The Crucible, Act I

Good Morning!

*Please read quietly until we are ready to begin.

*Book reviews are due on Monday, Oct 6th.  If you are unsure on how to write your review on Goodreads, please ask for my help.  Please follow the book review rubric.

*The Crucible, Act I -- complete questions up to #24

HOMEWORK:  Your book review is due by next Monday, Oct 6th.  I will give you some class time on Thursday and Friday to write your review on Goodreads.  Be ready to compose your review by then.

The Crucible, Act 1

Good Morning! 

I hope that you had an enjoyable weekend!

Please read quietly until we are ready to begin. NOTE: Your book review is due Oct 6th -- a week from today.

*Book Review Rubric -- your review will have three paragraphs.  Please skip some space between each paragraph

 

*Goodreads review  -- Friday you made me a friend on Goodreads.  If you are unsure how to do your review on Goodreads, please ask me for help.

*Article of the Week #4 -- annotation and written response is due on Friday

*The Crucible, Act I -- you have completed questions through #13

HOMEWORK:  Independent reading book review is due by Oct 6th (next Monday).

Goodreads

Good Morning!

*Paper Return -- keep any returned papers until the end of the grading period. 

*Article of the Week #3 is due -- annotation and written response

*Book Review Rubric

*Book Reviews -- Posting book reviews on Goodreads. 

 GOODREADS -- Please create a Goodreads account today and make me your friend.  (Use your Google account information). I will show you how to write a review.
Go to www.goodreads.com.  Sign in using Google account -- username and password.  Once on the HOME page of goodreads, CLICK on FRIENDS.  Then GO TO "add friends" and type in my email address (abaltrushes@gmail.com).  Back on the HOME page type the title of your book in the search box and then click on the title that appears.  Find where the book is rated with stars and click on the stars.  You will see the word "review" appear.  Clicking on "review" will take you to where you will write a review on
your book.   

HOMEWORK: Book Review posted on Goodreads is due Oct 6th. 

The Crucible, Act I

Good Morning!

Please read quietly until we are ready to begin.  Tomorrow we will review using Goodreads which is where you will be posting your book reviews.  

*The Crucible, Act I -- thank you for volunteering to read yesterday.  You did a good job! How about some new volunteers for extra credit.

 * Homework:  Article of the Week #3 (annotation and written response).  In your written response, give your perspective.

Act I of The Crucible

Good Morning!

*Please quietly read your independent reading book until we are ready to begin. 

*The Crucible, Act I -- Act I questions will be completed as we progress through the play.  Volunteer to read for extra credit.
(Handout)  Be attentive to the reading of the play and completing the accompanying questions.

* Please complete assignments when they are assigned and due.   

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #3

"Overture" and Act I of The Crucible

Good Morning!

*Please quietly read your independent reading book until we are ready to begin.

*Review of Background to The Crucible (homework)

*The Crucible, "An Overture" -- you have been responding to questions as I read, and I will collect this handout when we are done with "An Overture."

*The reading of The Crucible -- I plan on reading this play as a play with students volunteering to read parts.  EXTRA CREDIT will be given each day to those students who volunteer for parts.  These extra credit points will be a significant contribution to your grade!

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #3 is due Friday

"Overture" to The Crucible

Good Morning!

* Please read your independent reading book until we are ready to begin.

*Article of the Week #3

*  The Salem Witchcraft Trials (the video) -- just a little bit of discussion.

*  The Crucible -- We will begin reading today with the "Overture" to the play.  Glance over the questions before we begin reading. As I read, listen to the ideas that I emphasize as I pause in the reading.

HOMEWORK: 1. Article of the Week #3 is due on Friday (handout) 2.  Complete Background to The Crucible -- due tomorrow (handout).

Salem Witchcraft Trials

Good Morning!

*Please read your independent reading book until we are ready to begin.

*Article of the Week #2 is due -- annotation and written response.

*Salem Witchcraft Trials -- I would like us to watch this video on witchcraft before we begin The Crucible next week.  (Thank you for bringing your copy class).  For notes record 10 points that caught your attention.  PLEASE number each point and skip a line between each one.  There is so much information in this video and I think that you will learn quite abit!

HOMEWORK:  Independent reading

Quiz on Research Topics

Good Morning!

*Independent Reading -- Begin at the bell and read quietly until we are ready to begin.

*Research Topics -- I will collect these before the quiz.  Your homework last night was to study for this quiz.  

*Handout on pp. 134-136 ("Between Heaven and Hell") -- this assignment was out of your text.

*Some more background to The Crucible  (if there is time)

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #2 -- Annotation and written response

Checking out The Crucible

Good Morning!

*Please read your independent reading book while I take attendance.  We will then go to the library to check out The Crucible.  

*Review of research topic questions -- please listen to the responses and take additional notes.  There will be a quiz tomorrow.  Review this information.  I will collect the handout tomorrow.

*Homework review -- questions on pp. 134-136 in the text  (handout).

 

HOMEWORK -- 1. Review information on Research Topics  2. Article of the Week is due on Friday

Research Questions

Good Morning!

*Please get your netbook when you arrive and read quietly while the netbook powers up.  I will be checking for books again today for participation points.

*NOTE: We will be checking out The Crucible tomorrow.  Please be ready with your ID.

*Research topics -- Please complete questions to the topics today.  We will discuss and I will then collect.

*The purpose of the textbook assignment for homework is to provide some additional background to The Crucible which is to understand more about the Puritan era.  This is due tomorrow.

HOMEWORK:  1.  Article of the Week #2   2.  Textbook assignment -- questions on pp. 134-136 (handout)

Background to The Crucible

Good Morning!

I hope that you had an enjoyable weekend!

*Please get your assigned netbook when you arrive and READ while it powers up.

*Independent Reading -- this is an official check day for reading.  Please have your book out, and we will read for about 10 -15 minutes.

*Article of the Week #2 -- the annotation and one page response is due on Friday. 

*Note:  we will be checking out The Crucible on Wednesday.  Be sure to have your ID.

*Today we will start a little bit of research on topics that will prepare us for reading The Crucible.  Please click on the following links for the topics that you will read about and on which you will answer questions: (Handout with the questions)

(Go to Baltrushes.blogspot.com for the link)

*Communism in the 1950's
*Arthur Miller
*Puritan New England 
*Salem Witch Trials 

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #2 due on Friday

"Story of an Hour"

Good Morning!

NOTE:  Bring your independent reading book to class on Monday and everyday.  I will be giving you participation points starting Monday. 

*Please get your netbook when you arrive, but give me your attention as it powers up.

*Article of the Week #1 is due -- Annotation and one page response.  I will collect this at the beginning of class. It is due NO later than today.

*Today you will put your writing response to "The Story of an Hour"  into your English Journal.  It will go on the top.   Carefully proofread for errors. Make sure that you have included the title, author, statement of theme, and a discussion of stylistic techniques.  REFER TO THE TEXT FOR EVIDENCE.

*You now have three fully complete assignments in your English Journal.  You have labeled each assignment.

*HOMEWORK:  Make sure that you bring your independent reading book to class on Monday.

"Story of an Hour"

Good Morning!

*Please visit the library today to check out a book for independent reading.  I will start checking for participation points on Monday.

*In reading "Story of an Hour" yesterday, I learned that we need some review of literary or stylistic devices:
Literary Devices 
Symbolism  

*"Story of an Hour" -- we will finish discussing this story and complete a written response to it.  The writing prompt is as follows: 

             Introduce the story by referring to the title and author 
             and make a statement of theme (what is this story 

             really about?).  Explain the theme with a brief synopsis of 

             the story and how the stylistic devices contribute to the

             the theme.
(Complete this draft on paper. Tomorrow you will compose from this draft in your English Journal in Google docs.

HOMEWORK:  1.  Independent reading book 2. Article of the Week  (annotation and written response)

"Story of an Hour"

Good Morning!

Please get your netbook when you arrive.  Please make sure that you are taking the one assigned to you.  Please complete the assignment on "Superman and Me."  Remember to place this assignment at the top in your English Journal and entitle the assignment as shown below.

"Superman and Me"

Subject: Begin by explaining the author's subject.  Be sure to introduce the title and author of the article.  Explain how the text is structured and provide a brief synopsis of the article.

Audience: Who is the intended audience?
Author's Persona:  How does the author present himself? (tone)
Purpose: Why was this text written? What should we think or do in response to this article?  What philosophy/worldview does the writer want to share?

*When you have completed the written response to "Superman and Me" in your English Journal, please quietly read "The Story of An Hour" and respond to the questions on the back.  Complete for homework.   I will collect your copy "Superman and Me."  (Remind me).

HOMEWORK:  1. Independent reading book 2. Article of the Week is due Friday  3. "Story of An Hour"

"Superman and Me"

Good Morning!

Please get your netbook when you arrive to class and open your independent reading book while your netbook powers up.  If you do not have a book yet, please visit the library on Thursday when it opens.

*"Superman and Me" -- yesterday you annotated this essay.  After discussion, please respond in writing to the essay by doing the following in your ENGLISH JOURNAL:

"Superman and Me"

Subject: Begin by explaining the author's subject.  Be sure to introduce the title and author of the article.  Explain how the text is structured and provide a brief synopsis of the article.

Audience: Who is the intended audience?
Author's Persona:  How does the author present himself? (tone)
Purpose: Why was this text written? What should we think or do in response to this article?  What philosophy/worldview does the writer want to share?

*When you have completed the written response to "Superman and Me" in your English Journal, please quietly read "The Story of An Hour" and respond to the questions on the back.  Complete for homework.

HOMEWORK:  1. Independent reading book  2. Article of the week due Friday   3.  Finish reading "Story of An Hour" and respond to questions.

"Superman and Me"

Good Morning!

I hope that you had a great weekend and are ready to begin another great week!

*Independent Reading Book -- please have your book out on your desk and read quietly while I take attendance.  The library opens this Thursday, so I will wait until then before giving participation points.

* Article of the Week (AoW) -- I have not said anything about this yet, nor is it written in my syllabus.  I would like us to do an article of the week because it is an effective means to improve our reading skills -- and the articles are interesting and informative!  The AoW will be assigned on Monday and the annotation and written response will be due Friday.

*To support our independent reading goals, I would like us to begin that effort with the essay "Superman and Me."  Please read the essay and annotate as you go along.  What does it mean to annotate?  Mark anything that you think is confusing, interesting, surprising, or important.  Write comments in response or indicate a main point.

HOMEWORK:  Independent reading book and AoW ("What is ISIS?"

Letter of Introduction

Good Morning!

I hope that you have had a great first week back!

 

*Today you will finish your letter of introduction to me in your English Journal.  Hopefully, the netbooks will be more cooperative this morning.  If you have turned in a written copy, I would like you to try again today to create an English Journal and transfer your letter there (for those of you who were unable to do so yesterday).

 

*For anyone who has fully completed the letter in your English Journal, I would like you to create a six word memoir.  This would be for extra credit.

 

HOMEWORK:  Select a book for your independent reading for

                          Monday. 

Creating an English Journal

Good Morning!

Reminder:  Please have your independent reading book for Monday.  

Creating a Google Document -- Today you will be assigned a netbook and you will read and sign a Netbook Agreement Form. Signing this form is mandatory. If you do not have a Google account, please create one today.  Go to www.Google.com and follow the directions.  Once you are in your Google documents, please create a new document and save as Period __ English Journal.  You only have to do this once for this document that we will open throughout the year.

Assignment:  Write a letter addressed to me (Dear Ms. Baltrushes) and tell me what YOU would like me to know about you as a student in my class.  You might discuss your prior performance as a student, your strengths and/or weaknesses, likes/dislikes, interests outside of school, family, etc.  It's up to you.  Please share this document with me:  abaltrushes@gmail.com 

HOMEWORK: Select an independent reading book

Textbook Checkout

Good Morning!

 I hope everything went smoothly for you yesterday and that you had a great day!  

Today we are scheduled for textbook checkout.  You must have your ID with you in order to check out your textbooks.  When we return to class, there should be time to discuss the syllabus for this class.  You can access it online on my school website for further review.  Seating chart today.

NOTE:  Please bring your text for this class home. You will be assigned work from the text to be completed at home. 

HOMEWORK: Please begin your selection of an independent reading book for the first six weeks.  You are required to write a review of this book and post it on Goodreads.  One book is required for each grading period.  One of these books must be from the recommended book list.  A link to this list is on this blog. You are due to have your selected book by Monday of next week.  On Monday I will show you how to use GOODREADS.

"The Sun Goes Down on Summer"

Honors American Literature

Ms. Baltrushes

  
Welcome to 11th grade Honors American Literature!  

Each day when you arrive to class you will see the day's agenda here on the Promethean Board.  Upon arrival to class, please read what I have planned for the day.  I hope that all of you had a great summer and are looking forward to a successful year.  You are now JUNIORS, and this will be an important year for you!  I look forward to doing all I can to advance your learning and make my class a positive experience for you.  I am here doing what I love!

On this first day I would like us to read and respond to a poem which I believe you will find very appropriate for this first day back from summer vacation.   Respond to "The Sun Goes Down on Summer" by doing the following: (Place responses on the copy of the poem)

    
     1.  First reading: quietly read the poem.

     2.  Identify the parts that you found especially meaningful, true,

          or appropriately expressive or descriptive.  

     3.  Identify and explain the imagery used.  Is the imagery 

          effective? Explain with two examples.

     4.  What line clearly suggests apprehension about the start of school?    
     5.   What are the speaker's worries?
     6.   Explain the poem's important theme which becomes clear

          in the second half of the poem.  

     7.  What are your thoughts on the poem's theme? Do you connect to this 
          theme?

"The Sun Goes Down on Summer"

NOTE:  Textbook checkout through this class tomorrow.