September 11, 2010

Dear Scholars:

What a poignant day, September 11th.   Thinking about all that has happened on this day confirms how lucky I am, in part because I have students like you all.

School stuff?

Yesterday, Friday, you completed a vocabulary crossword puzzle and wrote in your journal about some aspect of the Roger Clemens issue or the issue of integrity versus achievement.  Accordingly, if you missed class yesterday, you missed two grades ...

and three handouts:  (i) a new vocabulary list (with two assignments); (ii) an evidence chart for your journals; and (iii) an Wall Street Journal article on Roger Clemens.

The vocabulary list is as follows below.  Even if you missed class yesterday, you must still come to class on Monday with your sheet completed, namely with the definition and part of speech written for each word.  Because I am such a nice guy, below are the words from your new list, printed in red for your ease of reference:

Inaudible
Cower (8, 15)
Din
Taut
Writhe (12)
Impregnable (11, 17)
Ominous (11)
Surly
Spent (adj.)
Unscathed (19)
Flail
Truncheon (8)
Plaintive
Incredulous
Brandish (21)
Contrite, contrition
Impassive
Dispassionate
Gape, gaping
Oblivious
Semblance
Indelible (28)
Incessant
Pittance (30)
Precipitous (30)
Precarious
Innate (31)
Congenital
Deviance, deviant
Sporadic
Wreak (37)
Fulcrum
Curry (verb)
Nemesis
Emaciated (38)
Lethargic (38)
Tenacity, tenacious (39)
Commensurate (39)
Portent, portend (40)
Harbinger
Vigil, vigilant, vigilante
Inexorable
Sumptuous

Also, Monday we will have a vocabulary test on the first list, as well as some multiple choice (AP-style) questions on the Sedaris packet.  Therefore, please bring your Sedaris packet on Monday.

Finally, our copies of Kaffir Boy should (at long last) arrive on Monday.  To that end, please bring $12 (correct change) on Monday if you ordered a book from me.

Thus for Monday, please do the following:

• Study the first vocabulary list for a test;
• Bring your Sedaris packet;
• Bring your completed K Boy vocabulary list; and
• Bring $12 correct change if you ordered a book from me.

Have a great weekend, and read something that thrills you,

Ms. Seward