Friday 2/28/14: Homework

Block F:
You should have read and annotated Chapter 4 of Frankenstein  by now. If you haven't yet done so, please catch up! This weekend, I would like you to find one passage from the chapter that stuck out to you as interesting or confusing. On lined paper, copy it down, and write a response detailing your observations, questions, and connections. Be prepared to share your work in class on Monday.


Block A:
1. Check out the new Art Assignment here. Kind of creepy, no? We will discuss on Monday.
2. Read  and annotate the 3 short memoirs from The New Yorker that I gave you in class.
3. Develop some ideas for the next "chapter" in your memoir project, using the readings as models. Remember, for this part of the project, you will be writing about an event that you actually remember!


Block B:
1. Finish reading and annotating Chapter 4 in Gatsby
2. Respond to the 20 minute SAT prompt and be prepared to defend your position in class on Tuesday.
3. Read your independent reading book


Block C: 

1. Work on your RAFT project due on Thursday. Remember, your finished project should both look realistic and reveal your thorough understanding of the novel.
2. Read your independent reading project.

Thursday 2/27/14: homework

Block A: 

Bring in an object that conjures up a memory for you. We will be writing about it tomorrow in class when we finish our workshop. 

Block B: 

Read and annotate up to page 77 in Gatsby. Complete the Dialogue organizer to trace important and revealing moments of conversation. 

Block C and E:

Review the notes from today's RAFT activity and prepare to write your response. We will discuss methods and format tomorrow (or Monday for E block). 

Wednesday 2/26/14: Homework

Block C and E: 

Read your independent reading book tonight-- we will be starting a group project tomorrow! 

Block F:

Read Chapter 4 in Frankenstein and complete the guide questions I gave you in class. If you were not in class today, I have include the questions below so that you can compete them before your return.

Chapter 4 Guide Questions:

     1.    Evaluate Victor’s assertion, “In other studies you go as far as others have gone before you, and there is nothing more to know; but in a scientific pursuit there is continual food for discovery and wonder.

      2.    What specific aspects of biology does Victor study?

      3.    Explain how Victor thinks that his creation will regard him.

     4.    Analyze how Victor violates his own advice: “A human being in perfection ought always to preserve a calm and peaceful mind,                              and never to allow passion or a transitory desire to disturb his        tranquility."

5.    Generalize why Victor “shuns his fellow-creatures” while working on his creation.

Tuesday 2/25/14: Homework

Block E and C:

Prepare for the exam on Room tomorrow. Bring all 5 signposts to class-- I will collect them at the start of the test. 

Block F:

Read and annotate Chapters 2 and 3 in Frankenstein.

Block A:

Read and mark up your colleagues "Baby Book" responses in preparation for our writing workshop on Thursday. Write a letter to your assigned classmate using the guidelines on the handout I gave you today. If you were absent today, please stop by to get the materials before class on Thursday. 

Block B:

Read and annotate Chapter 3 in Gatsby. Make a mind map of the chapter, focusing on the language and imagery Fitzgerald uses to capture your understanding. 

Monday 2/24: Homework

Welcome Back!

Block A: 

Print 7 copies of your "Baby Book" response for workshop this week. We will discuss the norms and protocol tomorrow. Be prepared to share your story.

Block B:

First, if you would like to see the last 2 minutes of the John Green videoblog that we watched today on Chapter 1 of Gatsby, you can watch it here.

Next, revisit your reading and annotations for Chapter 2 of Gatsby. Respond to the text by writing a 3 paragraph response, due in class tomorrow:

• 1st paragraph:       Write a summary of the chapter. Include only the most significant events for this part.

• 2nd paragraph:       Describe 3 observations you've made about the chapter. Include specific details/passages and your reactions.

• 3rd paragraph:     Find some connections. What does this book remind you of? If you have seen the movie, does this part look familiar? Can you connect this text with others that you've read? 

Block C:

Prepare for your exam on Room on Wednesday. Be sure to bring your completed SIGNPOSTS to class with you on Wednesday as well!

Friday 2/14/14: Homework

Block E:

Finish reading  Room and complete your 5th Signposts. All work will be due at the start of class when we return. 

Block F: 

Read and annotate Letters 1-4 in Frankenstein. Complete the reading guide  pages 12-15 in the packet I gave you. 

Read Chapter 1 (the start of Victor Frankenstein's story).  Annotate your text as you read.  

Block A: 

Research an element of your own childhood and write a autobiographical piece using Haven Kimmel's chapter "Baby Book" from A Girl Named Zippy as a model and guide. Bring your 2-3 page draft with you when you return from break. 

For classes that did not meet today:

Block C: 

Finish reading  Room and complete your 5th Signposts. All work will be due at the start of class when we return. 

Block B: 

1. Study for a vocabulary quiz on Monday after break. 

2. Read and annotate Chapter 1 AND Chapter 2 in Gatsby.

Have a great break everyone!! 

Wednesday 2/12/14:Homework

Block F:

Prepare your research to assemble your poster tomorrow. Be prepared to present what you know about the term you have been assigned. 

Block A: 

Listen to at least 3 stories on StoryCorps tonight. You can find the website here. Take notes in your journal on what you hear. 

Block B: 

Study for a vocabulary quiz on the terms listed in yesterday's post. 

Read and annotate Chapter 1 of The Great Gatsby for Friday. 

Block C:

Finish reading Room and take notes on your 5th signpost sheet. 

Tuesday 2/11/14: Homework

Block A: 

Read and annotate the excerpt from A Girl Named Zippy. Complete the text analysis sheeting preparation of our discussion tomorrow. 

Block B: 

Study the following 10 vocabulary words for a quiz we will have on Friday: 

Remonstrate

Visceral

Vestige

Wary

Asylum

Disdain

Ubiquitous

Surreptitious

Prudent

Assiduous

Block C and E:

Finish the text and complete Signpost #5 for 2/24. 

Monday 2/10/14: homework

Block C and E: 

Section 4 and signposts are due tomorrow! 

Block F:

Read and annotate the biographical information on Mary Shelley. 

Friday 2/7/14: Homework

Block E:

Read Section 4 in Room and complete 4th sign post sheet by Tuesday 2/11.

Block F:

Finish reading and annotating the article by Arthur Biddle. Summarize each section, and use the template on the handout provided to write a written response to the article. Bring all pieces to class with you on Monday. 

Block A:

Finish your "Encyclopedia" including 5 autobiographical entries and 3 that are research-based. Print them out and bring to class on Tuesday. 

Block B:

Write a 1-2 page creative "character sketch" of this time period due on Tuesday. 

Thursday 2/6/14: Homework

Block B:

Read your independent reading book and bring it to class tomorrow. 

Block C and Block E:

Section 4 in Room is due on Tuesday 2/11, along with your 4th Signpost organizer. 

Block F: 

Read and annotate the article we started in class today up to page 93 (stop at "The Dragon Flight.") Write a one-sentence summary after each section of the article on a separate piece of lined paper.

2/4/14: Homework

Block E: 

continue to read and complete Signposts for Section 3 due Wednesday (Thursday if we have a snow day!)

Block F: 

Continue to develop your ideas for the response on the "Hero's Journey" that we started in class.  Revisit the film (see link in yesterday's post) as you write your response. 

• Does "The Body"/Stand by Me (Gordie's story) fit the characteristics of a coming of age story?  
•  Remember, your topic sentence is : Gordie's story, in "The Body," ______follows/doesn't follow/follows in this way______ the Hero's Journey as defined by Joseph Campbell because ________________________________.

Block A: 

Today we worked on our "Encyclopedias." For Friday, please arrive to class with a working list of topics and between 3-5 entries. 

Monday 2/3/14: Homework

Block F: 
Tonight I would like you to watch this short film on "The Hero's Journey." As you watch, consider whether Stephen King's "The Body" meets the criteria described in the film. When you arrive to class tomorrow, I will ask you to write about it, so feel free to take notes on what you see.

Block A: 
Begin work on your "Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life" using the model by Amy Rosenthal as your guide.

Block B:
Continue to work on your AoW due on Wednesday. Remember to follow the writing format that I posted on Friday's blog.

Block C: 
Continue to work on your Signpost map and Section 3 in Room due on Wednesday 2/5.