Today we (1) discussed TGG ch. 1 & 2 and (2) began completing a chart comparing the parties in these chapters. Students turned in their career passport documents and their TGG ch. 1 & 2 home responses.

HMWK: Vocabulary 25 and TGG party chart for ch. 1 & 2.

Today we began workshops on the profile assignment. Complete the steps on page 243 of CTW. Your draft must be revised and posted to Turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m. on Saturday, March 4th. 

HMWK: "Peer Commentary" on CTW 243.

Today we discussed comma usage using the Purdue OWL presentation, "Conquering the Comma."

HMWK: Concept paper draft is due on Friday.

Today we watched the A & E Biography of F. Scott Fitzgerald and made note events in Fitzgerald's that affected his writing. Tomorrow bring whatever you need to work on your Career Passport documents.

HMWK: Career Passport documents

Today was the last day devoted to drafting the profile assignment.

HMWK: Bring 3 copies of your draft for peer-workshop tomorrow.

Today was the last full class period devoted to drafting the concept paper.

HMWK: Concept paper peer-editing on Friday

Today (1) students individually responded to a question about TGG chapter 1 and (2) as a class discussed the chapter.

HMWK: Career Passport documents are due on March 7.

Today we looked at CTW pages 240-242 to review the different strategies that the authors of the model profiles used. We also looked at the bottom of 243-244 for introduction strategies.

HMWK: Bring 4 copies of your profile assignment for Wednesday's peer workshop

Today students received the rest of the St. Martin's Guide chapter about writing a concept paper, and they worked on their drafts. I handed back research notes, outlines, and works cited pages.

HMWK: Concept paper draft is due for peer-editing on Friday.

Today we began reading The Great Gatsby, starting with page 3.

HMWK: Read ch. 1 by tomorrow; career passport documents due by on March 7.

Today was a get-ready-for-the-profile-interview day. We researched and wrote questions.

HMWK: Read book and prepare for profile.

Today students worked on the Adobe Lab on (1) completing scratch outlines and/or (2) beginning works cited pages.

HMWK: If you have not yet turned in your scratch outline, you may turn it in tomorrow for fewer points.

Today students (1) received instructions on submitting their work essays (click here for instructions) and (2) received their resume worksheet packets.

HMWK: Submit work essays to Turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m. and complete your resume worksheet.

Today we (1) discussed the qualities of a profile, (2) viewed a video profile, and (3) went over the assignment steps from the book.

HMWK: Arrange your profile interview, work on the initial research, and read through the interview and observation pages in chapter 15.

Today we worked on the Scratch Outline. It is due by the end of class tomorrow.

HMWK: Outline

 Today we (1) discussed and shared examples of the Paramedic Method and (2) received today's revision instructions. Click here for today's revisions. The final draft is due to Turnitin.com on Wednesday evening by 11:59. Bring a hard copy of your drafts along with your final draft to class on Thursday.

HMWK: Revision.

Today we discussed the profile assignment; students had some time to work.

HMWK: On Tuesday we will discuss The Call to Write (214-249). By Wednesday, you should have arranged for meeting with a representative of your profile paper's agency/club/organization. 

Today students learned about the Scratch Outline that is due by the end of the class on Wednesday. Click here for the Scratch Outline's template. We worked in the Adobe lab for the rest of the period.

HMWK: Begin planning your essay using the Scratch Outline.

Today we (1) went over vocabulary 22, (2) highlighted in yellow the changes based on chapter 3 of They Say/I Say and discussed them in workshop groups, and (3) learned about this weekend's revision, the Paramedic Method. Click here for a link for information about the Paramedic Method.

HMWK: Revise at least part of your work essay using the Paramedic Method for Tuesday.

Today we met in the Adobe lab, and I assigned the profile paper. We will be adapting it to make it work for our community.

HMWK: Read pages 214-238 in A Call to Write for tomorrow.

Today we went over plagiarism using handouts from Penn State and Purdue's OWL website.

HMWK: Keep researching for your concept paper.

Today I introduced three chapters from They Say, I Say.  We read and discussed chapter 3, "The Art of Quoting."

HMWK: Complete chapter 3, exercise 2: Use the book's suggestions on all of the quotes in your work essay.

Yesterday we had a snow day.

Today students (1) turned in reflection letters for the seeing paper, (2) began responding to peer's papers on Blackboard, and (3) worked on the Little, Brown book's sentence structure readings and exercises.

HMWK: Blackboard responses and Little, Brown book's sentence structure readings and exercises.

Yesterday we had a snow day.

Today students (1) conferred with me about their focused concepts and (2) researched in lab 231.

HMWK: Research is due this Friday.

Yesterday we had a snow day.

Today we (1) finished the workshop group work and (2) turned in registration forms.

HMWK: Revised essay due Friday (new due date)

Today students (1) turned in their focused concept, (2) got instructions for their researching, and (3) worked on their research.

HMWK: Research for concept paper

 Today students (1) turned in seeing papers and prewriting and (2) worked on reflection letter.

HMWK: Reflection letter due tomorrow

 Today we began workshop groups for the work essay.

HMWK: Edit group member's papers by Tuesday; Revised draft due on Thursday.

Students received a paper to help them focus their concepts. We worked in the 231 lab on research.

HMWK: Focused concept due on Monday

 Today we (1) completed workshop group work, (2) worked on the seeing paper, (3) registered for the Turnitin.com class and (4) learned how to submit papers to the Blackboard discussion group.

HMWK: Seeing paper due to Turnitin and Blackboard on Sunday evening; bring a hard-copy to class on Monday

 Today we (1) went over vocabulary 21, (2) conferred about course selections, and (3) worked on the work papers.

HMWK: Work paper peer-editing on Monday; bring a paper copy to class

 I have been ill this week and fallen behind in the blog. Here's what we've done so far this week:

Monday--I was absent. Students finished watching The Kite Runner. The St. Martin's Guide chapter 5 reading guide is due on Wednesday.

Tuesday--We worked on a film review for the film with the netbooks. (Here is the assignment sheet.) The St. Martin's Guide chapter 5 reading guide is due on Wednesday.

Wednesday--I was absent. Mr. Metzger collected The St. Martin's Guide chapter 5 reading guide and the film review. He introduced the concept paper assignment for a topic related to The Kite Runner. (Here is a list of topic possibilities.) Students began their research in order to focus on one concept. The focused concept (attached) is due on Monday, 2/13.

Thursday--We watched short introductory films about Turnitin.com and registered for the class. The students uploaded their film reviews to Turnitin using the netbooks. Students had a little time to work on their focused concepts at the end of the period. The focused concept is due on Monday, 2/13.

 I have been ill this week and have fallen behind on my blog. Here's what we've done:

Monday--We had guest speakers discuss course possibilities for next year. Mrs. Kelly talked about DECA, Mrs. Caserta talked about AP English Lit and Comp, Mr. Ross talked about the Vietnam Experience and Reader's Workshop. I talked a little about College English and the second semester UT option.

Tuesday--We reviewed Vocab Unit 4 and worked on the netbooks.

Wednesday--I was absent. I postponed the vocab quiz to Thursday and students worked in the Adobe lab.

Thursday--Students took the voabulary unit 4 quiz and students worked on papers in the Adobe lab. I changed the peer-editing day to Monday, 2/13 and the revised draft due date to Thursday, 2/16. I will have office hours at Grounds for Thought on Sunday evening from 5-7. Drop in if you need help.

Today we watched scenes 7-13 of the film version of The Kite Runner.

HMWK: Concept paper reading guide due on Wednesday, 2/8

We were in the Adobe lab. Students committed to nonfiction books, met with workshop groups, and worked on seeing papers.

Today we (1) went over vocabulary lessons 19 and 20, (2) took the section IV TEoS quiz, and (3) went over the section I quiz. On Monday we will meet in the classroom instead of the back library lab to work on the work papers and hear presentations from Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Caserta about next year's course selections.

HMWK: Vocabulary Unit 4 puzzle and Test 1 are due on Tuesday; the quiz is on Wednesday. Work on your essay's outline or synthesis chart.

Today we finished the Socratic Seminar. Students received the following papers: "Chapter 5: The Concept Paper," the chapter 5 reading guide, the concept paper calendar (lavender), and a list of The Kite Runner concepts (yellow).

HMWK: Begin reading "Chapter 5: The Concept Paper" and completing the reading guide.

Today students worked on their seeing papers in their workshop groups.

HMWK: Seeing papers

Today we worked in the Adobe Lab. Students conferred or worked on their "Works Cited" pages or both. Students turned in their "WC" pages.

HMWK: Vocab 20 and TEoS section IV quiz is tomorrow.

 Today we viewed scenes 1-6 of The Kite Runner.

HMWK: We will finish the Socratic Seminar tomorrow.

Today we discussed tomorrow's writers' workshop and worked on seeing papers.

HMWK: Bring 3 copies of one or two seeing paper pieces for the workshop.

 Today we worked in the Adobe lab. I conferred with students about topic proposals and gave advice on Works cited pages.

HMWK: Works Cited pages due by the end of the period tomorrow; TEoS ch. 4 quiz will be on Friday.

I was not here yesterday. Ms. Begel collected the final responses. Students read instructions for the Socratic Seminar and wrote questions.

Today we organized the Socratic Seminars by theme topic and began. Due to DECA absences tomorrow, we will resume the seminar on Thursday. I collected The Kite Runner packets.

HMWK: None

I was not here yesterday. Students looked through nonfiction book possibilities and worked on seeing papers.

Today students (1) took a trial Blackboard quiz, (2) looked through an expanded booklist, and (3) worked on seeing papers.

HMWK: Peer edit over one or two parts on Thursday.

I was absent yesterday. Students (1) turned in their work paper proposals and (2) read section IV of The Elements of Style and took notes.

Today we were in the Adobe lab. Students (1) finished TEoS partners quiz and (2) worked on their "Works Cited" pages that are due on Thursday. We'll be in the Adobe lab tomorrow and Thursday, too.

HMWK: Finish section IV notes and work on paper/"Works Cited" pages.

2-hour Delay Schedule

Today we worked in the Adobe lab on the final response to The Kite Runner.

HMWK: The Kite Runner book, packet, and final response are due on Monday.

Today we had a dorm day (with a few conferences) for seeing essay work.

HMWK: Seeing essay parts

(2-hour delay schedule)

Today students (1) took TEoS partners quiz that we'll finish on Monday, (2) received a stamp for vocab 19, (3) turned in TEoS books or packets, and (4) received the work essay schedule.

HMWK: Work essay proposal due on Monday, Jan 30th

Reading and working on The Kite Runner packets and responses

HMWK: Book, packet, and responses due at the beginning of Monday's class. Meet in the Adobe lab tomorrow.

 More conferences and seeing paper work in the lab.

Today in the back library lab, we (1) completed TEoS presentations and (2) conferred and worked on essay topic proposals.

HMWK: Vocab 19 due tomorrow; TEoS chapters 1 & 2 group quiz tomorrow

Today we listened to Hosseini read chapters 21 and 22 (up to page 278) of The Kite Runner.

HMWK: Finish the novel, the packet, and the final response by Monday.

Today we were in the 231 lab where we (1) received a rhetorical devices packet and (2) worked on brainstorming seeing paper topics.

HMWK: Seeing paper topics and conference preparation

Today we met in the back library lab where we (1) worked on the work paper proposal and (2) finished TEoS presentation over principle 19.

HMWK: Work paper proposal due on Monday

Today we (1) responded to the second third of The Kite Runner, (2) discussed the story and the responses, and (3) changed the reading schedule: everything is bumped by one day. For example, we will meet in the computer lab on Friday and all of the work for the novel is due on Monday.

HMWK: Finish the novel and the packet by Monday.

Today we (1) discussed Dillard's "Seeing" more and (2) received the Seeing Paper assignment.

Today we (1) went over last night's LoC work, (2) discussed the "Work Paper" assignment (prompts on pages 256-257), and (3) completed TEoS presentations 17 & 18.

HMWK: Choose a paper topic; proposals due Monday, 1/30.

Today we listened to The Kite Runner chapters 17, 18, and about half of 19. 

HMWK: Read through chapter 19 and complete through #30 for tomorrow.

Today we began discussing the questions over Dillard's "Seeing."

Today we (1) discussed and wrote a short response to "I Stand Here Ironing" (LoC 224-230) and (2) completed TEoS principle 16 (& 17 for period 2) presentation.

HMWK: Read LoC 252-254 and complete Exercises 1 and 3 on pages 254 and 255. Also, vocabulary 19 is due on Friday.

Today we read and worked on The Kite Runner, chapters 11-19. On Monday we will begin listening to chapter 17 and get as far into the listening as we can.

HMWK: The Kite Runner chapters 11-19 and corresponding questions are due on Tuesday.

 Today we worked in the Adobe lab on (1) seeing entry #4 and (2) Epsilen registration and group formation.

HMWK: Read Dillard's "Seeing" and complete the questions. Try to answer question 1 on the Epsilen forum.

Today we (1) went over vocabulary 18, (2) completed TEoS presentation on principle 15, and (3) discussed "...Snail's Pace."

HMWK: Read "I Stand Here Ironing" (LoC 224-230); Extra credit option: Write a letter.

Today we discussed chapters 1-10 of The Kite Runner.

HMWK: Chapters 11-19 and question #24-30 are due on Tuesday, 1/24.

 Today we (1) shared an excerpt from one of the Seeing entries and (2) discussed TCtW 154-159.

HMWK: Continue reading and working on the questions over Dillard's "Seeing." We will meet in the Adobe lab tomorrow.

Today we (1) discussed "from A Writing Life," turned in the precis, and (3) completed TEoS principle 14 presentation.

HMWK: Read "In Praise of a Snail's Pace" (no questions or precis!) and complete vocabulary 18 for tomorrow.

Today students turned in their #23 responses and received stamps on their completed questions. We will begin our The Kite Runner discussion tomorrow.

HMWK: Begin reading chapters 11-19 and complete #24-30 for Tuesday, 1/24.

 Today we (1) discussed TCtW up through the graphic memoirs, (2) received Seeing entry #3, and (3) received "Seeing" and its accompanying questions.

HMWK: Seeing entry #3; read "Seeing" and complete the questions for Monday, 1/23.

Today students (1) finished planning their TEoS principles of composition presentation, (2) worked on their precis, and (3) learned about principle 13.

HMWK: Precis on "From The Writing Life" due tomorrow

Today we read The Kite Runner and worked on packets.

HMWK: Follow reading schedule. Chapters 1-10 and Study Guide #1-23 are due tomorrow. (We will have netbooks in the class this time.)

Today we (1) briefly discussed the Marsh piece, (2) received Little, Brown books (5 of you received The Call to Write), and (3) enjoyed dorm time.

HMWK: Seeing entry #2 and read TCtW 146-159.

Today we (1) finished TEoS rules 10 and 11 presentations and (2) worked on the principles presentations that begin tomorrow.

HMWK: Precis for the Dillard piece due Thursday, 1/19; vocab. 18 due Friday

Today we finished the film Search for the Afghan Girl, wrote an in-class response* to the film, and began reading The Kite Runner.

*In-class response prompt:Why was it so important for Steve McCurry to find “the Afghan girl”? Why did she ultimately relent to speaking with him, even though it caused her great personal pain? (1/2 to 1 page, in blue or black ink, due by the end of the period)

HMWK: Reading (ch. 1-10) and unit guide (#1-23) due Thursday.

 Today we discussed memoir and the readings.

HMWK: Read 135-146 and complete seeing entry #1

Today we (1) went over vocabulary 17, (2) completed TEoS presentations through rule 9, and (3) took about 15 minutes for TEoS group work.

HMWK: Read "from The Writing Life" (LoC 212-220) and make vocabulary list. Precis due Thursday.

Today Terry Lentz from UT met us in the library to open UTAD accounts. Students submitted rhetorical analysis papers.

HMWK: Read 129-134

 Today students (1) turned in their film responses after discussing them, (2) began watching Search for the Afghan Girl, and (3) received their The Kite Runner schedule and study guides. We will finish the film tomorrow.

HMWK: Begin reading

 Today we completed TEoS presentations and discussed "The Travelling Bra Salesman's Lesson."

HMWK: Read "from Labour" (LoC 209-211) and complete the questions in your LoC journal.

Today students (1) watched and took notes on TEoS rules 5 & 6 presentations and (2) concluded discussion on "The Surgeon as Priest."

HMWK: Pd. 1--Read "The Travelling Bra Salesman's Lesson" and complete questions 1, 2, 3, 4, & 6 in LoC journal; Pds. 2 & 3--Precis due tomorrow

 Students watched and took notes on TEoS rules 3 & 4 presentation. Periods 2 and 3 began discussing "The Surgeon as Priest." All classes turned in their precis.

HMWK: Periods 2 & 3--"The Traveling Bra Salesman's Lesson" precis due on Thursday

On Wednesday, we watched Afghanistan Revealed (http://www.snagfilms.com/films/title/afghanistan_revealed)

HMWK: Describe one thing from the film that made the biggest impression on you. Be specific. (1/2 to 1 page, in blue or black ink, due Thursday)

 Today we (1) discussed and turned in the research assignments and (2) read the excerpts and began the discussion questions on "Life Under the Taliban."

HMWK: Finish discussion questions for "Life Under the Taliban" for Wednesday.

Today was our last day in the library to work on the Afghanistan research assignments.

HMWK: Afghanistan research (20 pts.) and research summary (20 pts.) due tomorrow at the beginning of the period.

Today we (1) had TEoS presentations of rules 1 and 2 and (2) worked on the "Surgeon as Priest" precis.

HMWK: Precis due tomorrow; TEoS rules 3 & 4 presentations tomorrow 

Today we went over vocab. 16 and began reading "Surgeon as Priest" (LoC 197-204).

HMWK: Read and make vocabulary list for "Surgeon as Priest" (LoC 197-204); precis due on Tuesday, 1/10

Today we met with Dr. Tony Edgington. He gave an overview of the class, answered college questions, and showed the online resources we will be able to access soon. Students turned in their literacy event papers.

HMWK: TCtW 25-39, including "Exercise" on 37-39

Today we worked in groups on The Elements of Style presentations that will begin on Monday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today we went over the course description and goals. Read Chapter 1 of The Call to Write for tomorrow.

Welcome to College English and Happy New Year!

Today we went over the course description and brainstormed what we know about Afghanistan.

Homework: Bring completed and signed Letter of Understanding to me by Friday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This morning we adjusted to the new year and received The Elements of Style (TEoS) assignments. Group presentations will begin on Monday and continue through next week.

Homework: TEoS work and vocabulary 16 is due on Friday.

Today we discussed the readings and synthesis essays. Students learned to use a synthesis essay organizing chart.

Homework: (1) Complete the Narration, two Confirmation, and Counterargument/Refutation columns of an organizing chart for the "Conversation: Focus on Community Service" prompt (LoC 74) and using one of the working thesis statements (from LoC 83). (2) Vocabulary #3 is due Friday also.

I gave reminders about MLA citation style, and we briefly discussed the 2-page response. Finish the book TONIGHT so you can work on your response tomorrow in the 231 lab.

Today students took the second Tropes and Schemes quiz and analyzed the source-usage style of a professional journalist.

Homework: Read "The Synthesis Essay" and "Conversation: Focus on Community Service" (LoC 72-82)

Today I stamped students' The Kite Runner packets, and they wrote a short response to this section of the novel. We discussed the novel and went over the questions. Students should continue to follow the green reading schedule: the entire packet and final response are due on Friday. We will meet in the 231 computer lab on Thursday to work on the final responses. I suggest you finish the book on Wednesday evening.

Today we began LoC chapter 3. Students read pages 61-66 and began tonight's homework assignment, the "Assignment" on pages 66-68. The second Schemes and Tropes quiz is tomorrow over these terms: cumulative sentence, hortative sentence, imperative sentence, and inversion.

Today we discussed the first four of the tropes and schemes that are new to students: anaphora, antimetabole, antithesis, and asyndeton. Students will be quizzed on these when we meet in the back library lab tomorrow.

Homework: This evening students are to plan and begin to write two analysis paragraphs for the assignment at the bottom of LoC page 57.

Yesterday and today students worked on reading and completing the notes and responses to chapters 1-10 of The Kite Runner, which are due tomorrow.

I was absent yesterday, but students watched and read President Kennedy's 1961 inaugural address. They then worked in class and completed for homework the first two parts (annotation and questions) of the assignment on page 55 in LoC journals.

Today we discussed last night's assignment, and I collected the journals. No homework tonight!

Today students finished watching Search for the Afghan Girl and wrote a short response. They then received the following The Kite Runner handouts: (1) the reading schedule, (2) the concepts, and (3) the reading guide. We began reading The Kite Runner in class by listening to it to help with name pronunciation.

Homework: Chapters 1-10 and questions 1-23 due Wednesday, 8/31.

Today we went over vocabulary chapter 1 and the LoC Princess Diana documents. I collected LoC journals. As a class we read through pages 35 and 36. We began page 37, up through the bulleted questions.

Homework: Read LoC 37-47 for Monday.

Today we discussed the responses from yesterday's film, and then I collected the responses. Then we began watching Search for the Afghan Girl (The following link will lead you to part one of the film; the YouTube version is in four parts: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Uw0JukBGmk). We will finish this and begin to read The Kite Runner tomorrow.

Homework: Bring The Kite Runner tomorrow.

Today we discussed the information from the notes (LoC 13-25) and the homework assignment (LoC 26). We read through and watched a film excerpt from Pride & Prejudice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWx7AF8B0R8) to see an example of ineffective rhetoric, and then we watched a 5-minute biography of Princess Diana (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIhlp9LL4f8) to prepare for tonight's homework assignment.

Homework: "Assignment" on LoC 28 in journal; vocabulary chapter 1

Today we viewed the National Geographic film, Afghanistan Revealed. Here is a link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=http%3A//www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3Dp3copHs3U8c Students took notes that they will use to complete the following response:

Homework: Describe one thing from the film that made the biggest impression on you. (1/2 to 1 page, in blue or black ink, due tomorrow)

Today in the back library computer lab, students completed the Exercise Central Diagnostic Test and completed the LoC reading (13-25) and assignment (26) that is due tomorrow.

Today students shared the information they learned about Afghanistan, and we discussed it. I gave three handouts, and we discussed these, too. Students turned in their research summary papers.

Today we discussed the homework assignment and then analyzed political cartoons by completing the "Assignment" (LoC 12) in small groups. Students in period 3 went to a class meeting. Those students who came to see me got the make-up assignment; those who didn't will be given the assignment in class on Wednesday

Homework due Thursday: Read and take notes on "Arrangement" (LoC 13-25) and complete the "Assignment" on page 26 in your journal.

Today we reviewed the information presented on LoC pages 1-9, particularly the rhetorical triangle and the persuasive appeals.

Homework: Complete "Assignment" on pages 10-11 in LoC journal and read "Visual Rhetoric" on pages 10-11. 

Today students worked on The Great Honors English 11 Scavenger Hunt in the 231 computer lab. They also received their The Language of Composition (LoC) textbooks.

Homework due Monday: (1) Complete Internet Scavenger Hunt, if you have not yet finished it; (2) cover LoC book; and (3) read pages 1-9 of LoC, making note of any questions. Do NOT complete the assignment on page 9.

Today students met in the library, received the Afghanistan research assignment, and began their research. We will continue researching in the library Friday (8/19) and Monday (8/22).

Homework: Present Afghanistan information and submit completed paper on Tuesday, August 23rd.

Today students wrote timed essays about their summer reading books. Tomorrow we will meet in the 231 computer lab. Also, first period students received their The Language of Composition books. Second and third period students will receive theirs on Monday.

Homework: Complete vocabulary chapter 1 for next Friday.

Welcome to your senior year! Today students received their course descriptions and completed an information card. They spent the rest of the period brainstorming what they know about Afghanistan.

Welcome back to school! Today students completed an information card, received their course description, and turned in their summer book notes. Tomorrow students will complete a timed essay based on their summer reading.

Homework: Due tomorrow

This evening we will eat hot dogs and meet each other.