Boo!

Studs, today we did the following:

 

AP students analyzed and discussed John Donne's "The Flea."  If you missed class today, please click on this link:

 

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/175764

 

Please note that the first 75 pages of The Handmaid's Tale are due on Tuesday and that your allegory project is due Friday.

 

Seventh period wrote during class and performed their lyrics.  Your homework is due Friday.

 

Have fun, be safe!

Duck, Juan!

AP studs finished their group feedback on their satires.  Most of the classes reviewed briefly the synthesis rubric and started drafting a punch list of writing traps to avoid.

 

Tomorrow we will have a few studs read their satires and then ...

 

Please remember that the first 75 pages of The Handmaid's Tale (annotated and read) are due Tuesday and that your allegory is due Friday.

 

Seventh period again proved that you are the best class ever with great conduct and profound lyrics.  Please know that your vocabulary assignments are due tomorrow, and you will read your lyrics tomorrow in class.

Boo!

Early D

AP Studs read their satires today and received feedback.  Tomorrow please bring Emma Watson.

Seventh period performed The Crucible and started completing a character chart.

Tomorrow!

Hooray for Tuesday

AP Studs received two new books today!

We also reviewed vocabulary tests, read studly essays, received a rubric for your synthesis essay, AND received new assignments as the following document confirms:

Allegory of a …

Now that you have immersed yourself in Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave,” here’s a chance to stretch your allegorical wings, so to speak.  For this assignment, you have the following (fabulous) choices:

1.     Create a children’s book or a graphic story of “The Allegory of the Cave”; OR

2.     Compose your own allegory; OR

3.     Create a contemporary version of “The Allegory of the Cave”; OR

4.     Create a screenplay or script of “The Allegory of the Cave” OR

5.     Perform “The Allegory of the Cave.”

There is no minimal length for this assignment.  As a scholar, you must decide on the length and mode of presentation that will optimize your message.

Your allegorical project is due Friday, November 7, 2014.  Everyone will present your project, at least to one or two peers.  I will likely ask you to present at least a précis of your project to the entire class.

Please note the following due dates established thus far:

Satire is due Wednesday, October 29, 2014;

Pages 1-75 of The Handmaid’s Tale (read and annotated – reading quiz in class) due Tuesday, November 4, 2014; and

Once again, your allegory is due Friday, November 7, 2014.

Tomorrow, please bring all of the handouts that you received today, your satire, and, if you have it, Emma Watson's speech to the UN.

Also, your interview with Jonathan Safran Foer is due by the end of the week.

Seventh period reviewed vocabulary for Acts I and II, received a vocabulary assignment that is due Friday, and read through page 81 of The Crucible.  Tomorrow we will start class with a dramatic presentation of the end of Act II.

Stay safe!

Monday, Monday, so good to me

AP studs, please note the following:

 

Today we had a Socratic seminar on "The Allegory of the Cave." 

Tomorrow your interview with Jonathan Safran Foer are due. 

Wednesday your satires are due.

 

Seventh period,

 

We had SSR today.  Tomorrow we will review the vocabulary words from The Crucible and read the play.

 

Have a beautiful day!

TGIF

AP studs finished conferring about their writing today, continued to compose their Foer interviews, and discussed briefly "The Allegory of the Cave" after watching the following video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQfRdl3GTw4

 

This weekend, please re-read "Allegory of the Cave" and re-write, if necessary, three blockbuster questions for our Socratic Seminar on Monday. Also if you have not done so, please start drafting your satire this weekend so that you can ask questions about it on Monday, if you need to do so.

 

Monday:  Socratic Seminar on "Allegory of a Cave"; "Cave" annotations are due;

Tuesday: All Foer interviews are due (minimum length: three pages); and

Wednesday: Satires are due (minimum length: 750 words).

 

Seventh period took a benchmark assessment today.  Monday is SSR.

 

Have a great weekend!

Thursday!

AP Studs did the following today:

 

Finished all of their presentations on Ebola or soccer;

 

Began composing a mock interview with Jonathan Safran Foer, as the following copied document confirms;

 

Scenario:  You are a reporter for a major daily newspaper, magazine, or blog.  Your assignment is to interview Jonathan Safran Foer about his views on vegetarianism, animal cruelty, and ethnocentrism.  Your source material for your interview include his article “Let them eat dog,” and his non-satirical article, “Against Meat,” which can be found at the following link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/magazine/11foer-t.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

You may also use portions of Foer’s biography from Wikipedia.

Your article must be at least three pages long.  The format will be a Q and A, and Foer’s answers must be comprised of quotes or accurate paraphrases of the three foregoing sources.

Your interview is due at the end of class today.

 

 

Participated in a writing conference with your gorgeous teacher.

 

Tomorrow please bring "Allegory of a Cave," annotated, with three discussion questions.  If you have misplace your copy a link to this allegory is as follows:

 

http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/~matlmc/Allegory_cave.pdf

 

Also, if you did not have your conference today, please bring to class your idea for your satire and five questions or bullet points about your piece.

 

Seventh Period acted with Rozie Curtis from TUTS.  Good job!  Tomorrow we must take a snapshot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Satires Everywhere!

Today we did the following:

We discussed possible subjects for your satires; and

You presented your soccer/Ebola presentations.

Tomorrow, we will have writing conferences on your satire.  Please come with at least one idea for a satire and five comments or questions.

Friday "Allegory of a Cave" is due with three discussion for a Socratic seminar that we will also hold on Friday.

Your satire is due Wednesday, October 29, 2014.

Seventh period we read The Crucible through page 71.  Tomorrow we will meet in the auditorium with the TUTS acting coach.

Have a good night!

Tuesday ...

Brilliant Students - today we did the following:

AP Studs briefly discussed "Let them eat dog" and turned that article in for a grade.  We then listened to three stories from npr, two on Ebola and one on soccer.  We then "chose" topics for a presentation.  You will have 20-25 minutes tomorrow to prepare and then you will present you rhetoric.  Can't wait.

 

If you missed class today, here are the links to the stories:

 

 

 

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/10/20/357654619/cdc-announces-new-guidelines-for-handling-of-ebola-patients

 

http://www.npr.org/2014/10/20/357628402/doctor-we-should-worry-about-the-flu-not-ebola

 

http://www.npr.org/2014/10/20/357628416/sometimes-leaving-a-sport-is-a-family-affair

 

 

Seventh Period Studs read almost the entire first act of The Crucible.  Tomorrow we will meet with TUTS and really act out.





Have a great night!

It's just another manic Monday ...

Hello, all!

AP studs took a wonderful AP-style multiple choice test on "A Modest Proposal."

Tomorrow "Let them eat dog" is due.  We will analyze and discuss it in class.

Thursday Plato's "Allegory of a Cave" is due.

Friday your satire is due!  I sincerely hope that you are working on it now.

Seventh period worked on a vocabulary test for part of the period.  If you are not finished, you may finish before school, during A lunch, or after school.

We also read The Crucible through page 16.  More tomorrow.

Have a great night!

I like chocolate and ice cream and babies

Today AP students did the following:

Received Plato's "Allegory of a Cave" to have read and annotated for Thursday;

Received a writing assignment (a satire) for Friday; learned about polysyndetons and asyndetons.

Please remember that you have a test on "A Modest Proposal" on Monday; 

"Let them eat dog" on Tuesday;

"Allegory of a Cave" on Thursday; and

Your satire is due on Friday.

If you missed class today, copied below is an explanation of polysyndeton and asyndeton:

Polysyndeton – I like Miseal and Michael and Robert and Zulfiya.  (effects: slows the reader; makes the list feel endless (spontaneous multiplicity)

Asyndeton – (prefix “a” means without or not) – I like Miseal, Michael, Robert, Zulfiya.  (effects: speeds the reader up; makes the list feel endless)

I like Miseal and  Michael and Robert and Zulfiya.  They are intelligent, mature, diligent.

Seventh period took a vocabulary test, which you may finish the first 15 minutes of class on Monday.

Have a great weekend!

Thursday - the penultimate day of the school week

Studs, today we did the following:

 

We engaged in Analytic Talk of your revised papers today according to the following protocol:

 

Analytic Talk

Divide into groups of four (birthday order, non-verbal);

Writer will read revised piece; and

Listeners take notes on card with the following items in mind:

1.       Is the beginning effective?  Does it grab your attention?  Is it clear and interesting?

2.       After hearing the beginning, is it clear what the paper is about?

3.       Did you ever get confused or lost during the reading?  If so, where and how?

4.       What is your favorite part of this piece?  (phrase, sentence, paragraph)

5.       Does the piece have voice?  How would you describe the piece’s tone and what examples from the piece support your conclusion?

6.       Is the ending of the piece effective?  If the piece left you hanging, was it intentional or caused by lack of information?

After the reading, please give your writer respectful and largely positive feedback on their piece using your notes as source material so that your remarks will have specificity.

Tomorrow we will discuss "A Modest Proposal" and "Me Talk Pretty One Day."  You will have a multiple choice (AP-style) on these tests on Monday.

 

Tuesday you will have read and annotated "Let them eat dog." 

 

Seventh period studied for the vocabulary test by participating in work stations.  Please study tonight!

A demain!

Vocabulary is such a panacea

Studs, we did the following after the PSAT today:

 

Fourth, fifth, and sixth periods all received reading and annotating for Monday. I will have this article in class tomorrow, but for you overachievers, here is the link:

 

 

http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703574604574499880131341174

 

 

We also began to closely read and analyze "A Modest Proposal," which you must bring to class tomorrow.

 

Please remember that you have writing due tomorrow - a revision of a previous work.

 

Seventh period played vocabulary BINGO. 

Tomorrow we will review for your test.

 

Cheers!

A very testy day

Today AP students took a vocabulary test.

Tomorrow is PSAT.

Thursday your revised writing is due.

Friday you will have a reading assignment.

Today seventh period took a reading quiz (the last one!) on Rats Saw God.  From what I have read so far, everybody hates Dub.  

Tomorrow?  Vocabulary BINGO, I do believe.

Get a good night's sleep for the PSAT (and life).

Ciao!

mOnDaY, mOnDaY

Today we did the following:

AP students watched two clips and wrote in response to them.  In case you missed class, the two clips may be accessed via the following two links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjGL6YY6oMs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQy6XtPOLTk

Please remember that you have a vocabulary TEST tomorrow.  If you finish your test before the bell, you get to read and re-read and re-read "A Modest Proposal." 

Wednesday is the PSAT; Thursday your revised writing is due; Friday you will have a reading assignment.

Seventh period participated in SSR today.  Tomorrow you will have a reading quiz through the end of the book.  Friday you will have a vocabulary test on 60 words:  Lists 1, 2, and 3.

Have a great night!

Kudos, Malala!

Today we did the following:

AP Students finished their mystery stories.  Today's installment required the following:

Warm-up 10-10-14 – AP English – TGIHomecoming

Today you will finish your story with the following features:

Two vocabulary words of your choice that have NOT previously appeared in your story;

An asyndeton (I like tamales, nachos, tacos); AND

The color maroon.

You also received a writing assignment that is due Thursday, October 16, 2014.  If you missed class today, you may pick up a copy of this assignment on Monday. 

Some of the classes also listened to Randy Newman's satirical song, "Short People" and watched the following youtube link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFmv22ghzQw

Please note the following due dates:

Vocabulary test, Tuesday, October 14, 2014;

PSAT on Wednesday, October 15, 2014; and

Writing Revision Assignment, Thursday, October 16, 2014.

Friday, October 17, 2014 - all synthesis essays MUST be finished (outside of class time, but in the classroom).

 

Seventh period read through page 175 of Rats Saw God today.

Please note the following due dates:

Monday - SSR;

Tuesday - Reading test on the rest of Rats Saw God;

Wednesday - PSAT and vocabulary review;

Thursday - Vocabulary review

Friday - Vocabulary test on all three lists.

Have a great weekend!

 

 

The penultimate day of the school week

Students, please note the following:

AP Students continued their story with the following warm-up:

Warm-up – October 9, 2014 – Enigmas, mysteries, whodunits …

Please add the following to the penultimate section of your story:

Two words from the pink sheet;

One word from the gold sheet; and

Some sort of onomatopoeia, oxymoron, or a polysyndeton (and … and … and).

You also submitted your "A Modest Proposal" annotations for a grade and took quote quiz.  

Extra credit?  Willie Dunlap, are you reading this?  Explain the identify and significance of the "Great Pretender." He was mentioned on the first page of "AMP," to which you can refer via the following link:

http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/swift/swift-modestproposal6x9.pdf

Tomorrow, we will finish our mystery stories, finish clocking, and analyze "A Modest Proposal."

Seventh period turned in homework and read and discussed Rats Saw God through page 165.

Have a great day!

Hump Day

Hello all,

AP students continued their stories with the following warm-up copied below:

Warm-up – October 8, 2019 – Enigma within Enigmas

Continue your story with the following features in this installment:

Two words from either of your vocabulary lists (underline those words);

A quote, interior monologue, or dialogue; and

The word “tumult” or “tumultuous.”  (stormy)  

We then clocked for the following aspect:  "to be" verbs, complex sentences, homophones, and paragraphing.

Tomorrow "A Modest Proposal" is due.  Friday you have a vocabulary test.

Extra credit?  Attached to our door a news article about an event occurring in Africa that is NOT related to the Ebola epidemic.

Seventh period played concentration with the words from List #3.  Tomorrow you have homework due, and Friday you have a vocabulary test.

Until tomorrow!

Let's eat Grandma!

Hello Studs!

AP students did the following today:

Wrote another paragraph in your mystery story including the following words:  irreverent, jaunty, and pious; submitted your "MTPOD" annotations for a grade; and began the wondrous, mystical process of clocking.

Please remember that "A Modest Proposal" annotations are due Thursday. Also note that you have a vocabulary test on Friday - both lists!

Seventh period wrote a paragraph with the following words:  subsequent, rebellion, and contemplate.  You also took a reading test through page 156 of Rats Saw God.

Please remember that you have a vocabulary homework due Thursday and a vocabulary test on Friday.

Character day tomorrow!

Extra credit opportunity - please bring an article reporting on the most recent Supreme Court decision that is generating a lot of press.

Monday!

AP students wrote in response to the following warm-up:

Warm-up - Monday – October 6, 2014

Please write the beginning of a mystery story and include the following words in context:

Stagnant, Solemn, Unfathomable, Tremulous

Leave the story hanging on a suspenseful note.  You will continue this story very, very soon …

You also received a copy of "A Modest Proposal" to read and annotate for Thursday.  If you missed class today, a link to this article is as follows:

http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/swift/swift-modestproposal6x9.pdf

Please remember that your reading and annotation of 'Me Talk Pretty One Day" is due tomorrow.  In addition to "A Modest Proposal" on Thursday, you will have a vocabulary test on both lists on Friday.

Make sure that you bring your organized binder to class each day. 

Seventh period completed the following warm-up:

Seventh Period – Warm-up – October 6, 2014

Write a paragraph or two using the following words in context:

Gregarious (outgoing, sociable), Primp (to adjust one’s appearance), Stagger (to walk with difficulty), Meticulous (pay attention to all details)

Example: Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Maria.  Maria was so outgoing that many called her gregarious.  Maria would stand before the mirror for hours, primping and fixing her hair and make-up for all of the parties she attended.  Maria cared about each detail of her appearance; she was meticulous with her grooming.  When Maria would attend parties, she never drank alcohol.  If she didn’t drink, then she would be able to walk gracefully and not stagger.

You also read silently today.  Please remember that you have a reading quiz through page 156 tomorrow, vocabulary homework due Thursday, and a vocabulary test on three lists on Friday.

 Study hard and have fun!

TGIT

Hello Wonderful Students!!!

Today in AP land we did the following:

Received an article to annotate for Tuesday ("Me Talk Pretty One Day"); 

Read and discussed Sedaris's "Big Boy";

Watched and discussed the pros and cons of banning books in schools; and

Wrote a vocabulary rich poem for a warm-up.

Your warm-up is copied below:

Warm-up - October 2, 2014

Please write two stanzas of poetry including the following words in context:

Ecstatic; Disconsolate; Taboo; Hasty; Jaunty

The link to "Me Talk Pretty One Day is below:

http://www.macobo.com/essays/epdf/Me%20Talk%20Pretty%20One%20Day%20by%20Sedaris.pdf

The link to "Big Boy" is below:

http://www.esquire.com/features/this-way-out/sedaris-big-boy-1199

The link to the interview with Sherman Alexie is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-l4X68MWRM

Remember to bring your TIB essay on Monday - we WILL involve those essays in a project.

You will have a vocabulary test on Thursday, October 9, 2014.

Seventh period watched the Reagan news, defined vocabulary from List #3, confirmed your homework assignments, and read Rats Saw God.  You have a reading quiz through page 156 on Tuesday, October 7, 2014.  Your homework (sentences, a story, or an illustrated story) is due Thursday, October 9, 2014.  You will have a vocabulary test on Lists #1, #2, #3 on Friday, October 10, 2014.

Have a great three-day weekend and Happy Yom Kippur!

Tomorrow's Friday? (kind of)

Hello, everyone!

AP students did the following today:

Submitted their annotations of Sherman Alexie's "Superman and Me"; 

Read Declarations of Independence; and 

Two classes read David Sedaris's "Big Boy."

You also wrote a page in response to a warm-up, which is copied directly below:

Warm-up - October 1, 2014

“’Books,’ I say to them. ‘Books,’ I say.  I throw my weight against their locked doors.  The door holds.  I am smart.  I am arrogant.  I am lucky.  I am trying to save our lives” (Sherman Alexie).

Please write a page in response to the foregoing quote or portions thereof.  Also ponder and respond to this question:  what activity is life-saving for you?

Tomorrow please bring your TIB essays.

Seventh period organized your binders, compiled a vocabulary list, and read through page 124 of Rats Saw God.  You will have a quote quiz through page 156 next Tuesday.  You will also have vocabulary homework due next Thursday.

Your vocabulary list is copied directly below:

WORD	DEFINITION	POS
Consecrated (180)
Philosophy (182)
Primped (160)
Meticulously (183)
Staggered (186)
Groggily (184)
Yuletide (180)
Patriarch (192)
Glimpse (184)
Manifestation (197)
Gregarious (194)
Blatantly (194)
Sesquicentennial (196)
Subsequent (194)
Rebellion (198)
Sporadic (187)
Contemplated (199)
Anticipation (198)
Emboss (174)
Samaritan (201)

Have a great night!