English Class Online

Quotable Quotes: Sophomore Weekend Homework

2009-05-28T18:28:00.001-07:00

Post your quotable quotes by adding a comment to this post. Please leave your first name and last initial so I know who visited here.

Sophomores!

2009-05-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Please read the short story "On The Rainy River" through page 630 for class tomorrow. You should consider the folllowing questions:

Why does the narrator object to being drafted into the Vietnam War (versus any other war)?
What is the conflict that we see begin to emerge as we complete reading page 630? How does this create rising action in the diagram of the plot?

Turnitin.com Tutorial for Period 2

2009-05-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

Getting started with turnitin.com is simple.

Write down our class ID and password. You'll need it to create an account (along with a valid e-mail address).

Class ID: 2305994
Password: classof2012

This link should work. If it does not, go to www.turnitin.com and follow the directions for setting up a new student account.

Once you have joined our class, you will see an assignment for "Things Fall Apart." This is where you will either upload your essay or copy and paste it into an upload form (do this only if Turnitin.com does not support your word processor).

This video was designed to help you get started. Watch it with a parent at home if you need help.

Good luck! I look forward to reading your essays online! What a great way to save paper :)

For English 9H

2009-05-15T07:19:00.000-07:00

MENU of Writing Topics for Things Fall Apart English 9H

Choice 1: Author Edgar Wallace once said, “Fear is a tyrant and a despot, more terrible than the rack, more potent than the snake.” Fear is pervasive throughout the novel. How does fear affect the actions of Okonkwo? Of Nwoye? How does fear influence Okonkwo's relationship with others?

Choice 2: How does the plot in Things Fall Apart follow the conventions of the Western tragedy, such as when major actions of the protagonist or hero create disastrous outcomes? Is Okonkwo a tragic hero? Compare Okonkwo with Oedipus, who is punished for the inadvertent murder of his father. How do they attempt to escape their fate? What are the tragic flaws that cause their downfalls? How do they evoke both pity and fear?

Choice 3: In an interview shortly after the publication of Things Fall Apart, Achebe stated that his goal for writing the novel was: " ...to help my society regain belief in itself and put away the complexes of the denigration and self-abasement." Explain how he did or did not meet his goal.

Choice 4: Achebe's novel takes its title from the opening verses of "The Second Coming", a poem --by W.B. Yeat's s, an Irish poet, essayist and dramatist.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot bear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood--dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction,

while the worst Are full of passionate intensity

This poem captures Yeat's sense of the crumbling of the civilization of his time. How well does it contribute to our understanding of the historical moment Achebe describes in his novel? What aspects of Igbo tradition are "falling apart and what contributes to the disintegration of the society? Is the movement progressive (proceeding step-by-step)--or sudden? At what point in the novel does it occur to you that the disintegration of Umuofia is inevitable?

Choice 5: Develop your own writing assignment for Things Fall Apart. Your topic should include some element of critical thinking that requires you to formulate a thesis statement and defend it using details, facts, and examples from the text. SEE ME if you wish to choose this option, as your topic must be approved before you begin.

Tips for Personal Narrative Project

2009-05-01T04:40:00.000-07:00

Check the next post for next week's Kite Runner study guide...

Click here to see a rubric.***

A personal narrative is an account of something that happened to you, something that you witnessed, or something that you heard about firsthand. Newspapers and magazines often print personal narratives about people who survived a natural disaster or witnessed an accident or a public event. Personal narratives can also be about ordinary experiences.

Your narrative should be submitted to turnitin.com no later than Monday, May 4th at 9pm.

If you need to make a new turnitin.com account, our class id is 2470888. The password is "proverbs"

You should have received an e-mail from noreply@turnitin.com today confirming your e-mail address. Please check the e-mail that you used to sign up for the service. See me immediately if there are problems. I will not accept hard copies of this essay.

The importance of employing good dialogue and quotations in your writing cannot be overstated. Using the spoken word in the context of your news story, magazine article, nonfiction book or fiction novel is certain to add flavor to your manuscript -- provided you use these quotes correctly.

PUNCTUATING QUOTES

Quotes are effective tools for adding flavor to your writing by defining the character or speaker, conveying information in a colorful manner, setting the mood and scene, and breaking up large chunks of narrative. But many writers, both novice and professional, sometimes have difficulty in knowing how and when to use quotes.

Let's look at three basic sentence skeletons for punctuating quotes:

· "Let's go," he said.
· "Let's go," he said, "before it rains."
· He said, "Let's go before it rains."

Notice the placement of the opening quote marks and the closing quote marks. Also check the capitalization and the use of the period and comma. All of these examples are correct.

In punctuating quotes, periods and commas always go inside the closing quotes as in the above examples. Colons always go outside the closing quotes. Other punctuation marks, such as the dash, semicolon, question mark or exclamation mark, all go within quotes when they apply ONLY to the quoted material. They go outside the quotes when they apply to the entire sentence.

For quotes within direct quotations, use single quotation marks. For example:

· "I saw the movie 'Twister' last night," she said.

Quotes that are longer than one paragraph don't take closing quotes until the end of the entire quote. Each new paragraph starts with opening quotes, but does not end with closing quotes. Also remember that long quotes should start with the name of the speaker or source, and that attribution need not be repeated until the speaker has changed.

COMMON PITFALLS IN USING QUOTES

Most readers don't even see the word "said" when reading effective dialogue, and many times "said" is the best choice. Don't try to find an alternate word if "said" will do. WHAT is said is far more important. If you have written a good exchange of dialogue, the reader will KNOW just how it was said. You needn't be redundant. Many times tags are not necessary and can distract readers from well-written dialogue.

Another common mistake is knowing how to use a dialogue tag. For example:

· "You look beautiful tonight," he smiled.
· "I sure am tired," he yawned.
· "I've have a cold for over a week," he coughed.
· "Please get me a glass of water," he hiccuped.

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I find it very hard to smile a quote, yawn a quote, cough a quote, or hiccup a quote. In each of these sentences, the "he" should be "He" and a period should replace each comma before the closing quotes.

· "You look beautiful tonight." He smiled.
· "I sure am tired." He yawned.

It is correct to write "You look beautiful tonight," he said with a smile.

Many writers of fiction and nonfiction are often guilty of "echoes": quotes that repeat what has previously been stated in the narrative. For example:

· Johnson has been recovering from a pulled back muscle.
· "I pulled a back muscle, but I'm recovering," Johnson said.
Usually echoes are not quite this obvious, but be wary of them.

What you need to remember about writing quotes:

Fiction writers routinely employ dialogue to relay important information. This is a fine example of showing rather than telling.

However, caution should be used in writing fiction dialogue, too. If the dialogue does not advance the plot, set the mood or define the characters, the writer should reconsider its value.

No matter what kind of material you are writing, each speaker gets his or her own paragraph. In reporting, make certain the attribution is given at the beginning of the sentence to signal a change of speaker. This technique avoids confusing the reader.

The Kite Runner Study Guide

2009-05-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

Here are the study guide questions for chapters 11-12 (due Monday)

1. Amir opens Chapter 11 with the acknowledgement that Baba liked the idea of living in America, but what was it about actually living in the US that bothered him?
2. Why does Baba get upset with Mr. Nguyen? What does Amir do to try and intervene?
3. What happened to Amir in the summer of 1983? How did Baba react to this?
4. What gift did Baba give Amir as Amir was preparing to start college?
5. What is Baba’s reaction when Amir tells him that he wants to be an English major and write stories?
6. What “work” did Baba and Amir begin in the summer of 1984? Who does Amir meet as a result?
7. What does Baba warn Amir about on page 145?
8. What seems to be occurring between Amir and Soraya Taheri in Chapter 12? What obstacles do they face?
9. What bad news does the doctor give Baba?
10. What problem did Baba have with Dr. Schneider?
11. What does Amir ask of his father on page 161?
12. What was the General’s response?
13. What is the secret that Soraya needed to share with Amir? Why did she think it was important?
14. How does Hassan react to her secret? Does he think any less of her as a result?

Analyzing Quotes from the Qur'an

2009-04-27T05:49:00.000-07:00

Attention Sophomores:

Many versions of the Qur'an can be found in print or online. The USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts Web site (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/) has an indexed and searchable version of the Qur'an that can be used as a source for your homework.

Remember, you're looking for quotes that explain the Islamic view of:

The Power of God (Allah)
The right way to live
Charity
Other religions
Gender roles
Family values

You may use some of the following verses to help you:

3:95 4:3 4:23

4:24 4:129 4:172

4:173 5:5 5:72

5:73 16:97 24:2-10

24:31 24:32 25:74

30:21 33:35 33:40

33:59

9H: I know you're waiting for it...

2009-04-04T06:41:00.001-07:00

An extra credit assignment for quarter 3 will be posted soon.

Enjoy your break!

"Spring Ahead" Weekend!

2009-03-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

DON'T FORGET TO TURN YOUR CLOCKS AHEAD ONE HOUR ON SATURDAY NIGHT!

Sophomores: We started reading Act V, scene 1 in class today. When the play is over, we will have a quiz on Acts IV and V.

Freshmen: Here are the notes from today's class. We used Theodore Roethke's My Papa's Waltz as our sample poem to read and explicate.

COMPLETE EXPLICATION OF A POEM

To explicate a poem means to clarify it, illuminate it, expose information about it, explain it, and reveal meaning about it.

Step #1: Read the Title of the Poem
The title is a big clue as to what the poet wants you to give your attention.

Step #2: Get an Overall First Impression
Read the poem through once and think about the overall feelings, emotions or gut response that you are experiencing. Write down the overall tone of the poem and, if possible, a brief summary which states what you think the poem is about.

Step #3: Examine the Words
Look up any whose literal meaning you are not absolutely sure of or consider looking up words that may possibly have any connotative meanings. Be sure to look out for words you think you may know because they are used commonly in our language, but might have other meanings (these are the words where symbolism may lie). Find the dictionary meaning of these words for clarification.

Step #4: Translate the Poem on a Literal Level
What does the poem seem to be about in its literal, or actual, meaning?

Step #5: Translate the Poem on a Symbolic Level
First, read through the poem again replacing your circled words with their actual and alternate definitions. Ask yourself if the poem seems to make more sense now, if there is any symbolism that you may have missed before that is now apparent, and if there is any pattern in word usage.

Now look at how the overtones of the words used affect the feeling level of the poem. This may reveal an even deeper level of understanding of the poem’s meaning.

Step #6: Apply the Author’s Biography to the Poem’s Meaning
Although this step may not always suit the poem, looking at the author’s biography or historical context of the poem’s origin may add a deeper understanding as to what message the author was trying to convey. Apply what you know about the author’s background, beliefs, or life history and the date that the poem was written to see if there are any connections relating to its theme or topic. note: A Roethke biography appears in the textbook a few pages after the poem itself.

updates for all the traveling students

2009-03-05T17:27:00.000-08:00

It seems as if a lot of people have been out of class this week because of various school activities. I hope that everyone is doing well (especially DECA, Damn Yankees, and Kickline nationals)! Here is what you've been missing in English class.

9th Grade: We just started a poetry unit that includes writing an original poem modeled after George Ella Lyon's "Where I'm From." Today in class we started our mini-author study on Edgar Allan Poe, reading his biography and the poem Annabel Lee.

10th Grade: So far we've read up to the end of Act IV in Julius Caesar. Expect another short test when the play is completed. Tonight's homework was to complete study guide questions on page 777 of the text: 2-6, 8.

Questions for 9H Book Review (due Wed 3/4)

2009-02-27T09:48:00.000-08:00

Evaluate the author's descriptive abilities. Which settings are you best able to picture in your own mind?

Comment about the characterization in your novel. What makes the characters so memorable?

Does the story keep you guessing? What are some of the most suspenseful moments?

What do you think is the main theme? How does the author develop the idea?

Julius Caesar Test Acts I-III

2009-02-26T08:03:00.000-08:00

There will be a full-period test on Julius Caesar Acts I-III tomorrow in class. Here are the review sheet questions:

1. Why does Brutus decide to join the conspiracy against Caesar?
2. What does Brutus decide might happen to Caesar once he is crowned?
3. How does Decius convince Caesar that he should go to the Senate on March 15th?
4. Why does Caesar call out, "Et tu, Brute?" as Brutus stabs him?
5. When Marc Antony arrives to the Senate to speak to the conspirators, what two things does he ask of them?

How to get to the Manners Wiki

2009-02-23T05:29:00.000-08:00

Attention 9th grade:

http://hmanners.wikispaces.com

Please request membership if you have not already done so.

For sophomores only

2009-02-04T20:26:00.000-08:00

Here is the link to the online survey:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=patEmRiCGZlpLz1f5GtY6Dw

Inquiry Circles Feedback

Please take a moment to respond to the following questions about this quarter's research assignment. Your feedback will help me and my colleagues teach the Research Paper unit in the future.

* Required

Name *

Did your group work well together? * By working well together, I mean that your group agreed on a common topic, shared responsibilities, and made good use of class time

	1	2	3	4	5
Not At All						Extremely Well

Which of the following forms of technology did you find most useful? * Check all that apply

Evaluate your group experience If you have any concerns about the work of group members, please express them here. All answers are kept confidential

In the future, would you rather *

Please add any additional comments here

Great Expectations for 9H

2009-01-16T07:08:00.000-08:00

Please read through chapter 14 for homework this weekend.

Answer these questions for homework:
1. At this point in the novel, with which character do you most identify? Why? Do you have something in common with the character? Have you shared similar thoughts or reactions?
2. Why is Pip sent to the home of Miss Havisham? How does Pip feel after he leaves, and
why does he decide to lie about his experiences there?
3. If you could sample a life completely different from your own, what kind of life would you choose? Why? In what way is this life different from your own. Why does it interest you?

Notes:

Satire is literature that uses humor or sarcasm to ridicule human vices or follies. Dickens was interested in social reform, and passages of the novel often reflect his feelings toward people and institutions in nineteenth-century English society. Dickens’s satire emerges in his colorful descriptions of characters,places, and events.

In his fiction, Dickens combines humor, sentimentality, and elements of the grotesque—a type of literature in which characters’ outstanding physical or personality traits are exaggerated for comic or dramatic effect.

Vocabulary:
capricious adj. unpredictable; inconsistent
conciliatory adj. intended to restore harmony or goodwill
felicitous adj. happy
imprecations n. curses
penitent n. person who repents sin under the direction of a religious confessor
perspicuity n. clearness
remonstrance n. criticism
trifle n. small amount
clemency n. mercy; forgiveness
disconcerted adj. confused
latent adj. hidden; undeveloped
malignant adj. evil; bitter

Announcements

2009-01-05T10:43:00.001-08:00

Hello, and Happy New Year!

English 9: Your Romeo & Juliet critical lens essay is due Friday, January 9th. I have reserved the Library computer lab on February 7th for your use. Please plan to bring some sort of removable media (a thumb drive or similar) to class so that you may carry your work back and forth with you. If you prefer, you may also use Google Docs or something similar.

English 10: Please continue to check the class wiki for important information for the research paper project.

Holiday Break Message

2008-12-23T11:58:00.000-08:00

Wishing you and your families a very Happy Hanukkah, a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year (and everything in between this Holiday season!) Be safe and have a great 2009!

Extra Credit Opportunity

2008-12-15T10:51:00.000-08:00

Contribute a book to the National English Honor Society book drive and get a "free A" quiz grade for the second quarter. Donations are due in E 202 by December 23rd. New and gently used books are acceptable!

9H Tanzania Pen Pals

2008-12-11T10:36:00.000-08:00

Attention 9H:

If you missed class the yesterday (12/10), you missed a short video about Opportunity Education. You can view the video on the organization's webpage if you'd like. We are partnered with the St. Anne School in Tanzania. Please write a letter to a student and bring it to me in class before next Friday. Your letter should be brief - but be sure to provide little details such as your name, where you live, what you like to do in school, and your hobbies & interests. It should not be addressed to anyone specific.

Please see me if you have questions.

Updates

2008-12-09T16:24:00.001-08:00

Grade 9: By now you should have completed reading Romeo & Juliet Act III Scene ii. We will continue reading on Thursday when everyone returns to class after the Multi-Faith Forum.

Grade 10: This is the Wiki that was created for as a demonstration model for our research project. Check it often to see if there are any updates.

Attention 10th Grade

2008-12-07T17:11:00.000-08:00

Thank you to those students who submitted their Lord of the Flies expository paragraph on turnitin.com. I have started downloading them to grade and re-send, so keep an eye on your e-mail inbox this week to ensure they come your way.

We will be spending a lot of time working in the computer lab this month. It may be helpful for you to start using Google Documents or an ISB media drive to take work back and forth with you.

Stay tuned to this blog for additional project details and helpful links.

Your group name and topic is due WEDNESDAY, DEC 10th
Your Wiki must be created by FRIDAY, DEC 12th

Happy Researching!

Greetings from San Antonio

2008-11-19T18:56:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone! Hopefully the next few days will go smoothly. Sophomores will be watching the Lord of the Flies movie in class, and Freshmen will be finishing Act I of Romeo & Juliet in the textbook. I will be updating LiveJournal from the convention in case anyone is interested in checking for updates. I will be holding a special office hours session on Monday after school as well as Tuesday. Please come and see me for extra help or if you have any questions about your first quarter grade.

Sophomores: please DO NOT return your copy of Lord of the Flies just yet. We have a short writing assignment to complete next week, and you will need your book to find quotes and other D/F/E from the text.

If you need to take a make-up test for Lord of the Flies, please plan to do it before we leave for Thanksgiving break.

Enjoy the last two days of the week!

Announcement:Office Hours

2008-11-13T13:55:00.000-08:00

I will be holding an abbreviated Office Hours schedule tomorrow (11/14) from 2-2:15 only, as I must leave early to attend funeral services in Connecticut.

I have an English Department Meeting at High School East Tuesday, 11/18. In place of Office Hours on this day, I will stay after both Monday 11/17 and Wednesday 11/18.

I'm also generally available 7th and 9th period.

I'm sorry for any inconvenience that this schedule adjustment might cause you.

Note about papers: If you'd like to see me about an essay, please be sure to bring in the printed copy of the corrections/grade essay that I mailed back to you. Please be sure that the comments in the margin print out as well.

Homework Clarification for 10th grade

2008-11-07T15:07:00.000-08:00

Please continue to follow the green schedule - read chapters 7 & 8 for Monday.

Don't worry about study guide questions. There will be a quick quiz on Chapter 7 Monday. We will discuss Chapter 8 questions in class.

Pass the word along about the quiz- and have a great weekend!

Lord of the Flies Review Ch. 1-6

2008-11-05T11:04:00.000-08:00

Tip: You will not need to create a Frayer Model for tomorrow's test, but you WILL need to know antonyms!

____awesome: inspiring a mixed feeling of fear and wonder; dreadful A:_____________
____intimidated: to be made timid or afraid; threatened A:______________
____demoniac: possessed or influenced by a demon; fiendish A:______________
____oppressive: hard to put up with; overbearing A:______________
____diffident: lacking confidence in oneself; shy A:______________
____malevolent: wishing evil or harm to others; spiteful A:______________
____embroiled: confused or mixed up; entangled A:______________
____derisive: showing contempt or scorn; ridiculing A:______________
____impervious: not affected or influenced by; resistant A:______________
____inarticulate: unable to speak clearly; not expressive A:______________
____daunting: making afraid; discourage A:______________
____indignant: feeling or expressing anger or scorn; enraged A:______________
____furtive: done in a sly manner; sneaky A:______________
____ludicrous: causing laughter because of absurdity; ridiculous A:______________
____truculent: cruel or savage; ferocious A:______________

1. What is Jack’s biggest priority?
Jack seems to be really focused on hunting, whereas Ralph thinks that keeping the fire lit and trying to get rescued is more important. As well, Jack thinks that the boys should be allowed to have fun while they are on the island, but Ralph thinks that fun is secondary to fulfilling responsibilities (like keeping the fire lit and building shelters to keep them safe).

2. Explain the attitude and the behavior of the littluns.
They don't really care about much, nor do they fully understand the seriousness of their situation. They're just interested in having fun.

3. Explain some of the conflicts that Piggy and Jack face with each other.
Piggy does not agree with Jack most of the time. Jack bullies Piggy.

4. How does Jack's attack on Piggy and the breaking of one of the lenses in his spectacles symbolize the degeneration of the group?
If Piggy's glasses are a symbol of wisdom, intelligence, and resourcefulness... then we can only assume that breaking them is a symbol of how all of these things are destroyed.

Close Reading is a method in which you read a small section of text closely and pay close attention to what is written, either in order to observe striking features or the "beauty" of the language, or in order to understand exactly WHAT is being said. An example of close reading is the attention that we paid to the beginning of Chapter 3 in class Monday.

For tomorrow's test, I suggest you read the following passages closely:

86-87 (midway) Percival is a littleun who is scared. When the kids start chanting "What's your name?" over and over again - he recites his full name and gives his address. He stalls with reciting his telephone number... maybe he forgot it? Regardless - think about the significance of this moment. Why would a scared little kid recite his full name, address, and telephone number?

95-96 What was the message from the grown-up world?

60-62 Roger is watching Henry, a littleun, play near the shore. He starts throwing rocks, but does not HIT Henry with any. He thinks of how there is some element of the "old life" there that prevents him from actually hurting Henry. Do the best you can to understand the significance of this.

English 9H - prepping for The Odyssey Exam

2008-11-01T12:53:00.000-07:00

Hello, all!

I said that I would post some study information here. Sorry it took me so long to do it!

Please review the study guide questions on the handout you received in class. As well, study the key terms and people on the review sheet. You should have some notes in the literature section of your notebook that define terms such as epithet, epic hero, and epic simile - review those and know how to spot them when you see them!

The test is mostly multiple choice with a few fill-in-the-blank and a short (1 paragraph) essay question.

Enjoy the weekend! As well, if you have a little free time on your hands...check this out: http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Extra Credit for 10th grade

2008-10-29T11:36:00.000-07:00

Period 1: National Security
Period 4: Taxes
Period 6: A topic of your choice.

Please submit a short (1 page) written reflection to Turnitin.com by 5pm on Friday 10/31. Some prompts are listed below to guide you.

What was the main point of the initial presentation about "Why are we here?"
What was one question posed during the debate you saw? Why do you think this is an important issue?
Which side handled the questions better, in your opinion? McCain or Obama.
If you had the opportunity to ask a question, what would you have asked?

If you have already signed up for turnitin and submitted your Inherit the Wind essay to me, the information below is NOT for you:

If you have not signed up for a turnitin.com account, you MUST do so. All you need is a valid e-mail address, the class ID, and the enrollment password.

Class ID: 2470888
Enrollment password: proverbs

I will NOT submit handwritten work. If you have trouble signing up for an account, see me in class on Friday.

A Writing Contest:

2008-10-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Fine Arts and Essay Display

New York State schools are invited to submit student artwork based on Dr. King's Six Principles of Nonviolence and essays on celebrating his birthday throughout the year. The categories are writing, painting, drawing, sculpting and photography. All entries must be postmarked by December 5, 2008 and will be placed on display for viewing one week prior to the King Holiday January 19, 2009 in Albany, New York. This event is co-sponsored by the New York State Education Department and the NYS Office of General Services.

For more information visit:
http://www.oms.nysed.gov/hr/MLK08Arts_EssayMemo.html, and http://www.oms.nysed.gov/hr/2009mlk.pdf (pdf), http://www.oms.nysed.gov/hr/2009mlk.htm (html

2008-10-22T11:36:00.000-07:00

Freshmen: Read Books 13-18 online. Complete Frayer Models for 5 vocabulary words of your choice.

Sophomores: tips for your essay

A thesis statement is the main idea of an essay. The thesis statement makes a general statement about the essay's topic a little more specific. The thesis is usually one or two sentences long, and it's always a statement, not a question. The thesis statement may be a concise and general summary of the main points of the essay, or it may be the logical conclusion to the argument made in the essay.

THE REVISION PROCESS – HAVING A WRITING CONFERENCE WITH YOURSELF

Read your draft to yourself, at least once but probably several times. The best writers spend a lot of time reading over and thinking about what they have written.
Your next job is to make some decisions about what’s down there in that paper: the weaknesses of the piece – the parts that need more work – and its strengths – those parts that work so well you want to do more with them. In other words, your next job is to have a writing conference with yourself.

A writer’s biggest question is always, “What is it I’m trying to say here?” The questions below may help you find and shape what you’re trying to say.

QUESTIONS ABOUT INFORMATION

1. Have I completely answered the question asked of me? (Take apart the essay question and take a look!)
2. Does my introduction follow the correct format?
3. Does my thesis statement clearly show the reader what my paper will be about? If not, how can I change it?
4. Have I shown (not told) by using examples? Do I cite my examples correctly?
5. Is there any part that might confuse a reader? Have I explained each part well enough that a reader will know what I mean?
6. Do I have too much information? What parts aren’t needed – don’t add to my point or story? Can I delete them?

QUESTIONS ABOUT QUALITY

1. Generally – my essay should be free from opinions. Do I include words such as “I think, I believe, etc.?”
2. Each body paragraph should contain a new argument – are these arguments strong? Do I have a solid case here or does it sound like I’m just straining for information?
3. Do I use proper sentence structure or are my paragraphs littered with sentence fragments?
4. What don’t I like? Chances are if I don’t feel comfortable with a certain aspect of my writing, it needs to be changed.

HELPFUL TIPS

1. Be sure to properly cite quotes. Here is an example of how to do so …

“They didn’t give us anything…they said that if we were ill we should die soon anyway and it would be a pity to waste the food” (Wiesel 102).

· Notice how the author's last name and the page number are listed in parenthesis with a period after the parenthesis!

2. Avoid juvenile language such as the following:
· (introduction) In my paper I will discuss…
· (conclusion) This was my essay about…

Sophomores: Check out the links for essay choice #2

2008-10-21T09:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2005/2005_04_1084/
Gonzales v. O Centro Espirita Beneficiente Uniao Do Vegetal - 2006

http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2001/2001_00_1737/
Watchtower Bible & Tract Society of New York v. Village of Stratton - 2002

http://www.oyez.org/cases/1990-1999/1991/1991_90_1014/
Lee v. Weisman - 1992

http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2004/2004_03_1693/
McCreary County v. ACLU - 2005

http://www.oyez.org/cases/1990-1999/1999/1999_99_62/
Santa Fe Independent School Dist. v. Doe - 2000

http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2004/2004_03_1500/
Van Orden v. Perry - 2005

2008-10-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Sophomores:

You may access today's PowerPoint presentation by visiting the link below:

http://briefcase.yahoo.com/msdonnellyenglish

2008-10-16T15:41:00.000-07:00

Freshmen:
1. Why does Odysseus offer the Cyclops the liquor he brought from the ship?
2. What might Odysseus be planning (lines 274-275)
3. What do the other Cyclopes assume to be the source of Polyphemus’ pain?
4. Why do you think he reveals so much about himself (lines 415-419)
5. Read page 914 & answer questions 3 & 4

Sophomores: There is no homework tonight, however, you should be engaging in the pre-writing process for your unit essay.

2008-10-15T05:46:00.000-07:00

Freshmen: Tomorrow's quiz will cover Books 1-8 of The Odyssey, with a little snippit of Book 9 that we discussed in class.

Read Book 9 (pgs. 896 – 903 line 210)
Answer:
1. How are the Lotus Eaters a threat to Odysseus and his men?
2. Why doesn’t Odysseus respect the Cyclopes?
3. What does Odysseus’ metaphor imply about the Cyclops?
4. Why does Odysseus refuse his men’s “sound” request?
5. What is the Cyclops’ attitude toward the gods?
6. Why do you think Odysseus lies about his ship?Why doesn’t Odysseus kill the Cyclops at this time?

Sophomores: There will be a test on Acts II and III of Inherit the Wind and the related vocabulary TOMORROW!

2008-10-14T12:37:00.000-07:00

Freshmen: click http://www.mythweb.com/ for access to the online version of The Odyssey. Click through the link labled "Heroes" and look for "Odysseus." Remember to read the detailed version.

Sophomores: There will be an Inherit the Wind test on Thursday.

Happy Monday/Wednesday!

2008-10-06T10:57:00.000-07:00

9th grade: There is no formal homework tonight. We will continue reading the excerpt from "The Iliad" in class tomorrow.

10th grade: Please complete questions #6 & 7 from the study guide. Find an example of ABOMINATION in the Bible for extra credit (look online on a search engine). Bring it to class & make sure you cite your source!

2008-10-03T09:08:00.001-07:00

9th grade: You do not have any "formal" homework tonight, but I encourage you to preview the excerpt of The Iliad that you recieved in class today.

10th grade: Please complete the blue Act II and Act III study guide up to question 6 for Act II Scene 2.

Have a safe and happy weekend!

Happy Mid-Week Break

2008-09-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

9th Grade: Prepare for a quiz on Thursday. It will cover what we have read for Oedipus Rex thus far, including relevant background information.

10th Grade: Please see me if you missed class today, as you will need to take a make-up test for Act I of Inherit the Wind ASAP. Tonight's homework is to define the Section II vocabulary words in your notebook. You do not need to complete Frayer Models for these words, you just need to define them. As well, begin reading Act II Scene 1.

I have a new website! Check it out at http://teacher2.smithtown.k12.ny.us/mdonnelly

Rainy Weekend News

2008-09-26T10:51:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone!

Freshmen: You have no homework this weekend! However, make sure all of the questions from Oedipus Rex play packets #1 and #2 are answered. You will be quizzed on them at some point!

Sophomores: You have a test on Act I of Inherit the Wind on Monday. It will also include vocabulary terms (Section 1 only) and The Creation and the Fall.

WEB Bonus: Just for checking the blog this weekend, I'm going to give you a hint about one of the test questions. For five points, I will ask you to create a Frayer Model for one of the vocabulary words. It will either be heretic, chautauqua, or eternity. Good luck!

For homework tonight...

2008-09-22T10:34:00.000-07:00

Sophomores: Please read Inherit the Wind to almost the end of Scene 1. Answer questions 7-9 for homework tonight. The definitions for Section 1 vocabulary words are due in class on Wednesday.

Enjoy your weekend!!

2008-09-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

Freshmen: See the post below about preparing for Monday's quiz. It will be all multiple choice. Finish reading Play Packet 1 over the weekend.

Sophomores: Please read to page 22 of Inherit the Wind and answer questions 4 - 6 for homework. There will be a quiz on Monday about the John T. Scopes trial and its connection to the play. Review your notes from class or consult the hyperlinks from the webquest.

Homework information

2008-09-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

Freshmen: Prepare for a Greek Mythology quiz on Monday that will include the Creation Myth, the stories of Zeus, Poseidon & Athena, related vocabulary terms, and the introduction to Oedipus Rex. Please check the bin for "Play Packet 1" if you missed class today. We will start reading in class tomorrow.

Sophomores: If you missed class today, please begin reading Act I, Scene I of Inherit the Wind. In class we stopped on page 9 right where Rachel leaves Bert Cates at the courthouse. Questions 1-3 on the study guide were assigned and will be checked in class.

There will be a quiz on Monday. Details to follow.

WebQuest for English 10R - Inherit The Wind

2008-09-16T04:11:00.000-07:00

Answer each of these questions to get background information about Inherit the Wind. You must type your answers in Microsoft Word or on looseleaf paper, and they must be in your own words and in full sentences. In other words, you may not just cut and paste answers from websites. You may work individually or in pairs. If you do not finish the webquest in class, it becomes homework. Good luck and happy learning!

Group 1 = Charles Darwin & Evolution
Group 2 = The Scopes Trial
Group 3 = William Jennings Bryan
Group 4 = Clarence Darrow
Group 5 = ACLU
Group 6 = John T. Scopes

Charles Darwin and Evolution - The case in the play is based off of the findings of naturalist Charles Darwin and his theory of evolution.

1. When and where was Darwin born?
2. What was the purpose of Darwin's voyage on the HMS Beagle?
3. What four theories did Darwin concoct about evolution?
4. According to Darwin, what determines a species survival or extinction?
5. What is the title of Darwin's famous book, published in 1859?
6. Why did many people oppose evolution?
7. What did Darwin supposedly do on his deathbed?

The Scopes Trial - The trial in Inherit the Wind is very loosely based on the famous Scopes Trial.
1. What is the nickname of this trial?
2. In what year did the trial take place?
3. What was the Butler Act?
4. What did the ACLU do in order to challenge the Butler Act?
5. Why did George Rappleyea want to bring a trial to Dayton?
6. Who was John T. Scopes?
7. As the trial began, what did the defense choose as their major argument?
8. What did Malone argue in terms of the Bible?
9. Bryan agreed to be questioned by Darrow. On what subject did Darrow question his adversary?
10. What verdict did the jury deliver?

William Jennings Bryan - The fictional character Matthew Harrison Brady is loosely based on this famous attorney.
1. When was Bryan born?
2. What are some of Bryan's accomplishments?
3. Why did Bryan oppose the theory of evolution?
4. From what illness did Bryan suffer?
5. When (specifically) did Bryan die?

Clarence Seward Darrow - The fictional character Henry Drummond is loosely based on this famous attorney.
1. When was Darrow born?
2. What kinds of people did Darrow tend to defend?
3. What controversy nearly ruined Darrow's career?
4. Why did Darrow decide to take the Scopes Trial?
5. When did Darrow die?

American Civil Liberties Union
Part 1
1. What is the mission of the ACLU?
2. The ACLU works to extend the right of what kinds of groups?
3. When was the ACLU founded?

Part 2
1. What did the ACLU's newspaper ad say?
2. Why did the ACLU attack the anti-evolution law?
3. Which ACLU attorney was the defense's mastermind?
4. What was the ACLU's plan for defense?

John T. Scopes - The fictional character Bertram T. Cates is loosely based on John Scopes.
1. What job did Scopes hold before the trial?
2. Where was Scopes called to discuss his involvement in the trial?
3. What couldn't Scopes remember doing? How does this change the trial?
4. After the trial, what did Scopes do with his life?

Attention Freshmen:

2008-09-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

Please check the blog if you are out this week because of a science field trip. Daily updates will be posted.

In class today we met with our groups and decided which of the three myths we wanted to write about. Your job tonight is to continue researching the one myth and start to formulate ideas for a 1 page story-like synposis of what happens. Your group will meet briefly tomorrow to start crafting the story. The myth share will occur at a later date.

A) Phaeton
B) Eros & Psyche
C) Midas
D) Minotaur

It's Wednesday already!

2008-09-10T10:58:00.000-07:00

Freshmen: No homework tonight. Enjoy!

Sophomores: Please finish reading "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury (p. 87 text). You do not need to answer any questions, but make sure you have completed the reading in case there is a quiz!

SENIORS:

Notes for Joyce Carol Oates – “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”

Website referencing dedication to Bob Dylan: http://jco.usfca.edu/ondylan.html

Today's updates

2008-09-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Have you signed up for LiveJournal yet? Visit www.livejournal.com

Freshmen: Please don't forget that your summer reading essay is due at the start of the class period tomorrow. It should be typed and double spaced. Please be sure to follow general MLA formatting guidelines. Please note: I am not requiring you to set your margins at 1" all around (the Microsoft Word default is just fine), nor do I expect you to put your last name and a page number in the header. Please just make sure you have a proper heading, and that your essay uses 12 point TNR font, is double spaced, and free from unneccesary spaces between paragraphs.

You are not required to submit a rough draft with this essay.

Sophomores: You will likely have a short story quiz on Friday. It will cover Harrison Bergeron, By the Waters of Babylon, and There Will Come Soft Rains.

Click here to visit the website for Newsday's "The Katie Trebing Story."

Weekend Update

2008-09-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

Hello, all! Sorry for the late update this weekend.

Freshman - You should be working on creating a first draft of your literary essay.

Sophomores - Please read the short story "By The Waters of Babylon" in the textbook. For homework, please complete questions 3, 6 & 8 on page 53.

Harrison Bergeron - English 10

2008-09-04T07:15:00.001-07:00

In case you are interested in viewing more of the film we saw in class, I've posted the link here.

If you were unable to get your own textbook, there is an online version of the story here.

Tonight's homework is to answer questions 2,5, and 7 on page 27 of the text. We'll talk about these answers tomorrow in class.

Welcome Back to School!

2007-08-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

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Let's work hard to have a great year!

While you're online, why not set up your own blog on www.livejournal.com?