Monday, September 26, 2011

Week Eight English 10: September 26-30

Greetings Sophomores!

The year is speeding by! We have so many things to learn, and so little time to learn them.

This week you will have a quiz on vocabulary lesson 8, so bring your workbooks for review. We will also review verbals, including infinitives, which we have not yet practiced identifying. Expect a test on all types of phrases: prepositional, appositive, participial, gerund, and infinitive. Use your workbooks to study the examples from class.

We will also continue our study of early American literature, focusing on the history Of Plymouth Plantation and History of the Dividing Line. Expect to make graphic  organizers (like the Pi chart I showed you for comparing and contrasting) to compare and contrast the texts and the information we know from the texts about Native American and colonial religions. You will use that information to develop a theory about why Byrd's satirical "history" includes a description of native religion. You'll also look closely at the language in the treaty between the colonists and the Indians in Bradford's history? Whom does the treaty favor?

And don't forget, this is the big week! Poetry Out Loud recitation is here! Good luck!

See you in class!

Mrs.

APEnglish: September 26-30

 Greetings APEs!

Heavens! This year is veritably dashing past us! I can hardly believe that fall break starts next week and that the first quarter will be over in just two school weeks!

We are still participating in a short story boot camp. So many important things interrupt, and I do believe they were as valid, so I am not concerned. As you already know, this reading workout will culminate in an analytical essay based on one or a combination of the stories we have read. The next stories we read will be "Fifteen Minutes in the Life of Larry Weller," which I will give you in a handout, "Miss Brill," found on page 134 of your texts, "The Cask of Amontillado," pg. 528, "A Rose for Emily," pg. 81, "The Yellow Wallpaper," pg. 588, and "I Stand Here Ironing," pg. 608." We will also read the story "Once Upon a Time." Please come prepared to discuss each of these stories. (Add to your list "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall," which is an excellent example of stream of consciousness writing and a great complement to "I heard a Fly Buzz when I died," the poem we read in class last week.)


Speaking of class and poetry, this week marks the class competition for Poetry Out Loud. I'm sure you all have selected great poems to recite. I can't wait!

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

Week Eight English 12: September 26-30

Greetings Seniors!

It's already week eight, and we have only scratched the surface of what we must complete this year. We have lots to do, and I'll need your cooperation if we are to get where we need to be in time for graduation.
Of course, you are all aware that this is the week for Poetry Out Loud class recitation. I will expect you to know your poems and recite them with authority.

We also have two quizzes this week: one on your first fifteen allusions and one on lesson 7 vocabulary. Please study these.

In addition to the aforementioned tasks, we will also finish reading Beowulf. Expect to read excerpts from the Epic of Gilgamesh and have a test on the Epic and the background  information from your book before fall break. Remember that your Boast assignment is due Oct. 11, and you must perform it in class.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

Week Eight PreAPEnglish 10: September 26-30

Well, Sophomores, the first quarter is almost complete.

We have lots to do and little time in which to do it. To begin, we will have another vocabulary quiz this week. Lesson 5 words are here.


1. acrimonious ak ruh MONE ee us caustic
Synonyms >>Antonym >> cordial
The prisoner of war had acrimonious remarks for those that mistreated him.
Derivatives >> acrimony, acrimoniously, acrimoniousness

2. ameliorate uh MEE lee o rate to make better, to relieve, to improve
Synonyms >>Antonym >> to make worse; to aggravate
Social workers attempt to ameliorate the conditions of people living in the slum areas.
Derivatives >> ameliorated, ameliorating, ameliorable, ameliorant, ameliorative, ameliorator, amelioration

3. amenable uh MEN uh bul open to or willing to follow advice or suggestion, tractable, malleable
Synonyms >> docile, obedient Antonym >> unwilling
Since I like him and usually agree with him, I am always amenable to listening to his ideas.
Derivatives >> amenability, amenableness, amenably

4. amorphous uh MOR fuss shapeless, having no definite form
Synonyms >>Antonym >> structured
In the science fiction movie, the amorphous mass terrorized the town.
Derivatives >> amorphously, amorphousness, amorphism

5. buoyant BOY unt capable of floating; cheerful
Synonyms >> Antonym >> likely to sink
Because the log was buoyant, it stayed afloat. The girl's buoyant spirit made her pleasant company.
Derivatives >> buoyancy, buoyance, buoyantly, buoyantness, buoy

6. cajole kuh JOLE to persuade with deliberate flattery, to coax, to wheedle
Synonyms >>Antonym >> to browbeat
I will not be cajoled into allowing you to stay up past your bedtime.
Derivatives >> cajoled, cajoling, cajolery, cajoleries, cajolement, cajoler

7. calamity kuh LAM uh tee a serious event causing distress or misfortune
Synonyms >> cataclysm, catastrophe Antonym >> good fortune
The earthquake in Mexico was a calamity.
Derivatives >> calamitous, calamitously, calamitousness

8. debase deh BASE to reduce in dignity or quality
Synonyms >> abase, corrupt, debauch, demean, deprave, pervert, vitiate Antonym >> to glorify
Do not debase yourself by swearing.
Derivatives >> debased, debasing, debasement, debaser, debasingly

9. efface eh FASE to erase, to wear away
Synonyms >>Antonym >> to make conspicuous
The date on the coin has been effaced.
Derivatives >> effaceable, effacement, effacer

10. elucidate eh LOO seh date to make clear, to explain
Synonyms >> explicate, expound Antonym >> to confuse
I will try to elucidate some of the important changes in the tax code.
Derivatives >> elucidation, elucidative, elucidatory, elucidator

11. ephemeral eh FEM ur ul lasting a short period of time, fleeting
Synonyms >> evanescent, fleeting, fugitive, transient, transitory Antonym >> lasting; timeless; eternal
The microorganism had an ephemeral lifespan. It died shortly after it was created.
Derivatives >> ephemerally, ephemerality, ephemeralness, ephemeron, ephemerous
12. ferocity fuh ROS eh tee savagery
Synonyms >>Antonym >> mildness
A tiger is an animal that has ferocity.
Derivatives >> ferocious, ferociously, ferociousness

13. flourish FLUR ish to thrive, to grow well
Synonyms >> Antonym >> to wither
The company flourished after a new board of directors took control.
Derivatives >> flourisher, flourishing, flourishingly, flourishy

14. haughty HAW tee arrogant, excessively proud and vain
Synonyms >> disdainful, high-handed, insolent, lordly, supercilious Antonym >> humble
Being quarterback of the football team does not give him the right to be haughty.
Derivatives >> haughtily, haughtiness

15. impervious im PUR vee us incapable of being entered or penetrated, not capable of being damaged
Synonyms >>Antonym >> penetrable
Because this watch is impervious to water , I can go swimming while wearing it.
Derivatives >> imperviously, imperviousness

16. inane eh NANE lacking significance, meaning, or point; silly, insipid
Synonyms >> banal, flat, jejune, vapid Antonym >> pertinent; intelligent; significant
Your comments are inane and are preventing the discussion of the main topic.
Derivatives >> inanely, inanity, inanition


17. indolence IN duh luns laziness
Synonyms >> slothfulness Antonym >> industriousness
The hot and humid weather in the tropics encourages indolence.
Derivatives >> indolent, indolency, indolently

18. infallible in FAL uh bul incapable of error
Synonyms >>Antonym >> erroneous; fallacious
Since everyone makes mistakes, no human is infallible.
Derivatives >> infallibilism, infallibilist, infallibility, infallibleness, infallibly

19. inscrutable in SKROO tuh bul difficult to understand; mysterious
Synonyms >> Antonym >> clear; readable; understandable
He had us all confused with his inscrutable smile.
Derivatives >> inscrutableness, inscrutably, inscrutability

20. languid LANG gwid slow, sluggish, listless, weak
Synonyms >> lethargic, stuporous, torpid Antonym >> animated
The old man's walk was languid, each pace requiring great effort.
Derivatives >> languidly, languidness, languish, languisher, languishing, languishment

21. malice MAL is desire to harm others
Synonyms >> malevolence, malignity, spite, spleen Antonym >> concern
His death was caused by malice and was not accidental.
Derivatives >> maliceful, malicious, maliciously, maliciousness

22. oblique uh BLEEK slanting, indirect, evasive, devious, misleading
Synonyms >> Antonym >> direct
Because of the suspect's oblique answers, our interrogation of him led us in the wrong direction.
Derivatives >> obliquate, obliquation, obliquely, obliqueness, obliquely

23. opulence OP yuh luns wealth, affluence, abundance
Synonyms >> Antonym >> meagerness, scarcity
Until the recent decline in the price of oil, the Hunt name was synonymous with opulence.
Derivatives >> opulent, opulently

24. penitent PEN eh tunt showing or feeling regret for wrongdoing, repentant
Synonyms >> compunctual, contrite, remorseful Antonym >> unrepentant
He became penitent when he realized that his prank resulted in serious injury.
Derivatives >> penitence, penitency, penitential

25. perfunctory pur FUNGK tuh ree acting routinely with little interest or care
Synonyms >> Antonym >> concerned; diligent
Due to his perfunctory manner of inspecting the factory, he did not notice some serious problems.
Derivatives >> perfunctorily, perfunctoriness, perfunctorious, perfunctoriously

We will also have our Poetry Out Loud competition and our final discussion of Julius Caesar before writing a timed essay on that play. If time permits, we'll start our study of American literature. Get ready for a full week ahead!
Oh, and do not forget your Julius Caesar projects are due the first day after break. 

See you in class!

Mrs. SO


Saturday, September 17, 2011

APEnglish: September 19-23

Since we incorporated AP multiple choice practice and timed essay writing, we did not discuss as many short stories as I anticipated. For this reason, we are still participating in a short story boot camp. As you already know, this reading workout will culminate in an analytical essay based on one or a combination of the stories we have read. The next stories we read will be "Fifteen Minutes in the Life of Larry Weller," which I will give you in a handout, "Miss Brill," found on page 134 of your texts, "The Cask of Amontillado," pg. 528, "A Rose for Emily," pg. 81, "The Yellow Wallpaper," pg. 588, and "I Stand Here Ironing," pg. 608." We will also read the story "Once Upon a Time." Please come prepared to discuss each of these stories.

While we may not get to all of these stories in one week, we will discuss them, so read ahead.


On Tuesday, we will evaluate the timed essays you wrote on Friday. On Friday we will have a vocabulary quiz on the E words from your SAT vocabulary list.

Thanks to those of you who showed up on Saturday, Sept. 17 for the first AP Prep Session. Happy Birthday, TOM! I'll be awarding extra credit points based upon the time your spent with us.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

Friday, September 16, 2011

English 12: September 19-23

Greetings Seniors, and welcome to week SEVEN!

It amazes me the speed with which time flies! We have so much to do, and so very little time in which to do it!
First of all, bring your workbooks to review lesson six words for a quiz on Thursday.

Secondly, don't forget to read pages 1-18 in your textbooks at home and become very familiar with this background for your upcoming test on Beowulf and other epics, including The Epic of Gilgamesh.

In addition to the epic test, which should fall sometime next week or the week following, you will be writing and performing your own EPIC BOAST. Please follow the instructions carefully. This can be great fun!
Also, don't forget that class competition for Poetry Out Loud is rapidly approaching. Be prepared to recite your poem next week!

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

English 10: September 19-23

Hello Sophomores!

Welcome to week SEVEN! Time is veritably whirling by! It's almost time for class Poetry Out Loud Competition. Be sure to have your poem memorized for recitation by next week.

This week, we will have a short test on Native American Literature and we will move on to early colonial literature. We will start by looking at a history and an journal from two different colonists, William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation, which tells the early history of Plymouth colony in Massachusetts, and William Byrd's History of the Dividing Line, a journal which satirizes the colonists of Jamestown, Virginia. You will learn the difference between a history and a journal, how to recognize satire and what it is used for, and some of the problems of the early colonists. Be prepared to compare and contrast these two writers and their ideas about the colonists. Also, be prepared, based on Byrd's description, to compare Native American religion to that of the Virginia colonists, and from that comparison, draw a conclusion about Byrd's purpose in presenting the Native American religion.

In addition to these activities, we will continue our review of verbals. You will likely have quizzes on each, gerunds, participles, and infinitives. When we finish our unit on the phrase, you will have a test on verbals, appositives, and prepositional phrases.

One last thing to remember: we will review lesson seven in vocabulary, so bring your workbooks and study for Friday's quiz.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

PreAPEnglish 10: September 19-23

Greetings future APEs!

This week's blog will look much like last weeks, since, sadly, we were unable to complete all the tasks I had planned. Such is life sometimes. Time whizzes by us.

We have lots to do in the coming days. My hope is that we will finish reading and viewing The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. In lieu of a traditional test, you will be writing an essay and doing a more creative presentation. The essay will be in class and timed. I will give you more information about it later.

The details of the presentation can be found here. Due date to be announced.

Of course finishing Julius Caesar means we will be taking up American lit soon, so be prepared to bring your texts upon my instruction.


In addition to these activities, you should also study your vocabulary lesson 4 words or a quiz on the last class day of the week.

And don't forget Poetry Out Loud class competition is  Sept. 26-30!


See you soon!


Mrs. SO

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Week Six English 12: September 12-16

Hello Seniors!

Time is certainly flying! Week six is upon us! I hope you are enjoying your study of Beowulf and the history leading up to the first English text. As promised, I am posting the long PPT from class online. I will give you your test on the historic background Thursday to be completed and returned by Monday, Sept. 19. Thursday in class we will begin reading the excerpts from Beowulf found in your texts. We will examine more closely the elements of the Epic, and the epic hero.

One aspect we will examine is the epic boast. You will be writing and performing your own boasts, so be prepared to make yourselves sound EPIC.

And don't forget Poetry Out Loud class competition is the last week of September.

So litle time....

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

Week Six English 10: September 12-16

Greetings Students!

I can hardly believe it's already week 6! We meet three times this week, so we should be about to accomplish quite a bit. We've already started our study of Native American literature and will continue with that, so bring your texts. I also have a couple of creation myths not in your books that I will share with you, the Navajo Creation Story and the Walum Olum, of the Delaware Indians.

In addition to this, we will continue our study of "the phrase" by seeing how prepositional phrases can act as adjectives and adverbs. We will also practice identifying verbals, or words that look like verbs but are used as some other part of speech. Verbals include gerunds, participles and infinitives. Expect quizzes on each of these, as well as a quiz on your next vocabulary lesson.

And don't forget Poetry Out Loud class competition is the last week of September!

So much to do...so little time!

See you in class,

Mrs. SO

Week Six PreAPEnglish 10: September 12-16

Greetings Students!

We have lots to do in the coming days. My hope is that we will finish reading and viewing The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. In lieu of a traditional test, you will be writing an essay and doing a more creative presentation. The essay will be in class and timed. I will give you more information about it later.

The details of the presentation can be found here. Due date to be announced.

Of course finishing Julius Caesar means we will be taking up American lit soon, so be prepared to bring your texts upon my instruction.

And don't forget Poetry Out Loud class competition is  Sept. 26-30!

So much to do...so little time.

Mrs. SO

Friday, September 9, 2011

APEnglish 12: September 12-16

Greetings APEs!

I hope your weekend was restful. We are still participating in a short story boot camp. This reading workout will culminate in an analytical essay based on one or a combination of the stories we have read. This week we will finish our presentations on the story "Clothes." The next stories we read will be "Fifteen Minutes in the Life of Larry Weller," which I will give you in a handout, "Miss Brill," found on page 134 of your texts, "The Cask of Amontillado," pg. 528, "A Rose for Emily," pg. 81, "The Yellow Wallpaper," pg. 588, and "I Stand Here Ironing," pg. 608." We will also read the story "Once Upon a Time." Please come prepared to discuss each of these stories.

While we may not get to all of these stories in one week, we will discuss them, so read ahead.

I am also planning your first foray into APLIT MC questions and your first timed essay for APLIT.

Don't forget that Saturday, Sept. 17 is the first AP Prep Session.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Week Five English 12: September 6-9

Good morning Seniors!

A new month is upon us. We have lots to do in the coming weeks. We will begin our study of British literature with a history background before delving into Beowulf, the oldest English text.  You may need your books by Thursday, but I will let you know.

We also need to write another essay, but not just any essay, a very important one: your college entrance essay. We will look at topics and samples before you write your own. These we will bring to class for peer review before turning in a final draft. I hope the essays you write will be useful in your college applications.

In addition to these activities, we will also review your lesson 5 vocabulary for a quiz on Thursday. Bring your workbooks.

See you soon!

Mrs. SO

Week Five APEnglish 12: September 6-9

Greetings APEs!

Just two days this week. We will forgo our usual vocab quiz this week. Expect one NEXT Friday on the E words.

This week we will be in full short story boot camp mode. We will read and discuss the following stories:
"Clothes" We will do an in class group activity with this story.
"Desiree's Baby" You will look at color imagery in this story.,
"Where are You Going, Where Have You Been" You will look at the importance of allusions in this story.

In addition to these I will assign several stories for discussion next week. We will also have some MC practice questions on an excerpt from Invisible Man or The Stranger.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Week Five English 10: September 6-9

Hello Sophomores!
I hope you had a great  holiday. I had family from out of town, so mine was busy but fun.  This is a short week for B days, so lets make the most of it.

In class, we will begin reading and discussing Native American Mythology, including creation stories. Bring you books to class!

We will review your tests on the parts of a sentence, and we will begin looking at prepositional phrases, how to identify them, and how they function.

You will have a vocabulary quiz on lesson 5 on Friday, so we will go over those words. Bring your workbook.

We will also look at at least one poem a day from the POL anthology. It's important when you recite your poems the last week of September that you pick a poem that speaks to you, one that you understand. To help you with your understanding of this type of writing, we will focus on paraphrasing, looking at connotations, finding shifts and explaining them, and tone.

Don't forget that progress reports go home Friday.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

Week Five PreAPEnglish 10: September 6-9

Hello Sophomores!
I hope you had a great  holiday. I had family from out of town, so mine was busy but fun.  This is a short week, so lets make the most of it. My A day will only meet twice instead of three blocks, so we cannot waste any time. Because of the short week, we will forgo the vocabulary quiz and have lesson four next week.

In class, we will continue reading and discussing Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. We will also look at at least one poem a day from the POL anthology. It's important when you recite your poems the last week of September that you pick a poem that speaks to you, one that you understand. To help you with your understanding of this type of writing, we will focus on paraphrasing, looking at connotations, finding shifts and explaining them, and tone.

Don't forget that progress reports go home Friday.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO