Last entry of the year!

This will most likely be the last blog entry for the 2015-2016 school year.  I hope that you have all had as good of a year as I have had!!  You guys are the best!

For the freshmen, here is a list of topics that will be on your end-of-the-year grammar assessment, which will be given on Friday, May 20.

Apostrophes
Commas, Semi-colons, and Colons
Rules of formal writing
Active/Passive Voice
Verb Mood
Sound Devices and Literary Terms (can be found on your yellow pages)
Pronoun / Antecedent Agreement
Subjects/Objects/Complements
Quotes vs. Italics with titles
Verbals and Phrases
Parallel Structure
Often-misused words
Run-on sentences

Please email me if you have any questions!

Monday, May 9

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote their final practice essay in class today in preparation for the AP Exam.

Homework: Students should look over their exam review sheets.

Pre-AP English 9
Students began studying George Orwell's background in preparation for Animal Farm in class today.

For a copy of the Orwell PowerPoint, click here.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-5 in Animal Farm by Wednesday, May 11.

Thursday, May 5

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote a practice synthesis essay in class today.

Pre-AP English 9
Students finished the second entry of their obsession journal in class today.  Afterward, they began reading "Laugh, Kookaburra" by David Sedaris.

Homework: Students need to have their copy of Animal Farm by tomorrow (Friday, May 6).

Reading the Bible as Literature
After taking their Concept Quiz today, students finished presenting their parables project.

Wednesday, May 4

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote a practice rhetorical analysis in class today.

Pre-AP English 9
Students wrote a practice introductory paragraph today before working on a team-building exercise.

Homework: Students need to obtain their copy of Animal Farm by Friday, May 6.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students presented their parable projects in class today.

Tuesday, May 3

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

Pre-AP English 9
Students finished reading "Gone Fishin'" and "The Tell Tale Heart" today.

Homework: Students need to have Animal Farm by Thursday, May 5.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students finished their parable projects in class today.

Monday, May 2

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote a practice rhetorical analysis essay in class today.

Pre-AP English 9
Students wrote a creative writing piece in class today that helped them to review the grammatical concepts we've covered in class so far.

Homework: Students need to obtain their copy of Animal Farm, if they can, ASAP.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued working on their Parables Project in class today.

Pre-AP English 9 Current Events Blog for Week of May 2

For this week's blog post, I want you to go back and look at last week's answers.  In the directions, I stated explicitly that your answers needed to be specific, detailed, and supported by specific evidence.  Many of you half-heartedly sent in one-sentence answers with your opinion and no evidence to support them.  Let me reiterate myself, answers such as these will receive no credit.  Re-think your answer, decide if you need to amend it or not, and RE-POST YOUR ANSWERS.

I will grade your re-posted answers this week.

I know that the year is almost over, but finish strong, and do not allow yourself to be represented by sub-par work.  Once the relief of summer comes, you'll be glad that you gave it your all until the end.

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of May 2

This week, I want you to go back and look at the blog responses that you sent in last week.  Many responses were half-hearted or half-attempted at best, and since this is some of the last rhetorical analysis practice you'll get before the exam, I want you to go back and make sure you are happy with your answers before I grade them.

When you are happy with your answers REPOST THEM, and I will grade them this week.