Monday, February 29

Freshmen: Today we focused on the skill of prediction, and listened Frank R. Stockton's story, "The Lady or the Tiger?" (it can be found at https://web.viu.ca/conwayg/ZNOTE/Engl067_LadyorTiger.pdf). Your assignment tonight is to think about what you know about the princess, and then to answer Stockton's question: Did the tiger come out of the door, or did the lady? You need to write the ending of the story. Write it in third person, try to stay consistent with Stockton's tone and style, and root your ending in logic (e.g. the princess herself couldn't step out of there, she couldn't leap down and kill the tiger, and so on). Your ending should be typed, be several paragraphs long, and provide closure to the story. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday, and take your Membean quiz tonight. Bring your copy of Romeo and Juliet to class on Tuesday.

Sophomores: Today we continued reading A Christmas Carol. Take your Membean quiz.

CNF: Today we studied Nathan Sawaya and Andy Goldsworthy and their art, and also finished Part II from The World Without Us.

Friday, February 26

Freshmen: Today we did some peer revision, focusing on the following aspects of your cause and effect essays:
1. How well does the actual lead fit the intended technique?
2. How well does the writer use a naysayer?
3. How clearly does the writer establish why their subject matters?
4. How well does the writer answer the prompt, "If you could do one thing to improve America, what would it be?"
5. How well does the writer use cause and effect to show how their idea would improve America?
6. How well does the writer blend a citation in the essay?
7. How well does the actual conclusions fit the stated technique?

On Monday, you need to bring in your first typed draft, your revised and improved final draft, and the written feedback you received from your peer today. Read for 20 minutes and finish up your work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we continued listening to A Christmas Carol and creating your graphic novels. Start reading Chapter 2: Initiation from The Hero With a Thousand Faces this weekend so you can get a bit ahead in that before we begin The Poisonwood Bible, which you'll need next week.

CNF: Today we continued reading from Part II of The World Without Us.

Thursday, February 25

Freshmen: Today we continued to work on cause and effect, and on your cause and effect essays. You need to bring a typed draft of this to class tomorrow; the requirements are on yesterday's post. Read for 20 minutes and work on Membean, as well.

Sophomores: Today we began A Christmas Carol, and you began creating a graphic novel representation of it while we read. Keep reading from Campbell and finish your essay; it's due on Friday. Keep working on Membean.

CNF: Today we began Part II from The World Without Us. The B-level for this is Chapters 7, 8, and 9; the A-level consists of 7, 8, 9, and 10. The extra-credit level consists of 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11. 

Tuesday, February 23 and Wednesday, February 24

Freshmen: Today we applied what we have learned about the technique of cause and effect to our writing by beginning an essay in class. The prompt is: Cause and effect prompt: If you could do one thing to change America for the better, what would it be?

In your essay, you must do the following things:

1. Use one of the lead and conclusion techniques we’ve studied.
2. Have an interesting title.
3. Say why it (your idea) matters.
4. Plant a naysayer in your text.
5. Have at least one blended citation in your text.
6. Show clearly how your idea will improve America.
   
   
   For homework, I asked you read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, to spend about 10 minutes on the first draft of your essay, and to work on Membean.
   
   
   Sophomores: Today we studied Beowulf and compared him to the modern myth of the Batman. You should be done with Chapter 1 from The Hero With a Thousand Faces and well into your essay by this point. Work on Membean this week, too. I did tell you you can bring art supplies the next two days if you want for a graphic novel project we're going to begin, and if you want to bring a device to follow along with A Christmas Carol while we listen to it, that'd be great, too.
   
   
   CNF: Today we finished Chasing Ice, viewed a Ted Talk with Mr. Balog, and had a discussion.

Monday, February 22

Freshmen: Today we focused on another cause and effect essay. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday and work on Membean three times this week for a total of 30 minutes.

Sophomores: Today we started a study of Beowulf. Finish Chapter 1 from The Hero With a Thousand Faces and complete your essay this week. Work on Membean three times this week for a total of 30 minutes.

CNF: Today we continued Chasing Ice.

Friday, February 19

Freshmen: Today we continued our study of cause and effect. Read for 20 minutes this weekend and continue with Membean.

Sophomores: Today we examined the extent to which the four stages of the hero were evident in either Oedipus or Antigone.

CNF: Today we began viewing Chasing Ice. 

Tuesday, February 16 and Wednesday, February 17

Freshmen: Today we began a study of cause and effect. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, and work on Membean three times this week for a total of 30 minutes.

Sophomores: Today we began reading Antigone. You should upload your first essay on the Prologue from The Hero With a Thousand Faces to turnitin.com tonight for credit. Continue reading Chapter 1: Departure.

CNF: Today we read some from The World Without Us, had a little bit of discussion, and

Friday, February 12

Freshmen: Today we worked on writing haibun. This weekend read for 20 minutes three times - once for the weekend, once for Monday, once for Tuesday; Monday you have a Membean quiz even though we don't have school. Be sure to take it.

Sophomores: Today we finished Oedipus the King. This weekend continue reading from The Hero With a Thousand Faces; Monday you have a Membean quiz even though we don't have school. Be sure to take it.

CNF: Today we read from The World Without Us. 

Thursday, February 11

Freshmen: Today we went to the auditorium for Poetry Out Loud. Read for 20 minutes tonight and keep working on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we went to the auditorium for Poetry Out Loud. Read Chapter 1 from The Hero With a Thousand Faces and keep working on Membean.

CNF: Today we finished Life After People and began reading The World Without Us.

Tuesday, February 9 and Wednesday, February 10

Freshmen: Today we focused on haiku. Your task is to type up seven different haiku (it's okay if they're all on the same sheet of paper) and bring them in to class on Friday. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and work on Membean for 30 minutes this week, over three different days.

Sophomores: Today we read almost all of Oedipus the King. Read "Chapter 1: Departure" from The Hero With a Thousand Faces. Work on Membean for 30 minutes this week, over three different days.

CNF: Today we concluded the documentary Life After People.

Monday, February 7

Freshmen: Today we finished up your "small word essays" in class. Your task is to type these up and bring them to class on the block day. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday, and work on Membean 3 times this week for a total of 30 minutes.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the background information necessary to understanding Oedipus the King, which we will begin tomorrow.  Work on Membean 3 times this week for a total of 30 minutes.

CNF: Today we began watching Life After People.

CNF The World Without Us Part I Reading Schedule

B Level: Read Prelude and Chapters 2, 3, and 4 - 58/69 points earned

A Level: Read Prelude and Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4 - 69/69 points earned

Extra Credit Level: Read Prelude and Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and 6. 90/69 points earned

Friday, February 5

Freshmen: Today we read an essay titled "The Case for Short Words," which can be found at https://stephensenglish10-2010-11.wikispaces.com/file/view/The+Case+for+Short+Words.pdf. We then began the assignment Lederer gives his students - to write an essay composed entirely of monosyllabic words. Finish yours, revise it, and bring it to class on Monday. Read for 20 minutes and work on Membean.

Sophomores: Today we had a discussion regarding the ideas in the Prologue of The Hero With a Thousand Faces; for homework, begin reading the next section, Chapter 1, Departure, and continue to work on Membean.

CNF: Today we read "The Tao of the Bat" from Batman and Philosophy. 

Tuesday, February 2 and Wednesday, February 3

Freshmen: Today we had our Poetry Out Loud competition. Everyone did a great job. We also finished up the first draft of your process essays. Take these home, revise and improve them, and bring a printed copy to class on Thursday. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday and work on Membean this week as well.

Sophomores: Today we had our Poetry Out Loud competition. Everyone did a great job. Finish up the Prologue from The Hero With a Thousand Faces. Your first essay is due Friday, and work on Membean this week as well.

CNF: Today we had our first seminar, talking about The Last Lecture. We need Batman and Philosophy and The World Without Us soon.

Monday, February 1

Freshmen: Today we continued to focus on process analysis, and you wrote an essay in class. You should take this essay home, work on it some, improve and revise it, and bring it to class next time. We will finish it in class after Poetry Out Loud. Read for 20 minutes Monday and Tuesday night. Please take the quiz on Membean tonight. Remember, next class meeting we will recite your poems for Poetry Out Loud.

Sophomores: Today we concluded our introduction to the four stages of the hero and Into the Woods. Finish reading the Prologue to The Hero With a Thousand Faces and begin writing your first essay. Your task in these essays is to display understanding of Campbell's ideas by analyzing how they are present in things we have read together, as well as things you have read on your own. Remember, these are not compare and contrast pieces, but rather should address how the ideas presented in Campbell's book are evident in other things you have read. Please take the quiz on Membean tonight. Remember, next class meeting we will recite your poems for Poetry Out Loud.

CNF: Today we took our final day to read The Last Lecture in class. Please finish up reading it on your own.