September 23 - 27

Welcome to the last week of September at school, ending with a minimum day and three-day weekend for students. We'll continue with independent reading and more rhetorical analysis terms, including our first practice prompt. 

Also: be sure to invite parents and guardians to Back to School Night!


MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Read page 10-12 in the Rhetorical Analysis Packet (a challenging passage). Logos, ethos, pathos skits/dialogues created by students to demonstrate the concepts.

Due: Please read another 25 pages in your independent reading book, and have a memorable passage ready to share with group members and the class. (You should be up to page 60.)

Bring the book with you, and start bringing it to class each day. 

Homework: Read another 20 pages in the independent reading book for Wednesday/Friday. 

Bring your independent reading book to class. 

Study for quiz. 

NOTE: 1st and 2nd periods will quiz on WEDNESDAY of this week for Vocab #3, NOT Friday due to the schedule change.   

WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocab #3 and grammar. Continue skits if necessary. Book walk with independent reading groups.

Due:  You've read up to page 80 in your independent reading book.

Homework: Have journals ready to turn in on Friday. 

Read another 10 pages from your independent reading book.

FRIDAY: (minimum day, ALL CLASSES) Journal warm-up - introduce imagery with activity. Receive Carter rhetorical analysis passage.

Due: Turn in journals to classroom bin before end of period. 

Up to page 90 in the independent reading book.

Homework: Please read the Carter rhetorical analysis passage, and annotate it. Identify any of the rhetorical analysis strategies we've learned in class: ethos, logos, pathos, imagery, diction (word choice).  Bring it with you to class, ready to share. 

Please find a cozy spot and some alone time and read 30 pages in your independent reading book. (If you chose a longer book, over 180 pages, go a bit farther.)

September 16 - 20

Welcome!


MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. SOAPS practice. Independent reading check-in. Ethos and logos notes, examples.

Due: Obtain a copy of your approved independent reading book. (NOTE: Must be pre-approved by Mogilefsky.)  Read the first 25 pages and come back to class next week with an opinion.

Homework: Study for the quiz on Thursday/Friday. 

Please read through pages 5-the top part of page 8 in the Rhetorical Analysis Packet. 

Please read another 15 pages of your independent reading book by Thursday/Friday. Think of a song that matches your reading book so far. Be ready to share and defend your choice. 

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day - read and annotate two opposing viewpoints. Discuss and debate, vote. Outline the majority opinion in a synthesis/ACT-style outline response based on the discussion.

Due: n/a

Homework: Same as Monday + study for the quiz.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocabulary List #2 and grammar. Independent reading check-in. Continue with logos, ethos, and pathos definitions. Watch videos and analyze how these appeals are employed as a whole class.

Due: Read through pages 5-the top part of page 8 in the Rhetorical Analysis Packet. 

Read another 15 pages of your independent reading book by Thursday/Friday. Think of a song that matches your reading book so far. Be ready to share and defend your choice. 

Homework: Please read another 25 pages of your independent reading book (you should be up to page 60). Have a memorable passage of your choice from the reading book ready to share. \

Please bring the independent reading book with you to class next week!

September 9 - 13

We're into our third week already, though it's the first full, five-day week. I'm excited to get into our first unit, which is rhetorical analysis and writing, paired with a group-choice reading book and project. (Rhetorical analysis is what students are expected to be able to do, and write about, for the SAT essay.)

Independent reading books are free choice, and will be read by 2-4 students at the same time. They must be between 150-300 pages long, grade and school appropriate, and full text (not graphic novels this time). Please get approval from Mogilefsky before obtaining and beginning the reading book.  Choose wisely; since it's for a group project, you will not be able to switch books for this assignment if you decide later you don't like it.

We'll also take the first vocabulary/grammar quiz at the end of the week. Ms. Jessop, my collaboration teacher for 1st and 2nd periods, has created a quizlet for the vocabulary words that anyone can use. It can be found at "jessopr" if you search for that on the quizlet website. 


MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Continue with Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle. The SOAPS technique, a way to analyze a passage. Read and analyze President George W. Bush's 9/11 speech. Trip to the library to get ideas for free choice books. Return to class and use Chromebooks to set up accounts on Goodreads. Discuss in groups which book you would like to choose for the first independent reading assignment. Note: it must be submitted on a piece of paper with 2-4 names and accepted by me. (6th period only: Presentation from Ms. Joanne Lewis of the College and Career Center.)

Due: Completed Interest Inventory Sheet.

Homework: Confirm an independent reading book choice with group members, and have a piece of paper (one per group) of group names and the book request for approval by Thursday/Friday.

Study for the quiz on Thursday/Friday. Understand what SOAPS stands for, the vocabulary and the grammar.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day - read and annotate two opposing viewpoints. Discuss and debate, vote. Outline the majority opinion in a synthesis/ACT-style outline response based on the discussion.

Due: N/A

Homework: same as Monday.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering vocabulary, grammar, and SOAPS. Continue with rhetorical analysis and the rhetorical situation. Share independent reading book choices with the class. (1st period only: presentation by Ms. Joanne Lewis of the College and Career Center.) Time on Chromebooks to sign up for Goodreads, Turnitin.com, and Naviance if need be.

Due: One piece of paper per group with names and choice of independent reading book ready to go at the beginning of class.

Homework: Obtain a copy of your approved independent reading book. (NOTE: Must be pre-approved by Mogilefsky.)  Read the first 25 pages and come back to class next week with an opinion.