Welcome to English 3!

I'm Ms. Mogilefsky (also known as Ms. M).  I'm excited to work with you this year as we explore a variety of well-known books, short stories, nonfiction articles and essays that are an important part of the conversation about the nature of American life, past and present.

In this extremely interactive class, we will read American literature, as well as a wide range of nonfiction pieces – essays, memoirs, letters, speeches, articles about current events, literary criticism, and even Supreme Court opinions. You'll also read books and articles of your choice as you work on research-based pieces, independent reading, current events assignments, debates, and other activities.  Themes from classic texts will be read and discussed alongside related current events, and you'll have a lot of opportunities to express yourselves verbally and in writing.  

I know junior year can be stressful: SATs, ACTs, extracurriculars, CAASP testing, and thinking about life after high school. All of the activities we'll work on will help you succeed and I look forward to a productive and enjoyable year with you. 

What to Bring to Class (after the first day)
Please bring the following to class with you every day:

• 3-ring binder with the following section tabs: Current Unit, Vocab/Grammar, Reference, and Homework

• Plenty of paper, pens and pencils

• Current novel/readings

I don't mind eating or drinking in class as long as you clean up after yourself and it's not disruptive to other students or the class (please, no sharing food during class time).   

Cell phones: I have a cell phone station by the journal bins in the classroom. Please turn phones off and leave them in the station during class time.

Procedures/Routines
I believe that English is the most important subject at school (every teacher thinks that about their subject, and I am no exception)!  In English 3, we'll work on reading, writing, speaking and listening skills that will help you achieve your goals in every other class at PVHS, at university and/or on the job, and even in your personal life. Because there is such a wide variety of skills we'll practice, I like to set up routines so that students know what to expect from class. Here is the basic framework: 

Monday/Tuesday, 113 minutes: 
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers 
15 minutes practice this week's vocabulary and grammar
40 minutes: work on current novel -  reading, debates, skits, presentations, etc.
40 minutes: work on current writing unit - practice, read and evaluate drafts, learn new concepts
3 minutes go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions

(every other)Wednesday, 85 minutes:
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers
65 minutes Current Events - (read and annotate both sides of a current issue, discuss/debate, vote, various writing assignments, short and long , supporting your position)
5 minutes summarize which skills we practiced,  go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions
 
Thursday/Friday, 113 minutes: 
10 minutes journal time
5 minutes random sharing of journal answers 
15 minutes, approximately 15 question quiz covering this week's vocabulary, grammar, reading and other skills/current unit
80 minutes: work on current novel -  current writing assignment, debates, skits, presentations, etc.  
3 minutes: go over any homework, file papers away in notebook, answer questions

Additional Info

Novels
The longer novels/play we will explore together this year are:
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
The Crucible
The Great Gatsby
A Raisin in the Sun

We'll also work on a brief gender unit, a two-week fundamental Supreme Court case unit, and a science/nature unit where we'll read and discuss a variety of shorter articles, essays, and briefs about the topic. 

Journals
Composition books for journals will be provided. Each day, questions will be posted in the front of the room and students will write a response in the journal. Journals can be kept in the classroom and will be counted as an assignment for credit and checked at random intervals.  

Also...
Be sure to read The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls as well as the school-wide novel, Just Mercy (Young Adult Adaptation) and be ready to discuss your opinions about these books during the first week of school.

Curious browsers can check out the syllabus (on the right hand side bar of this blog).  Otherwise, we will cover it in class the first week. 

I look forward to a great year with the class of 2021. 
Have a spectacular rest-of-summer!

May 27 - 31

It's the last week before finals! The last day to turn in late work for partial credit is Friday, May 31. We've begun the final unit, the college essay or job title paper, which will be uploaded the day of the final.

 For the final assignment, which counts as the "final," please choose one of the following:

1. UC Prompts - you will need to write 4 of the 8 prompts when applying to a UC school. For this final, write 2 of them. (350 words max.)
2. Common Application Prompt - choose one (650 words max.)
3. Coalition Prompt - choose one (550 words max.)
4. Prompt that is specific to one of the colleges or universities you're applying to (see their website).
5. Job title paper.

MONDAY: No school, Memorial Day holiday.

TUESDAY/WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Work with the brainstorming sheet from last week to uncover topics, stories, character traits that would work well with the college essay prompts. Go through requirements for the final assignment (which counts as the final). Hear sample college essay and critique. Work time on Chromebooks.

Due: Come with a list of colleges/universities or a job title that you're interested in.

Homework: Match a story/character trait with a prompt or prompts or begin research on a job title of your choice.

Have journals ready to turn in next class. 

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Hear sample essays and critique. Go over strategies for writing the essays, especially if you're planning on eventually writing the UC prompts as well as Common App/Coalition. Work time on Chromebooks with individual help.

Due: Journals in bin in classroom by the end of the period.

Homework:  Continue work on drafts.

Also: here is a really long, but interesting article. There is some adult language included, but the perspective and message are thought-provoking and worth a read about how we make choices about career paths and life decisions.

May 20 - 24

Last week was more eventful than I planned. Thanks for your maturity and insight in the discussions we had. I'm looking forward to a less disappointing and more productive, happy week ahead.

We'll wrap up the Food Essays and begin the final unit of the year: college essays (or job title papers). 

NOTE: Last day to turn in make-up work for partial credit: Friday, May 31!


MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Go over final checklists for Food Essays. Time to complete a "polish" on Chromebooks in class, with individual help. Please upload the essay to Turnitin.com once you're finished. Due dates are below.

Due: Continue working on drafts of Food Essay.

Homework: Please upload your Food Essay to Turnitin.com: 

4th period: by Monday, May 20 at 11:59 p.m.

1st and 3rd period: by Tuesday, May 21 at 11:59 p.m.

6th period: by Wednesday, May 22 at 11:59 p.m. 

Be sure to hit "Confirm" and receive an e-mail confirmation that the Turnitin.com submission went through.  I don't need a paper copy.

Please think about a few colleges or universities you may want to apply to next year, or a job title that you'd like to research. Have these ready for next class.

Study for Vocab #20 quiz on Thursday/Friday.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. "Speed-dating" exercise to fill out Brainstorming Sheets.
 

Due:

4th period: by Monday, May 20 at 11:59 p.m.

6th period: by Wednesday, May 22 at 11:59 p.m. 

Be sure to hit "Confirm" and receive an e-mail confirmation that the Turnitin.com submission went through.  I don't need a paper copy.

Homework: Please think about a few colleges or universities you may want to apply to next year, or a job title that you'd like to research. Have these ready for next class.

Study for Vocab #20 quiz on Thursday/Friday.

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Vocab #20 quiz. "Speed-dating" exercise to fill out Brainstorming Sheets.


Due: 1st and 3rd period: by Tuesday, May 21 at 11:59 p.m.  Be sure to hit "Confirm" and receive an e-mail confirmation that the Turnitin.com submission went through.  I don't need a paper copy. 

Homework: Think about your answers and how they might match up with your own unique strengths and personality, as well as any "holes" in your overall application.
 
FRIDAY (minimum day): Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocabulary #20. 

Due: Brainstorming sheet, filled out.

Homework: Think about your answers on the Brainstorming Sheet and how they might match up with your own unique strengths and personality, as well as any "holes" in your overall application.

No school on Monday for 

Memorial Day Weekend.

Enjoy the three-day holiday!

May 13 - 17

It's the last full week of school (all of the following weeks are shortened). We'll work on the Foods Essay, finish Walden, and take the Walden quiz.

UPDATE/NOTE: Since I was out at the end of last week, I pushed the Walden quiz to this week, and Vocab Quiz #20 to the end of next week. Sorry for any confusion.

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Continue listening to Walden. Open note/Nature Packet quiz covering Walden vocabulary words. Go over sample Foods Essay drafts.

Due: Full rough draft of Foods Essay.

Homework: Continue work on your rough draft. 

WEDNESDAY (1st and 3rd period only): Special College and Career Center Presentation: "From Stress to Success : Finding Great College Matches and How to Pay for Them". Vocab Story Rounds.

Due:n/a

Homework: Continue work on your rough draft. 

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Sources - how to incorporate them, cite them, finding credible sources. Time to work on final drafts of Foods Essay on Chromebooks with individual help. 
 

Due: have rough draft accessible. 

Homework: Continue to work on final draft of Foods essay, due Monday/Tuesday night. (There will be some time in class on Monday/Tuesday to do a final proofread.)