AGENDA 9/14

Materials checks--ongoing all week
Review seminar norms and grading guidelines
Seminar on "Rethinking 'Retarded': Should it Leave the Lexicon?", "Overview of Autism," "Fitting in and Speaking Out: Me and Asperger's Syndrome," and "Schools Fight Families over Autism Service Dogs."

Turn in your 200-400 word response to "Rethinking 'Retarded': Should it Leave the Lexicon?" , stapled to your 1/2 sheet of notes from today's discussion.


HW: None! Guest speaker presentation in the library tomorrow. Reading quiz on The Grapes of Wrath on Wednesday. Seminars will continue on Wednesday. Baseline essay on Friday.

AGENDA 9/11

Grammar Practice #1: Parallelism Errors
According to Purdue's OWL (Online Writing Lab): Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or."

Get more help here:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/623/01/

Discuss Seminar Expectations and Grading

HW: Read "Rethinking 'Retarded': Should it Leave the Lexicon?" and write a 200-400 word response: Should the word "retarded" be treated the same as hate speech and racial slurs? Should it be "bleeped" from music, movies, and TV? Bring this article and yesterday's articles to class with your preparation for Monday's discussion.

AGENDA 9/10

Seating Chart
Syllabus Q&A
Names Activity #1: Group members stand in a circle. First person introduces self with an accurate, alliterative statement. Second person repeats first person's information, then adds own. This continues around the group.

Sample:
1st person: I'm Sandra and I like to swim.
2nd person: This is Sandra and she likes to swim. I'm Jennifer and I like my toast with jam.
3rd person: This is Sandra and she likes to swim. That's Jennifer and she likes her toast with jam. I'm Paul and I'm playful and persistent.

HW: Read "Overview of Autism," "Fitting in and Speaking Out: Me and Asperger's Syndrome," and "Schools Fight Families over Autism Service Dogs." For each article, highlight one or more significant quotations, write one comment, and one question. Seminar on Monday!

AGENDA 9/9

Welcome!!!

Please complete the First Day Student Information Form
Introductory powerpoint
Distribute class syllabus (abridged) , parent letter, and classroom rules and procedures
Collect "first feedback"

HW: Review abridged syllabus and generate one or more questions for class tomorrow. Bring your copy of the curious incident of the dog in the night-time if you have one.

WELCOME BACK!

AGENDA 5/14

CONGRATULATIONS! You survived the AP Lang test. :-)

Introduction to Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses:
setting: West Texas, 1953
protagonist: John Grady Cole, 16, who has lost just about everything he cares for--so he and his best friend, Lacey Rawlins head out for Mexico
stylistic choices to consider: Why does McCarthy use untranslated Spanish? Why does he not use quotation marks, and seldom uses attributes (he said, she inquired, etc.)? Why does he only use apostrophes in contractions when absolutely necessary (i.e., not in "dont" or "cant" but in "we'll" and "I'll")? What is the purpose of these unconventional choices?

Fun & Games: watch Dr. Horrible's Incredible Sing-a-Long Blog and play board games to celebrate our one day of freedom :-)

HW: Please complete the AP Language Post-Mortem for Tuesday. Read and be prepared to talk about pages 1-30 of All the Pretty Horses for Tuesday's class.

AGENDA 5/13

Take the AP English Language & Composition Exam! Good luck! :-)