Final Exam Review

Section One: The Odyssey (55 Questions)
Homer Ithaca Land of the Sirens
Epic Poem Circe Poseidon
Suitors Epic Hero Trojan War
Athena Epic Scylla
Antinous Calypso Island Charybdis
Cyclops The Iliad Helios
In media res Penelope Zeus
Aeolus Polyphemus 12 Axe Handles
Telemachus Land of the Dead Archetype

Section Two: Literary Elements
Unit One: Character Irony Symbolism
Plot Elements Theme Comparing Setting Allegory
Fiction/Non-Fiction Nouns and Pronouns Characterization Cause and Effect
Narrative Unit Two: Diologue
Voice Conflict Dialect

Odyssey Project Supplies Due Monday 12/7!!!

Supply lists were past out today in class for the big Odyssey project that we will be doing in class next week. Students were assigned a supply or two that they need to bring in on monday. These supplies are vital to their success on this project. Please check with your student over the weekend to get information on what needs to be brought in. Thanks.

Exposition: Cause and Effect Essay

Due Date: 11/17/09
Point Total: 75 pts.

Defining the Form: Whether the subject is human nature, historical trends, or weather patterns, cause-and-effect reasoning explains why things happen. A cause-and-effect essay examines the relationship between or among two or more events, explaining how one causes another. You may use elements of this type of writing in science reports, history papers, and health ariticles, for example.

Assignment: Write a cause and effect essay to explain an event or a condition in a subject area that interests you, such as business, the arts, technology, history, sports, or music. Include these elements:

• A clear identification of a cause-and-effect relationship
• An analysis of specific aspects of the cause or causes that produce the effects
• facts, details, examples, and reasons that support the assertions and anticipate readers' questions
• a logical organization clarified by smooth transitions
• error-free grammar, including correct subject-verb agreement

Informative Brochure Assignment Due 10/23/09

Topic: Drop Out Rates

Point Value: 50 pts.

Directions: Students are required to complete a tri-fold brochure on the issue of high school drop out rates. Students will be required to complete this assignment with the criteria below.

Front Section: The front cover of the brochure will be on the CONFLICT that drop out rates present. They will be required to show their understanding of whether or not it is an internal or external conflict.

Middle Section: 1. The RIGHT HAND PORTION OF THE MIDDLE SECTION will cover the IRONY of students dropping out of high school. 2. THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE MIDDLE SECTION will cover COMPARING SETTINGS where students are required to compare different times or places and their difference as far as drop out rates. THE LEFT PORTION OF THE MIDDLE SECTION will cover SYMBOLISM. Students will be required to show what a drop out from high school is a symbol of in our society.

Back Section: The back section will cover CAUSE AND EFFECT. Students must show the cause and effect of drop outs in our society.

Follow these steps to complete the assignment:

• Gather information on the topic, taking notes in the library and authoratative internet sources. Develop clear questions to help you gather details from both primary and secondary sources.
• Organize your coverage. Plan the sectinos for the brochure and the imformatino present in each section. In addition, chose which ideas are most important, and decide whether illustrations should convey some of the information.
• Design your brochure. Place text so that information is easy to find. Add visual elements but avoid "cluttered" look. If possibly, use computer software to lay out your brochure.

Learning Goals for Unit 2: Short Story

Below are the learning goals for this unit. These are the skills that the students will learn about and be expected to know and apply in the next four weeks.

Literary Elements:
Conflict
Irony
Comparing Setting
Characterization
Dialogue and Dialect
Comparing Symbolism and Allegory

Reading Skills:
Making Inferences
Cause and Effect

Grammar:
Verbs
Adverbs
Active and Passive Voice
Subject and Predicate

Please spend some time reviewing these concepts and skills at home. Knowing the above skills will be crucial to each students grade, but more importantly, to their success in reading a text and writing a text. Thanks.

Bless Me Ultima Pacing Guide (Honors Only)

Bless Me Ultima Pacing Guide

Week One: Pages 1-50

Week Two: Pages 51-105

Week Three: Pages 106-176

Week Four: Pages 177-202

Week Five: 203-262

You are required to read through each section and be prepared to discuss each section in class. Each section will be tied into the learning goals of unit two and each student will be expected to identify those goals in the text.

Greek and Latin Root Words

http://www.wordinfo.info/

Autobiographical Essay

Worth: 75 pts.
Due Date: October 2nd, 2009

Defining the Form: An autobiographical narrative describes real events in the writer’s life and shares the lessons or wisdom the writer gained from the experiences. You might use elements of autobiographical narration in letters, journals, reflective essays, or persuasive essays.

Assignment: Write an autobiographical narrative about one your vivid memories that we worked on last week. Include the following elements:
•A sequence of events involving you the writer
•A problem, or conflict, and the lesson your learned from it.
•Details that locate scenes and incidents in specific places.
•Your thoughts, feelings, or views about the significance of events
•Error-free grammar, including correct use of possessive nouns.

Logistical Requirements:

• Between 1 1/2- 2 Pages in length
• Can be either handwritten in pen or typed
• If typed must be Times New Roman, Double Spaced, 12 Point Font, 1" Margains
• If written in pen must be single spaced and clearly legible
  

In/Out Interview DUE FRIDAY 9/19/09

Directions: Interview one person over the age of 60 and one person under the age of 20 about the big question "Can truth change"

Point Total: 50 pts.

Due: Friday 9/18/09

Follow these steps to complete this assignment:

1. Generate and ask relevant questions that are open-minded and cannot be answered simply with a yes or no, in order to demonstrate your knowledge of the subject matter.

2. Listen carefully to what the person you are interviewing is saying.

3. Make notes of the interview so that you can respond with appropriate questions or answers.

4. To make your delivery more effective, speak clearly, with confidence and poise, make eye contact with your partner, and use language that shows maturity, sensistivity, and respect.

5. After your interview is done, write a one page response paper that you will share with the class on the topic "HAS TRUTH CHANGED IN THE LAST DECADE?"

Questions that must be asked in interview:

1. What is your name, birthplace, and year that you were born?
2. What are the fondest memories in your life so far?
3. If you could pass on one thing to the next generation what would it be?
4. What is the difference between truth and belief?
5. Can truth change? If so, how have you experienced this in your lifetime? If not, why is that?

Textbook Online!

One of the benefits of a technological age is our ability to access things through different mediums. Our students have the opportunity to not only access their textbooks through print in the classroom, but also have the opportunity to access their textbooks virtually through the Pearson website. Students will need to know how to navigate this site because they will be required to use it to do at home readings, online essays and other classroom activities. The link to the website is below.

www.pearsonsuccessnet.com

Have a good day.

Class Discussion Group Honors

kingenglish9

Visit this group

Vocab List 1 Due Tomorrow

Vocab List One is due tomorrow for B day students and Friday for A day students. This assignment is worth 28 pts. for general education students and 47 pts. for honors students.

Friday 9/4/09 Response Paper: Facebook Exodus

Assignment: Response Paper to Non Fiction Article Read in Class Today
Due: Next Class Period
Worth 20 Points Directions

1. Demonstrate evidence of close reading.
2. Highlight your confusion.
3. Write a 1+ page reflection.
4. Answer the two questions below.


1. What is the author’s purpose?
2. Who is the intended audience?

Link to This Weeks Article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/magazine/30FOB-medium-t.html

Vocab Lists 9/3/09

Students were assigned vocabulary lists in both general ed. and honors today. the due dates for this assignment are below:

A-Day= 9/11/09
B-Day= 9/10/09

Students were given a handout with instructions and should be able to complete the task with a dictionary either in print format or virtual. Below is a helpful link for the Greek and Latin Root Words.

https://www.msu.edu/~defores1/gre/roots/gre_rts_afx2.htm

Today's Assignments 9/2/09

English 9
1. Desiderta Cornell Notes
Worth 20 pts
Due: Friday 9/4/09

2. Vocab List 1
Worth 28 pts
Due: 9/10/09 or 9/11/09

English 9 Honors
1. Desiderta Raft
Worth 20 pts
Due: Friday 9/4/09

2. Vocab List 1
Worth 47 pts
Due: Thursday 9/10/09

The Giant's House and the Big Question

Reading The Giant's House today by Elizabeth McCracken. Here is a quote from the selction:

"Never jump to conclusions when trying to answer a reference question. Interview the patron." (p. 9)

Nice thought on tackling the Big Question at home.

Thought of the Week: 8/31-9/4

"All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them."
-Galileo

NON FICTION FRIDAY ARTICLE ASSIGNMENT: DUE NEXT CLASS PERIOD

Assignment: Response Paper to Non Fiction Article Read in Class Today
Due: Next Class Period
Worth 20 Points

Directions:
1. Demonstrate evidence of close reading.
2. Highlight your confusion.
3. Answer the two questions below.
4. Write a 1+ page reflection.

1. What is the author’s purpose?

2. Who is the intended audience?

Link to Article:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-southla-taggers24-2009aug24,0,138131.story

Unit One Big Question: CAN TRUTH CHANGE?

We are beginning a fiction/nonfiction unit this week. The big question that we will be discussing over the next six weeks is:

CAN TRUTH CHANGE?

Please use this question as a springboard to talk with your parent or student. Have a great day.

Parent Night Wednesday

Parent night is this Wednesday @ 6:30 pm. Please come and learn a little bit about the class.

Thought of the Week 8/24-8/30

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." -Maya Angelou

"Nothing will work unless you do" - Maya Angelou

Thought for the week (last week)

Unfortunately, the quote below is for last week. I will try to put one up as often as possible (goal is once a week). I hope that this is something that can spark us to explore authors and genres of literature, but more importantly I hope that we can use these quotations to develop the discipline of using literature as a means of questioning and evaluating our own lives.

"Grow up in a society that values knowledge and hard work and public spirit over owning stuff and looking cool" - Garrison Keillor

Due 8/21: Syllabus/Core Value Parent Sheet

DUE TOMORROW:
You must have your parent syllabus and core value sheet signed and turned in by tomorrow. THIS IS WORTH 20 POINTS.

Jump Start For 9th Graders Tomorrow

Jump Start! We all need this. Whether it is a cup of coffee in the morning or a trial run through our classes in the 9th grade, every human being has an innate desire to use some medium, whatever it is, to ease our fears and get us relatively comfortable with the unexpected. I can only hope that tomorrow will accomplish those tasks with my new students.