Opportunity...TUESDAYS WITH RENE'

STARTING TOMORROW I'll be in the classroom on TUESDAYS at lunch...I'll show films Tuesdays with Morrie then The Five People You Meet in Heaven as review...opportunity for Summer Reading Category Bonus Points.

The "film screenings" start 5 minutes after the block 4 bell and end 5 minutes before lunch ends...

We'll screen Holocaust Films and Brave New World after summer reading as additional review/bonus opportunities.

First 32 here into the classroom get seats!

Due to Schedule Change...

Tutoring time will be from 8:00-8:30 AM on Wednesday due to the LATE start.

Wednesday's Schedule:
8:50-10:15 Blk. 2
10:15-10:20 Break
10:25-11:50 Blk. 4
11:50-12:30 Lunch
12:35-2:00 Block 6

Maus

Art Spiegelman tells his father's story in Maus. In MetaMaus he tells his story of how he came about writing a graphic novel about the Holocaust. See the YouTube Video.

Check out the Article in the New Republic about Art Spiegelman..."This writer is not Elie Wiesel or Primo Levi, though his work, like theirs, is based in testimony. He is not Piotr Rawicz or H.G. Adler, though he shares their interest in viewing real events through a filter of surrealism. He is not Thomas Keneally, though his work has a quality of the “nonfiction novel” about it; nor is he W.G. Sebald, though his books, like Sebald’s, have been described as a mix of fiction, documentary, and memoir. He is Art Spiegelman, and he has done more than any other writer of the last few decades to change our understanding of the way stories about the Holocaust can be written. Maus, Spiegelman’s “epic story told in tiny pictures”.

Next week...

Today in class we had vocabulary quiz 6/7. Papers were returned after the quiz,. Time was given to read In My Hands or Outside Reading Book.

Next Week's Plan:
Monday: Introduce Vocabulary Unit 8 (words and definitions), In My Hands (Part 1) and Survival in Auschwitz (Chapter 1), discuss Literature

Tuesday: NEW SEATS TODAY
In My Hands Part 2 Study Guide Due
Continue vocabulary Study and Literature Discussion
DUE BLOCK DAY: Read Survival in Auschwitz Chapters 2 and 3

Block Day:
Review Vocabulary...Quiz 8 and 1 on Friday...Multiple choice format
Discuss Literature

Friday (Mass Day):
Vocabulary Quiz 8/1 (Multiple Choice)
Time to read after quiz (IMH, Outside Reading)

Monday 10-24-11 Day Off For Students
Thesis proposal submitted to turnitin.com DISCUSSION based off paper #2 Being American Essay Contest. Paper linked here.
Tuesday 10-25-11 Lit Quiz IMH Part 2 and SIA Chapters 2 and 3

This coming week...

This week's schedule is a bit different from last week. Yet another anomalous schedule (vocab word):

Monday
we'll introduce vocabulary Lesson 7
library group web project due
bring Survival in Auschwitz .. read Chapter 1 for Block Day

Tuesday is MASS day and Block 2-4-6
we'll discuss In My Hands and Survival in Auschwitz and well as work on vocabulary

Wednesday is PSAT testing...spirit attire...test in HOMEROOM

Thursday Blocks 1-3-5 and club day during homeroom
Same as Tuesday

Friday
Vocabulary quiz 6/7 (6 = sentences and 7 = multiple choice)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. IN MY HANDS QUIZ ... PART 1 ON FRIDAY 10/14 OR MONDAY 10/17
2. PAPER 1 FINAL DRAFT DUE BY MONDAY 10/17 AT 11:59 (UPLOADED TO WWW.TURNITIN.COM) I POSTED THE TAB TO SUBMIT THE FINAL DRAFT ON FRIDAY 10-7-11. You can turn in the final draft early. The rubric (same one from rough draft) is due on Monday 10-14-11 in class...or earlier if you submit it early!!!! Make sure you write word count on rubric as well as write out your thesis. You get points for both.
3. In My Hands...Part 2 Due Tuesday 10-18 and Part 3 due on the 25th... Link to study guide documents

Mitch Albom

Many of your Library of Congress Rough Drafts were letters to Mitch Albom. I am linking his website here so you can peruse his site for other books, his latest newspaper articles, etc.

Block Day...World Cafe Day

Block Day...Announced that Vocabulary Lesson 6 and 7 will be a JOINT Quiz on Friday 10-14-11.Lesson 6 will be covered with sentences and 7 will be multiple choice.

Today we had World Cafe Discussions...will continue Friday. Powerpoint we look through will be linked to the website on Friday.

Friday...In My Hands Read Part 1 and Study Guide Due

Due Monday: Group Project from Tuesday in the library

PSAT WEDNESDAY 10-12-11

Friday 10-14-11 Vocabulary Quiz 6-7

Holocaust Studies Web Search in the Library Today

You will work with your classroom "neighbor" today. The assignment is due by the end of the period. If, for some reason, you do NOT get the assignment completed, you and your partner are responsible for turning it in No LATER THAN Monday 10-10-11.

What do you do?

Start with going to the class website...Holocaust Studies Page.

Download the Holocaust Web Activity Document...that is the one you are teaming up to complete.

Useful link to open in a NEW window...United State Holocaust Memorial Museum (www.ushmm.org). ALL of your web research will be from this site.

Monday 10-3-11

Today I passed back Vocabulary Quiz 5 ... corrections due Block Day.

Literature Quiz 1 (Short Answer format) was given in class...time was given to sign up for Outside Reading, Read In My Hands, correct vocabulary Quiz or start Vocabulary Lesson 6 words and definitions.

Complete Vocabulary Words and Definitions lesson 6 if not done in class...due Block Day

Tuesday:
Mass Day...wear Tie Day Attire
Meet in the library for group work/research ... library work is due Monday 10-10-11.

Block Day:
Vocabulary Study
Literature Discussion "World Cafe"

Friday:
Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 6 (sentence format)
In My Hands Part 1 reading ans Study Guide Due

Books About Football History

Perhaps this is a topic about which you wish to read...check it out

Smithsonian Magazine Article The Essentials: Five Books on Football History

TOP 10 Books Lost to Time

Read this fascinating article from Smithsonian.com

Friday 9-30-11

Today was vocabulary Quiz Lesson 5 (multiple choice format). Next week lesson 6 will be sentence format.

After the quiz you were to take one paper from each of the three piles on my desk and to put them in the WRITING section of your binders. We'll look to those pages from time to time as we discuss paper revisions, etc. They are RESOURCES to keep in your binder ... NOT necessary to read ASAP.

After the quiz, you had the rest of the class time to read In My Hands. Part 1 reading and worksheet are due next Friday 10-7-11.

MONDAY...literature quiz #1 (short answer format).

As I complete your drafts, I'll send emails through turnitin.com to the class. Make sure you check as you may be required to submit an additional draft so that I can give you more feedback.

Tuesday 9-27-11

Today we discussed the homework assignment from the weekend and will continue on Block Day.

Did words and definitions chapter 5...Multiple Choice 25 point quiz on Friday.

Monday 9-26-11

House cleaning and get organized day!!

Papers passed back. Time was given to hole punch and get all papers put in the correct location in class binders. http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Key Dates to know:
Rubric for paper 1 was due in class today. Assignment must be uploaded to www.turnitin.com by 11:59 tonight to be on time.

Correct vocabulary quiz lessons (2/3) and 4 by BLOCK DAY. Return scantron (4) for use on Friday's quiz.

Friday 9-30-11 Vocabulary quiz 5 (multiple choice)

Monday 10-3-11 Have outside reading book chosen. If you chose BLOG Cross Country Connections, have joined as a "follower" no later than this date.

Monday 10-3-11 Literature Quiz on Management of Grief, Trail of the Green Blazer, Story of an Hour, Thesis, Lit Book 12-21 and writing/reading handouts. (Short Answer format)

Friday 10-7-11 Vocabulary Lesson 6 quiz...use words in sentences AND In My Hands Part 1 Reading and Study Guide Due. Linked Here

I found a link to the Story of an Hour

if you do not have your book...click on the link below:

Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin (1894)

Friday...

Friday is Vocabulary Quiz 4 ... Multiple Choice
After the quiz...Read Story from an Hour (314-315 Lit Book) and answer all the questions on the worksheet. Typed responses due Monday. Document linked on the SHORT STORY page of the webiste. Linked here.


Upcoming Due Dates:
Monday 9-26-11 Library of Congress ROUGH DRAFT...due to www.turnitin.com by Midnight Monday. Rubric due in class Monday. Remember guidelines can be found on papers page of website. Email me at renemacvay@yahoo.com if you have questions. I'll be in class on Monday as well to answer questions.


Monday Papers that have been graded...everything on SOTW will be passed back. Vocabulary quiz corrections 2-3-4 due BLOCK DAY.

Friday 9-30-11 Vocabulary Lesson 5 Multiple Choice Format Quiz and Literature Quiz.


REMINDER
My Tutoring Time...Wednesdays 7 AM

Starting in October...
Tuesday AM...writing workshop...get help or work on CONTEST entries
Thursday AM...vocabulary games...learn while having fun and earning BONUS points!


Mr. Osberg Tutors at lunch M-Th in Mrs. Arnn's room.

In My Hands Study Guide

was posted on the In My Hands page of the class website

I pushed back the first deadline as several students were without books. WE CANNOT delay the rest of the books. September 19th was the deadline. You are expected to have Survival in Auschwitz and Brave New World already. We will start Survival in Auschwitz by October 15th.


Part 1: Due Friday 10/7/11
Part 2: Due Tuesday 10/18/11
Part 3: Due Tuesday 10/25/11

Block Day

Vocabulary Review: Words/Definitions Card Game to make sentences

Management of Grief Discussion

Tuesday 9-20-11

Today we worked on Vocabulary Lesson 4 pages 54 and 56 (1-10 on each page).

We discussed the concepts of THESIS, reading and predicting and the Significance of a story's title (discussing 20/20 and The Management of Grief).

Block Day...We'll continue discussing:
FOIL
Mood
Setting
Characters
Role of Gender, Role of Immigrant
Religion and Culture Clash
Search for Self
Culture Study Through Reading Literature

Tutoring Hours...

Remember I have morning duty at the stairwell until the 21st. If you need to come in on Wednesday make sure you stop by early since I cannot stay in the classroom all the time until Mass begins.


Starting in OCTOBER...

Tuesday mornings will be drop in writing help. We can work on your current papers or creative writing OR writing contest entries...BONUS points in writing category for well developed, insightful contest entries. Bonus goes to papers that are created with effort, over and above the general requirements for the class.

Thursday Mornings we'll have drop in vocabulary games. We'll have Scrabble and Upwords and Crosswords. Interact with words, study vocabulary. Have FUN learning. Earn BONUS points in vocabulary quiz category.

Week of 9-19-11

Monday:
1. We completed words and definitions for lesson 4 in the Vocabulary Book and completed 1-5 of the synonyms and 15-20 of the antonyms section in lesson 4
2. I showed everyone how to upload their paper draft to www.turnitin.com (due NEXT MONDAY night by 11:59 PM)
3. Due Tomorrow...read literature Book pages 12-21
4. Of the Semester 1 books, bring to class In My Hands starting tomorrow. The rest can stay in your locker.

Tuesday and Block Day:
Vocabulary Review and Literature Discussion
Return vocabulary quiz lessons 2/3 and Summer Reading tests.Vocabulary corrections due Monday 9-26-11.

Friday:
1. Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 4 (Multiple choice)
2. When finished with the vocabulary quiz, read The Story of an Hour (ACTIVE READ) from your lit book...page 314-315.

Outside Reading Book ... you need to make a choice...

After you read the rubric on the papers page of the website, you are reminded that you can chose, OPTION 1 ... participate in Cross Country Connections and do 2 small parts of the Outside Reading Report OR to complete the outside reading report. The due date to decide is the last day of September. You need to have your book APPROVED by me BEFORE the first class day in October OR have committed to the blog Cross Country Connections by JOINING.

You CAN do both, one would be considered BONUS. You NEED to make a decision by the first day of class in OCTOBER.

I can work with you on the publication date...preferably it is within your lifetime but exceptions can be made...see me!

If you wish to do MAUS I and II ... you can order off Amazon (at this time used books start at $2.03) or go to Barnes and Noble in town.

If you are looking to find a Historical Fiction, Coming of Age Story or Memoir that was written NEAR your lifetime...you can look to some of these locations for lists of books, book reviews and other helpful information.

For the Love of Ya (a Blog about Young Adult literature, author interviews, book reviews). This blog is by a friend of mine, one of my fellow USHMM Teacher Fellows.

Coming of Age Books Website
Nonfiction Coming of Age List by Amazon

Top 9 Coming of Age Novels on About.com

Coming of Age Book Club Classics

Historical Fiction Novels listed by time and place

Historical Novel Society ... information about NEW historical titles

Historical Fiction and Memoir titles

Historical Fiction Novels List by Amazon.com

Top 10 Best Memoir Novels

Popular Memoir Books

Biographies and Memoirs of Athletes

Thesis Statements...and upcoming class schedule...

Friday we'll have Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 2/3. After the quiz, the assignment is to read the handout about FORMING A THESIS STATEMENT. (Linked here)

All students NEED to go to the papers page of the webiste and start to formulate ideas for paper draft #1 Due uploaded to turnitin.com by midnight Monday 9-26-11. All students need to also make a decision as to their Outside Reading Book...Options 1 or 2 or BOTH read the book and participate in the blog ... Bonus if you do more than what is minimum expectation! A decision needs to be made/title chosen and approved by the first day of class in October (Paper Grade for your choice).

No written homework this weekend...start to work on your paper!

Next week...

We'll work on vocabulary lesson 4 & discuss short stories. Bring your semester 1 novel In My Hands with you on Block Day. Vocabulary quiz lesson 4 (multiple choice) on Friday.

I have morning duty ... just realized I forgot to tell you in class today.

September 15-21...I will not be avail;able in the classroom for assistance but will be at the parking stairwell (outside college counseling) from 7:25-7:40 each day. Stop by if you have any questions that I can answer from there!

I'll post a note on the door as an additional reminder.

Block Days...Upcoming Due Dates

BLOCK DAYS the Portfolios you had in Mrs. Arnn's class will be returned. They are to be kept in your locker OR at home. We will access them once or twice per semester. You will have notice as to when to bring them back to class.http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

Outside reading books can be kept at home or in your lockers till Semester Exam Review in December.

Today I went over due dates and paper topic information for Paper #1 and The Outside Reading Report. All dates and rubrics can be found on the papers page of the class website. We wrote down the dates in our planner.

We complete vocabulary Book Pages 38 (1-10) and 40 (1-10). We went over the answers to those as well as the synonyms and antonyms from yesterday.

We started to discuss A Management of Grief and Trail of the Green Blazer....more next week.

Upcoming Due Dates:
Friday: Vocabulary Quiz Lessons 2/3
Monday 9/19 have Semester 1 novels in class.
Friday 8/23 Vocabulary Quiz (4...Multiple Choice)
Monday 9/26 Rough Draft Paper #1
Friday 9/30 Vocabulary (5...Multiple Choice)
Monday 10/3 Have Outside Reading Book Chosen and Approved and written down on chart in class. Choice MUST be finalized by today for full credit.

Papers Page of the Website is finalized...

Announcement about Outside Reading, and papers to be given in class on block days this week.

Tuesday 9-13-11

I missed everyone yesterday. Nice to be back today!

I passed back papers today. The MULTIPLE CHOICE section of the summer reading test was given today. If you missed it, come in before school tomorrow during my tutoring hours or art lunch Thursday. If those times do not work for you, email me asap so we can make plans.

After the test, students had time to work on vocabulary lesson 3 synonyms and antonyms. Block 3 corrected the assignment, the other classes will start by correcting that block day. What was not finished in class is homework.

Block day we'll review vocabulary and discuss A Management of Grief and Trail of the Green Blazer. Paper Topics for the Semester AND Outside Reading Options will be discussed.

Friday...quiz on Vocabulary Lessons 2-3 (50 Multiple choice and 10 words (from lesson 2) that you must use 5 of them in sentences about a given comic.

WOW...did not expect today off!

Change in Plans...

Monday...you will still have your Summer Reading Essay Test...Read Management of Grief and complete vocabulary words and definitions lesson 3 when you finish. Finish for homework.

Tuesday - Summer Reading Multiple Choice Test

Friday - Vocabulary Quiz...2 AND 3 (format of 2 is still Multiple choice and sentences...three will be ONLY multiple choice)

Q: What else will we do during the week?
A: Return papers, discuss Trail of Green Blazer and Discuss Management of Grief, vocabulary lesson 3 AND discuss paper topics for this semester.

Block Day

Vocabulary Unit 2 group work:
Page 31 (1-0)
Page 32 (first 5 of antonyms and synonyms)
Page 33 (1-10)

Discuss Tuesdays With Morrie Questions from Last Block Day Blog Post
Discuss The Five People You Meet in Heaven and create conflict chart (found on summer reading page of class website)

Vocabulary Quiz Unit 1 corrections collected

Blocks 2-4-6 did not get to starting The Management of Grief on Wednesday.

Due Friday:
Have Lit Book or story copied and with you in class
Vocabulary Quiz unit 2 (multiple choice + sentences)
Summer Reading Test

Outside Reading

Did you read the August 30th Blog Post? As you are starting to think about picking an outside reading title...perhaps taking the option and participating in the online book club is the option you wish to take.

If so...look for the book...it is officially announced and open today!

http://crosscountryconnections.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 9-6-11

Today I passed back Vocabulary Quiz #1. Some time was given for students to make corrections. If not completed in class, the corrections are homework due BLOCK DAY.

In class there was time to start working on activities in the vocabulary book (pages 31, 33 1-10 each page).

Friday's vocabulary quiz will be part multiple choice and part writing sentences using the words.

I collected $12.00 for the Upfront Magazine.

Make a copy of The Management of Grief (lit book page 224-236) if you do not have your book yet.

Friday...Multiple Choice Test based on summer reading...Monday essay test.

Connention to the Curriculum

The Tempest is playing at the Old Globe for a few more weeks.



If you wish to attend a performance and earn bonus points, you may do so. (Keep in mind, the show is not free, there is an expense involved.) If you see a performance, bring in your ticket stubs and you will be given an assignment to complete to earn the bonus points. We will read the play after Easter Break.

September 1, 2011

Friday we will have our first vocabulary quiz. Remember it is Multiple Choice this week...words and definitions and completing the sentences. Make sure to have a pencil for use on the SCANTRON!

When you complete your vocabulary quiz, you will have the rest of the class period to complete the following:

Due Tuesday 9-6-11

1. Write the words and definitions for Vocabulary Unit 2

2. Bring your LITERATURE BOOK to class

3. Bring the $12.00 for the Upfront Magazine

4. Active Read Trail of the Green Blazer by
R.K. Narayan and complete the questions found on the Short Story page of the class website . Be prepared for a reading quiz on Tuesday.

Next Week:
Tuesday and Block Day...discuss vocabulary and summer reading.
Friday: Vocabulary quiz...unit 2 (use the words in sentences and multiple choice) AND Multiple Choice Format Summer Reading Test

Week of 9/12/11
Monday 9-12-11 Summer Reading Essay Test.

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.

Summer Reading 2011-2012

I have had a few emails on my yahoo account with people asking me about the summer reading assignment. I the previous post I state it is on the website (link in previous post) and is labeled summerreading2011-2012.

YOU DO NOT NEED to do 5 assignments, just that ONE.

The other documents will be used in class discussions, etc.

Summer Reading for ALL 10th Grade Saintsmen

All incoming 10th grade Saintsmen need to complete the Summer Reading. The assignment (TITLED summerreading20112012) can be downloaded from Ms. MacVay's Website (https://sites.google.com/site/english2macvay/summer-reading).

All students should bring the books to class on Day 1 as well as the homework assignment (open in a word document and TYPE the answers AFTER the questions). There will be a test shortly after school begins.

Any questions? Email Ms. MacVay (renemacvay@yahoo.com).

June 9th...Happy Summer Vacation

Sophomores...you are now half way through high school! Congrats! If you read any good books this summer, please share so I can pass on the titles to the next class!

Have a great summer!

Ms. MacVay

May 31st

Today we took our pronoun quiz and all papers were returned. Block 1 started The Road Less Traveled by Frost (Lit book)

June 1st/2nd Block Day: The Road Less Traveled + 1 additional poem
The Tempest Essay and Short Answer section of final exam
Friday June 4th: Poetry Final
Tuesday June 7th: 8:30 Final Exam

Thursday May 26th

Today we reviewed pronouns (page 196 exercise A and page 623-624 exercise 7). Tuesday we'll have a pronoun quiz. Blocks 3 and 4 were given their vocabulary books to take home or recycle. Block 1 will get them on Tuesday.

We discussed The Tempest and the Theme/Motif review assignment.

Tuesday: Grammar Quiz and Poetry
Block Day: Poetry and Tempest Essay Test (part of final)
Friday: Poetry Final

Tuesday June 7th Final Exam at 8:30 (100 Scantron, 1 essay)
Block 1...room 316
Block 3...room 318
Block 4...with me in room 322

Wednesday 5-25-11

Today we continued to review pronouns. Today we discussed nominative and objective case as well as elliptical clauses. We discussed The Waking by Roethke and took The Tempest quiz on Acts 3-5.

Thursday the exam review editorial cartoon assignment is due. We'll discuss pronouns, poetry and the cartoons in class.

Tuesday 5-31-11: Pronoun Quiz, Tempest Talk and Poetry Discussion
Block Day: Poetry Discussion and Tempest Final Exam Essay/Short Answer
Friday June 4: Poetry Final in class (2 poems, 1 NEW ... 10 Questions)

Tuesday June 7: 8:30 AM Final Exam (100 Scantron, 1 cumulative essay ... Need PENCIL and PEN)

Monday 5-20-11

Pronoun Packet Review (Pages 9, 11)
The Tempest Discussion
Topics:
1. Literal and Figurative Meaning of Title
2. "Playing God"
3. Is the Tempest a blessing or a curse?
4. Miranda
5. Colonialism - Shakespeare's attitude about it
6. Restoration of Natural Order
7. Prospero's Fatal flaw that lead to his loss of his Dukedom

Final Exam Review...Introduced editorial Cartoom Assignment. Blocks 1, 4 had 10-15 minutes to work on it...block 3 will get assignment at the start of class tomorrow.

We did not get to TPCASTT...will do so tomorrow with Brother Barney visiting the class and continye on Wednesday and Thursday

The Tempest Quiz on Wednesday (Acts 3-5)

Friday 5-20-11

Today we discussed The Tempest, Pronouns (Packet page 8 exercise 2 #'s 10-20), and were given a poetry assignment for Monday/Tuesday.

For Monday TPCASTT:
The Road Not Taken and Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Brooks (Lit book pages 584-585)
Harlem and The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes (Lit Book pages 592-593)
London by William Blake (Lit book page 422-423)

And Poem printed in packet: The Waking by Theodore Roethke

For Tuesday the following poems printed int the packet:
Anthem of a Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
Suicide in the Trenches Siegfried Sassoon
Five Ways to Kill a Man by: Edwin Brock

Block Days May 18 and 19

Block Days we finished The Tempest Acts 1-2 Presentations, Reviewed Pronouns (Packet...Antecedents, Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns), and discussed poetry.

We reviewed Dule at Decorum Est on page 604 in our text and connected it with One by Metallica

Check out the Final Exam Review Information on the FINAL EXAM REVIEW page on the website.

Tomorrow...Friday 5-20-11
Pronoun Review, Tempest Talk and Poems

HOMEWORK for the weekend = TPCASTT worksheet

May 17th

In class papers were returned and the class presented portions of Acts 1 and 2 to their peers.

Block Day:
Acts 4 and 5 are due
BRING YOUR LITERATURE BOOKS - Poetry Discussion
Grammar Activity - Pronouns
Tempest Talk

Thursday: SPIRIT DRESS, Friday Tie Day

Friday...More of the Same

IMPORTANT SCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Pronoun quiz will now be May 31st
The Tempest Acts 3 -5 Quiz Block Days May 25/26

Monday May 16th

Today we took our quizzes on Punctuation and The Tempest Acts 1 and 2.

Tuesday Group Presentations of Acts 1 and 2, Pronoun review

Block Day The Tempest Act 3 Due
Bring Your LITERATURE BOOKS as well as The Tempest
The Tempest discussion and Pronoun review

I created a FINAL EXAM review page on the class website. It includes a class assignment that we will start in class on Monday 5-23-11. What is not completed in class is due Block Day 5-25/26.

Friday May 13th...

Friday the 13th was a LUCKY DAY for many! The Underclass Awards Assembly ran long...therefore we did not have our quizzes...they will be Monday.

Instead, Here's what we did if you were absent:
Block 1: Began group work on Acts 1 and 2 of The Tempest
Blocks 3 and 4: Finished Grammar Packet review

Monday:
The Tempest Acts 1 and 2 and Punctuation Quiz (Correct both AND Commonly Confused words)
The Tempest Act 3 WS due

Tuesday:
Pronouns and The Tempest

Block Day:
Pronouns, The Tempest Acts 4 and 5 Due

Friday 5-20-11
Senior Awards Assembly
Quiz: Pronouns, The Tempest Acts 3-5

Image: Miranda by John William Waterhouse 1916

Block Day and the rest of the week...

We worked on IMPROVING PARAGRAPHS in our vocabulary book (44-45, 86-87)
We completed the commas worksheet packet
We revised our resume and cover letter

Thursday:
Grammar WS Packet #2
Tempest

Friday:
Grammar Quiz and Tempest Quiz

Bonus Due tomorrow

those of you that are doing the bonus that is due tomorrow...

email me a copy of the document AND print out a hard copy. Due by 2:15 PM.

Monday 5-9-11

Blocks 3 and 4 have a bit of classwork to complete:
Block 3...Grammar WS page 165 (EX 1) 1-5, Page 167 (EX 1) 1-5, (EX 2) 1-3
Block 4...Grammar WS page 165 (EX 1) evens, Page 167 (EX 1) evens, (EX 2) odds

All classes completed Vocabulary Book pages 129-131 and 215-216

Due Block Day: Resume, Cover Letter and Rubric
Due Thursday: Tempest Act 2

Friday: Tempest Quiz, Grammar Quiz (Punctuation)

This week in class: Tempest and Grammar (Punctuation)

Friday 5-6-11

Block 1: Completed Improving Paragraphs (Vocabulary Book pages 129-134)

Blocks 3 and 4: Completed Tempest Video

ALL Blocks:
Discussed Resume and cover letter completion tips.

Items to include on your resume that you may not have considered adding:
Are you CPR Certified? Any other certifications...SCUBA?
Are you an Eagle Scout?
Have you been accepted into any workshops for this summer?
Have you taken summer courses (not for remediation) at another school? (either for advancement or enrichment?)

Remember Schedule Change for NEXT Week:
Tuesday Mass Day - BLOCK schedule
Wednesday - Homeroom - BLOCK schedule

DUE DATES:
Monday 5-8-11 Tempest Act 1
Thursday 5-12-11 Tempest Act 2
** Friday 5-13-11 Tempest Quiz and Grammar Quiz (Punctuation)
Resume BLOCK Day

REMINDER:
Two students need to complete the ESLR ... come in before school Tuesday 5-10 or Wednesday 5-11

Block Day...Resume Work

In the library today you will work on your resume.

First, look at the rubric on the PAPERS page of the website.

Then go to NAVIANCE on the school website.

Enter Naviance and start to build your resume with key information about your current and past accomplishments. Remember...DO NOT PROJECT into the future.

DRAFT DUE...with rubric...IN CLASS Tuesday May 10th

Final Due ...with rough draft and rubric as well...IN CLASS Tuesday May 24th

BONUS OPPORTUNITY

I was sent information about a writing contest...DEADLINE MAY 10TH. If you complete the writing contest and have all appropriate forms filled out and given to me to mail on May 10th, you will earn up to 25 BONUS points in the PAPERS Category! See me for topic information and entry details.

May 3, 2011

Block 1: Death Penalty Debate based on Upfront Magazine 4-18-11

Blocks 3 and 4: Lou Dunst (Holocaust Survivor) as guest speaker. Read a story about him in the LA Times (March 6, 2006)

Sign on San Diego story about Lou.

Lou Dunst's Story: When Lou Dunst was a teenager, imprisoned in a series of Nazi concentration camps, he begged God: “Please let me live – if for nothing else than to tell my story.” Dunst did survive the war. His is a gripping tale, full of heartache and suspense.

Born in 1926, Lou was only fourteen years old when all Jewish males in Jasina, Czechoslovakia 14 years and older were taken as slave labor. He was transported in boxcars to various concentration camps over time.

On the morning of May 6, 1945, Dunst was literally at death's door. A 19-year-old Ukrainian Jew in a Nazi concentration camp in Austria, he had crawled onto a pile of corpses outside the crematorium to perish. But that afternoon, General Patton's Third Army drove liberated Dunst and the rest of Ebensee's 18,000 prisoners. (Courtesy of Chabad of Downtown)

BLOCK DAY: Meet in the library to work on your RESUME

May 2, 2011

Welcome back from break! Today I passed back some papers and we got organized for the last 5 weeks of school. We started to watch a TEMPEST video (on The Tempest page on the class website)

A few things to remember:

1. If there is NO ARS grade in SOTW, bring a printed copy to class tomorrow. That means I could not read what you submitted or the formatting was changed so much in the upload that I need a printed copy.

2. Make-Up Frankenstein tests: Before or After School Wednesday (5-4-11)

3. Make-up ESLR completion for the TWO that need to finish due to absences before break. Wednesday this week before or after school or Tuesday and Wednesday next week (5/10 or 5/11 before school)

4. Paper regrades, if desired, due NO LATER THAN JUNE 1, 2011. Print the regrade and turn in with original rubric and original assignment if it is not on turnitin.com for me to access.

5. Naviance passwords...you need to know for BLOCK day this week.

The Tempest

Study Guides are attached to the TEMPEST page of the class website. A short BBC animated film is there...we'll watch in class but you can view as you read if that helps you.

Due Dates:
Act 1...Monday 5-9-11
Act 2...Block Day 5-11/12-11
Act 3...Monday 5-16-11
Acts 4 and 5...Block Day 5-18/19-11

Image by George Romney, the most fashionable British painter of his day...late 1700s.

Thursday 4-21-11

Commonly Confused Words Quiz today
Block 1: Upfront Debate
Blocks 3/4: Frankenstein Animation

Wednesday 4-20-11

Grammar Review - Commonly Confused Words V
Grammar Quiz TOMORROW

Frankenstein Multiple Choice Test
Read Upfront Magazine 2-21-11 (6-9,22)

Thursday - UPFRONT Debate from Monday and Tuesday's Readings

IF TIME...Frankenstein Animation

Tuesday 4-19-11

Today we continued to work on COMMONLY CONFUSED WORDS...part IV "A". QUIZ THURSDAY.

The Frankenstein essay was completed.

After the essay...read:
UPFRONT Magazine April 4, 2011 (8-11, 20, 22). Prepare for a debate on Thursday!

Frankenstein Test

You will turn in your BOOK when you take the essay test. You get it back the next day. It is ALLOWED, EVEN ENCOURAGED, to look that the themes on the Frankenstein page of the website and put post-it notes on KEY pages where quotes are that you wish to use. That will speed up your textual evidence gathering.

Tuesday: ESSAY test
Wednesday: scantron portion

Frankenstein and Grammar

Today we continued to review commonly confused words ans Frankenstein.

Next Week:
Monday ARS due
Tuesday and Wednesday Frankenstein test
Thursday Commonly Confused Words Quiz/Upfront Debate
Check with Dr. Rey if you need a new Naviance Password

Frankenstin Discussion

Today we discussed Frankenstein and related Frankenstein to the Holocaust literature, Macbeth and Brave New World from THE FIRST SEMESTER.

Topics Discussed include:
SEEING (and lack of sight)...literally and figuratively (relate to Holocaust literature)
Water and symbolism in literature, symbolism in this story
The role of weather in foreshadowing actions to come
Victor's Fatal Flaw
SIN...are Victor's actions considered sinful or not?
Nature vs Nurture...is the Creature Good or Evil?
Human vs Creature
Why the Creature has NO NAME?
Cycle of Revenge


BONUS: What is the FIRST novel written on a TYPEWRITER? Submit by 5 PM Tuesday 4-12-11.

Upcoming Assignments

Tuesday 4/12 Frankenstein completion
Friday 4/15 Grammar Quiz (commonly confused words)

Monday 4/18 ARS uploaded to www.turnitin.com by 11:59 PM
Monday 4/18 and Tuesday 4/19 Frankenstein test

By Friday 4-15-11
GO TO Naviance on the school website (under college counseling). Make sure you have the correct udername and password and CAN LOG IN...See Dr. Rey BEFORE BREAK if you cannot get in. The first day back we'll use that site in class to start completing the resumes we started in homeroom...the final paper of the semester.

BLOG BONUS ... Due Saturday by 5 PM:
Where is the NCAA Hall of Champions located?

Friday April 8th

Today we discussed Frankenstein concepts:
Weather/Nature as a tool for Foreshadowing evil/negative events to come
Victor...whether he has a heavy or light soul .. judging his actions

Monday we'll discuss topics we did not cover on Friday as well as:
Power of Words/Knowledge
"Seeing" ... what is REAL
What defines a "monster"
What makes a HUMAN
Man is born good but evil due to society...nature vs nurture
Romantic "Quest"

Connections w/Macbeth, Brave New World, Holocaust Literature

ESLRs and Writing Exam

Those that were absent during the WRITING EXAM ... the final Make-Up/completion opportunity is Monday at 7 AM.

Those who did not pass the ESLR Writing Opportunity...we scheduled times to meet...I'll be here for our appointment (Monday-Wednesday next week).

Wednesday 4-6-11

People who missed the writing exam were to have come in before school to complete it...only 2 did. Those that missed MUST come in Monday at 7 AM (April 11th) to complete this...it is worth 10% of your semester grade. You do not want me to grade "as is".

Tuesday was a busy day!

16 people went to the library today...two groups of eight in each class. The library time was a small group opportunity to work on the ARS. While in class we:
1. Corrected the Active/Passive Verbs Grammar Quiz
2. Passed back papers
3. Complete Vocabulary Book Grammar Sections pages 196-197 and 233-235

Block Day:
Frankenstein 16-18 Due
Correct Grammar Exercise from Vocabulary Book
Frankenstein circle discussion
Debate ...if time...otherwise read article...debate Friday

Friday:
Return all papers that have not been returned
Final 8 or so from each class go to the library to work on ARS
Frankenstein 19-21 due
Circle discussion

REMINDERS:
THOSE THAT NEED TO MAKE UP THE WRITING EXAM...BEFORE SCHOOL TOMORROW, WEDNESDAY. IF YOU MISSED CLASS ON MONDAY AND NEED ARS ASSISTANCE, SEE ME BEFORE SCHOOL WEDNESDAY OR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF LUNCH WEDNESDAY.

Library of Congress

Visit the Library of Congress Website to access a plethora of resources.

Start with the collection that BEST fits your needs. For example, if you BIOGRAPHY was about a sports figure, look through Sports & Leisure. If yours was about a president, look into American History.

Browse to find resources...primary sources...photos, letters, decrees, newspaper stories, etc. that relate to your biography.

Develop an ANNOTATED RESOURCE SET, ARS. The template in on the PAPERS page of the website. Include a thumbnail image of the resource and a short commentary about WHY this source would be valuable to learn more about your subject.You may find that the information you discover shows that the biographer modified the truth or, was told less than 100% true information from the source. Look to PROVE/DISPROVE historical accuracy.

We'll work in the library Monday and Tuesday 4/4 and 4/5 ... due to www.turnitin.com by Monday 4-11-11 at 11:59 PM. CHANGED ... due to the difficulty in the GROUP access of the site today...this section is due NO LATER THAN Monday 4-18-11 11:59 PM...www.turnitin.com

Monday April 4th

Due in class: OR rubric and creative portions of the OR report. The rest of teh report is due,uploaded to turnitin.com, by 11:59 pm.

We'll work in the library on the ANNOTATED RESOURCES SET Monday and Tuesday.

Block Day - We'll be back in the classroom...papers will be returned, the next Frankenstein chapters will be due and we'll have a Frankenstein circle discussion.

Writing Exam, Frankenstein & Outside Reading

The WRITING EXAM will conclude on Friday. Those who missed a day due to absence...the MAKE UP will be WEDNESDAY 4-6-11 BEFORE SCHOOL IN ROOM 322 ... MEET AT 7 AM.

Outside Reading (except annotated resource set) due Monday April 4th.

Frankenstein Chapters 16-18 due Block Day next week...circle discussions on Block Day.

BONUS: The creature learned from books like Plutarch's Lives, Sorrows of Werter and Paradise Lost. When and where were these books written? Due Thursday by 10 PM

Block Day

Block Day this week we'll spend 15-20 minutes on a peer review. Bring a pen of a different color for editing purposes!

The remainder of the class will be spent on the WRITING EXAM. If you need to take a break and know you can finish by Friday at the end of class, you can read Frankenstein or your Outside Reading Book.

Blog Bonus: Frankenstein traveled to Mount Blanc. Where is it? What significant event occurred there in 1924? Respond by Wednesday by 5 PM.

Week of March 28th

Writing Exam this week.

Monday the prompt, rubric and article will be introduced. Writing will continue all week. Bring your Frankenstein and Outside Reading books to read if you have extra time in class.

Outside Reading book and report (all but the annotated resource section) is due Monday April 4th. Upload to turnitin.com.

Monday April 4th and Tuesday April 5th we'll work in the library on the annotated resource section...with that portion dye uploaded to turnitin.com no later than Monday April 11th.

Block Days April 6th and 7th we'll commence circle discussions about Frankenstein!

Block Day

Grammar Review in the Vocabulary Book (152-154)
Active and Passive Voice Exercise #4 page 615-616 (Quiz on Friday)

Discuss Frankenstein:
Romanticism & Gothic Novel (ELEMENTS)
Rime of the Ancient Mariner and Prometheus Myth...Inspirations for author

Remember AUTOBIOGRAPHY PAPER UPLOADED TO TURINITIN.COM BY 11:59 FRIDAY NIGHT. BRING FINAL DRAFT RUBRIC TO CLASS ON FRIDAY.

Tuesday March 22nd

Today in class I returned Macbeth tests. We also reviewed Voices of Verbs and Shifts in Tenses (pages 141-145 in the Grammar Book).

Monday March 21st

Happy First Day OF Spring!

Today we turned in Frankenstein Chapters 1-5 WS and I passed back Letters. We also covered the following Grammar review exercises:
Vocabulary Book pages 110-112
Grammar Book 129

We corrected the Capitalization test

This Week:
Discuss Verbs unit in the Grammar Book and Discuss Frankenstein
Return Macbeth Test
Frankenstein 6-8 Due Block Day
Verb Quiz Friday
Autobiography Final Draft Rubric Due in class Friday, paper uploaded to WWW.turnitin.com by 11:50 PM.

REMEMBER...LATE START THURSDAY...NO HOMEROOM PERIOD

aPRIL 1ST...REGISTRATION/CLASS SCHEDULES ARE DUE.

Friday March 18th

Today we did the GRAMMAR REVIEW in our vocabulary book on pages 65-67 then took a CAPITALIZATION QUIZ.

Monday: Frankenstein WS Chapters 1-5 is due
We'll correct the Capitalization quiz

Tuesday: Grammar Concept: Active and Passive Voice of Verbs

Other Upcoming Deadlines:
Frankenstein 6-8 Block Day
Grammar Quiz (Verbs) Friday
Autobiography Rubric Due in Class and Paper Uploaded by 11:59 pm (Friday 25th)

Monday March 14th

Monday and Tuesday we will take the Macbeth test. After the test the assignment on the board is to:
1. Read the January 10th Upfront Magazine articles on pages 12-17. Prepare for discussion on BLOCK DAY.
2. Read Frankenstein LETTERS and complete WS (Frankenstein page of website)

Grammar will be discussed all week. We will continue with capitalization and move on to active vs passive voice of verbs, pronoun reference and punctuation. There will be a CAPITALIZATION Grammar quiz on Friday.

The Frankenstein Reading and Worksheet Due Dates:
BLOCK DAY 3/16-17 Introduction about author (link on Frankenstein page of class website) and Letters section
Monday 3/21 Chapters 1-5
Block Day 3/23-24 Chapters 6-8
Monday 3/28 Chapters 9-12
Block Day 3/30-31 Chapters 13-15
Block Day 46-7 Chapters 16-18
Friday 4/8 Chapters 19-21
Tuesday 4/12 Complete Book
TEST...Monday and Tuesday April 18, 19 (Holy Week ...take test before you go if you will be absent)

Upcoming Due Dates
Friday 3/25 Autobiography Final Draft
Monday April 4th Outside Reading Report (all but Annotated Resource Section...will work on in library 4/4 and 4/5 with that section due 4/11)

FYI: Writing Exam IN CLASS week of March 28th...if you will miss class for doctor appts, illness, sports, etc. please make arrangements to make up the time you missed the week of 4-4-11.

Thursday 3-10-11

This week we covered poetry and the Short Story Galloping Foxley by Roald Dahl.

Next Week:
Monday Macbeth test
Bring Frankenstein Book

Block Day:
Complete Frankenstein Letters and Read the Background information about the author Mary Shelley on the Frankenstein page of the website. The worksheet/study guide is attached to the website as 2011FrankensteinStudyGuide

Friday 3-18-11
Grammar Quiz - Capitalization and punctuation

Continue to read your Outside Reading Book ... Report (all but the Annotated Resource Section) is due April 4th.

Check out this link...

Word Warriors...

Word Warriors' 2011 top 10

Wayne State University launched this website two years ago to retrieve some of the English language's most expressive words from the dank closet of neglect, in hopes of boosting their chances of a return to conversation and narrative. Some of these words once were part of the common speech (it was hard to be a writer in the late 19th century, for instance, without "indefatigable"); others have capered in and out of the language like harlequins, dazzling and then just as suddenly departing. Others -- the wonderful "numinous," for one -- may never have been heard every day or even every year. Some, like "galoshes," just went into hiding for no apparent reason.

But no matter why especially expressive words have disappeared from everyday use, we believe many of them still deserve to be exercised freely in prose, poetry, song and story. Otherwise, we simply aren't painting our speech with a full palette.

So cue the fanfare, please. Check out the Word Warriors' 2011 list of the 10 best picks from last year’s selection of eminently useful but often overlooked words...

BLOG BONUS

BONUS due via email...send me a message to my yahoo account by 8 PM tonight.

Where is the mansion that F. Scott Fitzgerald based his novel the Great Gatsby located? Who currently lives in the home?

In what year was The Great Gatsby (an American novel) published?

Macbeth TEST

Monday 3-14-11 We will have the Multiple Choice section of our Macbeth test. Tuesday 3-15-11 we will have the essay portion of our Macbeth test.

Each day before the test we'll do a grammar lesson. After the test there will be time to read Frankenstein.

Being American Essay Contest

The winners were announced today.

You guys worked hard. Although none of you were finalists, you did a great job and should be proud of your efforts.

Two writing contests are posted on my door. If you wish to participate for BONUS PAPER CATEGORY POINTS, see me for details.

Friday March 4th

I was out of class Friday with some of your classmates at the awards ceremony for the Chapman University 12th Annual Holocaust Writing and Art Contest (Your intersession assignment).

Your assignments was to TPCASTT the following poems from your lit book for Monday:
page 470 My Papa's Waltz by Theodore Roethke
page 412 Sonnet by Shakespeare Let me not the marriage of true minds
page 485 Sonnet by Shakespeare Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

And the following for Tuesday:
page 411 Stop all the clocks, cut the telephone by W.H. Auden
page 604 Dule et Decorum Est by Wilfred Owen

If you finished in class, you were to read your OR Book or work on Macbeth crossword puzzle.

Next Week: Bring Macbeth, Lit Book and Grammar Book. We'll work on these poems, a short story and more CAPITALIZATION.

Tragedy

Aristotle's Definition of Tragedy:“Tragedy, then, is an imitation of an action that is serious, complete, and of a certain magnitude; in language embellished with each kind of artistic ornament, the several kinds being found in separate parts of the play; in the form of action, not of narrative; with incidents arousing pity and fear, wherewith to accomplish its katharsis of such emotions. . . . Every Tragedy, therefore, must have six parts, which parts determine its quality—namely, Plot, Characters, Diction, Thought, Spectacle, Melody.”

Further Details

According to Aristotle...a TRAGIC HERO...

...is a man of noble stature
...is not an ordinary man, but a man with outstanding quality and greatness about him
...His own destruction is for a greater cause or principle.

Common characteristics of a tragic hero
According to Aristotle:

1. Usually of noble birth

2. Hamartia – a.k.a. the tragic flaw that eventually leads to his downfall.

3. Peripeteia – a reversal of fortune brought about by the hero’s tragic flaw

4. His actions result in an increase of self- awareness and self-knowledge

5. The audience must feel pity and fear for this character.

Week of Feb. 28th

Monday we had class presentations on Acts 3 and 4. Students were told to start checking turnitin.com for autobiography comments. I'll have all completed by the end of this coming weekend. Final draft due Friday 3-25-11 at 11:59 (turnitin.com)...rubric will be due in class 3-25-11.

This week we'll discuss Macbeth and have quizzes on acts 3,4 and 5. No specific reading homework...work on reading outside reading...due April 4th (Monday).

Macbeth and Outside Reading

Next week's Macbeth quiz schedule is on the previous BLOG POST. We finished reading Macbeth this week (due Block Day).THEREFORE...THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO WORK ON READING YOUR OUTSIDE READING BOOK.

The homework suggestion from earlier this week was to take your OR book and look at the number of pages in the book. We looked at a calendar and the due date for the OR Report (not the Annotated resource list part) is April 4th. That was about 40 days. I suggested you divide the number of pages by the number of days you needed to read or by weeks and set small goals. This is the ONLY NON-READING week we'll have until the report is due. It's built in so you get a good start on the book.

The week of March 7th we'll look at Sonnets by Shakespeare.

Monday March 14th we'll have a Macbeth/Shakespeare test. The play itself, poetry and historical context will be covered on the test. Format: Multiple Choice and Essay.

Tuesday 2-22-11

Blocks 1 and 2 Read Acts 1 and discussed/read scenes from Act 2. Papers were returned.
Block 4 had time to work on reading Acts 4 and 5 and their OR selection in class.

Due Block Day:
Acts 4/5 Read/Worksheet
Quiz Act 1

Watch BBC Cartoon on GLOG if you wish a visual review (http://rmacvay.edu.glogster.com/macbeth/)

Friday:
Act 2 Quiz

Tuesday 3-1-11 Quiz Act 3
Block Day 3/2 or 3/3 Quiz Acts 4 and 5

Week of February 14th ... and beyond

Monday and Tuesday we read aloud and discussed Act 1 in detail...looking at author's writing style, characters and plot. Worksheets were returned. Block day all Act 1 and 2 WS will be returned.

Block Day:
1. We'll finish reading Act 1 in class. There WILL be an Act 1 Quiz on Tuesday 2-22-11.

2. Autobiography Rubric and class notes (family tree too) are due

3. Outside Reading Title needs to be written down on our form.

4. Act 3 WS due in class.

Friday 2-18-11 is a Day Off from Classes. Autobiography Paper Rough Draft is still due - uploaded to turnitin.com by 11:59 PM

Monday 2-21-11 Day Off - President's Day

Block Day 2/23 or 2/24 Acts 4/5 WS due in class.

Macbeth Test Friday 3-4-11.

Macbeth

Monday's class will include a discussion relating to HISTORICAL BACKGROUND. CHECK OUT THE GLOG used in class.

Macbeth Unit Test Friday 2-4-11.

Interesting UPCOMING NEW RELEASE...

Sports Fans and Baseball Players would appreciate

Week of February 7th...

Monday and Tuesday were the Sophomore Retreat.
In Class: Descriptive Writing and time to read and complete Macbeth WS Act 1
Block Day: PSAT Results passed out by Mrs. Walsh, Work on Vocabulary Book pages 204-208 Critical Reading Skills, Work on paper draft brainstorming.
Friday: Read Macbeth in class

Next week:
Monday Macbeth Act 2 WS due
Block Day: Macbeth Act 3 WS Due, OR Title Chosen, Paper Draft (Autobiography) Rubric turned in
Friday: NO SCHOOL BUT Autobiography Draft due to turnitin.com by MIDNIGHT

Monday 2-21-11 No School also

Macbeth Reading Assignments

We'll read MACBETH before we act it out/read aloud in class. Each Act has a corresponding worksheet on the Macbeth Page of the website.

AFTER we read the act aloud in class we'll have a lit quiz covering concepts from the act. Macbeth has 5 acts so we'll have 5 literature quizzes while we read the play.

Monday and Tuesday are the sophomore retreat days. You will be given time to read ACT 1 in class the day you are here...or read ahead. Perhaps it would be a good idea to print out the worksheets and bring them to class.

DUE DATES:
Act 1 Read and complete worksheet BLOCK DAY 2/9- 2/10
Act 2 Read and complete worksheet MONDAY 2-14-11
Act 3 Read and complete worksheet BLOCK DAY 2/16-2/17
Acts 4 and 5 Read and complete worksheet BLOCK DAY 2/23-2/24

Block Day

Today we read pages 6-9 and 20 from the Upfront Magazine from December 13, 2011. We also completed pages 10-11. We discussed this as a class in debate format.

We started to correct pages 204-208 in the vocabulary book.

We started to discuss the autobiography paper.

What is not covered on BLOCK DAY will be completed Friday.

February 1, 2011 begins SEMESTER 2

Today we discussed important dates for the semester and recycled the vocabulary pages from our binder. ALL other papers from first semester are to be kept.

Homework
Assignment #1(if not completed in class) VOCABULARY Book pages 204-208
Assignment #2 Read on the papers Page of the Website...the details about Autobiography paper. We'll start it tomorrow in class.

Autobiography Paper ROUGH DRAFT due uploaded (by MIDNIGHT) to turnitin.com by 2-18-11. Rubric to be given to me in class on 2-18-11.

Outside Reading Biography MUST be chosen by 2-18-11.