Ms. Gardner's English 10H

Great Expectations: Reading, Final Test, New Due Dates for Essay

2012-02-12T12:07:00.001-08:00

Please read the final chapters of Great Expectations for Wednesday, 2/15. We will not have a quiz on those chapters on Wednesday, but we will have an objective quiz on the entire novel on your return from the holiday, Tuesday, 2/21.

I have revised the due date for your final essay on our novel. Please note the following revisions:

All fifteen note cards are due on Thursday, 2/23.
A word-processed draft--including the works cited and required sentence patterns--is due for a peer review on Thursday, 2/23.
Your final copy of the essay is due on Friday, 3/2. Staple the peer review and original draft underneath your final copy. Please highlight and label all required sentence patterns.
You must submit your final draft to Turnitin.com by 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, 3/1.

We will soon be starting a new novel, Siddhartha. On Wednesday of this week, you will form groups for a presentation related to the novel's background. These presentations are due on Monday, 2/27. Directions to follow.

Vocabulary Test

2012-02-06T15:47:00.001-08:00

As you know, you will have a vocabulary test on Thursday (Friday for zero period). You will need to provide a definition--as close to that on the syllabus as possible--for each word. In addition, you will need to use the vocabulary words in a sentence. Please review the sentence patterns we have learned this year, so that you will be prepared for this portion of the test.

Note Cards and Reading

2012-02-06T07:13:00.002-08:00

Please create an additional four note cards--two from our primary source, two from secondary sources--and bring them to class on Monday, 2/13.

In addition, read Chapters 45-50 for Thursday, 2/9, and Chapters 51-55 for Monday, 2/13.

Great Expectations: Reading

2012-01-30T18:25:00.001-08:00

Please read Chapters 34-38 by Wednesday, 2/1, of this week. Read Chapters 39-44 by Tuesday, 2/7, of next week.

Tomorrow, we will continue to look at Joan Didion's essay for inspiration and strategies for our own observational essays. We will also begin working with the vocabulary for next week's vocabulary test. For the test, you will need to be able to provide the definitions (as close as possible to the ones I have provided you) for these words.

Great Expectations Reading, Note Cards, Observational Essay

2012-01-24T05:11:00.000-08:00

Please read Chapters 20-25 by Thursday, 1/26 and Chapters 26-33 by Monday, 1/30.

Bring a printed copy of the note cards you have created for your final Great Expectations essay with you to class on Monday, 1/30. You do not need to have all of the note cards by this date but enough that you can begin to do some initial brainstorming.

This is the week (or weekend) to select and observe a place you will write about for your observational essay assignment. Please sit a minimum of 20 minutes in this place and take detailed notes on its sights, sounds, and smells. I suggest you work with figurative language in your notes, as well.

Essay and Vocabulary Dates

2012-01-22T13:14:00.000-08:00

Your observational essay is due in class on Friday, 2/3. The Turnitin deadline for this essay is 11:59, February 2.

Your vocabulary test will be on Thursday, 2/9.

Your final essay on a topic of your choice from Great Expectations is due on Tuesday, 2/21. The Turnitin deadline is 11:50, February 20.

Online Dickens Goodness

2012-01-18T07:01:00.000-08:00

You will be writing an analysis on a topic in Great Expectations for your final paper for this novel.

Tonight, please create (if you haven't done so already) an EasyBib account. Once you've done that, go to "settings" and then "coupon codes." Type in the coupon code I gave you in class today. Now you can use the Notes feature of EasyBib.

Next, go here and type in Great Expectations. You will find a wealth of information about the novel; however, be sure to read the article "Bloom's How to Write about Charles Dickens." Read through the article, noting topics that sound interesting to you. Then skim through several related articles on these topics in the Bloom's Great Expectations data base.

Great Expectations and The Persuaders

2012-01-18T06:57:00.001-08:00

Reading Schedule for Great Expectations:

Chapters 1-7: Wednesday, 1/18
Chapters 8-14: Friday, 1/20
Chapters 15-19: Tuesday, 1/24

Quiz on Chapters 1-19: Tuesday, 1/24

Your response paper on the documentary The Persuaders and three products you own is due (word-processed with your lists stapled underneath) on Friday, 1/20.

I-Search Handout

2012-01-11T11:00:00.000-08:00

Today, Mr. Sklove or Ms. Jelin worked with you on career counseling and provided you with a handout. In addition to your Consumer Identity List, this handout is due on Friday, January 13.

Welcome to Spring Semester

2012-01-09T11:38:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the new semester. We are starting the year with a novel by Charles Dickens, Great Expectations. As part of our study, we will look at ourselves and our expectations--and at how many of these expectations drive our choices as consumers.

Please read Chapters 1-7 of the novel by Wednesday, January 18. (In fact, you may choose to read ahead, as future reading installments will come at a rapid pace.)

In addition, please complete your consumer identity list and bring it to class this Friday, January 13.

Grades

2011-12-18T14:14:00.000-08:00

I know many of you are eager to know what your semester grade will be. Grades are due the week teachers and students return to Casa Grande after winter break. I will be happy to tell you what your semester grade is at that time.

In the meantime, here are good wishes for your finals to go smoothly and for your winter break to be relaxing. Your English homework? Sleep, play, dream. (Oh, yes, and read something wonderful that you want to read!)

Have you turned in your book?

2011-12-18T14:10:00.001-08:00

Don't forget to bring your book to turn in either before school or during tutorial tomorrow!

Outside Reading Book Notecards

2011-12-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

Zero period, please be sure to bring your notecard to class tomorrow, Wednesday the 14th. In addition, you will need to upload (if you haven't already) your monologues before 7:00 a.m. tomorrow morning.

First and third periods, although your monologues must be uploaded by tomorrow, you will not have to turn in your notecards until Friday, the 16th.

You are a talented group of students. Be bold the day of your performance and let that talent shine. I look forward to seeing your performances.

Outside Reading Book Monologue

2011-12-06T16:29:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder: All monologues must be uploaded to Turnitin before midnight on December 14.

Students in zero period will perform their monologues on December 14 and 15. First and third periods will perform their monologues on December 16.

Cyrano Journals and Semester Final

2011-11-30T19:09:00.000-08:00

Journals

Your word-processed journals for Cyrano de Bergerac are due on Friday, December 16. You will turn in a copy of the journal to me (rubric with a full MLA heading stapled to the top) at the beginning of class. In addition, you must upload a copy of your journal to your Turnitin account before midnight on December 16.

Fall Semester Finals

On Tuesday, December 6, I will give you a handout noting what you should study for your fall semester final.

Schedule for Finals:

Zero Period: Friday, 12/16, and Monday, 12/19

First Period: Thursday, 12/ 22

Third Period: Tuesday, 12/ 20

There is no zero period December 20, 21, and 22.

Cyrano Vocabulary Test

2011-11-15T20:41:00.001-08:00

On Friday, December 2, you will have a test on the 40 vocabulary words listed in your Cyrano syllabus. The test will include a word bank and definitions. Your job will be to match each word to its definition.

In addition, you will be asked to use some of these words in several of the sentence patterns we have learned this year--for example, a simple sentence that sets off a parenthetical element with dashes.

Upcoming Events (Including the Thanksgiving Miracle Extension)

2011-11-05T15:03:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to bring your new outside reading book to class on Tuesday.

In preparation for our reading of Cyrano de Bergerac, you will form small groups and create a presentation providing us with some background information on the author, play, and setting. I will give you a specific topic and guidelines in class on Tuesday, November 8. Presentations are due on Monday, November 28. We will have our banquet that day, too.

On Thursday, November 10, you will compare and contrast two war poems and begin to draft an essay. This essay--word-processed and edited--is due on Thursday, November 17. Please staple your annotated copies of the poems underneath your essay. NOTE: You will turn in a printed copy of your essay to me in class, AND you will upload your essay to Turnitin.com. Your essay must be uploaded no later than 11:59 p.m. on November 17.

Literary Device Presentation

2011-11-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

If you did not finish writing the analysis for your literary device and passages in class today, please do so tonight.

Remember, you will have a test on these devices this Friday. Almost all terms are defined in your copy of Praxis. The few that are not can easily be looked up online.

The literary devices test will ask that you select two of the three passages I will give you. In these passages, you will highlight and label several devices pulled from the list of devices. (I will have this list available, too.) You will write a well-developed analysis for each passage, demonstrating how the devices work to support the passage's--and novel's--larger ideas.

Please don't forget to bring your copy of the novel to turn in tomorrow.

The Concluding Chapters of All Quiet on the Western Front

2011-10-30T12:24:00.001-07:00

While reading the concluding chapters of our novel, please read carefully and reflectively. We will discuss these chapters, and you are accountable for contributing to the discussion. However, there will not be a quiz, per se, on them tomorrow.

Literary Devices Test and Outside Reading Book

2011-10-30T10:09:00.000-07:00

Literary Devices

A reminder: please finish reading All Quiet on the Western Front by tomorrow, Monday, October 31. I will collect your copy of the novel then.

Tomorrow, you will also create--in class--a presentation of your assigned literary device, noting at least two instances of this device in the novel and how the device works to support the larger meaning of the passage.

We will have a test on all devices noted in your All Quiet on the Western Front syllabus on Friday, November 4. You will identify several of these devices in passages from the novel and explain their significance.

Outside Reading Book

Our last piece of literature this semester will be a play we will read in class, Cyrano de Bergerac. Consequently, it's an excellent time to assign our required semester's outside reading book. (Because many of you have had outside reading books with AP History and Honors Biology the last few months, I have waited until now to assign ours.)

I will provide you a list of books from which to choose on Monday. You may not select a book that you read for history.

Please bring a copy of your selected book to class on Tuesday, November 8. You should have your book read and your monologue (directions to follow in class) memorized and ready to perform by December, 14.

2011-10-23T08:03:00.000-07:00

As you know, your speech--"The Things You Carry"--is due on Thursday. If you are interested in having me coach you on the specific things I will be grading you on, please come to tutorial. (I have consistently found that those students who come to tutorial for this extra coaching improve their performance in English.)

Please have read Chapters 8-10 of All Quiet on the Western Front by Thursday. We will have a brief discussion of these chapters before the speeches.

Read Chapters 11-12 by Monday of next week. At this point, you should have found a minimum of two examples of your rhetorical device. You will, in class, create and present an analysis of how Remarque uses your assigned device.

This week, we will also look more closely at the elements of rhetoric and style in preparation for a take-home essay on two war poets and poems.

Revised Reading, Vocabulary, and Speech Schedule

2011-10-16T10:28:00.001-07:00

Reading: Please read Chapters 6 of All Quiet on the Western Front for Wednesday, 10/19, and Chapter 7 for Friday, 10/21. You will not have any assigned reading for next weekend. We will have reading checks as we go along rather than a large objective test at the end.

Vocabulary: We will review and work with the vocabulary and sentence patterns for All Quiet on Monday. You will have a test on these things on Tuesday, 10/25. The sentence patterns are as follows:

adverb opener
prepositional phrase opener
adjective opener
adjective phrase opener
present infinitive opener
present participial opener

You can find definitions for and examples of these patterns in your Praxis packet.

Speech: On Wednesday, we will read a literature of war piece from another era: The Things They Carry. You will write and deliver a reflective speech on something you carry--whether artifact, memory, or feeling--and its meaning to you. I will give you the directions for this speech on Wednesday. Speeches are due (hard copies and performances) on Thursday, 10/27.

Reading for All Quiet

2011-10-12T18:27:00.000-07:00

Please read Chapter 5 of our novel by Monday, 10/17.

Test and Reading for All Quiet on the Western Front

2011-10-10T16:45:00.000-07:00

Please read Chapters 3-4 of our novel by Thursday of this week. We will have a test on these chapters that day. To prepare for the test, carefully note the characteristics and activities of the characters we have been introduced to thus far.

All Quiet on the Western Front: Reading and Characters

2011-10-10T07:19:00.000-07:00

Please read Chapters 1-2 of All Quiet on the Western Front by Tuesday, 10/11. Pay close attention to the different characters, their backgrounds, personalities, and positions in the military.

Tonight's Post-essay Homework

2011-10-05T12:12:00.001-07:00

Zero.

Nothing.

But wait, there is homework: to luxuriate in the "Sleep that knits up the raveled sleeve of care" (Macbeth II.ii.49).

Perfect.

Macbeth In-class Essays

2011-09-29T21:09:00.000-07:00

Next Wednesday, you will write your final essays on Macbeth.

In class today, we created brainstorms for the essay on motifs. On Monday, we will review the characteristics of the tragic hero and of tragedy. This review will help you prepare for your essay on tragedy.

If you have any questions about the play or these concepts, please see me during tutorial before Wednesday.

2011-09-25T15:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Students,

Please print a copy of this blog entry and sign it. In addition, please have your parent or guardian sign it. This paper is due on Thursday, September 29th.

FAQ

1. How can I improve my grade in English?

Turn in all of your work, and turn it in on time.
Check the homework blog to make sure you know the due dates and to get tips on your assignments.
Ask questions in class that will help you better understand the material and the assignments.
See me at tutorial for help editing your papers.
See me at tutorial in advance of a test or quiz for extra coaching.
See me at tutorial for extra advice on how to find evidence and to develop analysis for your essays.
Go beyond an assignment’s minimal requirements.
Read beyond what you are assigned in English—for example, read for ten minutes a day from any and all of the links on the homework blog for English. The more you read quality nonfiction, the more you will absorb what it should look and sound like.

2. Do you offer extra credit?

On occasion, I do. Whenever I do, it will be offered via the web site or in class for all students. I am cautious about giving too many extra-credit opportunities, however. Grade inflation is not something that benefits individual students or the larger academic community.

3. What if I come to tutorial and you're not there?

I'm always available during tutorial. If I'm not here the second you arrive, come back in two minutes--really, two minutes--and I'll be here. I promise. Also, if tutorial is jammed with many students and you have to see another teacher, send me an email with your concern, and we will schedule a time to meet.

Your Signature:

Your Parent's or Guardian's Signature:

Macbeth Glossaries

2011-09-21T16:24:00.000-07:00

Your Macbeth glossaries are due Thursday, September 29.

You may single space the passage and analysis, as shown on the sample in your syllabus.

Be sure that you build a strong paragraph. Start with a claim: create an assertion that you will prove. Follow with evidence: embed key words and phrases from the analysis in your own sentences. Develop with your analysis: how is this evidence relevant to the literary term and, most importantly, to the development of character or theme? End with a concluding sentence in which you provide your final insight into this passage and term.

If you're reading this blog, you're ahead of the game. Congratulations. If you're an official follower of this blog, even better: print out this post (complete with your personal icon), and attach it to the front of your glossaries for extra credit. (A bump up of half a grade--sweet, yes?)

Macbeth Glossaries and Test on Acts I and II

2011-09-13T10:45:00.000-07:00

In the next four or five classes, we will complete reading the remaining three acts of Macbeth. Please work on your glossaries for the play (see your syllabus for detailed instructions) each A day. They will be due the class after we finish reading the play.

We will have a test on Acts I and II and on the literary devices listed on pages 4-5 of your Praxis handbook on Wednesday, September 21. You will identify the speaker and audience for several key passages. In addition, you will identify the correct literary device (for example, alliteration) for several quotes.

Extra Credit

2011-09-12T18:38:00.000-07:00

Have you joined this site so that you have immediate access to the correct information about assignment due dates and test and quiz dates? Your icons tell me that at least six of you have. Kudos to you. You are getting the correct information that will help you stay focused on the correct dates for work in English. I've asked that all students consult the site regularly for correct information. Thank you to those who have taken this important step.

If you've joined this site, print this page, write your name at the top (and your icon name, too, if it is different from your school name), and bring it to class tomorrow, September 13th, for a bump up of half a grade on your sonnet performance.

Macbeth Vocabulary Test

2011-09-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

You will have a test on the Macbeth vocabulary words listed in your syllabus on Monday, September 19. Please be able to spell the word and to provide the definition found on your handout.

Sonnet Project Due Date, "Infinite You" Map URL

2011-09-01T05:15:00.001-07:00

Sonnet Project

The due date for your sonnet projects is Tuesday, September 13. We will present portions of these projects in class.

In addition to presenting your sonnet project, you and your partner will recite your sonnet from memory on September 13. I will show you a variety of ways this may be done in class tomorrow.

"Infinite You" Map

If you are creating a virtual map (for example, a Google map) rather than one made of paper, you will turn in a word-processed paper with a full MLA heading, the title of your map, and a web address where I can access your map.

"Your Double": Final Preparation

2011-08-29T17:07:00.000-07:00

When preparing your final assignment for "Your Double," please staple your papers in this order:

final draft,

peer review,

rough draft.

Also, please check to see that your MLA formatting is correctly done. If you need an additional example of this formatting style, please check the OWL link on this blog.

Sonnet Project

2011-08-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

During our next class, we will begin to work with Shakespearean sonnets. You and a partner will create a sonnet project based on the directions you receive in class tomorrow.

Before you begin the project, select and sign up for a specific Shakespearean sonnet. I will post a sign-up sheet on Friday at tutorial. If someone has already signed up for your sonnet, you will need to select another.

Please bring a copy of your sonnet to class on Monday, August 29.

"Your Double" and "Infinite You"

2011-08-22T13:21:00.000-07:00

Your Double

Tomorrow, Tuesday, we will begin to look closely at the year's theme: identity. We will read a short story by Borges about his double and draft a related short story.

Your word-processed draft of the story is due Monday, 8/29, for a peer review.

The final draft, with the peer review and original draft stapled underneath, is due on Wednesday, 8/31.

Infinite You

We will also explore cartography--or map making--as it relates to identity. Your map, "Infinite You," is due on Wednesday, 9/7.

I will pass out detailed directions for both of these projects tomorrow in class. In addition, we will have some library computer time on Thursday.

Welcome, Test and Essay Dates for Summer Homework

2011-07-26T12:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome, Sophomores!

At this site you will find due date reminders for tests, quizzes, and assignments. On occasion, you will also find directions for an assignment, if it has a component with links.

Your best resources for accurate homework information are your notes, my handouts, the white board in M-7, and your planner. This web site is particularly useful if you are absent, or if you feel you might not have copied a due date down correctly. If you have checked this web site and still have questions about an assignment, you may send me an email: mgardner@pet.k12.ca.us.

Note: Sometimes you will find two due dates, one for zero period and one for first and third periods. Please check to see which date applies to your particular class.

A Separate Peace Test and Vocabulary Quiz:

On our first day of school, Wednesday, August 17, you will have a vocabulary test based on the words found in your summer homework directions. You will select the correct word from a word bank for each definition. In addition, you will write original sentences for a selection of these words. (Zero period, your test will be on Thursday, August 18.)

You will also have a True/False, fill-in-the-blank, and short answer test.

The Glass Menagerie In-class Essay:

On Friday, August 19 (first and third periods), and Monday, August 22 (zero period), you will write an in-class essay on The Glass Menagerie. Your summer notes on the play--word-processed, approximately two or more pages in length--are due at that time.

We will spend part of Friday's class working on group questions to help you prepare for the essay. However, you may not use a copy of the play or any notes while you write your essay.

Parent or Guardian Syllabus Signature:

Please have your parent or guardian sign the half-sheet of paper indicating they have read and understood the syllabus. This signed paper is due on Tuesday, August 23.