Movie Buffs

Today, we talked a lot about analyzing images. As a generation that is constantly being flood with images, you need to understand how to look at an image and then analyze it according to form, color, lines, light, composition, setting, mood, and tone. The photos we looked at today were all posters of Othello. In order for us to analyze the film and video clips of Othello, we need to be able to look at an image and figure out these things on our own.

Here are some of the images we looked at today:

Keep these images in mind when you're analyzing your own movie and video game posters tonight. Do work!

DEETS:

In-class:

--Color Do Now

--Clothing Examination

--Reading Images Chart

--Poster Examination

--Share Out

HW:

--Write a paragraph on your favorite movie poster or video game cover. Analyze ONE aspect of it--color, composition, lines, setting, mood, tone, etc.

TKAM EXAM!

Today, you all took the TKAM Exam. If you studied the Jeopardy round and your packets and quizzes, you should have felt very prepared for the exam. For the take-home section, please refer to the rubric below when writing your open response. Remember, this is a HUGE chunk of the percentage of your grade. You CANNOT afford to NOT turn this in. Here's the rubric:

Write those paragraphs and write them well! Impress me and Mr. Hannah!

DEETS:

In-class:

--TKAM Exam

HW:

--Take-home Open Response Exam

Jeopardy Battle of the Sexes

Today's Jeopardy game was a crazy battle of the sexes. I think all of you find a much more competitive spirit when it is boys vs. girls so we'll definitely try this out again. Here were the standings:

Period 2: Girls win
Period 3: Boys win
Period 4: Boys win

So, I guess, for now, the boys are the superior gender. But not for long, girls! If you would like to redeeem yourselves, study hard and let's beat the boys on our test averages.

Study hard. Here's the link to the Jeopardy game in case you want to play again to review tonight at home:
jeopardylabs.com/play/enter-title93122

Look over your packet Reading Questions and Quizzes we took over the unit to study as well. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to email me or Mr. Hannah.

STUDY HARD!

DEETS:
In-class:
--DEAR
--Jeopardy game

HW:
--Study for the exam!

Peer Editing with (Brand New!) Rubrics

Welcome back! I know most of you walked into class with still-full bellies and probably much anticipation to get back to school (kidding), but the truth is we have a lot to get done before winter break. For this week, it's about finishing and starting. We're finishing off TKAM (TEST WEDNESDAY) and starting a new unit on Thursday.

Today was about reviewing everything that we started last week. We started class by watching the video clip of Atticus' closing statement to the jury. In watching the video, it was much easier to understand his tone and the way he appealed to the jury. Notice where Atticus stood in the video. He stood right by the jury and stared into each of their eyes begging them before God to do their duty.

After the clip, we created a memory device to help you remember Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Hopefully, this will act as a quick reminder sheet for these terms.

Again, we're still working on our paragraphs. The rest of the class was devoted to this. We looked at some paragraphs that still need work. Sometimes your paragraphs are too vague. Remember, mean what you say and say what you mean. Mr. Hannah and I are not archaeologists. You need to guide us through your paragraph rather than us searching for the message. Be clear and concise and bring in that analysis!

After handing out the new rubrics for paragraphs, your peer editing was much more focused than in the past. When you're actually able to look at what your partner wrote and then grade them based on the scoresheet in front of you, I think it becomes very obvious what areas are the weakest. Use the rubric to better improve your paragraphs. See what it's going to take to get a 4 in each category and strive for those numbers. If you constantly refer to this new rubric as you write your paragraphs, I'm sure they will continue to improve. Keep at it!

DEETS:
In-class:
--Atticus' Closign Statement clip
--Ethos, Pathos, Logos Recap
--Paragraph Examination
--Peer Editing
--Revision of weakest paragraph

HW:
--TKAM Test on Wednesday!

Mad for Ads

Today we didn't have too much time together because of the half day. With only a half hour, we decided it was best to have you guys present some of your findings of ethos, pathos, and logos. Most of the examples you provided had some sort of pathos in it. This is the most popular because, remember, pathos is about appealing to one's emotions. How better to sell a product or deliver a convincing story than to hit someone where they'll feel it the most--their heart.

For your homework over the break, you need to write three paragraphs (in total) for each of the examples you found. You need to write one paragraph for pathos, one for ethos, and one for logos. Even if your example has two of the terms included, pick only one.

Here is the example that we went over in class to better guide you in writing your three paragraphs:

Name

ELA

Ms. Chaves/Mr. Hannah

21 November 2012

       There are thousands of examples in the media of pathos, rhetoric that makes you feel any type of emotion. In a shoe print advertisement, a man is wearing New Balance sneakers in the middle of the ad, while other brands of shoes (Skechers and Timberland) are displayed around him with their prices. The man is excited about the shoes that he is wearing because of the big smile on his face. He is making the customer feel desire for the shoes he is wearing; therefore, making the customer feel just as excited as he is. In conclusion, this shoe advertisement is an example of pathos because it makes the customer feel desire for the shoes, thereby completing the ad’s task of having customers come in to buy their products. 

Remember, these paragraphs will be worth a QUIZ grade. Make sure you watch your grammar, proper formatting, structure, and a thorough analysis. You can do it!

And, of course, have a happy, happy Thanksgiving! See you all back on Monday!

DEETS:

In-class:

--Presentation of Ethos, Pathos, Logos Examples

--Ad and Paragraph Example

HW:

--Write a paragraph for each of your examples--one on Ethos, one on Pathos, one on Logos

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

I apologize for having to cut DEAR time short today, but as you saw, we had a lot to get through today. The main idea for today--ETHOS, PATHOS, LOGOS.

ETHOS applies to your credibility, your trustworthiness, your reputation.

PATHOS applies to your emotions, your feelings about something, your inspiration to do something.

LOGOS applies to logic, facts, evidence, research.

All of these elements compile what is known as RHETORIC--the way you use language (words) to accomplish something. It's the way you persuade someone or something for a particular purpose.

I know these are big fancy words, but we need to start using them in order to build your higher-order thinking skills. We'll keep building toward this.

After understanding these terms, we went through Chapter 20 and highlighted which sections were which. As you saw, Atticus is an amazing public speaker. In his final speech, he was able to hit on all of these terms more than once in a very well-thought out convincing manner. He's someone to idolize for that.

In watching some of the viedos, I was impressed with some of the creativity that went into it as well as the effort that some of you put in. There were obvious standouts. For others, you could have done better.

In saying so, I am incredibly disappointed with how many of you DID NOT do the homework. Mr. Hannah and I do our best to create lessons that are engaging and worthwhile, so it's extremely offensive when so many of you don't do the little supportive homework we give you. Many of you cannot afford to keep skipping homework assignments. For some of you, that's what caused you to fail last term.

Be proactive and take your learning into your own hands.

DEETS:
In-class:
--DEAR
--Ethos, Pathos, Logos Powerpoint
--Chapter 20 Annotation and highlighting of EPL

HW:
--Bring in an example of Ethos, Pathos, Logos (print)
--Do the Reading Questions of Chapter 20

DO YOUR HOMEWORK! I will be checking to see that you did it tomorrow.

Survivors Ready!

Today's class was really fun. I enjoyed watching our final actors take the stage and give a grand performance. Gilmer grilled Tom Robinson in his cross-examination. He made it seem like Tom felt better than Mayella because he felt sorry for her because no one around the house (Mr. Ewell and the children) didn't seem to help her. This is a big no-no because black people aren't supposed to feel sorry for white people. That would mean that they're on the same level, which we know was not the case in the 1930's. Tom Robinson could do nothing but tell the truth--his truth. Will the jury believe him? We'll keep reading to find out. Tomorrow, we're going to be reading Atticus' final statement to the court.

After our role play, we had our Survivor Paragraph Challenge. This was really fun. I wasn't sure if it was going to work out well, but I was glad to see that it did. All teams were really engaged and I was excited to see that all of you were just as excited about it as I was. We'll add on paragraph points to the winning team at the end of the week. The main thing to take away from all this--watch for those clues that let you know what you're looking at. Here are some hints:

TS:
--Has the author's name and the title of the book
--Has a subject and a topic

CD:
--Evidence that is factual-based or quotes

CM:
--Begins with "This shows that"
--Explains, analyzes, and observes the evidence

CS:
--Has transitional phrases like "Overall, In conclusion, Therefore, All in all..."
--Wraps everything up AND adds a new idea

After our Survivor Paragraph Challenge, we began writing our paragraphs. Our prompt was on the back of the Chapter 19 packet about why Gilmer calls Tom Robinson "boy" seven times throughout the text. Why does he only call him that and no one else? This is a way of making Tom feel inferior, childish, irresponsible, unaware, unable to have a say, etc. Construct your paragraph around these ideas and you'll make a great paragraph.

Here are the paragraphs from the Survivor Paragraph Challenge as a guide for an awesome paragraph. I've left them split into their TS, CD, CM, CS so you can see the transitions between each part.

One Direction

One Direction is the most successful band that ever lived.

Their first album, Up All Night (2011), topped charts worldwide and marked the first time a debut album by a British group came number one on the US Billboard 200 chart. They were inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records as a result.

This shows that they have reached a fan base across international borders. Their number one hit, “What Makes You Beautiful,” is able to enter into any fan’s heart and make them feel “beautiful.”

In conclusion, One Direction has reached record international fame and fortune because of their ability to relate their songs to people all over the world.

Break Ups

Breaking up with someone is probably one of life’s biggest heartaches.

Susie Orbach, a British psychotherapist, has argued that the dissolution of dating and cohabiting relationships can be as painful as or more painful than divorce because these non-marital relationships are less socially recognized.

This shows that breakups among teens, especially in high school, are extremely painful because there is no outlet to grieve. Because breakups are so much more common during high school, the pain is intensified when one does see an ex with another.

Overall, breakups cause serious grief within individuals, which could be a cause for why most people agree that high school years are some of the best and worst times of your life.

Video Games

Halo 4 is the greatest video game ever created.

Halo 4 grossed US$220 million on its launch day, with an estimated $300 million opening week, marking a new record for the franchise. Microsoft also partnered with PepsiCo so players would be able to redeem codes online by purchasing Mountain Dew and Doritos.

While Halo 4 debuted at the top of the UK Video Games Chart and became the eighteenth biggest ever launch in the UK, it failed to beat week one sales of Halo 3 and Halo: Reach; however, they only failed to beat games of their own trilogy, which shows the success of the entire franchise.

Therefore, Halo 4 is another successful piece to the Halo franchise where gamers from all over the world can continue on the trilogy’s journey with Master Chief.

Body Image

Body image refers to a person's feelings of the physical appearance and sexual attractiveness of his or her own body.

Body image can have a wide range of psychological effects and physical effects. According to Dr. Aric Sigman, a British Biologist, some women who see underweight women will have an immediate change in brain chemistry which diminishes self-esteem and can increase self-loathing. Commentators note that people who have a low body image will try to alter their bodies in some way, such as by dieting or undergoing cosmetic surgery.

This shows that body image is not only how a person feels about themselves, but that it is also dependent on a person’s view of the society around them. This may possibly skew a person’s perception of themselves in a negative light when it wouldn’t have changed otherwise.

In conclusion, body image is a serious topic, especially for women, in which society and the media might need to reevaluate the standards of beauty.

The Patriots

Bill Belichick is the reason for the Patriots becoming one of the best football teams in the NFL.

Under Belichick, the Patriots have gone 139–53–0 in twelve seasons. Belichick is far and away the winningest coach in Patriots history; his 139 wins with the franchise are more than double those of runner-up Mike Holovak. He also sports a 16–6 record in the playoffs, and 3–2 in Super Bowls. Belichick has led the Patriots to eight division titles, including five consecutive titles from 2003 to 2007 (and only missed the playoffs on tiebreakers in 2002 and 2008).

This shows that Belichick is a committed coach to his team and dedicates his life to producing the best football players in the NFL. While most coaches dress professionally to every football game, Belichick’s signature look is wearing a cut-off sweatshirt. Some people may view this as a joke, but this demonstrates his lack of attention to appearance and his commitment to what is really important—the game.

Therefore, though Bill Belichick may be an unconventional coach, he has lead his team to countless victories and now remains one of the most respected coaches in the NFL.

TKAM

In Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus is a hero.

In his closing arguments defending Tom Robinson he said, “In the name of God, believe him” (5).

This shows that Atticus defended a black man in court and urged the jury to do the right thing. He believed in equality for all men, regardless of the prejudices around Maycomb.

Overall, Atticus was a hero because he was an example of a liberal, honest man in a time where racial prejudices ruled the South.

House on Mango Street

In Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street, Esperanza is a free-spirited girl.

In the last vignette, Esperanza says, “One day I will say goodbye to Mango. I am too strong for her to keep me here forever.”

This shows that Esperanza never felt like she belonged on Mango Street. She always felt her spirit was caged in the small street. She needed to leave in order to find her freedom.

In conclusion, Esperanza is unlike most of the other women in her life, because she refuses to accept the cage around her gender.

Please look these over as a way of familiarizing yourself with the expectations that I and Mr. Hannah have for you.

DEETS:

In-class:

--Finish Chapter 19 Role Play

--Grade Actors

--Survivor Paragraph Challenge

--Write paragraph

HW:

--Finish writing your paragraph

--Read and annotate Chapter 20 (DO NOT do the Reading Questions)

--Video Actors--MAKE YOUR VIDEOS. We WILL be watching them TOMORROW.

No, suh. Yes, suh.

After DEAR time, we got right back into reading our script of TKAM. In reading half of Chapter 19, we learned that Tom's testimony was very different from Mayella's. He claimed he was invited over the Ewell property many times to help with chores, that the children were always around, and that Mayella is the one who came onto him! Tom was uncomfortable with most of his testimony because it was unheard of for a white woman to seduce a black man. In some states, that would be considered criminal. According to Tom's testimony, Mayella "jumped" him and hugged him. Tom was eventually able to pass Mayella and run away from the house, even though he did nothing wrong. Will this play out in his favor? We'll see on Monday when we continue reading.

After grading your paragraphs, I've seen a slight improvement. Remember, this isn't about perfection. If you're struggling with these paragraphs, that's okay. We're going to work through this. The key is that hopefully after all this repetition, you'll get it so engrained in your heads that you'll never forget it again. Ever! On Monday, I'll show you some new tricks that will really help you fine tune this skill.

Actors who are creating a video, please be creative. Remember, you have countless times to get this right. Move around, use props if you want to, and have fun with it!

Have a great weekend and I'll see you all on Monday!

Paragraph Practice

Today we finished Chapter 18 of TKAM. Our actors did a better job of getting into character and really showing their motivations. Mayella finds herself caught in a lie. Her testimony does not match with Tom's physical stature. Tom wouldn't have been able to punch Mayella with his left hand because it is useless. How will this play out?

After finishing the script, we took the rest of the period to work on writing paragraphs. The rubric for grading each paragraph is as follows:

1: The structure is off. The analysis is off.
2: It either has structure OR analysis.
3: It has BOTH structure and analysis.

Remember, look for the structure first. It should look like this:

TS--topic sentence
CD--concrete detail (evidence/quote)
CM--commentary (analysis that includes observations, inference, and explanations)
CS--concluding sentence (it makes the reader care about the topic, shares something new, and wraps everything up)

Mr. Hannah and I realize that it's going to take some time for everyone to consistently get 3's. We will get there by the end of January. We just have to keep practicing. If you continually follow these guidelines, you'll get there.

DEETS:
In-class:
--Finish Chapter 18 Role Play
--Model rubric-graded paragraphs
--Peer editing

HW:
--Revise your paragraphs by rewriting them on a new piece of paper
--Actors prepare for your roles

Actors for tomorrow:
Tom Robinson 1: Eliseo, Samah, Tuyen
Tom Robinson 2: Major, Gil, John
Judge: Joe, Melanie, Jaden
Gilmer: Jessica P., Michael, Darlene
Atticus: Anita, Daniel, Seth

Poor, Poor Mayella

We had a lot going on today! Our Do Now had everyone working in pairs to create a paragraph based on Chapter 17's role play. "As a witness, Bob Ewell comes across as..." It was your job as partners to create a paragraph that answered this question while maintaining proper MLA format. This included a proper heading and the proper structure for a paragraph. Remember, it should look like this:

TS--topic sentence

CD--concrete detail (evidence)

CM--commentary (summary and analysis)

CS--concluding sentence

In order to get full points every time, you need this proper format as well as making sure to keep in mind all of the -2 grammar rules. For homework, make sure you are following all these guidelines when writing your paragraphs.

After that, we graded our fellow actors on how well they did on their performance. Remember, a 3 is average. That means that the actor did what they were supposed to do, but didn't go above and beyond. A 5 means that their acting was fantastic, that their performance moved you, that you were fully engaged watching them. I would give only one of you a full 5 points. If you just gave 5's to everyone, that's just laziness. That lack of criticism will be reflected in YOUR grade. Be wary.

Today's acting performance was much improved from the first round. I saw a lot of my actors much more connected to their characters and understanding of the material. Mayella is brought to the witness stand and she's an absolute mess. She's tripping over her words and is greatly intimidated by Atticus. Does Atticus intentionally want to scare her? We know that Atticus respects everyone, so we know that that's not the case. He's just trying to get her to tell the truth. Does she do so? That's up for you to decide. The most important piece of evidence that we found out today is that Tom's left hand is useless. Tom was in an accident when he was younger and his arm was severely injured. It never grew properly and that is why it is much shorter than his right arm. What does that tell us? Was Tom physically capable of beating and raping Mayella? The evidence shows us that Mayella was probably beaten by a lefty. Tom's left arm is dead. Evidence also shows us that Mayella was choked by two hands all around her throat. With a useless arm, Tom wouldn't have been able to strangle her with two working arms. Things are not looking great for Mayella and Bob Ewell...

For homework, you must write a paragraph about how Harper Lee creates sympathy (feeling sorry for someone) for Mayella. Cite at least one piece of evidence explaining why.

Do your work and do it well! We'll go at this again tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it!

DEETS:

In-class:

--Do Now Partner Paragraph

--Grading Actors for Chapter 17

--Chapter 18 Role Play

HW:

--Finish reading Chapter 18

--Write a paragraph explaining one example of how Harper Lee creates sympathy for Mayella. Be specific and follow the format!



"I would stay asleep my whole life, if I could dream myself into a company of players."--Shakespeare in Love

Today's class went well. After DEAR time, we did a quick crash course on staging. Here's a more detailed image of what a stage looks like compared to the one I drew up on the board. Remember, this week will be all about acting. If it is your turn to act, make sure that you have your front facing the audience. We don't want to be looking at your back the whole time. Also, go over your lines the night before. Make sure that you understand what your character's motivations are and what they hope to achieve.

In reading Chapter 17, we got a lot of information about what this case is about. We learned that Gilmer is the prosecuting lawyer, and Atticus is the defendant. Gilmer is trying to show that Tom Robinson is guilty, while Atticus is trying to prove that he is innocent. The two main witnesses that we saw today were Heck Tate (Maycomb's sheriff) and Bob Ewell (the father of Mayella Ewell--the woman who was allegedly raped). Both Gilmer and Atticus did their best to appeal to the jury and prove their case. The key facts of evidence were that Mr. Ewell is left-handed and Mayella was punched in her right eye. How will Atticus piece together the evidence to defend Tom? We'll keep reading tomorrow to find out!

DEETS:

In-class:

--DEAR time

--Theatre Crash Course

--Read/Act out Chapter 17

HW:

--None

NOTE: Remember, you will be graded on your acting performance by your classmates! Use the stage well and say your lines with vigor!

Strange Fruit

Today we had a lot on our plate. DEAR time went well. I'm impressed to see that most of you are coming close to finishing whatever book you've been reading. I'm thinking of making a space in the classroom for a Bestseller List. The idea would be that whenever you read a really great book, you let me know, and I'll post it up to share with everyone. That way, should someone want to pick up a really great book, all they have to do is check out the list. Comments?

After grading the quizzes, I'm finally seeing some progression since we first started our grammar weeks. However, the biggest area of weakness for all of you is corecting those error-filled sentences. I'm still trying to figure out why you're able to correctly circle which word fits best in a written sentence, but then can't identify an error when you see one. Perhaps you guys just need more practice in this area. I'll come up with some more Do Nows so we can practice.

The TKAM Reading Questions at the end of Chapter 15 were relatively simple, I think. Most of the answers we tackled in class while going over the text. Atticus is a tough cookie, but Scout and Jem came to the rescue. Scout's innocent talking had the mob realize their own humanity. Atticus also realized that Jem is willing to risk his life for Atticus. What dad wouldn't be proud to know their son would do that for them?

The rest of the class was devoted to this discussion about prejudice. After listening to Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" (video left), it's obvious what her message was--stop lynching. I'm impressed that many of you were able to figure out that the fruit weren't fruit at all, but black bodies hanging from trees. Her incredible sensory imagery gives us a grotesque picture of the cruelty of whites against blacks in the South during the 1930's. How does this relate to TKAM? Had Atticus not sat outside Tom Robinson's jail cell, what would have happened to him? More than likely, Tom would have been lynched.

Bottom line--have we progressed since then? Is 2012 much different than 1930? In some cases, we have progressed as a people. We have an African American president who just got re-elected into office. But what of our mentality against one another? After watching the Black Doll White Doll Experiment (video right), it's blatantly clear that prejudice still exists. The question now is whether or not prejudice is engrained in us. Our Essential Question for TKAM is more important now than ever--How can people overcome prejudice?

In reading the trial next week, keep an open mind.

Here are our list of actors for Tuesday in case you forgot.

Gilmer: Meliza, Adanna, Antonio

Tate: Dennis, Ivan, Anthony

Judge: Fatima, Marty, Alyssa

Atticus: James F., Andy, Marisela

Bob: Alex, Gianni, Eduardo

Happy reading and have a safe long weekend! And remember to honor your veterans!

DEETS:

In-class:
--DEAR
--Grammar Quiz

--TKAM Reading Questions

--"Strange Fruit"

--Black Doll White Doll Experiment

HW:

--Read/annotate/answer the questions to Chapter 17. Actors must know their parts well!

Innocence is Bliss

Today's class went really well. The Do Now was fun to do with last night's homework. I was impressed with a lot of the sentences you came up with. They were interesting and complex, and not about cats and dogs! Keep up that creative spirit when writing your paragraphs.

It was obvious that today's text was very engaging. I saw all of you annotating vigorously and truly fearful of what was going to happen to Atticus and the rest of the gang. The mob came in and barked on Tom Robinson's door. But did they get through? Thanks to Scout's innocence, they did not. Scout came into the jailhouse with Jem and Dill right behind her and talked the mob to death. Her pure heart and innocence won them over. Her innocence made them realize their own humanity. Remember, they came to the jailhouse to kill Tom Robinson. They may come back again later the next night to do the same thing, but in that moment, Scout made them realize the cruelty of their actions. She turned them from monsters to humans.

Tomorrow, I have a really fun lesson planned that, hopefully, will spark in your minds the seriousness and intensity of the roles of prejudice in our society.

DEETS:
In-class:
--Do Now with sentences and iPads
--Finish reading and annotating Chapter 15

HW:
--Finish answering the Reading Questions at the end of the packet (4-6)
--Grammar Worksheet
--Study for the Grammar Quiz!

Study hard! This is the first grade of the new quarter! Make it a GREAT one!

Bleeding Mobs and Paragraphs

I had fun teaching today. All of you seemed to really enjoy the Do Now with the iPads. This was a great activity to improve your listening skills, as well as your comprehension of the grammar that we're going over for the rest of the week. I was surprised to see that many of you were able to get most of the answers correct. Perhaps all these grammar weeks are working, yes?

I want to give another round of applause to our super star students for annotating up on the board today. I can see that a lot of you ARE finally being able to annotate on your own, without mine or Mr. Hannah's guidance. This is the end goal! Let's keep working at it. Mr. Hannah and I are coming up with a rubric for all of you so that you can better see what we're looking for and expecting.

In TKAM Chapter 15. the word is MOB. There is a mob after Tom Robinson and Atticus has to stop it. How will he do it? Will he risk everything? Will he lose? We'll keep reading tomorrow to find out.

As for the paragraphs, again, I must restate that I'm SHOCKED that all of you knew how to write a great paragraph, and yet, many of you failed to do so in your final exams. DON'T BE LAZY. You know how to do these things, so DO IT!

We're going to practice this skill until it becomes second-nature.

DEETS:
In-class:
--Grammar Do Now
--Chapter 15 Read and Annoate until pg.5
--Write a paragraph. "What is a mob?"

HW:
--Answer Reading Questions 1-3
--Write 6 sentences for each word--your/you're/where/were/we're/wear. You will need these sentences for your Do Now tomorrow!

Work hard!

"Improve your sentences. Improve your life."

I hope you all took away something from today's class. I want to thank Ms. DeRousi for coming in and giving a great lesson on recognizing fragments and run-ons to better improve our own sentence structure. Remember, if you improve your sentences, you will improve your paragraphs, which will improve your essays, which will then improve your grade!

We need to continue working on these foundational skills in order to build our higher-order thinking skills. They all go hand-in-hand.

If you feel you're struggling in this area (and I know a lot of you are), please utilize all the resources you have available to you. Ask me or Mr. Hannah for more help, ask your peers, or ask Ms. DeRousi. We're all here to help you succeed!

DEETS:
In-class:
--Sentence Powerpoint

HW:
--None

Exam Cram

Today you took your midterm exam. After grading some of them, I can see that we need to work on our open response and long composition skills. What does the word composition mean you may ask? A composition is the act of combining two or more elements. In our case, a writing composition implies putting together two or more details of evidence to support our claim. Some MOST of you only wrote a very small paragraph for the long composition portion of the exam. THIS WILL NOT DO! Have I and Mr. Hannah not stressed enough the importance of details and specificity? I guess not. More hounding to ensue...

We'll have to keep working on this for the rest of the semester. As for tomorrow's halfday and shortened blocks, we'll be working with Ms. DeRousi, the high school's Reading Interventionist, to work on building better sentence structure. You all could use it!

Let's work on this, okay? Sigh...

DEETS:
In-class:
--Midterm Exam

HW:
--None

Study! Study! Study!

On Friday, we reviewed for your midterm exam. For the most part, I would say playing Jeopardy was a success. I was glad to see that everyone was fully engaged and each team truly took part in the process. I hope you all took diligent notes because NO cheat sheets are allowed! You don't need it!

If you felt you knew most of the answers to the Jeopardy game, you should do well on the midterm. If you didn't, use this opportunity to study the notes you took, as well as review the major terms we've learned thus far. If you study (and study hard!), you should be fine.

Have a great weekend! Please email me or Mr. Hannah if you still have any lingering questions!

DEETS:
In-class:
--DEAR time
--Jeopardy

HW:
--STUDY FOR THE MIDTERM!

p.s. For anyone who was absent this quarter, Monday is the LAST DAY to bring in a note for an excused absence. If you were absent more than three times WITHOUT an excused note, you have FAILED the quarter. Make sure to bring in those notes!

See you tomorrow!

You only got one shot, one opportunity!

Glad to see that all of you are back safely from a great Halloween. I hope you all had fun. But now, it's CRUNCH time. We have our midterm coming up on Monday and we need to prepare ourselves for it.

Today, your Do Now had you recognize the essential elements of annotation--highling important information, such as plot, dialogue, character; circling unknown vocabulary words to better understadn what you're reading; and perhaps the most important of all, making notes in the margins. I really hope all of you do realize that this is an important skill necessary to read literature and be able to analyze it.

We then split off into groups and worked on Chapter 10 of TKAM. This was a thrilling one! Atticus was able to redeem his "boring" self and take the killer shot to save the town from Tim Johnson's rabies. Keep reading to find out how Jem and Scout react to their father's courage.

Tomorrow, I'll be checking your homework and then we'll be reviewing for the exam on Monday.

DEETS:
In-class:
--Do Now on Annotation
--Start Chapter 10
--Read up to pg. 8 in groups
--Come back as a class and discuss

HW:
--Finish reading and annotating and answering the reading questions for Chapter 10

Playing Catch Up

Today, was a chance for us to catch up on everything. We were able to do a quick review of Chapter 6 by giving out that worksheet. As we've said time and time again, READ THE DIRECTIONS. I'm still amazed that some of you refuse to do this. Please, I'll stress it again. It is vitally important that you read the directions ALWAYS because you never know what kind of important information you're missing.

In saying so, Mr. Hannah and I have started to grade your Miss Caroline Projects. The majority of your projects are STILL less than proficient. You guys need to proofread your work. This is an essential skill that you'll need to have for your upcoming high school years, as well as if you decide to go to college or pursue a career. Take the time to read your work out loud, or have a peer do it for you if you know your skills are not so hot.

In reviewing Chapter 6 of TKAM, I feel you guys now have the proper foundation needed for the rest of the novel. Buckle your seatbelts. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

DEETS:
In-class:
--Go over Miss Caroline Project
--Chapter 6 Review
--Start Chapter 10

HW: Night off!

Happy Halloween and stay safe!