Expert Project

Good morning! 

 We will not be using the netbooks today.  Yesterday we commenced our English Journal with the writing response to "Superman and Me" which was due at the end of the period.  If you did not complete the response in class, please complete it at home and be sure that you have shared your English Journal with me (abaltrushes@gmail.com).  I will collect your annotated copies today. 

TODAY please begin class with your independent reading book.  I will have more of an opportunity to check what you are reading. Be sure to bring your book each day.

EXPERT PROJECT:  For homework I asked you to start thinking of possible topics for this year-long project.  Today I will provide some sample research questions, and then we can start creating our own.  First, I would like us to consider the idea of being an expert on a topic.

QUESTIONS: How does a person become an expert
                      What is the criteria for being an expert?
                                                  
The following TED video might give us some ideas about what it means to be an expert.  What can we observe about this talk?  Write down some of your observations.  What is Elizabeth Gilbert talking about?  What is her knowledge?   What is her attitude toward her topic?   Is she an effective speaker?

Elizabeth Gilbert TED Talk: The Elusive Creative Genuis

HOMEWORK:  Write a research question on a possible topic.  I am not asking you to make a commitment yet, but I do want you to start seriously considering possibilities.
 

"Superman and Me"

Good morning!  Please get your assigned netbooks when you arrive to class.  While your netbooks are powering up, please read your independent reading book.  I will be checking again today to see that you have made a selection.

CREATING A DOCUMENT in Google docs:  Create a document in Google docs and name it Period ___ English Journal.  Some of you have already done this for your letter of introduction.  Most of you haven't.  

"Superman and Me" -- for homework you annotated this article, showing a close reading.  In your English Journal today, please respond in writing to this essay by addressing the following:  

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?

HOMEWORK:  Please think about a topic/research question for your EXPERT PROJECT.  It should be a topic that you will enjoy researching this year.  Write down a list of possibilities -- approximately 5.

Student Data Form

Good morning!  I hope that you had a good weekend and are ready for another successful week of school!  "An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."  (Benjamin Franklin)


Hopefully, the netbooks are charged and ready to go.  While they are powering up, please have your independent reading book out and read.  I will be coming around the room to check on the reading you have selected.

Once you have logged onto your netbook, please go to Baltrushes.blogspot.com.  Click on the following link and complete the form:
Student Data Form

GOODREADS -- Please create a Goodreads account today and make me your friend.  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:  Please read and thoughtfully annotate the article "Superman and Me."  This article is appropriate as we start with our independent reading.  

Creating English Journal

Reminder:  Please have your independent reading book for Monday.  

To begin, I would like to read a few of your poems that you wrote a few days ago.  Thank you for your effort with that assignment.

Creating a Google Document -- Today you will be assigned a netbook and sign a Netbook Agreement Form.  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 Google documents, please create a new document and save as Per __ English Journal.

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 

Syllabus

"He who adds not to his learning diminishes it."

                                                 (The Talmud)

Good morning!  I hope your first week is going very well for you!

Today, I would like to discuss what we will be doing in this class -- the syllabus.  You can access it online on my school website for further review.

I read several of your poems last night and I would like to share some of them with you . . . . anonymously, of course. 

NOTE:  Please bring your text for this class home.  There is a possibility that 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.  Your first book may be your choice or one selected from the required list.  You are due to have this selection by Monday of next week.  On Monday I will show you how to use GOODREADS.

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 or planner with you in order to check out your textbooks.  When we return to class, there should be time to discuss the the poem that you read yesterday and perhaps share the poem that you wrote for homework. I will collect the poem response and your poem.

"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: (write in paragraph form)

     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.  Explain the poem's important theme which becomes clear

          in the second half of the poem.  

     5.  What are your thoughts on the poem's theme?

"The Sun Goes Down on Summer"

HOMEWORK:  Using "The Sun Goes Down on Summer" as a model, write your own poem about summer and returning to school.  Length: Try to approximate the length of "The Sun . . ." Due tomorrow.

NOTE:  Textbook checkout through this class tomorrow