river oaks [english]

Keep checking throughout the week to see if you need to take the final. If you had a B last semester, then you must take the final. If you had an A last semester AND an A this semester, then you do NOT have to take the final. The review is posted below: English IV Final Review

Sophomores Exam on the Victorian Period on Friday . It was going to be Wednesday, but we have SC elections during 3rd hour. Awards Day is Thursday, so that leaves Friday. Expect to see the following on the test: Introduction - literary and socio-political context 19th century novels (868-9) Alfred, Lord Tennyson - life and poems Browning's dramatic monologues - "My Last Duchess" and "Porphyria's Lover" Poems by Arnold, Hardy and Housman "Mark of the Beast" by Kipling Seniors Memory Book due Friday. Also, AP students, please complete at least the first two practice exams. We will discuss on Wednesday.

Seniors Your essay should be written on the Chromebooks in class Friday, and must be submitted (shared) to me by the end of class. Your prompt is below: Truman Show Essay Sophomores Answer the following question in class tomorrow: #1-4 on 943 CC and #2-4 on 961 #1-4 on 964 CC and #2-4 on 967

Seniors, your Memory Book assignment is due May 1st, the Friday before final exams. The basic requirements are below: Either hard copy (12x12) or electronic version Four FULL pages per year of high school for a total of at least sixteen A title page that includes name and introductory note or poem (can be short but must be original - needs to introduce your book and be reflective of your high school experience) Sections on items related to school life, life outside of school, and current events/trends Some combination of images and text on each page (label all pics) HERE IS YOUR GALLERY OF MEMORIES AP students should be working on EXAM #2 from your workbook. Be prepared to meet at lunch Wednesday to discuss. There are lots of great resources out there, but this one has links to practice exams and even rhetorical terms note cards, and this one has sample writing prompts with graded essays from previous exams.

Sophomores Answer the questions at the end of " Mark of the Beast " for Thursday. We will have a quiz on the story on Thursday, and we will study poems by Arnold, Hardy and Housman Friday and next week before having an exam on the Victorian Period. Your exam is currently scheduled for next Wednesday, April 29th.

Seniors are watching The Truman Show this week. The movie brings together many of the elements we've been talking about this semester -- including reality TV, advertising, and of course simulation. The artificial reality of the world Truman lives in, and his subsequent awakening, has connections to Plato's " Allegory of the Cave " (discussed in class). If you want some points, complete the following questions for Friday as a preview of topics for your essay: Study Questions . Again, continue to take notes as you view the film, which is available online.

Sophomores Please print and read " Mark of the Beast " by Rudyard Kipling for Tuesday. Homework for Tuesday night will be the questions following the story. Also, please read and consider Kipling's poem " The White Man's Burden " as it relates to the theme of imperialism.

Seniors You will work on your simulation essays tomorrow in class, in response to the following prompt: Have we crossed over into Baudrillard's final stage of "simulacra," where "our models for the real have taken over the place of the real in postmodern society," or where the artificial has become preferable to the real? Or do we still value "authenticity" and "real" experience over the artificial?  What are the implications for human society, both positive and negative? Your essay should cite at least ONE credible article on your topic, and it should also cite the Purdue summary of Baudrillard's ideas . Make sure you use the article more than once and that you accurately quote or summarize to avoid plagiarism. Sophomores Your quiz Friday is on the introduction to the Victorian period and Tennyson. Honors students, don't forget about the summary , and you all have the opportunity for homework  points: #2-4 on 850 #2-5 on 8

Seniors   For Wednesday, you are to bring  at least one article  that focuses your attention on one aspect of modern life as it relates to this issue. 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 --

Sophomores Read the introduction to the Victorian Period in your textbook, and Honors students need to read and summarize the following by Friday: The Victorian Age (from the Norton Anthology of English Literature ). Seniors This week's topic is the positive and negatives regarding simulation -- as it relates to popular media, social networking, military training, the food and drug industry, concepts of beauty, and modern life in general. We are using  Jean Baudrillard 's theory as a starting point, and you are to focus in any way you'd like. For TUESDAY, print and read the Baudrillard Introduction . For WEDNESDAY, print and read a recent article on the topic of simulation, as it relates to some aspect of modern life.   On FRIDAY, your paper will be in response to the following question: Have we crossed over into Baudrillard's final stage of "simulacra," where "our models for the real have taken over the place of the real in postmodern soc

Congratulations to Dylan and Jeron from 1st period, who tied, and Bailey from 2nd period for earning the most votes and therefore FIVE extra points. Good work! I'll keep the shared folder linked here in case any of you would like to look more closely and learn more about these topics:  Shared Folder

Sophomores Your exam is Thursday, and it will be entirely objective. We will write about the book when you return from break. Don't forget to study the vocabulary. I've linked the list below, and you should have the handouts: Glencoe Study Guide Seniors Your Slides presentation is due tomorrow before class. In order to submit your presentation, simply click SHARE at the top right or under the FILE menu. Then type my address: aryland@gmail.com. I will drag all of the files into a shared folder and post the link online. We will spend tomorrow's class period looking at each other's presentations.