Quarter+3

April 30, 2010 Classwork--Peer-editing (the last four traits); Propaganda in Animal Farm HOMEWORK 1. Finish your Essay! Bring in a hard copy of your final draft with at least one other drafting version stapled to it. 2. Read Chapters 3-5 in Animal Farm. Can you find connections/parallels to the Russian Revolution?

April 28, 2010 Classwork--Quiz! (Yes, it was really fun! AND yes, everyone who was absent today will have a different version of the quiz!); peer-editing - Ideas; Pre-reading of Animal Farm HOMEWORK 1. Read Chapters 1-2 of Animal Farm 2. On page 32-33, the song "Beasts of England" is included in the text. Connecting to that, find another song (translated to English if it isn't already in English) to bring with you to the next class. This shouldn't be a modern pop song but rather something like: - a national anthem - a school pride song - a state song - a dinner prayer or blessing - a song from Sunday school or other religious meeting - it doesn't necessarily have to be "song." It could be a prayer, pledge, or something else fulfilling the same role of transmitting a particular message to its audience

April 26, 2010 Classwork--Self-editing of Compare/Contrast papers (ideas, organization); Logical Fallacy - non-sequitur, Singing the Russian Revolution HOMEWORK 1. Come to class with the next draft of your paper 2. Study for quiz over: TFA, "Second Coming," and "The Old Hatter" 3. Bring your copy of Animal Farm with you to class
 * The quiz will ask you to draw connections from the Second Coming or Old Hatter to TFA. I will put an excerpt from one of those two texts, and then you will be responsible for making that connection. There will also be some additional questions regarding "The Old Hatter" since it hasn't been included in any of the previous quizzes.

April 22/23, 2010 Classwork--Topic for Compare/Contrast Paper, Supporting evidence from book, outline paper's structure, Thesis statement HOMEWORK 1. There will be a quiz at some point next week over TFA, "Second Coming," and "The Old Hatter" - make sure you've read those materials 2. Come to class on Monday with the first draft of your paper. Bring in a physical copy so that you can edit it with your classmates.

April 21, 2010 1. Book "Report" Classwork--Thank you!, Book Report, "The Old Hatter" Lit Circle, Intro Paper HOMEWORK 1. Deliver your Thank You Note :) 2. Decide on your topic for your paper 3. Come to class with the first draft of your intro paragraph
 * Write 10 Battle of the Book type questions and 5 that are more difficult. Then go to Amazon.com -- read at least 3 reviews from regular people. Comment on one of the reviews in a helpful, manner.

April 19, 2010 Classwork--Sentence Patterns, Intro Comp/Contrast Paper, "The Old Hatter" HOMEWORK 1. Finish reading "[|The Old Hatter]" by Yi Munyol (You can skip chapter 6) 2. Pick out a topic for your paper (Ibo and British Culture) and start finding evidence in the book to support your writing.

April 16, 2010

Classwork--Evidence of Interview, Quiz, Did Okonkwo's decision, Universal Human Rights? HOMEWORK 1. Finish Interview Project and post to wiki by class time (link to Interview Projects)

April 13/14, 2010

Classwork--What is "falling apart" in the book?; "The Second Coming" by Yeats (allusion to title); literature circles HOMEWORK 1. Finish Book 2. Not normal journal assignment; rather, write one paragraph (on your journal page) answering this question: Did Okonkwo make the right decision? (Did he have any other options? What should he have done?) 3. Bring evidence of your INTERVIEW

April 12, 2010

Classwork--Podcast/video Tech questions; chose lit. circle books; chose roles for lit. circle discussion for tomorrow's class; presented Okonkwo visual characterizations HOMEWORK 1. Read Ch 20-22 2. No Journal Assignment 3. Prepare for your role in the literary circle 4. Make progress on your interview project

April 9, 2010
Classwork--Wrote out questions for our interview project; made visual characterization of Okonkwo - No New HW

April 7, 2010
Classwork--Went over Journal Rubric and expectations, Discussed Video/Podcast Project, Talked about Culture in Ibo and Contemporary Korean/Western Societies (particularly men and women's roles) HOMEWORK 1.Read to the end of Part II

2. Do a journal entry (Due MONDAY) including these three things: a) Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection b) Paragraph looking at the character of Okonkwo in Part II - is he changing? same person we saw in Part I? c) Interpretive/Evaluative Question related to one of your two paragraphs for this journal entry DON'T FORGET - You also have to use Sentence Pattern 9 in one of your two paragraphs and put it in bold/underline or some other format so that it's easily distinguishable from the rest of your paragraph.

3. Think about the character of Okonkwo: what do we know about him so far? Who is he really? Friday's class period will primarily be devoted to that topic. 4. Keep your project in mind; are there some things you could get started on (finding someone to interview, setting up a time with that individual to speak)?

April 5, 2010
Classwork--Repetition in King's Speech, Storytelling in TFA and beyond, Introduce Project -- Project Interview TFA HOMEWORK 1. Read through Ch 14 (pg 135) 2. Do journal entry related to chapters 12-14 including these things: a) Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection b) Predictions about what's to come in the remainder of the book. c) A question related to either of the previous two paragraphs in today's journal 3. Begin thinking about traditions and a possible person (15+ years older than your parents if possible) whom you would like to interview for the project that is coming up.

April 1/2
Classwork--Blogging, sharing our close reading paragraphs, student-led discussions HOMEWORK 1. Read Chapters 9-11 2. Do journal entry related to chapters 9-11 including these three things: a) Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection b) An interpretive or evaluative question stemming from the first paragraph of your journal. c) Respond to someone else's question on his/her journal page. Then write a line on your own page saying, "I responded to ___'s question" so I will know where to find your response. 3) Keep on filling out your character sheets and looking for proverbs/stories/sayings.
 * In light of our assignment's dependency on each others' journal entries and questions, try to put your initial journal posting up by 7:00 P.M. on Sunday evening. That way we will have adequate time to respond to each others' questions. Thanks!!!

March 31
Classwork--Quiz, culture connections, question workshop, close reading HOMEWORK 1. Read Chapters 7-8 2. Do journal entry related to chapters 7-8 including these three things: a) Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection b) Do a close reading of one paragraph coming from any of the chapters we've read somehow; post that somehow (diigo, scanned image, voice thread, or other option) c) An interpretive or evaluative question stemming from the first paragraph of your journal or your close reading activity.

March 27 Classwork -- Art of Styling Sentences, proverb work, character chart. HOMEWORK 1. Read Chapters 3-6 2. Do journal entry related to chapters 3-6 including these three things: a.. Paragraph of Text-to-Text/Self/World Connection b.. Paragraph regarding an Ibo cultural tradition mentioned in Ch. 3-6 c. A question in relation to either paragraph one or two 3. Continue filling out character chart and looking for proverbs/sayings/stories as you read

March 18 1. Blog/ Book 2. Art of Styling Sentences 3.

HW: Blog for this Friday, but you can take next week off if you want. Maybe locate world literature reading book.

March 16/17 1. Metamorphosis paragraphs 2. Go to book room for Things Fall Apart and Animal Farm 3. Jigsaw on information for Things Fall Apart (go to the Things Fall Apart Unit and answer the questions with research) You do not need to write this down, but you are responsible for the information. HW: Read Chapters 1 and 2 of Things Fall Apart, Write a journal entry which includes a reflection on the chapters, predictions, and a question. See example below of what a this could have looked like with our previous text, Metamorphosis.

After reading the first two paragraphs in Metamorphosis I had so many questions. The opening line of the story says that Gregor turned into a bug. First of all, did that really happen? But if it did, I wonder how he will function throughout the rest of the story. It also tells us that he is a salesman. I would think that people wouldn't want to buy something from a bug. But on the other hand, they may feel pity upon him and choose to go to him over other vendors. I have never read a story where someone turns into a bug, but there have been other stories like Cinderella or the Frog Prince when the character is only transformed for a time, not forever. I predict that Gregor's case is the same and that by the end of the story he will turn back into a human.

Note how the example above includes: 1) my thoughts/responses to the text; 2) questions; 3) predictions about what will happen later in the text. Make sure to include those three things in your own journal responses. BUT remember - this journal entry is about Things Fall Apart. The Metamorphosis entry above is simply a model of how you could frame your response.

March 15 1. Art of Styling Sentences (next pattern was read) 2. Mr. Otis talked about registration 3. Metamorphosis, part III Expressionism for F Block Industrialization for E Block 4. HW: for real this time -- Write an OPE connecting Ivan Illych, Industrialism, or an --ism with //Metamorphosis//. A hint, because it is a long work, it is italicized. -- Please bring a hard copy to class.

March 10 1. Art of Styling Sentences 2. Diigo and Metamorphosis 3. Connections [| Ivan Ilych], Industrialism, -isms [|second Ivan] HW: Read the rest -- OPE connecting Ivan, Industrialism, or --ism with Metamorphosis With the questions, just consider them and be prepared for the discussion which will also involve the questions.
 * How does Gregor become alienated from his family?
 * How does Gregor attempt to retain his humanity?
 * How do the sister, mother, and father change?

March 4/5 1. Art of Styling Sentences 2. Blogs 3. Metamorphosis and --isms

March 3: [|Metamorphosis]

For Mar. 3 HW: Write your own narrative extending or revealing hidden aspects of the story told in your assigned poem. Your stories should be based upon the facts and inferences you found in the group exercise; the stories should not contradict those facts and inferences, but may stretch them a bit. You might want to use the following questions as starting points, but do not have to.


 * In "The Runaway," who has left a young horse to stray in snowstorm on a mountainside?
 * In "Mending Wall," does the poem's speaker get along his neighbor?
 * In "The Wood Pile," where is the person who left a the mysterious pile of wood "to warm the frozen swamp"?
 * In "Birches," what do we learn about the speaker's childhood?
 * In "Out, Out," does the speaker think that the accident could have been prevented?

February 22, E Block 1. Group conclusions about My Last Duchess 2. Elements of narration in "My Last Duchess" 3. Frost -- "[|Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening]" 4. Read selected poems, prepare for a quiz about the narrative elements of the poems
 * Character profile and reading

February 19 1. Blog/ Presentations (1 per week, picture, something extra) 2. My Last Duchess HW: 1. Blog
 * 2. Peer Mark and Revision (upload to turnitin.com)
 * 3. My Last Duchess -- Worksheet AND letter, journal, or argument (see short story page).

February 10 1. E Block -- Info 2. DOL 3. By Waters of Babylon presentations 4. "My Last Duchess" HW: Blog

February 8 1. Introductions 2. Peer Mark papers 3. Writing the OPE with analysis. HW: Babylon and the short story elements With your groups, prepare a presentation answering the following questions: HW: [|My Last Duchess] HW: Read your PeerMark Reviews
 * Present the terms that are new or more difficult.
 * How is your trait and some of your terms seen in "BtWB".
 * How are they seen differently in another story from this semester?
 * How seen in "My Last Duchess"?
 * You will be given 8 minutes next class to organize your 6-7 minute presentation.

February 5 1. Art of Styling Sentences -- Pattern 5 2. -- 3. Power Point and discussion 4. Socratic Circle 5. Making predicitons, inferences HW: One Paragraph Essay (OPE) Follow the directions for the OPE. Write the paragraph about "Waters of Babylon" using your or someone else's inferential or evaluative question. Upload to the Babylon OPE page and link to this page on your own wikipage. Additionally, upload to turnitin.com.

February 3 1. Work on blog entry. 2. Read articles for Feeling of Power -- Socratic Circle (20) 3. Start [|By the Waters of Babylon] Prediction, point of view, questioning strategies. HW: Play with blog. Have at one or two of your OWN pictures or videos uploaded to blog with citation. Finish reading "By the Waters of Babylon."

February 1, 2010 1. Blog Reading / Writing WordPress.com username: first name/initial to last name/ year you graduate (lorip13@wordpress.com) 2. Questioning Strategies (see short story unit) 3. The Feeling of the Power [| Deneb] [|Paper on Nature of Mathematical Learning] [|Nintendo Wii] [|Robots to Replace Native English Teachers] HW: Write blog entry; explore blog website / Write 3 questions and post on question page with your name like you see mine (literal, inferential, evaluative). Read [|By the Waters of Babylon] Write 6 questions: 3 questions you really, really have; 3 questions that match 3 levels of questioning that could be good for discussion.

January 27/28 1. Art of Styling Sentences, Page 27, (1 and 2) 2. Comments from last papers 3. Blog Reading 4. The Veldt HW: [|The Feeling of the Power]

January 26, 2010 1. Art of Styling Sentences Page 23, Ex. 3, 4, 5 Page 24, and 1 on page 25 2. Hand back final and reflection on finals 3. Short Stories -- Starting with fables and the elements [|The Veldt]