February 29 - March 4

It's already the beginning of March (almost)!  We've started The Great Gatsby, and I'm excited to begin our research writing unit based on a profession/job title of your choice. This week, students will also attend Junior Conferences during English class and plan their schedules for senior year.

MONDAY: (1st and 2nd only) Journal warm-up.  Review Gatsby Chapter One, character traits so far.  Listen to clips of student song choices and share paragraphs.  Select a song for each character from the whole class.  Begin reading Gatsby, Chapter Two.  Start initial work for research paper based on a profession/job title of your choice: view career aptitude test and compare the number of people employed and median salary on another chart.

http://www.rasmussen.edu/resources/aptitude-test/

  

http://www.rasmussen.edu/resources/what-career-should-i-choose/

NOTE: Dr. Park will give a presentation to 2nd period at 11:30.

Due: Gatsby Chapter 1 read and Character Song Assignment finished.

Homework: Finish brainstorm for research paper - on a separate piece of paper list top five choices for a job title you could research and a sentence or two by each explaining why that might be a good match for your interests, talents, and goals.

TUESDAY: (5th and 6th periods only): Journal warm-up.  Review Gatsby Chapter One, character traits so far.  Listen to clips of student song choices and share paragraphs.  Select a song for each character from the whole class.  Begin reading Gatsby, Chapter Two.

5th and 6th periods will have Junior Conferences on Tuesday, March 1.

Due:  Gatsby Chapter 1 read and Character Song Assignment finished.

Homework:  Study for vocab quiz.  Quiz will have 2 Gatsby questions from Chapter One. 

WEDNESDAY: (1st and 2nd only): Journal warm-up.  Begin reading Gatsby, Chapter Two.

1st and 2nd periods will have Junior Conferences on Wednesday, March 2.

Due:  brainstorm for research paper - on a separate piece of paper list top five choices for a job title you could research and a sentence or two by each explaining why that might be a good match for your interests, talents, and goals.

Homework: Study for vocab quiz.  Quiz will have 2 Gatsby questions from Chapter One.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY:  Journal warm-up.  Vocab quiz with 2 Gatsby questions.  Gatsby reading Chapter 2, scene 1, pages 23-29.  Watch 3 versions of how the Myrtle introduction is portrayed in film (the scene we just read), and vote on your favorite.

(5th and 6th will start initial work for research paper based on a profession/job title of your choice: view career aptitude test and compare the number of people employed and median salary on another chart.)

Due:n/a

Homework: Finish reading Chapter Two, where we get a close look at Tom's not-so-secret life.   Next week's quiz will include 4 questions from The Great Gatsby.

5th and 6th period only: On a separate piece of paper, please list 5 job titles you are interested in, with 1 sentence each explaining why you chose that job title.  Please see Monday's agenda, above, for links to websites that can offer some help generating ideas for you.  DUE ON MONDAY, MARCH 7 for 5th and 6th only.

February 22-26

Thank you for the great debates about women signing up for the draft last week.  I am reading the essays and so far, there are strong, clear positions and specific examples and evidence provided.  I love reading them, though it's going to take me a week or two to finish them all!

This week, we'll finish our Gender Unit and move on to The Great Gatsby.

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Discuss "Professions for Women" article and turn in.  Read and discuss "I Want a Wife": what is the author's purpose?  How does she build her argument? Discussion questions about your own future, division of household duties, hours you envision that you'll be working in your 20s, 30s.  Vocabulary Story Round activity.

Note: Dr. Park will address classes about the CAASPP activity coming up in late May. 

Due: Professions for Women essay and questions.

Homework:  Study vocabulary for quiz on Thursday/Friday.  Check Aeries to make sure you are caught up with the many assignments during the Gender Unit.


WEDNESDAY: (5th and 6th only) Discussion about the gender pay gap and possible reasons for it, view statistics.  Read blog entry from a young professional about what she wishes she'd known about negotiating her salary (beneficial for everyone in class, not just the girls).  Speaking and listening: Small group activity - improve the blogger's suggestions for phrases that could be used during a conversation with a potential employer that are respectful and helpful in negotiations of salary, terms, etc. when accepting a position. Whole class discussion. 

Extension: If you have time, click here for a challenging and informative video from the Stanford Business School about negotiation.  I learn something new every time I watch the lecture.



THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up.  Vocab/grammar quiz. Intro to the world of Gatsby: F.Scott Fitzgerald and the 1920s.  Pick up the book at the library and begin reading.  You'll be choosing one song that best represents one of the characters introduced in Chapter One to share next class.


Due: n/a

Homework: 
Finish reading Chapter One of The Great Gatsby, pages 1-21. 

Character Song Assignment.

February 15-19

During this short, four-day week we will not have a vocabulary quiz; we will instead have a formal debate about whether or not women should be required to sign up for the draft and then write an argument essay at the end of the week.  I look forward to an interesting week!

MONDAY: President's Day Holiday - no school!

TUESDAY (5th and 6th period): Journal warm-up.  Complete "beauty ideals" presentation and go over instructions for debate prep, a few minutes for research.  Draw a side for the formal debate and switch seats.  Twenty minutes prep, twenty minutes opening statements, 30 minutes rebuttals.

Due: Debate prep - 3 examples total with at least one in each agree/disagree side.  One credible source printed out and annotated.

Homework:
1. Review notes from debate.  Think about your own opinion about the matter and what the best evidence/examples are.  Review argument essay outline and steps.
2. Bring Huck Finn book for Friday for points!
3. Journal check on Thursday. 

NOTE: Extra Credit Opportunity #1- after school in the same classroom - Room 509.  English Department multiple choice Huckleberry Finn test.  (See sidebar for details.)


WEDNESDAY (1st and 2nd period): Journal warm-up.  Draw a side for the formal debate and switch seats.  Twenty minutes prep, twenty minutes opening statements, 30 minutes rebuttals.

Due: Debate prep - 3 examples total with at least one in each agree/disagree side.  One credible source printed out and annotated.

Homework:
1. Review notes from debate.  Think about your own opinion about the matter and what the best evidence/examples are.  Review argument essay outline and steps.

2. Bring Huck Finn book for Friday for points!
3. Journal check on Friday. 

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up.  Open "popcorn" debate about whether or not women should sign up for the draft - 15 minutes max., compare notes.  Write in-class argument essay arguing your own personal position about the topic.  NO VOCAB QUIZ THIS WEEK.  If time, begin homework for next week.  Receive vocab list for next week.


Due:
1. Huckleberry Finn books - for 5 participation points!
2. Journal check
 
Homework:  Read "Professions for Women" by Virginia Woolf.  Answer the questions and bring for next class.

February 8-12

Welcome to another short week.  This week we'll continue our gender unit, going through the rest of the "man" articles and then looking at essays and a video about women.  We've only just begun the short gender unit and it's been a real pleasure to hear students' opinions and the discussion around the first activity and essay. 

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Discuss "Why Johnny Won't Read" questions.  Read "Just Walk on By" by Brent Staples, response.  Evidence/example groups and informal presentations. If time, vocab activity in groups.

Due:  Read the essay "Why Johnny Won't Read" and answer the questions.  Be prepared to discuss your personal experiences and opinions about the authors' viewpoints.

Homework: Read "There is No Unmarked Woman" by Deborah Tannen and answer the questions.

Study for vocab/grammar quiz.


WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  Vocab/grammar quiz.  E.E. Cumming's "somewhere i have never travelled,gladly beyond" poem in honor of Valentine's Day.  Gender: women's issues.  Video "Killing Me Softly" and "spiderweb" style discussion.  View current event articles about new weight/BMI minimums in place for fashion models in France and new Barbie dolls with different body types.  Prepare for next week's debate about requiring women to sign up for the draft, pass out worksheet (see below for links).
 
Due:  Read "There is No Unmarked Woman" by Deborah Tannen and answer the questions.

Homework:  Debate Prep Worksheet - prepare for the debate next class, next week.

5th and 6th period Debate Prep Worksheet

1st and 2nd period Debate Prep Worksheet 

FRIDAY: No school - it's the beginning of a long, four-day Presidents' Weekend.  Enjoy!