Freshmen: Today our focus was on a sample analytical essay about the film More. I encourage you to use it as a model. That's not to say you have to have the same type of structure, or tone, or thesis, but it is useful as a writer to look at what other writers do well and integrate what you can into your own game. Your homework is to read 20 minutes twice over the long weekend and to revise your essay on the film based on my specific comments as well as the general lesson on writing that we had. You are then to print this essay and annotate (that is, write by hand) about your changes on the spot on the page where they occur. By this I mean I mean write about what changes you made, why you made them, how it improved your paper and so on. Also, remember that vocabulary Chapter 1 is due next Friday.
Sophomores: Today we focused on two things: The Tao te Ching as a work of literature in and of itself and some of the recurrent ideas, themes, and structures in it, and Taoism as a concept implicit in our texts via the Echoes of the Tao assignment. Your homework is as follows: Part I of Life of Pi is due for next week's block, as is a dozen notes for the seminar and at least one Echo of the Tao assignment; the This I Believe worksheet and vocabulary Chapter 1 are due next Friday.
CNF: Today we had a pretty interesting seminar discussion about some of the ideas in Gladwell's introduction and Chapter 1. Your homework this weekend is to email me a picture of your room if you haven't already and to take the Big Five Inventory at http://www.outofservice.com/bigfive/. Please print your results page; as I said before, it might be interesting to have someone close to you - a friend, relative, etc. take the test for you too and compare how you scored.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Thursday, August 29
First off: Let's Go, Utes! Prediction: Utah 24, Utah State 21. The Utes will get the ball back down 17-21 with three minutes left and drive the length of the field, score a touchdown, and win, setting the tone for an 8-4 season, plus a bowl win.
Freshmen: Today we concluded our lesson on How to Write for School. Your task is to revise (i.e. improve) your analytical essay on the film More. In order to do so, you should do the following things: 1. Review the prompt posted on an earlier blog post; 2. Re-watch the film, which can be found on youtube; 3. Revise your essay based on both the comments I made regarding your essay and the lesson we had the past two days in class.
After you have revised and improved your essay, print it. On the printed page, annotate the changes you made to your essay. This means you should write, by hand, the changes you made to your essay and why you made them on the page, on the spot where you made those changes. You will hand in your revised, annotated essay on Tuesday, September 3.
Remember to read for 20 minutes and that vocabulary Chapter 1 is due September 6.
Sophomores: Today our focus was on concluding the interview between Campbell and Moyers regarding The Message of the Myth. Tonight, post a comment on today's blog that answers the prompt:
CNF: Today we finished reading the Introduction and Chapter 1 from Blink. Be sure to have your seminar notes for our discussion tomorrow.
Freshmen: Today we concluded our lesson on How to Write for School. Your task is to revise (i.e. improve) your analytical essay on the film More. In order to do so, you should do the following things: 1. Review the prompt posted on an earlier blog post; 2. Re-watch the film, which can be found on youtube; 3. Revise your essay based on both the comments I made regarding your essay and the lesson we had the past two days in class.
After you have revised and improved your essay, print it. On the printed page, annotate the changes you made to your essay. This means you should write, by hand, the changes you made to your essay and why you made them on the page, on the spot where you made those changes. You will hand in your revised, annotated essay on Tuesday, September 3.
Remember to read for 20 minutes and that vocabulary Chapter 1 is due September 6.
Sophomores: Today our focus was on concluding the interview between Campbell and Moyers regarding The Message of the Myth. Tonight, post a comment on today's blog that answers the prompt:
Summarize in a paragraph or so Joseph Campbell’s most important ideas as they relate to stories and what stories reveal about humanity. Read and respond to others’ responses and sign your entry by first name, last initial, and English period.
Remember, Part I of Life of Pi, and your notes for seminar, are due next block period. Your This I Believe Worksheet and
vocabulary Chapter 1 are due September 6.CNF: Today we finished reading the Introduction and Chapter 1 from Blink. Be sure to have your seminar notes for our discussion tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Wednesday, August 28
Freshmen: Today we started a lesson on how to write effectively for school; we will continue this tomorrow. Because this lesson is based on your essays about the short film More, your homework tonight is to go to www.turnitin.com, open your account, and look at the feedback I have given you regarding your writing. We will conclude the lesson tomorrow, and then I will ask you to apply the lesson and the feedback to a revision of your essay. Wait to start revising until we're done with the lesson. Your homework is to also read for 20 minutes, and to finish the vocabulary assignment for next Friday.
Sophomores: Today we got an introduction to the notion of personal beliefs that act as guides to our daily lives, as well as the concept of belief statements as presented in This I Believe. Your homework is to finish Part I of Life of Pi, along with a dozen notes for seminar, for next block period, and to complete Chapter 1 vocab and the This I Believe worksheet I gave you for Friday, 9/6.
CNF: Today we studied how JAXA uses paper cranes and dirty dishes to thin slice potential astronauts, and how Dr. Gottman's family research lab works. We will finish Chapter 1 of Blink for Friday's seminar; you should have a dozen notes for discussion as well.
Sophomores: Today we got an introduction to the notion of personal beliefs that act as guides to our daily lives, as well as the concept of belief statements as presented in This I Believe. Your homework is to finish Part I of Life of Pi, along with a dozen notes for seminar, for next block period, and to complete Chapter 1 vocab and the This I Believe worksheet I gave you for Friday, 9/6.
CNF: Today we studied how JAXA uses paper cranes and dirty dishes to thin slice potential astronauts, and how Dr. Gottman's family research lab works. We will finish Chapter 1 of Blink for Friday's seminar; you should have a dozen notes for discussion as well.
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Tuesday, August 28
Freshmen: Today we spent some time talking about how we will do vocabulary in class, and the schedule can be found on the blog. You were assigned an email project to help you learn to proper email etiquette. Send me your email tonight; read for 20 minutes; Honors students, you can begin reading The Elements of Style for your 20 minutes of reading. It is due the date of our next Honors meeting and we will have a quiz that day.
Sophomores: Today our focus was on some of the ideas running through Life of Pi, such as religion, zoos, suffering, and survival. We also talked about the vocabulary assignment, and the schedule can be found on the blog. Part I of Life of Pi and 12 notes for our seminar are due at the next block period.
CNF: Today we focused on Blink's three stated tasks and did some reading. We will continue to read in class and take notes for our first seminar, which likely will be on Friday.
Sophomores: Today our focus was on some of the ideas running through Life of Pi, such as religion, zoos, suffering, and survival. We also talked about the vocabulary assignment, and the schedule can be found on the blog. Part I of Life of Pi and 12 notes for our seminar are due at the next block period.
CNF: Today we focused on Blink's three stated tasks and did some reading. We will continue to read in class and take notes for our first seminar, which likely will be on Friday.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Monday, August 26
Freshmen: Today we introduce our vocabulary assignment and the Letter to the Editor assignment. Go to the class blog at http://bairdenglish.blogspot.com/2013/08/freshmen-and-sophomore-vocabulary.html to see this year's vocabulary schedule. Chapter 1 is due on September 6.
Additionally, go to http://www.sltrib.com/ and read three letters to the editor. Then post a comment on today's blog that answers the following prompt: "What letters did you read? Why do you think these letters were published by The Tribune? What did the writers do effectively?" This is due tonight.
Your own Letter to the Editor is due October 10 for all students, and Honors students also have one due on September 12. You may hand these in early, but no late letters will be accepted for credit. In order to earn full credit you must have your letter, with your contact information, in a stamped, unsealed envelope.
Lastly, your homework for tonight is to also read for 20 minutes from your book.
Sophomores: Today we began reading Life of Pi. We also talked about how to prepare for our Socratic Seminars. See the reading schedule at http://bairdenglish.blogspot.com/2013/08/life-of-pi-reading-schedule-2013-2014.html for info about the reading, when it's due, and what to do for the first seminar.
CNF: Today we read the introduction to Blink and talked about how to prepare for our Socratic Seminars. You should have five notes for our first seminar from the introduction. Please take a photo of your room and email it to me for a class activity. Don't alter your room (e.g. clean it up), just take the photo of it as it usually is.
Additionally, go to http://www.sltrib.com/ and read three letters to the editor. Then post a comment on today's blog that answers the following prompt: "What letters did you read? Why do you think these letters were published by The Tribune? What did the writers do effectively?" This is due tonight.
Your own Letter to the Editor is due October 10 for all students, and Honors students also have one due on September 12. You may hand these in early, but no late letters will be accepted for credit. In order to earn full credit you must have your letter, with your contact information, in a stamped, unsealed envelope.
Lastly, your homework for tonight is to also read for 20 minutes from your book.
Sophomores: Today we began reading Life of Pi. We also talked about how to prepare for our Socratic Seminars. See the reading schedule at http://bairdenglish.blogspot.com/2013/08/life-of-pi-reading-schedule-2013-2014.html for info about the reading, when it's due, and what to do for the first seminar.
CNF: Today we read the introduction to Blink and talked about how to prepare for our Socratic Seminars. You should have five notes for our first seminar from the introduction. Please take a photo of your room and email it to me for a class activity. Don't alter your room (e.g. clean it up), just take the photo of it as it usually is.
Sophomore World Literature Extra Credit Opportunity
Hi. Second semester we read Oedipus; if you would like to attend a performance of this play and write a one page reaction to it, there will be some performances at Red Butte Garden in September. You can earn up to 50 points by attending the pre-show discussion, the play, and writing your reaction. The reaction page is very open-ended; you can focus on anything ranging from the story, to the characters, to the production, to the pre-show discussion. For more information about times and cost, see http://www.redbuttegarden.org/greek_theatre_2013.
Friday, August 23, 2013
Life of Pi Reading Schedule 2013 2014
Hi. Here is your reading schedule for Life of Pi. For each due date, you should have a dozen notes for our Socratic Seminar. Please use the notes I provided for you on developing questions using simple question stems to help you with this. Your notes can take the form of both questions and observations and should capture what you were thinking about when you read a given passage.
Monday, August 26: Begin reading Life of Pi.
Tuesday, September 3 (periods 2 and 4) or Wednesday, September 4 (period 8): Part I due (approximately 92 pages). A dozen notes for seminar are due on this date.
Thursday, September 5: Chapters 37-45 due. There's no notes or anything due this day, but you need to have those chapters read in order to do that day's classroom activity.
Tuesday, September 10 (periods 2 and 4) or Wednesday, September 11 (period 8): Chapter 62 due (approximately 100 pages). A dozen notes for seminar are due on this date.
Monday, September 16: Part II due (approximately 92 pages). A dozen notes for seminar are due on this date.
Monday, August 26: Begin reading Life of Pi.
Tuesday, September 3 (periods 2 and 4) or Wednesday, September 4 (period 8): Part I due (approximately 92 pages). A dozen notes for seminar are due on this date.
Thursday, September 5: Chapters 37-45 due. There's no notes or anything due this day, but you need to have those chapters read in order to do that day's classroom activity.
Tuesday, September 10 (periods 2 and 4) or Wednesday, September 11 (period 8): Chapter 62 due (approximately 100 pages). A dozen notes for seminar are due on this date.
Monday, September 16: Part II due (approximately 92 pages). A dozen notes for seminar are due on this date.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Thursday, August 22 and Friday, August 23
Freshmen: Today we focused on an introduction to analytical essay writing by reading a short story, "The Star Thrower", and viewing the short film "More", which can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCeeTfsm8bk. Your task is to write an essay that analyzes the film "More" and answers the following prompt: What is the theme of the film "More"?
After writing your essay, you are to submit it to turnitin.com. You can find all the necessary info about turnitin.com on this blog. It must be submitted by 8 AM on Monday, August 26. Late submissions will not be accepted. You should create your turnitin.com account as soon as possible so that I can assist you with any problems you may be having before the due date.
Please read for 20 minutes twice, once for today, and once for the weekend.
Sophomores: Today we viewed segments of an interview between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers about the message of myths. There's no homework this weekend - just get a copy of Life of Pi and bring it to class on Monday.
CNF: Today we sampled a few different non-fiction texts that also served as models for how we ought to conduct our seminars about the texts we read. If you have a copy of Blink, great, bring it Monday; if not, no worries, I will have a copy for you.
After writing your essay, you are to submit it to turnitin.com. You can find all the necessary info about turnitin.com on this blog. It must be submitted by 8 AM on Monday, August 26. Late submissions will not be accepted. You should create your turnitin.com account as soon as possible so that I can assist you with any problems you may be having before the due date.
Please read for 20 minutes twice, once for today, and once for the weekend.
Sophomores: Today we viewed segments of an interview between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers about the message of myths. There's no homework this weekend - just get a copy of Life of Pi and bring it to class on Monday.
CNF: Today we sampled a few different non-fiction texts that also served as models for how we ought to conduct our seminars about the texts we read. If you have a copy of Blink, great, bring it Monday; if not, no worries, I will have a copy for you.
Wednesday, August 21, 2013
turnitin.com Log In Information 2013-2014
We will submit essays often to turnitin.com. If you have an account already, you should be able to use it, and simply need to enroll in our class. If you do not already have an account, you need to go to turnitin.com and click on "create account." From there, enter the necessary information and click on "student." You will be asked for the class ID number. They are:
-Period 5 Freshmen: 6729008
-Period 2 Sophomores: 6729010
-Period 4 Sophomores: 6729011
-Period 8 Sophomores: 6729012
The class enrollment password is Judge (with a capital J).
From there, the rest is pretty simple. See me if you have questions.
-Period 5 Freshmen: 6729008
-Period 2 Sophomores: 6729010
-Period 4 Sophomores: 6729011
-Period 8 Sophomores: 6729012
The class enrollment password is Judge (with a capital J).
From there, the rest is pretty simple. See me if you have questions.
Wednesday, August 21
Freshmen: Today we focused on the quarterly Prayer and Great Thoughts assignment; refer to the handouts I gave you often as you prepare your assignment. We also read a poem by Billy Collins titled "Introduction to Poetry." It can be found at http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/001.html. Please reread it and post a comment under today that answers the prompt: What did you like, notice, or observe about this poem? Your response should be at least a paragraph, and please reference what others say in your post as well. Sign in using your first name and last initial only. Thank you. Also, you have 20 minutes of reading homework tonight.
Sophomores: Today we focused on various creation myths and the common elements they shared. Please sign into the blog and answer the following prompt: What common elements are shared by multiple creation myths and what do these commonalities reveal about humanity as a whole? Please respond to what others have said in your response and sign in using your first name, last initial, and period number. Also due tomorrow is the reading from the introduction to the Tao te Ching.
CNF: Today we focused further on decision-making, as well as the construction of non-fiction texts. I'd like you to watch or listen to some piece of non-fiction and come to class with some thoughts on how that work is constructed.
Sophomores: Today we focused on various creation myths and the common elements they shared. Please sign into the blog and answer the following prompt: What common elements are shared by multiple creation myths and what do these commonalities reveal about humanity as a whole? Please respond to what others have said in your response and sign in using your first name, last initial, and period number. Also due tomorrow is the reading from the introduction to the Tao te Ching.
CNF: Today we focused further on decision-making, as well as the construction of non-fiction texts. I'd like you to watch or listen to some piece of non-fiction and come to class with some thoughts on how that work is constructed.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Tuesday, August 20
Welcome back to school. As you know, this blog is a place where we will share ideas and I will provide an overview each day of what we do in class and list what the homework is. I hope you all have a great year, and let me know if I can ever help you out.
Freshmen: Today we did a few things to introduce the course. We also read and discussed a poem. Your homework tonight is to have your parents read and sign the disclosure (due tomorrow), read for 20 minutes, and to post a comment on this blog post that answers the following prompt: Which of the two summer read books (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime or Unwind) did you like best, and why? Please write at least a paragraph, respond to others' ideas as appropriate, and sign in using your first name and last initial. Thanks.
Sophomores: Today we got an introductory overview of the course. Your homework tonight is to have your parents read and sign the disclosure (due tomorrow) and to find, read, and print a creation myth from another culture and bring it to class tomorrow as we examine the common traits these stories share and the implications of those commonalities. The introduction to the Tao te Ching is due on the block day this week and we will have a quiz. If you wish to take notes, you can, and use them (up to a page) on the quiz.
CNF: Today we got an introductory overview of the course, and the primary theme which revolves around making decisions. Your homework tonight is to have your parents read and sign the disclosure (due tomorrow), and to post a comment on today's blog that answers the following prompt: Which is better, intuitive, snap decisions, or methodically made data-driven decisions? Write at least a paragraph, respond to others' ideas as appropriate, and sign in using your first name and last initial. Thanks.
Freshmen: Today we did a few things to introduce the course. We also read and discussed a poem. Your homework tonight is to have your parents read and sign the disclosure (due tomorrow), read for 20 minutes, and to post a comment on this blog post that answers the following prompt: Which of the two summer read books (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime or Unwind) did you like best, and why? Please write at least a paragraph, respond to others' ideas as appropriate, and sign in using your first name and last initial. Thanks.
Sophomores: Today we got an introductory overview of the course. Your homework tonight is to have your parents read and sign the disclosure (due tomorrow) and to find, read, and print a creation myth from another culture and bring it to class tomorrow as we examine the common traits these stories share and the implications of those commonalities. The introduction to the Tao te Ching is due on the block day this week and we will have a quiz. If you wish to take notes, you can, and use them (up to a page) on the quiz.
CNF: Today we got an introductory overview of the course, and the primary theme which revolves around making decisions. Your homework tonight is to have your parents read and sign the disclosure (due tomorrow), and to post a comment on today's blog that answers the following prompt: Which is better, intuitive, snap decisions, or methodically made data-driven decisions? Write at least a paragraph, respond to others' ideas as appropriate, and sign in using your first name and last initial. Thanks.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Freshmen and Sophomore Vocabulary Schedule 2013-2014
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. For the Honors students, there will be occasional quizzes on the review chapters when those are due, so please bring your book to class on those dates.
Chapter 1 due 9/6
Chapter 2 due 9/20
Chapter 3 due 10/4
***Review Unit 1-3 due for Honors 10/15
Chapter 4 due 11/1
Chapter 5 due 11/15
Chapter 6 due 12/6
***Review Unit 4-6 due for Honors 12/13
Chapter 7 due 12/20
**We will have a comprehensive exam for chapters 1-7 as a part of your semester final.
Chapter 8 due 1/28 or 1/29 depending on the period
Chapter 9 due 2/7
***Review Unit 7-9 due for Honors 2/14 for extra points
Chapter 10 due 2/21
Chapter 11 due 3/7
Chapter 12 due 3/21
***Review Unit 10-12 due for Honors 3/27 for extra points
Chapter 13 due 4/11
Chapter 14 due 4/25
Chapter 15 due 5/16
***Review Unit 13-15 due for Honors 5/30 for extra points
**We will have a comprehensive exam for chapters 8-15 as a part of your semester final.
Chapter 1 due 9/6
Chapter 2 due 9/20
Chapter 3 due 10/4
***Review Unit 1-3 due for Honors 10/15
Chapter 4 due 11/1
Chapter 5 due 11/15
Chapter 6 due 12/6
***Review Unit 4-6 due for Honors 12/13
Chapter 7 due 12/20
**We will have a comprehensive exam for chapters 1-7 as a part of your semester final.
Chapter 8 due 1/28 or 1/29 depending on the period
Chapter 9 due 2/7
***Review Unit 7-9 due for Honors 2/14 for extra points
Chapter 10 due 2/21
Chapter 11 due 3/7
Chapter 12 due 3/21
***Review Unit 10-12 due for Honors 3/27 for extra points
Chapter 13 due 4/11
Chapter 14 due 4/25
Chapter 15 due 5/16
***Review Unit 13-15 due for Honors 5/30 for extra points
**We will have a comprehensive exam for chapters 8-15 as a part of your semester final.
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