river oaks [english]

I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe break!

Take a look at these sites for sample questions . Most have full tests, usually organized by subject matter: http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/index.html http://www.4tests.com/exams/examdetail.asp?eid=13 http://www.actexampracticetests.com/ http://www.testprepreview.com/act_practice.htm For basic grammar review , try one of the following: http://www.sparknotes.com/testprep/books/act/chapter5.rhtml http://www.chompchomp.com/ http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/566/01/

Alright, it's the last week of the quarter. Midterms are next week, and the ACT is on Saturday. Seniors : Vocabulary assignment is due Monday, Dec 7th Honors Essay assignment is due Monday, Dec 14th We will continue to prepare for the mid-term exam, which will be a combination of writing and multiple choice. The Honors/AP students will have more to write, naturally. Juniors : Honors Essay assignment is due Monday, Dec 14th We will continue to prepare for the midterm and ACT this week.

As discussed in class, your next assignment is to write a "This I Believe" essay. The purpose for this essay is explain some core belief or value, perhaps telling a story about why you hold that conviction dear. The publishers explain their rationale below: How Youth Can Get Involved with This I Believe This I Believe encourages thoughtful and respectful sharing of philosophical, spiritual, or civic beliefs by inviting people from all walks of life to write brief essays that discuss the rules they live by. Thousands of young people around the country have embraced This I Believe as a powerful way to explore their beliefs. Our project’s goal is to encourage people of different beliefs to listen to one another. We encourage you to come together with friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to discuss the essays you’ve written. You can get started by reading the essays written by other young people that have been submitted to This I Believe . Click here to access our Youth Essay D...

The exam will include questions on the following: Medieval Period Introduction (historical context) Chaucer's Bio and Poetics Canterbury Tales - General Prologue, Pardoner's Tale & Wife of Bath's Tale Boccaccio - Federigo's Falcon Elements of Romantic Literature (Chivalric Romance) Sir Gawain & The Green Knight Death of Arthur The exam will be mostly (if not all) objective - multiple choice, T/F, and matching.

(1) First, your goal is to evaluate the audience and purpose of a print advertisement. What is the target audience* for the ad? What magazine was it in? Who would the image(s) in the ad appeal to? Beyond selling a product, what else is being sold? What is the message (or implied message) of the ad? * Target audience = the demographic that the company wants to reach, or that segment of the population (age, sex, race, class) that is most likely to buy the product or to use the service advertised. (2) Second, your task is to describe the ad's contents. What does it look like? Your reader will not have the ad to reference, only your description, so describe the images, colors and layout. What do the images/colors suggest? If there is text, what does it say? Is there a slogan on the ad (usually next to the logo)? Analyze the use of diction and syntax . Be specific and use quotation marks when appropriate. (3) Third, your goal is to analyze the effectiveness of the advertisement. ...

Hey all - sorry for the late post. The structure for the "drinking age debate" paper follows the classical model from your textbook (pages 13-14): Introduction - states the subject and your position on the issue Narration - establishes context and/or your connection to the subject Confirmation - uses reason and evidence to support your position Refutation - lends credence to the opposition and argues against it Conclusion - summarizes and recommends action Again, your paper should be typed and formatted according to MLA.

Your assignment is to write a poem describing a someone from contemporary society. Refer to the " General Prologue " to The Canterbury Tales as your model. The character should be someone who does a particular job or serves some specific purpose in our society. Your poem should be at least 14 lines, in rhyming couplets. Please include the following: description of the person's job/position character traits -- personality, temperament, morals, etc. physical description -- including uniform/clothing Remember that almost any line from Shakespeare is in iambic pentameter: Bring a TYPED rough draft on Friday 9/27. The final draft is due on Monday 9/28.

Your exam on "The Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales is scheduled for Tuesday. We'll review on Monday. The exam will be a mix of multiple choice, matching and short answer. You will also have a short essay. There's been some confusion about the memorization assignment for the Honors students. Originally, I had scheduled five-ten minutes at the beginning of class on Monday, but I've decided to give you until Wednesday to complete the assignment. You must write (or recite) the first twelve lines of "The Prologue" - in my presence - by the end of the day on Wednesday. That gives you all a bit of extra time and it allows you to do it in class or during break, etc. Below is the video I told you about. You might try emulating someone else's lyrical style if "old guy" is not your thing, but it is a good way to remember the meter and rhyme. Personally, I think it's pretty awesome: This one's more from the Beastie Boy school of rap:

As promised, this is a sample MLA research paper . Note especially the use of cross-referencing between the parenthetical citations and the works cited page.

Your final installment in the research paper is the "solutions" portion - a comparison/contrast of the best available solutions to your problem. The paper should use credible support from at least three sources, and should be formatted according to MLA. Please include the following: An introduction connecting this paper to your last A section explaining/defining each of your solutions A section evaluating your solutions based on specific criteria A conclusion regarding your findings I also mentioned in class that you may include images in your paper. I went over the process for saving and importing images in class. There are two primary methods: Right click > Save Image As (or Copy) > Insert (or Paste) into Word Print Screen (at top right of your keyboard) > Edit in Paint > Paste into Word For either method, you'll need to adjust the layout by double-clicking the image and "wrapping" the text. Remember also that the image is from a source, and t...

Seniors : You are supposed to be looking at FactCheck.org . This site was developed to "fact check" claims made by people/organizations about issues in the news. I want you to determine whether or not you believe the site is biased or not, and to provide an example supporting your opinion. Juniors : You should be reading the Introduction to The Canterbury Tales and "The Prologue" (100-125 in your textbook). We will be discussing "The Prologue" this week.

Your final draft of the Problem Paper is due tomorrow. Please remember to bring your rough draft and all of your sources. Again, consider the following in your revision: Is your topic clearly defined and explained? Do you connect the problem to your field of study? Have you provided an analysis of the causes of the problem? Are you using at least three credible sources, and are they cited properly? Do you have a "Works Cited" page, numbered in sequence? Have you followed all the rules for MLA format? Remember also that tomorrow is the absolute deadline for your interview letters. Next up is the Solution Paper, which may utilize some of the same sources. Make sure you check with me if you need a copy.

As promised, Wars on Canvas: 1066

By the end of the weekend, you should all have conducted your interview and started the research for your "problem" paper. A letter (in full block format) is due on Tuesday including the following: A paragraph about your interview subject - who did you talk to? why is that person qualified? when and where did the interview take place? A paragraph about the information you got from the interview - what was most useful? what are you using in your paper? how did it go? ALSO, please start looking online for information regarding your topic. If your problem is local, then look locally ( The News Star , for example). Search using the techniques you learned last year. Don't forget about EBSCO - now available to River Oaks students: username - riveroaks password - mustangs

Seniors, your next step in the process is to decide on a topic for your "problem" paper. You must narrow it down to ONE topic, and you must focus on the problem ONLY. There are several ways to search for topics: Ask a professional - one of your questions should have been "what problems/issues do you face on a regular basis?" Search for problems on Google - i.e. "_____ problems" Look at your college's website - on the department page, there should be some direction to the course catalog or course descriptions where you can find subjects you will be studying in your degree program - look for one that interests you and research it Look up your professional organizations' sites - search for "_____ association" - there are usually several organizations connected to your profession, and each will have its own website, with current "hot" topics After you have decided on a topic, you will need to research the "history" of th...

Seniors, you have a rough draft due tomorrow. Don't give me the old "my printer's broken" excuse... get to school early and print it there so we'll have something to look at. Also, please bring all sources used in the paper -- we'll discuss how to cite them. As for the paper itself, just make sure you are explaining the rationale behind your decisions (i.e. why are you majoring in that? why are you going there? what education is required for that? what's the job like? etc...). Organize into paragraphs and CITE all sources.

Make sure you've done the following for Monday! You were told on Friday, so this is just a reminder: English IV Type a set of fifteen questions for your interview. You should have someone specific in mind, and by now should have plans to conduct your interview this week. You should also have plenty of information for the Career Paper (including a printout from the Occupational Outlook Handbook ). Your first draft is due on Tuesday . English III Answer questions on page 38 of your textbook/handout (#2-8, a-e). Use complete sentences and correct grammar, but your answers do not have be a paragraph long each. Be succinct and specific.

The site we looked at in class today is an excellent overall source for this first paper. It defines various career paths, broken down into subcategories, and provides info about job growth and salary. If you're going to use it, I suggest printing the PDF available. Please write the website address on the printout. Occupational Outlook Handbook

Your next assignment is to write a letter to me proposing your topic for the Career Paper. Please use FULL BLOCK format - found in your textbook - and ONE INCH margins. Include the following: A short paragraph stating your purpose for the letter and your topic. Tell me what career you've chosen, what major that requires and where you plan to go to school. A short paragraph stating your future plans and rationale (why you want to do this particular job) Again, this is to be in letter format! We went over this in class and it's in your book. Don't forget to sign the letter. THIS WEEKEND you should be writing your first paper and adding in the research you've done so far. You will get the assignment in class and I'll re-post it here. Also, set up your interview!

Your assignment for tomorrow is to print out a description of your major from the university of your choice. Feel free to print out more than one. You can search for degree programs through the CollegeBoard site - like we did in class. You can also try looking through the rankings in the latest issue of US News & World Report , including a feature which lets you search by region.

As discussed in class today, your first assignment is to write a 250-word self-assessment. What do you think you'd like to do later in life? What are your talents? Where would you like to live? What's most important to you? What kind of work environment are you most comfortable in? All of these questions and many more come up when you start considering what career you'd like to pursue. This reflective essay is informal, but please type and format according to MLA. Second, go to College Board's site and explore their section on Careers and Degree Programs . Print out the page that seems closest to your ideal job/career. Finally, if you need some help getting started, you might want to try one of the many "career aptitude" tests that are out there. Be aware that some of these sites require registration and/or a fee.

Welcome back everyone.... I'm looking forward to a great year. I'm teaching Junior and Senior English this year, and we just installed a new Promethean ActivBoard in my classroom. We'll hit the ground running, so get ready to start in earnest on Thursday. I'll post the supply list on this site after I hand out syllabi, and we'll also be taking up a book fee in the first week or so. The book reports are officially due on Thursday , and we'll prepare for the essays on Dracula and Bayou Farewell on Thursday and Friday. Your in-class essay is on Monday . See you in class!

If you haven't read the Declaration of Independence in a while, today is a perfect day to do so.

Thank you for all of your work this year!   You should all have a copy of the summer reading list and assignments.  If not, then you can download one from the school's website:  SUMMER READING Enjoy your summer break!

Research Process MLA Format – what it is and how it looks Finding and evaluating sources The two “R”s – Relevance and Reliability Using the databases Using sources The two “I”s – Introduce and Integrate Parenthetical Citation (know the punctuation) Works Cited entries (expect at least to know the form for an article from a subscription database) Romantic Period Introduction to the period (620-638) Gothic Literature & Frankenstein (study guide) Women writers of the period (726-728) William Blake: "The Lamb" & "The Tyger" & "The Chimney Sweeper" (two versions) William Wordsworth: "Lines Composed a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey" Samuel Taylor Coleridge:"Kubla Khan" & "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" Lord Byron: "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" Percy Bysshe Shelley: "Ozymandias" John Keats: "Ode On a Grecian Urn" ...

Remember to read to the end by the end of the week! This week is your last chance for points before the final, and the final will include the novel. The study questions should help you prepare, as will the essay due next week. Wednesday - read to page 50; turn in 10 vocab from Part II Thursday - respond to three (five if in honors) questions from the study guide Friday - read to the end; turn in 10 vocab from Part III The honors essay should be a critical analysis of some specific aspect of the novel. Take your topic from the study guide, and use the homework as a way to get started. Start to pull specifics from the book now, as you read and we discuss, and the job will be easier this weekend. Remember, too, that you all have the opportunity for extra points by (a) doing an essay on the novel if you're non-honors, and (b) taking AR tests on books you have read outside of class. Most best-sellers and all classics are testable. Just check with me or Mrs. Ransom to take a quiz.

Remember to read Part One (1-27) of Heart of Darkness over the weekend. Your homework for this week is on the study guide I handed out in class. If you were absent Friday, then you can pick up yours on Monday (remember to bring my $2.00). As for the context, I know it's horrifying, but it's important to know what happened. Many recent critics have noted that the political context has been overshadowed for years by the various mythological/archetypal and psychological readings since the book was published. A recent article in London's The Independent sheds some light on the context, however, and might help explain why in some ways the Congo region is still in recovery: Forever in chains: The tragic history of Congo

Your final will include the following six chapters: Ch 29 - The Countries of South Asia Ch 22 - Southwest Asia: Regional Atlas Ch 23 - The Countries of Southwest Asia Ch 10 - Mexico Ch 11 - Central America & the Caribbean Ch 12 - Brazil The test will be 100 questions in length - multiple choice and maps.

Your final exam will consist of three sections - AP multiple choice, vocabulary and an essay. The multiple choice section will come from your handout, and you will have a choice of essay prompts. The vocabulary will include 20 of the following 30 terms: eschew - to avoid habitually especially on moral or practical grounds discursive - moving from topic to topic without order veracity - the quality or state of being lively in temper, conduct or spirit perilous - full of or involving danger ephemeral - lasting a very short time prevail - to gain ascendancy through strength or superiority dismal - showing or causing gloom or depression ingenuous - showing innocent or childlike simplicity and honesty syllogism - a subtle, specious, or crafty argument laudatory - of, relating to, or expressing praise pedantic – narrowly or stubbornly learned; unimaginative exhort – to urge strongly sardonic - disdainfully or skeptically humorous reprove - to scold or correct usually gently or with kindly ...

As you work on your memory books this week and next, you should also be working on the end-of-year writing assignments. I've given you a handout (if you were on class): A letter to your future self -- imagine yourself four years from now...where will you be, and what will you be doing? Is it what you planned? What do you hope to remember about NOW? What's important? Address your future self in a letter (standard form), and enclose it in a self-address envelope. I won't read it, but I do need to know you've done it, so don't seal it. A reflective poem or paragraph that will serve as the introduction to your memory book. What is your overall impression of your high school years? What do you want to remember most? Finally, 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 s...

It's the assignment you've all been waiting for: the memory book. Your assignment is to gather material for a scrapbook that will cover the last four years of your life. Treat it as a document of your high school career. Please start with a LARGE book, not one of the wee little books that you can find some places. Get a BIG one (12 X 12). For each year of high school, you are required to have at least four pages organized into the following categories, but not limited to the examples provided: (1) Student Life -- school-related stuff, friends, sports, spirit groups (2) Personal Life -- family, faith and friends (3) News/Culture -- focus on what you personally were into or affected by CNN Time Magazine Infoplease NOTE: Two sheets front and back for every year = 16 total pages (8 sheets). You can certainly go over this minimum requirement. Although everyone is required to use these same basic categories, consider them as starting points. You can break each category into secti...

The time has come to turn in all of your stuff pertaining to the research paper.  Please include ALL of the following in your folder: Your final draft , in a report cover - MLA formatting, including a header on the first page, numbering, and a works cited page (NOT your annotated bib) Your rough drafts , including both the one I wrote on and the one you wrote in class Your sources , stapled with note cards, arranged in the order they appear on your works cited page A couple of all-purpose reminders:  You must USE all of your sources .  I've said this before, but I think it bears repeating.  It is not enough to simply SAY that you used them; I need to see evidence (in-text citations in the final draft corresponding to highlighted passages in your source). Make absolutely certain that you have cited everything that you've used and that all sources are included on your works cited page and in your folder . See you tomorrow.  I'll give you instructions on where to turn in l...

Your next assignment is to create an annotated bibliography .  Format according to MLA and include the following: CITATION - based on the forms on your sheet and covered in class ANNOTATION - brief statement relating the source to your topic (in other words, explain why you used the source) Both the  Purdue site  and the site at  UNC have explanations and examples ( that a re considerably longer than what I've required here). DUE Wednesday! Also bring a  printout of your latest draft.  Please do this at home if at all possible to avoid a traffic jam in the library.  Thanks.

Just a reminder to everyone that I will be at the ULM library from about 3:00 to 5:00 on Sunday to help you guys find sources.  Don't forget to bring your USB drive , and you might also want to bring some change for copies (there are books there too, you know).  If no one shows up at 3:00, then I'll probably be across the street grading papers.  See you then!

As discussed in class, MOST of your secondary sources need to come from “scholarly journals.” The best source for journal articles is a subscription database like the following: EBSCO – a collection of databases, including full-text articles Go to the Ouachita Parish Library (or website: http://www.oplib.org ) Click on “Other Links” in the left column Click on “CLICK HERE for our subscription database links” Click on EBSCO Enter your library card number (if not in library) Select a database (I suggest Literary Reference Center) Search using keywords (i.e. "frankenstein AND criticism") Save and/or print You can also access the State Library of Louisiana directly, but you still need an ID. JSTOR – full-text scholarly articles Go to the ULM Library's list of databases Choose JSTOR (or Literature Resource Center) enter user name and password (if off-campus) search using keywords (string together using “and”) click ...

Great Books Lists (just what it says)

Your assignment for tonight (and the rest of the week) is to gather sources from the Internet related to your topic. Remember to try a variety of keyword terms. If you cannot find something that is directly related to your topic, don't give up. You may to "browse" through titles and read some abstracts (summaries). This will take some time and some work, but if you follow my process, you will get it done. This week (and next) bring what you find. We will evaluate your sources and, if found reliable, we will discuss how to create a bibliographic citation for each. You will need your note cards for this, so please bring them to class. The 4X6 note cards work best. You will need a dozen or so, depending on how many sources you find. Please evaluate each source before printing: Relevance -- Is the source related directly to your topic? How long is the article, more than a page? Can you use the source more than once? Do you NEED the source? Reliability -- Is the source re...

Congrats to the district IV quiz bowl state champs ! The team includes Jacob Waalk, Maira Qayyum, Coley Rahn, Philip Raeisghasem, Aaron Rogers, Ryan Thurman and Deborah Rizzo. Well done guys...I'm very proud of all of you.

Now that you have chosen your topic (proposal letter) and created some note cards, it's time to organize your ideas into a coherent outline. We've discussed the process in class, of course, but I've also included a couple of links with instruction and examples below: Developing an Outline: Purdue's OWL Handout from the University of Washington Your outline must be typed, double-spaced and formatted according to MLA. It must also be over a page long and include the following: Your thesis (can also pre-write your intro) Alpha-numeric subdivisions (I, A, 1.) References to specific page numbers DUE MONDAY - In addition to your outline, bring your book and notes, for you will be writing your initial draft in class.

As we have discussed, advertising is ubiquitous. Everywhere we look -- on TV, on billboards, in magazines, even on people's clothing -- companies use persuasive messages to convince us to buy their products. Advertisers use the same methods of persuasion that apply to political rhetoric and satire: they employ the classic appeals of rhetoric - ethos, pathos, and logos -- through text and sensory images designed to win over their targeted audience. Your assignment is to write a comparison/contrast paper analyzing the rhetorical strategies of two print advertisements. Although your paper will be written in class, you will type the draft for a grade. Please focus on the following: The audience - based on the "context" of the ad (where and when the ad appears) The purpose - beyond the product, what else (abstractly) is being sold? The use of appeals - ethos (establishes ethics/authority), pathos (abstract emotions of the consumer), and logos (a logical argument based on re...

Hello All - As we've been discussing Frankenstein , and the Romantics in general, I know I've mentioned Whitman's poem "When I Heard the Learn'd Astronomer." And the other day, I ran across John Shaw's photos from Louisiana Tech's observatory. They are a perfect pairing, I think, for demonstrating one of Shelley's main points - that the pursuit of scientific knowledge has the potential to impede our understanding and/or appreciation of Nature. From Louisiana Tech's Observatory: From Walt Whitman: WHEN I heard the learn’d astronomer; When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me; When I was shown the charts and the diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them; When I, sitting, heard the astronomer, where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room, How soon, unaccountable, I became tired and sick; Till rising and gliding out, I wander’d off by myself, In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time, Look’d up in pe...

Congratulations to the Quiz Bowl team for coming in FIRST at ULM's tournament! The team is also headed to state as the district champs. Nerds rule!

Your assignment is to choose ONE of the three in-class synthesis essays you've written to type and revise according to the original assignment. Remember that as a synthesis essay, your goal is to support a central thesis with evidence from at least three sources. Sources must be used and cited . The sources for each paper are included in your book (except for the one you provided for essay #2) on the following pages: Essay One - American High Schools (150-163) Essay Two - Defining Masculinity (408-17) Essay Three - Body Image (482-92) We will focus on the specifics of revision this week. Essays should be typed, double-spaced, and formatted according to MLA. As usual, grammar and mechanics will be a portion of the grade. DUE: Friday, February 13th

First, a HUGE thank you to Dr. Qayyum for his insight into the history of Pakistan (and to Mrs. Qayyum for the samosas!). As we discuss the Middle East these next couple of weeks, as we continue to learn and understand more about the history and current situation, please keep an open mind. I'll try to present information from both sides of these issues. In that spirit, I've given you a handout from Newsweek to read over the weekend that examines the current situation from both sides. Central to the discussion is the "two state" solution. Read the handout and use it as the basis for your current event report over the weekend. Also, I've posted the video we tried to watch in class, from 60 Minutes , which looks at the conflict from the point of view of the Palestinian people (mostly). Watch it and tell me what you think on Monday: Watch CBS Videos Online

Your assignment is to write either a short poem in the style of a mock epic (and based on an argument) or a prose satire piece describing some everyday event. Follow the instructions on page 535, numbers four and five. The writing should be funny, so don't turn into something that's not. Use the techniques for satire that we've discussed in class. The poem should be written in heroic couplets (iambic pentameter) and at least ten lines long. The prose should be at least one page, double-spaced. Again, you have a choice of the two. You do not have to type this assignment, but it would be easier to read if you did.

Obama's Inaugural Address Most of you saw and/or heard the speech LIVE, more or less, and we'll view the speech again in class. I've linked the text above, along with audio from NPR. We will look more closely at the speech in class -- at the rhetoric of the speech, as it relates to past inaugural addresses, and as a piece of history -- and the seniors will write an analysis essay. Juniors, remember to print out your political cartoon (and analysis) for class tomorrow.

We are reading Jonathan Swift, a writer who satirized politics and religion in the 18th century.  Your next paper is to analyze the use of satire in modern political cartoons.   To get us started, you will find one cartoon, analyze it and print it.  Please follow these steps: Go to Daryl Cagle's Political Cartoonists Index and browse Choose one you think is funny and/or clever Copy and paste the cartoon into your Word document Write a 100-word paragraph analyzing the artist's use of appeals, irony, imagery and text to convey his/her message.  Please include a summary of the primary message. Format according to MLA Bring your papers to class on Wednesday, January 21st.

I hope everyone had a great break. Welcome back!