AGENDA 3/31

Happy Birthday, Pust! :-)
Answer questions regarding Local Issues Speech Project

Write Open House letters!

HW: Study for vocabulary quiz on Thursday. The Great Gatsby rhetorical analysis papers due Friday--if you're not going to be here Friday, turn it in early!

AGENDA 3/30

Multiple-Choice practice: complete, review, and discuss
Pass out Local Issues Persuasive Speech Project Components
Discuss - find potential group members and topics.

HW: study for vocabulary quiz on The Great Gatsby, chapters 1 and 6-9 for Thursday. The Great Gatsby rhetorical analysis papers due Friday (unless you're leaving early for Spring Break, in which case, your paper is due before you leave).

AGENDA 3/27

Guest Speaker: School Board Member Ben Allen

HW: Study vocabulary from The Great Gatsby, Chapter 1 and Chapters 6-9. Quiz next week!!! Final drafts of The Great Gatsby rhetorical analysis papers due NEXT THURSDAY.

AGENDA 3/20

EAP Essay

HW: Read the two "Sputnik" passages and complete the graphic organizer. Work on your Gatsby papers if needed--be ready for style revision on Monday!

AGENDA 3/19

Fishbowl-style seminar on article packet
Turn in seminar preparation with your half-sheet notes from today's discussion
Turn in rhetorical terms entries if you haven't already

HW: None :-)
REMINDERS: Tomorrow is THE LAST DAY to register for the AP English Language Exam. Go to T211 (I House Office). Checks should be made out to Samohi ($96.00 per exam).
EAP Essay tomorrow!

AGENDA 3/17 AND 3/18

SPECIAL SCHEDULE: CAHSEE

Article packet includes:
"Free Bird: Want a Year's Worth of Fast Food? If You Can Wing It for a Day, You've Got More Than a Prayer"
"Money-Hungry Schools Getting Down to Business"
"College Music Programs Booming Despite Economic Bust"
"From Ranks of Jobless, a Flood of Volunteers"
"Thoreau, economy inspires students to learn lessons of less"

Read and annotate article packets in preparation for Thursday's seminar
Select one article (the one you find most intriguing) and answer these questions

AGENDA 3/16

Debrief Mr. Gruber's presentation

Color-mark Gatsby drafts
Highlight the following:
1) Every instance of the author's name
2) Direct quotations and citations (sentence-length quotations)
3) Quoted words for connotations (individual words in quotations - no citations needed)
4) "Argument" verbs (affirms, attests, describes, uses, etc.)
5) Rhetorical techniques

Meet in indie reading groups to discuss role assignments and rhetorical techniques

HW: 2 Rhetorical terms entries due Wednesday/Thursday - 1 from indie reading book and 1 free choice

AGENDA 3/13

Guest speaker: Mr. Frank Gruber, opinion columnist for The Lookout
Take Shape Notes of presentation (or use your own note-taking style)

AGENDA 3/11

COLLEGE CENTER PRESENTATIONS

AGENDA 3/10

Announcement: Register for AP Exams! T211, $86 per exam. Take care of it this week, please, and avoid late fees.

Rhetorical Terms chart
Review and discuss humor devices: read "Dollar Bill on Floor Sends Wall Street into Frenzy"
Generate thesis statement for Gatsby rhetorical analysis paper

HW: Indie reading roles assignment #2 due next Monday 3/16 (roles assigned yesterday)
Gatsby paper complete, typed draft due Monday 3/16...you'll have a little time in class each day this week to work on it.
Two rhetorical terms entries due next Wednesday 3/18: one "free choice" using any text and
one from your indie reading book.

AGENDA 3/9

Finish watching F. Scott Fitzgerald: The American Dreamer
Finish introducing new vocabulary words
Pass out The Great Gatsby rhetorical analysis essay scoring guide
Get into indie reading groups and assign new roles

HW: Indie reading roles assignment #2 due Monday 3/16
Draft of Gatsby paper due Monday 3/16

AGENDA 3/6

Watch F. Scott Fitzgerald: The American Dreamer and complete viewing guide assignment
Return approved Gatsby passages for rhetorical analysis essays

HW: Draft of The Great Gatsby rhetorical analysis essay due Monday 3/16. Indie book groups will meet on Monday.

AGENDA 3/5

Synthesis timed essay: The effects of advertising

HW: Draft of The Great Gatsby rhetorical analysis essay due Monday 3/16

AGENDA 3/4

Turn in annotated passages from The Great Gatsby today.

SYNTHESIS TIMED WRITE TOMORROW! Bring blue or black ink pens, notebook paper, and any notes or handouts you wish to have.


Click here to print out the Anatomy of a Synthesis Body Paragraph
Here it is, color-coded for your convenience (see samples below!!!)
1. Open with claim
2. Use meaningful ½ sentence and an argument verb to introduce quotation
3. Include “direct quotation” from source packet
4. Give citation in parentheses, followed by period (Source A).
5. Provide analysis of evidence: What does this quotation demonstrate, reveal, or suggest?
6. Reaffirm link to Thesis: How does all of this reinforce and advance your argument?


Sample Body Paragraphs: (COLOR CODED TO ABOVE!!!)
(SPECIAL THANKS to Neda N. for providing the direct quotations via email since I unwittingly left my synthesis packet at school. What a fortuitous circumstance for me that she checked her email and saw my request!)

SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH USING ONE PIECE OF EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF MY THESIS: (thesis--term limits = good)

Two-term limits help safeguard democracy—we can prevent one person from becoming corrupt and amassing too much power. Dennis Roddy, in his article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, argues that "George Washington could have been elected to a third term, but declined it, suggesting two terms of four years were enough for any president.... His two-term example became an unwritten rule in the realm of presidential politics until 1940" (Source A). This implies that two-term limits for the Presidency are essential for promoting unchecked power and preventing corruption. For our government to remain for and by the people, we must ensure that no one man can amass or exert too much power, and so we should not alter the 22nd Amendment.


SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH REFUTING THE COUNTERARGUMENT, MAKING A CONCESSION, AND USING TWO PIECES OF EVIDENCE IN SUPPORT OF MY THESIS: (thesis--term limits = bad)
NOTE: Same color-coding as above. Language that indicates a counter-argument and refutation is in BOLD.

Some people may think that term limits will prevent corruption and the abuse of power. Dennis Roddy, in his article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, argues that "George Washington could have been elected to a third term, but declined it, suggesting two terms of four years were enough for any president.... His two-term example became an unwritten rule in the realm of presidential politics until 1940" (Source A). Admittedly, term limits would help ensure that ineffective presidents do not remain in power indefinitely, but would also greatly harm America, as term limits would make effective presidents have only a transitory period in office. What the proponents of term limits fail to recognize is that the presidency is a unique position--and those who have held this office have invaluable experience, enabling them to tackle challenges more effectively than someone new would. As former President Bill Clinton asserts, "since people are living much longer...the 22nd Amendment should probably be modified to say two consecutive terms instead of two terms for a lifetime" (Source B). Former President Clinton recognizes that the 22nd Amendment may be outdated given the extended life span of Americans today, and surely knows firsthand how important it is to have someone with experience guiding the country through difficult times. With the removal of the two-term limit on the presidency, we could have the opportunity to re-elect a qualified, effective, experienced candidate when needed. America would benefit greatly from this change.

Old Synthesis handouts:
Notes on Synthesis Essays
Sample student essays on "flag burning amendment"