river oaks [english]

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)