March 25 - 29

It's the last week before Spring Break! We will continue with Gatsby, argument, and current events. There is no quiz this week. Please note that we do have a drill on Friday morning.

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over essay results in detail, rewrite one paragraph in class.

Due:  Before class begins: read Gatsby, Chapter 2.

By the end of the class period: turn in a rewrite of one paragraph of your essay.

Homework: Please read the rest of Gatbsy, Chapter 3 and 4. Why do you think Fitzgerald included the character Meyer Wolfshiem?

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Gatsby Chapter 3 comparison exercise. Write in-class outline in response to argument prompt. Gatsby casting sheets.

Due: Gatsby, Chapters 3 and 4

Homework: Read Gatsby, Chapter 5 for Friday.

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Gatsby Chapter 3 comparison exercise. Write in-class outline response to argument prompt. Gatsby casting sheets. Begin reading Chapter 5 of Gatsby.

Due: Gatsby, Chapters 3 and 4.

Homework: Please read Chapters 5 and 6 of Gatsby for April (!)

FRIDAY: (minimum day, drill 4th period) Vocabulary Story Rounds for 6th period.

Due: Gatsby, Chapter 5

Homework: Please read Gatsby, Chapter 6 for April (!)

Have a wonderful and well-deserved break! I'm looking forward to seeing you in April. 

March 18 - 22

Great work on the essays last week, and again many thanks for all of the participation in discussions and debates throughout the gender unit! This week, we'll begin The Great Gatsby. I'm looking forward to reading it with you, and I have two flapper dresses ready to go for acting it out in class.


MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Read through "The Declaration of Independence" and analyze it as an argument. Review the most famous lines and discuss how to use it as an example or evidence to support claims in arguments. Intro: The Great Gatsby and the American Dream. Is it possible for anyone? Mention how the College Admissions cheating scandal, "Operation Varsity Blues" ties into this theme, (we will have a chance to talk about it further on Friday). Pick up Gatsby, begin reading and acting out Chapter One. Introduce Gatsby Song Assignment.

Due: Read through The Declaration of Independence as an argument. Bring any outstanding library books that you may have to class today to turn in.

Homework: Please finish reading Gatsby, Chapter 1. 

Complete the Gatsby Song Assignment and be ready to share with the class.  

Study for the quiz.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day - March Madness theme! Read and annotate two opposing viewpoints about whether or not college athletes should be paid. Watch a debate, then  think/pair/share, vote. Outline the majority opinion in a synthesis/ACT-style outline response based on the discussion with the whole class.

Due: N/A

Homework: (Same as Monday, for Friday.)

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocabulary #17, grammar, reading. Collect Gatsby song assignment. Begin reading and acting out Chapter 2. View three film interpretations of the introduction of Myrtle. Discuss the college cheating scandal and analyze arguments for possible solutions.

Due: Read Gatsby Chapter 1. Complete the Gatsby Song Assignment.

Homework: Finish reading Gatsby, Chapter 2. Start thinking about who you would cast to play the various parts in a Gatsby movie remake and why.

 

March 11 - 15

Welcome! This week we will finish up the Gender Unit with a debate and in-class argument essay. I've enjoyed hearing all of the different viewpoints from the classes during this unit.

MONDAY: (4th and 6th only) Journal warm-up. Discuss "There is No Unmarked Woman." (Note: moving current event day to Monday for first portion of class.) Read, discuss, debate: should college athletes be paid? Last 20 minutes of class: Gender Debate Prep on laptops in class.

Due: Please read and annotate "There is No Unmarked Woman." Note the types of evidence and examples used to support the argument.

Homework: Please complete the "Debate Preparation Worksheet" and have examples and an article (or annotations and the title, author, publication on a separate page) ready to bring in for next class. 

TUESDAY: (1st and 3rd only). Journal warm-up. Check-off for Debate Prep Worksheet and article (or notes on an article). Debate.

Due: Complete the "Debate Preparation Worksheet" and have examples and an article (or annotations and the title, author, publication on a separate page) ready to bring in for next class. 

Homework: Go through your notes about writing argument essays. Think about the best reasons for and against women registering for the draft that you heard during the debate.

WEDNESDAY: (4th and 6th period) Journal warm-up. Debate day.

Due: Please complete "Debate Preparation Worksheet" and have examples and an article (or annotations and the title, author, publication on a separate page) ready to bring in for next class. 

Homework: Go through your notes about writing argument essays. Think about the best reasons for and against women registering for the draft that you heard during the debate.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm up. Go over outlines from "Why Johnny Won't Read". Go through the steps to write an argument essay. Write the in-class argument essay based on the same "Should women be required to register for the draft" prompt from the debate. You may use actual notes from the debate, but no pre-written essays or outlines. All notes will be turned in. You'll have the rest of the class to finish it.

Due: Go through your notes about writing argument essays. Think about the best reasons for and against women registering for the draft that you heard during the debate.

Homework: Please read and annotate the Declaration of Independence as an argument. How does Thomas Jefferson make the case for the United States to declare its independence from Great Britain?

Bring back any outstanding library books (Grapes, Huck Finn).

Read about the college admissions cheating current event that is dominating the news right now. We'll talk about it next week. 

March 4 - 8

It's March! This week, we'll continue with the Gender Unit, and the work with argument prompts.


MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Outline practice. Discuss the homework passage "Just Walk on By," whole class exercise. "I Want a Wife" passage - read and analyze the argument being made and the methods utilized by the author. Think/pair/share discussion.

Due: Read and annotate "Just Walk on By." Look over the questions at the end, and note how the author draws the reader into his experience. Have you experienced anything like this, either being cautious or watching others react to you?

Homework: For Thursday/Friday, please read "How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender," pages 23-27 from National Geographic.  

Study for quiz.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over the reading. Discussion about the complex issue of the gender pay gap and possible underlying reasons, 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 women). 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 effective in negotiations of salary, terms, etc. when accepting a position. Whole class discussion/comparison.

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 listen to the lecture.

Due: n/a

Homework: Same as Monday.

THURSDAY - 4th and 6th period: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocabulary #16, grammar, and reading.  Discuss the homework reading and look at current events involving transgender people.

Due: Read "How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender," pages 23-27 from National Geographic. 

Homework: Please read and annotate "There is No Unmarked Woman." Notice the types of evidence and examples the writer uses to support her argument. 

FRIDAY - 1st and 3rd period: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocabulary #16, grammar, and reading.  Discuss the homework reading and look at current events involving transgender people. Last 30 minutes: begin research on laptops to gather evidence and examples for the formal debate next class. The topic of the debate is whether or not women should be required to register for the draft the way that men do, and you'll need to be prepared to argue both sides.

Due: Read "How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender," pages 23-27 from National Geographic. 

Homework: Please complete the "Debate Preparation Worksheet" and have examples and an article (or annotations and the title, author, publication on a separate page) ready to bring in for next class.