English 9 Class Notes
Freshmens, we met with counselors today to discuss registration for next year; here’s the link to the Course Descriptions Handbook so you can review your options over the break. The last half of the period, you had the option of working out your course choices for 2010-2011 or reading your liberry books.
Have a nice break. Enjoy your time off as much as Russian crooner Eduard Hill seems to be enjoying himself singing “I Am Very Glad Because I’m Finally Back Home”:
See you in a little over a week.
APELC Class Notes
Objectives: APELCers 1) completed a critical reading assessment, and 2) assessed their thinking, reading, and writing skills.
First and third period, you completed the multiple-choice section of the practice exam today and you calculated your overall scores. As I suspected, there were plenty of fours and threes, with some a handful of scores on the top and bottom ends of the scale. If you’re disappointed in your score, I encourage you to think more positively: This was the first full exam you’ve completed and the testing session wasn’t authentic as it was spread out over the week. We will continue to prepare throughout the fourth quarter; I have every faith that you’ll do as well as you’ve prepared and you’re intended to do.
Your four page (minimum) worldview drafts/outlines are due Monday, March 22. I expect a paragraph outline, essentially, again, an encyclopedia article of your own creation from your various sources of topical paragraphs that explain content and ideas, written with complete sentences and punctuated appropriately. Focus on worldview facts and your evaluations; include narrative elements if you’re able.
You should include a rudimentary Works Cited page with your draft, and I’d like to you to group your citations by type (Books, Articles, et cetera) so I can check them quicker. For quotation and citation purposes, as I’ve mentioned repeatedly, you’ll find no better free resource than the MLA Formatting and Style Guide at the Purdue OWL. Know and use the following pages in particular:
Final drafts due and presentations begin Thursday, April 22, and Friday, April 23. Details for content and sign-up for presentations will be available when we return.
On a last, more serious note before you go into the break, I was stunned to discover so few students were familiar with Pearl Jam, who, along with Nirvana and Soundgarden, formed the (popular) triumvirate of grunge rock in the early 1990s. This is your cultural heritage; here’s work from all three:
Have a restful but productive break.
English 9 Class Notes
Objectives: Freshmen identified and explained literary concepts in autobiography.
We completed the short Angelou piece today, freshmens, and you had time to begin your homework based on the reading.
Here’s more on “Lift Every Voice and Sing”, also known as the Negro National Anthem: The song was featured on an NPR broadcast several years ago as part of a series detailing American cultural icons. After you listen, check out the following videos of two versions of the song, the first by the Soul Children of Chicago and the second by Marvin Gaye’s often-partner Kim Weston’s.
And here’s a video of “Graduation” author Maya Angelou’s reading her poem, “On the Pulse of Morning” at Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993. (And here’s the text.)
You have homework. Check details on your class page.
English 9 Class Notes
Objective: Freshmen 1) differentiated between theme and motif, and 2) generated their own themes for movies.
We did as the objective states, freshmen. Remember that a motif is a recurring element, idea, image, et cetera, that appears throughout and/or helps structure a text. A theme is an independent clause (a sentence, a declarative statement), not a single word or phrase, that explains a text’s insight about humanity, culture life, and the world. It’s not a “moral” or a “lesson”, and doesn’t name characters or plot details. We’ll continue to practice this idea for the rest of the school year.
Because of the short period, we were unable to begin the composition as I’d planned, and so we’ll commence writing on Monday. Remember that you should have two of your own themes for Romeo and Juliet then.
Have a great weekend, and if you can’t get to the rodeo, you can enjoy Whiplash the Monkey Cowboy!
Ride Whiplash! Ride like the wind:
Happy Rodeo Days!
APELC Class Notes
Second and fourth juniors and seniors, we covered the same ground as your period 1 and 3 peers yesterday. Check their notes for objectives and details.
Fourth period did have a special impromptu presentation by Natalie in which she showed-off her Irish step-dancing talents. It was neat and made me think of the following existential questions: What is art?, What is diversion?, What are bodies?, What are our physical limits?, What is movement?, Why do we move? What moves us?, and What animates us? Good job kid; we were impressed.
Here’s an example of the Irish step-dance by American Jean Butler, famously of Riverdance:
Cool stuff.
No homework, and I thank you for patience ahead of time as I work to score all of your papers.
Have a great weekend.