Tuesday September 30, 2014

Honors 9- Today we took a quiz over chapters 1-6. The rest of the period was available for students to work on narrative #2. Remember that tomorrow a rough draft of narrative #2 is due for peer review!


English 10- Today we finished the quote exercise and students turned in completed chapter 5 questions. You will need to complete chapter 6 questions before the start of class tomorrow. Remember that your field trip permission slips and $8 will be due by October 13, no exceptions! If you are struggling with this let me know as soon as possible.

Monday September 29, 2014

Honors 9- Today I handed back vocab quizzes and your first narratives. I also assigned Narrative assignment number 2. Here are the directions if you were not here or lost the sheet:

Narrative Assignment #2

The goal of the second part of this project is to look at how manipulating point of view and perspective can significantly change a story.  For the next steps in this narrative process, you are going to re-write your narrative, changing the perspective--possibly even the point of view.  By Wednesday, you will need a draft of your narrative #2 in which the perspective has changed. We will then complete peer revisions.  A clean, final copy will be due Monday October 6^th. This entire process is going to count as a summative assessment grade.  Your final copy will need to be a minimum of two pages, completed in type 3 format with the following FCA’s:

1. Clear point of view demonstrating a change in perspective from Narrative one to Narrative two

2. Proper capitalization

3. (You create your own here) Decide something that you want to focus on. If you are having trouble I can provide suggestions.

Finally, you must include this sheet filled out with your final draft:

1. What was the original point of view and perspective of Narrative #1?

2. How did you change the perspective of your story? What impact did it have? What did you consider when you switched perspectives?

English 10- Today I handed out permission slips for the field trip to Denver Center for the Performing Arts in which we will see the live theatrical version of Lord of the Flies. This will be a really fun trip! Make sure you have all aspects of the permission slips filled out and returned with your $8 payment no later that October 12. I cannot accept any late permission slips or payments. If you are struggling with this let me know ASAP.

In addition to this we looked at specific quotes from chapters 3, 4, and 5 and analyzed their importance. We took notes to support our future reading and writing. Please be done with chapter 5 questions by tomorrow. 

Friday September 26, 2014

Honors 9- Today we completed vocab quiz 2. We completed group discussion questions around chapter 2 of Anthem. Your homework for the weekend is to read all of chapter 3. (It is only a couple pages long!)

English 10- Today I collected all the questions based around chapters 3 and 4. I also looked at the character development quotes from yesterday's assignment. In addition, today we did grade conferences and discussed what students need to do to improve their grades. Note: All make up work is due no later than October 6th.

Thursday September 25, 2014

Honors 9- Today we completed independent writing for chapter one in Anthem. Your homework is to finish your questions if you are unable to complete them in class. Also, please make sure you have read through chapter 2 by tomorrow! Vocab Quiz Tomorrow!!

Here are the questions for Anthem chapter one if you need them:

Answer the following questions with specific support (including quotes) from the text. 

1        

1    1. When Equality is in school, what is his “curse”?  Why  is it a curse?

2. Equality wants to go to the Home of the Scholars.  Why does he say “we were happy” when he is told he is to be a Street Sweeper?

 3. Equality and International discover the tunnel from the Unmentionable Times.  What does he do there that is the “crime that changed all things for us” (29)?  Why is this a crime in this society?  Why does it change things for him?

English 10- Today we looked at the character development of Ralph, Piggy and Jack through the first four chapters of The Lord of The Flies. Your homework is to complete the chapter comprehension questions 1 through 12 for chapter 5. Here are the questions if you need them:

Chapter 5 Comprehension Questions. 

1.  What does Ralph decide about the meeting that he is about to have? 

2.  What does this say about how Ralph is changing? 

3.  What does Ralph start to realize about his appearance? 

4.  What did Ralph, Jack, and Piggy not have the “wit” to do? 

5.  What does Ralph realize a chief needs to be able to do? 

6.  Where does Piggy stand at the beginning of the assembly? 

7.  What is the first thing Ralph lists as something that the boys have failed to do? 

8.  What is Ralph’s second complaint? 

9. What is Ralph’s third complaint? 

10.  What do all the littluns laugh about while Ralph is talking?

11.  What is Ralph’s fourth command? 

12.  What does Ralph say about fires for cooking? 

13.  What is the last thing Ralph tries to talk about before he loses control?

14.  What does Jack have to say about the littluns’ fear? 

15.  What did the boy named Phil think he saw?

16.  What did the boy really see? 

17.  How does Maurice get the littluns to stop crying? 

18.  According to Percival, where does the beast live? 

19.  What does Simon suggest about the beast? 

20.  What do the boys vote on? 

21.  Why does Ralph not blow the conch? 

22.  Why is Piggy afraid of Ralph giving up control? 

Wednesday September 24, 2014

Honors 9- Today we completed group comprehension questions for chapter one of Anthem. Remember to be studying your vocab words for Friday's quiz.


English 10- Today we completed the comprehension questions for chapter 3 and started comprehension questions for chapter 4. Your homework is to finish questions 1 through 12 for chapter 4 if you were unable to finish them in class.


All classes please note: All makeup work for quarter one is due by October 6! No exceptions!

September 23, 2014

Honors 9- Today we took notes on author's craft. We completed a Type one writing to kick off our whole class novel reading of Anthem by Ayn Rand. Please have chapter one completed by tomorrow.

English 10- Today we took a quiz for chapter 3 and completed a literature analysis of selected quotes from chapters 1-3 in The Lord of the Flies. If you have not completed reading chapter 3, you are behind. Tonight there is no assigned reading, except to get caught up.

Monday September 22, 2014

Honors 9- Today I handed out the vocab words for this week. Here they are for those of you that didn't receive them:

Vocab List 2. Quiz on Friday!

sage (n) a person, usually elderly, who is venerated for wisdom, experience, and judgment (adj) having, proceeding from, or showing wisdom and calm judgment; judicious; wise

tangible (adj) discernible to the touch; capable of being touched visible and appraisable; corporeal capable of being exactly comprehended that which can be treated as a fact; real; concrete

verbose (adj) using or containing an excessive number of words; wordy; talkative

 advocate (v) to speak in favor of; recommend; support (n) a person who argues for a cause; a supporter or defender

comply (v) to act in accordance with a command, request, rule, wish, or the like

deride (v) to speak of or treat with contemptuous mirth; to scoff at derision (n) scoffing; ridicule; an object of ridicule; a laughingstock derisive (adj) mocking, scoffing

divert (v) to turn aside from a course or direction; to deflect; to distract; to amuse or

entertain

euphony (n) agreeable sound, especially in the phonetic quality of words euphonious (adj) agreeable to the ear

infamy (n) evil fame or reputation infamous (adj) notorious; having a bad reputation; detestable; loathsome

philanthropy (n) the effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind, as by charitable aid or donations; love of mankind in general; actions or institutions designed to promote human welfare

English 10- Today we completed an interactive quiz over chapter 2 and began reading chapter 3 in The Lord of The Flies. Homework: You need to be done with chapter 3 by tomorrow! We will have a quiz. 

Friday September 19, 2014

Honors 9- Today we took vocab quiz 1. After we finished The Gift of the Magi and started the point-of-view writing activity. Note: The first narrative assignment is due Monday!

English 10- Today we took reading quiz over chapter 1. We took this quiz as a practice and a reminder for students to keep up with me on readings. Please make sure that you have completed Chapter 2 by Monday. This is only 28 pages long!

Thursday September 18, 2014

Honors 9- Today we outlined the first narrative project, which is due on Monday. The requirements for this are listed under Wednesday September 19, 2014. Don't forget, we have a vocab quiz tomorrow!

English 10- Today we looked at the critical elements we need to consider while reading chapter one, including: setting, topic, theme, foreshadowing and symbolism. Tonight you only need to read 28 pages- Much of it we may finish in class. This will mean that you just have read to the start of Chapter 3.

Wednesday September 17, 2014

Honors 9- You need to have completed The Birds for tomorrow's work. If you did not complete reading it, you can find the text at this link:

http://gpschools.schoolwires.net/cms/lib05/MI01000971/Centricity/Domain/299/BirdsStory.pdf

Today I assigned the first narrative writing assignment. Here is what you need to know:

Things you need to consider and account for:

•POV

•Character development (you need at least 2 players)

•Setting

•Dialogue

•Conflict

•Theme and thematic elements (Don’t get to hung up here, do the best you can. Avoid "Disney" endings i.e. "They lived happily ever after")

•Minimum of 2 pages, Double space if typed, skip lines if you are hand writing it.  Due Monday!!

•Has to be about an experience that happened to you, for this one, write about what you know


English 10- Today we started reading The Lord of the Flies. Make sure you are through page 20 by tomorrow!

Tuesday September 16, 2014

Honors 9- Today we completed the writing prompts for The Necklace and started reading The Birds. Don't forget that there will be a vocab test on Friday.

English 10- Today I checked out a copy of the novel The Lord of The Flies to each student. If you were not in class, please see me right away. We will start reading the book tomorrow! Here are some things to consider about having been checked out a book:

It is your responsibility to take care of your book. Don’t lose it, don’t destroy it!

Bring it with you everyday!!!

You will have some reading to complete at home. Make sure you keep up with our pace in the class. I will give quizzes from time to time to check that students are staying caught up on reading.

Monday September 15, 2014

Honors 9- We took notes on point of view and concluded reading The Necklace. Today I assigned the vocab words for this weeks quiz. The quiz will be Friday.  Here are the words with definitions:

Vocab list for the week of September 15. Quiz will be given Friday

abstract (n) a statement summarizing the important points of a given text (adj) theoretical; not applied or practical. Considered in theory, rather than with reference to a particular instance or example.

guile (n) insidious, treacherous cunning; craftiness; slyness; trickery

belittle (v) to represent or speak of as small or unimportant; to depreciate or disparage; to cause

to seem less or little

censure (n) an expression of blame or disapproval (v) to express severe criticism or disapproval

deference (n) submission or courteous yielding to the opinion, wishes, or judgment of another (v)

to comply with or submit to the opinion or decision of another

eccentric (adj) departing or deviating from the established norm, model, or rule; an odd or erratic

person or thing

facilitate (v) to free from difficulties or obstacles; to make easier; to aid or assist

mar (v) to damage or deface; to spoil the quality of; to injure. marred (adj) damaged, defaced, spoiled, injured

parsimony (n) unusual or excessive frugality; extreme economy; stinginess

recalcitrant (adj) stubbornly resistant to authority, domination, or guidance; unruly

English 10- Today we finished analyzing the Stanley Williams articles and the writing assignment was given. The writing prompts are due tomorrow.  Here are the prompts:

1. How did Williams’ use his power in the first article? How did he use his power differently in the second?

2. Given what you know now about Williams’ life, do you think he has redeemed himself for his crimes?

3. Make a claim for Williams to either be released, serve out a life prison sentence, or receive the death penalty.

Friday September 12, 2014

Honors 9- Today we finished The Necklace and started to look at topics that arose from the story.  We will develop these into themes next week and answer some short questions before we launch into The Birds. Next week we will also begin the first narrative writing assignment. Note: Your first independent reading bookmark should be turned as soon as possible.

English 10- Today we will finish up the two articles we have been analyzing over the past couple of days--which have been about Stanley Williams.  Today we will form a claim about him and his actions while looking at how he used his power. There will be written questions due Tuesday.

Tuesday September 9, 2014

Honors 9- Today we completed the re-write group activity using student work. We purposely identified proficient work. Remember to bring your independent reading book and your bookmark tomorrow.


English 10- Today we finished the group writing prompts and started the next article. Our purpose for annotating this article is to "form an opinion about John Doe."

Due Tomorrow!

Honors 9- The questions to The Sniper are due 9/9. Here are the questions:

Reading Questions for The Sniper (Remember to always use a quote from the text.)

1.       Two possible themes for The Sniper are _______________________and_______________________. Two quotes from the text that support these themes are...

2.       What is the internal and external conflict(s) that happen in the story?

3.       Hypothesize the significance of the author not using names in the story.

4.       Explain why this story is considered ironic? What does it mean for something to be ironic?

5.       Apply the concepts that we have learned about the importance of setting and theme to this story.  

6.       Apply the concepts that we have learned about character development and theme to this story.

English 10- Complete annotations and completed graphic organizer is due for Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee

Honors 9 The Sniper text

Here is the the text for The Sniper:

The long June twilight faded into night. Dublin lay enveloped in darkness but for the dim light of the moon that shone through fleecy clouds, casting a pale light as of approaching dawn over the streets and the dark waters of the Liffey. Around the beleaguered Four Courts the heavy guns roared. Here and there through the city, machine guns and rifles broke the silence of the night, spasmodically, like dogs barking on lone farms. Republicans and Free Staters were waging civil war.

On a rooftop near O'Connell Bridge, a Republican sniper lay watching. Beside him lay his rifle and over his shoulders was slung a pair of field glasses. His face was the face of a student, thin and ascetic, but his eyes had the cold gleam of the fanatic. They were deep and thoughtful, the eyes of a man who is used to looking at death.

He was eating a sandwich hungrily. He had eaten nothing since morning. He had been too excited to eat. He finished the sandwich, and, taking a flask of whiskey from his pocket, he took a short drought. Then he returned the flask to his pocket. He paused for a moment, considering whether he should risk a smoke. It was dangerous. The flash might be seen in the darkness, and there were enemies watching. He decided to take the risk.

Placing a cigarette between his lips, he struck a match, inhaled the smoke hurriedly and put out the light. Almost immediately, a bullet flattened itself against the parapet of the roof. The sniper took another whiff and put out the cigarette. Then he swore softly and crawled away to the left.

Cautiously he raised himself and peered over the parapet. There was a flash and a bullet whizzed over his head. He dropped immediately. He had seen the flash. It came from the opposite side of the street.

He rolled over the roof to a chimney stack in the rear, and slowly drew himself up behind it, until his eyes were level with the top of the parapet. There was nothing to be seen--just the dim outline of the opposite housetop against the blue sky. His enemy was under cover.

Just then an armored car came across the bridge and advanced slowly up the street. It stopped on the opposite side of the street, fifty yards ahead. The sniper could hear the dull panting of the motor. His heart beat faster. It was an enemy car. He wanted to fire, but he knew it was useless. His bullets would never pierce the steel that covered the gray monster.

Then round the corner of a side street came an old woman, her head covered by a tattered shawl. She began to talk to the man in the turret of the car. She was pointing to the roof where the sniper lay. An informer.

The turret opened. A man's head and shoulders appeared, looking toward the sniper. The sniper raised his rifle and fired. The head fell heavily on the turret wall. The woman darted toward the side street. The sniper fired again. The woman whirled round and fell with a shriek into the gutter.

Suddenly from the opposite roof a shot rang out and the sniper dropped his rifle with a curse. The rifle clattered to the roof. The sniper thought the noise would wake the dead. He stooped to pick the rifle up. He couldn't lift it. His forearm was dead. "I'm hit," he muttered.

Dropping flat onto the roof, he crawled back to the parapet. With his left hand he felt the injured right forearm. The blood was oozing through the sleeve of his coat. There was no pain--just a deadened sensation, as if the arm had been cut off.

Quickly he drew his knife from his pocket, opened it on the breastwork of the parapet, and ripped open the sleeve. There was a small hole where the bullet had entered. On the other side there was no hole. The bullet had lodged in the bone. It must have fractured it. He bent the arm below the wound. the arm bent back easily. He ground his teeth to overcome the pain.

Then taking out his field dressing, he ripped open the packet with his knife. He broke the neck of the iodine bottle and let the bitter fluid drip into the wound. A paroxysm of pain swept through him. He placed the cotton wadding over the wound and wrapped the dressing over it. He tied the ends with his teeth.

Then he lay still against the parapet, and, closing his eyes, he made an effort of will to overcome the pain.

In the street beneath all was still. The armored car had retired speedily over the bridge, with the machine gunner's head hanging lifeless over the turret. The woman's corpse lay still in the gutter.

The sniper lay still for a long time nursing his wounded arm and planning escape. Morning must not find him wounded on the roof. The enemy on the opposite roof coverd his escape. He must kill that enemy and he could not use his rifle. He had only a revolver to do it. Then he thought of a plan.

Taking off his cap, he placed it over the muzzle of his rifle. Then he pushed the rifle slowly upward over the parapet, until the cap was visible from the opposite side of the street. Almost immediately there was a report, and a bullet pierced the center of the cap. The sniper slanted the rifle forward. The cap clipped down into the street. Then catching the rifle in the middle, the sniper dropped his left hand over the roof and let it hang, lifelessly. After a few moments he let the rifle drop to the street. Then he sank to the roof, dragging his hand with him.

Crawling quickly to his feet, he peered up at the corner of the roof. His ruse had succeeded. The other sniper, seeing the cap and rifle fall, thought that he had killed his man. He was now standing before a row of chimney pots, looking across, with his head clearly silhouetted against the western sky.

The Republican sniper smiled and lifted his revolver above the edge of the parapet. The distance was about fifty yards--a hard shot in the dim light, and his right arm was paining him like a thousand devils. He took a steady aim. His hand trembled with eagerness. Pressing his lips together, he took a deep breath through his nostrils and fired. He was almost deafened with the report and his arm shook with the recoil.

Then when the smoke cleared, he peered across and uttered a cry of joy. His enemy had been hit. He was reeling over the parapet in his death agony. He struggled to keep his feet, but he was slowly falling forward as if in a dream. The rifle fell from his grasp, hit the parapet, fell over, bounded off the pole of a barber's shop beneath and then clattered on the pavement.

Then the dying man on the roof crumpled up and fell forward. The body turned over and over in space and hit the ground with a dull thud. Then it lay still.

The sniper looked at his enemy falling and he shuddered. The lust of battle died in him. He became bitten by remorse. The sweat stood out in beads on his forehead. Weakened by his wound and the long summer day of fasting and watching on the roof, he revolted from the sight of the shattered mass of his dead enemy. His teeth chattered, he began to gibber to himself, cursing the war, cursing himself, cursing everybody.

He looked at the smoking revolver in his hand, and with an oath he hurled it to the roof at his feet. The revolver went off with a concussion and the bullet whizzed past the sniper's head. He was frightened back to his senses by the shock. His nerves steadied. The cloud of fear scattered from his mind and he laughed.

Taking the whiskey flask from his pocket, he emptied it a drought. He felt reckless under the influence of the spirit. He decided to leave the roof now and look for his company commander, to report. Everywhere around was quiet. There was not much danger in going through the streets. He picked up his revolver and put it in his pocket. Then he crawled down through the skylight to the house underneath.

When the sniper reached the laneway on the street level, he felt a sudden curiosity as to the identity of the enemy sniper whom he had killed. He decided that he was a good shot, whoever he was. He wondered did he know him. Perhaps he had been in his own company before the split in the army. He decided to risk going over to have a look at him. He peered around the corner into O'Connell Street. In the upper part of the street there was heavy firing, but around here all was quiet.

The sniper darted across the street. A machine gun tore up the ground around him with a hail of bullets, but he escaped. He threw himself face downward beside the corpse. The machine gun stopped.

Then the sniper turned over the dead body and looked into his brother's face. 

Monday September 8, 2014

Honors 9- Today we will complete and extended grammar warm up and discuss some findings from the Type 3 writing that was completed last week.  Questions for the short story, The Sniper,will be due tomorrow.

English 10- Today we will be doing an extended writing exercise and completing the Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee excerpts.

Friday September 5, 2014

Honors 9- Friday we finished sharing flash fiction stories with the class and debriefed the exercise.

English 10-  Friday we did an extended grammar exercise in our note books.  We then worked on annotations and the graphic organizer for  Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

Thursday September 4, 2014

Honors 9- Today we finished and shared our flash fiction stories. The purpose of this exercise is to prepare for the narrative writing we will be doing later in the quarter.

English 10- Today we annotated the Chief Ouray  article and started the graphic organizer. We will finish the organizer tomorrow. Final Notice: Type 3 writing final draft is due tomorrow!

Wednesday September 3, 2014

Honors 9- Today we worked in groups on a flash fiction exercise.  We will complete the exercise on Thursday.

English 10- Today we looked at background information on Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and began to read excerpts from it. Note: Type 3 writing about the Milgram Expriment is due Friday!!

Tuesday September 2, 2014

Honors 9- Today we read The Sniper and started the focus questions that went along with it. We will finish the questions on Thursday.

English 10- Today we completed the peer review of our Type 3 writing. THE FINAL DRAFT IS DUE FRIDAY. NO EXCEPTIONS.