AGENDA 9/30

Finish watching Lucianne Walkowicz's TED Talk, "Look Up for a Change" to model 3-2-1-1 discussion prep. Share quotations/details worth discussing, talk about rhetorical techniques, and model rhetorical analysis claim.

Discuss how to write an argument "While...ultimately,...because" claim by modeling with a favorite holiday. Then, discuss process: why start an academic discussion with this kind of claim statement?

HW: Read John Steinbeck's "Americans and the Land," pages 667-671 of The McGraw-Hill Reader, and write down 3 quotations worth discussing.

AGENDA 9/27

Template for Allusion Rhetorical Terms Entry (hint: download me! I will make your life easier!!!)
Here is my sample allusion rhetorical terms entry that you can use as a resource

Quiz over Verbs
Begin to discuss Lucianne Walkowicz's "Look Up for a Change"


HW: Upload your rhetorical terms entry #2: allusion to Turnitin.com before 11:59pm on Sunday. If you're using my template (and why wouldn't you?) make sure to change the filename and document type to .doc or .docx or .rtf or .pdf so Turnitin.com will accept it. :-) Complete 500 pages of independent reading and have a book conference with me before next Thursday!

AGENDA 9/26

Grammar: Verbs 11.6
Begin watching Lucianne Walkowicz's TED Talk, "Look Up for a Change" to model 3-2-1-1 discussion prep

HW: Upload rhetorical terms entry #1: device from a poem to Turnitin.com. Study for tomorrow's grammar quiz over verbs. Refer to the "Problems with Verbs" sheet and your half-sheets from Grammar Fridays.

AGENDA 9/23

Review and peer-revise rhetorical terms entries analysis paragraphs:
1) highlight the author's name (Is it capitalized? Spelled correctly? Full name used the first time, then just the last name for all remaining times?)
2) highlight direct quotations (Are they introduced properly by the author's name and argument verbs? If the quotation begins a sentence, make a note to revise. Also, the first quotation should be roughly sentence-length, then individual words or short phrases should be quoted in subsequent sentences)
3) highlight argument verbs (e.g., illustrates, suggests, reveals, shows,
4) highlight "the speaker"
5) highlight parenthetical citation, e.g., (lines 1-4)

If your partner uses "the reader" or "you" or "your" in his/her paper, please make notes to revise. The paragraph should probably use the author's name at least three times to help you retain control over the argument and stay focused on the poem's "message" or meaning.

HW: Revise analysis paragraph for tomorrow's class. Final draft due Thursday to Turnitin.com. Grammar quiz Friday--please complete Verbs 11.6 before Wednesday's class so we can review it quickly. Please bring ID card tomorrow as we're heading to the textbook room, and remember to complete your book conference with me before 10/3 (500 pages of independent reading).

AGENDA 9/17

Apply TPS-FAST method for analyzing poetry and to T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" in groups of 3 or 4

HW: Review "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" and focus on one small portion of the poem--use every strategy you have as a skilled reader to be sure that you "get" that portion and be prepared to discuss tomorrow!

AGENDA 9/16

Introduce TPS-FAST method for analyzing poetry and apply to Emily Dickinson's "There's a certain Slant of light"

Discuss each element of TPS-FAST and model along with the class

HW: Complete "Thesis" portion of TPS-FAST for "There's a certain Slant of light" and continue to make progress toward completing 500 pages of independent reading by 10/3

AGENDA 9/13

Grammar Practice: Verbs 11.4

Troubleshooting Sense of Place uploads to Turnitin.com

Independent Reading (500 pages due by 10/3!): keep track of progress in your Reading Record and see me for a book conference before 10/3.

Bring The Fault in Our Stars next week.

HW: Upload Sense of Place essay to Turnitin.com before 11:59pm tonight!