Tuesday, November 30

ENGLISH - Day 2 - Trimester B

Collect signed Contact sheet (from Classroom rules handout).

We each listed 6 things that would have improved the drawings from yesterday, even if they “broke the rules.” Discussed.

Followup on yesterday’s drawing assignment: how is it like writing?

Read “Background – I Have a Dream” (handout) and wrote down 3 words to be defined and wrote a paragraph summary – COLLECTED SUMMARIES.

Discussed allusions and wrote one of our own alluding to “The Most Dangerous Game.”

Watched video of famous speech.

ENGLISH Homework:

Reminder: If you haven’t already, return Contact Information Sheet, signed.

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PLAYWRITING  – Day 2.

Assigned seats.

Checked homework: List of 10 dramatic actions, actions you’ve witnessed or experienced from real life - actions such as a fistfight, or a marriage proposal, or a business maneuver.

Choose 3 of your favorite dramatic actions from your homework and complete the following:

I.                   Develop your favorite 3 by answering the following questions about each:

1.      Who performed the actions?

2.      What did the actions tell you about the person who performed them?

3.      Were the actions part of a larger context, a larger situation?

a.       What did the actions tell you about that situation? About the world?

4.      What ideas about people, life, and the world strike you when you contemplate the meanings of these actions?

II.                Select one of the actions above. Write it down.

a.       What earlier action could have precipitated/caused this action?

b.      What reaction could follow it?

                                                              i.      You’re not writing a play here, but you are identifying actions that have the potential for dramatic action linkage.

PLAYWRITING homework:

None.

Monday, November 29

ENGLISH – Day 1 – Trimester B

Drew a blueprint of classroom – passed drawings around tables and added details.

Introduction to classroom and teacher...including rules and expectations.

Handed out English 9 Trimester B syllabus.

Made a list of 10 things that make some people feel superior to other people – discussed. Drew a quick sketch of a person who feels superior.

Met unknown classmate and drew him/her a 30-second picture.

Described and drew what we heard and saw (on overhead) and compared that to writing and reading – will write about these observations tomorrow.

Exit slip:

1.      How does this drawing assignment represent the writing process?

a.       Writing well; writing poorly – explain.

2.      Who is the writer? Who is the reader?

3.      Why are some of our drawings so bad?

ENGLISH homework:

Return Contact Information Sheet, signed.

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PLAYWRITING  – Day 1

Drew a blueprint of classroom – passed drawings around tables and added details.

Introduction to classroom and teacher...including rules and expectations.

Discussed the correlation between our blueprints and playwriting.

With the people at our tables, we listed the differences between writing for the page (novels), writing for the big screen (film), and writing for the stage (plays) – then discussed.

Discussed trust and the collaborative process.

Read from The Art & Craft of Playwriting (by Jeffery Hatcher) pages 7 – 8.

PLAYWRITING homework:

Make a list of 10 dramatic actions, actions you’ve witnessed or experienced from real life - actions such as a fistfight, or a marriage proposal, or a business maneuver.

Tuesday, November 23

1^st trimester – Day 53

LAST DAY OF TRIMESTER 1:

EXAM DAY 2.

Collected both books (if you do not have English 2^nd trimester).

Quiet exam review.

Took exam.

Enjoy your holiday break.

Monday, November 22

1^st trimester – Day 52

EXAM DAY 1.

Collected both books (if you do not have English 2^nd trimester).

Quiet exam review.

Took exam.

Homework:

Study for your other exams.

Friday, November 19

1^st trimester – Day 51

Took (and graded) vocabulary test: (Lesson 5: jaded, gist, advocate…).

After reviewing the definition of “formal language” (language that uses correct grammar and omits slang expressions and contractions) we wrote 2 notes (one formal and one informal) as the character Roger – thanking Mrs. Luella Bates Washington Jones for her kindnesses (from “Thank You, M’am”) - see definition on page 922 of Writer’s Choice.

Discussed rules that govern when to underline or use “quotation marks” around titles.

Graded “Necklace” packet.

Reviewed definitions of antagonist vs. protagonist, main vs. minor character, round vs. flat character, dynamic vs. static character – then considered all the characters from each of the six short stories from this trimester and which categories each fit into.

Hung 6-word memoirs posters.

Continued to review for exam - Quiet study time.

Homework:

Use study guide and practice exam to review for final exam.

Thursday, November 18

1^st trimester – Day 50

Collected homework: packet of questions about “The Necklace” from Literature book pages 348 – 358.

Re-examined various points of view by writing 5 sentences:

1. using 1^st person 2. Using 2^nd person; 3. Using 3^rd person limited; 4 using 3^rd person objective; 5. Using 3^rd person omniscient; reviewed answers.

Returned graded Savage Inequalities papers.

Completed “Practice Exam” handout – then reviewed answers in class.

Hung 6-word memoirs posters.

Homework:

Use study guide and today’s practice exam to review for final exam.

Study for Friday’s vocabulary test (Lesson 5: jaded, gist, advocate…).

Wednesday, November 17

1^st trimester – Day 49

Finished the backside of this week’s vocabulary handout.

Created 6 fill-in-the-blank sentences using 6 (of the 10) vocabulary words from Lesson 5 – quizzed each other.

Completed worksheet on MOOD and TONE – reviewed answers in class.

By table, we drew a dangling/misplaced modifier poster J Here's the link to all the posters: Dangling and misplaced modifier posters.

Began packet of questions about “The Necklace” from Literature book pages 348 – 358 Due tomorrow.

Homework:

Finish packet of questions about “The Necklace” from Literature book pages 348 – 358.

Study for Friday’s vocabulary test (Lesson 5: jaded, gist, advocate…).

Use study guide to review for exam.

Tuesday, November 16

1^st trimester – Day 48

Reviewed misplaced and dangling modifiers.

Graded then collected homework: “Thank You, Ma’am” packet of questions.

Return graded homework. Sign homework folder form?

Completed “Dangling Modifier” work and compared to “Misplaced Modifier” work.

Listened to a reading of “The Necklace” from Literature book pages 348 – 358.

Worked on the backside of this week’s vocabulary handout.

Homework:

Study for Friday’s vocabulary test (Lesson 5: jaded, gist, advocate…).

Use study guide to review for exam.

Monday, November 15

1^st trimester – Day 47

Checked homework: a chart for the 2 characters in “Thank You, Ma’am” that lists 10 direct and 10 indirect characterizations for each - 40 ITEMS TOTAL.

Author’s purpose – see handout – identified purpose of 5 sample paragraphs.

Picked up Exam Review Guide, this week’s vocabulary sheet, Thank You, M’am packet.

Discussed or wrote about what we thought Roger (from “Thank You, M’am”) wanted to say at the end of the story besides, “Thank you, m’am.” (see question 21 in packet)

Reviewed short story “Thank You, M’am” in Literature book pages 134 – 140.

Watched 2 minute video of “Thank You, M’am.”

Handed out and reviewed this week’s vocabulary words (Lesson 5: jaded, gist, advocate…).

Took notes and discussed the five steps of the writing process – used 5 WHO AM I riddles.

Discussed the final exam using the up Exam Review Guide - 102 multiple choice questions worth 10% of final grade.

Began packet of questions on “Thank You, M’am” based on story in Literature book pages 134 – 140.

Homework:

Finish packet of questions on “Thank You, M’am” based on story in Literature book pages 134 – 140.

Study for Friday’s vocabulary test (Lesson 5: jaded, gist, advocate…).

Use study guide to review for exam.

Friday, November 12

1^st trimester – Day 46

Collected typed Savage Inequalities papers (and handwritten outlines)

Took notes and practiced Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers (in Writer’s Choice book pgs. 670-671)

Practiced fixing sentences with misplaced and dangling modifiers

Reviewed notes from our Literary Terms packet (Direct and Indirect Characterization)

Brief overview of the five boroughs of New York - also looked specifically at the borough of Manhattan and Harlem’s whereabouts (in preparation for short story “Thank You, M’am” which takes place in Harlem)

Here's a link to my old restaurant:

57/57

Read “Thank You, M’am” (Literature book pgs. 134 – 140)

Discussed direct and indirect characterization in reference to the characters in the story – then made a chart for the 2 characters in “Thank You, Ma’am” that lists 10 direct and 10 indirect characterizations for each. 40 ITEMS TOTAL – due Monday

Homework:

Finish chart (see above)

Thursday, November 11

1^st trimester – Day 45

Continued work in computer lab on our outlines and papers for Savage Inequalities unit

Discussed final revision including:

·         No use of

o   There is, there are, there was, or there were

·         Use strong, vivid action verbs instead

o   I think, I feel, I believe, in my opinion

o   1^st or 2^nd person (okay for 3^rd paragraph only)

·         No you, your, you’re

·         No I, me, us, we

o   Contractions

·         Add a title to your paper (centered)

·         Must include the title of the documentary in paper:

o   Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools (1996)

·         Do NOT underline restated thesis in paragraph V.

FCAs – Focus Correction Areas

1. Typed paper avoids 1^st and 2^nd person and is NEAT and THOUGHTFULLY constructed
1. Times New Roman – 12 pt. font; whole paper is double spaced (Do NOT triple space between paragraphs); Name, date, hour (in header); pages numbered in footer (bottom, right-hand side)
2. 7 DIFFFERNT transitions used (You must circle each one with pen or pencil or no credit will be earned) – see Transition handout
3. 1 direct quotation from film (You must BOLD IT ON COMPUTER)
4. Your thesis statement and all 3 topic sentences must be underlined (or no credit will be earned)  
1. Do NOT underline restated thesis in paragraph V.
5. Full title of film/documentary is underlined.
6. No use of there is, there are, there was, there were
7. No contractions (ex. use “do not” instead of “don’t”; use “is not” for “isn’t” etc.)

Showed how to SEARCH for words in Microsoft 2010: Home/Find/there, you, ‘ , me, I,

Homework:

Typed paper stapled to handwritten outline due tomorrow, Friday, November 11

No vocabulary test this week.

Wednesday, November 10

1^st trimester – Day 44

After attendance we continued writing our Savage Inequalities papers on computers

Homework:

No vocabulary test this week.

Continue to work on your paper and its outline (due Friday)

Tuesday, November 9

1^st trimester – Day 43

Completed back of Apostrophes in Contractions handout…by marking the errors in “The Scarlet Ibis” passages (A-D) – reviewed answers

Discussed thesis statements and the simple 3 step method for creating them – then wrote a thesis statement for our essay

Discussed concluding sentences…and how to write them by using our “doubting bullies” – by first reading each of our 3 topic sentences and having our “bully” question its meaning, we developed another way of saying the same thing, thus creating our 3 concluding sentences. We did this for our three main, body paragraphs of our essays.

In a short 3-5 sentence paragraph, we SHOWED what our proposed solutions would LOOK LIKE if they were carried out in Ohio’s Public Schools. Then we added the word “Imagine” to this paragraph and added it to our essays and outlines in section V (part C) of the concluding paragraph. Ending our papers with a powerful image will be appropriate and effective given our visual attention grabbers.

Homework:

No vocabulary test this week.

Continue to work on your essay and its outline (due Friday)

Monday, November 8

1^st trimester – Day 42

DAY 3: Savage Inequalities unit

Checked homework: handwritten draft of outline for parts II, III, and IV

Practiced writing topic sentences

Wrote 3 topic sentences for our papers (paragraphs II, III, IV)

Worked on computers the rest of the hour – typing up our rough drafts (leaving room for thesis statement, concluding sentences, concluding paragraph)

Homework:

No vocabulary test this week

Friday, November 5

1^st trimester – Day 41

DAY 2: Savage Inequalities unit

Wrote 7 (or more) sentences that described a time in our lives when we experienced injustice or discrimination

With words, we “showed” one of the most unjust images/moments from the video in at least 5 complete sentences. Then we revised these paragraphs by eliminating the words “you, your, you’re” and writing it in 3^rd  person and adding the word “imagine” to the beginning of the paragraph.

Example of “snapshot” lead: Imagine going to school hoping to learn to play clarinet only to find out that the school gym is above the band room. As students begin to practice playing their instruments, all that can be heard are basketballs bouncing and feet stomping, not to the rhythm of the music, but rather to the chaos of the sport. Learning to play clarinet is next to impossible in these conditions.

We discussed the power of a “snapshot” lead as an attention grabber.

Discussed a similar problem in Michigan's public schools:
http://www.citizensforequity.org/

Began work on our rough draft outlines (handwritten) for our Savage Inequalities paper (see page 4 of handout).  Items to skip, for now: Thesis Statement, Topic Sentence, Concluding sentences, Concluding paragraph (V)

Handed out “Documentary: Savage Inequalities” Task Sheet

Here are the notes we looked at in class: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/14512809/Outlining%20notes.jpg

Homework:

Rough draft of outline due Monday (see above)

NO vocabulary test this week.

Thursday, November 4

1^st trimester – Day 40

Collected homework: “6-Word Memoir” poster – illustrated

Began Savage Inequalities unit DAY1

Watched entire documentary today Children in America's Schools with Bill Moyers – approx. 65 minutes – answered the following 3 questions during the film:

1.      Find 3 examples of inequality in the film.

2.      How can you relate to these problems of inequality?

3.      What do you think can be done about them?

Homework:

No vocabulary test this week or next.

Wednesday, November 3

1^st trimester – Day 39

Collected homework: 5 sentence paragraph responding to your “doubting bully” – Pinky is ________ (choose from your “good” list)

Completed overhead “#25 Agreement” (1-20)

o   After completion, reviewed answers

Reviewed who vs. whom and whoever vs. whomever

Copied the following 3 questions down before going to the LGI to watch the documentary on Ohio’s Public Schools:

1. Find 3 examples of inequality in the film.
2. How can you relate to these problems of inequality?
3. What do you think can be done about them?

Began “6-Word Memoir” posters (watched clip): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejndNExso9M 

Homework:

Finish “6-Word Memoir” poster – illustrated

No vocabulary test this week or next.