Fri 1/16

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. October
3. triangles
4. film clip

Sophomores
finish state writing test

Thur 1/15

Seniors
1. vocab review
2. September passages
3. film clips
4. begin Magical Realism essay/story draft-- RD due next Wednesday
5. HW: read October

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. begin State writing test

Wed 1/14

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. August questions
3. magical realism reading
4. begin Like Water for Chocolate writing assignment, samples
5. HW: read September

Sophomores
1. grammar final
2. vocab warm up
3. discuss "Rules of the Game" and "A Voice from the Wall"

Tue 1/13

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. July questions in groups
3. film clip: the wedding cake
4. HW: read August

Sophomores
1. complete state wide reading test
2. HW: read "The Voice from the Wall"

Mon 1/12

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. May and June questions
3. HW: read July

Sophomores
state wide reading test

Fri 1/9

Seniors
1. collect TFA essay
2. vocab quiz
3. Chocolate questions, chapter 4 in groups
4. chocolate journal #5: nurturing or rebellion
5. HW: read May and June Chapters

Sophomores
1. collect Othello essay
2. vocab warm up
3. last grammar review
4. "Moon Lady" questions
5. freewrite #2
6. HW: read "Rules of the Game"

Thur 1/8

Seniors
1. vocab warm up-- quiz tomorrow
2. magical realism
4. ch 3 questions in groups
5. journal #4: transcendental relationship
6. HW: read ch 4 and complete FD of essay

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review
3. "The Red Candle" in groups
4. memory mining topics: I lost my temper, battle wills, scar
5. freewrite #1
6. read "Moon Lady"
7. HW: complete FD of essay

Wed 1/7

Seniors
1. collect January
2. vocab warm up
3. ch 2 discussion groups, magical realism
4. journal #3: family legend
5. HW: read ch 3, work on essays

Sophomores
1. collect January
2. vocab warm up
3. discuss "Scar"
4. the semi-autobiographical unit
5. memory mining: list noteworthy memories in NB
6. HW: read "The Red Candle" and work on your essay

Tue 1/6

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. share Chocolate journal #1
3. Chocolate study questions in groups
4. Chocolate journal #2: family tradition
5. HW: read ch 2
HW: extra credit Wednesday

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review: 604 ex 2, 608 3,6,13-20
3. JLC: eightfold notes, vignette topics, Joy Luck topic
4. HW: read "Scar"

Awesome is banned!

Thanks to Stephen Thompson for finding out that "awesome" was a banned word back in 2007.

Here is the link, and here is an excerpt:

AWESOME -- Given a one-year moratorium in 1984, when the Unicorn Hunters banished it "during which it is to be rehabilitated until it means "fear mingled with admiration or reverence; a feeling produced by something majestic." Many write to tell us there's no hope and it's time for "the full banishment."

Mon 1/5

Seniors
1. extra credit: January letter
2. essay RD peer/self review: FD due Friday
3. Chocolate journal #1: ultimate meal
4. read Like Water for Chocolate chapter 1

Sophomores
1. extra credit: January letter
2. essay RD peer/self review: FD due Friday
3. grammar review: semicolons
4. HW: read first story in The Joy Luck Club

Punch Shakespeare

This is funny. Thanks to Justin for sharing it.

Awesome banned words list

Okay, if it were up to me, I'd add the word "awesome".

Read about the banned words list here.

Write your essays!

Okay, it looks like we are out for a three week vacation.

So for all my students, seniors and sophomores, this is my message: write your best rough draft over the break. Bring it in on the first day back to do a self/ peer review. Typing it would be a good idea-- you've got three weeks to do it! I'm hoping to collect the final draft by the end of the first week of January. If you have questions or need help, email me. Don't ask for essay help in the comments section here. Email me directly: mwilson2@ttsd.k12.or.us.


Spread the word to all your classmates. Send them the link to this blog if you need to.

Ewan McGregor talks about Iago

You might recognize Ewan McGregor from the Star Wars films.

Othello directed by Alan Parker

Shakespeare in the ghetto, Othello

Othello: Iago (Ian McKellen) tells of a handkerchief, 2/2

Ian McKellen from Lord of the Rings and X men as Iago.

Othello (Anthony Hopkins): Iago tells of a handkerchief

The worst Othello ever? You be the judge.

Thur 12/11

Seniors
1. vocab warm up: quiz tomorrow
2. essay workshop: RD due next Tuesday

Sophomores
1. grammar warm up
2. essay workshop: gather evidence, outline/ graph essay
3. HW: grammar 14, work on essay

Othello video study guide

Here is the link to the Rocket Book video study guide. You can do the whole study guide or simply take the scene quizzes to prep for the test. To see the entire video study guide you will have to register (for free) as a user, but you can at check out the guide for the first act without registering.

Othello video study guide

Wed 12/10

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Things Fall Apart test
3. essay preparation: decide on topic, search for textual evidence

Sophomores
1. finish Othello film
2. grammar 12
3. HW: grammar 13, decide on essay topic, study for test

Tue 12/9

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. end of Things Fall Apart: gut reaction, Achebe's purpose
3. teacher notes on irony
4. essay topics
5. HW: study for test, choose an essay topic

Sophomore
1. vocab quiz
2. essay topics, questions
3. film
4. HW: start deciding on an essay topic

Mon 12/8

Classes were short this day because of assembly

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. semi-pop quiz
3. ch 18-21 questions
4. read Happy Meal article
5. HW: finish Things Fall Apart
Note: Things Fall Apart test on Wednesday

Sophomores
1. vocab review
2. grammar 11
3. essay topics
4. continue Othello film
5. HW: grammar 12
Note: Othello test on Thursday

Fri 12/5

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. share Ibo proverbs
3. ch 13-17 semi-pop quiz
4. passage response: (pages 1125-128) A. gut reaction; B. What is Achebe's purpose with this passage? What does he want to show us? What is he trying to get us to think or believe?
5. HW: read ch 18-21, test next week the day after we finish the last chapter

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar 10
3. Othello Act V-- perform!
4. HW: grammar 11, pick an essay topc
Note: we will watch Othello film next week; the test will be the day after we finish the film, probably Wednesday or Thursday

Thur 12/4

Seniors
1. vocab review
2. Things Fall Apart ch 11-13 questions
3. Ibo proverb illustration-- 10 pts, due tomorrow

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar #9
3. review Emilia's speech, Desdemona's response
4. journal review: possible essay topics
5. cast Act V: extra participation, learn your part, be ready to act!
6. film clips
7. HW: grammar #10

Wed 12/3

Seniors
1. semi-pop quiz for participation
2. quickwrite: tradition-- When are they good and when are they bad?
3. ch 8-10 questions
4. HW: complete proverb illustration for 10 points
5. HW: read ch 11-13

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar #8
3. Othello Act IV
4. HW: grammar #9, paraphrase Emilia speech from end of Act IV

Othello and Islamic textiles

So, is the handkerchief just a "trifle light as air" as Iago suggests? Well, actually textiles are quite important to the Islamic culture Othello comes from. These textiles come in the forms of rugs, drapes, clothing, and yes, handkerchiefs. They often use geometrical shapes, and include fine embroidery and scripture from the Qua ran. So you could imagine how upset Othello would be to think that his wife Desdemona has given away what is essentially a family heirloom.

Here are various pictures of Islamic textiles to give you an idea of how important textile art is in Islamic culture. See if you can spot the fine embroidery or scripture on the textiles. Hint: the scripture is in Arabic calligraphy.

Tue 12/2

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Things Fall Apart ch 4-7 questions
3. HW: complete Freshman proverb for tomorrow, read ch 8-10

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar #7
3. journal discussion
4. finish Othello Act III, handkerchief paraphrase, magic in the web
5. HW: grammar #8; Othello journal #6: How is the handkerchief symbolic?

Wed 11/26

Seniors
1. turn in speeches
2. vocab warm up
3. semi-pop quiz on TFA ch 1-4
4. two quickwrites: Okonkwo's character, Ibo culture
5. Freshmen proverb: 10 pts, due next Wednesday
6. HW: read ch 5-7 in TFA

Sophomores
1. grammar
2. review yesterday's reading with f12 questions in small groups
3. HW: grammar #7 and journal #5

Tue 11/25

I am out today, but here are the plans I left with Mr. McCarty.

Block 2: Senior English

1. Do a vocab warm up with the following words: feign, rebuke, uncanny. Students use the words correctly in sentences in their notebooks. I usually write model sentence on the board, then allow them to share a sentence aloud for participation. You can tell them I’ll mark participation tomorrow.

2. Students should review the first two chapters of Things Fall Apart. Put these names on the board: Okonkwo, Amalinze the Cat, Unoko, Ikemefuna, Umuofia, Mbiano. Students should begin a list called “Names to Remember” in their notebooks. For today they should write a few details about each of these names. Tell them I will check their work tomorrow.

3. The remainder of the period can be dedicated to two things: reading chapters 3-4 of Things Fall Apart or working on their rough drafts of their commencement speeches. Students may listen to music on headphones during this time and you can allow a limited number to sit in the hall to read quietly.

Blocks 3 and 4: Pre IB Sophomore English

1. Councilors will be coming in at the beginning of each period to share information with the class. This should take about 15 minutes.

2. Read aloud page 88 line 90 to page 106 line 476. Please allow students to sign up for these parts: Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Emilia. The parts of Othello and Iago are very large, so allow two to three students to sign up for each of these parts. They can decide together how to divide up the parts.

3. HW: Student should do grammar #6. Students should write Othello journal #4 in their notebooks. This is the topic: How does this first half of Act III embody Iago’s “divinity of hell” paradox?

Mon 11/24

Seniors
1. conventions and vocab warm up
2. brainstorm: advice to Freshmen
3. proverbs: what are they, examples, significance to novel
4. Things Fall Apart chapters 1 and 2
5. HW: work on RD of speech-- typed draft due on Wednesday

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar #4
3. end of Act II: read, review, discuss
4. Picture This: Iago's plan of destruction
5. Othello journal #3
6. HW: grammar #5, read Act III to page 88 when Desdemona exits

Does Obama have a mullet in this picture?

Go Oden! Go Blazers!

Fri 11/21

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Things Fall Apart anticipation questions: (1) When you think of Africa, what comes to mind? (2) Is it okay for one culture to share itself with another culture? To impose itself on another culture? What's the difference between share and impose? How are they different/ similar?
3. speech workshop
4. HW: work on speech, highlight first three pages of TFA background

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. dashes
3. review journal topics
4. aloud: 2.2-2.3
5. HW: read Othello to page 80, grammar #4

Thur 11/20

Seniors
1. conventions warm up: run ons, parallel structure
2. finish sharing speech samples
3. speech writing workshop
4. get new books

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. colons
3. review Othello 1.3 and finish
4. Othello journal #2
5. HW: dashes and read Othello 2.1 (pages 52-60)

Wed 11/19

Seniors
1. The Stranger test
2. define your personal philosophy
3. intro to speech assignment (50 pts)
4. sample speeches
5. HW: typed RD of speech due next Wednesday

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar time: semicolons
3. Othello let terms: dramatic irony, allusion, imagery, pun, double entendre
4. discuss journal #1
5. Othello choral reading, and read 1.3
6. HW: read Othello up to page 48 when Othello exits

Which Oden shows up tonight?

Tue 11/18

Seniors
1. quickwrite: Why do we fear death? Should we or shouldn't we?
2. small groups: complete The Stranger questions
3. Camus' afterword
4. define your personal philosophy
5. HW: review study questions to prepare for test

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. Act I scenes 2 and 3
3. HW: grammar #1 (semicolons) and Othello journal #1 in NB

Meh!

A new vocab word perfectly suited for The Stranger: Meh!

Mon 11/17

Seniors
1. The Stranger part 2 ch 3 questions
2. quickwrite: What makes life worth living?
3. Sisyphus
4. Absurdism
5. HW: finish reading The Stranger (we will do the questions for ch 4 and 5 in class tomorrow)

Sophomores
1. get books: Othello
2. vocab warm up
3. review: the lover, the girlfriend, the buddy
3. Act 1.1 slightly cut script
4. HW: Go Blazers!

Oden!

Fri 11/14

Seniors
1. Quickwrite: Are you free? How do you know if you are free/ not free?
2. Existentialsim: What is it?
3. film clip: free will
4. The Stranger discussion: part 2 chapters 1-2
5. HW: read part 2 ch 3 and do quesitions 1-15 in NB


Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar scores
3. line-tossing improvs
4. the lover, the girlfriend, and the buddy
5. Othello background

Thur 111/13

Seniors
1. The Stranger part 1 quiz
2. discuss ch 5-6 of part 1
3. Are you an objectivist, subjectivist, relativist?
4. HW: read The Strnager part 2 ch 1-2 and do questions in NB

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. Bardology slideshow
3. line tossing
3. line tossing improvs-- perform tomorrow

Shakespeare authorship question

For those of you interested, just click here.

Wed 11/12

Seniors
1. essays, grades
2. The Stranger ch 2-4 episodes
3. discussions questions for participation
4. Philosophy 101 continued
5. HW: read part 1 ch 5-6 and do questions in NB

Sophomores
1. grades
2. vocab warm up
3. grammar pre test
4. begin Bardology 101

Fri 11/7

Seniors
1. review ch 1 of The Stranger
2. philosophy comics
3. Philosophy 101; continued
4. HW: read The Stranger to page 39 and do #4-14 in NB

Sophomores
1. score NBs
2. Cry, The Beloved Country test

Thur 11/6

Seniors
1. collect essays
2. The Card Game: Which philosophy are you?
3. begin Philosophy 101
4. HW: read ch 1 of The Stranger and do questions in NB

Sophomores
1. finish film
2. last minutes tips for tomorrow's test
3. gather quotations

Wed 11/5

Seniors
1. conventions: prounoun/ antecedent agreement, the literary present tense
2. philosophy quickwrite discussion
3. HW: complete FD of All Quiet essay

Sophomores
1. discuss Book III questions 4,5
2. essay instructions for Friday's test
3. HW: finish reading book, do questions 6 in NB

Tue 11/4

Seniors
1. conventions warm up: apostrophes
2. continue to evaluate drafts: FD due Thursday
3. new book: The Stranger
4. philosophy quickwrite in NB

Sophomores
1. Book III: discuss first three questions
2. prep for on-demand essay
3. finish Book III by Thursday and complete questions 4 and 5 by tomorrow

Mon 11/3

Seniors
1. conventions warm up: capitalization
2. peer/ self evaluation of RD
3. HW: complete FD for Thursday, sign up for turnitin.com

Sophomores
1. discuss end of Book II
2. finish field trip to South Aftrica
3. HW: read to page 280 and do first three Book III questions in NB

Happy Halloween

Fri 10/31

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. essay workshop
3. RD due on Monday (type it if you can)

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. discuss ch 26
3. field trip to South Africa
4. HW: finish reading Book II and do all Book II questions

Thu 10/30

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. essay expectations, sample essays, outline and graphic organizer, text book instructions
3. workshop: work on essays

Sophomores
1. grammar test
2. vocab warm up
3. discuss last night's chapters
4. HW: read to page 229 and do ch 26 questions in NB, complete extra credit poem

Wed 10/29

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. finish film
3. essay expectations
4. HW: gather all your evidence, begin outlining/ graphing your essay

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. ch 20 questions
3. debate: crime
4. HW: read 190- 216 and do ch 22 and 23 questions in NB, study for grammar retake

Tue 10/28

Seniors
1. All Quiet comprehension test
2. check easy prep #1
3. continue film

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review: commas
3. ch 18 discussion
4. debate: rich and poor
5. HW: read to 189 and do ch 20 question in NB

Mon 10/27

Seniors
1. review last chapters of All Quiet
2. HW: complete 1,2,3 of essay prep sheet #1
3. begin film
4. HW: study for tomorrow's comprehension test

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review: commas
3. discuss ch 12 of Cry, the Beloved
4. read ch 18 and do NB question on the chapter
5. HW: complete FD of drama essay

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. discuss ch 9 of All Quiet
3. last clip from Operation Homecoming
4. HW: finish book for Monday and complete all NB questions

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. essay self/peer evaluation
3. complete reading Book I (to page 157) by Monday
4. essay final draft due Tuesday

shanty towns

These are some images of shanty towns in South Africa. Leave a comment for participation.

Thur 10/23

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. Ch 8 passages in NB
3. Operation Homecoming stories and poems
4. HW: read ch 9 and do NB questions

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review: commas
3. exposition and character web for ch 1-8
4. interchapter 9 aloud
5. HW: read ch 10-11, complete RD of essay

Wed 10/22

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. review ch 7
3. Operation Homecoming clips
3. HW: read ch 8 and do NB

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review: commas
3. ch 1 discussion-- implied metaphor
4. HW: read ch 5-8, work on RD of essay

Tue 10/21

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. essay topics
3. review All Quiet ch 6
4. Operation Homecoming clips
5. HW: read ch 7

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review-- quotation marks
3. South Africa background
4. ch 1: read it, draw it using three quotations in NB
5. HW: read ch 2-4
6. HW: work on RD of essay

Mon 10/20

Seniors
1. vocab warm up-- quiz Wednesday
2. discuss All Quiet ch 4,5
3. Operation Homecoming
4. HW: read ch 6 and do NB questions

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. essay workshop-- RD due Friday

Wed 10/15

Seniors
1. collect essays
2. vocab warm up
3. discuss All Quiet ch 2-3
4. HW: read ch 4-5 and do NB questions

Sophomores
1. Crucible test
2. score NBs
3. essay workshop
4. HW: work on essay

Tue 10/14

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. WWI clips
3. All Quiet ch 1: begin study guide in NB
4. read ch 2 and 3 adn do study guide in NB
5. HW: complete FD of essay

Sophomores
1. time out for poetry: The Unknown Citizen
2. finish film
3. essay workshop
4. tomorrow: Crucible comprehension test

Mon 10/13

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. essay peer review-- FD due on Wednesday
3. relections on war: "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again"; "Knolt Holheimer"
4. review WWI background notes
5. HW: read chapter one of All Queit

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. finish film
3. HW: read "The Unknown Citizen" three times

Thur 10/9

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. NB check
3. begin new unite: Henry V and Johnny Got His Gun
4. workshop: RD of essay due Monday
5. HW: highlight 10 items on WWI background notes

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz/ warm up
2. discuss Crucible Act IV
3. return essay, share sample
4. begin Crucible film

Crucible links

Salem Witch Trials
Abigail Williams
Arthur Miller
The Crucible
McCarthyism

Wed 10/8

Seniors
1. Hamlet test
2. vocab warm up
3. Essay of definition workshop-- RD due Monday

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. review Crucible Act III
3. Act IV aloud

Tue 10/7

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. film clips of 5.2
3. test review

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review
3. finish Act III
4. Act study guide (due tomorrow)
5. HW: look up last five vocab words

Mon 10/6

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. read Hamlet 5.2
3. begin Hamlet review-- test on Wednesday

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. grammar review- apostrophes
3. review Crucible Act II
4. begin Crucible Act III

bambi meets godzilla

Fri 10/3

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. crazy Ophelia
3. Hamlet 5.1
4. HW: read up to page 169

Sophomores
1. vocab quiz
2. Crucible Act II
3. HW: complete Act II study guide

Happiest Place on Earth?

Maybe Hamlet should be much happier since he lives in the Happiest Place on Earth! NO, it's not Disney Land! It's Denmark. Read about it or view the video here.

Thur 10/2

Seniors
1. extra credit practice
2. vocab warm up
3. review yesterday's reading: Hamlet 4.1-4.4
4. read aloud 4.5
5. HW: Act IV reader log

Sophomores
1. grammar 11,12
2. vocab warm up
3. complete Act I study guide and review
4. cast Crucible Act II and begin reading

Wed 10/1

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. share Act III reader logs
3. view The Mouse Trap
4. continue reading to page 128
5. "to be" extra credit

Sophomores
1. grammar 9,10
2. vocab warm up
3. read rest of Crucible Act I
4. Crucible Act I study guide
5. HW: grammar 11,12

Tue 9/30

Seniors
1. college handbook from counciling
2. vocab warm up
3. Hamlet: finish Act III
4. HW: reader's log on Act III in NB

Sophomores
1. vocab warm up
2. Crucible debate
3. Three Settings lecture
4. begin Act I
5. HW: look up vocab

Mon 9/29

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. "To be" close reading
3. view two versions of "To be"
4. HW: read to page in Hamlet, look up vocab words

Sophomores
1. grammar 7,8
2. finish Piano Lesson film, possible essay topics
3. get Crucible
4. start Crucible vocab
5. prep for debate: security vs. freedom
6. HW: grammar 9,10, look vocab words, read about Oxford comma

Read about the Oxford comma

Click here to read the wiki article.

Fri 9/26

Seniors
1. vocab quiz
2. Rocket review of Hamlet 2.2
3. "Rogue" close reading
4. Act II reader log
5. read Act III scene 1

Sophomores
1. collect essays
2. grammar 6
3. finish film
4. Piano Lesson journal 4: How has the film helped you better understand one discussion topic?
5. HW: grammar 7,8

Thur 9/25

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. stlye--page 4
3. review Hamlet 2.1
4. Hamlet 2.2 (pun, double entendre, classical alluision
5. HW: finish 2.2

Sophomores
1. grammar 5
2. finish reading Piano Lesson
3. last journal on Piano Lesson
4. begin film
5. HW: grammar 6, finish essay

Wed 9/24

Seniors
1. vocab warm up
2. style warm up
3. ghost scene: review, view two versions
4. review Polonius family (1.3)
5. begin reader log (do 2 topics for each act)
6. HW: read Hamlet 2.1 (pages 42-47)

Sophomores
1. grammar 4
2. read Piano Lesson Act II aloud (finish for HW if we don't finish in class)
3. HW: grammar 5, work on FD of essay

Tue 9/23

Seniors
1. turn in essay/story
2. vocab warm up
3. review Hamlet 1.2 to line 127
4. close reading: Hamlet's first soliloquy
5. finish 1.2, read 1.4
6. HW: read 1.3-- the Polonius family

Sophomore
1. grammar 3
2. finish reading Piano Lesson 1.2, complete review quesitons in group
3. discuss journal topics for 1.2-- complete journal 2 in NB
4. HW: work on essay, grammar 4, visit blog and leave comment

What was the Parchman Farm?

Click here to find out: Parchman Farm

What is a slave song, or a work song?

Click here to find out: Work Song

Song from a Cotton Field - Bessie Brown

Check out this song about slaves working in the cotton field.

Mon 9/22

Seniors
1. vocab warm up-- quiz Friday
2. style warm up
3. Act 1.1-- words, phrases, questions, complete the reading
4. Rocketbook for 1.1
5. HW: read Hamlet to page 15, complete FD of essay/story

Sophomores
1. grammar 2
2. Piano Lessons: discuss, NB journal
3. read Piano Lesson 1.2 (to page 54)
4. HW: grammar 3, work on FD of essay

Fri 9/19

Seniors
1. style and composition warm up
2. peer review of story/ essay-- FD due Tuesday
3. Hamlet line tossing
4. Something's Rotten in the State of Denmark

Sophomores
1. Poetry: "I Have Been Accused of Tending to the Past"
2. essay self evaluation
3. read The Piano Lesson Act I scene 1 (to page 28)
4. HW: grammar page 2, work on FD of essay

Thur 9/18

Seniors
1. collect Canterbury Tales study guide
2. Canterbury Tales test
3. bus evacuation drill
4. get Hamlet
5. work on story/ essay-- RD due tomorrow

Sophomores
1. begin grammar
2. Read Piano Lesson background
3. time out for poetry

Wed 9/17

Seniors
1. discuss Wife of Bath's Tale
2. Canterbury Tales writing assignment and student samples-- RD due Friday
3. review for test

Sophomores
1. check outlines
2. review MLA style, quotations, pet peeves
3. structure of introduction
4. complete RD by Friday
5. pick up copies of The Piano Lesson

Tue 9/16

Seniors
1. Pardoner's Tale discussion (participation points)
2. Wife of Bath's Tale: quickwrite, listen
3. NB: page 188, all reading check questions, and thinking critically # 5,9,11,12,13

Sophomores
1. unity and coherence
2. check graphic organizers
3. key pages in language book, pet peeves
4. complete essay outline

Mon 9/15

Seniors
1. complete graphic #2
2. review key details of prologue part 5 work
3. listen to Pardoner's Tale
4. HW: complete Pardoner's Tale questions

Sophomores
1. check thesis statements, feedback
2. sample essay, key pages in language text
3. share sample graphic organizer
4. HW: complete graphic organizer

Fri 9/12

Seniors
1. Review part 4 of Canterbury Tales. Read aloud The Parson.
2. Complete part 5
3. complete graphic #2

Sophomores
1. share Golding's view on human behavior
2. discuss last three passages
3. essay topic
4. HW: complete essay pre-write, rough draft of thesis statement

Thur 9/11

Seniors
1. complete and share graphics
2. review characters: Merchant, Oxford Cleric, Lawyer, Franklin, Guildsman
3. Complete Day 4 work


Sophomores
1. Lord of the Flies debate
2. In NB: What is your view on human behavior? (view #3); What is Golding's view on human behavior? (view #4). Feel free to borrow ideas from our first two views.

Wed 9/10

Seniors
1. Pilgrimage slideshow
2. review characters so far, read aloud Nun, Monk
3. complete part 3 of study guide
4. begin character graphic: name, 3-5 perfect adjectives, best quotation, symbol (finish tomorrow)

Sophomores
1. symbolism: present answers for your symbol, include facts from text to support answer
3. discuss HW key passages: 113, 140, 143, 155
4. prep for tomorrow's debate
5. HW" What makes the passage key? (178, 200)

Tue 9/9

Seniors
1. more notes on satire: irony, wit, dirision
2. watch youtube satire clips
2. review opening paragraphs of Canterbury Tales
3. complete all study guide quesitons up to and including the Monk

Sophomores
1. discuss passages from last night's HW
2. new passages: 88, 109
3. allegory, symbolism, microcosm-- in groups, four questions, complete and share tomorrow
4. HW: What makes the passage key? (pages 113, 140, 143, 155)

Mon 9/8

Seniors
1. review background: Normans, Feudalism, Knights, Crusades, New City Classes, Thomas Becket, The Plague
3. pages 135-140: Chaucer and the story
4. begin prologue: pages 142-143

Sophomores
1. grammar pre-test
3. Introduction to key passages
4. discuss first passage
5. NB: What is causing the pause? How does this one moment inform us of an important theme in the book?
6. HW: read three passages and answer this question on one of the passages: What makes the passage key? (pages 60, 62, 63) (Also don't forget to hold the knife up and pause!)

Fri 9/5

Seniors
1. seating chart
2. share free writes
3. discuss definition of satire
4. seven deadly sins activity
5. brainstorm satire topics
6. Read Canterbury Tales background on Middle Ages

Sophomores
1. complete syllabus discussion
1. review sentence workshop
2. Lord of the Flies gut reaction discussion

Welcome Back

Welcome Back! Please bookmark this page so that you can use this blog to check for work when you are absent. Leave a comment below to let me know you were here. Also, have a look at today's agenda so you can see what to expect each day on the blog.

Thur 9/4

Seniors
1. course description
2. Introduction to Canterbury Tales Unit: satire, pilgrimage, the art of description
3. Brainstorm list of people, real or imagined, who you want to describe
4. Free write on one person from the list: A. physical details- head to toe; B. Show how physical details reveal personality

Sophomores
1. seating chart
2. Lord of the Flies test
3. course description
4. HW: complete sentence workshop