Friday, October 31

Utah 28, ASU 24.

Freshmen: Today we took a break from our essay focus and focused on some Halloween poetry, characters, and stories. If you're looking for "The Tell-Tale Heart," you can find it at http://xroads.virginia.edu/~Hyper/POE/telltale.html. Read for 20 minutes, study on Membean, and bring me 10% of your candy haul. Remember, you need to be able to access an electronic copy of your essay from school on Monday.

Sophomores and Honors Sophomores: See yesterday's post.

CNF: Today we had a seminar on the topic of cheating.

Thursday, October 30

Freshmen: Today we focused on Step Six of our essay process - Clarify and Tighten the Information. This is the revision stage, and what we focused on more than anything else is this: The surest way to improve your writing immediately is to read your work out loud to yourself. This will help you catch awkward phrases, missing words, and unclear phrasing more than any other technique. You need to revise your essay and be able to access an electronic copy here at school. Read for 20 minutes and work on Membean as well.

Sophomores: Today we took some time to read The Alchemist and focus on the Tao te Ching as a work of literature. Part I, 1 Echo, and 2 3EJ entries are due Monday, along with Membean.

Honors Sophomores: Today we talked a bit about Arthurian Legend and how it relates to The Power of One and got some reading done.

CNF: Today we concluded The Armstrong Lie. 

Tuesday, October 28 and Wednesday, October 29

Freshmen: Today we finished reading Chapters 2 and 3 from They Say I Say. If you did not finish these chapters, do so as a part of your 20 minutes of reading homework Tuesday and Wednesday. We also finished our lesson on citing sources, covering how to do both an in-text and a blocked citation. Chapter 3 from They Say I Say provides you with some excellent templates you can use as a writer for accomplishing this task. Most importantly, we moved on to Step Five of our Seven Step Essay Process, which is drafting and developing your information into a coherent essay. A typed draft is due in class on Thursday.

These are the requirements for your essay. It should:
1. Be typed.
2. Have a single-spaced header that includes your name and lead and conclusion techniques.
3. Have an interesting title that is centered at the top and no different in format from the rest of the text.
4. Have a solid lead that fits one of the techniques we studied in class.
5. Have a clear thesis.
6. Support that thesis thoroughly with evidence from your research.
7. Have at least two correctly-done citations, one blocked and one in-text. A good writer will have several citations.
8. End well, using one of the conclusion techniques we studied in class.
9. Have depth (remember, I did not specify a length requirement, but most good essays are somewhere between 8-19 paragraphs in length).

Along with reading and writing, remember to do 20 minutes on Membean this week.

Sophomores: Today we began The Alchemist. I will post the reading schedule on the blog.

Honors Sophomores: Today we talked about a number of issues pertaining to The Power of One, ranging from justice to a person's integrity. You also have the option of writing a poem for up to 25 points extra credit in response to the painting found here: http://selfhatinghipster.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/both-members-of-this-club1.jpg. The poem should be typed and should be in response to the painting of the black and white boxers. Read, read, read - you need to finish the book soon. Your film essay is due on Monday, 11/3.

CNF: We continued our study of cheating...

Monday, October 27

Freshmen: Today we talked about ordering the information you have collected. Finish this. Order your information in such a way that it flows logically from your lead toward your conclusion and proves your thesis. We also read Chapter 1 from They Say I Say. If you didn't finish, please do so as a part of your 20 minutes tonight. You also have 20 minutes on Membean this week.

Sophomores: Today we read a short story, "Cranes." We will begin The Alchemist Wednesday. You also have 30 minutes on Membean this week.

Honors Sophomores: Today we had a seminar on many issues related to The Power of One. Read, read, read this week. Due next Monday is Chapter 22, as is your essay for the film assignment we began. You also have 20 minutes on Membean this week.

CNF: Today we continued studying the notion of cheating.

Thursday, October 23

Freshmen: Today we concluded our lesson on conclusions. Complete your Membean work for this week and read 20 minutes twice over the weekend.

Sophomores: Today we finished up working on Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" and did some reflection work on your recently-completed essays. Complete your Membean work for this week.

Honors Sophomores: Today we did some review of blending citations into your writing. Keep up with the reading, complete your honors project essays if you haven't already, and complete your Membean work for this week.

CNF: Today we concluded our documentary, and you should be finished with Chapter 1 from Freakonomics.

Tuesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 22

Freshmen: Today we covered a variety of lead and conclusion techniques to use when writing an essay as a part of our fourth step (Playing With Leads and Plans) in our Seven Step essay process. Your homework tonight is to write two different leads for your essay. Here are the requirements: They should be typed on separate sheets of paper; the technique you're using should be listed in your header; they should be two to three paragraphs long (since your lead is approximately the first 20% of your essay). When choosing the lead techniques to experiment with, consider your thesis, your topic, and the best style for your essay. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, and complete your Membean homework by Friday morning. Lastly, if you want to do an extra credit assignment, you can write a creative response poem in response to a photograph. We used the poem found at http://www.hanksville.org/voyage/poems/NavajoSchool.html as our model. The poem and the photograph are due on Thursday for up to 25 points extra credit.

Sophomores: Today we spent time focusing on the concept of character and reading a short story. Complete your Membean homework by Friday morning.

Honors Sophomores: Today our focus was on blending quotes and using citations from a text to support your ideas. Read, read, read, work on your essays, and complete your Membean homework by Friday morning.

CNF: Today we began a documentary on cheating and steroids.

Monday, October 20

Freshmen: Today we did Step Three of our Seven Step Essay Process, Focus the Data, which entailed reviewing all the information that we have collected. We then crafted a thesis statement (the central argument of our essay) based on what the information tells us (contrast this with most people's typical process: they decide what they think and then find information to back it up; we want to develop thinkers who do the opposite and base their arguments on facts). So, for Tuesday's class, you should have a clear, concise thesis statement that will shape the rest of your essay. Read for 20 minutes, spend 20 minutes on Membean this week prior to Friday morning, and take the quiz on Membean tonight.

Sophomores: Today we did a checklist of sorts for your analytical essay on Life of Pi as well as a peer review. Your final draft is due on Wednesday. We will start The Alchemist next week. Spend 30 minutes on Membean this week prior to Friday morning, and take the quiz on Membean tonight.  Your Echoes of the Tao assignment is due on Thursday and should have three entries for Life of Pi.

Honors Sophomores: Today we took a quiz and had a short seminar on The Power of One. Many of you are behind on the reading - catch up. You can hand in your honors essay this week or next depending on which quarter you want the grade to go on. Your film essay is still due 11/3. Read, read, read, spend 20 minutes on Membean this week prior to Friday morning, and take the quiz on Membean tonight. Your Echoes of the Tao assignment is due on Thursday and should have three entries for Life of Pi and two for The Power of One.

CNF: Today we began Chapter 1 of Freakonomics; you should finish the chapter this week and have notes or a reflection for our seminar.

Tuesday, October 13 and Wednesday, October 14

I almost forgot: Utah 31, OSU 24.

Freshmen: Today we continued the second step of our Seven Step Essay as we continued to gather information. The expectation for you is that you come to class on Monday an expert on your chosen subject - your surveys should be quantified, your interviews completed, and your index cards filled out. As stated in class, if you can't answer a question, move on. If you come across important information that you hadn't anticipated asking a question about, write it as a main idea on one side of your index cards with the supporting details on the other side. You should read for 20 minutes each night of the break, and this research counts for that time if you choose. Also remember to study on Membean for 20 minutes this week; there will be a quiz on Monday.

Sophomores: Today we focused on conclusion techniques as well as blending quotes and citing sources into your writing. Your task is to take your best lead, support your thesis with evidence from the text, and write your essay over the break. It is due on Monday. Also remember to study on Membean for 30 minutes this week; there will be a quiz on Monday.

Honors Sophomores: Today we focused on various lead and conclusion techniques for you to use henceforth in your essays. Read, read, read, and work on your essays. Also remember to study on Membean for 20 minutes this week; there will be a quiz on Monday.

CNF: Today we had a fascinating discussion on the data from our survey on cheating. Thanks for your good thoughts.

Monday, October 13

Freshmen: Today we learned about various resources we can access for research. Your job is to come to class on Tuesday with two sources printed or otherwise accessible so you can read it in class and begin the process of filling out your index cards for Question Based Research. Read for 20 minutes; work on Membean for 20 minutes this week.

Sophomores: Today we learned about various lead techniques to use when crafting an essay. Your job tonight is to write two potential leads for your essay on Life of Pi. These leads should be on separate sheets of paper and have correct headers. Include a title if you have a good idea for one at this point. Study on Membean for 30 minutes this week.

Honors Sophomores: Today we focused on reading and talked about some flexibility with your next essay on Foster's and The Power of One. If you choose, you can hand in your essay on the 20th and get credit for first quarter; or, you can hand it in on the 27th and get credit for it for second quarter. Keep reading; keep working on your film project (now due on 11/3) and study on Membean for 20 minutes this week.

CNF: Today we viewed a documentary on the corruption in Sumo - sorry to shatter those long-held beliefs in its purity.

Friday, October 10

Freshmen: Today we talked about the second step of our seven step research process, which is gathering information. We talked about what kinds of information to collect, and what forms that information may take. You are required to have three sources: a non-internet source, an internet source, and either a survey or interview with someone affect by your topic. You are required to come to class Monday with either the name of your interview subject and 10 questions, as well as when this interview will take place, or with enough copies of your 10-question survey to distribute to everyone in the class. Monday we will go to the library to continue with information-gathering. Read for 20 minutes and work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the concept of thesis and began the thesis formation stage of our essays.

Honors Sophomores: Today we finished Cry, the Beloved Country, wrote about it, and discussed The Power of One.

CNF: Today we finished the introduction to Freakonomics and viewed a Ted Talk, "Our Buggy Moral Code."

Thursday, October 9

Freshmen: Today our focus was on the first step of our Seven Step Essay Process. Step One is Defining the Problem. You chose a topic based on your list of potential essay topics and framed it as either a question or a statement. Your task is to come up with 12 questions you want to find the answer to regarding your topic. You are to list each one on a separate index card and bring your 12 index cards in to class on Friday. Read for 20 minutes tonight and study on Membean this week.

Sophomores: Today we concluded our Break It Down exercise and began an analytical essay project for Life of Pi. You chose an idea from the novel off a list I provided and began to find passages that deal with that topic. You should have five page numbers of passages that deal with your chosen topic written down for class tomorrow. Study on Membean 30 minutes this week.

Honors Sophomores: Today we continued with Cry, the Beloved Country and our inductive analysis process. We will talk about The Power of One and the film tomorrow. Study on Membean; keep up with your reading from Fosters and The Power of One, and get to work on your film project.

CNF: Today we began Freakonomics.

Tuesday, October 7 and Wednesday, October 8

Freshmen: Today we worked on generating a list of potential essay topics. Read for 20 minutes and work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we continued our Break It Down exercise. Remember, we are upping the weekly Membean requirement to 30 minutes per week.

Honors Sophomores: We began viewing Cry, the Beloved Country in preparation for the film project you are doing as well as a way to build background knowledge about the setting of The Power of One. Read and work on Membean.

CNF: Today we had our final wrap-up of Blink.

Monday, October 6

Freshmen: Today we reviewed the various rhetorical devices used in Spellbound and wrote an in-class essay that analyzed the film's thesis and the devices used to prove it. Read for 20 minutes; you have a quiz on Membean that you must take tonight. Remember your letter to the editor is due on Thursday.

Sophomores: Today we looked at your 101st Chapters from Life of Pi and began an exercises in reading via observation, analysis, induction, synthesis, and thesis formation. You have a quiz on Membean that you must take tonight.

Honors Sophomores: Today we talked about the film study project we are starting. Keep reading from The Power of One (schedule is on the blog) and from Foster's text (schedule is on the blog also); you have a quiz on Membean that you must take tonight.

CNF: We finished Blink today and will wrap up our study of it tomorrow.

Honors English Novels and Corresponding Chapters from Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Books we’ll read and the corresponding How to Read… chapters:

Life of Pi 18, 10 and Interlude, 12, 19, 5
The Power of One 8, 19, 2, 11, 13, 5, 25, 12
The Alchemist 1, 6, 7, 18, 12, 15, 5
Siddhartha 10, 5, 21
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly 2, 21, 22, 23, 24, 5
Christmas Break: 26 and 27

Friday, October 3

Harkening back to the past, Phillips will kick a 55 yarder ala Chris Yergensen, and the Utes win 34-31.

Freshmen: Today we had our final seminar on Speak. You should find a new book to read, read for 20 minutes, and study on Membean in preparation for Monday's quiz.

Sophomores: We had our final seminar on Life of Pi. Study on Membean in preparation for Monday's quiz. You are to bring in a typed draft of your 101st Chapter for Life of Pi.

Honors Sophomores: We had a quiz, finished our Break It Down exercise, and discussed the first part of The Power of One. Keep reading, and study on Membean in preparation for Monday's quiz.

CNF: We kept reading, and will work at finishing Blink on Monday.