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

HMWK: Concept paper draft is due on Friday.

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

HMWK: Concept paper peer-editing on Friday

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

HMWK: Outline

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

HMWK: Keep researching for your concept paper.

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.

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

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

HMWK: Focused concept due on Monday

 

 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...

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

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

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 we viewed scenes 1-6 of The Kite Runner.

HMWK: We will finish the Socratic Seminar tomorrow.

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

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.

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.

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 (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 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 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 discussed chapters 1-10 of The Kite Runner.

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

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 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 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 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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 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 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 we were in the library where we continued researching Afghanistan. I gave the following advice about the 2-page paper that is due on Tuesday:

Think of this essay as an explanation of what you've learned about the Afghan people and their lives. You may even want to use first person ("I") in the introduction to discuss what you knew before and how your knowledge has changed since your research. You may even want to regard the topics that CultureGrams listed on the left side of the screen (e.g., lifestyle) as topics for your paragraphs. For example, you don't need to give an extensive overview of history, but your discussion of the topics probably will reflect your understanding of the history. When discussing the economic conditions and high infant mortality rate, it would be difficult to avoid acknowledging these as impacts of war. ...

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.

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.