Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Wednesday, January 6

Welcome back!  I hope that everyone had a restful break and is ready to finish our year strongly!

AP Language and Composition
Students were assigned their first debate of the semester in class today.  They will be working with partners to defend the importance of certain school groups and organizations.

Homework:  Students need to finish the assigned reading of Devil in the White City by Thursday, January 14.  They also need to work on their life raft debates.

Pre-AP English 9
Students reviewed the TAP-CASTT model of poetry analysis and practiced writing a literary analysis essay.

Homework:  Students need to obtain their copies of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams as soon as possible.  Free editions of these texts can be found on the class blog.

Bible as Literature
We reviewed over last semester's Biblical concepts in class today.

Pre-AP English 9 Current Events Blog for the Week of January 11

Read the following article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GOP_2016_HEROIN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-05-16-26-29

Answer the following questions related to the article:

1. Who are the two main candidates featured in this article, both of whom have personal experiences with drug addiction?

2. To whom is Jeb Bush speaking in this article?

3. In your own words, explain Bush's exhortation.

4. What does John Kasich claim changed his view on drug addiction?  How about Chris Christie?

5. Do you think it is correct to politicize the issue of drug addiction?  Is that what these candidates are doing?

6. What are you opinions on addiction of any kind?  Is any kind of addiction a weakness or a "moral failing"?  Explain.

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of January 11

Read the following article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_RANCHING_STANDOFF_BUNDYS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-01-05-16-51-24

Answer the following questions related to the article:

1. Who are Dwight and Steve Hammond?  Why are they at the center of this controversy?
2. How and why did Clive Bundy land himself in the media spotlight two years ago?
3. What reasoning is Ammon Bundy to justify his actions in Oregon?
4. How to the local landowners feel about Bundy's actions?
5. What does the LDS church officially say regarding this matter?  Should they have put forth an opinion?  Why or why not?
6. Stewart Rhodes, founder of another militia group, is quoted as saying, "We cannot force ourselves or our protection on people who do not want it."  Do you agree with this?  If you have strong moral conviction about a certain issue, does that mean you should try to force others to accept what you deem as help?

Monday, January 4, 2016

Free Digital Texts

Below, there are links to free digital editions of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.  We will be using these texts in my Pre-AP English 9 class in the very near future.

Click here for Romeo and Juliet

Click here for The Glass Menagerie

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Tuesday, December 15

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote an outline for a synthesis essay in class today.

Pre-AP English 9
Students analyzed their "A Rose for Emily" essays in class today.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students finished presenting their archetype research in class today.

Monday, December 14, 2015

Monday, December 14

AP Language and Composition
After taking their Devil in the White City tests, we began analyzing another synthesis essay.

Pre-AP English 9
We continued our study of Western poetry in class today.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued presenting their archetype research findings in class today.

Friday, December 11, 2015

Friday, December 11

AP Language and Composition
Students wrote a "rude truth" essay in today's class.

Homework: Students need to read the assigned chapters of Devil in the White City by Monday, December 14.

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

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students presented their archetype research today.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Thursday, December 10

AP Language and Composition
Students worked on creating their own synthesis essay prompts in class today.

Homework: Students need to finish reading the assigned chapters of Devil in the White City by Monday, December 14.

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

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

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Wednesday, December 9

AP Language and Composition
Students examined prompts and sample essays in today's class.

Homework: Students need to read the assigned chapters of Devil in the White City by Monday, December 14.

Pre-AP English 9
Students finished presenting their family folklore projects in class today.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students had time to finish their Leviticus, Exodus, and Numbers test in class today.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Tuesday, December 8

AP Language and Composition
Students had the opportunity for one-on-one conferencing about their essays in class today.

Homework:  Students need to read the assigned chapters in Devil in the White City by Monday, December 14.

Pre-AP English 9
Students presented their family folklore videos in class today.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued studying the modern usages of the "Journey to the Promised Land" archetype in class today.

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Wednesday, December 2

AP Language and Composition
Students were introduced to the synthesis essay in class today.

Homework: Students should begin their reading for Devil in the White City.  The reading should be completed by Monday, December 14.

Pre-AP English 9
Students began studying poetry in today's class.

Homework:Students need to continue working on their family folklore videos.  They are due on Tuesday, December 8.

Here is a sample video to help you get started: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSU6jjZYIvo&feature=youtube_gdata&safe=active

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students began studying the books of Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy in class today, completing our study of the Pentateuch.

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Tuesday, December 1

AP Language and Composition
Students continued to analyze sample essays from the 2009 AP exam administration.

Homework: Students should begin reading Erik Larson's Devil in the White City.

Pre-AP English 9
Students wrote their "A Rose for Emily" essay in class today.

Homework:  Students should be working on their family folklore videos.  They are due on Tuesday, December 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students studied the modern implications of the Ark of the Covenant in class today.

Monday, November 30, 2015

Monday, November 30

AP Language and Composition
Students analyzed sample essays in class today, trying to compare them to their own essays to see what they should emulate.

Pre-AP English 9
We crafted essay outlines in class today regarding William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily."

Homework:  Students should finish their essay outlines tonight and bring them with them to class tomorrow.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students began studying outside sources to find modern allusions to the "Journey to the Promised Land" archetype.

Homework:  Students need to finish their research and be prepared to present on Wednesday.

Thursday, November 19, 2015

Thursday, November 19

AP Language and Composition
In today's class, we studied "A Country Doctor" by Franz Kafka and discussed how we can use these texts in our essays.

Homework:  Students need to study for their perissology quiz, which will be given tomorrow.  They also need to buy their copy of Devil in the White City by Erik Larson as soon as possible.  We will begin reading it after Thanksgiving.

Pre-AP English 9
We finished To Kill a Mockingbird in class today.

Homework:  Students should be planning and making their family folklore videos.  They are due on December 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
We continued studying the genesis of the Israelite nation in class today.

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Wednesday, November 18

AP Language and Composition
Students read Kafka's short piece, "Unhappiness," in class today and discussed how they could use his work when they write their argumentative essays.

Homework:  Students need to obtain their copy of Erik Larson's Devil in the White City as soon as they can.  We will begin the true crime piece after Thanksgiving.

Pre-AP English 9
Students analyzed Bruegel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus in class today and used the painting to inform an analysis of William Carlos Williams' "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus."

Homework: Students should be working on their family folklore videos, which are due on December 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued studying the Jewish ecclesiastical law in class today, particularly focusing on the Tabernacle.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Tuesday, November 17

AP Language and Composition
After reviewing the prompt and outline that the students wrote yesterday, we reviewed a new prompt and students began writing the outline for it in class.

Homework:  Students need to finish the outline that they began in class.  They also need to study for their perissology quiz, which will be given on Friday, November 20.

Additionally, students should go ahead and procure their copies of Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.  We will begin this piece after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Pre-AP English 9
Students watched a part of the cinematic version of To Kill a Mockingbird in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish revising their prejudice essays.  They are due to Mrs. Kalb today by 5:00 pm.  Students should also be working on their family folklore videos, which are due on December 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued discussing the Israelite's journey to the Promised Land in class today, focusing primarily on the set up and construction of the Tabernacle.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Monday, November 16

AP Language and Composition
Students took their Metamorphosis test in class today and began writing an argumentative essay outline.

Homework: Students need to finish their essay outlines.

Pre-AP English 9
Students took their To Kill a Mockingbird unit test in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish revising their TKAM essays, which are due tomorrow.  They also need to begin work on their family folklore videos, which are due on December 8.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students studied some complex topics out of the book of Exodus today, including the giving of the law and the set up of the Jewish Tabernacle.

Friday, November 13, 2015

Friday, November 13

Good luck to the football team tonight as they play in the second round of the playoffs!

AP Language and Composition
Students continued practicing with argumentative outlines in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading The Metamorphosis by Monday, November 16.

Pre-AP English 9
Students had the chance to peer-edit and have a teacher-conference about their essays in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish revising their essays.  They are due on Tuesday, November 17.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued studying the formation of the nation of Israel in class today.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Monday, November 9

AP Language and Composition
Students need to finish reading The Metamorphosis by Monday, November 16.

You can download a free copy of the text by clicking here.

Pre-AP English 9
Students learned about active/passive voice in class today before reading William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily."

Homework:  Students need to be sure to finish their current events blog and obsession journal for the week.

If students need extra practice with active and passive voice, click here.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued studying the life of Moses and the formation of the nation of Israel in class today.

Friday, November 6, 2015

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of November 9

Read the following opinion article:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2015/11/05/kids-technology-addiction/

Answer the following questions related to the article:

1. Why does the author begin the article by describing his own use of portable technology?
2. Describe how the narrator's son became "addicted" to the iPad.
3. Describe how the narrator discovered that the son's use of technology was a problem.
4. Who is Mr. Vernon?  (hint: he is a character from an 80s movie.)  What is it called when an author makes a reference to another work?  (hint: the term starts with an "a")
5. Why would the narrator reference Mr. Vernon?
6. Is the narrator appealing to pathos, logos, or ethos when the he says," As a parent, I know I'm not perfect.  I know we're all just trying to do our best, but it broke my heart to see my young son so preoccupied with technology that he couldn't enjoy life around him."  EXPLAIN YOUR ANSWER.
7. What is the narrator's claim about a parent's responsibility when it comes to children and technology?
8. As a teenager, how involved do you believe that YOUR parents should be with YOUR use of technology?

Pre-AP English 9 Current Events Blog for Week of November 9-13

Read the following news article:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EGYPT_RUSSIAN_PLANE_CRASH?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-11-06-10-40-47

Answer the following questions related to the article:

1. What happened to the Russian airliner that caused this situation in the first place?
2. What decision did Russia's government make that has caused outrage among tourists in Egypt?
3. Why is Egypt decrying Russia's actions?
4. Since Russia made the decision to take this action, does that mean the country believes that the plane crash was an act of terrorism?
5. Why is there wreckage from the plane in Moscow?
6. Why is Magdy Salim talking about a donkey being in the Cairo airport?
7. What organization is claiming responsibility for the plane crash?
8. What has France done response to the crash?
9. According to the article, Britain and the United States have been pressuring Russia to label the crash as a terrorist act.  Should these countries interfere with the situation, since the majority of the plane's occupants were Russian?

Friday, November 6

AP Language and Composition
Students worked on the outline of their next essay in class today.

Homework:  Students need to read The Metamorphosis by Monday, November 16.

Pre-AP English 9
Students worked on the introductory paragraph and body outline of their prejudice essays in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish their prejudice essays by Monday, November 9.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued studying the life of Moses and the genesis of the Jewish nation in class today.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Thursday, November 5

AP Language and Composition
Students continued discussing adversity in class today in preparation for writing about adversity.

Homework:  Students need to read The Metamorphosis by Monday, November 16.

Pre-AP English 9
Students continued to discuss prejudice in To Kill a Mockingbird in class today, and they practiced further with the correct use of subject-verb agreement.

Homework:  Students need to finish their reading assignment in TKaM before class begins tomorrow.  They also need to be working on their prejudice essays, which are due on Monday, November 9.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students took a test on Exodus 1-12 in class today.

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Wednesday, November 4

AP Language and Composition
Students debated the practicality and ethics of educating prisoners in class today.

Homework:  Students need to read The Metamorphosis by Friday, November 13.

Pre-AP English 9
Students discussed the trial of Tom Robinson in class today before finishing the lesson on subject-verb agreement.

Homework: Students need to finish their TKAM reading before class begins tomorrow.  They should also be working on their theme essays, which are due on Monday, November 9.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students began to look at different perspectives and characterizations of Moses in class today.

Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Tuesday, November 3

AP Language and Composition
Students continued working on the structure and organization of their body paragraphs in class today.

Homework:  Students need to read Kafka's Metamorphosis by Friday, November 13.

Pre-AP English 9
Students took time in class today to peer-edit their annotated bibliographies before continuing their lesson on subject-verb agreement.

Homework:  Students need to revise their annotated bibliographies tonight and have them ready to turn back in tomorrow.  They also need to finish their reading assignment in To Kill a Mockingbird before class begins on Wednesday.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued studying the exodus of the Jewish people in class today.

Monday, November 2, 2015

Monday, November 2

AP Language and Composition
Students worked on the structure of their argumentative body paragraphs in class today.

Homework:  Students need to read The Metamorphosis by Friday, November 13.

Students can access a free copy of the text by clicking here.

Pre-AP English 9
Students learned about subject-verb agreement in class today.

Homework:  Students need to complete their reading assignment for To Kill a Mockingbird before class begins tomorrow.  They also need to be working on their prejudice essays, which are due on Monday, November 9.

Reading the Bible as Literature
Students continued studying the life of Moses and the plagues of Egypt in class today.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

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

Read the following article:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2015/11/01/michigan-high-school-cash-for-grades/75003438/

Answer the following questions about the article:

1. How much will Brandon Allen for his senior year if his grades substantially improve?
2. How can students who need no grade improvement still earn their money?
3. How have the school's academics changed since the program was introduced?
4. Who is Michele Harmala?
5. What standard must students meet in order to receive the stimulus money?
6. Is it fair for teachers to have to sign on as mentors for this program?
7. Lou Przybylski claims that some people may believe that the program is a form of bribery for the students.  Do you agree that this is what the program is?  Why or why not?

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

No current events blog this week!!  Work on your essays!