Block Day

Block Day
We started with Vocabulary Words and Definitions then moved on to Discus Tuesdays With Morrie. Concepts we are discussing include:

1. What were the warning signs that Morrie had that alerted him that something was wrong with his body/health?
2. When did MITCH first encounter death? How did the event change him?
3. Describe MITCH’s life (goals, activities, personality, etc.) in the first few years after he graduated from Brandeis?
4. Who is Ted Koppel and what is the TV Show Nightline?
What was MITCH doing in 1995 when the show was on TV?
5. Mitch was young for his grade. What did he do to “fit in”?
6. Explain the concept of “culture” in the story? (See the section
Taking Attendance)
7. Define COMPASSION. How is it missed in today’s society?
8. Morrie taught his students they mattered…how? Why?
9. There is an obsession with youth in today’s culture. What
does MORRIE mean by this?
10. Death ends a life, not a relationship. What does this mean to
MORRIE? What does this mean to you?
11. Morrie learned to live as he learned to die. What does this
mean?
12. What lesson do YOU take from this book?

Literary Concepts
TARGET AUDIENCE? WHY WAS THE BOOK WRITTEN?
CHARACTERS…classify according to: Dynamic Round, Dynamic Flat,Static Round, Static Flat
WORD CHOICE
BIAS

Friday Quiz on Vocabulary Lesson 1

Summer Reading Test Announcemnet

Multiple Choice Section will be Friday 9-9-11, Essay Monday 9-12-11.

Books, Books and More Books

I challenge each of you to make a New SCHOOL Year's Resolution. I challenge you to embrace literature. We'll read current events from the New York Times Upfront Magazine, we'll explore literature, poetry, graphic novels, music, and images. Literacy can be fun! Give it a chance!

Purchase your books for this semester or check them out of the library. Remember if you check them out...you'll need to keep renewing them till the Semester Exam. Take good notes so you have the notes for the second semester. Brave New World can be read online (free), as well as Macbeth and Frankenstein and The Tempest. The links are on the blog.

Each semester we'll have an Outside Reading Book to complete. The first semester it is either a memoir, historical fiction or Coming of Age story written within your lifetime. Semester two is a biography.

Semester One...there is an option to BLOG About Books at Cross Country Connections. Follow the link here or at the sidebar of the blog. The blog can be participated in as PART of your outside reading or as a BONUS. Semester Two it will be a bonus as well. Students, male and female, from across the country will participate. Teachers that are part of my United States Holocaust Memorial Fellowship Group will share the site with their classes.

For those of you that enjoy reading or enjoy a challenge...you can go to Goodreads and join the 20112012 group I created. Perhaps, create a challenge number of books to read this year (we'll have 4 this semester) or write a review of the books we read as a class. this is an option, a bonus.

Remember, your web presence must be POSITIVE. You MUST be a proper digital citizen. Give credit where credit is due and use appropriate vocabulary. Your efforts must reflect thoughtful consideration of the topic and not be offensive to anyone who may read/view what you post. Your web presence is a picture of you. Develop it as a Christian Gentleman. It will remain with you forever.

A few sites to check out...Time Magazine's List of 100 All-Time Best Nonfiction Books, and The 10 Greatest Books of All Time.

Tuesday 8-30-11

Today we reviewed Vocabulary Books pages 24-26. We also discussed Characters...Dynamic Round, Dynamic Flat, Static Round and Static Flat.

Block Day:
Vocab Review...quiz Friday
Summer Reading Discussions
Sign up for turnitin.com by the end of BLOCK DAY

Friday: Grammar Quiz...when completed there may be time to start a Writing Assignment due (TYPED) on Tuesday

Reminders:
Signed Syllabus is DUE
$12.00 for Upfront Magazine and Norton Anthology Portable Edition needs to be in class TUESDAY 9-6-11

Monday 8-29-11

Today in class we started Vocabulary Unit 1 Words and Definitions. We completed page 24 #1-10.

Blocks 3-4-6 were given passwords for turnitin.com registration. Blocks 4 and 6 I made an error in the password I gave you...will give you the correct one tomorrow. Block 2 will get this info as well. Register by 11:59 PM on your block day this week.

I collected signed syllabus sheets and $12.00 for the Upfront Magazine (due 9-6-11).

Vocabulary Quiz (Multiple Choice Format this week) on Friday (and each Friday to come).

Tomorrow...summer reading discussion...

Week of August 29th

Monday we'll introduce UNIT 1 of the vocabulary book. The quiz will be FRIDAY September 2, 2011. (Multiple Choice format this week)

Monday-Thursday we'll discuss Summer Reading. The homework assignment will be returned on Monday.

Topics to discuss on Monday:
Characters: Dynamic Round, Static Round, Dynamic Flat, Static Flat
Albom's storytelling devices

Image: Mitch Albom
BONUS: What is the name of the band in which he performs? Due emailed to my yahoo account by Monday 8-29-11 (10 PM)

Glad to meet you today...

Thursday in class...

reminder to purchase vocabulary book for use MONDAY 8-29-11
reminder to purchase lit book
introductions
discuss syllabus and summer reading

Friday Plans:

discuss syllabus...bring signed form on Monday
discuss Summer Reading!
Turnitin.com registration...do over the weekend

Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year

I am excited to work with each and every one of you this year! We'll read, write, analyze and discuss A LOT this year! I hope we can find time to laugh a bit as well!!

Let's start the year strong! Bookmark this blog, become a follower of the blog and bookmark the class website TONIGHT. That's homework assignment #1, a easy one to complete...takes little time!

Order your TEXTBOOK ASAP...the MOST economical shipping takes a few days...order it tonight to ensure it is here by Tuesday September 6, 2011 (Monday September 5th is a holiday so no mail is delivered). The Norton Introduction to Literature Portable edition can be ordered at Amazon.com or through any bookseller.

Please bring your Summer Reading Books and Grammar Book with you to class EVERY DAY until notified not to do so.