AGENDA 1/14

Announcements:
     1) Blog Updates - Thank you!
     2) AP exam registration - coming in Feb. This year, it's $91 per exam. Traditionally, financial aid has been available; more information on that as I get it. Apparently, you may already register online if you like...
     3) Volunteer spot sign-ups - Please sign up to meet with me about the fall paper and set writing goals for second semester
Click this button to access the calendar:



Examine synthesis source packet for "Museums" prompt--annotate Source A and Source B in class, paying attention to the "gifts" in the information box. Make a brief prediction as to what the source will contain based on introductory information. Then, as you read the source, notice the following:

1) Read the source, paraphrasing the ideas in the margins as you read to make sure you can understand and explain the information
1a) Highlight or mark unfamiliar vocabulary words, then look them up and begin to learn them! (NOTE: THIS step is for PRACTICE only. Do NOT spend time on this during a timed essay!!!!)
2) Underline or circle relevant or appropriate evidence that matches what you already brainstormed as you examined the prompt
3) Mark any surprising information as you read, perhaps with a star or something. Be on the lookout for surprises so that you can demonstrate a new, more informed viewpoint in your analysis.
4) Make notes about any overlap or parallels or contrasts with other sources as you read on.

Take-aways: Utilize information that shocks you or surprises you which will allow you to build and boost your argument. We are not always right when predicting what a source will be about and part of synthesizing is pulling together the different paragraphs to create a new understanding. When pairing sources one could use: differences, similarities, use 1 source that appears in both paragraphs (dream source), or one general overview and one that is more specific.

HW: Rhetorical Passage from Chapter 2 assignment due at 9pm PST to Turnitin.com.

AGENDA 1/13

Announcement: blog updates!
AP exam registration - approximately $90 per exam; traditionally financial aid has been available--more info on this process soon
Volunteer spot sign up, please:


Introduced synthesis!
Define task


HW: ch2 rhetorical analysis assignment due wed. Jan 14th @ 9 pm on turnitin.


Take away: there are many different and valid arguments for why a specific college is the best. The important step that will help you decide on your top 2 college's is deciding which reasons apply most to your individual situation and basing your choice on the frequency by which those reasons are present in each college.

What is synthesis?
A: gathering all the different factors that come in to play when thinking about a certain topic and combining/ ranking them to foam a clear argument.

AGENDA 1/12

 Announcements:
     1) Blog Updates - Thank you!
     2) AP exam registration - coming in Feb. Typically around $90 per exam. Traditionally, financial aid has been available; more information on that as I get it.
     3) Volunteer spot sign-ups - Please sign up to meet with me about the fall paper and set writing goals for second semester
Click this button to access the calendar:



Discuss Rhetorical Passage from Chapter 2 with partners/small groups
Examine Pust's sample writeup discussing the end of Chapter 2 ("songs" part)
Annotated version of Pust's sample writeup to show what we reviewed in class (NOTE: I had to create an artificial "page break" partway through the paragraph because I made so many comments on the document! Please adhere to MLA format like my non-annotated sample)
Introduce Synthesis Essay


2 Take-aways:

1) Today in class we discussed the rhetorical devices being used by Douglass in his writing to help explain to his audience his purpose on how slaves were really treated. We learned and analyzed in an example how referring to people as "souls" makes slavery a more moral issue on how souls are being broken & thus is an offense to God. We reviewed how to analyze a metaphor and write about how rhetorical devices are used.


2) When introducing the Synthesis essay, we used the analogy of thinking about factors we might consider when choosing a college. By doing this, we were able to broaden our factors and prioritize them. This helps use visualize what we will be doing in the Synthesis essay where will learn to rank important considerations given to us in the prompt.

HW:  Chapter 2 Rhetorical Analysis assignment due Wednesday 1/14 by 9pm on turnitin.com

AGENDA 1/9

Blog updates: thank you!

Volunteer spot sign ups for January

Use this button to sign up from your mobile device!

Finish escalating questions of ch2 of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave

Introduce rhetorical analysis review assignments ( due Wednesday )

HW:

Chapter 2 rhetorical analysis assignment due on Wednesday ( turnitin.com) by 9 pm

Read and annotate the passage this weekend--be ready to discuss

Takeaways:

" the field was the place to witness his cruelty an profanity" ( page 55, Frederick Douglas )

The slaves in this book were dehumanised the entire day.

The site that they lived at was not habitable.

 Invariably means never changing

Sentence:

My  son invariably gives the same response to others about his career plans: he's not sure what he'll do or when he'll do it.

AGENDA 1/8

Review TED Talk, Kevin Bales, "How to Combat Modern Slavery" if needed
Finish responding to Kevin Bales's TED talk questions and turn in assignment if finished.

Introduce vocab ch. 1+2 using the ppt of images and the vocabulary chart handout.

Begin escalating questions for ch 1 of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.

Take-aways:
-We should learn to become attuned to the analogies and comparisons speakers use to argue their points (e.g., these particular comparisons are chosen for specific reasons: Why "Styrofoam"? Why a "cup"? Why "potato chips and pretzels"? Why "a blood-stained gate"? Or more specifically, why a "gate"?).

-Douglass opens in paragraph 1 showing how slaves are dehumanized from the removal of their birthday/comparison to horses; Bales shows how that dehumanization continues today in modern slavery by asserting that some persons cost as little as $5/day, and by comparing enslaved people to "Styrofoam cups"

HW: review ch 1+2 of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave as needed; finish Bales questions (if needed)

AGENDA 1/7

Watch TED Talk, Kevin Bales, "How to Combat Modern Slavery"

Take notes--what is important? interesting? surprising? informative? central to Bales's argument?

*Mark down notes on some aspects of the TED Talk.

Respond to Ted Talk questions 

Go to Text book room and return books/get the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave 

Two main ideas from class:

1. How to combat modern day slavery/statistics of modern day slavery

2. Practice answering AP test questions: writing these short responses will build fluency and help us marshal evidence for argument essays later this semester.

Vocabulary chart to assist with unfamiliar words as you read

HW: Read chapters 1 and 2 of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass  and annotate/prepare for discussion.

AGENDA 1/6

Welcome Back and Happy New Year!

Goal Setting and Reflection: Screenshot of Common App Teacher Evaluation & Word cloud of common words used in letters of recommendation. How might this shape your three goals for semester 2?

New Seats + Routines

- Blog

Overview of Semester 2:

Books

Projects

Essay Types

Watch TED Talk, Kevin Bales, "How to Combat Modern Slavery"

Take notes--what is important? interesting? surprising? informative? central to Bales's argument?

*Mark down notes on some aspects of the TED Talk.

Talking points:

Slavery is alive and well! More people are enslaved today than any other period in history, but the smallest fraction of the total population than ever recorded. HOWEVER, this does not make it a trivial nor a self-eradicating issue. 

HW: Bring ID + books to return to textbook room tomorrow -- don't leave in lockers!