DAY 01 - CYCLE 05 - SEMESTER 01: 09-29-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

There were no handouts today

IN CLASS TODAY:

We talked briefly about the introduction to Antigone and the stories about Oedipus and his family on which it is based. 

We continued to watch the film and take notes on our study guides.

CLASS NOTES: There were no notes taken in class, except for those which you were to write down on your study guide.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:

You are to re-read the introduction to Antigone in your Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays book. You will find it on pages 35-53.  You are to take notes on the introduction.  You are looking for key issues that the play investigates, and specific ideas about the principal characters.

DAY 05 - CYCLE 04 - SEMESTER 01: 09-29-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

There were no handouts today

IN CLASS TODAY:

I checked your homework.

We identified the central conflicts in the movie thus far, and made predictions about how/if they'll be resolved.

We continued to watch the film and take notes on our study guides.

CLASS NOTES: There were no notes taken in class, except for those which you were to write down on your study guide.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:

You are to read the introduction to Antigone in your Sophocles: The Three Theban Plays book. You will find it on pages 35-53.  You may or may not be quizzed on this material.

DAY 04 - CYCLE 04 - SEMESTER 01: 09-28-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

You received the "Whale Rider" Study Guide

IN CLASS TODAY:

Today, you turned in your 12-sentence paragraph on "New African."  At the top of your paragraph, you were to say on which skill you want to be graded for mastery, and which two should be considered developing.  I had you do a final edit for MLA format, use of literary present tense, and avoidance of second person voice (i.e. no use of the word "you").

We then began viewing "Whale Rider."

CLASS NOTES: There were no notes taken in class, except for those which you were to write down on your study guide.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
Tonight, you are to write a journal entry in which you answer the following questions to the best of your ability.  The first question may be done in bullet point

• Identify ALL of the specific conflicts established in the movie so far (to help you identify them, consider the following common types of conflict: human against human, human against nature, human against society, human against self.  Your examples should be more specific than that.)
• DEFEND the following proposition, even if you disagree with it, using examples from your own experience and/or knowledge: The needs of the community must always supercede the needs of the individual because... 

DAY 02 - CYCLE 04 - SEMESTER 01: 09-23-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

You were given the assignment to write on the short story "New African"

IN CLASS TODAY:

Today, we spoke about the Civil Rights movement, the nature of what equal rights really means, and the key ingredients to developing values & self-determination.

Though we did not get this far, the question I wanted to get to was this: "Why doesn't Sarah join the New African church community?"

Your assignment will be to come up with your own interpretive question AND answer it in a 12-sentence paragraph.  Your paragraph will be due Monday.

CLASS NOTES:
Click here for a copy of today's notes.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:

1. Prepare to take advantage of the work day being provided to you tomorrow in room 4110.
   

DAY 04 - CYCLE 03 - SEMESTER 01: 09-18-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

There were no handouts for today.

IN CLASS TODAY:

Today, we defined what excellent effort is.

You graded your effort on the ten sentences of the paragraph that you've written so far.

I asked you to self-identify your strenths in regard to the three sets of skills we have been working on: thesis writing and sub-claims, finding and integrating sentences, and crafting commentary sentences.

Based on the self-selection of your strengths, you then edits several other papers written by your peers, evaluating that particular skill. Effort was NOT part of your consideration.

I had you assess yourself on a graph which you can find in today's notes. Please look those over.

CLASS NOTES:
Click here for a copy of today's notes.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:

1. Type up your paragraph, editing accordingly based on the feedback you were given today.  I will ask you to hand in BOTH the draft from today and your finished product on Wednesday.
2. Also, I asked you to read "New African" for next Wednesday.  This is a longer story, so don't put it off.  Break it up over time, and annotate like crazy!
   

DAY 03 - CYCLE 02 - SEMESTER 01: 09-16-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

Writing Commentary Sentences Worksheet


IN CLASS TODAY:

Today, you worked with a partner to assess how effectively you included your evidence to substantiate your claims.

We then worked on a worksheet whereby you wrote commentary sentences that explained how evidence demonstrated a claim AND transitioned into the new claim. You got the idea, but struggled with getting the phrasing right.  Look at the example to the right to see how minor tweaking can lead to big improvements.

CLASS NOTES:
There are no class notes for today.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:

1. Type up everything you have so far, and add commentary sentences to your paragraph.  Look to the worksheet from class for practice if you need it.  Bring the ten sentences you have, in as polished a form as you can possibly get them, with you on Friday.  I will anticipate that what you bring with you on Friday demonstrates the very best of what you have to offer.
2. Also, I asked you to read "New African" for next Wednesday.  This is a longer story, so don't put it off.  Break it up over time, and annotate like crazy!
   

DAY 02 - CYCLE 03 - SEMESTER 01: 09-15-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

How to integrate quotations


IN CLASS TODAY:

Today, you took your first vocabulary quiz of the year.

We reviewed a handout demonstrating several ways of integrating quotations.  We noted that when ANY quote is given, the paper MUST identify the following: the speaker, what the speaker is talking about (if the quote does not make it clear), and how the speaker says it.

We talked about three different ways of introducing quotes:

• Dab - A brief introduction to a long quote
• Dollop - A longer discussion of a briefer quote
• Lotsa Sauce - A lengthy discussion of a short phrase or word
  

We started to make sample introductions for a particular argument and quote.

CLASS NOTES:
There notes today are so short as to be not particularly helpful. If I get a chance to add to them, I shall, and will link to them here.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
You now have a thesis, three sub-claims, and three pieces of evidence.  You are to connect those sub-claims to your chosen evidence.  You should introduce one of your pieces of evidence with a "dab," another with a "dollop," and another with "lotsa sauce."  In other words, you will have every part of a 12 sentence paragraph except for the first and last sentences, and the commentary sentences, which we will talk about tomorrow.

DAY 01 - CYCLE 03 - SEMESTER 01: 09-14-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

Assessing claims and sub-claims


IN CLASS TODAY:

THE FIRST VOCABULARY QUIZ WILL BE TOMORROW, SEPTEMBER 15th.

Today, you discussed your thesis statements (aka claims) and the sub-claims for "Zoo Island."

You noted that coming up with an independent idea about the story was difficult, and that figuring out the architecture of your argument was difficult.

You looked at a so-so sample and we discussed that.

CLASS NOTES:
There were no notes for today's class

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:

1. Correct/Improve your THESIS STATEMENT and THREE SUBCLAIMS on any aspect of "Zoo Island." If your original was awful, start from the beginning.  Still having problems? Create an interpretive questions and answer it.  Some questions to get you started: Is Don Simon a good citizen of his community?   Is "Zoo Island" a well-suited name for their community?  You'll notice that these questions require a "yes" or "no" answer, but the must also be defended.
2. Find and write down the evidence for each of your sub-claims.
3. Study for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz.
   

DAY 05 - CYCLE 02 - SEMESTER 01: 09-11-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

Class Participation Self-Assessment

IN CLASS TODAY:

We continued with the last five words of vocabulary unit 1: reconnaissance, substantiate, taciturn, temporize, and tenable.  THE FIRST VOCABULARY QUIZ WILL BE ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th.

Today, you discussed "Zoo Island."  Some of you were designated as question askers.  The rest could comment as they saw fit.  You kept the conversation humming along, for the most part. 

While you touched on many of the story's major themes, there are two significant areas on which we will need to work:

1. CLOSE READING.  Often, when one of you would make reference to the text, you would hedge by saying things like, "Well, I can't remember exactly where it is, but..." or would make vague reference to the book without actually looking for evidence.  Similarly, even when ideas were being refuted, no one brought up evidence that contradicted the claim being considered.
2. FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONING. Questioners remained largely silent during discussion, but the role of questioner is absolutely critical in getting a conversation to go deeper into the text, and to build a larger understanding.  An excellent question which should be asked in every discussion is "How do you know?"  Questioners also draw together themes from the conversation: e.g. If A is true and B is true, then doesn't this imply C?  Instead, questioners clearly saw their role as solely to keep the conversation moving if it stalled.  You can bet we will be talking about this role in specific terms, since it is one everyone must practice.
   

CLASS NOTES:
Click here for a copy of today's class notes.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
Write a THESIS STATEMENT and THREE SUBCLAIMS on any aspect of "Zoo Island." Your choice as to topic.  Remember the five elements of a good thesis statement: refer to your handout from 09-10-09.

DAY 04 - CYCLE 02 - SEMESTER 01: 09-10-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

What makes a good claim?

IN CLASS TODAY:

We continued with vocabulary, continuing with the next five words of unit 1: germane, insatiable, intransigent, invidious, and largesse.

We discussed the issues you had with your journal entries.  What worked well? What did not?

We discussed the handout, "What makes a good claim?"

After discussion, you had the opportunity to write edits onto your journals before turning them in. 

We began reading "Zoo Island" in class.
CLASS NOTES:
There were no official notes for today, though you should study the handout and make additions to it.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
Finish reading the story "Zoo Island" in Junior Great Books for tomorrow.  You should bring a written, interpretive question with you.  We will begin with the question, "How does the census affect the residents?"

DAY 03 - CYCLE 02 - SEMESTER 01: 09-08-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

Sample journal on "Miriam."

IN CLASS TODAY:

I returned journals and quizzes from the Count of Monte Cristo unit.  The lowest reading quiz score each quarter will be dropped.

We reviewed a sample journal entry on "Miriam." This is a model for you to use on all subsequent journal entries.

We spoke about the journal entries thus far and about the 12-sentence paragraph in general--what are you comfortable doing and what poses problems?

We discussed if Miriam is a flat or round character, and if she is a dynamic or static character, and we generated a list of dominant character traits for both Mrs. Miller and Miriam.

CLASS NOTES:
Click here for a copy of today's class notes.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
Write a journal on the following prompt: Why does Miriam break the vase and why does Mrs. Miller allow the moment to pass without a word?  You should use your understanding of both Miriam and Mrs. Miller's dominant traits to inform your answer, and the sample journal entry provided to you as a model for how in depth your final product should be.

DAY 02 - CYCLE 02 - SEMESTER 01: 09-04-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

Literary Terms
"Miriam" and Characterization
"Miriam" Discussion Questions

IN CLASS TODAY:

We continued with vicabulary, continuing with the next five words of unit 1: coherent, congeal, emulate. encomium, and eschew.

We spent five minutes figuring out what the totem pole might signify in "The Village Watchman."

We looked at the introduction to Junior Great Books.

We discussed Miriam, using your questions.  We counted off, with students whose chosen numbers were multiples of five being discussion leaders, which meant that they had to keep discussion going, and could only ask questions, not answer them.

We briefly looked at the literary terms sheet and the "Miriam" and Characterization worksheet.

CLASS NOTES:
Click here for a copy of today's class notes.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
Complete the "Miriam" and Characterization worksheet.

DAY 01 - CYCLE 02 - SEMESTER 01: 09-03-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

Assessing Discussion
Annotating Literature
Generating Discussion Questions

IN CLASS TODAY:

We began our work with vocabulary, studying the first five words of unit 1: acquisitive, arrogate, banal, belabor and carping.

We had a discussion on "The Village Watchman" wherein each of you had a proscribed role to play.  See "Assessing Discussion" for those roles.

We spoke about the importance of having good questions to discuss.

CLASS NOTES:
Today's notes were taken by hand.  Click below for scanned images.
Notetaker #1
Notetaker #2
Notetaker #3
Notetaker #4

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
In your Junior Great Books, read "Miriam," which is the first story, and write TWO interpretive questions for the story and email them to me by 10:00 PM tonight. Use a vocabulary word from today in one of your questions. Use the interpretive questionshandout from today to guide your efforts. My email is szarwell@usmk12.org. 

Tomorrow, we will talk about the symbolism of the totem pole for the first few minutes, since we didn't get to it today. We'll also talk more about discussion/note-taking in general.

Generating Discussion Questions

DAY 05 - CYCLE 01 - SEMESTER 01: 09-02-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:

"The Village Watchman"

IN CLASS TODAY:

You wrote an impromptu on The Count of Monte Cristo in room 4112. This is your first essay of the year. As mentioned in yesterday's blog post, this essay will be graded on the following criteria, which will be familiar to you from your experience as a freshman student of English:

• MAIN IDEA/ARGUMENT: To what degree does the author take a clear, arguable stand on the topic and develop the idea in a logical way?
• SUPPORTING EVIDENCE: To what degree does the author provide, cite and explain evidence to support his/her assertions?
• STYLE & GRAMMAR: To what extent does the author demonstrate mastery of written conventions, including punctuation and grammar, and provide for a fluid, engaging reading experience?

CLASS NOTES:
There are no class notes for today's class.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
Read "The Village Watchman" (see handout above) and come prepared to speak on the discussion questions. We will be doing an in-class small group discussion/observation activity, so be prepared to speak in front of your peers. Since the questions are provided to you, there is no reason for you to be caught off-guard.

DAY 04 - CYCLE 01 - SEMESTER 01: 09-01-09

HANDOUTS FROM TODAY:
Journal #3: Crime and Punishment

IN CLASS TODAY:
We took a quotation quiz on Count of Monte Cristo.

We had a discussion on fairness in the novel, using the handout linked to above. This handout will also be the basis for tonight's homework.

CLASS NOTES:
Click here for a copy of today's notes.

HOMEWORK FOR NEXT CLASS:
Complete journal assignment #3 on fairness in The Count of Monte Cristo. Your journal should be typewritten. It may be single-spaced. Your answer to the prompt must contain no fewer than six sentences and two specific references to the text. A superior product will offer more than that. Effective work on this assignment will prepare you well for tomorrow's impromptu essay, so it is worth your while to give this your best shot!

On your impromptu tomorrow, you will be given a topic on which to write a short essay. The topic will be thematically related to today's discussion and tonight's homework. Your essay will be graded on three criteria, which will be familiar to you from your experience as a freshman student of English:

• MAIN IDEA/ARGUMENT: To what degree does the author take a clear, arguable stand on the topic and develop the idea in a logical way?
• SUPPORTING EVIDENCE: To what degree does the author provide, cite and explain evidence to support his/her assertions?
• STYLE & GRAMMAR: To what extent does the author demonstrate mastery of written conventions, including punctuation and grammar, and provide for a fluid, engaging reading experience?