river oaks [english]

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.

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 de...

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 yo...

As the end of the year approaches, many of you are planning to take the ACT one last time in April, and several are planning to take the English AP exam in May. On Friday, the AP students will be writing an in-class paper on the independent reading book for the third nine weeks. The rest of the week will be spent preparing for the ACT and AP. 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 AP English: Free-Response Questions (from College Board) AP English help from an AP teacher

Juniors, your Frankenstein exam is tomorrow (ASVAB is Wednesday). The exam will be mostly multiple choice and matching. Use the study guide I gave you plus your notes, and study! These are the first grades of the last nine weeks... On Thursday, we'll start discussing topics for your papers.

Juniors Finish reading Frankenstein ! Many of you will be out of class on Thursday for track, but the rest can use that time to read. You will also be given a set of questions to help you review. These questions are due on Monday (you can turn them in early). EXAM on Tuesday on the whole novel. The ASVAB is on Wednesday, and we will begin discussing topics for your papers on Thursday. Seniors I have made copies of a practice AP test for Honors and a practice ACT reading test for Non-Honors. Please complete and turn in on Friday. On Friday, everyone will write an in-class essay based on the handout "Media and the Effects of Disasters." That essay is due at the end of class.

Editing research paper (all are DUE dates): Thursday -- typed one-page update on college plans, combined bibliography Friday -- abstract , combined rough draft Monday -- FINAL draft due, paged in sequence, bound or in report cover Order of report: Title page -- include your title, name, course, date, abstract (single-spaced at bottom) Career section -- what, where, why and how Problem/Solution section -- causes, problem statistics, possible solutions and evaluation Conclusion -- what next? (current plans) Bibliography (for both sections) -- formatted according to MLA Page numbers - with last name - should be on every page except the title page. The report should employ design elements discussed in class, including headings for each major section. The report must be bound in some way -- i.e. with a report cover-- in order to receive full credit. In other words, presentation does count. The report is worth 200 total points , so take the revision process seriously.

Juniors Continue reading Frankenstein: Wednesday -- Part II: Ch 1-2 Thursday -- Part II: ch 3-8 (the creature's story) Friday -- Reading Quiz Monday -- Vocab quiz on first 25 Vocabulary Cont. -- conjecture, disconsolate, enigmatic, flagrant, pensive, venerable, vengeance, wantonly, hovel, sublime - "awful and majestic in nature" Reminder: Please use Webster's for your flashcard definitions.