Freshmen: We concluded our work with SDDL and handed some stuff back. Prepare for your final.
Sophomores: We concluded the TIB presentations. They were very good. Thank you for a terrific semester - I learned a lot from you. Prepare for your final.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
Monday, December 15
Freshmen: SDDL is due tomorrow. Today we looked at your grandparent projects and introduced the next quarter's prayer and great thoughts assignment.
Sophomores: We continued your awesome presentations. For Tuesday, finish The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, chapter 7 from the vocab book, and The Echoes of the Tao assignment, which I will collect tomorrow.
Sophomores: We continued your awesome presentations. For Tuesday, finish The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, chapter 7 from the vocab book, and The Echoes of the Tao assignment, which I will collect tomorrow.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Freshman English Second Semester Prayer and Great Thoughts Assignment
Freshman English Second Semester Prayer and Great Thoughts Assignment
For the third quarter, the assignment will change just a little. These are the changes:
1. You will come up with your own aphorism, maxim, or proverb (look these terms up if you don’t know them) instead of taking one from someone else. This must be your own original creation, not a variation of something someone else has said.
2. Think of things that are true, profound, and insightful – but also short and sweet and easy to remember. Coach Chiesa’s “Your attitude determines your altitude”, Max Lamb’s “Don’t ‘Should’ on yourself”, and Morrie Swartz’s “When you’re in bed, you’re dead” are good not only because they are true and profound, but because they employ alliteration, a play on words, and rhyme as well.
3. Then craft a 1-2 minute talk on the concept that your own great thought speaks to or exemplifies. For example, Coach Chiesa shared his great thought with our team once and then went on to tell stories about people – including himself – whose attitude determined their success. In Tuesdays With Morrie, Morrie talks about how much he hates being confined to his bed and how much we ought to appreciate our bodies. When Max was in 8th grade, he spoke about focusing on what you know you can do, not on what others feel you should do. Again, focus on the topic your great thought speaks to, not the great thought itself.
4. The great thought should be the first sentence(s) of your talk. Start with it and then move on to your topic.
5. You may not have any outlines or notes aside from your great thought, but you should practice ahead of time. Much of your grade is devoted to how smoothly you move from point to point, so don’t try to do this “cold” – I would suggest actually writing up what you want to say and then practicing it. But in front of your audience, you will have no notes. Good luck and have fun. I look forward to having you share your wisdom with us.
For the third quarter, the assignment will change just a little. These are the changes:
1. You will come up with your own aphorism, maxim, or proverb (look these terms up if you don’t know them) instead of taking one from someone else. This must be your own original creation, not a variation of something someone else has said.
2. Think of things that are true, profound, and insightful – but also short and sweet and easy to remember. Coach Chiesa’s “Your attitude determines your altitude”, Max Lamb’s “Don’t ‘Should’ on yourself”, and Morrie Swartz’s “When you’re in bed, you’re dead” are good not only because they are true and profound, but because they employ alliteration, a play on words, and rhyme as well.
3. Then craft a 1-2 minute talk on the concept that your own great thought speaks to or exemplifies. For example, Coach Chiesa shared his great thought with our team once and then went on to tell stories about people – including himself – whose attitude determined their success. In Tuesdays With Morrie, Morrie talks about how much he hates being confined to his bed and how much we ought to appreciate our bodies. When Max was in 8th grade, he spoke about focusing on what you know you can do, not on what others feel you should do. Again, focus on the topic your great thought speaks to, not the great thought itself.
4. The great thought should be the first sentence(s) of your talk. Start with it and then move on to your topic.
5. You may not have any outlines or notes aside from your great thought, but you should practice ahead of time. Much of your grade is devoted to how smoothly you move from point to point, so don’t try to do this “cold” – I would suggest actually writing up what you want to say and then practicing it. But in front of your audience, you will have no notes. Good luck and have fun. I look forward to having you share your wisdom with us.
December 12
Freshmen: Today we conducted a review of the four primary rhetorical devices we have studied thus far - compare and contrast, narration, illustration/example, and definition. Start prepping for your semester exam - the review guide is on the blog - and finish your grandparent essay for Monday as well as Sleeping Dogs for Tuesday.
Sophomores: We began your presentations today. Finish DB&BF for next week. Get Sophocles for next semester. Start prepping for the semester exam - review guide is on the blog.
Sophomores: We began your presentations today. Finish DB&BF for next week. Get Sophocles for next semester. Start prepping for the semester exam - review guide is on the blog.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
December 11
Freshmen: Today we took a quiz on SDDL Chapter 9 and wrote a compare-contrast essay in class. Grandparent project - two copies and wrapping stuff - due on Monday. Finish SDDL for Tuesday.
Sophomores: We finished the film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. C'est magnifique... err - it's really good. Finish the book for next week. Your This I Believe papers were due today. Next week I will collect the Echoes of the Tao next week; do 87-88 in the vocab book tonight.
Sophomores: We finished the film The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. C'est magnifique... err - it's really good. Finish the book for next week. Your This I Believe papers were due today. Next week I will collect the Echoes of the Tao next week; do 87-88 in the vocab book tonight.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
December 9 and 10
Freshmen: We focused primarily on the comma and on compare and contrast again. Chapter 9 from SDDL is due Thursday, Chapter 10 for next Tuesday. Remember, bring in two copies of your grandparent project on Monday.
Sophomores: We watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and began chapter 7 from our vocab book. Submit your essay to NPR and bring your essay in tomorrow.
Sophomores: We watched The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and began chapter 7 from our vocab book. Submit your essay to NPR and bring your essay in tomorrow.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Baird Second Semester Sophomore Western Traditions Book List
These are the books you need, in this order:
1. The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles, ISBN 0452011671
2. The Kite Runner
3. The Poisonwood Bible
4. Hamlet - Folger Library
5. Tuesdays With Morrie
Get these ASAP, please.
1. The Oedipus Plays of Sophocles, ISBN 0452011671
2. The Kite Runner
3. The Poisonwood Bible
4. Hamlet - Folger Library
5. Tuesdays With Morrie
Get these ASAP, please.
World Literature Semester Review Guide
Sophomore World Literature Semester Final Exam Study Guide:
• There will be four parts to the exam: a 100 question vocab review of chapters 1-7 (worth 50 points), an objective multiple choice exam on the terms and concepts we have studied this year (worth 30 points), an essay exam (worth 100 points), and prep notes (worth 20 points).
• There are three essay options that you must prepare for - you will be given one at random.
• You are required to come prepared with one sheet of paper that has prep notes for each of the three essay exam possibilities.
• You MAY NOT use notes for the objective portion of the exam or the vocab exam – your notes are for the essay ONLY.
• Here is a list of things to review for multiple choice exam. Refer to your notes, your terminology section, and your assignments to help with this:
o The 10% Solution.
o Types of leads and conclusions we studied.
o All other notes on writing.
o Literary terms and vocabulary
• Here are the essays you might be assigned. Prepare for all three. You should come with one sheet of notes (front and back) that has prep work for all three essays.
1. Examine how all the books we have read are essentially Taoist in nature. Focus on at least three of our texts and cite at least five lines from the Tao as you synthesize your ideas. Be sure to bring in new ideas – it should not be a rehashing of things we have already talked about in class.
2. Examine a common belief shared by at least three major characters in different books we have read and write a 500-word-minimum “This I Believe” essay.
3. Explain what you have learned this semester. Include things about reading and writing as well as things that go beyond the scope of just reading and writing better. Focus on specifics – ideas, actions, beliefs.
See me if you have any questions.
• There will be four parts to the exam: a 100 question vocab review of chapters 1-7 (worth 50 points), an objective multiple choice exam on the terms and concepts we have studied this year (worth 30 points), an essay exam (worth 100 points), and prep notes (worth 20 points).
• There are three essay options that you must prepare for - you will be given one at random.
• You are required to come prepared with one sheet of paper that has prep notes for each of the three essay exam possibilities.
• You MAY NOT use notes for the objective portion of the exam or the vocab exam – your notes are for the essay ONLY.
• Here is a list of things to review for multiple choice exam. Refer to your notes, your terminology section, and your assignments to help with this:
o The 10% Solution.
o Types of leads and conclusions we studied.
o All other notes on writing.
o Literary terms and vocabulary
• Here are the essays you might be assigned. Prepare for all three. You should come with one sheet of notes (front and back) that has prep work for all three essays.
1. Examine how all the books we have read are essentially Taoist in nature. Focus on at least three of our texts and cite at least five lines from the Tao as you synthesize your ideas. Be sure to bring in new ideas – it should not be a rehashing of things we have already talked about in class.
2. Examine a common belief shared by at least three major characters in different books we have read and write a 500-word-minimum “This I Believe” essay.
3. Explain what you have learned this semester. Include things about reading and writing as well as things that go beyond the scope of just reading and writing better. Focus on specifics – ideas, actions, beliefs.
See me if you have any questions.
Freshman First Semester Exam Review Guide
Freshman English 2008-2009 First Semester Review Guide:
Your semester exam is worth 200 points overall, and comprises 10% of your semester grade. The other 90% comes from the first and second quarters – 45% each.
You will have 90 minutes for the exam. This is what your exam will look like.
1. We will have a 90 question vocab exam covering chapters 1-6. It will be worth 30 points.
2. We will have a 50 question exam covering everything we have studied this semester. Use your notebook and Models for Writers as your guides. The test will cover a range of topics from our 7 Step Essay Process, The 10% Solution, to various lead and conclusion techniques, to words from your terminology and vocabulary section. Anything in your notebook is fair game. This exam is worth 50 points.
3. You will be assigned an essay at random. The topic is up to you, but you will be assigned a particular mode. The possibilities are narrative, compare and contrast, illustration (we also used the term example), or definition essay. You will be required to write an essay that fits that mode, craft a compelling title, and use one of the lead and conclusion techniques we have studied this year. The essay is worth 100 points, and will be grade according to our Six Traits rubric.
4. The final 20 points will come from your essay prep notes. Everyone must prepare for the essay portion of the exam by developing a single page (front and back) of notes for each of the four possibilities. Take notes on possible topics, things to do as a writer in that particular mode, and how you might open and close your essay. You will only be allowed to use these notes on the essay portion, not on the vocab or 50 question exam. This will be collected at the end of the exam.
Good luck and see me if you have any questions.
Your semester exam is worth 200 points overall, and comprises 10% of your semester grade. The other 90% comes from the first and second quarters – 45% each.
You will have 90 minutes for the exam. This is what your exam will look like.
1. We will have a 90 question vocab exam covering chapters 1-6. It will be worth 30 points.
2. We will have a 50 question exam covering everything we have studied this semester. Use your notebook and Models for Writers as your guides. The test will cover a range of topics from our 7 Step Essay Process, The 10% Solution, to various lead and conclusion techniques, to words from your terminology and vocabulary section. Anything in your notebook is fair game. This exam is worth 50 points.
3. You will be assigned an essay at random. The topic is up to you, but you will be assigned a particular mode. The possibilities are narrative, compare and contrast, illustration (we also used the term example), or definition essay. You will be required to write an essay that fits that mode, craft a compelling title, and use one of the lead and conclusion techniques we have studied this year. The essay is worth 100 points, and will be grade according to our Six Traits rubric.
4. The final 20 points will come from your essay prep notes. Everyone must prepare for the essay portion of the exam by developing a single page (front and back) of notes for each of the four possibilities. Take notes on possible topics, things to do as a writer in that particular mode, and how you might open and close your essay. You will only be allowed to use these notes on the essay portion, not on the vocab or 50 question exam. This will be collected at the end of the exam.
Good luck and see me if you have any questions.
Friday, December 5, 2008
December 5
Freshmen: We did chapter 6 from SDDL in class today. 7 is due Monday. We will have the chapter 6 vocab exam next week.
Sophomores: We began The Diving Bell and the Butterfly today. Finish the first 30 pages for Monday; Finish the book for next Friday.
Sophomores: We began The Diving Bell and the Butterfly today. Finish the first 30 pages for Monday; Finish the book for next Friday.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
December 2 and 3
Freshmen: We began writing our grandparent project today, and looked at some models. Two final copies are due December 15 - on to hand in, one to wrap and give as a gift. SDDL C4 is due Thursday, 5 is due Friday, and we will do 6 together in class on Friday. We may have a vocab exam on Friday.
Sophomores: Okay, Siddhartha is due Thursday. We viewed a Campbell interview, the Masks of Eternity today. Think sheets due Thursday. Have The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for Friday. Your final project is due to NPR 12/10 and we will present 12/12.
Sophomores: Okay, Siddhartha is due Thursday. We viewed a Campbell interview, the Masks of Eternity today. Think sheets due Thursday. Have The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for Friday. Your final project is due to NPR 12/10 and we will present 12/12.
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