Prepositional Short Stories

In order to broaden our knowledge of prepositions and their phrases, we constructed prepositional short stories that are currently hanging on the back wall.

Tomorrow's class will feature some paperwork, prepositional issues, and other grammar items.

Full AP test starts Monday and will be all of next week. It would behoove you to review your rhetorical strategies, tone words, and close reading strategies in order to excel on the exam.

Grammar Part I

For the next few days, we will be working with grammar and reviewing rhetorical strategies, tone words, and techniques for the AP Lang exam. Next week, we will take a full AP Lang exam and you will need to prepare for this event.

Kings & Queens Prompt

All AP Lang classes completed the synthesis prompt during class time. Any absentee students will complete the prompt during class tomorrow. We will work with grammar rules in the upcoming days. You will need to know these parts of speech: nouns, verbs, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and infinitives.

March 18

In all hours, we finished discussing Sources A-L in preparation for the synthesis prompt. On the back of the packet, you are to prepare an outline for writing the prompt essay. On our first day back, you will then write the essay as a timed prompt.

1 & 7: If you were absent for today's class discussion, you will need to e-mail me one observation for each source (E-L) that we covered during class. This is due no later than 7:25 a.m. on Tuesday, March 29.

March 16/17

Alex, Noah, and Tom presented me with these lovely spring flowers upon their return from band happenings. Quite a nice way to end the day, especially as we celebrated Elizabeth I's last speech. For all classes, you will need to have all speeches close read for Friday's class. DO NOT TOUCH THE PROMPT -- we will discuss the prompt and the related procedures during Friday's class time. Vocabulary experts, reviews, and quizzes are dependent on your specific hour's agenda. 

A Little Advertising

As the Scholar Quiz coach is your teacher and as Scholar Quiz team members are your classmates in first and fourth hours, I would like to promote our trivia night this year. For $90, you reserve a table for 8 of your family and friends, which includes 10 free mulligans (a free point per round). This year we have a theme: Decades! We are encouraging people to dress up and decorate their tables. The questions are written by the Scholar Quiz team and are directed at all age groups and levels of experience. While I cannot reveal our round topics, I can share that each round will feature questions from the 1920's to present day and the last round is inspired by the captain and me. We hope to see you there!

Kings & Queens & Guillotines

1: After vocabulary, we read King Henry VIII's parliamentary speech to break down his rhetorical techniques, tones, and persona. For homework, finish the remainder of the speech and preview the Elizabeth speeches remaining in the packet.

2 & 7: Ditto first hour with the addition of the rangefinder review.

4: After vocab review, we delved into Elizabeth I and her three speeches. For homework, read the remainder of the packet and correct all the spelling errors on the assigned speech.

Surveys, Synthesis, & Henry VIII I Am

I would highly recommend checking out previous and future blogs for links to English kings and queens. The links may be embedded in other hours, so check out the full blog for all of your ethos-building needs.

1: Unit 20 vocabulary began -- we most likely expedite this unit so that we may finish before spring break. The only other item on the docket was the MO Student Survey, which humorously took the majority of class time.

2: After vocabulary time, you were introduced to synthesis-style prompts, scoring evaluations, and rangefinders. For homework, finish reading the 7,8,9 examples, and we will look over these tomorrow.

4: After the last of the vocabulary words, we spent quality time with Henry VIII and his speech strategies towards Parliament, the Church, and the hoi polloi. While you do not have a homework assignment for tonight, you are more than welcome to pre-read the Elizabeth texts for understanding.

Want to sound more knowledgeable about Elizabeth I in class tomorrow?

You can read this biography about the Virgin Queen:  http://www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandqueensofengland/thetudors/elizabethi.aspx

You can watch the preview for the film Elizabeth here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyGBwrtIamw or find an opportunity to watch the full version in other formats.

You can check out any of the film versions listed here:  http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/elizafilms.htm

7: In theory, we completed all of the items listed under second hour. Due to a family health issue, I most likely will not be updating the blog this evening.

My AP Lang Test

As first hour is busy with the MO Student Survey - and enjoying it a little too much, I thought I would share a blog post from AP Lit for you.

Since we have reached the deadline for registering for the test, it is time for me to start considering the true test I must take every year: the purchase of shoes to celebrate my AP classes. Below are the previous years' shoes: AP Lang/Lit 2014, AP Lit 2015, and AP Lang 2016. Obviously, I try to select fun styles in order to reflect my fond memories of working with all of you. Any suggestions for this year?

Charlotte Olympia Ice Cream, Sophia Webster Banana Amanda, Sophia Webster Flamingo

March 11

So, what will be doing the last quarter of AP Lang? Everything, really. After our synthesis extravaganza, The Kings and Queens' speeches, we will complete a full practice test. Then, we will start reviewing all the skills and styles from the year: close reading multiple choice passages, rhetorical terms, tone words, rhetorical analysis, argumentation, and synthesis. The subjects will include governmental essays, Nobel Prize winners, and a certain mash-up that I will keep secret. Let's just say that I wait all year for that prompt. There will also be several opportunities to add to your tally sheet.

1: We analyzed the free response rangefinders, recognizing the importance of including at least three sources (impressive to blend more than one in a paragraph), writing with mature, engaging diction, and creating a cognizant argument. In addition, we completed the guidance survey.

Monday's class will involve taking the MO Student Survey, resuming vocabulary, and commencing our topic for our synthesis: Kings and Queens' speeches. We will be staring with Henry the VIII I am, so any prior ethos you have on the topic is welcome.

Or, you can catch up on one of my favorite historical times here:  http://www.royal.gov.uk/historyofthemonarchy/kingsandqueensofengland/thetudors/henryviii.aspx

Or, if you would like to watch the movie that created the image of Henry VIII with a turkey leg in his paws, check out the The Private Life of Henry VIII, the full film here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX3i1SREp0A

Or, you could read/watch any Phillipa Gregory novel such as The Other Boleyn Girl. Looking over her bibliography, I realize I have not read half of her works yet and I will be shortly. Don't get me started on The White Queen!

2: We completed 2 surveys during the class time: guidance and MO Student Survey. With little time remaining in the hour, we added four more words to vocabulary.

Monday's class will involve vocabulary, synthesis prompts and rangefinders, and our own synthesis text study. To build your ethos on our first speech subject, Henry VIII, check out the information and links under first hour.

4: After vocabulary, we completed the guidance and MO Student Survey and wrapped up the hour sharing tone paragraphs.

Monday's class will involve vocabulary and starting our synthesis work on the Kings and Queens' speeches. Our first speech will feature the king with the most infamously large reputation, King Henry VIII. Check out the info and links in first hour's class if you would like to have more ethos.

7: Your class sure did enjoy taking those surveys during Friday's class. As a result of the Academic assembly, tapping, and surveys, we did not manage to make it to vocabulary or synthesis work. So, guess what will happen Monday? Check out the hints and links under first hour if you would like to expand your ethos.

Flaw Essay Grade

During this evening and into tomorrow, you will be receiving comments on your digitally shared human flaw research essays. I am leaving comments on distractions (especially those in the introduction), your paragraph content, and your formatting. This assignment will have 2 grades, which will reflect the essay's argumentative prowess and MLA correctness. The essay, as with the majority of our prompts, is worth 100 points and will be evaluated on the AP 1-9 scale. The MLA score will cover essay format, correct citations, and the Works Cited Page; this will be valued at 18 points utilizing the 1-9 scale and multiplying the score by 2.

March 9/10

I need to go on a grade fest, so today's blog recap will be on the short side.

1: Copy down vocabulary unit 20 to start vocab experts on Friday. Timed introductions for 6 and 5 minutes on licenses and Zika virus. Tone paragraphs on the topic of school. Introduced synthesis prompts by looking at the 2010 prompt and its attached sources. Read rangefinders for Friday to discuss how to score a 9 on this essay.

2: We started unit 20 vocab. You received your certainty/doubt essay prompts back. Timed introductions for 6 and 5 minutes on licenses and Zika virus. Tone paragraphs on the topic of school hallways. Tomorrow equals fun with synthesis prompt writing.

4: We continued unit 20 vocab. We reviewed synthesis rangefinders and realized that your mature argument and the usage of multiple sources throughout the essay will score you a 9. We ended class with tone paragraphs on Australian animals.

7: Check out second hour's recap for the main agenda. The only differences are the tone paragraph topic was fast food, and we bickered about the t-shirt design. I still am partisan towards "We know more vocab words than Ms. Gianini has shoes."

March 8

Want to have additional ethos for class this week and show off your knowledge in front of your classmates? Our first synthesis assignment will involve English kings and queens. First up will be Henry VIII and Elizabeth I!

1: We started class with your vocab "quiz," or an opportunity to add to your tally sheets. There will be no make-up quizzes as this was not for a grade. Next are the certainty/doubt prompts, which your class average a 7.2! As a result of such strong argumentation essays, we will be moving directly into synthesis writing in the next classes. To finish the class, we completed 8 minute and 7 minute timed introductions of girls' fear and Peter the Great's infamous beard tax. As noted in class, an introduction with strong diction, original analogies, and clear claims creates a trust with the reader that you will lead him or her to a mature, engaging, thorough essay.

2: After copying down Unit 20 vocabulary, we determined our class t-shirt! Thanks Emma and Gia for your designs! The remainder of the hour focused on timed introductions of the 8 and 7 minute variety. Using girls' fear and Peter the Great's infamous beard tax, you were able to compose introductions that engaged the reader and provided a strong focus to the argumentation topics. 

4: As per usual, the events of fourth hour differed from the other AP Lang classes. To start, we began our new unit of vocabulary. To continue forward, we celebrated an average 7.6 on the certainty/doubt prompts. To wind down, we looked at synthesis writing by breaking down a prompt and reading the attached examples. We will read the rangefinders on Thursday for exemplification of this writing style.

7: After writing down Unit 20 vocabulary -- absentees will find their assigned word on the board -- we practiced timed introduction writing, utilizing girls' fear and Peter the Great's beard tax in 8 and 7 minutes sessions. We then spent the rest of the hour talking about the class t-shirt. 

March 7

THE DEADLINE FOR AP TEST REGISTRATION IS FRIDAY, MARCH 11!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    Do not forget to sign up for the test -- you have been preparing for this exam since August, and it is time to exhibit your talents at writing and comprehension.

Final draft of the flaw essay is due by 2:45 p.m. -- this may be shared or turned in via hard copy by this time.

1: The first 15 minutes were reserved for peer review work on the flaw final draft. Following this event, you reviewed tone words and completed the tone quest. Any absentees will need to make up this quest by Wednesday. Tomorrow will start with a vocab "quiz." You will find out tomorrow why I keep using quotation marks for this quiz.

2: We started off today with reviewing for the tone quest prior to the actual completion of the quest. Any absentees will need to make up this quest by Wednesday. To end the class, we had a vocab "quiz," which was for tally points and not a grade. Hence, absentees will not make up this assignment.

4: After copying down and assigning Vocab 20 words, we finished our timed introductions. As noted in our last two classes, the breadth of examples behooves strong writing styles and individuality in argumentation. Last, we (almost) finalized the t-shirt. Thank you to Haley and Anna for providing our designs!

7: In theory, it is everything listed for hour one above.

March 4

Sadly, first hour students have not submitted any t-shirt designs for AP Lang, and it looks like that hour will not have t-shirts this year. Happily, second, fourth, and seventh hours will be debating over the final t-shirt designs during upcoming classes. P.S. I absolutely adore fourth hour's design! I may have to order that one in multiple colors!

1, 2, 7: Peer Review of the flaw research essay. If your group did not finish the peer review, make sure to comment on your fellow students' work. First hour, you will have about 15 minutes on Monday to regroup and discuss any last minute ideas. The final draft is due by 2:45 p.m. on Monday in hard copy or digital formats. Do not forget to turn in this essay - it is the last major point activity of the quarter. In addition, we will have a tone quest on Monday and most likely wrap up unit 19 vocabulary.

4: After our 8 minute timed introduction -- impressive examples from Lyle, Abigail, and Christen to show the variations of argumentation and voice -- we reviewed tone words, completed the tone quest, and (almost) finalized the class t-shirt design. :) Thanks, my peer review group, for now making me put smiley faces on my writings.

All AP Langers: March 11 is the deadline for AP test registration. After all of your hard work this year, you have improved your analysis and writing skills in order to complete the exam and score well. Do not forget!

Allusion Quest Makeup Date

If you missed the allusion quest in classes on this week, there will be 2 occasions to make up this assignment. Either before school on Monday at 7 a.m. or after school on Monday at 2:30 p.m. Makeups will take approximately 20-25 minutes. Plan now so that you are there for the makeup sessions.

March 2/3

I am happy to announce that a second hour student has submitted a t-shirt design. If your class would like a t-shirt to show off our AP Lang coterie, you need to submit via e-mail or hard copy to me a.s.a.p.  

1, 2, & 7: Today was the deadline for your 4 source pages and range configuration of examples. While I was discussing several various topics with the line, the remaining parties reviewed vocabulary for our upcoming quiz. This quiz will be quite brief, but it still requires you to prepare for its completion.

Next, Dickens, Atwood, Graff, Emerson, and Conrad groups presented the analysis of multiple choice passages. Remember, you should always close read, use process of elimination, and notice "except" when it occurs. Those simple tips -- along with all the other skills and strategies we have discussed in previous classes -- will help you exponentially.

The remainder of the class was the "intense" (borrowed diction from Lucas) Allusion Quest, a class-wide challenge to identify 300 allusions. If absent for this activity and currently in a second hour study hall, you are welcome to join second hour tomorrow to complete the activity. Any remaining absentees will have 2 options next week to make up the Quest. Exact day/time will TBD. 

Don't forget to have your first draft ready for Friday's peer editing.

4: The majority of our class revolved around peer editing our research essays. I quite enjoyed my group experience -- thanks Anna, Kaitlyn, and Lyle for letting me part of your group :) We wrapped up the hour tallying up vocabulary in place of an official quiz. Tone Quest tomorrow -- we may review first if time permits.

Research Essay Deadline Extended!

I just sent an e-mail off to all AP Langers regarding a change of plans regarding the final draft deadline. While the first draft peer review will occur on Thursday (4) and Friday (1,2,7), the final draft deadline - for all classes - will now be Monday, March 7, at 2:45 p.m. You may turn this in as a hard copy or share via Google. Happy writing!

March 1

Need t-shirt designs submitted for each AP Lang class. If your hour does not submit any designs, you will not have commemorative t-shirts for the course. I like adding to my wardrobe, so I hope that several of you will take up the challenge.

1, 2, 7: Continuance of vocabulary commenced the class. Then, we finished our discussion of the article packet and practiced a 9 minute timed introduction. For the remainder of our time, you received your MC tests and analyzed a specific passage for teaching tomorrow. 

Block Day Hijinks will include vocabulary review, multiple choice passage teaching and analysis, timed introduction writing, a massive allusion quest, and a tone quest. 

4: After vocabulary review, you completed a class-wide allusion quest. If absent, you will make this up after school with other absentees.

Block Day Hijinks will include peer editing your research essay, timed introduction writing, and a tone quest.