Friday, April 29

Freshmen: Today we focused on seven simple steps to writing a short story. Keep at your Capstone and Dickens.

Sophomores: Today we concluded our introduction to Hamlet and began viewing a film version. You have two things to do for homework right now: 1. Begin compiling a list of 12 memories that involve your mother, due Monday. 2. Read the introduction about Hamlet, Shakespeare's life, language, and theater and take 5 notes per on the last three sections. That is due Thursday.

CNF: Keep reading Three Cups of Tea.

Thursday, April 28

Tuesday, April 26 and Wednesday, April 27

Sophomores: Today our focus was on the biggest secret in literature. Don't tell anyone.

Freshmen: Today our focus was on Lois Lowry's theory of the seven elements lives and stories entail as our introduction to fiction.

CNF: We began Three Cups of Tea today focused heavily on the recent controversies surrounding Mortenson and his book.

Sophomore Easter Break Extra Credit

In an essay, examine how the four stages of the hero and the concepts of archetypes are used in Watership Down. Reference multiple characters, their archetypes, and information from your notes. Cite passages from the text to support your ideas and specify and use a lead and conclusion technique we have covered.

Tuesday, April 19 or Wednesday, April 20

Freshmen: Today we had our last major in-class work day. You should continue to write, research when necessary, but at this point, you should be done with most drafts and should start word processing your work. Continue to read Great Expectations as well.

Sophomores: Today we concluded our reading of Watership Down with our final seminar and a writing assignment. Enjoy the Easter break; you need to have a copy of Hamlet (remember, Folgers Library edition preferred; do not get No Fear Shakespeare).

CNF: Today we had our seminar on Season of Life. Get a copy of Three Cups of Tea for after the break.

Monday, April 18

Freshmen: Today we focused on writing in class. Continue to read, write, and research.

Sophomores: Today we focused on reading and the four stages of the hero as it pertains to particular characters in Watership Down. Finish the book for next period's seminar.

CNF: Today we concluded reading Season of Life for tomorrow's seminar. Have a copy of Three Cups of Tea (yes, that book!) for after the break, and we will talk about it, the implications of the 60 Minutes piece, and all the rest then.

Friday, April 15

Freshmen: Today we continued working in class on your Capstone essays, with emphasis on your citations.

Sophomores: Today we focused on how the four stages of the hero manifest in Watership Down.

CNF: Today we continued reading our book.

Tuesday, April 12 and Wednesay, April 13

Freshmen: Today our focus was on going over the information we have collected so far on our topics and determining a thesis and genre for each essay. We will spend the next week in class writing the essays; you should continue researching at home and may also begin writing your poetry section. Continue with Great Expectations as well.

Sophomores: Today we focused Beowulf and the four stages of the hero. Finish Watership Down for next week's block period.

CNF: Today we read some, saw some videos about Joe Ehrmann and Gillman, and read some more. We're shooting to finish the book for next block period. You should have a dozen notes, but the notes need to be at least a paragraph long.

Monday, April 11

Freshmen: Today we concluded our final day of QBR in class. Of course, this process will continue as you begin writing your pieces, which we will begin tomorrow. Come to class with your sources and your notes, as we will go through an exercise that will provide you with direction tomorrow. Read 20 minutes tonight.

Sophomores: Today we conducted our seminar on Part III from Watership Down. Please finish Part IV for next week's block period. You should also get a copy of Hamlet - Folgers Library Edition preferred, No Fear Shakespeare prohibited.

CNF: Today we began reading Season of Life. We're going to have it done for next week's block period.

Friday, April 8

Freshmen: Today we took a vocab exam and devoted the rest of the time to QBR. Continue to work at your research and read Great Expectations. We will take one more period for QBR on Monday and start writing the essays on the block day.

Sophomores: Freshmen: Today we took a vocab exam and devoted the rest of the time to reading. Part III from our book is due for Monday's seminar; your essay is due to turnitin.com by Sunday, 8 AM.

CNF: Today we introduced Joe Ehrmann's philosophy and contrasted it against what we saw at Massillon.

Thursday, April 7

Freshmen: We will continue our focus on QBR through next Monday and take the next step in writing on the block day - be sure to have your sources and cards until further notice. Read 20 minutes each night; keep working on our research; vocab and your revision of your argument essay are due Friday.

Sophomores: Today our focus was on the Hero Catch Phrase Project and reading. Remember, vocab due tomorrow, essay due Sunday 8 AM at the latest, and Part III due Monday for seminar.

CNF: We concluded Go Tigers and will begin Season of Life tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 5 and Wednesday, April 6

Freshmen: Today we devoted a lot of time to QBR in class - reading your sources and compiling info on your topics. Remember, start reading Great Expectations, chapter 12 vocab is due Friday, as is your argument essay revision.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the motif of self-discovery, or self-identification. Consider the various novels we have read this year and how the main character was forced to go on a journey do discover who he or she really was - be it Peekay, Antigone, Amir, Oedipus, or who have you. We wrote a simple Who am I poem, and then looked at a more sophisticated Who am I essay. Your task is to write your own Who am I essay and turn it in to turnitin.com by Sunday, 8 AM (to avoid those unfortunate Sunday night essay-fests). Your essay may be funny, sad, ironic, serious; you may focus on who you are not, how what you do defines you (e.g. Batman Begins), or who your secret self is. You might incorporate elements of archetypes, or the various hero stages, or even elements of the poem we wrote. It's up to you, whoever you are. Also, vocab is due Friday, and Part III of our book is due Monday.

CNF: We began Go Tigers!, a film which examines how manhood is defined in one particular town and team community, and we will contrast that with what we see portrayed in Season of Life, which you need for Thursday.

Monday, April 4

Freshmen: Today we began the research phase of the Capstone Project. You should not do any writing during this time, you should simply be collecting information. Today we reviewed Question Based Research Strategy, which entails you writing authentic questions on one side of a 3x5 card (one question per card, only), and using those questions to guide and drive your research. You should then write brief answers on the back, with the source listed as well.

We also are going to start reading Great Expectations - for now, just get started and we will do more later.

I also asked you to go to this website: http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/semicolons.asp. Many of you have struggled with semicolon use lately, and I would like you to read the five rules and then take the semicolons quiz and write down your answers.

Finally, go to turnitin.com and check out your argument essays. Read the comments, revise, and bring in an annotated copy of your essay on Friday.

Sophomores: Today we got started back with our book. Finish Part III for Monday's seminar.

CNF: Today we focused on the way manhood is defined in our culture, as this concept plays a central role in our next book.