Friday, December 20

Freshmen: We took a vocab exam. Your final exam review guide is posted on the blog, so prepare for it if you wish. Have a nice break.

Sophomores: We took a vocab exam. Your final exam review guide is posted on the blog, so prepare for it if you wish. Finish up your This I Believe Project. Have a nice break.

CNF: Today we had a seminar. Your final exam review guide is posted on the blog, so prepare for it if you wish. Have a nice break.

Compelling Non-Fiction First Semester Final Exam Review Guide

Your final this semester will be an essay. While you will be allowed to use the books we've read, you cannot use any notes or anything like that on the exam. However, I want you well-prepared, so this is exactly what the exam will look like. Let me know if you have questions.

Compelling Non-Fiction First Semester Final Exam

Directions: 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 that “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, December 19

Freshmen: Today we shared your Grandparent Projects - good job; they look great. Read for 20 minutes and remember Chapter 7 vocabulary is due tomorrow.

Sophomore: Today we concluded viewing The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Do your reading over the break and remember we have vocab due tomorrow.

CNF: Today we finished up our reading and will have a seminar tomorrow.

CNF Extra Effort Opportunity

Since we don't have time to view either of these films, for extra credit, watch one or both over the break and write a page reaction that ties the film into what we've read. The film options are Murder on a Sunday Morning or The Thin Blue Line.

World Literature Semester Final Exam Review Guide 2013 2014

Hi. Your final is going to be very straight-forward. There will be an approximately-thirty-question objective exam (true and false, multiple guess... I mean choice, fill in, etc.) with each question counting for one point, followed by an essay exam that's worth 100 points. As you can see, the essay is the major part of the final. The entire final is worth 20% of your semester grade, with the other 80% split between the two quarters.

You have two essay prompts to choose from. I will allow you to use one page of hand-written notes on the essay portion of the final only. I will also allow you to use the novels we've read this semester, as well at the Tao te Ching, on the essay portion of the final. The prompts for the essays are listed below:

1. Explain how Taoist principles and ideas are present in several of the novels we read this year.

2. Choose at least three characters (each from a different novel) that we have read about this semester and explain a common belief they all share and how that belief manifests itself in how the characters live their lives.

All essays must have the following components:

-An interesting title at the top.

-Correct use of a lead and conclusion technique we studied this semester, with those techniques listed in the header.

-Double spaced, except when using a blocked citation.

-Numerous, correctly done citations from multiple books.

-Neat and easy to read.

-Free from most conventions errors.

Good luck, and see me with questions.

Sophomore Extra Effort Opportunity

Hi. If you'd like to earn up to 50 points extra credit, listen to the following interview: http://www.onbeing.org/program/bodys-grace-matthew-sanfords-story/185

Write an essay that examines what Matthew Sanford's ideas are about our relationship with our bodies and how his beliefs manifest themselves in some of what we've read, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, obviously, but also other texts like Life of Pi and Siddhartha. This is due the Monday after the break.

Tuesday, December 17 and Wednesday, December 18

Freshmen: Today our focus was on writing an essay using description, illustration, and example. Read for 20 minutes tonight and tomorrow; your Grandparent Project is due Thursday; Chapter 9 vocab is due Friday.

Sophomores: Today we watched a few scenes from The Diving Bell and the Butterfly so that you can better understand Jean-Dominique Bauby's point of view. Continue to read; vocab is due Friday.

CNF: Today we continue reading both Gladwell and Freakonomics.

Freshmen English First Semester Final Exam Study Review Guide

Freshmen English First Semester Final Exam Study Review Guide:

Your final exam is 20% of your semester  grade (the other 80% is split between your first and second quarter grade). The test will consist of an objective exam about 65 questions long (each worth a point) and an essay worth 100 points. So, the total exam is going to be worth about about 165 points, with the major weight falling on the essay.

The following is a list of things to study and know for the objective exam: Principles of free verse poetry; the seven step essay process; lead and conclusion techniques we have studied; various essay genres; key quotes about writing; and all related pieces of information.

For the essay, you will be assigned a rhetorical device (a mode or genre), but you will choose the topic. The essay prompt will read:

Essay prompt: You are to write a ________________ essay. Your grade will be based on how well you write in this particular mode. Additionally, all essays should have the following components:

a. be easy to read (neat, double spaced, etc).

b. have a clear thesis.

c. be free from most conventions errors.

d. use one of the lead and conclusion techniques we’ve studied this year and identify the techniques used in your header.

e. have a compelling title at the top.

In the blank space, your assigned genre will be written. You will be asked to write either a narrative essay, a compare and contrast essay, or a descriptive/illustrative/example essay, so you should put some thought into potential topics for all three. Good luck, and see me with questions.

Monday, December 16

Freshmen: Today we looked at another essay that uses examples, illustration, and description. Your homework is to finish up your Grandparent Project, due Thursday, and vocab, which is due Friday. Read for 20 minutes tonight as well.

Sophomores: Today we began The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. We're going to have a seminar on the book when we get back from Christmas break, on Monday, January 6. To prepare for the seminar, I want ten short reflections, scattered evenly throughout the book (there's 29 chapters total). These should be brief (a paragraph or so), have the title of the chapter upon which you're reflecting at the top, and focus on what you are thinking or feeling and should not summarize the chapter.

CNF: Today we began a study of why crime dropped, reading from both Gladwell and Freakonomics.

Friday, December 13

Freshmen: Today we focused on how a particular author used description in a particular essay. Read for 20 minutes; due Thursday is your Grandparent Project and vocab Chapter 7 is due Friday.

Sophomores: Today we had our final seminar on Siddhartha. Be working on your final project.

CNF: Today we watched a Ted Talk by Steven Pinker about the decline in crime through the centuries.  Next week we'll begin a study of theories as to why crime dropped in the 1990s.

Thursday, December 12

Freshmen: Today we focused on an essay that used illustration, description, and example well. Due Thursday is your Grandparent Project; due next Friday is Chapter 7 vocab.

Sophomores: Today we focused on six word stories. Due Friday is Siddhartha. Due next Friday is Chapter 7 vocab.

CNF: We concluded Kicking It.

Basketball: Today we're at home against Mountain Crest at 6; we've got shoot around at 3, study hall at 4:00, film at 4:30, and pregame at 5:15.

Tuesday, December 10, and Wednesday, December 11

Freshmen: Today our focus was on using illustration, example, and description, and reinforcing those things through the form of the essay; incidentally, we also focused on using short, specific words. Your homework: Read for 20 minutes tonight and tomorrow; work on your Grandparent Project and vocab.

Sophomores: Today our focus was on the word "AUM", as it factors into Siddhartha in a crucial way. The novel is due Friday; vocab is due next Friday.

CNF: Today we began our conclusion of the study of the notion of "making it to the top" via Kicking It.

Monday, December 9

Freshmen: We began a study of the rhetorical devices illustration, example, and description. Read for 20 minutes; Honors students, we have a meeting tomorrow morning at 7:30; Letters to the Editor are due Thursday; due Thursday, December 19 is your Grandparent Project; Chapter 7 vocab is due the 20th.

Sophomores: Today we took a vocab exam; your next one is December 20. Siddhartha is due Friday, December 13.

CNF: We finished Hoop Dreams; for those of you who want to know what else happened with William and Arthur, there's a new invention called Google that might be of service.

Friday, December 6

Freshmen: Today we took a vocab exam and looked at Langston Hughes's poem "Mother to Son." For extra credit, you can write a response from the son's point of view. Remember what we talked about regarding titles of creative responses, as well as the principles of free verse we covered the past few weeks. This is due Monday; read for 20 minutes this weekend; honors students, don't forget our meeting on Tuesday; all students, don't forget about the letter to the editor due next Thursday.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar about the first half of Siddhartha. Due Monday is vocab; due Friday is the rest of Siddhartha. Be working on your semester project. Honors students, remember our meeting on Thursday.

CNF: We almost finished Hoop Dreams.

Basketball: We're at Sunnyside until 5:30 tonight, and at Judge from 10:50-1:30 on Saturday.

Extra Effort Opportunity

Hi. Check out http://judgememorial.com/content/2013/11/dec-19-guide-surviving-finals
Attend, and write a half page summary of what's covered for up to 25 points extra credit. The write up is due 12/20 for credit.

Thursday, December 5

Freshmen: Today we shared your Letters About Literature and some of your poems. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes; vocabulary Chapter 6 is due on Friday. Due December 12 are your letters to the editor. Honors students, keep working on your compare and contrast assignment; we're meeting on Tuesday, December 10.

Sophomores: Today our focus was on sharing your Letters About Literature. Review the blog for the reading that's due tomorrow; vocabulary Chapter 6 is due on Monday.

CNF: Today we continued Hoop Dreams. Will Marshall beat King? Come to class tomorrow to find out.

Basketball: Nice win last night; we're at Sunnyside the next two days until 5:30.

Tuesday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 4

Freshmen: Today we covered the final free verse principle we're going to cover for a while, that of using figurative language. I'd like you to revise your previous four poems for this principle, and write a fifth original poem that intentionally uses figurative language well. It should also adhere to the previous principles. On Thursday, you should come to class with all five of your poems. Your work will be assessed based on how well you adhere to the principles we covered. Also due Thursday is your Letter About Literature and your entry form. Due Friday is Chapter 6 vocab. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday night.

Sophomores: Today we began working on the Letters About Literature project. See http://www.read.gov/letters/ and click on "Rules and Guidelines" for more details. Your Letter About Literature is due on Thursday along with your signed entry form. See the blog for what's due on Friday with the reading; we will have a seminar on that day and move the vocab back to Monday.

CNF: Today we continued Hoop Dreams, looking at how it's constructed and how it's an example of "winning the tournament."

Monday, December 2

Freshmen: Today we began working on an essay for the Letters About Literature Contest. Go here http://www.read.gov/letters/ and click on "Rules and Guidelines" for more information. Your letter should be typed and is due on Thursday along with your entry coupon. In order to do well on the assignment, check the website. Read for 20 minutes, and begin working on your Grandparent Project as well; Chapter 6 vocab is due on Friday.

Sophomores: Today we began reading Siddhartha. See the reading schedule on the blog for details. Chapter 6 vocab is due on Friday.

CNF: Today we began Hoop Dreams as we continue to study the idea of "the tournament" or "making it to the top."

Basketball: We are at Sunnyside today until 5:30. We'll see what time the bus gets us there.