river oaks [english]

Contrary to what some have said in class, you can study for this midterm. First, you have a list of vocabulary terms (30 total): I will choose 20 for the exam. The argumentative essay will require you to utilize skills developed in class -- including appeals to ethos, logos and pathos and the use of specifics to support a clear thesis. True, the remainder of the exam will require a good deal of reasoning (vs. memorized information), but there are resources available for you to practice the skills necessary to perform well: AP Central has a downloadable PDF with sample questions and prompts ACT also has an interactive question bank for the Reading section If you spend time reviewing all of this information, then it should help you do well on the exam. Remember that I will curve the multiple choice section based on the class average. The total possible for the multiple choice is 60 points, and I'll curve from the average. The essay is scored 1-9, and I will multiply the score

As we begin the study of Macbeth , I thought it might be useful to include a list of resources. In addition to the following links, some students have found a side-by-side translation useful. Even better, buy a version of the play with annotations. Although your textbook does include marginal notes, they are not as extensive as they could be. I like the The Annotated Shakespeare series, which includes an introduction and annotations by Burton Raffel and an essay by Harold Bloom. You can find the book locally at Windows. The following sites are related to Macbeth in particular: Internet Shakespeare Edition: Macbeth Backstage with the Royal Shakespeare Company Analysis from Shakespeare-Online "Macbeth: Playing at Witches" Wikipedia: Macbeth As noted in class, we will read and watch portions of the play. There are several good versions of the play on film, including the Polanski version that we are watching in class ; perhaps the most critically acclaimed version of the play i

Your next assignment is to write a letter to the editor (or an editorial) regarding a local problem. By "local" I mean pertaining to your community -- school, city or state. Please follow the classical model for rhetoric discussed in your book on pages 13 and 14: Introduction - introduces the subject, piques interest of the reader, establishes the authority of the author [appeal to ethos] Narration - provides background, establishes the problem, connects to the audience [appeal to pathos] Confirmation - develops the argument, provides evidence [appeal to logos] Refutation - anticipates the opposition, lends credence, refutes claims [appeals to pathos and logos] Conclusion - brings the essay to a satisfying close, answers the question "so what?" [appeals to pathos] This should be between 400 and 500 words, formatted according to MLA. You may want to look on The News Star 's "Voices and Views" page for recent examples, or to generate a topic. Typed ro

Your assignment is to write a sonnet , using the Shakespearean form as your model. Please try to emulate the poems we have read: develop an idea with each quatrain, ending with a couplet that comments on the whole poem. Please observe the following requirements: Must be 14 lines Must use iambic pentameter Must follow the Shakespearean rhyme scheme Must develop an idea (usually about relationships or love) Type and double-space your sonnet and format according to MLA. This assignment is due MONDAY 11/17 .

Please study the following authors, poems and terms for your test on Monday: Sir Thomas Wyatt ~ Introduced the sonnet to England (Petrarchan, or Italian), "Whoso List to Hunt" Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey ~ English Sonnet and Blank Verse Edmund Spenser ~ Sonnets 30 & 75, The Fairie Queen William Shakespeare ~ 154 sonnets, sonnet form, Sonnets 29, 73, 116 & 130 Christopher Marlowe ~ "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" Sir Walter Raleigh ~ "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" Robert Herrick ~ "To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time" Andrew Marvell ~ " To His Coy Mistress" John Donne ~ Metaphysical Conceit, "Song", "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning" & "Death Be Not Proud" (Holy Sonnets)

Your assignment is to create a PowerPoint presentation of 16 slides , half text and half images. You can use video and audio, as well, if you know how that stuff works. I'm concerned only with information pertaining to your topic, so organize according to the information you have. Use Google Images , WikiPedia , and any other web-based source you'd like. If you'd like to get "all fancy" and scan some images, then go for it. You should know your topic, but if you don't then please ask. Don't wait until it's due and say "Uh, I didn't know what my topic was." It's DUE ON FRIDAY (11/7).

Juniors : Don't forget to bring your $8 to school next week! Seniors : Don't forget to get the permission slip signed for the Texas Renaissance Festival ! Everyone : Next seek is election week! I'll be setting up voting booths in the library, and we'll vote electronically....

As discussed in class, your next assignment is to write a "This I Believe" essay. The purpose for this essay is explain some core belief or value, perhaps telling a story about why you hold that conviction dear. The publishers explain their rationale below: How Youth Can Get Involved with This I Believe This I Believe encourages thoughtful and respectful sharing of philosophical, spiritual, or civic beliefs by inviting people from all walks of life to write brief essays that discuss the rules they live by. Thousands of young people around the country have embraced This I Believe as a powerful way to explore their beliefs. Our project’s goal is to encourage people of different beliefs to listen to one another. We encourage you to come together with friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to discuss the essays you’ve written. You can get started by reading the essays written by other young people that have been submitted to This I Believe. Click here to access our Youth Essay

The last stage of your research project begins on FRIDAY, October 17th. Your first task is to combine all three drafts into one cohesive document : First, open the "career" file and add the second and third papers to the bottom ( insert file OR copy & paste ) Next, remove MLA headings from papers two and three Make sure the pages are numbered in sequence -- if not, then remove and replace Combine all "works cited" into one list, arranged alphabetically (remove redundant citations) Revise the MLA heading on the first page, and add underlined section headings to each section of the paper (i.e. Introduction, Career, Problem, Solution) Finally, correct any errors that you notice (typos, spelling, punctuation, etc.) Print out the copy and turn it on on FRIDAY. This is the copy I will annotate. After I've added some comments, you will all revise your drafts and create an annotated bibliography for the sources used in your research.

All HONORS students have a paper due on THURSDAY, October 14th. Your assignment, as discussed in class, is to focus on one of the following: A character analysis -- tracing the development of a central character, or discussing specific character traits (whether positive or negative) A thematic analysis -- discussing the development of a central theme An historical analysis -- placing the work in its historical context In any of the above, you must have a clear thesis (central purpose) and developed support , citing evidence from the work. The paper should be at least two pages, formatted according to MLA.

In today's peer-review workshop, I posed a series of questions for you to consider when revising your paper. These basic questions can be asked of any critical paper, and should be kept in mind at all stages of the writing process: First, make sure you have a clear topic and focus, as well as clearly defined paragraph divisions Read the INTRO only, asking the following: Is the topic introduced (the title and author)? Is there a clear thesis? Does the statement make a claim (something that needs to be backed up with evidence)? Does the intro suggest a structure for the argument? Then, look at each paragraph, checking for a good topic/transitional sentence. Within each paragraph, check for unity (make sure you are focused on a single idea) Make sure that each paragraph includes specific support. Refer to the post above ( or here ) for citing quotes. Finally, make sure you have concluded the paper by re-focusing the reader's attention on your thesis. AVOID phrases that begin &

OVERVIEW Your assignment is to write a critical analysis of one of the two tales we read in class – “The Pardoner’s Tale” or “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”. By critical analysis, I mean an essay that looks closely at the text, focusing on a very specific critical point. This is not a summary or a book report. Please focus on one of the following: A character analysis – focus on Chaucer’s characterizations o character types or traits, whether positive or negative o one character’s development over time A thematic analysis – focus on a central theme as represented by one or more of the readings An historical analysis – establish the historical context of an element in one of the readings, comparing that to the fictional reality depicted by Chaucer FORMAT The essay will be between two and three pages long, and will follow the conventions of MLA format. Your only source will be the textbook: you will refer to line numbers if quoting the poem, page numb

Your next in-class essay is on an issue related to the presidential campaign.  Your task is to pick one issue that will (or would) influence you the most in your decision, and to look at what the candidates have to say.   PRINT out a copy of each candidate's position from their websites: John McCain Barack Obama Bring your printouts (and a highlighter) to school tomorrow, and we'll discuss.  To help you decide which issues are most important to you, try filling out one of the following  "candidate calculators": VAJoe -- allows you to research the pro/con positions Vote Help -- will also tell you how the candidates voted (with sources) Candidate Quiz from WQAD -- again, provides the candidate's positions Remember too that the first in a series of debates is on Friday night.  I'll tape it, and we'll watch it in class next week.

Your next paper, the Solutions to your Problem , requires that you evaluate at least two solutions using a set of at least two criteria.  Note that criteria are the basis for your comparison. STEP ONE Write a memo detailing the following: Your solutions -- brief description of each Your criteria -- explanation of your basis for comparison Due ~ Wednesday, 9/24 STEP TWO Write a three-five page essay, using the following as your outline: I. Introduction -- Restate Problem, and introduce Solutions and Criteria II. Solutions (define each of your solutions) A. Solution One -- define with statistics, examples, etc. B. Solution Two -- define with statistics, examples, etc. III. Evaluation A. Evaluation based on Criterion One -- explain why it's a good basis for comparison, then evaluate specifics of your solutions B. Evaluation based on Criterion Two -- explain why it's a good basis for comparison, then evaluate specifics of your solutions IV. Conclusion -- State your conclusion bas

We will have a QUIZ on "The Prologue" Monday (9/22) This is also when you will be asked to recite (or write) the first eighteen lines of "The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales " in Middle English. For those interested, here's an example of what it sounds like (with music). And, as promised, Dr. Enelow's rap from Head-Royce School in Berkeley, CA. And here's Harvard University's site on Chaucer and the Tales, for those who are interested.

Yes, I know, some of you are sick of politics already. However, the election's not until November! We are taking a bit of a break next week, but we'll come back to it again and again until the election. It's important for you to have specifics when arguing for or against one of the candidates, and that's why we are spending time on this subject. In a larger sense, we are studying persuasive rhetoric -- making an argument, persuading a specific audience, achieving some particular purpose. This will help you prepare for the ACT, the AP test, and college writing in general. Because I've used these sites several times in class, I thought I'd provide links for you to access from home: FactCheck Politifact Gallup So far, we've written (1) a paper comparing the two VP acceptance speeches, and tomorrow we'll write (2) an essay criticizing one of the speeches from the presidential candidates. Next, we'll write (3) an essay outlining one candidate's

OVERVIEW Write a two-three page definition and discussion of a specific problem in your chosen field of interest. The problem you discuss here will form the basis for your analysis in Paper #3. Problems can be “academic” or “work-related.” Remember that when I say "problem" I'm referring to problems you will face (and solve) as a professional in your field. The paper must cite at least three credible sources. Format according to MLA. PROCESS (1) Investigate possible “problems” utilizing the following types of sources: Interview –ask a professional Online Resources INFOTRAC @ River Oaks (password = river) Ouachita Public Library Highwire Press @ Stanford University Find Articles from LookSmart (2) Propose a topic via MEMO . Your memo should include a statement of purpose and show an awareness of audience. The memo's body should include at least two 100-word paragraphs -- one on your problem, and one on your research to date Heading should be double-spaced (To, From,

Your Interview Letter is due NOW. Use the "full block" format discussed in class (as seen on your handout -- ask if you need another or check here for examples ). Please include the following in your letter: Paragraph #1 - Your interview subject's name and credentials, and the time and location of the interview Paragraph #2 - A summary of the relevant information from your interview -- i.e. info not found in your other sources, advice, personal experience, etc. Paragraph #3 - An assessment of the interview -- how useful the interview was, whether or not you "opened a door," etc. Also, don't forget about the thank you note , which should also use full block format, and which should be addressed to your interview subject. Make your thank you short and specific.

Each nine weeks, honors students are required to read ONE book, in addition to their regular course work. This book should be either one that I recommend in class or one that is chosen from the "honors" list. THE LIST: 101 Great Books The list comes from College Board , the folks who write the SAT, CLEP and AP exams. The books listed are frequently used on standardized tests and are generally considered masterpieces. I will occasionally offer suggestions in class, related to the era we are discussing. My only other requirement is that students read books they have not read before. For each book students must: Write a letter telling me which book you have chosen and why; the letter must be written in full block style (discussed in class) Either take a test or write a critical paper on the selected book, depending on the book. I would also like to remind students that you can earn extra point at any time by reading extra books and taking AR tests in the library.

Are we all excited about school? I thought so. Well, it promises to be another enlightening year, one full of studies and papers and essays and exams....and football and other stuff. As you all know, you have something due already. Yes, I know, you loved writing that book report (DUE THURSDAY) and you are so looking forward to writing an essay in class (ON FRIDAY). We'll ease into the year, in other words. Seriously, I am looking forward to this school year! New faces and some slightly old ones...a new class for the seniors...fancy new technology...football and other stuff. So, I'll see you in class....let's have a great year!

For each additional summer reading assignment, students will compose a reading guide. Each report should be typed, double-spaced and formatted according to MLA. Please use 1" margins and 12-point Times New Roman. The entire report should be no longer than two typed pages. Include the following: An introductory paragraph of no more than 100 words summarizing the book, including a statement concerning the central theme or idea. A body paragraph that introduces and explains a significant quote from the book; the quote should be no longer than three lines and should be in quotation marks; please cite the page number at the end of the quote -- i.e. (#). Finally, a one-paragraph conclusion that reviews the book, again about 100 words; please include WHY you did or did not like the book; feel free to compare it to other books (or films). This assignment requires no research or additional sources, so avoid looking up information about the book(s) online. Using ONLY your reading of the bo

Welcome to summertime, and you know what that means: summer reading assignments! Don't get stressed about it; take a book to the beach or the backyard and relax. A copy of the reading list was included with your report card, and you can find it here at any time. Like last year, each honors student will read THREE books this summer; non-honors students will read TWO. Of these, only one is chosen for you. The others are up to you, with some stipulations. The list for summer 2008: Freshmen ~ The Alchemist , but Paulo Coelho (incidentally, the book entering ULM students are reading) Sophomores ~ The Catcher in the Rye , by J. D. Salinger Juniors ~ 1984 , by George Orwell Seniors ~ B ayou Farewell , by Mike Tidwell Students will be asked to write an in-class essay when they return to school, based on topics provided by the teacher, using the book and an outline only. As noted, the other selections are up to you. For each additional book, you will write a short report (referred to as

I know all of you would like to be exempt from the final, but I promise it won't be too bad -- if you study, that is. I've made the tests and quizzes available in class, and you are all welcome to come early on Friday to take notes and review. The exam will be 75-100 questions, both multiple choice and matching, and will be divided into literary periods. The exam will include information from the following periods, authors and works: Renaissance Period (1485-1660) Intro to the period (pages 193-211) Sonnets -- Wyatt, Spenser & Shakespeare (214-229) "Carpe Diem" & "Metaphysical" Poetry (238-254) The Renaissance Theater (283-288) William Shakespeare & Macbeth (289-389) King James Bible (413) -- psalms, parables Restoration Period (1660-1800) John Milton & Paradise Lost (435-450) John Bunyan & Pilgrim's Progress (451-453) Jonathan Swift & Satire (486-513) Gulliver's Travels A Modest Proposal Romantic Period (1798-1832) Intr

Your final drafts of the research paper are due Friday.  Please include the following in your folder: The FINAL DRAFT of your paper -- Six (non-honors) to eight (honors) pages, with at least four (non) to seven (honors) secondary sources, cited and  formatted according to MLA The graded PRIMARY SOURCE PAPER (with my comments) Your Annotated BIB Your most recent OUTLINE All SOURCES used in the paper, stapled with citations and highlighted for content, arranged in the order they appear on the "Works Cited" page I said I would give you a copy of the rubric I will be using; instead, please refer to the following: TWO points each = plurals/possessives, spelling, typos, word choice, and usage TWO points each = formatting errors (spacing, numbering, punctuation) FIVE points each = run-ons, fragments, P/A and S/V, parallelism FIVE points each = sentence-level issues (variety, clarity and syntax) TEN points each = paragraph-level issues (unity and development) TEN points each = misus

As you work on your memory books this week and next, you should also be working on the end-of-year writing assignments.  I've given you a handout (if you were on class): A letter to your future self -- imagine yourself four years from now...where will you be, and what will you be doing?  Is it what you planned?  What do you hope to remember about NOW?  What's important?  Address your future self in a letter (standard form), and enclose it in a self-address envelope.  I won't read it, but I do need to know you've done it, so don't seal it. A reflective paragraph that will serve as the introduction to your memory book.  What is your overall impression of your high school years?  What do you want to remember most? Finally, write a poem about your senior class.  The form and tone of the poem is up to you: funny, serious or sad; rhyming couplets, ballad, or free verse.  However you write it, though, please take it seriously.  A copy of this poem should go in your memory

Your next assignment is to create an a nnotated bibliography  of the sources for your research paper. As discussed in class, this is a list of citations with short critical summaries for each source. Include the following: The citation for the source A short summary of the source's connection to your thesis We'll cover citations in class, of course, but for additional help try Purdue's OWL  and/or  Bedford St. Martins . They're both current and reliable.  You should also include a citation for your primary source (the novel); for the annotation, please state your thesis. There are several annotated bib  examples online ; the best are through  Cornell  and  Purdue . If you've completed your note card assignment, then this should be simply a matter of typing the information. Remember to  alphabetize  your list. Use MLA format, including double-spacing and page numbers.

It's the assignment you've all been waiting for: the memory book. Okay, it's a scrapbook. Whatever. Your assignment is to gather material for a scrapbook that will cover the last four years of your life.  You'll be glad you did it, so don't complain or I'll make you do some real work.  Please start with a LARGE book, not one of the wee little books that you can find some places.  Get a BIG one (12 X 12). For each year of high school, you are required to have  at least  four pages organized into the following categories, but not limited to the examples provided: (1) Student Life -- school-related stuff, friends, sports, spirit groups (2) Personal Life -- family, faith and friends (3) Culture -- what was going on in the world, favorites from that year  Some suggestions for info on the year 2004 (your Freshman year?): CNN Time Magazine Infoplease NOTE: Two sheets front and back for every year = 16 total pages (8 sheets). You can certainly go over this minimum requi

Remember I was telling you guys about the scientists that grew a rat heart and then got it to beat?  Well, here's the video: Here's a more extensive look at the science behind the freakiness , from National Geographic .

Your test is on Monday and will cover English Romanticism, beginning with the introduction to the period (622-638).  The period includes two revolutions -- French (for freedom and equality, but which lead to disillusionment) and Industrial (for scientific and economic progress, but which lead to skepticism and degradation).  Note the chart that outlines the developments and concerns of the period, including the reverence for youth and role of the imagination.  We also talked a bit about some of the paintings of the period . The major writers of the period can be divided into three groups: early, late and women. First, the poets who defined the period -- William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.  Their collection Lyrical Ballads includes two of the period's most famous poems, Rime of the Ancient Mariner  & "Tintern Abbey."  We also studied "Kubla Kahn".  Note the form for these poems as well as the content .   William Blake is also of the earlier gene

Thanks to Ms. Megan Lowe for the presentation on Thursday!  She wrote me to say she will be at the library on Sunday if anyone needs help finding sources (they open at 2:00).  Plus, she sent me a link to her presentation , just in case you misplaced the one she gave you.   I will also be there from 2:00-4:00 on Sunday.  Your assignment for Monday is to bring three relevant sources to class ( five if in Honors).  We will discuss how to create citations then, as well as talk more about integrating the sources into your papers.

As discussed in class, MOST of your secondary sources need to come from “scholarly journals.”   The best source for journal articles is a subscription database like the following: JSTOR – full-text scholarly articles Go to the ULM Library (or website:  http://www.ulm.edu/library/ ) click the JSTOR link in left column enter user name and password (if off-campus) search using keywords (string together using “and”) click on the title to view the text click PDF to download File à Save In à Flash Drive Print out at home! INFOTRAC – citations, abstracts, and full-text scholarly and popular articles Go to the River Oaks website ( http://www.romustangs.com ) click the InfoTrac link at bottom of page the Library ID is RIVER search the entire collection by entering “Frankenstein” in the box at the top select the “full text” box to find complete articles search within results by typ

The Juniors will be taking a field trip to the ULM Library on Thursday! A bus will be here at around 9:00 to take us there. Bring money to eat on campus. You all received a brief orientation in class, but I though I'd post some of the information here, as well. First, we are going to the library for two reasons: because it's a very nice, local, university library; and because they have JSTOR (for "journal storage"), which is a subscription database. I want to start with JSTOR because it is by far the best resource I've found for full-text scholarly articles on literature. A distinction needs to be clear regarding the difference between "popular" and "scholarly" periodicals: Popular periodicals (i.e. Newsweek) focus on a variety of topics and give general information and editorial comments; they are published frequently, and although they are reliable sources, it's hard to find information for a literature paper, unless your thesis ti

Your final draft of the primary source paper is due on Wednesday, April 9th. The paper should be typed, double-spaced and formatted according to MLA. Please bring a clean copy of the paper, stapled and free of editing marks. On a side note: As noted in class, long quotes should be treated differently than shorter (or partial) quotes. First, you should make certain that you need the quote in its entirety. It's possible that you may only need a portion, or even that a summary of the quote would suffice. That said, sometimes it is necessary to quote a monologue or longer descriptive passage. If you do, please observe the following rules: indent two tabs (or ten spaces) omit the quotation marks follow the quote with end punctuation THEN the citation All other times you cite, the period comes LAST: According to Mr. Ryland, "if you must quote, then do it correctly" (#).

As noted in class, we'll shift focus this week to the ACT test coming up this weekend.  Even if you aren't taking the test this time, the information should prove useful to you as you finish up your research papers. We'll talk about the tests themselves, and I'll relay some of the strategies from the various preparation materials available.  We'll also look at specific examples from the tests and practice the English and Reading portions of the exam.   In addition, you should spend some time this week (after you've completed your draft for Wednesday) preparing for the test on your own.  To that end, I've listed some helpful sites below: ACT's official test prep site ACT SparkNotes test prep ACT Test Prep @ Yahoo! Education Free Online Test (not official, but helpful)! Above all, get a good night's sleep.  I'm not joking; it really does help.

This is just a reminder that your 250-word papers are due with the projects. This paper is required for all of those students who either completed an art project or participated in a group video. Remember: I'm not grading you on how great an artist you are, or how well you can act. I'm grading on your participation and effort, as well as your attention to detail and focus on Macbeth . The paper is your opportunity to make your case for receiving full marks on the project. As discussed in class, the paper should include the following: If in a video, tell me what you did and why ; what was your process in completing the project? Again, please be specific in detailing your participation, as this is the only way for you to defend your work, other than what I see on the video. If you created a piece of artwork, then tell me why you decided to choose your subject and medium. What guided your vision? What lead to the artistic (and practical) choices you made? Defend your work of

You have each proposed your Macbeth project, and hopefully have gotten started. Remember that the due date is one week from today (April 4th). Your next assignment is to compose a memo including the following information: A statement of purpose (i.e. "The purpose of this memo is to...") A paragraph detailing your progress so far (what have you done?) A paragraph detailing your plan of action for the next week (what are you planning to do?) Contact info Remember too that the heading for the memo is double-spaced; everything else is single-spaced. The memo should be around 250 words. Only one is needed per group, and everyone will receive the same grade. You should initial, rather than sign, by your name in the heading. The memo is due MONDAY, March 31st

The first step in the research process is to pick a TOPIC. I’ve provided a sheet of several suggestions, which you can amend or use intact, or you can create your own topic. Your assignment is to write a business letter addressed to me proposing the topic for your research paper. You must include at least the following: A statement that states the purpose for the letter A statement including your general topic Your topic phrased as a question Your initial answer to the question (preliminary thesis) A statement explaining why you chose your topic – try to connect it to your interests in some way Contact information Signature The letter should be around 250 words typed, formatted like your “DEAR” letters (full block). Use Times New Roman only. DUE: Monday, March 31 st

After reading Macbeth , you will each have a choice of three 100-point assignments: First, you can choose to write a critical paper of at least three pages, which examines a central theme to the play (100 points). I’ll be happy to provide you with a topic. Your paper must include evidence (direct quotes, summary and paraphrase) from one critical source, as well as evidence from the play. Everything will be documented according to MLA, and you must include your source with the final draft. Your second option is to create a video of a scene from Macbeth and to write a short paper “defending” your video. You can work alone or form a group of up to four students. Each group will pick a scene that is central to the plot of the play and create a video (80 points). Finally, each student is required to write 250 words explaining WHY he/she chose the scene – i.e. placing the scene in the context of the play (20 points). Your third option is to create an original work of art rela

In addition to the study questions I've given you for Frankenstein, you are also required to complete vocabulary assignments as we read the novel. For the first five chapters, you will need to pull TEN terms from the text: First write the word and its usage -- i.e. BENEVOLENT (adj) Quote the original sentence from the text, with the word underlined, and cite the page number in parentheses Then, define the word according to Websters Finally, write your own "masterpiece" sentence -- using the word with its original meaning intact, illustrating the meaning of the word through your sentence. This assignment is worth 20 points. I'll will assign vocabulary as we progress throughout the novel.

We are reading Jonathan Swift, a satirist from the 18th century, so I thought it might be interesting to look at some recent examples of satire. Your extra point opportunity is to print out a political cartoon . Write a brief explanation of the joke at the bottom or on the back, and present it to the class. You might try Today's Best Cartoons , a frequently updated collection of political cartoons from all of the major artists. If you search the site, you can find a cartoon about practically any public figure. For an index of all campaign-related sub-categories, click here .

I just wanted to let all you nerds out there that I just discovered a new site about WORDS.  Maybe you've heard of it: The Free Dictionary .    It's set up to use as your homepage, with a word of the day, a hangman game, a spelling bee, word match, quote of the day, local weather, a thesaurus, an encyclopedia (and a dictionary, of course) -- cool, in other words. 

I know I've been out, so our exam will be moved to FRIDAY. To prepare for the exam, please review the book and your notes: Introduction to Chaucer (his biography) Setting and Context of The Canterbury Tales "The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales " "The Pardoner's Tale" "The Wife of Bath's Tale" I should be back for an "official" review on Thursday.

Avoid plagiarism. Every year, the fear is always the same: "But what if I accidentally use an entire paragraph from my source and forget to put quotes around it?" You can avoid this problem by avoiding direct quotes ! U se direct wording only when it is absolutely necessary . Instead, summarize the source in your paper. Use your own words to convey the information from the source. Take careful notes. I just want to remind you, once again, that you must take careful notes when conducting your research. Duke's library has a page on avoiding plagiarism that I'd like for you all to read. Here's another site from Louisiana Tech's online writing center . A general rule is to always print out a copy of whatever you are working with. In fact, you are required to turn in a copy of every source you use with every quote and paraphrase highlighted. This serves as a reminder to you, and it helps me when grading your papers. Always cite your source. Always cite

ALL JUNIORS (and those seniors who choose to) are required to write a 500-word essay for the Congressional Seminar National Essay Contest. The essay is for a grade (extra for seniors) and should be typed, double-spaced, and formatted according to MLA. The essay question for this year: "If you were a presidential candidate, what domestic issue would you consider the most important, and what would you do about it?" The most discussed domestic issues , in my estimation, are the economy, the energy "crisis", the health care "crisis", immigration, and the pro-life/pro-choice debate. You are welcome to tackle any other domestic issue, but please limit it to one. In your paper, you will establish the issue (or problem) and provide solutions. The information you use should be documented (discussed in class next week), and a logical place to start is the candidates themselves. The presidential candidates still in the mix: REP -- Mitt Romney , Mike Huckabee , John M

As I stated in class, I'm offering extra points for those who will memorize and recite the first eighteen lines of "The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales " in Middle English. For those interested, here's an example of what it sounds like. Recitations will take place in class on Monday 1/14. Also, for those interested, here are a couple of sites dedicated to Chaucer: Chaucer MetaPage Harvard University's Chaucer page Pilgrims Passing To and Fro : Canterbury Tales

ROUGH DRAFT (two copies): Friday 1/11 FINAL DRAFT (sources attached): Monday 1/14 Your assignment is to write an essay of two (non-honors) to three (honors) pages on a specific aspect of medieval life ( see topics below ). Your report should include information from no more than TWO sources, cited according to MLA. Your essay must be typed. With the final draft, you must also include a copy of each source you used. Staple everything together, with the essay on top. Note that all information from your sources – whether quoted directly, paraphrased or summarized – must be cited. MLA requires that the author include the author’s last name (or first word of the title in quotes) and a page number (none for web pages) at the end of the sentence, in parentheses. Below is a list of possible topics: Social Order Knighthood Feudalism Chivalry & Courtly Love Slavery / Serfdom Religion in the Middle Ages Pilgrimage Heresy The Crusades Holy Grail Judaism Paganism Science & Medicine Humoral