to read "The Morals of the Prince" by Niccolo Machiavelli.  If you don't have 50 Essays, you can access the reading at this link.  As you read, notice the qualities that Machiavelli says are good for a leader to have.  You may find this a useful text in thinking about power, manipulation, and several of the characters we've seen, especially Abigail, Rev. Parris and the Putnams.

English IV

Tonight I want you to complete a one page response to either of the following questions based on what you think of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.  Remember as you write to use textual evidence to support your claims.

If you find this play to be funny, then answer the following question:  What makes Twelfth Night a comedy?

If you don't find this play to be funny, then answer the following question:  Why does Twelfth Night fail as a comedy?

Homework for All Classes - 1/25 and 1/28

Early Release because of SNOW!?  That's the best thing ever!  Well, I would have liked full classes, but we can make up the time throughout the next few days.  Here are your notes for the weekend or Monday night to prepare you for Tuesday/Wednesday.

AP English IV

Over the weekend I'd like for you to read Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" from your Perrine book.  As you read the story, think especially about connections to O'Connor -- the stories mirror each other in a few ways which I hope we'll be able to tease out in our discussion and analysis.  As a note, we've only got two more stories to read after this one so you may find it useful to begin to review the other texts that we've studied so far to prepare you for a comprehensive exam on this short literature unit.

Don't forget about your poetry projects -- they'll be due a week from Monday.  Nobody has really come to see me yet, so I assume that everything is going swimmingly with these.

AP English III

Over the weekend I'll be reviewing your paper proposals and returning those to you on Tuesday/Wednesday - make sure that if you did not get this assignment submitted on time that you get this turned in ASAP, don't fall behind.  E-mail is an acceptable option for this assignment as speed is of the essence.

To prepare for our next class please read ALL of Act II of The Crucible.  Pay special attention to the development of John and Elizabeth Proctor as characters - we're really going to get to know them in Act II.  Also, we will spend a bit of time reviewing Act I since we were rushed today.  Lastly, please complete a works cited entry for your texts - we'll spend some time talking about MLA formatting on Tuesday/Wednesday.

English IV

You have no required homework, but if you are missing an assignment you need to get it turned in.  The only assignment at this point which you can be missing is the vocabulary assignment for Twelfth Night.  For this, find five words from our reading so far which are new to you.  Once you have those words, note the act, scene, and line number next to the word.  Then, define the word, give two synonyms and finally create a sentence which uses the word with context.  Don't just drop the word in, but show me in your sentence that you know what it means.

Homework for All Classes - 1/23 and 1/24

It's time for us to begin our long stretch to Spring Break.  Here are your reminders to prepare for Friday/Monday's class.

AP English IV

That Flannery O'Connor - what a great author, right?  Tonight for homework you've got two poems to read in your Perrine books:  Lucille Clifton's "in the inner city" and Wallace Stevens' "Sunday Morning".  The Clifton poem acts as a really excellent counterpoint to O'Connor's "Good Country People"; the Stevens poem is just a really beautiful one.  Remember to read the questions after the poem with the Stevens piece as they will really help you to understand what's going on in the poem, especially with the structure.

Also, next class we're going to keep looking at our timed writing tasks.  You might find it helpful to look at all of the work we've done with analyzing poetry to prepare for this.

AP English III

Today's discussion was really productive and I hope it served you well in opening up your approach to The Crucible.  Tonight you need to finish reading Act I of the play -- remember to consider the major motifs and concepts in the play and to think about their meaning or importance in the text as you move forward.  Also remember that drama is all about conflict.  On your back cover, make sure that you identify the significant conflicts as you see them to help you keep track of the various plot lines.

In addition your paper proposals are due next class.  In your proposal you should tell me the following information:

1.  As you see it, what is your argument at this point?  What are you going to prove in this paper?
2.  Which texts are going to be used?  How will you use them?
3.  Do you have any questions for me?

Consider this a pre-outline, we'll make them more developed and specific as we move to the next step.

English IV

You need to finish your vocabulary development activity for Act I, Scenes 1 and 2 if you did not finish that work in class.  If you finished that work, you have no homework for tonight. 

Focus Homework - 1/22/2013

Freshman Focus

For tonight I want you to do a bit of research about the value of money.  Talk to people older than yourself and figure out what you could get for twenty dollars.  Go back as far as you can thinking of your own experiences and those of your parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents.  Remember to look at three categories:  basic necessities, luxury items, and fun.

Homework for the Long Weekend/Tuesday - 1/17 and 1/22

Students,

This snow day couldn't come at a better time.  We've already got the day off tomorrow so we don't have to worry about making up the time.  Hopefully it snows enough that the hill on the road up the block from my house will get good and icy for sledding.  If not, I'll just have to enjoy being here tomorrow finishing up some work.  Here are your reminders for the weekend or Tuesday night before you come back in on Wednesday/Thursday.

AP English IV

This weekend you need to read Flannery O'Connor's "Good Country People" from your Perrine books.  As you read, always annotate.  Pay especial attention to O'Connor's use of religion, grotesque, and irony.  Also, be sure to pay attention to the narrator as well as the characters within the story.

After you finish reading you are going to complete a 1Q1P assignment based on the story.  You need to select a sentence from the story which is anywhere from ten to thirty-five words long.  Write that sentence at the top of your page and then below present a full reading of that quotation.  Wring every bit of meaning out of all of the parts of the quotation.  Leave no comma unturned!  This is a great activity to prepare you for larger analysis type assignments which we will begin to approach this nine weeks.

AP English III

Over the weekend you have some reading to do for me.  First, read Arthur Miller's article entitled "Why I Wrote The Crucible" - remember that the copy I gave you is edited to avoid giving away plot points, if you read a different version of the article, be sure not to give away major plot moments.  Also, you need to begin reading Act I of The Crucible.  I'd like for you to read to the entrance of Rev. Hale of Beverly.

As always, annotate everything highly.  We're venturing into a new foray studying drama, but I think it's going to be great fun.

English IV

Over the weekend you all don't have any homework to complete for me.  However, I would invite you to continue the process of reflection we started in class due to the fact that you all have a very important goal to reach this year and some of you are falling short.  Remember, I'm here to help if you need it.

Freshman Focus

Your homework will be posted on Tuesday after our class.

Happy end of the first semester everyone!  Come back energized to begin the long slog to summer vacation!  

Homework for 1/15 and 1/16

Sorry for not getting this up earlier; it was just one of those things that I allowed to slip my mind in the mix of everything else.  Here are your reminders for our next class.  A-day students, I'll see you on Thursday.  B-day students, I won't be seeing you until after the four day weekend.

AP English IV

Tonight you have two goals to accomplish.  First you need to study for your Wordskills exam on unit two.  Ms. Rubenstein left me the test and stressed the importance of giving it to all of you for this quarter.  The test is scheduled to take the first thirty to forty minutes of our class.  Following your preparation for the test, secondly, you need to read Philip Larkin's "Church Going" and Lawrence Ferlinghetti's "Constantly Risking Absurdity".  I would also recommend that you review all of the poems that we have read so far as we will be having a Poetry Extravaganza on Thursday!

AP English III

Thank you all for your dedication to your website projects.  Grades for these as well as comments will be available for you on Jupiter Grades.  There are a few things that you all need to accomplish before our next class.  First, finish reading Joyce Carol Oates' "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" for our next class.  I hope that all of you find the story interesting and intriguing.  It's one of my favorites.  I'm looking forward to our discussion to see what you all got from it.  Also, I would like to remind you that we'll be starting our study of The Crucible on Thursday/Tuesday so you will want your copy of that text if you intend to purchase.  I do have copies which you can borrow in the room.

Finally, this nine weeks you are going to write two papers for me.  I would like for you to get started on this first paper today.  You should begin brainstorming your argument and which texts (one major and one minor) you would like to use for this assignment.  I would start this process by considering which of the major texts we read has been your favorite and then go from there to your argument and other text.  I'll be giving out more particulars on this paper next class.

English IV

Those of you who got your papers in have no homework tonight.  If you did not submit your paper today then your last chance is Thursday.  I would like to remind you that you did have a lot of time to get this put together - and I made myself available outside of class for any assistance.  My grades are due on Friday - so I am under a time crunch and need these papers submitted.

Freshman Focus

If you and your partner did not present your lesson today you will be expected to present on Tuesday. I certainly hope that Tuesday goes better than today.  Expect to have new seats.  

Homework for the Weekend and Monday - 1/11 and 1/14

Here are your tasks to prepare for Tuesday/Wednesday which will be the final full days of this nine weeks.

AP English IV

This weekend you have two poems to read and consider - Countee Cullen's "Yet I Do Marvel" and Claude McKay's "The White City".  As you look at these poems, consider the elements of the acronym that I gave you last class to help you understand what these authors are trying to accomplish.  Further, try to tease out any connections between these pieces and Ha Jin's "A Contract".  We will discuss all these pieces on Tuesday's class.

Also, don't forget that you have your Wordskills exam on Thursday.  Be ready!

AP English III

As promised here is the link to the Purdue OWL for help on completing your MLA citations.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/1/

Use this site to your advantage and remember to ask any questions that you may have.  Over this weekend your focus needs to be on your websites.  As a group you will have ten minutes to present your sites to the class.  After presentation, your content will be graded.  Grades and comments will be done in Jupiter Grades.  Please e-mail me through the weekend and I will get back to you as soon as I can with answers.

The story we started today in class will be discussed on Thursday (A-day) and Tuesday the 22nd (B-day).  Have it read and annotated.  This will serve as our bridge to our next piece, The Crucible.

English IV

Your final essays are due next class.  It is imperative that you submit anything that you have for this essay so that you can get some if not all credit.  Today in class we reviewed the rubric that I will use to grade this assignment.  I hope that you will use this rubric to edit your assignment so that you earn as many points as possible.

Also next class we will have our grammar test and start our work on William Shakespeare.  It'll be an exciting day for all involved.

Freshman Focus

No homework for Monday night.  If you're missing anything from Jupiter Grades make sure that you've seen me to get anything you're missing.

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.

Homework for 1/7 and 1/8

Students,

We have only a few classes left before the end of the grading period.  Please make sure that you're keeping up with your deadlines.  Be especially clear about the fact that I will not accept late work on the teacher workday.  Here are your reminders to prepare for our next class.

AP English IV

Tonight you will need to read two poems out of our Perrine books to prepare for next class.  First, read John Donne's "Valediction: A Forbidding Morning" and complete the questions following the poem.  You will want to make sure that you do keep your vocabulary on a separate sheet of paper in your notebooks as I will often check vocabulary.  Also be aware that with a poem, vocabulary is of the utmost importance -- if you don't know a word, look it up.  You'll then read Andrew Marvell's "To His Coy Mistress" and consider questions one and three through seven. 

Next class we're going to focus on how to read a poem in an AP class and build on the skills we already have.  We also have another poem to look at connected to "Hills Like White Elephants".  I was really pleased with our discussion today.  Keep it going!

AP English III

You've read the book so now it's time to take the test.  Next class you will have your final exam on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Make sure that you're prepared.  In order to prepare for the exam be sure that your books are in good shape as I will be collecting books and checking annotations while you work on the test.  I'll also be looking at your journals, so have those too.  I hope that our conversation on themes and motifs was helpful to you - it's important to think about those bigger issues especially as we finish a text.

Your website projects are going to be due on the 15th (A-day) and 16th (B-day).  At this point you should be revising and finishing those.  Remember to ask for help if you need it.

English IV

Your biggest priority is to work on your essays.  These assignments will be due on the 15th for A-day students and the 16th for B-day students.  Remember that this is your final major grade of the nine weeks and will serve to either lift you up or bring you down.  If you need help, let me know.

Freshman Focus

I'm hoping that after our time in the lab that your resumes are beginning to look more finished.  These resumes will be collected from you on Monday the 14th and they will count as a major project grade.  Also you have your lesson plan presentation.  Be sure that you and your partner have clearly defined what you're trying to teach, how you will teach it, how you will know that your classmates have learned what you want them to learn, and how you will assess that learning.

Enjoy your afternoon everyone!

And with that, we're off!

I think that one of the best things about having a short Winter Break is that we came back and immediately had a weekend.  This gives you a good chance to get some things done before Monday/Tuesday's classes.  Here are your reminders:

AP English IV

Surprise and Happy New Year!  I know that I can't fill Mrs. Rubenstein's shoes, nor would I attempt to, but I think that we're going to have a lot of fun before the year ends.  Over the weekend for homework I would like for you to finish reading Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" from the Perrine textbook.  Remember that annotating is the key to thoroughly comprehending a piece of literature - so I would suggest post-it notes for all of you since we're working out of school books.  If you would prefer to take notes on paper, that also works for me.  The important thing is that you annotate!

After you finish the story, work through the consideration questions and make sure to thoroughly think through and annotate sections of the story which could be used to answer the questions.  I will not collect these from you, but we will definitely discuss these questions and topics, so thorough preparation will lead to easier participation. 

AP English III

Over the weekend, given our lesson today on synthesis, I would ask that your first priority is on your group websites.  You need to make sure that all analyses are posted, all annotations are posted, and that you have begun to craft your synthesis assignment as a group.  You will definitely want to have this done ASAP as next week should be geared toward revising and preparing for your presentations, which we will discuss later.

Furthermore, you should be done with your reading of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Your test on the book will happen on the 9th for A day and the 10th for B day students.  We will review what will be on the test and how to prepare next class as we finish our review of the book.

Finally, our next text will be Arthur Miller's The Crucible.  I would recommend finding yourself a copy of this text.  You will need your copy by the 22nd/23rd which will likely be our first day studying this play.

English IV

Over the weekend you have two pieces of writing to work on.  One is relatively short and the other relatively major.  First, the short piece:  In a one page response I would like for you to answer the following questions.  Make sure that as you write your answer you use clear details and explanation to make your point clear.

How are the characters of V and Winston most similar?  How are they most different?  Why are the similarity and difference so important?

The major thing that you need to work on is your essay.  Make sure that for Monday/Tuesday you bring in anything that you've completed for the essay even if that is only planning.  We will have a writing workshop time on Monday/Tuesday to begin to put these pieces together.

I think that does it for all of us.  Freshman Focus is now only taught on the B-day, so you all will have your assignments listed in a separate post which I will put up after class each B-day.

Homework for the Break - 2012

Assuming that we all survive the end of the Mayan calendar tomorrow you have some tasks to complete over break to be ready for your return to school.  Look below for some refreshers.

Freshman Focus

You all have no work to complete over the break. I hope that you all enjoy your time off and settle in with a good book or two.  If you're traveling, safe travels.  If you're staying home, enjoy the time off.  It'll be lovely.  See you in 2013.

AP English III

Over the break you have two major priorities.  First, you need to finish reading The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  We are going to have relatively quick turn around between our final discussion of the text and our examination of the book.  You should all expect your exam to happen the week of the 7th of January.  Pay close attention to Tom Sawyer at the end of the novel - he becomes an important force.

Furthermore, you need to put in a lot of work on your website projects over break.  There are a few goals that I am setting for you outside of any goals that your group has made.  First, all members of the group must have their annotations, text, and analysis uploaded for review by the end of the break.  I would suggest getting this completed by the end of next week.  Then, in your groups, you will want to review and edit the various analyses.  This editing and reviewing portion will then begin to prepare you for the synthesis.  I will be giving you some direct instruction on how to complete this portion of the assignment when we return, but remember that by using the mock-up page you will get some good overview information on this part of the assignment.

Remember everyone that this is a team project - if a member of your team is not pulling his/her weight with the group, I expect that you will render him/her any possible assistance before moving to dismissal.  If you need help, you must ask, as soon as you recognize that you need help.  This is not the type of project in which you can wait until the last minute and expect to get good work done.

English IV

Your major priority is to complete the first draft of your essays.  These first drafts can be hand written or typed, but they need to be complete.  Make sure that you have this essay on the first day back from break due to the fact that we will be editing and reviewing these assignments.

That's all!  Have a lovely break and a Happy New Year!  С НОВЫМ ГОДОМ!

Homework for Tuesday/Wednesday - 18th/19th of December

We're almost to Winter Break!  Don't let yourselves slack until the bell rings on Friday afternoon at 2:30.  All of you have something to prepare for your last day of class in 2012.

Freshman Focus

Next class we will be having our skits of examples of positive and negative interview experiences.  I hope that you and your group mates have prepared today during class in order to present these skits tomorrow.  After each skit, the audience will critique the positives and negatives.  Beyond this, remember that you have essays due for me on Thursday/Friday of your college essay.  Remember to turn in your rough draft with your final draft to get full credit.

AP English III

Next class we will have time to meet in our website groups in order to set goals and procedures for working over Winter Break.  The important thing to remember is that these websites should begin to look more complete by the end of break.  As a rule, your analysis, annotations, citations, and introduction pages should be done leaving only the synthesis left to complete.  Make sure that you are communicating effectively in your group and meeting your goals while you keep everyone accountable.

Furthermore, make sure that you have read to the end of chapter thirty-three by your next class.  There are some really amazing things for us to discuss and we'll be changing the structure of our conversation a bit to change things up a bit.  Look forward to that.

English IV

By this point all classes should have a clear understanding of what they are doing in their essays.  Your goal is to finish your draft by the time you return from break.  This is an expectation for all of you.  Next class we will have our second grammar test and finish watching V for Vendetta.  Feel free to bring snacks!

Homework for the Weekend and Monday

And now it's time for the last week before Winter Break.  Pay attention below so that you're prepared for our final days of class. 

Freshman Focus

After today you should have notes on your first draft of your college essays.  If you did not have your essay today in class remember to see me on a B-day at lunch so that you can get your credit made-up.  For homework this weekend you will need to finish your answers on question four related to the film Akeelah and the Bee.  Remember to answer in a complete paragraph using clear details from the film to support your ideas.  I'll collect your notes and responses in class on Tuesday/Wednesday.

AP English III

Today we went over some important information related to your satire projects.  I'm putting that document here so that you can refer back to it as you're working.  The document also has the website address for the mock-up that you should be using to create your final site.

Over the weekend you should be putting in some work on your personal rhetorical analysis and some other work in your collaboration.  On Tuesday/Wednesday you'll have your final timed writing for 2012 and we will discuss a lot of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - please make sure you're to the end of chapter twenty-eight.  Also be aware that I will be checking your vocabulary bookmarks again.  Have at least fifteen new words on your third bookmark.

English IV

Over the weekend you should all be working on your essays.  Remember that rough drafts of the essays in their complete form will be peer edited the day we return from break.  If you need any help, please e-mail me or speak to me so that you can get yourself on a good page.  The assignment that you have due on Tuesday/Wednesday asks you to reflect on the author you read today in class.  Your question to answer in a one page response is:

What would _________ say about the living conditions in 1984?  Why?

Be sure that as you answer this question you draw on your knowledge from the speech as well as your knowledge of the novel.  You should focus on your author that you read and studied.

Posting a Day Late

All,

As the A-day students are aware I was out yesterday.  I hope that you time with the substitute was productive and that you got a lot of individual work completed.  For the most part, the feedback I received was generally positive.  Here are some notes and reminders for all of you moving into Friday/Monday.

Freshman Focus

On Friday/Monday we will be finishing Akeelah and the Bee as well as having a draft workshop on our college essay assignment.  Please make sure that you have your rough draft done and that you bring it with you to class in order to get credit.  You will only get half credit if you just participate in editing with no draft.  Final drafts of the essays will be collected on the final day of the quarter before Winter Break (Thursday/Friday).  Don't miss any deadlines.

AP English III

I hope that the opening of Gone with the Wind has made a bit clearer the antebellum Southern society which Twain so mercilessly satirizes in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  We will not watch more of the film due to the fact that it is about five hours long, but I do invite all of you to finish it as it is a really great movie.

For Friday/Monday I would like for you to be to the end of chapter twenty eight in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as well as having finished the analysis guide on Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue".  We will be discussing both texts thoroughly in class as well as reviewing the answers to the multiple choice questions.  You need to have already finished answering the questions before coming into class.

Lastly, we will have some time to discuss the project more.  I think that after I review the requirements with you a bit more thoroughly that you all will see what you need to be doing now.  Remember that I expect most of the work on these to be done over Winter Break as you'll have finished the book by that point, but you can go ahead and begin sooner, rather than later, which is always the best option.

English IV

Next class we will be working through a discussion of the major points that Liveley makes in her story "Next Term, We'll Mash You" as well as drawing connections to the larger work related to human rights that we've been doing.  Please make sure that you've thoroughly read the story, answered the questions, and that you've completed your vocabulary log.  We will also move forward with our study of Desmond Tutu and Aung San Suu Kyi by looking at excerpts of two of their speeches. 

Lastly, you should be working on your body paragraphs at this point.  Rough drafts of the essays will be checked after we return from break and this will be your task for the holiday.  I would suggest that you spend some time this weekend getting the essay put together so that you have nothing to do over the break for class.

I think that does it!  Enjoy your afternoon, see you all Friday.

Homework for All Classes 12/10 and 12/11

Tonight all classes have goals to accomplish.  Look below for specific notes to help you out.

Freshman Focus

Today in class we began the mock college application process.  By this point you should all have an application on which you are working.  Tonight, I want you to spend some time working through brainstorming your college essay.  If your application does not have an essay which really draws you in or interests you, I offer you this topic:

Describe a risk that you have taken and discuss its impact on your life.

You might want to begin with a few possible ideas to answer this question and then follow the one that you can discuss the most thoroughly.  Remember that you want to be specific and personal.  Rough drafts will be collected from you on Friday/Monday and we will be editing that day.

AP English III

Tonight you have a few goals to accomplish.  First, I would like for you to read Gloria Anzaldua's "How to Tame a Wild Tongue" - it's available in 50 Essays or at this link.  As you read this piece you're going to want to think about a few major ideas:  the idea of language as an act of revolution, the connection between language and identity, and the use of vernacular.  Also, you're going to want to consider how the author manipulates her organization in order to emphasize her points.  You'll be doing a lot of individual work on this piece on Wednesday/Thursday.  So, be prepared for that.

Also on Wednesday/Thursday you will have some time in your groups to work on separating out your work on the Satire websites.  By Thursday you should each have decided on your text that you will analyze and you should begin to create those pages on your website.  Your individual pages must be up by the end of the day on Sunday - that way you can start to fill those pages with content.  

Lastly, stay on your reading schedules.  We will be spending a lot of time on Friday/Monday discussing TAoHF.  Be prepared with thorough annotations!  

English IV

Leaving the room today you should all have your introduction paragraphs done.  Consider yourselves on the way to finishing your essays.  Tonight I want you to collect the evidence that you are planning to use in this essay.  I would recommend that you make a list of page numbers or moments in the text and then organize those moments around the different parts of your thesis.  This will then make your lives a lot easier as you begin to write your body paragraphs.  

Please let me know if you need any help with anything.  Remember A-day students that I will not be in on Wednesday.  See me Thursday or Friday with any questions or concerns.    

Homework for the Weekend - 12/6 and 12/7

Here are your announcements and reminders for the weekend.  Pay attention to the notes below, especially Juniors and Seniors as you will be getting some important notes for completing your assignments.

Freshman Focus

No homework for you all to complete this weekend.  We'll be talking about college searches and researching colleges next week - so you might want to think about the type of school you'd be interested in over the weekend.  I hope that you all will enjoy your weekend without homework and get some good reading and relaxing done.

AP English III

Over the weekend you've got a few things to take care of related to your study of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  You need to make progress on your next reading goal which is to be to the end of chapter twenty-eight by the 10th/11th.  We will likely not be discussing these chapters until the following class as we're about a day behind on our discussions.  Next class we'll be looking at the Grangerford section and the characters of the Duke and the Dauphin.  You may find it helpful to review that section.

Related to your project, there are several things to take care of this weekend.  First, you need to finish your group contract.  I'll be collecting these on Monday/Tuesday and giving you a completion grade for having all of the areas of the contract done.  Also on Monday/Tuesday you'll be getting a grade for having your site set up and shared.  You need to share it with each member of your group and with me.  This will be the second half of your completion grade.

The mockup for the site is available at https://sites.google.com/site/huckfinnsatiremockup/ -- Please use this mock-up to see what you need to include on each page and what you will need to do on each part of the assignment.  This is like your instructions for the project, if you have any questions about this project, do not hesitate to ask.

English IV

Over the weekend I would like for you to complete the introduction of your essay.  You already have a third of your introduction done if you have your thesis statement done.  Your thesis statement will come last.  Before that you will create a hook, and then a link.  The hook should be a sentence or two related to your topic which will grab my attention as a reader.  You could use a quote, you could create an image, or you could ask a thought provoking (not yes/no) question.  In the link you then want to introduce the title and author of the text and explain how the topic is connected to the book.  This then leads to the thesis.

I will be checking these on Monday/Tuesday and we will edit them, please make sure that you're meeting your deadlines on your essay.

Homework for 12/4 and 12/5

All classes have a task to complete for tonight, follow me below the greeting for a quick reminder as to what these things are.

Freshman Focus

Tonight I would like for you to reflect on your classmates presentations of their Utopian schools.  In a complete paragraph for each question, I would like for you to answer the following:

1.  Which of your classmates' schools would you like to attend if you had the chance?  Why?

2.  Which of your classmates' schools would you not like to attend?  Why?

As you answer the questions be sure that you are drawing not only on your personal opinion but also the information presented to you by each group.  I look forward to reading your responses.

AP English III

Tonight you have two things to read for me in order to prepare for next class.  First, you need to stay on your schedule and meet your next major milestone which is to be to the end of chapter twenty-two.  This is a significant chunk of pages, but it does tend to move quite quickly.  Pay attention to the new characters of the Duke and the Dauphin as well as the situation Huck undergoes while he is with the Grangerfords.  We will be focusing a lot on some very specific sections on Thursday/Friday - come equipped with thorough annotations.

In addition, I would like for you to complete the reading of Oluadah Equiano's Narrative - this is an excerpt of a real slave narrative.  Remember that the point to reading this is to get a fuller understanding of the experience of being in slavery and the dehumanizing aspect therein.  Remember that Jim's experiences are severely different from Equiano's, yet Equiano's experiences would be a part of Jim's identity as a slave.  This, in a way, is his ancestry.  We will discuss this piece tangentially as it relates to Jim, read carefully and look for new vocabulary of which there is a lot.

English IV

Walking out of class today you should all have your thesis statements done for your essay as well as having an idea as to what portions of the novel you are going to explain in your essay.  Tonight, I would like for you to continue to devote time and energy into finding examples and organizing them around the bigger topics within your thesis.  We will be working on our essays every day in class over the next few classes.  Be prepared and productive to ensure a solid performance.

Lastly - you all got progress reports today as well as information on how to access your grades through Jupiter Grades.  Please share the login information with your parents so that they can also be kept in the loop.

AP English III - Twain Satire Video

Sorry for all of the technology issues today - here's a link to the video on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the opinion of Jon Stewart.

Also - B-day Students - Be sure to read the articles I gave you today after you watch the video for a different perspective on the issue of language and changing language within a text.

Homework for the Weekend/Monday - 11/30 and 12/3

Some important reminders for all of you to be aware of this weekend and Monday to prepare for Tuesday/Wednesday's classes.

First, all of you will be getting official progress reports on Tuesday/Wednesday.  I expect that you will take these home and get them signed so that I know that you have been in communication with your parents.  If you receive any additional paperwork to take home, I expect that you will also return that to me.

Freshman Focus

No homework for the weekend; we will have an assignment related to the Utopian School Projects on Tuesday/Wednesday night, so do be prepared for that.

AP English III

Over the weekend you need to be working on meeting your next reading goal which is to be to the end of chapter twenty-two by the class on Thursday/Friday.  This next section is vitally important in Huck's development.  Also, we will begin on our major project related to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and satire.  Make sure that your google accounts are active.

Next class you will have your first rhetorical analysis.  Prepare by reviewing your notes.  This will be a prompt you've never seen before, but the process is always the same.  Just be sure that you're ready.  Remember - car and driver - you've got to have both.  While you complete the timed writing I will be grading your journals and your vocabulary bookmarks. 

English IV

Now that we've finished reading 1984 I want you to tell me what you thought of it.  Please answer the following question in a one page response, using clear details from the text to explain your opinion. 

What did you think of 1984?  Why?

 

I will be collecting this assignment for a grade on Tuesday/Wednesday.  Also, if you have any tests that need to be turned in or any other make up work to turn in, get that done this weekend too as the window to submit those assignments will soon be closed.  And by soon, I mean Tuesday/Wednesday, after I give out progress reports.

Homework for 11/28 and 11/29

Apologies for not posting your assignments last night.  Here are your reminders to prepare for Friday/Monday.

Freshman Focus

Your presentations will be next class.  We will begin presentations right when class begins so if there is any preparation that needs to be done in advance it needs to happen over the weekend.  Remember that there will be two grades here, your shared group grade for the powerpoint and then your individual grade for the presentation.  Your individual grade will also include your question and answer session in which I test your knowledge of your content.  Make sure that you are fully prepared.

AP English III

There are a few things going on over the next few days, here we go.  First, you need to give me your gmail account using the form in the previous post if you haven't already done that.  I need this information soon because we will begin our website project and that project will require the use of a gmail account for ease of creation.  Second, we will have a timed writing on Tuesday/Wednesday.  The timed writing will be a rhetorical analysis.  We've spent several classes preparing for this new task; I look forward to seeing what you all produce for me.  Remember that timed writings do count as a test grade.

Third, you need to stay on your grind, and by grind I mean reading schedule.  Remember that your next checkin is to be to the end of chapter sixteen, there was a misprint (my mistake) on your bookmarks.  Fourth, I will be checking your vocabulary bookmarks for completion on Friday/Monday.  I expect to see words from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and The Great Gatsby on these bookmarks.  Fifth, and very lastly, make sure that you've reviewed the reading by Sojorner Truth for a brief discussion and review on Friday/Monday.  There are a few important ideas that I want to go over with you all related to how Truth uses rhetoric to persuade her audience.

English IV

Today in class we had a great conversation related to the next to last chapter as well as some of the big ideas in this text:  power, humanity, authority, and truth or reality.  These ideas are all some that you can incorporate into your papers if you wish.  Tonight, you need to begin your first portion of your paper - your thesis statement.  On Friday/Monday I will conference with each of you about your thesis statement and we will make sure that you're starting off on a good point - then we'll move to the next phase of the essay which is collecting evidence and organizing it.

Essays are challenging because of all of the pieces that must be done in order for the essay to be successful.  This will be a very major test grade for you this quarter, please make sure that you meet your goals and are working hard to accomplish this.

Homework for 11/26 and 11/27

Freshman Focus

Your presentations of your Utopian Schools will be happening on Friday/Monday.  Please make sure that you are moving toward perfection with your presentation.  Remember that you need to be an expert on one aspect of the school.  If you feel as though you need to work on the powerpoint, work on that tonight.  Remember that our final day in class to work in the media center is going to be on Wednesday/Thursday.

AP English III

Tonight for homework you've got a few things to accomplish.  First, stay on your reading of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - your next checkin date is Friday/Monday.  Next class we're going to go into the details a bit more on the first twelve chapters and do some textual analysis.  Very fun, yes.  Next, please use this form here to give me your gmail accounts.  It's important that you have these accounts by Friday/Monday due to the fact that we will begin our website project then and you will need a gmail account to complete the assignment. 

Also, be aware that there will be a vocabulary check soon - you need to have your second round of twenty words done.  Finally, you need to work on the Rhetorical Analysis prompt a bit today.  Please complete a thesis for this passage and thoroughly annotate the passage looking for examples you could discuss to prove the thesis.  We will spend time prepping this tomorrow.

English IV

Your work tonight is up to you.  Most of you have something to make up to get credit for class.  Make sure that you have this ready to turn in on Wednesday/Thursday.  I'm not going to take any late work past this point unless you have an excused absence on Wednesday/Thursday.

At the very least you MUST have the dialectical notebook done for Wednesday/Thursday's class.

Homework for Thanksgiving Break

All classes have something to accomplish over break.  Please follow the guidelines below to ensure that you come back to school with all of your deadlines met.

Freshman Focus

Over the break I would suggest putting some work into your powerpoints on your Utopian School.  Remember that we will only be in the computer lab for two more classes before we do presentations.  I don't want any of the groups to be left in the lurch, so make sure that you're meeting your goals.  Also, remember that each member of the group needs to be an "expert" on one portion of the school design and implementation.  Each person will have to answer questions, be sure that you've shared your ideas and have good answers.

AP English III

With the student surveys today we did not get through nearly as much as I wanted to; apologies for that.  Over the break you need to keep moving forward in your reading of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Remember that you should develop your focus on characters as well as topics and motifs.  If I were to check your annotations when we get back from break, I would like to make sure that a full character list is in your front cover. 

In addition to reading your bit in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, you're also going to read Sojourner Truth's "Ain't I a Woman" - located in 50 Essays or at this link.  Continue to pay attention to the ideas of language and identity.  We'll be discussing this in comparison to Tan before we begin to crack open Twain. 

English IV

Over break I would like for you to read chapters three and four of Book Three in 1984.  To help you with your reading I want you to complete the dialectical notebook assignment.  For every two pages you should record one quotation and then write down your thoughts or reflection on the quotation.  There are some ideas to consider or questions to ponder to help you with the writing of your reflection on the quotes.  I will collect your quotes and reflections for a grade.

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I'll see you when we get back together next week!

Homework for the Weekend - 11/15 and 11/16

Below are your reminders for the weekend.  Please continue to work hard, meet your deadlines, and ask for any assistance that you may need from me.

Freshman Focus

I've been really happy to see all of you working hard in your groups to accomplish the goals of your Utopian School project.  On Monday you will have another good chunk of time to continue working and planning your schools.  Please make sure that you are being an active member of your group and working well with others to accomplish your shared goal.  Furthermore, remember that you will need to incorporate Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs into the discussion of your school.  You will want to focus on that as we continue to move forward. 

AP English III

Today I gave you your homework from now until Winter Break - your reading schedule for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Be sure that you meet your deadlines.  Also, be aware that it is better to be ahead than behind - Read ahead especially over Thanksgiving Break!  Over the weekend you will need to meet your first reading goal as well as read the article "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan.  The article is in 50 Essays and at this link.  As you read the article think about the ideas of language and its connection to a person's identity, just like Twain began to develop in his "Explanatory" before the novel began.  Furthermore, you will want to continue to annotate your texts and glean vocabulary from all of the pieces you read.  You should begin to prepare yourselves for another Bookmark check soon!

English IV

If you did not finish your collage/interpretation assignment, you will want to make that a priority over the weekend.  Also, I would like for you to read Chapter II of Book Three.  This is a very long chapter, so I would like to provide you with some areas to focus on in your reading.  Look primarily for the ideas of power, truth, and memory.  Most of this chapter takes place as a dialogue between Winston and O'Brien, so it should read pretty quickly. 

I think that does it.  Enjoy your weekend everyone!

AP English III Extra Credit

Please respond in this thread to earn extra credit on today's exam on The Great Gatsby.  In a comment, respond to the following topic:

T.S. Eliot and F. Scott Fitzgerald share many similarities between them - namely they are both modernists and they both explore the emptiness of humanity as they see it.  Comment on what you find to be the most significant similarity or difference between The Great Gatsby and "The Hollow Men".  Why is this similarity or difference the most important to you?  When looking at both texts, what do you see that the author is attempting to communicate?

Posts must be done before class begins on Thursday/Friday to be eligible for credit.  Make sure that you include your name in your post to receive credit.

Homework for All Classes - 11/13 and 11/14

Dear Students!  It's time for another short week here at school before we have a super short week next week.  Keep working hard before the Thanksgiving break and you will be rewarded!  Here are your reminders for tonight:

Freshman Focus

Next class we will be spending a majority of our class time working on the in class group project.  I liked seeing the discussions today and noticing the different directions that all of the groups were taking.  Remember that the goal is to meet all of the needs in the Hierarchy while still providing a quality education.  I look forward to seeing what you all come up with.

AP English III

You all should take some time to relax tonight as you've just completed a major assessment.  I hope that you all found that this test was one you were well prepared for due to your annotations, reading, and your discussion of the text.  Remember that for next class you will need to have a copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (I'll have some that you can check out) and you will need to have your vocabulary slides completed.  I will be grading the slides immediately after class, so no late work will be accepted.  Links to upload your slides are in the previous posts.  Make sure that you complete the proer assignment - one for A-day and one for B-day.  Don't get it twisted.

English IV

Tonight I would like for you to finish reading Chapter One of Book Three.  We will move quickly through the final section of the novel as it reads very fast.  Soon we will be beginning our final essay on this book and putting our skills at writing and communication to the test.  I look forward to seeing what all of you prepare for me.  In addition, be reminded that you will have a quiz next class on Chapter One.  Consider yourselves warned.

AP English III - B Day Homework - 11/9

B Day AP English III Students:

Over the weekend you have many of the same things to accomplish as the A-day students.  I'm not going to rehash exactly what that is as you can just read the post below.

Your vocabulary slides are going to be due on the 16th of November, the link for you all to use is located here.  Please make sure that you follow the rules to the letter.  I would recommend that you try to get these done over the weekend and that way if you have problems using Google Docs we can work that out together before the final due date.  I just want to reiterate that we are now moving to the point of the year where excuses will not be tolerated for not doing the assignments as given.  You need to ask for help before, not on the due date.

And now, without further waiting, here are the photos from today:

 

 

Apologies for not getting good photos of all of the groups.  I hope that you all enjoyed the skits today and I appreciate the fact that you stuck around after class to watch the final presentation.  I look forward to your performance on your exam on Tuesday.  Study hard this weekend!  And be sure to review the end of the book - it's pretty significant.

Make sure that you do read over the A-day post so that you're aware of your study tips and your next novel requirement.

AP English III - A Day Homework - 11/8

A-Day AP English III Students:

Over the weekend you have a few things to take care of, here they are in the order of importance.

1.  Study for your exam on The Great Gatsby.  You will have quotation identifications, short answer questions, and an annotation/rhetorical analysis assignment.  Be aware that I will also be checking your final annotations the day of the test.  Your covers should be complete as well as any notes within the text.  Strong annotations lead to strong test grades.  I hope that you all are prepared for this exam.

2.  Your vocabulary slides are going to be graded a week from today (the 15th).  I'm including the link here.  To your A-day slide show.  Please follow the instructions in the document and upload your information.  The final due date is the beginning of class on the 15th.  I would recommend trying to do this THIS WEEKEND - that way if you have problems using the interface we can sort those out next week before it's due.

3.  You will want to get a copy of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn for class by the 15th.  We will start studying our next novel that day.  I'm looking forward to studying this book with all of you.  It's a wonderful text and I think you're going to all enjoy it a lot.

And now, the photos from today:

Excellent job with the skit project today!  I hope that this review of the major scenes in the text was fun and helpful for all of you.  Enjoy the weekend!

Homework for the Weekend - 11/8 and 11/9

This post is only for Freshman Focus and English IV - AP students will have their homework in a separate post.  One for A-day and one for B-day. 

Both Freshman Focus and English IV students do not have any homework for the weekend.  English IV students, I hope that you feel confident on your performance with today's exam.  I will have these back to you next week.

Freshman Focus students, we will be starting a group project next class.  You may want to consider who you would like to work with on this project.