Friday, August 29, 2014

Friday August 29, 2014

Honors 9- Today we went over "conflict" in literature and discussed examples of each. Peer review is now complete and final drafts of the Type 3 writing are due on Tuesday. We will be reading The Sniper starting next week.

English 10- Today we took a brief look at slam poetry and analyzed the similarities and differences of slam to other literature forms and art forms. Some time was given to finish first drafts of Type 3 writing. You MUST have a completed draft by Tuesday for peer review.


Thursday, August 28, 2014

Thursday August 28, 2014

Honors 9- Today we started peer reviews of Type 3 writing for The Flowers. See yesterday's post for the FCA's and prompts.

English 10- Today we re-evaluated the prompt for the Milgram experiment critical thinking questions. We reviewed the expectations for Type 3 writing and began drafting.

FCA's (Focused Criteria Actions, basically the 3 things you should focus on):

1. Step by step organization
2. Clear and precise topic sentences
3. At least one piece of text evidence (one quote) from each piece you are discussing

REVISED PROMPT (I revised the prompt to just one instead of two)

Connect the ideas about "power" presented in The Milgram Experiment to the ideas of "power" presented in either the Kevin Carter article or What Superheroes Teach Us About Power.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Wednesday August 27, 2014

Honors 9- For homework, you need to complete the "Says, Means, Matters" graphic organizer as well as a Type 3 rough draft answering these questions:

1. Identify a theme from "The Flowers," and discuss how setting drove this theme
2. Discuss how Myop developed as a character through the story and how this affected theme. Consider her name as well.

The FCA's for your Type 3 writing are:

Step by step organization
Clear and precise topic sentences
At lease two examples from the text to support per question

ROUGH DRAFT is DUE tomorrow in order to participate in peer review.

English 10- Today we completed annotations to The Milgram Experiment and started Type 3 writing for critical thinking questions.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Tuesday August 26, 2014

Honors 9- Today we continued to look further at the MDG questions and how to improve our writing. We broke down "The Flowers" by Alice Walker and began completing the graphic organizer to answer critical thinking questions. NOTE: For those of you  who have not turned in your paragraphs and MLA citations for your two independent reading books, they are past due. Also, if you do not like your grade on any of the assignment I have passed back, you can re-do them at anytime for a chance to improve your grade.

English 10- Today we introduced The Milgram Experiment article and background information associated with it. We started annotations to answer critical thinking questions.  NOTE: For those of you  who have not turned in your paragraph and MLA citation for your two independent reading books, they are past due. Also, if you do not like your grade on any of the assignment I have passed back, you can re-do them at anytime for a chance to improve your grade.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Monday August 25th, 2014

Honors 9- Today I handed back character maps and we discussed MDG questions. I discussed expectations for quality work going forward. Alice Walker's "The Flowers" was introduced.

English 10- Today we finished our Kevin Carter ECR and shared them with the class.

Friday August 22, 2014

Honors 9- Today we finished up our theme paragraphs and worked on finishing our MGD Questions.

English 10- Today we worked on our Kevin Carter annotations in groups. We filled out the "Says, Means, Matters" graphic organizer.

Friday, August 22, 2014

9th Honors MDG Questions -- These are due Monday at the latest!

            1.What do you think happens to Zaroff? What are some possible endings for the story?

2. Discuss the foreshadowing that took place in the story showing danger ahead for Rainsford.

3. Zaroff is a person whose appearance masks his true nature. Are there “Zaroffs” in the real world? Justify your answer.

4. Draw conclusions from the text to determine themes of The Most Dangerous Game

5. Explain how the setting drove a specific theme

6. Explain how a character’s development drove a specific theme

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Thursday August 21, 2014

Honors 9- Today we did a theme exercise with two different videos.

English 10- Today we completed the "who is most powerful?" activity and kicked off the Kevin Carter debate writing exercise.

DON"T FORGET- MLA citations and proposal paragraphs for independent reading are due Monday the 25th.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Wednesday August 20, 2014

Honors 9- Today we are further discussing theme of The Most Dangerous Game and we will be completing the SCR questions with partners.

English 10- Today we discussed some of the issues that occurred from the Benchmark activity. We will also be completing our annotations and questions for the article Kevin Carter: The Consequences of Photojournalism. 

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Tuesday August 19, 2014

Honors 9- Today we finished reading The Most Dangerous Game independently. Students then paired up to complete the character map and the SCR (short constructed response questions. The goal is to begin linking setting and character development to theme and how each respectively drive theme.

English 10- Today we completed the SCR jigsaw for What Superheroes Teach Us About Power. We covered background knowledge about Apartheid and photographer Kevin Carter. The article Kevin Carter: The Consequences of Photojournalism was introduced and we began annotating for author's purpose and to link concepts that we learned from the Superheroes article.

Monday August 18, 2014

Honors9- Today classes received 'response to reading' bookmarks to assist them as they are reading their independent book and relate it back to things we are learning in class. We read more from The Most Dangerous Game.

English 10- Today we completed SCR questions for the What Superheroes Teach Us About Power article.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Friday August 15, 2014

Honors 9- Today we continued to read The Most Dangerous Game. The 9th grade reading analysis rubric was handed out as well.  This document should be used to help guide your thinking when reading and writing.

English 10- Today we finished annotations to the What Superheroes Teach Us About Power article.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

August 14, 2014

9th Honors- Today I handed out the 9th grade reading analysis rubric, which is a valuable tool for upcoming reading and writing activities. We made predictions about the short story The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Cornell and read the first few pages as a class.

10th Grade- Today we were introduced the article What Superheroes Teach Us About Power and began to annotate and answer questions for meaning and author's purpose.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

August 13, 2014

Honors 9- Today we completed our cultural puzzles. Please remember that your paragraphs and citations for your two independent books will be due August 25th.

English 10- Today we completed the Benchmark. If you have been absent and not completed the Benchmark, please email me or see me right away so that we may schedule a time for you to complete it. Remember, your paragraph and citation for your independent reading book is due August 25th.

PLEASE NOTE- The signed portion of your syllabus is due ASAP. My apologies for the English copy machine being down, as soon as it is up I will print additional copies for those who do not have internet access.

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Syllabus reminder!

Due to the copy machine being down today in the English office, I have extended the deadline for signed copies of the syllabus until Friday, August 15. If you have computer and printer access, please print off the syllabus and return the signed portion. I will print out more copies for students when the copy machine is functioning again. As always, email me if you are having any issues.

August 12, 2014 Pre-assessment/ Benchmark Day

Honors 9- Today we completed an annotation assessment using a short article. If you missed today, please see me so we can schedule a time for you to take it.

10th Grade- Today we worked on the Benchmark assignment that all 10th grade students are completing. We will finish the Benchmark tomorrow. If you missed today, please see me so we can schedule a time for you to take it.

Monday, August 11, 2014

August 11th, 2014

9th Grade Honors Independent Reading Assignment

-Today we visited the library. The librarians are a great resource if you are struggling with finding a book for independent reading. You will need to independently read two books this quarter. The requirement is of a minimum 250 pages. You must cite both books in MLA format and write one paragraph for each book proposing why you chose them. Take into consideration how your parents might feel about the selections you made. Your citations and paragraphs will be due August 25. Your two books will need to be read by the end of the quarter. We will be doing writing projects during the quarter that will require you to relate the information we are working on in class to the books you are reading independently.

10th Grade English Independent Reading Assignment
- Your assignment is the same as the above, but you are only required to finish one book this quarter.

You will need to independently read one books this quarter. The requirement is of a minimum 250 pages. You must cite your book in MLA format and write one paragraph for proposing why you chose the book you did. Take into consideration how your parents might feel about the selections you made. Your citation and paragraph will be due August 25. Your book will need to be read by the end of the quarter. We will be doing writing projects during the quarter that will require you to relate the information we are working on in class to your independent reading book.

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Homework Assignment Due Tuesday August 12!

Your first assignment for Honors 9 and English 10 is to locate your specific syllabus from the links below on this page. Download your syllabus, print it (if you can),  read it and have you and your parents sign the portion at the end. Bring the signed portion to class to receive credit. If you can't print the syllabus, have your parents write down the information asked for on a sheet of paper, sign it and bring to class for credit.
English 10 Syllabus Download
Honors 9 Syllabus Download