November 24

Freshmen: Today we worked on the reading skill predicting. You need to finish reading Frank Stockton's "The Lady or the Tiger". Google it, or go to www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/LadyTige.shtml. Then, do #6 on your graphic organizer, which is writing what happens next. Write it in the same style as the story - write the end of the story. Your ending should be rooted in logic about what we know about the princess and her lover. Your story ending is due tomorrow. Your interview and notes need to be completed by Monday, 12/1, as does Chapter 3 from Sleeping Dogs.

Sophomores: Today we learned about irony - the book we have read are replete with irony. Finish Siddhartha by 12/3. Have The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by that date.

Sophomore Extra Credit - The Buddha in the World

Go to www.speakingoffaith.org and podcast the episode "The Buddha in the World." Listen to it, take brief notes, and write a one page reaction, referencing the books we have read, especially Siddhartha. Due 12/1; 25 points extra credit possible.

November 21

Freshmen: We assessed your definition essays and read another example, The Company Man. For Monday, Chapter 2 from SDDL is due. Be sure to complete your interview before 12/1. Come that day with your notes.

Sophomores: We focused on the word Om today, as it is central to Siddhartha. Finish Siddhartha by 12/3. Don't forget your final project - get a jump on that now.

November 20

Freshmen: We continued our study of definition essays. We read "What is Crime?" and defined what we felt crime was. We also took a quiz on Chapter 1 from Sleeping Dogs; Chapter 2 is due Monday. Your essay is due Friday.

Sophomores: We shared our This I Believe statements from Santiago's point of view and then focused on the Letters About Literature project. Your letter is due Monday, along with a stamped envelope and your completed entry coupon. For Friday, the chapter titled "Gottama" is due Friday. Finish the book for 12/3.

Letters About Literature

Hi. Refer to www.loc.gov/letters or google "Letters About Literature" in order to get the proper information.

Sleeping Dogs Reading Schedule

Sleeping Dogs Schedule:
Chapter Date Due
1 11/20
2 11/24
3 12/1
4 12/4
5 12/5
6 We will read this in class 12/5.
7 12/8 - We will do 141 and 142 together in class.
8 12/9
9 12/11
10 12/16

November 18 or 19

Freshmen: Today we began our study of Definition essays. Read the introduction to that in Models. Then read The Handicap of Definition. Due for Friday is one of the two essay ideas at the bottom of page 401 or 402. It must be a typed essay, your best work. Also due for Thursday is Chapter 1 from Sleeping Dogs.

Sophomores: We wrote a TIB statement from Santiago's point of view. A typed copy is due Thursday. We also started Siddhartha. Read everything through the chapter titled "Gottama" for Friday. Finish the book for 12/3.

November 17

Sorry, my computer has not been connecting to the server, so I haven't been able to post for a few days.

Freshmen: We began Sleeping Dogs. Chapter 1 is due Thursday. You may use this for in class and at home reading. That's about 10 pages a day. There will be a quiz on the concepts covered. Read for 20 minutes. Your interview, with notes, must be completed by 12/1. There is a chapter 4-5 quiz next period.

Sophomores: We conducted a seminar for The Alchemist today. Have Siddhartha for our next period (for period 5, that is Tuesday). There will also be a chapter 5 vocab quiz.

November 11 or 12

Freshmen: Today we began a study of Narrative essays, the second rhetorical device we're going to be able to use. Read the intro to it in Models, page 321-324. We then looked at some models, and began The Grandparent Project. This is what you need to do:
1. Select someone 60 or over, preferably a grandparent, but anyone is okay, to interview. Retell one of the stories they tell you.
2. Complete the interview before the end of the Thanksgiving break.
3. Craft at least 20 open-ended questions (ones that go beyond yes-no or one-word answers).
Your 20 questions are due Friday, typed. Again, complete the interview by the end of the holiday break.
Read for 20 minutes tonight and Wednesday.

November 10

Freshmen: We had a concluding discussion about the book Speak. You will need Sleeping Dogs Don't Lay for next Monday. Be sure to be reading 20 minutes a night this week, and bring that novel to class this week as well. You'll need Models for Writers next period.

Sophomores: We shared your five facts assignment and your sequels to The Power of One. We also began a This I Believe assignment like we did last quarter where you look at five essays on the website and react to them. This is due the day before we go on Thanksgiving break. Finish The Alchemist for Friday... and be working on the Echoes of the Tao assignment for that book.

November 7

Freshmen: We shared your 1 syllable essays today. Speak is due for Monday. Get Sleeping Dogs for the Monday that follows.

Sophomores: We put together short essays based on your five facts. Your sequel to The Power of One is due Monday. Finish The Alchemist for Friday and get Siddhartha for the Monday that follows. Due next Friday is a revision and resubmission of your compare and contrast that you wrote for The Power of One. Resubmit it to turnitin.com just like you did last time, this time under the assignment C&C Resubmission.

November 3-5

Freshmen: On 11/3, we had a discussion about Speak. Finish the book for next Monday. Get Sleeping Dogs soon. On 11/4 or 11/5, whichever day we meet, we are beginning a focus on the rhetorical device of using illustration (that is, examples, not drawings) in essay writing. Read the intro to the device in Models for Writers, and read the essays Be Specific and The Case for Short Words. In Short Words, there is an assignment in the essay using monosyllabic words you must do. It should be typed, use lots of examples, and be at least 5 paragraphs long. Due Friday.

Sophomores: On 11/3 we had our concluding seminar on The Power of One. I think your dialog was insightful and inspired, and left me with a lot to think about. 11/5, we learned about setting and props in stories, started a sequel to Power, and began The Alchemist. Finish Part I for Friday, and finish the book for next Friday. Get Siddhartha ASAP.