Upcoming Assignments

Friday 3-8
Poetry Terms Quiz and Vocabulary Lesson 8 Quiz

Monday 3-11 Vocabulary Lesson 9 Story
Tuesday 3-12 Macbeth TEST
Friday 3-15 Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 9

BRING LIT BOOK, MACBETH, FRANKENSTEIN and Vocabulary books to class next week.

BEFORE EASTER BREAK:
English Writing Exam (in=class) 3-19 to 3-22
Macbeth Test Part 2 - group project/presentation Monday 3/25 and Tuesday 2/26 (Block Day)
Vocabulary Test 7-8-9 (multiple choice) Wed. 3-27-13

Macbeth Themes

In class on block days we discussed the themes in Macbeth and found evidence for how to support the themes in all 5 acts.

We looked at the themes with essay (claim/data/warrant) format in mind. We discussed what constitutes enough COW to support a claim.

THEMES DISCUSSED:
ambition
guilt
trust vs betrayal
fate vs free will
natural vs unnatural

Also...completed page 96 in the vocabulary book

Writing Exam

The Writing Exam is 10% of your grade this semester. The writing exam will be IN CLASS on Tuesday 3-19 - Friday 3-22. For those that miss due to absence, sport, St. Vincent de Paul, etc. The make-up times will be:
Monday 3-25 LUNCH, After School 2:00-2:45
Tuesday 3-26 Before School (7 AM), Lunch, or after school 2:00-2:45
Wednesday 3-27 Before School (7 AM) or lunch

OPTIONAL WRITING EXAM PREP / TIME TO ASK ME QUESTIONS
Lunch Wednesday 3-13 in the classroom
Lunch Thursday 3-14 outside with me while I am on lunch duty
Friday 3-15 BREAK TIME

Tuesday 3-5-13

Make-up Macbeth and vocabulary Quizzes at lunch

Today we discussed characterization in Macbeth and Character's Fatal Flaws

Homework: Complete your group's section of the ACT 5WS ... Themes
NOTE: This needs to be done to display how the themes are evident from ACT 1-Act5

Poetry TPCATT handout given as well as Sonnets.
TPCASTT can also be found on Poetry Page of class website, if ever lost.

Tuesdays With Rene'

We start back up tomorrow...

The first BONUS opportunity is FRANKENSTEIN...it will be the next book we read.

Come to watch, take notes, and eat lunch A bonus opportunity is there for those who WATCH, TAKE NOTES, AND COMPLETE THE WRITING ASSIGNMENT. You must be present at all showings.

Monday 3-4-13

Today Vocabulary Lesson 8 story was turned in and Completing the Sentences on page 94-95 in the book was done as a class warm-up.

A Poetry Terms handout was given (document linked on Poetry Page of class website also...if ever lost ... it can be found!)
Terms to know for this week:
alliteration
assonance
allusion
free verse
couplet
diction
figurative language
free verse
hyperbole
irony
metaphor
narrative poem
personification
quatrain
rhyme
simile
sonnet
stanza

The poetry Terms and vocabulary quiz will BOTH be Multiple Choice

In class...we discussed CHARACTERIZATION in Macbeth. We categorized characters as:
Dynamic Round, Static Round
Dynamic Flat, Static Flat

We will discuss the characters' fatal flaws in class tomorrow.

***If character charts not completed by table groups during class time, that is homework.

Friday 3-1-13

Today we took the Vocabulary Quiz for lesson 7 and Macbeth Quiz Acts 1-3
MAKE UP quizzes for those who missed the quiz today: TUESDAY 3-5-13 AT LUNCH

Assignments due next week:
Vocabulary Story 8 (lesson 7-8-9 topics on a previous blog post) is due Monday 3-4-13
Friday 3-8-13 Vocabulary Quiz 8 and Poetry Terms (MULTIPLE CHOICE)

What to bring to class:
Macbeth, Literature Book, and Vocabulary Book

Upcoming:
Macbeth Test 3-12-13 (part 1), Part 2 is due block day Holy Week)
Writing Exam week of 3-18

Options:
Macbeth Play Bonus
Outside Reading Bonus

Tuesday 2-26-13

Today in class we continued to review VOCABULARY ... page 87 and 89 (11-20)

We looked at Macbeth Famous lines and phrases (end of the book page 221...knowing quotes and their relevance to the play is important for upcoming quizzes/tests.

A SONNETS WS was handed out ... to be completed when active reading the Lit Book ... if you have a different version of the book than I do...the page # on the WS are incorrect...change to 641-644

Macbeth WS were handed out for Acts 1-5. We discussed part of Act 1 together and table groups completed Act 1 in class.

What was not done from table groups and Sonnet WS was homework.

DUE BLOCK DAY ...what was not completed in class today
AND
Short Story...upload to turnitin.com and print copy...with picture and rubric and bring to class!

A PLACE to find quotes online...a study guide is Quizlet

Week of February 25th

Today in class we completed and corrected Vocabulary Book page 87 and 89 (1-10)

We watched the BBC Animated Macbeth...and took note of similarities and differences with the book version

Each class needs to finish where they left off...the video link s can be found on the MACBETH page of the class website

***Bring Lit Books to class starting tomorrow!

Block 2: Part 3 ... we stopped at 2:42
Block 4: Part 2 ... we stopped at 5:50
Block 5: Part 3 ... we stopped at 7:45
Block 6...FINISHED!

Assignment details are in previous blog posts

DUE Monday 2-25-13 Vocabulary Story (7)

Due Block Day - Short Story (Bring a copy to class including your picture and rubric...upload a second copy to turnitin.com)

Due Friday 3-1-13 Vocabulary Quiz (7), Macbeth Quiz Acts 1-3 (Multiple Choice for BOTH)

Week of February 19th

Since we have the filed trip this week...and the PLAN TEST is Friday, no homework is due this week. Spend the time working on the upcoming assignments, or working on material from other classes/going to tutoring hours since you are missing a block day.

Assignment details are in previous blog posts

DUE Monday 2-25-13 Vocabulary Story (7)
Due Block Day - Short Story
Due Friday 3-1-13 Vocabulary Quiz (7), Macbeth Quiz Acts 1-3 (Multiple Choice/Short Answer)

Creative Short Story

Details about the Creative Short Story are on the rubric of the same title linked on the PAPERS page of the class website.

One copy needs to be printed and brought to class, a copy needs to be uploaded to turnitin.com

DUE Block Day 2-27/28

Vocabulary Story Prompts

Vocabulary Lesson 7 story is due no later than Monday 2-25-13
Lesson 8 is due no later than Monday 3-4-13
Lesson 9 is due no later than Monday 3-11-13

Guidelines for ALL stories:
Use 15 of the words - underline them as you use them
All stories must have a creative title
All stories need a beginning, middle, and end
HOOK the reader...appeal either to REASON (LOGOS) or EMOTIONS (PATHOS).
Word Count 300-400 words - include word count at bottom of paper

Topic for Lesson 7:
Start with...I COULD NOT HELP STARING or WHILE SURFING THE WEB

Topic for Lesson 8:
Imagine you are a disgruntled Tooth Fairy. You are upset that the Easter Bunny is getting more attention than you are. You just visited a family with triplets that expected $50.00 each. Start with I CANNOT BELIEVE

Topic for Lesson 9:
I REMEMBER THE DAY IN JULY WHEN IT HAILED

or

FINISH THE STORY ... WHAT IF, AT WILL, PEOPLE COULD GROW MORE THAN TWO ARMS?

Friiday 2-15

this week we concluded discussing Acts 1-2-3 of Macbeth. We discussed:
Nature as an "extra" character in the story
The dynamic nature of Macbeth and Lady Macbeth
The evidence in the text that shows where Macbeth and/or Lady Macbeth has a conscience
Context - to understand the world WHEN the play was written/first performed
Story Mountain: Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution


Upcoming Due dates:
2-25 Vocabulary Story Lesson 7
2-27/28 Block Day Paper #1 Short Story
3/1 Macbeth Quiz Acts 1-3, Vocabulary Quiz Lesson 7

3-4 Vocabulary Story Lesson 8
3-8 Vocabulary Quiz (8)
3-8 Poetry Terms Quiz

3-12-13 Macbeth Test

Week of February 11th

Monday and Tuesday we read section of Macbeth aloud.
We looked at Act 1 Scenes 5, 6, and part of 7
We looked at Act 2 Scenes 1-2-3

Our focus was on:
better understanding the ERA in which the play was written and first performed
understanding who the target audience of the play was
understanding proper succession to the throne
establishing the relationships between characters at the start of the play
understanding gender roles in society when the play was written
noticing how nature is the "hidden character" in the play
noticing the relationship between MACBETH and Lady Macbeth
...of course...making OLD ENGLISH seem accessible!

Block Day we'll continue where we left off Tuesday, start to look at Sonnets in our Lit Book, and finish reading/debating topics from the Upfront Magazine.

Macbeth BONUS Opportunity...

A student brought to my attention the fact that Macbeth is going to be performed in San Diego in March. Check out the link to find out dates, times, and cost of tickets.

If you can attend the play...bring your ticket stub to class the following day and I will give you a bonus assignment to complete.

Bonus Opportunities

I was informed about the San Diego Jewish Film Festival that runs from February 7th-17th. If you deem a film appropriate for your son to view, he may attend the film and earn BONUS POINTS if he does the following:

Brings in his ticket stub
Writes a 2 page reflection after the movie. The topics that need to be addressed:
After viewing this film I learned:
This film changed my perspective/opened my eyes...
This film left me wondering...

Bring in the ticket stub and reflection BEFORE SCHOOL ... the day AFTER the MOVIE attended.

*** One of the films is about the author of MAUS

Block Days Feb 6th and 7th

Block Days we are continuing to work on creative writing...and sharing. Upfront Magazines will be read and the class will debate.

What is no not finished will be covered on Friday!

Tuesday 2-5-13

Today we recycled the GRAMMAR and VOCABULARY papers from our binders.

Macbeth Act 1 WS was turned in and the upcoming Macbeth assignments announced...details in previous blog post.

Due Friday:
Sign up for Feb 20th/21st field trip

Spirit Dress Wednesday
Homeroom Wednesday and Thursday
Tie Day Friday - Grandparents' Day

Course selection forms need to be picked up from the main office (and AP Contracts too) if you did not attend the January 23rd meeting.

The Curriculum Guide is linked on the SOTW homepage under the Follett link.

Macbeth Assignments

The MACBETH page of the class website has links to:

an online version of the book
key concepts/themes/terms
homework assignments (MacbethReadingWS)

Upcoming Due Dates: DOCUMENT TITLED MACBETHREADINGWS
Active Read Act 2 and complete WS Friday 2-8-13
Active Read Act 3 and complete WS Monday 2-11-13
Active Read Act 4 and complete WS Block Day 2-13/14-13
Active Read Act 5 and complete WS by Friday 2-15-13

Semester 2 Begins Tuesday 2-5-13

We will start the semester with a discussion of Macbeth and Poetry.

Along with your binder, bring with you to class the first week Macbeth, Vocabulary, and Literature Book.