Friday, October 9

Utah 35, Cal 24. If you attend the music concert Friday and write a short review, you can earn extra credit. This is good for all classes.

Freshmen: Today our focus was on different conclusion techniques to try. You don't need to write your conclusion yet, but I want you thinking ahead to which type of conclusion might best fit with the lead you've written and your subject matter. All research should be completed by Monday. Due for the next block period is the Second and Third Marking Periods from Speak. Write a short reflection for each of those sections immediately upon completing it. Conclude your Membean work for the week.

Sophomores: Today we concluded our Break It Down Exercise, where we worked on reading various mediums and various texts using observation and analysis, inductions and synthesis, and thesis formation. You were given a long-term compare and contrast essay film project. Finish everything through and including Chapter 8 in The Power of One, and write a short reflection immediately upon finishing each chapter. Conclude your Membean work for the week.

CNF: Today we concluded our work with Blink. We will start Freakonomics on Monday.

Thursday, October 8

Freshmen: Today we moved on to Step Four in our Seven Step Essay Process, which involves write your lead and creating a plan for your essay. Today our focus was on various lead techniques to try, and your homework tonight is to type up two different leads, using a different lead technique we learned in class today for each one. Identify the technique you are using in your header. Your lead should clearly include your thesis. Print each lead on a separate sheet of paper, and identify the lead technique in your header and place your name on the back. Continue working on Membean and continue reading Speak. Write a reflection once you finish the Second Marking Period and the Third Marking Period.

Sophomores: Today we continued with our observation and analysis, induction and synthesis, and thesis formation exercise. Continue reading The Power of One (Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 are due Monday, with short reflections) and keep working on Membean.

CNF: Today we wrote an essay in class that focused on the degree to which Gladwell successfully accomplished the three tasks he set out to accomplish in Blink. We will start Freakonomics soon.

Chapters to read from How to Read Like a Professor for The Power of One

Hi. Read these chapters from Foster's for The Power of One:
-Hansledee and Greteldum
-Geography Matters
-Nice to Eat With You
-... More Than It's Gonna Hurt You
-It's All Political
-Now, Where Have I Seen Her Before?
-Don't Read With Your Eyes
-Is That a Symbol?
-Never Stand Next to the Hero (extra credit)
Space these out between readings of The Power of One.

Tuesday, October 5 and Wednesday, October 6

Freshmen: Today our focus was on Step 3 of our Seven Step Essay Process: Focus the Data. Your job was to finish up your research, look at all the information revealed by your interviews and surveys, as well as what's on your index cards, and based on the information, craft a solid thesis statement that you can then use your information to prove. Remember, a thesis statement is a defensible argument or claim about your topic. It should be short, clear, and concise, and cannot begin with the word "how." Due to some other concerns, we are moving the due date for the letter to the editor back a week. Continue reading Speak. After finishing the Second Marking Period, write a short reflection; do the same thing for the Third Marking Period. This is due by the next block day.

Sophomores: Today we focused on making observations and analyzing, synthesizing and making inductions, and forming thesis statements when reading art and photography. We will continue with this with music and film on Thursday. This week you should be reading Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 from The Power of One and working on Membean.

CNF: Today we finished reading Blink and had a few seminar discussions.

Monday, October 5

Freshmen: Today we focused on Speak and had a discussion about the text and some important literary concepts, such as conflict, setting, and theme. Read the Second and Third Marking Periods for next week's block day. Write a half-page reaction for each Marking Period, once you finish reading it. Work on Membean for 20 minutes this week, working at least two different days. Due for next period is your completed interview, or, if you're conducting a survey, enough copies of the survey for the entire class to take. You should have some of your index cards filled out, and you should bring your cards and your sources to class next period.

Sophomores: Today we focused on Hoppie. You should read Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 this week (due Monday), and work on Membean twice for a total of 20 minutes. After finishing each chapter, write a short reflection or response. It doesn't need to be more than a short paragraph long, but should be done after reading each chapter.

CNF: Today we continued reading the end of Blink.

Friday, October 2

Let's hope Cal wins so that next week game with the Utes is really huge...

Freshmen: Today we met in the library and learned how to access some of the many resources you can use to find sources for your essay topic. You need to come to class on Tuesday with your sources so you can read through them and begin placing information onto your index cards. Due for Monday is the First Marking Period for Speak and your five questions, connections, or comments.

Sophomores: Today we took a quiz and had a discussion about the first four chapters of The Power of One. Finish Chapter 5 for Monday.

CNF: Today we continued finishing up Blink.

Thursday, October 1

Freshmen: Today our focus was on Step Two of our Seven Step Essay Process - Collect Information. We talked about how information can be found many places (websites, interviews, surveys, newspapers, magazines, articles, your own experiences and ideas, and so on), and the forms that information takes (statistics, facts, ideas, quotes, anecdotes, and the like). Tomorrow we will meet in the library and learn how to find information about our topic, and you will print and bring these sources to class next block day. By the block day you need to do the following: Have two sources (one from the internet, another being a non-internet print source), and conduct an interview or administer a survey. You can administer the survey during class on the block day if you wish. Keep reading from Speak and work on Membean as well.

Sophomores: Today we focused on the belief system the main character from The Power of One currently ascribes to. You should finish Chapters 1-4 for Friday's class; work on your reactions to each chapter, Echoes, your 3EJ, and Membean.

CNF: Today we wrapped up some discussion about Chapter 5 and began Chapter 6.