Friday, February 28

Freshmen: Today we had an overview of some of the ideas prevalent in Romeo and Juliet. To further help you understand some of these ideas, read the following essays at the front of your copy of the play: "Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet" and "Shakespeare's Language" (including the sections on Shakespeare's words, sentences, wordplay, and implied stage action). If you didn't hand your definition essay in today, you can on Monday. Remember, your own, original sonnet is due Monday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the third stage or our hero cycle. Finish The Kite Runner for our next block day and have a reflection.

CNF: Today we focused on Part II and will wrap that up on Monday.

Thursday, February 27

Sophomores: We concluded Act I from Into the Woods and the second stage of the hero. We also had a seminar on The Kite Runner. The book will be due on the next block period.

Freshmen: Today we focused on sonnets in preparation for reading Shakespeare. Your homework is to find a sonnet by Shakespeare and print it and bring it to class on Friday. A sonnet of your own composition is due on Monday.

CNF: Today we began Part II of The World Without Us.

Tuesday, February 25 and Wednesday, February 26

Freshmen: Today we focused more on the concept of definition. Your task is to write a definition essay that defined yourself. You might model it after Dimtri Martin's "Who am I?" Your essay is due on Friday. It should be typed, adhere to standard form, have a title, and a header with your lead and conclusion technique listed.

Sophomores: Today we focused further on the four stages of the hero. Continue with reading from The Kite Runner; we have a seminar on Thursday.

CNF: We concluded viewing Cave of Forgotten Dreams and will continue with The World Without Us on Thursday.

Monday, February 24

Freshmen: Today we had a seminar on Of Mice and Men. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes.

Sophomores: Today we started a study of the four stages of the hero. Continue reading from The Kite Runner. We have an honors meeting on Wednesday morning.

CNF: Today we began viewing Cave of Forgotten Dreams.

Thursday, February 20

Freshmen: Today we furthered our study of the rhetorical device of definition. Due Friday is vocab; due Monday is Of Mice and Men.

Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on The Kite Runner. Check the reading schedule for the next due date. Due Friday is vocabulary.

CNF: Today we had our last day to read Part I from The World Without Us. Tomorrow we'll discuss it.

Wednesday, February 19

Freshmen: Today we began a study of our next rhetorical device, that of definition. Your Ways Poem is due on Thursday; vocab is due Friday; Of Mice and Men and your guide sheet are due Monday.

Sophomores: Today we did an entry in the Hero Catch-Phrase Project; due tomorrow are Chapters 8-14 from The Kite Runner and a reflection; due Friday is vocab.

CNF: Today we read from The World Without Us.

Friday, February 14

Freshmen: Today we focused on integrating research correctly to support a thesis. Your Ways Poem is due 2/20, vocab is due 2/21, and Of Mice and Men is due 2/24. Lastly, you are to get on turnitin.com and review the comments regarding your cause and effect essay. Revise it based on the comments and today's lesson. Print the improved essay. Annotate on the page the improvements that you made and hand it in on Wednesday, 2/19.

Sophomores: Today we did a HCPP entry and read; Chapters 8-14 are due Thursday, vocab due Friday.

CNF: Today we continued reading The World Without Us.

Extra Credit Opportunity: Attend the quarterfinals of the annual Freshmen Tournament on Saturday, 2/15 at 10:10 and write a short sports article for up to 25 points extra credit.

Thursday, February 13

Freshmen: Today we continued our study of "Ways Poems." Your task is to write your own. Choose something and examine it in a number of different ways, particularly until it begins to appear strange or distorted. You might imitate Stevens's and mimic some of the ways he views the blackbird, or you might strike out into new ways of seeing. Regardless, look at your subject in as many different ways as possible. Your poem is due next Wednesday, 2/19; continue reading Of Mice and Men.

Sophomores: Today we did another HCPP entry and focused on reading. Chapters 8-14 are due on 2/20.

CNF: Today we began reading The World Without Us. It's required you read chapters 2, 3, 4; for enrichment, read chapters 1, 5, and 6.

Tuesday, February 11 and Wednesday, February 12

Freshmen: Today we started an analysis of Wallace Stevens's "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" and "Ways Poems." We'll finish on Thursday. Continue to work on Of Mice and Men.

Sophomores: Today we studied the tragic hero archetype and talked about The Kite Runner. Chapters 8-14 are due for next Thursday.

CNF: We finished Life After People and will begin The World Without Us Thursday.

Monday, February 10

Freshmen: Today we began Of Mice and Men. The book should be read, and the guide sheet finished, by 2/24. Use your 20 minutes of nightly reading to accomplish this.

Sophomores: Today we did another Hero Catch Phrase Project entry. Due for tomorrow Chapters 1-7 from The Kite Runner are due with a reflection.

CNF: Today we began Life After People. Be sure to have The World Without Us for this week.

Thursday, February 6

Freshmen: Today we concluded our study of cause and effect. You should integrate what you learned into your essays that are due on Friday. You also have 20 minutes of reading due and vocab due Friday.

Sophomores: Today we began The Kite Runner. Check the reading schedule that I've posted. Due Friday is vocab.

CNF: Today we studied superpowers and the idea of what one should do with one's life.

The Kite Runner Reading Schedule 2014

Hi. Here's our schedule for The Kite Runner:

2/11 or 2/12 - Chapters 1-7 and a reflection due.

2/20 - Chapters 8-14 and a reflection due.

2/27 - Chapters 15-22 and a reflection due.

3/4 or 3/5 - Book and reflection due.

3/6 - Begin The Poisonwood Bible.

Tuesday, February 4 and Wednesday, February 5

Freshmen: Today we continued studying Cause and Effect. Your prompt is from "Models for Writers": Write a cause and effect essay answering the same question the editors of Parade asked Mailer: If you could do one thing to change America for the better, what would it be?"

You need to do the following things: Answer the prompt well and completely, using cause and effect well. Integrate some outside research that supports your argument, and cite it correctly. Use correctly, and identify in your header, the type of lead and conclusion you are using. Have an interesting title cited at the top. Lastly, use the concepts from They Say I Say Chapter 8 in your essay well.

Submit this essay to turnitin.com by 8 AM on Friday, 2/7.

Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, and remember Chapter 9 vocab is due Friday.

Sophomores: Today we began the Hero Catch-Phrase Project and had our seminar on Oedipus the King. We will begin The Kite Runner on Thursday. Remember Chapter 9 vocab is due Friday.

CNF: Today we had our seminar on The Last Lecture. We will next read a chapter from Batman and Philosophy and begin The World Without Us shortly.