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