Freshman Honors English First Semester Exam Study Guide 2010-2011

Hi. First off, there will be three parts to the exam: a vocab exam that covers chapters 1-7, an objective exam of 50 questions, and an essay exam. Vocab is self-explanatory; the objective exam will be based on the things we've studied this semester, including, but not limited to, the following: the 10% solution, the seven-step essay process, the various rhetorical devices we've studied (narration, compare and contrast, etc.), different lead and conclusion techniques, principles of free verse poetry, other forms of poetry we have studied, and different reading comprehension strategies and literary concepts we have studied. For the essay exam, you will be asked to randomly write in one of the modes we have studied (narrative, compare contrast, etc.), and also be asked to use a lead and conclusion technique we have studied. I suggest coming up with some potential topics and thinking through them prior to the exam. The exam is worth 10% of your semester grade, with the essay worth twice as much as the objective or vocab exam. Any questions, let me know.

Siddhartha Extra Credit

Siddhartha Extra Credit

Due to various factors, we haven’t had the chance to read Hesse’s Siddhartha this semester. For up to 100 points extra credit (points vary based on the quality of the work), read the novel, take a quiz, and write an essay. You get 50 points for reading the novel, but to get those points you must pass (70%) a 10-question quiz taken before school on Tuesday, January 4 (be there by 7:40). The other 50 points come from writing the essay and completing the Echoes of the Tao assignment for Siddhartha. The essay and Echoes are due that day as well. You have to do all three things – you can’t just do some of it. The essay prompt is: What elements of Taoism are present in the novel Siddhartha? Use the Themes of Taoism notes we have done a few times in class to help you, as well as the Echoes assignment. You must cite at least three times from both Siddhartha and Tao te Ching in your essay and use one of the lead and conclusion techniques we have studied.

Tuesday, December 14 and Wednesday, December 15

Freshmen: Today we focused on the notion of creative response again, this time looking at poems that respond to artwork in one of four motifs found in the book Heart to Heart. These are the same motifs we will use when responding to art for your capstone project. Your task is to find a work of art and write two responses, each in a different motif. This is due, along with a picture of the art you are responding to, the day we return from break. Remember - letter to the editor due Thursday, grand parent project due Friday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on either Joseph Campbell or six word memoirs, depending on your section. Regardless, finish The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for Thursday.

CNF: We finished Chapter 4 and Gladwell's stuff on social epidemics and broken windows theory. We will seminar the next two days.

Basketball: Meet at 4:40, dressed and ready to go.

CNF Plan - Final Weeks

Okay, so here is what we decided: Read chapter 4 this week and Gladwell's piece in class and we'll discuss it Thursday and Friday. Then, you'll read Chapter 5 and 6 over break; we'll discuss and close with a few documentaries.

Monday, December 13

Freshmen: Today we read the first chapter of The Elements of Style and took a quiz on it. Remember, letters due Thursday, Grandparent Project due Friday. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Tuesday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on emerging themes of the Tao and looked at the belief statements you liked. Due Thursday is our book, and remember to work on your final project.

CNF: Today we began a study of crime and crime fighting.

Basketball: Practice is normal place and time today and Tuesday.

Friday, December 10

Freshmen: Today we did a little poetry writing about a concrete object and then looked at an essay titled Left Sink that is a great example of a descriptive essay. Read for 20 minutes; remember, letter to the editor due Thursday of next week, the Grand Parent Project due Friday of next week.

Sophomores: See the last post for an extra credit assignment. Today we explored emerging themes from the Tao. Due Monday is your worksheet on five This I Believe essays; due Thursday is our book and your seminar prep.

CNF: Today we had a seminar on Hoop Dreams.

Basketball: Meeting today after school; game at 7; arrive to JM by 6:15.

The Body's Grace Sophomore Extra Credit

One of the central ideas running through The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the relationship we have with our bodies. Go to http://being.publicradio.org/programs/2010/bodys-grace/ and listen to the podcast The Body's Grace with Matthew Sanford. Write a typed, one page, double spaced essay that analyzes the different ways the book we are reading and this interview explore this topic. Include some of your own ideas as well, if relevant. I will take this up until 12/17. It is worth up to 50 points extra credit.

Tuesday, December 7 and Wedensday, December 8

Freshmen: Today we continued looking at the technique of using examples and description to illustrate a point. If you were absent, read Be Specific and The Case for Short Words in Models for Writers. Read 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday; LAL due 12/9, Letter to the Editor due 12/16, Grandparent Project due 12/17.

Sophomores: Today we began The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. See the posted schedule. Remember, LAL due 12/9 and keep working on your project.

CNF: We continued following the adventures of William and Arthur.

Basketball: Wednesday's game is at 5:30; be to JM by 4:30, dressed and ready to go at 4:40.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly reading schedule

I would like you to have one note per chapter in preparation for the seminar. I'd like to see your notes be more than just jotting something down from the chapter, but rather, a reflection of the internal dialogue you should be having with yourself and with the text as you read. Let these notes be a window into your thought processes as you read. The book and notes are due for Thursday, December 16. We will have our seminar that date.

Monday, December 6

Freshmen: Today we began a focus on descriptive/illustrative/example essays. Read for 20 minutes; LAL due Thursday; Letter to the Editor due 12/16; GPP due 12/17.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on The Alchemist. You need The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for next period; LAL due Thursday; semester project due by 1/3.

CNF: We continued Hoop Dreams today.

Basketball: We have a shoot around after school and play against Highland at 5:30.

Friday, December 3

Freshmen: Today we took a vocab exam and concluded our study of compare and contrast essays. Read for 20 minutes tonight. Remember upcoming assignments: Letter to the Editor, Letters About Literature, and Grandparent Project.

Sophomores: Today we took a vocab exam and took time to read to finish The Alchemist. It is due Monday along with your seminar prep and your Echoes of the Tao assignment. Also upcoming due assignments: Letters About Literature and getting a copy of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Most importantly, be working on your end of the semester project.

CNF: Today we looked at a different view of Chicago and an alternate way of winning the tournament by beginning the documentary Hoop Dreams.

Basketball: We play at 3 at home against Wasatch.

Thursday, December 2

Freshmen: Today we finished the in class essays comparing and contrasting Lord of the Flies and Speak. Read for 20 minutes; vocab is due Friday. Due December 9 is your Letters About Literature essay; due the 16th is your Letter to the Editor; due the 17th is your Grandparent Project.

Sophomores: Today we focused on a universal literary form, the parable. We examined a few, its elements and also examined how the texts we have read are essentially parables. Keep reading The Alchemist - it is due for the seminar on Monday, December 6; vocab is due Friday, December 3. Due December 9 is your Letters About Literature essay; due January 3 or before is your final project.

CNF: We had our seminar on chapter three today.

Basketball: We hope to be at Sunnyside, but if we get to the gym and see it is occupied, we will have to change to Westminister.

Tuesday, November 30 and Wednesday, December 1

Freshmen: Today we continued our focus on Compare and Contrast, and applied that technique to an analysis of character, plot, theme, and setting in both Speak and Lord of the Flies. We also discussed your grandparent project interviews. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Wednesday; vocab due Friday, LAL due December 9, and your GPP is due 12/17.

Sophomores: Today we focused on both Irony and Prediction. Remember: The Alchemist and seminar prep due next Monday, vocab due this Friday, and LAL due December 9.

CNF: Today we read Chapter 3 from Freakonomics; seminar on Thursday.

Basketball: Practice will be held at Judge today.

Monday, November 29

Freshmen: Today we had a Socratic Seminar where we discussed Speak and Lord of the Flies. Bring both of these books next period as well, since we will continue our discussion in some fashion then. Read for 20 minutes tonight and work on your Letters About Literature assignment.

Sophomores: Today we focused on our end of the semester project. See me with any questions. Finish The Alchemist and your seminar prep by Monday.

CNF: Today we had our seminar on information asymmetry.

Basketball: We are at Sunnyside all week. We will end at 5:30 each day, except for Tuesday - we will end at 5:45 that day.

Tuesday, November 23

Freshmen: Today we read Grant and Lee: A Study in Contrasts in Models. Read it and answer questions 1-6. Finish Lord of the Flies and Speak for Monday, 11/29, and your seminar prep as well. Keep reading, working on Letters About Literature, and your Grandparent Project - interview due the block day after Thanksgiving.

Sophomores: Today we talked about Personal Legends. Keep reading, working on Letters About Literature, and your Echoes of the Tao assignment.

CNF: Today we concluded So Much So Fast and began our seminar.

Basketball: Weather permitting, we are at 1700 South and 1100 East.

Monday, November 22

Freshmen: Today we introduced the rhetorical device of compare and contrast. Read for 20 minutes tonight. Keep working on your grandparent project, your Letters About Literature essay, and your letter to the editor assignment.

Sophomores: Today we practiced research writing by taking the 5 Facts someone else gathered about a certain topic related to The Alchemist and writing a short essay. Continue to read, work on your Letters About Literature, and vocab.

CNF: Today we continued viewing So Much So Fast - we will conclude it and run a seminar over two days.

Basketball: Normal time at Sunnyside tomorrow. Tuesday, we will be at the Sugarhouse Stake Center until 5:30 PM.

Friday, November 19

Freshmen: Today we introduced the Letters About Literature project. Go to the LAL website, view the prompt and parameters, look at the questions under the How to Enter tab and take some notes. You may want to look at past winners' letters, too. After you finish your essay, print and fill out the entry coupon and place it and your essay in an unsealed, stamped, addressed envelope. You may hand it in to me any time on or before December 9.

Sophomores: Today we introduced the Letters About Literature project. Go to the LAL website, view the prompt and parameters, look at the questions under the How to Enter tab and take some notes. You may want to look at past winners' letters, too. After you finish your essay, print and fill out the entry coupon and place it and your essay in an unsealed, stamped, addressed envelope. You may hand it in to me any time on or before December 9.

CNF:

Basketball: Remember, we have normal practice tonight. Be to JM tomorrow at 7:30 for the intrasquad, parent meeting to follow. Pictures are Sunday at 12:30.

Sophomore Culture Night Extra Credit

Hi. If you went to this and want to earn a little extra credit, do this: Write a 1 page, typed double-spaced reflection on the night, and explain how knowing more about the world's cultures can help you be a better reader of world literature.

Freshman English Grandparent Project Example

Hi. Some of you asked for me to post my sample Grand Parent Project on the blog, so I am posting the two that I have completed so far.

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“I’ll Be Home For Christmas, You Can Count on Me…”
-For all of the Bairds, but especially for Betty and Bob
Betty Jane Baird has had a lot of Christmas mornings in her life, most of them wonderful. But one Christmas Day stands out as being especially great – the Christmas of 1945. Betty had spent the previous two Christmases – and almost three entire years - without her husband, Bob, who was serving in the US Air Corps in England. But with World War II over, many of our boys were coming home, and Betty was no different than the thousands of other young women anxiously awaiting the return of her husband.
“He’d promised me for weeks that he’d be home for Christmas,” she told me. “But for about two weeks before Christmas, we didn’t hear anything from him. This was very unusual, because we heard from him all the time.”
Christmas morning came, and Betty spent the morning with Bob’s parents. She was living with them at the time. Then around noon, the phone rang. It was Bob. He told her he was at Fort Douglas – he’d gotten in last night, but had to be “mustered out” before he could leave. “He’d said he’d be home for Christmas, and he just made it,” Betty said, laughing her trademark laugh. “We hadn’t heard from him for so long because he’d come home from England by boat, even though he was in the Air Corps.” As we spoke, neither of us could figure out why air corps would get sent home by boat when almost everyone else came home by plane, but that’s the military for you. Maybe there really is something to all those jokes on “MASH”…
That day, Bob’s parents drove Betty up to Fort Douglas to pick him up, as she didn’t have a car. After visiting with family and friends for much of the day, the young couple had to go buy Bob underwear and socks. “And those things were hard to come by in those days, you know, because of the war,” she said. Apparently, while the rest of the corpsmen were reusing their old underwear and socks on the long boat ride home, Bob just threw his overboard once they became dirty. So while Bob got the stereotypical worst gift you can get for Christmas – underwear and socks – Betty got the best gift she could have asked for.
That Christmas was just one of many they shared together. When I asked Betty about those that followed, as a mother and grandmother, she often used the word routine. I am sure, given the first few Christmases she spent as a young married woman, the normalcy of the Christmases that followed seemed wonderful. But even those normal events had a Baird twist to them.
For example, getting the tree was quite an event, she said. The entire family went together, and given the personalities of Bruce, Brett, and Marsha, let alone Bob, I can imagine the experience was both excruciating and fun. I have heard stories about going to multiple tree lots come hell and high water (and snow) to find the perfect tree. Once they found it, the family would drive home, holding the tree alongside the car through the open windows. They’d then decorate the tree with tinsel and glass balls. “They didn’t have all that fancy stuff we have nowadays,” Betty said. Afterward, when the kids weren’t around, Betty went about straightening the tinsel, getting everything just so.
And it’s not just the tree decorating that’s changed over the years, she told me. Christmas for her as a young girl was much different from how it is today, she said. Betty grew up during the Great Depression, and gift-giving was much more modest. She remembered that one year, both she and her brother, Bob, wanted a bike. And they got one for Christmas. One. Which meant they had to share. It was a boy’s bike, a blue and white one speed. “It didn’t impress me,” she said, and that’s probably a good thing, as she didn’t get to ride it much.
Betty also remembered that her mother sewed a lot at Christmas time, and that the kids always had clothes – dresses, PJs, coats… these were the kinds of things she remembered getting. She also said the family always had a tree and a good dinner on Christmas day – chicken, or sometimes rabbit, which her father raised, fresh bread, and cakes. The important thing was the family was together.
Togetherness was what got her through what she called “a tragic Christmas” – the Christmas of 1956. She was bed-ridden that year, due to terrible arthritis in her hips. This made preparation for Christmas hard. She hadn’t done any Christmas shopping before the arthritis got bad because they were waiting to get Bob’s bonus check. Bob had to kneel by her bed as they wrote the list. He then did all the shopping, “and it must have turned out all right.” Christmas morning, they had to carry Betty out to the tree so she could watch the kids open their gifts, but she could only stay out there for about an hour before having to be carried back to bed.
But for the most part, Christmas has been blessedly predictable: trees and family, meals and home. And this is something that continues to this day as we gather together at her house – her children and grandchildren, and now her great grandchildren. Coming to Grandma Betty’s for Christmas feels like coming home, like Grandpa Bob did 63 Christmases ago. It’s a feeling exemplified by that beautiful war-song lyric, which could have been written by him, or by any of us: “I’ll be home for Christmas/ You can plan on me/ Please have snow and mistletoe/ And presents on the tree/ Christmas Eve will find me/ where the love-light gleams/ I’ll be home for Christmas/ If only in my dreams.”

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Magi and Shepherds, and a Room at the Inn
-By Jeffrey Marshall Baird, For Grandma Great

O. Henry’s story, “The Gift of the Magi,” describes a young couple celebrating Christmas by sacrificing their most prized possession for each other. O. Henry writes,
The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

Marjorie Crofts – Grandma Great, now – loves and understands this story, because like the magi, she wisely understands the sacrifice entailed by Christmas. It is something she has lived.
The most memorable Christmas for Marjorie, the one she said she would relive again if given the chance, was the Christmas of 1945. This was a Christmas that was special to many people, as it marked the first Christmas after the end of World War II. Like many young wives, Marjorie had sacrificed and spent the previous two Christmases without her beloved husband, John M., who sacrificed for his country by serving in the Navy in the Philippines.
Marjorie had been living in Provo during the previous year, finishing school, and came up to Salt Lake to get him. Caught in a bad storm, they had to stop in Panguitch on the way down south to see her parents and ended up spending Christmas in a motel with little Muriel, who was two.
“We didn’t own a home,” she said, “so we ended up staying in the motel for a month or so.” Like another young couple on a long-ago Christmas, they were seeking shelter, and fortunately, this time, there was room at the inn.
This marked the first of many memorable Christmases John and Marjorie spent together. These were times made special not so much by the gifts they gave each other, but by the love they felt for one another. But that’s not to say there weren’t some interesting gifts.
One year, though “he never was a shopper for clothes,” John brought home a couple of dresses for Marjorie to try on. “One,” Marjorie recalled with a smile, “was kind of sparkly,” and the other was nice, too. She was supposed to see which one fit, and they both did. Evidently, John was hoping to figure out which one she liked best so he could give it to her for Christmas, but he didn’t tell her that. “So,” she said, laughing, “I ended up with two new dresses.”
Perhaps an even better gift was the year John gave her a new wedding ring, since she has worn through a few. He had the diamond from the old one placed in a necklace, and he also gave her some earrings. John, being wise, no doubt gave wise gifts.
But John wasn’t always so wise at Christmas time. One year, he was supposed to be helping her stuff the stockings and whatnot on Christmas Eve, but instead fell asleep. “Well,” she said, “I had a book for him under the tree, and I just figured, if he’s going to go to bed instead of helping me, I was going to unwrap his book and start reading it then and there.” Which she did. No doubt, John stayed awake the next year, lest he lose out on the chance to open another gift.
While the magi gave the wisest gifts, the first to worship on Christmas morning were the shepherds – and wouldn’t you know it, the shepherds played a role in one of Marjorie’s Christmases too. She told me about the Christmas when she was five, and her family was going to Ephram to visit her grandparents. Well, they piled in the old Model T Ford with the canvas windows, placed heated rocks in the floorboards to keep them warm, and made their pilgramage. Unfortunately, Marjorie came down with the chicken pox, and when it was time to go home she was still sick, so her parents left her in Ephram. She stayed the winter and, finishing the second half of first grade in the basement of Snow College. “I got my college education early,” she said.
When spring came, she went home with her uncle who worked as a sheep shearer – they were heading in the direction she needed to go, and took her into their fold. And here I have lamely related to you some eventful chronicles of a not-too foolish woman who has wisely sacrificed for her family, someone who has made love the greatest treasure of her house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who have given gifts, Marjorie is the wisest. Of all who give and receive gifts, such as she are wisest. Everywhere she is wisest. She is Grandma Great.

Thursday, November 18

Freshmen: Today we started an overview of narrative essays. Read for 20 minutes tonight; remember, vocab due December 3. Your extra credit poem or essay revisions are due next week.

Sophomores: We began reading The Alchemist today. Check the due dates on the blog. A 12 item seminar prep is due the day of the seminar, as well as the completed Echoes for this particular book. Vocab due December 3, 5 Facts due Monday.

CNF: We continued our film analysis.

Basketball: Normal schedule today; remember, intrasquad at 7:30 Saturday with a parent meeting to follow. Pictures are on Sunday at noon.

10% Solution Cheat Sheet

The 10% Solution Cheat Sheet

To find your word count:
1. Click Tools.
2. Click Word Count.
3. Type in how many words your document is below your name.
4. Subtract 10%. The total is your goal (Draft 2 = Draft 1 – 10%).
5. Write down your goal below your current total. Meet or exceed it – don’t settle for close.
6. WHEN FINISHED, BELOW YOUR FIRST TWO NUMBERS, WRITE DOWN THE FINAL WORKD COUNT FOR YOUR DOCUMENT.
To perform the 10% Solution:
1. Click Edit.
2. Click Find.
3. Enter the syllable you are searching for.
For each syllable you search for, ask…
1. Do I keep it?
2. Do I cut it?
3. Do I change it?
*Whatever you decide, the decision should be made with this goal in mind – improving your piece.
**Remember that cutting or changing may require changing other things as well – see the big picture.
Syllables to search for:
-ly of that
Pronouns: I, he, she, etc. -ion was
Were very about
-ing By How (case sensitive)
And (case sensitive) But (case sensitive) Because (case sensitive)

The Alchemist Reading Schedule 2010

Here is the schedule for The Alchemist. We are going to do more writing while reading this book, so you still need to be sure to balance your time well. Read everything up to and through the page number indicated on the due date.
November 16/17: Begin book.
November 24: Page 68 due.
December 6: Book due; Final seminar.
***As you read, you should take notes using the the guide sheet on Socratic Seminars. I would like you to have a minimum of a dozen items to discuss the day of the seminar.

Monday, November 15

Freshmen: Today we concluded our discussion of how documentaries are like essays. We have shifted our focus now from essays in general to specific essays; right now our focus is on narrative essays. Don't forget to finish Speak and Lord of the Flies for 11/29.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on the final section of The Power of One and also discussed your triple entry journals. For next period, you need to have The Alchemist and complete your peer mark assignment for your peer.

CNF: Finish chapter 2 from Freakonomics and have a dozen notes in preparation for the seminar.

Basketball: Normal practice this week - after school until 5:30. Wednesday, the bus will leave Judge at 2:50. I want everyone on it.

Friday, November 12

Good luck to the football team!

Freshmen: We continued to explore the notion of the documentary as the cinematic equivalent of the essay, despite your logorrhea. Read for 20 minutes this weekend - remember, both Speak and Lord of the Flies are due next week.

Sophomores: Go to turnitin.com. If you submitted a compare and contrast essay, you will have been assigned someone's at random. Read it, and make 6-12 comments on it regarding their lead, conclusion, use of citations, and anything else that jumps out at you. This is due next block period. Due Monday is The Power of One, your seminar prep, and your triple entry journal.

CNF: We began reading Chapter 2 from Freakonomics; we will finish it, and 12 notes for our seminar on Wednesday, on Monday.

Basketball: Practice is 7:55-9:45 at Judge on Saturday morning. Normal time today.

Tuesday, November 11/9 or Wednesday, 11/10

Freshmen: We began a study of how the documentary is the cinematic equivalent of the essay form by viewing "Spellbound." Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday. Vocab is due Thursday.

Sophomores: Due Thursday: Vocab. Due Friday: Essay to turnitin.com. Due Monday: Finish The Power of One, your seminar prep, and your triple entry journal.

CNF: We concluded Bigger Stronger Faster and focused on Bell's thesis that cheating is simply a by-product of being an American.

Basketball: We concluded tryouts today and will post the roster tomorrow around 10 AM.

Monday, November 8

Freshmen: Today we focused on schema connections. Read 20 minutes tonight and Tuesday; vocab due Thursday. Find a publisher for your essay - due in two weeks.

Sophomores: Today we focused on emerging themes in the Tao. For Thursday, finish Chapter 5 vocab. For Friday, submit your essay to turnitin.com. For Monday, have our book and your seminar prep finished.

CNF: Today we began the film Bigger, Stronger, Faster and discussed why our culture tends to view cheating in sports as worse than cheating in other areas.

Basketball: Today is the first day of tryouts; we will finish at 5:30 today and tomorrow up at Sunnyside.

Friday, November 5

Freshmen: Today we published your essays via sharing. Read for 20 minutes; bring your copy of Models for Writers Monday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the belief statements about Doc and Geel Piet, and also discussed the Crystal Cave as it relates to King Arthur and The Power of One. Keep reading - chapter 22 is due Monday; the book the following Monday.

CNF: Today we conducted a seminar on Who Killed the Electric Car?

Thursday, November 4

Freshmen: Today we wrapped up our overview of our seven step essay process. Tonight you should focus on polishing and editing, and tomorrow we publish. Be sure to include a bibliography with your final draft - go to www.easybib.com for a simple tool you can use. I will collect your 3x5s as well as your interview/survey with your final draft. Read for 20 minutes; vocab is due next Thursday as well.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the wisdom Geel Piet and Doc. Continue to read; get your film viewed and essay written. Remember, vocab chapter 5 is due on 11/11.

CNF: Today we wrapped up our viewing/discussion of the electric car, and will have a seminar tomorrow. Bring your notes.

Monday, November 1

Freshmen: Today we focused on Step 6: Revision. You are to read your essay out loud to yourself with a pen in your hand and revise based on the questions posed in class today. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday. Vocab due 11/11; Letter to the Editor due 12/16; read Speak and Lord of the Flies by 11/29.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on the middle portion of The Power of One. Upcoming dates: Chapter 22 due 11/8; chapter 5 vocab due 11/11; essay due 11/12; finish The Power of One and final seminar prep by 11/15.

CNF: Today we began Who Killed the Electric Car? If you find out, call the local police.

Thursday, October 28

Freshmen: Today we focused on Step 5; we also focused on how to cite sources. In your essay, you are required to quote from your sources twice: once as an in-text citation, and once as a blocked citation. Search on this blog for examples if you don't remember. Due Monday: a typed draft of your essay. Read 20 minutes twice over the weekend.

Sophomores: Today we concluded Cry, the Beloved Country. Due Monday - read through chapter 17; seminar prep; seminar that day. Keep working on your essays and 3EJ too.

CNF: We conducted a seminar on chapter 1 from Freakonomics.

Tuesday, 10/26 or Wednesday, 10/27

Freshmen: Today we focused on leads, conclusions, and plans. There will be a quiz on leads on Thursday. Your homework is to write two separate leads for your essay, using two different techniques that we learned. The leads should be at least two paragraphs long. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sophomores: Today we began watching Cry, the Beloved Country in order to build background information on South Africa and the time period we are reading about. We are tracking observations, questions, and synthesis as we go, and you may end up using these ideas to supplement your ideas for your compare and contrast essays. Keep reading; we will have a seminar on chapters 11-17 next Monday.

CNF: We read chapter 1 from Freakonomics; 12 notes are due in preparation for the seminar on Thursday.

Monday, October 25

Freshmen: Today we covered the third step in our seven step essay process: Focus the data. We looked at all our data and answered the question, What is my main argument or message? and then phrased it as a thesis statement. Read for 20 minutes; bring your data to class tomorrow as well.

Sophomores: Today we focused on reading a film scene, focusing on the elements of character, camera, objects, mood, and setting. You should use these ideas as you work on your compare and contrast essay. Keep reading - seminar next Monday - and remember, Echoes of the Tao is due on Thursday. You should have at least one entry for The Power of One.

CNF: Today we focused mainly on how schools can curb cheating. Bring Freakonomics on Wednesday.

Sophomore Compare and Contrast Essay Film Assignment

The Power of One Compare and Contrast Essay
Name:

Choose one of these two topics, Africa, or boxing. Watch a film about it. The film may be either fictional or a documentary. Follow this procedure:
1. While watching, take notes using our analysis, asking questions, and synthesis method that we performed during our Break it Down exercise.
2. Based on your analysis, questions, and synthesis, craft a solid thesis that compares and contrasts how the topic is portrayed in the movie versus how it is portrayed in The Power of One.
3. Write an essay that proves your thesis.

For purposes of a future, parallel assignment, your essay must be typed, at least 1,000 words long, and be sure to save it on your hard drive.

In your essay, be sure that you do the following:
1. State your thesis clearly.
2. Support your thesis with numerous examples from The Power of One and the film you have chosen.
3. Display understanding of various writing lessons from earlier this quarter.
4. Use one of the lead and conclusion techniques I will teach you.
5. Carefully proofread your essay so that it is free of all conventions errors.

You are free to choose any film you’d like as long as you have parental permission. There are only three exceptions – you may not use Rocky 3-5, nor may you use The Power of One or Cry, the Beloved Country. You will also not receive credit for this assignment unless you have the permission slip signed below. You will hand in this signed paper when your essay is due.

Your paper will be assessed using our Six Traits writing rubric. Your essay is due ______________. I will only give credit to those in on time.

NOTE: It’s okay for several students to get together and watch the same film. However, all notes, planning, etc. must be done on your own, alone, without collaboration. To do otherwise will result in a zero.
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Permission Form:


PRINTED student name Title of film



Parent signature

Friday, October 22

Freshmen: Today we took the chapter 4 vocab exam. Chapter 5 is being moved up a day to 11/11 - make note of it. Read for 20 minutes this weekend, and most importantly, remember that your research (survey or interview; 3x5 cards) are due for Monday.

Sophomores: Today we took the chapter 4 vocab exam. Chapter 5 is being moved up a day to 11/11 - make note of it. More importantly, we introduced a compare and contrast essay film assignment. I will post it on the blog. Follow the directions. Chapter 12 from The Power of One is due Monday.

CNF: We continued analyzing the data on cheating.

Thursday, October 21

Freshmen: Today we focused on a poem by Naomi Shibib Nye and did a little work with your questions, surveys, and interviews. Your data needs to be compiled and with you in class on Monday. Read for 20 minutes tonight and the weekend; vocab is due Friday.

Sophomores: We concluded our Break it Down exercise and also practiced reading a film scene; vocab is due tomorrow. Keep reading: chapter 12 due Monday.

CNF: Today we disaggregated the data we compiled on cheating, engaging in Freakonomics-style thinking. Your ideas and insights were really fascinating. We will continue tomorrow. Be sure to have Freakonomics with you in class tomorrow as well.

Tuesday, October 19 and Wednesday, October 20

Freshmen: Today we continued on with Step 2 of our seven step essay process: Collect data. It is important to learn what others think and know about your topic before you can really figure out what it is you think and know about it - that is the purpose of data collection. So, to aid us in data collection, as well as to aid us in the writing of our essays, we introduced Question Based Research Strategy. The idea is this: write down all the questions you have about your potential topic on 3x5 cards (include only one question on each 3x5 card). As you research, you will answer those questions on the back of the 3x5 card. Your answers should be very brief bullet statements and include the source from whence the information came. As stated in class, you need to have three sources from which your information will be drawn. Two of them, you will use for answering questions on your 3x5 cards: the Internet, and a non-electronic print source. The third source, either an interview or a survey consisting of a minimum of 10 questions, will comprise your third source of information. Some of the questions you research on your 3x5s may also be used in your survey or interview. Due for Thursday are at least 12 questions on your 3x5 cards and the questions you will use on your interview or survey. Due for Monday are answers to the questions you will research and your completed interview and survey. Read for 20 minutes each night and remember vocab chapter 4 is due Monday.

Sophomores: Today we did an exercise in close reading of visual art, music, and film, building on the reading skills we have focused on this semester. Continue to read - chapter 12 is due Monday - and continue to work on your seminar prep for October 25. Vocab due Friday.

CNF: Today we wrote an essay that concluded our reading of Blink and read the introduction to Freakonomics.

CNF:

Monday, October 18

Freshmen: Today we completed the first step in the seven-step essay process we are studying, which was defining your problem - you should have a good idea what your topic is going to be for this project by now. We will move on to step 2 tomorrow, which is gathering information. For this step, you are going to need at least a dozen 3x5 cards, so please bring them to class. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday, and remember that vocab is due Friday.

Sophomores: Today we conducted our first seminar on The Power of One. Chapter 12 is due next Monday; while you read, work on your Echoes and 3EJ assignment. Remember that vocab is due Friday.

CNF: We concluded our seminar on the end of Blink; be sure to have Freakonomics for later this week.

Tuesday, October 12

Freshmen: Today we talked about what the sample essay response to More does well. You can use it as a model for your own work. We also began the first step in a seven step essay process that we are learning. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and the weekend.

Sophomores: Today we began a practice in close reading using a Triple Entry Journal. This is somewhat similar to the Echoes of the Tao assignment we began this quarter. Be sure to finish chapters 1-9 (including 9) for Monday's seminar.

CNF: We began a seminar on the end of Blink; we will likely continue with it on Monday; we will also begin Freakonomics next week.

Monday, October 11

Freshmen: Today we took a look at your essay responses to More, and talked about how to write a piece like this in general. Your job is this: Using the notes you took in class, and the comments posted on your essay on turnitin.com, you are to revise your essay and improve it. Then, on a printed copy of your essay, as neatly as possible, write about the changes you made - where you made them, why you made them, how you made them. This way, a reader should be able to look at the paper copy of your essay and see exactly what you improved and why. This annotated paper copy is due on Monday. Please see the sample essay posted on this blog as a good example of how to do this kind of essay (search "sample More essay"). Your homework is to read for 20 minutes Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, plus once on the weekend. On Tuesday, we will focus on the potential essay topics you have in answer to the questions we focused on last week.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the This I Believe essays you liked. Chapter 5 from The Power of One was due today; more importantly, Chapter 9 and approximately two notes per chapter are due for our seminar next Monday. Make time to read each day.

CNF: Today we tried to finish Blink. Be sure to have Freakonomics for next week.

Sample Analytical Response to More

***Note to students: Ignore the format - this is the default format for the blog. Obviously, it should be double spaced with indented paragraphs. Pay attention to how it is written - voice, style, structure, depth of analysis, clarity of thesis, and so on.

October 8, 2010

Wanting More


Mark Osborne’s short film More tells a story that is a scathing indictment of the pressures and illusions of our modern consumption-driven world, but it’s also a story that offers hope. The message is clear: acquiring more (more money, more objects, more power) never satisfies us, and therefore, there must be something more to our world than the material objects and the trappings of the success we pursue.
The film opens with images of children on a merry-go-round, and then cuts to the main character being awakened by his alarm clock. It’s unclear if these first images are his dreams, or his memories, but clearly they haunt him as he goes about his day in the gray, industrialized city that is his home. He is haunted, too, by another dream he has, the dream to create something meaningful that will contribute to society.
This idea for a new invention seems to preoccupy him throughout the day, and is underscored by the fact that, so far, it has been an abysmal failure relegated to a dusty box beneath his bed. He leaves his small, dingy apartment to go to his job on an assembly line where he makes the Happy product. On his way to work, like the thousands of other sad, gray, nearly-lifeless beings in his city, he is exhorted to purchase the Happy product and is bombarded by the constant message to Get Happy! Everywhere he looks this message greets him and his brethren, impossible to miss in its pervasiveness, and also because its yellow logo stands out starkly against the dull grayness of the city.
This world, unfortunately, parallels our own world all too well. We live in a society that constantly bombards us with messages, a constant stream of promises that if we buy these pair of jeans, drive this car, drink this soda, and watch this show, we will be happy. We live in a world that constantly tells us we want and need more, and that happiness can come only from external sources. We live in a society that tries to tear us down so that we will become vulnerable to this message.
The main character in More seems to know better, however. Before leaving for his job, he opens the slot in his stomach and from it glows a powerful light. After being fired from his assembly-line job, he goes into a dressing room and opens that slot again, as if he needs to draw strength from this light. What it is isn’t clear exactly – his soul, his inner-light, his essence? – but what is clear is that it’s this light that gives him strength and vitality, it’s what makes him whole.
He returns to his sad little apartment after having purchased the Happy product and takes out his own invention, also a set of goggles. From the dust-covered box it’s clear this is an idea he’s had for some time, but one he’s grown frustrated with, having made no recent progress toward completing. He breaks apart the Happy product and uses some of its parts to complete his invention.
Yet it needs one more thing: He opens the slot in his stomach and takes some of his essence, some of his light, and places it in his invention.
This transforms his goggles, and through the goggles his world is transformed: His apartment becomes a mansion, the view from his window is not a dead, lifeless city but rather a lush mountain valley with trees and water. He names these goggles Bliss, which is best defined as “perfect untroubled happiness” and “a state of spiritual joy.” Perhaps, it seems, fulfillment can come from external sources, after all. For, with these new goggles, everything seems better. But in time we realize that is also an illusion, no more real than the images the seen through the goggles.
Yet, the main character is named Greatest Inventor Ever, and lauded as a hero. He grows rich beyond imagining. He ascends to CEO of his own company. All his dreams have come true. He should be happy.
We see other characters experience a form of happiness as well. There is a scene of two beings hugging while wearing Bliss, the only form of physical contact we see in the whole film. When the main character yells at a worker on the line just as he had been yelled at previously, the worker simply holds up the goggles and the yelling boss is transformed into a smiling, waving figure.
But this is all illusion, and Osborne seems to be warning us that outside forms of happiness are transitory at best, perhaps even outright dangerous illusions. Drugs, alcohol, material goods – in the end, they don’t fulfill us. They always leave us wanting more, and in the pursuit and acquisition, we are always left empty.
The main character of the film realizes this. In the final scene, he sits in his large office, behind his enormous power-desk. He is wearing his Bliss goggles. He removes them. His eyes are sad and baggy – clearly he is still not sleeping well, and the momentary happiness he attained through his invention and the trappings of success has fled. He sets the goggles on his desk and opens the slot in his stomach. The light is gone. Though he found worldly success, he lost himself, lost his essence. Osborne’s film couldn’t be more clear – success and happiness, as our culture defines it, is empty. It leaves us wanting more and more, but the pursuit and acquisition of that more can never fulfill us, and perhaps cost us our very souls.
The main character comes to this sad realization, but it is yet not too late for him. He gets up from his desk and goes to his window, where something has caught his eye. He looks out the window and the camera zooms in on a forgotten corner of this sad city: children, colorful and vibrant, laugh and play on a merry-go-round together.
They wear no goggles.

Thursday, October 7

Freshmen: Today we had the opportunity to hear about the ULSTER Project; otherwise, we would have done some sharing of your letters to the editor. Check the paper, and if you are published, let me know. Read for 20 minutes tonight; vocab due tomorrow.

Sophomores: Today we had the great honor of hearing Mr. McMillian share his expertise about, and experiences living in, South Africa. Due Friday: Vocab and the This I Believe project; Due Monday: Chapter 5. The Monday after break we will have as seminar on Chapter 1-9 in The Power of One.

CNF: Today we began Chapter 6 and the Conclusion of Blink; 3 notes per section; Seminar on Monday, I hope, if not, on Tuesday.

Tuesday, October 5 and Wednesday, October 6

Freshmen: Today we established a criteria for judging whether or not an essay is effective, and we also began answering a list of questions in an effort to determine what some topics might make good essays for each individual writer in the class. You should read for 20 minutes, answer the questions (you need a total of 12 topics for class on Thursday), and be ready for the vocab exam on Friday.

Sophomores: Today we talked about things to improve upon as writers. You are to review the essay you turned in to turnitin.com, the notes you took today in class, and the citation and transition notes listed on this blog, and improve your essay. A paper copy of your revised essay is due on Friday, October 8. Also due Friday is your vocab work. Continue to read from The Power of One - see the blog for the reading schedule.

CNF: Today we had a seminar on Chapter 5.

Transition Example

Sample transition from the writer’s idea to a citation from a text:


I came home from work as soon as I got my sister’s call. When I got home, my mom was in her bed, barely able to speak. She told me that her head hurt, and that she thought she needed to go to the hospital, and I began to feel very afraid. My fear made me indecisive: I couldn’t decide whether to take her to the hospital now, wait for my dad to get home, or call the paramedics so that someone with expertise could take over the situation. I was frozen by my fear. In Life of Pi, Yann Martel perfectly expresses what I felt. In it, Pi Patel is stranded on a lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a Bengal tiger. Despite these extreme life-threatening circumstances, Pi reflects that fear “is life’s only true opponent. Only fear can defeat life” (161). Standing there, over my mom, I knew I had to act.
My fear, and not the undiagnosed brain aneurism bleeding inside my mom’s skull, was the greatest threat to my mom’s life. That fear was preventing me from taking action, just as Martel describes it:

fear, disguised in the garb of mild-mannered doubt, slips into
your mind like a spy. Doubt meets disbelief and disbelief tries
to push it out. But disbelief is a poorly armed foot soldier… You
become anxious. Reason comes to do battle for you. You are reassured…
But to your amazement… reasons is laid low. You feel yourself weakening,
wavering. Your anxiety becomes dread (161).

This was what I was experiencing, but somehow I was able to recognize it and break out of my paralysis. “Mom,” I said, “I need you to get up and get into the car with me – I am taking you to the hospital.”

Citation Examples

In-Text Citation:
Biofuels are not the answer to our current climate change problems

and energy needs. Using food for fuel is a problem for many reasons.

First, biofuels don’t slow climate change - they may, in fact, accelerate

it. The journal Science published a study that calculated biofuel

production may release “between 17 and 420 times more carbon dioxide

than… fossil fuel” (Dyer, 11). Second, biofuel production drives up the

cost of food. Between 2006 and 2007, “food costs world wide rose by 23

percent”, something that can be linked directly with conversion of

land from food to fuel production (Dyer, 78).


Blocked Citation:

We are facing a food shortage crisis, plain and simple. The World Food

Program has stated it needs upwards of 700 million dollars this year to

help feed the world’s poor, up 200 million from what they needed last

year to feed the same number of people. Last year it became clear that

the era of cheap food was over.

Food costs world-wide rose by 23 percent between 2006 and
2007. This year, what is becoming clear is the impact of this
change on ordinary people’s lives (Dyer, 11).

What might not be clear is the cause: biofuels. Biofuels are fuels

constructed from…

Monday, October 4

Freshmen: Today we finished up our reading of those essay packets. For homework, read for 20 minutes tonight and Tuesday, and finish your criteria for effective essays list. Your list should be at least a page long; we will discuss those lists on the block day. Don't forget - chapter 3 vocab is due Friday.

Sophomores: Today I provided an overview of the background necessary to understand before reading The Power of One. As I said, it is the longest book we read, so you need to make time for it each day - if you do, it will be well worth it. Check the post on the blog that has the reading schedule (be sure to read the 2010 schedule). Don't forget - chapter 3 vocab is due Friday.

CNF: Today we finished Chapter 6; finish it and your notes (3 per section) for our seminar on Wednesday.

Friday, October 1

Freshmen: We had an introduction to the library. You are to read for 20 minutes this weekend and to add about five items to your criteria for effective essays. Remember, vocab and Letters to the Editor due next week.

Sophomores: Today we did an in-class essay exam on what you felt the theme of Life of Pi is. For Monday, be sure to have a copy of The Power of One.

CNF: Today we began Chapter 5 in Blink. If you don't have Freakonomics, get it. We will start it soon.

The Power of One 2010 Reading Schedule

Date: Due:
10/4 Begin Book
10/11 Chapter 5
10/18 Chapter 9 - Seminar - 18 notes due.
10/25 Chapter 12
11/1 Chapter 17 - Seminar - 18 notes due.
11/8 Chapter 22
11/15 Book Due - Seminar - 14 notes due.
***On the due date, all the reading including the chapter listed must be read (e.g. for the first due date, read chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5).
***On dates that we have a seminar, you should have approximately 2 notes per chapter for us to discuss - however, you might have 1 note for one chapter and 3 for another. It all depends, and so long as you have the total number listed above, you are fine. These may take the form of comments or questions. Refer to the handout on Socratic Seminars that I gave you.

Thursday, September 30

Freshmen: Today we continued teasing out the criteria that makes up an effective essay. Remember that we meet in the library tomorrow, and you need your computer log-in info. Remember to read for 20 minutes tonight and this weekend, and I would also like you to reflect and add 5-7 items to the list we generated this week so that we can talk about it on Monday.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on Life of Pi. You need to have The Power of One for class on Monday. Be sure to complete your Echoes assignment, as well as your This I Believe project.

CNF: Today I thought was fascinating: we did a few experiments that parallel experiments we will read about next. It might be good for you to talk to your parents about the factors that influence their grocery shopping decisions.

Tuesday, September 28 and September 29

Freshmen: Today we began a study of what effective essays look like by reading a packet of excellent essays (especially mine - and you know my argument in the essay is spot-on) and identifying what the essay writers are doing that make the essay good. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes tonight.

Sophomores: Today we finished Part III from Life of Pi. Thursday we will conduct a Socratic Seminar on the text, and you need to have the following things finished and with you for the seminar: All the reading (obviously), your seminar prep (that is your 15 questions or comments and the three passages that you really like or find interesting), and your Echoes of the Tao assignment. Bring Life of Pi with you each day the rest of the week, and be sure to have a copy of The Power of One next Monday.

CNF: Today we had an excellent seminar on Chapter 4 from Blink and jammed to Kenna (though he only scored 1.5 on a 4 point scale, poor guy). Bring Coke, Pepsi, and some cups tomorrow for our taste test.

Monday, September 27

Freshmen: Today we talked about the elements of good writing, specifically using a Six Traits model. Your task is to assess your essay on More using the Six Traits One Pager as your guide. On the back of your essay, score it for each trait on a 5-1 scale, and provide evidence from the One Pager and from your essay to justify your score. This is due next time we meet. Be sure to read 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday evening as well.

Sophomores: Today we took time to read from Pi as well as review last week's vocab exam. Be sure that Part II is finished by our next class meeting, and by Thursday, you should be done with your seminar prep and your Echoes of the Tao assignment for Life of Pi.

CNF: Finish Chapter 4 from Blink, as well as your seminar prep, for Wednesday.

Thursday, September 23

Freshmen: Today we addressed the question: What is Writing? Along with the various things you all came up with, I added that "thinking on paper" was a crucial way to view writing, and we read a piece by Stephen King where he defined writing as telepathy. So, practice that tonight by reading for 20 minutes, and remember to complete your essay by Monday. By Monday, you need to have submitted your essay to turnitin.com (see details in an earlier post), and you also need to bring a paper copy with you to class on Monday. Vocab is due tomorrow.

Sophomores: Today we self-assessed the essays you wrote on the experience which shaped you as a way to better learn about your own writing (remember, good writers are good self-assessors), as well as to get a better sense of how the rubric works. Due for Friday is Chapter 2 vocab, and due for the next block period is Part II from Life of Pi.

CNF: Today we talked about thin slicing situations, and how structure actually encourages and allows for spontaneity. Tomorrow and Monday, we will read Chapter 4 from Blink and take notes in preparation for our seminar on Wednesday.

Tuesday, September 21 and Wednesday, September 22

Freshmen: Today we started practicing the process of inductive thinking, which is one of the best ways to approach something as a writer. We did a few activities as a warm up, but the primary thing we did was view Mark Osborne's short film, "More" (which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9u7WiDBek4). Your task is to finish your observations and inductions and to write an essay that answers the following prompt: What is the message (or theme) of the film "More"?

Sophomores: Today we focused primarily on identifying and imitating Martel's use of two techniques: listing and repetition. Remember your homework: Submit your essay to www.turnitin.com by Thursday, 7:59 AM - and bring a paper copy to class with your name on the back only that day, vocab is due Friday, and Part II from Life of Pi is due next block period.

CNF: Today we had a seminar on Chapter 3 of Blink.

Friday, September 17

Freshmen: Today we focused on ten tips for writing poetry and looked at a couple of poems in class. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes this weekend and Monday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the importance of names again, specifically Richard Parker, and all the strange seafaring incidents involving that name. Remember, chapter 75 is due next block period, and your essay is due next Thursday, vocab next Friday.

CNF: Finish Chapter 3 with 3 notes per section for Wednesday's seminar.

Thursday, September 16

Freshmen: Today we took a look at the poems you wrote and passed some stuff back. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes.

Sophomores: Today we discussed what a bildungsroman is - a story about the events that shape a person's life. We looked at a TIB essay that was a good example of this, and looked at Life of Pi and the events that shaped him. Your task is to write an essay that explores the event or events that shaped who you are today. However, you must also cite from Life of Pi at least three times (word for word, with page numbers), either as a way to support what you are saying, or to simply compare yourself to someone else as a reference point for your reader. But remember: this essay is about you, and the event or events that have shaped who you are today. The smaller and more specific the details the better. Other things to remember about your assignment: Most good essays are 8-19 paragraphs in length; you should have a compelling title that is not a one word label, and your piece should be strong in all of the Six Traits.

You must submit your essay to turnitin.com by 8 AM on Thursday, September 23. There are details about that on this blog - search turnitin.com 2010 to find it.

CNF: Today we discussed the results of the IAT exam, as well as began Chapter 3 from Blink, which we will finish tomorrow in class. If you didn't take the IAT, be sure that you do.

Tuesday, September 14 and Wedneday, September 15

Freshmen: Today we focused on figurative language. Your task is to write a fifth and final poem that uses some form of figurative language that we studied (metaphor, simile, or personification). You should also examine the previous four poems you wrote and implement today's principle if it will improve your poem. You are to come with a final copy of all five of your poems next period. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday night as well.

Sophomores: Today we focused on two reading skills with the intent of increasing both your speed as well as your comprehension as a reader: visualization and eye fixations. The idea is to increase your visualizations and decrease your eye fixations. Due for next block period is everything through chapter 75.

CNF: We had a seminar on Chapter 2 from Blink. Your homework is to go to implicit.harvard.edu and take the race IAT as well as one other IAT. Please be sure you do this.

Monday, September 13

Freshmen: Today we talked about using effective repetition, as opposed to ineffective redundancies, fluff, and clutter. Your task is to review your previous three free verse poems, use repetition if it will improve your piece, and craft a fourth poem that intentionally uses effective repetition, due next period. Read 20 minutes per night tonight, Tuesday, and Wednesday.

Sophomores: Today we began Part II from Life of Pi. While you will get 10 minutes at the start of the next period to read, you need to pace out your reading so that you are done with Chapter 45 by the end of those 10 minutes.

CNF: Today we read Chapter 2 from Blink and took three notes per section in preparation for our seminar on Wednesday. Good work.

Revsied Life of Pi Reading Schedule 2010

9/13 - Part I due. We will read the start of Part II together this day.
9/14 or 9/15 (block day) - Chapter 45 due.
9/21 or 9/22 (block day) - Chapter 75 due.
9/28 or 9/29 (block day) - Part II due - we will listen to Part III in class this day.
9/30 - Seminar on Life of Pi.
10/1 - We will begin The Power of One this day.

Friday, September 10

Freshmen: See yesterday's post...

Sophomores: Today we focused on expectations for writing in light of a Six Traits model, using your summer read essays as our example. We also took the Chapter 1 vocab exam and looked at another This I Believe essay. Remember, Part I from Life of Pi needs to be read by Monday.

CNF: We did some prep stuff for Chapter 2 from Blink (like a scrambled sentence test), and read. We will take the period on Monday to finish the chapter in preparation for Wednesday's seminar.

Thursday, September 9

Freshmen: We will do the same thing today and tomorrow, since you all will only make one class due to your retreat. We took a vocab exam on Chapter 1, and revisited the ideas we discussed yesterday about format and cutting in poetry. Remember, single space within stanzas (double space between), punctuate and capitalize as you would prose, use a hard left margin, etc. - and remember, when you can't find another word to cut, your poem is probably done. Revisit your previous three poems for these principles, revising as necessary for Monday. Read for 20 minutes Thursday and the weekend.

Sophomores: Today we focused on emerging themes in the Tao and began a semester long assignment: Echoes of the Tao. This will be collected at the end of each quarter. Chapter 1 vocab is due tomorrow, and Part I from Life of Pi is due on Monday.

CNF: Today we thin sliced couples and individuals, based off interviews and bedrooms. We also got a good primer on facial expressions.

Tuesday, September 7 and Wednesday, September 8

Freshmen: Today we talked about the importance of format in poetry, as well as the importance of cutting. You should review your previous four poems and revise them for these two principles as needed. Remember, your next period there will be a vocab exam - for some on Thursday, others on Friday, depending on your retreat date - and you should read for 20 minutes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the idea of belief statements and looked at a couple of essays from This I Believe and applied this idea to Pi. We also took a quiz and shared your Three Facts assignments. Finish Part I from Life of Pi for next Monday (see the reading schedule on this blog). Also, you will have a vocab exam on Friday.

CNF: Today we had an excellent seminar on the first chapter of Blink. Tomorrow, we will practice thin slicing.

Thursday, September 2

Freshmen: Today we focused on how free verse poems ought to begin. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes, and to write a free verse poem that begins "in the midst of things" as we talked about today. If the poem you handed in today does not fit this principle, revise it so that it does.

Sophomores: Today we introduced the notion of a Socratic Seminar. For our seminar on Life of Pi, you need to write down 15 questions or comments, and make note of at least three passages that speak to you in some way. These will be due once the book is due. Also for homework, you are to finish Chapter 8 for Friday.

CNF: Today we began reading Chapter 1 from Blink and preparing for the seminar we will have on Wednesday. We will also have time to read in class on Friday. Your homework, however, is to email me a digital photo of your room. Don't clean it up - take it as it is. Don't worry - no names will be used in the activity we will use this for. Also, please go to http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/ and take the Big 5 Inventory test mentioned in Chapter 1 and write down or print your results. Then, have a friend or family member take the test answering about you and compare the results.

Vocab Schedule Semester 1 2010

Baird English Freshman and Sophomore Vocab Schedule Semester 1 2010

Do all the exercises for a particular chapter before that chapter is due on your own as homework. On the date the chapter is due, bring your book to class for credit. You will either earn full credit (50 points: work complete and correct), partial credit (25 points: some of the work done or many incorrect), or no credit (0 points: book is missing or hardly any work is complete). You may not hand this work in late. The date the work is due we will also take a quiz, typically worth 25 to 50 points, mirroring the work in the book. You are not required to do the unit reviews or the cumulative reviews, though you can if you wish.

Date and Chapter Due:
9/10 1
9/24 2
10/8 3
10/22 4
11/12 5
12/3 6
12/17 7
First semester exam 1-7 review

Tuesday, August 31; Wednesday September 1

Freshmen: Today we focused on two conventions of free verse poetry, namely using I and avoiding participles. Your task is to write a poem about a first person experience that shows understanding of these two conventions. Remember your first vocab exam is September 10, and you can view the schedule on another post. Also, be sure to read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on beginning Life of Pi. Everything through Chapter 8 (that means Chapter 8 as well) is due on Friday - make time to read each day. You can view the entire reading schedule on another post. Remember your first vocab exam is September 10, and you can view the schedule on another post.

CNF: Today we began Blink. We read the introduction - if you were absent or we did not finish, then finish on your own. We will read Chapter 1 in class Thursday and Friday, and you will take 3 notes per section.

Friday, August 27

Thanks to you all for a good first week. I feel really good about how classes have gone and look forward to the rest of the semester.

Freshmen: Today we shared your found poems and focused on the idea of creative response. Your task is to write a poem that is a creative response to Langston Hughes's poem "Mother to Son" where you write from the point of view of the son. This requires you to make many interesting decisions as both a reader and a writer - who is this son, how does he respond to his mother's advice, how old is he, does he retain her metaphor (analogy, actually) or create his own? Your poem is due Monday. Read for 20 minutes this weekend and bring your vocab book to class on Monday as well.

Sophomores: We continued viewing the interview between Campbell and Moyers; your homework this weekend is to read the introduction to the Tao te Ching (quiz on Monday), find two creation myths from various cultures and print them and bring them Monday, and bring your vocab book for a diagnostic exam on Monday.

CNF: We continued our Wait Wait game prep - we will finish it on Monday and play on Wednesday; be sure to have a copy of Gladwell's Blink on Wednesday.

Thursday, August 26

Freshmen: Today we focused on your letter to the editor assignment. You have the parameters on a write-up I gave you - remember, you can hand it anytime before October 7, but you cannot hand it in after that date. Read for 20 minutes tonight for homework.

Sophomores: Today we began a study of the following questions: What common traits are shared among many of the world's creation stories? And, what do these commonalities reveal about humans as a species? Your homework is to find and print two creation stories, each from a different culture. That is due Monday. Also due Monday are the following: Reading the introduction from the Tao te Ching (there will be a quiz on Monday), and bringing your vocab book Monday for a diagnostic vocab exam.

CNF: Today we finished listening to Wait Wait, and began prep for our game. You need to have a copy of Blink by next block period.

Tuesday, August 24 and Wednesday, August 25

Freshmen: Our primary focus today was learning the requirements for the Prayer and Great Thoughts assignment. See me for a handout and sign up for a day if you were absent. Today we read a poem, "For My Father," by Janice Mirikatini and explored it through questions and connections, particularly relating it to the summer read When the Emperor Was Divine. We then talked about the notion of "found poetry" and created our own found poems using newspapers. Your homework is to sift through one of the two summer reads and write a found poem with it that either represents the narrator's point of view, experience, or change she underwent through the course of the book. A typed copy of the poem (with a great title) is due on Friday. Also, read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sophomores: Today we focused primarily on the requirements for our daily prayer assignment using the Tao te Ching; see me if you need a write up or to sign up for a day. We also focused on gathering a writing sample on a reaction to the summer reading. You need to have a copy of Life of Pi by next block period, and you should start bringing your copy of the Tao each day. Please also bring your vocab book this week, and if you can remember, bring your Bible to class tomorrow for a study of world creation stories.

CNF: Today we focused on two topic-driven non-fiction texts, The McGlaughlin Group and Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. The idea is to get exposed to various forms of non-fiction that deal with current events and issues. Please have a copy of Blink for next week, and this week bring in current newspapers and magazines for an activity we will be doing.

Monday, August 23

Hi. Welcome back. If you post a comment today, you will earn 10 points extra credit. Just put your first name and the period you are in (if there's two of you with the same first name, give me a last initial, too). Check the blog every day to get an update on what we did and what is due.

Freshmen: Today we did a basic introduction to the course. Bring back your signed disclosure statement next period, and have your binder as well. Remember, your homework every night Monday-Thursday, plus one day on the weekend, is to read for 20 minutes and to bring that book to class for our in class reading time - so be sure you read tonight. We will read the books from our class list together, so hold off on those. We looked at our first poem today and briefly discussed it. All and all, it was a good first day and I look forward to working with you all.

Sophomores: Today we did a basic introduction to the course. Bring back your signed disclosure statement next period, and have your binder as well. Also, remember to bring your vocab book this week and your copy of the Tao te Ching to class every day. We also began exploring the central thread of the course, which is how beliefs and philosophies shape shape both ourselves and characters in literature. The first book we will read is Life of Pi, but we will not begin that until next week on the block period day - just be sure you have it before then.

CNF: Today we did a basic introduction to the course, and you will receive a disclosure statement tomorrow. While homework will be a rarity in this class, I would like you to watch some of the news tonight and tomorrow and just have a sense of how it is a "constructed text." Also, bring some current newspapers or news magazines (Time, Newsweek, etc. - NOT Teenybopper Update or the like) to class later this week. The first book we will read is Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell, so be sure to get a copy of it for next week.

Final Post 2010

I would like to thank all of you for a great school year - the freshmen Capstone Projects were great, I really enjoyed the people and conversations in Compelling Non-Fiction, and the hard work and great personalities of the sophomores really made the year special. Thanks again and have a great, safe summer.
-Mr. Baird

Friday, June 4

Freshmen: Today we focused on parody. Remember to prepare for your final - search earlier posts if you need reminders as to what is on the final exam.

Sophomores: Today we concluded sharing your hero projects. Remember to prepare for your final - search earlier posts if you need reminders as to what is on the final exam. You can donate your books to the class for extra credit toward the final exam if you wish.

CNF: Thanks for a great semester and year. Check out the essay prompt and put some plans together. You can donate your books to the class for extra credit toward the final exam if you wish.

Thursday, June 3

Freshmen: Today we did a little vocab review and finished 12th Night. It is crucial you check out the review post on this blog for your final exam.

Sophs: Today we did a little vocab review and also heard some of your hero projects - they were extremely impressive. Finish Tuesdays With Morrie, and it is crucial you check out the review post on this blog for your final exam.

CNF: Again, read an interesting chapter and had a good discussion... and for the record, Batman IS better than Superman.

Tuesday, June 1 and Wednesday, June 2

Freshmen: Today we concluded the capstone presentations - they were very well done. You also received your written work back. If there is any one particular piece that you would like to earn a better grade on, you have until Friday to revise that piece. What you will need to hand in on Friday is the following: Your revised piece, a paragraph explaining what you revised and why, your original piece, and the original rubric. Also, remember to bring your vocab book to class the next few days so that we can review for the final in class.

Sophomores: Today we discussed the topics broached in the 10th, 11th, and 12th Tuesdays. For next period, you need your end of the semester project, and don't forget to prep for the final exam. Finish Tuesdays With Morrie for Friday. Also, remember to bring your vocab book to class the next few days so that we can review for the final in class.

CNF: We continued to read and discuss sections from Batman and Philosophy, and also talked about the final exam.

Friday, May 28

Freshmen: Today we had some more good presentations. You should finish Act IV from 12th Night for our next block period and begin preparing for your semester exam. Remember, there is crucial info about it in earlier posts.

Sophs: Today we read some interesting articles about marriage, the subject of the next chapter you will read in our text. Your homework is: Read the 10th and 11th Tuesdays, the Audio Visual Part III, and the 12th and 13th Tuesdays. Choose 2 of the topics Mitch and Morrie discuss and write a typed one page reaction to those topics. You had a reaction due today that you will also bring with you to class, which means you will have a total of 3 reactions for our seminar on the block day.

CNF: We read different stuff depending on your section, but it's safe to say that we read some interesting stuff. Fight some crime this weekend, or at least contemplate the relative importance of promises or the construction of the self...

Thursday, May 27

Freshmen: Today we again had some great presentations. Remember to prepare for your final exam - info is in an earlier post - and finish Act III for Friday.

Sophs: Today we discussed the documentary as well as Tuesdays With Morrie. For homework tonight, read the 8th and 9th Tuesdays, and choose 1 topic to write a typed, double spaced reaction to.

CNF: We read chapter 3 from Batman and Philosophy - your insights were amazing.

Tuesday, May 25 and Wednesday, May 26

Freshmen: We had more presentations today. You should check the post about semester finals so that you can begin preparing for your semester exam - just search "freshmen semester exam." Also, Act III is due for Friday.

Sophomores: Today we viewed So Much So Fast, and we will discuss it in the context of Tuesdays With Morrie on Thursday (get those reactions written). Freshmen: We had more presentations today. You should check the post about semester finals so that you can begin preparing for your semester exam - just search "western final exam."

CNF: Today we discussed whether or not the Joker (or any insane or cognitively impaired person) is morally responsible for their actions. I think the consensus is I am not responsible for any of my actions, and I appreciate the abdication... Also, Freshmen: We had more presentations today. You should check the post about semester finals so that you can begin preparing for your semester exam - just search "compelling second exam" - it'll be below the sophomore guide.

Compelling Non-Fiction Second Semester Final Exam Review

Compelling Non-Fiction Second Semester Final Exam

This semester we studied the notion of what the world would be like without us, as well as what the world can be like with us. With that in mind, your final exam is to write an essay that details what specific, tangible, and measurable thing (or things) you will do in the next calendar year to make the world a better place. In the course of your essay, you should reference some of the things we have read and discussed, as well as how the thing we have read and discussed have impacted your thinking about the prompt. Your essay should be double spaced and clear of most conventions errors. The essay should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, and display depth and clarity of thought. Provide a compelling (non-fiction) title at the top when finished. Not included in your grade, but expected from me, is periodic updates from you over the next year as to how your plan is working out. Good luck, and thank you for your time and effort this semester.

Freshman English Second Semester Final Exam

Your second semester will have several components. Please take careful note:

1. You will have a vocab review of chapters 8-15.
2. You will have a 50 question objective exam that covers what we studied this semester. Your focus should be on the various forms of poetry (free verse, sonnet, haiku, and creative response), as well as on argumentative essays and the leads and conclusions we have studied this year.
3. You will have an essay exam that fits the following prompt (note that it's an argumentative essay, but you will be assigned which side to argue for at random):

Essay Prompt: Recently, cell phones in schools have become a hot-button topic, with strong reasons for and against allowing cell phones in schools. Imagine your school is going to ban all cell phones from the campus, even from lockers and backpacks. Anyone caught with a cell phone will be immediately suspended, regardless of circumstance. In an essay, argue (FOR or AGAINST - you will be assigned a side at random) this ban, citing evidence you have collected. You must cite the evidence correctly, either in blocked or in-text citation form, as you build your case in order to get credit. You also must use one of the lead and conclusion techniques we have studied this year, and if you use a question technique, either in the lead or conclusion, your essay will earn a grade of zero. YOU MUST TURN IN YOUR RESEARCH WITH YOUR ESSAY.

4. Fort the essay, you must do some independent research on your own prior to the exam. You must record this research on 6 3x5 cards. You must have a minimum of 3 facts FOR the ban, and 3 facts AGAINST the ban. Your 3x5s will be collected and you will get a grade for them. You will only be able to use the 3x5s on the exam - printouts, etc. will not be accepted.

Monday, May 24

Freshmen: Today we had another presentation, and also handed in your letters to the editor. Finish Act III for Friday.

Sophomores: Here is your end of the semester project. There are two options.

Option 1: Write about your personal hero. In the course of your explanation, you must touch on archetypes, the monomyth, and the four stages of the hero. You also should make allusions to heroes we have studied in class.

Option 2: Choose a person who is a hero or mentor or you, the Morrie to your Mitch, as it were. Sit down with that person, Tuesdays-With-Morrie-style, and discuss some of the issues (I'd say 5 or so) that Mitch and Morrie discuss (feel free to substitute issues that are more relevant to you if need be). Take the results of your interview and produce a long paper that summarizes what you talked about.

Regardless of which option you choose, the final product should be typed and is due in class June 3.

In class, we discussed the issues from the recent readings. Your immediate homework is the following: Read the 5th and 6th Tuesdays, the Professor Part II, and the 7th Tuesday, and write a 1 page typed double spaced reaction to two of the three topics discussed. This means you will come to class with two separate 1 page typed reactions on Thursday. Respond to the topics, not the text.

CNF: Today we read the first chapter from Batman and Philosophy and had a brief seminar on the topic. Basically, that's how class is going to play out the final few weeks - we'll read a chapter and have a seminar that same day on the reading. Graduating seniors - you are more than welcome to come by any time, either period 2 or 5.

Wednesday, May 19

Freshmen: We had more presentations today. Due for the block period is your final vocab chapter and due for Monday is your letter to the editor and Act II from 12th Night.

Sophomores: Today we focused on reading from the text and discussing what we read. Due for Monday is the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Tuesday sections (and the stuff in between, of course, like The Audio-Visual Part II and The Professor, and so on). Pick two of the three topics and write a typed double spaced full page reaction to each of the topics you choose (this means you will have two written reactions, each one a full page, typed, double spaced). This should be a reaction - you, writing about your thoughts on the subject - NOT a summary of what Mitch and Morrie discuss, nor a book review or your opinion about the book. Write about your thoughts on the topics they discuss.

CNF: Have 3 Cups of Tea finished for next period and be sure to bring your Osama Think Sheet. For Monday, be sure to have a copy of Batman and Philosophy.

Tuesday, May 17

Freshmen: Obviously, we continued our presentations. Due for the block period is vocab chapter 15; due for Monday is your letter to the editor and Act II from 12th Night. Read from that play for 20 minutes each night.

Sophomores: Today we focused on reading from our book. Due for tomorrow are all the chapters up to The First Tuesday.

CNF: Get Three Cups of Tea finished for the block day, and if you can, bring some money to donate to the Central Asia Institute.

Monday, May 17

Freshmen: Today we had more great presentations - ask someone what their sign is and then see if you can tell if they are lying about it... Read all of Act I from 12th Night for tomorrow, and be ready for vocab on the block day. Also, letter to the editor due date has been pushed back to next Monday.

Sophomores: We began Tuesdays With Morrie. You should read the first three sections tonight: The Curriculum, The Syllabus, and The Student, due for tomorrow. Vocab has been pushed back to the block day.

CNF: Finish Three Cups of Tea for the end of the week.

Friday, May 14

Freshmen: Okay, one last try. Submit your essays to turnitin.com by 8 AM Saturday morning. Period 1's class ID is 2854922 and Period 6's is 2854923. The pass word is judge (all lower case). If you can't remember your own old password, simply create a new user profile. We will have a vocab exam next week - likely Thursday, but dependent somewhat upon the presentations.

Sophomores: We had an excellent seminar to conclude our reading of Hamlet. Bring Tuesdays With Morrie next week.

CNF: Keep on reading. If you want to contribute to the CAI, bring some money next week.

Thursday, May 13

Freshmen: Today we had another presentation. Work on vocab for next week and have your copy of Twelfth Night for Friday.

Sophomores: Today we began looking at which archetype fits Hamlet the best. Complete your survey for class tomorrow, as well as the play, your notes, and your 3EJ.

CNF: Keep on reading Three Cups of Tea.

Tuesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 12

Freshmen: Today we began our presentations, and with the extra time, did some spelling and grammar exercises. Everyone should have a copy of 12th Night in class on Friday, and be working on their vocab and letters to the editor.

Sophomores: Today we focused on Joseph Campbell's monomyth, as well as archetypes and Hamlet. Due for Friday are Act 5, 5 notes, and your completed 3EJ.

CNF: Today we viewed Spurlock's Where in the World... Due for next block period is Three Cups of Tea.

Monday, May 10

Freshmen: Today we handed in the capstone projects - they look good. I also collected the rough drafts and 3x5 cards. By Wednesday, 7:59 AM, submit your 3 essays to turnitin.com. It doesn't matter which essay you submit to Essay 1, 2, or 3, just make sure all 3 of them are in.

Sophomores: Finish 5.1 tonight; all of Act 5 is due for Friday - 5 notes, and all 7 of your 3EJ.

CNF: Keep reading Three Cups of Tea - here and at home. The goal is to have it done in 10 days.

Thursday, May 6

Freshmen: We spent the period working in class - Friday will be our last in class work day. Your project is due Monday and presentations begin the next block period.

Sophomores: Today we watched a short clip about playing the role of Hamlet and took some time to read. Act IV is due for Friday; we will have a seminar that day. Be sure to have a few entries in your 3EJ. Your essay is due to turnitin.com Monday, before school.

CNF: We read from Three Cups of Tea and our goal is to have it read in two weeks.

Tuesday, May 4 or Wednesday, May 5

Freshmen: Today we had some great presentation examples from a wonderful group of sophomores. Keep working at your project - they are due next Monday.

Sophomores: Today we began Act 4 - read 4.1 - 4.4. We also began a I Remember My Mother essay, similar to what we did last quarter. This is due to turnitin.com by Monday, 8 AM.

CNF: We talked about everybody's favorite high school football team, the Massilon Tigers, and also began Three Cups of Tea.

Monday, May 3

Freshmen: Today we focused on working on the capstone; next period we'll get some good examples of what your presentation should look like and pick presentation dates on Friday.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on Act III from Hamlet. No homework tonight, but you may want to get a start on chapter 15 vocab.

CNF: Today we finished Go Tigers! You need a copy of Three Cups of Tea for next period.

Friday, April 30

Freshmen: Today we took a vocab exam and worked further on our projects. The projects are due May 10 - no exceptions.

Sophomores: Today we took a vocab exam and read some from Hamlet. We also shared your speeches. Due for Monday is Act III, 7 notes for the seminar, and an entry in your 3EJ.

CNF: We continued our documentary viewing; be sure to have a copy of Three Cups of Tea for our next block period.

Tuesday, April 27 or Wednesday, April 28

Freshmen: Today we talked about short story structure and how to develop a main character. Your fiction component should use these two tools to help you design the two most essential components of any piece of fiction - the plot (what happens) and the main character (who causes the action to happen, or the person the action happens to). Continue to work hard on your capstone projects.

FRESHMEN AND SOPHS: Remember - vocab chapter 14 due on Friday.

Sophomores: Today we began Act III and focused primarily on Hamlet's most famous soliloquy, in 3.1. You are to rewrite it from someone else's point of view (e.g. my example of Yoda or Elmo), staying true to both Hamlet's ideas and point of view of your new perspective. When these conflict, defer to Hamlet - that is, do as Bloom suggests we do, and allow your character to become Hamlet. We will continue to work on these in class on Thursday. Read 3.2 for homework tonight.

CNF: Today we had our final seminar on Season of Life. Get Three Cups of Tea ASAP.

Monday, April 26

Freshmen: Today we focused on writing... Your project is due in two weeks, so keep plugging away.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on Act II from Hamlet.

CNF: We listened to excerpts from In Praise of Play from www.speakingoffaith.org. We will have a seminar on the rest of Season of Life on Tuesday (both periods).

Freshmen: Today we took a vocab quiz and focused on continuing to write our essays; I don't really advocate you writing them at home - write them here, in class. The break is good for you, too. However, I would be sure that I had at least 2 or 3 poems written by the end of the weekend. Don't forget about finding some art work that ties in with your topic.

Sophomores: Today we focused on reading the rest of Act II. This weekend, finish Act II - you should have a total of 8 notes, and at least one 3EJ for Act II. Chapter 14 vocab will be due next Friday.

CNF: Attention Seniors: Monday we will listen to portions of a radio program, so if you can podcast it this weekend and give it a listen, that would be great (it's awesome, and it's free!). Go to Speakingoffaith.org and search for In Praise of Play. In any event, have the book finished for the next block period - that will be our seminar date. The next book we need is Three Cups of Tea.

Thursday, April 22

Freshmen: Our primary focus was on writing our essays. Remember, chapter 13 vocab due tomorrow as well.

Sophomores: Today we took a vocab exam; your homework is to read 2.2.1-2.2.182 for Friday. Take at least 3 notes for discussion in our seminar on Monday. Also, you are to review 2.1 and write 2 notes on that reading, so for Friday, you will have a total of 5 notes; additionally, you should continue to work at your 3EJ.

CNF: Our goal is to finish Season of Life for Monday, when we will have our final seminar on the text. Please have at least 1 note per chapter - those notes should reflect what you were thinking about as you were reading, acting as a way to capture your thinking on paper.

Tuesday, April 20 and Wednesday, April 21

Freshmen: Today we took an essential step in the development of your capstone project: First, we looked at all the information we have gathered about our topic and decided on three thesis statements - this determines the topics of your essays (e.g. "Stained glass work is an art form, not a craft," or, "When I was 16, my aunt taught me how to work with stained glass," or, "There are essentially two methods for constructing a stained glass window - lead came or foil and solder"). Next, we looked at the required categories for our essays and decided which thesis best fit each genre (e.g. "When I was 16, my aunt taught me to work with glass" clearly best fits the narrative essay genre). This helps ensure we have one essay from each of the three required categories. Next, we looked at all our information again, and sorted the information by thesis, and tentatively arranged that information in the order in which it should appear in the essay - this gave us a way of pre-seeing our essays. This also serves as a great way to pinpoint if a particular topic doesn't have enough information. Finally, we tentatively ordered that information in a logical progression, forming a blue-print or flexible outline for our essays.

You should spend your 20 minutes of reading homework continuing to research, especially filling in any gaps there may be in your research. Bring your 3x5s and your rough drafts to class each day this week.

There will be a vocab quiz on Friday.

Sophs: Today we mainly focused on reading two essays about Hamlet (both the character and the play) by Harold Bloom. This isn't one of the things we read, but if you missed class, read this: http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/0305/hamlet.html as well as http://media.www.jhunewsletter.com/media/storage/paper932/news/2003/04/04/News/Bloom.Explains.Duality.Of.Hamlet-2246760.shtml

For Thursday, read Act II scene i.

Remember, we will have a vocab quiz on Thursday.

CNF: We conducted a seminar on the middle section of Season of Life. Bring your book again to class on Thursday.

Monday, April 19

Freshmen: Today was our final in-class research day. Of course, I'd expect the research process to continue for the next several weeks, but the bulk of it should be done by this point. For the rest of the week, be sure to bring the fruits of your labor (e.g. your 3x5 cards) as we begin writing your essays in class.

Sophs: Today we had quite a stimulating seminar on Act I of Hamlet. We will take another vocab exam on Thursday - chapter 13 this time.

CNF: Today we decided to complete through chapter 16 for our seminar on the next block day (period 2 - period 5 is shooting for finishing chapter 13), so read that and have one good note per chapter. Remember, the purpose of your notes is to record what you are thinking at key points in the text so you can remember them and talk about them in the seminar.

Friday, April 16

Freshmen: We took the chapter 12 vocab exam and continued our research. Remember, all your research needs to be done next block period.

Sophomores: We took the chapter 12 vocab exam and continued our reading of Hamlet. Be sure to go to the turnitin.com website and revise and resubmit your father essay.

CNF: We continued reading Season of Life. We will determine on Monday where to go from here.

Thursday, April 15

Remember that scene on The Simpsons when it's tax day and everyone is at the post office in line to mail their taxes, and the news reporter asks Otto why he waited so long to file his taxes, and Otto says, "Taxes? I thought this was the line for Metallica!"? Talk about a classic.

Freshmen: Today we continued to focus on your research. It's particularly important you are formulating good, authentic questions that drive your research, and that you are getting as much information as possible from as many different sources as possible. Your 20 minutes of reading each night should be used to focus on researching your topic. All research is due next block period. Remember the Chapter 12 Vocab exam is tomorrow.

Sophs: Remember the Chapter 12 Vocab exam is tomorrow. Today our main focus was on reading Act I from Hamlet. You are to have 5 notes and at least one 3EJ entry for the seminar on Monday.

CNF: Today we had a seminar on the first 8 chapters of Season of Life. We'll continue to read Friday and Monday and have a seminar during our next block period.

Tuesday, April 13 and Wenesday, April 14

Freshmen: Today we studied the idea of "Ways" poems further. Due Friday is a "ways" poem of your own, where you examine an ordinary idea in a number of different ways. Look at it in a concentrated manner so that it appears strange or surreal, and see if you can pull out for your reader it subtle nuances.

The major thing we did was begin the research phase of the capstone phase, realistically, the most important phase because if you do well here, you have a great chance at writing and teaching successfully. If not, you will have no information and thus no chance at success. We reviewed Question Based Research by formulating questions we want to answer about our topic on a number of 3x5 cards as a way to guide our research, and will write brief answers on the back as a way to guide our writing. We will do research in class each day this week and next Monday, so be sure to have your sources and cards.

Sophs: Today we concluded viewing Hamlet, and have begun reading it. We focused heavily on understanding Shakespearean language and sentence structure. Read all of Act I for Monday. In conjunction with this, you need to have 5 notes for our seminar as well as one entry for your triple entry journal.

For homework, read the introduction on reading Shakespeare's language, if you haven't already, and finish Act I for Monday, with 5 notes, and one 3EJ entry.

Monday, April 13

Welcome back. Here's what we did:

Freshmen: We took at look at Wallace Stevens's "13 Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" and did (or will do) some writing using it as our model. One of the things you have to do with your capstone is a "ways poem" that looks at your topic in a number of different ways. Know the following: Letter to the Editor due May 21; Chapter 12 vocab due Friday; read for 20 minutes; most important - all 5 of your sources are due in class for your capstone project next period, as well as your minimum of 12 3x5 cards.

Sophs: We finished viewing Hamlet, and will begin reading the play next period - be sure you have a copy.

CNF: We talked about definitions of masculinity and maleness in preparation for reading Season of Life - have a copy of the text for next period.

Tuesday and Wednesday, March 30 and 31

Freshmen: Today we focused on creative responses. You are to finish the creative response motif you were assigned on Picasso's "Guernica", and need to write a second creative response in a different motif. Be sure to follow the directions from Heart to Heart to ensure you write in the motif correctly.

Sophs: Today we viewed Hamlet; have a copy of the play for after break. Finish your essay this week.

CNF: We concluded Earth 2100; be sure to have a copy of Season of Life for after the break (yes, Kristen, I know - so go to the library!).

Monday, March 26

Freshmen: Today we chose Capstone Project topics; read for 20 minutes and check to see the change in vocab due dates. Over the break, you need to research your chosen topic as much as possible, and the block day we return you need to have your five sources with you in class as well as your 3x5s - check the outline I gave you.

Sophomores: Today we continued our overview of Hamlet. Have a copy of the play for when we return from break.

CNF: "It's too late to be a pessimist" - was she talking about your grades, or the environment. In any event, I'd like to see some social action come out of this class - any ideas?

Thursday, March 25

Freshmen: Today we studied the sonnet. You should write a sonnet that adheres to the information we got in class for Monday. Use your notes to help you. Additionally, you need to have three possible broad topic ideas for your Capstone Project with you in class next block period. Finally, you should read for 40 minutes over the three day break - two 20 minute segments for Thursday, and the weekend. Also, due for Monday are two great thoughts - one from someone else, and one of your own devising. The 4th quarter prayer assignment will be modified like this: You will be called on at random to spontaneously lead the class in prayer and then randomly draw out a great thought from our collection. You will then give a 60 second talk on the topic that the great thought speaks to.

Sophomores: We did a few activities to begin Hamlet. We will start reading the play after the break. More pertinent to your immediate future, we began an "I Remember My Father" essay modeled after Mr. House's, using the memories we compiled in class as our observations. Submit this essay to turnitin.com by 3/31 at 11:59 PM. I would expect to see some really great stuff written here. The idea is to examine memories you have about your father, much like we did with Amir and Baba. Your essay should do the following things: Focus on specific memories, reveal the nature of your relationship with your father, reveal something about the kind of person your father is, and reveal something about the kind of person you are because of that relationship.

CNF: We concluded, and began, another documentary. I'd like people to think about one small change you can personally make. Craig and I took the bus today (not together, nothing planned - he just happened to be on the same bus as me). By taking the bus twice this week, I have reduced my car-related impact on the planet by 40% for this week.