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!

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!

12 December - The Last Week of School

AP Language

Good day today reading Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" - it's a rigorous yet rich text. I hope that you were able to see some of the larger connections to truth, reality, manipulation, lies, and power. There's also the idea that it's an allegory, which is what our play is, so there's a connection point there. Plato's ideas are at the heart of a lot of what we are doing in class and what a lot of our authors are pursuing in their texts. Use the multiple choice questions to practice before the examination. We'll do a second AP Exam in January.

For tonight, focus on finishing The Crucible. We've got Act III next class and then Act IV after that. This is also a key time to complete your vocabulary or any other tasks missing from the last unit. Show your skill before our mid-point examination. 

AP Research

Solid day today everyone as we had a lesson focused on the construction of the academic paper. Today's lesson I hope makes clear the need to focus on the essentials of the paper. What are you doing that's new? How are you showing what's new? Use your existing papers and the papers in your body of knowledge to help you structure your paper and your POD (remember, it's a buy one get one situation here).

It's important to be writing right now. You don't have time later to waste now. Working through a survey with multiple respondents is work! And that is also time. Your paper should be written to the method (or at least outlined) by the time we come back from break. Submit your drafts!

8 December - End of the Week

AP Language

Excellent day in AP Language today as we understood the rhetorical situation for The Crucible and some of the key motivations pushing Miller in the construction of his allegory. Be on the lookout for vocabulary as we are reading. The articles in this unit can get you all ten of your words. Continue to review previous readings if you need to. I hope that watching the film today brought some new understandings to the play.

For tonight, focus on any assignments you need to submit for Unit 3 including reading reflections and vocabulary. In Current Lessons there's a link to a cartoon. Watch the cartoon as you start reading the article I gave you in class "The Allegory of the Cave". You don't have to finish reading the article on your own, but you can if you want.

AP Research

Great day in AP Research. I love days when we get to talk and conference. The IRB had feedback for you all to push you in a good direction moving forward. Consider the edits and feedback you received today this weekend and into next week. I'll need to see your edits for you to clear the IRB. Remember that if you make changes to your research question, then those changes should be seen in other areas, like your survey questions.

Over the weekend, complete your newest PREP question. Check your email for your feedback written out. This is also a great time to be writing and pulling ideas together on your paper. I think that we're all going to be in a great place to get started with participants after Winter Break.

As always, I'm here to support you.

The Beginning of the End - 18 May

AP Language

Today in class we got in a time machine to return to ancient Athens and learn from Plato about reality, truth, and the process to find it. As we read the "Allegory of the Cave" we see many of the same steps in TIM's journey to knowledge and truth - it's important that we reflect on the process we see and the mirror for ourselves which may be held up here. Plato and Ellison ask us to always consider what we know and where we got that knowledge from. 

Next class we'll finish with Invisible Man and have time to begin our work with our final assessment on the novel. I'm excited to see everyone's creativity and thought when it comes to this novel and the ideas that it leaves you with. If you have anything missing for class - be sure that it is complete as soon as you can.

English 10

Today in class was our time to complete our final assessment for One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich. If you completed the test or project today, great! If not, be sure that you're finished and submitted by Friday so that I can do final grading. If you had any extra time in class, that would have been used for final notes/vocabulary and any missing assignments from this unit.

Next class we'll begin our final portfolio for English 10 - the instructions are already uploaded for you to review. The final classes of the year will be spent devoted to our final portfolios, so everyone will have the chance to complete everything during class.

Homework for Spring Break - B Day Students - 28 March 2018

Happy Break B-Day Students! I look forward to seeing you all when we return. I hope that you have a bit of fun planned for yourselves as well as time with people who are important to you. I'll get to spend a few days with my very best friend in the world, and I'm really excited for that!

English IV

As a reminder, I'll be grading your introduction and body paragraphs this weekend in your Frankenstein adaptation essay. Make sure that as you are working that you first address the feedback that I gave you with your introduction. Then, once you've done that, move on to your first body paragraph.

I gave you those example paragraphs to use as a model for yourselves, but you also have the other planning sheets that you can use to help you move forward with your essays.

AP English III

Over the break you have two significant tasks. First, finish reading "The Allegory of the Cave" from 50 Essays or at this link. As you finish the dialogue, make sure that you consider the questions below.

1. Where do ideas come from? What makes some ideas better than others?
2. How is the creation and acquisition of knowledge connected to power?
3. How has Ellison been building connections back to Plato throughout his text?

Once you've finished with that, you have Chapters 20-24 to read over the break. As I said in class, the quiz that you have can reference everything back to Chapter 10. It would be a good idea to go through and check in on your annotations through those chapters to make sure that your book is an appropriate tool to help you be successful on the quiz when we return.

Lastly, if you did not turn in your paper or vocabulary cards today then you will want to get them turned in tomorrow!

Homework for B-Day Students: 26 March 2018

English IV

Today we began our quarter with our unit test on Frankenstein. I'll have these graded and returned to you when we return from Spring Break. I hope that you all felt well prepared and successful. Tonight it would be a good idea to make sure that you have started on your adaptation essay. If you haven't yet shared a document with me that includes your introduction work, make sure that you do.

Next class we'll be looking at some sample work as well as working in the computer lab to continue our essay development.

AP English III

Lots of good work today around symbols and their meanings. I enjoyed hearing a lot of connections back to the ideas of necropolitics and control through the text. Make sure that the symbols we discussed find their way to your cover annotations.

For tonight you have your research papers as your main focus. We went over in class the various documents that will go with your envelope and how to account for any documents that are missing. Additionally, we reviewed formatting. See these documents (3B) and (4B) for examples of perfect MLA formatting. Everything for your papers is due to me on Wednesday. Any paper collected after 4:15 PM on Wednesday will be considered late.

Over Break you have the reading of Invisible Man - Chapters 20 through 24. Lots of major events happen in these chapters including a lot of big events to Tod Clifton. Notice them and how they affect  and finally change TIM. Expect a quiz and an annotation check when we return from break.

Finally, next class we'll be working through an essay by Plato - the Greek philosopher. We'll be reading it aloud in class, so, prepare by doing some light research about him. What did he study? What did he do? Why are we still reading and talking about him?

Homework for B-Day Students: 22 March 2017

AP English III:

Always question your reality, children. Always look for the fire within the cave. For tonight, you have one thing to complete to turn in and reading to complete.

First, please write a one paragraph response to each of the following questions. You may draw on your experience reading Invisible Man, "Allegory of the Cave", and the reading on addiction. The questions are as follows:

1.  According to the article, do people in "the cave" make healthy decisions?
2.  According to the article, do people naturally want to remain in "the cave"? What does this say about human nature?
3.  In what other ways might a person be in "the cave"? Think about other parts of our society (fashion, careers, lifestyle choices, etc.)

Second, you have reading in Invisible Man - Chapters Twenty through Twenty-Two. Remember to complete your motif blog post and annotate heavily. There's a lot of "Allegory of the Cave" going on in this section. It'll be productive for you to think about.

Lastly, continue working on your research papers. The final drafts will be due very soon!

English II:

This is the final call for any missing or make-up work. It should be in our hands by the end of the day tomorrow!

Homework for B-Day Students: 20 March 2017

We are now in the final week of the quarter. It's important that you work to meet your deadlines this week as I will finalize all grades on Friday afternoon. Also, Ms. Barber's last day with us is Thursday. So any work to her needs to be submitted on Wednesday.

AP English III:

Tonight for homework you have a really fun piece to read - "The Allegory of the Cave" by Plato. Like Cher or Madonna, Plato is so famous he only needs one name. The piece is written as a philosophical dialogue between a teacher and a student - this structure is a key means by which you should navigate the text, notice the paragraph breaks. Everything in the piece is meant to be symbolic; it's important that you think critically as you read to connect the dots from the allegory to the real world. Remember that Plato was most concerned with what things really are, the truth of them.

I've also found visuals to be helpful with working through Plato. This animation from YouTube really helps. I'd read and watch the cartoon at the same time.

Read and annotate fully. Ask questions and prepare for a meaty seminar on Wednesday. This reading sets us up clearly for the next section of Invisible Man which is due on Friday (Chapters Twenty to Twenty-Two). Make sure that your blogs are updated by the end of the day on Friday.

Lastly, it is highly important that you make your writing conference this week and finalize all of your research paper documents. Please check your PowerSchool account regularly to make sure that your grade is reflective of the work that you have updated and submitted.

English II:

Today in class we started our final mini-research project as part of our Greek Theatre and Culture unit. The assignment and workspace can be found on Google Classroom. We also took our test on the first half of Oedipus the King. 

It is highly important that you make sure that all of your work is turned in. Especially make sure you've completed the:

• Greek Gods and Monsters Project (on Google Classroom)
• The paragraph about the purpose of irony or blindness in Oedipus the King
• The Character Mask Assignment
• The Dinner Party Assignment

If you are unsure what these are or need instructions, please let me or Ms. Barber know ASAP.

B Day Student Homework - 3/22/2016

AP English III

For our next class you should read and annotate your copies of Plato's "Allegory of the Cave".  If you were not in class today you can find it at this link.  Remember that since it's an allegory everything is symbolic - consider especially the sun, the fire, the darkness, the cave, and the idea of blinding.  This lines up explicitly with what we discussed today in class related to Invisible Man so hopefully you're able to make sense of both as you read.

After you finish the reading, consider this video about Plato and his allegory.  You may want to watch this as you complete your confusion card.

Lastly, we have our reading for Spring Break and our papers to settle.  Remember that you are expected to read Chapter 23-25 over Break.  You will not read the Epilogue.  You should complete your blogs the week we return with your final analysis post (23-25) and synthesis post (end section of the novel).  We will finish our mural project during the week of the 11th.

English II

By this point we are basically done for the quarter.  Make sure that if there's anything missing for the quarter that you have it turned in by Thursday at 3:00 so that I can grade it for this quarter.

You should be focused on revising your essays and continuing to build them as we move forward into the 4th nine weeks.  We'll be going to the library next class to select book for our extra credit project.

Homework for B-Day Students: 4/8/2015

AP English III

As promised here are the materials that will help you to make sense of the piece by Plato, "The Allegory of the Cave."  First, make sure you're reading the proper excerpt from 50 Essays or from this link.  Make sure that you read the introductory material on Plato as it will help you to make sense of his argument.

Before You Read:

1. Think about the idea of vision in Invisible Man - In what ways does he see?  How is he blinded?  What does this idea of blinding and seeing mean when it comes to reality and truth?
2. Understand the structure - this is a dialogue between a student (Glaucon) and a teacher.  Understand the meaning of the student's name.  Understand the role of the teacher in this.

As You Read:

1. Annotate heavily.  Look for key ideas.  Mark questions.  Read the whole thing without stopping.
2. Make connections - How does this parallel the journey of the Invisible Man.  What is the meaning of the sun?  How does this piece relate back to "The Over-Soul" and the ideas of Transcendentalism?

After You Read:

1. Watch this video from youtube.com.  Go back through the piece as you watch the video and answer your questions.  Develop more.
2. Consider Plato's argument and its relationship to Invisible Man.
3. Do you see?  Or are you blind?

I'm looking forward to a productive discussion on Friday to start our conclusion of Invisible Man.

English II

You have your final project on Purple Hibiscus due on Friday.  Remember that there are four key components to this project that you must turn in for full credit.  Here they are:

1. Your timeline sheet - this was completed in class today.
2. Your quotes sheet - this was begun in class and completed by you at home if you didn't finish it during the workshop time.
3. Your written work for the project.  Ms. Alley gave you a plan for this today and reviewed it with you in class.  Make sure that you finish the planning and then either write or type your work on a different piece of paper that you will turn in.  Follow all of the guidelines on the assignment.
4. Your visual of how the character has changed.  Use your writing to help you figure this out.  Show us Kambili or Jaja at the beginning and show us without words how the character has changed in the text.  You can draw, use a photo, a collage, painting, etc.  There are lots of options for this.

Homework for A-Day Students: 4/2/2014

AP English III

First your work for tonight.  Your first priority is to finish your reading of Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" - you've got it in 50 Essays or at this link.  As you read Plato, continue to stay focused on the ideas of light and dark, reality and fantasy, vision, and truth.  This piece is crucial in helping you to understand and make sense of what Ellison is trying to show in his text.  Consider the Invisible Man and his ability to see things as you read this.

Once you finish Plato, you'll want to launch right in to chapters twenty and twenty-one of Invisible Man.  The reading here will immediately pick up and continue the work from Plato.  Annotate heavily in preparation for our seminar.


Lastly, remember that your final drafts are due on Tuesday.  However, you may also turn them in on Wednesday for no penalty.  No drafts will be accepted past Thursday.  Anything submitted on Thursday will earn a ten point penalty.

Russian I

Tonight I want for all of you to focus on learning your new vocabulary as well as continuing to review your rules for prepositional and accusative case.  Check back over your homework and complete it or revise it as needed.  We will have a quiz on this content on Tuesday/Wednesday so prepare yourselves accordingly.

B-Day Discussion Board

Please post your responses to the following question below.  Use refrences to Invisible Man and "Allegory of the Cave" where applicable.  Make sure that you answer all parts of the prompt.  Posts will be graded after class on Monday.  No late posts will be accepted.

Throughout the text of Invisible Man we see that the narrator continues to oscilate between his own reality and the reality of society.  Plato would perhaps say that he's traveling between real truth and false truth.  This text complicates the idea of society because there are two socities within the text, African American society and White society.  There are, of course, multiple socities within these larger socities as well - complicating this overall question.  However, according to Plato's allegory, which society that we have seen within the pages of our novel is the one more responsible for keeping the Invisible Man within the cave and constricting his vision?  Has the Invisible Man broken free from this bondage and loosed the chain attached to the cave wall?  Has he not started to exit at all?  Does he think that he has?  How does our role as readers in this text further this question.

As you answer, make sure that your response is your own.  Do not submit something similar to a previous post or it will not be considered for credit.  Come up with an argument and prove it.

Other reminders about homework and tasks to complete can be found two posts below in the A-day discussion board.  There's also a link to the Plato text there too.

A-Day AP English III Discussion Board and Homework

AP English III

Tonight you need to finish reading Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" as well as move toward your next reading goal of being to the end of Chapter Twenty-Two of Invisible Man.  Also, don't forget to sign up and attend your writing conferences.  The sheets are on my door.

A day students.  Please post a comment to respond to the following prompt.  Draw on your knowledge of Invisible Man as well as your understanding of Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" to answer the following questions.  Use textual references where necessary.  Plato is available at this link.

Plato raises the idea in paragraph forty of transitioning between the world of light and the cave and that these transitions each affect the vision of the human.  Plato says as well that these "bewilderments...from coming out of the light or from going into...[are] true of the mind's eye, quite as much as of the bodily eye."  I would argue that the Invisible Man has suffered from these bewilderments multiple times throughout the text.

Which moment of the text do you think is the has provided the most significant bewilderment to the Invisible Man?  Is this a moment of going out of the light or going into it?  Which of his eyes is this effecting?  What is the overall importance?

Be thorough but concise in your answer.  Show me that you've read the book and tell me something coherent - edit before you hit submit.  Make sure you're focusing on the prompt. Be sure that your name is in your response so that I can assign credit.