Weekly Schedule 12/6 - 12/10 - Last Week of School Before Final Exams!

Monday: 12/6
IC: You will begin class by taking a brief vocabulary quiz to check your levels of understanding of the list of commonly confused words. You will complete a reading quiz over chapters 4-9 of Anthem. Then, I will distribute your graded in-class essays over Romeo & Juliet. We will discuss the areas of assessment and brainstorm suggestions for improvement in these areas in future writing. Next, we will return to our discussion of cause and effect writing. We will go over the process of developing a thesis statement for a cause and effect essay, and look at some important organizational and structural notes, including the arrangement of causes and effects, and the use of transitions.
HW:

• Study the list of commonly confused words.
• Review for Final Exam.
• Write a thesis statement for your cause and effect essay.

Handout: Notes on planning and structuring a cause and effect essay - to be distributed in class.

Tuesday: 12/7 - FOOD PARTY in celebration of meeting our class goal of donations to the Care and Share food drive. Don't forget to bring a treat to share with your classmates!
IC: You will turn in your thesis statements at the beginning of class. Then, we'll enjoy some food together and begin viewing the dystopian film The Truman Show.
HW: Review for Final Exam.

Wednesday: 12/8
IC: You will complete a reading quiz over chapters 10-12 of Anthem, and then hand in your books. I will pass back your thesis statements and let you know if you're good to go, or if we need to talk before the end of the week. We will also talk about selecting supporting points as topics for body paragraphs in your cause and effect essay. Finally, we will continue viewing and discussing The Truman Show.
HW:

• Write down the main ideas for each body paragraph in your cause and effect essay.
  
• Review for Final Exam.

Thursday: 12/9
IC: We will continue viewing and discussing The Truman Show, making connections to Anthem, and discussing elements of dystopian literature.
HW: Review for Final Exam.

Friday: 12/10 - Happy birthday, Lydia!
IC: We will conclude our viewing and discussion of The Truman Show (if we haven't already). We will revisit our discussion of planning and structuring cause and effect essays, and then complete a blitz review/Q&A session. Finally, I will ask you to complete a teacher evaluation to provide me with feedback about the curriculum and instruction you receive in my classroom
HW: Review for Final Exam, Rest, and Eat Well!

Sunday: 12/12 - Happy birthday, Sara!

Modified Assembly Schedule for Winter Sports Kickoff - 12/1

6:40 – 7:30 am Zero Hour

7:35 – 8:20 am 1^st Period

8:25 – 9:10 am 2^nd Period

9:15 – 10:00 am 3^rd Period

10:05 – 10:40 am Assembly

10:45 – 11:30 am 4^th Period

11:35 – 12:25 pm 5a/1^st Lunch

12:30 – 1:20 pm 5b/2^nd Lunch

1:25 – 2:10 pm 6^th Period

2:15 – 3:00 pm 7^th Period

Anthem Reading Schedule

Anthem
by Ayn Rand

Reading Schedule: Be sure to read the following selections by the dates listed below. Remember to expect a reading quiz over each selection on the date listed. **Since this is an ongoing assignment, you are responsible for keeping up with the reading schedule regardless of absences. This means that even if you are absent on a day before reading is due, you are still responsible for the reading quiz on the day you return. Be prepared so that you can learn as much as possible in class each day.

Thursday 12/2 - Ch. 1-3
Monday 12/6 - Ch. 4-9
Wednesday 12/8 - Ch. 10-12

Weekly Schedule 11/29 - 12/3

Monday: 11/29 - Welcome Back!
IC: I will pass back your Writer's Notebook Entries. We will begin class by going over the list of commonly confused words that I distributed before the break. Then, we'll talk about cause and effect writing. I'll introduce some of the common structural approaches, and you'll take some notes on the subject. Finally, you will brainstorm with a peer to generate a thesis for a cause and effect essay on Romeo & Juliet. You will turn in your Romeo & Juliet books during class.
HW: Study the list of commonly confused words.
Handout: I will distribute a packet about cause and effect essays.

Tuesday: 11/30
IC: We'll begin class with a brief vocabulary quiz to check your understanding of some commonly confused words. We will finish reading and discussing the handout on structuring cause and effect writing. Then, we'll read and discuss an example of an effective cause and effect essay. We'll discuss the arrangement and style of the piece, and talk about the role of punctuation in a writer's approach to cause and effect relationships. Finally, I will distribute Ayn Rand's Anthem and we'll go over the reading schedule.
HW: Study the list of commonly confused words.

Wednesday: 12/1 - Winter Sports Kickoff Assembly (See Modified Assembly Schedule)
IC: You will read Lillian B. Rubin's essay "Guns and Grief." You will answer the Comprehension Questions, and then complete the attached Journal Entry.
HW: Study the list of commonly confused words.

Thursday: 12/2 - Happy Birthday, Kristi!
IC: You will begin by taking a reading quiz over chapters 1-3 of Anthem. We'll discuss the reading selection. I will introduce the characteristics of dystopian literature, and you'll apply your understanding of these characteristics to the text of Anthem as well as a few clips of the film The Matrix.
HW: Study the list of commonly confused words.

Friday: 12/3
IC: You'll begin by taking another brief vocabulary quiz to check for growing understanding of the list of commonly confused words. We'll finish going over the introduction to dystopian literature, and then discuss the cause and effect essays you've read this week. Finally, you will brainstorm a list of possible topics for your own cause and effect essay.
HW:

• Study the list of commonly confused words.
• Select a topic for your cause and effect essay and draft a proposal.

Handout: Semester One Final Exam Study Checklist

Weekly Schedule 11/15 - 11/19

Congratulations Ladies Volleyball State Champs!

Monday: 11/15
IC: You will hand in Lesson Ten Vocabulary work and then take the Lesson Ten Vocabulary test. Then, you will complete Writer's Notebook Entry #12. Finally, depending on available time, we will view the opening sequence of Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet and discuss.
HW: Completed, organized Writer's Notebook Entries #1-12 due Wednesday 11/17. Remember that the entries must be labeled correctly, show evidence of thoughtfulness and effort, and be on topic to receive full credit.

Tuesday: 11/16 - Happy Birthday, Grant!
IC: First period will begin viewing Baz Luhrmann's Romeo & Juliet. Seventh period will complete a timed write and then begin viewing the film.
HW: Completed, organized Writer's Notebook Entries #1-12 due Wednesday 11/17. Remember that the entries must be labeled correctly, show evidence of thoughtfulness and effort, and be on topic to receive full credit.

Wednesday: 11/17 - Happy Birthday, Katri!
IC: You will begin class by handing in your Writer's Notebook Entries. Then, we will continue viewing and discussing the film.

Thursday: 11/18 - Happy Birthday, Alli!
IC: We will continue viewing and discussion the film.

Friday: 11/19 - Last day of school before Thanksgiving Break!
IC: We will finish viewing and discussing the film. Then, I will distribute a list of commonly confused words that will serve as your spelling and vocabulary words after break.

Saturday: 11/20 - Happy Birthday, Iris!

Weekly Schedule 11/8 - 11/12

Monday: 11/8
IC: You will hand in Lesson Nine Vocabulary, and take the Lesson Nine Vocabulary Test. Then, we will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet.

Tuesday: 11/9
IC: I will introduce Lesson Ten Vocabulary. We will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet.
HW: Study and complete Lesson Ten Vocabulary, test Monday 11/15.

Wednesday: 11/10
IC: We will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Ten Vocabulary, test Monday 11/15.
• Complete Writer's Notebook Entry #10.
  

Thursday: 11/11
IC: We will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet.
HW: Study and complete Lesson Ten Vocabulary, test Monday 11/15.

Friday: 11/12
IC: You will complete a vocabulary review exercise to begin preparing for the final exam.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Ten Vocabulary, test Monday 11/15.
• Complete Writer's Notebook Entry #11.
  

Special Championship Assembly Schedule for 11/5

Special Championship Assembly Schedule
to celebrate Boys State Cross Country Champions!

6:40 - 7:30 am - Zero Hour
7:35 - 8:20 am - 1st Period
8:25 - 9:10 am - 2nd Period
9:15 - 10:00 am - 3rd Period
10:02 - 10:40 am - Assembly
10:45 - 11:30 am - 4th Period
11:35 - 12:25 pm - 5a/1st Lunch
12:30 - 1:20 pm - 5b/2nd Lunch
1:25 - 2:10 pm - 6th Period
2:15 - 3:00 pm - 7th Period

Weekly Schedule 11/1 - 11/5

Monday: 11/1
IC: You will hand in Lesson Eight Vocabulary, and take the Lesson Eight Vocabulary Test. You will also hand in your Shakespearean Insults with complete and accurate definitions. We will continue reading Romeo & Juliet.
HW: Complete Writer's Notebook Entry #8 for Homework

Tuesday: 11/2
IC: I will introduce Lesson Nine Vocabulary. We will go over your completed Appositive Phrases: Practice Two and discuss. I will assign Practice Three, and we will complete the first section together. We will continue reading Romeo & Juliet.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Nine Vocabulary, test Monday 11/8
• Appositive Phrases: Practice 3 due Thursday 11/4
  

Wednesday: 11/3
IC: We will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Nine Vocabulary, test Monday 11/8
• Appositive Phrases: Practice 3 due Thursday 11/4

Thursday: 11/4
IC: You will hand in your completed Appositive Phrases work. We will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Nine Vocabulary, test Monday 11/8
• Complete Writer's Notebook Entry #9 for Homework

Friday: 11/5
IC: We will begin class with a vocabulary review. Then, will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet.
HW: Study and complete Lesson Nine Vocabulary, test Monday 11/8

Weekly Schedule - 10/25 - 10/29

Monday: 10/25
IC: You will begin class by handing in your Lesson Seven Vocabulary Work and taking the Lesson Seven Vocabulary Test. Then, we will read and discuss Romeo & Juliet in class together.

Tuesday: 10/26
IC: We will begin class by going over Lesson Eight Vocabulary Words together. Then, we will review the ten most commonly used comma rules, and I will distribute Comma Quiz #2, which you must complete by tomorrow. Finally, we will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet together.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Eight Vocabulary - test Monday 11/1
• Complete Comma Quiz #2 by tomorrow.
  
• Definition Writing of an abstract quality due Friday 10/29. Be sure to consider your many options for the formal presentation of this assignment. Will you type your definition piece in MLA format, incorporate it into a thoughtful collage, pair it with an original illustration?

Handout: Comma Quiz #2 (To be distributed in class.)

Wednesday: 10/27
IC: You will hand in your completed comma quizzes. Then, we will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet together.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Eight Vocabulary - test Monday 11/1
• Definition Writing of an abstract quality due Friday 10/29.

Thursday: 10/28
IC: We will begin class with a review of Lesson Eight Vocabulary. Then, we will continue reading and discussing Romeo & Juliet together.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Eight Vocabulary - test Monday 11/1
• Definition Writing of an abstract quality due Friday 10/29.

Friday: 10/29 - Halloween Dress Up Day (Remember that all costumes must be dress code appropriate. No masks, full face paint, or weapons.)
IC: I will attend a district training today, so you'll be in the hands of one of my favorite substitutes, Ms. Wright. You will hand in your beautifully crafted Definition Writing pieces to Ms. Wright. Then, you will complete an exercise in mastering the art of the Shakespearean insult, the practice of which will make you infinitely cooler. Finally, you will be given time to complete Writer's Notebook Entry #7. Be sure to bring homework (vocabulary, or work from other classes) to help you make meaningful use of the time if you finish early.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Eight Vocabulary - test Monday 11/1

Weekly Schedule 10/18 - 10/22

Monday: 10/18
IC: You will hand in Lesson Six Vocabulary work and take the Lesson Six Test. As a class, we will go over your responses to Practice 1 in your Appositive Phrases packet. I will assign Practice 2 as homework. We will briefly discuss the two Shakespearean sonnets you looked at last week. I will distribute and check out copies of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, and we will take a close look at the prologue together. You will share the quotations you've collected about love, and then turn them in.
HW:

• Read the introduction to Romeo & Juliet by Monday 10/25.
• Complete Practice 2 in the Appositive Phrases Sentence-Composing Packet by Wednesday 10/20.
  

Tuesday: 10/19
IC: I will introduce Lesson Seven Vocabulary. We will talk about the purpose of puns and wordplay in Shakespeare's plays. Then we will begin reading Romeo & Juliet together in class.
HW:

• Find a good example of a pun to bring to class some time next week.
• Study and complete Lesson Seven Vocabulary - test Monday 10/25.

Wednesday: 10/20 - PLAN Test Schedule
IC: We will look at a few excerpts from J. Ruth Gendler's The Book of Qualities, and discuss the selections in which she personifies and characterizes a number of abstract qualities. You will be given a brief amount of time to jot down some possibilities for abstract qualities about which to write a definition piece. We will discuss expectations for the writing assignment. We will then continue reading Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet together.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Seven Vocabulary - test Monday 10/25.
• Definition Writing of an abstract quality due Friday 10/29. Be sure to consider your many options for the formal presentation of this assignment. Will you type your definition piece in MLA format, incorporate it into a thoughtful collage, pair it with an original illustration?
  

Handout: Definition Writing Handout (to be distributed in class)

Thursday: 10/21
IC: We will take an in-school field trip to witness a presentation by CMHS's drama teacher extraordinaire, Jodi Papproth. She will speak to you about the historical context of William Shakespeare's plays, and you will get an inside look at the staging choices and study involved in staging a production of Romeo & Juliet.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Seven Vocabulary - test Monday 10/25.
• Defnition Writing of an abstract quality due Friday 10/29.
  

Friday: 10/22 - No School, Teacher Work Day

Weekly Schedule 10/11 - 10/15

Monday: 10/11 - Happy Birthday, Ellen!
IC: You will hand in your Personal Essays with snapshots, proposals, and completed self assessments attached. You will hand in Lesson Five Vocabulary work, and complete the Lesson Five Vocabulary Test. We will conclude our discussion of The Little Prince through the lens of existential theory. I will collect and check in your copies of The Little Prince.
HW: You will complete Writer's Notebook Entry #6.

Tuesday: 10/12 - Hits Night.
IC: We will begin with an introduction to Lesson Six Vocabulary. We will discuss the ten most commonly used comma rules. You will complete a sentence composing exercise that focuses on the use of appositive phrases.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Six Vocabulary - test Monday 10/18.
• Complete the Comma quiz using your notes.
  

Handout: Commas. (Print and bring to class.)

Wednesday: 10/13 - Hits Night - PSAT Schedule
IC: You will hand in the completed Comma Quiz. We will employ the elements of poetic analysis to close read "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?", a Shakespearean sonnet. You will be asked to identify the distinctive features of Elizabethan sonnets. We will end class with a discussion of puns and word play as well as a brief vocabulary review.
HW: Study and complete Lesson Six Vocabulary - test Monday 10/18.

Thursday: 10/14
IC: I will distribute copies of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. You will receive and be asked to read an article about cultural traditions surrounding marriage. We will begin viewing and discussing an introductory documentary about the works and language of William Shakespeare. Link Leaders will come in for the last 30 minutes of class to speak with you.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Six Vocabulary - test Monday 10/18.
• Read the article about traditions and marriage, and craft thoughtful responses to the attached questions.
  

Handout: Article about cultural traditions that relate to marriage and corresponding questions. (To be distributed in class.)

Friday: 10/15
IC: You will hand in your responses to the article. You will finish viewing and discussing the documentary about William Shakespeare's life and language. We will briefly discuss the article and your responses. We will then complete a poetic analysis of "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun," another Shakespearean sonnet.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Six Vocabulary - test Monday 10/18.
• I have every reason to believe that many of you would admit that you haven't found love yet; you've had crushes, been madly in like, been in lust, but never felt the chest-thumping excitement and agony of real, true, honest love. However, references to love are all around you in music, TV shows, poetry, literature, movies, plays, musicals, and the like. For Monday, then, come to class with a reference to love: it can be a saying, song lyric, or proverb, but bring it in in writing. **Please: You don't have to give me the whole song! Four lines, maximum, will be sufficient... This means you have to select good lines!
  

Weekly Schedule 10/4 - 10/8

Sunday: 10/3 - Happy Birthday, Amanda!

Monday: 10/4
IC: You will begin class by handing in your Lesson Four Vocabulary and taking the Lesson Four Vocabulary Test. We will finish viewing and discussing the film Of Mice and Men as it relates to the theories of Lawrence Kohlberg. You will hand in your two-column notes over the film and the Stages of Moral development. If time allows, we will look at a few examples of effective and ineffective quotation explications from your final Of Mice and Men reading quizzes.
HW: Read The Little Prince by Wednesday 10/6.

Tuesday: 10/5
IC: You will participate in an activity and discussion that will serve as an introduction to the study of literary theory. You will be able to answer the following essential questions:

• What is literary theory?
• Why do people study literary theory?

You will be introduced to the Lesson Five Vocabulary words and practice using them correctly in context.
HW:

• Read The Little Prince by tomorrow!
• Study and Complete Lesson Five Vocabulary - test Monday 10/11.
  

Handout: Literary Theory Notes (To be distributed in class.)

Wednesday: 10/6
IC: We will begin by going over the Lesson Four Vocabulary Test. Then we'll look at some models of excellent snapshots. You will identify the effective elements of these snapshots, and work with a partner to identify strategies for improving your own snapshots and integrating them into your Personal Essays. We will review the rubric and expectations for the Personal Essay, and have a Q&A session about MLA formatting as it will apply to your personal essay. Introduction to literary theories based on philosophy.
HW:

• Study and Complete Lesson Five Vocabulary - test Monday 10/11.
• Completed Personal Essay due Monday 10/11. **Remember that this must be submitted to turnitin.com and you must also submit a paper copy in class on Monday.
  

Thursday: 10/7
IC: Introduction to the central elements of Existentialism. You will work in groups to apply the thoeries of existentialism to illuminate the text of The Little Prince.
HW:

• Study and Complete Lesson Five Vocabulary - test Monday 10/11.
• Completed Personal Essay due Monday 10/11. **Remember that this must be submitted to turnitin.com and you must also submit a paper copy in class on Monday.

Friday: 10/8
IC: We will begin with a brief review of Lesson Five Vocabulary. You will touch base with your peers on your navigation of the Writing Process as you craft your Personal Essays. We will continue our study and discussion of existential theory as it relates to the text of The Little Prince. We will end with a Friday Poem.
HW:

• Study and Complete Lesson Five Vocabulary - test Monday 10/11.
• Completed Personal Essay due Monday 10/11. **Remember that this must be submitted to turnitin.com and you must also submit a paper copy in class on Monday.

Weekly Schedule 9/27 - 10/1 Homecoming Week!

Monday: 9/27 - Movie Night on the Patio 7pm $3
IC: Hand in SNAPSHOT. Change of plans: You'll have a substitute teacher in and complete a vocabulary activity.
HW: Study and complete Lesson Four Vocabulary - test Monday 10/4.

Tuesday: 9/28 - Homecoming T-Shirt Day; Dodgeball Tournament in the Gym 7pm
IC: Introduction to the Stages of Moral Development theories of Lawrence Kohlberg. Vocabulary review.
HW: Study and complete Lesson Four Vocabulary - test Monday 10/4.

Wednesday: 9/29 - BBQ Lunch on the Patio; Homecoming Dress Up Day (Must Still Be In Dress Code!)
IC: Begin Viewing Film: Of Mice and Men. We will discuss the stages of moral development as they provide insight into the characterization and actions of each character within the film.
HW: No Homework Day.

Thursday: 9/30 - Early Dismissal at 1:35 for Powderpuff Football Game; Wear Class Colors
IC: Continue viewing film: Of Mice and Men. Continued discussion of the stages of moral development as they provide insight into the characterization and actions of each character within the film.

Friday: 10/1 - Assembly Schedule; Wear Maroon and White; Homecoming Parade Begins at 5:30 at Broadmoor Elementary; Tailgate at 6pm in the Parking Lot; Homecoming Football Game at 7pm in the Stadium - GO INDIANS!
IC: Finish viewing film: Of Mice and Men. Continued discussion of the stages of moral development as they provide insight into the characterization and actions of each character. Distribution of graded SNAPSHOTS and discussion of impending Personal Essay deadline. Distribution of Antoine de Saint Exupery's The Little Prince.
HW:

• Make good choices, be good to your bodies, and have fun!
• Complete Writer's Notebook Entry #5
• Study and Complete Lesson Four Vocabulary - Test Monday 10/4.
• Read The Little Prince by Wednesday 10/6.
  

Saturday: 10/2 - Homecoming Dance in the Auxiliary Gym 8:30pm - 11:30pm

MLA Formatting Reminders

Last Name 1

Student Name

Instructor Name

Course Name and Number

Date Due (MLA format = 27 September 2010)

Essentials for MLA Formatting

All text must be size twelve, Times New Roman, and double-spaced. Set all margins to one inch, and the indention at the beginning of the paragraph to an extra ½ inch. There are no extra spaces between the heading and title, or the title and text of the paper. Do not include extra spaces between paragraphs.

Weekly Schedule 9/20 - 9/24

Monday: 9/20
IC: MLA and Turnitin.com tutorials in the Integration Lab. Reading quiz over pages 65-81 in Of Mice and Men. I will pass back your Personal Essay Proposals and we'll go over a few reminders to consider in the composition of the personal essay.
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Three Vocabulary - test 9/23.
• Check out the Diana Hacker Writer's Reference Website - You are expected to use this as a reference in formatting your papers this year.
• Access and read the How to Submit a Paper Information Sheet on Turnitin.com.
  

Handout: You will create your own MLA Formatting Handout in the Integration Lab.

Tuesday: 9/21
IC: SCANTRON TESTING in the Integration Lab - be sure to report to the classroom first so we can take attendance and proceed to the lab together. **Remember that you must bring the information you need to log on to school computers: Student I.D. number and password. Also be sure to bring homework/reading to work on quietly while others finish testing.
HW: Study and complete Lesson Three Vocabulary - test 9/23.

Wednesday: 9/22 - Class Meeting Schedule
IC: SCANTRON TESTING in the Integration Lab - be sure to report to the classroom first so we can take attendance and proceed to the lab together. **Remember that you must bring the information you need to log on to school computers: Student I.D. number and password. We'll go over the Lesson Two vocabulary workbook and test, and then we'll conduct a brief vocabulary review. (Note that you do not have a reading quiz today due to time constraints - you will be tested over pages 82-105 on Friday.)
HW: Study and complete Lesson Three Vocabulary - test tomorrow.

Class Meeting Schedule - All freshmen are to report to the cafeteria during the class meeting.
Zero Hour 6:40 - 7:30
1st 7:35 - 8:25
2nd 8:30 - 9:20
3rd 9:25 - 10:20
CLASS MEETING - 10:25 - 10:40
*Seniors - Auditorium
*Juniors - Main Gym
*Sophomores - Auxiliary Gym
*Freshmen - Cafeteria
4th 10:45 - 11:30
5th (a) 11:35 - 12:25 (First Lunch)
5th (b) 12:30 - 1:20 (Second Lunch)
6th 1:25 - 2:10
7th 2:15 - 3:00

Thursday: 9/23
IC: Hand in Lesson Three Vocabulary work and take the Lesson Three test. Poem: "The Invitation" by Oriah Mountain Dreamer. Introduction to and practice of SNAPSHOT writing - we'll focus on the function of a snapshot within the personal essay. Your in-class SNAPSHOT quickwrites will count as your Writer's Notebook Entry #4.
HW:

• Select a specific event or moment in time that relates to the topic/insight of your Personal Essay to capture and explode with a SNAPSHOT.
  
• Completed SNAPSHOT due Monday. Typed, MLA format. (Ask your formatting questions NOW!)
  

Handout: Snapshots Handout to be distributed in class.

Friday: 9/24
IC: Reading quiz over pages 82-105 in Of Mice and Men. We'll take a look at Steinbeck's use of the SNAPSHOT technique within Of Mice and Men. In class drafting and discussion of SNAPSHOTS as they relate to your personal essay. We'll end class with a brief introduction to Lesson Four Vocabulary. Be prepared to turn in Of Mice and Men books today. (Another teacher is waiting for them!)
HW:

• Study and complete Lesson Four Vocabulary - test 9/30.
• Completed SNAPSHOT due Monday 9/27. Typed, MLA format.
  
• Get ready for Homecoming Week!!
  

Safe2Tell Link

http://safe2tell.org/

Weekly Schedule 9/13 - 9/17

Monday: 9/13
IC: Mr. Lambros, the freshman counselor, will be in to speak with you for approximately fifteen minutes. Turn in revisions of Summer Reading Assignments. Reading Quiz over pages 3-17 of Of Mice and Men. Distribute and discuss graded vocabulary tests and workbook work. Review of Lesson Two vocabulary including a closer look at the analogies in Exercise C. Discussion of responses to the PART A worksheet from the selection of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
HW: Vocabulary test 9/16. Study and complete workbook work for Lesson Two.

Tuesday: 9/14
IC: Sentence-composing activity with discussion. Considering the context of Steinbeck's novella - a brief introduction to the Great Depression. Discussion of Personal Essay Proposals - how to write one, what elements should be included, etc.
HW:

• Vocabulary test 9/16. Study and complete Lesson Two workbook work.
  
• Personal Essay Proposals due 9/17.

Handout: We will view and discuss a brief PowerPoint presentation on the Great Depression.

Wednesday: 9/15 - Back to School Night!
IC: We will begin with a brief vocabulary review. Reading Quiz over pages 18-37. In continuing our discussion of the elements of poetic analysis, we will close read and discuss the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" by Robert Frost. We'll end the class period with more discussion of the Personal Essay Proposal.
HW:

• Vocabulary test tomorrow 9/16. Study and complete Lesson Two workbook work.
• Personal Essay Proposals due 9/17.
  

Thursday: 9/16 - 2 Hour Delayed Start Schedule - Happy Birthday Hannah!
IC: Turn in Lesson Two vocabulary work and take the Lesson Two vocabulary test. Because this is a short day, we'll only have time for the vocabulary test and Writer's Notebook Entry #3. One-on-one last minute Q&A about the Personal Essay Proposals.
HW:

• Personal Essay Proposals due tomorrow 9/17.
• Close read selection of Studs Terkel's Working by Monday.
  

Handout: Selection from Studs Terkel's Working - To be distributed in class.

2 Hour Delayed Start Schedule
0 Hour 9:00 - 9:35
1st 9:40 - 10:15
2nd 10:20 - 10:55
3rd 11:00 - 11:40
4th 11:45 - 12:20
5th 12:25 - 1:00 / 1st Lunch
5th 1:05 - 1:40 / 2nd Lunch
6th 1:45 - 2:20
7th 2:25 - 3:00
Dismissal

Friday: 9/17
IC: Hand in Personal Essay Proposals. Take a Reading Quiz over pages 38-64 of Of Mice and Men, then discuss the reading selection as a class. Introduction to lesson three vocabulary. Friday Poem.
HW:

• Vocabulary test 9/23. Study and complete Lesson Three workbook work.
• Close read selection of Studs Terkel's Working.
  

Steinbeck Reading Schedule

Of Mice and Men
by John Steinbeck

Reading Schedule: Be sure to read the following selections by the dates listed below. Remember to expect a brief reading quiz over each selection on the date listed. **Since this is an ongoing assignment, you are responsible for keeping up with the reading schedule regardless of absences. This means that even if you are absent on a day before reading is due, you are still responsible for the reading quiz on the day you return. Be prepared so that you can learn as much as possible in class each day.

Monday 9/13 - pp. 3-17
Wednesday 9/15 - pp. 18-37
Friday 9/17 - pp. 38-64
Monday 9/20 - pp. 65-81
Wednesday 9/22 - pp. 82-96
Friday 9/24 - pp. 97-105

Weekly Schedule 9/8 - 9/10

Wednesday: 9/8
IC: We will begin with the Friday Poem because we did not get to it on Friday. We'll have a brief vocabulary review in preparation for the test tomorrow. Finally, I will distribute your graded summer reading assignments and we will talk about the expectations for work at the Freshman Honors level. I will present the checklist I used to assess your summer reading assignments and we'll talk about how you can you this information to self-assess and revise.
HW:

• Study vocabulary. Vocabulary test and workbook work due tomorrow - 9/9.
• Summer Reading Assignment revisions due 9/13.

Thursday: 9/9
IC: Hand in Lesson One Vocabulary work, and take the Lesson One Test. Distribute Of Mice and Men and go over the reading schedule and expectations. Writer's Notebook activity: Stones in the River.
HW: Summer Reading Assignment revisions due 9/13.

Friday: 9/10
IC: Introduce Vocabulary Lesson Two. Read a selection of Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and discuss, noting elements of voice, style, and the personal essay. Introduction to Personal Essay Assignment - including discussion of rubric.
HW:

• Summer Reading Assignment revisions due 9/13.
  
• Personal Essay proposal due 9/16.
• Study Vocabulary - test 9/16.
  

Handout: The Personal Essay Rubric and Assignment Sheet (To be distributed in class.)

Writer's Notebook Entries

"The true art of memory is the art of attention." - Samuel Johnson


Entry #1 (8/30)
This entry is to capture where you are in your life. It might be a good idea to begin with a comment on your general situation as you sense it. Begin with a broad comment; then let your mind sweep through your recent life. Record specifics, bits of dialogue, frustrations, pleasures, questions, dreams - everything that comes to you. Be specific.

Entry #2 (9/9) - Stones in the River
Brace yourselves: this entry involves just a wee bit of drawing. Don't worry, the point isn't how pretty you make it. Begin by drawing two squiggly lines on your paper so that they form the banks of a river - make it large so that you have room in which to write. Now, imagine the river as a stream of time - maybe your timeline flows from left to right, or maybe it flows from right to left (maybe it's a whirlpool?!).

Begin drawing stones in your river. Each stone should represent a specific place that played a role of importance at some point in your life. You might choose to arrange the stones in chronological sequence, and you might not - it's your river. Think of big places and little places as well - for example, my stones include the whole town of Durango, Colorado, but also my grandmother's kitchen (whichever house she resided in at the time), and the top of one specific rock at the very pinnacle of the La Plata Mountains. Be sure to draw the size of the stones in accordance with their importance - a place that is very near and dear to your heart should appear as a larger stone, while a place where something cool once happened ought to be represented as a smaller stone. Be sure to label each stone (e.g. - Grandma's Kitchen in the house on Weber Street).

After you've spent some time drawing and labeling the stones (be sure to use color as appropriate - Durango is a green stone for me), revisit each stone, one at a time, and write little lists of people (maybe pictures/caricatures) and pets that go with each place. For example, the weird neighbors I had in Durango that always left crookneck squash and snap beans on my porch when they harvested their huge gardens, they definitely go on the little list for Durango. After you've spent some time conjuring up people and pets, then revisit each stone and add some sensory detail (this might take the form of little satellite stones that orbit each of the place stones/lists). Include sights, smells, tastes, feelings, and sounds that come to mind when you remember these important places. (It's cliche, I know, but smells and tastes of cookies go with Grandma's kitchen in my river.)

After you've finished, take a couple of minutes to survey what you've written/drawn, and include anything you've forgotten - or anything additional that you think belongs. Finally, it's time to spend a few minutes writing about one of the people/places in your river. Select an image or memory that is meaningful to you and, on an additional sheet of paper, free write for fifteen minutes. Include absolutely everything you can think of in relation to the place you've chosen. Remember that the goal here is to collect writing experiences, so keep that pen/pencil moving, and don't stop to reread, edit, or revise as you're writing - just keep it flowing.

Entry #3 (9/16)
Read and respond to the following quotation: "Try to understand men. If you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love." - John Steinbeck. Respond by explaining what you understand this quotation to mean, then explore the relevance of these words within your personal experience. What experiences have you had with people that either serve to support or disprove Steinbeck's assertions? Finally, consider the global significance of Steinbeck's ideas. How can we learn from each other on a global scale? How is this relevant in the world today?

Entry #4 (9/23)
This writer's notebook entry will consist of the in-class quickwrites we complete during our introduction to the magic camera technique and SNAPSHOT writing. Be sure to refer to your SNAPSHOT handout (distributed in class).

Entry #5 (10/1)
Morality is made up of one's principles concerning the disctinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. Characterize your own morality. Do you consider yourself a moral person? What sorts of moral dilemmas and choices have you faced? Where would you place yourself in relation to Kohlberg's theory of the Stages of Moral Development? Be sure to write for at least fifteen minutes and correctly label your entry.

Entry #6 (10/11)
List personal items in your possession. Don't just name individual items - include brief descriptions and associations you have with them. Start by emptying out the contents of your wallet or purse - or better yet, your backpack or locker. Arrange the items in whatever way suits you, then study them. Hold them. Read the writing on the ones that have writing. Smell the ones that have smells. As an alternative, go to the medicine cabinet in your bathroom, cosmetic drawer, or refrigerator. List jars, bottles, cans, and individual items. Explore your association with these items. Be specific and remember to spend at least fifteen minutes in the act of writing.

Entry #7 (10/29) - From Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
Write about the foods you love most. Be specific. Give me the details. Where did you eat it, who were you with, what season was it in? What was the best meal you had last week? "That banana I ate in the the cold kitchen Tuesday morning stopped the world."

From the table, the cheese, the old blue-eyed friend across from you, from the glasses of water, the striped tablecloth, fork, knife, thick white plate, green salad, butter, and glass of pale pink juice, you can extend yourself out in memory, time, space, thought, to Israel, Russia, to religion, the trees and the sidewalk. And you have a place to begin from, something concrete, palatable, clear, right in front of your face.

Okay, so some of you may not be social. You've never eaten a good meal in your life, you're broke and don't have and friends. Well, simply begin with the last stale cheese sandwich you had in that empty apartment on First Avenue with the cockroaches floating on top of your two-day-old coffee. It's your life, begin from it.

Remember to write furiously for at least fifteen minutes.

Entry #8 (11/1) - The Action of a Sentence (from Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg)
Verbs are very important. They are the action and energy of a sentence. Be aware of how you use them. Try this exercise. Fold a sheet of paper in half the long way. On the left side of the page list ten nouns. Any ten.

lilacs
horse
mustache
cat
fiddle
muscles
dinosaur
seed
plug
video

Now, turn the paper over to the right column. Think of an occupation; for example, a carpenter, doctor, flight attendant. List fifteen verbs on the right half of the page that go with that position.

A Cook:
saute
chop
mince
slice
cut
heat
broil
taste
boil
bake
fry
marinate
whip
stir
scoop

Open the page. You have nouns listed in a row down the left side and verbs listed on the right. Try joining the nouns with the verbs to see what new combinations you can get, and then finish the sentences, casting the verbs in the past tense if you need to.

Dinosaurs marinate in the earth. The fiddles boiled the air with their music. The lilacs sliced the sky into purple.

Here are some other examples of the use of verbs: Her husband's breath sawed her sleep in half. My blood buzzes like a hornet's nest. The sunken light of late day stretches on their propane tank.

At the bottom of the page, provide three excellent sentences in which you pair nouns and verbs in an original way.

Entry #9 (11/4)
Record impressions of where you live. Include as many sensory details and descriptions of your home as you can in fifteen minutes. You may also include descriptions of the people and pets with which you live. Go through your dwelling room by room, hallway by hallway, smell by smell in your entry. Be sure to describe the lighting and sounds in each room. Try to capture the fleeting impressions and details. Record any associations you make - what comes to mind as you write these descriptive details? Perhaps your mind will connect back to other places you've lived; work those details into your entry. Be specific and label your entry.

Entry #10 (11/10)
"The act of putting pen to paper encourages pause for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps use regain our equilibrium." - Norbet Platt

With the goal of examining your own equilibrium, or state of balance, take a moment to reflect on your daily life in writing. List current activities you do: attend classes, read, write papers, take tests; drive or ride to school; sleep and roll out of bed in the morning; talk with friends, teachers, parents; hold a job or play sports; draw, paint, or play a musical instrument; attend church or participate in community service; etc. Then from the list, select one or two to write about in greater detail. Record everything that comes to you: how it feels to do the activity, why you like doing the activity, how long you've been doing the activity, etc. Explore your relationship to the activity, and close by reflecting on the balance of activities in your life. Be specific and label your entry.

Entry #11 (11/12)
Select a favorite personal photograph that connects with some aspect of your life - past or present. In as much detail as possible, describe the images within the photograph. Discuss how this photograph makes connections or associations with your life and memories. Describe the events, situations, or relationships surrounding the time of the photograph. (If you cannot think of a photograph, you may select a painting or album cover, or some other image that is important in your life.) Be specific and label your entry.

Entry #12 (11/15)
"When it comes to life, the critical things is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." - G. K. Chesterton

To begin this entry, make a list of twenty things you are thankful for today. Once your list is finished, go back and put a check mark beside those things that you are grateful for that are not monetary or material. Then, reflect on the above quote. Do you think the critical thing in life is the attitude with which you approach it? Reflect on this in writing.

Weekly Schedule 8/30 - 9/3

Monday: 8/30
IC: Writer's Notebook Activity - with introduction to the Writer's Notebook. Class discussion of close reading selections - Mein Kampf and "Under the Influence." Exploration of "Under the Influence" as a strong example of a personal essay, with focus on structure.
HW: Close read the personal essay "Salvation" by Langston Hughes.
Handout: "Salvation" - Langston Hughes (Handout will be distributed in class)

Tuesday: 8/31
IC: Sentence Composing - Rationale for imitation. "Chunking" sentences to imitate the grammar of the greats. Distribution and discussion of graded in-class essays with Essay Exam Rubric.
HW: Closely Read "How It Feels To Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston by Thursday.
Handout: "How It Feels To Be Colored Me" - Zora Neale Hurston (Handout will be distributed in class)

Wednesday: 9/1
IC: Poetic analysis of "My Papa's Waltz" by Theodore Roethke. Introduction to Wordly Wise Vocabulary Lesson One. Analogies.
HW: Study vocabulary - Test Thursday 9/9, Finish close reading "How It Feels To Be Colored Me" - Zora Neale Hurston
Handouts: "My Papa's Waltz" - Theordore Roethke (Paper copy will be distributed in class), Reference Document for Poetic Forms, Terms, and Devices (This will be distributed in class, but here is a link to the document just in case you find yourself in need of a replacement copy.) Vocabulary Books will be distributed in class

Thursday: 9/2
IC: Sentence Composing - "Chunking" to imitate and unscrambling to imitate. Discussion of "How It Feels To Be Colored Me" by Zora Neale Hurston and "Salvation" by Langston Hughes. Focus on the structure of the personal essay.
HW: Study vocabulary - Test Thursday 9/9
Handout: The Personal Essay (To be distributed in class)

Friday: 9/3 - Assembly Schedule for Fall Sports Kick Off
IC: Vocabulary Review - Closer look at vocabulary exercises A,C, and E. Group discussions of elements and characteristics of three personal essays. Friday Poem.
HW: Study vocabulary - Test Thursday 9/9 (Remember that vocabulary workbook work is due the day of the test!)

Sunday: 9/5 - Happy Birthday Nettie!
Tuesday: 9/7 - Happy Birthday Greer!

Have a Great Four-Day Weekend!

Assembly Schedule for Friday 9/3

0 Hour 6:40-7:30
1st 7:35-8:15
2nd 8:20-9:00
3rd 9:05-9:40
Assembly 9:45-10:45
4th 10:50-11:35
5th 11:40-12:20 - First Lunch
5th 12:25-1:05 - Second Lunch
6th 1:10-1:50
7th 1:55-2:35
Dismissal

Style Courtesy of Kurt Vonnegut

As you're preparing for your assessment tomorrow it will be beneficial for you to revisit Kurt Vonnegut's definition of style:

"Newspaper reporters and technical writers are trained to reveal almost nothing about themselves in their writings. This makes them freaks in the world of writers, since almost all of the other ink-stained wretches in that world reveal a lot about themselves to readers. We call these revelations, accidental and intentional, elements of style."

An author's style consists of the decisions he or she makes in the construction of the text. It is these choices that reveal an author's distinctive personality in his or her writing.

Summer Reading Assignment

Here is a copy of the summer reading assignment for your reference.

Welcome Back! Weekly Schedule 8/23-8/27

This will be the format for your weekly schedule all year long. Checking the blog is your responsibility; you don't have an excuse if you lose a handout, if you aren't in class, or if you don't remember what I assigned for homework.

Monday: 8/23
IC (In Class): Hand in your summer reading assignments. Introductions, go over syllabus and expectations, explain blog.
HW (Homework): Review the class syllabus and read and sign the academic integrity contract.
Handouts:
Course Syllabus

Tuesday: 8/24 - Happy Birthday Chloe!
IC (In Class): Hand in your signed Academic Integrity Contract. Discussion of style - What is style, and what does it mean to write with style? Analysis of the elements of style from three sources: King, Dillard, and what you have been taught about writing. Characterization of your own style, as a person and as a writer.
HW (Homework): Read "How to Write With Style" by Kurt Vonnegut
Handouts:
"How to Write With Style" - Kurt Vonnegut

Wednesday: 8/25
IC (In Class): Discussion of "How to Write With Style" - sounding like yourself. Introduction to voice. Read and discuss Chapters One and Two of A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck. Generate a list of factors that contribute to your particular voice as a writer.
HW (Homework): Compose a thoughtful response that characterizes and explores your voice as a writer. What elements contribute to your voice, and how does it manifest itself in your writing?

Thursday: 8/26
IC (In Class): Hand in the thoughtful exploration of your voice as a writer. Introduction to close reading. Close reading activity.
HW (Homework): Revisit your notes and thoughts over the summer reading material - consider specific elements of each author's style. Complete your close reading of the passage distributed in class today.
Handouts:
Close Reading
Close Reading Activity Handout - Paper handout will be distributed in class.

Friday: 8/27
IC (In Class): In class essay assessment over the summer reading assignments.
HW (Homework): Close read "Under the Influence" by Scott Russell Sanders.
Handouts:
"Under the Influence" - Scott Russell Sanders (Paper handout will be distributed in class.)

Saturday: 8/28 - Happy Birthday Emily B!