APELC Class Notes
Objectives: APELCers processed texts from multiple genres.
Period 3 eleventh and twelfth graders, we began by processing the Alexie piece which again, as the other pieces in this chapter of the reader, stirred much discussion over identity.
After this, we began to process three pieces of campaign rhetoric from the presidential primary season, banners from the campaigns of Senators Clinton, Obama, and McCain. All of you posited creative interpretations and analyses of the presentations of the banners. I was darned impressed.
The idea to look at the was born from two different texts I came across last spring, the first, “May the best logo win” at Salon, and the second, “Scott Dadich on Campaign Art”, a podcast from The Economist’s “Democracy in America” blog (the links to which no longer appear to work, at least from where I am now).
Check your class page for homework details, and I’ll see you next class.
English 9 Class Notes
Objectives: Freshmen identified elements of and explained tone in a short story.
First freshmen, we listened to the audio of the Saki piece, better than my reading for you comprehension. And listening and reading I think you were able to hear more than you did than when I asked you to read the story for homework. I think we’ll see how this method works for us in class.
After we read and heard the audio, I quizzed you and then you set to answering several questions about your understanding of the story. If you didn’t finish the question and answer activity in class, complete it for homework. Details are on your class page.
Please get a composition book as soon as you can. It’ll be most worthwhile dollar you’ll spend for my class.
See you Thursday.
APELC Class Notes
Objective: APELCers responded to peers’ narrative drafts.
Nothing complicated today, juniors and seniors. You worked off the documents I asked you to print and bring to class. I was pleased to see the work you all put into your drafts, and I was similarly pleased to witness the devotion you offered your peers as you worked over their narrations.
Be sure to attend the Alexie piece for next class. See you then.
English 9 Class Notes
Objectives: Freshmen identified and explained character, setting, and elements of plot in a short story.
We continued with your new short story, “The Open Window”, today and reviewed how to approach new stories in the text. I offered a handy-dandy checklist for you to tape into the cover of you composition books. (I’ll post the document to the site when I get home.) Please get those as soon as you can so you can keep all of yoru notes in one, portable, compat, and easily accessbile place.
APELC Class Notes
Fourth juniors and seniors, we tackled the Tan piece and you worked on yoru narratives. Same as yesterday in third, so check their notes for details and objectives.
Have a great weekend.
English 9 Class Notes
Periods 2 and 6, we did much the same as your peers yesterday. Please check their notes for objectives and details, and attend the homework details on your class page.
Have a great weekend.
APELC Class Notes
Objectives: APELCers 1) processed a narrative text, and 2) employed invention strategies in the development of a narrative text.
Third juniors and seniors, after a visit from Ms. Swiderski we attended the Tan text today and got a little off topic when we veered into a brief discussion of Seventeen magazine’s moral obligations to its readers. It was interesting and still germane when Devin mentioned audience and purpose.
You finished the period working on the drafts of your narratives using the St. Martin’s Guide again. You should be through the “Describing the Scene”, “Recalling Key People”, “Sketching the Story”, and “Testing Your Choice” activities. (Seems like a lot, but these are quick brainstorming stages.) Your first draft, due Monday, certainly need not be perfect or near completion, that is, as a finished product, but it should (read must) be substantive, with enough material for you and your peers to sift through and consider.
Please check your class page for homework details, and have a great weekend.
See you Monday.
NOTE. Students may take home copies of the St. Martin’s Guide to Writing over the weekend. I have a meeting immediately after school, but students can come by T-12 first lunch through sixth to check out a text. Books need to come back with you on Monday, though.
English 9 Class Notes
Objectives: Freshmen identified and explained elements of character and plot in a short story.
First period, after your vocabulary quiz we reviewed your answers to the After Reading questions I assigned you Tuesday. Then you began the next story in the text, “The Open Window”.
Clarify your homework on your class page, remember to bring a composition book next class, and have a great weekend.
APELC Class Notes
Fourth juniors and seniors, we covered the Angelou piece and you began drafting your narration as your colleagues in third did yesterday. Please check their notes for details and objectives.
English 9 Class Notes
Periods 2 and 6 freshmen, you worked well today to complete your setting idea-maps as your peers did yesterday in first. Check their notes for details and objectives, and please attend youe homework listed on your class page.
APELC Class Notes
Objectives: APELCers 1) processed a narrative text, and 2) employed invention strategies in the development of a narrative text.
Juniors and seniors of third period, our discussion of the Angleou piece today turned unexpectedly heated when Andy evaluated and defended his assessment of the author as a complete fraud. I enjoyed the exchange as others came to Angelou’s defense; it was authentic practice in argument, our bread and butter.
You then turned your attention to your first outside paper, a narration, which you began to flesh out using the exercises in the St. Martin’s Guide. Save your work until next class when you’ll pick up with the first collaboration activity that Megan and Taylor started for us today.
Check your class page for homework details, and please, please, please engage the homework protocol I elaborated again today in class.
UPDATE. I just revised the protocol again. It’s now named “How to Take and Review Notes”. Please heed the instructions.
English 9 Class Notes
Objectives: Freshmen identified and explained elements of setting and plot in a short story.
First freshmen, you put plenty of work into the idea-maps today which you used to describe characteristic elements of setting for our short story. You ran in to some trouble when I tried to review plot with you though. I hope “Talking to the Text” will help; I’ll encourage you on our next story to include literary foci on your internal notes over your reading. Remember that identification of explicit evidence is absolutely necessary to support your inferences.
Check you class page for homework details.
See you in a couple of days, and please remember to bring your independent reading book next class.
APELC Class Notes
Objectives: APELCers 1) processed an autobiographical text, and 2) practiced invention to develop ideas for narration.
We began class by examining the Soto excerpt in preparation for your revisions; and, speaking of your conferences, please sign up for yours if you’ve not already . There’re thirty-three openings, but they go fast and you don’t want to miss your opportunity. Revisions with completed cover sheets are due Tuesday, September 30 by 3:00.
We finished out the day using a brainstorming technique to help you develop ideas for your first outside paper, a narration, the first draft of which will be due Monday, September 29. We’ll talk more about this next class. Until then, please choose your topic from page 111 of the Bedford text an complete your “story”.
English 9 Class Notes
Objective: Freshmen identified and explained elements of setting in a short story.
We began today, freshmen, by creating a model mind-map in which we labeled setting characteristics of CDO which included its architectural, activity, environmental, and community traits. You then applied the same ideas to a search for similar characteristics in the setting of “The Rule of Names”.
Check your class page for homework details. See you soon, E9ers.
APELC Class Notes
Period 4 juniors and seniors, we had another lively discussion today in class with lots of questions and no easy answers.
Check your class page for homework details, and have a productive weekend.
English 9 Class Notes
Periods 2 and 6, please check yesterday’s notes for objectives and details, and check you class page for homework.
See you Monday.
APELC Class Notes
Objectives: APELCers 1) processed two opinion texts, and 2) wrote a rhetorical analysis.
A lively class today, period 3 juniors and seniors. We discussed the merits of Pollitt’s and Colson’s arguments, and finished with timed-writing 3. I will post a sign-up sheet for conference tomorrow at the end of the day, and have at least your papers back so those of you who want can fill the three slots I’ll make available Monday afternoon.
Please check your class page for homework details. See you tomorrow maybe.
English 9 Class Notes
Objective: Freshmen employed reading strategies to comprehend short story text.
Freshmen of first period, we began a new story today, “The Rule of Names”. We attacked the Before Reading notes together, and I set you to paired-reading. On your Post-its you connected, pictured, asked, defined, summarized, and predicted while you read. I asked you to answer several comprehension questions as you worked through the story.
Check your class page for homework details (pay attention to the last two bullets of the list), and have a great weekend.
APELC Class Notes
Juniors and seniors of fourth period, we tackled the same text and issues as your contemporaries in third yesterday. Check their notes for objectives and details.
I offered a couple other instances that gave some of you pause and caused you to reflect a little more carefully about whether we have the right (the duty? the obligation?) to judge others and their cultural practices, those physical texts in which they attempt to express their understanding of reality and truth. There was the story of of Yasmin, “SIERRA LEONE: Circumcision: A Girl’s Tale” , and the story of Hameeda, Raheema and Fauzia and the women that tried to help them, “Five women beaten and buried alive in Pakistan ‘honour killing’”.
It’s crass to refer to these practices as text; people are certainly more important than ideas. But is it possible to state that these instances are not “bad”, even that they are “good” in their cultural contexts? What think you?
We’re not done with this subject yet. Indeed, it’s questions of morality that give artists, leaders, professionals, and laymen the impetus to continue. We need only look to Lindsay Lohan as an example.
English 9 Class Notes
Period 2, we did the same as your first period colleagues, so check their notes for objectives and details. Period 6, we finally finished your paragraph over “The Cask of Amontillado”. We’ll have a quick quiz over “Checkouts” next class before moving on so you’ll be on par with your peers in first and second. Until then, peace out.