Thursday, October 31

Happy Halloween!

AP Language and Composition

Mrs. Jemison, the 11th grade counselor, came and spoke to all of the AP classes today regarding their collegiate choices and ACT activities.

Pre-AP English 9

Students began researching their folklore topic in the library today.

Homework:  Students should be prepared to share their completed topic on Monday, November 4

Advanced English 9

We listened to a traditional piece of Alabama folklore today, entitled "A Stranger in the Church."  Students then annotated this piece for instances of characterization and colloquialism.  They then wrote a literary analysis describing and defending the author's characterization of Joe Bates and the author's purpose for writing the piece.

Homework: Students need to finish reading Dirt Road Home by Monday, November 4.

Wednesday, October 30

AP Language and Composition
Continuing with our English language ruminations, we read several articles today from writers who grew up in bi-lingual families.  Again, this will all culminate in our reading of Orwell's "Politics and the English Language."

If you missed answering the questions in today's class, here they are (click here).  Please answer these questions and have them ready to turn in by Friday, November 1.

Pre-AP English 9
Students took their reading quiz on Of Mice and Men in class today.

Homework:  Students should begin their research projects at home doing preliminary research on their chosen topic.

Advanced English 9
Students presented the videos they made today about their familial folklore.  Afterwards, we read and analyzed two pieces of Alabama folklore for dialogue and characterization.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading Dirt Road Home by Monday, November 4.

Tuesday, October 29

AP Language and Composition
In today's class, we began a discussion of what language is and how it is used to communicate / control.  Our discussions of language will culminate in reading George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" toward the end of the week.

Pre-AP English 9
We did not get to meet today because of the half-day.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading Of Mice and Men in preparation for the reading test that will be given tomorrow.

Advanced English 9
We began discussing stories that are told in the Oral Tradition in class today.  This will lead us directly into our study of Homer's The Odyssey.

Homework:  Students need to finish Dirt Road Home by Monday, November 4.  Also, students need to finish the second part of their research project (the video portion) by tomorrow.

Monday, October 28

AP Language and Composition
In today's class, we read an article entitled "Should Batman Kill the Joker?"  This article was written by Mark White and Robert Arp, both students and professors of philosophy and ethics.  We then discussed the ethical situation that the article brought into question, that of torturing terrorists to garner information about future terrorist activities.

Homework:  Students need to finish their Baraka assignments.  Third period's assignment packet is due on Wednesday.  Fourth period is due tomorrow (Tuesday).

Pre-AP English 9
After taking the Word of the Day quiz, students were given their assignment for the next research project.

Homework:  Students need to read Of Mice and Men by Wednesday, October 30.

Advanced English 9
After taking their Word of the Day quiz and A Separate Peace reading quiz, students worked on in-text citations and correcting the bibliography that they created for their last research project.

Homework:  Students need to correct and re-print their bibliographies to turn in tomorrow.  They also need to read Dirt Road Home by Monday, November 4.

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of October 28

Read the following article:

http://dailycaller.com/2013/10/28/global-warming-gets-nearly-twice-as-much-taxpayer-money-as-border-security/

Answer the following questions (PLEASE NOTE-- answer these questions under the assumption that people will read AND respond to your posts):

1. Why is the government spending this amount of money on global warming?  Is it a unanimous consensus that it should be spending this amount of money on this issue?

2. What is Representative Ed Whitfield's claimed desire for the spending programs that are focused on global warming?  Is he against spending money on this issue?

3. Do a short bit of research about the Daily Caller.  Who are they?  Who is their founder?  Do they have an open political slant when it comes to the news they report?

4. What is your opinion on global warming?  Why do you feel this way?

Ninth Grade Current Event Blog for Week of October 28

Read through the following article:

http://www.wtop.com/346/3492289/Pa-boy-dresses-as-vagrant-for-class-is-suspended

Answer the following questions...

1. Do you agree with the mother's statements about her son's suspension?  Explain why or why not.

2. Was the teacher in the wrong for giving this assignment?

3. How far should schools go to ensure students' security?

Friday, October 25

Happy Homecoming!!

AP Language and Composition
In today's class, we did a quick review of satire, along with an exercise on an Onion article.

Homework: Students need to study for their word of the day quiz which will be given on Monday.

Pre-AP English 9
We continued discussing western poetry in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish Of Mice and Men by Wednesday, October 30.  Students also need to study for their word of the day quiz which will be given on Monday.

Advanced English 9
We reviewed our nine weeks exam in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading Dirt Road Home by November 4.

Here is the reading schedule for the rest of the semester.  (CLICK HERE)  Works written on the top of the week are to be read outside of class.  Works written on the bottom are going to be read in class.

Thursday, October 24

Although today has been wild with the excitement of Homecoming and the Patriot Games, please make sure your student doesn't miss out on the due dates of assignments that are quickly approaching!

Pre-AP English 9
Have Of Mice and Men read by Wednesday, October 30.

Advanced English 9
Have Dirt Road Home read by November 4.

The second part of your research project (the family video) is due on October 30.

All Classes: The Word of the Day quiz will be given on Monday, October 28, instead of Friday, October 25.

Wednesday, October 23

AP Language and Composition
In today's class, we continued watching the documentary Baraka, and going over sample essays from the College Board that pertain to the students' nine weeks exam.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day in preparation for the Word of the Day quiz that will be given on Friday.

Pre-AP English 9
We continued discussing poetry in today's class, focusing specifically on Tennyson's "Ulysses" and In Memoriam.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day in preparation for the Word of the Day quiz that will be given on Friday.  They also need to read Of Mice and Men by Wednesday, October 30.

Advanced English 9
Students continued presenting their Southern folklore research in today's class.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day in preparation for the Word of the Day quiz that will be given on Friday.  They also need to finish reading A Separate Peace by tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 22

AP Language and Composition
In today's class, students received their nine weeks' exams.  I then gave them sample essays from the actual AP test that was given, and the students scored them and compared them to their own essays.

Pre-AP English 9
We spent time in class today going over the students' nine weeks exams.

Homework:  Students need to read the entirety of Of Mice and Men by Tuesday, October 29.

Advanced English 9
Students began giving their research presentations in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish A Separate Peace in preparation for the reading quiz that will be given Thursday, October 24.

Monday, October 21

I apologize for the lack of blog posts last week.  The school had internet issues on Wednesday, and students took their nine weeks exams on Thursday and Friday.

This is better news, though; it's Homecoming!!  I hope everyone has a safe and fun week!


ALL CLASSES WROTE THEIR NINE WEEKS BOOK ESSAYS IN CLASS TODAY.

Pre-AP English 9
Homework: Students need to read Of Mice and Men by Tuesday, October 29th.

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of October 20

Read through the following article:

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/lets-play-god-the-scientific-experiments-that-might-save-the-world-or-destroy-it-8884386.html

Answer the following questions:

1. What is planet hacking?
2. Who is Spice?
3. With whom does Spice work?
4. BRIEFLY summarize the five geoengineering described in the article.
5. Your thoughts... do you believe it's okay for scientists to do these kinds of experiments?  If not, how far can scientists go to "protect" humanity from itself?
6. Explain the article's title.  Do you think the title is an example of propaganda or an appeal?

Ninth Grade Current Events Blog for Week of October 20

Read through the following article:

http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/lets-play-god-the-scientific-experiments-that-might-save-the-world-or-destroy-it-8884386.html

Answer the following questions:

1. What is planet hacking?
2. Who is Spice?
3. What was "Operation Popeye"?
4. BRIEFLY summarize the five geoengineering described in the article.
5. Your thoughts... do you believe it's okay for scientists to do these kinds of experiments?  If not, how far can scientists go to "protect" humanity from itself?

Tuesday, October 15

AP Language and Composition
After taking their Greek and Latin root word quiz, we annotated and analyzed Sojourner Truth's classic speech, "Ain't I a Woman?"

Homework:  Students need to finish reading their nine weeks book in preparation for the essay that they will write on Monday, October 21.

Pre-AP English 9
After taking their Greek and Latin root word quiz, we continued discussing western poetry in today's class, focusing specifically on Tennyson and his allusion to Dante's Inferno.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading their nine weeks book in preparation for the essay that they will write on Monday, October 21.

Advanced English 9
After taking their Greek and Latin root word quiz, we analyzed two different poems in class today.  We analyzed "The Man He Killed" and "O Captain, my captain."  This is in preparation for the nine weeks exam that will be given on Thursday, October 17.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading their nine weeks book in preparation for the essay that they will write on Monday, October 21.

Monday, October 14

AP Language and Composition
Students finished their multiple choice practice in today's class.

Homework:  Students need to study their Greek and Latin root words in preparation for the quiz that will be given tomorrow.  They also need to finish their nine weeks' book by Monday, October 21.

Pre-AP English 9
After completing the second reading quiz for A Separate Peace, we continued our study of western poetry.

Homework: Students need to study their Greek and Latin root words in preparation for the quiz that will be given tomorrow.  They also need to finish A Separate Peace by Thursday, October 17.  Finally, they need to finish their nine weeks' book by Monday, October 21.

Advanced English 9
In today's class, we reviewed parts of the sentence and figurative language in preparation for Thursday's Nine Weeks' exam.  We also reviewed poetry analysis.

Homework: Students need to study their Greek and Latin root words in preparation for the quiz that will be given tomorrow.  They also need to finish chapters 5-9 in A Separate Peace by Wednesday, October 16.  Finally, they need to finish their nine weeks' book by Monday, October 21.

Friday, October 11

AP Language and Composition
Students took their word of the day quiz and another practice multiple choice exam in today's class.

Homework:  Students need to study their Greek and Latin roots for the quiz that will be given on Tuesday, October 15.  They also need to finish their Nine Weeks' book by October 21.

Pre-AP English 9
After taking their word of the day quiz, students continued to share their original poetic compositions in today's class.


Homework:  Students need to study their Greek and Latin roots for the quiz that will be given on Tuesday, October 15.  They need to read chapters 5-9 in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 14, and they also need to finish their Nine Weeks' book by October 21.

Advanced English 9
After taking their word of the day quiz, students continued their research in the library today.

Homework:  Students need to study their Greek and Latin roots for the quiz that will be given on Tuesday, October 15.  They need to read chapters 5-9 in A Separate Peace by Wednesday, October 16, and they also need to finish their Nine Weeks' book by October 21.

Thursday, October 10

AP Language and Composition
Students practiced with released AP multiple choice questions in today's class.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day for the quiz that will be given tomorrow, and they need to study their Greek and Latin roots for the quiz that will be given on Tuesday, October 15.  They also need to finish reading their nine weeks' book by Monday, October 21.

Pre-AP English 9
Students continued studying western poetry in today's class, and then spent the last few minutes of class writing their own poetry.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day for the quiz that will be given tomorrow, and they need to study their Greek and Latin roots for the quiz that will be given on Tuesday, October 15.  Additionally, students need to finish chapters 5-9 in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 14. Finally, they also need to finish reading their nine weeks' book by Monday, October 21.

For a copy of the Poetry PowerPoint, please see yesterday's blogpost.

Advanced English 9
Students continued studying western poetry in today's class.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day for the quiz that will be given tomorrow, and they need to study their Greek and Latin roots for the quiz that will be given on Tuesday, October 15.  Additionally, students need to finish chapters 5-9 in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 14. Finally, they also need to finish reading their nine weeks' book by Monday, October 21.

For a copy of the Poetry PowerPoint, please see yesterday's blogpost.

Wednesday, October 9

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote on essay in today's class about President Lydon Johnson's speech that they annotated last night.

Pre-AP English 9
We continued our survey of Western poetry in today's class.

Homework:  Students should be reading chapters 5-9 of A Separate Peace that are due on Monday, October 14.  They should also be reading their nine weeks' novel, which is due on October 21.  Additionally, they should be studying their Words of the Day; this quiz will be on Friday.  Finally, they should also be studying their Greek and Latin word roots; this quiz will be given on Tuesday, October 15.

For a copy of the Poetry PowerPoint, click here.

Advanced English 9
Students were in the library today.  They were beginning work on their second research project.

Homework:  Students should be reading chapters 5-9 of A Separate Peace that are due on Wednesday, October 16.  They should also be reading their nine weeks' novel, which is due on October 21.  Additionally, they should be studying their Words of the Day; this quiz will be on Friday.  Finally, they should also be studying their Greek and Latin word roots; this quiz will be given on Tuesday, October 15.

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of October 7

Read the following article:

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2013/10/06/204431/police-openly-beat-muslim-brotherhood.html

Answer the following questions:

1. What is the Muslim Brotherhood?
2. Who is Abdel-Fattah El Sissi?
3. Why does the reporter juxtapose the two scenes where the military and police are involved?  What rhetorical effect does it have?  (In other words, what would be the difference in how this story is reported and reporting these two events in separate news stories?)
4. Describe a time that could be considered a fait-accompli in your life.  Do you think America will regret its support of the Muslim Brotherhood?

Ninth Grade Current Events Blog for Week of October 7

Read through the following article:

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Security-Watch/2013/1006/Failed-Navy-SEALs-raid-on-Somali-target-could-bolster-Al-Shabab-video

Answer the following questions:

1. In which recent news story have you heard about the group Al-Shabab?
2. While specifics remain a mystery, the article does mention one likely leader that the US Special Forces might have been targeting.  Name him.
3. According to The Monitor's sources, what is one big drawback that the failed attacks could have on Al-Shabab's claim to power in the region?
4. In your opinion, should the American Special Forces have stopped the raid to avoid civilian causalities?

Monday, October 7

AP Language and Composition
In today's class, students peer-edited the essays that they wrote last Friday and began looking at their multiple choice exams that they took last Thursday.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day and the list of Latin and Greek roots that they received in class today. 


Pre-AP English 9
After taking their first reading quiz on A Separate Peace, we began working our way through a survey of western poetry.

To download a copy of the Poetry PowerPoint, click here.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day and the list of Latin and Greek roots that they received in class today. They also need to read chapters 5-9 in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 14.

Advanced English 9
After taking the first reading quiz on A Separate Peace, students continued their study of western poetry in today's class.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day and the list of Latin and Greek roots that they received in class today. They also need to read chapters 5-9 in A Separate Peace by Wednesday, October 16.

Friday, October 4

AP English Language and Composition
Students wrote an in-class essay today.

Pre-AP English 9
In today's class, we spent time learning how to analyze a "visual text."  Looking at Pieter Brueghel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus we discussed how the painter's tone translates into the painting's imagery and theme.  We also read William Carlos Williams' "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus."

Homework:  Students need to finish the packet that we started in class.  To do this, they need to re-read Williams' poem and re-write it as a formal paragraph, placing punctuation (end-marks and commas) in the sentences where needed.  In total, there should be five complete sentences.  After they finish that, they need to write a poem of their own, modeling Williams' grammatical structure and style.  The poem will be from the point of view of someone or something in the painting, and should begin with the line, "According to (the person or animal whose point of view the student is taking) when Icarus fell..."  This packet will be turned in on Monday.

Students also need to finish reading the first four chapters of A Separate Peace by Monday, October 7, and they need to read their Nine Weeks' novel by Monday, October 21.

Advanced English 9
We continued our survey of Western poetry in today's class.  Afterward, we discussed the opening chapters of A Separate Peace.

Homework:Students need to finish reading the first four chapters of A Separate Peace by Monday, October 7, and they need to read their Nine Weeks' novel by Monday, October 21.

Thursday, October 3

AP Language and Composition
Students took a practice Multiple Choice Exam in today's class.

Homework:  Students should finish their A Modest Proposal annotations and thesis if they did not do so last night.  Students also need to finish reading their nine weeks' books by October 21.

Pre-AP English 9
Students finished analyzing the syntactical choices of James Hurst in "The Scarlet Ibis" in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish writing their thematic paragraphs if they were not able to do so in class.  Students also need to read chapters 1-4 in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 7.  Finally, students need to finish their nine weeks' book by Monday, October 21.

Advanced English 9
We continued our survey of Western poetry in today's class.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-4 in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 7.  Students also need to finish their nine weeks' book by Monday, October 21.

Wednesday, October 2

AP Language and Composition
We continued discussing satire in today's class and began reading Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal."

Homework: Students need to go this website (http://www.victorianweb.org/previctorian/swift/modest.html) and finish reading "A Modest Proposal."  They then need to write a thesis describing how Swift uses hyperbole and irony to expose vice or folly in 18th century Ireland and England.

Pre-AP English 9
In today's class, we focused on syntactical structure and figurative language, and we used "The Scarlet Ibis" to identify examples of these.

Homework: Students need to read the first four chapters in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 7.  They should also be studying their Words of the Day.

Advanced English 9
We began discussing poetry in today's class, after reviewing verbals.

Homework: Students need to read the first four chapters in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 7.  They should also be studying their Words of the Day.

For a copy of the Poetry PowerPoint notes, please click here.  (Please note that it is a large file and may take a while to download, depending on your connection speed.)

Tuesday, October 1

AP Language and Composition
In today's class, we continued to discuss and analyze examples of satire.

Homework:  Students need to annotate and analyze The Onion article assigned in class.  They also need to write a thesis responding to the prompt, "How does the author use rhetorical strategies to effect in this satirical news article?"

Pre-AP English 9
In today's class, we continued analyzing "The Scarlet Ibis."  We focused specifically on syntactical and grammatical elements of the short story.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-4 in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 7.

Advanced English 9
In today's class, we finished our analysis of "The Scarlet Ibis" by reviewing syntactical and grammatical choices that the author makes in the story.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-4 in A Separate Peace by Monday, October 7.