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.

Tuesday, April 27

Please join me in thinking about and praying for those who were so devastatingly affected by the tornado five years ago.

AP Language and Composition
Students practiced on more rhetorical analysis prompts in class today.

Pre-AP English 9
Students reviewed all of their comma rules and phrase types in class today.

Homework: Students need to get Animal Farm by next week.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students began working on a group projects about the Parables in class today.

Monday, April 25

AP Language and Composition
Students took their second (and final) reading quiz on Columbine in class today.

Pre-AP English 9
Students wrote an essay on "Cask of Amontillado" in class today.

Homework: Students need to finish reading A Separate Peace by tomorrow (Tuesday, April 26.)

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students reviewed the miracles of Christ in today's class.

Pre-AP English 9 Current Events Blog for Week of April 25

This week's blog will be worth forty points to Gryffindor.

In a shocking turn of events, this week's current events blog is very short!  Read it here:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ODD_THE_DONALD_ELEMENTARY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-04-23-17-15-23

After you have read this small blurb, I want you to consider the ramifications of such an action by the school board and respond to the following questions:

1. If it is the popular vote, should the school board rename the elementary school Donald J. Trump Elementary?

2. What considerations should be made when considering whether or not to name a school after someone?


**** While the article may be short, I don't expect that your answers will be.  Each of your answers should be well-thought-out and supported by specific evidence.  I will not give a length requirement, but don't give me any puny answers!!

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of April 25

(This week's blog will be worth thirty points to Ravenclaw.)

Read the following speech from former President Abraham Lincoln:

http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres32.html

After you read, answer the following questions:

1. Describe the author, audience, occasion, and purpose for this particular piece of rhetoric.
2. Describe how Lincoln uses comparison in his speech.
3. Explain how Lincoln effectively or ineffectively uses references to God in his speech.

Friday, April 22

AP Language and Composition
Students studied satire in class today.

Homework:Students need to read chapters 13-16 and 18-19 in Columbine by Monday, April 25.

Pre-AP English 9
Students read "The Cask of Amontillado" in class today.

Homework: Students need to finish "The Cask of Amontillado" this weekend.  They also need to read chapters 10-13 in A Separate Peace by Tuesday, April 26.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued studying the miracles of Christ in today's class.

Thursday, April 21

AP Language and Composition
Students rhetorically analyzed a speech by Bill Clinton in class today that he gave in the wake of the Columbine tragedy.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 13-16 and 18-19 in Columbine by Monday, April 25.

Pre-AP English 9
Students read and analyzed "The Cask of Amontillado" in class today.

Homework:  Students need to read chapters 10-13 in A Separate Peace by Tuesday, April 26.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students studied the parables of Christ in class today.

Wednesday, April 20

AP Language and Composition
Students were treated to a guest speaker today, a psychologist who spoke on the prevalence of mental health issues among teenagers in America.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 13-16 and 18-19 in Columbine by Monday, April 25.

Pre-AP English 9
Students discussed types of phrases in class today.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 10-13 in A Separate Peace by Friday, April 22.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued their survey of the New Testament in class today.

Tuesday, April 19

AP Language and Composition
All Juniors finished taking the school-administered ACT today.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 13-16 and 18-19 in Columbine by Monday, April 25.

Pre-AP English 9
Students read "Cask of Amontillado" in class today.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 10-13 in A Separate Peace by Friday, April 22.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students discussed the modern implications of the history of the Gospels in class today.

Monday, April 18

AP Language and Composition
Students missed class today to begin taking the ACT.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 13-16 and 18-19 in Columbine by Monday, April 25.

Pre-AP English 9
After reviewing some of the grammar concepts that we studied last week, we began reading and analyzing Edgar Allan Poe's "Cask of Amontillado."

Homework: Students need to read chapters 10-13 in A Separate Peace by Friday, April 22.

Reading the Bible as Literature
We continued our survey of the New Testament in class today.

Pre-AP English 9 Current Events Blog for the Week of April 18

This week's blog is worth thirty points.

Read the following article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MANSON_FAMILY_PAROLE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Answer the following questions related to the article:

1. In what year did Leslie Van Houten participate in the murder for which she was convicted?  How old was she then?
2. Describe her behavior while she was in prison.
3. Why does Van Houten say that she bought in so easily to Manson's philosophy?
4. According to the article, why did the Manson family kill its victims?
5. Who will make the final decision as to whether or not Van Houten can be paroled?
6. Who is Louis Smaldino?  Why doesn't he want Van Houten to be released?
7. In you opinion, can people who commit such an atrocious act really change?  Should Van Houten be released into society?  Explain your answer.

AP Language and Composition Current Event Blog for Week of April 18

This week's blog is worth fifty points (to Gryffindor).

Read the following review of Susan Klebold's book:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/28/books/review/a-mothers-reckoning-by-sue-klebold.html?action=click&contentCollection=Sunday%20Book%20Review&module=RelatedCoverage&region=EndOfArticle&pgtype=article

Answer the following questions related to the review:

1. Answer the following rhetorical analysis questions about the review:

- Who is the author?
- Who is the intended audience?
- What is the stated or implied purpose of the review?
- What rhetorical strategies are most in evidence?  Give examples of each.

2. How does the author feel toward Susan Klebold?  How do you know? (Give specific evidence from the review.)

3. What evidence does the author give that Klebold is experiencing penance for her parental actions?

4. In the paragraph that begins, "It is hard to shake the prosecutorial instinct while reading this book," why does the author enlist a series of rhetorical questions?

5. What is red herring argumentation?

6. In the comments for this review, one responder claimed that Klebold's book and the subsequent discussion about mental health issues and suicide prevention were merely red herrings for the real issue at hand: gun control.  Do you agree with this idea?  Based on what you read, what is the reason that this book was written?

7. How does the reviewer characterize Susan Klebold?  Is she justified in her characterization?

Thursday, April 14

AP Language and Composition
Students took their first Columbine reading quiz in class today.  Afterwards, we had a rapid-fire review of ACT material in preparation for the administration of the test next week.

Pre-AP English 9
Students took their second A Separate Peace reading quiz before having a writing workshop in class today.

Reading the Bible as Literature
We began a survey of the New Testament in class today.

Wednesday, April 13

AP Language and Composition
Students began a multi-day discussion about the media's portrayal of those who commit acts of mass violence in today's class.

Homework: Students need to finish reading chapters 1-12 in Columbine by tomorrow (April 14).

Pre-AP English 9
In the spirit of A Separate Peace, students wrote an introspective "Rude Truth" essay in class today.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 5-9 in A Separate Peace by tomorrow (Thursday, April 14).

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students had time to catch up on assignments in today's class, including the test that they took on Monday, the Psalms Journals that they are supposed to finish, and the first New Testament packet that they received yesterday.

AP Language and Composition and Pre-AP English 9 Current Events Blog for Week of April 11

There is not a current events blog this week!

Friday, April 8

AP Language and Composition
Students took time to conference about their recent essays in class today.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-12 in Columbine by Thursday, April 14.

Pre-AP English 9
Students took their first reading test on A Separate Peace in class today.

Homework: Students need to finish their obsession journals by Monday at the beginning of class.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students watched a television rendering of the Babylonian Captivity in class today.

Thursday, April 7

AP Language and Composition
Students had a chance to rewrite one of their mock exam essays for credit in today's class.

Homework:Students need to read chapters 1-12 of Columbine by Thursday, April 14,

Pre-AP English 9
Students finished reading "A Christmas Memory" in today's class before practicing introductory paragraphs.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-4 in A Separate Peace by Friday, April 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students studied the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in today's class.

Wednesday, April 6

AP Language and Composition
We spent time analyzing multiple-choice questions and argumentative essay prompts in today's class.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-12 in Columbine by Thursday, April 14.

Pre-AP English 9
After discussing many of the themes included in A Separate Peace, we began reading a short story in class today entitled "A Christmas Memory."

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-4 in A Separate Peace by Friday, April 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students finished discussing the book of Daniel in today's class and had time to work on their Psalms Journals.

Tuesday, April 5

AP Language and Composition
Students set goals for themselves about what they need to score on each section of the AP exam before discussing the mock exam essay prompts.

Homework: Students need to read chapters 1-12 in Columbine by Thursday, April 14.

Pre-AP English 9
Students read a selection entitled "A View from a Bridge" today and used it to practice our recent discussion of the semi-colon, colon, and apostrophe rules.

Homework:  Students need to finish their A Separate Peace likert scales before class tomorrow.  They also need to read chapters 1-4 in the novel by Friday, April 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students studied the book of Daniel in today's class.

Monday, April 4

AP Language and Composition
Students received their mock exams in class today and began to analyze their answers.

Homework: Students need to obtain Columbine, by Dave Cullen, immediately.

Pre-AP English 9
We discussed punctuation in class today by discussing semi-colons, colons, and apostrophes.

Homework: Students need to read A Separate Peace, chapters 1-4, by Friday, April 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students finished discussing the major and minor prophets in class today, focusing especially on the book of Daniel.

Pre-AP English 9 Current Events Blog for the Week of April 4

Read the following article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_MINIMUM_WAGE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-04-01-10-07-57

Answer the following questions related to the article:

1. What are the current minimum wage rates in New York and California?

2. The article claims that Democrats in both states are hailing the wage hike as a “boon” to workers.  What is a boon?

3. By what year must the wage be implemented in California?

4. If the current population in American is roughly 319 million people, how many of those people live in New York and California?  Why would the author include this statistic in the article? (Think: pathos, logos, and ethos.)

5. What other economic deal did New York pass in confederation with the minimum wage hike?  Hint, they claim it will help the middle class in the state.

6. Hillary Clinton advocated for the minimum wage to be raised to what amount?

7. In your opinion, should the rest of the country follow suit and raise the minimum wage?  Why or why not?

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for the Week of April 4

This week’s blog is very different from what we typically do.  

On Monday, you will all be receiving your scores from the mock exam.  As you will see, many of us still have a lot of work to do before the actual administration of the exam.

This week, I want you to look at all of your essays and the score that you made on them.  Then, in lieu of a current events blog, I want you to write a paragraph per essay telling me what you did well in that particular essay and what you need to improve.  In order to receive credit, your comments must be specific (ex: I need to clarify the purpose of the argument, or I need to connect my examples with my assertion) and you must provide actual evidence from your essay demonstrating what you’re talking about (ex: In paragraph 2 I discussed how encouraging kindness can be, but this is not what the prompt is asking me to do).

This blog will be worth 45 points (15 per essay) and is due by the start of school (7:45 am) on WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6.

Friday, April 1

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote an argumentative essay on the death penalty in class today.

Homework: Students need to obtain their copy of Columbine as soon as possible.  We will begin this study next week.

Pre-AP English 9
Students took their Lord of the Flies test in class today.

Homework:  Students need to obtain their copy of A Separate Peace as soon as possible.  We will begin this novel next week.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued discussing the major and minor prophets in class today.