September 13-17

Welcome to our third week already!  I'm looking forward to slightly cooler temperatures and continuing our introduction to the world of The Grapes of Wrath.  We'll look more closely at how the book was received and John Steinbeck's purpose, revise and refine the "How you Came to Be in California" narratives (real or imagined) adding precise words and phrases, telling details, and sensory language to convey a vivid picture of the experiences, events, setting, and/or characters (per 11th grade writing standards), continue with the "Setting the Stage" projects and work on vocabulary/grammar for this week's quiz.  (All this in a toga, nonetheless - it's Homecoming Week!) 

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up, share.  Feedback for vocabulary quiz, Chapter 1 questions assignment, and journals.  Discuss Grapes of Wrath Chapters 4 and 5, work with vocab words for quiz Thursday/Friday.  Check-in about "Setting the Stage" project.  Discuss how a work of fiction can make an impact on society, and Steinbeck's Nobel Prize speech.  Discussion: are some books dangerous, and should they be banned?  Share 3 more "How you Came to Be in CA" stories.   Note: there will be two questions on the quiz from your Grapes of Wrath reading. 

Due: Grapes Chapters 4 and 5 read.
Homework: Read Grapes chapter 6, finish "Setting the Stage" project for Friday - A Day/Monday - B Day.      

WEDNESDAY (periods 1 and 2 - A Day):  Current Event Day: read and annotate articles with opposing viewpoints on a given topic. Small discussion groups.  Debate and discuss as a class.  Vote.  Short in-class writing assignment using articles and discussion as evidence to support your conclusion about the topic.

Due: n/a
Homework: Study for vocab quiz, finish reading Grapes Chapter 6, and finish Setting the Stage project for Friday (A Day only).

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up, share.  Go over vocabulary and grammar.  Vocab/Grammar/Grapes of Wrath quiz.  Discuss Chapter 6.  Three more "How you Came to be in California" brief presentations.  Debate prep for 5th and 6th, finishing debate for 1st and 2nd period. 

Due: Grapes Chapter 6 read.  "Setting the Stage" project due - for A Day only. 5th and 6th period B Day, Setting the Stage projects are due on Monday.
 
Homework:  Read Grapes Chapters 7-8.  (5th and 6th - finish "Setting the Stage".)