AGENDA 9/21

Sample Critical Annotation in MLA format

Tips for MLA format:

Create a hanging indent in Google Docs

Create a hanging indent in Word

Create a header in Word

MLA Manuscript Format

HW: Please review our list of topics related to The Boys in the Boat and submit your Critical Annotation to Turnitin.com before 9pm tonight. Please complete your 200 pages of reading for this grading period and see pust for a book check ASAP. Late penalties for the book check will start next Wednesday, 9/30. 

AGENDA 9/18

Answer any questions regarding Critical Annotations assignment due Monday to Turnitin.com (bring hard copy on Tuesday).

Small group discussion of Anytown budget cuts: focus on articulating your reasons (what are the benefits/disadvantages), your evidence, and understanding how these relate to the original warrants (e.g., what are the purposes of school in the first place?).

HW: Critical Annotations assignment due by 9pm Monday to Turnitin.com.

AGENDA 9/17

Review list of topics related to The Boys in the Boat that we could use to research and create a Critical Annotation

Introduce the rest of the vocabulary words from The Boys in the Boat and complete the vocabulary chart (or make flash cards, if you prefer)

HW: Critical annotation on a topic related to The Boys in the Boat due on Monday, typed and in MLA format. Continue to work on independent reading (complete 200+ pages by 9/22) and learning vocabulary words from Ready Player One and The Boys in the Boat.

AGENDA 9/16

Getting Started and Wrap-Around Share: Generate list of topics related to The Boys in the Boat that we could use to research and create a Critical Annotation

Introduce first seven vocabulary words from The Boys in the Boat and complete the vocabulary chart (or make flash cards, if you prefer)

HW: Critical annotation on a topic related to The Boys in the Boat due on Monday, typed and in MLA format. Continue to work on independent reading (complete 200+ pages by 9/22) and learning vocabulary words from Ready Player One and The Boys in the Boat.

AGENDA 9/15

Class discussion: Amanda Ripley's "The Case Against High School Sports"

Questions to consider:

• What did you annotate?
• What was your symbolic word, most important sentence, and most important paragraph?
• Which part would be most compelling to someone who disagreed with Ripley's views?
• Where does Ripley make emotional appeals or tug on the reader's heartstrings?
• Which evidence is the strongest or most compelling?
• What is the purpose of the concession paragraph on page 3? To what extent is this paragraph self-contradictory? How does it add to her argument or help persuade the audience?
• What might Ripley oversimplify or overlook in her argument? What could she add to further support her claims?

HW: Continue to work on independent reading (complete 200+ pages by 9/22) and learning vocabulary words from Ready Player One and The Boys in the Boat.

AGENDA 9/11

Read, Annotate, Reread, Funnel "Winning Isn't Everything, But Don't Tell Anyone" by Jack Bowen
Discuss and write two-sentence summary of Bowen's claim.

We talked about: unfamiliar vocabulary, clarifying confusing parts (e.g., what's a pinch-runner?), stylistic purpose of the three anecdotes (Why is each included? Why does Bowen arrange them in this order? What purposes do they serve together? How does each build on the former?) and his overall purpose/argument.

HW: Read, Annotate, Reread, Funnel Amanda Ripley's "The Case Against High School Sports"and write a two-sentence summary of Ripley's claim. Be prepared to discuss overlaps and points-of-difference between Ripley's piece and the other "winning" essays/editorials/letters we've read: Bowen's, Schwartz's, and Roosevelt's.

AGENDA 9/8

Review and discuss the editorial "Our Unhealthy Obsession with Winning" by Tony Schwartz.

Our notes from class today (both periods together in one document)

HW: Reread President Roosevelt's "Proper Place for Sports" and write a two-sentence summary of his major claim/argument. Be prepared to discuss both President Roosevelt's piece and Tony Schwartz's pieces more fully tomorrow. Continue to study vocabulary words, and begin your independent reading book--complete 200 pages before 9/22.