Wednesday December 16, 2015 ( No school Tuesday Due to Snow)

English 9- Today students were allowed to work on their article.  Due to the snow day yesterday, the due date for the article has been extended to Thursday December 17, 2015


English 10- Today students worked on their Type 3 papers for Fences. Due to the snow day yesterday, the due date for the Type 3 has been extended to Thursday December 17, 2015

Monday December 14, 2015

English 9- Today I checked the progress of all students and their social issue articles. I gave participation grades for these based on what is completed. If you were absent see me immediately. REMINDER: Final article is due Wednesday!



English 10- Today students turned in their study guides and took the quiz over Act 2. If you were absent and missed the quiz, see me ASAP! I then assigned the writing prompt for Fences. We will be doing most of the writing in class tomorrow:

Identify a theme from Fences and discuss how either symbolism or conflict drove this theme.

FCA’s:

¨2 Quotes from the text

¨Answer all of the prompt

¨Use “says, means, matters”

Friday December 11, 2015

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: All make up work and revisions for quarter 2 are due Friday December 11, 2015!!!

English 9- Today we reviewed the expectations for the article assignment. Students were given time to work on their articles. Articles are due next Wednesday!!

English 10- Today we finished Fences and did reaction writing. The study guide for Act 2 is due Monday and we will take the Act 2 Quiz. 

Thursday December 10, 2015

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: All make up work and revisions for quarter 2 are due Friday December 11, 2015!!!

English 9- Today we reviewed the expectations for the article assignment. Students were given time to work on their articles. Articles are due next Wednesday!!

English 10- Today we read Act Two Scenes two through four. I handed out the study guide for Act Two. We will complete the play tomorrow and I will assign the writing prompt. Act Two quiz will be on Monday!

Wednesday December 09, 2015

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: All make up work and revisions for quarter 2 are due Friday December 11, 2015!!!


English 9- Today we took notes on teh article outline and deconstructed the assignment. Here is the assignment details if you lost them or did not receive them:

Claim Article Assignment Due Wednesday December 16, 2015   

The purpose of this assignment is to mimic the articles we have been and will be reading in class—you need to develop a claim and support it. The key is to choose something you are passionate about. The article needs to be supported by 3 sources. These need to be credible websites! The article can be typed or written out, but must attempt to resemble a newspaper or magazine article. Images are not required but are encouraged. The assignment needs to be a minimum of two pages. A works cited page of your sources needs to be included.  Here are the important dates to remember:

Proposal due Friday December 4, 2015: This is simply a hand written piece explaining what your social topic is and what your exact claim is going to be. You will also need to explain how you are going to complete the assignment (access to technology, research, final project etc.)

Final project due Wednesday December 16, 2015: This is your final article in the best formatting and shape you can do. Remember, this can be handwritten, but it needs to be clean! Take pride in your hard work!

English 10- Today we reviewed the quiz over Act One. We then watched clips from the Denzel Washington version of the play and discussed tone of Act Two Scene One. 

Tuesday December 8, 2015

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: All make up work and revisions for quarter 2 are due Friday December 11, 2015!!!


English 9- Today I assigned the article Suicide by Choice Not So Fast. The two articles annotated and the questions for each will be due on Wednesday! Here are the questions if you need them:

PLEASE ANSWER ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER

Questions for the article:

“Suicide By Choice: Not So Fast” From the NY Times

1.     Would the author have been a good candidate for assisted suicide? Why?

2.     What do doctors think of the author?

3.     How could a “loved one’s look of exhaustion” or “nobody wants you at the party” persuade one to pick assisted suicide?

4.     Is the author for or against assisted suicide?  Identify the author’s claim. 

5.      What are the author’s best examples of evidence supporting their claim?

Questions for the article:

“Assisted suicide: Jack Kevorkian was just a sideshow” From the LA Times

1. What does the author want to do?  What is her problem?

2. What are some potential problems with assisting in someone’s death? 

3.  What does the author think the difference is between “killing someone” and assisted suicide?

4.     How did the mother react to being given the option of “suicide?”

5.     What is the author’s claim? Write out the actual line you identified for the claim

6.      What are the author’s best examples of supporting evidence?

v  Lastly, after reading these two articles look at the types of evidence, the authors and the publications. Regardless of your stance on assisted suicide, decide which article supported their claim the best.

English 10- Today we took the quiz over Act one.  If you did not complete this, you need to do so before Friday !!  We then read Act Two Scene One.

Monday December 7, 2015

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS: All make up work and revisions for quarter 2 are due Friday December 11, 2015!!!


English 9- Today I assigned the article Suicide by Choice Not So Fast. The two articles annotated and the questions for each will be due on Wednesday! Here are the questions if you need them:

PLEASE ANSWER ON A SEPARATE PIECE OF PAPER

Questions for the article:

“Suicide By Choice: Not So Fast” From the NY Times

1.     Would the author have been a good candidate for assisted suicide? Why?

2.     What do doctors think of the author?

3.     How could a “loved one’s look of exhaustion” or “nobody wants you at the party” persuade one to pick assisted suicide?

4.     Is the author for or against assisted suicide?  Identify the author’s claim. 

5.      What are the author’s best examples of evidence supporting their claim?

Questions for the article:

“Assisted suicide: Jack Kevorkian was just a sideshow” From the LA Times

1. What does the author want to do?  What is her problem?

2. What are some potential problems with assisting in someone’s death? 

3.  What does the author think the difference is between “killing someone” and assisted suicide?

4.     How did the mother react to being given the option of “suicide?”

5.     What is the author’s claim? Write out the actual line you identified for the claim

6.      What are the author’s best examples of supporting evidence?

v  Lastly, after reading these two articles look at the types of evidence, the authors and the publications. Regardless of your stance on assisted suicide, decide which article supported their claim the best.

EEnglish 10- Today we read Act 1 scene 4. There will be a quiz tomorrow! Here is the entire quiz for those students that are smart and check my blog: 

Act One Quiz. (50 pts.)

Matching. (21 pts.)

1. ______ Troy                                      a. Is being recruited to play college football

2. ______ Cory                                      b. Was shot in the head during WWII

3. ______ Bono                                      c. Has aspirations as a musician

4. ______ Rose                                      d. Killed a man during an attempted robbery

5. ______ Lyons                                    e. Troy’s mistress

6. ______ Gabriel                                  f. Admires Troy’s honesty and work ethic

7. ______ Alberta                                  g. Troy’s wife

Multiple Choice. (15 pts.)

8. ______ Which statement best describes Troy’s approach to fatherhood.

a. He feels that a father should be a friend first.

b. He is an uncaring father.

c. He sees being a father as a job or responsibility.

d. He is lax with discipline.

9. ______ What does Troy’s repeated bashing of African-American athletes suggest?

a. He believes African-Americans don’t have the opportunity to excel in professional sports.

b. He thinks all African-American athletes are lucky if they make it in professional sports.

c. He thinks African-Americans are inferior athletes.

d. He is jealous that he didn’t get the opportunity to play professionally.

10. ______ How does Troy’s refusal to shop at the A&P reflect his personal ideals?

a. He values being treated with respect more than money.

b. He likes to save his money as much as possible.

c. He always looks for the best bargain.

d. He’s a stubborn old man.

11. ______ What statement best describes the relationship between Troy and Gabriel?

a. They hate one other, but still respect one another’s ideas.

b. Troy looks after his invalid brother, and also likes the extra income.

c. Gabriel always tries to outdo Troy in competitive situations.

d. Troy is jealous of Gabriel’s success in life.

12. ______ What statement best describes the relationship between Troy and Lyons?

a. They hate one other, but still respect one another’s ideas.

b. Troy looks after his invalid brother, and also likes the extra income.

c. Troy views him as a free-loader that is wasting his life playing music.

d. Troy is jealous of Lyons’ success in life.

Short Answer. Answers must be in complete sentences. (14 total pts.)

13. Specifically describe the analogy Troy uses when talking about death. (4 pts.)

14. What is Troy’s complaint at work and what is the result of it?  What is ironic about the result? (6 pts.)

15. What common characteristic does the professions of musician and athlete share? Why does this bother Troy so much? (4 pts.)

Bonus. (2 pts.)

What major social change occurs shortly after the time when Fences takes place?

Friday December 4, 2015

English 9- Proposals are due today! We finished annotating the first assisted suicide article.

REMINDER: Final articles are due December 16!

English 10- Today we read Act one scene three in Fences. We then watched clips from this scene featuring Troy played by James Earl Jones and then by Denzel Washington. We discussed how each portrayed him in very different ways. Here is the link to watch the clips:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jE2dDmMGfa4

Thursday December 3, 2015

English 9-

All students and parents, please read the following disclaimer about the articles and discussion we are going to start today:

We are now going to read articles based on an often uncomfortable topic. If you become uncomfortable at any time, you may take a break and come back when you are ready. If you are really struggling, you may propose an alternate assignment based on two opposing articles around a social topic. 

English 10- Today we read through Act on scene two in Fences. We will have a quiz at the end of Act on scene three.

Wednesday December 2, 2015

English 9- Today we went over answers for the 5 Types of Evidence. In addition, I went over the article project that is due Wednesday December 16.  Here is the sheet that I handed out in case you did not receive it:

Claim Article Assignment Due Wednesday December 16, 2015 

The purpose of this assignment is to mimic the articles we have been and will be reading in class—you need to develop a claim and support it. The key is to choose something you are passionate about. The article needs to be supported by 3 sources. These need to be credible websites! The article can be typed or written out, but must attempt to resemble a newspaper or magazine article. Images are not required but are encouraged. The assignment needs to be a minimum of two pages. A works cited page of your sources needs to be included.  Here are the important dates to remember:

Proposal due Friday December 4, 2015: This is simply a hand written piece explaining what your social topic is and what your exact claim is going to be. You will also need to explain how you are going to complete the assignment (access to technology, research, final project etc.)

Final project due Wednesday December 16, 2015: This is your final article in the best formatting and shape you can do. Remember, this can be handwritten, but it needs to be clean! Take pride in your hard work!

English 10- Today we started reading the introduction portions and Act 1 Scene 1 in Fences. If you were absent, please check out a book so you may catch up. 

Tuesday December 1, 2015

English 9- Today we took notes on Ethos, Pathos and logos. We added our annotations of the 5 types of evidence to include identifying claim and rhetorical argument.

English 10- Today we reviewed what life was like in the 1950's and 1960's to give context to our play Fences.