Friday, February 26

Freshmen: Today we focused on revising your argumentative essay; you need a final copy for next block period. You also need a copy of Lord of the Flies for next block period as well.

Sophomores: Today we focused on making some progress in our book and on the second stage of the hero.

CNF: We continued to work at Part II - I think the plan is to do a seminar on Thursday, after seeing a documentary on block day next week.

Thursday, February 25

Freshmen: Today we took a vocab exam, read, and worked a little on our essays. You need a draft of your essay for Friday and a copy of The Lord of the Flies for next week.
***Remember: Letter to the Editor is due on 3/10.

***Frosh and sophs: Chapter 10 vocab due 3/9.

Sophomores: Today we took a vocab exam and read. Remember - chapters 1-10 of The Kite Runner due on Monday.

CNF: Today we began Part II of The World Without Us, taking 15 notes as a record of our thinking as we read. The goal is to have it read for Monday and we'll have a seminar then.

Tuesday, February 22 or Wednesday, February 23

Freshmen: Today we focused primarily on writing your argument essay. I gave you a checklist of 9 things that I am expecting:
1. Compelling title/proper format.
2. Identify lead and conclusion in header.
3. Use 3 of the rhetorical devices we have studied (i.e. like Spurlock did).
4. Use one blocked and one in text citation (search "citing sources" on this blog for examples).
5. Clear thesis/argument.
6. Support thesis well with facts.
7. Paragraph well (8-19ish).
8. Entire paper should be correct in terms of grammar and format.
9. Complete bibliography.

Sophomores: Today we continued on with the four stages of the hero and began reading The Kite Runner. Our reading schedule looks like this:
Monday, March 1: Chapters 1-10 due (about 18 pages a night).
Monday, March 8: Chapters 11-19 due (about 20 pages a night).
Monday, March 15: Book and seminar prep due (about 21 pages a night). Seminar this date.

CNF: We had our seminar on Part I of The World Without Us. Keep bringing this book. The next one you need is Season of Life by Marx (no, Bruger - not that Marx - Jeffrey Marx).

Frirday, February 19

Freshmen: Today we concluded our study of the various rhetorical devices used by Morgan Spurlock in Supersize Me. You should be reading your sources and compiling 12 notes to use in your argumentative paper.

Sophomores: Because of retreat, we will do the same thing today and Monday, so if you are absent, just get the notes: We have begun a study of the four stages of the hero cycle. You need to have The Kite Runner for our next block period.

****NOTE: Vocab chapter 9 is due Thursday next week.

CNF: We are continuing reading The World Without Us. Our seminar on Part I will be next block period.

ALL: Those of you interested in extra credit: Attend Saturday's freshman tournament championship game at 2:30 at Judge and write a short typed report and earn 25 points extra credit.

Thursday, February 17

Freshmen, Sophs, and CNF: We were at Poetry Out Loud today, so review previous posts for info on what to do in class. I think this means we will finish the Part I stuff for CNF on Monday and seminar on the block day.

Sophomore Enrichment Project Tentative Timeline for The Hero With a Thouasnd Faces

Hi. Here is my suggested timeline. As you can see - the school year is practically over, so you need to bust it if you are going to get this done. Also, it is important to emphasize that the reading we do for class needs to come first. As soon as you finish a section, get the work to me.

Prologue: 2/26
Part I
1. Departure: 3/11
2. Initiation: 3/25
3. Return: 31
4. The Keys: 4/7
Part II:
1. Emanations: 4/23
2. The Virgin Birth: 5/7
3. Transformations: 5/19
4. Dissolutions: 5/28
Epilogue: 6/4

Work hard, concentrate, and learn. The material is difficult, but you will increase your understanding and knowledge if you can do this project.

Tuesday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 17

Freshmen: Today we had our Poetry Out Loud competition. There were some excellent performances. We also focused further on Spurlock's use of rhetorical devices. What you are to do is this: Focusing on your thesis (argument), read your three sources, and on your 12 3x5 cards you need a total of 12 notes. You can do this via Question Based Research, or simply by taking VERY BRIEF notes on your sources. By Monday, you should have your thesis statement, your three sources, and your 12 3x5 cards all done and ready to write your argument. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Wednesday.

Sophomores: Today we had our Poetry Out Loud competition. There were some excellent performances. We also wrapped up Antigone and began focusing on the four stages of the hero. Get The Kite Runner for next week.

CNF:Today we began reading the Epilogue and Part I of The World Without Us. This should be read by Monday, with 15 notes that reflect what you are thinking as you read - questions, comments, reactions, etc.

Friday, February 12

Hi. Those of you that can, come check out the freshman tournament quarterfinal game at 3:30 on Saturday. Write up a half page summary and earn 25 points extra credit.

Freshmen: Today we continued our study of rhetorical devices. For next block you need to do the following: write your own thesis, have 3 sources with you that you can use to support your thesis (one of which must be a non-internet source), and 12 3x5 cards. Read for 20 minutes this weekend, Monday, and Tuesday.

Sophomores: Finish Antigone for next block and your essay for Monday night. For extra credit, you can attend SLAC's Too Much Memory and write a 1-2 page analysis of it in light of Antigone. Bring proof of attendance. 25 points extra credit.

CNF: We are doing Life After Judge, and next week will present and start on The World Without Us. Personally, I can't imagine the world without each one of you in this class... (extra cheese is free here).

Thursday, February 11

Freshmen: Today we began a study of the use of the various rhetorical devices we have studied. Read 20 minutes tonight. For next block period, you need to do the following: Define whatever topic you are going to argue in a clear thesis statement, find 3 sources that will support your thesis (remember, one MUST be non-internet) and have these sources in class with you next block period, and have 12 3x5 cards in class with you next block period. Also, next block period, we will have our poetry out loud competition.

Sophomores: Today we processed some of Uncle Joey's theories about the hero model and wrote a short essay in class. For next block period be sure that Antigone is finished, and we will have our poetry out loud competition that day as well.

CNF (read in that narrator dude's deep voice): Today we viewed Life After People (cue scary music), and one thing we learned will last forever is this blog! Get The World Without Us for next week if you don't have it already.

Tuesday, February 9 and Wednesday, February 10

Freshmen: We continued our study of argument. If you were absent, find the issues in Models at the back and read the two essays on one of the issues you are interested in. You need to begin thinking about an issue you can argue. For the block period next week, you need to have your issue written out as a thesis statement, 12 index cards, and 3 sources that relate to your topic, one of which must be an actual book or magazine. Read for 20 minutes as well.

Sophomores: Uncle Joey came for a visit and talked to us about the concept of the hero. Keep working on your essay and reading Antigone, as well as preparing for Poetry Out Loud.

CNF: What would the world be like without people? (I am sure we'd have fewer celebrity TV shows, but that's beside the point - unless monkeys mastered our technology and then created an elite social class...). But I digress - that is the question we are studying and watched some of Life After People. Get The World Without Us ASAP.

Monday, February 8

Freshmen: Today we began an intro study of argument. You are to read pages 484-491 in Models for Writers and write down one key idea, at least, per section, due next period. You can use your 20 minutes of reading Monday night for this; you will read from your novel on Tuesday night.

Sophomores: We concluded Oedipus at Colonus, and began Antigone. Antigone is due for next week's block period. Due next Monday is your response to the following prompt: Is a human being's life ruled by fate, or free will? Respond in a well-thought-out, well-written essay that cites ideas you research from history's great thinkers as well as cites from Sophocles' plays as you support your thesis. Your essay should include research, a compelling title, a clear thesis supported by evidence, and be free of most mechanical errors. You must submit your essay to turnitin.com by 10 PM on President's Day. Class number for period 4: 3114863; period 7 3114864. Both classes have the password judge.

CNF: We did all kinds of stuff and/or finished your lectures. Have The World Without Us for later this week.

Friday, February 5

Freshmen: We took the chapter 8 vocab exam; start working on chapter 9. Have your poem memorized in a week and a half. Your essay is due to turnitin.com by 8 AM Monday - check the previous entry for info on how to do it.

Sophomores: We took the chapter 8 vocab exam; start working on chapter 9. Have your poem memorized in a week and a half.

CNF: We continued giving your childhood dream lectures - who knew so many of you wanted to be either Jedi Knights or flight attendants? Get The World Without Us for next week.

Thursday, February 4

Freshmen: If you could do one thing to change America for the better, what would it be? That question is the prompt for your cause and effect essay - you need to describe the change you would make and postulate what the effect would be upon our country. You need to submit your essay to turnitin.com by 8 AM Monday morning. Period 1's class number is 2854922; Period 6's class number is 2854923. The password for both classes is Judge. Setting up your account is easy - just follow the prompts: click new user, then create user profile under the new student heading, then click student under the create new account heading and go from there.

Remember to read for 20 minutes and that we have a vocab quiz on Friday.

Sophomores: Finish O. @ C. for Monday; vocab tomorrow.

CNF: Today we focused on your childhood dreams lectures - very nice. Be sure to bring your copy of The World Without Us next week.

Western Tradition Enrichment Project

Western Tradition Enrichment Project

1. If you choose to do this enrichment project, and do well, it will earn you an A on the semester final, and you won’t have to take the test. You will, however, have to be present in class for the exam so that you can take the vocabulary portion for data collection purposes only. It will not impact your grade.
2. This enrichment project must be started before February, and you must complete one chapter assignment every two weeks to get credit. The assignments are due on Fridays.
3. This is the project: Read Joseph Campbell’s The Hero With a Thousand Faces. At the end of every chapter, write a one page, typed, double-spaced reflection. This is NOT a summary of each chapter, but will by necessity include a lot of information from each chapter, because the information is what you are reflecting upon. However, the majority of the writing will be your own thoughts, as reflection is “careful thought” and “an idea or thought, especially one produced by careful consideration of something” which implies your reflections are new and original ideas. It should indicate a mental interaction with the text. Each reflection should, in some way, tie into the text we are reading at that particular time.
4. I hope several of you will take the opportunity to complete this project. It will be well worth your time and energy.

Tuesday, February 2 and Wednesday, February 3

Freshmen: Today we began a study of Cause and Effect essays and did some analysis of our poetry out loud poem. Read for 20 minutes tonight and tomorrow, and remember - chapter 8 vocab is due on Friday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on making good progress in Oedipus at Colonus - read everything up to the start of the Third Episode for Thursday. We also focused on your poems for poetry out loud. Don't forget - vocab due Friday.

CNF: We had our seminar on The Last Lecture; get The World Without Us for next week.

Monday, February 1

Freshmen: Today we focused on how to recite our Poetry Out Loud poems and picked the poems we are going to recite for the project. Practice, practice, practice. Also, read for 20 minutes tonight and tomorrow.

Sophomores: We concluded Oedipus the King today and began Oedipus at Colonus. You need to read everything up to the start of The First Episode tonight. On the sheet of paper I gave you, write down at least 5 opposites you notice as you read the play. We also chose our Poetry Out Loud poems - bring a copy of this every day to class.

CNF: We had our final Last Lecture work day - finish the reading, your essay, and your presentation for our next period.