Happy Holidays!

"All you need is love."

                                                          -- The Beatles

1.  INTERACTIVE READER -- I asked you to bring this so we would have it available upon our return from vacation.   Extra credit opportunity.

2.  SATIRE ESSAY -- If you have not done so, please turn in your hard copy to me.

3.  Dickens' Protest

Have a wonderful and safe vacation!

SATIRE ESSAY

"But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round -- . . . . as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely . . . ."

                                                                        -- from A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell.  

2.  NOTE:  Tomorrow please bring your copy of the INTERACTIVE READER which you checked out with your textbook at the beginning of the year.

3.  SATIRE ESSAY -- Before I collect all essays, I would like some of you to volunteer to share your essay with the class.  This is an extra credit opportunity!

4.  EXPERT PROJECT -- tomorrow you will have the class period to work on your expert project.

SATIRE ESSAY

"But you were always a good man of business, Jacob," faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.  "Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing his hands again.  "Mankind was my business.  The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were all my business.  The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

                                                                    -- from A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please begin at the bell

2.  WRITER RESPONSE GROUPS --  Today you have a hard copy of your satire essay and you will be sharing what you have written with your group.  You will receive a handout which very explicitly explains what you are to do with your group.  I will collect the handout at the end of the class.

3.  HOMEWORK:  For homework you will revise your essay if necessary, considering the feedback that you received from your group.  Refer to your notes that you were asked to record during this activity.  Tomorrow I will collect ALL revised, final drafts of essays.  Make sure that you also have shared your essay with me on Google Docs.

SATIRE ESSAY

Let me embrace thee, sour adversity, for wise men say it is the wisest course.

                                                                                                            -- Shakespeare

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please do a little bit of reading this morning while your netbook powers up.  

2.  SATIRE ESSAY -- Today is the last day in class to work on your satire essay.  I indicated that you should be working on the essay for homework as well as in class.  Make sure that you share your essay with me on Google docs.  Please bring a hard copy of your essay to class tomorrow.  You will be sharing your essay in a writing response group tomorrow and then you will turn it in to me.

      NOTE:  If you anticipate having difficulty printing out your essay, please see me during lunchtime.

The library, of course, is also available.  

GEARUP Presentation

To everything there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under the heaven

                                                                    Ecclesiastes 

     

1.  GEARUP PRESENTATION today

2.  NOTE:  We will work on the satire essay tomorrow.  It is due Wednesday.  Please share your essay with me on google docs (abaltrushes@gmail.com).

SATIRE ESSAY

"Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice."

                                                                                             William Shakespeare

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please have your books open and do a little bit of reading this morning while waiting for your netbooks to power up.

2.  WRITING A SATIRE ESSAY -- You are using a variety of satirical techniques in your writing, e.g., verbal irony, hyperbole, exaggeration, and figurative language.  Another device is used when we thoughtfully select vocabulary to produce a particular effect.  When we select a word because of the associations that come to mind with the word, we are interested in the CONNOTATION of the word.  As you write, carefully consider the words you use to create your desired effect.

       
Example:  "tree-hugger" connotes a radical, highly enthusiastic environmentalist and is

                                       used to mock such individuals.

                                       

3.  TODAY -- You are quietly writing your satire essay.  Be sure to have an introduction that introduces the issue and that also states a thesis.  In each of your body paragraphs you are thoroughly discussing reasons that support your thesis.  You should have 4 reasons.  Write a conclusion which not only sums up the points that you have made but provides additional commentary on the significance of what you have written. The length of your essay should be a minimum of TWO DOUBLE SPACED pages.  

This essay is due by WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19th.  Please work on this for homework.  You will have one final in-class day on TUESDAY.  Name this document Per 2 or 3 Satire Essay.  NOTE:  A GEARUP Presentation is scheduled for Monday.

SATIRE ESSAY

There is a tide in the affairs of men, Which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. Omitted, all the voyage of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries.  On such a full sea are we now afloat. And we must take the current when it serves, or lose our ventures.

                                                                                                 -- William Shakespeare

 

 

 

1.  INDEPENDENT READING  --  Please begin at the bell. 

 

2.  Example of student satire essay.

 

3.  SATIRE ESSAY -- For homework last night I asked you to write an introduction to your satire essay.  Today, before you begin writing the body of your essay, list at least 4 reasons that support your thesis.  For example:

 

THESIS: There should be a more liberal policy on school campuses regarding student cell phone 

               use.

             

REASON #1:   Parents should be able to contact their child at any moment throughout the day 

                                     and vice-versa

REASON #2:   If a student is bored in class he or she can make contructive use of their time by

                                     surfing the internet or otherwise using their phone.

REASON #3:   Students' social life is important and they should be given every opportunity to

                                      develop their interpersonal social skills by accessing social networks

REASON #4:   Our world today expects individuals to be technology savvy and cell phones 

                                      increase our knowledge.

3.  NOTE:  Tomorrow you will be writing in class. 

SATIRE WRITING ASSIGNMENT

"How far that little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world."

                                                                                                -- William Shakespeare

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please begin at the bell.

2.  What is a thesis?  We should be very clear about defining a thesis and what is required when we indicate the thesis of a text. 

3.  "No Chive Left Behind"  -- Yesterday I gave you questions to this text with the objective of more closely comprehending this text.  The last question asked you what issue in your life or community bothers you.  That question was to get you thinking about a topic for writing your own satire.  ALSO, I gave you an index card on which to write your topic.  That was your homework assignment -- to decide on a topic for your satire essay.

   Often in satire the writer says just the opposite of what he or she really believes.  That is verbal irony or sarcasm.  In your essay you will be thinking of reasons to support your satire topic.  The challenge is to think of positive things to say about something that you are in fact criticizing.

For today come up with five reasons to support your topic.  For HOMEWORK, compose your introduction which will introduce your topic/issue and which will state a thesis. 

4.  SATIRE ASSIGNMENT handout

"No Chive Left Behind"

"There is nothing good or bad but thinking makes it so."

                                                                                               Hamlet, Shakespeare

1. INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell

2.  Satire -- "No Chive Left Behind"

     Please quietly read this essay and respond to the questions.

     We will discuss this together, especially question #8.

3. HOMEWORK:  Decide on a topic for writing your own satire.  Think about the examples of satire that we have read in class ( "Lost in the Kitchen," "The Truth about Beauty," "Advice to Youth,"and "No Chive Left Behind"). Write your topic down on the provided index card.  

    I promise that writing satire will be somewhat of a challenge because you might be saying the opposite of what you really mean (verbal irony).  Tomorrow we will look back at some of the examples of satirical features in the pieces that we have read AND we will begin writing.  Please be ready with your topic.

Expert Project Day

"Better a witty fool than a foolish wit."

                                                                                                   -- William Shakespeare

  

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell.  Don't miss my recording of participation points.

2.  EXPERT PROJECT -- I would like to take another day for this work so that we have the sense of our efforts being underway . . . . finally.  I expect you to focus and work quietly through the period.  

3.  Tomorrow we will be reading another example of satire.  A writing assignment is forthcoming -- you will be writing your own satire.  Start thinking about some issue that concerns you that might be suitable for satirizing.      

Expert Project

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.

                                                                -- William Shakespeare

1.  EXPERT PROJECT -- Please get your assigned netbook when you arrive.  Today we are going to work on our expert topic.  If you have not created a blog for your research, then please do so today as follows:

1.  GO TO blogger.com
2.  gmail
3.  new blog
4.  title (create a title relevant to your topic)
5. address ( ______________________.blogspot.com)
6.  template 

PLEASE share your blog link with me today.  In your blog you will be writing regular blog posts about what you are learning. For your first post, explain why you have chosen your particular topic and   explain what you hope to learn.  
NOTE: When you record information about your topic, be sure to also record your sources.

Red Jacket Defends Native American Religion, 1805"

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none . . .

                                                                                             -- William Shakespeare

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell.

2.  Please quickly organize into your groups and read #3 below.

 

3.  "Red Jacket Defends Native American Religion, 1805" -- You have recorded three quotes (examples) and an explanation (commentary) of how these quotes support Red Jacket's purpose.  For homework you incorporated these quotes and commentary into a paragraph which explains Red Jacket's purpose and how he supports that purpose (or position).   DISCUSS YOUR RESPONSE IN YOUR GROUP AND SELECT ONE OF THE RESPONSES TO SHARE WITH THE CLASS.  ALL GROUPS WILL SHARE THIS TIME.

4. Tomorrow -- EXPERT PROJECT DAY.  When you arrive to class you will get a netbook and begin.  You should have created a blog for this research where you record your findings.  One thing that I did not indicate to you was to share your blog with me.  We will do that tomorrow.

                                

 

"Red Jacket Defends Native American Religion, 1805"

Without effort, you cannot be prosperous.  Though the land be good, you cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation.   -- Plato

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell

2.  "Advice to Youth" -- we will briefly finish our discussion of this piece.  I will collect your annotated copy.  I should see annotation for features of satire.

3.  "Red Jacket Defends Native American Religion, 1805" -- you will receive three index cards and on each card you will write a quote (example) from Red Jacket that you think reinforces Red Jacket's argument.  You will also explain why that quote is supporting his argument (commentary).

e.g.  "you say that you are right, and we are lost; . . ."

Red Jacket argues that if Christianity was meant for the Seneca, the Great Spirit would have provided the book it is written in as he did for the whiteman.  This supports his idea of the legitimacy of his native religion.


  For homework write a paragraph explaining how Red Jacket's examples contribute to his purpose. 

"Advice to Youth"

Noise proves nothing.  Often a hen who has merely laid an egg cackles as if she had laid an asteroid.

                                                                                                             --  Mark Twain

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please begin at the bell. 

2.  SATIRE --  In an assigned group please quietly read "Advice to Youth" by Mark Twain.  Then as a group discuss and take notes on Twain's use of satire. (Show this annotation on your copy).   Answer the following question:

What do you think Twain is mainly satirizing?  What is he poking fun at?

Give three examples from the text and explain what he is mocking/ridiculing.

Be sure to point out at least 3 instances of sarcasm or verbal irony or perhaps exaggeration.  CITE SENTENCES.

3.  EACH group will come up to the front of the class and discuss their response.  Please make the effort to be very ready to do that. 

  

"Advice to Youth"

To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing.

                                                                                       -- Elbert Hubbard

NOTE:  If you have a concern about your grade, please see me after class or at lunch. 

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Friday I reminded you that you will be starting your next two books with the new and last grading period of this semester.  It's unbelievable how fast the first two grading periods went!   Please be ready each day with your book to receive participation credit.  I am ready at the bell to check that you have your book open and have commenced to read.  The bell is your signal -- I am not going to wait for you to get started.

2.  Sharing a few of your stories.  I would like the stories that you have written to have more of an audience than myself.  You are invited to read your story to the class for extra credit.  Otherwise, I might select one and do the reading.  

3.  SATIRE -- "Advice to Youth" by Mark Twain.  Annotate this piece for features of satire. 

"Lost in the Kitchen"

Speak clearly, if you speak at all; carve every word before you let it fall.

                                                                                                     -- Oliver Wendell Holmes

   

1.  NOTE:  The third and final grading period of this semester begins on Monday.  Please select your new independent reading book by then.  It may be from my list or your own selection.  Again, you will read two books for the six week period.  One is from the list of recommended books and one will be your own selection.  We will resume independent reading at the start of class on Monday.

2.  By the end of today you will have posted two book reviews on GOODREADS and you will have provided a link for me.  (Refer to blog post 11/27)

3.  TODAY:  "Lost in the Kitchen"  Please take a few minutes to complete your annotation of this essay.  The copy that I collect from you will show notes for each paragraph indicating examples of satirical features, e.g. hyperbole, and a main idea expressed in the paragraph.

4.  Another Dave Barry essay -- "The Ugly Truth About Beauty"   Annotate for features of satire, main ideas, and your responses.  I think you will enjoy this essay and, again, I am going to ask partners to share their responses with the class.

Satire

Max Eastman, a theorist of humor has observed, “a culture without satire is a culture without

self-criticism and thus, ultimately, without humanity.” 

1.  NOTE: Be sure to have two book reviews posted on GOODREADS by the end of tomorrow and a link for your reviews provided on the form which you are to complete (blog post 11/27).

2.  SATIRE -- "Lost in the Kitchen"    Read the text quietly and closely on your own. THEN, with a partner, give it a second reading and annotate the text.  Discuss with your partner the satirical elements which may be found in this essay.  I am going to ask partners to share their insights with the class (EXTRA CREDIT).

3.  REMINDER : Article of the Week #11 due tomorrow

Introduction to Satire

A sneer is the weapon of the weak.

    -- James Russell Lowell

1.  NOTE: For homework over the next few days please work on completing your book reviews on goodreads and providing a link to your review as shown yesterday.  

2.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell

3.  Introduction to Satire and first text -- "Lost in the kitchen"

     

 Essential questions:  * Why is it important to look critically at the world around us?

                                * Why is it important to write about the vices and follies in human
                                        society?

                                * Why do authors choose satire?

4.  GEARUP -- the last ten minutes of class

GOODREADS Book Review Link

Irony is jesting behind hidden gravity.

                                                                                           -- John Weiss

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell.


2.  Feedback to My Teacher


3.   You will use the following link to fill out a form for your required book reviews.  Click on the link and fill out the form.  The tricky part, then, is to paste the URL from your Goodreads review onto the form.  The link for the form is:    GOODREADS Book Review 


4.  Article of the Week #11 -- due Friday.  For this article, summarize what you see as the most important points to glean from the article.  What details caught your attention.?

5.  Introduction to Satire -- "Lost in the Kitchen."  Annotating for satirical devices

Creating a blog

An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of learning.

                                                                                                              -- Proverb

 1.  NOTE: The 2nd grading period comes to an end this Friday, November 30th.  You will be graded on two book reviews posted on GOODREADS.COM  One of the book reviews will be on a book from my list and the other will be your selected book.

2.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell

3.  EXPERT PROJECT -- We have not discussed this for quite awhile, but this project has not been dismissed from one of our goals this year.    Today you will create a blog where you will record your research on your topic. To create a blog, follow these directions:

                              
1. Go to blogger.com    
 2. gmail

3. new blog   
4. title   (create a title relevant to your topic)

5. address ( ___________.blogspot.com) 

6. template (choose one) 

4.  NOTE:  Tomorrow we will begin a new unit which will take us up to Winter vacation.  We will be learning about SATIRE (Wit and Commentary).

5.  YOUR STORIES:  I would like to take a day this week to have you share your story in a group) 

Narrative Assessment

There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in your philosophy, Horatio.

                                                                                                         -- Shakespeare (Hamlet)

1. NOTE: We will skip independent reading today because we should start the NARRATIVE ASSESSMENT TEST right away.  Please get your netbook when you arrive and log on.  Go to Baltrushes.blogspot.com


2.  TEST CODES -- I will be giving you your test code to access the test after you click on this link:    Narrative Test

      The test will start with a practice test that walks you through things like highlighting the text, crossing out wrong answer choices, etc.  When you finish the practice test, you have to use the button on the upper right section to "exit section."

       The test will assess how well you read and understand a play after practicing skills in your reading of The Crucible.

3.  YOUR STORY -- I will collect your hard copy at the end of the period. From what I have been reading here and there, you have done an AWESOME job with this assignment!

4.  Article of the Week #10 is due.  Please turn in ALL your assignments.  Work on completing your book reviews over Thanksgiving.

Narrative Writing

Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.

 

 

1. INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell.  Please use this time for reading.  (Turn on your netbook but read).  Remember that you will be posting two book reviews on GOODREADS.COM before the end of the grading period which is November 30th.  

 

2.  NARRATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT -- The goal is to be finished today.  Please share your story with me on Google Docs.  Please also give me a hard copy tomorrow.  Take care of printing your story on your own, either at home or in the library.

 

3.  NOTE:  Narrative writing assessment test tomorrow.  This test will be taken online.  I will be giving each of you a code.  The link to the test will be in my blog tomorrow.

 

4.  NOTE: Article of the Week #10 is due tomorrow.

 

 

Narrative Writing

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul

And sings the tune without the words

And never stops at all.

                                                                                     -- Emily Dickinson

1. NOTE:  Friday you will be given a multiple choice narrative assessment test.  You will be taking the test online in Data Director.  The link will be in my blog on Friday. 

2.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please begin at the bell.

3.  NARRATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT -- Your story is due tomorrow.  Please make sure you share it with me on Google Docs.  I also want a hard copy but you will need to print that on your own.  Please do that at home or use the library.  If you need help with that, please see me at lunch.

Narrative writing

A real book is not one that we read, but one that reads us.

                                                                                              -- W.H. Auden

1.  NOTE:  If you have not returned to the library your copy of The Crucible, do so as soon as possible.

2.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell.  

3.  Article of the Week #10 -- Response due Friday.  Select one of the possible writing topics that follow the article.

4.  NARRATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT -- this assignment is due Thursday.  Please share your story with me on Google Docs and also give me a hard copy.  Friday I would like you to share your story in a group.  Please be prepared for this activity.  Questions to consider as you review your writing:

                                          * Do I have a well-developed plot?

                                          * Have I brought my characters to life showing motivation?

                                          * Have I used the show not tell approach in my writing?

                                         

Narrative Writing

Those who work most for the world's advancement are the ones who demand least.

                                                                                                      -- Henry Doherty

 

1.  NOTE:  If you have not returned to the library your copy of The Crucible, please do so ASAP.

2.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please begin at the bell after you have gotten your netbook.  Read quietly for 10 mintes.

3.  SHOW NOT TELL LESSON -- This is an important ingredient in your narrative writing.  Being descriptive is what makes your story interesting as well as interesting/engaging to write.

4.  Working on your draft -- please work QUIETLY so that each student in this class has a suitable environment to focus.  Final draft is due NOV 15th.

 

5.  Article of the Week #9 is due.  Please get ALL assignments turned in.  I am currently up-to-date with recording assignments on Zangle.  If you have any concerns and need to talk to me at length, please stop by my classroom during lunch.

Narrative Writing

Silence is foolish if we are wise, but wise if we are foolish.

                                                                                            -- Charles Caleb Colton

1.  NOTE: If you have not done so yet, please return your copy of The Crucible to the library.

2.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Begin at the bell after you get your netbook.  Every student in this class deserves this quiet time for reading.  Please respect that.  Talking disrupts students who want to read. 

3.  Book Review rubric -- grading period ends Nov 30th.  You will have posted two book reviews on GOODREADS for this second grading period.

4.  NARRATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT -- Due Thursday, Nov 15th.  You have done some planning for your story in class and for homework.  Today, I would like you to work on the writing of your story.  PLEASE SAVE your story as follows: p.# Narrative Writing.  I will continue to give you time in class for drafting your story but you are also to work on it for homework.  Please respect the time given in class to work on this assignment by working quietly.

Narrative Writing

You never will be the person you can be if pressure, tension, and discipline are taken out of your life.

                                                                                                       -- James G. Bilkey

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please begin at the bell.  

     NOTE:  The end of the second grading period is Nov 30.  You will have posted two book reviews on GOODREADS by that date.  One of the books that you are reading is from my list.  The other is self-selected.  I will continue to remind you of this requirement.

2.  NOTE: Return your copy of The Crucible to the library as soon as possible.

3.  NARRATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT -- We will begin in class with the planning and writing of this narrative assignment.  Please fully cooperate with working quietly on your writing.  The due date is November15th so you need to utilize the time given in class.  The story will be between 4 to 6 double-spaced typed pages.  Work on your writing at home as well.

Narrative Writing

In a democracy, the individual enjoys not only the ultimate power but carries the ultimate responsibility.

                                                                                                    -- Norman Cousins

 

 

 

ELECTION DAY!

 

1.  INDEPENDENT READING -- Please begin at the bell.  

 

2.  Article of the Week #9 -- due Friday

 

3.  Narrative Writing Assignment -- This assignment is due Thursday, November 15th.  The length of your story will be 4-6 double-spaced typed pages.  You will be given time each day in class to work on your story but that means the complete cooperation of ALL students.  

4.  Discussion of story ideas that have to do with fear.  By tomorrow you will have made a commitment to a story idea.  Today I will give you a planning outline to begin.