Wednesday, December 5, 2012

AGENDA 12/5

View TED Talk by Nalini Nadkarni, "Life Science in Prison"

Discuss Crime & Punishment essays/articles

"Rehabilitate or Punish?" essay by Etienne Benson
"Crime and Punishment in California"  essay by James Austin
"Federal Courts to the Rescue: Fixing California's Broken Prison System" by blogger Dan Macallair
"Making Time Count" essay by Chesa Boudin


HW: Read chapters 20-21 of The Scarlet Letter for Thursday

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

AGENDA 12/4

Review vocabulary from The Scarlet Letter
Discuss chapters 17-19 of The Scarlet Letter
Key ideas:
Has Hester's punishment been effective? Has it made her a better person?
Why doesn't Pearl accept her mother when Hester removes her "A"?
Why does Pearl not support Hester and Dimmesdale's plan to run away together?
What seems to be nature's reaction to all of these events?
What "supernatural" things occur in this section?

HW: Seminar Prep - Crime & Punishment articles
"Rehabilitate or Punish?" essay by Etienne Benson
"Crime and Punishment in California"  essay by James Austin
"Federal Courts to the Rescue: Fixing California's Broken Prison System" by blogger Dan Macallair
"Making Time Count" essay by Chesa Boudin




Monday, December 3, 2012

AGENDA 12/3

Discuss last week's essays on gender 
The Scarlet Letter discussion, chapters 14-16
Key ideas:
What is Pearl's relationship with Hester's letter?
How has Pearl been affected by Hester's punishment/sin? How have Dimmesdale and Chillingworth been affected?
What's the role/symbolism of nature in this section?

HW: Read chapters 17-19 of The Scarlet Letter and prepare for tomorrow's discussion.

Friday, November 30, 2012

AGENDA 11/30

Watch Jean Kilbourne's lecture Killing Us Softly 4 and complete viewing guide notes


Here is the link/password to the digital streaming file of Killing Us Softly 4:
password: orange38smiling9


This streaming file is available through Thursday, December 6. Please re-watch as needed to complete your notes and feel free to share with others who might be interested.

HW: Read chapters 14-16 of The Scarlet Letter and be prepared to discuss on Monday. Complete "FATTR" complex claims for all four of the essays, due Monday. Can be typed or handwritten.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

AGENDA 11/28


Finish watching TED Talk: "A Call to Men"  by Tony Porter

Model complex "FATTR" claim statement 

Watch "Evolution," "Onslaught," and "Amy" and discuss using viewing guide

HW: Read, annotate, and write a complex "FATTR" claim statement for each of the four arguments (Due MONDAY--pace yourself!!!):
"The Female Body" by Margaret Atwood, pp. 216-218 in The McGraw-Hill Reader
"Being a Man" by Paul Theroux,  pp. 219-222 in The McGraw-Hill Reader
"Why Men are in Trouble" by William J. Bennett
"The War on Men" by Suzanne Venker

Read and be prepared to discuss chapters 11-13 of The Scarlet Letter on Thursday. See Discussion Calendar at right for leaders/assignments.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

AGENDA 11/27

Exploring "gender boxes" - activity and share out
Student-led discussion over chapters 8-10 of The Scarlet Letter

Watch TED Talk: "A Call to Men"  by Tony Porter

Model complex claim statement (we'll do this tomorrow after we finish the video)

HW: Read, annotate, and write a complex claim statement for each of the four arguments (Due Friday--pace yourself!!!):
"The Female Body" by Margaret Atwood, pp. 216-218 in The McGraw-Hill Reader
"Being a Man" by Paul Theroux,  pp. 219-222 in The McGraw-Hill Reader
"Why Men are in Trouble" by William J. Bennett
"The War on Men" by Suzanne Venker

Read and be prepared to discuss chapters 11-13 of The Scarlet Letter on Thursday

Monday, November 26, 2012

AGENDA 11/26

TW: Argument essay
Staple cover sheet to body paragraphs as appropriate: Personal Experience, Creative Works, Historical or Current Events

HW: Prepare for tomorrow's discussion over chapters 8-10 of The Scarlet Letter. Ask yourself: what's worth discussing? Identify and prepare quotations to talk about and discussion questions to pose. Refer to our discussion calendar to know who is leading discussion each day.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

AGENDA 11/21

12th annual Community Day

HW: Timed essay on argument prompt Monday.  Read and be prepared to discuss Chapters 8-10 of The Scarlet Letter for Tuesday's class.  Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Monday, November 19, 2012

AGENDA 11/19

Discuss The Scarlet Letter, Chapters 2-4

Argument essays - review FLT sheets
Practice using Paine prompt
Notes from today's classes using the Thomas Paine prompt

HW: Read The Scarlet Letter, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, and Chapter 7
Be prepared to discuss: What is Hester's life like after prison?
Find instances where Hawthorne reveals his attitude toward the Puritans
Write an essay on the Gabler entertainment prompt - we'll examine samples tomorrow

The Scarlet Letter discussion assignment calendar (DRAFT)

Friday, November 16, 2012

AGENDA 11/16


(BLOCK SCHEDULE - Today is period 2 only and is a repeat of yesterday's periods 3 and 5)

Seminar Part 2: How far should governments (local, state, and federal) go to protect our health and safety?
Seminar reflection

Prezi Introduction to The Scarlet Letter
Read Chapter 1, "The Prison-Door," of The Scarlet Letter aloud
Supports for reading The Scarlet Letter:
Free audiobook podcast from iTunes
The Scarlet Letter: No Fear edition, which gives a "modern text" side-by-side with the original text
Vocabulary from chapters 1-12

Introduction to argument prompt
Argument FLTs and notes

HW: Read chapters 234 of The Scarlet Letter for Monday. Be prepared to discuss:
1) Personality traits and descriptions of the appearances of Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Dimmesdale
2) What deal do Hester and Chillingworth agree to? What is each character's motivation for agreeing to this deal?

Thursday, November 15, 2012

AGENDA 11/15

Seminar Part 2: How far should governments (local, state, and federal) go to protect our health and safety?
Seminar reflection

Prezi Introduction to The Scarlet Letter
Read Chapter 1, "The Prison-Door," of The Scarlet Letter aloud
Supports for reading The Scarlet Letter:
Free audiobook podcast from iTunes
The Scarlet Letter: No Fear edition, which gives a "modern text" side-by-side with the original text
Vocabulary from chapters 1-12

Introduction to argument prompt
Argument FLTs and notes

HW: Read chapters 2, 3, 4 of The Scarlet Letter for Monday. Be prepared to discuss:
1) Personality traits and descriptions of the appearances of Hester Prynne, Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Dimmesdale
2) What deal do Hester and Chillingworth agree to? What is each character's motivation for agreeing to this deal?

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

AGENDA 10/23

Computer Lab T110 to experiment with Audacity

Download my sample audio project to import into and work with in Audacity 
Here's my sample audio project for use on Macs

AUDIO RESOURCES:

Link to SoundBible - search for free, downloadable sound effects and music! Public domain - ok to repost on web
Link to Soungle - search for free, downloadable sound effects!
Link to Freeplay Music - search for free, downloadable background music by style or keyword. FOR CLASSROOM USE ONLY.
Link to JewelBeat - search for downloadable music - 99¢ a song gives you licensing permissions to use on web.


Study for Wednesday's quiz over Fallacies and Semicolon Use:

Fallacies Practice #1

Fallacies Practice #2
Understanding Fallacies PowerPoint
Understanding Fallacies PowerPoint Notes

Semicolons Practice #1

Semicolons Practice #2

Monday, October 22, 2012

AGENDA 10/22

Final call for signups for Election Authentic Audience presentations for PTSA Election Night 10/24 @ 6:30pm in the Cafeteria or to Senior classes at Samohi: - share template to help you plan presentations

Stamp election ads drafts

Review final words in Nature Unit vocabulary list

Begin studying Thoreau's "Where I Lived and What I Lived For"
Brief overview of Transcendentalism

HW: BRING HEADPHONES TO COMPUTER LAB TOMORROW!
Study for Wednesday's quiz over Fallacies and Semicolon Use:

Fallacies Practice #1

Fallacies Practice #2
Understanding Fallacies PowerPoint
Understanding Fallacies PowerPoint Notes

Semicolons Practice #1

Semicolons Practice #2

Friday, October 19, 2012

AGENDA 10/19

Grammar: Semicolons #4
QUIZ next Wednesday over semicolon use.  You'll need to know how to answer/punctuate the sentences and give the complete semicolon rules. See resources below in the HW section.

Explain Election Authentic Audience presentations - share template to help you plan presentations
PTSA Election Night 10/24 @ 6:30pm in the Cafeteria

Tips for drafting Election Ad script - use brackets/parentheses and italics for sound effects/music descriptions. Look at "Future" ad for guidance.

UNDECIDED: lots of appeals to emotions, includes facts (though not necessarily very specific--e.g., "she created jobs" as opposed to "she saved taxpayers 1.4 million over the last eight years), often story-based with characters people can relate to.  GOAL: Undecided ads are introductions--they give the basics, rely heavily on emotions, and probably won't mention the other side.

BASE: appeals to emotions, esp. at end. May use fallacies sparingly. MUST include specific facts with concrete details and/or numbers. May discredit opponent/opposing side. GOAL:  to affirm your side and encourage supporters to get out and vote, and get even more involved in the campaign.

OPPOSITION: appeals to emotions, esp. at beginning and end.  MUST include specific facts with concrete details and/or numbers.  Often targeted at a very narrow audience, trying to win people over on one part of the issue or based on one common thread or idea.  (Narrower audiences: mothers, environmentalists, people sympathetic to illegal immigrants, etc.) GOAL: to clear up misunderstandings, misrepresentations, or set the record straight and clear up confusion from other side.  Try to win a few votes/change a few minds at a time. (Common phrases include "you've heard..." "____ has said that _____" or "supporters say ____, but ____.")

HW: Indie reading - complete 500 pages by November 7th!
QUIZ on Wednesday over semicolon use and logical fallacies
Logical Fallacies Practice #1

Logical Fallacies Practice #2
Understanding Fallacies PowerPoint
Understanding Fallacies PowerPoint Notes

Semicolons Practice #1

Semicolons Practice #2





Monday, October 15, 2012

AGENDA 10/15

next 6 vocabulary words from Nature Unit


Discuss and analyze rhetorical appeals and techniques (including sound effects) in the following political ads:
Listen to Ileana Ros-Lehtinen: "Future"
Transcript of "Future" ad
Discuss narrator - how does the narrator come across as likable, relatable, and credible? What helps the candidate come across as trustworthy, reliable, likable? (appeals to ethos)
What facts are included? (appeals to logos)
What emotions does the ad try to stir in the audience? (appeals to pathos)
How does the ad use repetition?
How does the ad use background sounds/music?
What evidence do we have that suggests this ad was created for young, undecided voters?

HW: Independent reading - 25 days left in the grading period. You should be halfway through your indie reading by now!  Bring books Wednesday for a little reading time and check-in.  Begin drafting your election ad.

Friday, October 12, 2012

AGENDA 10/12


Grammar Practice: Semicolons #3
Work on annotated bibliography for Election Project
Model formatting using a student bibliography draft - revised and with my reminders/comments
View rubric on Turnitin.com assignment page (icon is picture of "staircase"
Sample format for print source using the Official Voter Information Guide (the booklet I brought to class)

HW: Submit annotated bibliography for Election Project by Sunday before midnight; read indie book - you should have completed 250 pages by Wednesday!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

AGENDA 10/10

T110 Computer Lab

Use PeerMark to evaluate a classmate's "Owls" essay
Pust's sample "Owls" essay
Rhetorical FLTs sheet
Print out any notes/handouts you want for tomorrow's timed essay.  You might also want my sample annotated "Silent Spring" response

Work on annotated bibliography for Election Project

HW: Complete annotated bibliography for Election Project by Sunday; prepare for tomorrow's timed essay.  Read indie book - you should have completed about 200 pages by now!

Monday, October 8, 2012

AGENDA 10/8

Computer Lab T110
Pass out instructions for Annotated Bibliography and Research Questions for candidates/issues
Work to find four sources for annotated bibliography - include at least one nonpartisan source (see recommended websites on Election Project description handout or on links at the right of this blog!) and at least one "biased" source. Include at least one "media" source (audio/video). Try searching YouTube or local television news stations for footage.  If no media is available (for example, if you're studying measure ES), you can interview a local expert. Include at least one source originally found in print/hard copy. If you are studying a proposition and have an official CA Voter Information Guide at home or a local Los Angeles sample ballot, that will work!  If not, see if you have any mailings related to the campaign, or check local newspapers like The Los Angeles Times (we get newspapers in our school library!).

HW: Continue to draft essay in response to "Owls" prompt and submit to Turnitin.com before 9am tomorrow morning.  Tomorrow we're in the lab again--this time for peer review.  We'll be in the lab a final time on Wednesday to work on annotated bibliographies.



Friday, October 5, 2012

AGENDA 10/5

Continue to move through FLTs for Rhetorical Analysis and examine 2004 Form B Rachel Carson's excerpt from Silent Spring prompt

Draft sample essay for prompt -- annotated with FLTs
Here it is, as a .pdf: sample essay w/ annotations

HW: For Tuesday, type up a draft response to Mary Oliver prompt on reverse side.  Read indie book - 500 pages this grading period.  We'll begin studying for our election projects on Monday and will meet in the T110 computer lab.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

AGENDA 10/4

Examine FLTs for Rhetorical Analysis and work on R1-R3 together in class using the 2004 Form B prompt, excerpt from Rachel Carson's Silent Spring.

Discuss the passage, identify Carson's central claim and tone(s) created, and discuss which rhetorical strategies help Carson convey her claim and tone(s).

HW: Review the passage again, and think about the instances of legal imagery (courtrooms, etc.) and the repetition of "who has...?" in the final paragraph. How do these two strategies help Carson convey her claim and/or tone(s)?

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

AGENDA 10/3

Reread "Letter to President Pierce, 1855" by Chief Seattle in the McGraw-Hill Reader.  Work on R1-R2 of the FLTs for Rhetorical Analysis as a class.

HW:  Reread "Letter to President Pierce, 1855" by Chief Seattle in the McGraw-Hill Reader and be prepared to discuss the rhetorical strategies (e.g., simile, rhetorical questions, metaphor, diction of _____, etc.) that Chief Seattle uses to convey his claim and/or tone(s).

Also, take a look at the California Official Voter Guide that might be hanging around your house to familiarize yourself with the CA propositions. And don't forget about independent reading--500 pages this grading period!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

AGENDA 10/2

Introduce first five vocabulary words from Nature unit

Discuss "Americans and the Land" by John Steinbeck and introduce the "FATTR" mnemonic for writing persuasive claims:

  • F - focus (paraphrase of the text's/author's argument)
  • A - author's name (capitalized and spelled correctly)
  • T - title (formatted correctly - capitalized and in quotation marks or italics/underlined)
  • T - text type (genre: is this an essay? novel? news or magazine article? speech? letter?)
  • R - response (your opinion or reaction--to what extent to you agree or disagree)
Note that for RESPONSE the following ideas might be helpful:
Is your reaction to the piece more of a "yes...but" or "no...however"? That is, consider both what the author explores that you agree with, and also perhaps note what the author oversimplifies, overlooks, or doesn't explore deeply enough as you craft your response.

Write a complex, "FATTR" claim for "Americans and the Land."

Re-read "Americans and the Land" to notice rhetorical techniques.  
Examine the similes in ¶1, 5, 9, 10, 13, 14, and 17. What do these similes, taken together, suggest?
Examine ¶1, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 16 for patterns of diction. What do you see? (For example, diction of destruction, diction of purity, etc.) What do these diction patterns suggest?
Examine ¶3 and ¶16 for analogies.  What effects do these particular comparisons create?

HW: Read "Letter to President Pierce, 1855" by Chief Seattle in the McGraw-Hill Reader.  Write a "FATTR" claim and note appeals to ethos, logos, or pathos in the speech (remember that it might not contain all three). In addition, reread the speech and be ready to discuss which parts of the language of the speech make it memorable or persuasive. Also, take a look at the California Official Voter Guide that might be hanging around your house to familiarize yourself with the CA propositions. And don't forget about independent reading--500 pages this grading period!

Monday, October 1, 2012

AGENDA 10/1

Select topics for Election Ads Project
Next step: if your group has chosen a proposition or measure, start reading about the issue so you can decide if your group will be promoting "YES" or "NO" on the proposition/measure. You might start by reading the Official Voter's Guide that was mailed to the registered voters in your home. By the end of the week, you'll need to know your position, and determine which of you will tackle each audience: Base, Opposition, and Undecided. Next week, we'll be researching in the computer lab and beginning work on our annotated bibliographies.

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos PowerPoint and cloze notes

HW: Read John Steinbeck's "Americans and the Land" in the McGraw-Hill Reader, pages 667-671. Identify appeals to ethos, logos, and pathos, and be prepared to share when called on tomorrow.

Friday, September 28, 2012

AGENDA 9/28

Computer Lab T110 - Take Election Quiz and discuss issues/surprises
Complete Election Issues Prior Knowledge Survey

Continue to brainstorm ideas for Election Project with your group members

Confer about independent reading books 

HW: Select potential candidates/issues for Monday! Since there's no other homework this weekend, get started on next grading period's 500 pages of indie reading!

Thursday, September 27, 2012

AGENDA 9/27

Introduce Election Project and get into groups of three
TOMORROW: Computer Lab T110.  Be reasonably aware of the following campaign issues (that is to say, if you've never heard of one or more of the things on this list, ask your parents tonight, consult Wikipedia, etc.):
privatization of Social Security             Obamacare
Medicare                                             Patriot Act
offshore oil drilling                              farm subsidies
debt ceiling                                          online privacy
bank bailout                                         progressive tax
amnesty/path to citizenship                
 President Obama's 2009 Stimulus Plan

Fallacies Group Quiz
View the following commercials and discuss the primary fallacy the commercial employs:

Miller Lite: "Skinny Jeans" 
Little Caesar's: "No Rules!" 
Axe Body Spray: "Billions" 
Fancy Feast: "A Love Story" 
AT&T: "Postcards" 
SoCal Honda: "Helpful: Lesson"
Verizon: "Easy Choice 2.0"


HW: Finish independent reading! Confer with me about your books tomorrow if you haven't already done so...250 pages due! Meet in the computer lab, T110, tomorrow and bring your indie reading book!

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

AGENDA 9/25

Make logical fallacies posters using your packet from Everything's an Argument and your notes from the PowerPoint presentation

HW: Finish independent reading! Confer with me about your books soon if you haven't already done so...250 pages due Friday!

Monday, September 24, 2012

AGENDA 9/24


View PowerPoint presentation and add to/complete  your notes 

HW: Finish independent reading! Confer with me about your books soon if you haven't already done so...250 pages due Friday!

Friday, September 21, 2012

AGENDA 9/21

Read through excerpt from Everything's an Argument to learn about logical fallacies


HW: Finish independent reading! Confer with me about your books soon if you haven't already done so...250 pages due Friday!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

AGENDA 9/19

Continue Seminar: Use Guided Reading Assignment for Gretel Ehrlich's "The Solace of Open Spaces," pages 643-650 in the McGraw-Hill Reader, "Our Vanishing Night" by Verlyn Klinkenborg, and Lucianne Walkowicz's lecture "Look Up for a Change"

HW: Independent reading

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

AGENDA 9/18


Seminar: Use Guided Reading Assignment for Gretel Ehrlich's "The Solace of Open Spaces," pages 643-650 in the McGraw-Hill Reader, "Our Vanishing Night" by Verlyn Klinkenborg, and Lucianne Walkowicz's lecture "Look Up for a Change"

HW: Independent reading

Monday, September 17, 2012

AGENDA 9/17

HOLIDAY - "Sense of Place" assignment due to Turnitin.com by midnight tonight!

Friday, September 14, 2012

AGENDA 9/14

Seminar Prep: Guided Reading Assignment for Gretel Ehrlich's "The Solace of Open Spaces," pages 643-650 in the McGraw-Hill Reader

To prepare for Tuesday's seminar, complete the Guided Reading Assignment for Gretel Ehrlich's "The Solace of Open Spaces," pages 643-650 in the McGraw-Hill Reader and review "Our Vanishing Night" by Verlyn Klinkenborg and discuss the following questions with a partner:
1) What ideas do Klinkenborg's essay "Our Vanishing Night" and Walkowicz's lecture "Look Up for a Change" share?
2) In what ways to Klinkenborg's and Walkowicz's arguments DIFFER?

  • Which differences occur because of AUDIENCE?
  • Which differences occur because of MEDIUM/GENRE?
3) Which of Walkowicz's and Klinkenborg's claims do you ACCEPT?

  • What details from these arguments (or experiences from your own life) make you open to these ideas?
4) Which of Walkowicz's and Klinkenborg's claims do you REJECT?

  • Do you reject these ideas because of your personal experiences, other conflicting texts, or something in the arguments themselves?


HW: Finish revising "Sense of Place" writing assignment - final draft due 9/17 to Turnitin.com. Rubric available when you log in at Turnitin.com--click on the little "staircase" icon next to the assignment title.  Tomorrow is the last day to email for extensions!!!
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment for guidance, and please submit drafts to me for comments after you have it peer-reviewed!

Thursday, September 13, 2012

AGENDA 9/13

Vocabulary Quiz over words from The Glass Castle

Read "Our Vanishing Night" by Verlyn Klinkenborg and discuss the following questions with a partner:
1) What ideas do Klinkenborg's essay "Our Vanishing Night" and Walkowicz's "Look Up for a Change" share?
2) In what ways to Klinkenborg's and Walkowicz's arguments DIFFER?

  • Which differences occur because of AUDIENCE?
  • Which differences occur because of MEDIUM/GENRE?
3) Which of Walkowicz's and Klinkenborg's claims do you ACCEPT?

  • What details from these arguments (or experiences from your own life) make you open to these ideas?
4) Which of Walkowicz's and Klinkenborg's claims do you REJECT?

  • Do you reject these ideas because of your personal experiences, other conflicting texts, or something in the arguments themselves?


HW: Finish revising "Sense of Place" writing assignment - final draft due 9/17 to Turnitin.com. Rubric available when you log in at Turnitin.com--click on the little "staircase" icon next to the assignment title.
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment for guidance, and please submit drafts to me for comments after you have it peer-reviewed!

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

AGENDA 9/12

Vocabulary warm-up #3 and #4 on words from The Glass Castle
Quiz tomorrow!!!

Bring independent reading book to class every day; bring McGraw-Hill Reader to class on Friday

Watch TEDX Talk by Lucianne Walkowicz, "Look Up for a Change" and discuss:

1) What is Walkowicz's claim? Express her argument in a sentence or two (e.g., In her lecture "Look Up for a Change," Walkowicz contends that...)

2) What benefits and drawbacks of technology does Walkowicz describe?

3) What are your reactions to Walkowicz's argument? What evidence from your own life experiences, or things you have read, seen, or studied, supports your thinking?

HW: Study for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz on words from The Glass Castle, using the vocabulary chart: page 1, page 2, page 3


Finish revising "Sense of Place" writing assignment - final draft due 9/17 to Turnitin.com. Rubric available when you log in at Turnitin.com--click on the little "staircase" icon next to the assignment title.
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment for guidance, and please submit drafts to me for comments after you have it peer-reviewed!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

AGENDA 9/11

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT TONIGHT!
Complete Back to School Night letter for your parents
Practice vocabulary using Crossword and Word search


HW: "Sense of Place" writing assignment - final draft due 9/17 to Turnitin.com
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment
Vocabulary quiz Thursday, 9/13 over words from The Glass Castle

Friday, September 7, 2012

AGENDA 9/7


Grammar: Using Semicolons #1
Format for "Sense of Place" writing assignment
Textbook room to get McGraw-Hill Reader

HW: "Sense of Place" writing assignment - typed rough draft due 9/10 in class for peer revision
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment
Vocabulary quiz Thursday, 9/13 over words from The Glass Castle

Thursday, September 6, 2012

AGENDA 9/6



Continue Seminar: Parenting
To what extent are rules necessary for children's healthy development and to what extent are they restricting and limiting?
  • How much should parents shelter/protect their children?
  • How should parents encourage independence and resourcefulness?
Use excerpts from The Grapes of Wrath and The Glass Castle 
Use Guided Reading assignment to help you discuss article from The New Yorker"Spoiled Rotten" by Elizabeth Kolbert (assignment will be collected at end of class today)


HW: "Sense of Place" writing assignment - typed rough draft due 9/10 in class for peer revision
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

AGENDA 9/5

LIBRARY VISIT
Introduce Independent Reading requirements and Reading Record sheet
Find an independent reading book


HW: "Sense of Place" writing assignment - typed rough draft due 9/10 in class
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

AGENDA 9/4


Seminar: Parenting
To what extent are rules necessary for children's healthy development and to what extent are they restricting and limiting?
  • How much should parents shelter/protect their children?
  • How should parents encourage independence and resourcefulness?
Bring 2 excerpts each from The Grapes of Wrath and The Glass Castle 
Use Guided Reading assignment to help you discuss article from The New Yorker"Spoiled Rotten" by Elizabeth Kolbert (assignment will be collected at end of class Thursday; will be stamped today)


HW: Free Choice Book Letter due to Turnitin.com before 12:01am Wednesday, September 5
"Sense of Place" writing assignment - typed rough draft due 9/10 in class
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment
Meet in the LIBRARY tomorrow to select indie reading books

Friday, August 31, 2012

AGENDA 8/31


Last five vocabulary words from The Glass Castle 

Seminar Prep: Question for Tuesday
To what extent are rules necessary for children's healthy development and to what extent are they restricting and limiting?
  • How much should parents shelter/protect their children?
  • How should parents encourage independence and resourcefulness?
Prepare for seminar by finding and marking 2 excerpts each from The Grapes of Wrath and The Glass Castle 
Also, complete Guided Reading assignment for article from The New Yorker"Spoiled Rotten" by Elizabeth Kolbert


HW: Free Choice Book Letter due to Turnitin.com before 12:01am Wednesday, September 5
"Sense of Place" writing assignment - typed rough draft due 9/10 in class
Refer to Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment
If you didn't finish selecting and marking your 4 passages from The Grapes of Wrath and The Glass Castle, or finish the Guided Reading assignment from The New Yorker"Spoiled Rotten" by Elizabeth Kolbert, please finish these before Tuesday's class. Bring The Grapes of Wrath and The Glass Castle and your completed Guided Reading assignment on Tuesday!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

AGENDA 8/30

Next five vocabulary words from The Glass Castle 
"Sense of Place" writing assignment
Share Pust's sample "Sense of Place" writing assignment

Seminar Prep: Question for Tuesday
To what extent are rules necessary for children's healthy development and to what extent are they restricting and limiting?

  • How much should parents shelter/protect their children?
  • How should parents encourage independence and resourcefulness?
Prepare for seminar by finding excerpts from The Grapes of Wrath and The Glass Castle 
Also, complete Guided Reading assignment for article from The New Yorker: "Spoiled Rotten" by Elizabeth Kolbert

Monday, August 27, 2012

AGENDA 8/27

Discuss excerpts from The Glass Castle, pages 150-151, and The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 3. Focus on tone and techniques used to convey tone/author's argument.

Give registration directions for ClassDojo and Turnitin

Share and explain Summer Free Choice Book Letter (continue this tomorrow if needed)

HW: Begin thinking about your Summer Free Choice Book Letter, due Tuesday, 9/4 to Turnitin.com.

PERIOD 3 ONLY: I put the wrong "class ID number" for Turnitin on your sheet. The correct number is 5423674.  The password you received is correct. Sorry about that, and thanks to all of you who emailed me tonight to correct the error! (Check your "little monster." You got a "Helping Others" point!)

Friday, August 24, 2012

AGENDA 8/24

AP Syllabus Quiz
Six Word Memoir Gallery Walk & Voting
Continue to discuss tone and strategies/techniques used in Muir's "First Glimpse of the Sierra"
Read aloud and discuss tone and strategies/techniques used in the excerpt from Walls' The Glass Castle

HW: Read aloud, annotate, and be prepared to discuss tone and strategies/techniques used in the excerpt from Walls' The Glass Castle and the excerpt from Chapter 3 of Steinbeck's The Grapes of Wrath.

AGENDA 8/24

AP Syllabus Quiz - take and score
Gallery Walk: Six Word Memoirs and Balloting; Turn in Six Word Memoirs
Award prizes to Most Memorable, Most Insightful, Most Creative, and Most Clever/Humorous
Review "First Glimpse of the Sierra" by John Muir
Read aloud and discuss tone and techniques in excerpt from Walls' The Glass Castle

HW: Finish annotating excerpt from Walls' The Glass Castle. Note the tone and the techniques (narration, description, dialogue, and other devices) that the author uses to communicate her tone.  Repeat this process with the excerpt from Chapter 3 of The Grapes of Wrath (on the back side of the handout given in class).  What is Steinbeck's tone? What words or lines or strategies does he use to communicate that tone?

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

AGENDA 8/22

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!
Welcome & Introductions

HW: Prepare for Friday's syllabus quiz using the Syllabus Study Questions. Create your own Six Word Memoir for Friday.

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

AGENDA 6/5

Listen to "This I Believe" essay: "Free Minds and Hearts at Work" by Jackie Robinson
Drafting time

Seminar: pages 219-241 of All the Pretty Horses

HW: Continue to draft "This I Believe" essays
Read pages 241-257 of All the Pretty Horses for tomorrow's seminar--and remember, if you don't say "Awwwwwww...." after reading pages 242-244, you read it wrong! ;-)

Monday, June 4, 2012

AGENDA 6/4

Listen to "This I Believe" essay by Brian Eno, "The Key to a Long Life"
Drafting time

Seminar over pages 203-217of All the Pretty Horses 

HW: Continue to draft "This I Believe"essay; prepare and read pages 219-241of All the Pretty Horses for tomorrow's seminar

Friday, June 1, 2012

AGENDA 6/1

Listen to "This I Believe" essay: "Science Nourishes the Mind and the Soul" by Brian Green

Drafting time: begin work on your "This I Believe" essay and use the resources at the right of this blog to help you

Seminar over pages 178-203 of All the Pretty Horses

HW: Read and be prepared to discuss pages 203-217 of All the Pretty Horses; continue to draft "This I Believe" essay

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

AGENDA 5/29

Listen to "This I Believe" Essay: "Finding the Flexibility to Survive" by Brighton Earley
"This I Believe" Journaling topics

Seminar over pages 110-131 of All the Pretty Horses


HW: Read and prepare for tomorrow's seminar over pages 132-151, including the L♥ve scene (!) of All the Pretty Horses

Friday, May 25, 2012

Thursday, May 24, 2012

AGENDA 5/24

"This I Believe" Journaling Prompts
Listen to "This I Believe" Essay: "Teaching a Bad Dog New Tricks" by David Buetow

All the Pretty Horses Discussion/Rhetorical Assignment Calendar 2012

Sample seminar over pages 3-97

HW: Read pages 97-110 in preparation for tomorrow's seminar; rhetorical passage page 105

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

AGENDA 5/23

Listen to "This I Believe" essay: "Creative Solutions to Life's Challenges" by Frank X. Walker
Explain Discussion Notes and Rhetorical Analysis assignments for All the Pretty Horses
Show sample discussion notes
Show sample rhetorical analysis for excerpt from page 30

Film clip from All the Pretty Horses - Blevins and the wallet

Monday, May 21, 2012

AGENDA 5/21

"This I Believe" journaling prompts
Listen to "Always Go to the Funeral" by Dierdre Sullivan
Review calendar dates for AtPH discussion leaders and assigned passages
Analyze and discuss opening paragraph of Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses

HW: Read pages 1-30 of All the Pretty Horses for tomorrow; read pages 31-65 for Wednesday's class.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

AGENDA 5/15

Review: Jeopardy! Game

GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!  Check the links at the right if you want to do any other review, and then promise me you'll get to bed early tonight.  You'll do great!!!! :-)

Monday, May 14, 2012

AP Testing Information


The big day is almost here!!!!

The following are some reminders to help you get ready for Wednesday’s exam.

TIME:  Arrive no later than 7:15am!  Proctors MUST begin the actual exam as close to 8am as possible.  Students will need to be at their testing rooms with electronics turned in and ready to go.  Once a proctor has handed out the actual test, no students will be permitted to enter the room to test.  (There were 3 such students this morning for AP Bio)  PLEASE remind them that being late will not work on Wednesday.

WHERE TO GO**:  Louria, Pust, Stevens (period 4) and students without a teacher= CAFETERIA

WHAT TO BRING: At LEAST TWO #2 pencils and TWO blue or black ink pens.  If you bring 4 of each, you can help out a friend.  Also, dress in layers (cafeteria starts out cold, then warms up quickly), and bring a snack (on your person!).  Leave any electronics in a locker, at home, or perhaps with a trusted friend.  Bring an analog watch so you can time yourself.  Some people advocated bringing a few small candies that can fit in your pocket for a quick sugar boost between essays. Also, bring your review sheet so you can do your "test day anxiety" journaling (or do that at home or on the way to school).

OTHER REMINDERS:  GO TO BED EARLY Tuesday night.  There's no studying you could do that would benefit you more than a good night's sleep at this point.  Eat a healthy breakfast with protein Wednesday morning.  Avoid extra caffeine and sugar--you'll just crash after the multiple-choice.  Save the sugary treats for afterward!

AND REMEMBER, the AP test is just the "icing" on the cake.  This is an opportunity to show how much you've learned.  It in no way determines your worth as a person or how much I've enjoyed having you as a student.  If you pass, awesome!  If you don't, no biggie.  And if you really, really want the college credit opportunity, you can always take the test again next year.  In the end, the VERY worst that happens to you is you get to take another fabulous English class.  (That's what I call a win-win situation.)  GOOD LUCK!!!!

Friday, May 4, 2012

AGENDA 5/4

Review: 5 Things You NEED to do in a Synthesis Essay
Examine the sample "9" essay for the "Museums" prompt
If time permits, examine the "6" and "3" essays for the "Museums" prompt
Reread your own essay

HW: Write a synthesis essay on education: individuality vs. conformity prompt:
In the first 15 minutes:
1) Read the prompt carefully, note exactly what it is asking, and craft your own position.

2) As you read each source, mine the source's bibliographic citation for information and note whether the source supports or opposes your position (+/-) and underline two potential quotations

In the next 35 minutes:
3) Draft the essay, making sure to use three sources for support.  Cite sources appropriately (Source A).  Introduce all direct quotations by using the author's name or name of source provided in the citation, an argument verb, and what to notice in the quotation that follows.  Don't call the source "Source A" before your quotation; save (Source A) for after the quotation.

4) Then, after 35 minutes, STOP and reread your essay.  Spend an additional 10 minutes revising your essay, keeping in mind the tips above distilled from the PowerPoint and what you remember of the "9" essay we read.  Remember, you'll typically only have 40 minutes, but we're taking 45 on this to make sure that you've written an essay you can be proud of and that you can use to study from prior to the test.  So go through, make sure you have cited appropriately and used three different sources, that you have discussed ideas thoroughly, that you have substituted in better vocabulary where appropriate, etc.

Also, remember that you can use outside knowledge (you should have plenty from our discussions the past two weeks!).  If you intend to use any of our sources, review them prior to reading the prompt and sources. Once you begin work on the essay, do it in a continuous hour.

Please submit Gatsby essays at your earliest convenience to http://turnitin.com for grading.  Contact me by email at jpust@smmusd.org if you need help with Turnitin login information.

Seminar on Monday over Francine Prose's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read."  This essay initially made me so angry I wanted to throw it across the room.  I look forward to our discussion!

Friday, April 20, 2012

AGENDA 4/20

Begin watching Waiting for Superman and take notes on Viewing Guide

HW: Finish revising Gatsby papers and begin reading/annotating/preparing Education essays.


Thursday, April 19, 2012

AGENDA 4/19

Get into groups and make decisions regarding Education Presentations
Begin reading each piece - for each one, select two quotations worth discussing and generate two discussion questions (Level II and III)
For your assigned reading, decide with your group members how you will lead us through this text using the Education Presentation handout

Gatsby paper revision activity - work on this independently
Gatsby drafts due Monday/Tuesday if you want comments; final drafts due Thursday or Friday of next week!

HW: Finish revising Gatsby papers and begin reading/annotating/preparing Education essays.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

AGENDA 4/18

Assign dates for Education Presentations
Education Readings:

For each day's readings, prepare by reading the piece, noting two quotations worth discussing, and generating two discussion questions (Level II and Level III questions). In addition, for your assigned day, meet with your group members and use the Education Presentation handout to guide how you will structure your lesson.

REMINDER: Monday is the CST for English/Language Arts and the second half of the EAP English assessment (remember that essay you wrote in mid-March?). PLEASE go to bed early Sunday night and eat a decent breakfast Monday morning. This matters!!!!

Introduction to Waiting for Superman: analyze film poster

HW: Print out all education articles from list above (you received Malcolm X in class today, and remember that the Barber piece and the Douglass piece are both in the McGraw-Hill Reader, but you will need to print out the others.) Note that the Prose, Talbot, and Baldwin pieces are all together in one link--clicking on any one of those titles above will give you a file containing all three essays as they appeared in the same anthology. Please see me or contact me via email if this is a hardship for you--I have a limited number of additional copies made, and you may print out the essays in my classroom provided you do so outside of class time. Begin reading and annotating your assigned article and/or the Kozol piece. Continue to draft Gatsby paper - bring draft to class tomorrow for style revision activity. FINAL DRAFT DUE NEXT WEEK!

Monday, April 16, 2012

AGENDA 4/16

Welcome Back! Hope everyone had a fantastic Spring Break!

Quick check: fundamentals for Gatsby papers

Introduction to Education Unit
Brainstorm reactions to RSA Animate of Sir Ken Robinson's talk--

HW: Continue to draft Gatsby papers. Full draft due Wednesday, 4/18.

Friday, March 23, 2012

AGENDA 3/23

Grammar Practice: Semicolons #3
Discuss assignment directions for Gatsby paper
Model annotations of "Tom Buchanan" passage and draft working thesis. Remember to write notes explaining your thinking in addition to highlighting/underlining. Working thesis should contain your overall thoughts about the passage's significance and give the devices you intend to examine, even if it's not a fluid thesis yet.

HW: For Monday, finish reading the book if you haven't already. Select your passage and either type it, photocopy it, or handwrite it neatly in ink. Then, annotate the passage fully and draft a working thesis. Quiz over semicolon use on Wednesday; practice Semicolon Use #4 on your own. Review this helpful handout to learn the three basic rules for semicolon use.

Some great passages:
Description of first glimpse of Gatsby in Ch 1 (trembling/green light)
Myrtle's small apartment in Ch 2
Party scene @ beginning of Ch 3
Daisy's wedding day in Ch 4
Clock scene in Ch 5
Shirts scene in Ch 5
Gatsby's reinvention of himself in Ch 6 (founded securely on a fairy's wing)
Daisy & Gatsby's first kiss in Ch 6
Daisy and Tom eating cold fried chicken in Ch 7
Description of Daisy's dating life in Ch 8 (twilight universe)
"Barbed wire" passage in Ch 8
Description of Gatsby's death in Ch 8
Final paragraphs of the book in Ch 9

Thursday, March 22, 2012

AGENDA 3/22

Debrief strategies for rhetorical analysis "Flamingo" essay
Discuss chapters 7 and 8 of The Great Gatsby

HW: Finish reading the book and select 3 potential passages to analyze

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

AGENDA 3/21

Review vocabulary for The Great Gatsby
Presentation: Senior English Elective Choices by Ms. Reichle

HW: Read chapters 7 and 8

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

AGENDA 3/20

Timed essay: rhetorical analysis

Monday, March 19, 2012

AGENDA 3/19

Quick Pop Quiz over details/events from Chapters 4-6
Review for rhetorical analysis essay - timed write tomorrow

ELEMENTS OF A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS BODY PARAGRAPH:
Thematic statement (optional): What ideas about human nature are shown/revealed in this part of the text? Like a mini-hook, but used to open the paragraph instead of the essay as a whole. Example from Chapter 6: The first kiss--that moment when anticipation becomes reality, and confirms that our feelings and love is real.

Claim: Author uses _____ (device) in order to ________ (purpose). Example from Chapter 4: Fitzgerald uses the repetition of the color white to show the conflicting emotions that Daisy has toward her wedding day.

Evidence: Meaningful 1/2 sentence to introduce a direct quotation from the text that shows the device in action. Meaningful 1/2 sentence needs to include author's name, an argument verb (e.g., illustrates, suggests, reveals, asserts, displays, etc.), and a description of what to notice in the quotation that follows... Example from Chapter 5: Fitzgerald portrays the inward tension Daisy feels when he writes that she sits "frightened but graceful on the edge of a stiff chair."

Analysis: Choose most important individual words and discuss connotations. Example from Chapter 5: By using the word "stiff" to describe the chair, Fitzgerald reminds us that even the furniture echoes the tension the characters feel in this awkward reunion between two former lovers. The chair is as rigid and "stiff" as the past, and there is nothing Gatsby or anyone else can do to change that.

Link: What does this device reveal in terms of theme or argument? Why does this part of the text matter? Example from Chapter 4: Thus, the repetition of white confirms both Daisy's innocence and blankness--she is making the wrong choices for ignorant reasons, and will end up lonely and cold. The color white is often associated with weddings in America, as it connotes purity and newness, but as we consider the sacrifice that Daisy makes in choosing stability over passion and love, it's worth remembering that in many other cultures, the color white is more appropriate for a funeral than a wedding.

HW: Prepare for rhetorical essay--as practice, consider choosing a passage from chapters 1-7 and note striking words, devices, and write a thesis explaining Fitzgerald's purpose/argument in the passage.

Friday, March 16, 2012

AGENDA 3/16

Quick Pop Quiz over events/details from Chapter 3
Watch MTV's My Super Sweet 16 episode "Ariel"
Discuss episode and connections to our society--how might we use this in an argument essay body paragraph?

Thursday, March 15, 2012

AGENDA 3/15

EAP Essay Test

HW: Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby; complete the multiple choice questions on the "China" passage only (23-33...allow yourself 11 minutes!).

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

AGENDA 3/14

Discuss questions/what we noticed in Ch 2 of The Great Gatsby
Analyze close reading passage from Chapter 2 in small groups, then discuss

HW: Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 3 of The Great Gatsby; complete the multiple choice questions on the "China" passage only (23-33...allow yourself 11 minutes!) for Friday. EAP test tomorrow!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

AGENDA 3/13

Discuss questions/what we noticed in Ch 1 of The Great Gatsby
Analyze close reading passage from Chapter 1 in small groups, then discuss

HW: Read and be prepared to discuss Chapter 2 of The Great Gatsby

Thursday, March 8, 2012

AGENDA 3/8

Review last night's homework assignment - brainstorm responses to the Mencken prompt


HW: Prepare for tomorrow's timed argument essay.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

AGENDA 3/7

Peer Review of body paragraphs
Submit introduction and two body paragraphs with relevant cover sheets attached to the front and with the peer responses stapled to the back

HW: Write an introduction and body paragraph for the 2011 Mencken essay prompt (on the back of your entertainment prompt). Responses must be typed or handritten neatly in ink and are due at the beginning of the period.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

AGENDA 3/6

Analyze students' introductions in front of class for "Entertainment" prompt:
  1. clear and engaging hook?
  2. complex thesis that offers a clear position on whether entertainment has the capacity to ruin society?
  3. summarizes Gabler's argument and spells his name correctly?
Examine Notes on Argument Essays handout--look at sample introductions and a sample body paragraph

Quickly review with a partner evidence you'll use in your body paragraph, then write one in class


HW: Be ready to turn in an introduction (hook & thesis) and two body paragraphs tomorrow on this topic. Responses may be typed or handwritten neatly in INK. Use all of the handouts and your notes to help you, and email if you get stuck!