Conclusions

Today we spent the day talking about and writing conclusion paragraphs. Final essays are due, revised and typed on January 10th, so students may want to work on them over vacation.

The Body

Today we reviewed introductory paragraphs and worked on the body of the essay. Students should be ready to write their conclusion when they come to class tomorrow.

Tuesday & Wednesday

Over these two days, we have continued to work on the OMM literary analysis essay, focusing on thesis statements, topic sentences, and introductory paragraphs. Students should have a complete thesis statement, topic sentences for all their body paragraphs, and an introduction by Thursday.

The Essay Begins

Using the theme work from Thursday and Friday, students began planning their Of Mice and Men essay today. They should complete step one for homework.

Friday

Today students worked on their theme-review posters for the whole period. Posters that weren't finished should be completed for HW.

Theme Focus

In preparation for the essay we will write next week, we started this project today:

After Reading

Today we worked through and discussed a few questions on the final chapter of Of Mice and Men (which I collected afterwards).

The End

Today, after a short look at theme and a visit from the counsellors reminding students that registration forms are due NOW, we finished Of Mice and Men, talked about the ending, and students had a chance to start on their final set of notes, which are due tomorrow.

Chapter 5

We started the short period today by finishing our discussion of the questions from Friday (which were then collected). We spent the rest of the period reading chapter 5. Notes, quotes, and a summary are due tomorrow.

Chapter 4

Today students worked on the chapter four questions below, and we discussed the first few before then end of class.

Some Silent Reading

We started the day with a warm-up about the symbolic importance of the ranch dream, and the students had the rest of the period to read chapter 4 silently and work on their notes, including quotations and a summary.

The Fight Scene!

After a warm-up focused on the symbolism of Candy's dog, we finished chapter three and students had the rest of the period to work on the notes, quotes, and summary for chapter three. This should be finished for HW.

Reading D

Today we finished reading D in class (the first half of chapter 3) and most students finished their notes as well.

Personal Narratives Returned

We began the day with a review of theme, and then spent the rest of the period reflecting on the newly-returned personal narrative essays. This reflection should be completed for HW.

Chapter 2

After a quick character warm-up, we finished chapter 2 and students had the rest of the period to finish their chapter 2 notes.
HW: Finish Notes w/ quotes and summary.

Chapter 2, Reading A

Today we reviewed the chapter one summaries and then read the first half of chapter two. Students had time to begin their chapter 2 notes, which they should work on at home if necessary.

Chapter One Notes

Today we completed the notes for chapter one, though some students may need to finish their summaries for homework.

Chapter 1

Today we read all of chapter one in class and started on the notes below.

Of Mice and Men

Today we started, barely, our first novel, reading, writing about, and discussing the first two paragraphs of Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men.

Amontillado!

Today we did #s 1 through 3 on page 307 to start the period, and students handed this in with their work from Friday. With the rest of of the period, we got started on Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado."

Unit 3

Today we started unit three with the warm-up on page 300, the notes on pages 302 and 304, and the close reads on pages 303 and 305. Students should finish the close reads for homework if necessary.

Show, Don't Tell

Today we continued our revision work. After we went over the rubric and due dates, students had some time to work at the end of the period.

Final drafts, typed and in MLA format, are due 11/15.

Brushstrokes

Today we took notes on and practiced ways to vary the sentence structure in the personal narratives. Students should use the techniques we practiced today to revise at least four of the sentences in the rough draft of their narrative.

Reflections

Today we spent the day reviewing the concept of reflection and then students had the whole period to write their final paragraphs and begin revision.

The Body

Today we practiced a bit more dialogue punctuation and I checked off the students' introductory paragraphs. After choosing introductions and examining the structure of the sample essay in the textbook, students had the rest of the period to plan and write their first drafts. These should be complete, except for the reflection paragraph, for tomorrow's class.

How to Begin: 6 Ways!

Today we practiced the proper punctuation for dialogue in the warm-up, and then we spent the rest of the period working on six different ways to begin the personal narrative (below). Students had the remainder of the period to work.
By Monday, they should have the following complete:

• Topic Free-Write
• Topic Brainstorm
• Introductory Paragraph x6

Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday, we had a bit of Halloween fun looking at Poe's "The Raven." We read the poem and filled out the chart for question 7 in the textbook on page 147.

Thursday, students spent the period in the Navi Lab working on their 4-year plan.

The Personal Narrative Begins

Today we started the brainstorming process for the personal narrative. By the end of class, students should have had a good start on a brainstorming web like the one in the image below. These should be complete by Friday.

The Personal Narrative

Today Ms. Voss introduced the personal narrative essay assignment, the first major, revised essay of the year. We will continue working through this tomorrow.

More Autobiography

After reviewing the "I Know..." vocab words for a warm-up, we talked through the story questions which were then collected. We wrapped up the period by reading and discussing Richard Wright's autobiographical piece "The Rights to the Streets of Memphis."
HW: Warm-Ups Due Tomorrow.

Benchmark #1

Today students spent the period writing the quarter 1 benchmark timed essay.

Unit 1 Test Review

Today we spent the day reviewing the Unit 1 test in preparation for the Unit 2 test, which will be this Friday.

"I Know Why..."

Today we looked more closely at the end of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" during the warm-up. Then, after discussion the upcoming benchmark essay test (Wednesday), the Unit 2 Test (Friday), and the end of the quarter (also Friday), students had time to start of the HW.
HW: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" Questions, p. 247, #s 1, 3-6 (7= extra credit)

Friday

We began the period reviewing what we read yesterday, starting a new page in the "Current Work" section and doing margin questions B and C. After that, we finished the story.

Mentors Matter

Today we began with the concept of the mentor, reviewed the methods of characterization (p. 237) and then read the first few pages of "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."

Transition

We began the day by wrapping up the essay revision activity from yesterday which was then collected. After some discussion to wrap up our study of "The Necklace," the classwork/homework from Monday was collected as well. We finished the day by adding the vocabulary from page 237 to the "Selection Vocabulary" section of the binder.

Essays Back

"The Necklace"

Today we started with a little Vocabulary Practice (p. 219) in the warm-up, and spent the rest of the day working on questions 4 through 9 on page 218. These should be finished for HW.

Homecoming Chaos

Today we finished "The Necklace." We will work on the questions on Monday.

Toga Day!

Today we started with a short warm-up and then read through page 214 in the story "The Necklace," doing the margin questions as we read.

Status

We started with a warm-up about the idea of social status and how it is determined at EHS. After reviewing the notes and HW from yesterday (and turning in that HW), we added the vocab from page 207 to the "Selection Vocabulary" section of the binder.

Unit 2 Intro: Part 2

Today we finished the Unit 2 introductory notes and started on the close reading questions (on pp. 187, 189, and 190) which should be finished for HW.

Unit 2 Begins

Awash in tie-dye, we began Unit 2 today, adding the notes from pages 186, 188, and 189 to the "Notes" section of the binder.

Wrapping Up Unit 1

Today we continued where we left off yesterday with our work on "Incident in a Rose Garden." We also talked a bit about the Unit 1 Exam which will be tomorrow.

A Bit of Poetry

I returned warm-ups today and we had our first new warm-up, a review of poetic terms. After finishing and handing in the vocab assignment from yesterday (below), we read "Incident in a Rose Garden."