November 30 - December 4

It's December this week!

I'm excited to continue our argument unit - finishing the Grapes final essay this week, and beginning The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  The last three weeks of 2015 are going to be full of activities.

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Grapes outlines self check, gallery walk.  Work on making the outline the best it can possibly be.  Fallacy notes - 3 more with original examples from class teams.  Intro to issues in Huckleberry Finn - perceptions of race in modern-day America - watch short version of ABC News video "Bike Thief."  Next, watch discussion about modern, censored version of Huckleberry Finn without the use of the "n" word and how different classrooms approach the language of the novel.  Class discussion and guidelines for reading aloud in class.

Due: Grapes essay outline, fill in all lines of Argument Essay Outline format

Homework:
Begin writing out draft of essay. Keep your outline to turn in with your rough draft.

Study for vocab quiz which will contain these three newer fallacies.

WEDNESDAY: (1st and 2nd period only) Most of the class period will be spent in Junior Conferences Sessions about scheduling.  We will pick up Huckleberry Finn in the remaining 20 minutes of class.

Homework:  (1st and 2nd period only) Read the article "The Coddling of the American Mind" from the Atlantic for our current events discussion on Friday. Note how the authors craft their argument. What do you think?

THURSDAY: (5th and 6th only) The first hour will be spent in Junior Conferences.  You'll pick up Huckleberry Finn, warm-up and take the vocabulary quiz with fallacies during the final hour.

Due: n/a

Homework:
A. Read chapters 1-3 of Huckleberry Finn and answer the following questions on a sheet of paper for next class:

1. How does Huck show his age?  
2. How does he relate to the African American character Jim in these earliest chapters?  
3. How is the novel NOT politically correct?  Does this make it a little painful to read?

B. For Monday, December 6 - rough draft of Grapes essay, hard copy.

FRIDAY: (1st and 2nd period only) Journal warm-up.  Vocab quiz with fallacies.  Current event article, SOAPS, and discussion.

Due:  Atlantic article read (click here for link) 

Homework:
A. Read chapters 1-3 of Huckleberry Finn and answer the following questions on a sheet of paper for next class:

1. How does Huck show his age?  
2. How does he relate to the African American character Jim in these earliest chapters?  
3. How is the novel NOT politically correct?  Does this make it a little painful to read?

 
B. For Tuesday, December 7 - rough draft of Grapes essay, hard copy.