Thursday, March 24

Freshmen: Today we concluded looking at how a single text may use a variety of rhetorical devices. Over the break here is what you need to do: Gather your five sources for your capstone project and have the actually physically present in the classroom on April 4 along with at least a dozen 3x5 note cards. Get a copy of Great Expectations for that week as well.

Sophomores: Today we conducted a seminar on Part II of Watership Down. There is no assigned reading over the break, though there is extra credit listed on the blog you can do.

CNF: We concluded viewing No Impact Man and discussing the various topics related thereunto; please have a copy of Season of Life when we return from break.

Freshman and Sophomore Extra Credit Opportunities:

Freshmen and Sophomores: If you are interested, you can attend the Dystopic Literature discuss at lunch on Wednesday, March 26 and write a brief typed essay that applies the principles to literature we have read, specifically Lord of the Flies and Speak, or Watership Down. It's due Thursday for up to 25 points extra credit.

CNF and Freshmen: You could also attend the screening Street Ball on April 9 and write a 1 page reaction; this would be due the following Monday.

Sophomores: Over Spring Break, read Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone and write an essay that analyzes how Antigone goes through the four stages of the hero. A good essay will identify the lead and conclusion technique used and cite from the text numerous times. It is due to turnitin.com by midnight, April 1 (no April Fools pranks, please).

Tuesday, March 22 and Wednesday, March 23

Freshmen: Today we focused on using multiple rhetorical devices in a single text. We also focused on the fourth quarter Prayer and Great Thoughts assignment: You are to come to school on Monday, April 4, with two Great Thoughts - one you have found outside yourself, and one you have crafted yourself. They both should be typed, and on separate sheets of paper. Due for Thursday is a revision of your Division and Classification essay that is posted on turnitin.com: Hand in a paper copy of your revision with annotations explaining what you changed and why. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Wednesday.

Sophomores: Today we concluded our introduction to the four stages of the hero. Remember, due for Thursday is Part II from Watership Down with your seminar prep. There will be no reading homework over the break.

CNF: Today we began the documentary No Impact Man, with the idea of reflecting on how each one of us can reduce our negative impact on the environment.

Monday, March 21

Freshmen: Today we narrowed down to your basic broad topic for the Capstone Project. You now need to start gathering sources - books, magazine articles, documentaries, radio programs, interviews, Internet sites, and so on. You need to have 5 sources in hand on April 4, along with at least a dozen blank 3x5 cards. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Tuesday. Your Argument essays are due to turnitin.com by next block period.

Sophomores: Today we focused more on the four stages of the hero. You need to finish Part II of Watership Down for Thursday's seminar, and should have a dozen notes.

CNF: Today we had an interesting discussion on Part IV of The World Without Us. You need to have Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx for the start of the fourth quarter.

Tuesday, March 15 and Wednesday, March 16

Freshmen: Today we introduced the Capstone Project. We also furthered our study of argument. You must write an argument essay that argues a specific side of a given issue. You must do the following: Have a clear thesis, include research that supports your argument at least twice (once in an in-text citation, the other time in a blocked citation), use the templates I have provided you to introduce your citation and then comment on the information, incorporate at least three of the other rhetorical devices we have studied, and indicate which kind of lead and conclusion you are using in the header. Submit it to turnitin.com by next block period. Due Friday is vocab Chapter 11; read for 20 minutes tonight and Wednesday.

Sophomores: Today we introduced the notion of the Four Stages of the Hero. Due Friday is vocab Chapter 11; due next Thursday is Part II from Watership Down.

CNF: We viewed a speculative documentary, Earth 2100.

Monday, March 14

Freshmen: Today we mainly focused on counseling's advice to us regarding registration. You should have 3 facts related to the argument you are going to write, which we will discuss tomorrow. Due Friday is vocab Chapter 11. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Tuesday.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on Part I from Watership Down. Finish Part II for next Thursday's seminar (12 notes for seminar). Due Friday is vocab Chapter 11.

CNF: Today we had our seminar on Part III of The World Without Us.

Thursday, March 10

Freshmen: Today we shared your haiku, but the primary focus was on using a variety of rhetorical devices within a single argumentative piece. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes twice, and to choose a multi-sided argument (personal or global) and pick a side. Then find 3 facts that support your angle and bring those to class on Monday.

Sophomores: First off, the weather should be great this weekend, so be sure to silflay each day, but beware any flayrah you see left out. And where -

Be sure to finish Part I from Watership Down for Monday, and have 12 notes for the seminar on Monday.

CNF: Finish Part III - we will have a seminar on Monday.

Tuesday, March 8 or Wednesday, March 9

Freshmen: Today we focused on a review of haiku and an introduction to argument. Read for 20 minutes tonight and tomorrow. 5 haiku that fit the parameters we discussed in class are due Thursday. Vocab Chapter 11 is due next Friday. REMINDER: Letter to the Editor is due Thursday.

Sophomores: Today we did another Hero Catch-Phrase entry, but mainly focused on the research you did on the various archetypes we introduced yesterday. Due for Monday is Part I from Watership Down. Vocab Chapter 11 is due next Friday.

CNF: Today we watched the documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. We will talk about it, as well as Part III from The World Without Us, on Thursday.

Monday, March 7

Freshmen: Today we focused on the haiku form and Basho. Due next block period is your essay - submit to turnitin.com and bring a paper copy to class. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on various archetypes. Your job is to research the archetype you most strongly identify with and bring five facts related to that archetype with you to class tomorrow. Due for 3/14 is Part I from Watership Down.

CNF: Today we continued reading Part III from The World Without Us.

Friday, March 4

Freshmen: Today we continued our study of division and classification essays. You are writing your own. It is due next block period. Bring a paper copy to class that day and submit one to turnitin.com by 8 AM that day. Identify the lead and conclusion technique you are using in your header. Read for 20 minutes this weekend.

Sophomore: Today we focused on various characters in our book and how their hero model impacts their world view. Remember, essay due Monday; Part I from Watership Down due 3/14 with a dozen notes for seminar.

CNF: Today we began reading Part III - two notes per chapter for seminar, due next Thursday.

Thursday, March 3

Freshmen: Today we continued studying Division and Classification, narrowing the focus to punctuation, specifically the comma. Read for 20 minutes tonight.

Sophomores: Today we began Watership Down. Check the blog for the reading schedule.

CNF: Today we looked at more art by Andy Goldsworthy, and wrote a short essay on the following prompt: How does an object’s permanence affect its beauty and value? That is, are things that last more or less beautiful or valuable than things that don’t? Support your answer with examples from either stuff we have read or seen as well as examples outside this range of material. We also began reading Part III of The World Without Us.

Watership Down Reading Schedule

Watership Down 2011 Reading Schedule:
3/3 - Begin Watership Down.
3/4 - Chapters 1-5 Due.
3/14 - Part I Due - seminar on this date - have a dozen notes total for seminar.
3/24 - Part II Due - seminar on this date - have a dozen notes total for seminar.
Spring Break 3/25 - 4/3: No reading assigned over break.
4/11 - Part III Due - seminar on this date - have a dozen notes total for seminar.
4/19 or 4/20 - Book due - seminar on this date - have a dozen notes total for seminar.
***We will begin Hamlet on 4/26 or 4/27, depending on when your section meets.

Tuesday, March 1 and Wednesday, March 2

Freshmen: Today we continued our focus on division and classification essay, reading two from Models for Writers - "Ways of Meeting Oppression" and "Friends, Good Friends, and Such Good Friends." We discussed many aspects of the essays and the writers' use of the techniques. Read for 20 minutes tonight and tomorrow.

Sophomores: Today we concluded our reading of The Kite Runner with a seminar. We also began an essay. The prompt is: Write an I Remember My Father essay about your own father, using the memories you compiled over the weekend and modeled after Jeff House's essay. At least three times in the essay, integrate a citation from The Kite Runner to either compare or contrast or to summarize or explain what it is you feel, think, or observe. As we saw before, you should focus on showing rather than telling, what your father and your relationship with him is like. Focus on interpreting your observations. You need to turn both a paper copy in to me as well as an on-line submission to turnitin.com by Monday. 8 AM is the due time for turnitin.com. Be sure to indicate what type of lead and conclusion technique you use in your header.

Also, for Thursday, have a copy of Watership Down by Richard Adams.

CNF: We watched the documentary Rivers and Tides in class today. The next book you need is Season of Life by Jeffrey Marx.