In class, students reviewed analytical papers and discussed the writing process.
HW due Wed: Vocab. Unit 4. Read F. Scott Fitzgerald handout distributed in class and write 1-paragraph response: What four life experiences do you believe most contributed to Fitzgerald's success as a writer?
Monday, April 16, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Thurs, March 22
In class, students discussed elements of suspense in The Monkey's Paw. Students who missed class must read this story and complete the assignment below.
HW due Monday: If you are in class, you need to have a list of ideas related to the topic below. If you will be missing class on Monday, you must submit either to my box or via email a paragraph on the topic.
Select either "The Lottery" or "The Monkey's Paw" and conceive of an alternative ending to one of the two stories.
HW due Monday: If you are in class, you need to have a list of ideas related to the topic below. If you will be missing class on Monday, you must submit either to my box or via email a paragraph on the topic.
Select either "The Lottery" or "The Monkey's Paw" and conceive of an alternative ending to one of the two stories.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Monday, March 19
In class, students discussed the elements of suspense in film and
writing. Students who missed class must complete homework in time to
participate in class tomorrow.
READ: "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson either online or pick up copy from desk in classroom.
Read the story twice. On the first, read solely for entertainment purposes and to follow the plot. On the second, take notes on specific lines from the story or techniques the author uses to establish suspense. After reading the second time and taking notes, write up to 1 paragraph evaluating the effectiveness of the development of suspense in this story.
All work on "The Lottery" due for Tuesday's class. A second story will be distributed in class and posted here Tuesday due in Thursday's class.
READ: "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson either online or pick up copy from desk in classroom.
Read the story twice. On the first, read solely for entertainment purposes and to follow the plot. On the second, take notes on specific lines from the story or techniques the author uses to establish suspense. After reading the second time and taking notes, write up to 1 paragraph evaluating the effectiveness of the development of suspense in this story.
All work on "The Lottery" due for Tuesday's class. A second story will be distributed in class and posted here Tuesday due in Thursday's class.
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15
In class, students submitted completed Dorian Gray projects and completed a reflective journal entry. Traveling students must submit projects upon return and complete journal on own.
Prompt:
"A man who waits to believe in action before acting is anything you like, but he is not a man of action. It is as if a tennis player before returning the ball stopped to think about his views of the physical and mental advantages of tennis. You must act as you breathe." -Georges Clemenceau
Is is true that acting quickly and instinctively is the best response to a crisis? Or are there times when an urgent situation requires a more careful consideration and a slower response? Plan your response, and then write an essay.
On Monday, we will begin a unit reading and analyzing short stories that will take us through Spring Break. The stories will be posted to this blog on Monday for access if you are traveling. Check back then.
Prompt:
"A man who waits to believe in action before acting is anything you like, but he is not a man of action. It is as if a tennis player before returning the ball stopped to think about his views of the physical and mental advantages of tennis. You must act as you breathe." -Georges Clemenceau
Is is true that acting quickly and instinctively is the best response to a crisis? Or are there times when an urgent situation requires a more careful consideration and a slower response? Plan your response, and then write an essay.
On Monday, we will begin a unit reading and analyzing short stories that will take us through Spring Break. The stories will be posted to this blog on Monday for access if you are traveling. Check back then.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Tues, March 13
Reminder: Picture of Dorian Gray final projects due at start of class Thursday, March 15th. We will complete a journal entry with the remainder of Thursday's class. Students who are traveling and cannot submit projects must do so immediately upon return to campus.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Mon, March 5
In class: students finalized project proposals for their creative Picture of Dorian Gray projects in which they must select a format in order to express their understanding of at least 3 themes from the book.
HW due Tues: Final draft of project proposal. If traveling, please email to cfeehan at burkemtnacademy.org.
In both Tuesday's and Thursday's classes, students will work on their projects. Please bring appropriate materials to class.
Project draft due Monday, March 12 to demonstrate progress and receive feedback. Final projects due Thursday, March 15 (or immediately upon return from travel). Firm deadlines.
HW due Tues: Final draft of project proposal. If traveling, please email to cfeehan at burkemtnacademy.org.
In both Tuesday's and Thursday's classes, students will work on their projects. Please bring appropriate materials to class.
Project draft due Monday, March 12 to demonstrate progress and receive feedback. Final projects due Thursday, March 15 (or immediately upon return from travel). Firm deadlines.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thurs, Feb. 16
Homework due Mon, Feb 27 - finish reading The Picture of Dorian Gray and complete all questions on both sides of the Reading Guide (plot questions and quotations).
Enjoy February Break!
Enjoy February Break!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Thurs, Feb. 9
In class on Monday, students completed Journal Entry #6 on the following topic (traveling students are expected to complete this as well):
From early childhood, we are encouraged--pressured, even--to be in the company of others: we are urged to belong to this or that group, to join this or that club, to spend time with this or that friend. People do everything to avoid being by themselves, treating solitude as though it were the equivalent of loneliness. And yet it is only when people are by themselves that they can truly achieve their most important goals.
Is solitude--spending time alone--necessary for people to achieve their most important goals? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue.
This journal entry will be discussed in class on Mon., Feb. 13th.
On Tuesday, students read The Picture of Dorian Gray (PoDG) on their own. There was no specific page assignment.
Due Mon., Feb. 13th: Students need to have read PoDG through pg. 126 and complete Reading Guide and Quotations through that point. Reading Guides and Quotations pages will be checked on Monday. Students who are not present on Monday must present Reading Guides and Quotation pages upon return to class.
From early childhood, we are encouraged--pressured, even--to be in the company of others: we are urged to belong to this or that group, to join this or that club, to spend time with this or that friend. People do everything to avoid being by themselves, treating solitude as though it were the equivalent of loneliness. And yet it is only when people are by themselves that they can truly achieve their most important goals.
Is solitude--spending time alone--necessary for people to achieve their most important goals? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue.
This journal entry will be discussed in class on Mon., Feb. 13th.
On Tuesday, students read The Picture of Dorian Gray (PoDG) on their own. There was no specific page assignment.
Due Mon., Feb. 13th: Students need to have read PoDG through pg. 126 and complete Reading Guide and Quotations through that point. Reading Guides and Quotations pages will be checked on Monday. Students who are not present on Monday must present Reading Guides and Quotation pages upon return to class.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, Jan 30
In class today, students completed a journal entry on the following prompt in preparation for tomorrow's book discussion: Youth and innocence are two themes that permeate the opening chapters of The Picture of Dorian Gray. In Chapter 2, Lord Henry tells Dorian, "... you have the most marvelous youth, and youth is the one thing worth having." Do you believe it is better to embrace youth and innocence or to seek out experience and wisdom? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue.
HW: students who are behind on journal entries must complete make-up responses by tomorrow's class in order to receive credit.
HW: students who are behind on journal entries must complete make-up responses by tomorrow's class in order to receive credit.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday, Jan 26
In class today, students broke up into research groups and then shared information on the following subjects: Victorian Era, hedonism, Oscar Wilde's personal life, and Oscar Wilde's writings and contributions to society.
HW due Mon: Read Wilde biography page, skip Introduction, then read pgs 3 (Preface)-33 (end Chapter 2) in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Complete any Reading Guide answers that are covered in those pages. Monday's Journal Writing prompt will have to do with this reading.
Note on Journals: journals will be marked over the weekend. By the end of Thursday, you should have 4 entries. This week's topic below.
Many societies believe that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human right. But it is also true that attainment of happiness remains elusive. Perhaps Bertrand Russell had it right when he said, "To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness."
What gives us more pleasure and satisfaction: the pursuit of our desires or the attainment of them? Plan your response, then write an essay.
HW due Mon: Read Wilde biography page, skip Introduction, then read pgs 3 (Preface)-33 (end Chapter 2) in The Picture of Dorian Gray. Complete any Reading Guide answers that are covered in those pages. Monday's Journal Writing prompt will have to do with this reading.
Note on Journals: journals will be marked over the weekend. By the end of Thursday, you should have 4 entries. This week's topic below.
Many societies believe that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human right. But it is also true that attainment of happiness remains elusive. Perhaps Bertrand Russell had it right when he said, "To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness."
What gives us more pleasure and satisfaction: the pursuit of our desires or the attainment of them? Plan your response, then write an essay.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Tuesday, Jan 17
In class today, students completed journal writing on the following topic:
"Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life." -Dr. David M. Burns
Do people focus so much on doing things right that they fail to learn from their mistakes? Plan and write on this issue for 35 minutes.
Class will NOT meet on Thursday, Jan 19 due to full class travel (except Griff!). Students are expected to complete a draft of their short story, have it peer edited, and finish a final draft for submission in Monday's class.
Due Monday, Jan 23: Both peer edited draft + final draft of short stories due. Class discussion on above journal prompt will also take place.
"Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life." -Dr. David M. Burns
Do people focus so much on doing things right that they fail to learn from their mistakes? Plan and write on this issue for 35 minutes.
Class will NOT meet on Thursday, Jan 19 due to full class travel (except Griff!). Students are expected to complete a draft of their short story, have it peer edited, and finish a final draft for submission in Monday's class.
Due Monday, Jan 23: Both peer edited draft + final draft of short stories due. Class discussion on above journal prompt will also take place.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Thurs, Jan 12
In class, students worked independently on short story writing.
HW due Mon (for all): Come to class with a peer edit worthy draft of your short story. You must be finished with every section of the plot curve within your story and it must be proofread and spell/grammar checked before coming to class.
HW due Mon (for all): Come to class with a peer edit worthy draft of your short story. You must be finished with every section of the plot curve within your story and it must be proofread and spell/grammar checked before coming to class.
Tues, Jan 10
In class, students completed a journal entry on the below prompt. Traveling students should complete this and bring to class for Monday.
I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the
very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite. –G.K.
Chesterton (1874-1936)
Are people held back by their adherence to the beliefs of
the majority or doing things in the conventional way? Plan and write an essay
in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position
with reasoning and examples from your own reading, studies, experiences, or
observations.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Thurs, Jan 5
In class, students conferenced with peers to narrow down short story plot lines to a single selection. Details necessary for the exposition were discussed. Over the weekend, students should begin to sketch out plot line.
Mon, Jan 9: No class due to full class travel.
Tues, Jan 10: Journal Writing Monday (moved to Tues!)
Thurs, Jan 12: Students should come to class with rough draft of short story (1-6 pages with full plot line incorporated).
Mon, Jan 9: No class due to full class travel.
Tues, Jan 10: Journal Writing Monday (moved to Tues!)
Thurs, Jan 12: Students should come to class with rough draft of short story (1-6 pages with full plot line incorporated).
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Tues, Jan 3
In class, students took notes on fiction plot curves and elements of short stories.
HW due Thurs, 1/5: 2 examples of short story plans including genre, conflict, characters, setting.
HW due Thurs, 1/5: 2 examples of short story plans including genre, conflict, characters, setting.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Mon, Jan 2
In class, students completed a 30-minute handwritten in-class essay on the following topic:
"Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem." -Henry Kissinger (1923- )
What is your view on the idea that each new success leads to new and more difficult problems? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples from your own reading, studies, experiences, or observations.
HW due Tues, Jan 3: Final drafts of Candide papers due.
"Each success only buys an admission ticket to a more difficult problem." -Henry Kissinger (1923- )
What is your view on the idea that each new success leads to new and more difficult problems? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on this issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples from your own reading, studies, experiences, or observations.
HW due Tues, Jan 3: Final drafts of Candide papers due.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)