river oaks [english]

Wednesday's Work

2012-02-07T13:45:00.000-08:00

As noted in class, I will not be there on Wednesday. Here's the rundown of what everyone will be doing:

Sophomores

You are writing the first draft of your legend -- a family story, a personalized version of a familiar tale, or a completely fictional creation based on the models discussed. The legend should focus on a single person and his/her famous/surprising/heroic/embarrassing action that lead to infamy.

Juniors

Tonight you are to find a RELIABLE article that relates specifically to your Frankenstein paper. Print and bring the article to class tomorrow, and you'll fill out worksheet evaluating the source based on its authorship, purpose and publisher.
I'll also have a copy of "Frankenstein's Fallen Angel," a article by Joyce Carol Oates that will serve as our example for how to read, cite, annotate and integrate scholarly sources.
Correction: in class, I indicated that you can print a Google Book; I don't think it's possible. However, you can still use a Google Book as a source, as long as it's viewable.

Seniors

You are also writing in class - a rough draft of your "snapshot" description paper. I want you to focus on a single moment, setting the context, and describing the scene, in an effort to preserve the memory. Be as specific as possible, appealing to the senses, and keep the "snapshot" central to your discussion. Your free-writing papers are by the door if you would like them.

Weekend Homework

2012-02-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

Sophomores

Your homework for the weekend is to type your draft and include a works cited page. Honors students must also include ONE outside source in support of their thesis. The article is the introduction to the Modern Library edition, by George Saunders. I will provide a copy if you don't have one. *Note - your works cited page should be arranged in ABC order.

The final draft of your essay will be graded on a 100-point scale, based on the following:

Critical focus - not merely a summary of the novel, but focused on a central purpose or point
Organization - paragraphs are arranged logically and clearly
Support - includes specific examples from the novel (and article)
Format - follows MLA guidelines for citation and appearance
Correctness - is generally free of errors in spelling, usage, and punctuation

Juniors

Your essays should be typed for Monday, including specific examples from the book in support of a clear central purpose, or thesis. Remember: your first draft should include examples from the novel only, and the ideas must be your own.

Follow the rules for MLA when typing your paper, and include all handwritten drafts with your typed version. We will discuss research on Monday, and I will make arrangements to meet students at the ULM Library next week after school.

Seniors

I will pass out your in-class drafts on Monday, when you will have a choice of which paper to revise. We will also discuss sentence errors (fragments and run-ons) and do some exercises in class for homework credit. Also, AP students, don't forget about your third quarter books!

Homework

2012-01-31T21:17:00.001-08:00

Sophomores
You are writing your paper in class tomorrow. Please bring your book, marked for content. The essay itself should be around 500 words in length, formatted according to MLA.

Seniors
Your job for tonight is to locate and print a source on the topic of illegal immigration. The question you will answer in your paper on Thursday is the following:

"What is the best solution to the problem of illegal immigration?"

Possibilities include (but are not limited to) increased border security, increased crackdown on unlawful employment, deportation, laws like Arizona's that make it easier for INS to find illegals, improved and/or quicker path towards naturalization, and amnesty for tax-paying illegal residents. You could focus your research on statistics, stereotyping/profiling, existing laws, proposed laws (i.e. Dream Act), or a candidate's platform, for example.

Juniors - Proposal Letter

2012-01-31T21:12:00.001-08:00

Your assignment for tomorrow is to propose your topic in a letter - full block style. Please make the body of letter at least 100 words in length, including the following:

Your topic - stated specifically, including your purpose
Your thesis - the answer to your "thesis question"
Your support - an outline, or listing, of your main points only

Please sign your letter: this locks you in to your topic. You will write your first of the essay tomorrow in class, so bring your book - marked for content using sticky notes or some other method. You'll want to include lots of examples from the text in this initial draft. The draft itself should be around 500 words in length, formatted according to MLA.

Film Analysis

2012-01-27T07:07:00.000-08:00

Your essay for this week is to defend, challenge, or qualify Denby's assertion that teen films speak to our collective trauma and/or our social and romantic fantasies. Do you believe this assertion is true? Why are these films so popular? What is it specifically that makes these films resonate with both teens and adults?

Consider his discussion of stereotypes or "stock characters" and plots, as well as his examples from film and TV. In addition, you are required to include specific support for your position taken from at least one film of your own choosing. DO NOT merely summarize the plot of the film! Your essay should be at least 500 words, formatted according to MLA, and it must refer directly and indirectly to Denby's text.

Frankenstein Questions

2012-01-26T06:27:00.000-08:00

The vocabulary for the Frankenstein test is on the study guide - handed out in pieces to avoid spoiling the ending. Also in the study guide are "Analyzing Literature" questions for each chapter range. If you answer these questions and hand in the study guide on Monday, I will give you a 20-point homework grade. This homework assignment is optional and will noted as such on Edline.

Extra Point Opportunity!

2012-01-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

The Importance of Being Earnest is playing this weekend ONLY at the Strauss Theater in Monroe. If you'd like some extra points, then go see the play and get Mrs. Donna at the theater to sign your playbill after the performance. Go to the play and behave yourself and enjoy. The cast is made up of some very talented, mostly high school students. Information about the play and tickets is available below:

Strauss Theater Center

Homework/Test Schedule

2012-01-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

Seniors
Tonight's essay is David Denby's "High-School Confidential: Notes on Teen Movies" (709-14). Please read the essay and come tomorrow prepared to talk about it. Your homework for Thursday is #4-6 and #1-3, 6-7, 11-12. Be specific and use examples from the text.

You will write an essay in class on Friday that defends, challenges or qualifies Denby's opinion. In addition to citing the article, you will need to cite examples from at least one "teen" genre film in your essay. Pick one and re-watch it before Friday.

Juniors
You should be finished reading Frankenstein by Friday. We will continue to discuss the novel this week and have a vocabulary test on Friday. The exam on the novel will be Monday, January 30th. We will discuss paper topics on Tuesday.

Sophomores
You should be finished reading Huck Finn by Friday. Your vocabulary test is this Friday, and your novel exam is on Monday, January 30th.

Homework

2012-01-20T07:57:00.000-08:00

Sophomores
You should be reading Huck Finn up through ch 31 right now and working on the study guide. All students need to turn this in Monday for points.

Your Honors assignment is to read the following essay on the various depictions of Jim throughout the years. "Which artist's work most faithfully illustrates the novel's text? How do Mark Twain's words represent Jim -- as a character or a caricature?"

Pictures of Jim

Juniors
You should be reading Frankenstein through ch 16 (XVI) right now. Your Honors assignment is to read the following essay and to write a summary/response for Monday. Summarize the article, and connect the controversy to Frankenstein:

Scientists Create "Synthetic Life"

Seniors
No homework. If you missed on Friday, you missed a synthesis essay on media disaster coverage. See me to make it up! We will go over the second half of the practice AP exam on Monday.

Homework

2012-01-12T14:21:00.000-08:00

Sophomores
Turn in the worksheet on ch1-15 at the end of class (extras on my desk), and read through ch24 for Tuesday.

Juniors
You have a matching quiz on the six romantic poets and their works. Please get your copy of Frankenstein fromt he sub if you haven't already, and read through page 39 for Tuesday. Get your copy of the study guide, and be ready to answer questions when we return.

Seniors
Don't forget to get your essay from the substitute if you haven't already. Your revisions are due on Tuesday when we return. Please include a works cited page.

Your prompt for tomorrow is the following:

With the advent of cell phones and social networking,people are communicating with each other more than ever – through texting andFacebook – but are they as “connected” as ever? Are we experiencing what Birkertscalls “language erosion,” losing the ability to communicate effectivelyeven though it’s easier now than ever? Are we losing our sense ofhistorical perspective, and are we losing our privacy and freedom in exchangefor these new forms of communication?

Write a 500-word essay in response to these questions,using both Birkert’s essay “Into the Electronic Millennium” and the articleyou’ve provided. You are also welcometo reference any of the issues we discussed in class, including but not limitedto multi-tasking, the technological-generation gap, cyber bullying and internet addiction.

2012-01-10T13:52:00.000-08:00

Sophomores
You need to have read ch 1-12 by tomorrow of Huck Finn. Expect a reading QUIZ tomorrow.

Juniors
Your Frankenstein books have been shipped, and I'll have them in class Thursday. In order to catch up, make sure you have read all Wordsworth and Coleridge selections. The homework due tomorrow is CC, #2-6 on 766.

Seniors
Out topic for this week is communication in the electronic age. We will examine how social media and digital communication have affected us -- our language, our culture, our inter-personal relationships.

Your first article is in your textbook on p647, "Into the Electronic Millennium." Please read it so we can discuss it. Questions #1-9 are due on Thursday.

Rime of the Ancient Mariner

2012-01-09T07:58:00.000-08:00

The artist in your book's version of Rime of the Ancient Mariner is Gustave Dore -- a French illustrator, sculptor and engraver from the 19th century. He was commissioned to illustrate many literary classics, including Paradise Lost, Don Quixote, The Divine Comedy, and of course Coleridge's poem. Click on the picture below to see a collection of his images from the 1876 edition of the poem.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

2012-01-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

Here's the link to the electronic edition, separated by chapters for easy printing and searching. Remember that you can press CTRL-F to find a word or phrase.

Sophomores - Article Summary

2012-01-06T12:56:00.000-08:00

Honors students, your article for this week is on the controversy surrounding a (relatively) new edition of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn that replaces the "N" word with "slave." Your assignment is to summarize and comment on the article in a 250-word typed response. This is due Monday, January 9th. The article is linked below:

Huck Finn, Censorship and the N-word Controversy

Seniors - Essay

2012-01-06T08:51:00.000-08:00

You are writing an essay on Monday, January 9th concerning the role of robotics and/or artificial intelligence in our daily lives. What impact, both positive and negative, are these new technologies having on our lives? What do you believe will happen in the next few years in the fields of robotics and artificial intelligence, and more importantly, how will those developments affect humans and their humanity?

In order to prepare for this essay, we have read a short story, watched film clips (also below) and discussed the issue at length in class. In addition to the information gathered so far, you are required to bring and use ONE recent news article on the subject on Monday. The article can be about anything we've discussed, including artificial intelligence and robotics -- in the workplace (i.e. assembly lines, or the da Vinci surgery system), in the military (i.e. drone aircraft), and in the home. You will also be required to reference the short story in your paper.

Artificial Intelligence and Robotics

2012-01-05T12:31:00.000-08:00

In English IV, we've been talking about science fiction and "future" technology and what it means to us. In other words, how are these technologies - telecommunications, bio-medical advances, robotics, artificial intelligence - both good and bad. How might they benefit us, and how might they potentially "de-humanize" us?

Stephen Spielberg's movie AI was based a short story written by Brian Aldiss, "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long," which is about an an artificially intelligent robotic (or, android) boy and a mother's loneliness.

Two examples of advancement in artificial intelligence are Apple's Siri and IBM's Watson computer. Below is a short history of Watson's development:

And here's the video on the "uncanny valley" we watched in class:

Homework

2012-01-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

Juniors
Read p722-35 on William Wordsworth and answer the following:

2,3 on 731
all on 733
all on 737
CC and 2,3 on 738

Sophomores
Read the selection from Twain's "Life on the Mississippi" and answer the CC, 2 & 3 on 676

Homework

2012-01-04T11:08:00.000-08:00

Seniors
Read "Super-Toys Last All Summer Long" and answer #1-8 on 671.

Juniors
Read all selections by William Blake and answer the following questions:

#1-3 on 711
#2-4 on 715

Sophomores
Read "Autobiography of Mark Twain" and answer CC and #2-5.

Also, ALL English II students need to buy a copy of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. Although any edition will suffice, I'll be using the Modern Library edition in class.

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T12:53:00.001-08:00

MIDTERMS

2011-12-07T09:36:00.001-08:00

Seniors
Your exam will cover AP Multiple Choice (from College Board and the test I gave you in class), ACT English & Reading, Rhetorical Terms, and an Essay (Argument for IV, Analysis for AP).

Juniors
I handed out a study guide in class today. You are responsible for everything we've studied this semester, even if it is not on the list. Look over the sheet, and we will review the list Thursday and Friday.

UPDATE: I left off the Exeter Book and Venerable Bede

Sophomores
I handed out a study guide in class today. You are responsible for everything we've studied this semester, even if it is not on the list. That includes your summer reading. Look over the sheet, and we will review the list Thursday and Friday.

2011-12-01T12:55:00.001-08:00

Sophomores -- Read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (Bierce)
Juniors -- Read "Academy For Women" (Defoe)
Seniors -- Type essay, attach to original, and bring tomorrow.

Homework

2011-11-30T13:14:00.001-08:00

Seniors
You are writing the Super Size Me essay in class tomorrow. Bring your sources. You will type the essay tomorrow night and add the works cited. Bring it on Friday for peer review, and the final draft is due Monday, December 5th. This is worth 100 points.

Juniors
Read the two pieces by Alexander Pope and the excerpts from The Spectator. We will discuss tomorrow.

Sophomores
Read "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass," and do the questions at the end of the reading: Comprehension Check and #2-6. And, yes, expect the vocabulary portion of today's quiz tomorrow.

Super Size Me Essay

2011-11-29T08:12:00.001-08:00

Your essay is an analysis of Morgan Spurlock's film, Super Size Me. The general prompt concerns the effectiveness of the film. What is Spurlock's main point, and does he successfully prove it? What evidence is the most compelling? Is it accurate? What argument is the least effective? Does he anticipate opposing viewpoints, and does he effectively refute them?

Your assignment for tonight is to print out two reputable sources on two of the claims made in the movie. The sources can prove or disprove the claims, and you are not limited to claims on the following lists:

Fast Food Fact Sheet
Here's Another (printable document file)

Also, here's a link to THE WEEK's super topic Fast Food Nation as a possible place to start your research. Remember to print out articles using the "format for printing" tool to reduce the amount of ads.

2011-11-28T14:02:00.001-08:00

Seniors -- We will continue to discuss Super Size Me and write later this week

Juniors -- Read the Introduction to Restoration -- expect a quiz Wednesday on book and notes

Sophomores -- test Wednesday on the following stories:

A Rose For Emily
The Life You Save May Be Your Own

We'll continue to discuss Tuesday in class. Remember to learn the vocabulary from each.

Homework: Wed-Thurs

2011-11-15T12:20:00.001-08:00

I will be out of town the next two days....

Sophomores

Read "A Rose For Emily" and answer CC, #2-4 on p525 for Wednesday (end of class)
Read "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" and answer CC, #2-4 on p539 for Thursday (end of class)
QUIZ on both stories, including vocabulary, on Friday

Juniors

Watch Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Prepare for quiz on Friday

Seniors

Watch Super-Size Me
Answer #1-20 on worksheet for Friday

Weekend

2011-11-11T04:39:00.001-08:00

Have a great weekend...go Mustangs!

Reminders:
Sophomores are reading "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" for Monday
Juniors have an exam on Tuesday, not Wednesday
Seniors are going to NOLA

2011-11-10T08:45:00.000-08:00

Below is one of Gustave Dore's engravings for Paradise Lost. Click on the image for more.

2011-11-09T22:29:00.000-08:00

Just had to post this - a photo from Burg Ransom (yes, Mrs. Ransom's husband) - a beautiful bit of southern gothic.

Homework - Announcements

2011-11-09T13:45:00.000-08:00

Sophomores - Quiz tomorrow on "Fall of the House of Usher," including the vocabulary!

Juniors - We are reading Milton tomorrow, and you have an EXAM next Wednesday, Nov. 16th.

Seniors - You are writing an in-class synthesis essay tomorrow on the influence of television (and other media) on presidential elections. I've provided you with the sources, so read and annotate them, and come prepared!

Homework

2011-11-08T13:57:00.000-08:00

Sophomores - finish reading "Fall of the House of Usher" - yes, the whole thing. You will have questions to answer in class tomorrow in lieu of questions tonight, so come to class prepared.

Juniors - read the poems on pages 458-470 - the first two by Ben Jonson, and the others of the carpe diem school - and answer question #2 after each. Be specific!

Seniors - Tomorrow I'll give you the materials for a synthesis essay to be written in class on Thursday.

Homework

2011-11-07T09:36:00.000-08:00

Sophomores - Read "Fall of the House of Usher" - audio here
Juniors - Read the following by Sir Francis Bacon and John Donne:

"Of Studies" p444 #1-4
"Of Marriage and Single Life" p447 #2-5
"Meditation 17" p456 #2-4

Seniors - No Homework - Go watch/read the news!

Homework

2011-11-02T13:59:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
Study the Whitman poems, including the one I gave you in class (O Captain, My Captain), for a quiz tomorrow. Honors summary assignment (due Monday) is on the following article by David Reynolds:

"Lincoln and Whitman"

Juniors
Quiz on Friday on the sonnets discussed in class, including the history and the three forms discussed.

Seniors
Finish reading, and finish the homework for, "Letter From a Birmingham Jail."

Homework

2011-10-27T14:05:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
You have three things going on between now and Monday:

Quiz on Walden on Friday
One-page reflective assignment due on Monday
Two poems, one ABABCDCDEFEF inspired by Emerson and/or Thoreau, and one free verse poem beginning with the words "I sit and look out" - due Monday

Juniors
Answer questions on the following pages:

p285 #1-4
p287 #2-6
p291 #1-3
p293 #2-5

Reminder: your Macbeth projects and one-page rationales are due on Monday.

Seniors
Finish the AP exam and bring to class. Your vocabulary quiz is on Monday:

pompous - excessively elevated or ornate
slipshod - careless
discretion - showing good judgement
colloquial - relating to conversation
avail - to be of use or advantage
opaque - hard to understand or explain
pedantic - making a show of knowledge
gabble - to talk fast or foolishly
perspicuous - plain to the understanding
circumlocutions - evasion in speech
extemporaneous - composed, uttered or performed on the spur of the moment
ambivalence - simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings
eloquent - marked by forceful and fluent expression
cadence - a rhythmic sequence or flow of sounds in language
throes - pang or spasm
conciliatory - gaining goodwill through pleasing acts
capricious - impulsive; unpredictable
labyrinthine - intricate or involved
inexorably - incapable of being persuaded, moved or stopped
solemnity - formal or ceremonious observance of an occasion or event

All definitions taken from Merriam-Webster Online.Another great resource for building your vocabulary is Dictionary.com's Word Dynamo.

Thoreau - Walden

2011-10-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
We are currently reading selections from Walden, by Henry David Thoreau. You will have a quiz on Friday, including the vocabulary.

Your assignment for this weekend, as noted in class, is to conduct an experience similar to Thoreau's - that is, to spend an hour as separate from "civilization" as possible, using the senses and writing down what you experience. Try to avoid talking about the things you aren't doing, like texting or facebooking, and instead try to understand what Thoreau means by the phrase, "Heaven is below our feet as well as above our heads."

Type up your thoughts in a 250-word response and turn in Monday.

Macbeth Exam

2011-10-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

Your exam is tomorrow, Wednesday Oct 26. The exam will consist of multiple choice and matching questions, as well as a short answer section and an essay. As promised, here are the Macbeth PowerPoint Jeopardy reviews we used in class:

AP Multiple Choice

2011-10-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

The AP Course Description from College Board is found HERE, at their site. Inside, you will find a copy of both the English Language and Composition and English Literature and Composition exams. The exam we are working through for class begins on p14.

College Board also gives you access to previous years' "free-response" questions - essay prompts, in other words. We will begin working our way through some of those examples as the year progresses.

Your assignment for Tuesday is to read the first essay (on "style") and to answer the ten questions that follow. Please make a note of any word or phrase that is especially difficult. We will compile vocabulary lists from your notes. Bring the handout to class tomorrow, and we will work through the second essay together.

Finish the handout for Wednesday and hand it in for points.

Weekend Homework

2011-10-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

Everyone
Your haikus-for-credit are due Monday. See the Scholastic site for details on entering yours into the contest. This is not required, but I will give you homework credit if you follow the assignment.

Seniors
No Homework

Juniors
First, your proposal letters are due on Monday. Use full block style please. Also, make sure you have read Macbeth in its entirety. Review on Monday, and Exam on Wednesday.

Sophomores
Honors, write a 250-word summary on your "civil disobedience" article. Follow MLA style and stick to summary only, please.

Macbeth Project

2011-10-21T10:21:00.000-07:00

Your Macbeth projects are due one week from Monday, on October 31 (ooooh, spooky). There are several options, and you can work in groups or alone:

Group Video - up to 10 minutes in length, up to four people per group, focus on one scene
Visual Art - you could do a painting, a collage, a photo montage, etc.
Critical Essay - write an essay on a theme or character development
Website - create an index for allusions, historical context, criticism, resources, images, etc.

Everyone, even those in groups, must submit a proposal letter to me on Monday, stating exactly what you plan to do (and with whom). Please use full block format, and sign. Again, this is due on Monday, October 24.

ACT Prep

2011-10-21T10:07:00.000-07:00

Good luck on the ACT tomorrow, those of you who are taking it. To help you prepare, and for future reference, here are some materials for you to work with at home:

ACT Prep - from the official site - including sample tests
Test Prep Review - has "self-assessment modules" in several subjects
ACT Sparknotes
ACT Test Questions

Homework

2011-10-19T14:08:00.000-07:00

Juniors
Answer questions #2 and 3 after Act III - paragraph each - and read Act IV.

Sophomores
Find and print an article on a recent act of civil disobedience, and bring to class tomorrow. You will have a quiz on Friday on "Self-Reliance" and "Civil Disobedience," including the vocabulary.

Poetry Contest

2011-10-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

I'd like for all of my students to participate in Scholastic's Haiku Contest, which is sponsored by Dell. The prizes include free laptops and smartphones. The guidelines for the contest are simple:

Write a haiku that answers the question, "What adventures does your future hold?"
Submit the haiku to Scholastic's website
Turn in a hard copy for a grade and possible publication in Musings

The deadline for credit in my class is Monday, October 24, and the deadline for the contest is November 18. Students grade 7-12 are eligible for the contest.

Homework

2011-10-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

Seniors
You are writing an essay tomorrow on high schools in America, based on the following prompt (adapted from #3 on 164):

To what extent do American high schools prepare students to achieve Dewey's vision of "a curriculum which acknowledges the social responsibilities of education," one that presents "situations where problems are relevant to the problems of living together"?

You must answer the question in the form of a thesis and support your thesis with evidence from at least three of the articles in your book (can also use the article handed out in class).

Juniors
Answer questions #2-7 on page 362, and read Act III

Sophomores

Read Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience"
Answer Comprehension Check and #2-4 on 378
Print out an article on a recent (or not-so-recent) act of civil disobedience - could be related to the current "Occupy Wall Street" movement, the "Tea Party" movement, the "Arab Spring" uprisings, or any of the various protests and demonstrations relating to civil rights in this country.

Homework

2011-10-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
Read "The Devil and Tom Walker" (349-59) by Washington Irving. Be ready for a reading quiz.

Juniors
Read Act One of Macbeth. Be ready for a reading quiz.

Seniors

Read the first three essays in "Focus on the American High School"
Answer questions #1-5 on 153, #1-5 on 155, and #1-6 on 158

Homework

2011-10-11T13:37:00.000-07:00

PSAT tests are tomorrow, so seniors have the day off. Enjoy.

Sophomores, study for your exam. The exam will include the following:

Speech to the Virginia Convention
Declaration of Indepedence
Persuasive Rhetoric
Letter to the Reverend Samson Occum
Letter to John Adams
What is an American?

Junior Honors, your vocabulary quiz is tomorrow. We will begin discussing Macbeth on Thursday.

Homework

2011-10-06T12:10:00.001-07:00

Honors Students
Your honors essay will be written in class when we return on Tuesday.

Juniors
Complete section 5 of the PSAT practice exam and turn it in tomorrow for homework credit.

Sophomores

For extra points, write (and type) a report answering the question "What is an American?" The essay is due on Tuesday.
You will have an exam on Wednesday on the Revolutionary Period.

Republican Debate

2011-10-06T09:59:00.000-07:00

Seniors (and anyone else who's interested), here is the video of the debate we've been watching in class:

We will continue to talk politics as the year progresses, and as the parties pick their candidates, we will watch more debates and continue to discuss the pros and cons of these issues.

Homework

2011-10-05T19:00:00.001-07:00

Seniors
You are writing an ACT-style argument essay in class tomorrow. Come prepared to integrate some of the analytical tools you've learned into a 500-word essay.

Juniors
PSAT prep: finish section 3 of the test. The following terms came up most often in your vocabulary lists, so study the definitions for a quiz on Tuesday:

esoteric (adj) - of special, rare, or unusual interest
caustic (adj) - marked by incisive sarcasm
perfunctory (adj) - characterized by routine or superficiality
halcyon (adj) - calm, peaceful
affability (n) - being pleasant and at ease in talking to others
onerous (adj) - involving, imposing, or constituting a burden
munificent (adj) - very liberal in giving or bestowing
remonstrate (v) - to plead and urge reasons in opposition
subversive (adj) - a cause of overthrow or ddestruction
feckless (adj) - weak, ineffective; worthless, irresponsible

Sophomores
Answer the following citing specific examples from the text:

#1-4 on 284
#2-4 on 287
#2-4 on 293
learn vocab from all three sections (20 terms)
EXAM on Wednesday, including the vocabulary

Homework

2011-10-04T13:53:00.000-07:00

Seniors
Vocabulary quiz tomorrow on rhetorical terms (pages 58-59).

Juniors
Pull 10 vocabulary words from pages 5 & 14 in your PSAT booklet and define. Please use Webster's Dictionary only. Also, work #9-24 and put answers on paper to turn in.

Sophomores
No homework tonight. However, you may want to watch this video:

Honors Summaries

2011-09-30T09:31:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
Read President George W. Bush's speech to the nation on deciding to go to war with Iraq in 2003; then, write and type a 250-word summary of his main points of support. Consider throughout the process any parallels you see between this speech and Patrick Henry's.

Juniors
Read this New York Times article on the 400 year anniversary of the King James Bible and its influence on the English language. Write and type a 250-word summary.

Seniors
Read and summarize the following debate on the U.S. economy in a 250-word typed report: "Is Outsourcing Good for the U.S. Economy?".

Homework

2011-09-29T11:05:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
First, here's the video of Patrick Henry's speech that I promised to post but didn't (sorry):

Your homework for tonight is to study the vocabulary and to prepare for a QUIZ for Friday.

Juniors
Your homework for tonight is to make sure you've read the Introduction to the Renaissance Period (276-82) and the section on Renaissance Drama (314-20). Expect a quiz on Friday.

2011-09-29T08:07:00.000-07:00

Seniors
Watch (and read) Kennedy's Inaugural Address and answer questions on pages 55-56 on his use of rhetorical strategies:

ALSO, start learning the vocabulary terms on pages 58-59. Note that examples from Kennedy's speech are included with the definitions.

PowerPoint

2011-09-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

Juniors, your PowerPoint is due tomorrow. Remember the following:

At least ten slides, not including the title page and works cited page
Presentations five minutes in length
At least half text/information
High contrast design
Free of all errors in grammar

Political Rhetoric

2011-09-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

We are talking about persuasive rhetoric in both English II - in the context of the American Revolution - and in English IV - in the context of political issues, specifically. In both, we discussed the various forms of persuasive rhetoric employed by politicians and leaders who are trying to convince fellow citizens of a particular point of view.

In politics, rhetoric is perhaps most exaggerated, and looking at political ads and speeches can help us understand how these techniques work:

The Living Room Candidate - a site that collects political ads throughout the history of television, beginning in 1952 and updated to include campaigns as recent as 2008
American Rhetoric - a collection of speeches throughout history, not just limited to politics

Essay Revisions

2011-09-26T19:38:00.000-07:00

Everyone has essays due tomorrow. Type, format according to MLA, and attach to the top of your hand-written draft:

Sophomores - refer to the "peer reader" questions on p252 for revision
Juniors - your essay should include a works cited page, numbered in sequence -- form found on the website discussed in class - Research and Documentation Online (#34-35) -- sample paper
Seniors - refer to the nine-point rubric when typing your revision

Happy Friday : )

2011-09-22T19:09:00.000-07:00

As noted, I will not be there for the second half of tomorrow. You have your orders.... You will turn in your work at the end of the day! I will hand all drafts back on Monday, and we will talk about revision then. Yes, I know I will now have a LOT of essays to grade, but trust me: it's easier this way.

Do not forget to bring notes to work with tomorrow. You do not have to rely solely on the notes you've taken in class. Do not bring a pre-written draft. I want all writing completed in class. If you do not finish, then turn it in anyway.

Juniors - because your final draft has been moved to Tuesday, your PowerPoint has been moved to Wednesday.

Honors students will receive articles for summary tomorrow in class.

Homework

2011-09-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
Look at the assignment on pages 248-252 in your text, and make notes pertaining to the movie you've chosen to review. I'll return the work you did in class today to use, as well. Please do NOT bring a pre-written essay to class.

Juniors
Answer questions #2-5 on p237 and be ready for a quiz on "Death of Arthur." We will also start on your essay in class, so bring your sources.

Seniors
You will be writing in class tomorrow - gathering evidence from one of the two essays, formulating a thesis, and organizing your support. We will finish the essay in class Friday.

Resources

2011-09-20T17:33:00.000-07:00

Please don't hold me responsible for the content of websites other than this one. Thanks.

Seniors
Here's a more recent article on the football team I mentioned in class - from a mostly Muslim high school in Dearborn, Michigan. Think about the difference between objective reporting like this and the more personal and purposeful essay in your book.

Juniors
Your essay requires TWO credible* sources. For resources on the Middle Ages, try these sites:

NetSERF
Medieval Resources - from Fordham
The ORB
The Labyrinth - from Georgetown
Literary Resources - from Rutgers

*See UC Berkeley's site for evaluating web pages

Sophomores
Please select a movie you'd like to review and be ready to take some notes about it tomorrow. The site I mentioned in class for movie reviews is MetaCritic. Your goal is to model these authors, not copy them. Plagiarized papers will receive a zero.

Homework

2011-09-19T14:18:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
Starting fresh tomorrow with the "critical review" assignment on p248. You'll pick a movie you've seen recently, and write a review based on some established criteria. We will follow the outline in your book and use the example as our model.

Juniors
Read "Sir Gawain and The Green Knight" and bring printed lyrics from a ballad for extra points (must not be the same as someone else and must follow the criteria outlined in class). We'll also pick paper topics tomorrow in class.

Seniors
Read "The Real New York Giants" and "Fasting and Football" on pages 471-75 in your book.

Honors Reading

2011-09-17T20:13:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder to all Honors students - you should be reading your independent study book for this nine weeks:

Sophomores - Scarlet Letter (Hawthorne) or Last of the Mohicans (Cooper)
Juniors - Grendel (Gardner), The Divine Comedy (Dante), or Complete Canterbury Tales (Chaucer)

Your exam will be on Thursday, October 6th.

Homework - Quiz

2011-09-14T18:52:00.000-07:00

Sophomores

Answer #2-5 on 228 using complete sentences and citing from the text.
We are finishing the play this week with a quiz on Act IV on Friday.
Your exam is on Monday, Sept 19 (includes the vocabulary).

Juniors

You have a quiz on "Pardoner" and "Wife" tomorrow -- vocabulary test on Friday, Sept 16 for all three.

Seniors

Your typed rough draft is due Friday. Bring your books tomorrow.

Homework

2011-09-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
Read Act Three of The Crucible. Study the vocabulary (i.e. make flashcards); it will be included in the exam on Monday, Sept 19. Don't forget about the flashcards (flipcards) on the publisher's site.

Juniors
Read "The Wife of Bath's Tale" and answer #2-5 on page 167. You'll have a quiz on both tales on Thursday, and your recitations are due Friday. For help speaking in Middle English (accent optional), try this video:

Or maybe this one:

Seniors
Research solutions to the problem. Your typed rough draft of Solutions paper is due on Friday, Sept 16. Bring your books tomorrow.

Homework

2011-09-12T22:13:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
Answer questions #2-6 on 206. Answer in complete sentences, and cite specifics from the text.

"Examination of a Witch" Thompkins H. Matteson, 1853

Juniors
Answer "Think Critically" questions following "The Pardoner's Tale." Answer in complete sentences, and cite specifics from the text.

Seniors
Find and print sources related to your "Solutions" paper. Review the AP English Language Course Description.

Weekend Homework

2011-09-09T08:01:00.000-07:00

Sophomores

Read Act Two of The Crucible and be ready for a reading comprehension quiz. You should also be making flashcards of all vocabulary.

Juniors

You have a quiz on "The General Prologue" on Monday, including the notes about the context and the author. Your homework is to complete vocabulary exercises A&B on 138, to read the essay on 139-40, and to answer #1-3 on 140. We will begin working on this in class Friday.

Seniors

The final draft of your "Problem" paper is due on Monday. Your works cited page should include at least three credible sources (each of which is cited in the paper). The next paper evaluates the "solutions" to the problem, so be prepared to talk about that in class on Monday.

Homework

2011-09-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

Sophomores
Answer questions #2-5 on 190. Use complete sentences and cite specifics from the text.

Juniors
Answer questions #3-5 on 137. Use complete sentence and cite specifics from the text. Also, I have posted the Chaucer notes under "assignments" on your Edline page.

Seniors
You are writing the "This I Believe" essay in class tomorrow. Think about your topic before you come to class, but please do not pre-write it. You will have the chance to revise.

Homework

2011-09-07T09:11:00.001-07:00

Seniors

Your topic MEMO is due tomorrow, Thursday 9/8. Below the memo heading, you should have three short paragraphs - one stating the purpose for the memo, including a statement about your specific topic, one briefly defining the problem, and one on your progress so far - what you've found, what you've written, what still needs to be done
Your typed rough draft of the Problem paper is due on Friday

Juniors

Read "The General Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales (111-136)

Sophomores

Learn all terms in "The Conventions of Drama" (161-2)
Read Act One of The Crucible (163-89)

College Rankings 2011

2011-09-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

I just saw this from Newsweek Magazine and thought it might be useful.

Labor Day Weekend

2011-09-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

No Class on Monday!

Seniors
You have a couple of things due when you come to school on Tuesday:

The final draft of your Career Paper, including the interview and a revised works cited page (numbered in sequence)
Source(s) related to the problem topic you have chosen -- you are writing the first draft of that paper in class on Tuesday
Look at the This I Believe website and some of the examples there, like this one from Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips -- you will write this essay in class next week

Juniors
No homework : )

Sophomores
Study for your test on Tuesday! The test will include multiple choice, matching (vocabulary from "Sinners"), short answer and a short essay.

Summaries

2011-08-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

AP English
Your summary for this week is from The New York Times concerning the job prospects for new college graduates. The article is not meant to dishearten you, only to give you a realistic sense of the job market and to encourage you to start planning your career now. Your summary is due Friday, Sept 2nd

English III-Honors
250-word summary of the BBC article on the "Staffordshire Hoard," found on farmland using a metal detector in 2009. Summary due on Friday, Sept 2nd.

The official website of the Staffordshire Hoard

English II-Honors
250-word Summary of "History Clashes with Commercialism" on pages 150-51 in your book. Summary is due on Friday, Sept 2nd

Homework

2011-08-31T08:48:00.001-07:00

English II

Early American Exam on Tuesday, Sept 6th

English III

Read selections from the Exeter Book and Venerable Bede (84-104)
#1-4 on 89
#1-4 on 93
#2-4 on 104

English IV

Your final draft of the career paper, including a revised works cited and your interview, is due on Tuesday, Sept 6th
Next is the "problem" paper - research possible problems in your field, related either to the profession itself or the specific tasks within a specific job. Bring at least one article related to problems within or related to your field.
Interview letter is due Friday - that means you must have your interview completed in the next two days! The form for the letter is full block - two paragraphs - one about the person you interviewed, and one about the information you found most useful.

Homework

2011-08-30T18:20:00.000-07:00

English IV - type your draft of the career paper, including a works cited page

English III - test today, no homework - if anyone missed it, make sure you have an excused absence to make it up

English II (work for Monday and Tuesday)

Comp Check, #2, 3 and 5 on 142
Comp Check, #2-6 on 148
Read 152-57; Comp Check and #4-6 on 158

Weekend Homework

2011-08-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

None! Actually, just a couple of reminders:

Seniors - Don't forget to type up your interview questions!
Juniors - Exam on Anglo-Saxon notes and Beowulf on Tuesday
Sophomores -Quiz Tuesday on the three historical narratives

Homework

2011-08-25T08:47:00.000-07:00

SOPHOMORES

You have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow - Friday, August 26th.
You should also finish reading "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" on pages 93-99. Expect a quiz on the reading and vocabulary next week.

JUNIORS

Read the rest of Beowulf - pages 45-60.
We will begin homework in class, which will be due at the end of class (#2-5 on 63). Please write legibly, in complete sentences, with direct reference to the text.
You do NOT have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow; instead, the vocabulary from Beowulf will be part of your exam next Tuesday, August 30th.

SENIORS

DUE FRIDAY:

Your 250-word typed reflective essay on future plans
Copies of career descriptions from College Board/ACT & the Occupational Outlook Handbook
A printout from the degree description or plan from a university of your choice

We will write a list of interview questions in class on Friday, and that list should be revised and typed for Monday. In addition, you should all be contacting your potential interviewees and making arrangements to ask them questions - in person, over the phone, or via email.

Your interview should be completed by next Thursday, September 1st.

ClassZone

2011-08-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

The textbooks for English II & III have online companion sites if you're interested:

For each unit, there is a table of contents, a section on vocabulary, historical context, and links for research. The flashcard tool for all "Words to Know" from each unit might come in handy.

Vocabulary and Homework

2011-08-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

Vocabulary

Be prepared for vocabulary quizzes on Fridays on the "Words to Know" lists from your reading selections. The word bank precedes the reading; the words are defined throughout, and an exercise at the end tests your knowledge of the words in context.

Sophomores

Answer questions 3 & 4 on page 88 in complete sentences, with direct references to the text.

Juniors

Read to page 44 (through part one of Beowulf), and be prepared to take a quiz.

Homework

2011-08-23T19:24:00.000-07:00

Sophomores:
Read 66-88, including "La Relacion" and "Of Plymouth Plantation." For additional resources, try one of the following:

Juniors:
Read the introductions to the Anglo-Saxon period and Beowulf (please ignore/avoid the film version as we begin the poem - some key differences)

Career Project

2011-08-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

Seniors:

The first thing you'll do this year is a research project based on your career goals. We will discuss your college and non-college options, conduct research on careers and degree programs, and write a series of papers related to the career you've selected. While this in no way locks you into a career path, it does give you a lot more information to go on, and it will set you on your way towards applying for the college of your choice.

Your first assignment:

Write a 250-word report on your career goals
Print out at least two career and/or degree descriptions from the sites discussed
Take a "virtual tour" of the university or institution you'd like to attend and print out information from the college or degree plan
Conduct an interview with a professional ASAP

The sites we discussed:

The typed report and printed sources are due on Friday, August 26th. Consider the following in your response: What do you want to do with your life? Where would you like to live? What kind of work environment would you prefer? What skills/talents will help you? What kind of training will you require? To visit the university of your choice, go to their webpage and look for your college-department-major. College Board has a convenient search engine just for this purpose.

As for your interview, start planning NOW. If you cannot think of anyone who does the job you'd like to do, then let me know, and I will help find someone for you to interview. If you have someone in mind, then contact that person NOW and set up an appointment or get permission to email a set of questions. The interview is an essential part of the process and may turn out to be your primary source for this research project.

Honors/AP Article Summaries

2011-08-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Each week, honors/AP students will write a 250-word summary of an assigned reading, related to class discussion. This summary should NOT include any long quotes from the article; rather, it should be a summary of the main points and organized into paragraphs based on the article's development.

Students must be careful not to plagiarize the article, and can avoid this by attributing any unique wording or ideas to the article's author. The form used for citation is on the site referred to often in class, Research and Documentation Online - specifically the site's section on MLA In-Text Citations.

The first set of articles follows:

English II - "The Great Gatsby: What it Says to Modern America"
English III - "Virginia School District Bans Sherlock Holmes Novel"
English IV - "Gone With The Water"

Please type this assignment, and format according to MLA.

DUE Monday, August 22nd

Welcome Back!

2011-08-06T09:23:00.000-07:00

This will be one of your most important resources for English II, III and IV/AP this year. I will post assignments and links here regularly, so bookmark this page. You can also "subscribe" to this page to be notified of updates.

Your summer reading reports are due Thursday, August 18th. And your in-class essay will be written on Monday, August 22nd.

Please bring your required summer reading book to class on Thursday.

I'm looking forward to a great year...see you in class!

Happy Independence Day

2011-07-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

Grades

2011-05-18T07:13:00.001-07:00

Your updated grades have been posted on Edline. Note that this does not include all of the homework for this week, and that I have not yet "dropped" your lowest quiz and homework. Also, if you choose to not turn in this last week's homework, know that it will show up on the report as "missing." There is a ** in place of the grade. Please let me know if you have questions.

Work for May 16-20

2011-05-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

NOTE: all of this week's homework is optional, meaning it won't be counted against you; however, doing the homework will raise your grade

Monday

"Araby" - Questions CC & #2-5 (p1029)

Tuesday

"Dulce et Decorum Est" - #2-7 (handout)
"The Second Coming" - #1-3 (p989)
"Sailing to Byzantium" - CC & #2-5

Wednesday

"The Demon Lover" -CC & #2-7 (p1164)

Thursday

Review for Final Exam

Friday

Review for Final Exam
Honors Essay

Weekend Homework

2011-05-14T20:12:00.000-07:00

Juniors, please read James Joyce's "Araby" over the weekend. We will discuss and answer questions Monday.

Victorian Quiz #2

2011-05-11T07:11:00.001-07:00

Juniors, you have a QUIZ on Thursday on "Mark of the Beast" and the four poems we've just discussed.

After the quiz, we'll talk about Modernism (beginning on 978).

Junior Homework

2011-05-09T07:57:00.001-07:00

Read the following poems, and complete the questions following the poems:

"Dover Beach" - #1-4 (943)
"Convergence of the Twain" - CC, #2-3 (961)
"When I Was One and Twenty" - #1-4 (964)
"To An Athlete Dying Young" - CC, #2-3 (967)

Senior Finals

2011-05-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

Your finals are on Monday (2nd period) and Tuesday (4th period) and will consist of two parts - a multiple choice section and an essay:

Non-Honors - Review sections from the AP and ACT tests covered in class, and be prepared to write an argument essay on a prompt you have not seen before.
English AP - Review sections from the AP tests covered in class, and be prepared to write an analysis essay on a prompt you have not seen.

Junior Homework

2011-05-06T08:39:00.001-07:00

Your assignment over the weekend is to read the handout - "Mark of the Beast" by Rudyard Kipling - and to answer questions #1-10.

Junior Assignment

2011-05-03T10:30:00.001-07:00

On Monday, we talked about Victorian fiction -- please get those notes if you missed -- and your assignment for Tuesday is to read a story from Elizabeth Cleghorn Gaskell, "Christmas Storms and Sunshine" (872-882). Be prepared to take a short reading quiz on the story on Wednesday, when we will talk about the Colonial literature of the late 19th century.

Seniors ~ Memory Book

2011-05-01T15:35:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that you need to bring material for your memory book tomorrow. Bring all supplies to class all week. The final product is due on FRIDAY, MAY 6. The specifics regarding your memory book assignment are posted below.

We will also review for finals, which begin on Monday of next week. I'll know soon if you are exempt; otherwise, prepare as if you are taking the exam.

Junior Homework

2011-04-19T14:13:00.000-07:00

Due Wednesday (end of class):

"My Last Duchess" #1-3 on 856
"Porphyria's Lover" #2-4 on 859
Write a short response to #5, comparing the inferences about the love relationships in the two poems

Below is a dramatic reading of "Porphyria's Lover":

]

QUIZ Thursday, April 21st on Tennyson and Browning

Seniors ~ Memory Book

2011-04-18T08:22:00.000-07:00

Now that your introduction and concluding poem have been turned in (hopefully), I've been asked to post the requirements for the entire project. Although we will not work on this until the week after break - while we are reviewing for the final - there are some supplies to gather.

First, the assignment requires that you include pictures and memorabilia from all four years of high school. You can print pictures professionally, or you can print them on your own - from Facebook, the RO website, the Internet, your computer. You should include at least the following:

At least FOUR pages (two sheets, front and back) for each year = SIXTEEN total (or eight sheets, front and back)
Organize chronologically, ending with your senior year
Include information related to school - academics, arts, athletics - as well as special events
Include information related to your interests - religion, music, film, games, trends, etc.
Include information related to the news - important events (i.e. Obama's election, Japan earthquake)
LABEL everything - create your own in Word, use stickers, or write directly on the page
Include the PROSE piece at the beginning and the POEM at or near the end

As noted, you will also need to get some supplies. The bare minimum is a 12x12 scrapbook with at least 8 pages. You might also want to get some "page protectors" that slip over the pages once they've been created. There are no extra points for including shiny 3-D stickers, but you are welcome to decorate and to be as creative as you'd like. There are also backgrounds for virtually every topic. All of these things are available at Hobby Lobby, usually on sale. You can also get supplies at Michael's or WalMart, and I'm sure there are other places, as well.

Remember above all else, this is for your own benefit, so include things YOU would like to remember. The GRADE is based on my basic requirements.

Juniors: Homework

2011-04-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

Alfred, Lord Tennyson - Queen Victoria's Poet Laureate

For Friday
Read "The Lady of Shalott" and "Ulysses"
Answer #1-4 after each

For Monday
Read "In Memoriam" and "Crossing the Bar"
Answer #1-4 after each

Below is Loreena McKennitt's version of "The Lady of Shalott" set to music:

Seniors ~ Memory Book

2011-04-14T07:18:00.001-07:00

In a couple of weeks, you will have completed your senior year. You have a couple of essays to write, and some of you have a final to take, but we're getting close. The final assignment is always an easy one - a memory book of your high school years (9-12).

We'll start with two reflective assignments:

First, you all need to write an introduction to your book. Consider the following in your one-page reflective essay: What is your overall impression of your high school years? What do you want to remember most? What does "graduation" mean to you? What are you looking forward to next? In other words, if graduation is a doorway, consider what's on either side.

DUE: Friday, April 15th (typed, any font, no header, with name on back)

This weekend, write a poem about your senior class (or graduation). The form and tone of the poem is up to you: funny, serious or sad; rhyming couplets, ballad, or free verse. However you write it, though, please take it seriously. A copy of this poem should go in your memory book, so change the font style and color to suit your tastes.

DUE: Monday, April 18th (typed, any font, no header, with name on back)

Announcements

2011-04-13T11:14:00.001-07:00

Seniors

It's getting down to the wire, and you need to make sure you have completed all assignments. There's still time to make-up work missed due to excused absences, so come see me if you are not sure.

Juniors

Your assignment for tonight is to read the Introduction to the Victorian Period. We will also have a quiz on MLA research and documentation Thursday, April 14th.

Final Draft of Research Paper

2011-04-11T07:39:00.000-07:00

The final draft is due tomorrow, April 12th. Please make sure you have done the following:

Made all corrections to your Works Cited page
Numbered your pages
Included an original title
Double-spaced, one-inch margins, size 12 TNR font
Included the original, graded draft - with original hand-written draft
Included all sources that appear on Works Cited, arranged in ABC order

I will supply the folder. You supply everything else. The penalty is ten points per day, starting with the beginning of class.

Due Dates

2011-04-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

Seniors

Your revision is due on Friday. You must attach your source (if revising the energy paper) and your original, hand-written draft.

NOTE that the AP Exam is on Wednesday, May 11th. Make arrangements for any make-ups that occur as a result.

Juniors

Your rough draft, including your sources AND a works cited page, is due tomorrow. Your final draft, however, is not due until Tuesday, April 12th. I will return your original draft with comments on Monday.

Using Your Sources

2011-04-05T14:52:00.000-07:00

Once you've located some reliable and relevant sources, now what?

The first thing you need to think of is your first paper. What points did you make in support of your thesis? Those points of support will all be expanded in this second version. As you are reading your sources (that is what you're doing, right?), look for information/ideas/points that support YOUR ideas. As you come to something in a source, highlight it, making a note about where it fits into your argument -- just like you did for paper #1.

As for integrating those points, that's where signal phrases come into play. Try to vary the way you introduce and integrate your sources. Remember too that the signal phrase and/or the parenthetical citations cross-reference the works cited page. The best site I've found for MLA documentation is from the Hacker Handbook:

Research and Documentation Online

As for beginning, you start with the file you saved for paper #1. Pull it up on the computer, with your *marked* sources around you, and start integrating them into your original paper. Once you have my comments on paper #1 you'll have more to go on. Right now, you should be reading the sources you have.

Sample Research Paper

IMPORTANT: DO NOT PANIC ~ GET STARTED NOW!

Researching Databases

2011-04-03T11:38:00.000-07:00

I will be at the ULM Library on Sunday afternoon between 2:00 and 4:00 to help you with research. The main online resource we'll use online databases, specifically JSTOR, Literature Resource Center, and Literary Resource Center. These databases are accessed through the library's homepage. However, you must either be in the library itself or have access through an ID to search the databases, as they are subscription-based (video tutorial on remote access).

Follow these steps:

Go to the ULM Library site
Click on "databases by subject" (bottom left)
Start with one of the databases mentioned above, but all of these are useful
LOG IN using your student ID (skip this step if in the library)
search using keywords (keep it simple and specific - try synonyms)
once you are viewing a list of articles, view by PDF is possible
read the first paragraph or so to see if it's relevant - if not, go back
if relevant, print or save the file - since you are viewing the PDF or HTML version of this source, you can save it on a USB flashdrive (if you don't have one, then save to the desktop and email to yourself)
finally, and most importantly, READ THE SOURCE and HIGHLIGHT important information as it pertains to your topic!
We'll talk about integrating sources into your paper this week in class

In addition, because sometimes more recent sources are needed, please also search using Google or comparable search engine. Remember our basic criteria for evaluating online sources:

Source - Where is it published?
Author - Who wrote it?
Date - When was it written?
Purpose - Why was it written?

Everyone needs to bring sources to class tomorrow - at least one that you found via a search engine, and at least one (two for honors) from one of the databases at ULM (or Ouachita Parish LIbrary). Please staple each source and bring the whole source, not just a couple of pages. DO NOT wait until tomorrow morning to print everything.

See you in class, or at the library today!

Energy Essay

2011-03-30T08:52:00.000-07:00

Your question for Friday is "How should the U.S. reduce our dependency on foreign oil?" Options include, but are not limited to the following:

Status Quo - continue to produce, consume and import at the current rate
Reduce consumption
Increase drilling domestically
Increase production of nuclear power
Invest in renewable alternatives

Your assignment is to answer the question - that's your thesis - and to find at least one fact-based article to support your claim. The source I've been using in class for statistics on consumption and supply comes from the U.S. Energy Information Association, but you are welcome to find your own. If you'd like to establish the U.S. public's opinion try either Pew Research or Rasmussen Reports (or someone else).

The source is due Thursday, April 1st. The paper will be written in class on Friday, April 2nd.

Nuclear Energy Debate

2011-03-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

One result of the natural disaster in Japan is a renewed debate over the future of nuclear energy in the U.S. and around the world. Many have argued that nuclear power can deliver the "most bang for the buck," so to speak (excuse the pun), while others argue that the dangers outweigh the benefits.

For an explanation of how nuclear power works, as well as some perspective on what's happening with Japan's nuclear reactors at the moment, watch this video. And for the article that I mentioned on Chernobyl, read this.

Today in class we watched the beginning of a debate between Mark Jacobson and Stewart Brand:

It's important to note, perhaps, that both of these speakers - and the debate in general - assumes a need for an alternative to fossil fuels. As I said, most folks agree that we need to free ourselves from dependence on foreign oil; the question is how to do that. Alternate energies is one answer. Another, more immediate answer, is more drilling. We can debate that, as well.

Frankenstein Essay Process

2011-03-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

Now that you have read the novel, the next step is to pick a topic to research. Remember that your research begins with the novel itself. Once you've picked a topic, go back through the book and look for information and details that pertain to your topic. I recommend using post-it notes to mark pages (with page numbers and notes); that way you can physically rearrange your notes to help create an organizational pattern for your paper.

STEP ONE: Read the book if you haven't yet...

STEP TWO: Pick a topic - from the list or on your own

Type and sign a topic proposal letter for Monday, March 28th stating what you intend to write about and how - in other words, what evidence have you found, and how does it work to support a main idea? Please use block format.

STEP THREE: Type an outline for Tuesday (sample)

Type your outline and format according to MLA - with your thesis at the top. You can skip the intro and outline the body only. Please use the alphanumeric example as your guide, noting that indentation denotes the hierarchy of the information (the more indented sections are more specific).

STEP FOUR: Write first draft in class Wednesday. Yes, of course, you may use both your book and your outline. Make use of in-text citation for all information from the book.

For each quote, make sure you INTRODUCE and CONNECT the information: Introduce the quote with a signal phrase or introductory sentence followed by a colon; Connect the information to your main point and establish the context

For this first draft, you are only using one source, so it is not necessary to indicate the author in your citation. If you do refer to the author, please use her LAST name (and please spell it correctly). Here are three examples of in-text citation using the same information:

Frankenstein first witnesses the potential power of electricity at the age of fifteen, when a lightning bolt turns the tree near his home into a “blasted stump” (35).
Frankenstein first witnesses the potential power of electricity at the age of fifteen: “I beheld a stream of fire issue from an old and beautiful oak […] and so soon as the dazzling light vanished, the oak had disappeared, and nothing remained but a blasted stump” (35).
Frankenstein is introduced to electricity as a young man of fifteen, when a lightning bolt strikes a tree near his home: “nothing remained but a blasted stump” (35).