Reminders . . .

Pre-AP English I

• Don't forget, the 1946 version of Great Expectations will be shown in room 154 after school Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
• Victorian Friendship Cards are due NLT Dec. 16th--submit them earlier if you can
• Surprise baggies must be in by Dec. 16th
• Final Great Expectations test on Wednesday, Dec. 15th

Dual Credit English 1301

• Argumentation-Persuasion essays are due NLT Dec. 17th. If you are going to be absent, submit your essay earlier.
• Essays must be no less than 750 words on a subject of your choice, MLA format

Assignments for the Week of Dec. 13 - 17, 2010

Pre-AP English I

• Continue working on the research draft independently
• Discuss chapters 40 - 59 of Great Expectations
• Complete the Great Expectations stage 3 test (Wednesday)
• Participate in a Victorian friendship card swap and cultural activity (Thursday and Friday)
• Research papers due NLT January 6th

Dual Credit English 1301

• Complete our overview of the Argumentation/Persuasion chapter (Longman pgs. 472 - 506)
• Read, analyze, and discuss "Free-Speech Follies" (pg. 508), "In Praise of the 'F' Word" (pg. 515), and "Let's Tell the Story of All America's Cultures" (pg. 520). If time remains, we will also read and discuss "Driving to the Funeral" (pg. 532).
• Argumentation/Persuasion essay due Dec. 17th (750 words, topic of choice, research suggested)

Have a wonderful, safe holiday break!

I look forward to seeing everyone next year!!!!

Assignments for Dec. 6 - 10, 2010

Pre-AP English I

• Complete the works cited page for the Dickens research paper


• Organize note cards and prepare an outline for the research paper


• Begin writing the draft of the research paper


• Complete our reading of Great Expectations (final novel test next week)

Dual Credit 1301

• Read and discuss overview of definition essay (pgs. 430 - 441 in the Longman Reader)
• Read, analyze, and discuss "Life As a Type A" (pgs. 449 - 454) and "Beyond the Pleasure Principle" (462 - 465)
• Read and discuss the argumentation/persuasion overview (pgs. 472 - 506)
• Review logical fallacies
• Read, analyze, and respond to the student model (pgs. 496 - 502)

Assignments for Nov. 29 - Dec. 3, 2010

Pre-AP English I -

• Prepare for stage 2, Great Expectations exam
• Review works cited format
• Prepare draft works cited page
• Continue reading Great Expectations

Dual Credit 1301 -

• Review and discuss cause/effect essay patterns (pages 383 - 398 in The Longman Reader)
• Read and discuss focus essays: "Why We Crave Horror Movies" (pg. 400), "When Manana Is Too Soon" (pg. 411), and "When Will People Help in a Crisis" (pg. 416)
• Outline #2 due 11/29, continue preparing outline #3 for 12/1 (In-class essay, 12/3)

Assignments for the Week of Nov. 22 - 26, 2010

Pre-AP English I -

• Continue research online in English lab (room 131)

Dual Credit 1301 -

• Complete Process Analysis readings
• Submit the first of three cause/effect outlines
• Work on cause/effect outlines, selecting from #2 on page 404; #2 on page 409; or #10, 13, or 23 on page 428.

Assignments for Nov. 15 - 19, 2010

Pre-AP English I

• Review chapters 1-19 from Great Expectations
• Phase I (chapters 1-19) and author background test on Friday--summative grade
• Continue reading Great Expectations (up to chapter 35 by Sunday night)
• Submit at least two source cards with accompanying note cards for a grade

Dual Credit 1301

• Submit comparison/contrast outline and essay by Nov. 19th
• Read and discuss the Process Analysis overview (pgs. 282 - 298), "What Shamu Taught Me About a Happy Marriage" (pgs. 310 - 313), and "How to Say Nothing in 500 Words" (pgs. 316 - 327) in the Longman Reader
• Complete stylistic changes to classification/division essay for additional points, optional
• Begin planning for the upcoming cause/effect essay

Assignments for the Week of Nov. 8 - 12, 2010

Pre-AP English I

• Review chapters 1-11 of Great Expectations
• Introduce research process and resources
• Begin research for Victorian England project
• Read Great Expectations chapters 12 - 22

Dual Credit 1301

• Complete Unit 2 exam on Monday
• Review comparison/contrast essay chapter overview and examples
• Work on comparison/contrast essay independently, due Nov. 19th

No School on Thursday, Nov. 11th

Assignments for the Week of Nov. 1 - 5, 2010

English I Pre-AP

• Acquire background notes for Charles Dickens' Great Expectations
• Begin reading two chapters from the novel each night
• Complete journal, vocabulary, and study questions for section 1 of the novel
• Select research topics for upcoming project/paper
• Attend the counselor's Look to the Future presentation on Friday

Dual Credit

• Complete division/classification essay in class
• Review chapter 22
• Review for Unit Exam 2 (to be administered Monday, Nov. 8th)
• Attend the counselor's Look to the Future presentation on Tuesday

Assignments for Sept. 20 - 24, 2010

English I Pre-AP

• Practice using different sentence structures
• Write a full analytical paragraph for the following prompt: How does Delia change throughout the course of "Sweat"?
• Begin reading and responding to "The Cask of Amontillado"
• Yearbook pictures on Tuesday

Dual Credit 1301

• Complete the Unit 1 Test
• Discuss narration as a form and related strategies
• Read and discuss "Shooting an Elephant" and "Someone's Mother"
• Prepare and respond to the thesis and outline for the narrative essay
• Yearbook pictures on Tuesday

AP Suggested Reading List

I know many parents and students have requested a recommended reading list. Obviously, there are many worthwhile texts I would hope my students and I could read together, but time constraints and curriculum demands interfere with our ability to read as many as I would like in class. However, as this class is designed specifically with the intention of preparing students for the AP classes and exam, I recommend starting with the list of 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers, published by the College Board (the overseeing body of the AP Program).

http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/boost-your-skills/23628.html

There are many other recommended reading lists available, some broken down by genre, others by appearance on the AP exams. These can easily be found by Googling "AP reading list."

Assignments for Sept. 13 - 17, 2010

Pre-AP I

• Complete discussion of literary elements working together
• Write analytical paragraphs
• Prepare first dialectical journal entry
• Close "Sweat" with unit exam

Dual Credit 1301

• Complete the descriptive essay draft
• Conduct peer responses to essay drafts
• Revise essays
• Submit revised descriptive draft
• Complete Unit 1: Grammar exam

Assignments for Sept. 6 - 10, 2010

Pre-AP

* Complete your reading and annotation of Hurston's "Sweat"
*Review of dialect, dialogue, conflict, irony, foreshadowing, theme, and point of view
*Class discussions of the story and its literary elements

Dual Credit
*Review use of semi-colons, subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, and pronoun-antecedent agreement
*Review outline guidelines
*Compare outline of "Salt Marsh" to the actual essay
*Prepare a thesis statement and outline for the upcoming descriptive essay (due Friday)

August 23-Sept. 3, 2010

Pre-AP

This week, we began our short story unit. We've completed a review of some of the basic literary elements and a word study for vocabulary associated with Zora Neale Hurston's "Sweat." We also spent a bit of time preparing our notebooks so we will be organized throughout the year. If you've not yet acquired your supplies, please have them by next week.

Dual Credit

This week, we read and discussed two descriptive essays, "Flavio's Home" and "Sister Flowers." We discussed the need for a clear thesis statement that focuses the entire essay and informal topic sentences, in this type of essay, to unify paragraphs. We also reviewed basic sentence combining to avoid run-ons, comma splices, and fragments.

Welcome One and All!!

We are beginning our journey through a new school year, and I'm so excited to be experiencing it with all of you! Please check back regularly for updates and announcements.

Assignments for 8/23 - 8/27:

Pre-AP I

• Life map


• Scavenger hunt


• Log on to Pearson Success


• In-class: Base Writing

Dual Credit III

• In-class: Base Writing


• Simon & Schuster Readings


• Spelling and sentence fragment exercises

Welcome to Mrs. T's WC Blog!

My goal is to help everyone be successful in class! Therefore, I am trying to create a blog that will allow daily and/or weekly updates so everyone can know what we are doing even if some occurence keeps you from the classroom. Check this site regularly to stay abreast of our classroom activities.