Maus Unit Details

The book we will work on AFTER discussing Summer Reading is MAUS. I am providing this information if you wish to start reading NOW.

Read MAUS 1 and complete the study guide by Tuesday 9-16-14
Read MAUS 2 and complete the study guide by Tuesday 9-23-14

The study guide can be found on the MAUS page of the class website...as well as key information about the unit.

The document is titled 1415MausIandIIReadingWS

Maus TEST ... CHANGED TO TUESDAY OCTOBER 28th

IF you like Graphic Novels...You might find another of interest in this list of TOP 10 Graphic Novels by Time Magazine.

Friday August 29th

Today we "shifted" portfolios and fully transitioned into Sophomore Year English.

Homework for Tuesday:
Register for turnitin.com if you have not already
Set-up your binder...all supplies need to be brought in on Tuesday
Complete the Hunger Games worksheets (2) ... what were not finished in class

Next week...bring to class your binder, summer reading books, and Writers Choice

NOTE: Hunger Games Worksheets...
HAIKU topics changed to:
Setting, Gale, Peeta, Fear, Hero's Quest

Bonus Opportunity...MOVIES BASED ON BOOKS...Semester 1 Options...

RULE: Read the BOOK THEN Watch the MOVIE
Watch the movie, bring in your movie ticket, and get an assignment from me

IF you read The Giver...if you have not...read it first..

DEADLINE: LAST SCHOOL DAY OF SEPTEMBER ... Meet at 7:15 AM Before School in room 322

If you read Maze Runner...if not read first

DEADLINE: LAST SCHOOL DAY OF OCTOBER ... Meet at 7:15 AM Before School in room 322

If you read Mocking Jay ... if you have not...read it first...

DEADLINE: December 10th Meet at 7:15 AM Before School in room 322

NOTE: Your parents have final say as to your attendance at a movie. If they approve and you attend the movie(s) as a bonus. Have them print and sign and date a copy of this blog post.

Block Days

We watched part of Ted. Koppel's interview with Morrie.
Block 6 stopped at part 2 .. TIME = 3:23
Block 1 ... part 2 TIME = 1:45
Block 3 ... part 2 TIME = :18 seconds
Block 5 ... part 2 TIME :21 seconds

We discussed CHARACTERIZATION:
Dynamic/Static
Flat/Round

We applied these labels to characters from the Summer Reading texts.

Syllabus, Upfront $, and Kleenex was collected as well as poems not already turned in on Tuesday.

Another SPORTS related book I read this summer. About CREW in America and the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

Vocabulary Lessons 1 - 3

DUE DATES:
Vocabulary Story lesson 1 due Monday 9-8-14
Vocabulary Quiz lesson 1 FRIDAY 9-2-14

Vocabulary Story lesson 2 due Monday 9-15-14
Vocabulary Quiz lesson 2 FRIDAY 9-19-14

Vocabulary Story lesson 3 due Monday 9-22-14
Vocabulary Quiz lesson 3 FRIDAY 9-26-14

Vocabulary TEST (Unit 1 .. lessons 1-3) OCTOBER 3

Vocabulary Tests and Quizzes will be MULTIPLE CHOICE

Vocabulary Story Guidelines/Topics:
Your stories must be TYPED in 12 Point Times New Roman Font
Double space the story
Include a word count in parenthesis after the last word. (like this)
Run spell check...read it for errors...What you turn in is a reflection of you!
BOLD AND UNDERLINE the words as you CORRECTLY use them!
Your story must have a beginning, middle, and an end...that means at least 3 paragraphs
Your story needs to be 150-400 words in length.

Lesson 1 Topics/Story Starters...PICK 1 of the following:
Use all 20 words in a story about The Hunger Games or Tuesdays With Morrie
Use all 20 words in a story that begins ... I Used to pretend...
Use all 20 words in a story that begins ... He wished he...

Lesson 2 Topics/Story Starters...PICK 1 of the following:
Use all 20 words in a story about The Hunger Games or Tuesdays With Morrie
Use all 20 words in a story that begins ... Down by the swamp...
Use all 20 words in a story that begins ... My teeth were chattering...

Lesson 3 Topics/Story Starters...PICK 1 of the following:
Use all 20 words in a story about Maus
Use all 20 words in a story about a trip you and your family took.
Use all 20 words in a story about a favorite meal you have eaten or a hobby of yours.

Semester 1 BONUS OPPORTUNITIES - Outside Reading

You can do EXTRA work to gain points in class, if you do the minimum required work. Bonus Opportunities will be posted HERE through the semester. They Include:
Outside Reading
Author Book Talks
Movie Viewings
Plays
and other events that I am made aware of that are relevant to the class.

Today we discussed OUTSIDE READING:
You can read as many books as you wish, as long as it does not interfere with your other classes. You must get the book approved by a parent as well as by me BEFORE you read it. If you are currently reading something, I will make an "beginning of the year exception" now through September 5th.
After you read the book there will be a short written and creative assignment to complete.

Tuesday August 26th

Today we discussed classroom procedures:
Schedule, Calendar, and Posting of Assignments

We discussed Technology:
Blog: Will have announcements, Details about assignments, Announcements about BONUS opportunities, Book recommendations, Details about what happened in class, etc.
Turnitin.com: Will be used as a place where we turn in papers, continue to learn MLA format, and have discussions
Website: Document downloads, links to videos, thematic information
SOTW: Assignments posted and documents linked here as well

We started to discuss CHARACTERIZATION...Will go into depth on BLOCK DAY

BLOCK DAY: Turn in Poem if you did not today.

A Young Adult series by James Dashner that you may enjoy...the first book has been turned into a movie and comes out this fall:

Welcome to Ms. MacVay's English 2 Class

Your homework for the first night of school:
1. Bookmark this blog and the class website
2. Read and sign the syllabus AND have your parents read and sign the syllabus. Cut off the "return this section to school" and bring to me on Tuesday.
3. Give your parents Scholastic Upfront Order Form
4. Return In My Hands if you purchased it
5. Type and decorate your "Where I am From" poem. DUE BLOCK DAY.

A good SPORTS RELATED BOOK I read over the summer: