Friday, February 27

Freshmen: Today we worked on the reading skill of making inferences by reading Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants." Focus on inferring when reading for your 20 minutes this weekend. We will begin Romeo and Juliet next week; get a copy. Also, continue to work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we concluded our study of the four stages of the hero and Into the Woods; keep up with your reading in Watership Down and keep working on Membean.

Honors Sophomores: Today we did another entry in the Hero Catch-Phrase Project and did some reflection and discussion on The Kite Runner; continue to read and work on Membean; your honors project essays will not be accepted after Monday.

CNF: Today we continued to read in The World Without Us.

Thursday, February 26

Freshmen: Today we had a quiz on Chapter 4 from The Elements of Style and did some reflection on your cause and effect essay. Read for 20 minutes tonight and work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we did a Hero Catch Phrase Project entry and read Chapter 17 from Watership Down. Complete it and Chapter 18 tonight and work on Membean.

Honors Sophomores: Today we concluded our introduction to the four stages of the hero and Into the Woods. Keep up with the reading and get your honors project essay done and don't forget about Membean.

CNF: Today we concluded Addicted to Plastic and began reading Part II from The World Without Us.

Sophomore Western Traditions Extra Credit Opportunity

If you want more information to supplement our study of the four stages of the hero, go to http://www.a2skyline.org/huron.english/files/howtoreadliteraturelikeaprofessor_ft.pdf and read the sections 5. Now Where Have I Seen Her Before? and INTERLUDE One Story. After reading them, write a one page, typed, double spaced summary that includes some references to stories we have studied this year that serve as examples to show your understanding. You will get up to 25 points extra credit for each chapter and summary for a possible total of 50 points extra credit. It is due Monday, March 2.

Tuesday, February 24 and Wednesday, February 25

Freshmen: Today we read Chapter 4 from The Elements of Style; expect a quiz Thursday or Friday. We also wrote an essay in class in response to the following prompt: Choose an event or a phenomenon. Explain its causes and effects. Your essay should use research to support your thesis, have multiple correctly-blended citations, use a lead and conclusion technique we studied this year, and have an interesting title. After examining both cause and effect essays you have written, choose your best one and type it up for class on Thursday. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, and complete your time on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we continued our study of the four stages of the hero. Finish everything through and including Chapter 16 in Watership Down for Thursday. Complete your 30 minutes on Membean.

Honors Sophomores: Today we continued our study of the four stages of the hero. Finish everything through and including Chapter 22 in The Kite Runner for Thursday. Complete your 20 minutes on Membean.

CNF: Today we studied the documentary Addicted to Plastic.

Monday, February 23

Freshmen: Today we examined the human phenomenon of horror stories and why we're attracted to them as we studied cause and effect. You need to bring two things to class tomorrow - your completed cause and effect essay from earlier this week and three causes or effects concerning some phenomenon or event that you chose. Read for 20 minutes and do your 20 minutes on Membean this week.

Sophomores: Today we did a Hero Catch-Phrase Project Entry and read; work on Membean for 30 minutes and complete everything through and including Chapter 16 in Watership Down for Thursday's class.

Honors Sophomores: Today we did a Hero Catch-Phrase Project Entry and read; work on Membean for 20 minutes and complete everything through and including Chapter 23 in The Kite Runner for Friday's class.

CNF: Today we had a discussion what we have read in Part I of The World Without Us and what we saw in the two documentaries we studied.

Friday, February 20

Freshmen: Today we met in the library to study and celebrate African-American authors. Remember to research a phenomenon or event you are interested in and write down three causes or effects, with the sources listed, and bring them to class on Monday. Read for 20 minutes and work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we discussed parts of chapters 1-12 from Watership Down and read some in class. Be sure to keep up with the reading schedule and work on Membean.

Honors Sophomores: Today we finished up talking about the first two stages of the hero and had a discussion on The Kite Runner. Keep up with the reading from it and Campbell and complete your next essay for next week.

CNF: Today we read more from Part I of The World Without Us.

Thursday, February 19

Freshmen: Today we concluded your cause and effect essay. You are to choose some sort of event or phenomenon, and research some of it's causes (reasons) or effects (results). You are to come with three causes and/or effects written on paper Monday, with your source cited.  Read for 20 minutes and work on Membean; remember we will meet in the library on Friday.

Sophomores: Today we finished our study of the first two stages of the hero and Act I of Into the Woods. Finish everything through Chapter 12 from Watership Down for Friday's class.

Honors Sophomores: Today we finished our study of the first two stages of the hero and Act I of Into the Woods. Finish everything through Chapter 13 from The Kite Runner for Friday's class. You also got a sample essay for you to model your next honors project essay on.

CNF: Today we finished The Cave of Forgotten Dreams and continued to read Part I of The World Without Us. 

Tuesday, February 17 and Wednesday, February 18

Freshmen: Today we continued our study of cause and effect and began writing our own cause and effect essays, which we will finish in class on Thursday. We also read Chapter 3 from The Elements of Style; there will be a quiz on Thursday. You have a Membean tonight as well. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sophomores: Today we began a study of the four stages of the hero. Keep up your reading of Watership Down and take your Membean quiz on Wednesday.

Honors Sophomores: Today we began a study of the four stages of the hero. Keep up your reading of The Kite Runner and Campbell;  take your Membean quiz the day you have class.

CNF: Today we began viewing Cave of Forgotten Dreams.

Friday, February 13

Freshmen: Today our focus was on analyzing some examples of literature that uses cause and effect as their primary devices. Read for 20 minutes twice this long weekend, complete your work on Membean, and if you want extra credit, you can attend the freshman basketball tournament at 6:30 on 2/14 and 8:10 PM on 2/16 and write a short sports article about the games.

Sophomores: Today our focus was on the creation myth in Watership Down. Check the reading schedule and complete your work on Membean. If you want extra credit, you can attend the freshman basketball tournament at 6:30 on 2/14 and 8:10 PM on 2/16 and write a short sports article about the games.

Honors Sophomores: Today our focus was on discussing some of the dynamics in the first seven chapters of The Kite Runner. Check the reading schedule and complete your work on Membean. If you want extra credit, you can attend the freshman basketball tournament at 6:30 on 2/14 and 8:10 PM on 2/16 and write a short sports article about the games.

CNF: Today we continued reading Part I from The World Without Us. See above for extra credit.

Freshman Extra Effort Opportunity

http://www.scholastic.com/breakingbarriers/grade9/?eml=SMP/e/201500211///MLB9//////&ym_MID=1563941&ym_rid=6911891

The Kite Runner Schedule 2015

The Kite Runner Schedule 2015

2/9 - begin book.

2/13 - Chapters 1-7 due (80 pages; 20 pages per day).

2/20 - Chapters 8-13 due (110 pages; 15 pages per day).

2/27 - Chapters 14-22 due (100 pages; 14 pages per day).

3/6 - Chapters 23-end of book due; final seminar (80 pages; 11 pages per day).

Watership Down 2015 Reading Schedule

Watership Down 2015 Reading Schedule

2/11 - Begin book.

2/13 - Chapters 1-5 due (33 pages; 17 per day); Chapter 6 in class.

2/20 - Chapters 7-12 due (37 pages; 6 per day).

2/26 - Chapters 13-16 due (30 pages; 6 per day); Chapter 17 in class.

3/4 - Chapters 18-20 due (29 pages; 5 per day); Chapter 21 in class.

3/11 - Chapters 22-24 (45 pages; 7 per day); Chapter 25 in class.

3/16 - Chapters 26-29 (36 pages; 7 per day); Chapter 30 in class.

3/23 - Chapters 31-36 (75 pages; 11 per day); Chapters 37 and 38 in class.

4/1 - Chapters 39-48 due (91 pages; 10 per day); Chapters 49, 50, and Epilogue in class.

Tuesday, February 10 and Wednesday, February 11

Freshmen: Today we read Chapter II from The Elements of Style; expect a quiz on Thursday similar to the one from Chapter I. We also began a study of our next rhetorical device: Cause and Effect. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, and complete 20 minutes of work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we began Watership Down and The Hero Catch-Phrase Project. See the blog for your reading schedule. Complete your 30 minutes of Membean this week as well.

Honors Sophomores: Today we began The Hero Catch-Phrase Project and continued reading from The Kite Runner and The Hero With a Thousand Faces. Don't forget to read from both. Complete your work on Membean as well.

CNF: Today we viewed Life After People and will begin The World Without Us Thursday.

Monday, February 9

Freshmen: Today we re-reviewed the first semester final exam and peer reviewed your process analysis essays. You are to take what your peer said and revise your essay, based on the criteria listed on Friday's blog. Then submit it to www.turnitin.com by 8 AM Wednesday morning. Complete your 20 minutes of Membean this week.

Sophomores: Today we studied the story of Beowulf; we will begin Watership Down on Wednesday, so please bring a copy. Do your 30 minutes on Membean this week.

Honors Sophomores: Today we began The Kite Runner; finish the first three chapters for class on Wednesday; additionally, do your 20 minutes on Membean this wee.k

CNF: Today we read "The Blue Mound People" and studied the concept of disparities and how they inspire puzzling questions. We will begin The World Without Us on Thursday.

Friday, February 6

Freshmen: Today we wrote a draft of a process analysis essay. Here are the directions as you were given them in class: 1. Choose something you know how to do that's interesting; 2. Choose a lead technique that serves as a good way in; 3. Choose a suitable structure (e.g. chronological, etc.); 4. Develop your piece: focus not just on how to do it, but why it is important; 5. Choose a technique to conclude that works; 6. Craft an interesting and creative title - no lables!; 7. Follow Strunk and White's 11 rules of usage; 8. Follow standard form (including headers, titles, and spacing).

Type this essay up and bring your second draft to class on Monday. Read for 20 minutes and complete your work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we focused on Antigone and some of the issues that inform it; get a copy of Watership Down for next week and complete your work on Membean.

Honors Sophomores: Today we focused on Antigone and some of the issues that inform it; get a copy of The Kite Runner for next week and complete your work on Membean. Monday is the last day I will accept your first honors project essay - finish it and begin reading the next section of Campbell's book.

CNF: Today we finished up our study of The Last Lecture; if you didn't finish it in class and still want full credit, finish it at home and let me know. Our next book is The World Without Us.

Thursday, February 5

Freshmen: Today we had a quiz on Chapter 1 from The Elements of Style and talked about our next essay. Come to class tomorrow ready to write a process analysis essay on something you know how to do. Read for 20 minutes and work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the concept of the tragic hero. Complete Antigone for tomorrow's class and continue to work on Membean.

Honors Sophomores: Today we focused on the concept of the tragic hero. Complete Antigone for tomorrow's class and continue to work on Membean. Your honors project essay are due soon; as I said earlier, I'd like you to put your cover sheet last, with your name on the back of the essay. Still include a header that has your lead and conclusion technique listed, however.

CNF: We will wrap up The Last Lecture tomorrow, so finish reading it if you can.

Tuesday, February 3 and Wednesday, February 4

Freshmen: Today we studied Part I of The Elements of Style and did an activity involving the first 11 rules; there will be an exam on these on Thursday. We also continued studying the technique of process analysis, and you wrote personal letters to someone you care about - I hope you deliver them. Read for 20 minutes tonight and Wednesday; work on Membean for 20 minutes this week.

Sophomores: Today we studied "The Hero's Adventure." Your task tonight is to write a couple of paragraphs in response to the following prompt: Describe what your understanding of the hero concept based on what you learned from the interview with Campbell and Moyers. Continue to read Antigone - see the reading schedule posted on this blog. The entire play needs to be finished for Friday. Work on Membean for 30 minutes this week.

Honors Sophomores: Today we studied "The Hero's Adventure." Continue to read Antigone - see the reading schedule posted on this blog. The entire play needs to be finished for Friday; work on Membean for 20 minutes this week. Your first honors project essay and Prologue from The Hero With a Thousand Faces is due this week.

CNF: Today we did a discussion activity and continued reading The Last Lecture. 

Monday, February 2

Freshmen: Today we continued to study the technique of process analysis. Read for 20 minutes, bring The Elements of Style to class on Tuesday, and complete your Membean quiz tonight.

Sophomores: Today we began reading Antigone. Finish everything up through page 218 for our next class meeting and complete your Membean quiz tonight. Do your 30 minutes this week.

Honors Sophomores: Today we began reading Antigone. Finish everything up through page 218 for our next class meeting and complete your Membean quiz tonight. Do your 20 minutes this week. You've got an honors project essay due at the end of the week as well.

CNF: Today we finished up reading The Last Lecture.