river oaks [english]

English IV Your last essay of the term is to compare and contrast two print ads, preferably from the same magazine, connecting them through either the product marketed or the advertising method.  You may focus on two car ads, for example, or two ads that use a similar message or design. Your thesis should center on the primary connection between the ads, and the ads themselves will be used as support. Remember that when you refer to a magazine title, it is italicized. This paper - due printed (with your worksheets ) by the end of class Friday - should be shared with me as "lastname-ad analysis."

English II Your homework for ACT V (all of p420) is due at the beginning of class. You will be working on in-class study guide for Macbeth . The exam is on Wednesday. Honors students, you will need to have your book finished by Thursday for the exam. Please bring your books. Everyone else will be working on creating a study guide for the midterm exam. English IV You will first take your final vocabulary quiz on letters P through W. The remainder of class will be working on in-class assignment designed to collect information about one of the print ads from your magazine. Do not forget to bring your magazine. Art Survey You will have in-class work related to chapters 12 and 13.

Art Survey Your exam covers Chapters 5-13. You should be able to search for the chapter in the box in the upper right, and Chapters 12-13 are now linked, as well. The guidelines for your study guide are below: Create a SLIDES outline to be used on the midterm exam The presentation should at least 3-4 slides on each chapter (5 through 13) Base the content on mine, which is already a summary DO NOT copy and paste - reduce/summarize and type it all yourself Share with me as “lastname-midterm" Include major periods, artists, styles and works You do not have to include pictures - should concentrate on text The more you include, the better you’ll do on the exam English II Your exam will include everything we have studied this term, including the Anglo-Saxon Period, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Your complete study guide is online. You may copy/paste into a new document and insert your notes, or use it as the basis for your note cards. Either way, y

Art Survey Your Ch 11 exam is Friday. You can print the notes , but you may use only your own for the test. English II Your Macbeth exam is on Tuesday. Homework is due Friday for Acts III and IV, and Act V is due Monday. Please answer ALL of the questions following the text, using complete sentences and citing from the text. English IV Your synthesis essay on advertising will be written in class on Friday and Monday. Please share as "lastname-ad synthesis." Your final vocabulary quiz (P-W) will be on Monday. Also, please bring a commercial print magazine to class Monday (on any school-appropriate subject).

English II Read Act II and answer the following: CC and #1-8 on p362. Honors students, your test on the outside reading is next Thursday.

English II Quiz on Act One of Macbeth on Thursday. English IV Writing an in-class analysis of either "American Needs Its Nerds" or the mock press release from The Onion .

English II Read Act One of Macbeth and answer the questions that follow: CC, #1-6 (346). English IV Read and annotate the handout(s) for Tuesday. Art Survey Exam Tuesday on Chapter 10.2-10.3 .

English II Honors students, be prepared to turn in or recite your sonnet on Monday. Again, I would suggest memorizing one from the textbook. For Thursday, read the section on Elizabethan Theater and Shakespeare (p314-23). We will have a quiz on Friday. English IV You will begin writing an analysis essay on one of the following on Thursday: "The Real New York Giants" or "On Fasting and Football." The goal of the assignment is to write a 500-word analysis of the author's use of rhetorical strategies to achieve his purpose for the article. The essay is due Friday, printed, by the end of class. Please share as "lastname-football". Fine Arts Your test on Chapter 10 (10.2-10.3) will be on Tuesday. The homework for 10.2 is due Thursday, and the 10.3 homework is due Friday.

Your final draft of the Profile Assignment is due (printed) at the end of class Friday. We will have a peer review session Thursday in class.   Profile Essay Checklist Attention getting introduction Clear thesis (includes main idea) Suggestion of organization Transitions between paragraphs Good paragraph development Two or three defining characteristics Use of quotes (at least one per par.) Good use of sensory details Connection to your life Conclusion Finally, correct college-level English

Your exam on 10.1 will be Friday. The notes are online , and the review will be on Thursday.

English II We are starting the Renaissance Period this week, and you should read the introduction to reinforce the notes. We will be talking about Shakespeare next week, but first we will talk about early Renaissance poetry . Your first assignments follow: For Thursday: Read "My Lute Awakes" (284) and "On Monsieur's Departure" (286) Answer #1-5 on 285 Answer CC and #2-5, 7 on 287 We will also talk about Wyatt's translation/adaptation of a Petrarchan sonnet, " Whoso List to Hunt " ( annotated here ). Then, we will discuss the two "pastoral" poems in your book (289-93). For Friday: Read 295-96 on the sonnet form Read the sonnets from Spenser and Shakespeare (297-306) The notes are already linked Answer #1-3 on 298, CC and #2-4, 5 on 300 Answer #1-3 on 303, #1-3 on 304, CC and #2-4 on 306

Your exam on Ch 9 - The Italian Renaissance - is Wednesday. It will be based on the reading and the notes for this chapter . Your homework is due with the exam.

Your exam on Arthurian Literature is Tuesday, 10/24 . The exam will cover all of the notes , "Sir Gawain and The Green Knight," and Death of Arthur . Note that the exam will also include the vocabulary from both stories, as well as a short essay.

English IV Your homework for tonight is to read JFK's inaugural address (p52-54)and to answer the following questions (p55): #1-4 under Diction #1-4 under Syntax English II Read the selection from Le Morte D'Arthur "Death of Arthur" (p225-36) in your book, and answer the following for homework - due Thursday at the beginning of class: CC and 2-4, 7 (237) Vocabulary (238) I will give you some introductory notes on Wednesday, and we will review both stories on Monday. Your exam on Arthurian literature is scheduled for Tuesday, October 24th.

Below is your profile essay assignment, including instructions from ULM. We will work on this Wednesday and Thursday in class. Profile Assignment

English II We are discussing King Arthur this week, including an introduction to the legend and tales. For Tuesday, read "Sir Gawain and the Green Knight" (209-21), and answer the questions that follow: CC and 2-5, 8-9 (p222) Vocab A (p224) Below is Armitage's discussion of the poem:

English II   Your in-class assignment (required for non-honors) is to READ “Federigo’s Falcon” (172 in your book) and to answer the following questions, citing examples from the book: Trace the chain of events in the story, making a plotline of at least five significant details Give a characterization of Federigo - think about his character’s development from beginning to end. Give a characterization of Monna Giovanna - again considering the development of her character or your impression of her. Do you think Federigo acts nobly or foolishly? Explain your answer. Does Monna Giovanna act selfishly or honorably? Do you agree with her actions? Explain your response. What do you think is the most important theme or message in this story? What do think of Federigo’s attitude towards money? How does this story demonstrate the concept of “courtly love” or of chivalry, in general? After answering the questions, then define each vocabulary word and do the assignme

English IV Your prompt for Wednesday is below. Please share with me at the beginning of class as "lastname-highschool." What can we do to better prepare high school graduates for the future? Your answer should include a clear purpose for the education provided by your ideal school, as well as what should be considered the top (two or three) priorities. Ideas presented by the class included the availability of dual enrollment and college preparatory classes, vocational and "life" training, the quality of teachers and coursework, the integration of technological tools, and the overall learning environment of schools. Note that this essay should NOT include any information from outside sources. Your essay is due--printed and in my box--by the end of class Friday. English II Honors students, the essay exam on your outside reading will be Thursday in class. All others will have in class work. Wednesday is the PSAT. Your homework for Thursday is to read "

English IV Along with discussing your plans for how to improve American high schools, we will be working on the Profile Essays next week. I have linked the assignment below, along with a list of questions to get you started: Profile Essay Assignment I will give more specific direction for the essay once we begin writing. For now, try to have the interview done by the time we return to class on Tuesday.

English II Your homework for the "Pardoner's Tale" is on p152 and p153: CC and #2-6 Vocab A and B Fine Arts Survey Your exam on Chapter 8 is Friday, and we will begin working on your Cathedral Projects next week.

Seniors This week we are talking about the U.S. education system. We will examine several selections in the book and online and write an in-class essay when we're ready. To begin, please read the selection from Horace Mann and answer the questions following the essay. Use complete sentences and refer to the text. Be specific and thoughtful. The basic question is this: How can we improve high schools to better prepare students for the future? Please refer to the following to get started: Digital Nation: Learning  Re-Thinking High School XQ: The Super School Project  TED: Re-Imagining School    Granted, this is a lot of information. We will return to it again. For now, concentrate on the question and your authority as a person who has been through the K-12 system. You are about to head to college and beyond. What are the positive takeaways, and what would you like to see improved?  

English II Answer CC and #2-8 on 137 and both sets of vocab questions - answers only. Don't forget to prepare for the quiz tomorrow and exam Wednesday. I have decided to push the honors book test back until next Tuesday. It will be the first grade on the 2nd nine weeks.

Your honors reading exam will be on Friday Oct. 6th . If you have not started reading, you have one week. The exam will be comprised of essay questions, where you will choose from a list. Typically, I have you write TWO 250-word essays on some specific aspect of the book. You may use your book on this exam, and part of the grade is based on how well you use the book in your answers - through direct quotes and references. Topics usually come from one of the following areas: Character development Plot elements (turning points, monomyth, etc.) Setting and atmosphere Language (symbolism, allusions, etc.) Again, any non-honors student who would like to earn points is welcome to read a book from the list and to write the same essays for up to 20 extra points. These points go into the general "points earned" and can help to raise your grade.

English II Sophomores, you are starting The Canterbury Tales , and so you will have notes, homework, and quizzes the next two weeks. Here are the notes for this unit , if you'd like to print them out (please do four slides per page). Your first assignment is to read the "General Prologue" and to memorize the first 18 lines in Middle English (or the translation in your book for non-honors). This will be counted as a quiz grade, and you can write or recite it. Below are some resources: First 18 lines in Middle English (from Harvard) Prologue Rap (a la 80's Beastie Boys)  Your quiz on the first 18 lines will be Tuesday, Oct 3 . The test on the "General Prologue" will be on Wednesday, Oct 4 .

Art Survey You have a 100-point exam on Wednesday (open notes, but not open book, and you cannot use the slides printout). English IV First, we are learning the principles of rhetoric, and we will have a quiz on Thursday over the notes .   On Thursday and Friday, you are writing a " This I Believe " essay, specifically tailored to fit your degree program or a scholarship application. For homework credit, please print something out from the school of your choice related to either an entrance essay or scholarship application. You might try the following: Fastweb BigFuture Scholarships.com

English II Your Medieval Presentations are due Friday at the beginning of class. You will have time to work on this in class, but you may also need to work outside of class. Remember that is very important that you use only high quality sources and that you CITE everything through links. Ask tomorrow if you don't know how to do this. Voting will be Monday. Choose TWO from your section only and write them on a piece of paper. English IV The final copy of your research paper is due at the beginning of class Friday. Please present your final draft in a report cover. Also, make sure you have corrected all errors, including those to your title page and references. Your sources should be attached to your final draft.

English II Your quiz on the introduction to the Middle Ages will be on Wednesday . We will start talking about your Medieval Life Project tomorrow. Please take a look at the revised list of topics to see what you'd like to research. English IV Print your title page and 100-word abstract for tomorrow. We will be peer-reviewing drafts in class (including a look at your rubric for this paper ). Art Survey We will start the notes on Ch 7 tomorrow in class.

If you would like earn some extra points for English II, then print out the coat of arms and history of your surname from this link .

The final draft of your research paper is due next week. Below is a checklist: Monday - Combined draft DUE To create the combined draft, highlight each draft and copy (CTRL-C); then, paste into a new document (CTRL-V). Only copy and paste the text, not the MLA headings.  Re-name and re-number the entire draft Add headings (2nd level for the three main parts, and 3rd level within each larger section) Change the font and spacing/indenting to be consistent throughout (should still be 12 point font and double-spaced) Share as "lastname research final" Tuesday - Revise (cut/replace/add) your final draft, and Title Page/Abstract DUE try creating an outline of your draft so far - one of the best methods for revision because it forces you to "re-vision," or see it again create a title page and abstract - submit as "lastname abstract" (examples are examples only, not meant to be templates) Look at some examples of title pages; your abstract (or

This week we have been covering the introduction to the Middles Ages, and the Medieval Period in literature. The following is a very dramatic video featuring the Bayeux Tapestry:

Exam on Chapter Six on Friday. This will include questions from the homework and notes on Aegean Art and Roman Art .

Your assignment for the Solutions Paper is now posted. Please have a draft ready by the beginning of class Wednesday. We will then work on the revisions, the annotations, and the design of the paper. Your annotated bibliographies are due at the end of class Thursday. Share with me as "lastname-bib." 

Your test on Chapter Five will be Friday, 9/8, and your homework for 5.3 is due at the beginning of class.

English II Your assignment for the next two days is to write a summary . First, you will all read the linked article from National Geographic about the Staffordshire Hoard - text version here . Then, we will craft a 250-word summary in class over the next two days (share as "lastname-hoard"): How To Write a Summary Your homework is to READ the article and take notes on the most important points. Remember that a summary does not use wording from the original text, and it should be clear and concise . Also, do the following vocabulary assignment for homework credit. It will help you comprehend the article and earn you points!

We will be researching and writing in class Thursday and Friday. Your Problem Papers should be shared with me as "lastname-problem," and drafts should be printed by the end of class Friday. As with the Career Paper, I will grade them and hand them back for revision in a couple of weeks. Problem Paper Assignment

English II Your homework for tonight is to finish the vocabulary exercises (and to make note cards of some type), and to answer the following: Comp Check and #2-4, 6 & 7 om page 104. Your EXAM on the Anglo Saxon period will be Monday, 9/11 . This will include everything we have studied in the book so far.

English II Read the selections from the Exeter Book, and answer the following questions, using complete sentences and citing from the text: #1-4 on p89 #1-4 on p93 Comp Check, 2-3, and 7 on p96 Try to guess these Anglo-Saxon riddles without looking at the answers... English IV This week, we are working on the "problem" portion of your research paper. Your topic should be a typical problem that is solved by a person in your profession. For example, if I were writing this about being a high school English teacher, I could write about the problem of plagiarism . I would research the problem thoroughly and present statistics and examples. Next week , we will write the "solution" portion of the paper. Until you fully understand the problem (whatever it is), you cannot hope to solve it. In fact, most of your education will consist of these two sides of every issues - the existence and prevalence of various "problems" and the methods and strategie

Sophomores In class Thursday, we will create an outline of a modern movie, TV show, or video game, based on Joseph Campbell's MONOMYTH . This should be shared with me as "lastname-monomyth" and printed for TUESDAY . We WILL have a quiz on Friday. Seniors We will continue to work on your drafts today and tomorrow. Please add a Works Cited page using the MLA forms for citation found at Purdue's OWL ( Electronic Sources ). The printed version of your Career Essay is due on TUESDAY , 9/4, along with the Interview Letter .

This week we are working on presentations for chapter four of your textbook. The following link is for the assignment and specific requirements. Each student (except for those that share topics) will focus on a specific area of the world and its art. The slides must include references to the textbook, but the images can be found through Google Images. Each image must be linked to its host page. Chapter Four Slide Presentation

Sophomores Answer all questions on p63, writing in complete sentences and citing from the text. Expect a quiz on Beowulf and the introductory notes on Thursday.

English II Honors students are required to read extra books throughout the semester - one per nine weeks - and these books are arranged by the periods we are studying in class. I suggest starting early and reading "actively," taking notes or marking the book for content in the following areas: setting, mood, character development, and plot turning points. Always consider the context of the book, as well. Your assessment will come at the end of each nine week term, and non-honors students have an opportunity for extra points by reading and writing about the same list of books. Below is the list, which will periodically be revised based on class interest: English II Honors Reading List

You will be working on your career essays this week in class. Bring your sources, and type and share via Docs. The assignment should named "lastname-career" and is due in its completed draft form by Friday.

Seniors Type up the list of interview questions , changing them to suit your needs. In addition, please add five of your own that relate specifically to the recipient. If you don't have an interview subject, please let me know ASAP. Print this list for tomorrow. The interview letter is due Tuesday, 9/4. Sophomores Your homework is to answer the questions on pages 44 and 51. Use complete sentences in your answers and cite (line numbers) from the text. Put your name at the top left of your homework, and add the date and page numbers to ensure credit.

Art Survey You have an exam on Monday 8/28 on Part One . Your homework for Thursday is to answer the questions in the Lesson 2.1 Review (p29) and Lesson 2.2 (p39). For Friday , answer the questions in the Lesson 1.1 review (p7), Lesson 1.2 (p11) and Lesson 1.3 (p15). Please write your answers legibly and in complete sentences. If you do not, then you will not receive credit. English II Read the introduction to Epic Poetry and Beowulf on p28-31. Quiz on Friday on the Introductory material about Celts, Romans, and Anglo-Saxons. English IV Please look at the career/major description for your intended course of study on the following sites: Career Search from BigFuture Occupational Outlook Handbook For Friday , print a copy from one of the above PLUS something from a university department offering your intended major. Also print a copy of your in-class career response (250-words). 

A good place to start with your career search is a personality test. There are several online to choose from, and there are many career aptitude tests, as well. Generally speaking, my advice is to look for a career that combines your interests and your aptitudes (both in your personality and your skill set). Look through the following and see if any are helpful: 16 Personalities (based on the Meyers-Briggs ) Skills Profiler (from the U.S. Department of Labor) Princeton Review Career Quiz Free Career Aptitude Tests (a list from The Balance ) Later this week, we will try to match up your aptitudes and interests with a career by looking at College Board's BigFuture site. We will also look at the ACT in detail ( Planning Your Future e-book ). Finally, we will explore the Occupational Outlook Handbook to see more thorough descriptions and projections.

Full Text Version: Hound of the Baskervilles

Fine Arts Your syllabus and first assignment can be found HERE . Mixed Media Your syllabus can be found HERE . I need your first proposal by Monday, please, printed.

English IV Your first assignment is to find a point of connection between three of the essays in This I Believe (two for non-honors) . That connection can be based on theme, of course, but you can also connect the essays through their style, tone, or method. In addition, I want you to find one essay on the the This I Believe website that connects to your chosen essays. You must print this out for Friday and bring it to class. This I Believe

English II and IV Your summer reading reports are due Thursday, printed. You will take your exams on Monday. So finish reading! SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT Art Survey Your first assignment is to pick a favorite from the highlights of the National Gallery's collection. Each of you will select a different piece to briefly introduce, and I would like an informal explanation of why you chose your piece. National Gallery of Art

Your final exam will be on Monday, May 22nd. It will be a "scan-tron" test, consisting of 100 to 150 multiple-choice and matching questions. Like the midterm, it will be comprehensive, covering material we have discussed this semester. Your study guide is below, and I suggest you start studying now. English II - Final Review

Sophomores We read "Demon Lover" in class. The homework was to answer ALL questions on p1164. Your last quiz will be on Wednesday and will cover the two most recent prose pieces, as well as the short stories we read for the essay, plus the introductory info for the period (980-6).

Sophomores Please finish reading "Words and Behavior" by Huxley and answer the following questions: #1-5 and CC on 1155 #1-10 on 1156 Time permitting, read the short story "Demon Lover" (1157-63).

Sophomores will be writing essays this week analyzing short stories. The essay is due by the end of class Friday, shared as "lastname-analysis". The assignment is linked below: Literary Analysis

Sophomores Please read "Rocking-Horse Winner" tonight (begins on 1006). Answer the following for Thursday: CC and #2-5, 8. We will read "Araby" next (begins on 1022). Homework on 1029 due Friday: CC & #1-8. Remember to cite from the story.

You have a revision due on Wednesday by the end of the day. Choose from one of the following drafts: Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, or Simulation. Please copy/paste your document into a new file called "Lastname-Final" and share with me. We are watching The Truman Show this week and writing a film analysis essay on Friday. Next week is the memory book , and you will all need to gather and bring material for that on Tuesday. Everyone is to include the following, whether in physical or electronic format: physical 12x12 scrapbook OR Google Slides (share as "Lastname-Memory") a title page with photos at least 16 pages - four for each year of high school all pages must be filled with images and text use captions for images include info from your personal life (family, friends, and activities) and school life include info from pop culture for each year if electronic, link all pictures (also can include music and/or video)  One last thing: every year

The reading list for honors students has been updated.

Seniors Your essay for this week concerns Baudrillard's theory about our increasingly simulated and artificial world - a reality in which we have perhaps come to prefer the artificial (or the copy) to the original. Your prompt, along with examples, are linked below. Please integrate at least ONE outside source to support your argument. Our Simulated World  Sophomores Please do the following for homework credit. In order to get credit, you MUST use complete sentences and cite examples from the text. For poems, cite line numbers: #1-3 on 989 CC and #2-5, 7 on 992  #1-3 on 1066 #1-3 on 1069 CC and 2-4, 6

Sophomores Your test on the short stories "The Mark of the Beast" and "The King is Dead, Long Live the King" is tomorrow (Tuesday). We will review the Victorian Period - the introductory notes, the poetry and prose - on Wednesday, and we will have our big unit test on Thursday. On Friday, I will introduce the 20th century with a presentation. Seniors We are writing about the pros and cons of artificial intelligence this week. I've already given you the link to the presentation, but here it is again . In addition to exploring the links and reading the articles, please look at the following predictions by Ray Kurzweil about the next few years of AI: Kurzweil's redictions for the next 25 years. We will discuss in class, gather evidence, and write the paper in class on Thursday and possibly Friday.

Sophomores It's been a crazy week, but we should be back on track tomorrow. We will discuss the two stories, and you should be prepared for a test next Tuesday on the period. Seniors We are currently studying artificial intelligence - its role in our society and pop culture, as well as predictions for the future of AI. This began with discussion of Aldiss's " Super-Toys Last All Summer Long " and continues with the ideas outlined in the presentation, linked below: Artificial Intelligence

Sophomores Below is a list of the work that should be completed by the end of class Wednesday. We have already covered the set of poems, and we will  of course discuss the short stories. First, staple all of this together: Matthew Arnold #1-4 (943), CC and #2-3 and 5 (945) Gerard Manly Hopkins #1-4 (948), CC and #2-4 (950) Thomas Hardy #1-3 (955), #1-4 (957), CC and 2-3 and 5 (961) A.E. Housman #1-4 (964), CC and 2-3 and 5 (967) Read "Mark of the Beast" (handout) and answer all questions following the text. Read "The King is Dead, Long Live the King" (888-87) and answer CC & #3-8. Seniors Read "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long" (665-71) and answer the questions following the story. Remember to write complete sentences and to cite from the text.

Seniors Thursday and Friday, you will be working on an essay involving your research on robotics.  You have chosen a sub-topic, or focus, and you have found at least two recent articles discussing (a) the current use of robotics, and (b) the projected use and/or evolution of this same technology. Your goal is to accurately and coherently summarize the past, present, and future of this specific technology, much  like a journalist would. In fact, I want to you to imagine your audience to be readers of a highly credible news source. Use MLA format for citation and share with me as "lastname-robots" by the end of class Friday. Sophomores On Thursday, you will be answering questions in class on the poems discussed this week. If you have not read them, here is your chance. On Friday, you will a story provided via handout, and Monday you will read a story from your textbook. Both will include a set of questions to be completed by the end of class. ALL HOMEWORK IS REQUIRED.

Seniors We are discussing the latest in robotics technologies this week. Typically, we tend to merge the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence, but I'd like to start with the ways we have already integrated robotics into our world before we move on to advanced software. The results are staggering. Generally speaking, we are investigating some of the ways we are using robotics to make our lives easier and more productive.  I would like you to think about what differentiates "machines" from "robots" as we use the terms. Also consider Asimov's three laws of robotics as it applies to these devices. Finally, in what ways might robotics be used in the near future?  You might focus your research in one of the following general categories: Domestic - Cleaning , Personal Health, and Comfort Industrial - Health , Production, Delivery , Service, and Maintenance Military - Military Strikes, Law and Order, Exploration , Defense, Aide Below is a chart w

Sophomores Please read "A Warning Against Passion," a letter by Charlotte Bronte, and answer the following questions for homework. This is required: CC, #1-3.

Seniors Please read your article (you can choose a new one) and come prepared to explain the ideas to the class. Your goal for Friday is to summarize your article(s), recognizing the limitations of the ideas presented, and adding your own thoughts. Sophomores Please read the poems from Tennyson (839-853) and answer the following questions: #1-5 on 845 #1-3 on 847 #1-4 on 850 cc and #2-4

Sophomores Your homework (required), due Wednesday, is to outline the introduction to the Victorian Period. Your outline should follow the standard form (I - A - 1 - a). This will be worth 30 points and is required for everyone. Please do not type. Put your name and date at the top of the page. Seniors Find and bring (and read) one credible article discussing the future of education. This could include predictions in the decade or decades. Our goal is to get a sense of the current thinking on the future, including what role technology will serve. NOTE: Please do not bring the same article as someone else in your class.

Descriptive Writing Assignment

Seniors Your essay tomorrow will be on education in the U.S., specifically at River Oaks. As seniors, you have a unique insight into what works and doesn't. However, because you haven't yet learned how prepared you are, we have also looked at national trends and international solutions. Using the articles and videos discussed, along with your own observations and experience, construct an argument around a three-point plan for improving education at River Oaks. Consider both the positives and negatives from your notes, as well as those from your sources, citing when appropriate. Your essay will be around 500 words and will be typed and shared on Docs with the filename "lastname - education." Sophomores I will introduce the Victorian Period tomorrow. Honors students have an extension through the weekend to finish reading Frankenstein . Be prepared to take an objective exam and to write a short essay using the novel.

Please read Amanda Ripley's " What America Can Learn From Smart Schools in Other Countries ," a report on the findings from the latest results of the worldwide PISA exam. Below is her TED talk from 2012 on what the world's best schools are doing:

Congratulations to the following River Oaks students, who all qualified for the state rally at LSU on April 1st: Tech Rally Results

Sophomores English II students have a quiz on Tuesday (2nd generation Romantics) and an exam Thursday on the entire period. Honors students will have their Frankenstein exam on Friday. Seniors This week (and perhaps next) we are talking about the U.S. education system. We will examine several selections in the book and online and write an in-class essay on Friday. The basic question is this: How can we improve schools to better prepare students for the future? Please refer to the following to get started: Digital Nation: Learning Re-Thinking High School Education Is Not The Answer XQ: The Super School Project  TED: Re-Imagining School

Sophomores Your homework for tonight is to answer the following questions concerning the selections from Lord Byron: #1-3 on 775 #2-4, 7 and 8 on 779 Seniors We will watch a documentary in class tomorrow that will set up the next few weeks of material. The link is below if you'd like to catch up before class: Digital Nation (we watched to :35 on Wednesday)

Sophomore Please read the sections on Jane Austen (768-69) and Mary Shelley (808-09) to reinforce the notes. Also, look over the terms on "Form and Meaning in Poetry" (771-72) in preparation for this week's lectures on the 2nd generation of Romantic poets. Seniors We are working on your Little Brother essays this week. Here's another look at the prompts in case you've lost yours. Remember that all essays should be shared with me via email as "lastname - little brother." The essay must be finished by the end of class Tuesday.

Sophomores First, I've changed the date for your reflection paper. It is now due Friday before 8am. Also on Friday, you will have a quiz on the "first generation" poets - Blake, Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Burns. Tonight, read (or listen to) "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" (745-765) and answer the following: CC and #2-6 and 8. The version below is by Sir Ian McKellen (Gandalf/Magneto):

Seniors You are all required to create a short presentation on a topic related to the study of Little Brother . Your presentations are due by the beginning of class Wednesday, shared via Google Slides (lastname-tech), and you will present to the class. The requirements are outlined in the assignment: Tech Presentation The exam for the book is on Thursday, and we will write in class on Friday.

Sophomores For Tuesday, answer the following questions: #1-4 on 731 (when it says "sketch," please describe) #1-3 on 733 #1-3 on 737 #2-5 on 738 For Wednesday, you all have an assignment - to spend an hour OUTSIDE without your phone, by yourself, and to record your observations and thoughts. Use your senses. Afterwards, type up a 250-word reflection on the experience and share with me via Google Docs. Use the filename "lastname-reflection." Include your opinion on whether or not the experience is valuable to your state of mind.The assignment is due by 8am Wednesday.

Sophomores Answer questions #1-3 on 711 and #1-5 on 715. Seniors Your assignment is to finish reading the book and to come up with a topic for your Tech Presentation . I will discuss the assignment in class Friday, but for now, look for a topic that is related to the book or the ideas presented. This can include allusions to other works of literature, organizations, people, controversies, products or hacks. The bibliography in the back of the book is a good place to start.

Sophomores Read the handout on William Blake, and answer #1-10 in complete sentences. Seniors Your goal is to finish reading Little Brother by Friday and to have chosen a topic for your presentation. Topics should be related to the topics covered in the book. You may choose something from the bibliography or come up with your own, more recent or relevant, topic.

Sophomores Read the introduction to the Romantic Period (696-708), and be prepared to take an open notes/book quiz on Wednesday. Seniors Please read through chapter 16 of Little Brother , and be prepared for a comprehension quiz on Wednesday.

Sophomores You have a quiz Friday on Swift and elements of satire. The quiz will include questions from p584-621. After the quiz, begin to review your notes for your exam on the Restoration Period. This exam is scheduled for next Tuesday, January 31st. Seniors After your vocabulary quiz tomorrow (1st 30 terms), continue to read Little Brother , and consider especially the tone and attitude of Marcus at the end of Chapter 8 concerning "Operation False Positive." Has Marcus committed an act of terrorism, or does that require violence? And what is the result of his exploits? Weigh the positives with negatives resulting from the DHS's response. Also, consider his self-realization in chapter 9 (141), and think about his character's development so far. Does it seem realistic?

Sophomores Read the the selections from Gulliver's Travels (Lilliput) and answer questions that follow: #1-5 on p599 CC and #2-7 on p607 Seniors Continue to read Little Brother , Chapters 7-10. Vocabulary quiz on the first 30 terms on Friday.

Sophomores Read the selections from "Journal of the Plague Year" and answer the questions following in the handout for homework: Reading Check a-d, #1-6.  Additionally, for a separate homework grade, read the selection from Johnson's Dictionary and answer questions following in the handout: #1-7. Seniors Please read through chapter six of Little Brother for Tuesday. Mixed Media If your project is not an ongoing one, then please submit a new proposal Monday. Also, several of you will be asked to finish up projects early, as you did not present a finished product last week. Get busy.

Sophomores Quiz tomorrow on Pepys and Pope. For homework credit, answer the questions on p552: CC and 2, 4, and 6. Seniors Quiz tomorrow on the first three chapters of Little Brother. Vocabulary is due via Docs. Mixed Media We will share our progress so far in class tomorrow. Be prepared.

Sophomores Read "Diary of Samuel Pepys" and "Essay on Man" and answer the following questions: CC and #2-4 on p532 #1-3 on p535 CC and #2 and 4 on p538 Seniors Read the first three chapters of Little Brother and be prepared to discuss in class. You should be beginning a character journal to keep track of details and page numbers, and you should be annotating your text as you read. The study questions and vocabulary are linked above. Please complete the vocabulary by the end of the week. You will need to first select copy/paste the list into a new file. Name it "lastname-vocabulary" and share with me. Keep up with the study questions to help prepare you for discussion and quizzes. The first quiz will be on Thursday.

English II Quiz on Wednesday on the late Renaissance poets. We will review in class Tuesday. The quiz will be on the publication of the King James Bible, Sir Francis Bacon, Metaphysical Poetry (in particular, John Donne, including this poem ), the Cavalier poets, including Ben Jonson, and Milton. The Dore engravings are linked below. Gustave Dore: Paradise Lost

Our next essays and research will be centered around Cory Doctorow's book Little Brother . I have linked the presentation on the context below. If you'd like a free copy of the book, go to his website . There are several electronic versions available for download. If you'd like to buy an inexpensive copy from a cool book store, try Powell's in San Francisco, where the book is set. Little Brother Context (with links) Little Brother PDF Study Questions Vocabulary List

Mixed Media is an elective course, and as such, you should only take it if you are a self-motivated learner. The course will require students to complete individual and group projects, propose those projects, and upload them to our public YouTube channel. Each student will maintain their own playlist of completed projects. These projects may include spotlight interviews, special event coverage, short films, podcasts, demos, reviews, audio production, game design, and basic programming. Below you will find the guidelines for the course, as well as a short list of software we will use to learn and utilize: Course Guidelines Software Tools

Sophomores You have two homework assignments, both worth points. You may do one, or both, or none: Read the two essays by Sir Francis Bacon on pages 442-46, and answer the questions on page 444 (#1-4) and 447 (CC and 2-4).  Read 449-69 and answer the questions on page 453 (1-3), 454 (1-3), 456 (2-4), 466 (1-3), and 468 (2-4) Seniors Find out more about Edward Snowden, and bring what you find. Here's a video to get you started. I would like to know what you think about the question, "Hero or Villain?"