Tuesday, January 31 and Wednesday, February 1

Freshmen: Today we focused on creating a found poem out of Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. You are to type this up and bring it next Monday. Remember to single space within your stanzas. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, and have your poem for Poetry Out Loud memorized for Thursday; vocab has been moved back to next Monday. Honors students: We will have a meeting at 7:40 AM on Thursday in my room.

Sophomores: Today our focus was on beginning our next book, The Kite Runner. See the blog for a reading schedule. Vocab is due Friday; your poems are due Thursday.

CNF: Today we continued to read and presented short lectures on childhood dreams and great advice. Plan on a seminar on the book on Thursday.

Monday, January 30

Freshmen: Today we got an introduction to found poetry. Read for 20 minutes the next two nights, memorize your poem for Thursday, and remember I said vocab is due February 7. Those in honors: Our first AM meeting is this Thursday at 7:40 - be on time.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on Oedipus. Vocab is due Friday. Your poem needs to be memorized for Thursday.

CNF: We're trying to get our book read for Thursday. You need to give a short lecture on Wednesday.

Central Utah Water Conservancy District Extra Credit Essay Contest

Hi. If you are interested in earning up to 50 points extra credit (and maybe some cash), go to www.cuwcd.com/essays. Though their deadline is April 2, you must get your essay to me in a stamped, addressed, unsealed envelope by Monday, March 19 to get extra credit for third quarter. I will then mail your essay in.

Tuesday, January 24 and Wednesday, January 25

Freshmen: Today we analyzed the different rhetorical devices Dr. King used in his famous speech. We then wrote our own essays that addressed an injustice. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday night, and finish your essay if need be. Your Poetry Out Loud sheet is due on Thursday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on "The Hero's Adventure" interview and conduced a short seminar. Remember, our first sophomore honors AM meeting is Thursday at 7:40. Oedipus the King is due Monday with 12 items for the seminar. Your Poetry Out Loud sheet is due on Thursday.

CNF: Today we concluded viewing Randy Pausch's Last Lecture; we also began reading the book today. We also talked about putting together a short speech in which you either provide some advice or talk about a childhood dream of yours.

Monday, January 23

Freshmen: Today we began a study in rhetoric, focusing on Dr. Martin Luther King, Junior's famous "I Have a Dream" speech. As we watched and read his speech, students tracked what he did as a speaker and writer that was effective. You are going to incorporate some of those techniques into an essay in the next class when you write about something that you see that is unjust. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes tonight.

Sophomores: Today we introduced the Hero Catch-Phrase Project. We also introduced the notion of the Socratic Seminar and you were given some question stems to help you craft your notes for next Monday's seminar. Your homework is to continue to read Oedipus the King, which is due next Monday, along with a dozen notes for seminar.

CNF: We continued to view The Last Lecture. Get a copy of the book ASAP.

Friday, January 20

Freshmen: Today we introduce Poetry Out Loud. Remember to read at least 8 poems off their website before next Thursday. By Thursday you need to narrow down to 3, and write a paragraph about each that explains why you like those particular poems. That day we will pick poems to memorize, which you'll have about a week to do. Read 20 minutes this weekend.

Sophomores: Today we introduce Poetry Out Loud. Remember to read at least 8 poems off their website before next Thursday. By Thursday you need to narrow down to 3, and write a paragraph about each that explains why you like those particular poems. That day we will pick poems to memorize, which you'll have about a week to do. Remember that you need to finish Oedipus the King for 1/30. You need to have a dozen notes for seminar that day - more details will come on that next week.

CNF: Today we began watching The Last Lecture. Get a copy of that book for next week.

Thursday, January 19

Freshmen: Today we talked about the requirements for the Prayer and Great Thoughts assignment. Read for 20 minutes tonight. Vocab chapter 8 is due next Friday.

Sophomores: Today we got an overview of, and introduction to, Sophocles and Oedipus. Start reading Oedipus the King - the whole play should read by 1/30. You also need a dozen notes for seminar that day. You will get more info about that as we go, but mostly your notes should consist of questions or comments you have about the text or the characters that you want to pose to the group. Vocab chapter 8 is due next Friday.

CNF: Today we got an introduction to disparities, puzzling questions, and Socratic Seminars by reading Barry Lopez's The Blue Mound People. Get a copy of The Last Lecture as quickly as possible.

CNF Prompt #1.

Hi. Please respond to the following prompt (Shoot - did I just violate my "no homework policy"? Well, it will be short): What is your favorite non-fiction text? This could be a book, movie, TV show, radio program, or publication. Briefly, explain why you like it. Sign your post with your first name and last initial.

Western Traditions Prompt #1.

Hi. Please respond to the follow prompt. Read what others have written and respond to their ideas in your answer. Sign your response with your first name and last initial. Your entry should be at least a paragraph and reflect well-developed thinking. Prompt: What characteristics or traits do we typically associate with a hero? Why do we associate those characteristics or traits with heroes?

Freshman Second Semester Prompt #1.

Hi. Please respond to the prompt below and sign it with your first name, last initial, and the period you have English. Prompt: What do you need to learn this semester as a writer in order to succeed in high school?

Wednesday, January 18

Hi everyone, and welcome to second semester English.

Freshmen: Today we got an overview of the course and went over the disclosure statement. Bring it back tomorrow. Be sure to get a book to read, and read for 20 minutes each night this week. Don't forget to post to the blog tonight. Post to Freshman Second Semester Prompt #1.

Sophomores: Today we got an overview of the course and went over the disclosure statement. Bring it back tomorrow. Don't forget to post to the blog tonight with first name, last initial, and period, so that I know you know how to find it - you need to respond to the prompt I posted - it is essentially the same prompt you responded to in class. Look for Western Traditions Prompt #1.

CNF: Today we got an overview of the course and went over the disclosure statement. Bring it back tomorrow. Post to CNF Prompt #1 tonight.

Freshman and Sophomore Second Semester Vocabulary Schedule

Each vocabulary chapter is due on the date listed. You should bring your book to class on that date (no late work accepted) to get credit for doing your homework; we will have a quiz that day as well. You will earn either 50 points full credit (all book work complete and correct), 25 points half credit (some or most work complete, or mostly accurate), or no credit (little to no work done, or very poorly done). Quizzes are typically 25 or 50 points.

2/3 - Chapter 8.
2/24 - Chapter 9.
3/8 - Chapter 10.
3/16 - Chapter 11.
3/30 - Chapter 12.
4/27 - Chapter 13.
5/11 - Chapter 14.
5/25 - Chapter 15.

NOTE: There will be a comprehensive exam that covers Chapters 8-15 on your semester final exam.

Friday, January 6

Freshmen: Today we took a vocab exam and wrapped up the exercise for Chapter 8 in They Say I Say. For homework read Chapters 9 and 10.

CNF: Today we wrapped up our last documentary; due for Monday is Chapters 5 and 6 from Freakonomics.

Compelling Non-Fiction First Semester Final Exam

Choose one of the following essay prompts to answer. Support your answer with evidence from four different sources: Both texts we read this semester, at least one of the films we have viewed, and your own personal experience.

Possible Prompts:

1. Is the statement “Morality represents how we would like the world to work; economics represents the way it actually does work” a true statement?
2. What ethical obligations must constructors of non-fiction texts adhere to?
3. Is “conventional wisdom” wisdom? Or is it folly?
4. How can we use our knowledge of incentives to encourage moral behavior and make the world a better place?
5. Which method of thinking that we studied this year – Blink-style thinking or Freakonmics-style thinking – is more effective?

Thursday, January 8

Freshmen: Today we focused on the first exercise at the end of chapter 8 of They Say I Say. Due Friday is chapter 7 vocab. Due Monday is chapter 9 and 10 from They Say I Say.

CNF: Today we discussed the most recent documentary we watched. Due Monday are chapters 5 and 6 from Freakonomics and a dozen notes for seminar.

Tuesday, January 3 and Wednesday, January 4

Freshmen: Today we focused on a review of the semester's vocab, the concepts we studied, and most importantly, how to integrate someone else's words into your own. Your homework tonight is to read Chapter 8 in They Say I Say, which is due Thursday, as is your last letter to the editor. Due Friday is chapter 7 vocab.

CNF: Today we began a documentary film; you need to have chapters 5 and 6 from Freakonomics with a dozen seminar notes read for Friday.