March 27 - 31

It's the last week before Spring Break!  We will have an introduction to the final style of essay that we'll master this year: the synthesis essay.  Many of you are taking the ACT on April 8, and this is the same style of essay you'll write for that exam.

MONDAY: Journal warm-up.  Pass back ACT-style reading comprehension sheet and grade together as a class.  Discuss multiple choice strategies.  Pass back argument essay and and provide feedback.  If you don't like your score, you may revise the essay, upload it to Turnitin.com, and I will average the scores.  Intro to the Synthesis-style essay (ACT-style).  Discuss the four articles you read, annotated, and performed SOAPS analyses for over the weekend.  Step-by-step individually and in groups, discuss and debate the issue.   Work in groups to outline a synthesis-style response.

Due:  Read, annotate, and perform a "SOAPS" analysis of the four articles with differing perspectives on whether or not college athletes should be paid.  This will be our current event for this week, and we will perform a rhetorical analysis (SAT-style) on the arguments, as well as a "synthesis/ACT-style" response in small groups. Come to class with your annotated articles, an informed opinion, and a list of factors that should be considered in the decision.

Homework: Read Gatsby, Chapter 4.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Check in with Gatsby, discuss Chapters 3 and 4.  Begin reading and acting out Chapter 5 in class.  Gatsby Character Song - hear what classmates chose for one of the characters.

Due: Read Gatsby, Chapter 4.

Homework: Finish reading Chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby.

FRIDAY: (minimum day) Journal warm-up, vocab activity.  Quiz covering Vocabulary List #19, grammar, and Gatsby reading.  Gatsby Character Songs.

Due: Finish reading Chapter 5 of The Great Gatsby.

Homework: Please read Chapters 6 and 7 of The Great Gatsby.  Think about which part you'd like to act out, especially during the big confrontation that happens in Chapter 7 between Tom and Gatsby.

Have a spectacular Spring Break!
I look forward to seeing everyone in April.

March 20-24

Welcome!  Sadly, this is a short week for us and we only get to meet twice.  We will continue with Gatsby and developing essay-writing skills at the same time, with a focus on conclusions this week.   Here's what's on the agenda for the week:

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Writing conclusions - PPT with suggestions and then rewrite sample conclusions in pairs, share with the class.  Discuss Chapter 2 of Gatsby and begin reading Chapter 3.  Compare/contrast exercise with the description of a Gatsby party from the book. 

Due: Read Gatsby, Chapter 2 and be ready to discuss what else we learn about Tom Buchanan. 

Homework:  Please read Chapter 3 of Gatsby for Thursday.  Note how Fitzgerald describes Nick's first encounter with Jay Gatsby at his party.

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  Quiz covering vocabulary, grammar, and Gatsby reading.  Begin reading articles that we'll use for the basis of our current event debate/discussion next week.  Listen to class choices for Gatsby character songs.

Due: Please read Chapter 3 of Gatsby.  Note how Fitzgerald describes Nick's first encounter with Jay Gatsby at his party.

Homework: Read, annotate, and perform a "SOAPS" analysis of the four articles with differing perspectives on whether or not college athletes should be paid.  This will be our current event for next week, and we will perform a rhetorical analysis (SAT-style) on the arguments, as well as a "synthesis/ACT-style" response in small groups. Come to class with your annotated articles, an informed opinion, and a list of factors that should be considered in the decision. 

March 13-17

This week, we'll begin The Great Gatsby!  It's a wonderful book to read and enjoy in the (early?) spring.  I'm looking forward to reading it with you.

MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Introduction to the world of The Great Gatsby. Pick up the book from the library.  Begin reading and acting out Chapter 1.  Describe Gatsby Song Assignment.

Due: n/a

Homework: For Friday:
Finish reading Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby.
Complete the Gatsby Song Assignment and be ready to share with the class on Friday. 


WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up.Synthesis/ACT style practice essay outline and Reading comprehension practice.  If you were in class, this was collected at the end of the period.  If you missed Wednesday, please complete these and turn them in with the note "Absent" at the top for credit. 

Due: Synthesis/ACT style practice essay outline, in-class activity on Wednesday, March 15  

Reading comprehension practice, in-class activity on Wednesday, March 15

Homework:  For Friday:
Finish reading Chapter One of The Great Gatsby.
Complete the Gatsby Song Assignment and be ready to share with the class on Friday.

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up.  Quiz covering vocab, grammar, and Gatsby reading.  Share song assignments and vote for a song to represent each character.  Begin reading and acting out Chapter Two of Gatsby.  After reading, view 3 different interpretations of the introduction of Myrtle and discuss which is the most true to the text and/or best.

Due:
Finish reading Chapter One of The Great Gatsby.
Complete the Gatsby Song Assignment and be ready to share with the class on Friday.

Homework:  Read The Great Gatsby, through the end of Chapter 3.  Note the description of Gatsby, his mansion, and his party.

March 6 - 10

This week, we'll practice reading and interpreting legal documents and language, as well as getting familiar with landmark Supreme Court cases that affect many areas of American life (and make great evidence/examples for essays). 

Students will work in groups, but still have their own individual writing assignments.  (Please see the Supreme Court Project document for details.) 

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Overview of Supreme Court Project.  Divide into groups, choose cases.  Work with your group on laptops to research and discuss your case, and your individual written assignment in class. 

Due: read through Supreme Court case summary page.

Homework: Finish typing up  your individual portion of the written Supreme Court case project. Bring a hard copy of the final draft, either neatly written or typed, to class on Thursday.

 

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  Supreme Court Case group presentations.  Turn in hard copy of individual written Supreme Court assignment.  Take notes on other presentations.  Take open-note quiz about the cases afterwards.  Receive a copy of Vocabulary List #17 for next week's quiz.

Due: Hard copy (paper copy) of the final draft of the Supreme Court Project, either neatly written or typed, to class on Friday.

Homework: Study vocab #17 for next week's quiz.