Reminder: If you still have the grey Prentice-Hall text, Hamlet, or your choice novel--get them back to the book room ASAP. (Unless you borrowed Jane Eyre from me. . . .) You will not be fined for having 1984 until after our final, but the fine list WILL include these other books starting very soon!
ALSO--there are several people who were absent when we took the Chapter One quiz. I MUST return it tomorrow, and we will discuss it in class. So either get in before school to make it up, or you will be sent out of class to do it and will miss all discussion/corrections. Your choice.
TODAY IN CLASS
Work time to finish reading "Chapter Two" (multi-chapter section) and to get a good start on questions that probe the reading material that Winston received from O'Brien. These are detailed questions that require a close reading of the somewhat tough material. Finish them at home; you won't have more class time tomorrow.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/15X7pIvRZp7pMcoih64csRuakQ6cGarWRYpcyCAcxUp8/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CI_cg-MK
FOR TOMORROW
Well, as stated: finish the questions. If you still have extra time, get started on Chapter Three, which is much shorter than Two.
In class on Wednesday, we will be discussing many aspects of Chapter Two--be prepared to contribute!
Homework for Wednesday night: reading 20-30 pages of Chapter Three.
In class on Thursday: Continuing to read Chapter Three
Homework forThursday night: umm . . . . Chapter Three.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
TODAY IN CLASS
Reading time in 4th; reading time after Mrs. Wallace's graduation info visit in 2nd. As noted in yesterday's post, you should finish or be NEARLY finished with Chapter Two by Tuesday. There was a short set of Ch. Two study questions handed out today. . . remember to pick it up tomorrow if you missed today.
FOR TOMORROW
Just go ahead with reading if you want to reduce your week-end load!
Reading time in 4th; reading time after Mrs. Wallace's graduation info visit in 2nd. As noted in yesterday's post, you should finish or be NEARLY finished with Chapter Two by Tuesday. There was a short set of Ch. Two study questions handed out today. . . remember to pick it up tomorrow if you missed today.
FOR TOMORROW
Just go ahead with reading if you want to reduce your week-end load!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
1984 . . . First Actual Grade Today
TODAY IN CLASS
After several days of reading time in class, some group-generated questions, discussion time, and a study-question handout. . . .we had an actual quiz today. It covered what the book calls Chapter One (composed of what really seem like smaller chapters), ending on p. 104.
If you were absent today or did not take it today because of multiple (not just one) absences over the past few days, you must make it up before class time on Friday. I'll be here pretty early Friday morning, so that will be OK. (Of course, Thursday afternoon will also work.)
FOR TOMORROW and next week
You have from today (Wed. afternoon) until next Wednesday to read Chapter Two; I said today that it needed to be finished by Tuesday, and I think that is FULLY do-able, but II is longer than III, with one fairly tough section. Section Three must--no exceptions, changes, or extensions--be finished by Friday, June 3.
You will see that anyone who does not have the Outsider essay online now has a 0 in that slot. Those who have it turned in still show an asterisk, but the score and a short comment will be showing up over the next several days. People with a 0 can still salvage a late score. See me tomorrow.
After several days of reading time in class, some group-generated questions, discussion time, and a study-question handout. . . .we had an actual quiz today. It covered what the book calls Chapter One (composed of what really seem like smaller chapters), ending on p. 104.
If you were absent today or did not take it today because of multiple (not just one) absences over the past few days, you must make it up before class time on Friday. I'll be here pretty early Friday morning, so that will be OK. (Of course, Thursday afternoon will also work.)
FOR TOMORROW and next week
You have from today (Wed. afternoon) until next Wednesday to read Chapter Two; I said today that it needed to be finished by Tuesday, and I think that is FULLY do-able, but II is longer than III, with one fairly tough section. Section Three must--no exceptions, changes, or extensions--be finished by Friday, June 3.
You will see that anyone who does not have the Outsider essay online now has a 0 in that slot. Those who have it turned in still show an asterisk, but the score and a short comment will be showing up over the next several days. People with a 0 can still salvage a late score. See me tomorrow.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
2nd period--Thanks to so many of you who got your essays re-submitted promptly; the rest of you, please take care of this ASAP.
And to the very few in both 2nd and 4th who have not filed your paper at all, FINISH YOUR PAPER and get it on turnitin.com!
TODAY IN CLASS
After discussing a few more of the start-up questions on 1984, we moved on to the first two paragraphs. Yep, sentence by sentence--then 4th period had some reading time, and 2nd, well, not so much.
FOR TOMORROW
You're only responsible for ONE I.--that is, up to the top of p. 20.
And to the very few in both 2nd and 4th who have not filed your paper at all, FINISH YOUR PAPER and get it on turnitin.com!
TODAY IN CLASS
After discussing a few more of the start-up questions on 1984, we moved on to the first two paragraphs. Yep, sentence by sentence--then 4th period had some reading time, and 2nd, well, not so much.
FOR TOMORROW
You're only responsible for ONE I.--that is, up to the top of p. 20.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
TODAY IN CLASS
1. Papers should be on turnitin.com, as of 11:59 p.m. last night. Some did not make it. I'll be opening a "Late Outsider Essay Folder" as soon as I complete this post.
EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT to 2nd period only!
I just deleted the original folder by mistake! (I added the late folder, then accidentally added a second late folder to 2nd, rather than to 4th. Then, when I tried to delete the extra one, I managed to delete the original main folder. So EVERYBODY in 2nd needs to re-submit ASAP, and just put them in the late folder. Please take care of this tonight, and tell your friends. Facebookers, please spread the word (And yes, I'm a techno-idiot sometimes. But I've NEVER done anything like this before. I am so sorry.)
2. "Field Trip" to the book room: Gray lit books returned; choice novel returned; Orwell's 1984 checked out. If you didn't bring one of the books or didn't have your ID, you'll need to take care of this on your own.
3. Students filled out (and we started discussing) some survey-style opinion questions related to concepts in the book.
FOR TOMORROW
No official homework (you had quite a bit last night!), but DO bring the novel to class tomorrow (and from now on). We will do some things with the first few pages tomorrow and then you'll have time to get started on the reading homework for Friday.
1. Papers should be on turnitin.com, as of 11:59 p.m. last night. Some did not make it. I'll be opening a "Late Outsider Essay Folder" as soon as I complete this post.
EMERGENCY ANNOUNCEMENT to 2nd period only!
I just deleted the original folder by mistake! (I added the late folder, then accidentally added a second late folder to 2nd, rather than to 4th. Then, when I tried to delete the extra one, I managed to delete the original main folder. So EVERYBODY in 2nd needs to re-submit ASAP, and just put them in the late folder. Please take care of this tonight, and tell your friends. Facebookers, please spread the word (And yes, I'm a techno-idiot sometimes. But I've NEVER done anything like this before. I am so sorry.)
2. "Field Trip" to the book room: Gray lit books returned; choice novel returned; Orwell's 1984 checked out. If you didn't bring one of the books or didn't have your ID, you'll need to take care of this on your own.
3. Students filled out (and we started discussing) some survey-style opinion questions related to concepts in the book.
FOR TOMORROW
No official homework (you had quite a bit last night!), but DO bring the novel to class tomorrow (and from now on). We will do some things with the first few pages tomorrow and then you'll have time to get started on the reading homework for Friday.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Essays due to turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m. tonight!
Here are some reminders:
1) Re-read yesterday's blog for sources you might need. Don't lose points for faulty format! That's the easiest thing for EVERYONE to control; it requires simple attention, not brilliance, polished prose, or an SAT vocabulary!
2) Yes, we've been talking about THEME and THESIS because your introduction needs both! Find a useful, illuminating theme (some insight or understanding about the concept of being an outsider) that you see in your book, but first phrase it as a "universal"; then turn it into a thesis that applies to your book only.
Here is how this might work using Huck Finn (which was brought to mind as the first-page MLA sample)
THEME: Sometimes people who are rejected by society and even live on its fringes can see moral truths more clearly than those who form the social mainstream.
MIDDLE STEP: Show how that theme connects with your book: Mark Twain's memorable Huck Finn, a 12-year-old near-orphan who rebuffs most efforts to "civilize" him, nevertheless manages to understand something that has eluded everybody else he knows: slaves are people too, and can claim as much human dignity as anyone else.
Finally, turn it into a THESIS (claim plus "road map"): Despite the many ways in which Huck can be considered an "outsider," his journey downriver with Jim leads him to the moral high ground which allows him to see and reject a major flaw in the society around him.
Such a paper would briefly catalogue a range of ways in which he "is" an outsider; reveal some of the ways/reasons his views began to change; discuss the climactic, transformative moment in detail; and finally show how Huck's kindness to Jim helped change the opinions of at least a few people in Huck's sphere of influenc.
OR--use the same universal THEME to make a different point--that both in town and on his journey downriver, Huck was able to see a variety of human and social flaws in the people he meets, such as . . .[two or three specifics here], culminating in his risking his mortal soul to also reject the laws that protected his society's acceptance of slavery.
THE POINT IS--have some "richer" theme behind an overly simple thesis claim: Character X is an outsider because of [three simple reasons].
3) Bring both your grey lit book AND the choice book (if you have a school copy) to class tomorrow--plus your ID. We're going to the book room . . .
1) Re-read yesterday's blog for sources you might need. Don't lose points for faulty format! That's the easiest thing for EVERYONE to control; it requires simple attention, not brilliance, polished prose, or an SAT vocabulary!
2) Yes, we've been talking about THEME and THESIS because your introduction needs both! Find a useful, illuminating theme (some insight or understanding about the concept of being an outsider) that you see in your book, but first phrase it as a "universal"; then turn it into a thesis that applies to your book only.
Here is how this might work using Huck Finn (which was brought to mind as the first-page MLA sample)
THEME: Sometimes people who are rejected by society and even live on its fringes can see moral truths more clearly than those who form the social mainstream.
MIDDLE STEP: Show how that theme connects with your book: Mark Twain's memorable Huck Finn, a 12-year-old near-orphan who rebuffs most efforts to "civilize" him, nevertheless manages to understand something that has eluded everybody else he knows: slaves are people too, and can claim as much human dignity as anyone else.
Finally, turn it into a THESIS (claim plus "road map"): Despite the many ways in which Huck can be considered an "outsider," his journey downriver with Jim leads him to the moral high ground which allows him to see and reject a major flaw in the society around him.
Such a paper would briefly catalogue a range of ways in which he "is" an outsider; reveal some of the ways/reasons his views began to change; discuss the climactic, transformative moment in detail; and finally show how Huck's kindness to Jim helped change the opinions of at least a few people in Huck's sphere of influenc.
OR--use the same universal THEME to make a different point--that both in town and on his journey downriver, Huck was able to see a variety of human and social flaws in the people he meets, such as . . .[two or three specifics here], culminating in his risking his mortal soul to also reject the laws that protected his society's acceptance of slavery.
THE POINT IS--have some "richer" theme behind an overly simple thesis claim: Character X is an outsider because of [three simple reasons].
3) Bring both your grey lit book AND the choice book (if you have a school copy) to class tomorrow--plus your ID. We're going to the book room . . .
Monday, May 16, 2011
ESSAY DUE: www.turnitin.com by Tuesday (5/17) by 11:59 p.m.
Choice Novel "Outsider" Essay Assignment Sheet in case you lost it:
But note the change in turnitin.com; this is to accommodate the fact that you need to be especially careful in looking for "Department Demons" AFTER the hard work of completing the essay is over with. Don't expect to write a decent essay by starting after school tomorrow!
And though you had a hand-out earlier (back of your Hamlet assignment? I don't remember the format), here is the link to the actual English department hand-out for "Department Demons":
And for the first page and for the Works Cited for your novel, use the Purdue OWL:
TODAY IN CLASS
We read George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" (1016-1026 in your grey lit book), and students turned in four questions. This will be due on Wednesday if you were absent today (focus on essay for tomorrow).
Basic Questions (Will require several sentences each; pay close attention to details of the text):
1. What reasons does the narrator give for not wanting to kill the elephant?
2. Why does he shoot it in spite of these reasons?
3. Summarize the actual death scene of the elephant. How does this scene convey the narrator’s attitude towards killing it? (Look at significant descriptive details, for example.)
Extended Question (Expect to write a well-developed paragraph here):
4. Think about power: think particularly about its effects on both the person who exerts power and the people on whom power is brought to bear. Write about how the balance of power plays out in “Shooting an Elephant.” Who is really in charge? Connect the idea of “power” with Orwell’s bottom-line reason for shooting the elephant.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Week-End Post, and BRING GRAY LIT BOOK TO CLASS!
FRIDAY IN CLASS
Essay preparation:
We spent considerable time going over the dictionary definition of an "outsider" from the assignment sheet, and thinking about the element that the basic definition leaves out. Next, we worked on creating complete theme statements (universal claims, stated as a sentence) concerning outsiders, first individually, and then as a group. I don't expect you to stick with the theme statement that you or anyone at your table developed; what you create for your paper has to relate to (and set the backdrop for) the thesis for that paper. In other words, your essay should include a broadly stated theme that will then connect directly with how you will show that theme at work in your particular book, through the character you designate. Your essay will then be the thing that provides convincing and illuminating evidence that your character does, in fact, prove the validity of the thematic claim.
REMINDER
Also--as you write and revise, remember the four designated Department Demons:
1) any mistake in handling the MLA 2009 requirements of the first page of your essay
2) using anything but the 3rd person for academic essays: No 1st person (I and related forms); no 2nd person (YOU and related forms)
3) though you are urged to take care with all words that are easily confused, three common but basic pronoun errors are singled out as "demons": your/you're; their/there/they're; its/it's
4) naked/stranded/orphaned quotations
Remember, these "demons"--by English department agreement--result in an automatic 5% deduction per demon when they occur on formal out-of-class essays.
FOR MONDAY
So, obviously, be working on your "outsider" essay for your choice novel. Include a Works Cited page for your work and edition. See the Purdue OWL for instructions, though this should be a fairly straightforward case. Be sure you follow the April 2009 update.
AND A CHANGE
I have decided to make time for an optional peer-response on Tuesday (15 minutes max). You may participate ONLY if you have a complete typed draft to offer. Therefor I am also changing the turnitin.com deadline from early Tuesday morning to late Tuesday night--the usual 11:59 p.m.
Finally, remember to bring the Prentice-Hall textbook (AKA "the big gray lit book") with you to class on Monday.
Essay preparation:
We spent considerable time going over the dictionary definition of an "outsider" from the assignment sheet, and thinking about the element that the basic definition leaves out. Next, we worked on creating complete theme statements (universal claims, stated as a sentence) concerning outsiders, first individually, and then as a group. I don't expect you to stick with the theme statement that you or anyone at your table developed; what you create for your paper has to relate to (and set the backdrop for) the thesis for that paper. In other words, your essay should include a broadly stated theme that will then connect directly with how you will show that theme at work in your particular book, through the character you designate. Your essay will then be the thing that provides convincing and illuminating evidence that your character does, in fact, prove the validity of the thematic claim.
REMINDER
Also--as you write and revise, remember the four designated Department Demons:
1) any mistake in handling the MLA 2009 requirements of the first page of your essay
2) using anything but the 3rd person for academic essays: No 1st person (I and related forms); no 2nd person (YOU and related forms)
3) though you are urged to take care with all words that are easily confused, three common but basic pronoun errors are singled out as "demons": your/you're; their/there/they're; its/it's
4) naked/stranded/orphaned quotations
Remember, these "demons"--by English department agreement--result in an automatic 5% deduction per demon when they occur on formal out-of-class essays.
FOR MONDAY
So, obviously, be working on your "outsider" essay for your choice novel. Include a Works Cited page for your work and edition. See the Purdue OWL for instructions, though this should be a fairly straightforward case. Be sure you follow the April 2009 update.
AND A CHANGE
I have decided to make time for an optional peer-response on Tuesday (15 minutes max). You may participate ONLY if you have a complete typed draft to offer. Therefor I am also changing the turnitin.com deadline from early Tuesday morning to late Tuesday night--the usual 11:59 p.m.
Finally, remember to bring the Prentice-Hall textbook (AKA "the big gray lit book") with you to class on Monday.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
TEST Thursday--and also Mock Crash
Dress accordingly--We will be outside for quite awhile, and historically this event goes on as scheduled regardless of adverse weather conditions.
IN CLASS TODAY
I finished discussions with all 2nd-period book groups; in 4th, I barely started with the second-to-last group and have one more to go. I will make this work tomorrow.
FOR TOMORROW
Well, obviously, the test--but it should be fine within the shortened time frame of mock crash day (classes are a few minutes longer than they would have been today).
2nd Activity (Individual)--May be turned in either Thursday OR Friday. It's your choice.
IN CLASS TODAY
I finished discussions with all 2nd-period book groups; in 4th, I barely started with the second-to-last group and have one more to go. I will make this work tomorrow.
FOR TOMORROW
Well, obviously, the test--but it should be fine within the shortened time frame of mock crash day (classes are a few minutes longer than they would have been today).
2nd Activity (Individual)--May be turned in either Thursday OR Friday. It's your choice.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Test will be on Thursday!
Because, in part, I didn't get through the groups today--in part because we had some good discussions! I want to finish that process.
So--be working on Activity 2 anyway: you may turn it in (and be done with it) on Thursday as originally scheduled OR turn it in on Friday without penalty. Your choice.
Test--Thursday
Paper--Assignment sheet handed out today. Read it thoroughly if you missed class; it's linked here--
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xz3tfDieqPbtsFxrp678AFzYUaQjUM6HbHs3Bw9K9D8/edit?hl=en&authkey=CK2Rh68J
On to other activities both Friday and Monday--then full steam ahead with 1984.
So--be working on Activity 2 anyway: you may turn it in (and be done with it) on Thursday as originally scheduled OR turn it in on Friday without penalty. Your choice.
Test--Thursday
Paper--Assignment sheet handed out today. Read it thoroughly if you missed class; it's linked here--
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xz3tfDieqPbtsFxrp678AFzYUaQjUM6HbHs3Bw9K9D8/edit?hl=en&authkey=CK2Rh68J
On to other activities both Friday and Monday--then full steam ahead with 1984.
Monday, May 9, 2011
MONDAY, May 9
TODAY IN CLASS
1. Facebook Projects--collected after students marked certain elements for easy identification/basic scoring. Overall, they look terrific, and I'm excited to see the full range of your insight and ingenuity.
These should also be online by now (to my e-mail address); if there have been any glitches, get them taken care of and submitted today.
2. The rest of the period was devoted to group discussion based on the material attached here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yJ9U9K-hPUaj7eBN0hiz1ZwKaY_0dy3yaSTQwCITkf8/edit?hl=en&authkey=CKH4hsUE
1. Facebook Projects--collected after students marked certain elements for easy identification/basic scoring. Overall, they look terrific, and I'm excited to see the full range of your insight and ingenuity.
These should also be online by now (to my e-mail address); if there have been any glitches, get them taken care of and submitted today.
2. The rest of the period was devoted to group discussion based on the material attached here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yJ9U9K-hPUaj7eBN0hiz1ZwKaY_0dy3yaSTQwCITkf8/edit?hl=en&authkey=CKH4hsUE
Sunday, May 8, 2011
THURSDAY/FRIDAY IN CLASS
All of Thursday and some of Friday was spent in group work on the mock Facebook project. On Friday, there was also a visit from a counselor to discuss important senior deadlines and obligations--see the senior newsletter for all the details.
Regarding the Facebook project, remember that it is due on Monday, May 9, in two forms:
1) hard copy with you in class (with one final task to mark before handing in)
2) electronically, NOT to turnitin.com, but to my school email: boazm@issaquah.wednet.edu
There are several remaining elements in the Choice Novel unit:
All of Thursday and some of Friday was spent in group work on the mock Facebook project. On Friday, there was also a visit from a counselor to discuss important senior deadlines and obligations--see the senior newsletter for all the details.
Regarding the Facebook project, remember that it is due on Monday, May 9, in two forms:
1) hard copy with you in class (with one final task to mark before handing in)
2) electronically, NOT to turnitin.com, but to my school email: boazm@issaquah.wednet.edu
There are several remaining elements in the Choice Novel unit:
- Final discussion with group members (some discussion time Monday--most of it on Tuesday)
- Wednesday--Final test over your book
- Thursday--2nd activity due (individual); details on Friday hand-out, which is linked here:
- https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F6uTk0MVpcQ0-eJRnDLakYlwji3bmD6LQwK3MWgvuB4/edit?hl=en&authkey=CIHv_ugM
- Final paper: topic/requirements announced on Monday--due NEXT Monday, May 16
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
TODAY IN CLASS
I collected the "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" annotations. We did not talk about the poem today; we'll resume tomorrow.
Students received a hand-out detailing a group Facebook project. No groups can contain more than four students, so the 5's and even 6's that have been sort of "working together" will need to subdivide. Pairs, threes, and fours are allowed. The hand-out is linked here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1khFjlFqtPJF3iRpTVdspg3yWwJ3pG-AoGhaIOTVREe0/edit?hl=en&authkey=CMLl3ecH
So if you were absent, at least read this so that you'll be up to speed on what's expected (you can get the actual hand-out tomorrow).
FOR TOMORROW
Do whatever your group assignment related to the Facebook activity may be.
Continue reading.
I collected the "Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" annotations. We did not talk about the poem today; we'll resume tomorrow.
Students received a hand-out detailing a group Facebook project. No groups can contain more than four students, so the 5's and even 6's that have been sort of "working together" will need to subdivide. Pairs, threes, and fours are allowed. The hand-out is linked here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1khFjlFqtPJF3iRpTVdspg3yWwJ3pG-AoGhaIOTVREe0/edit?hl=en&authkey=CMLl3ecH
So if you were absent, at least read this so that you'll be up to speed on what's expected (you can get the actual hand-out tomorrow).
FOR TOMORROW
Do whatever your group assignment related to the Facebook activity may be.
Continue reading.
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