Sherman Alexie on Colbert!

Some food for thought from one of our favorite authors. Check out this interesting story. 

One more thing: a survey

Please take a minute to complete this short survey. Click on the link below.
Reading Survey

It's Portfolio Season!!

As you prepare your final portfolios, there are a few things to keep in mind: 

1. Follow all the directions on the hand out and pay attention to the rubric.

2. Write specifically about the work that you did this year. No fluff! 

3. Add a word document that features the book covers of all the books you read this year. 

4. Proofread! Capitalize! Punctuate! This is your final ENGLISH portfolio, for crying out loud! 

Friday June 13th: Homework

Block A:

• Work on those portfolios! We will finish the documentary on Monday.

Block B:

• Take 10-15 minutes this weekend and reflect on the two Socratic seminars we had this week. As you consider what you heard, ponder the words of Tim O'Brien when he claims that "This too is true: stories can save us." In what ways does this statement hold true for all of the texts that we've studied this year? Make a mind map, write a paragraph, or somehow demonstrate your thinking as you make these connections.
• Continue to work on your portfolio and your "This I Believe" essays. Remember to look at some excellent examples on www.thisibelieve.org.

Block C:

• Work on putting together your final portfolio for class. You will have additional lab time on Tuesday, but time is running short! Portfolios are due on Thursday 6/18 at 7:30 a.m.!

Thursday 6/12/14: Homework

Block B:

• Write a reflection on what your heard today during the (brief) seminar that we had. How did the discussion connect to your thoughts on the stories we discussed and the nature of truth in storytelling? Draw from specific examples in your reflection. We will have the second seminar tomorrow after independent reading time. 

Block C: 

• Read and annotate the final story in the collection titled "Lives of the Dead." We will have a discussion tomorrow. I will also give you the details on the portfolio assignment tomorrow.

Block E:

• For Monday, please read and annotate "The Lives of the Dead." Also, feel free to begin working on your final portfolio. 

Homework for Tuesday and Wednesday 6/10 and 6/11

Block A: 
Write a response to the documentary Creating Camelot. You can write a reaction, a prose poem, an editorial, a review, or a response of your own design. Bring your work to class on Friday.

Block B:
1. Be sure to read and annotate "Beginnings" by Tim O'Brien.
2. Prepare for our Socratic Seminars tomorrow. Remember you should be prepared for both discussions (this means you should have notes and quotes written out and ready to be submitted as evidence of your preparation).  Here are the questions:

A. Consider the location of each of the stories within the larger narrative. Discuss specific choices O'Brien made when ordering the collection. Why are specific stories located in the places/order they are, and how does the order contribute to the whole narrative?

To prepare: Determine specific theories regarding story placement. Pick at least three different stories and choose supporting text.

B."Beginnings" (from O'Brien memoir If I Die in a Combat Zone) and "On the Rainy River" are two "tellings" of the same story: the summer that O'Brien got drafted. Which one does a more effective job of helping you understand his experience? Why?

To prepare: Read "Beginning." Revisit "On the Rainy River." Examine story structure, details, and writer's craft.

Block C and E:
Complete a thorough and thoughtful response to the prompt on "The Ghost Soldiers." Use evidence from the text in your response.

Monday6/9/14: Homework

Block A:

If you haven't done so already, type up your response to Blackfish for tomorrow. 

Block B:

Read and annotate "Beginnings" from Tim O'Brien's memoir If I Die in a Combat Zone. 

Work on your This I Believe essays and portfolio.

Block C and E:

Write a well supported response to "The Ghost Soldiers. "

Friday 6.6.14: Homework

Block C:

• Read and annotate the next story in O'Brien's collection titled "The Ghost Soldiers." This story explores some pretty interesting psychological aspects of war. Be prepared to write about the story in class on Monday.
• Also, write a reflection on today's presentation featuring songs and stories from the Vietnam era. What did you hear that resonated with you? What connections did you make between the presentation and the text that we are reading?

Block E:

• Finish reading and annotating "The Ghost Soldiers" for Monday. Also, write write a reflection on today's presentation featuring songs and stories from the Vietnam era. What did you hear that resonated with you? What connections did you make between the presentation and the text that we are reading?

6/5/14: Homework

Block E:

• Finish reading and annotating "The Ghost Soldiers" for Monday. 
• Read your independent reading book

Block A:

• Write a 1-2 page reaction to Blackfish. Remember to place yourself into the response--exploring what it is like to watch a documentary on a new and troubling topic. How does the film work to influence your understanding? What moments stood out for you? 

Block B:

• Begin working on your final portfolio and your "This I Believe" personal essay. Be sure to check out this site for lots of great model essays. 

6/4/14: Homework

Block A:

• Prepare for a discussion on the film we watched in class today. We will finish it tomorrow and begin writing a response.

Block B:

• Begin to prepare your materials for your portfolio. Look through the work you've completed this year and start to consider which artifacts demonstrate your proficiency.
• Read your independent reading book.

Block C:

• Read and annotate O'Brien's story "Good Form." React to both the story and the interview that we watched in class today. Write 3 short paragraphs that include:
•  1. Summary:  3-4 sentences about what you heard
• 2. Respond:   observations that you made
• 3. Connect:   (to another story or idea)

Tuesday 6/3/14: Homework

Block B:

• Prepare for tomorrow's discussion by completing the "Book Review" sheet I distributed in class today. Be sure to use specific evidence from the text as you write your responses.

Block C:

• Read and annotate "The Man I Killed" for class tomorrow. I will ask you to do some writing on the reading, so annotate carefully, and consider O'Brien's use of repetition on the story as you read. 

Block E: 
Today in class we watched an interview with Tim O'Brien and Nate Fick. If you were not in class today, you can watch it here (we watched the first 27 minutes).

For Thursday, please do the following:
1. Read and annotate "Good Form" and react to both the story and the interview (you may write your reaction neatly on the back of the story).
2. Read and annotate "Ghost Soldiers." This one of  O'Brien's longer stories, so pace yourself. We will have a reading quiz on the story on Thursday, so be prepared.

Monday 6/2/14: Homework

Block E:

Read and annotate Tim O'Brien's story titled "The Man I Killed." 

Read your independent reading book. 

Block A:

Work on finishing your final portfolio. 

Read your independent reading book.