Friday, December 21, 2012

Have a Great Break!

Today we had the Candide timed writing. There is no homework over vacation!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

The Last Day for Candide

Today we split the day between the warm-up question and the passages students chose for their CRAs.
Paragraphs are due tomorrow before the timed writing.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Tuesday & Wednesday

We spent much of tuesday on Wednesday working on the CRA assignment below. There will be a bit more time tomorrow, and paragraphs will be due before the pressure comp on Friday.


Monday, December 17, 2012

Candide Quiz

We spent most of the period on the Candide quiz today, using the final few moments to finish the sonnet paragraphs from last week.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Friday

Students spent the period finishing up their CRA "posters." There will be a few final minutes for this project on Monday.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

More Sonnets

Today we continued our review of the sonnet with Yeat's "Leda and the Swan" and a project which we will continue tomorrow. If you weren't here (e.g. Riann), you should write a CRA paragraph on either sonnet we've studied over the last two days.



Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Sonnets!

Today we reviewed the sonnet form. If you were absent, read through the section on sonnets in Sound and Sense (use the table of contents).

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Candide and Satire

Today we talked a bit about satire, looking at an example from The Onion, among other things. We wrapped up the period with a brief introduction to Voltaire and Candide.
Due Dates:

  • Finish Candide and post twice by 12/17
  • Candide PC and SG 12/20







Monday, December 10, 2012

Ceremony PC

Today was the Ceremony PC. Study guides were collected. Candide tomorrow.

Friday, December 7, 2012

The Close of the Ceremony

We began the day with the ceremonial reading of the essay titles and then spent the day finishing our discussion of Ceremony.
Ashland Update: Two Spots Remain!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Question Time

Students had the first part of the period to finish questions from yesterday; then we began presentations.
Essays and Ashland $ Due Tomorrow.

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Ceremony Questions

Today the class divided into groups and spent the period working on the questions below. Most groups got through number 4. There will be some work time tomorrow, and then we will begin presentations which will carry over to Friday.

Ashland Update: We have our chaperone. There are 12 spots available. I will begin taking money ($75; checks made out to "EHS") on Friday morning.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Ceremonial Discussion

Today we spent the period talking generally about Ceremony.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Random Monday

After a short discussion of a quotation from Ceremony, we ran through a whole list of things, including;

  • Ceremony PC & SG (maybe Friday, but probably Monday);
  • Candide (the next book);
  • Progress Reports (12/12/12);
  • Essay Final Drafts (due 12/7); &
  • The AP Ashland Fieldtrip (in May).
We wrapped up the day with some general Ceremony questions.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Response Groups Redux

Today, after a quick Ceremony warm-up, we finished up response groups from yesterday.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Response Groups

Today students spent the whole period sharing and responding to each others' essays.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

The Fish Bowl

Today we practiced the response groups that we will do for real tomorrow in class. Bring good drafts of your papers!

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Essay Revision: Day 1

Today we spent the period looking at a sample essay as compared to student drafts, focusing especially on overall structure and topic sentences. Tomorrow, after some revision tonight hopefully, we will have response groups.



Monday, November 26, 2012

Post-Thanksgiving Ceremony

We returned from Thanksgiving vacation by spending the entire period on Ceremony, starting with a quotation analysis warm-up  and filling the remaining time with general discussion of the novel, esepcially its timeline.
Reminders:

  • Ceremony Dialectical Journals should be in class everyday (I checked them today).
  • Essay Drafts are due, in class, with cover sheets, tomorrow.
  • Don't forget the Moodle discussion boards.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Moodle & the Essay

My Dear AP Students,

I just wanted to take a moment to remind you that you should be reading Ceremony and posting to Moodle (which is working just fine). Also, don't forget the paper topic poll; so far the response has been minimal. I will be grading this assignment.

I do hope you are enjoying your week off.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mr. Staiano

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Presentations & Papers

Today we had the first few presentations, and I assigned the first paper. Handouts are at Moodle.
Due dates:

  • Topics 11/15
  • Rough Draft with cover sheet 11/27
  • Final draft with cover sheet 12/7

Friday, November 9, 2012

Period 4 Poems

Tuesday


Wednesday


Thursday


Friday

Period 3 Poems

Tuesday


Wednesday


Thursday


Friday



Poetry HW

Today I collected study guides and quick-writes to begin the period. After discussing the poem homework (below), we spent the rest of the period on the As I Lay Dying timed writing.
Poetry Project Audience Homework
Each night you should study the poem(s) that will be presented the following day in class by answering the questions below. Poems should be in Sound and Sense or will be given out in class, but are usually available online at the HW blog as well. Do all the assignments on the same paper, heading each assignment with the date and the poem’s title.

  • Summarize the plot of this poem. Briefly, what is it about?
  • Note a few literary techniques which stand out in this poem and their effects.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Moodle is Back

So I managed to get the Moodle site back up. We lost some things and it looks a bit different, but it should be fine. You will, however, need to create a new account. 


Signing up for Moodle
  1. Go to: http://hrop.org/moodle/
  2. Click on "Login."
  3. Follow the directions under "Is this your first time here?"  Please use your real name. I suggest using your school username & password as well.
  4. Click the course title "AP English Literature."

Mostly Poetry

Today we worked on the final two AILD quick-writes and then spent the rest of the period on poetry projects.

We also chose presentation order.


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Just Like Yesterday...

After dealing with two more Faulkner questions, students spent the rest of the period in poetry groups.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Split Time

Today we spent half the period on two Faulkner questions.

  1. Anse Bundren may be one of the most feckless characters in literature. Why do you think his neighbors repeatedly come to his aid? Is it out of pity, respect, guilt, charity, community, or is Anse just that good at manipulation?
  2. Faulkner allows Darl and Vardaman to express themselves in language that would be impossible given their lack of education and experience in the world. Why does Faulkner break with the realistic representation of character in this way?

Groups then had the rest of the period to work on their individual poetry analysis which should be complete by tomorrow.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Circle Time!

Today we spent the day talking about the second half of As I Lay Dying.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Poetry Project

Today students got started on the poetry project. After I assigned groups, students chose poems and began their individual poetry annotations.
Faulkner tomorrow!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Poetry Analysis Continued

Today we finished our look at Robinson's "Richard Cory." Students should have steps one through five of the analysis complete.


Monday, October 29, 2012

Faulkner & Richard Cory

After spending the first part of the period with As I Lay Dying, we started practicing the steps of poetry analysis with Robinson's "Richard Cory." More poetry tomorrow.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

More Meter

After our brief meter quiz, we spent some time applying the concept of sound echoing sense in poetry. Faulkner tomorrow. More poetry Monday.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Fun with Meter

Today we took some notes about poetic meter, practiced some mnemonic devices, and shouted a bit.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

No, not THAT kind of reaper...

We spent today reviewing poetry terms, focusing the whole period on Jean Toomer's "Reapers."

Monday, October 22, 2012

Poetry Intro... Tomorrow

We spent the short period today clarifying Faulkner. Poetry tomorrow. Bring Sound and Sense.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Moodle is Down

As some of you have already figured out, the AP Moodle site is down. The county office of education (where we are hosted) is transitioning to a new server, so we are in limbo for the moment. All should be cleared up early next week. For now, concentrate on your dialectical journals.

Those of you who were absent Friday should check out the blog (http://staianoap.blogspot.com/) where you will find the details of the journal assignment. You should be 40 to 60 pages or so in to As I lay Dying by Monday.

Embrace the confusion!

Mr. Staiano

Friday, October 19, 2012

Faulkner Friday

We spent much of the day on the As I Lay Dying introduction (notes will be posted at Moodle if it comes back up this weekend). I also introduced the dialectical journal assignment (below) and we read and discussed the beginning of the novel.
New Due Dates:

  • Read through section 31 (w/ Moodle posts and DJ entries) by 10/26.
  • Read through the end  (w/ Moodle posts and DJ entries) by 11/2.
  • Bring Sound and Sense next week.



Wednesday, October 17, 2012

PC Preparation

We opened the day with some final thoughts about Antigone and the study guide, and then spent the rest of the period talking about pressure comp grading and looking carefully at The Awakening essays.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Antigone Quick-Writes

Today we spent the period writing and talking about Antigone, writing about the first three bullets in period 3 and adding the 2nd through 4th bullets in period 4.
Due date change: PC and SG due on Thursday

Monday, October 15, 2012

Antigone

Today we started with a quotation analysis warm-up, finished sharing the term posters from last week, and, in 4th period, started our Antigone quick-writes.
New Due Date: Antigone PC and SG due Wednesday, 10/17

Friday, October 12, 2012

Homecoming

Today we had something like class. It was brief and poorly attended, but class none-the-less.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Terms Hunt: Part 2

Today we finished the first part of the terms hunt--everyone should have this complete, even the queen candidates and their escorts--and moved on to part two. We will finish this, those of us who manage to attend class that is, tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Wednesday

Today we began with a short look at a quotation from Antigone, introduced the terms "allusion" and "stichomythia," and then began the term hunt assignment below.


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Quizzing Old School

Today, after a quick irony WU, we had our Antigone quiz and discussed it.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Irony?

Today we had a bit of fun at Alanis Morissette's expense, deconstructing her song "Ironic" in search of actual irony. There is a new assignment, the Irony Forum, at Moodle, due 10/12.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Hey, I didn't make this stuff up...

Today we spent most of the period on the Greeks. The notes are at Moodle. At the end of the period we went over the prompt for tomorrow's timed writing.
HW: Have Antigone (yes, the whole play) read by 10/9.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Norming

Today we wrapped up the 'Eleven" essay norming activity we began yesterday. Tomorrow, the Greeks!

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Tangents

Today we talked a bit about the study guide, wrapped up our discussion of The Awakening, and talked far too much about Voodoo Donuts. We wrapped up the period by reading and highlighting the "Eleven" scoring guide. We will use this in class tomorrow.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Friday and Monday

I will be absent Friday and Monday, but here are the plans.

  • Friday: Students will have the entire period to work on a text annotation assignment from The Awakening. This will be posted at Moodle for absent students.
  • Monday: Student will have the whole period to complete their first study guide. Sample frames handouts and study guide handouts are available under "Course Documents" at Moodle.

Thursday

Today we finished and presented "Eleven" Plan Posters.
There are also a few new due dates.

  • "Eleven" PC for extra credit by 10/2
  • Bring Antigone on 10/4
  • The Awakening PC & SG on 10/5

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Poster Time

We started the period summarizing The Awakening and then talked a bit about the wedding ring as a symbol. Groups spent the remainder of the period working of plan posters for the "Eleven" prompt. More on that tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Two Texts

We spent the first part of the period talking and writing about The Awakening, specifically the inevitability of the ending and the nature of the male characters. We wrapped up the period looking again at the "Eleven" prompt from 1995, writing an essay plan that we will use tomorrow in class.

Friday, September 21, 2012

We're Back

FYI: Moodle is back up. All appears to be well. Post away!

Enjoy your weekend.

Mr. Staiano

"Eleven"

Today we looked at the prose question prompt from 1995 about Cisneros' short story "Eleven." After reading it aloud, students annotated the passage, paying special attention to figurative language and stylistic techniques employed by Cisneros.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

Moodle is Down

My Dear AP Students,

It appears that Moodle is down--I do not know for how long--so posting to The Awakening forum is suspended until further notice.

See you tomorrow.

Mr. Staiano

Slightly Different Days

In third period, we wrapped up the Adler discussion, had a fire drill, and talked about being eleven.
In fourth period, we talked about being eleven, awarded prizes in the figurative language game, and discussed whether or not Chopin was a feminist.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

"How to Mark a Book"

Today we considered the art of text annotation in some detail, reading Adler's "How to Mark a Book" and responding as noted below. We also played the figurative language game in period 3.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Quiz #1

Today we had our first quiz and talked about it, and the novel, for the whole period.

Monday, September 17, 2012

More Figurative Language

We began the day with a short Chopin quotation and spent the rest of the day working on the second half of the figurative language sheet.

Friday, September 14, 2012

Figurative Language Review

We began the day by reviewing the difference between "literal" and "figurative" language. Students spent the rest of the day filling in the first half of the terms handout (below).



Thursday

After talking through "The Story of an Hour," we had a brief introduction to The Awakening (with reading dates) and spent the last few moments reading aloud.
New Due Dates

  • Read through chapter 16 and post at least once to Moodle by 9/18.
  • Finish and post at least once more to Moodle by 9/24.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Revision Time

After a few announcements, we spent much of the period revising the "Three Lilies" CRA paragraphs (these are due, revised and typed, on Friday). We wrapped up the period looking at Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour."

Monday, September 10, 2012

CRA #2

Today we wrapped up our discussion of Neruda's short story, and students started on their first solo CRA. Rough drafts are due at the start of class tomorrow.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Thursday and Friday

Over these final two days of the week, we revised and shared CRA paragraphs from earlier in the week. On Friday we also had a quiz on the "Reading and Responding to Literature" essay and discussed some key points in class.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Tuesday & Wednesday

Tuesday, 4th period was at the introductory assembley, but 3rd period got started on our first CRA paragraph of the year. Students looked at an example and then, using the frames given out in class, wrote a draft of a paragraph with their partner.

Wednesday, 4th period started the assignment above, and 3rd period moved on to the revision assignment below.
HW: Read and take notes on "Reading and Responding to Literature," available at Moodle. Due 9/7.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Picture Day!

We began the day with a short course description quiz (which we grouped scored and saved for future origami projects). After having our pictures taken and taking care of a bit of business, we were pretty much done for the day (though fourth period did have 10 minutes to wrap up our discussion of "This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona").
HW: Literature and Literary Merit Assignment @ Moodle, Due 9/5

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Poetry Books, Theme, & Alexie

We began the day with a review of theme, went to the library to get Sound and Sense, and spent a few minutes talking about Alexie's short story.
Tomorrow is picture day!

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Planners & Gothic Grandmas

After distributing new EHS planners and collecting early honor statements, we spent the remainder of the period writing and talking about "The Children's Grandmother."
HW: (re)Read Alexie's "This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona."

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Housekeeping & Day 1, Cont.

We began the day by creating name tags, then briefly discussed the course description. The rest of the period was spent discussing the painting from yesterday and starting our look at "The Children's Grandmother."
HW Find, Print, and Sign the AP Honor Statement at Moodle. Due 8/31.

Monday, August 27, 2012

The First Day

Today we spent our short period talking about grading and the summer work. We also wrote about and began a discussion of a painting that will be continued tomorrow.
HW: (re)Read "The Children's Grandmother," available here. I forgot to mention this in 3rd, so we'll read it together in class.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Forum Thoughts, Part 4, & Late Work

Dear AP Lit Students,

A quick look online shows how industriously you have been posting to the Foster forums. I have read and graded all of the first forum, and I am impressed at the range and level of insight. "Meeting" you this way is one of my favorite parts of the class.

The second forum (due the 20th) is also off to a good start; however, I wanted to clarify that for the second Foster forum, you should post a specific example (e.g. In the book Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens, which I am currently reading, the character Florence certainly seems to fit Foster's definition of a Christ figure [chapter 14, "Yes, She's a Christ Figure, Too"]) and then explain how your example works in some detail.
 
As of today, the final piece of the summer assignment (due the 24th at 3:15 p.m.) is open. Have a look and let me know if you have any questions. I hope you enjoy the stories I have chosen.
 
Finally, it seems time to make a note on late work. Some of you have not yet posted to the first Foster forum; it is not too late. Late work is better than no work both intellectually and as it regards your grade. Also, the counselors have informed me in no uncertain terms that they are not allowing students to drop AP classes this year, so do the summer work now and avoid digging yourself a hole for the start of the new semester.
 
May this find you enjoying the last weeks of your summer and looking forward to the start of your senior year.
 
See you in person very soon.
 
Mr. Staiano 

Monday, August 6, 2012

Summer HW Due 8/13 and 8/20

We are well into August already and it's time to, slowly, start thinking about school. By now you should have started Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor in anticipation of finishing sometime in the next couple of weeks. Your next two assignments are posted at the Moodle site (which most of you have successfully joined) and simply require you to post to two different discussion boards in response to Foster's text. Many of you have begun posting already, and I have certainly enjoyed reading what you have to say. Remember that with this forum (and all forums), the more you read and post, the more useful it will be. Please have a look at the grading rubric which is posted immediately below the forum for more details.

And that's all there is to it. Have a look around and get to work on the Foster assignments. The final Foster assignment will be posted shortly, and I'll send an email reminder about a week before it's due.

As ever, let me know if you have any problems with the website or otherwise need to consult with me. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Enjoy August.

PS Those of you who have already posted should be able to see your grades on individual posts. These grades, combined with the number of times you post, will determine your grade for the forum assignment as a whole.

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Summer Assignment, Part 2

I imagine you all taking advantage of our "beautiful" summer weather, lounging in hammocks and perusing Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor

I know, wishful thinking.

I post not to interrupt your idyll, but to let you know that, should you be interested, the online course is now up and ready for enrollment. The directions on your handout seem to be accurate as a couple of you already managed to join the class successfully. I did, however, reset the course, so those of you who were ahead of the game will have to re-enroll. Let me know if you have any questions or problems.

Once enrolled, you will find several things of some potential interest:
  • Part 3 of the Summer Assignment—This consists of two separate discussion boards due on 8/13 and 8/20 respectively; however, I encourage you to post early and check back regularly. If you do so, the experience should be helpful and intellectually rewarding, not just busy work. At the very least, log in and read through the assignments.
  • The 2012-13 Syllabus—The tentative version of the syllabus, including expectations and a rough course outline, is now posted.
  • The Interactive 2012-2013 Reading List—This includes links to all the texts available in free, online versions (everything but Foster's text, Ceremony, As I Lay Dying, and Invisible Man). Remember, you still need print (or e-book versions) in class.

Finally, for whatever reason (some sent email to the wrong email, some forgot, perhaps I missed some, etc.) I am missing email from a few of your peers. If you know any of these students, please remind them to email me ASAP.

I look forward to your thoughts on How to Read Literature Like a Professor. Enjoy the rest of your summer. I will try to stay out of your lives until August.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Portfolios and Workday #1

Today groups started working on their final projects in class, and I handed back English portfolios.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Lit Circle One and Essay #3

New Due Dates:
Topics
  • Posted 5/22 (before class)
  • Comments 5/23
Drafts
  • Posted 5/29
  • Comments 6/1
Finals 6/8

Monday, May 14, 2012

Lit Circles Begin

Today we went over the final project, groups set reading schedules, and we read silently for the last 15 minutes of class.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Study Guide Presentations

Today we worked for part of the period and then had four of the study guide presentations. We'll finish tomorrow with those of you who are here.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Study Guide Review Begins

Today we started the study guide review project and worked on it for the whole period.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Practice & the Book Project

Today we did a bit more MC practice and then spend a big chunk of the period talking about the final book project and signing up for books. We wrapped up the period with a final look at "Blackberry-Picking."

Monday, April 30, 2012

More Practice

Today we began with a multiple choice practice section and then started our long-promised look at the "Blackberry-Picking" timed writing.

Monday, April 23, 2012

MC Practice

Today we did a bit of prose multiple choice practice. Bring study guides to the next class.

Friday, April 20, 2012

The Lower Frequencies

Today I collected discussion questions and study guides. Then we had the IM timed writing.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Discussion

Today groups presented about half of the IM discussion questions. More tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Work Day

Today we looked at the calendar for the next few weeks and had some time to finish up the IM questions. 4-7 are below. Presentations begin tomorrow.
  • 4) Consider the many scenes of "death" and resurrection in the novel. How is death paradoxically a condition for growth in this novel? Why?
  • 5) What is the symbolic importance of Tod Clifton's doll? Why is he the only main character to die in the novel?
  • 6) What is Ellison's message about the location and source of power? Consider the narrator's own power and motifs like electricity.
  • 7) In the epilogue, IM says, "Now I know men are different and that all life is divided and that only in that division is there true health [...] so I denounce and I defend and I hate and I love" (576 & 580). Explain how these apparent contradictions help unlock the ultimate meaning of the novel.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Welcome Back

Today we had our last reading quiz of the year and then divided into groups to work on some IM discussion questions. Most groups got through about the first two. Here are the first three:
  1. Reconsider the grandfather's deathbed advice from chapter 1. How does it resonate through the whole novel? In the end, what conclusion has IM come to regarding this advice?
  2. What are some symbols and motifs associated with the burdens of the past in the novel? Explore some of these in depth.
  3. IM says, "I'm invisible, not blind" (576). What does he mean? How are blindness and defective sight related to the failure of perception in this novel?

Monday, April 2, 2012

Presentations Continue

Today we began with an IM quiz on chapters 13 through 17 and then had a poetry presentation or two followed by some work time. More presentations tomorrow. Do your poetry HW.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Work Day (Mostly)

Today we had a poetry presentation in 3rd period and then work time. Check my earlier posts for the Monday poems.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Drawing Days

Today we had the period to work, but we also decided the order of poetry presentations and I assigned the poetry HW. See the posts below for specifics.

Period 4 Poems

Poetry Project Audience Homework
Each night you should study the poem(s) that will be presented the following day in class by answering the questions below. Poems should be in Sound and Sense or will be given out in class, but are usually available online at the HW blog as well. Do all the assignments on the same paper, heading each assignment with the date and the poem’s title.
  1. Summarize the plot of this poem. Briefly, what is it about?
  2. Note a few literary techniques which stand out in this poem and their effects.

 Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Period 3 Poems

Poetry Project Audience Homework
Each night you should study the poem(s) that will be presented the following day in class by answering the questions below. Poems should be in Sound and Sense or will be given out in class, but are usually available online at the HW blog as well. Do all the assignments on the same paper, heading each assignment with the date and the poem’s title.
  1. Summarize the plot of this poem. Briefly, what is it about?
  2. Note a few literary techniques which stand out in this poem and their effects. 
Friday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Like Lazarus...

Today we talked a bit about Every 15 Minutes, spent some time talking about Invisible Man, and then poetry groups had a few moments to get together.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Poetry: Round 3

Today groups finished up the "Evolution" project and we just scratched the surface of the next poetry project.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

More "Evolution"

Today we continued our work with "Evolution," writing some multiple choice questions and starting the CRA paragraph partner assignment below.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Tuesday

Today we wrapped up up the chapter one through six discussion, and then spent the rest of the period working on the "Evolution" questions from Friday.

Monday, March 19, 2012

IM: Prologue through Chapter 6

Today we had our first Invisble Man quiz and then spent the rest of the period discussing the reading.

Friday, March 16, 2012

Maggot CRA & Evolution

Today we wrapped up our look at "Ode to the Maggot" with a bit of CRA analysis. In the second half of the period, we began our analysis of Alexie's "Evolution." Most students got through number 3.






Thursday, March 15, 2012

Maggots and Multiple Choice

Today we looked at the three main types of AP multiple choice questions and practiced writing sample questions for the poem "Ode to the Maggot." Absent students should try to write one question of each level for the poem.


Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Monday & Tuesday

Monday we spent the period on an introduction to Invisible Man, taking some notes on Ellison and the novel, and reading the prologue aloud. HW: Read Chapter 1.

Tuesday we started the day watching a short clip from Ken Burns' Jazz about Louis Armstrong and the song "What Did I Do to be So Black and Blue?" For the rest of the period we worked on some questions about chapter 1.
New Due Dates:
  • Ch. 2-6 w/ 2 forum posts 3/19
  • Ch. 7-12 w/ 2 forum posts 3/26
  • Ch. 13-17 4/2
  • Ch. 18 & 19 w/ 2 forum posts 4/6
  • Finish w/ 2 forum posts 4/16

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Friday

Friday we deconstructed the Godot prompt and then looked at sample essay plan with some thesis and topic sentence frames.
Bring Invisible Man Monday.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Goodbye Godot

Today we finished presentations and wrapped up our discusion of Godot.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Presentations

Today we presented almost the whole play. A few more tomorrow...

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Work Time

Today students had the period to work on their Waiting for Godot presentations which will begin tomorrow.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Godot... In Groups!

Today we wrapped up the Godot group questions from Friday and then got started on the next phase: Godot Presentations. See the slides attached.
New Due Dates:
  • Godot CRA 3/8
  • Godot PC and SG 3/9
  • Bring Invisible Man 3/12