Friday, December 7, 2012

December 10-14, 2012

Greetings Students!

Can you believe that we only have ONE WEEK before exams!?

There's much to do in that short time, so I'll not tarry in posting plans:

Pre-APEnglish 10

This week we will finish any remaining presentations on Julius Caesar. We will also have a quiz on Vocabulary Lesson 9 on Friday.

Since your midterm will be a preview of the new end-of-year exam, we will also work together on several prep tests for that exam. I will be assigning a practice test in your successnet each day. After you take each test, we will review and discuss the answers as a group and as a review of skills you should master this year.

See you in class!


English 12

This week you will complete your study of Arthurian Legend. I will post a quiz on your successnet for this unit, so be sure to review the vocabulary and background before taking it. You will also have a quiz on Vocabulary Lesson 10 on Friday and because so many were absent on the 7th, you will have your allusions quiz on Tuesday.

Monday you will have a guest speaker discuss financial aid for college.

APEnglish Literature and Composition 12

Monday you will have a guest speaker discuss financial aid for college.

As you know, your midterm next week will consist of sections of multiple choice and words from the list of literary terms located on the left-hand side of my blog. To this end, we will do MC practice in class. We will also complete Othello this week, and you will create a Shakespeare in Six graphic for the play as a final project. Instructions are as follows:

Shakespeare-in-Six Directions:
• Use the format provided to create a six-part storyboard for one act of the play.
• Underneath each block, provide a quotation which supports your illustration.
• Your finished product should illustrate the main action of the act as a whole.
• On a separate piece of paper, type a rationale fully explaining your choices. For each block,
explain your illustration and the moment’s significance to the act. You should have two or three sentences for each panel/quotation.
• Present your project to the class.
I will provide blank story boards for your projects.

On Friday we will have a scored discussion of Atonement. You must answer at least five of the eight questions I posted on Edmodo BEFORE class on Friday.  You may use your answers or any other questions that arose while you were considering these for the discussion. Also, this discussion should address themes of the book and the importance of the last scene. How do the themes in this work relate to those in Life of Pi and Othello?  No vocabulary this week.


Friday, November 30, 2012

December 3-7, 2012

Greetings Students!

The year is passing so quickly, I scarce can believe how little time remains in this term! Ere we know it, midterms will be upon us. With that matter at hand, we will need to do as much as we can in preparation.
Below are the lessons for this week:

Pre-APEnglish 10

We have finished our study of Julius Caesar, but not our work. This Monday (and possibly part of Tuesday) you will share/present your "Shakespeare in Six" projects. Remember this counts in the test category. Be sure that you have written your two to three sentence rationale/explanation for each quotation/illustration. These rationals are part of your project and part of your grade. Tape your rationale sheet to the back of your S in S illustrations.

You will also be responsible for vocabulary lesson 8. As you recall, we postponed this lesson until Monday, Dec. 3, so that you could write your timed essays on Friday. Be sure to study!

A special note for Adrian and Victor who have just returned to class: Welcome back! We are so glad you guys are well and able to come to school. I have put several quizzes on Julius Caesar on the Pearson Successnet page for you. Check your to do list.

In order to prepare us for those midterm exams and for the new end of course exams, we will spend time this week looking at what you are expected to know. These reviews include reading and analyzing fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama (plays). You will be expected to understand figurative language, theme, tone, and effective syntax and diction as well as have a firm grasp on grammar and mechanics. I have practice activities that we will do together in class that should help you master these skills.

I also hope to begin our study of American Literature starting with Native American myths. Please review the assigned reading on your Pearson Successnet. I have assigned the historic background information and Native American texts.

Don't forget your allusions quiz this Friday.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

English 12

We have finished with Canterbury Tales, and we are on to Arthurian Legend. You text has only one Arthurian lesson containing two stories, the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and the story of Arthur's death, Le Morte de Arthur, but I think everyone needs a bit more background than those texts alone offer, so Monday I will  give a lecture on the basics of Arthurian Legend. Be sure to pay attention and take notes.

I have assigned the aforementioned texts in your Pearson Successnet. Be sure to review the vocabulary. We will do at least one of the reading warmups in class, but it is a good idea for you to practice the other one on your own.

Don't forget that, as always, we have a vocabulary quiz on Friday, so study Lesson 9. Also, study for your allusions quiz on Friday.

See you in Class!

Mrs. SO

AP English Literature and Composition 12

So much reading and so little time. I hope you are all actively reading Atonement at home. I expect to have a class discussion on the remainder of the book by the end of next week. I have posted questions for a scored discussion on Edmodo.

In class, we will continue reading Othello. Expect a project on that text when we finish. I will post two essays that I wrote about the play on Edmodo, and we will discuss my arguments and whether you agree with them in part, in whole, or not at all. The two essays deal with a close reading of the Willow Song in Act IV and and important exchanging of vows in Act III.

You will have both your vocabulary quiz from lesson 58 and your allusions quiz on Friday.

See you in Class!

Sunday, November 25, 2012

November 26-30, 2102

Welcome back from you holiday!

I hope you all are well-rested and ready for some learning! Let me get straight to the plans for this week:

Pre-APEnglish 10

We will be wrapping up our study of Julius Caesar this week (or at least that's the plan). Expect some multiple choice quizzes from Pearson from Acts 3-5.
Also, you will create your "Shakespeare in Six" presentations. This project will count as a test grade, so do your best.
Shakespeare-in-Six Directions:
• Use the format provided to create a six-part storyboard for one act of the play.
• Underneath each block, provide a quotation which supports your illustration.
• Your finished product should illustrate the main action of the act as a whole.
• On a separate piece of paper, type a rationale fully explaining your choices. For each block,
explain your illustration and the moment’s significance to the act. You should have two or three sentences for each panel/quotation.
• Present your project to the class.
I will provide blank story boards for your projects.

In addition to our Shakespeare study, we will have an allusion a day. In this way, we should be ready for our second allusions quiz by next week.

And as usual, you will have a vocabulary quiz on Friday. Study words from lesson 8.

English 12

This week we will continue our study of the Canterbury Tales. Expect a test on the prologue, the Wife of Bathe's Tale and the Pardoner's Tale this week. You will also fill out your descriptions of the pilgrims, which will also count as a grade. Don't forget to study for your vocabulary quiz on Friday on lesson eight. You'll also have daily allusions. Your second allusions quiz will be next week.

APEnglish Literature and Composition 12

This week, in addition to your allusions and vocabulary, you will read and discuss Othello. I will be assigning the film version on your Pearson page so you can see it acted out. I doubt, however, that we will have time to watch it in class. You may watch it on your own. Expect some grammar reviews and ancillary reading/discussion questions on your Pearson Lit Lab as well. There are five or six who have not yet enrolled in the course. You MUST do so. The instructions and codes are still on Edmodo, though you may have to do some searching.

Vocabulary quiz on Friday.

Monday, November 19, 2012

November 19-20, 2012

Greetings Students!

And I think we are all THANKFUL for really short weeks!

Before I post the two-day plan, I'd like to congratulate our Poetry Out Loud representatives, Amber Dickey and Sabria White, for their awesome performances at the regional competition last Friday! And double congratulations to Sabria for WINNING FIRST PLACE in the anthology division!

And now, for the plan:

Pre-APEnglish 10 

http://huntsville.edmodo.com/home#/join/431c1cb2a799894a1bfec7617f5f6ad3


Monday, you will take your vocabulary quiz on lesson seven that we postponed from last week, after which we will read from Act IV of Julius Caesar.

Tuesday we will read from Acts IV and V of Julius Caesar. I hope we can finish reading the play this week, but if not, will certainly finish by the beginning of next week. Remember you will have two more major assignments on the text: a paper analyzing either a short passage from the text or the entire play (I have a few options) and a "Shakespeare in Six" illustration/presentation. I'll give you more details about these two tasks in class.

English 12

This week we will finish our reading of the Prologue from the Canterbury Tales. We will also read/review the Wife of Bathe's Tale and the Pardoner's Tale. Expect a test on the prologue, the time period, and the two tales in the coming week.

In addition to this, you will have vocabulary lesson seven quiz on Tuesday.

APEnglish Literature and Composition 12

http://huntsville.edmodo.com/home#/join/e32df1bfa8c287fb6065d57d7641d578 

You will be reading and discussing Othello Acts I and II in class for the two days this week. You will also take your quiz on lesson 59 vocabulary on Tuesday.

Don't forget that you will have two major assignments on Othello, so do pay close attention. You will analyze a passage from the text and you will complete a "Shakespeare in Six" illustration/presentation. Start considering your six most significant items or scenes now. I expect excellence, if not artistically, then thematically.

Don't forget that you should ALSO be reading Atonement. You will have two assignments on this text as well, similar to the two for Othello.



Friday, November 9, 2012

November 13-16, 2012

Greetings Students!

This will be a short week, since Monday is a holiday. We still have much to do, though.
Below are this week's expected activities:

Pre APEnglish 10

We are still studying Julius Caesar, and some of you have already stumbled upon a major question that often is associated with the play: If Caesar dies in Act III, why does the play go on, and why is it named for Caesar when it seems he is actually a lesser character? Good question. We'll discuss it in class.

This week we will discuss the structure of Shakespearean tragedies, predict outcomes, and practice some multiple choice questions based on the play from the Laying the Foundations web site.

We will also, of course, have our weekly LTF SAT vocabulary quiz, so study lesson seven!

 English 12

As part of our study of The Canterbury Tales, you have been assigned a group project. I will give you Tuesday in class to work on it. Remember I have posted links to help you understand Medieval beliefs about humours and physiognomy and a list of job descriptions of the pilgrims on Edmodo and in last week's blog. I'm really looking forward to your presentations on Wednesday and Thursday.

In addition to your presentations, we will continue reading the prologue. You will have a test in the coming weeks on the prologue and the two tales in your electronic text, "The Wife of Bathe's Tale" and "The Pardoner's Tale."

You will have a quiz on lesson seven vocabulary, so study!

APEnglish Literature and Composition

So much to do....so little time. This week you will have a guest speaker for career and college counseling visit on Tuesday. Wednesday-Thursday, you will read and discuss Othello. On Friday, I will be attending the Poetry Out Loud competition, so your quiz on lesson 59 vocabulary will be delayed until Monday. I will be leaving an essay assignment with the sub on Friday. It will be based on an excerpt from Othello and will be a character analysis.

Have a nice holiday on Monday! See you all in class!

Mrs. SO




Friday, November 2, 2012

November 5-9, 2012

Greetings Students!
I hope you have had a restful weekend. As you all know, I have a dental appointment Monday and will not be at school, but I've left the things we discussed in class with the substitute.

Plans for the week:

Pre-APEnglish 10

This week we will continue with our study of Julius Caesar. Monday you will take the check tests on your Pearson Successnet page. There are two tests listed in your "to do" items. Complete those tests and the discussion questions I will leave with the sub.

Tuesday and Wednesday, we will read Act III in class. We've already "killed" Caesar, which is the resolution of the initial conflict. But there are great scenes in this Act that we need to spend some time paraphrasing. We will compare and contrast the funeral speeches of Antony and Brutus and judge which is a more effective speaker and why? What techniques and qualities work best in speeches?

We will also make inferences about Shakespeare's depiction of the Plebeians. What is he saying about the place of monarchy? Why say what he says through this group of people instead of the aristocratic characters?

Thursday we will do reading warm-ups from your Pearson Successnet. I will print out the reading samples, and you will read and use context clues to answer the questions.

Friday you will have a quiz on lesson SIX of your SAT vocabulary. We will review the first three acts of Julius Caesar and start Act IV if time permits.

See you in class!

English 12

Monday you will complete the two sets of reading warm-ups from your Pearson Successnet site. I have printed out the sheets for you. You will also take your quiz on Vocabulary Lesson 5. Your Lesson SIX quiz will be on Friday.

Tuesday and Wednesday we will read the PROLOGUE from the Canterbury Tales. You will examine the different characters and make judgements about them based on the characterization Chaucer uses.
You will also discuss his use of SATIRE. What precisely is Chaucer critical of, and how do you know?

Thursday you will be given time to work on your Canterbury Tales project.  Your group will turn in the required booklet to me, prepare a visual aid to assist in your teaching of your tale, and present your "pilgrim" and his or her tale to the class. These projects will be due on Tuesday of next week, November 13.

To help you in understanding the Canterbury Tales, we will review the following information of occupations of the period and beliefs about "humor."

Physiognomy and Body Humours
Body Humours Table
Personality Traits Table
Medieval Jobs 

See you in class!

APEnglish Literature and Composition

This week will be BUSY. On Monday you will do practice MC from Othello. Do the first three passages (questions 1-23). You will find the questions on Edmodo. Upload your answers.
Tuesday you will work in groups to come to a consensus on your MC answers, and we will see which group did best. You will get a quiz grade based upon your groups rank.
Wednesday we will read from Act I of Othello, and Thursday, you will have a scored discussion on Atonement Pt. ONE. Remember the scored discussion counts as a test grade, so use the questions I posted on Edmodo to prepare and PARTICIPATE. You can only earn a B- for answering the questions and uploading your answer. Participation is a must if you want an A.
Friday you will have a quiz on your SAT vocabulary from the LTF web site: Lesson 60.  You will use the remainder of the time to answer MC questions for the fourth passage (questions 24-30).

Since I will be attending a training session for the first part of Thursday, third period will do Friday's lesson on Thursday, and Thursday's lesson (the scored discussion) on Friday when I can facilitate.

See you in class!
 



Monday, October 29, 2012

October 29-November 2, 2012

Hello Students!
Hope you all had a relaxing weekend and are ready for the new week. We have lots to do, so with the formalities aside and greetings made, I will post the week's activities below:

Pre-APEnglish 10

Finally all that testing is behind us! I am wishing you all well in that arena. This week we will continue with our study of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. We also will share our narrative essays. The assignment is posted both on Edmodo and Write to Learn. Use the Write to Learn program to get feedback before uploading your final narrative to Edmodo. I will be grading them from Edomodo, so any not uploaded there will NOT be counted as turned in.

Don't forget that we have vocabulary on Friday. The words are the same as last week, since we missed that quiz while I was at the Poetry Out Loud workshop.

English 12

You will have a vocabulary quiz on Friday based on the words from last week's lesson. We will also begin our study of the Medieval period. You will see the transition from Old to Middle English with our study of The Canterbury Tales. I have assigned you reading and activities on your successnet related to the prologue, "The Pardoner's Tale," and the "Wife of Bath's Tale." Expect a presentation project in the next week on one of the Canterbury Tales NOT studied in class.

While we read the prologue, pay close attention to the characterization. What is Chaucer satirizing? How does he use characters to satirize?

Also, don't forget your EPIC BOASTS are due before Wednesday! We will share some of them in class.

APEnglish Literature and Composition 12

You will have a vocabulary quiz on Friday based on the words from last week's lesson.
This week we will continue with our writing of PFS's. On Monday, we will look at another poem from Poetry 180, "The Blue Bowl." From that poem, you will write a PFS containing the five critical attributes of a PFS:

(1)        includes the title of the poem and the name of the poet
(2)        is written in “literary present tense” (The poet/speaker conveys rather than conveyed.)
(3)        specifies the narrative situation of the poem (who, what, where, when, why)
(4)        includes a thoughtful, but concise indication of theme
(5)        identifies the tone(s) of the poem (These may be differing, but complementary.  Shifts in tone may be identified as well.)


Tuesday we will begin our study of Shakespeare's Othello. As we read this play, consider thematic connections with the novel Atonement, which you should be reading at home. Do NOT forget that we will have a scored discussion on the novel part one on November 8. Your questions for the discussion should be uploaded to Edmodo PRIOR to class on that day. Scored discussions will count as test grades. Remember that the highest you can earn without participating in the discussion is an 80, and that will require a thorough response to the required questions uploaded prior to class. You may, of course, refer to your questions and answers during the discussion.

In order to take advantage of the mood created for story telling in my tenth grade classes, Wednesday, our class will be reading and discussing selected poems by Robert Browning. I will expect you to analyze the narrators in these dramatic monologues.

Thursday and Friday will be dedicated to reading Othello, analyzing its structure, and analyzing characters in the play. Expect at least one scored discussion after act three of the play. I will provide you with some guided questions next week. 

See you in class!

 
 

Monday, October 22, 2012

October 22-26, 2012

Greetings Students: APE's, Other Seniors, and APE's in Training!

I hope you all had a restful weekend and are ready to plunge into new literary depths. I have spent two days at an awesome teacher training session, and I have some great ideas to make our classes even better! I'm excited to move forward with learning!

Below you will find this week's particular plans for your classes:

Pre-APEnglish 10

Study your new vocabulary for your weekly quiz on Friday.


This Tuesday is the Plan Test. I know you've all been working hard preparing for it. Remember, this test is key in determining  your placement in AP classes, so do your best. On Monday we will have one final grammar review. Then you homework from me is to get a good night's sleep and wake up in time to eat a good breakfast, preferably high in protein. Drink plenty of water to hydrate your brain.

Beginning on Tuesday of this week we will continue our study of Julius CaesarThe e-text provides a side-by-side translation from Early Modern to Modern English. Use the e-text at home to help in your understanding. We will read the original in class together. I hope to complete Act I and progress well into Act II.

Expect short tests or alternative checks after each act.

Our goal this week is to explain the actions of various characters and to infer the reasons behind those actions. While reading, you should identify and also compare and contrast dramatic foils.
We will also discuss characterization and use textual evidence to support our claims about characters.
And finally, we will examine the grammatical structure of certain passages. 

See you in class!

English 12

Study your new vocabulary for your weekly quiz on Friday.

This week we will read the remaining passages from Beowulf in your online text. We will also use the questions in your text to facilitate a class discussion. You will take the reading check text from your online text, and complete the grammar activities associated with the text. Also, we will read commentary from the authors of two translators of Beowulf and discuss their differing approaches.

Be sure to check Edmodo daily for updates. I will alert you to any reading or outside assignments.

See you in class!

APEnglish Literature and Composition

We have much to do this week! As I mentioned earlier, I attended a great teacher conference and got some great ideas for this class. I hope to start using some of them right away. With that end in mind, and with my awareness that poetry is a challenge for many students, I want to begin by directing you to a really cool website called Poetry 180. As you can probably surmise from the title, it's a site with 180 poems--one for each school day. Now I'm not going to use all 180 in this class, but I do want to choose a few to get us started in our poetry studies. We will use some of these very accessible poems to take baby steps towards poetry analysis.

We will also incorporate regular poetry reading days into class. That's right. YOU will be selecting poems (with some guiding criteria) to introduce and read in class. I'm hoping to have three coffee house days this year.

So, your first poetry assignment for the remainder of the year is to visit Poetry 180 and find FIVE poems that you want to share in class. I will model for you how to write a FOCUS STATEMENT for each of your five poems. You will turn in all of your statements, but you will choose one of your poems for class discussion.

I may also, on occasion, (maybe once a week) use a short poem for a bell ringer. You will write responses to the poem and create focus statements to share. These focus statements, I hope, will prepare you to write those poetry analysis essays on the exam. Those of you who are in tech will need to write your poem exercises outside of class.

While we are discussing poetry in class, I need you to do some outside reading. I have some hard copies of Atonement, but not enough for everyone. I did, however, find a digital copy of the novel. If you need a hard copy, you may check one out, but you must pay for it if it is lost.

I would like you to begin reading part one. We will schedule a class discussion for the end of next week.

Don't forget your vocabulary quiz on Friday.

See you in class!











Friday, October 12, 2012

October 15-19, 2012

Hello Students!
I hope you all had a restful weekend and are ready for a busy week. Several of us AP teachers will be out Friday for a training session, so I will not be giving new vocabulary this week, as I will not be here to administer the weekly online quiz on Friday.

Those of you who are seniors, however, do have a vocabulary quiz on Monday to replace the one postponed from Friday, when so many of you were out on a field trip.

With the preliminaries out of the way and the perfunctory, nonetheless sincere, greetings given, I shall proceed to the week's agenda below:

Pre-APENGLISH 10

As I said earlier, you will not have a quiz on vocabulary this week. You will, however, take the STAR READING test and part 1 of the PLAN test, and many will take the PSAT.  Since we are testing and preparing for said tests, I will continue with our grammar and reading reviews for most of the week. I am, for your convenience and edification, including several links in this week's blog for practice and review.

http://sat.collegeboard.org/SAT/public/pdf/getting-ready-for-the-sat-subj-tests.pdf

http://www.act.org/plan/pdf/sample.pdf

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/02/

http://www.superkids.com/aweb/tools/sat/ (This is a vocabulary study guide)

http://www.studyguidezone.com/psat_writing.htm

http://www.studyguidezone.com/psat_criticalreading.htm

http://www.studyguidezone.com/identifying-sentence-errors.htm

See you in class!

English 12

This week you will take your vocabulary quiz on Monday.  You will also take your STAR READING test on Monday. Please do your very best. Showing an improvement is important.


We will continue with our study of Beowulf. Be sure that you have turned in all late assignments.

Should you miss class, you will need to read the Beowulf selection from your virtual text. You can access it at  https://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/snpapp/login/login.jsp

Also, in your to do you should read Contemporary Commentary: Seamus Heaney. After you read, answer the critical thinking questions. This is an assignment and must be completed on your computer. You can type your answers directly into the boxes.

See you in class!

APEnglish Literature and Composition 12

This will be a full week. On Monday your short story essays are due. I have posted a link for turning them in on Edmodo. Please do not turn them in later than midnight on the due date. There is a link to the topics on Edmodo, as well.

Monday we will finish our discussion of "I Stand Here Ironing." I want you to consider the use of metaphor in the text and how that metaphor contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. We will look closely at the beginning and end of the story and deconstruct a writing prompt, and write thematic and thesis statements based on those two sections of the story.

On Tuesday, you will take your STAR Reading Test. Please take this test seriously. You, your teachers, and your school are evaluated based upon these test results. Your goal is to maintain or improve your previous score. Anyone scoring below level should strive to increase his or her score.

Since the test does not take all period, we will also begin a unit on poetry. I will review with your the TPCASTT system of poetry analysis. I will assign poems for you to read by next week. I expect you to come to class having done ALL of the assigned reading. I will initially walk you through poetry, but will eventually assign poems to you to teach to the class.

Of course, many of your AP teachers have a training conference Friday, so I will not give a vocabulary quiz this Friday. I do, however, expect you to come prepared on Wednesday and Thursday to discuss in depth Life of Pi.  I found this: Etext of Life of Pi.  Please read it if you have not. I am linking to some ancillary texts that should help in your understanding of the novel. Please peruse them and be prepared to discuss them as well.

 "Adventure Afloat" Book review by Roberta Rubenstein

"Faith, Fiction and Flotsam" Book review by Randy Boyagada

 "Believing in Tigers:Anthropomorphism and Incredulity in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi" by Stewart Cole

You will have an in-class timed essay on this novel on FRIDAY. Be sure to bring blue or black pens. I will provide paper.

See you in class!

Mrs. SO

Monday, October 8, 2012

October 8-12, 2012

Greetings Students!
I cannot believe how rapidly this year is passing! By the end of this week, we will be nearly halfway through October, and a quarter of the way through the school year! So much remains to be done, and so little time remains to do it.
I hope we can all work together to learn as much as possible in the coming weeks. To that end, we will complete the following tasks this week:

Pre-APEnglish 10

This is October, as I have previously stated, and October is the month when I always ask sophomores to hone their narrative skills . In other words, we are writing short stories, some of which we will share in class. In the coming weeks we will review the structure of a short story and discuss those elements that contribute to vivid and interesting writing. Be thinking about a story idea. You can use these tips to help with organization. Keep in mind that the Huntsville Literary Association will be accepting fiction submissions for their new anthology this year. The competition also has cash prizes for top winners in both fiction and poetry.

Since the PSAT, the STAR Reading, and the PLAN tests are all coming up soon, this week we will focus on some of the skills you will need for those tests. We will, however, also complete the scene we didn't quite finish in Julius Caesar. And we will resume our study of that play after the testing spree. I do think that Julius Caesar is good reading comprehension practice, since it requires so much paraphrasing.

Don't forget our weekly VOCABULARY quiz on Friday.

Our goals for this week include the following:
Paraphrase difficult passages
Make inferences
Draw conclusions
Identify the main idea of a text
Use contextual clues to determine meaning
Determine an author's purpose
Understand grammar usage and conventions
Pronoun case and agreement
Parallel stucture
Concise structure

English 12

This week we will begin our study of the epic poem, Beowulf. In preparation, we already reviewed the history of Britain up to the transcription of Beowulf, and you must now complete your test on that information. I will send home a Scantron on Monday for your answers, and you must return it before the end of the week. Please answer your questions in PENCIL and do NOT bend or fold your answer form.

You will also have a VOCABULARY quiz on Friday, so be sure to review your words before then.

We will complete the activities in your online textbook before reading the selections from Beowulf, so check your successnet account for things "to do." Unless I tell you otherwise, activities will be completed in class.


APEnglish 12 Literature and Composition

In addition to your VOCABULARY quiz on Friday, you will continue with your analysis of fiction. On Monday, we will collectively use our group analysis of the elements of fiction from the story "Clothes" to create cogent and thoughtful THEMATIC statements. (This is the BIG question: What does the text signify?) Then we will use those thematic statements to create strong THESIS statements (see link to templates on the sidebar of my blog.)

Tuesday we will have a BRIEF discussion of "The Yellow Wallpaper" and "I Stand Here Ironing." Please come to class PREPARED. DO NOT expect me to dismiss your lack of participation of obvious lack of preparation.

Wednesday we will review and deconstruct a prompt on "I Stand Here Ironing." You will read several essays and determine which of them is an upper half scoring essay. You will also analyze the content and structure of the essays to determine WHY certain essays score well while others do not.

Thursday you will write a timed essay on a prose passage, keeping in mind the qualities of a well-constructed essay.

Friday, after your quiz, we will review your take home essay assignment on the short story unit.
Please review Life of Pi and the ancellory texts I assigned earlier this year. On Monday of next week, you should come prepared to discuss this novel in depth. 

See you in class!

Friday, September 28, 2012

October 1-5, 2012

Greetings Students: APE's, Other Seniors, and APE's in Training!

To be BLOCKED, or not to be BLOCKED? That is the question.

To not be blocked seems the answer. Let us hope it remains thus. Should the blog be blocked midweek, I will re-post any pertinent links on Edmodo.

As you all know, we have completed fifteen allusions, so all students will take the allusions quiz on Monday.

The individual class plans follow:

Pre-APEnglish 10

Study your new vocabulary for your weekly quiz on Friday.

This week we will continue our study of Julius CaesarThe e-text provides a side-by-side translation from Early Modern to Modern English. Use the e-text at home to help in your understanding. We will read the original in class together. I hope to complete Act I and progress well into Act II.


Expect short tests after each act.

Our goal this week is to explain the actions of various characters and to infer the reasons behind those actions. While reading, you should identify and also compare and contrast dramatic foils.
We will also discuss characterization and use textual evidence to support our claims about characters.
And finally, we will examine the grammatical structure of certain passages. 

See you in class!


English 12

Study your new vocabulary for your weekly quiz on Friday.

This week we will read the three selections assigned last week: The Seafarer, The Wanderer, and the Wife's Lament. Your goals, beyond paraphrasing these older texts, is to analyze the poems and look for the thematic ideas in them. You will also learn vocabulary in context, understand the elegy form of poetry, and recognize kennings and caesuras.

Be sure to check Edmodo daily for updates. I will alert you to any reading or outside assignments.


Don't forget that your Personal Essay is due Monday.


See you in class!

APEnglish Literature and Composition

We have much to do this week!


First let me thank those of you who attended the Saturday prep session. I appreciate your commitment. You will be rewarded for your dilegence.


"Clothes" (Monday and Tuesday: We will use the handout below.)

Select passages that you think warrant discussion and be prepared to discuss them. We will also use this handout on analyzing fiction.

The Yellow Wallpaper (Wednesday)
I Stand Here Ironing (Wednesday)

Thursday we will evaluate essays for I Stand Here Ironing.
Friday you will have your vocabulary quiz and create a thematic and thesis statement for several of the texts we have read.

You will write an analytical essay on one or a combination of the stories from this unit. Topics and due dates will be posted on Edmodo. Check daily for updates and assignments.


See you in Class!








Friday, September 21, 2012

September 24-28, 2012

Greetings Students: Ape's, other Seniors, and APE's in training!

I hope you are ready for a busy week. Now that the classroom competition for Poetry Out Loud has been completed, we will turn our focus to more traditional tasks.

See you in class!

Pre-APEnglish 10

This week will certainly be full! We are beginning a unit on the Shakespearean tragedy The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. I have a number of reasons for selecting this text, but my primary goals are for you, by the time we have finished, to understand and compare the rhetorical devices and strategies used by political factions, evaluate those strategies for their effectiveness. I also want your to be able to analyze the various characters and make judgement calls about them as well as hypothesize Shakespeare's purpose in creating said characters, including those who are foils. We will examine and recognize the structure of the Shakespearean tragedy and  Moreover, by the time we complete this play, you should be able to relate the events of this quasi-history to the world in general, in other words, you should be able to create a thematic statement about the play and defend that statement.

Of course we won't be able to do all those things in one, or even two weeks. But I just wanted to set some clear guidelines for you to consider while reading.

In addition to our plunge into Shakespeare, we will also review the new SAT vocabulary for this week's Friday quiz, and we will have a Foundation Friday lesson on distinguishing fact, opinion, and bias in a nonfiction text.

English 12

This week we will finally write those college entrance/personal essay. Over the weekend you were to have selected a topic by locating the topic required by one of the colleges to which you would like to apply. I have created a Write to Learn topic for your essay so you can get some feedback before submitting your essay for grading. This is an important assignment, not just for my class, but also for your future, so please take it seriously. Have a third party proofread for you before your final submission. Use an essay checklist like this one for evaluating your essay. Your essays will be due on Friday, September 28. Do not expect to work on them in class.

Monday we will review the vocabulary lesson two for your quiz on Friday. Be sure to study your words.
Tuesday-Friday we will begin our study of British literature.  I have assigned several passages in your online text. We will read some in class, but what we do not finish, you will need to read at home. I hope to complete the following this week:
  • Introduction: The Old English and Medieval Periods (A.D. 449-1485)
  • The Seafarer / The Wanderer / The Wife's Lament
  • Focus on Literary Forms: Epic

APEnglish Literature and Composition

This week will conclude our short story boot camp. We will discuss as fully as possible the remaining texts from our list. Be prepared each day to discuss the assigned texts in a scholarly fashion. Bring questions or comments for the class. Do NOT come unprepared. We will not have the opportunity to read in class, so you must read and prepare ahead of time.
Once Upon a Time
Miss Brill (Monday after vocabulary quiz)
Desiree's Baby  (Tuesday...be prepared to annotate.)
 Hills Like White Elephants (Already discussed)
The Japanese Quince (Already discussed)
Where are You Going Where Have You Been (Wednesday)
The Yellow Wallpaper (Thursday)
I Stand Here Ironing (Thursday)
"Clothes" (Friday and Monday Oct 1. We will use the handout below.)

I have included links to those stories we've already address for your easy location of said texts. Select passages that you think warrant discussion and be prepared to discuss them. We will also use this handout on analyzing fiction.

Also, don't forget that you will also have your second vocabulary quiz this Friday. Your lesson for this week is here.



Sunday, September 16, 2012

September 17-21, 2012

Hello Senior APEs, Younger APEs, and Seniors!

I hope you all had a good weekend. This week holds lots in store for your English classes. Everyone will be participating in Poetry Out Loud on Monday, and some classes that are larger will carry the competition into Tuesday. See this link for some tips on reciting poetry and how you will be scored. The specific plans for each class are listed below:

Pre-APEnglish 10

In addition to the Poetry Out Loud competition, we will also have daily allusions, a vocabulary quiz on Tuesday or Wednesday depending of POL recitation progress, and you turn in your Poe essays. Don't forget that NEXT week, you will be responsible for vocabulary lesson 2 words.

LTF is a program that is designed to give students in pre-AP classes the preparation they need for AP. Our first lesson will be one that relates the Poe poems we have read. As we discussed with Poe, this lesson relates sound devices in poetry to the meaning of the poem. Here is a link to your portion of the lesson. One class started this lesson last week but did not finish. 

We will also complete our weekly LTF lesson on Friday. This week's lesson has to do with levels of thinking in a "visual text." We will look at a painting together and use that image to determine mood an point of view.

In addition to these activities, I intend for us to begin or at least introduce the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar. I have copies for the classroom, but at home you can review this e-text. You can download the PDF and save it to your computer.

English 12

In addition to your allusions, you will be reciting your poems from the Poetry Out Loud anthology on Monday and possibly Tuesday for the larger class, you must also upload your Lord of the Flies essay to Edmodo. I will also begin vocabulary lessons this week. Lesson 1 vocabulary we will work through in class, and we will have a quiz on Friday. Eventually, you will be expected to study the vocabulary on your own.
We will also begin using our online textbooks. Be sure you can access your book before Tuesday. The web address for your book is https://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com/snpapp/login/login.jsp and your username and passwords are first.lastmmdd and welcome + your grade level: welcome12. If you have trouble accessing your book, make sure I know and see Ms. Johnson in the library for help.
I also will review with you the personal/college entrance essay and showing you some examples.

APEnglish Literature and Composition

So much to do...so little time! This week, after we complete our POL recitation competition, we will resume our allusions and discussion of short stories. Expect to discuss at least the first three this week, but be prepared to read all of stories below:
Once Upon a Time
Miss Brill
Desiree's Baby
Hills Like White Elephants (Already discussed)
The Japanese Quince (Already discussed)
Where are You Going Where Have You Been
The Yellow Wallpaper
I Stand Here Ironing
"Clothes"

I have included links to those stories we've already address for your easy location of said texts.
Your task is to come to class prepared to discuss these texts in a scholarly fashion. Take notes. Bring questions. Select passages that you think warrant discussion and be prepared to discuss them.
We will also use this handout on analyzing fiction.


Also, don't forget that you will also begin vocabulary lessons this week. Your lesson for this week is here. Study the words, use the practice sentences, and be prepared for a quiz on Friday.




Sunday, September 9, 2012

September 10-14, 2012

Greetings Students!
I trust you all had a restful weekend and are ready for a new week of challenges. Don't forget that I have delayed the class competition for Poetry Out Loud until September 17, but your original poems are still due on the 14th. I have created a turn in link for them on Edmodo.

I have a dental appointment this Wednesday, so I will be leaving work for you to turn in to the substitute.
Thursday we will all take the STAR Reading Test, so be sure you have checked the school's drop box for the list of usernames and passwords for the STAR program. And PLEASE take this test seriously. It is more important than you may think.

Below are my general plans for the week to come. As always, I am flexible, and plans are tentative.

Pre-APEnglish 10

Monday, if your class has not already done so, we will discuss the symbols in Poe's "The Pit and the Pendulum." We will also briefly discuss The Gold Bug and the paper topics for your Poe essays. Remember these essays will be graded as a test, so do your best. I will post an assignment in Write to Learn so you can get some grammar feedback before turning in your final draft on Edmodo. Check both for assignment links.

Tuesday I will review with you the QOEGV method for essay grading. This holistic method is very similar to what is used in grading AP essays. I will explain to your the 9-point scale for essays. There is a link to a QOEGV rubric on the side of my blog.  We will also begin vocabulary this week. I have not yet received the vocabulary workbooks I used last year, so we will be using the SAT vocabulary from the Laying the Foundation website. Here is the link your first lesson, We will review the sentences on Tuesday. You will take a quiz on the 25 words on the following Tuesday. Expect new words each week and a quiz each Tuesday.

Wednesday you will complete two reading comprehension passages with multiple choice questions.  I will leave the packets with the sub. Bring paper for turning in your answers. We will go over the passages together next week.

Thursday, you will take the STAR Reading Test.

Friday we will  reserve for Laying the Foundation lessons. LTF is a program that is designed to give students in pre-AP classes the preparation they need for AP. Our first lesson will be one that relates the Poe poems we have read. As we discussed with Poe, this lesson relates sound devices in poetry to the meaning of the poem. Here is a link to your portion of the lesson.

English 12

Monday we will discuss the paper topics for Lord of the Flies. I will review the QOEGV grading system and rubric with you.

Tuesday we will review some templates for writing clear thesis statements. You will finalize your paper topic choice for Lord of the Flies and develop a thesis statement.

Wednesday you will answer multiple choice questions for two reading passages. I will expect you to turn in your answers to the sub, so bring paper and pen or pencil.  We will review the passages together on Friday.

Thursday you will take the STAR Reading Test. Please locate your username and password on the NCTHS dropbox so you can log in immediately. Also, please take this test seriously.

Friday we will review the MC passages from Wednesday. We will also have peer evaluations of your Lord of the Flies papers. Upload a copy to google docs for sharing. Allow editing by anyone so your peers can make comments. Final drafts will be due on Monday.  I will create an assignment on Edmodo for you to turn your papers in.

APEnglish Literature and Composition

Monday we will discuss the "test case" from chapter 27 of HtRLLaP. Be sure that you are ready to discuss the story and how the various "professor readings" apply to it. If time permits, we will also discuss the short story "The Japanese Quince" in the same way.

Tuesday and Friday we will discuss the following stories, or as many as we can so read the following short stories:
Once Upon a Time
Miss Brill
Desiree's Baby
Hills Like White Elephants
Where are You Going Where Have You Been
The Yellow Wallpaper
I Stand Here Ironing
"Clothes"

Your task is to come to class prepared to discuss these texts in a scholarly fashion. Take notes. Bring questions. Select passages that you think warrant discussion and be prepared to discuss them.
We will also use this handout on analyzing fiction.

You will be writing an essay on one or more of the aforementioned texts.

Wednesday I will leave a prompt for your first timed writing. It will likely be a character analysis of sorts.

Thursday you will take the STAR Reading test. Please take this test SERIOUSLY. It is very important.

See you all in class!

Mrs. SO

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

September 4-7, 2012

Greetings Students!

It's hard to believe week three is upon us.  But here we are! I hope everyone is adjusting to the new format and etexts. I am sure that before long we will wonder how we ever did things the old way.

Here are my plans for our classes this week:

Monday is a holiday!

Pre-APEnglish 10

This week we will continue with our discussion of Poe. I hope you have read all the associated texts. You can easily locate etexts of all his works individually. Remember I have links to the relative texts in a previous blog.

On Tuesday you will complete your summaries on Poe's biography in Write to Learn. Upload the final draft to Edmodo with the assignment I have created for you there.

Wednesday we will finish our discussion of "The Masque of the Red Death" and begin reviewing "The Pit and the Pendulum." Consider this text an allegory. You must determine what things are symbols and what they symbolize to create a second level of reading.

Thursday we will discuss The Gold Bug and I will post various Poe essay topics on WtL.

Friday we will conclude our current study of Poe and work on a culminating essay.

English 12

This week we will complete our review of Lord of the Flies. I will be giving you several LotF essay topics from which to choose for your culminating activity. I also will review with you the personal/college entrance essay and showing you some examples. I will post these essays on Write to Learn so you can get initial feedback before peer reviews. See Edomodo for due dates and to upload final drafts for grading.

APEnglish Literature and Composition 12

This week we will conclude our discussion of HtRLLaP. Be prepared to read the story "The Garden Party" in the chapter called "Test Case." Come to class prepared to discuss in depth the different ways to analyze this text. Apply as many chapters to the text as possible.

Then read the following short stories:
Once Upon a Time
Miss Brill
Desiree's Baby
The Japanese Quince
Where are You Going Where Have You Been
The Yellow Wallpaper
I Stand Here Ironing


I will be adding the story "Clothes" as soon as I get a copy of it.
Your task is to come to class prepared to discuss these texts in a scholarly fashion. Take notes. Bring questions. Select passages that you think warrant discussion and be prepared to discuss them.
We will also use this handout on analyzing fiction.

You will be writing an essay on one or more of the aforementioned texts.

Monday, August 27, 2012

August 27-August 31, 2012

Greetings Students!

It's already week two! I trust we are all on the same pages now and all have our ebooks and other programs up and running! This is all new, but it's also exciting to be on the cutting edge!

Below are my plans for each class this week:

Pre-APEnglish 10
You all have two essays which I have previously assigned on Write To Learn. You need to keep revising them until you run out of revisions or you reach your green bars in all areas at once, whichever comes first. These two assignments are "practice" to get you back in the habit of writing and to familiarize yourself with the program. You will be given a daily grade on these activities, so don't neglect them altogether.

This week, I would like you to also complete the summary of Edgar Allan Poe's biography on Write To Learn. This summary will be graded as an essay grade, so do your very best. Practice is over. We will not be completing this activity in class. This task is to be completed on your own time.

Also, make sure to read or review the Poe selections from your summer reading. You will find links to the etexts in my previous blog post. We should complete our discussion of all three remaining texts, "The Masque of the Red Death," "The Pit and the Pendulum," and The Gold Bug this week, so be sure to have read them so you can actively participate in group discussion. I will be posting a quiz on all of the texts on Edmodo. Check our group each day for updates.

And DON'T forget that you were to have selected a poem for recitation in class. Memorize and practice your poem and be prepared to recite it by September 10, 2012.

And don't forget about the written component of Poetry Out Loud Alabama. Everyone must submit an original poem by September 14. I will post a turn in link on Edmodo. I challenge you to write a sonnet, but any form is acceptable so long as it can be recited in one to two minutes without going over two minutes.

See the video at the end of this blog for a sonnet-writing lesson.


English 12
You also have two essays which I have previously assigned on Write To Learn. You need to keep revising them until you run out of revisions or you reach your green bars in all areas at once, whichever comes first. These two assignments are "practice" to get you back in the habit of writing and to familiarize yourself with the program. You will be given a daily grade on these activities, so don't neglect them altogether.

This week, in addition to our discussion of Lord of the Flies, we will begin examining samples of personal essays. Many colleges require an essay submission as a part of the college application. I will expect you to write one for me, and if you select your topic well, you will be able to use the same essay for your college applications

Even if you aren't planning on attending college, I still require a personal essay. Due dates will be announced on Edmodo, and a turn in link will be there, too. Expect these essays to be due about a week from now. Use the Write To Learn program to get some grammar feedback and make revisions before turning in your final drafts. I will put the assignment there for you. It will instruct you to respond to the essay topic from the college you have selected. The word count requirement will be between 300 and 500 words.

Do not forget you also have a poem to memorize and recite! Recitation day is September 10.

And don't forget about the written component of Poetry Out Loud Alabama. Everyone must submit an original poem by September 14. I will post a turn in link on Edmodo. I challenge you to attempt a sonnet, but any form is acceptable so long as it can be recited in one to two minutes without going over two minutes.

APEnglish 12: Literature and Composition

This week, in addition to our discussion of HtRLLaP, we will begin examining samples of personal essays. Many colleges require an essay submission as a part of the college application. I will expect you to write one for me, and if you select your topic well, you will be able to use the same essay for your college applications

Due dates will be announced on Edmodo, and a turn in link will be there, too, when the time arrives. Expect a peer review of your essays about a week from now. You will need to "share" your essay rough drafts with your peers on google docs for the peer review.

I will also be posting a turn in link for your HtRLLaP summaries. These will be due by the end of this week. The analysis assignment in the penultimate chapter will be due next week.

Do not forget you also have a poem to memorize and recite! Recitation day is September 10.

And don't forget about the written component of Poetry Out Loud Alabama. Everyone must submit an original poem by September 14. I will post a turn in link on Edmodo. I challenge you to attempt either a sestina, a villanelle, or a sonnet, but any form is acceptable so long as it can be recited in one to two minutes without going over two minutes.

           
How to Write a Sonnet on Howcast


Sunday, August 19, 2012

Attention Students and Parents:

Below are several important handouts. Please read them, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me at rebecca.savage-owens@hsv-k12.

Senior Signature Sheet (Green Sheet)
APEnglish Literature and Composition syllabus
APEnglish Contract
English 12 Syllabus
Pre-APEnglish 10 syllabus
Mrs. SO's Classroom Procedures 

New Building....Old Blog

Welcome students!

This is sure to be an exciting year! We have a great new facility and great new Lee partners to share it with! Some of us will also be sharing classes. I know that will be the case for my APEnghlish Literature classes. Both, at this point, have six Lee students! I am excited to have you!

There is much to do in the first days of school that are administrative, but this fact in no way means we will delay learning. I intend the first weeks to be as full of rigor as the rest. So, please check my blog daily for updates the first week, then weekly thereafter. Eventually we will shift assignment posting and share information over Edmodo and/or Weebly, the former a Facebookish forum for education and the latter a place to create school and class webpages. Until then, my blog is the go-to place for class updates and information.

I will use the blog for posting assignments, giving summations of class activities, and linking to pertinent information. If you don't have a Google account yet, you need one, since I often link to Google documents. NCTHS students should have one with an associated NCTHS email.

Seniors: I will be sending home an EXTREMELY important green sheet with you this week. You MUST fill out this sheet and return it promptly. Failure to turn in this form will result in your not having a cap and gown or diploma ordered. I cannot overstate its importance. I will also be sending a revised optional fee notice (the required fee is correct as reported). Optional fees pay for such things as tee-shirts, a prom ticket, year book, and the end -of-the-year picnic. I will give you a breakdown of the cost of each event and what you save by paying optional fees. Expect this list by next week

EVERYONE: NCTHS has participated in Poetry Out Loud, a national poetry recitation competition, every year since Huntsville was included in the contest. We have had several students place in the regional competition and move on to the state level. This year, I am hoping to go all the way to nationals! Every student in my classes is required (Yes, there will be a grade attached) to select a poem from the POL Ethology and recite it...from memory...in class. From my classes I will choose winners who will compete against one another and any other class winners for a chance to go to regional competition at UAH this fall. The top three winners at UAH will move up to the state competition, and the ONE winner there will go to Washington, D.C. to compete at the national level. Two years ago, a student from Alabama won the national competition....and a prize of a $20,000 scholarship. That student was also asked to recite his poem at the White House!

As a part of POL, we will examine a new poem each day. This activity will help you develop both reading and analytical skills, and your recitation will improve your public speaking. It is important that you select a poem that speaks to you, that you connect with, if you are to recite it effectively. Don't just find the shortest. "Fire and Ice" is a fantastic poem, but it isn't very challenging to memorize, and degree of difficulty is a factor in scoring.

Because Alabama's POL competition includes and writing component, I will also expect all students to submit an original poem. One original poem will be selected as a school winner. School winners can attend a writing workshop and will compete in the regional recitation competition. One student may win both anthology and original recitation competitions, or a different student may compete in each category.

In addition to our poetry, each class will begin discussion of summer reading. For a more class-specific breakdown of class expectations for this week, see the subheadings below:

10th Grade Pre-APEnglish
Please make sure you have read the selections by Edgar Allan Poe that were assigned for summer reading. Below is a link to an e-text of each selection. If you do not have internet access at home, be certain to download the PDF on each link so you can read outside of school:
Annabel Lee
The Raven
Masque of the Red Death
The Pit and the Pendulum
The Gold Bug

We will look at the two poems first, then the stories in the order listed. We may not finish in one week.

Also, we will be reading sections of Why We Can't Wait over the course of the year. Be sure you have a copy. I have ordered a class set, but they cannot be sent home (and I don't have them yet.)

12th Grade English
We will begin and in-depth review and discussion of Lord of the Flies. If you don't have a copy of Lord of the Flies, you can find an etext here:
Lord of the Flies etext PDF
I had better luck browsing it after saving the page, rather than reading it online. I suggest you also download the PDF. This way, you can read even if your internet connection is down.
Here is a pretty straightforward study guide.
Flash game of Lord of the Flies

Rest assured you will be expected to not only take a test on the text, you will also write an essay response to it. I hope you enjoy our discussions and can meet these tasks enthusiastically.

 12th Grade APEnglish Literature and Composition
Life of Pi
If you haven't read Life of Pi yet, let me encourage you to do so. I though this book wasn't available in a free etext, but after some searching, I found this: Etext of Life of Pi. Please read it.
I will begin discussion of the novel soon. I am linking to some ancillary texts that should help in your understanding of the novel.
 "Adventure Afloat" Book review by Roberta Rubenstein

"Faith, Fiction and Flotsam" Book review by Randy Boyagada


 "Believing in Tigers:Anthropomorphism and Incredulity in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi" by Stewart Cole
"Hollow at the core: Deconstructing Yann Martel's Life of Pi" by Florence Stratton
"Feeding Tiger, Finding God: Science, Religion, and the Better Story in Life of Pi" by Gregory Stephens

I also found this link to How to Read Literature Like a Professor.
Here is the associated assignment. I am not asking you to write out your connections to every chapter, but I do want you to come to class prepared for intelligent discussion of the book.  Activity B is the culminating essay assignment.

I am eager to see you all! Let's make this a fantastic year!

Mrs. SO