Pre-Halloween

Hello, my children of the night.

1: We finished the Wuthering Heights prompt. For any of you missing class, the prompt will need to be made up by November 4.

2: First, read above. Then, you were assigned the Lucy assignment -- the log in which you will detail purpose, characterization, tone, and other elements while reading Autobiography of a Face and Truth & Beauty. Remember, you need to check out one of the texts by the end of the day Monday.

4: See first hour.

7: After reviewing vocabulary for your quiz on Monday, you were assigned the Lucy assignment, which will be a log for your reading of Autobiography of a Face and Truth & Beauty. If you were absent, you can wait until Monday for the assignment since you do not have one of the texts with you.

Happy Halloween!

http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/ca_freeling/16751910/394/394_original.png

October 29 - 2 & 4

I haven't seen all of you in so long!

2: Tone prompts were turned in by 7:30 a.m.  Then, we read a passage from Wuthering Heights and analyzed the diction, imagery, syntax, structure, and tone via group analysis. To add to this prompt, we did a partner activity, which will help set up Friday's work. Make sure you bring this prompt and notes back for tomorrow's class.

4: In small groups (which occurs during all our collaborative learning since we are a party of 12), we analyzed the "Nightingale" stanzas. Then, it was time for the tone prompt assignment. The tone prompt deadline is Monday at 10:15 a.m. whether your are present (hard copy) or absent (digital copy). The final product may be handwritten or typed depending on your fancy.

In addition, we read the Wuthering Heights passage and broke into another group scenario analyzing its diction, imagery, syntax, structure, and tone. We will finish the tone group on Friday and then you will be writing this prompt during class. Make sure you bring your materials!

Tone & Overall Rhetoric - 1&7

1: After resuming vocabulary, we divided into small groups to analyze and identify the tone of the stanzas in "Ode to a Nightingale." Then, you received the tone prompt for our "birdie" poems. The tone prompt essay deadline is 7:30 a.m. on Friday - whether you are in class or absent. If in class, you are expected to turn in a hard copy by this deadline; if you are absent, you are expected to turn in a digital copy by this time. The essay may be handwritten or typed, depending on the writer's preference and situation.

We then began our return to multiple rhetorical strategies by reading the opening passage of Wuthering Heights in which we met Mr. Heathcliff and his abode. Through an opening discussion, we ascertained basic ideas of the character and setting. Then, in new groups, you analyzed one of the suggested prompt strategies to share with the class. Thus far, first hour has completed diction and imagery.

Friday's class will be 1 hour and 15 minutes due to scheduling. As this is an awkward amount of time, our exact agenda will depend on completion of certain steps for the Wuthering Heights prompt. I know that we will resume our group analysis for syntax, structure, and tone. We will also do more pre-work on this prompt. After that, we shall let the clock tell us how to proceed. Make sure you bring back your Wuthering Heights passage -- you do not want to lose any of your valuable notes for Friday's class.

7: Yes, I am the wicked witch making you complete 2 prompts in a 48 hour period.

After we finished Unit 15 vocabulary, we competed in last person standing, which Erica won! We will review on Friday and your quiz will be Monday.

Then, we returned to the Wuthering Heights passage in order to finish group analysis of syntax, structure, and tone. Following that analysis, you were regrouped into partnerships for the last pre-writing activity for this prompt. I am purposefully not writing that specific step down for the blog. Following this step, you gnashed your teeth, gave me the evil eye, and picked up your pen or pencil to compose the prompt, which was a 40 minute timed writing.

If you were absent, you will need to make up this writing in school --- as it is a timed writing prompt. However, you can definitely prep the passage via close reading to prepare for the prompt itself. Any absentees will need to set up an appointment to complete the prompt, which will need to be done by November 2. I will be giving this prompt in other hours this week as well if you would like to use study hall time for completion of the prompt.

For Friday's class, we will be spending quality time with the three musketeers -- logos, ethos, and pathos. We may be on the floor again!

7th Hour Only

For our abbreviated version of class today, we added 4 new vocab words to our vernacular. Then, we started reading the next prompt on Wuthering Heights. We will be working more on this during tomorrow's class. If you would like a copy, e-mail me and I will send you a digital attachment of the passage.

Your tone prompt is due by 12:55 p.m. on Wednesday --- whether you are here (hard copy) or absent (digital). Writer's choice of typed or handwritten.

See you tomorrow -- back to our Scholar Quiz scrimmage. A team just won the first match!

Birdies

First off, I wish all of you luck on the practice ACT tomorrow. As I mentioned in class, remember to use process of elimination, choose the most simple answer on the English portion, answer every question, and mark up your reading booklets (seriously, close reading is beneficial in so many ways -- it helps your comprehension and aids your speed in recovering textual answers).

Now, for the hourly report...
1: We finished "To a Skylark" individual analysis. For homework, read "Ode to a Nightingale" by Keats -- which can be found online at thousands of poetry websites -- and be prepared to share analysis and tone identification on Wednesday. We will also resume vocabulary and you will be assigned your tone writing prompt. As I mentioned in class, we will have two prompts this week and you will need to be responsible with all of your assignments and time management.

2: We finished "To a Skylark" and "Ode to a Nightingale" via individual, class, and small group analysis. While it was a rush job with Keats -- a sin in my eyes, but we needed to finish today-- you did receive the tone writing prompt. This prompt may be handwritten or typed -- writer's choice or circumstance -- and the deadline is 7:30 a.m. on Thursday. If you are absent, I must receive the prompt response at this same time via attachment or share.

4: Same as first hour above.

7: We read and completed small group analysis on "Ode to a Nightingale" and received the tone prompt assignment. The prompt may be handwritten or typed and the deadline is Wednesday at 12:55. If you are absent, I must receive the prompt response at this same time via attachment or share.

And, to give you a little reading about lesser known history in St. Louis and to put you in the Halloween spirit: http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/book-blog/when-body-snatching-came-to-s-st-louis/article_22da7cff-e391-5adf-9e63-4755069e04d2.html You never know -- this could be one of your examples for an argumentative essay.

To a Skylark - 7th hour

This will be a brief synopsis - vocab, ACT information, finished "To a Skylark" analysis. Next week, we will read, analyze, and prepare the next text for your tone prompt. Enjoy your weekend -- your class is still in the lead!

To a Skylark - 1st, 2nd, & 4th hours

For all of the listed hours, we began with vocabulary and an informational handout regarding the practice ACT on Tuesday.

Then...
1 & 4: We read "To a Skylark" by Shelley and I modeled for you how to do your individual assignment, which is to complete a line-by-line analysis of an assigned stanza and identify the tone(s) the speaker has towards the bird. If you were absent, you will need to contact me for your assigned stanza. You are expected to participate in this activity on Monday.

2: We began (and, unfortunately, did not finish) our "To a Skylark" participation stanzas. We will resume with stanza 18 on Monday and quickly wrap up the rest of the poem so we may read our secondary text.