Tuesday--May 12, 2020
Business:
- Joke: Last night my wife and I watched three DVDs back to back. Luckily I was the one facing the TV.
- All assignments and quizzes are on Canvas/Powerschool and the default grade for anything not extra credit is at zero. Nothing else will be added. Today's assignment I'm considering a small final project and it's not extra credit--it's worth 20 points. So when you get your grade where you want it, nothing is going to change it from here on.
- All assignments and quizzes can still be completed.
- You should have read chapters 16-18 for today.
- May 12: Last assignments given.
- May 15: Recommended completion date for all assignments.
- May 22: Final deadline for all assignments.
Today:
- Quiz on chapters 14-18 (see Canvas)
- Reb Talks--with Words (see Canvas) This is worth 20 points and is not extra credit.
Monday--May 11, 2020
Business:
- Joke: You're American when you go into the bathroom. You're American when you come out. But do you know what you are while you're in there? European.
- All assignments and quizzes can still be done, so get on it!
- You should have read chapters 14-15 for today. You're reading chapters 16-18 for tomorrow (Tuesday).
Upcoming Dates of Importance
- May 12: Last assignments given.
- May 15: Recommended completion date for all assignments.
- May 22: Final deadline for all assignments.
Remaining Reading/Quiz Schedule
- Monday, May 11
- Read chapters 16-19
- Tuesday, May 12
- Quiz on chapters 14-18
- Read chapters 16-18 for Friday.
- Reuven--Extra Credit (see Canvas)
Business:
- Joke: Server: "Sorry about your wait." Dad: "Are you saying I'm fat?"
- All assignments and quizzes can still be done, so you have no excuse!
- You should have read chapter 13 for today. For Monday, you're reading chapters 14-15.
- May 12: Last assignments given.
- May 15: Recommended completion date for all assignments.
- May 22: Final deadline for all assignments.
Remaining Reading/Quiz Schedule
- Friday, May 8
- Quiz on chapters 10-13
- Read chapters 14-15
- Monday, May 11
- Read chapters 16-19
- Tuesday, May 12
- Quiz on chapters 14-18
- Read chapter 13 for Friday.
- You and the Book--Extra Credit (see Canvas)
Wednesday--May 6, 2020
Business:
- Joke: Why did the blond stare at the orange juice container? It said concentrate.
- All assignments are available to do, still.
- You should have read chapters 10-12 for today. For Friday, you're reading chapter 13.
Upcoming Dates of Importance
- May 12: Last assignments given.
- May 15: Recommended completion date for all assignments.
- May 22: Final deadline for all assignments.
Remaining Reading/Quiz Schedule
- Wednesday, May 6
- Read chapter 13 by Friday
- Friday, May 8
- Quiz on chapters 10-13
- Read chapters 14-15
- Monday, May 11
- Read chapters 16-19
- Tuesday, May 12
- Quiz on chapters 14-18
- Read chapter 13 for Friday.
- Now Zionism--Extra Credit (see Canvas)
Monday--May 4, 2020
Business:
- Joke: I am NOT indecisive! Unless you want me to be.
- Way behind? All assignments are still available--so, yes, you can catch up.
- Many assignments going forward are extra credit. You’re welcome!
- You should have read chapters 8-9 for today. For Wednesday, you’re reading chapters 10-12.
- Monday, May 4: (Note: Assignments are MWF this week, not T, Th; this is necessary to meet the district’s newly announced schedule of final assignments given on May 12.)
- Quiz on chapters 7-9
- Read chapters 10-12
- Wednesday, May 6
- Read chapter 13 by Friday
- Friday, May 8
- Quiz on chapters 10-13
- Read chapters 14-15
- Monday, May 11
- Read chapters 16-19
- Tuesday, May 12
- Quiz on chapters 14-18
- Read chapters 10-12 for Wednesday.
- Quiz on chapters 7-9 (see Canvas) Open-book; not open-person.
- Freud at Fifteen--Extra Credit (see Canvas)
Friday--May 1, 2020
Business:
- Joke: What did the ocean say to the shore? Nothing, it just waved.
- Remember, all previous assignments can still be done--nothing is closed. So yes, you can get caught up.
- Also, many of the assignments going forward are extra-credit, which makes it possible to get caught up without going back and doing all previous assignments.
- You should have read chapter 7 for today. For next time, it’s chapters 8-9. By the way, next time is Monday, not Tuesday.
Remaining Reading/Quiz Schedule
- Friday, May 1
- Read chapters 8-9 by Monday
- Monday, May 4: (Note: Assignments are MWF this week, not T, Th; this is necessary to meet the district’s newly announced schedule of final assignments given on May 12.)
- Quiz on chapters 7-9
- Read chapters 10-12
- Wednesday, May 6
- Read chapter 13 by Friday
- Friday, May 8
- Quiz on chapters 10-13
- Read chapters 14-15
- Monday, May 11
- Read chapters 16-19
- Tuesday, May 12
- Quiz on chapters 14-18
Today:
Read chapters 8-9 for Monday.
Danny Dishes--Extra Credit (see Canvas)
Wednesday--April 29, 2020
Business:
- Joke: Why do you never see elephants hiding in trees? Because they’re so good at it.
- You should have read chapters 5-6 for today.
- The two assignments from last time were extra credit. Going forward I will continue to offer extra credit assignments that are designed to help students get their grade up without having to go back and do work for Things Fall Apart while we’re studying The Chosen. If you are happy with your grade, you do not need to do the extra credit assignments.
- You are reading chapter 7 for Friday.
Remaining Reading Schedule
- Wednesday, April 29
- Quiz on chapters 3-6
- Read chapter 7
- Friday, May 1
- Read chapters 8-9 by Monday
- Monday, May 4: (Note: Assignments are MWF this week, not T, Th; this is necessary to meet the district’s newly announced schedule of final assignments given on May 12.)
- Quiz on chapters 7-9
- Read chapters 10-12
- Wednesday, May 6
- Read chapter 13 by Friday
- Friday, May 8
- Quiz on chapters 10-13
- Read chapters 14-15
- Monday, May 11
- Read chapters 16-19
- Tuesday, May 12
- Quiz on chapters 14-18
- Quiz on chapters 3-6 (see Canvas)
- New Friend, New World--Extra Credit (see Canvas)
Monday-Tuesday--April 27-28, 2020
Business:
- Joke: Grocery Store Cashier: Would you like your milk in a bag? Customer: No, just leave it in the carton!
- You should have read chapters 3-4 in The Chosen for today.
- Chapters 5-6 should be read by next time.
- Be ready for a quiz on chapters 3-6 next time.
Today:
- Two Optional (extra credit) Assignments. These assignments are designed to help students get their grade up without having to go back and do work for Things Fall Apart while we’re studying The Chosen. If you are happy with your grade, you do not need to do them.
- The Real Apikoros (see Canvas)
- This is a handout you would print, complete, take a pic and upload.
- Conflict Questions (see Canvas)
- This is a discussion.
Thursday-Friday--April 23-24, 2020
Business:
- Joke of the Day: To whoever stole my copy of Microsoft Office, I will find you. You have my word.
- You should have read chapters 1-2 in The Chosen.
- Quiz on chapters 1-2 (on Canvas)
- Read the Day #3 reading assignment for next time: chapters 3-4.
- In these two chapters things really begin to take off--don’t miss reading them!
Tuesday-Wednesday--April 21-22, 2020
Business:
- Here's One:
- I told my doctor I broke my arm in several places. He said, “Stop going to those places!”
- All assignments can still be done, but you’re crazy not to get caught up ASAP!
- The pagetracker for The Chosen IS assigned.
- From last time, “Meet Chaim Potok” should be finished.
- The Extra-credit Pagetracker for Things Fall Apart should be submitted.
- You’re reading the Day #2 reading for next time: chapter 2 in The Chosen.
- Read chapter 2 and be ready for a quiz on chapters 1-2.
Friday & Monday--April 17 & 20, 2020
Business:
- Happy Friday!
- Question: How can you tell if an ant is a boy or a girl? Answer: They’re all girls--otherwise they’d be uncles. (You know you're laughing!)
- I’m not grading the “When Things Fall Apart” assignment until I see you have commented on another student’s comment.
- All assignments from Things Fall Apart should be completed. Having said that, I have not closed anything for submission, so you can still get caught up.
- I’m going to make the pagetrackers for Things Fall Apart extra credit--worth up to ten points.
- For now, consider the pagetracker for The Chosen to be required. I want to see how many did the one for Things Fall Apart and are easily able to upload it in Canvas.
- We’re starting The Chosen today. It’s an awesome story, so I hope you’ll commit to reading it. Many students find it to be powerful. If you jump in and give it a chance, it will grow on you big time as you get further in--it has a way of pulling students in. If you read it, of course.
- I’m going to try using “Announcements” on Canvas to post daily information. I’ll keep posting here on the blog, but the same info will be posted there. I will allow comments for those who have questions.
- Remember, copies of The Chosen are available in the main office at Timpview, if you didn’t get one. You have to go on Mondays or Wednesdays.
- You’re reading the Day 1 reading assignment in The Chosen for next time--so, chapter 1.
Today:
Reading Chapter 1 in The Chosen for next time.
Extra Credit: Things Fall Apart Pagetracker (see Canvas)
Meet Chaim Potok (see Canvas)
- Include your name, period, date top left.
- Come up with a title reflective of a theme you see in the material.
- After reading the material, make a list of ten things you learn that might help you anticipate what this novel is about. Include items from all four pages.
- You can include quotes that you cut and paste your list.
Wednesday-Thursday--April 15-16, 2020
Business:
- Hi Guys! How's everybody doing?
- Joke of the Day: Q: What has two butts and kills people? A: An assassin.
- Remember: As time goes on I will start closing off access to earlier assignments. For now, I am publishing all deadlines but keeping everything accessible while students work through challenges created by the closure. However, it is wise to get caught up and stay caught up.
- You should have finished the Canvas assignment, “When Things Fall Apart.”
- Remember, one response to a classmate is needed. If I see just your first comment and no response, I’m waiting to score it until I see your response.
- You should have finished the final reading assignment in Things Fall Apart.
- On Friday you will have your first reading assignment in The Chosen. I checked this out to most of you during the last couple of days we had class. If you missed this, you need to go to the main office and check out a book and grab the pagetracker with the reading schedule.
- Note: The main office is only open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30-2:30. Apparently you can't just enter the school--you have to call and have them come meet you at the door. The number is 801.221.9720. Sorry!
Today:
- Quiz on chapters 20-25.
- Open-book, but not open-person.
The Big Showdown (done on Canvas)
Interpreting pages 203-205
- Include your name, period, date top left.
- Come up with a title reflective of an idea you see in the material.
- This is worth 10 points, but I will give up to 20 based on quality. So if you’re struggling, read pages 203-205 and take a shot at it. If you’re thriving, be impressive and you can earn some extra credit.
- You’re writing three paragraphs. Each paragraph should have a bolded claim or topic sentence, evidence from the text--including at least one well-integrated quote, and your insightful commentary.
- Paragraph One: After re-reading pages 203-205, address one of the following questions:
- What is really going on, here? What is the meaning or the deeper meaning of all this? What is the big theme? The lesson? The biggest take-away? What does this highly dynamic scene illustrate in terms of human nature or human interaction or the human struggle? What does this scene say about human success or failure? Is the lesson a positive or a negative one or mixed?
- Paragraphs Two & Three: Go deeper on what is happening just on pages 203-205 or discuss how the ideas you see portrayed on these pages are also on display in other parts of the novel.
- This scene is LOADED with meaning. You can consider what each major player might represent or symbolize: Okonkwo, Okika, the clansmen as a whole, the court messengers, the voices saying, “Why did he do it?” You can consider the implications and ideals of the many statements made or actions that occur. Think about the intense conflicts at play and the forces behind them and the posturing and changes and shifting that takes place and what it all suggests. Think beyond the literal to possible broader meanings. Do these people, conflicts or actions mirror or shed light on those that you see in the world today? Are there universal themes?
Tuesday--April 14, 2020
Heads-up!
- On Friday you will have your first reading assignment in The Chosen. I checked this out to most of you during the last couple of days we had class. If you missed this, you need to go to the main office and check out a book and grab the pagetracker with the reading schedule.
- Note: The main office is only open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30-2:30. So tomorrow is your only chance this week to get a book if you need one. Apparently you can't just enter the school--you have to call and have them come meet you at the door. The number is 801.221.9720. Sorry!
Business:
- Note: As time goes on I will start closing off access to earlier assignments. For now, I am publishing all deadlines but keeping everything accessible while students work through challenges created by the closure. However, it is wise to get caught up and stay caught up.
- You should have finished the Canvas assignment, “When Things Fall Apart.”
- You should have finished the final reading assignment in Things Fall Apart.
Today:
Make-up Day
- Today was originally scheduled as a testing day, but is now a make-up day. Tomorrow we will move forward to wrap up Things Fall Apart.
Heads-up!
Make sure you have a copy of The Chosen. Main Office only open Mondays and Wednesdays!
- On Friday you will have your first reading assignment in The Chosen. I checked this out to most of you during the last couple of days we had class. If you missed this, you need to go to the main office and check out a book and grab the pagetracker with the reading schedule.
- Note: The main office is only open on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30-2:30. So today and Wednesday are your only chances this week to get a book.
- Another Important Note! I just learned this morning that you can't just enter the school--you have to call and have them come meet you at the door. The number is 801.221.9720. Sorry!
Friday & Monday--April 3 & 13, 2020
Business:
- Note: As time goes on I will start closing off access to earlier assignments. For now, I am publishing all deadlines but keeping everything accessible while students work through challenges created by the closure. However, it is wise to get caught up and stay caught up.
- Quiz on Chapters 14-19 should be completed.
- “In the Motherland” should be completed.
- You are reading the final reading assignment (chapters 23-25) for next time.
Canvas Discussion: When Things Fall Apart (These instructions will be repeated in Canvas.)
Here’s the prompt we’ll discuss:
Based on what is happening in chapters 20-22, describe what circumstances cause some people to feel like things are falling apart while others feel like things are coming together nicely.
- Required: one comment and one response to another student’s comment.
- You need to include a well-chosen quote with each comment and response.
Note: I figured out how to form discussion groups in Canvas and I have formed groups according to class period. So your participation in this discussion will only involve your class period.
Achebe’s Source
For your information, below is the poem that contains the phrase Chinua Achebe alludes to in the title of his book. I have bolded and italicized the “things fall apart” line. I recommend reading it a couple of times and asking yourself why it might be an appropriate title source for Achebe’s novel.
William Butler Yeats (1865-1939)
THE SECOND COMING
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand;
Surely the Second Coming is at hand.
The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out
When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi
Troubles my sight: a waste of desert sand;
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.
The darkness drops again but now I know
That twenty centuries of stony sleep
Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
Wednesday-Thursday--April 1-2, 2020
Business:
- Note: I am using soft deadlines for now, meaning they do exist, but I’m not shutting assignments and quizzes off at the deadline. So all assignments can still be done and both quizzes can still be taken. Keep up, though--this won’t continue forever.
- Note: When I enter a zero before you’ve submitted an assignment, you can still do the assignment by selecting “resubmit” or “submit”--whatever option it presents to you.
- Achebe Interview Review should be completed and available on Canvas for grading.
- Reminder: If you previously did this on your “Life” document, you should have moved it to Canvas where I will grade it.
- Note: We may still use the “Life” document for some assignments, but going forward most will be done directly in Canvas.
- You are reading the day 7 reading assignment, chapters 20-22, for next time.
- The reading assignment after that (day 8) will be assigned on Friday and that is the last one for Things Fall Apart and will take us into Spring Break. After Spring Break we will have a quiz on the whole book and a final assignment before moving on to The Chosen. Copies of The Chosen and pagetrackers with reading schedules are available in the main office, which is now open only on Mondays and Wednesday.
Today:
Quiz on Chapters 14-19 (done on Canvas)
- See Canvas
- Note: 15 minute time limit. The reason for limiting time is to reduce the time I'm demanding of students. So I will just curve the scores if the average is bad.
“Life Write”: In the Motherland (done on Canvas--these instructions are repeated there)
- (I’m calling this a “Life Write” so you know how to approach it, but it will be done in Canvas, not on your “Life” document.)
- Choose one of the following topics and use it to analyze a character or episode/s in Part II (chapters 14-19).
- Wisdom/Ignorance: Identify causes and/or manifestations of wisdom and ignorance.
- Family Life: Identify to what extent you see instances of healthy and/or unhealthy family life.
- Love/Fear Spectrum: Some argue there are really only two motivations: love and fear. Love motivates growth, creativity, freedom, confidence, etc; fear motivates scarcity mindset, short-sightedness, insecurity, violence, etc. Discuss to what extent you see this illustrated.
- Plato’s Cave: Discuss to what extent you see the dynamics of Plato’s cave illustrated in societies, families or individuals.
- Include your name, period, date top left.
- Come up with a title reflective of the perspective you’re presenting.
- Include three paragraphs
- One-sentence to introduce your claim.
- Present first sub-claim (include one quote)
- Present second sub-claim (include one quote)
- Treat this like a 30 minute in-class “Life Write.” Sit down and write for 20-30 minutes and call it good. Don’t obsess over this.
Monday & Tuesday--March 30-31, 2020
Business:
- Quiz on chapters 7-13 should be finished.
- The Canvas Assignment “Sudden Change Survival Strategies” should be finished.
- You are reading the day 6 reading assignment, chapters 17-19, for next time.
- I have one assignment for today that is basically a repeat assignment for most of you.
- Note: I am using soft deadlines for now, meaning they do exist, but I’m not shutting assignments and quizzes off at the deadline. So all assignments can still be done and both quizzes can still be taken. Keep up, though--this won’t continue forever.
Today:
Transfer of “Life Write: Achebe Interview Review” to Canvas
- We have done one assignment on your “Life” document--Life Write: Achebe Interview Review back on March 18-19. Now that I am off and running with Canvas, I want this assignment switched over to Canvas and I will grade it there. So that’s today’s assignment--copying this assignment from your “Life” document and pasting it into the Canvas assignment I’ve created called, Achebe Interview Review.
- If you previously completed this assignment on your “Life” document, all you need to do is copy and paste it into Canvas and spend whatever time it takes to make sure it’s formatted the way you would like. If you never did this assignment, you have a second chance to get it done.
Here, again, are the assignment instructions. You will find these same instructions on Canvas:
Achebe Interview Review
- Based on “An African Voice” interview: Below is a link to this article featuring an interview with Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart.
- Include your name, period, date top left.
- Come up with a title reflective of a theme you see in the interview.
- Cut and paste 15 quotes by Achebe--number them and bold them.
- For each quote, comment on something you learn about Achebe, Nigeria, culture issues in general, or Things Fall Apart. Below is an example of how this might look.
Click here for: "An African Voice"
Thursday & Friday--March 26-27, 2020
Business:
- The discussion assignment “The Danger of the Single Story” should be finished.
- You should have read chapters 10-13 for today.
- You are reading the day 5 reading assignment, chapters 14-16, for next time.
Today:
I have skimmed over your responses to “The danger of the single story” and most of you have compelling things to say. I’m looking forward to reading them!
- Canvas quiz on chapters 7-13
- This quiz is open-book and open-pagetracker, but not open-anything else.
- Canvas Discussion: Sudden Change Survival Strategies
- Okonkwo suddenly found himself exiled from his home village. We find ourselves suddenly doing school from home and social distancing.
- Share one idea that is helping you cope with or enjoy our recent changes.
- Responses are optional but encouraged.
- Please keep responses positive and respectful.
- This is short, easy and worth 20 points.
Looking Ahead:
We’ll have a text-based Canvas discussion with responses next time.
Tuesday-Wednesday, March 24-25, 2020
Business:
- The Canvas Quiz on chapters 1-6 should have been taken by today.
- Your Canvas Discussion, “Okonkwo’s Dimensions”, should also be finished.
- For today, you should have read chapters 7-9.
- For next class, you are reading the day 4 reading assignment--chapters 10-13
Today:
A few years ago, when I was first required to teach Things Fall Apart, I was not happy. I complained, made criticisms of the book and “taught” it in as little time as possible so I could move on to something better.
So I get it when students ask, “Why do we have to read this book?” And when they say, “That last reading assignment was terrible...what Okonkwo did to that boy!” The culture in the book is different and, in my ignorance, I judged different to be less valuable and less interesting.
There are at least two reasons Things Fall Apart has since won me over. The first is that the author, Chinoa Achebe, has earned my trust as an honest story-teller. While portraying conflicting and vastly different cultures, he doesn’t play favorites. The “good guys” (if there are any) sometimes do good things and sometimes bad things, and the “bad guys” (if there are any) sometimes do bad things and sometimes do good things. After reading this book several times, for me the “good guys” and “bad guys” are all mixed up together--portrayed as real, authentic human beings.
The second reason I like this book, and it’s probably the bigger one for me, is that it’s a powerful illustration of what you’re about to encounter in the TED Talk I’m asking you to watch today: “The danger of the single story”. I watched it for the first time last Saturday. It was so insightful and well-expressed, I watched it again to enjoy and better absorb the stories and the master-teaching . . . and it was even better the second time.
Like this TED Talk, Things Fall Apart has gotten better for me each time I read it because there is good depth and “texture” in it, the kind Bradbury talks about in Fahrenheit 451. Things Fall Apart has become one of the stories that opens my eyes to new and valuable insights.
I read to encounter those kinds of insights. And that’s why I ask students to read stories that are new and different from the present narrative that holds them captive. I think people who read these kinds of books with an open mind become a little less like the roommate of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
But you’ll have to watch the TED Talk to understand what I mean.
- Assignment: Canvas Discussion: The Danger of the Single Story
- After watching this TED Talk, do the following:
- Provide a BRIEF summary of the TED Talk (one paragraph)
- Describe an experience you’ve had or share an observation of your own that relates, in some way, to an idea in this TED Talk. (one paragraph)
- This needs to be completed by next class.
- TED Talk: “The danger of a single story” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Note: If your your youtube filters out this video (it might if it's set on "restricted"), try using this link on the TED Talks site:
https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
Next Class:
- Be ready for a quiz and a text-based Canvas Discussion requiring two responses to other students’ posts.
Friday & Monday--March 20 & 23, 2020
Business:
- The Life Write, “Achebe Interview Review” should be finished and ready for me to grade on your Life document.
- For next time, you are reading the Day 3 reading assignment for Things Fall Apart: chapters 7-9.
- You should be keeping up on taking pagetracker notes.
Today:
- Canvas Quiz on chapters 1-6 in Things Fall Apart
- You will see this on the Canvas site for this class in the module for Things Fall Apart.
- This quiz needs to be completed by the start of next class.
- Update: The quiz is open-book and open-pagetracker, but not open-friend.
- Canvas Discussion: Okonkwo’s Dimensions
- You will see this on the Canvas site for this class in the module for Things Fall Apart.
- You will be asked to post one observation, but you will not be required to respond to other observations for this discussion.
Business:
- Book check-out for Things Fall Apart & The Chosen for students who missed it: The two books and pagetrackers with reading schedules are available for checkout on a table in the main office.
- Additionally, here is a PDF of Things Fall Apart in the same pagination as the one we are reading.
- You are reading the Day 2 reading for Things Fall Apart for next time: chapters 4-6.
- You should be keeping up on taking pagetracker notes--a note at least every 3 pages.
Today:
- Life Write: Achebe Interview Review
- Based on the “An African Voice” interview: See below for a link to this article featuring an interview with Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart.
- Do this on the top of your “Life” document (If your Life document is getting too slow because of the volume of assignments on it, feel free to delete most of the earlier/lower assignments.):
- Include your name, period, date top left.
- Come up with a title reflective of a theme you see in the interview.
- Cut and paste 15 quotes by Achebe--number them and bold them.
- For each quote, comment on something you learn about Achebe, Nigeria, culture issues in general, or Things Fall Apart. Below is an example of how this might look.
- This should be completed by the beginning of next class--or two school days from when you would have had this class.
- Note: For any student who does not have a Life document set up on Google Drive, do the following:
- Create a document on Google Drive
- Title it: Your last name, your first name, Life, Period__ (example: Jones, Fred, Life, Period 1)
- share it to: turninmyessay@gmail.com
Click here for: "An African Voice"
Next Class:
- Because of the length of this Life Write, there will be no discussion or quiz today. Plan on a Canvas discussion and a Canvas quiz, based on the first two reading assignments, next time.
Example of how today's Life Write might look:
Monday & Tuesday--March 16-17, 2020
Business:
- If you were absent last time, my room is open and you may come check out copies of Things Fall Apart and The Chosen (there is a self check-out table set up in the back of the room if I’m not there). Also, grab pagetrackers with reading schedules from the same table.
- If students are not allowed in the building, I have found a pdf version of Things Fall Apart. Click on the link below for a pdf version of Things Fall Apart.
- Click Here: PDF of Things Fall Apart
- If you use this PDF option, do the pagetracker (see the link from last time to print this out) note-taking more loosely, because there are no pages on the PDF. However, you should be able to roughly guess how it would fit on the pagetraker.
- Update: It looks like students are not allowed in the building. For Monday and Tuesday, if any students would like hard copies of these two books, email me and I will run it out to you at the school entrance.
- As of now, all assignments will be posted on this blog. Writing assignments will be done on your “Life” document on Google Drive.
Today:
- Read carefully the information on the page linked below. It provides a historical overview for Things Fall Apart.
- For next class, do the reading for Day 1 (see your pagetracker)--chapters 1-3.
- Audio from chapter 1: This is helpful to listen to in order to get the right pronunciation of names and terms related to Ibo/Igbo culture.
Thursday & Friday--March 12-13, 2020
Business:
- Checking out books and pagetrackers with reading schedules for 4th term today in case classes need to be done online.
- Working on the brochures today in class.
Today:
- Checking out copies of Things Fall Apart.
- Checking out copies of The Chosen.
Tuesday-Wednesday--March 10-11, 2020
Business:
- Structure in The Odyssey will be due next time along with the brochure.
- Illustrated Theme Brochure is due end of next class
Today:
- Quiz on The Odyssey
- Working on Illustrated Theme Brochure
Friday & Monday--March 6 & 9, 2020
Business:
- Inside and Outside the Box: Chapters 9-12 is due today.
- ”Structure in The Odyssey” is due next time.
- You are reading chapters 22-23 in The Odyssey for next time.
- Quiz on The Odyssey next class.
Today:
Odysseus and Athena: Chapter 13 (file #2)
Illustrated Theme Brochure (file #3)
- This will be done entirely in class over the next couple class periods.
Wednesday-Thursday--March 4-5, 2020
Business:
- Inside and Outside the Box: Chapters 9-12 is due next time.
- You’re mostly on your own to complete: ”Structure in The Odyssey” is assigned. Today we will do a big chunk.
- You are reading chapters 13 & 21 in The Odyssey for next time.
Today:
- Read summaries for chapters 14-20 and do bullet point summaries on the “Structure in The Odyssey”.
- Life Write--The Sirens
DQ:
- Describe the different challenges represented by the following episodes of books 11-12? How well does Odysseus handle each challenge?
- The Land of the Dead
- The Sirens
- The Kine of the Sun
Life Write: Done on your “Life” document: The Sirens: Present a multi-paragraph analysis of The Sirens in The Odyssey.
- State what you feel the overall meaning is.
- Focus on the most telling details and images. What aspects of the story are most suggestive? Explain how each detail contributes to the meaning.
- The story is five paragraphs: one on p. 238, four starting on p. 241
Friday & Monday--February 28 & March 2, 2020
Odyssey Notes (file #23)
- This form is to take notes on the material found on the link (“Odyssey Notes”) at the top of my blog.
Inside and Outside the Box: Chapters 9-12 (file #24)
- We will do the front side today and the back next time.
Wednesday-Thursday--February 26-27, 2020
Business:
- Pagetracker is optional, but be sure to follow the reading schedule.
- ”Structure in The Odyssey” is assigned.
- You are reading chapters 9-10 in The Odyssey for next time.
- 9-12 presents the most well-known stories.
- Today:
- Life Write: Hospitality in books 7-8
Odyssey Essential Question
- What are the attributes and skills of a cosmopolitan person?
- Cosmopolitan:
- --familiar with and at ease in many different countries and cultures.
DQs:
Discuss what you learned about The Odyssey from the “A World’s Book”.
If you were to judge Greek civilization based on chapters 7-8, what conclusions would you come to?
The Art of Hospitality-extending and receiving it
Hospitality: The friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.
In-Class Chromebook “Life Write”:
The Art of Hospitality: Based on books 7 & 8 of The Odyssey, discuss important do’s and don’ts of hospitality.
- Present it well.
- Organize it well.
- Be insightful, not predictable.
- Graded on depth and breadth of presentation.
- Include quotes from books 7 & 8 that really help you make your points.
Monday-Tuesday--February 24-25, 2020
Today:
- “Complexity and Diplomacy--Chapters 5-6” (file #22)
- You are reading chapters 7-8 in The Odyssey for next time.
Thursday-Friday--February 20-21, 2020
Today:
- The pink sheet, “The Gods, The Creation, and the Earliest Heroes”, should be annotated.
- Use this sheet, and information from “Heroes, Gods and Monsters…” to fill in the The Olympic Council chart. (file #20)
- Mythology Becomes Language Terms (this is on the back side of the Olympic Council chart). Use “Heroes, Gods and Monsters…” again to match the terms with their definitions.
- Structure in The Odyssey: (file #21). We will read chapters summaries for books 1-4 to fill in bullet summary notes on the green sheet for those books. The chapters summaries used for this are available on the blog--see the link called “Odyssey Chapter Summaries” at the top of the blog.
- You are reading chapters 5-6 in The Odyssey for next time.
Friday & Tuesday--February 14 & 19, 2020
For next time: “A World’s Book” (file #19)
Today we’ll continue A Simple Twist of Fate and the Compare/Contrast assignment.
Monday-Tuesday--February 10-11, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner:
- For today: Quiz on Silas Marner
- Pagetrackers & books turned in next time.
- Pronouns:
- Quiz #2 (re-take) next time.
- Slideshow Chapter Ad Presentations next class:
- Make sure your name is on the pages you did.
- If you were absent last time, make a slideshow with three supporting slides and share it to me according the directions on my blog.
Read and annotate “The Gods, The Creation, and the Earliest Heroes” for next time.
Thursday-Friday--February 6-7, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner reading:
- For today: chapters 18-conclusion
- For next time:
- Quiz on Silas Marner
- Pagetrackers for Silas are due.
- Pronouns:
- Quiz #1 today.
- Quiz #2 (re-take) next time.
DQs:
What conflicts are addressed in the final chapters?
To what extent are they resolved?
Identify a complex dominant idea from chapter 18.
What supporting ideas or material are there in the chapter?
Final Project for Silas Marner: Slideshow Chapter Ad
(This was done in groups. If you were absent, you will need to do it on your own, but I will lower the number of supporting slides to 3.)
Present a complex idea derived from chapter 18, along with 6 complex subordinate ideas/elements: (1 intro slide, 6 supporting slides)
- Presentation of ideas
- Conciseness
- Organization
- Use of visual media
- Enhances understanding
- Adds interest
Dominant and Subordinate ideas may be conveyed with the help of:
- Fonts (all dom. & sub. Ideas expressed in words)
- Visual images/objects
- Quotes
- Lists
- Graphs
- Flow of ideas
Overall Goal: Present the information to teach and create interest.
Title this “Your Name” and share it to: turninmyessay@gmail.com
Tuesday-Wednesday--February 4-5, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner reading:
- For today: chapters 16-17
- For next time: chapters 18-conclusion
Power and Fulfillment in Relationships and Society (file #15)
Friday & Monday--January 31 & February 3, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner reading:
- For today: chapters 13-15
- For next time: chapters 16-17
- Lard Cake Day today!
- Pronouns:
- Today: Final Sentences 21-40.
- Circle correct pronoun
- Identify rule: 1, 2, 3
- Groups at whiteboard
Targeting Silas, Eppie and Godfrey (file #14)
Reading chapter 16--last 15 minutes
Wednesday-Thursday--January 29-30, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner reading:
- For today: chapters 11-12
- For next time: chapters 13-15
Pronouns
- Today: Final Sentences 1-20.
- Circle correct pronoun
- Identify rule: 1, 2, 3
- Groups at whiteboard
DQ: Theme: Power and fulfillment in relationships and society.
Who is increasing and who is decreasing in these areas in today’s reading?
Nancy’s Presence (file #13)
Monday-Tuesday--January 27-28, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner reading:
- For today: chapters 9-10
- For next time: chapters 11-12
- Pronouns:
- Today: Chapter 9 Review: Posttest 2--All 25 sentences.
- Group review of answers
WN: 5 Quotes (file #12)
- Done on a separate piece of paper and turned in at the end of class.
Thursday & Friday--January 23-24, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner reading:
- For today: chapters 5-8
- For next time: chapters 9-10
- Pronouns:
- Today: Exercise #9, 11-25
Three Related Episodes (file #11)
Friday & Wednesday--January 17 & 22, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner reading:
- For today: chapters 3-4
- For next time: chapters 5-8
- Consider skimming chapter 6
- Ready to Grade:
- Life of You Part II
- Personal Narrative Essay
- Pronouns:
- Today: Exercise #9, 1-10 as a practice quiz.
- Today:
- Reading chapter 5 in class
Pronouns
Chapter 9 Review--We used sentences 1-10 to do a practice quiz.
Silas Marner
DQs:
- Evaluate Godfrey morally.
- What seem to be his moral parameters?
- How true is he to those parameters?
- Evaluate Dunstan’s ability to find fulfillment in life.
We watched a clip from the movie.
Wednesday-Thursday--January 15-16, 2020
Business:
- Silas Marner reading:
- For today: chapters 1-2
- For next time: chapters 3-4
- Ready to Grade:
- Life of You Part II
- Personal Narrative Essay
- Pronouns:
- Today: Minor Problems in the Use of Pronouns
- Exercise #8
- Today: 1-Page Poster Ad
Pronouns
Minor problems in the Use of Pronouns
Exercise #8
Silas Marner
DQ: What are some of the dominant themes, events and images in chapters 1-2?
1-Page Poster Ad
For one continuous page of text in chapters 1-2, do the following on a 1-page (8.5 x 11) poster:
- Graphically present the material
- Identify dominant and subordinate ideas
- Present as supporting material:
- Visual images/objects
- Quotes
- Lists
- Graphs
- Flow of ideas
- Overall Goal: Present the information to teach and create interest.
- Rubric: You will be graded on:
- Prioritization of ideas
- Organization of ideas
- Presentation of ideas
Monday-Tuesday--January 13-14, 2020
Business:
- Life of You Part II should be finished.
- Personal Narrative Essay should be finished.
- We’re starting Silas Marner today.
- Tip for the term: Stay up on your reading and everything is easier.
Pronouns
- We did Exercise #7 and Review Exercise B
Silas Marner
- I checked out books.
- Pagetracker with reading schedule (file #10)
- WN: Two Villages Slide Show (click here to view the slide show)
- Take notes on each of the 11 slides.
Thursday-Friday--January 9-10
Business:
- Anyone claim the green water bottle?
- Life of You Part II. It should be finished.
- Today: Personal Narrative Essay--finish during class.
Pronouns
- We did Exercise #6.
Time to finish Personal Narrative Essays
Tuesday-Wednesday--January 7-8, 2020
Business:
- Writer’s Notebooks passed back . . .
- Yesterday: Life of You Part II. It should be finished.
- Today: Personal Narrative Essay
Pronouns
- We did exercise #5.
Personal Narrative Essay (file #9)
WN: Ideas and Experiences (brainstorming for the essay)
For each numbered text/movie, list several prominent ideas or life experiences that might provide material for a personal narrative.
- Plutarch’s Life of Julius Caesar
- Plutarch’s Life of Brutus
- Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
- Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
- Frankenstein
- Fahrenheit 451
- The Truman Show
- Much Ado About Nothing
- The poem: “Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth”
We began writing the essays on Drive.
Monday--January 6, 2020
Business:
- Writer’s Notebooks passed back.
- Today: Life of You Part II
- Next Class (and maybe the next): Personal Narrative Essay
The Life of You: Part II
- Add whatever you would like to Part I.
- Do this at the top of your Life document.
- 2 pages double-spaced
- Due at the start of next class.
Thursday-Friday--December 19-20, 2019
Business:
- Grades are updated.
- Only discussion make-up may still be turned in.
We watched some of Much Ado Without Nothing.
Tuesday-Wednesday--December 17-18, 2019
Business:
- Name That Book--Do it! (registration ends Dec. 20)
- Writer’s Notebooks were due last time.
- All Life Writes will be graded today.
- Pronoun Mid-Unit Quiz today.
- Quiz on Much Ado today.
DQ: Evaluate how the elements of tragedy and comedy work together in Act V.
- Include quotes that introduce tragedy or comedy and comment on their effect.
- Do the two work well together? Explain.
Friday & Monday--December 13 & 16, 2019
Business:
- Writer’s Notebooks are due today.
- WN: Much Ado Overview
- Foils: Act I
- Act II: Much Ado
- All Life Writes will be graded now.
- Mirrors
- Justine Moritz: What does her story add? (blog: November 6-7)
- Who’s the Monster? (blog: November 14-15)
- Reading Act V for next time.
- Quiz on Much Ado next time. (It is all chronological order.)
- Suggestion: Re-read the whole play before next class. You’ll understand everything much better.
- Quiz on Pronouns next time, too!
Pronouns
- Exercise #4
- Review Exercise A
Act IV: Reality Show Drama (File #8)
Wednesday-Thursday, December 11-12, 2019
Business:
- Writer’s Notebooks with all assignments are due next time.
- WN: Much Ado Overview
- Foils: Act I
- Act II: Much Ado
- After today’s Life Write, the three Life Writes will be scored.
- Justine Moritz: What does her story add? (blog: November 6-7)
- Who’s the Monster? (blog: November 14-15)
- Reading Act IV for next time.
DQ: Evaluate the impact and usefulness of the feedback Benedick and Beatrice received.
“Life” Write: Mirrors
- Basing your observations on Much Ado about Nothing, and possibly other texts we’ve read, address the following:
To what degree are “mirrors” (people who provide blunt feedback) helpful or harmful to a person’s growth and progress?
- Begin with a brief introduction that ends with your insightful claim.
- Include as many support paragraphs as you wish, based on sub-claims that support your overall claim. Include 4-6 quotes total.
- As you present ideas, work on using transitions that help smoothly blend your ideas.
- Include a meaningful title.
Monday-Tuesday, December 9-10, 2019
Business:
- This term ends before Christmas Break--be on top of things!
- Discussion Make-up: Worth ten points; can be done with Much Ado...
- Frankenstein Thematic Graphic Novels were due two times ago. They are worth less each day they are late.
- Pagetrackers are past being worth anything.
- Much Ado Reading:
- We are combining days 2 & 3 and days 6 & 7 on the reading schedule. So, it’s one act per reading.
- Reading Act III for next time.
Pronouns
- We did Exercise #2.
Much Ado…
- DQ: Discuss how the following are developed in Act III:
- Deception--good or bad
- Judgement of others--good or bad
- Thinking--wise or shallow
Act II: Much Ado . . . (file #7)
Thursday-Friday--December 5-6, 2019
Business:
- This term ends before Christmas Break--be on time of things!
- Discussion Make-up: Worth ten points; can be done with Much Ado...
- Frankenstein Thematic Graphic Novels were due two times ago. They are worth less each day they are late.
- Pagetrackers for Frankenstein were due two times ago. Worth five fewer points each time.
- Much Ado Reading: We are combining days 2 & 3 and days 6 & 7 on the reading schedule. So, it’s one act per reading.
Pronouns
- We reviewed the three rules and did Exercise #1.
Much Ado about Nothing
DQ: What does Shakespeare establish in Act I in terms of:
- Tone
- Characterization
- Plot structure
Foils: Act I (file #6)
Tuesday-Wednesday--December 3-4, 2019
Business:
- “5-Points of Discussions Make-up” sheets really are “10 Points of Discussion Make-up”
- Talk to me about additional Sentence Parts Quiz re-takes.
- Frankenstein Thematic Graphic Novels were due last time. If you were absent, they are due today.
- We are starting the Pronoun packet today.
- We are starting Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing today.
Pronoun Packet (file #4)
- We did the Diagnostic Quiz and overviewed the Three Pronoun Rules
Much Ado about Nothing
- I checked out books.
- Pagetrackers with reading schedule (file #5)
WN: Much Ado Overview (done in writer’s notebook)
Much Ado Overview
- Find the slide show called, “Much Ado Overview” at the top of my blog.
- For each slide:
- Read the entire slide out loud
- Jot down select, most-relevant ideas
We began reading in Act I.
We watched a short clip of the video of Much Ado.
Tuesday & Monday--November 26 & December 2, 2019
Business:
- “5-Points of Discussions Make-up” sheets really are “10 Points of Discussion Make-up”
- Talk to me about additional Sentence Parts Quiz re-takes.
- Frankenstein Thematic Graphic Novel today at the end of class.
- After the break, we’ll read/view Shakespeare’s very entertaining comedy--Much Ado About Nothing.
Friday & Monday--November 22 & 25, 2019
Business:
- Second Sentence Parts Quiz today.
- Already turned in:
- “Boris Karloff Frankenstein Movie Notes”
- “Victor Becomes Creator: Chapters 2-5”
- “Enhancing Text: Chapter 12”
- “Generalizing from the Monster’s Rise and Fall/Paragraphs and Parts: Chapters 13-16”
- “Close Reading: From 17 & 20” will not be turned in, but it explains the “Life” Write: Who’s the Monster? This was done in class last time.
- Continuing Frankenstein Thematic Graphic Novel today.
Wednesday-Thursday--November 20-21, 2019
Business:
- First Sentence Parts Quiz today.
- Quiz on Frankenstein today.
- Already turned in:
- “Boris Karloff Frankenstein Movie Notes”
- “Victor Becomes Creator: Chapters 2-5”
- “Enhancing Text: Chapter 12”
- “Generalizing from the Monster’s Rise and Fall/Paragraphs and Parts: Chapters 13-16”
- “Close Reading: From 17 & 20” will not be turned in, but it explains the “Life” Write: Who’s the Monster?
- Continuing Frankenstein Thematic Graphic Novel today.
Monday-Tuesday--November 18-19, 2019
Business:
- First sentence parts quiz next class.
- Practice quiz today.
- Quiz on Frankenstein next class.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading chapter 24 for next time.
- Already turned in:
- “Boris Karloff Frankenstein Movie Notes”
- “Victor Becomes Creator: Chapters 2-5”
- “Enhancing Text: Chapter 12”
- “Generalizing from the Monster’s Rise and Fall/Paragraphs and Parts: Chapters 13-16”
- “Close Reading: From 17 & 20” will not be turned in, but it explains the “Life” Write: Who’s the Monster? This was done in class last time.
Frankenstein Thematic Graphic Novel (file #3)
Thursday-Friday--November 14-15, 2019
Business:
- In two class days we should be ready for the sentence parts quiz.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading chapters 21-23 for next time.
- Already turned in:
- “Boris Karloff Frankenstein Movie Notes”
- “Victor Becomes Creator: Chapters 2-5”
- “Enhancing Text: Chapter 12” last time.
- Today:“Generalizing from the Monster’s Rise and Fall/Paragraphs and Parts: Chapters 13-16” is due today.
Close Reading: From 17 & 20 (file #2)
“Life” Write: Who’s the Monster? This is explained on the above handout.
Tuesday & Wednesday--November 12-13, 2019
Business:
- In two class days we should be ready for the sentence parts quiz.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading chapters 17-20 for next time.
- “Boris Karloff Frankenstein Movie Notes” are due for anyone who was absent that day.
- “Victor Becomes Creator: Chapters 2-5” is due if you were absent.
- We did “Enhancing Text: Chapter 12” last time.
- Today: “Generalizing from the Monster’s Rise and Fall/Paragraphs and Parts: Chapters 13-16”.
Sentence Parts
- Do sentences 18-35 in practice sentences #6.
- We worked on sentences on the white board.
Generalizing from the Monster’s Rise and Fall…
And
Paragraphs and Parts: Chapters 13-16 (file #24)
Friday & Monday--November 8 & 11, 2019
Business:
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading chapters 13-16 for next time
- “Boris Karloff Frankenstein Movie Notes” are due for anyone who was absent that day.
- “Victor Becomes Creator: Chapters 2-5” are due next time for anyone who was absent that day.
Enhancing Text: Chapter 12 (file #23)
Wednesday-Thursday--November 6-7, 2019
Business:
- Fahrenheit pagetrackers are worth 5 point less each class.
- “Cave Dynamics in The Truman Show and Fahrenheit 451” are worth five points less today.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading chapters 9-12 for next time
- If you missed “Boris Karloff Frankenstein Movie Notes”, go to my blog and watch the clips and do it.
- Last class we did, “Victor Becomes Creator: Chapters 2-5”.
- AP Capstone info.
Sentence Parts
- Mark sentences 1-17 in Practice Sentences #6.
DQ:
- What does the Justine Moritz episode add to Shelley’s ghost story?
“Life” Write--done on your “Life” document on Google Drive.
Basing your observations on chapters 6-8, respond to the following question:
What does Justine Moritz (the episode) add to Shelley’s ghost story?
Your focus could be on theme, tone, story structure, etc.
- Begin with a brief introduction that ends with your insightful claim.
- Include as many support paragraphs as you wish, based on sub-claims that support your overall claim. Include 4-6 quotes total.
- As you present ideas, work on using transitions that help smoothly blend your ideas.
- Include a meaningful title.
Monday-Tuesday--November 4-5, 2019
Business:
- Fahrenheit pagetrackers are worth 5 point less each class.
- “Cave Dynamics in The Truman Show and Fahrenheit 451” are worth five points less today.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading chapters 6-8 for next time
DQ:
- From the reading, what lessons can you derive concerning the following:
- maintaining good health
- pursuing education
Victor Becomes Creator: Chapters 2-5 (see file #22)
Thursday-Friday--October 31-November 1, 2019
Business:
- Fahrenheit pagetrackers are worth 5 point less each class.
- “Cave Dynamics in The Truman Show and Fahrenheit 451” are worth five points less today.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading chapters 3-5 for next time.
DQ: Based on chapters 1-2, What are the main themes in Victor’s:
- family life
- friendships
- education
Boris Karloff Frankenstein Movie Notes (file #21)
- We watched the movie and took notes on front and wrote the paragraphs on the back and turned them in at the end of class.
- If you were absent, do this based on the following clips from the movie: (see blog)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4Ntv7DJURM&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqo54KKGUtHDmD98-musuj6l&index=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nur4g4r1LN4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5FtI472Q6I&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqo54KKGUtHDmD98-musuj6l&index=7&t=0s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLvGnro4Cgw&list=PLZbXA4lyCtqo54KKGUtHDmD98-musuj6l&index=7
Tuesday-Wednesday--October 29-30, 2029
Business:
- 451 pagetrackers are worth 5 point less each class.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading chapter 1 for next time
- Turn in “Cave Dynamics in The Truman Show and Fahrenheit 451” today.
- Add chapter 2 to your reading for next time, so read chapters 1-2.
Sentence Parts
- Read the following sections in the Sentence Parts packet:
- VI. Coordinating Conjunctions
- VII. Modifiers
- VIII. Indirect Objects
- Label everything in the five sentences on page 3.
Carousel Discussion on Frankenstein-related Issues
- No make-up required for this.
Business:
- Passing back writer’s notebooks.
- Turning in Fahrenheit and Pagetrackers today.
- If you were absent last time, check out a copy of Frankenstein.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading “Pre--The Letters” for next time
- Finishing “Cave Dynamics in The Truman Show and Fahrenheit 451” today.
Sentence Parts
Mark sentences 11-21 in Practice Sentences #5
Truman Show
We finished the movie and responded to the prompt on the back of “Cave Dynamics and the Truman Show”.
Wednesday-Thursday--October 23-24, 2019
Business:
- If you were absent last time:
- Take the quiz today in class.
- Turn in the Writer’s Notebook
- Turn in any Discussion Make-ups
- Talk to me if you earned Technology Points redemption.
- Checking out Frankenstein books today.
- In Frankenstein, you’re reading “Pre--(Author’s Intro)” for next time
- I will collect Fahrenheit books and pagetrackers next time.
- Starting “Cave Dynamics in The Truman Show and Fahrenheit 451” today.
Sentence Parts
- Read Section V: Helping Verbs.
- Mark everything we have studied in sentences 1-10 in Practice Sentences #5.
Cave Dynamics and The Truman Show
- We watched a clip from the movie.
Tuesday-Wednesday--October 15-16, 2019
Business:
- Discussion Makeups are due end of day Wednesday.
- Quiz on Fahrenheit
- Writer’s Notebooks turned in.
- Do not include previous handouts.
- Place your handouts together where your first WN is.
- Don’t put anything in the WN other than what’s on the list.
Writer’s Notebook for Fahrenheit 451
- Home, Family & Future....
- WN: Plato’s Allegory Drawing
- Growing Conflict…
- WN: Beatty’s Lecture Illustrated
- Montag Is Changing: Pages 71-91
- WN: Vivid Scenes
- WN: Ray Bradbury Notes and Quotes
DQ: What are the significant images and themes in Bradbury’s ending?
Quiz on Fahrenheit 451
Books and Pagetrackers will be turned in after the break. The pagetracker score will go on 2nd term.
Business:
- Finish Fahrenheit for next time.
- Next class:
- Quiz on Fahrenheit
- Writer’s Notebooks turned in
- Video today on Ray Bradbury
Writer’s Notebook:
- Home, Family & Future....
- WN: Plato’s Allegory Drawing
- Growing Conflict…
- WN: Beatty’s Lecture Illustrated
- Montag Is Changing: Pages 71-91
- WN: Vivid Scenes
- WN: Ray Bradbury Notes and Quotes
Other Assignments
- Pagetracker
Sentence Parts
- Marking prepositional phrases, subjects and verbs, classifying verbs as action or linking, and marking direct objects and subjective complements in Practice Sentences #4, sentences 1-10
WN: Vivid Scenes
- Identify six scenes from throughout pages 113-139 that are memorable because they present compelling events, images, statements or masterful expressions by the author.
- For each scene do the following:
- Create a descriptive title of your own for the scene.
- Briefly introduce what is happening in the scene.
- Write out a substantive quote from the scene--one that helps demonstrate why the scene is memorable.
- Explain what makes the scene memorable.
WN: Ray Bradbury Notes and Quotes
- One page of notes and quotes about him and his philosophy.
- Go to the blog for a link to the video.
Wednesday-Thursday--October 9-10, 2019
Business:
- Reading pages 113-139 for next time.
- Next Tuesday/Wednesday:
- Quiz on Fahrenheit
- Writer’s Notebooks turned in
- Common Writing Assessment today.
Writer’s Notebook:
- Home, Family & Future....
- WN: Plato’s Allegory Drawing
- Growing Conflict…
- WN: Beatty’s Lecture Illustrated
- Montag Is Changing: Pages 71-91
Sentence Parts:
- Classifying verbs as action or linking, and marking direct objects and subjective complements in Practice Sentences 3.
Paragraph Writing Assessment--Fahrenheit 451 (see file #18)
Monday-Tuesday--October 7-8, 2019
Counselling office took half of class.
Montag is Changing: Pages 71-91 (file #17)
Thursday-Friday--October 3-4, 2019
Business:
- Discussion Make-up.
- Julius Caesar Pagetrackers were turned in last time--they are worth 5 points less each day they are late.
Sentence Parts
Classifying verbs as action or linking, and marking direct objects and subjective complements in Practice Sentences #2.
DQ: Use ideas from Plato’s allegory to explain what Montag is experiencing in pages 42-68.
WN: Beatty’s Lecture Illustrated
- Similar to your Plato’s Cave Allegory, on a two-page spread in your writer’s notebook, illustrate, using quotes for captions, distinct aspects of the world Beatty describes on pages 53-62.
- You may use frames to display distinct observations.
- Minimum 12 illustrated observations.
Tuesday-Wednesday--October 1-2, 2019
Business:- Discussion Make-up.
- Julius Caesar Pagetrackers were turned in last time--they are worth 5 points less each day they are late.
Sentence Parts
- Read Section IV: Classifying Verbs
- Mark and classify verbs as action or linking in Practice Sentences #1. Mark all direct objects that follow action verbs and subjective complements that follow linking verbs.
DQ: Use Plato’s allegory to explain what Montag is experiencing in pages 21-42.
Growing Conflict: pages 21-42 (see file #16)
Friday & Monday--September 27 & 30, 2019
Business:
- Discussion Make-up.
- Check in Julius Caesar, out Fahrenheit 451.
- Julius Caesar Pagetrackers were turned in last time--they are worth 5 points less each day they are late.
- Reading Inventory today.
DQ: Describe Bradbury’s introduction of:
- Clarisse
- Mildred
Reading Inventory--done in class.
Wednesday-Thursday--September 25-26, 2019
Business:
- Technology Points--how to redeem.
- Discussion Make-up.
- Plato’s Cave Allegory . . .
- Check in Julius Caesar, check out Fahrenheit today.
- Pagetrackers collected today.
Sentence Parts
- Mark subjects and verbs in Practice Sentences #3.
Home, Family, Future…
- We wrote the response on the back during class.
Pagetracker with Reading Schedule for Fahrenheit 451. (file #14)
We checked in Julius Caesar books and checked out Fahrenheit 451 books.
Monday-Tuesday--September 23-24, 2019
Business:
- Writer’s Notebooks passed back.
- Technology Points--how to redeem.
- Plato’s Cave Allegory . . .
- Check in Julius Caesar, check out Fahrenheit next time.
- 451 next time. Pagetrackers collected next time.
WN: Plato’s Allegory Drawing
- Use a two-page spread in your writer’s notebooks.
- Draw what Plato describes in his allegory.
- On your drawing, label 20 significant things--actions/events as well as physical aspect.
- Labels are phrases or brief sentences
Dawn of Planet of the Apes Excerpts
- We finished watching excerpts from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and taking notes on, “Home, Family and Future . . .”
Thursday-Friday--September--19-20, 2019
Business:
- Technology Points--how to redeem.
- Julius Caesar essay--should be finished.
Plato’s Cave Allegory
- Re-read the Allegory aloud in your groups.
- Compare/share annotations.
- Add annotations to your paper.
Home, Family & Future in Dawn . . . and Julius Caesar (file #13)
- We watched about a 30 minute excerpt of the movie.
Tuesday-Wednesday--September 17-18, 2019
Business:
- Absent last time? Take JC quiz today...
- Julius Caesar essay--finish up today in class.
- Transitional Words and Phrases on my blog...
- Two Life Writes (Marriage and Cassius…) will be graded at the same time I grade the essays.
- Pagetracker due after essay is complete.
- Writer’s Notebook Late scoring:
- Minus 10 points automatically
- Minus 5 for each additional school day
- So, minus 10 today.
- Minus 15 the next class, etc.
Plato’s Cave Allegory--read and annotate for next time. (file #12)
Friday & Monday--September 13 & 16, 2019
Business:
- PSAT info
- Quiz today.
- Writer’s Notebooks due today.
- Pagetracker due after essay is complete.
DQ: Highlights from your reading of the last two acts. You must quote text!
Turned in Writer’s Notebook for Julius Caesar
- WN: Julius Caesar Picture Summary
- WN: Brutus Explains
- Idea-building
- WN: CCQC--Assassination
- Carefully Chosen Words
- WN: Rhetorical Triangle Notes
- Ethos, Pathos, Logos...and Antony’s Speech
Late?
- Minus 10 points automatically
- Minus 5 for each additional school day
- So, minus 10 next class
- Minus 15 the next class, etc.
We began writing: In-class Argument Essay: Ambition in Julius Caesar
Wednesday-Thursday--September 11-12, 2019
Business:
- PSAT info
- Retakes on the Plutarch
- Retakes on “Say Not…”
- Life of You Re-do’s
- For the next time, reading days #6 & 7 will be combined--so you’ll finish the play.
- So on Friday (odd classes) and Monday (even classes) you’ll take the quiz on the whole play and all Writer’s Notebook assignments will be due.
Julius Caesar Writer’s Notebook
- WN: Julius Caesar Picture Summary
- WN: Brutus Explains
- Idea-building
- WN: CCQC--Assassination
- Carefully Chosen Words
- WN: Rhetorical Triangle Notes
- Ethos, Pathos, Logos...and Antony’s Speech (today)
Life Writes
- Marriage
- Cassius the Communicator
DQ: Who gives the best speech--Brutus or Antony?
WN: Rhetorical Triangle Notes
Ethos (credibility)
- Ethical Appeals. Appeal based on the character, persona, and/or position of the speaker. This kind of appeal gives the audience a sense of the author as competent/fair/an authority figure. Such an appeal may highlight the author’s trustworthiness, credibility, reliability, expert testimony, reliable sources, fairness, celebrity, etc.
Logos (logic)
- Rational or Logical Appeals. Appeal to the logical reasoning ability of the audience through use of facts, case studies, statistics, experiments, analogies, anecdotes, etc. Are the writer’s claims reasonable? Is there sufficient evidence to support those claims? Does the speaker make logical conclusions? Does he/she talk about counter-arguments, other opinions or points of view?
Pathos (emotion)
- Emotional Appeals. Appeal to the beliefs/feelings of the audience. An appeal of pathos can move an audience to anger or tears as a means of persuasion. It may attempt to invoke particular emotions such as fear, envy, patriotism, lust, etc. Or, an appeal of pathos may stem from shared values between the author and the audience, or from an argument that caters to an audience’s beliefs.
Video Clips (see blog)
Ethos, Pathos, Logos...and Antony’s Speech (file #10)
What do we learn about the marriages of Brutus and Portia and Caesar and Calpurnia from their conversations in Act II, scenes I & II?
Idea-building (file #8)
- Write the numbers 1-9 on both sides of your paper.
- In groups, discuss the questions and cite evidence from Julius Caesar.
- Record insights under Sub-claims.
- What have you learned about the nature of ambition from Julius Caesar?
- What makes people ambitious?
- What causes good people to become corrupted by ambition?
- Is ambition always bad? Why or why not?
- What is the destructive side of ambition?
- If there is a good side to ambition, what is it?
- How does ambition affect leaders?
- How does ambition affect the people under the leaders?
- How should ambition be handled? What is the best way to hold ambition in check?
Monday-Tuesday--September 9-10, 2019
Business:
- Retakes on the Plutarch
- Retakes on “Say Not…”
- Life of You Re-do’s
- For next time, reading day #5 (Act III, scenes II-III).
- For the next time, reading days #6 & 7 will be combined--so you’ll finish the play.
- So on Friday (odd classes) and Monday (even classes) you’ll take the quiz on the whole play and all Writer’s Notebook assignments will be due.
- Pagetracker Check
Assignments Not Yet Turned In:
Writer’s Notebook Assignments:
- WN: Julius Caesar Picture Summary
- WN: Brutus Explains
- Idea-building
Other Assignments
- Pagetracker
Sentence Parts Packet
- Identifying subjects and verbs in Practice Sentences 1-2.
- On page 1, read II. Verbs and III. Subjects.
- Label subjects and verbs in Practice Sentences 1 & 2.
DQ: Discuss significant or revealing moments from the day of the assassination.
- Re-read pages 35-39.
- In groups, discuss themes you see portrayed or developed in these scenes.
- Theme: A theme can be an underlying topic of a discussion or a recurring idea in an artistic work. Anxiety about getting married is a big theme in romantic comedies. From ancient Greek thema (via Latin and French) we get this word, whose many related uses all have to do with the idea of "the main subject of something."
WN: The Assassination--CCQC Paragragh
- Discuss a theme you see in Shakespeare’s depiction of Caesar’s assassination in Act III, scene I. Use a CCQC (claim, context, quote, commentary) format.
Example #2:
The epic mindset is on display in Act III, scene I. In the immediate aftermath of the assassination, the assassins pause to declare how their deed will be seen by future Romans: “How many ages hence shall this our lofty scene be acted over in states unborn and accents yet unknown!” (38). This boast flavors the scene with a feeling of monumental importance and causes the reader to wonder if the boast is accurate or simply an effort on the part of the assassins to justify their deed.
- Write one CCQC-style paragraph in your Writer’s Notebook, based on a theme you see developed on pages 35-39.
Carefully Chosen Words (file #9)
Thursday-Friday--September 5-6, 2019
Business:
- Retakes on the Plutarch quiz during Consultation on Mondays.
- You will keep the retake score.
- Retakes on “Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth” during reading time at the beginning of class.
- Life of You assignments can be re-graded--just let me know when you have completed it.
- Marking Prep Phrases in Practice Sentences #3 today.
- Reading to the end of Act III, scene I for next time.
Sentence Parts
- Why do we mark prepositional phrases first?
- Mark prepositional phrases in Practice Sentences #3.
DQ:
What do we learn about the marriages of Brutus and Portia and Caesar and Calpurnia from their conversations in Act II, scenes I & II?
Idea-building (file #8)
- Goal: Make an insightful Claim about Brutus and Portia’s marriage--and about Caesar and Calpurnia’s marriage--one on each side of Idea-building.
- Part 1: Re-read the conversation between Brutus and Portia on pages 24-25 and make notes under Evidence of significant things they say or do. Stick with plot--no interpretation.
- Part 2: Make Sub-claims (interpretations) that are based on at least two “Evidences”.
- Part 3: Make an insightful Claim based on at least three of the Sub-Claims.
- Part 4: Repeat all of the above for Caesar and Calpurnia (pages 29-31)
“Life” Write--done on your “Life” document
- Topic: Marriage
- Basing your observations on Act II, scenes I-II, address the following prompt:
- Present and support an insightful observation about one of the marriages...
- Begin with a brief introduction that ends with your insightful claim.
- Include up to three support paragraphs based on sub-claims that support your overall claim. Include two quotes and commentary in each support paragraph.
- As you present ideas, work on using transitions that help smoothly blend your ideas.
- Include a meaningful title.
Tuesday-Wednesday--September 3-4, 2019,
Business:
- Retakes on the Plutarch quiz during Consultation on Mondays.
- You will keep the retake score.
- Retakes on “Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth” during reading time at the beginning of class.
- Life of Me assignments can be re-graded--just let me know when you have completed it.
- Marking Prep Phrases in Practice Sentences #2 today.
- Reading to the end of Act II in Julius Caesar.
Sentence Parts
We marked prepositional phrases in Practice Sentences #2.
DQ: What does Act II, scene I demonstrate about the nature of secret conspiracies formed to undertake illegal deeds?
WN: Brutus Explains
Part A. Based on pages 18-19, for each reason Brutus gives for believing Caesar should be assassinated, provide the following:
- A caption explaining the reasoning.
- A graphic representation of the imagery he uses in conveying the idea.
Part B. Provide the following response to Brutus’s reasoning:
Brutus believes__________________ with regard to assassinating Caesar. I agree/partly agree/disagree for the following three reasons. . . .
- Use effective transitional words and phrases as you move from one idea to the next.
Thursday-Friday--August 29-30, 2019
Business:
- Retakes on the Plutarch quiz during Consultation on Mondays.
- You will keep the retake score.
- Retakes on “Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth” during reading time at the beginning of class.
- Beginning Sentence Parts today.
- Reading to page 25 in Julius Caesar for next time.
Sentence Parts (file #7)
- We marked Prepositional Phrases in Practice Sentences #1.
DQ:
- How is ambition driving people in Act I, scene II? What is it causing people to do?
- Be prepared to cite details to support your claim.
- Basing your observations on Act I, scene II, address the following prompt:
- What kind of a communicator is Cassius?
- This is a one-paragraph, three evidence (quotes) response--similar to the assessment we did.
- Begin with an insightful claim that answers the prompt.
- Provide thorough commentary explaining the relevance of each piece of evidence.
- As you present evidence, work on using transitions the help smoothly blend your ideas.
- Include a meaningful title.
Suggested Transitional Phrases/MLA Format example (file #8)
Tuesday-Wednesday--August 27-28, 2019
Business:
- Retakes on the Plutarch quiz during Consultation on Mondays.
- You will keep the retake score.
- Retakes on “Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth” during reading time at the beginning of class.
- For the overall summary and each act summary, create pictures and symbols to recount the events of the play. Be prepared to use only your picture and symbols to retell the story.
- Act Summaries Slide Show
Friday & Monday--August 23 & 26, 2019
Business:
- If you missed last time, take the Plutarch quiz today
- Disclosure Statements turned in
- Plutarch Notes Check
Quiz on “Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth”
27 Speech
Reading Survey (see file #5)
Started Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
- We checked out books
- Read Act I, scene I.
Wednesday & Thursday--August 21-22, 2019
Business:
- Disclosure Statements
- Return to me
Reading Books
- Reading book check
- 15 points every three weeks
- Non-recoverable if you get dinged (3 points per ding)
Chocolate/Spinach Speech
Quiz on full poem next time
Plutarch Quiz
Monday & Tuesday--August 19-20, 2029
Business:
- Have your name tag on your desk today
- Collecting signed disclosure statements this week
- Reviewing class stuff
- Quiz on first two stanzas of “Say Not…”
- Review third and fourth stanzas
- The “Life of You” assignment
- Plutarch annotation check while you’re working on the “Life of You”
- Quiz on Plutarch reading next class
Technology Points
- You get 20 points for free
- You lose them for being on your phone when you shouldn’t be
Reading Books
- Reading book check
- 15 points every three weeks
- Non-recoverable if you get dinged (3 points per ding)
Discussion Points
- 20-40 points every three weeks
- You need to make at least one informed comment per major discussion
- Missed discussion points can be made up using the Discussion Make-up Form
The Poem: Say Not the Struggle Naught Availeth
- Quiz on first two stanzas of “Say Not…”
- We reviewed the 3rd and 4th stanzas--quiz on these next time.
The Life of You
- See (file #4)
- Due at the start of next class.
Thursday--August 15, 2019
Business:
- Bring a reading book to class every day, all year.
- Bring a 70 page, college ruled notebook to class every day, all year.
- We went through the first two stanzas.
- Memorize the first two stanzas for next time.
Plutarch Summer Reading
- We reviewed the assignment.
- Annotation check next class.
- Quiz in two classes.