river oaks [english]

Once more, the schedule is Monday (3rd and 4th), Tuesday (1st and 2nd), and Wednesday (5th and 6th). Your midterm reviews are below . I highly recommend making note cards for all vocabulary terms, either on one of the many website/apps or physically, by hand, which some psychologists say helps to "imprint" the information. Good luck on all your tests, and I'll see you next week...

Sophomores You have a quiz on the Carpe Diem poets plus Donne on Thursday. It will be open notes. Your study guide for the midterm is also posted below: MIDTERM REVIEW Seniors Your final vocabulary quiz (#26-50) is on Friday. There will be a total of 100 terms on the midterm, plus a 500-word essay. Right now, my intent is for you to write on the following: From Siri  to Watson , computer intelligence is growing at an exponential rate. Some believe that machines with "strong intelligence" will help to solve some of mankind's greatest problems, while others worry that technological singularity might have cataclysmic consequences for mankind. Based on what you know, and what you've read and seen, what do you believe to be the greatest positives and negatives of artificial intelligence? As usual, the essay will be written in class, during the prescribed time on Tuesday, and will be typed and formatted according to MLA.

Sophomores Your homework is to answer the questions following the poems by Herrick and Marvell. Your study guide should be ready by tomorrow. Seniors Here's how Watson works:

Sophomores Read Sir Francis Bacon's "Of Studies" and answer questions on p444. Also, read through the section on metaphysical poetry and John Donne (449-57). The poem we covered that's not in your book is called " Song: Go and catch a falling star ." Seniors The discussion this week will center around the topic of artificial intelligence. To help you understand that concept, please watch the following video:

Your prompt for Friday concerns current robotics technology and how it affects humans, both positively and negatively. You'll pick a specific focus (i.e. service, medical or military applications) and find about three sources that discuss current research and development of technology in that field. Consider the impact these technologies have on the human population; then, write a thesis summarizing your opinion, including examples from your articles as support. Your essay must include examples of BOTH positive and negative effects. Use credible sources only, and cite everything according to MLA. This essay will include a works cited page. This essay should be around 500 words and will be written in class. You are required to turn in your highlighted sources with the final draft.

Quiz on #1-25 on Friday. The topic for this week is robotics, specifically in three areas: home/personal, industrial/medical, and military: Here's an overview of recent developments in the world of robotics from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ( IEEE ). Popular Science  online calls their section on robotics " Our Robot Overlords ."  For a more theatrical presentation, this  TED Talk  from March 2014 features EDI, a multi-purpose robot designed to work with humans. Do some research, and decide which aspect of robotics most interests/excites/frightens you, and print and bring at least three credible articles by Wednesday for your synthesis essay on Friday .

Your Macbeth exam is on Wednesday . The rubric for the Macbeth  creative project follows (20 points each): Rationale - a 250 word report on your project, including what you did and why Accuracy - adherence to the play and correctness of the report Creativity - use of medium to convey the action/message of the scene Aesthetics - including the presentation and accessibility of the material Presentation - introducing, explaining and presenting your project to the class The Macbeth project is due on Friday, December 2nd . The goal of the project is to present a creative representation related to some aspect of the play, author or Renaissance theater. If a video project, then each group member must be an active participant in the process, and the video should be between five and ten minutes long (usually a scene). Visual art projects should be presented in a manner that allows for display.

Seniors I have attached a copy of the finalized list of terms for your exam. The definitions are due on Tuesday, December 2nd. Please use Webster's (generally the first listed, or the one in blue), and avoid using obsolete or archaic definitions. I will go over the list on Monday to clear any confusion due to derivatives or cyclical definitions. I will give you two quizzes before the end of the semester, 25 terms each. These terms, along with the rhetorical terms, will form the basis for half of the mid-term exam. The other half will be an essay. Your in-class essay this week is based on an AP prompt: Contemporary life is marked with controversy. Choose a controversial local, national, or global issue with which you are familiar. Then, using appropriate evidence, write an essay that carefully considers the opposing positions on this controversy and proposes a solution or compromise. Notice that although the prompt is vague when it comes to topic, it is very specific when i

Seniors Have fun at the Louisiana Renaissance Festival ! See you Monday, when we will complete the questions set and pull terms for our next set of vocabulary. Sophomores Please read Act Two of Macbeth in preparation for a quiz on Monday. Also, Honors students should read and summarize the following article about James I and his paranoia regarding witchcraft (also a bit about the gunpowder plot). Your summary is due Thursday (or anytime before). Witch marks fit for a king beguile archaeologists at Knole

Seniors Final draft of your revision is due, printed and stapled with the reviewed draft. Don't forget about the rhetorical terms quiz. Bring your completed AP multiple-choice test on Monday with vocabulary highlighted. We will compile a list from your notes. Sophomores Please read Act Two. Below are some scenes from the reading so far: [the weird sisters - warning: a little gore] [act one scene 7] [act two scene two]

Seniors Complete the AP multiple-choice question handout for tomorrow. Your revisions are due Friday. Rough draft workshop on Thursday. Please bring a printed copy of your essay to class. Vocabulary test on Friday. Sophomores Please read Act One of Macbeth . Answer questions following Act One - comp check, #2-6.

Seniors Answer questions #34-43 on the AP handout. We will continue to work through the entire multiple-choice section of the practice exam this week. Even though most are not taking the exam, the questions are designed to make you more careful and critical readers, and therefore more critical writers. Your revisions are due on Friday. You may choose from the following essays: ACT prompt: Multi-Tasking Synthesis: The American High School Analysis: Fasting and Football, or The Real New York Giants Also, your 3rd rhetorical terms quiz is on Friday (P-W). Sophomores Read ACT I of Macbeth . You'll answer questions tomorrow night.

Seniors You started your analysis essays today in class on one of two articles from the text: " The Real New York Giants " or " For Fasting and Football, a Dedicated Game Plan ." Tonight, look to the text for more examples, and take notes to use in class. Tomorrow, you will type and revise your essays. Sophomores Expect a quiz tomorrow on pages 314-324. You should study your notes on Shakespeare, the Renaissance Theater, and the context of Macbeth . We will read the play over the next two weeks. Globe Theater Gunpowder Plot James I and Witchcraf t Royal Shakespeare Company Shakespeare Unlocked: Macbeth

Your revised schedule - due to the blackout pep rally and playoff game - means that everything will be delayed by a weekend: Seniors - writing essay on Monday - this weekend, gather evidence from the text, and plan Sophomores - quiz on Renaissance poets (part one) on Monday Here's a creepy story for Halloween, from American horror master H.P.Lovecraft:  The Call of Cthulhu .

Seniors Read the essays by Gitlin and Broder, and answer questions on pages 157-58 and 160. You are writing your Education essays in class, and you will be required to cite from at least THREE of the sources in the book. Sophomores Your take-home Intro to the Renaissance quiz is due tomorrow, and your Renaissance Poets quiz is in class tomorrow. We will start Macbeth next week.

Seniors Read pages 150-164 in Language of Composition , and answer questions on pages 153 and 155. Use complete sentences, and cite examples from the text. You are preparing for an essay on education in the United States. For some perspective on the problem, see this infographic on Illiteracy in America . Sophomores You have a take-home quiz on the Renaissance period (due Friday), and your homework for tonight is to answer questions #1-3 on 303, #1-3 on 304, and #2-4 on 306. The questions and discussion are in preparation for a quiz on Friday on the following: Sir Thomas Wyatt - " Whoso List to Hunt " and "My Lute, Awake!" Elizabeth I - "On Monsieur's Departure" Christopher Marlowe - "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" Sir Walter Raleigh - "The Nymph's Reply to the Shepherd" Edmund Spenser - Sonnets 30 and 75 from Amoretti , The Faerie Queene William Shakespeare - Sonnets 29, 116, and 130 from Sonnets The sonnet fo

Seniors Read the essays/selections in your textbook on pages 74-85. Sophomores Read the Introduction to the Renaissance in your book, along with the selections on pages 283-94. Expect a quiz in the next couple of days.

Seniors Your resumes are due tomorrow, and you will write the profile essays in class Thursday. Your vocabulary quiz is on Friday. Sophomores Your exam on Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales is Thursday. Here's a printable crossword puzzle to help you review the pilgrims, which you can turn in for points on Thursday. Again, here is the PPT file on Chaucer covered in class:  Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales

Ok, you asked for it.

As mentioned in class, ULM's profile essay  is the required assessment essay for all English 1001 students. We will write the essay as a class, focusing on a parent or guardian when he/she was a senior in high school (or equivalent). The  profile essay  is due on Friday, with a rough draft written in class on Thursday . The essay should be around 750 words in length, formatted according to MLA guidelines. For a copy of the printed assignment, click here. Your essay should focus on specific aspects of your subject's character, description, personality, advice or accomplishments. You are NOT to write a biography, or list of life events. Your goal is to point out what is unique about your subject, through descriptive language and dialogue, so that the reader can "see" him/her clearly. Some use of direct quotes is required, so make you take accurate notes during the interview. We will discuss possible questions in class. Although based on a slightly different prompt,

Mrs. Burkett and Mrs. Malone have asked that each of you create an academic resume, so we will be doing it as a class. I've attached a template for you, as well as an article from Time  outlining the five most common mistakes, and we have discussed both in class. Remember that the purpose for this resume is to provide teachers and others with information for letters of recommendation, and to inform scholarship and admissions committees of your academic accomplishments. You can tailor the resume's "purpose" or "profile" to fit the recipients' individual needs later. Generally speaking, include at least the following: academic achievements, including GPA and ACT composite scores extra-curricular participation, including sports, spirit groups and clubs awards and honors, including A-HEC, regional/state literary rallies, National Honor Society leadership positions, especially student council or HOBY work experience, especially as it relates to your

Sophomores Honors students: read your books. Everyone: memorize the first 18 lines of the "Prologue." Also, you have questions from "Wife of Bath's Tale" -- Reading Check, #2-4 from the online version .

You all wrote an ACT essay today on multi-tasking, so I thought I'd share some information with you. You are not required to read this article or to take the test, but it may offer some perspective. Please note that your essay today is not graded on the basis of your opinion, but rather the way you expressed your opinion. That said, the following may change your mind: "You'll Never Learn!"  by Annie Murphy Hall ( Slate Magazine ) GateKeeper Task for SuperTaskers

Tonight, your homework is to answer questions following " Pardoner's Tale " (Comp Check, 2-5) and to read " Wife of Bath's Tale ." I will give you some questions over the weekend, and your honors exam on outside readings will be on Monday. As stated in class, this is an open book essay exam , and you are expected to USE the book in your answers. Your Prologue recitations will take place on Tuesday, and your exam on Chaucer and the Tales will be Thursday, October 23rd : Thursday - Pardoner's Tale Friday - Wife of Bath's Tale Monday - Honors Exam (outside readings) Tuesday - Recitations ( first 18 lines in ME ) Wednesday - MAIS cheer/dance - review day Thursday - Exam on Chaucer and The Canterbury Tales I will introduce the Renaissance Period next Friday, and we will start reading Macbeth  the following week.

Sophomores Your honors essays will be written in class on Friday, October 17th. I will give you the prompt at the beginning of class, so come with your book prepared to write. In class on Thursday, we will discuss " The Pardoner's Tale ." Please read before you come to class. Seniors Your next rhetorical terms quiz will be next Friday, October 24th. This Friday, you are writing an essay in class. We will discuss the prompt on Thursday.

Sophomores , I gave you a PSAT study booklet to work on over the long weekend. We will cover sections 1 and 3 (Critical Reading #1-48) on Tuesday, but you are of course encouraged to work through the entire test in preparation for the PSAT on Wednesday, October 15th. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper to turn in for homework credit. College Board, who writes the exam, has some great preparation materials online. Practice now for the real thing next year! Everyone , here are the latest official practice tests from ACT and College Board: ACT Practice Exam SAT Practice Exam Also, don't forget about the practice questions available at ACT's site.

Seniors Your revisions are due tomorrow. Please bring the workshop draft with comments and attach it to your revision. Also, you will have a vocabulary quiz on the first 20 rhetorical terms (A-D). Sophomores You have a quiz next week on the "The General Prologue." I've attached the notes here , and you have homework questions from the book: Comp Check and #2-5 on p137. Your quiz tomorrow is on the introduction to the tales, along with biographical information from the text. This quiz will be open book. Your recitations (1st 18 lines in ME) are now due at the end of next week. You will have PSAT homework over the long weekend, which we will go over on Tuesday, and honors students have essays due Wednesday, October 15th.

Mrs. Burkett and Mrs. Malone have talked to you (and your parents) about creating a resume of your high school academic careers. This should include your contact information, overall grade point average, athletics, organizations, academic competitions, clubs and extra-curricular activities. The following example organizes by categories instead of grade level and includes a description of the responsibilities and accomplishments in each area: Sample Resume

Seniors Your homework for tonight is to complete exercises #1 and #3 on 170-172. Your essay for this week is a revision of one of the following: Drinking Age Debate Print Advertising Analysis JFK Inauguration Analysis Please re-visit the original assignments for each of these essays before deciding on which one to revise. Print out and bring that essay on Wednesday.  Your first vocabulary quiz on Friday is on rhetorical terms A-D (20 terms total). Sophomores We are discussing Chaucer's Canterbury Tales this week. Tonight, please read the introductory material and begin reading the "General Prologue," starting on 107: Part One (Knight-Franklin) Part Two (Guildsmen-End) You should also start working on memorizing the first eighteen lines of the "General Prologue" in Middle English. There are several videos online that may help, and I will of course help you in class. For now, here is a copy of the text (with audio) . The recitation will

Your job today is to write an essay of around 500 words analyzing the rhetoric of John F. Kennedy's inaugural address. Your essay should consider the many rhetorical strategies Kennedy employs to achieve his purpose and to reach his various audiences: figurative language, emotionally-charged diction, parallelism, allusion, alliteration, sentence variety and length, and logical appeals, to name a few. Organize your evidence into clearly developed paragraphs in support of a thesis. Remember, too, that an analysis is NOT merely a summary of the text, but rather a detailed and focused look at some specific element of the text. You will be writing BY HAND today, just like JFK did in preparation for his speech.

Your next exam will be on Friday, and it will include the following: Boccaccio's " Federigo's Falcon " (172-79) Book of Margery Kempe (253-55) Medieval theater (258-59) Dante's Inferno ( handout ) Ballads - from the handout and the textbook (192-99) We will cover more notes tomorrow, review in class Thursday, and take the exam on Friday. Also, you have an opportunity to earn extra points this week by printing out lyrics to a story song. If your song can be classified as a ballad, according to our definition, then you get even more points. Start studying NOW for your exam on Friday, so that you can come to class with questions.

Your homework for tomorrow is to answer the thirteen questions on pages 55-56. Use complete sentences, and cite from the text. You can cite the paragraph number if you'd like. These questions reference "rhetorical strategies" found on pages 58-59, and I will be handing out a more comprehensive list tomorrow, as well. Your first vocabulary quiz on those terms will be next week. Your essay for this  week is an analysis of JFK's address to the country (and the world) on his inauguration in 1961.

Sophomores We are starting the week with a discussion of medieval ballads -- story songs, mostly about tragic events. There are three in your book, and we will read three more from this handout , including a "true crime" take on the ballad from the fin de siecle . I will print copies, but you may want to preview the text. Your homework for Tuesday is to answer the Comp Check and #2-5 on 198.

Seniors Your essay this week is on advertising. You are analyzing a print ad from a magazine, based on the model in your textbook (39-40). Everyone was supposed to bring magazines from home and to answer a series of questions concerning their ads: What is the product? Who is the audience? What  else  is being sold? In other words, what is the message? What are the dominant images? What associations can be made with the images? What specific language does the ad use (i.e. diction and syntax)? How does the ad appeal to ethos, logos and pathos? From this information, you should create an outline for your analysis. The first paragraph should include the name of your product, the magazine, the primary audience, the message, and the primary rhetorical strategies. Your essay should be 500 words, and the essay must be written in class. Bring your USB drives.

Sophomores We read "Federigo's Falcon" in class today, from Boccaccio's The Decameron  (171-79). Your homework is to read the selection from The Book of Margery Kempe  (252-57). I will give you 20 points for completing the following: Comp Check, #3-5 on 177 Comp Check, #2-4 on 256 In order to get full credit, you must write in complete sentences and cite from the text(s).

Your exam in English II tomorrow is on Arthurian Literature, including the notes on chivalry and courtly love, Sir Gawain and The Green Knight , and Death of Arthur . Don't forget to study the vocabulary for both (30 terms in all).

Seniors You should be reading Ch 2. Tonight's homework is to answer the questions following the 9/11 piece. There are 13 questions in all, and I expect complete sentences with direct reference to the text, including citations when appropriate. Bring a school-appropriate magazine of your choice on Wednesday. We will be analyzing print ads in class and writing in class on Friday. Sophomores Read the excerpt from Malory's Death of Arthur (225-237), and answer the questions at the end: comp check, #2-4. We will have an exam on Arthurian Literature on Wednesday. Study ALL vocabulary from the two longer works.

Seniors You are writing the next essay IN CLASS, using only your own experience and observations for evidence. The topic is Louisiana's drinking age. Instead of citing statistics from a source, this paper will focus on logic and reason. Your essay should be organized according to the classical model (13-14 in your text), and should be around 500 words in length. According to the APIS ( Alcohol Policy Information System ), the current law in Louisiana is that you must be 21 or older to to purchase, possess or consume alcohol. However, the current law also states that you can be a minor and consume or possess alcohol in a private residence or with a parent/guardian. There is no such exception for the purchase of alcohol. Do you agree with the current law, or should it be changed in some way? Consider the rhetorical appeals we discussed in class, specifically the relationship between the author, subject, and audience.

Sophomores Answer questions on p222 - Comprehension Check, #2-4 - five questions total, paragraph each, citing examples from the text. Seniors You have a quiz tomorrow on the notes and Ch1 of your text. Know the Aristotelian Triad (the three appeals) and the classical model for argument (p13). Also, please be familiar with the logical fallacies discussed in class.

Seniors Read chapter ONE in your textbook, please. Expect a quiz on the notes Wednesday. You will write Thursday in class on the subject of the drinking age. Sophomores As you know, much of the week will be dedicated to Monty Python and the Holy Grail ; however, to begin the week, I've given you some notes on the legend of King Arthur, and your homework tonight is to read the excerpt in your book from  Sir Gawain and The Green Knight . Full text here .

Seniors The FINAL DRAFT of your research paper is due tomorrow! Present your final draft, workshop draft, and sources in a folder with your name on it. The final draft should be in a report cover, with the rubric placed inside . Finally, submit a copy of your draft -- intro to conclusion -- via email. Your file name should be lastname-final. Sophomores You have a QUIZ tomorrow on the introduction to the Middle Ages . That is all.

Below is the schedule for the week, with a description of each assignment: Tuesday - Title Page and Abstract (10 pts) - example should include a title that is related to your topic your name and my name the course and date abstract - a summary of your entire paper (about 50 words) Wednesday - Annotated Bibliography (50 pts) - example a citation for each source, followed by a brief (3-5 sentence) "annotation" include a reference to both the reliability and relevance of the source Thursday - Interview Letter (50 pts) - example use "full block" style - aligned left one body paragraph on the interview subject - who, why him/her, when, where one body paragraph related to the material used in your paper ALSO bring your combined draft for workshop Friday - Final Draft DUE (200 pts) your report of at least 1500 words, bound in a cover of some sort copy of rubric inside the front cover copy of all sources cited in the paper file sent to my email

English II students have an exam tomorrow. I've linked the notes on the Exeter Book and Venerable Bede on the Edline site. You can also find copies of all works online. The exam will be mostly multiple choice and matching with an essay. Don't forget to study the vocabulary, as well.

I gave you a suggested outline in class today, linked here . I also gave you instructions on inserting an image into your draft. Your final draft of the problem/solution paper is due tomorrow at the end of the day. Please email the attached file (lastname-problem) so I can add it to the database. This weekend, your priority is to complete your interview and to revise both papers. Next week, you will report to me on your interview in the form of a letter . I will discuss the format and contents on Monday. You will also be required to turn in an annotated bibliography and an abstract/title page . In other words, work on writing the paper now, so that you can get these other assignment completed next week. All of this goes toward the same goal: turning in your 1500 word report Friday, September 12th .

Seniors Bring at least two CREDIBLE sources to class tomorrow. You will begin drafting the problem/solution paper, so bring your USB drive. Sophomores Read the Venerable Bede's selection from A History of the English Church and People  (p.98-104). The EXAM has been moved to Monday , and you will have a QUIZ on the Exeter Book and Venerable Bede on Friday . The exam will cover the following: Celtic and Roman notes Anglo-Saxon notes Beowulf The Exeter Book The Venerable Bede Vocabulary from Beowulf (30) and Bede (98)

Seniors Your assignment for tonight is to come up with a viable topic for your Problem/Solution paper, to be written in class on Friday. This week's in-class activities will include researching and documentation, including evaluating online sources . One of your assignments during our week of revision is an annotated bibliography, which will state the reliability and relevance of every source cited in your paper. Sophomores We are reading selections from the Exeter Book, a collection of manuscripts from around 950 AD. Your homework is to read the selections on pages 84-97 and to answer questions #1-4 on 89 and 93. I should remind you that although homework is optional, it is a good source for exam questions!

Seniors Please continue to work on your papers throughout the next two weeks. We will begin the "problem" portion of the paper next week, so you need to be thinking of possible topics -- anything that you would be "solving" as a professional in that field. I have linked the works cited page we worked in class HERE . Please save all documents with your last name and the topic (ryland-career.docx) when you send me files. That way the files can be arranged alphabetically.

Seniors We are writing tomorrow in class, so bring your USB thumb drives! You should be working on annotating your sources - highlighting them for content and working out an outline. We will finish up on Friday and print the final draft, which will include a works cited page. Don't forget to start asking people about an interview. Sophomores Read p45-51 and answer #1-5 on p51. We will have a quiz on the poem on Friday. We will have an exam on the Anglo-Saxon period, including Beowulf and other poems, next Wednesday . Honors students have an assignment due on Monday -- reading and summarizing an article on the Staffordshire Hoard . Your summary should be around 250 words and formatted according to MLA. Summaries may include quotes, but only when the wording is unique to the author. Use the following for instructions regarding summaries (from the University of Washington): How to Write a Summary .

Seniors Print out and bring the following to class: College Board - description of major and/or career Occupational Outlook Handbook - info from at least two of the tabs Something from a degree program you are considering Sophomores Read pages 33-44 of Beowulf and do #1-4 p44. You must give me 3-4 complete sentences and direct references to the text in each answer to receive credit.

Seniors Take a personality/career test to determine your major, and then go to College Board 's site to explore possible career paths. Print something out from College Board and bring it to class. For Wednesday, visit the Occupational Outlook Handbook for more specific information. Look for your career and then navigate through the tabs and print out what you find. Finally, go to the university of your choice and find the department's home page. Look for details on your program of study and print. We will look through these sources Wednesday in class and plan your essay. Your "Career Search" essay will be written in class on Thursday and Friday. Sophomores Quiz on Celtic/Roman/Anglo-Saxon historical context tomorrow! We are also discussing Beowulf.

Seniors We will start working on your Career Research Project next week, starting with an investigation into your possible career. A good place to get information on careers and majors is College Board . For those of you who have no idea where to start, try a personality or career test. Sophomores We will start Beowulf next week, so you will need your books in class. We will have a QUIZ on Tuesday over Celtic, Roman and Anglo-Saxon historical context.

Seniors, you will all write the "This I Believe" essay in class on Thursday and 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 does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching—it can even be funny—but it should be real . Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.   Be brief : Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words. That’s about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.   Name your belief : If you can’t name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on one core belief, because three minutes is

Seniors Your synthesis papers are due tomorrow morning. Bring all stages of your draft to staple together. Sophomores Due to our "sudden meeting," your schedule has been changed by a day. Come tomorrow prepared to type.

Most of you got a good start on your essay today. We will finish those up tomorrow and print at the end of class. I am emphasizing the whole writing process on these first papers (and throughout), so I require you to turn every stage of the draft. For tomorrow, that means you will staple all of your handwritten work with your printed draft. Seniors On Wednesday, we'll get started on planning your own "This I Believe" paper. That paper will be written in class on Thursday and Friday. Sophomores On Wednesday, I will pass out books and start lecturing on the origins of the English language and British literature.

Seniors Your essay on Monday will be a synthesis using four of the "This I Believe" essays - three from your book and one from the website (http://thisibelieve.org/). Your essay should be centered around a clear, arguable thesis, and each paragraph should connect to that central purpose. You must cite all four essays according to MLA guidelines - found here - and the essay will be written in class. In other words, come prepared on Monday to write by outlining your paper and marking your book for content. Sophomores Your essay on Monday is a literary analysis of Hound of the Baskervilles . I have given you five general topics to choose from, and we talked about turning one of those topics into a thesis question and statement. Your thesis should be included in the first paragraph, as well as the title of the novel and the author. Your support should come in the form of direct reference to the novel. This is NOT merely a summary of the plot; rather, it is a detailed look a

English 8 Diagnostic

Hello everyone, and welcome back! I'm looking forward to another great year of teaching sophomores and seniors, and this year I will be teaching 8th grade as well. Your summer reading assignments are due on the first full day of classes, Thursday the 14th. Eighth graders will be tested in their Reading class. The schedule for the first few days (sophomores and seniors) follows: Wednesday - half day - introduce course and receive syllabus Thursday - full day - turn in reports and discuss in-class essay Friday - pep rally schedule - flag day ceremony - prepare outlines Monday - in-class essays The 8th grade English class will get started right away with a diagnostic grammar quiz and essay on Friday and Monday, respectively. Your syllabus will include all of my contact information, but please feel free to contact me via email any time: aryland@gmail.com .

Your summer reading list is posted on the school's website - SUMMER READING - and the required works are listed below: To Kill A Mockingbird (9th) Hound of the Baskervilles (10th) The Glass Menagerie (11th) This I Believ e (12th) In addition to the required texts, all students must read ONE (non-honors) or TWO (honors/DE/AP) books of their own choosing. Books must be grade-level appropriate and should be books the students have not already read, obviously.  The goal is to keep you reading, but I would like for you to have some choice in the matter. Visit your local bookstore or go online to see what looks interesting!

Sophomores Your final exam will 100-150 questions, including multiple choice and matching. We will be going over the study guide for the rest of the week, so review your notes and come with questions. I will hand out copies of the review in class, but I've also linked a copy HERE . Honors students, I will post your essay and presentation grades as soon as I have finished grading.

Read "Once Upon a Time" by Nadine Gordimer and answer questions #2-7 for Tuesday. First hour students must turn in homework for the short stories by Wednesday in order to receive credit.

Sophomores have some more optional homework - this time on the short stories "Araby" and "At The Pitt-Rivers." The questions are due Monday, and we will continue discussion then. Remember to use specific examples from the stories in your answers: Araby - Comp Check, #2-4, and 6 At the Pitt-Rivers - #2-8 You have one more story for the final: " Once Upon a Time ," by  Nadine Gordimer. I've linked it in case you'd like to go ahead and read it this weekend.

Sophomore Honors have PowerPoint presentations due on Monday. The late penalty is TEN POINTS PER DAY. Next week is our last week of class, so it must be turned in and presented to be counted. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email me this weekend. Again, DO NOT PLAGIARIZE. I will have to give you a zero. Use the following form for an article from a website: If no author is listed, then the title of the short work goes first in the entry. Here is a  SAMPLE PAGE  for creating a citation from a web page.

The final Honors assignment for the year is a PowerPoint presentation on two 20 th century British authors. To view which authors you have selected, download the Word document . The assignment is to create and deliver a presentation of at least twelve slides – one for a title, five for each author, and one for resources. For each author, include the following: A picture of the author  Short biography  Images and text related to major works  Major themes, settings, genre Focus on most important work, or the most important aspect of their work Your title page should include your name, class and date. Your resources slide should use MLA citations. Consider the quality of a source before you use it, and remember that the best way to avoid plagiarism is clear documentation. Avoid Wikipedia , and cite ALL information and photos. Looking deeper than Wikipedia (or to the page's references) will reveal the many sources behind that single, heavily-plagiarized page on your

Sophomores Your quiz has been moved to Monday, and your homework is to answer questions #2-8 following "Mark of the Beast." Seniors Your end-of-term grades have been posted on Edline. In order to determine if you have to take the final, average the first and second semester grades. This should include all nine weeks and the semester exam. AP students are automatically exempt from the final. Please email me if you are uncertain about your grade. Finals will take place during your normally scheduled period, in my room. The essay will be written in class and should be at least 500 words.

Read Kipling's " Mark of the Beast " tonight, and we will discuss tomorrow. Your quiz on Friday will include questions from both the poems and the short story.

Seniors Again, your assignments for the week are all due on Friday: Letter to yourself in five years (in sealed, addressed envelope) One page update on your plans (in MLA format)   Scrapbook with title page and at least 16 pages (four for each year) Sophomores Your homework for tonight is to answer the following questions concerning poems by Housman, Arnold, and Hardy: #1-4 on 964 #2-4 on 967 #1-4 on 943 #2-3 on 961 Honors students will write their papers next Friday. This Friday, in addition to your quiz, honors students will choose from a list of 20th century authors for presentations. 

Okay guys, it's time for the final push. Getting back to school after this last break is hard, I know, but all we have left is three weeks and finals. Seniors have even less, of course: Seniors Your final project is due at the end of the week. Although I've told you about the "Memory Book" assignment, I haven't put any details on this site. So here goes: Can be either a 12X12 scrapbook or a digital presentation Must include a title page, and at least 16 pages/slides of content -- four for each year of high school Slides must include information and pictures from your life inside and outside of school -- i.e. trips, sports, holidays, pep rallies, clubs, vacations, even academics! At least one slide from each year must be dedicated to remembering popular culture from the year -- including major events, trends, music, movies, etc. The assignments this week will also include a letter to your(future)self and an update on your post-graduation plans. All assi

Seniors We will type tomorrow's essay in class. Please refrain from any editorials/commentary on the question, and you will not be able to use any pre-written drafts. As this is our last essay together as a class, make it a good one (and your own). We discussed some of the TV shows and films made (and set) in Louisiana; consider also the coverage of Louisiana politics by the national press, and aspects of Louisiana's culture--such as Mardi Gras, music and food--that are depicted in the mass media. Above all, make sure you answer the question and use plenty of specific examples. Note that if you would like to enter the essay into the high school writing contest hosted by NSU, there are specific requirements, including a length of 1000-2000 words. See the website for details . Sophomores Your homework for tonight is to answer questions following "In Memorium" and "Crossing the Bar." You should also read the poems for tomorrow by Robert Browning: "

Seniors Your essay assignment this week is based on the NSU High School Essay Contest : "How does the Louisiana you know compare to the descriptions of Louisiana in the mass media?" You should be prepared to write the essay in class on Wednesday. The quiz on the last 40 words of your SAT vocabulary list is on Thursday. Sophomores We will discuss Victorian poetry this week, beginning with Tennyson's " Lady of Shalott " and ending with a test on Thursday. Honors students should be reading their selections for this final nine weeks.

Seniors Your MAUS exam will be Thursday, and your vocabulary test (part two) is on Friday. The MAUS exam will be an open book essay test. Next week's essay is part of a contest through the Louisiana Folklife Center at NSU. Visit the website to learn more . Sophomores Your quiz on the Introduction to the Victorian Period will be on Thursday. Please print out the handout, read it, and bring it to class. I will pass out copies of your next set readings tomorrow.

Seniors You should be halfway through MAUS at this point, and you should expect a quiz on the first four chapters on Monday. We will continue to discuss the novel, and your exam will be next Wednesday (possibly Thursday). Remember also to study the next thirty vocabulary terms for a test next Friday. Sophomores We will continue to work on your Frankenstein essays in class on Monday. Based on what you did today in class, you should know what you now need from the book. Your homework this weekend is to return to the text for more information. Mark your book with post-its or tabs; at minimum, you should select your examples and evidence before you come to class, so that you can revise your draft as you type it. A good way to search for examples is to use your study guide, which points you a chapter range. If you have any questions this weekend, please let me know. 

Seniors Final drafts of your Truman essays are due Thursday, not Wednesday, to accommodate baseball. Bring your MAUS book tomorrow. Sophomores Your Frankenstein exam is Thursday, and your in-class essay is on Friday. We will review and discuss possible topics tomorrow. Don't forget about the vocabulary.

Seniors Your assignment for tomorrow is to revise and type your Truman Show essay. Please bring two copies of your printed draft for peer review. The final draft is due on Wednesday . Dual enrollment students need to present two copies of the typed draft - one with the MLA heading and one without. Bring your copy of MAUS on Wednesday. Sophomores Your Frankenstein exam is scheduled for this Wednesday; however, based on my absence and our need to be thorough, I've moved it to Thursday . We will review on Wednesday, as well as discuss possible topics for Friday's in-class essay. Don't forget the vocabulary!

Sorry, but I will be out until Monday. If you have questions or concerns, please email me. Seniors Your essay for this week is to write a 750-word analysis of  The Truman Show . We have discussed various topics in class and throughout the movie. Please focus on ONE aspect of the film, and organize around a clear, critical thesis. I know it's tempting, but avoid summary of the plot. Instead, use specific examples and quotes from the film to develop your analysis. You should have at least one quote per paragraph, and your typed, revised version will also include a block quote. When you are finished today, put your essay in the box, and we will discuss your revisions on Monday. As this is your DE assessment essay, I will eventually need two copies - one with your name and one without. Please include your notes with the essay for help in the revision process. Remember that we will also start MAUS next week, so please bring your copies on Monday. Sophomores I know you will al

I will not be in class tomorrow. I have sick kids, and it's my turn to stay home. Mrs. D has instructions for you guys, and I will see you on Friday. Seniors Please PRINT a copy of the TOPIC LIST . You can choose from this list or adapt one from the homework. Come to class prepared to free write on possible topics. Sophomores You are taking a quiz on Part One of Frankenstein . Then, you will continue to read and work on Friday's question set. 

Seniors This week we are continuing to watch The Truman Show , and I have prepared a list of discussion questions for points. These are due on Thursday and should be answered citing specific examples from the film. I've asked all of you to take notes as you view the film because you will be writing an analysis essay at the end of the week. I will pass out a more extensive list of topics after we've finished viewing the film. AP students : your diagnostic test answers are due on Wednesday, on a separate sheet of paper. This is your base score, and you will be working to improve upon this in the coming weeks.  Sophomores We are continuing to read and discuss Frankenstein this week. Your EXAM is planned for next Wednesday (4/2). You should each have a copy of the study questions , but I've also linked them here. Answers should be typed, and the schedule is on the handout. All study guide questions and vocabulary for the novel exam come from Glencoe's Study Guide for

Seniors You'll be watching The Truman Show in class tomorrow. The movie is available on Amazon Prime , and it will take about three days to watch (Thursday, Monday and Tuesday). Friday most folks will be gone due to the ABC rally, but I will have something to do for those who come. For tomorrow, please watch carefully and thoughtfully. It's a movie that deserves close attention, even though the theme will be familiar. Pay attention to details; take notes. I'm going to have some questions for you as we proceed through the movie. Next week, we will write a critical analysis, so watch with that in mind. Sophomores Read through chapter two of Frankenstein . You are responsible for everything through chapter ten for Monday. I will leave study guides with the substitute tomorrow, and the first set of questions is due on Friday (for Letters 1-4).

Seniors Bring an article related to the subject of simulation. Your article can be in any field you find interesting. Some examples discussed include food substitutions, artificial tanning, and zoos. The over-arching question is based on Baudrillard's prediction that we will not only prefer the artificial to the real, but that the original will lose value: For example, people might prefer The Venetian in Las Vegas to actual Venice, Italy - staying there for their honeymoon and riding in the gondolas along the "canals" inside the mall. After all, the hotel is right there next to shopping and restaurants, and Paris is right across the street. The article should be credible , and it should support, not form, your argument. The tone of the article does not have to be negative, of course. We wouldn't be so apt to transition to artificial versions of things without good reason -- i.e. lower cost, convenience, and sometimes improved quality. Sophomores Don't forg

Seniors Revision essays are due Thursday, and AP essays are due Friday. The prompt for AP essays follows: Defend or challenge the inclusion of your book in an AP curriculum. Considering the goals of AP English, is your book instructive? What specifically makes it a valuable and useful text, or what specifically detracts from its educational value? Cite and discuss passages from the book as evidence for your argument. Consider such factors as the author's style, complexity of language, plot and/or subject matter, structure, cultural relevance, etc. Also, please purchase a copy of Art Spiegelman's MAUS sometime in the next two weeks. Sophomores Your test has been moved to Thursday , so that we will have more time to review. Your homework for tonight is to answer the following questions: #1-3 on 800, #1-3 on 802, and #2-3, 5 on 806. Honors papers are moved to Friday: I will give you the prompts in class on Friday.

We will use the following list of vocabulary words for the next three vocabulary exams (all on Fridays). The list was compiled by Kaplan and published by Washington Post as " The 100 Most Common SAT Words ." Know the first thirty words for this Friday.

Seniors Your essay this week is a revision of one of three essays. For prompts, please click the links below: Social Media and Body Image Scott McCloud's "Show and Tell" A.I. Article Summary and Critique   For each, your assignment is to type and revise the essay from your original draft, attaching the typed version to the original. The revision is due THURSDAY.  Sophomores We are discussing the work of John Keats in class Tuesday , including " Ode on a Grecian Urn ." We will have a quiz on Wednesday over the 2nd generation poets. Honors students will write their essays IN CLASS on Thursday , and I will introduce Frankenstein on Friday .

Sophomores Today we read " Ozymandias " and " To a Skylark ," both by Percy Bysshe Shelley . Answer questions at the end of each poem for tomorrow. Seniors Study your vocabulary terms . Use the definitions from Webster's (in the light blue box). Test tomorrow!

Sophomores Today we read Lord Byron 's " She Walks in Beauty " and " Childe Harold's Pilgrimage ." Answer the questions following those selections for tomorrow. Seniors Tomorrow in class, you are writing a summary/critique of an article on AI (artificial intelligence). Please consider the following: Who wrote the piece, and where was it published? How do you know the author and publication are credible? What is the main idea or thesis? Does the title have special significance? What support is offered? Is it cross-referenced or cited? Are there links within the article? Is the evidence or support clearly organized? Is there any particular pattern of organization? (i.e. comparison/contrast, definition, cause/effect, persuasive, etc.) What visual elements, if any, are used to enhance the presentation? Is the piece clear and easy to read? Do you detect any bias, or does the author seem objective? Your focus should be on summary, with minimal commen

QUIZ TOMORROW on 1st generation of Romantic Poets: Burns, Blake, Wordsworth and Coleridge.

To summarize, here's your week: Monday - Bring an article on AI. Read it! Tuesday - Bring your AP worksheet with answers on a separate sheet Wednesday - Write AI essay in class Thursday - Vocabulary Test (based on terms chosen on Tuesday) Friday - Spring Break!

Seniors The natural extension of our discussion about robotics is the topic of artificial intelligence. If robots are going to be increasingly a part of our lives, then certainly they are going to become more "user friendly" and more autonomous. What are the implications of this trend? Here are some articles/sites to get you started: The AI Revolution Is On The Dawn of the Age of Artifical Intelligence Diverless Cars on CNN The Questions That Computers Can Never Answer Virtual Assistants IBM Watson Mars Rover - Discovery Please bring an article to class on Monday (from this list or one of your own). Please READ IT. We will discuss your articles in class, and each of you will choose one to summarize and critique in class on Wednesday. The AP worksheet is due on Tuesday, when we will generate a list of vocabulary terms for Thursday's test. Sophomores Your homework is to answer the "Reading Check" questions (a-e) following Rime of the Ancient Marine

I will be out most of the morning, but I have given the substitute all the materials you will need for class: Seniors You will be writing your essay in class. You'll need the book and ONE other source. You will construct an argument that considers the positives and negatives of "living better with robots." Sophomores You are reading The Rime of the Ancient Mariner   in class. We will discuss the poem and homework on Thursday, and you can expect a quiz on Blake, Wordsworth, and Coleridge on Friday.

Seniors Science Fiction’s role in the generation of innovative ideas for the future is well documented. As novelists and short story writers dream up imaginary technologies, scientists strive to make those ideas a reality. Nowhere is this more apparent today than in the field of robotics.   Citing examples from Brian Aldiss’s story “Super-Toys Last All Summer Long” and from at least one other article, your next essay will examine the pros and cons of, as MIT puts it, “living better with robots.” What positive and negative effects exist already, and how might this change in the future? How prophetic is “Super-Toys” and what connections can be drawn between the story and present reality? Below is a list of sites that might be helpful: Carnegie Mellon Biorobotics Laboratory MIT Personal Robotics Group Berkeley Robotics & Human Engineering Laboratory Boston Dynamics Willow Garage DARPA:  Defense  Advanced Research Projects Agency  iRobot Corporation  Popular Science:

I know it's been a crazy week, but we will move on. Your homework for Friday is below: Seniors Answer questions #1-7 on p671 following the short story " Super-Toys Last All Summer Long ." We will NOT write an essay in class tomorrow; instead, I will show you some video and hand out an article or two. Sophomores Read the Burns/Blake handout, and answer questions following the "Chimney Sweeper" poems (#2-9).

Seniors The essay today is on Scott McCloud's "Show and Tell." McCloud's "graphic essay" is actually Chapter Six of his Understanding Comics , and it discusses the ability of comics to communicate through a delicate balance of words and pictures. In fact, I would argue that this is increasingly becoming the way people communicate in the world today -- via technology like texting and social media. This balance, he argues, is what makes comics work. Your prompt follows: Analyze the rhetoric of McCloud's "graphic essay" on communicating ideas through the combination of words and pictures. How does he achieve his rhetorical purpose? In what ways does he employ the same techniques he is explaining? Consider his use of language and imagery, including rhetorical techniques such as juxtaposition, parallelism, allusion and figurative language.  Sophomores We are moving on to the Romantic Period. Please read the following introduction from your te

Seniors Your homework is to read the rest of the Scott McCloud piece and to answer the questions at the beginning of the selection. Here is his TED Talk, by the way, in case you're interested: Sophomores Your homework is to read the handout on 18th century women writers. We will review tomorrow, and your exam is on Thursday. Sorry, doesn't look the weather is going to cooperate.

Seniors Your essay on Monday is about the possible connections between social media and body image, especially as it affects young people, but also how it is manifested in steroid abuse, extreme body modification, and eating disorders. The question is this: To what degree, and how, does the media create a "single ideal body image," and how does that affect readers, viewers and consumers? Our topic for next week is relationships online, both friendly and romantic, and how inter-personal communication is changing because of the internet and communication technologies. Lastly, your vocabulary list is linked HERE , and I can provide a copy next week if needed.Your vocabulary test will be next Thursday. Sophomores Your reading assignment for the weekend is Daniel Defoe's "Academy For Women," in the handout I gave you or HERE . Your QUIZ on Pope, Pepys, and Defoe will be on Tuesday.

Sorry I couldn't be there today. Here is your work if you missed it: Sophomores Read  The Diary of Samuel Pepys  in the handout OR HERE . After reading, answer questions at the end of the selection (comp check and #2-5). Questions are due Friday. Seniors You have been reading a series of essays in the book on body image. Please answer questions from TWO essays (excluding the photo). I haven't forgotten the vocabulary. The snow day threw us off schedule, and I will post or hand out a list tomorrow.

Seniors As we begin our discussion this week on social media and body image, please read the section in your textbook "Focus on Body Image" (482-92). Our discussion will include a host of issues examined through the context of electronic media: eating disorders, anti-aging drugs, male enhancement  medication, steroid abuse, plastic surgery, and the multi-billion dollar weight loss industry. We will also talk about the positive potential of media: Sophomores Your assignment for Wednesday is to type and revise your political cartoon analysis. Remember that you must attribute all information that is not common knowledge. This requires you to cite the sources using signal phrases . We will not include a "works cited" page with this paper, but I do expect you to include the names of both the cartoonist and the source publication for your article. For more on using signal phrases, try searching Google, or CLICK HERE . Your final draft must be within 10 words of

Seniors Your essay this week is an analysis of ONE of the selections in the AP packet. We will continue to discuss those pieces in class tomorrow. Don't forget your vocabulary assignment due Friday! Sophomores You will write an analysis this Friday of a political cartoon. Your assignment for tomorrow (Thursday) is to print three cartoons from CAGLE.COM , a database of contemporary cartoons. Because political cartoons are topical, you need to understand the context, so pick three that you understand! On Thursday, you will focus on one or two on a particular subject. Your homework for tomorrow is to find an article at GOOGLE NEWS and print it out. This will help you explain the context of your cartoon(s). On Friday, you will write an essay (of around 300 words) which analyzes the cartoon's use of satire.

Seniors Today, we went over one of the three essays in your AP handout. One of your assignments for this week is to find 20 terms from that handout that you don't know. You will then type a list of the terms with their definitions (taken from Webster's only , please) and turn the list in on Friday. Please format according to MLA. I will compile a list of terms for a quiz the following week. Sophomores You have a quiz on Jonathan Swift tomorrow. This week, we will continue to talk about satire, including a discussion of contemporary political cartoons.

Seniors In-class argument essay on the topic of social media and repercussions in real life. Sophomores Answer questions A-D, and #3-5 following Part Two of Gulliver's Travels .

Sophomores Please answer questions following Part One of Gulliver's Travels (Comprehension Check and #1-4) for tomorrow. If you really want to be prepared, you should also pre-read Part Two, linked below: Part Two: A Voyage to Brobdingnag

Seniors The focus for this week's essay is social media and privacy . Is the notion of privacy in social media an oxymoron? Should schools and/or employers hold a person's online persona against them? Also, you should be working on the AP multiple choice handout. Please put your answers on a separate sheet of paper and turn it in on Friday. Sophomores Please read the first part of our selection from Gulliver's Travels . We will discuss it in class tomorrow, and I will give you some questions to answer in class or afterwards. Part I: A Voyage to Lilliput

Sophomores Don't forget about the quiz on Monday. Also, please print out the following notes and bring them to class on Monday. We will continue the notes on the Restoration Period after the quiz: Restoration and the 18th Century

Seniors Your task for tomorrow in class will be to respond to #9 on p654: "Which of the predictions Birkerts makes in paragraphs 19-25 do you believe have occurred/been realized?" I will ask you to formulate an organized response, using specific examples from the text and the world around you. Sophomores Your optional homework assignment is to answer A-F on p449. You will have a quiz on Monday on the three works studied so far: Pilgrim's Progress , "Of Studies," and Paradise Lost .

Seniors The theme for this semester is technology and pop culture, so most of your readings and essays will be concerned with very current ideas and contemporary texts. We will talk about topics ranging from artificial reality and reality TV to robotics and "the uncanny valley." To get us started talking about some of the more difficult concepts, the first essay we'll read is from 1994. Although the essay was written before you were born, it introduces the transitional period you've been born into. Here is a facsimile of the original essay from your text: Into the Electronic Millennium by Sven Birkerts Sophomores Today, we discussed Sir Francis Bacon's "Of Studies," and I introduced John Milton. The homework for tomorrow is to read the excerpt from Paradise Lost . We will discuss and answer questions tomorrow. From "Of Studies" "The Fall of Satan" from Paradise Lost