river oaks [english]

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.