Week of November 18th, 2013

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9:   The students will complete Act II of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. They will be responsible for reading, comprehending, analyzing, and applying the literary elements and devices used by Shakespeare to show the flaws of human nature and how society influences individuals.  Act II Notes and Study Guide will be due on Monday, November 25th.  Next week, students will continue writing the tragedy in a modernized vernacular version to demonstrate comprehension of content and form.

Practical English 10:  Students will complete writing the Movie Review.  They will summarize and critique the movie.  The students will need to evaluate the movie and use persuasion to inform the reader of the reasons why the movie is a success or a failure.  It is necessary for them to use specific details to support their response.  Students will be responsible for all of the parts of the writing process:  brainstorming, outlining (using their worksheets), rough draft, editing, and a final copy.

General English 11:  Students will take a Quiz on Act I of The Crucible.  A Reading Assessment Check, a Character Chart check, and a Study Guide check will be given.  They will view Act I of The Crucible and a discussion comparing/contrasting the play and the DVD will follow.  Vocabulary Unit 6 Test will be given on Thursday, November 21st.  Vocabulary Unit 7 will be assigned.  The Vocabulary Squares will be due on Friday, November 22nd.  There will be a Vocabulary Review on Monday and a Test on Tuesday, November 26th.

Public Speaking: Students will need to complete the process of speech preparation necessary for the utilization of good public speaking skills. Research will need to be completed by Thanksgiving Break.  The Outline will be due on December 3rd.  The Rough Draft will be due on December 9th. The Visual Aid will be due by December 11th.  Students should be ready to Practice their speeches on December 12th.  Persuasive Speeches will commence on December 16th.  Preparation for the Final Speech will begin on December 18th.

Week of November 11th, 2013

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9:  The students will complete Act I of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. They will be responsible for reading, comprehending, analyzing, and applying the literary elements and devices used by Shakespeare to show the flaws of human nature and how society influences individuals.  Act I Notes and Study Guide will be due on Tuesday, November 12th.  Students will begin writing the play in a modernized vernacular version to demonstrate comprehension of content and form.

Practical English 10:  Students will be responsible for identifying, analyzing, and applying the elements of the movie review through the viewing, evaluating, and critiquing of a movie. Their use of persuasion and opinion will be necessary for completion of the written review. Students will be required to use active voice.

English 11:   Students will begin reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible. They will be responsible for completing an accompanying study guide to help with their comprehension. Discussion will be necessary for application of relevant issues found in the play. Their study of the Salem Witch Trials, Puritanism, and McCarthyism will aid in understanding themes of individualism, conformity, and the abuse of power. Vocabulary 6 Test on Friday.  Students should be able to answer the following question:  Why is discipline better than punishment?

Public Speaking:   Students will be responsible for reading and taking notes on the Persuasive Speech from their textbook in preparation for the third speech. They will need to complete the process of speech preparation necessary for the utilization of good public speaking skills. Research will aid in the process of picking a topic. Students will need to pick a topic and convince the audience to "do something".  Fact and Policy Worksheets due on Monday, November 11th.  Chapter 17 notes due on Tuesday, November 12th.

Week of November 4th, 2013

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9: Students worked on Vocabulary Unit 3 and Sentence Structure last week.  They will begin reading William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.  The realization of classic literature as being relevant demonstrates how human nature has not changed.  The students will be responsible for reading, comprehending, analyzing, and applying the literary elements and devices used by Shakespeare to show the flaws of human nature and how society influences individuals.

Practical English 10:  Students presented documentaries and analyzed Vocabulary last week.  Students will create a movie review.  They will be responsible for identifying, analyzing, and applying the elements of the movie review through the viewing, evaluating, and critiquing of a movie.  Their use of persuasion and opinion will be necessary for completion of the written review.  Students will be required to use active voice.

English 11:  Students completed persuasive writing projects.  They were responsible for picking 1 of 3 options (Political Cartoon, Editorial, or Print Advertisement) of Persuasive Writing found in the Newspaper.  Students will begin reading Arthur Miller's The Crucible.  They will be responsible for completing an accompanying study guide to help with their comprehension.  Discussion will be necessary for application of relevant issues found in the play.  Their study of the Salem Witch Trials, Puritanism, and McCarthyism will aid in understanding themes of individualism, conformity, and the abuse of power.  Vocabulary 6 Squares Worksheet is due on Wednesday. 

Public Speaking:  Informative Speeches were presented last week.  Thank you for the excellent work!  Students will be responsible for reading and taking notes on the Persuasive Speech from their textbook in preparation for the third speech.  They will need to complete the process of speech preparation necessary for the utilization of good public speaking skills. Research will aid in the process of picking a topic.  Students will need to pick a topic and convince the audience to "do something".

Week of October 21st. 2013

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

Academic English 9:  There were great discussions on evaluating and critiquing work this past week.  Students have given and received constructive criticism which has helped them identify the need for purpose/focus of their work.  Organization was deemed necessary for effective communication.  Simple grammatical errors should have been picked up through their own proofreading.  Creation is a process...which takes work!  There will be an essay test on Night.  The essay will need to identify and use the literary elements and devices discussed.  The relevancy of the novel in the 21st century will need to be supported.  Vocabulary Unit 4 will be assigned.  Reading in context through the identification of subject/verb agreement and the identification of prepositional phrases will be required.  There will be a Vocabulary Test on Tuesday, November 29th.

Practical English 10:  Finalizing the documentaries is required for presentation on Thursday and Friday of this week.

English 11:  Students will read and analyze "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" in order to set the stage for The Crucible.  The  use of fear and intimidation (abuse of power) has been used throughout history and is relevant today.  What legacy will our students leave the next generation?  Vocabulary Unit 5 Sentences due on Friday 10/25.

Public Speaking: Students will continue work on the Informative Speech.  They will be required to identify purpose, complete an outline, utilize their sources, produce a works cited page, write a rough draft,  create a visual aid, and write podium cards.  Speeches will commence on 10/28.  All due dates for the process of speech writing have been given to the students.

Week of October 14th, 2013

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively. 

 

Academic English 9:  Students will be responsible for participating in the final guided discussion of the novel, Night.  They will responsible for identifying and applying the literary devices discussed in class (characterization, symbols, foreshadowing, theme).  The purpose of the discussion is aimed at understanding the meaning of the author's message and its relevancy in today's world.  Through the knowledge of the time period, comprehension of the novel, and application of the literary devices, the student should recognize and understand the relevancy of the major theme. Parallels to The Boy in Striped Pajamas will be part of the discussion.  Wednesday and Thursday:  Active listening and viewing on the part of the audience, supporting evidence, and constructive criticism are all necessary when evaluating work. The students will need to apply all of these skills when critiquing the documentaries. These skills should be applied to the editing of their own work, demonstrating the importance of the process of creation.

Practical 10:  Students will continue work on the documentary.  They will use technology to create a documentary on a topic of their choice.  The students will be responsible for presenting the documentary where they will need to identify purpose, show organizational skills, use facts, and apply inference. 

English 11:  Students will be reading and responding to the text on McCarthyism.  The introduction through informational text will aid them in the comprehension of the play, The Crucible. The play's relevancy requires knowledge of the time period in which it was written.  There will be a discussion on fear and its repercussions.

Public Speaking:  Students will continue work on the Informative Speech.  They will be required to identify purpose, complete an outline, utilize their sources, produce a works cited page, write a rough draft,  create a visual aid, and write podium cards.  Speeches will commence on 10/28.  All due dates for the process of speech writing have been given to the students.

Week of October 7th, 2013

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

9th Grade Academic: Students will be responsible for participating in the guided discussion of the novel, Night.  They will responsible for identifying and applying the literary devices discussed in class.  The purpose of the discussion is aimed at understanding the meaning of the author's message.  Through the knowledge of the time period, comprehension of the novel, and application of the literary devices, the student should recognize and understand the relevancy of the major theme.  Active listening and viewing on the part of the audience, supporting evidence, and constructive criticism are all necessary when evaluating work. The students will need to apply all of these skills when critiquing the documentaries. These skills should be applied to the editing of their own work, demonstrating the importance of the process of creation.

Practical 10:  Students will be creating documentaries.  They will be applying the elements of the documentary through the utilization of technology.  Students will be able to identify the difference between perspective and bias while fulfilling the requirements of the documentary. 

English 11:  Students will be reading and responding to the text on Puritanism and The Salem Witch Trials.  The introduction through informational text will aid them in the comprehension of the play, The Crucible. The play's relevancy requires knowledge of the time period in which it was written.  There will be a discussion on fear and its repercussions. Vocabulary Unit 4 definitions will be due on Wednesday.  Completion of the sentences are due on Friday, 10/11.

Public Speaking:  Students will be required to have a topic approved for their Informative Speeches by Tuesday, 10/8.  They will be required to commit to their topics through research.  Their research will need to be used to support their speeches.  Students will be required to hand in outlines, rough drafts, MLA citations, and a visual aid.  Speeches will commence during the week of 10/28.

Week of September 23, 2013

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire." - William Butler Yeats

The goal of this English class is to produce critical thinkers. Students are not only reading for comprehension but for meaning and relevancy of the work as a whole. Literature is also an example of good writing. The writing improves when a student reads. Vocabulary also improves because the student is learning to read in context. We want successful students who can think critically and communicate effectively.

 Academic English 9:  Students will review Vocabulary Unit 2.  They will be required to apply vocabulary in context.  Students will also be identifying subject and verbs.  They will be able to identify phrases and subordinate clauses to aid them with the identification of subject and verb in the independent clause.  Through this identification they will be able to analyze sentence structure to help them with their writing.  The viewing of The Boy in Striped Pajamas will begin.  They will analyze and apply literary devices through the visual medium with teacher facilitation.  Students will be required to read and analyze Elie Wiesel's Night as they read on their own.  The novel due date is October 7th.

Practical 10:   Students will be required to complete an Annotated Bibliography.  Students will learn to research, validate, summarize, and critique their sources.  They will be required to use these sources to write an argumentative essay based on one of the articles from The New York Times Upfront Magazine.  The assignment is due by Friday, 9/27.

English 11:    Students will read and analyze an article on Manifest Destiny.  They will be required to identify and discuss the main points of the article.  They will be required to support a thesis through an essay based on the information in the article.  Students will be required to identify and apply the literary devices of denotation and connotation to understand the importance of perspective and word choice. They will then use the elements of the myth, the information from the article, and their analysis to create a unique myth to tell of the loss of their heritage. This narrative writing assignment transitions to the next unit on Puritanism.  Vocabulary Unit 2 worksheets due on Wednesday, 9/25.  Sentences and review will be on Friday, 9/27.

Public Speaking:  Students will be responsible for reading and analyzing the necessary elements of good speech writing.  They will be required to apply these to the Informative Speech.

Chapter 10 due Tuesday, 9/24
Chapter 11 due Thursday, 9/26
Chapters 12 & 13 due Monday, 9/30
Chapter 14 due Wednesday, 10/2
Chapter 15 due Friday 10/4
JFK Critique due Monday 10/7