Tales from Shakespeare
During class, freshmen, I mentioned Tales from Shakespeare by Charles Lamb and his sister, Mary, a children’s book that distills the Bill’s comedies and tragedies to a manageable form for kids. You can read an illustrated version at the University of Florida’s Digital Collections.
In it is contained, of course, our current drama Romeo and Juliet. It’s worth a look, maybe have a read for clarification purposes. It’s pretty simple, but it’s at least better than Cliff’s or Spark’s Notes.
AP Language Class Notes
Objectives: APELC students 1) analyzed claim, data, and warrant in two texts, and 2) assessed the levels of and answered APELC exam multiple-choice questions.
I was stunned at the number of students who did not complete the work I left to be completed. I expected more from you. We were able to limp through a discussion of the Will piece and Bob Roberts, and you had time to work on the second multiple-choice packet (which, of course, was not optional, as the class well knew).
I’ll get your proposals back to you on Monday, but continue to research your topics over the weekend. I want you to do your best, and I realize now I’ve not expected enough from you. I’ll adjust class plans accordingly.
English 9 Class Notes
Objectives: English 9 students 1) read independently for a sustained period of time and journaled critically, 2) completed an objective test, and 3) analyzed literary concepts in Shakespearean drama.
One and three freshmen, not a bad performance on this second short test. We ended in the middle of the second scene of the third act after independent reading today. Yes, Juliet and Romeo are married twixt the previous and current acts. Entirely my mistake. Obviously, I need to pay attention myself since it’s been too long time since I concentrated so hard on the drama. (Give me Henry IV parts one and two or Hamlet any day.)
Check your class page for homework details, and have a pleasant and productive weekend.
Philosophizing
In the past several weeks, Nigel Warburton has produced four most excellent podcasts over at Philosophy Bites. Take some time to expand your thinking beyond your immediate familiarities and really examine the struggles we deal with daily. You’re gonna hear these names in college anyway, so why not be prepared? Check’em out:
- Ludwig Wittgenstein on philosophy, language, and logic;
- Plato on war;
- Edmund Burke on politics,
- Richard Norman on Humanism.
And, as a supplement to that last one, dig this recent NPR broadcast of an interview with Steven Pinker on the idea of morality as a ’sixth sense’.
Peace out.
AP Language Class Notes
We spent time in the liberry today, juniors and seniors. Please check yesterday’s notes for details and my comments.
English 9 Class Notes
Fourth freshmen, check yesterday’s first and third notes for objectives and my comments. I failed to handout the study guide to the third act of our drama, so periods 1 and 3 shouldn’t worry if they don’t have the questions I indicated done for Thursday.
AP Language Class Notes
Objective: APELC students researched argumentation paper topics in the liberry.
Five, we met in the liberry to research today to do some investigating. Several of you were having difficulty discovering topics to write about, which was surprising (and disappointing) since you’ve had the assignment for just about two weeks.
Take some time to consider what’s happening in the world today, and consider what you feel passionate about. Scan the periodical links on the left hand side of this page for inspiration. There are numerous history-shaping events about which you can take a side, it just takes some earnest attention and investigation. Just today on NPR, three stories were aired over tragedies around the planet:
- “Politician’s Slaying Stokes Violence in Kenya”;
- “Children Try to Make a Living on Afghan Streets”;
- “Iraqi Women Defying Extremism Face Dire Threats”.
More issues are getting less press, like the (all but ignored) genocide in Darfur and the poverty problem in Haiti.
- “Haiti’s poor resort to eating dirt” (also look at the BBC’s recent series “Dollar a Day”);
- “Scarce Resources, Ethnic Strife Fuel Darfur Conflict” (What happened to “Never again”?).
You might take on a less material topic. For example, when asked what I might write about (you knowing my leanings), I repsonded that I might argue the exclusivity of truth and the fallacy of relatvism or the failure of Humanism as a worldview.
Whatever you choose to argue, this paper is an opportunity for you to say something important (even if you don’t believe what you say will make a difference in anyone’s lives) and practice for your entry into public debate. Make it count.
English 9 Class Notes
Objective: English 9 students completed the study guide for the second act of Romeo and Juliet.
After independent reading, one and three, and some questions and answers about my time in Ethiopia, you had time to complete the study guide given you by the substitute. There really weren’t any excuses for not having it finished since you’d been working on the act since before I left. If you weren’t able complete it, you might reflect about the attitude and behavior you exhibited while I was away. Of course, if you really had trouble understanding the drama and with the work, you know I’m flexible and will help you complete your task satisfactorily during tutoring after school.
It was good to see you today. I’m glad to be back.
Ethiopia
By now, kids, Mrs. Girard and I are on our way to meet and bring home our new son, Debabu, and our daughter, Zufan. We’re very excited, and, as I’d indicated in class last week, I wanted to leave you some resources on Ethiopia.
We’ll be in Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, for most of our stay, but we’ll travel to meet our chidlren’s birth family in Aleta Wendo, south of the capital in the nation’s Sidamo province near Lake Abaya. (After you click the preceding map links, select the “Satellite” option in the upper-right corner for a better view of the cities.)
Follow the links below for more information on our children’s homeland:
- Embassy of Ethiopia in Washington
- Country profile from BBC News
- CIA World Factbook entry
- Photos at TrekEarth
Again, I trust you’ll follow the plans I’ve left for you and that you’ll be cooperative, positive, courteous, and productive with your substitute. I look forward to seeing you in a couple weeks.
AP Language Class Notes
Juniors and seniors, you did a fine analysis of the piece today (which I would’ve posted below ifr I’d not left it on my school work station) and on the Longman reading. Check your peers’ notes from yesterday for objectives.
All APELCers, please see the details for your argument paper which are now posted on your class page, and print and bring copies of the viewing questions for the film next week. All papers will be returned when I get back. (I’m going to do some grading on the plane which means aspects of your intellectual essences will have made their way to the other side of the world.)
See you in a couple of weeks, kids.
English 9 Class Notes
Period 4, we were able to complete the (nauseating) second scene of Romeo and Juliet today. Check yesterday’s notes for objectives and details.
All freshmen, all of your papers will be returned to you when I get back. Until then, I expect you to be cooperative, positive, courteous, and productive. Do yourselves proud in my absence.
Out.
AP Language Class Notes
Objectives: APELC students 1) analyzed rhetorical strategies in a collage, and 2) analyzed data, claim, and warrant in a text.
After some time looking at the collage today (which I’ll post your peers’ notes tomorrow), you read a piece in the Longman text arguing the responsibility of journalists and for which you were able to refer back to the Kroll from the weekend reading.
My posts’ll probably be getting shorter as the weeks proceed since I’ll have new responsibilities myself, so be sure you’re taking copious, detailed notes over e’erthing we address in class―fill your notebooks and highlight (and taxonomize) away.
As I wrote to the freshmen, unless I see you tomorrow in T-12 for some reason, I won’t again until January 29. And, also as I wrote to the freshmen, in my absence, be cooperative, positive, courteous, and productive.
Peace.
Note: Please bring your movie forms tomorrow if you didn’t today.
English 9 Class Notes
Objectives: English 9 students 1) read independently for a sustained period of time and journaled critically, 2) completed an objective test, and 3) analyzed literary concepts in Shakespearean drama.
One and three freshmen, many of you didn’t too badly on the short test you took today. You should be proud of that because Shakespeare certainly isn’t always the easiest for modern students to read.
We completed Act II, scene ii today after independent reading; and the only homework is to skim and scan ahead to end of the act―you might use the “After Reading” questions at the end of the act to help guide your investigation.
Meet in the library on Thursday to MAP. Be cooperative, positive, courteous, and productive.
Unless I see you tomorrow in T-12 for some reason, I won’t again until January 29. And, in my absence, cooperative, positive, courteous, and productive. I want a good report when I return.
Take care, children.
AP English Class Notes
Objectives: APELC students analyzed claim, warrant, and data in an argumentative text.
Juniors and seniors, you examined the Kroll piece for key argument elements which we discussed. We took some time to answer the particular questions associated with the piece.
Remember to get those movie permission forms in so you can watch Bob Roberts in my absence.
English 9 Class Notes
Objective: English 9 students analyzed literary concepts in a drama.
Many of you had difficulty with the study guide for Act I, so we completed the audio of that portion of the play and discussed the action of the scenes. You may turn-in your completed study guide tomorrow.
AP Langauge Class Notes
Period 2, after beginning class fairly certain in your analysis of “Penalty of Death” (as did your peers yesterday) you were less so at the end of the period. I amended my original position that I expressed in period 5 from believing Mencken’s piece is actually an anti-death penalty screed to a skepticism about his actual intent. Without knowing enough about the author to make a solid claim, I leave you to your own interpretations, that is, as long as you have evidence to show me.
Check your class page for homework details. Have a great weekend.
English 9 Class Notes
Good job in your analysis of our drama today, period 4. You can check your first and third peers’ notes from yesterday for objectives and deatils. Please come with your work completed for Monday.
Have a great weekend.
Top of the World
Sir Edmund Hillary, who, along with his Sherpa guide Tenzing Norgay, conquered Mt. Everest in 1953, has died at 88. Here’s a groovy 360 of Mt. Everest, which, at a staggering height of 29, 029 feet, is the highest point on our little planet earth.
Sir Edmund and Norgay were on top of the world when they reached the summit of the killer mountain. It was only a matter of time before the story of their pioneering experience was put to song.
AP Language Class Notes
Objective: APELC students analyzed an author’s rhetorical strategies.
Without giving away too much, period 5, we didn’t get as far as I thought we might today. We spent a great deal of time on the Mencken piece. I look forward to reading your homework. Kind of.
Check your class page for details, and please make sure that you read this weekend’s text with a precise, critical eye.
English 9 Class Notes
Objectives: English 9 students 1) read independently for a sustained period of time and journaled critically, and 2) analyzed literary concepts in Shakespearean drama.
Period 1 and 3 freshmen, after reading today, we began reading and listening again to Romeo and Juliet beginning where we left off last time in Act I. You learned how to reference lines of of Shakespeare and you learned about the nature of iambic pentameter.
Check the class page for homework details, but before you do that, take another look at Frank Dicksee’s 1884 painting Romeo and Juliet
I’ll see you on Monday with your completed homework. (I’m really hoping that you’ll start this semester off the right way and arrive proudly with your assignment ready to turn in.)
Have a good weekend, boys and girls.