1st Semester Exam Week

Tomorrow:  1st period and 9th  (5th, 6th, and 7th begin)

Vocabulary Flashcards

Literary and Rhetorical Terms Flashcards

Review the steps for analysis to prepare for the essay.

Finish reading Act III.  Begin reading Act IV.

Study for next week's semester exam which will include:

Vocabulary Lists 7, 8, & 9

Literary and Rhetorical Terms

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The exam schedule is as follows:

Tuesday:  1st and 9th
Wednesday:  2nd and 8th
Thursday:  3rd and 4th

5th, 6th, and 7th period will test all three days.

Vocabulary Quiz List 9 Today

We read from Act III.  Act III questions should be finished and turned in.

Today we carefully read Danforth's response to Hale which can be found at the top of the second column on page 1091.

Notice how Danforth begins with an emotional appeal, insulting and shaming Hale by saying that for a "man of such terrible learning [he] surely [is] bewildered."  He sarcastically points out that Hale is confused about the situation even though he is supposed to be the expert on witchcraft.  His purpose is to intimidate Hale, following that statement with a reminder to him and the others of his "thirty-year[s] at the bar," employing an ethical appeal to reaffirm his authority.  Finally, Danforth begins his logical appeal that he careful crafts with a series of questions that he proceeds to answer or that don't require answers, like "is it not?" His intention is to  be condescending to Hale and the rest of his audience, angered that they have dared questioned him about the proceedings of the court.  His logic relies on the testimony of the "children" whom he believes are God's instruments.  What will follow as the dialogue progresses will be Proctor's attempt to prove that these "children" are no children at all.

Bring your Nonfiction selections tomorrow.

Vocabulary List Quiz 9 tomorrow.  Study!  The link to the flashcards is on yesterday's post.

Bring your Nonfiction selection to class every day this week and next.  You will have an assignment for your book on Thursday.

Vocabulary Quiz 9 is on Thursday.  Here are the Flashcards.

The next set of Act III questions that begin on page 1090 and end on 1096 (10 questions; skip the blue one) should be turned in by the end of class tomorrow.  You have had plenty of class time to work on these.  If you have been absent, have been unable to keep up, or have not been using class time wisely, then it is YOUR responsibility to get these questions done on your own.  You will need to access your textbook online to do this.  I have placed a link to the textbook log-on at the top of this page.  We will finish Act III tomorrow and begin reading Act IV on Thursday.

I'm still checking your Nonfiction book selections.  You are running out of time if you haven't found a book yet.
Today you are either finishing your TAKS benchmark Open Ended Questions OR you are finishing Act III questions located at the bottom of your textbook.

I moved the due date for the Act III questions to today.

Your progress report grades will be posted by December 14th.  So far, these are grades I will include this six weeks:

Test Grades
Dialectical Journals
Benchmark MC & OEQ (OEQs will be completed next week)
Vocabulary Test 4-6
Daily Grades
Vocabulary Quizzes 6, 7, 8, & 9
Act II Study Guide Questions (2 grades)
Act III Questions 1-10
Book Check

If you have not yet gotten your Nonfiction selection, do so this weekend!  If you have, start or continue reading.  You will have your first assignment for your book next week.  Information forthcoming.

Vocabulary Quiz 9 on Thursday.  Here are the Flashcards.

Here are the Flashcards for the combined lists so that you can begin studying for your final.

Vocabulary Quiz 8 today.

The paper copy of Vocabulary List 9 is not ready, but you can go to the List & Flashcards.  The quiz for list 9 is next Thursday.  All three lists will be included on your semester exam.  Here is the combined list of Flashcards.

I'm still checking your Nonfiction selections.  Tomorrow your grade is an 80 for the book check.

Act III Questions 1-10 should be completed today.  Yes, you must include textual evidence to support your response.

The first 10 Act III questions found at the bottom of the selection pages will be due tomorrow.  We worked on the first 5 in class today.

I checked Nonfiction selections today.  If you have not yet checked out a book, it is your responsibility to find one soon.  The school library will be closed due to testing, so you will need to find one elsewhere.  The Nonfiction list I provided on this site includes books that are available at the public library.

Vocabulary Quiz 8 tomorrow. Here are the Flashcards.  Study!

Read Act III

I will check your Nonfiction selections tomorrow.

Vocabulary Quiz 8 will be Thursday.

I am still EOC testing in the gym.

Read Act III

I will check your Nonfiction selections on Wednesday.

Act II Study Guide Questions due today.

Vocabulary Quiz List  7 today.

Vocabulary List 8 went out today; the quiz will be on Thursday.  Here's the link to Flashcards.  Study!

Don't forget that you need to find a Nonfiction selection on a social issue for this six weeks.  I've added a links section to the top of this blog including a link to the Nonfiction Book List I posted yesterday and went over with you today.  If you haven't already done so, print out the list and start searching for a book!  If you go to the public library, don't forget to peruse the "Friends of the Library" bookstore.  They have great prices for books in quality condition!

Nonfiction Book List

TAKS Benchmark Today

Vocabulary Quiz List 7 tomorrow

Here's the link to Flashcards.  Study!

The Act II Study Guide questions are due Friday.  They can be found on yesterday's post if you lost your copy.

Vocabulary Test Lists 4-6 Today

If you were absent, it is your responsibility to make up this test when you come back.

TAKS Benchmark Tomorrow

Vocabulary Quiz List 7 on Thursday. Here's the link to Flashcards.


Act II Study Guide Questions 6-20 are due Friday. You should have already turned in 1-5. (Blue sheet)

Questions

Act II:  Answer each of the following questions on your own paper in complete sentences.  You should provide a minimum of 3 sentences per question and you should include textual evidence to support your answer.  Due Date:  Friday, November 30th

1. Where is Act II located and how many days later?  Discuss the light/dark motif.
2. How does the early part of Act II contrast with the end of Act I?
3. What is revealed in the action and dialogue which refers to the rabbit stew?
4. How are the seasons used to symbolize John and Elizabeth's emotional state?
5. Discuss the courtroom analogy Proctor uses in his argument with Elizabeth right before Mary Warren walks in.
6. Describe the two images used to describe Mary Warren.  How has she changed and why?
7. Describe several reasons why John is reluctant to visit Ezekiel Cheever and report his earlier conversation with Abigail.
8. What lie does Elizabeth discover and how does it make both of them feel?
9. How many people does Mary report are now in jail? What is Proctor's dilemma?
10. Who has "somewhat mentioned" Elizabeth Proctor? What motive does Elizabeth suspect for this accusation?
11. What internal conflicts are revealed when John refuses to acknowledge any "promise," when he says that he is "honest"?
12. What reason does Reverend Hale give for his visit?  What does this reveal about his character?
13. Why are the Proctors shocked to learn from Reverend Hale that Rebecca Nurse is under suspicion?
14. What four tests does Hale administer to Proctor to determine his "Christian character?" How does he do on each test?
15. Note what Elizabeth says about witches.  What does this response reveal about her character?
16. Which three women are arrested in Act II?  What are the specific charges against each?
17. Why is the poppet important, and where did Elizabeth get it?  Why should Mary Warren be mad about this?
18. Explain the allusion Proctor makes when he calls Hale "Pontius Pilate."
19. Should Proctor be so self-righteous when he calls Hale a "coward"?  Explain.
20. What two reasons does Mary Warren give for not testifying against Abby?  What does Proctor say will be "good."  

Welcome back!

Today we will finish orally reading Act II.

Vocabulary Test on lists 4-6 is tomorrow.  Here's the link to Quizlet with the 3 lists combined:

Vocabulary Flashcards Lists 4-6

Study!!!!

We read another portion of Act II.

Work on the Act II Study Guide.  Questions 6-20 are due Friday, November 30th.

Don't forget to get a Nonfiction selection for this six weeks.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving break.  See you in a week.

Vocabulary Quiz List 6 Today

Act II Study Guide Questions 1-5 due today, 6-20 due Friday, November 30th

Reminders:

Tuesday, November 27th Vocabulary Test (lists 4-6)

Wednesday, November 28th Benchmark

Thursday, November 29th Vocabulary List 7 Quiz

Six Weeks Test Today

Vocabulary Quiz List 6 tomorrow

Don't forget to look for a Nonfiction selection on a social issue for next 6 weeks.  Happy Hunting.

Today we analyzed Proctor's character in the conversation that follows the discussion of the rabbit.  Each student should have a response that follows the 6 steps we went over yesterday.  Use the method to study for tomorrow's 6 weeks test.

Today we analyzed the opening lines of Act II, focusing on Elizabeth and her conversation with Proctor about the rabbit.

Careful analysis reveals that Elizabeth is not the "cold, sniveling woman" that Abigail has said she is; in fact, she is quite the opposite.  Miller's use of personification as Elizabeth refers to the rabbit as "she" and as someone "who come to visit" reveals that she is a warm, kindhearted woman.  Though it "hurt her heart to strip [the rabbit], she does so anyway because she is willing to fulfill her duties as wife in the household, preparing meals for her family.

Memorize the following line of questions for analysis:

Step 1:  What is the context?  Situation?  OCCASION?  In other words, what's going on?
Step 2:  Who is the SPEAKER?  No, not just his name.  Who is he really?  What is he like?  What does he stand for?
Step 3:  What is the speaker's PURPOSE?  This question should answer, "WHY are these words coming out of his mouth????"  or "What does he want???"
Step 4:  What is the speaker's MESSAGE?  This means, "What is he telling his audience?"
Step 5:  What APPEAL is he making?  Logical?  Ethical?  Emotional?
Step 6:  What RHETORICAL STRATEGIES or DEVICES did the writer use to make the speaker's speech EFFECTIVE?  What's in the rhetorical toolbox?  Diction, Imagery, Details, Figurative Language (simile, metaphor, hyperbole, personification), Syntax.....

Apply this line of questions to all text you read and you are on your way to deep analysis so that you can provide CHUNKY responses.


Six Weeks Test will be on Wednesday, November 14th.

Start looking for a Nonfiction selection on a social issue.  Start by eyeing the top current issues out there:

Education
Healthcare
Immigration
National Security
The Economy
Taxes
Jobs
Energy
The Environment

Research the topic and begin narrowing it to a specific topic.  Enjoy.

Vocabulary Quiz 5 Today

You need to pick up Vocabulary List 6.   Flashcards

Act II Notes

Add the following terms:

motif
characterization
     dynamic character
     static character
     flat character
     round character

You can find definitions in your Literary Terms Handbook in your online text.

Dialectical Journals due today.

Presentations continued today.

Election Day

Presentations today.

You will review each of your classmates' presentations.

Dialectical Journals due tomorrow.

We read the first half of Act II of The Crucible today.

Your projects are due tomorrow.

Today we watched excerpts from the presidential and vice-presidential debates.  I asked you to look for appeals made by the debater: logical, ethical, emotional.  Pay attention to any fallacies in their responses.

I've linked the full videos here:

First Presidential Debate
VP Debate
Second Presidential Debate
Third Presidential Debate


You can also do a Google search of the individual issue you are researching and find just the excerpt from the debate you need.

Good luck with your campaign projects.  Re-read the last few posts for directions, suggestions, ideas, and links.

Other ideas:

For videos:  A mock documentary of the candidate and the issue
                   A Saturday Night Live type of skit
                   Interviews of voters commenting on the issue and the candidate

Vocabulary List 4 Quiz Today

You should have received List 5 today.  You can find the list here:   List 5 Flashcards   The quiz for List 5 will be next Thursday.

Today in class you met with a small group who share your candidate and topic.  You should have read an excerpt from your candidate's speech on the specific issue and begun identifying the logical, emotional, and ethical appeals made by the candidate.  You should be able to restate his purpose/message about the issue.

The following links will take you to transcripts of the candidate's speeches:

Obama's Speech at DNC
Romney's Speech at RNC

Homework:  Continue researching your candidate's position and claims about the issue.  Be prepared to discuss further in class tomorrow and be prepared for a quiz on your candidate on Monday.

Your Campaign Project is due Tuesday, November 6th.

Your job is to "sell" your candidate's position on the issue. Use rhetorical appeals and strategies as well as persuasive techniques to accomplish your goal.

Here are some links to sites you can use to help you with your project:

 Effective Posters   Designing Effective Posters

 Microsoft Tips for Power Point

Google Tips for Effective Video Ads

Other ideas to help enhance your presentation:


Music:  Sing/rap a song about your candidate/issue

Food:  Use a snack food to metaphorically explain your candidate's position; then share it with the class.

Political buttons
Flyers
Costumes
Puppet show

Vocabulary Quiz Tomorrow

Study the words with:   FLASHCARDS  on Quizlet.  I don't want to hear any excuses about why you can't pass this quiz.  STUDY!

 

Presidential Campaign Project

Today you should have randomly picked a candidate and issue that you will have to research.  Your job this week is to find out everything you possibly can about your assigned candidate's position on that issue.  What does he have to say about it?  What does he believe?  Does he think it requires reform?  What are the specifics claims he's made about that issue?  What are the specific points he has delineated about the issue?

Think about the LOGIC behind what your candidate has to say about the issue?

In what way do the public's EMOTIONS drive this issue?

What are the ETHICS involved in shaping policies related to this issue?

Has your candidate made his position on this issue CLEARLY or VAGUELY?

What persuasive techniques or rhetorical strategies has your candidate used to communicate his position on this issue?

Next, you'll need to find out how your candidate's OPPONENT has attempted to REFUTE your candidate's argument.

Get to know your candidate.  Your primary source will be his website:

Obama         Romney

Secondary sources should be reputable news sites.  Watch out for bias in the news.  Don't forget that you also need to remain objective and unbiased as you prepare to discuss these issues.

Election Day Campaign

Due date:  Tuesday, November 6th

Here are some ideas for your project.  I am open to creative ideas and presentations that will depict your knowledge of the candidate and his position on the issue you have researched.

Individual Project

Create a POSTER that promotes your candidate and his position on the issue.

Develop a POWER POINT presentation that explains your candidates position on the issue.

Individual or Group

Film a COMMERCIAL campaign ad of your candidate including his position on the issue.

Group Project

Stage a MOCK DEBATE of your candidate on the issue.

Create a NEWS CLIP featuring a discussion of your candidate's issue.

Today we analyzed the development of Putnam's character as presented on page 1040 in your textbook.

What does the writer's use of stage directions and dialogue reveal about Putnam?  What is Putnam's purpose/message?  What rhetorical strategies does Miller use in this interchange to further enhance his characterization of Putnam?

Carefully read Tituba's speech toward the end of Act One.  Consider her audience, and then apply the same questions to her speech:

What is her purpose?    What is her message?   What appeal does she rely on most?
What rhetorical strategies does the writer use to make her speech effective?

..........................................................

Add the following logical fallacies to your list:

Card stacking
Plain Folks

Prepare a list of Logical and Rhetorical Fallacies as found in your literature book online on p. R 76 in the Logic and Persuasion Handbook.

Add the following four fallacies to your list:

Slippery Slope
Red Herring
Either/Or  (Black or White)
Straw Man

We watched the following presentation for examples of some of the fallacies:

Logical Fallacies found in Advertising, Politics, and Pop Culture

We analyzed Abigail's speech to the girls found at the bottom of the second column of page 1042 in your literature book.  Abigail is the speaker and the girls are her audience.

What is the purpose of her speech?
What is her message to them?
Why is her speech effective?  Identify the rhetorical appeal she uses most and how.
How does the writer (Miller) use rhetorical strategies to make her speech effective?

Be prepared to answer questions like the above about other characters' speeches.

Today we analyzed the language of Act One of The Crucible with an emphasis on the following terms:

euphemism....about Tituba:   "trouble in this house lands on her back"
hyperbole...about Abigail:   "an endless capacity for dissembling"
polysyndeton....about Abigail:   "Now she is all worry and apprehension and propriety."
repetition....about Parris:   "My enemies..."
diction...about the doctor:   "look to unnatural things for the cause of it."

We took notes on the effect created by these devices.

You should be reading/re-reading Act One and paying closer attention to the rhetorical devices, appeals, and/or strategies.  Be ready for an analysis quiz on excerpts from Act One.

Today you should have received your username, password, and instructions to access the online version of your literature book.

Here is the link to the website to access your book: ConnectED

If you have been absent this week and have not read Act One of The Crucible, it is your responsibility to read what you missed on your own.

The Crucible Act One Quiz today.

Rhetorical Analysis assignments are due today.

Don't forget that The Crucible will be performed at The Camille Playhouse this weekend and next.  You can receive extra credit this six weeks if you show me proof of your attendance (have someone take a picture of you in the theater before or after).  Here's the link to the website:  http://www.camilleplayhouse.org/

Don't forget to work on your dialectical journals for your Nonfiction selection.  These are due November 7th.

Today you should have read through more of Act I of The Crucible.

You should already be familiar with Abigail, the Reverend Parris, the other girls (Betty, Mercy Lewis, Mary Warren), the Putnams, and John Proctor.

You will receive your new vocabulary list on Thursday.  Expect a vocabulary quiz next Thursday on those 15 words.

Your Rhetorical Analysis Assignments are due tomorrow (Wednesday).

I will be out of class both Monday and Tuesday due to TAKS re-testing.

I have left the assignments with the sub, but I'm posting them here:

Begin reading The Crucible in class today.  Volunteer to read for a character so that the play can be read orally.  Be ready for a reading check quiz on Wednesday.

Rhetorical Analysis Assignments won't be due until Wednesday.

Vocabulary Test Today.  If you were absent, it is your responsibility to make up the test.

You will need to complete a Rhetorical Analysis Assignment for each of the speeches.  You will need to look at the speech transcripts online for specific rhetorical devices/strategies.

Ann Romney's Speech

Michelle Obama's Speech

Three Rhetorical Analysis assignments are due on Tuesday (the two speeches and the Amy Tan essay you read a while back)

Try this online quiz to find out which party/candidate you side with:   http://www.isidewith.com/

Nonfiction Dialectical Journals

Today I distributed the instruction page.  The journals are due on the Wednesday, November 7th.  I will follow the policy found in your syllabus for late work for major assignments (test grade).

Today we listened to Ann Romney's speech.  You can follow this link to listen to it:  Ann Romney's Speech

Don't forget about tomorrow's vocabulary test.

Also, make sure to finish reading Chapter 2 of your textbook.

PSAT Today

Don't forget about Friday's Vocabulary Test.

You have two more days left to show me your Nonfiction selection for this six weeks.

Today we finished listening to Michelle Obama's speech.  We discussed and took notes about her purpose/message and specific rhetorical strategies.  Go here to read and/or listen to it: Michelle Obama's Speech

Begin reading Chapter 2 of The Language of Composition.  You are responsible for all of the terms in bold found throughout this chapter.  Many of these terms already belong to the "non-negotiable" list of terms, so you should already be very familiar with them.  You will not be quizzed this week on any new terms; however, any non-negotiable terms and any from Chapter 1 might be on a quiz or two this week or next.  Always be prepared.

Good luck on the PSAT tomorrow!  Report to the gym at 8:40 a.m.  
Don't be late.

I have moved your vocabulary test to Friday.

Attending The Camille Playhouse's production of The Crucible will be for extra credit.  Here's the link to the website with dates, times, & cost:
http://www.camilleplayhouse.org/
I will let you know next week what you'll need to do to earn the credit if you want it.

Watch the 2nd Presidential Debate tonight if you can.

The PSAT is this Wednesday!  You should have already started reviewing the practice packet you received  from the counseling center.

Here is a link to the College Board's PSAT practice site:

PSAT Prep

Tonight is Open House.  I will only be available between 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm.  If your parents plan to attend, please let them know.

Arrangement quiz today.

We took notes on "chunk" writing:

Topic sentence
Concrete detail
Commentary
Commentary

We worked on an example using the opening of Michelle Obama's speech.

Don't forgot about your Non-Fiction selection for 2nd Six Weeks.  I'm checking these Monday.

Today we focused on the rhetorical appeals:  ethical, logical, and emotional.  Read pages 3-6 carefully in The Language of Composition.

We listened to Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention and took some notes about the appeals she uses.  We are looking for her purpose, use of appeals, and rhetorical strategies.

You can follow this link to listen to and view her speech here:  Michelle Obama's Speech - ABC News

Terms Quiz today.

Typed drafts due today with your two pre-conference questions/concerns.

Don't forget that the Vice-Presidential Debate is TOMORROW night. :)

Tomorrow we will be in F235 again.  Don't be late.  1st Period:  Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria.

Before we begin applying what you have learned about rhetoric to recent political speeches, you need to have at least a basic understanding of American politics.  I've attached a link at the end of this post to a website that offers a fairly simply comparison between the two parties.  I've copied the chart that was on that website below so that you don't have to go directly to the site.


This is an unbiased overview of the differences between the policies and political positions of the Democratic and Republican parties in the U.S. These two parties dominate America's political landscape but differ greatly in their philosophies and ideals.

Comparison chart

	Democrat	Republican
Philosophy:	Liberal	Conservative
Economic Ideas:	Favor minimum wages and progressive taxation i.e. higher tax rates for higher income brackets.	Believe taxes shouldn't be increased for anyone (including the wealthy) and that wages should be set by the free market.
Stand on Military issues:	Decreased spending	Increased spending
Stand on gay marriage:	Support (some Democrats disagree)	Oppose (some Republicans disagree)
Stand on abortion:	Should not be made illegal; support Roe v. Wade (some Democrats disagree)	Should not be legal; oppose Roe v. Wade (some Republicans disagree)
Stand on Death penalty:	While support for the death penalty is strong among Democrats, opponents of the death penalty are a substantial fraction of the Democratic base.	A large majority of Republicans support the death penalty.
Social and human ideas:	Based on community and social responsibility	Based on individual rights and justice
Traditionally strong in states:	California, Massachusetts	Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas
Symbol:	Donkey	Elephant
Color:	Blue	Red
Founded in:	1824	1854
Website:	www.democrats.org	www.gop.com
Senate Leader:	Harry Reid	Mitch McConnell
Chairperson:	Debbie Wasserman Schultz	Reince Priebus
Famous Presidents:	Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Bill Clinton, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter	Teddy Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Abraham Lincoln, Richard Nixon

Chart taken from: http://www.diffen.com/difference/Democrat_vs_Republican

Typed drafts are due tomorrow.  Anything turned in after the class period in which you are enrolled is considered late.

We have been relocated to F235 for the next two days due to Benchmarks.  We will be back in our classroom on Friday.

Literary and Rhetorical Terms Quiz tomorrow.

Arrangement:  The Classical Model & Patterns of Development Quiz Friday.

You should already be looking for a book for Independent Reading this six weeks:  History, Politics, or Biography/Autobiography of a world leader.

Today you will finish reading and taking notes from Chapter 1 of The Language of Composition.  We are taking a close look at pages 13-24.  Focus on both the Classical Model and the 8 Patterns of Development. I expect you to be very familiar with these two sections as well as the terms in bold found on pages 1-10.

Expect a quiz on Wednesday.

Reminder:  Typed drafts are due Wednesday.

Read Chapter 1 of The Language of Composition.

You are responsible for knowing all of the words in bold.  There is a glossary of terms beginning on page 1009.

Bring your drafts on Monday for your conference with me.  If you haven't already started typing your 2nd draft, you should do so.

Typed drafts will be due starting Wednesday.

Today you should have completed the Peer Response as Reader.  You will be turning in both Writer & Reader responses tomorrow as part of your overall grade for your essay.

Tomorrow you will also turn in Writing Exercises (Vocabulary & Sentence Combining)

You will take a Six Weeks Test tomorrow.  Please study.  You should have notes on everything we've covered.

Peer Response
Today you should complete the Peer Response as Writer.  The instructions are found on p. 139 in The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers.  Be ready to exchange drafts and complete a peer response as reader tomorrow.

Writing Exercise:  Sentence Combining

Combine each of the following sets into one correctly combined sentence.
Writing Exercises are due Thursday.

I need butter to make the cookie batter.

I couldn’t find any.

I used vegetable oil instead.

Gina had worn glasses for fifteen years.

She decided to get contact lenses.

She would be able to see better.

She would look more glamorous.

The children at the day care center took their naps.

They unrolled their sleeping mats.

They piled their shoes and sneakers in a corner.

Jack dialed the police emergency number.

He received a busy signal.

He dropped the phone and ran.

He didn’t have time to call back.

Louise disliked walking home from the bus stop.

The street had no overhead lights.

It was lined with abandoned buildings.

You may use today's class period to finish Rhetorical Analysis Assignment of "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan found on page 542 in The Language of Composition.

Writing Exercises will be due Thursday instead of Wednesday.

Peer Response of your drafts will be done on Tuesday & Wednesday during class.  

Work on your Independent Reading Handout. It's due Monday.


Turn in your Brainstorming, Shaping/Outline, & Rough Draft.


Read & do Rhetorical Analysis of "Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan p. 542. 

Vocabulary List 2 Quiz
Ehrenreich Reading Check Quiz

Turn in 3 Rhetorical Analysis Assignments.

Be sure to pick up Vocabulary List 3 & Writing Exercise.

Writing Exercises are due next Wednesday, October 3rd (2 Vocabulary & Sentence Combining).

Work on your outline & rough draft.  These are due tomorrow.

You should be working on shaping your Narrative/Descriptive Essay.  Write down the following for your essay:
Subject:
Narrowed Topic:
Purpose:
Main Idea:
Audience:

You also need an informal, working outline.  Look on page 96 of The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers for an example.

Your brainstorming, shaping (with outline), and first draft are due Friday.  These 3 items are worth 30 points of your final grade, which is a test grade 2nd six weeks.  If you do not turn them in, you will NOT be allowed to turn them in later.

If you are going to be absent Friday due to an extra-curricular activity, it is your responsibility to turn in this work on or before Friday.  If you're here in the morning on Friday, you can leave it at the front office for someone to place in my box.  You can send it with a friend or classmate whom you trust to deliver it to me.  You can also turn it in early on Thursday.  :)

Today we read Amy Tan's "Fish Cheeks" essay as an example of a Narrative/Descriptive essay.  You can follow this link to read her essay:

http://redroom.com/member/amy-tan/writing/fish-cheeks

Read yesterday's post for reminders of what is due tomorrow.

Smile....It's Picture Day!  

"Putting Down the Gun"  quiz today.

Work on Shaping/Prewriting your essay.  Make decisions about how you want to organize your narrative.  Set up an informal, working outline.  You should work out what each of your paragraphs will include.  

Don't forget that each part of your essay will count towards the final grade on your essay.

Homework: Read & Do Rhetorical Analysis Assignment for "from Serving in Florida" p. 179-188  in The Language of Composition

Reminders:

 Thursday:  Turn in 3 Rhetorical Analysis Assignments (Freedman, Walker, Ehrenreich)
                  Vocabulary Quiz #2
                  Ehrenreich Quiz

Friday:  Independent Reading Deadline
             Brainstorming, Outline, & First Draft Due

Your essay is for a major grade.  Each step of the writing process counts towards your grade as follows:
Brainstorming 10 pts; Outline 10 pts; 1st Draft 10 pts; Peer Response 10 pts; Teacher Conference 10 pts. 2nd Revised Draft 50 pts.

Today you will collect ideas for your Narrative/Descriptive Essay.  You may use one of the following strategies:
 - Brainstorming   -Freewriting   
 -Looping              -Clustering


Begin shaping/prewriting your essay.  Write down the following elements of your essay:
 -Subject   
 -Narrowed Topic
 -Purpose
 -Main Idea
 -Audience

Decide which shaping strategy you want to use.  
Tomorrow we will work on an informal outline.  

Homework:  
Read & Do Rhetorical Analysis Assignment

p. 412-14  "Putting Down the Gun"  The Language of Composition

Writing Exercise: Sentence Combining

Try combining those sentences into three, two, or even just one clear and coherent sentence: in the process of combining, omit repetitive words and phrases (such as "She was") but keep all of the original details.

·         She was our Latin teacher.

·         We were in high school.

·         She was tiny.

·         She was a birdlike woman.

·         She was swarthy.

·         She had dark eyes.

·         Her eyes were sparkling.

·         Her hair was graying.

Notes from The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers

p. 83-88  Shaping Strategies

p. 104-105  Techniques for Writing About Memories

As you take notes, keep in mind that your purpose is two-fold:  1) learn to use the strategies in your own writing; 2) learn to recognize the strategies in others' writing.

Solidify your ideas for the Narrative/Descriptive essay you plan to write.

Be prepared to identify your Subject, Specific Topic, Purpose, and Audience for this paper.

Monday we will begin sketching out ideas.

Vocabulary Quiz Today

Pick up Vocabulary List 2 and Writing Exercise.

Finish the Rhetorical Analysis Assignment for the Freedman essay.

Continue brainstorming for your personal narrative essay.

Notes on Shaping Strategies pg. 83 in The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers.

Book Check Out Day

Today you will be issued The Language of Composition textbook.  It is your responsibility to bring your book with you every day to class.  I will periodically conduct random book checks for a daily grade.  Be prepared.

Today's Reading:

p. 473-476  "For Fasting and Football, a Dedicated Game Plan" by Samuel G. Freedman

Complete a "Rhetorical Analysis Assignment" page for this reading.

Quick Notes:

Underline or italicize titles of books, names of newspapers, magazines, movies, TV shows.

Underline when handwritten.

Italicize when typing.

Italics replace underlining; don’t use both.

Quotation marks used for shorter pieces: essays, speeches, newspaper articles, magazine articles, transcripts, short stories, poems, song titles, TV show episodes.

Refer to the writer as author, writer, speaker, poet.

Use his/her full name once; thereafter, refer to him/her by last name only or as author, writer, speaker, poet.  Never refer to author by first name only.

Due Today: 3 Writing Exercises (9/14, 9/15, 9/18)

Writing Exercise: Descriptive Sentences

Prospect Street

One brisk afternoon in late September, I took a walk down Prospect Street.

1.     Music thudded out of the shop and mingled with some of the other noises of the city.
(Identify the kind of music that "thudded out of the shop," name the shop, and give some specific examples of "the other noises of the city.")

2.     Garbage danced along the sidewalk and lay crushed against the curb.
(For the word "garbage," substitute specific examples of litter.)

3.     A woman reading a book was sitting there.
(Briefly describe the woman, identify the book she was reading, and specify where she was sitting.)

4.     Steam blew out of the air vents of a restaurant, carrying with it various smells.
(Name the restaurant, and identify some of the smells coming out of it.)

HOMEWORK:

Begin brainstorming for the Narrative/Descriptive essay you will write this six weeks.

Continue reading your non-fiction selection.

Study for Thursday's vocabulary quiz.