Week of November 25

This will be the only blog post of the week!  Happy Thanksgiving!

Anne Riley, author of Shadows of the Hidden, came and spoke to all of my classes today.  Many of these students won a free, signed copy of her book, so check with your student to see if he / she was a lucky winner!

If you would like to keep up with Anne or read more about her, you can visit her blog at http://annerileybooks.com/


THERE IS NOT A CURRENT EVENTS BLOG FOR THIS WEEK!

Advanced English 9- study for your Odyssey test that will be given TOMORROW!

Friday, November 22

ALL CLASSES:  Don't forget!  Anne Riley, author or Shadows of the Hidden, will be visiting to speak with us on Monday, November 25.  If you would like to buy a copy of her book so that she can sign it for you, please bring $10 with you to class (in cash if possible).  If you have any questions, please email me at jlray@tcss.net


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

Homework:  Also don't forget that the AP Lang classes will be taking a field trip to see Catching Fire on Tuesday, November 26.  Bring extra money for snacks (only if you want more than is already provided) and a fast-food lunch.

Pre-AP English 9
After taking their word of the day quiz, we continued discussing the Greek Pantheon in today's class.

Homework:  Students need to bring their copy of The Odyssey to class with them starting Monday, December 2.

Advanced English 9
After taking their word of the day quiz, we reviewed for The Odyssey exam (which will be given on Tuesday) and began reading Romeo and Juliet.

Homework:  Students need to study for The Odyssey exam, which will be given on Tuesday.  It will cover the entire poem, the Greek Pantheon, the epic story arc, verb mood, and parts of speech.

Thursday, November 21

AP Language and Composition
We continued studying visual rhetoric in today's class.

Homework:  Students need to study for the Word of the Day quiz that will be given tomorrow.

Pre-AP English 9
We began discussing the Greek Pantheon in today's class in preparation for our reading of The Odyssey.

Homework:  Students need to study for the Word of the Day quiz that will be given tomorrow.

Advanced English 9
We began discussing Shakespeare and the evolution of the English language in today's class.  For a copy of the PowerPoint notes (and the link to the Prologue of the Canterbury Tales, which students can memorize for extra credit) click here.

Homework:  Students need to study for the Word of the Day quiz that will be given tomorrow.

Wednesday, November 20

AP Language and Composition
We began our discussion of visual rhetoric in class today.

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

Pre-AP English 9
We finished our research presentations in class today.

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

Advanced English 9
We finished our discussion of The Odyssey in class today.  We also reviewed parts of speech.

Homework:  Students need to study for their Word of the Day quiz that will be given on Friday.  The Odyssey test is postponed until Tuesday, November 26.

Monday, November 18

AP Language and Composition
Students had time in class today to finish and revise the essay that they wrote on Friday.

Homework: Students need to study for the Word of the Day quiz, which will be given on Friday, November 22.

Pre-AP English 9
Students began presenting the second part of their research project in class today.

Homework: Students need to study for the Word of the Day quiz, which will be given on Friday, November 22.

Advanced English 9
After taking the Fablehaven quiz, we continued reading The Odyssey in class today.

Homework: Students need to study for the Word of the Day quiz, which will be given on Friday, November 22.

Ninth Grade Currevent Events Blog for Week of November 18

For this week's blog, GO BACK TO LAST WEEK'S BLOG POSTING and look over the comments made my your peers.  Choose one of their comments that you would like to comment on and defend, challenge, or qualify their opinion.  Remember to exercise proper classroom etiquette.

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of November 18

For this week's blog, GO BACK TO LAST WEEK'S BLOG POSTING and look over the comments made my your peers.  Choose one of their comments that you would like to comment on and defend, challenge, or qualify their opinion.  Remember to exercise proper classroom etiquette.

Thursday, November 14

AP Language and Composition
Students received numerous grades back in today's class.  We also analyzed the last essay we wrote and multiple choice test we took.

Pre-AP English 9
In today's class, we began to discuss fairy tales and folklore and the archetypal situations and characters we see in both these genres.

Homework:  Students need to finish part II of their projects by Monday, November 18.

Advanced English 9
We continued our study of The Odyssey in class today.

Homework: Students need to finish reading Fablehaven by Monday, November 18.

Wednesday, November 13

AP Language and Composition
The students took a practice AP Multiple Choice Quiz in class today.

Pre-AP English 9
We finished our survey of western poetry in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish the second part of their research project.  It is due on Monday, November 18.

Advanced English 9
We continued reading The Odyssey in class today.

Homework:  Students need to finish reading Fablehaven by Monday, November 18.

Tuesday, November 12

AP Language and Composition
After taking their word of the day quiz, students took a practice AP Multiple Choice exam in class today.

Pre-AP English 9
After taking their word of the day quiz, we continued our survey of western poetry in class today.

Homework:  Students need to bring their copy of The Odyssey to class with them each day.  Also, the second part of the family folklore research project is due on Monday, November 18.

Advanced English 9
After taking their word of the day quiz, we continued reading The Odyssey in today's class.

Homework: Students need to bring their copy of The Odyssey to class with them each day.  Also,students need to finish reading Fablehaven by Monday, November 18.

Ninth Grade Current Events Blog for Week of November 11

Watch the news story that can be found at the following website:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2013/11/11/college_students_on_probation_pulling_gun_to_defend_against_intruder_.html

MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS CLOSELY.  FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN NO CREDIT FOR YOUR POST.  (ALSO NOTE, YOUR RESPONSE TO THIS STORY MUST BE POSTED OR TURNED IN NO LATER THAN 3:30 ON FRIDAY.)

When making an argument, you can choose one of three options in stating your opinion.  You can either defend your opponent's argument (agree with them), challenge your opponent's argument (disagree with them), or qualify your opponent's argument (agree and disagree to an extent).

After watching this news story, I want you to qualify the university's actions and the students' actions. In other words, explain not only the situation, but also explain how both parties in the situation could be correct.  THEN, defend or challenge either the university's or the students' opinion with an opinion of your own.

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

Read through the following article.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10440709/Philadelphia-police-probe-Instagram-account-identifying-witness-rats.html

Discuss the ethics involved in this issue.  Do individuals have the right to post this kind of page on a public social networking site?  Should Instagram be held responsible for the consequences that are wrought from the account's posting?  (Please do NOT discuss whether or not it is right for the owner of this account to post what he/she did.  That is a moot point.)

Make sure to bring in other relevant current events or real-life issues that would enhance your discussion.  Be prepared for your post to be read and responded to by your classmates.

PLEASE NOTE:  Your comment is due by FRIDAY, November 15 at 3:30.

Friday, November 8

Pre-AP English 9
Homework:  Students need to study for their Word of the Day quiz which will be given on Tuesday, November 12.  They also need to have their copy of The Odyssey by Tuesday as well.

Advanced English 9
Homework:  Students need to study for their Word of the Day quiz which will be given on Tuesday, November 12.  They also need to have Fablehaven read by Monday, November 18.

Thursday, November 7

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

Homework:  The Word of the Day quiz has been moved to Tuesday, November 12.  Students should take the extra time to study the words carefully and thoroughly.

Pre-AP English 9
We reviewed bibliographies, analysis, and citation in today's class.

Homework: The Word of the Day quiz has been moved to Tuesday, November 12.  Students should take the extra time to study the words carefully and thoroughly.  Students also need to revise their bibliographies and turn them back in tomorrow (Friday, November 8).  Students also need to have their copy of The Odyssey by Tuesday, November 12.

Advanced English 9
We continued our lesson on visual analysis in class today before continuing The Odyssey.

Homework: The Word of the Day quiz has been moved to Tuesday, November 12.  Students should take the extra time to study the words carefully and thoroughly.  Students also need to be reading Fablehaven, which must be read by Monday, November 18.

Wednesday, November 6

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

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

Pre-AP English 9
Students finished presenting their research presentations in class today.

Homework:  Students need to study for their word of the day quiz, which will be given on Friday.  They also need to have their copies of The Odyssey by Friday.

Advanced English 9
We began making our way through the action of The Odyssey in class today.

Homework:  Students need to study for their word of the day quiz, which will be given on Friday. They also need to read Fablehaven by Monday, November 18.

Tuesday, November 5

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

Pre-AP English 9
We began class today by discussing verb mood, tense, and voice.  We specifically focused on verb mood.  If your child needs extra practice with identifying and using verb mood, you can find that by clicking here.  After this, we continued our research presentations.

Homework:  Students need to obtain their copy of The Odyssey and have it with them in class by Friday, November 8.  They also need to study their words of the day.

Advanced English 9
In today's class, we began by discussing verb mood, tense, and voice.  We specifically focused on verb mood.  If your child needs extra practice with identifying and using verb mood, you can find that by clicking here. Afterwards, we began studying our way through The Odyssey.

Homework:  Students need to study their words of the day.  They also need to read Fablehaven by Monday, November 18.

Monday, November 4

AP Language and Composition
Today, we finished reading selections from George Orwell's "Politics and the English Language" before moving on to his essay entitled "Shooting an Elephant."  We analyzed the essay for Orwell's use of vivid imagery and precise diction.

Homework:  Classes that did not finish the essay need to finish reading it (you can access it by clicking here) and finish your image analysis.  Afterwards, answer the following questions: 1. Explain Orwell's purpose in writing this piece.  2. Explain how his use of vivid imagery helps him to achieve this purpose.

Pre-AP English 9
Students began presenting their research findings in today's class.

Advanced English 9
After taking the Dirt Road Home quiz, we finished discussing the Greek Pantheon before moving into our reading of The Odyssey.

Homework:  Students need to read Fablehaven by Monday, November 18.

Ninth Grade Current Events Blog for Week of November 4

This week's current events blog is going to be a little different.

Everyone's comment about the school safety issue has been made public, and we are going to have a little online debate.  Skim through your classmates' articles and find someone whose opinion differs from your own.  Using the concession-counterargument method, comment on your classmates' comment (just one) and show that you understand his/her comment and explain how your opinion differs. If you can't find a classmate whose opinion differs from your own, then play the devil's advocate and PRETEND to disagree with him/her.

Classroom debate etiquette still applies.  YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS EXACTLY IN ORDER TO GET FULL CREDIT.

AP Language and Composition Current Events Blog for Week of November 4

This week's current events blog is going to be a little different.

Everyone's comment about global warming and the government's response to it has been made public, and we are going to have a little online debate.  Skim through your classmates' articles and find someone whose opinion differs from your own.  Using the concession-counterargument method, comment on your classmates' comment (just one) and show that you understand his/her comment and explain how your opinion differs.

Classroom debate etiquette still applies.  YOU MUST FOLLOW THESE DIRECTIONS EXACTLY IN ORDER TO GET FULL CREDIT.

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.