AP Language 2007

Saying good-bye to Frank McCourt

2009-07-19T22:38:00.002-04:00

http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1911633,00.html

Another Thank You!

2009-06-05T17:27:00.000-04:00

To Ms. Hassenplug's class,
No kind act goes unnoticed. The kindness you passed forward to my Multiply Disabled class through the gift of books was extremely generous. My students enjoy hearing stories daily and derive much pleasure from books that are read. We were fortunate to receive four new books for our personal library from your gift. One particular book chosen will always remind us of your kindness. It is entitled Have You Filled a Bucket Today? It states that we all carry invisible buckets and others can choose to either fill or empty them. The book helps teach the importance of filling buckets by doing good deeds, lifting others up, not tearing them down or depleting their joy by hurting them. You all chose to fill our buckets with goodness, kindness and generosity. We truly appreciate this. May you continue to think of others and reap the joy that comes from giving. Fondly, Mrs. Jeanne Heinke and the staff and students from the HPRHS Multiply Disabled class.

Thank You!

2009-05-12T12:18:00.002-04:00

To Ms. Hassenplug's class of '08 students:

Thank you all from myself and my class for the wonderful gift of books that you have given us. The books arrived today and caused much excitement in my classroom when Ms. Hassenplug delivered them. One of the books we requested is an audio book, "The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog". We're certain that this is a book that Scruffy will enjoy listening to with us! Thanks again for your generosity and thoughtfulness. We'll think of you all whenever we read these stories.

Mrs. Smith and the students of the MCI Class

Survey on College Writing

2009-04-13T12:42:00.003-04:00

Hi again! If you have a moment, fill out this survey on what you need to know to be successful writing in college. Thanks for your input! Enjoy the final weeks of your freshman year!

Hey, All You Writers Out There!

2009-03-31T10:44:00.004-04:00

Hi from High Point!

I hope all of you are well and enjoying college. I want to let you know about a writing contest for college students--creative non-fiction--you know, memoir. You guys have some wonderful stories--tell them! And win $10,000! Good luck!

http://www.ncte.org/awards/student/nmwa

Could you save him?

2008-11-04T13:25:00.001-05:00

Cast your Vote

2008-10-21T20:38:00.001-04:00

Some of you will be casting your first vote for REAL in a few weeks. For the rest of you, try this: If the World Could Vote.

James is Famous!

2008-10-19T22:35:00.002-04:00

But we knew that, didn't we? For those of you checking in, here's an article James wrote for his college paper, The Muhlenberg Advocate. Pretty cool, huh?

Who's next??

I know it's summer but...

2008-07-14T12:32:00.002-04:00

I couldn't resist sharing this. Talk about analysis of visual text! The new cover of The New Yorker is causing a stir. Keep thinking!

Happy 4th of July!

2008-07-04T13:23:00.002-04:00

Celebrate by reading! Check out the Time magazine articles by Obama and McCain. Great for rhetorical analysis! Hope you're all having a great summer. Miss you!

This is it!

2008-06-17T20:42:00.004-04:00

Congratulations to Chris for receiving the English award. I'm sure we all have our Chris stories that illustrate his incredible passion for literature and for writing. Keep your eye out for his first novel one of these days! And I'm confident he won't be the only one. So many of you have such talent and such drive that I can't wait to see "what becomes of you." Please keep in touch. Keep blogging. You are forever linked to this page, so I hope to be able to read your prose and poetry for years to come. Happy Graduation!

One more thing...The Teach and her wonderfully generous gift. Most of you know we have decided to purchase exciting books for Mrs. Heinke's autistic class and Mrs. Smith's MCI (Multiply Cognitive Impaired) class. Mrs. Fenlon will add book plates to the front recognizing your gift to these and future students who have difficulty reading but love stories as much as you do. I'm proud of your generosity and, of course, so grateful to The Teach for this kind gift. Please send her a note of thanks when you have a moment of peace after these busy few weeks. Her blog is linked on the left.

Be sure to thank those who have done so much for you. And be proud of yourselves for your hard work and commitment not just to academics but to becoming well-rounded "citizen rhetors." The world awaits!

Week of 6/9-6/13

2008-06-07T20:28:00.002-04:00

It's that time!

Period 2 Exam begins on Monday and concludes on Wednesday. Thursday: Presentation of Projects.

Period 6: Presentation of Projects--Monday through Wednesday. Final exam on Friday.

May the force be with you!

What's in a Name?

2008-06-03T18:47:00.001-04:00

We talked about Cash and Jewel. Here's a full analysis of Faulkner's selection of characters' names. Interesting stuff!

And how about this amazing quote from Faulkner himself:

"Darl was mad. He did things which seemed to me he had to do or he insisted on doing. His reasons I could try to rationalize to suit myself, even if I couldn’t rationalize his reasons to please me I had to accept the act because Darl insisted on doing that. I mean that any character that you write about takes charge of his own behavior. You can’t make him do things once he becomes alive and stands up and casts his own shadow. Darl did things which I am sure were for his own mad reasons quite logical. I couldn’t always understand why he did things, but he did insist on doing things, and when we would quarrel about it, he always won, because at that time he was alive, he was under his own power" (Wiley).

Unspeak

2008-06-02T16:02:00.002-04:00

An interesting look at the manipulation of language, particularly as it applies to war terminology. Interviewed is Steven Poole, the author of Unspeak: How Words Become Weapons, How Weapons Become a Message, and How That Message Becomes Reality. Have a listen.

Week of 6/2-6/6: Yes, it's really JUNE!

2008-06-01T09:50:00.002-04:00

Monday: Discuss up to page 213. (Period 2: I will have to leave for a meeting. Do a good job without me.) HW: Read p. 214-238.

This is what they're putting Cash through...

Tuesday: Discuss p. 214-238. Read 239-261 (finish the book!)

Wednesday: Discuss the ending. Work on motif analysis.

Thursday: Motif tracking posters are due and will be presented. Period 2: Hand in your AP service project if you think you might be exempt from the exam. If not, wait until Wednesday, June 11, to present in class. See me on Friday to find out if you're exempt. Period 6: Project due Monday; presentations Mon-Wed, 6/9-6/11.

Friday: Senior Fun in the Sun Day! See you on the Slip 'n Slide!

Week of 5/27-5/30

2008-05-23T13:49:00.002-04:00

Monday: Happy Memorial Day

Tuesday: Discuss As I Lay Dying through page 168. HW: Read Addie's chapter (only!)--to page 176.

Wednesday: Discuss Addie's chapter. HW: Read to page 213 for Monday.

Thursday and Friday: Senior Trip. Have a good time. Be safe!

Week of 5/19-5/23

2008-05-19T17:20:00.002-04:00

Monday: Review proposals. Select motif to track during the reading of As I Lay Dying.

Tuesday: Begin reading As I Lay Dying, an amazing masterpiece that I hope you love--or at least appreciate! Begin tracking your motif.

Schedule to follow. It's getting difficult with all the end-of-the-year activities (and cut days!), so be prepared for some good chunks of outside reading.

Week of 5/12-16

2008-05-11T19:38:00.003-04:00

Monday and Tuesday: Final preparations for AP test. Review past argument questions.
Wednesday: Show your stuff! Good luck!
Thursday: Breathe.
Friday: What's next? Make a plan. Due Monday. You'll understand on Friday.

A New Note from TheTeach...

2008-05-08T17:53:00.002-04:00

As you prepare for your test, theteach is reading the article selections right along with you. She has sent a message that she is burning incense for your success on the big day!

She has also created her own blog just for you. As she comes across articles or information that she thinks you will find interesting, she is posting them to her blog. Please check it out and return regularly. Read the links, ask questions, post comments.

I will add the link here and add it to the list on the side.

Thanks, Teach!

Week of 5/5-5/9

2008-05-05T16:59:00.006-04:00

Monday: "A Modest Proposal"--isn't Swift awesome? Thanks for putting up with my illness today. Not quite up to snuff, but I'll be there tomorrow. HW: "Make College Admissions A Crapshoot" and "Children as Inmates."

Tuesday: Review articles. "A War Prayer." HW: "Battle of the Books."

Wednesday: "Battle of the Books." HW: "Of Studies."

Thursday: "Of Studies." Good luck to AP Lit test-takers!

Friday: Footnotes and Ten Commandments of AP Language.

And just for fun: Can you say satire? And again?

The Next Step

2008-04-29T10:55:00.002-04:00

Heard this on the way to school this morning on NPR...

Click on the Listen Now button.

Week of 4/28-5/2

2008-04-28T12:30:00.002-04:00

Welcome back! Time for the stretch run! Hold on tight!

Monday: Review Postman prompt. Score synthesis prompts. HW: Read "A Hanging" and "Shooting an Elephant."

Tuesday: Final look at the master: George Orwell

Wednesday: Rating Books article

Thursday: PowerPoint on types of Satire: Horatian, Juvenalian. HW for MONDAY: Read "A Modest Proposal." Complete analysis sheet.

Friday: Per. 2: AP Rummy! Per. 6: No class. Prom goers~have fun and be safe!

Spring Break!

2008-04-18T21:22:00.002-04:00

Go out and play!

Come back in and do some homework!

Go out and play some more.

Repeat.

Have a great week. I'll see you on the 28th.

A Note from TheTeach...

2008-04-14T18:43:00.003-04:00

Sharing a message from TheTeach...

Once again thetheach is stopping by and responding to your blogs. I must say, this topic is much more palatable than genetic engineering. I found that topic interesting yet disturbing.

I always look forward to reading your blogs. All of you have the potential of becoming strong writers. Sure some of you have to work harder than others to hone your craft, but all of you possess the potential. Each time you slop through a written assignment, you short-change yourself and your classmates. For the most part, however, I think each of you takes time to think about the message you want to share with your audience.

I would not bother being the outside responder if I did not think you had potential and certain inner strengths that need challenging. You have the potential to change our world as you become adults. We need youth who think independently but carefully. The more carefully you research, discuss, and experiment with the written word, the stronger your prose will become.

I suggest you print this blog and tuck it away in that place where you keep various treasures. Then in a few years, take it out, read, and decide if your ideas remain the same.

Keep up the good work!!!

Remember if you want to respond privately to anything I write, you can write to theteach@theteachonline.net

theteach

Week of 4/14-4/18

2008-04-13T19:08:00.007-04:00

Monday: Discuss Book 3, Chapters 1+2.

Finish the novel for Wednesday.

By Thursday night: respond to at least two "Belief" blogs.

Thursday: In-class writing: AP prompt on 1984

Friday: Creative responses due--and shared!

Over break:

1) Respond to "theteach" and any other comments on your "Belief" blog.
2) Torture Synthesis
3) Read "The Two Futures: A.F. 632 and 1984." Write a blog response, including at least three references to the article. If you're sitting on a beach somewhere without a computer, hand write your response.

Weekend!

2008-04-11T17:29:00.003-04:00

1) Go to the PLAY! Support the Damn Yankees! (But root for the Mets!)

2) Read this article and impress me by recognizing all the literary allusions and laughing in all the right places.

3) Just because!

4) Read Chapters 1 and 2 in Book 3 of 1984.

Week of 4/7-4/11

2008-04-04T13:09:00.005-04:00

SATURDAY, APRIL 5: 8 AM -- FULL AP PRACTICE TEST! Woo Hoo!

AP LANGUAGE IS EVERYWHERE: Play the video.

Monday: Bring in "privacy" article. Be prepared to share and connect to 1984.

Where does the slippery slope end? OH MY!
Read this follow up.

Tuesday: Book 2, chapters 1-8 due.

Blog due midnight Wednesday: O'Brien asks a series of questions, to which Winston and Julia answer yes (chapter 8). While those questions are extreme, they assess commitment to a cause or belief. To what cause or belief are you deeply committed? Argue the merits of your position.
Friday: Book 2, chapters 9-10 due.

Week of 3/31-4/4

2008-03-30T18:13:00.005-04:00

Monday: Moral relativism vs. Moral absolutism: Is torture ever justified?
Tuesday: Review of "torture" essays. Evaluation of points of argument.
Wednesday: Part one of 1984 is due. Discussion of society presented in the novel.
Thursday: Continue discussion of Part One of 1984.
Friday: Discussion of article "Thinking about Patriotism."
Saturday: Practice: full AP exam. We start promptly at 8 AM. Meet in room 219.

Week of 3/26-28

2008-03-27T14:41:00.003-04:00

Short week!

Wednesday: Review your argument analysis with the writer.
Thursday: Silly Syllogisms!
Friday: In class writing~mystery topic. Read everything to prepare. (Ok, just kidding--unless you're Chris.)

Read Book One of 1984 for Wednesday.

Have fun at the Senior Formal. Be safe!

Farewell, Arthur C. Clarke

2008-03-21T15:13:00.011-04:00

Over the Weekend...

2008-03-20T13:54:00.003-04:00

Enjoy your long weekend! Here are a few exciting activities to chase away the boredom!

1) Write an argument analysis of your selected classmate. This should be written as a response to an AP prompt. "Write an essay in which you analyze the methods that *** uses to persuade his or her audience of his or her position on genetic engineering." Be sure to print a copy of the essay you are evaluating and show your annotations. Both will be turned in on Wednesday.

2) This is an add-on -- sorry! Since you just spent time with someone's essay, write a comment on his or her blog about the essay--not a discussion of the techniques, but rather a discussion of the points of argument.

3) Read the handout on SYLLOGISMS. On loose-leaf paper, either illustrate or describe in words both the validity of the logic and the truthfulness of the premises of the 17 syllogisms. Use the two examples as guides.

4) POW due for Period 2.

Happy Spring!

Week of 3/17-3/20

2008-03-14T08:29:00.003-04:00

Monday: Discuss the end of the novel.
Tuesday: Read the article, "The Future as Literature" for Wednesday. Have fun at Teen Arts!
Wednesday: Discussion of article. POW due Period 6. HW: Argument analysis of genetic engineering blog (random drawing!).
Thursday: Sharing of analysis.

Week of 3/10-3/14

2008-03-10T18:30:00.002-04:00

Monday: Review practice MC on BNW
Tuesday: Chapters 10-13 due.
Wednesday: POW due for Period 2
Thursday: Chapters 14-16

Finish the novel for Monday.

Week of 3/3-3/7

2008-03-02T16:17:00.005-05:00

Due Monday: BNW, Chapters 4-6 (guest teacher)
Tuesday: Discuss PMI: Preparing an argument; brainstorm PMI for this proposal: All parents should be able to genetically design their children.
Wednesday: POW due-Period 6
Due Thursday: BNW, Chapters 7-9;
Friday: Lab 438, side B. Blogs due by midnight SATURDAY (you win this round).

Due Monday, 3/10: BNW AP Multiple Choice homework.
Due Tuesday, 3/11: BNW, chapters 10-13.

Week of 2/25-2/29

2008-02-23T13:50:00.005-05:00

Well, this snow day really throws things off but we need to be flexible.

Monday: Scholarship Application: finish your essays for Monday. Room 438.

Tuesday: Sell your word! Hopefully we will finish all of the speeches. If not, we'll adjust. You will write a paper on your word; I'll give you the assignment Tuesday. It will be due Friday. BNW Questions due (see last week's assignment).

Wednesday: Begin discussion of BNW issues. Read chapters 3-6 for Monday, March 3. POW due: Period 2.

Thursday and Friday: Continue discussion of BNW. Remember to read the novel for its rhetorical elements and its points of argument.

Friday: Save your Word paper due. Homework for Monday: Read Chapters 4-6 in BNW.

Week of 2/20-2/22

2008-02-20T16:19:00.002-05:00

Wednesday: Sell your word!
Thursday: Chart the strategies used.
Friday: Final sell off!

For next week: Complete pre-reading activities for Brave New World. Go here: Brave New World Socratic Seminar Questions. Open the document and answer the questions; read the articles and respond fully to the questions. Save and print the document with your responses. Due Tuesday, 2/26.

Monday: 438: Local Scholarship Application
Tuesday: Chapters 1 and 2 due in Brave New World. Questions due.

Just Words?

2008-02-18T17:21:00.004-05:00

Just Words?

What do you think?

Over the Weekend...

2008-02-15T16:00:00.003-05:00

1) Enjoy yourselves.
2) Get some sleep.
3) Write your Synthesis essay on Language.
4) Research your WORD and figure out a way to sell it. Bring in whatever you need on Wednesday, Feb. 20, to campaign for your WORD. If you haven't told me your WORD, email me. If someone already has it approved, you're out of luck.
5) Period 6: POW. Thursday is ok.

(Long-range plan: Monday, Feb. 25: Computer Lab to complete the online local scholarship application. You must have drafts of the essays ready to go. This is our only class day for this; after that you're on your own. Due March 7.)

See you Wednesday!

Happy Snow Day!

2008-02-13T07:06:00.003-05:00

Enjoy your day!

Here's the update...

Thursday: Strategies for Argument; assessing Baldwin's argument
Friday: Assumptions; drawing conclusions.

POW due for period 2 on Thursday.
You will write the Synthesis over the break; it will be due on Wed, Feb. 20. I will give several options and you will select one to write on using all of the language articles as sources. More about this on Thursday. Be prepared to SELL YOUR WORD on Wednesday, Feb. 20.

Now get out there and shovel the driveway!

What Would Orwell Say?

2008-02-08T17:53:00.000-05:00

While walking down the street one day a US senator is tragically hit by a truck and dies. His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

"Welcome to heaven," says St. Peter. "Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you."

"No problem, just let me in," says the man.

"Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity."

"Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven," says the senator.

"I'm sorry, but we have our rules." And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him. Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him. They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne. Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly guy. He has such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go. Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises... The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

"Now it's time to visit heaven." So, 24 hours pass with the senator joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.

"Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and another in heaven. Now choose your eternity."

The senator reflects for a minute, then he answers: "Well, I would never have said it before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in hell."

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell. Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage. He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above. The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder.

"I don't understand," stammers the senator. "Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and club house, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable. What happened?"

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, "Yesterday we were campaigning......"

"Today you voted."

Week of 2/11-2/15

2008-02-08T15:16:00.000-05:00

Monday: Chart due on "Mother Tongue," "Always Living in Spanish," "Decolonizing the Mind," "Studying Islam, Strengthening the Nation," and "Bilingualism in America: English Should be the Official Language." Examine "Monkey Bridge," "Native Speaker," "For Mohammed Zeid of Gaza," "Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation," "Rumors, Lies, Innuendo," and "Census Data on Language Use."

Tuesday: Language Articles. Writing letters...

Wednesday: Intro to Toulmin. POW due for period 2.

Thursday: Synthesis essay...yippee!

Friday: Review synthesis essay.

Loooooooooooooooonnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggg weekend! Own a Word Contest on Wednesday, Feb. 20. Be prepared to sell your word!

Week of 2/4-2/8

2008-02-03T18:10:00.001-05:00

Before you begin your Super Bowl party, read THIS!

Complete the reading for the given day:

Monday: "Aria: Memoir of a Bilingual Childhood"
Tuesday: "Politics and the English Language"
Wednesday: "Mother Tongue" and "Always Living in Spanish"
Thursday: "Decolonizing the Mind"
Friday: "Studying Islam, Strengthening the Nation" and "Bilingualism in America: English Should be the Official Language"

Due Monday: "Monkey Bridge," "Native Speaker," "For Mohammed Zeid of Gaza," "Why I Could Not Accept Your Invitation," "Rumors, Lies, Innuendo," and "Census Data on Language Use"

Week of Jan. 29--Feb. 1

2008-01-30T17:02:00.000-05:00

Tues: Intro to Local Scholarship Application. DO IT! Due March 7.

Wed: Intro to 2nd semester POW assignments. Follow the schedule. HW: Read synthesis materials.

Thurs: Discuss synthesis and "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema."

Fri: Review multiple choice from midterm exam.

HOMEWORK: Read pages 507-526 in Language of Composition. Complete the following questions: Discussion #3, Rhetoric and Style #2, 4, 7, 9, 12, and 13.

Week of 1/21-1/25

2008-01-19T18:33:00.001-05:00

Enjoy your day off on Monday. Think of me working hard while you're relaxing and goofing off.

Tuesday: Review of practice synthesis question. Be sure to AT LEAST spend the 15 minutes preparing to respond--annotate, outline, create thesis statement.

Thursday: Midterm: Period 2

Friday: Midterm: Period 6

Good luck!

Week of 1/14-18

2008-01-13T18:26:00.000-05:00

Multiple Choice Madness!

Monday: Stems and stuff. HW: Passage 2
Tuesday: Review Passages 1 and 2. Create questions. Period 2: POW--Visual text.
Wednesday: Review created questions. HW: One hour complete MC section.
Thursday: Review passages.
Friday: Review passages.

Study for your exam. Practice review synthesis; review all terms, notes, handouts.

Week of 1/7-1/11/2008

2008-01-07T16:32:00.000-05:00

Monday: The History of Advertising. Read the Fallacy handout for Wednesday.

Tuesday: Lab 438B; work on fallacy handout, which is due Wednesday. Make copies for the class or give to me early in the day. Bumper stickers due.

Wednesday: Bumper sticker presentations: SCIFF, audience, purpose. Overview of fallacies. Begin teaching individual fallacies. Period 6: POW due.

Thursday: Teach your fallacy. HW: Handout: Logical Fallacies.

Friday: Logical Fallacies. Exercise: "Why No One Should Pass AP Language." HW: Read "Love is a Fallacy." Also, read handout on Multiple Choice items.

Next week: Multiple Choice Madness!

Week of 1/7-1/11/2008

2008-01-04T17:07:00.000-05:00

First of all, get some sleep. Great job getting your projects done, but I hope you learned a lesson about procrastination. You might be able to get away with it this year, but next year's a whole new ballgame. Maybe it's time to start practicing the right skills.

Anyway...enough lecture...enjoy your weekend.

If you want to get a jump on next week, go here and explore the site on advertising. We will start there on Monday (meet in 438B) and then begin studying Fallacies. You will be responsible for teaching a specific fallacy to the class. We will spend the week examining logical and illogical reasoning.

Don't forget your bumper stickers for Tuesday!
Period 6: POW due Wednesday: Visual Text

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T18:50:00.000-05:00

Welcome to 2008!

I hope you all had a restful and relaxing break. Time to get back to work, though. I hope you have been enjoying reading and analyzing your magazine cover to cover. I hope you are seeing that there's far more there than you ever thought. Project due Friday.

We have 2 1/2 weeks before mid-terms. Barring snow days, here's the plan:

We will spend the short week (1/2-1/4) working with different types of visual texts: ads, cartoons, bumper stickers...

Then it's on to logical fallacies and other persuasive devices for a week (1/7-1/11).

The following week (1/14-1/18) will be a crash course in multiple choice AP style. See me if you want some practice before then.

POWs: January 9: Period 6; January 16: Period 2
All POWs are to analyze a visual text of some sort.

The two hour exam will have one synthesis essay (1 hour) and one full section of multiple choice (1 hour).

Enjoy your final hours of vacation!

Visual Text

2007-12-20T11:13:00.001-05:00

For those of you who have been absent, here are a few things for you.

Here is the PowerPoint on Visual Texts: Visual Texts

Here is the link to the Cartoon Analysis assignment: Editorial Cartoons.

Week of 12/17-12/21

2007-12-16T15:45:00.000-05:00

Monday: Change of plans due to excessive absences: Analyze photo; pair/share ad analysis.
Tuesday: PPT on anaylzing visual texts. Introduce Magazine Analysis project
Wednesday: Finish PPT and examine visual texts. Sign up for magazine. POW due: Period 2
Thursday: Cartoon analysis: report to room 438, side B.
Friday: Teen Angst day: Final discussion of The Catcher in the Rye.
"'Twas the Night Before Christmas" AP Language style

Have a great winter break!

JANUARY: NO POW due this first week! Magazine analysis project due Friday, Jan. 4.

Week of 12/10-12/15

2007-12-09T09:51:00.000-05:00

Monday: Ad assignment due. Jody Heyman article. HW: Speech annotation.
Tuesday: Speech analysis
Wednesday: AP prompt: Speech analysis. POW due--Period 6
Thursday: Review sample responses/score
Friday: Score papers--own and others
Saturday: Finish The Catcher in the Rye . Final Nicenet posts by midnight.

Due Monday, 12/10

2007-12-06T12:36:00.000-05:00

Homework for Monday, Dec. 10:

From pages 6-8, read the article written by Jody Heyman, “We Can Afford to Give Parents a Break.” Identify audience, purpose, tropes, schemes, rhetorical appeals. You may bullet these or use a graphic organizer but you MUST discuss the EFFECT of each device.

Also, re-read pages 10-11 and 49-51. Complete the assignment on page 51. Be sure to bring in a copy of the ad with you on Monday.

Week of 12/2-12/7

2007-12-03T16:10:00.000-05:00

Monday: Review Princess Diana Articles
Tuesday: Graphic Organizer of JFK Speech
Wednesday: Period 2 POW due
Wed-Thursday: Review JFK's Inaugural Address. Answer diction and syntax questions, page 55-56.
Friday: Chapters 10-15 in The Catcher in the Rye due
Saturday: Midnight--Nicenet posts due

Everyone loves Holden: read this.

Over the Weekend: Dec. 1-2

2007-11-30T12:43:00.000-05:00

The Happy Recap! (Who knows the cultural allusion??)

Nice job this week on the Synthesis essays.

The Catcher in the Rye: Nicenet posts due by midnight Saturday, Dec. 1. Read chapters 10-15 by next Friday.

Complete the graphic organizer on the four "Princess Diana" articles: two quotes per article.

Get some sleep.

Week of 11/26-11/30

2007-11-25T19:33:00.000-05:00

Welcome Back!

Monday+: Synthesis Essays due. We will examine the documents, look at the official rubric, score some sample essays, and grade your essay. This will take a few days.

Meanwhile, you will be reading The Catcher in the Rye, that classic novel of teenage angst. Since most of you know nothing about that, discuss it on Nicenet for the next few weeks. A class from Illinois will be joining our discussion. Show off your stuff!

Here's your reading schedule:
Chapters 1-9 due Friday, Nov. 30
Chapters 10-15 due Friday, Dec. 7
Chapters 16-26 due Friday, Dec. 14

Also, read chapter two in The Language of Composition by Thursday.

POW for Period 6 due on Wednesday. No POW for Period 2.

Four more weeks until Winter Break! Pull on your work boots for the stretch run!

The Weekend!

2007-11-21T18:02:00.000-05:00

Waste some time, expand your brain, and feed the world: Have fun!

Thought this quote would resonate with a few of you: "I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." (Douglas Adams)

Week of 11/19-11/21

2007-11-18T13:13:00.000-05:00

Monday: Peer review of your practice synthesis essay. HW: Blog due Thursday: What are you thankful for this year? Practice your appeal to pathos; tug at your reader's heart-strings.

Tuesday: Assign next synthesis essay (to be graded). Due Monday, November 26. Lock yourself in a room for one hour to complete the task. Make the experience as authentic as possible: 15 minutes to read and annotate sources; 40 minutes to write your essay.

Wednesday: Period 2: POW due. Period 6: No class. Also due Monday, Nov. 26: Read chapter one in the Language of Composition text.

Week of 11/12-11/16

2007-11-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

Introduction to the Synthesis Essay. We will look at samples and discuss your responsibilities. Practice synthesis on Friday on one of the social issues presentations.

Since you're on vacation...

2007-11-08T14:46:00.000-05:00

...here's a way to spend your Friday...

JEANNETTE WALLS @ Bloomfield College
reading from her memoir, THE GLASS CASTLE.

Friday, November 9 @ 2-3:30 p.m.
Bloomfield College
Fossan Theatre
Westminster Arts Center
467 Franklin Street
Bloomfield, NJ

Free

Contact: Michael L. Kurrier 973.748.9000 ext. 301 / Michael_Kurrier@ bloomfield. edu
http://www.bloomfield.edu/

Week of Nov. 4-10

2007-11-05T17:43:00.000-05:00

Short week: woohoo!

Monday--Wednesday: Presentations on Social Issues in The Glass Castle.

Sunday--Saturday: Three posts on Nicenet on your memoir. Finish reading your memoir.

DUE Monday, Nov. 12 (midnight on Sunday): Blog on The Glass Castle and two comments on others' blogs. Take a stance on your social issue as it is presented in the memoir.

Week of 10/28-11/ 3

2007-10-28T12:49:00.000-04:00

Another update, subject to modifications as needed...

Continue reading your memoir. Follow schedule. Sunday, 10/28--Saturday, 11/3: Three Nicenet posts due on memoir.

Monday: The Glass Castle; division of social issues
Tuesday: Explore articles, blogs on issue
Wednesday: Per. 2: POW due. Per. 6: No Pow. Happy Halloween! Continue exploration.
Thursday: I'm out...Work on the handout for Friday.
Friday: Present issues via class discussion

Monday, Nov. 5: Personal memoir due.

Week of 10/22-10/26

2007-10-22T13:50:00.000-04:00

Here's the plan...subject to revision, of course. Pay attention in class for any changes.

Monday: "Make a Difference Day" Letters due. Review outlines of personal memoirs; receive input from "outside" perspective.

Tuesday: Viewing of the long-awaited, much-anticipated "Black" movie. Work on memoir.

Wednesday: Period 2: No POW. Period 6: POW due. "Once More to the Lake."

Thursday: Hmmm...depends on how far we get Wednesday.

Friday: Rough draft of Personal Memoir due (COMPLETED rough draft). Peer conferencing.

Relax...

2007-10-19T14:11:00.000-04:00

...and get all your homework done, write your "Make a Difference Day" letter, read your memoir, write your POW, work on your personal memoir, work on your college applications, post to Nicenet, write your college essays, and relax some more! See you Monday.

The Glass Castle 2

2007-10-16T11:04:00.000-04:00

View this video of Jeannette Walls. Also, read the comments by readers toward the bottom of the page. Comment on the video and the readers' remarks on your blog.

Week of 10/15-10/19

2007-10-15T12:56:00.000-04:00

Here's the plan...

Tuesday: Bring in list of social issues in The Glass Castle. Select passage that reveals both the child's voice and the adult's voice. Get new memoir for group discussions on Nicenet.

Wednesday: POW 5 due. Discussion of social issues.

Thursday: Bring in childhood picture. Discussion of Kunitz, Hughes and Gregory pieces.

Friday: "The Stranger in the Photo is Me." Memoir assignment.

Due Monday, 10/22: Make a difference day letter. Outline of personal memoir. Continue to read your group memoir. Add to the discussion on Nicenet.

Blog Action Day

2007-10-10T22:03:00.001-04:00

Join the rest of the Blogging World on Blog Action Day: October 15...

Let your voice be heard!

College Essays

2007-10-10T12:38:00.000-04:00

Since you have nothing else to do (HA!), let's work on your college essays this week. Rough draft due Thursday. Take advantage of this time...you won't get it again! TTTC post by Thursday night and two comments by Saturday. Play time on Sunday!

The Things They Carried

2007-10-04T08:52:00.000-04:00

Share your thoughts about Tim O'Brien's Vietnam War novel The Things They Carried. What is his point? How does his style impact the effectiveness of his narrative? What issues do you have with his stance on war? Explore any aspect of the work that is meaningful to you.

Here is a picture of Tim O'Brien during his service in Vietnam. Go to this site to listen to Tim's speech about his experiences both in war and as a writer: www.stg.brown.edu/projects/WritingVietnam/obrienpreface.html

Welcome to AP Language 2007

2007-09-23T13:45:00.000-04:00

Welcome to your place in cyberspace to wax poetic about all things rhetorical. Post your observations, your insights, and your questions. Explore, also, the thoughts of your peers. Go APE!