12/21

Warm-up: •Staple your final draft and rubric/prompt together.

•On the back of your essay, reflect on the following questions:

•1. What score do you think that your argumentative essay should/will earn? Why?

•2. If you had 3 more days to work on it, what would you change or do?

Classwork: turn in essays, get back independent book essays, go over revision directions, get back PSAT scores, work on P-S vocabulary note cards

Homework: Winter Break Assignment


1. Write a definition and example for each of the rhetorical terms (starting with P-S) in the glossaries of LOC and RFW. I posted a scanned version of the RFW glossary in the classroom documents section of the blog, and the LOC glossary is on their website which is also linked on the side of the blog.

2. If you took the PSAT, spend time looking at your results. Log onto the website using the code on your booklet. Look at which skills they recommend that you practice, then complete a reflection that answers these questions for EACH of the 3 sections on the PSAT.

i. What score did I get on the section?

ii. What skills did I master best?

iii. What skills do I most need to improve?

iv. What plan for improvement can I follow to improve my score in this section?

v. When can I reasonably be ready to take the SAT and score well on this section?

vi. Choose 3 questions from each section that you answered incorrectly. Explain why you think that you chose the answer you did and why the right answer is correct.

3. If you did not take the PSAT, you must complete 2 practice AP style passages – these were distributed in class and are also posted in Classroom documents on the blog. After you read and complete EACH passage, answer these questions:

i. Which two questions were easiest? What evidence made you know that you got the correct answer?

ii. Which 2 questions were most challenging? Why did you select the answer that you did?

4. Complete your independent book essay revisions if you choose to do so for extra credit.

5. Rest and be kind to your families and friends.

12/20

Warm-up: •Read 5 Steps pg 183-185 in the orange copy or (pg 159-161 in red copy of book). Then write a checklist of at least 6 things to notice and comment on as you read your own essay and peer edit the essay of a friend.

Classwork: Review introductions, thesis statements, conclusions, and body paragraphs - proofread and peer edit papers

Homework: Final essay due tomorrow! Must be typed and polished - remember that more than 5 errors carries a significant penalty.

12/19

Warm-up: •Take a copy of 5 Steps to a 5 from the front or back of the room. Read pg 111-117 (105-111 in the red copy of the book). Write down at least 5 tips that you think are important or helpful.

Classwork: Complete the body paragraph station (available under classroom documents); work on editing the body paragraphs of your own essay

Homework: Finish body paragraph station exercises, continue editing and revising your draft

12/16

Warm-up: Write a response. How should a teacher handle teaching subjects that are unpleasant, painful or controversial? What is the responsibility of the teacher in these situations? Can you think of some topics or events that are unpleasant, painful, or controversial, but that must be taught or discussed in school?

Classwork: Discuss "The History Teacher", "Eleven" and the graphs, discuss and prepare for argumentative essay prompt

Homework: Type the first draft of your essay. This should be as thorough, as thoughtful, and as edited as possible. It is in no way a "rough" draft. This should represent your BEST effort. We will have some writing workshops on Monday and Tuesday, and these may prompt major changes, but your draft is the best that you could do alone.

12/15

Warm-up: N/A

Classwork: Read and complete all questions on LOC pg 143-149 (3 passages w/ questions)

Homework: Finish reading passages and questions that you did not complete in class, start thinking about essay prompt

12/14

Warm-up: Review for test

Classwork: A-O test

Homework: Visit apcentral.collegeboard.com to prepare for argumentative essays. My suggestions are that you look at the documents on Argument that are listed on the Lang course page. Then you should click on http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/2001.html. (The second link under exam information and resources) This will take you to a page that has scored student responses to the actual prompts on the past years of AP testing. The argument question has been question 3 for the last few years. Read a few samples.

12/13

Warm-up: •Logical Fallacies – give examples of 4 different kinds

•Epigram – give an example

•Induction – give an example

•Jargon – give an example

Classwork: A-O jeopardy review

Homework: Study A-O for tomorrow's test

12/12

Warm-up: •Outline an essay that responds to the following.

•Agree, disagree or qualify with John Dewey’s statement that “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.”

•Your outline must include a thesis, ideas for 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Classwork: Read the interview with Mori on pg 141-142 of LOC, complete the follow up activity on pg 142, revise 3 of your multiple choice questions to make them test worthy, share review questions with a friend

Homework: Study A-O terms

12/9

Warm-up: From Mori, write one statement that is a generalization and one statement that is a piece of evidence.

Classwork: Discuss and debate Mori and the homework questions.

Homework: Study A-O terms for Wednesday's test

12/8

Warm-up:•Write the 3 statements from Baldwin that you think are the most powerful or important moments of his speech.

Classwork: Discuss Baldwin, complete questions 1-12 on pg 129 of LOC, go over A-D test

Homework: Read Mori and complete questions 1-10 on LOC pg 130-141

12/7

Warm-up: •Choose one of the words you used to describe Baldwin’s tone. Write 2 quotes from the text that revealed that tone.

Classwork: Baldwin Quiz, Discuss Baldwin using the SOAPSToneR worksheet, start questions 1-12 on pg 129 of LOC

Homework: Due Friday - Read Mori's essay "School" LOC pg 130-140 and answer questions 1-10 on pg 140-1, study E-O for test on 12/14

12/6

Warm-up:•Write an outline for an essay on the following prompt. Your outline should include your thesis statement, 3 ideas for body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

•

•Should American high schools continue the tradition of honoring one valedictorian of each graduating class?

Classwork: Finish discussing Talbot, write 7 multiple choice questions about E-O terms. You must find your examples of the terms in the education passages that we have read. You must find an example of a generalization, of figurative vs. literal language, of hortatory language, and of a modifier. For your other 3 questions, you can choose to find an example of image, inversion, mood of verbs, juxtaposition, fragment, evidence, or logical fallacies or appeals.

Homework: Read Baldwin's "A Talk to Teachers" LOC pg 123-129, make 3 to 5 notes about the speaker, 3-5 notes about the subject, 3 to 5 notes about the audience, and 3-5 notes about the tone

12/5

Warm-up: •Are there situations or cases in which the position of valedictorian should be abolished or reformed? Explain. If no, explain why it is always right to have one.

Classwork: Discuss "Best in Class," go over homework questions, write a thesis statement for an essay about whether or not we should continue the tradition of valedictorians

Homework: E-O glossaries from RFW and LOC due with definitions and examples/explanations.

12/2

Warm-up:

Pd 1 -•What questions would you like to ask Mr. Merida, staff writer for the Washington Post and editor of Being a Black Man?

•

•(Write 2 questions about the book, his experiences as a journalist, his education, etc.)

Pd 2-3 - Review "Best in Class" for your quiz

Classwork: "Best in Class" Quiz, 1st pd Kevin Merida guest speaker, Talbot questions 1-8

12/1

Warm-up: •Copy these directions down.

•Write a definition with an example or explanation for each term E-O in both the LOC and the RFW.

•Read “Best in Class” by Margaret Talbot on LOC pg 113-122.

•If you need to make up any work, come see me.

Classwork: E-O glossaries with examples, Read "Best in Class", complete all make-up work

Homework: Finish "Best in Class", work on E-O glossaries

11/30

Warm-up: •Use your tone word list to identify 3 words that match Douglass’s attitudes at certain parts of the text (pg 100-105 in 50 Essays), and 3 words that do NOT match his tone at any point in the text.

Classwork:

1. Finish writing A-D test essay, highlight your 5 best ideas in the essay (clearest, most analytical statements)

2. Go over grammar quiz. Revise up to 2 questions. Write the right answer and explain why that answer is the correct one.

3. Pass back other papers/classwork/etc.

4. Start E-O terms if finished early.

Homework: E-O terms due on Tuesday of next week. Time will be given in class to do the RFW terms.

11/29

Warm-up: Review your terms for the test.

Classwork: Test on A-D rhetorical terms

Homework: Start making flash cards or a glossary of the E-O terms from the LOC. Include an example or explanation of how each is used. All terms due Monday. Class time will be provided for the RFW terms.

11/28

Warm-up: Write an example for each of the following

1. antimetabole
2. aphorism
3. asyndeton
4. counterargument
5. analogy


Classwork: A-D jeopardy game and review

Homework: Study for A-D test tomorrow

11/22

Warm-up: List 5 things that you remember learning about argument from Thank You for Arguing or your prior classes.

Classwork: Discuss Independent books in groups. Respond in writing (in your journal) to your prompt:

Into the Wild
In many ways, this book is about individualism. To what extent does Chris McCandless rebel against society? Is he a fool or an idealist, or both? Use plenty of specific support from the text to support your thesis. Direct quotations are not necessary. Use the word “although” to acknowledge the opposing argument.


Bird by Bird
“The great thing is to last and get your work done and see and hear and learn and understand; and write when there is something you know; and not before; and not too damned much after.” -Ernest Hemingway

Consider how the concept of writing what one understands and knows functions in Bird by Bird. Then, using Bird by Bird as your support, write a carefully reasoned essay that defends (supports), challenges (opposes or refutes), or qualifies (mostly yes or mostly no, but…) Hemingway’s statement about the relationship between writing and experience. Use specific examples from the book to develop your position. Direct quotations from the book are not necessary. Use the word “although” to acknowledge the opposing argument.


Nickel and Dimed
Ehrenreich, in her “Evaluation” chapter, addresses the American maxim that “if you work hard, you will succeed.” In her experience, she saw people working very hard and not even meeting a basic level of living. Do you agree or disagree, after reading this book, that hard work is a certainty for success? Use plenty of specific support from the text to support your thesis. Direct quotations are not necessary. Use the word “although” to acknowledge the opposing argument.


Being a Black Man
In “The Meaning of Work,” reporter David Finkel lays out the two most prevalent theories about why so many black men are unemployed. The first stresses cultural issues: fractured families, demeaning music, thuggishness as virtues. The second suggest the problem involves structural racism—employers are reluctant to hire black workers because “they don’t want to work,” “they come late and leave early,” or “they’ve got an attitude problem.” Why do you think some black men can have such a hard time finding work? Use plenty of specific support from the text to support your thesis. Direct quotations are not necessary. Use the word “although” to acknowledge the opposing argument.


The Other Wes Moore
“Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will – his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.” –Albert Schweitzer
Do you agree or disagree with Schweitzer’s claim that people should be held responsible for their decisions in life despite environmental factors. Use plenty of specific support from the text to support your thesis. Direct quotations are not necessary. Use the word “although” to acknowledge the opposing argument.


Homework: Study terms A-D - quiz will be Tuesday 11/29. Learn them with examples, not just definitions.

11/21

Warm-up: Using your independent reading book, identify one of each kind of phrase: appositive, prepositional, gerund, participial, and infinitive.

Classwork: Grammar Quiz on phrases, sentence structure, and subject/verbs, jeopardy game review of A-D terms

Homework: Bring your independent reading books tomorrow, start studying A-D terms.