Quick reminders as we head into the winter break:
Revision instructions for Ender's Game essays (focusing on how to "level up" on the RL2 rubric and how to improve organization) will be in class on Thursday and Friday. Two options for revision are available to you: 1) fix sentence-level errors in class and turn them in before the end of class for a partial grade repair (no more than one grade up) OR 2) conference with Evans during class, fully revise/re-envision your essay over the break and turn in the graded original and the new essay in the first 3 days after the break (Jan 6-8) for a full grade replacement.

You MUST have checked out a fiction book that shares thematic elements with the nonfiction book your group read over the last 3 weeks. The expectation is that you have finished the book (and the reading log entries) by January 13. It is your choice to read over the break or not. The deadline cannot move.

For the Humanitarian Problems and How We Cope Unit....

1) Make sure you are keeping up with the reading schedule and REGULARLY entering responses into the shared reading log document. 

If you have questions about how to complete a section, ask SOON, so that you don't waste effort or stress about an easily solvable problem. 

2) DEADLINES: 

• you will have your nonfiction book finished on or before December 17/18. Interim deadlines for work are determined by the group and listed in your Group Conversation Log. During Reading logs will be checked at least once per week by the teacher. Ditto for conversation logs. 
• finalized group (thematic) paragraph about your shared nonfiction book due end of class Dec. 19/20.
• you will have checked out a fiction "companion" novel by Dec. 19/20.
• you will have your fiction book finished on or before January 13.
• your individual (thematic) paragraph will be due Jan. 14/15 by the end of class. 
• your group essay will be submitted before or on the day of your semester final (there will also be an in-class final). 

Hello all! As we transition to the next unit, please be sure you have carefully read though the 5 options for the nonfiction text, and that you have your top 3 choices, in order of preference, ready for Tuesday/Wednesday.

THREE POSSIBLE ESSAY FORMATS: REMINDERS

For the Ender's Game essay on manipulation (due next week, ROUGH DRAFT due Thurs/Fri this week) there is not one format, since it will depend a great deal on your thesis statement.

• If you are writing a cause and effect essay, you will have a paragraph after the intro showing the cause(s) of whatever manipulation form you chose and then the effects will be at least another 3 paragraphs, maybe 4 depending on your focus and evidence, then a conclusion.
• If you are instead showing that manipulation is a human trait, it will be a straightforward 5 paragraph essay: intro, hinted manipulation, developed manipulation, fully realized manipulation, conclusion tying Ender's experience to our own world.
• Finally, you can compare and contrast two experiences of manipulation in the book (this is the hardest). After the intro, you would have 3 short paragraphs outlining how one character used or experienced manipulation (beginning, middle, end), a transition sentence or paragraph, then 3 more short paragraphs outlining hte same for another character, followed by a paragraph tying the 2 experiences into what we, as readers, learn from the contrasting characters, about manipulation.

These are the same directions I gave verbally last week, but a student reminded me that we all could use repetition, sometimes.

The second six week grades are fast approaching. PLEASE check your grades. 
Remember--All late work and revisions are due by Nov. 12 (A-days) and Nov. 13 (B-days). I will not make exceptions, as this is a chance for you to raise your original score, not a new assignment. If you want to guarantee a higher grade in this class, take advantage of this opportunity now. 

Your dialectic journal check #2 (at least 12 entries, ch. 10-15) is coming as soon as we are scheduled to complete the book (it will also help you complete your essay!). Let me know if you are struggling--all your entries for the second half should be focused on the single theme you turned in to me last week.

Essay rough draft? Yes! It is due on 11/14-11/15. We will be discussing format off and on all week. The final draft will be turned in on 11-19/11-20.

The rough draft of your essay defending Romeo and Juliet's innocent passion or exposing their foolish lust is due on Monday/Tuesday (10-14/10-15) in class. The rough draft will get points in the gradebook, so don't forget to print it! We will peer edit in class.

Your FINAL DRAFT of your argumentative essay is due on Thurs/Fri (10-17/10-18). NO LATE PAPERS will be accepted for this essay, so have a plan, and a backup plan, for getting it submitted on time. 
Don't forget to upload your final draft to turnitin.com as well. 

This is a gentle reminder that your letter comparing the novel you read at home to the play, Romeo and Juliet, is due on Thursday/Friday (10-3 or 10-4). The assignment details, formatting reminders, examples, and rubric are all posted on the LEFT side of this blog. Be sure you have a PRINTED copy when you walk into class on Thursday/Friday. We will also upload a digital copy to turnitin.com.

Here are the directions to start your account, if you want to do that ahead of time:
Click on Create Account (top right). 
Then click on STUDENT. 
Enter the Class ID and Key, as well as your personal info. Use an email you actually check!!!

PERIOD 3, Class ID: 22612390
KEY: honors

PERIOD 6,Class ID: 22612398
KEY: english


PERIOD 8,Class ID: 22612406
KEY: nine

Once you have logged in, select the class and the assignment (H. English 9, Period 3, 6, or 8, then R&J Letter). 
DON'T COPY and PASTE. 
Use the drop-down menu to select Upload, or connect it to your googledocs account. 
Make sure you see the submission receipt before closing out.

Well done! See you in class!

On Monday (9-30):

Get out journals. Read the summary of Act IV aloud (as a class), while students underline the parts they think are significant to the play (we will discuss this tomorrow). Tape the Summary into your journals.

Watch the video clip from The Reduced Shakespeare Company’s version of R&J. It is 13 minutes long. After watching the video, return to journals and write 1) a personal response to the humorous approach, 2) explain how this version might be more appealing to a modern audience, 3) in what ways did the actors stay true to Shakespeare’s original intent and content in the play? 

If there is any time left, be finishing your novels, or work on your letter rough draft, which we will complete and peer edit in class tomorrow. BE SURE YOU HAVE AN ELECTRONIC OR PRINTED COPY OF YOUR ROUGH DRAFT FOR TUES/WED. CLASS.

For Monday: pair up and work to create theme statements for the first set of ideas listed on the BLUE HANDOUT I gave you when we started the outside reading assignment (group practice). Next class we will discuss and edit these statements as a whole class. 

The second half of class is for silent reading your outside novel, or writing the letter assignment related to the book you are reading. You must be done with the book Oct. 1. There probably will not be reading time in class the rest of this week, as we will be studying Act III in-depth.

The week of Sept. 9th, we read/listened to/discussed all of Act I. In your journals you should have a SHORT summary of each scene (all 5) that lists only the major characters introduced, and the new problems or complications that were introduced. DO NOT summarize everything that happened. There are online summaries for that.

The week of Sept. 16th, we are reading/listening to/discussing Act II. We will write an in-class summary of Act II on Thursday/Friday.

We will generally read one full Act per week.

BE SURE TO KEEP READING YOUR OUTSIDE READING NOVEL. If you don't like it, find a different one. If you can't figure out how it connects to a theme in the play, find a different one. If you finish early, go ahead and write the letter--the requirements, the formatting, student examples, and the rubric are all listed for you. It is DUE OCTOBER 4th.

Welcome to the "parking lot for Honors Freshmen English this year. 

• Assignments, handouts, and study aids will be posted at the LEFT side of this webpage (be sure to view this as a webpage on your phone!!). 
• Reminders of due dates or other necessary information for class work (like sign-up info or passwords for online resources, etc.) will be here, in the center. 
• The syllabus, points conversion chart (from the proficiency scale), and other multi-unit handouts are on the right for your reference.

Study tips website #1

Study tips website #2

Good luck with all of your finals! Be well and do well! 

Happy almost-summer!

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE FOR PERIODS 3 and 4

Major due dates approaching!!!
Journal Check #1: May 14
Rough draft of short story (peer editing assignment) DUE May 21
FINAL DRAFT of short story (see LEFT side of blog for details) DUE May 28
Presentations begin on May 28th and continue up to the day of finals. Check the schedule.
Journal Check #2: Monday before FINAL, June 11.

JUST IN CASE: Here is Thursday's lesson plan

Get journals out and PAIR up to share the orange textbooks under the desks. Together, pairs of students should read “The Sniper” (page ______). When done, INDIVIDUALLY answer the short story worksheet questions in your own journal. You can discuss answers, but must have your own answers in your journal. Return the textbooks under the desks.

“Little Brother TM”: Read this one aloud as a class. Afterwards, complete the same worksheet questions (attached/taped in journals) for this story, individually (10-15 min).

Reflection on Craft questions -- thoughtfully answer them for these two short story examples and then reconsider your OWN three short story ideas in light of the techniques used by these two authors. We will discuss their ideas/understanding of technique on Monday, so you must have answers written down. 

Reflection on Craft Questions

(after reading “The Sniper” and “Little Brother TM”)

1)      How are the endings of “The Sniper” and “Little Brother TM” similar? 

What made these plot twists effective (be as specific as you can)?

2)      Looking back on each story, where were there hints (foreshadowing) of the ending? 

How can you “steal” these techniques in your own story?

3)      What is useful/entertaining about a surprise ending? When can a surprise ending fail?

4)      How does the lens of historical fiction or sci-fi/futuristic fiction change your 

reaction to the story? Consider what this means as you plan your own short story—the 

audience will react in specific ways to different genres.

5)      Pay close attention to the KINDS of details each story employs (and the different 

levels of detail between the two stories). How can you learn from their description and what 

style more closely resembles what you want to use in your own story?

Upcoming work due.....

On THURSDAY, April 18 you will have 4 completed socratic seminar reflections in your journal to show me (or the replacement assignment, if you missed a discussion). You will also have a PRINTED copy of your rough draft for the Great Expectations thematic essay.

Monday, April 22 is a B-day due to grading on Friday.

On TUESDAY, April 23, you will have your FINAL DRAFT printed before class. You will also have submitted your essay to the turnitin.com website.

THURSDAY, April 25 is the last day to submit late work or revisions for this six-weeks. If you are done with your art project (assigned 4-23), you may work on revisions during class. Your ONE-PAGER is due at the end of the period on April 25.

The final CLOSE READING assessment of this semester is on Thursday, April 11. Be sure you are confident about what was happening in chapters 30-39.... and good luck.

Just a reminder that the second six-weeks grading period is fast approaching and you have several deadlines coming up!
Your essay rough draft is due on 4-18 and the final draft is due on 4-23.
Your thematic art project (not yet assigned) is due on or before 4-25.
ALL LATE WORK AND MAKE-UP WORK is due by the end of class on 4-25.

CURRENT REMINDERS:

DUE MONDAY, April 8: close reading practice #2 (must be complete before class begins)

The Close Reading TEST will be on Thursday, April 11

Goal to finish the book? DONE by class on April 18.

Your ROUGH DRAFT of the final essay is due on Thursday, April 18 (for peer edits and points!) and the FINAL DRAFT is due Tuesday, April 23.

Late work for this six-weeks is due by April 25th.

Quick reminder: today we will be discussing chapter one and how Dickens treats the SETTING like another character as he creates the mood for the reader at the beginning of the book.

Great Expectations is a more difficult read--but one that is rewarding to discuss. To help with this process, several study aids are being provided:

• a study guide with questions and mini-summaries to clarify your reading (cannot replace reading, as you will be required to competently use quotes to support arguments in class and on paper, and close-reading tests will be a part of this unit as well)
• more in-class note-taking and discussion of specific events/techniques the writer uses to make his point
• an audiobook link you can download to listen as you read (helps you to visualize the story and focus)
• in-class worksheets to focus your attention on specific characters and specific plot points
• focused all class discussions and small group discussions

That being said....don't lose your handouts! Be organized. If you tend to lose papers, store them in your file in the classroom so you will have access to them (they will be posted on this blog as well).

The READING SCHEDULE is posted at the left and you will have a "bookmark" copy. The most important thing you can do to be successful is to increase your reading stamina (this will help you throughout high school, college, and beyond) by reading every night.

MONDAY is the last day to recite your poem. Redo and original recitations must be completed by Monday.

Also for Monday--have a draft of your two paragraphs about Odysseus as a flawed, human hero. We will do some peer editing on Monday. The FINAL drafts are due (handwritten or typed) for Tuesday's class (2-26). 

After practicing "Close Reading" techniques in class on Tuesday, you need to read Book 11 (handout from class) as homework and mark up AT LEAST one page, using the Close Reading guidelines. I will check your understanding of the process and we will have some class discussion of the text on Thursday (2-21) before moving into the next section.

Upcoming deadlines: on Thursday, Feb. 21, you will get the directions for the Odysseus character paragraphs. The sentence practice we have been doing should help you complete this assignment. You will have time to peer edit on Monday, but any quotes need to be already written down before the weekend, in order to be ready to submit the completed mini-essay on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Thursday, Feb. 28 is your first Close Reading test (attempt at proficiency for RL4/L4).

Just in case, the sign up sheet for BOTH classes is attached below. Please respect the fact that everyone needs access to this and don't delete anything...sign up for only one day. The tabs at the bottom of the page indicate PER. 3 or PER. 4. Choose the correct tab before entering your name and poem title. 

POETRY RECITATION SIGNUP SHEET (click here)

If you are new to Mrs. Evans' class, or if you moved from one period to another, you need to re-enter the turnitin.com classroom. Below are the class codes. Be sure you use an email you check and that you remember your password--I can check your listed email for you, but not your password.

Period 3
Class ID: 19017635
KEY: eng9


Period 4
Class ID: 19017660
KEY: honors

Make sure you have a PRINTED COPY of your poem for Thursday, Jan. 31

Welcome to Semester 2!
You have survived your first semester of high school. Now...on to greatness. :)

This week you will be selecting and analyzing a poem that connects to one of the major themes we are exploring in The Odyssey.

• You MUST select your poem from the Poetry Out Loud website (there are hundreds). 
• You need a printed copy for Thursday.
• Directions for the parts of this assignment will be handed out in class and posted on the blog, as usual. 
• Memorized recitations begin Thursday, Feb. 7. There will be a sign-up process.

Reading will primarily done IN CLASS, so most of your homework this six-weeks will be writing. Be sure to keep track of due dates!

REMEMBER: Every Wednesday I am in the library for conferencing or working with you one-on-one, from 2:30 to 3:30. Take charge of your learning and you will excel!

UPCOMING DEADLINES: Be done reading your book by Thursday or Friday of this week.
Have all 4 paragraphs from the yellow packet (posted as "ongoing assignment" in the nonfiction section) in rough draft form--ready to type and compile in class on Thursday, Jan. 10. You will also need an electronic copy of the article you wrote about and the art piece you selected to connect to your book. Electronic submission of this project is due (FINAL copy) on Monday, Jan. 14.

We will be preparing for the final on Jan. 15 and 17. No late work will be accepted after Jan. 15th. Same goes for redos.