river oaks [english]

SENIORS Like the essay at the end of the last nine weeks, the AP independent reading essay will be a critical book review. Your thesis should determine the relative value of reading the book for your AP course. Of course, you must cite (and include) specific examples from the text. SOPHOMORES For each of the following assignments, please focus on critical issues rather than summary, and use specific examples from the text, citing them by page number. You should write around 500 words in response to the prompt you choose. Pilgrim at Tinker Creek Read some excerpts from Henry David Thoreau's Walden; or, Life in the Woods, especially one or two passages in which he gives detailed accounts of his observations of nature. In terms of the amount of precise detail, how do his accounts compare with Dillard's? How would you compare the conclusions Thoreau and Dillard draw from their observations? Billy Budd (choose one) o        What role does irony play in Billy Bu

Seniors All revisions for English IV, DE, and AP are due on Friday. Be sure to include the original with your revision. AP & Honor Students English II-H and AP essays are due on Monday . They must be typed and formatted according to MLA.

The midterm will be objective, with multiple choice and matching sections.   The exam will be longer than normal because you have more time – an hour and a half, as opposed to fifty minutes.   Note that although the midterm could not possibly include everything we’ve covered so far, it will be comprehensive . Below is a list of everything we have read; however, the notes include the introductions to periods, as well as biographical information. Summer Reading – Red Badge of Courage Early American Native American Myth “The World on the Turtle’s Back” “Coyote and Buffalo,” & “Fox and Coyote and Whale” Non-Fiction – Historical Narrative La Relacion – Cabeza de Vaca The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano   The Puritans Of Plymouth Plantation – Bradford Anne Bradstreet “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” “Upon The Burning of Our House” The Examination of Sarah Good Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God – Jonathan Edwards T

Your assignment is to work in small groups to write a comparison/contrast paper analyzing the rhetorical strategies of two print advertisements and to present your analysis to the class. Although your paper will be written and presented as a group, you will type the draft for a grade. Please focus on the following: The audience - based on the "context" of the ad (where and when the ad appears) The purpose - beyond the product, what else (abstractly) is being sold? The use of appeals - ethos (establishes ethics/authority), pathos (abstract emotions of the consumer), and logos (a logical argument based on reason and evidence) The use of rhetorical strategies – i.e. juxtaposition, allusion, analogy The use of sensory imagery , d esign, and language - diction, informational data You MUST have a thesis and a clearly developed, well-organized analysis to meet the demands of the assignment. Your introduction should include a discussion of audi

Seniors Bring a magazine to school tomorrow. It must be appropriate for school, obviously, and it must have advertising, preferably full-page color ads of familiar products. You will get into small groups and pick ONE ad to analyze as a group. Then, the group will write an analysis essay and present that essay to the class on Friday. Sophomores Finish reading "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" for tomorrow. Come prepared to discuss and to answer some questions in class.

Sophomores Your homework for Monday -- in case you weren't in class or didn't finish -- is to read pages 558-571, including a portion of "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass." Answer the Comprehension Check and #2-6 to turn in.

The topic of this week's essay is social media. We are exploring the increasingly blurred line between online personae and "real life." Included in this discussion are questions about whether or not photos and comments made on social networking sites should be considered when reviewing applications for employment or admission to college. Should a person be fired for something he/she said on Facebook? At what point do private lives and public lives cease to be separate? Is the notion of privacy in social media an oxymoron? The essay will be written in class on Thursday .

Seniors Quiz Friday on rhetorical terms O-Z. Sophomores Quiz Thursday on Walt Whitman (and poems).

Seniors Your revision papers are DUE on Friday. Please include all drafts, including the original, hand-written version. In addition, don't forget about the rhetorical terms quiz #2. Sophomores Your one-page reflection papers are DUE on Friday. Even though I won't be able to verify your experience -- whether or not you spend a tech-free hour of solitude somewhere outside -- please write about your experience honestly . The goal here is to reflect on the relative silence and quiet of your yard. Even if you don't have some "revelation" or transcendent moment, write about what your senses detect. Thoreau and Emerson suggest that if you allow yourself to go beyond your senses, however, you will open yourself to ideas and inspiration. So try it. Jot down notes during your hour an any form you'd like, but the report itself needs to be written in complete sentences. Please attach your notes to the final typed copy of your report. This paper should be typed and

Sophomores Quiz on Walden on Thursday, including vocabulary.

Seniors Read through your essays and pick one to revise from the following: election position paper, fear, thanksgiving. Sophomores Read Thoreau's Walden and record at least TEN aphorisms that appeal to you. Come prepared to "translate" them for the class.

Seniors You have a revision essay due this Friday , December 2nd. Bring a typed on Thursday for peer review. In addition, you have a vocabulary quiz on Friday on "euphemism" through "oxymoron." Sophomores Your assignment for Friday , December 2nd is to spend one hour alone, outside, free from distractions (ipod, phone, computer, video games, etc.), and to write a one-page report on your experience. Your final paper should be typed and formatted according to MLA. To begin, you might make note of your sensory experience, but try to go beyond that and write about what you are thinking as well.

One more time, if you are a Sophomore...

Concerning our discussion on Wednesday, a comprehensive index of common usage errors can be found on the following website:

Sophomores Answer the following questions about "Civil Disobedience" (p370-376): Comprehension Check, #3-5 p378 #1-5 on p380 Quiz on Thursday on "Self-Reliance" and "Civil Disobedience," including vocabulary . Seniors You will write the "Thanksgiving" essay tomorrow in class. Your topic must be a person or group of people, and your essay should include the specific reason(s) you are thankful. Is it based on a single event or several? How has it affected you? What did you learn? How do you start this essay? Although there are several possibilities, consider the following: focus on naming the person, along with a brief statement about why you are thankful; focus on yourself, on how this person's influence has affected you; focus on a specific moment that is related to your gratitude. Your quiz on rhetorical terms A-D is on Friday.

Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts You are invited to attend the Strauss Youth Academy for the Arts production of Pride and Prejudice this Saturday, the 17th. Jane Austen's novel has been adapted for the stage and features local performers ranging in age from kids to adults, with the lead roles played by high school students. The show is at 2pm and costs $6 for students and $10 for adults. If you go, and bring back a program, and answer a few questions, you can earn a few extra points. Ask me for more information.

Sophomores Your homework for tonight is to finish reading "Self-Reliance" by Emerson and to answer the following questions: Comprehension Check, #2-4 on p367 #1-5 on p368

Have a good weekend, and GO MUSTANGS!

Seniors Your profile essay , typed and formatted according to MLA, is due on Friday, November 9th. The paper must be a minimum of 600 words in length. Sophomores Turn in "The Lottery" questions for optional credit. Your exam on Gothic short fiction is Thursday, November 8th.

REMINDER: please invite any loved ones who are veterans to attend Friday's pep rally! Seniors Your "profile" essays will be written in class on Wednesday and Thursday. You should conduct your interview either tonight or tomorrow night, and your essay should include direct quotes from the interview. Remember too that the essay is a "profile," not a biography. Sophomores Finish reading "The Lottery," and then read it again. On the second reading, make note of any foreshadowing and any obvious symbolism. Is there a logical reason that the story ends the way it does? What possible meaning could the story convey, especially considering the context (written in 1948)? Come tomorrow prepared to discuss. Your EXAM on Gothic short stories is on Thursday, November 8th.

Seniors We will vote as a class on one of the three options for your "Profile" essay. The week will be spent planning, interviewing, vocabulary, and grammar/AP prep. Sophomores You will have a quiz Monday on "The Masque of the Red Death," including the vocabulary. For optional  homework credit, answer questions on p462 - Comprehension Check, and #3-5.

Seniors Tomorrow in class we will discuss your next essay, which is the assessment essay for ULM Dual Enrollment students. The assignment also corresponds with Veterans Day, which is celebrated on November 11th. The assignment requires you to conduct an interview with a veteran of the US Armed Forces. You should begin thinking now of possible subjects. The assignment itself is described on ULM's First-Year Composition Moodle page: The Interviewing a Subject (Profile) requires students to interview a classmate.  This is very important at ULM, where we are trying to create a sense of community among students from various areas.  If your students already have such a community, then asking them to interview others is acceptable.   Simply create a specific system and hold everyone to the same standard, while adhering to our assignment's main criteria.  As part of the main criteria, they must interview another, living human. (italics mine) Sophomores Finish reading Poe's

Some artwork by my friend Doug Kennedy...

Sophomores This week we're reading gothic fiction from Hawthorne, Poe and Jackson. You have a QUIZ tomorrow on "Young Goodman Brown." The first gothic novel, by the way, was published in 1764: Horace Walpole's The Castle of Otranto. That may show up on your quiz as a bonus, in fact. Your book list came from All Hallow's Read , a project started by author Neil Gaiman, who also wrote the story we will hear in class tomorrow. Seniors Your next essay is on FEAR.  You can write about your own fears, or the origin of a specific fear, or society's collective fear, or even how that fear manifests itself in popular culture (i.e. a zombie apocalypse). You can write about FDR's quote: " The only thing we have to fear , is fear itself !" You can write about fear of extreme weather (like the "Frankenstorm") or of nuclear annihilation, or of the outcome of the presidential election.  The essay will be judged on its attention to details an

Sophomores Read "Young Goodman Brown," and come to class prepared to discuss the story.

Seniors You are writing your position paper tomorrow in class. Your purpose for the paper is to explain each candidate's position on an issue that is important to you. You should begin by defining the topic and narrowing the scope to something specific, followed by a statement regarding your conclusion about the candidates' positions - in other words, your thesis. The support should include examples from the candidates' websites, transcripts of the debates and/or speeches, and "fact check" sites. Bring all sources, and be ready to write the entire period. As usual, the paper should be at least 500 words. Sophomores Be prepared to take a quiz on "The Devil and Tom Walker."

I will not be in class tomorrow, but I have of course left things for you to do in my absence: Seniors You will watch (part of) one of the debates in class. You should have also printed out a transcript of one of the debates. Wednesday night, you need to print out a "fact check" of that same debate to give some non-partisan feedback on what the candidates said. In the event that you can't find anything on your topic in one of the debates (like on abortion, for example), you are welcome to print out the transcript of a recent speech on the subject. Try searching within a web page using the Control-F function. For those of you focusing on foreign policy, the following is an index to (and explanation of) the candidates' position:  Media Guide from the Council on Foreign Relations . For fact check sites, try the following: Fact Check Politifact The Fact Checker (Washington Post) Fox News Sophomores You will be reading "The Devil and Tom Walker"

ANNOUNCEMENT ONE If I don't remind you in class of everything that is due everyday, that doesn't excuse you from the assignments. Blah blah college next year blah blah they don't hold your hand either blah blah. That said, you have a quiz tomorrow - the same quiz that was announced in class and on this blog on Thursday and over the weekend. If you're reading this, then you might want to tell your classmates who may have forgotten. ANNOUNCEMENT TWO You also have an assignment tonight - to print out both candidates' views on ONE particular issue. It doesn't matter what the issue is, but please narrow it down to something specific. In other words, don't print out the entire platform on foreign policy. And, yes, this is for a grade.

Seniors Your revision is due tomorrow. Please staple all three drafts -- the final draft on top, followed by the rough draft with comments, and the original on the bottom. Your essays will be graded on the nine-point AP scale, with a nine worth 100 points. Example HERE . Your quiz on rhetorical terms (pages 58-59) is on Tuesday . Sophomores Your homework for tonight is to read pages 282-291 and answer the following questions (optional assignment - will not count against you): #1-3 on p284 CC and #2-4 on p287 Your exam on literature from the American Revolution is on Monday. 

Seniors No school tomorrow, but your revised draft is due on Thursday. This is for a grade, and I expect all drafts to be typed and formatted according to MLA. Please attach your original, hand-written draft. The final draft is due on Friday. In addition, AP students should work through the multiple choice section of the AP to determine a base score. We will grade them discuss your results on Friday. The handout I gave you is from the College Board and the original can be accessed through their website . Sophomores Good luck on the PSAT exam tomorrow! We will resume with literature from the American Revolution on Thursday, and your exam will be on Monday, the 22nd.

Seniors We are working on ACT Prep this week, as the test is on the 27th, and we are at the end of the quarter. The assignment for today was the Reading section, and the English section is due tomorrow. Please put the answers on a separate sheet and check your answers in the back of the book. We will discuss problem areas tomorrow, so come with questions. Sophomores Read the "Declaration of Independence" on 270-76 and answer questions #2-4 on 279. We will test on this and the Patrick Henry speech next week after the PSAT. Bring your PSAT practice books to class on Friday and Tuesday.

Seniors The first part of the week will be spent preparing for the ACT. Tonight, complete the reading portion of the exam, and check your answers with the back of the test booklet. Obviously, skipping the actual test will not help you in any way. Sophomores Read 256-267, and answer questions on p268 regarding Patrick Henry's speech.  We will discuss Henry, Jefferson and political rhetoric in class tomorrow.

Sophomores Your homework for the weekend is to type the paper you wrote in class on Friday. You are required to turn in your original, handwritten copy with your typed version. Please spell check your paper and correct minor mistakes, but refrain from major revisions at this time. The two papers should be essentially the same. In addition, English II-H and AP students should be finishing their independent reading books this weekend. Your essay test is on Monday.

Both of the following essays should be written in class on Friday: Seniors Choose either "Fasting and Football" or "The Real New York Giants" and write a 500-word analysis of the author's purpose and the methods used to achieve that purpose. Consider rhetorical strategies such as tone, specific details, concrete and figurative description, organization, and appeals to ethos , logos and pathos . Develop the essay with examples from the text, and connect those details to your thesis. Sophomores Focusing on ONE character from The Crucible , write a 500-word analysis of the character's development in the play. You may refer to physical and non-physical descriptions, actions, attitudes, turning points, revelations, strengths and flaws. All details should be cited by Act and page number.

Seniors We read "The Real New York Giants" (p471) in class today, and most of you answered the homework questions following the essay. If you have not, they are due tomorrow. Your essay on Friday is on either of the two essays we've read this week. We will discuss strategies in class tomorrow for writing the essay. Sophomores Your character analysis essay will be written in class on Friday. We will discuss topics and start gathering material tomorrow.

Seniors Read "For Fasting and Football, a Dedicated Game Plan" on pages 473-5, and answer questions #1-7 on page 475. Although your essay this week will be an analysis, you might also want to read a couple of articles on being Muslim in America to help inform our discussion: Five Myths about Muslims in America "Muslim Rage" Explodes on Twitter, But In a Funny Way Fasting and Football - on professional soccer players in EPL Sophomores Study for your EXAM tomorrow on The Crucible . Remember to study the vocabulary terms.

Sophomores You'll need to finish reading The Crucible for Monday. We will discuss the second half and have an exam on Tuesday. We will watch the rest of the film on Wednesday while you plan to write the character development essays in class on Thursday.We will discuss the essay further in class, and I will give you an assignment sheet that outlines the requirements and grading guidelines: Monday - Discussion and Review Tuesday - Exam on The Crucible Wednesday - Essay Planning, Film Thursday - In-Class Essay

Seniors You write an in-class argument essay tomorrow about the relative value of college, answering the question posed by this week's edition of Newsweek : Is College a Lousy Investment ? Consider the following: how much difference does the determination of the student make? how much difference does your major make? what is your opinion of a university based on? what kind of education might you receive compared to the relative cost? what else is considered as valuable about college beyond classes? should all students who graduate high school go to college? how about community college as a way to cut costs? should some take a "gap year" to discover their life's passion and explore options? Also consider the suggestions for "arrangement" in your book. You can start your essay with a narrative anecdote about your interview subject, for example, or describe the atmosphere of an LSU football game to emphasize the value of that experience. Your essay

Seniors Over the weekend, the latest SAT scores led to the numerous articles about the state of education in America, including this one from the Washington Post : SAT reading scores hit a four-decade low. At the same time, Newsweek 's cover story for this week is Megan McArdle's essay on the college bubble: "Is College a Lousy Investment?" In addition to these two essays, please read the section on "Arrangement" (or organization) in your textbook  on pages 13-25. Sophomores Read Act Two of The Crucible and answer questions #1-6 on p206.

Okay, so you get one more day. Just a reminder that some of you have work due tomorrow: Seniors - Final draft of your research paper, including copies of all sources and drafts Sophomore Honors - 250-word summary of the Anne Hutchinson essay Sophomores should continue to read Act Two of The Crucible .

Seniors I know the word is probably out by now, but I just want to make your extension official. You have until Monday to finish your revisions.

Sorry I couldn't be there today, but one of my children was home sick. I'll be back tomorrow. In the meantime, please continue with the following: Seniors Your revised, merged draft is due tomorrow, with design elements incorporated and with a complete list of referenced sources. The draft should be from six to eight pages in length, and you should have cited at least five sources. We will discuss your drafts tomorrow in class. Today, I left instructions for you to begin working through the English section of the ACT practice booklet. Please bring those tomorrow, and if your answers are on a separate sheet, I can give you credit for the assignment and check your answers. Sophomores You were to turn in questions today on Act One and to discuss the answers in class. We will have a quiz tomorrow , including the vocabulary and introductory notes. Honors students have an assignment for Monday (because of the Thursday game) based on the following article. Please summarize t

Seniors Annotated Bibliography due tomorrow.  Sophomores Read the rest of Act One of The Crucible and answer questions #1-5 on p190.

Sophomores Read Act One of The Crucible . We will discuss the play in class, and then answer questions Tuesday night.

Schedule for this week: due Tuesday - merged rough draft, with headings and revised works cited - eliminate all MLA headings and keep pages numbered in sequence due Wednesday - annotated bibliography - MLA citations of all sources (at least five), with annotations discussing the credibility and relevance of each due Thursday - merged revised draft with title page, including a 100-word abstract at the bottom - should include all parts of the paper (profession, problem, solutions, evaluation and conclusion) due Friday - FINAL DRAFT - integrating design elements discussed in class, and including copies of all sources referenced in the paper

Seniors Finish and TYPE your Solutions paper and bring it on Monday. Also bring all sources that you've used, so that we can check (or create) your citations. Next step is twofold: to create an annotated bibliography of all sources, and to merge all three drafts into one cohesive paper. We will discuss both in class. Sophomores I neglected to tell 5th hour about the honors assignment, so everyone is off the hook for the homework. I will pass out a copy of the assignment in class Monday, and we begin studying The Crucible .

Seniors will write the initial draft of the Solutions paper in class tomorrow. Everyone should bring all relevant sources and be prepared to write in class. This final stage of the research paper discusses the solutions to the problem defined in paper #2. Please observe the following requirements: Cite at least three credible sources according to MLA conventions Consider the criteria by which the solutions are judged - in other words, the basis for a decision when considering how to solve your problem Recommend the best solution to the problem, based on your evaluation

We've been talking about the Puritans in class, and I mentioned Rev. John Eliot the other day - translator of the first bible printed in America , in Algonquin. We have a page from one of the originals in our local Biedenharn Bible Museum and thought you might be interested in a piece done by the News Star to commemorate the re-opening of the museum:   Biedenharn Bible Museum . Quiz tomorrow on the two Puritan poets discussed in class, as well as the notes on poetics.

Seniors Read Chapter One and the essay excerpt on p36 in The Language of Composition and answer the questions on diction and syntax on p37. Use examples from the NYT excerpt in your responses. Sophomores Read p130-143 in your textbook, including Anne Bradstreet's poems, and answer the following: #1-4 on 139 #1-3 on 142

Your TYPED essay is due tomorrow. It should be at least three pages, including the works cited. Follow MLA guidelines for citation and format.

Seniors The essay on your problem is due on Monday, September 10th. We will look at each others' papers in groups and then turn in the final draft on Tuesday. You have a copy of the assignment, and you've written an initial draft in class; now you should be locating additional resources and revising. Remember that you need at least three credible sources, but they do not have to be different sources than you used in your first paper, necessarily. Your essay should be formatted according to MLA and should be over two pages (excluding the works cited page). Bring all sources, but you will not have to turn them in because you may use one or more for your Solutions paper.

Sophomores Your exam is on Monday, September 10th and will include the following: Historical Narratives (70-71) Log of Christopher Columbus  La Relacion Of Plymouth Plantation Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano Make sure to read the "front" and "back" material for each selection and to review the 30 "Words to Know." Your book's publisher has provided a handy flashcard program on their website. The format of the test is multiple choice, matching, short answer and essay. The exam will be worth 100 points.

Seniors Today we wrote the initial draft of the Problem paper in class. Hopefully, that made it clear what exactly you need to know and will give you a more specific focus for your research. Bring all research that you find to class every day, and feel free to check the quality of those sources with me. Generally speaking, you want to find sources written by professionals in the field, those who are qualified through degrees and licensure to have informed opinions. Remember that part of the ongoing assignment is to establish the credibility of your sources through an annotated bibliography. You will ALL write the "This I Believe" essay in class on Friday. The assignment, as outlined on the site , follows:   Tell a story : Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else

Seniors You will write an initial draft of your "problem" tomorrow in class. That means that you need to decide on a topic tonight . Narrow it down to one specific problem that is common to the profession. In other words, if you did this job, what would you deal with every day? Try to find as much relevant research material tonight, as well, and bring that with you. In addition, you may want to preview the other essay we'll be working on soon: This I Believe . This essay is fairly short and informal and focuses on a central, guiding principle or belief. Sophomores Read "Of Plymouth Plantation" and answer questions #1, 3 and 4 on page 88.

NO SCHOOL ON THURSDAY OR MONDAY Seniors Due dates for your revision essay and letter assignments have been extended to next Tuesday, Sept 4th. That should give everyone plenty of time to conduct your interviews and to integrate that source into your papers. Full block format for the letter MLA citation for the essay Letter assignment : write a full block letter identifying the person you interviewed (name, occupation, education, experience, etc.) and summarizing the relevant information you gained. The body of the letter should be at least two paragraphs, and should be no shorter than 250 words. Sophomores Read "Of Plymouth Plantation" (81-91) and be prepared to discuss and answer questions.

Sophomores Answer questions on page 78, #3-6. Honors students have until Thursday to turn in (typed) questions on "Superman and Me."

Sophomores Read pages 66-77, including "Historical Narratives" and "La Relacion." In addition, honors students are to read the Sherman Alexie essay (handout) "Superman and Me" and answer the questions at the end. Answer in complete sentences and cite the text by paragraph. This assignment should be typed and is due on Wednesday. Seniors You should be trying to contact people and get your interviews. If you would like help, please ask now in class or via email. Your letter describing the interview is due on Friday, August 31. Letter assignment : write a full block letter identifying the person you interviewed (name, occupation, education, experience, etc.) and summarizing the relevant information you gained. The body of the letter should be at least two paragraphs, and should be no shorter than 250 words.

Your interview letter is due next week, so if you haven't conducted the interview, or at least contacted someone, you need to do so ASAP (as in NOW). In the meantime, even if you don't have the interview, it's time to write the first draft of your Career Paper. Everyone will write the first draft IN CLASS on Monday, August 27th . Please include the following: A statement regarding your basic plan -- i.e. what you'd like to do later in life -- and a brief statement about why ; this is the reason you are planning at all. A description of the job/career, including everyday tasks, skills needed, benefits and drawbacks A discussion of the education involved -- both before and throughout your career The job outlook -- what kind of jobs are available, how much they pay, where they are (good place for data and statistics, even images) A discussion of your immediate plans -- where you are applying. who are you talking to, etc. As in any paper with sources, you

Seniors Your assignment for Friday is to type a list of at least fifteen questions for your interview. As we have discussed in class, your interview needs to be conducted some time in the next week. If you don't have any ideas yet about someone to interview, then please let me know now, so I can help you. Avoid "yes or no" questions, as well as any questions that are too personal - i.e. how much money they make. Although you will turn in your list tomorrow, you should have it saved so that you can use it for your interview, either in person or via phone or email. Please put an MLA header on the paper you turn in. Sophomores Re-read "The Man to Send Rain Clouds" and answer the questions #1-5 on 53, including the "comprehension check." Note especially any details you noticed on the second reading - sensory images and clues about the characters and their relationships and experience, for example.

Seniors Print out a description and information on your major or profession from the Occupational Outlook Handbook . You might also want to look at ACT's Career Planning site. There are also several career quizzes that will help you decide how to best match your interest and skills with a profession. Myers-Briggs Personality Test The Big Five Personality Test  You might also want to keep an eye on ULM's Career Connections site. The most important questions of all, perhaps? Sophomores Answer the following questions about the two coyote stories in your book: "Coyote and Buffalo" #1-3 on 42 "Fox and Coyote and Whale" #2-4 on 46 Use complete sentences and cite from the text!

Seniors Your assignment for tonight is to research possible careers and to bring the following to class: a typed, 250-word paper explaining what you'd like to do for a living and why - considering where you'd like to be in 10 or 20 years a printout from College Board about possible career or degree - can find career, then degree, and then colleges that offer it a printout from a degree program at a specific university College Board: Majors & Career Profiles College Board: College Search Sophomores Your homework is to read the Iroquois myth "The World on the Turtle's Back" (24) and then compare to the four functions of myths, as outlined by Joseph Campbell on page 31: to instill a sense of awe toward the mystery of the universe to explain the workings of the natural world to support and validate social customs to guide people through the trials of living How does this myth serve these purposes? Your answer should be in complete sentences and s

Your in-class essays are Monday, August 20th. I highly suggest that you get started this weekend by not only narrowing down your choices of topics, but by writing a thesis statement (or statements, for Eng II students). The following from Purdue's OWL has some good advice on developing strong, arguable thesis statements: OWL: Establishing Arguments Once you have decided what you would like to prove, then you can set about finding the evidence to help you do so. As noted in class, one of the best ways to do this is by taking notes. Make sure you write down page numbers or mark them with post-its or tabs so that you can easily access them in class. Of course, you can also highlight or underline passages in your book. You might also consider creating an outline, no matter how detailed or skeletal, as it will help you stay focused on Monday. Creating an outline is also a good way to determine if your thesis is too broad.  Remember that you only have 50 minutes and around 500 word

This is a reminder for all students to bring your books tomorrow. I will pass out the writing prompts, and we will discuss thesis statements and organizing evidence for your in-class essay on Monday.

Schedule for this week: Wednesday - Introductions and Syllabus Thursday - Typed Reports DUE Friday - Pep Rally, discuss in-class essay Monday - In-Class Essay (bring book, marked for content)

Your summer reading assignment will be enclosed in your report cards, which you can pick up Friday at the front office.  The assignment is also linked below and on the River Oaks website: SUMMER READING Have a great summer, everyone! 

I'll see 1st period tomorrow morning and the rest of you on Wednesday... STUDY between now and then!

The following is not required (and therefore probably will not be read by many of you), but if you'd like a good laugh (some will now accept this as a challenge, if only to come to class exclaiming that this isn't funny at all and that I've wasted their time) about how we Americans often view England, then read this piece for The Guardian by American writer George Saunders: Just who is this Magna Carta fellow? No, you will not be tested on this (more people have just decided not to read it, yet some have just decided to, based solely on the fact that they want to prove me wrong about them not reading it). Enjoy.

You have two stories to read this week, and I've given you copies of each. The first, by Paul Theroux, is called "Our Raccoon Year" and was published in the May 2012 edition of Harper's . The second story, "Endurance," was written by James Katowich and was published in the Fall 2003 edition of Turnrow . You are responsible for both stories, but I will not quiz you on them. Instead, you have the option of completing homework for credit by Wednesday . Your homework is to write a one-page typed response to one or both of the stories. DO NOT simply summarize the story. Respond critically - based on the character development, setting, tone, voice, theme, etc. We will review on Thursday , and the honors essay will be written in class on Friday .

By Wednesday, have the following (for points): Homework on the Seamus Heaney Nobel Lecture (#1-7 in the margins) Homework on "At the Pitt-Rivers " (CC, #2-6) If by Friday , you create an outline of the stuff we've read, including major periods and authors and titles and themes (in other words, a fully-developed study guide based on my skeletal study guide), then I'll give you homework credit. And, yes, you should be studying for your final.

Start looking at this and ask questions next week. We will also read one or two more (recent) short stories, and I will post those as soon as I decide.  I highly recommend you get started this weekend - for the finals in ALL of your classes. Finals count as 20% of your semester average. Mark Twain Life and Times From The Autobiography of Mark Twain (658) From Life on the Mississippi (669) Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Study Guide) Women’s Voices, Women’s Lives Introduction to Unit (742-44) Willa Cather “A Wagner Matinee” (688) Emily Dickinson Author Study, including all poems (746-759) Charlotte Perkins Gilman “The Yellow Wallpaper” (765) Kate Chopin “The Story of an Hour” (783) Tillie Olsen “I Stand Here Ironing” (806) The American Dream Historical Background (820) Carl Sandburg “Chicago” Edgar Lee Masters “Lucinda Matlock” Edwin Arlington Robinson “Richard Cory” & “Miniver Cheevy” Paul Laurence D

During this last week of classes, we will discuss Penelope Lively's story, "At the Pitt-Rivers ," Seamus Heaney's Nobel Lecture (the shortened version in your textbook), and the final exam. Hard copies of the final exam review are in my room, and the list is below.  Although I have tried to make the list comprehensive, it is always possible I have left something off. If I have, please let me know for the benefit of the other students: Research Process MLA Format – what it is and how it looks   Using the subscription databases  (i.e. EBSCO, JSTOR) Evaluating sources (Relevance and Reliability ) & Using sources (Introduce and Integrate)   Parenthetical Citation, Formatting block quotes, Works Cited (expect at least to know the form for an article from a subscription database)   Romantic Period   Introduction to the period (620-638)   Gothic Literature &  Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein   (study guide)

Juniors Please finish reading Nineteen Eighty-Four by Monday. Your last homework is due then, and we will discuss part three. The exam, including vocabulary, will be on Tuesday, May 8th . You will write in-class essays on the novel on  Friday, May 11th . I've given 6th period copies of the prompt(s), and 1st period students can get a copy from Mrs. D in the morning. You should bring your books and a brief outline but NO prewritten drafts. Sophomores (update!) Homework for Fahrenheit 451 is due on Wednesday. We will discuss the 2nd half of the book Monday and Tuesday, and the exam as been moved from Wednesday to Friday, May 11th . I will be out on Tuesday, and we have the ring ceremony on Thursday, so we will review on Wednesday. Note to parents: All of the homework for the final nine weeks is optional ; therefore, incomplete or late homework will not be accepted and will not negatively affect grades.

Your finals are Monday and Tuesday of next week. Anyone who is taking the AP exam, or who has an A for the year, is exempt. The final will consist of vocabulary from the rhetorical terms handout, as well as an in-class essay. The exam lasts for one hour and takes place during your normally scheduled class; if you'd like to take it at another time, please let me know. The exam counts for 20% of your semester grade.

Seniors Memory Books due Friday, May 4 . Yes, you are supposed to come to class even though the ring ceremony has been changed to the 10th. Juniors Quiz on Part Two of 1984 - 1st period on Thursday, 6th period on Wednesday. Continue to read through the rest of this week and weekend. The EXAM on the novel (including vocabulary) is scheduled for Tuesday, May 8th . Sophomores Quiz on Part One of Fahrenheit 451 on Wednesday. Read through Part Two for Monday, May 7th . Complete the study guide for Wednesday, May 9th (50 point homework grade, optional).

Seniors Your Profile Essays are due Tuesday , but your book essay has been moved to Wednesday because of baseball and tennis. Your letters are due then, as well. And don't forget to bring your materials for the memory book to work on in class. Juniors Please finish Part Two of Nineteen Eighty-Four and questions for Tuesday . Sophomores Please have Part One of Fahrenheit 451 read by Wednesday . We will be discussing the book in class all week.

Seniors Your typed rough draft of the "Profile" essay is due tomorrow. We will have a peer review day.  Also, please remember the following deadlines: In-Class AP Reading Essay - Tuesday, May 1st  Final draft of "Profile" essay  - due Tuesday, May 1st Letter to Future Self (in self-addressed envelope) - due Wednesday, May 2nd Memory Book assignment - due Friday, May 4th Juniors Read Part Two of 1984 and complete questions for homework credit (see if you don't have them). Questions are due on Monday. Expect a quiz. Sophomores Read "A Noiseless Flash" (Hersey) tonight, and bring your copy of Fahrenheit 451 to class tomorrow.

Read 1072-74 & 1088-93, and answer the following questions on 1093 for homework credit: comp check and #3-6. Remember to purchase a copy of Fahrenheit 451 by this Friday.

Sophomores  Please purchase a copy of Fahrenheit 451 if you have not already. We will read some selections from the textbook first and then begin the novel this weekend. Juniors Continue to read Part Two of Nineteen Eighty-Four . We are having a comprehension quiz on Monday.

As noted in class, the assessment essay for your dual enrollment course is a profile of a fellow student. Below is the assignment as it appears on ULM's Moodle site for Freshman Composition (with additions by me): Interviews will take place on Thursday, April 26th Rough Draft due on Friday, April 27th Final Draft due on Tuesday, May 1st Our upcoming essay will strengthen your writing skills while building a sense of community in our classroom. On our interview day, I will put you into groups, and you will interview one group member. Your goal is to write a profile of your interviewee. In that profile, you will show readers what is unique/special/meaningful about this person. You will also give a good sense of his or her personality/body language/attitude/etc. We will look at several examples of profile writing in class. You might also look at newspaper and magazine articles that introduce semi-famous people (up-and-coming actors, college athletes, newly drafted a