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Sophomore English A

****Assigned on Friday, 3/15****

~Fifth period: Finish both conventions reviews 3.5 & 3.6 for Monday. Study for your Mango Street test.

~Second and Fourth: Finish conventions reivew 3.5 for Monday, 3.6 for Tuesday. Study for your Mango Street test.

****Assigned on Thursday, 3/14****

Write a 200 word response
to essential question #1
using two of the three excerpts:

~ “Those Who Don't”
~ “Geraldo, No Last Name”
~ “Mango Says Goodbye Sometimes”

Use the test format for your response:
~Thesis
~Point-example-explanation
~Conclusion (?)

Submit it to http://www.turnitin.com by 11:59 pm this evening.
Bring a print copy to class.

You may also want to study for the grammar final. Try these web sites:

http://www.englishgrammar101.com

http://www.dailygrammar.com

****Assigned on Wednesday, 3/13****

~The reading portion of the HSPE is tomorrow. Tonight: relax.

****Assigned on Tuesday, 3/12****

~The Persuasive Writing portion of the HSPE is tomorrow. Tonight: relax.

****Assigned on Monday, 3/11****

~Review and prepare for the HSPE, AND realx. (See the email I sent via http://www.turnitin.com last week.)

****Assigned on Friday, 3/8****

~Review and prepare for the HSPE, AND realx.

****Assigned on Thursday, 3/7****

Tomorrow quiz will include three things:

1. Grammar -Two sentences, either directly from or model on sentences from “Review 11.19” or “Conventions Quiz 3.1”;

2. Mango Street pages 53-78;

3. Mango Street pages 79-109.

If you have your own handwritten notes you may use them on the Mango Street portion of quiz.

See Monday's entry for the full Unit Guide.

****Assigned on Wednesday, 3/6****

Quiz on Mango Street, pages 53-78. If you have your own handwritten notes you may use them.

See Monday's entry for the full Unit Guide.

ALSO: Fourth and Fifth Period should finish "Conventions Review 11.19".

****Assigned on Tuesday, 3/5****

Quiz on Mango Street, pages 26-52. If you have your own handwritten notes you may use them.

See yesterday's entry for the full Unit Guide.

****Assigned on Monday, 3/4****

Quiz on Mango Street, pages 1-25. If you have your own handwritten notes you may use them.

Here's the full Reading Schedule and Unit Guide for The House on Mango Street.

The House on Mango Street Unit Guide
Reading Schedule
On 3/4 read 1-25
On 3/5 read 26-52
On 3/6 read 53-78
On 3/7 read 79-109

Essential Questions
1. In what ways can stories break down stereotypes and fear and increase empathy?
2. In what ways can an author use language to develop conflicts and themes?

Themes & Thematic Conflicts to Consider
1. Naiveté/Experience (Remaining immature/Coming of age)
2. Denial/Acceptance
3. Stereotypes/Truth
4. The power of art/Disempowerment
5. Hope/Despair
6. Individuality/Social expectations

Writing Style Elements to Consider
1. Fragments
2. Run on & rambling sentences
3. Rhymes
4. Analogies—metaphors and similes (also, personification & zoomorphism)
5. Allusion—referencing other works of literature, stories, songs, movies, art, etc.

Some More Specific Stylistic Essential Questions
Use these questions in conjunction with the writing techniques & devices listed in “Writing Style Elements to Consider”
1. In which ways is the writing childlike?
2. In which ways does the writing celebrate the joy of playing with language?
3. In which ways does the writing show the narrator's naiveté?
4. How does the way the novel is structured/organized contribute to the story?

Final Assessment
Two short answer questions; each one asking you to answer one of the essential questions using an excerpt that I will supply.

Quizzes
~Each day you will have a brief quiz to see if you have read, understood and remembered the reading assignment.

~Some quiz questions will ask you to identify who speaks, who is being spoken about, or what is being described. Some questions may ask you to fill in the blanks of quotations.

~I choose the quotations based on their connection to the essential questions, themes and elements listed above, so when you see a section that develops one of those ideas write it down.

~If you have your own handwritten notes, you may use them on the quiz. They will also be very useful in preparing for the final test. Use the essential questions to guide your notes.

****Assigned on Friday, 3/1****

Write a 300 word mini-description
in which you describe yourself as
kid somewhere between the ages
of six to eleven, doing something you
enjoy.
(Can include friends, family, etc.)

Write it in first person, as though
you are a little kid. Try to capture that
voice.

Include at least:

1. One sentence fragment (incomplete sentence)
2. One rambling or run on sentence
3. One unique extend analogy
4. Three words that rhyme with each other (buried rhyme)

Use these elements to create your “little
kid voice.”

Submit this to http://www.turnitin.com by 11:59 PM Sunday night.

Have a print or handwritten copy by the beginning of class Monday.

****Assigned on Thursday, 2/28****

Here's what to study for tomorrow's grammar quiz. Follow the link at the bottom of today's entry for more practice.

MAJOR
P.P.'s
Verbs (all four kinds)
D.C.'s
I.C.'s
Mandatory Commas
Optional Commas
Comma Splices

minor
Subs
D.O.'s
I.O.'s
O.P.'s

Important word lists to study:
Auxiliary verbs (Mr. Do)
Linking verbs
Prepositions
Subordinating Conjunctions (and ASUB—words that can be preps, too)
Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS)

Note: some of the sentences on the quiz may come from previous quizzes or handouts, so you can study those, too.

Want more practice? Follow this link: http://www.dailygrammar.com/archive.html

****Assigned on Wednesday, 2/27****

Remember that the following assignment is due http://www.turnitin.com by 11:59 PM tonight,

and that you need a print or handwritten copy by the beginning of class Wed.

~Think of a character to build a story around
for all three of your sentences this evening.

Example: Sugar Cone Man

1. Write an original sentence:
Start with a DC;
include two IC's joined with a semicolon;
at least two PP's;
at least 15 words.

When the ice cream truck passed through the street,
Sugar Cone Man's ears pricked up;
the chocolate ice cream was screaming for help.

2. Write an original sentence:
1 DC;
1 IC;
at least one DO;
PP's are optional;
at least 15 words.

Sugar Cone Man readied his chocolate syrup gun
as the ice cream truck approached the stop sign.

3. Write an original sentence:
Start with a DC;
next comes an IC with a compound predicate;
use the optional comma in the IC;
PP's are optional;
at least 15 words.

Once the police had wiped the syrup
from the ice cream man's eyes,
they saw his terror, and were filled with pity.

****Assigned on Tuesday, 2/26****

1. Write an original sentence:
2 IC's;
at least two PP's;
at least ten words;
join them with a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

I became a truck in the morning, so I got to school on time.

2.Write an original sentence:
2 IC's;
at least two PP's
at least ten words;
join them with a semicolon.

These rocks quickly gave up their names to the wizard; they are now his servants for life.

3. Write an original sentence:
1 IC & 1 DC
at least two PP's
at least ten words;
join them with a comma.

Although the bulldozer is heading in our direction, we will stand defiantly on this small cupcake.

Submit all three of these to http://www.turnitin.com
by 11:59 PM tonight.

Have a print or handwritten copy
at the beginning of class.

****Assigned on Monday, 2/25****

1. Write a sentence that:
begins with a dependent clause
followed by an independent clause;
has at least one prepositional phrase;
is at least fifteen words long.

2. Write another sentence that:
begins with an independent clause
followed by an dependent clause;
has at least one prepositional phrase;
is at least fifteen words long.

Submit both of these to http://www.turnitin.com
by 11:59 PM tonight.

Have a print or handwritten copy
at the beginning of class.

****Assigned on Friday, 2/15****

~Enjoy your break!

If you haven't finished the final refelection for your essay, please do so over the vaction. Here are the questions.

Final Reflection

1. What did you learn, discover
and accomplish during this unit?

2. What more do you feel like you
need to learn about the topics covered
during this unit?

3. Which aspects of your essay
please you the most? Why?

4. Which aspects of your essay
would you develop, change or tinker
with if you had more time? Why? How?

****Assigned on Thursday, 2/14****

~Catch up. Relax.

****Assigned on Wednesday, 2/13****

Here's the full handout on the essay due tomorrow:

Persuasive Essay Final

1. Write to somebody that you know, persuading them to do something that will affect your daily life.

2. The final draft should be between 1100 and 1600 words. I deduct five percent from the final grade for every one hundred words under the minimum, and two percent for every 100 over the maximum.

3. Make sure to double-space the final draft, and to use a normal 12 point font. I deduct two percent from the final grade for not double-spacing, and two percent for not following the font requirements.

4. Submit your final to Turnitin.com by 9:45 am on Thursday, 2/14. Essays not submitted to Turnitin.com will not receive credit.

5. A printed copy is due at the beginning of class on Thursday, 2/14.

6. This is a major assignment, so both parts are due by their deadlines, even if you have an excused absence. I deduct twenty percent from the final grade for each day they are late. (See Free Late at #7.)

7. You may use your Free Late if you need to, in which case the final is due to Turnitin.com by 7:45 am on Friday, 2/15 and a print copy is due at the beginning of your class also on Friday.

8. The essay will be graded using the four-part Writing Rubric covering the essay's components, ideas, style and conventions.

****Assigned on Tuesday, 2/12****

~NOTE: The Persuasive Essay is now due on Thursday.

-Be sure to submit it to http://www.turnitin.com by 9:45 am.

-Bring a double-spaced paper copy to class.

~Tonight: Edit and/or revise your essay for at least thirty minutes. Print a new, clean copy and bring it to class Wednesday.

****Assigned on Monday, 2/11****

~Catch up. Relax. Maybe tinker a little more with your essay. Or, take break from it.

****Assigned on Friday, 2/8****

~Spend at least an hour revising and editing your persuasive essay.

~Bring this new version to class on Monday so your classmates can proofread it.

****Assigned on Thursday, 2/7****

~Finish the Grammar Review 2.7. Quiz tomorrow with a sentence pulled directly from the review handout and another with similar structure.

-We will also contiune with the conferences tomorrow.

****Assigned on Wednesday, 2/6****

~Review the four kinds of verbs: transitive, intransitive, auxiliary and linking. There will be a brief quiz tomorrow, asking you to identify them in sentences.

We will also continue with the conferences tomorrow.

****Assigned on Tuesday, 2/5****

~Finish the handout "Prepositional Phrase Practice" between 3 pm and midnight tonight.

-Tomorrow there will be a brief quiz. It will just have three sentences taken directly from the handout above, and only ask you to underline the prepositional phrases. Easy.

~Shortish grammar quiz this Friday. It'll include everything we've covered so far through the most recent notes on adjectives.

****Assigned on Monday, 2/4****

Persuasive Essay Draft Reflection

Type responses to the following.

1. Which aspects of your essay do you feel work well? Why? (50+ words)
2. Which aspects of your essay do you feel need improvement? Why? (50+ words)
3. What general questions do you have that could further help you write the essay? (50+ words)

Consider:

Structural Components
~Lead
~Thesis paragraph
~M.O.P. paragraphs
~Transitions
~Conclusion

Persuasive Components
~Order of M.O.P.'s
~Examples
~Concessions
~Rebuttals
~What's in it for them
~Pathos: Emotional Appeal
~Logos: Logical Appeal
~Ethos: Appeal to Credibility

-Submit it to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am Tuesday, and have a print copy at the beginning of class.

****Assigned on Friday, 2/1****

~Put the all the paragraphs of your essay together to make a first complete draft.

-It should be a minimum of 1,100 words.

-It should be double-spaced in a normal, 12 point font.

~Tinker with it to get it as good as you can by yourself. That way, when you confer with your classmates, you'll learn things you don't already know about it.

~Submit it to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am Monday. (The formatting will look different on Turnitin. Don't worry about that.)

~Bring a double-spaced normal, 12 point font copy to class.

****Assigned on Thursday, 1/31****

~Type an effective conclusion for your essay.

-It should be at least 150 words long.

-See the handouts for guidlines, strategies & samples.

-Submit it to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am Friday, and have a print copy at the beginning of class.

****Assigned on Wednesday, 1/30****

~Catch up and relax. We will continue working with prepositions tomorrow, and with conclusions.

****Assigned on Tuesday, 1/29****

~Type the third method of proof paragraph for your essay.

-It should be at least 200 words long.

-Submit it to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am Wednesday, and have a print copy at the beginning of class.

****Assigned on Monday, 1/28****

~Type the second method of proof paragraph for your essay.

~Paste two sets of the first two M.O.P paragraph on to the same document.

~Label them Set #1 and Set #2

~Try out two different kinds of transitional methods between them.

(See today's transition handout for an example.)

-Submit these as a single document to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am Tuesday, and have a print copy at the beginning of class.

****Assigned on Friday, 1/25****

~Type an effective thesis paragraph (150+ words) for your persuasive essay. (See the handout for guidance and examples.)

~~Type an effective 1st method of proof paragraph (200+ words) for your persuasive essay. (See the handout for guidance and examples.)

-Submit these as a single document to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am Monday, and have a print copy at the beginning of class.

****Assigned on Thursday, 1/24****

~Type an effective lead paragraph for your persuasive essay. (See the handout for guidance and examples.)

-It should be 200-250 words long.

-Remember to think carefully about which techniques will best help persuade your audience.

-Submit this to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am Friday, and have a print copy at the beginning of class.

****Assigned on Wednesday, 1/23****

For Thursday, make a working outline for your persuasive essay.

Include:
a. your thesis;
b. at least three methods of proof;
c. at least three pieces of evidence for each method of proof.

Then, mark and label:
a. two places where you will concede;
b. two places where you will be refuting ;
c. a place where the ethos will be a strong focus;
d. a place where the logos will be a strong focus;
e. a place where the pathos will be a strong focus.

(See the handout for a sample.)

****Assigned on Tuesday, 1/22****

~Planning Your Essay: Brainstorming for Appeals

Remember to refer to the web diagrams for the
appeals as you do this assignment.

1. Pathos—The Emotional Appeal
Type a fifty (+) word free write exploring how you will appeal
to your reader's emotions.
~Which emotions will you be appealing to? How?
~What images will you construct in their mind?
~In what ways will you get them to empathize with you?

2. Logos—The Logical Appeal
Type a fifty (+) word free write exploring how you will use
logic to persuade your reader.
~What cause and effect relationships will you show?
~What convincing pieces of evidence will you use?
~What facts and statistics will you provide?

Submit this to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am
Wednesday, and have a print copy at the
beginning of class.

****Assigned on Friday, 1/18****

Planning Your Essay Strategy

1. Type at least fifty words exploring
which parts of the issue you can concede
to your audience. Head this section
“Concessions”.

2. Type at least fifty words exploring
which parts of their point of view you
will need to refute. Head this section
“Refutations”.

3. Type at least fifty words exploring
the benefits your audience will receive
by honoring your request. Head this
section “For Them”.

4. Type at least fifty words exploring
what compromises you would be willing
to make as part of your negotiations.
Head this section “Compromises”.

Submit this to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am
Tuesday, and have a print copy at the
beginning of class.

****Assigned on Thursday, 1/17****

~Study for tomorrow's grammar. It will include identifying: transitive, intransitive, linking verbs & linking verbs; direct & indirect objects; objects of prepositions; predicate adjectives & nominatives.

~Make two web diagrams: one from your point of view (Why should your objective happen?); one from your audience's (Why wouldn't they not want it to happen?)

-Each web should have at least four method of proof bubbles and 17 evidence bubbles.

-Due each one on a separate piece of paper.

****Assigned on Wednesday, 1/16****

Persuasive Essay Free Write #2

FIRST: Visualize!
Take five minutes to imagine that you are your
audience, see your real self come up and
make your request. As your audience
what goes through your mind?
How do you react?
Why?

SECOND: Think and write!
Type a 400 word free write exploring your audience's
point of view regarding the goal of your persuasive essay.

Consider:
~What motivates your audience?
~What are their primary desires/goals in their relationship with you?
~What are their primary fears in their relationship with you?
~What things about the request do they object to? Why?
~Which aspects of your relationship with them
might provide obstacles to your request?
~What compromises might make the request
more palatable? How? Why?
~What things might work to bargain with them?

The goal here is to explore what their objections
might be and why they might have them, and
to think about the ways in which you might
get around them.

~Submit this to http://www.turnitin.com by 9:45 am on Thursday.

~Bring a print copy to class.

~Grammar quiz this Friday. It will include identifying: transitive, intransitive, linking verbs & linking verbs; direct & indirect objects; objects of prepositions; predicate adjectives & nominatives.

****Assigned on Tuesday, 1/15****

Persuasive Essay Free Write #1

Type a 400 word free write exploring your point
of view regarding the goal of your persuasive essay.

Consider:
~Why do you want this thing to happen?
~In what ways is it a good idea?
~How will the people involved benefit from it?

The goal here is to look for the big method of
proof ideas that will form the outline
of your essay.

~Submit this to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am on Wed.
~Bring a print copy to class.

~Grammar quiz this Friday. It will include identifying: transitive, intransitive, linking verbs & linking verbs; direct & indirect objects; objects of prepositions; predicate adjectives & nominative.

****Assigned on Monday, 1/14****

~Quiz on the Mr. Do list of auxiliary verbs tomorrow. Know the verbs that belong in each column.

~Grammar quiz this Friday. It will include identifying: transitive, intransitive, linking verbs & linking verbs; direct & indirect objects; objects of prepositions; predicate adjectives & nominative.

~Think about possible topics for your Persuasive Essay. I'll ask you to commit to a topic on Tuesday.

****Assigned on Friday, 1/11****

~Think about possible topics for your Persuasive Essay. I'll ask you to commit to a topic on Monday.

~Grammar quiz next Thursday or Friday.

-It will include identifying: transitive, intransitive & linking verbs; direct & indirect objects; objects of prepositions; predicate adjectives & nominative.

-More review during the beginning of next week.

****Assigned on Thursday, 1/10****

~Think about possible topics for your Persuasive Essay. More brainstorming tomorrow.

****Assigned on Wednesday, 1/9****

~Congratulations on finishing the Of Mice & Men Unit. Take tonight to catch up in your other classes and to relax.

~We'll start the Persuasive Essay Unit tomorrow.

****Assigned on Tuesday, 1/8****

~Of Mice & Men test tomorrow. Use the study guide we went over in class today and prepare, prepare, prepare.

****Assigned on Monday, 1/7****

Of Mice & Men Test Prep II

Type a 300 word free write in response
to the following prompt:

Using specific characters from

either “Catching Monkeys” and/or “Too Coo' Learns to Sail”

and Of Mice and Men,

explain how both of the stories
are about the same thematic conflict
and how they have similar morals.

~Submit a digital copy to http://www.turnitin.com
by 7:45 am Tuesday.
~Have a print copy
at the beginning of class.

~Of Mice & Men Test this Wednesday. We'll be doing lots of review, but you could still read the book again before the test.

****Assigned on Friday, 1/4****

~Type a 300 word free write in response to Essential Question #2; discuss at least two specific characters to support & explore your ideas.

-Submit a digital copy to http://www.turnitin.com by 7:45 am Monday.

-Have a print copy at the beginning of class.

~Of Mice & Men Test next Wednesday. We'll be doing lots of review, but you could easily read the book again before the test.

****Assigned on Thursday, 1/3****

~Finish the review in preparation for tomorrow's grammar quiz. We'll correct it before the quiz.

~Of Mice & Men Test next Wednesday. We'll be doing lots of review, but you could easily read the book again before the test.

****Assigned on Wednesday, 1/2****

~Study for Friday's grammar quiz. Be ready to identify transitive and intransitive verbs, subjects, direct and indirect objects and objects of prepositions. More review tomorrow.

~Of Mice & Men Test next Wednesday. We'll be doing lots of review, but you could easily read the book again before the test.

****Assigned on Tuesday, 12/18****

~Do something over break to keep the memory of Of Mice & Men fresh and alive in your mind. Maybe watch one or both of the movie versions, or reread the book itself.

~Read a novel of your own choice. This is an exhortation as opposed to an assignment. Read for fun and enlightenment.

****Assigned on Monday, 12/17****

~Tomorrow's quiz on grammar has been postponed.

~Nothing due tomorrow. We'll be using our half-day to discuss the final chapter of Of Mice and Men.

****Assigned on Friday, 12/14****

~Read, ponder, take notes on the last two chaptesr of Of Mice and Men.