English 11

On Monday, make sure you have a theme statement written down for "The Story of an Hour".  Also, on Tuesday, you will have to hand in a coherent, cohesive story or paragraph using a minimum of ten of the class vocabulary words.

English 10, Period 4

Make sure to study the 30 class vocabulary words.  There will be a test on these in a week's time.  On Tuesday, you must hand in a coherent story or paragraph using a minimum of 10 of the class vocabulary words.

English 10 Period 2

Make sure that you study your 30 vocabulary words.  There will be a test on them in a week's time.  Also, complete the questions on "Lamb to the Slaughter".

English 10

After reading the short story "The Doll's House" today, I asked students to write down three questions they had about the story.

The apostrophe retest will be tomorrow as well.

English 10

If you have not already done so, please finish your vocabulary cartoon and bring it to class tomorrow.

I also assigned a writing task on the short story "The Possibility of Evil" to be completed for class on Monday. Choose one of the following writing assignments:

Paragraph: Explain how the roses symbolize Miss Strangeworth. Write a coherent, well organized formal paragraph with a quote.


Poem: Write a poem about the story or a poem that summarizes the story. Be creative, use poetic devices and good detail.


Scene: Write a one page scene from Miss Strangeworth's youth—around the time she and Tommy Lewis left high school. Imagine the day they both became awkwardly formal with each other. Try to shed some light on why and how their relationship changed Write well, be believable and creative.

English 11

Today, we wrote the in-class essay on "A Handful of Dates".  Tomorrow, we'll have a short quiz on apostrophes.

English 10

Answer questions 1, 2, 3, and 5 on the short story "The Possibility of Evil" for tomorrow.  In addition, explain the symbolism of the roses in this story.

English 11

Tomorrow, you will be writing an in-class essay.  It is open book, and you should bring your planning sheet with the cited quotations that you will be using.

English 10, Period 2

Tomorrow, there will be a short quiz on apostrophes.  Also, today in class, we read part of the short story "The Possibility of Evil".  Please do not read any further than p.214, where Miss Strangeworth speaks to the town librarian.  Write down your first impressions of Miss Strangeworth; try to come up with five - six things readers learn about her.

English 10, Period 4

Tomorrow, there will be a short quiz on apostrophes.  Today in class, we read the short story "The Possibility of Evil".  If you missed class, please read no further than page 216.

English 11

The in-class composition is on Wednesday.  Make sure you have filled in your planning sheet; we'll discuss the essay tomorrow in class.

A short quiz on apostrophes is scheduled for Thursday.

English 11

Please fill in the planning chart for the "A Handful of Dates" character analysis assignment; it is due Monday.  In addition, complete the sheet on apostrophes and begin to learn these vocabulary words:

1. prescient (adj):  foresight; having or showing knowledge of the future
2. flinch (v):  make a quick, nervous movement of the face or body as an instinctive reaction to surprise or fear
3. perpetuate (v):  to make something continue indefinitely
4. trudge (v): to walk slowly with heavy steps because of exhaustion or difficult conditions/terrain
5. plunge (v): to immerse in water
6. condescending (adj): having or showing feelings of patronizing superiority; haughty
7. hullabaloo (n): a commotion/fuss; a noisy, chaotic situation
8. compel (v): to force or pressure someone to do something; to make something happen by means of force or pressure
9. abstain (v): to restrain oneself from doing or enjoying something; to formally withdraw from the voting process
10. render** (v):  to give or deliver (the jury rendered its verdict); to cause to become/to make (his selfishness rendered us speachless); to represent in art (the image of the sailboat was well rendered); to melt down fat; to cover a wall with plaster

**For our purposes, we will use the first two definitions of render (give or make).

English 10--Period 4

For homework, look at the class vocabulary list we created yesterday, choose four words, and for each word do the following:  find a different form of the word, write either the original or the new form of the word in a sentence, and find at least one related word (look for a word that has a similar root).  Please look at the Period 2 blog entry to see an example of this.

Here is the Period 4 class vocabulary list: (noun=n; adjective=adj; adverb=adv; verb=v)

1. luminescent (adj)
2. elusive (adj)
3. corrosive (adj)
4. cleave (v)
5. gregarious (adj)
6. whirligig (n)
7. azure (adj)
8. invalid (n/adj/v): noun--a person made weak or disabled through injury or illness; adj--something which is untrue/something which is not valid;v--to disable/remove from service
9. opulent (adj)
10. disgruntled (adj)

(For the word invalid, learn the fist definition.)

In addition to this, please write down two truths and a lie about yourself that we can play in class at some point over the course of the semester.

English 10--Period 2

For homework, look at the class vocabulary list we created yesterday, choose four words, and for each word do the following:  find a different form of the word, write either the original or the new form of the word in a sentence, and find at least one related word (look for a word that has a similar root).  Here is the example that I gave the class:

Original word:
Misanthrope (noun):  a hater of mankind; one who avoids human society

Different form of the word:
Misanthropic (adjective)

Used in a sentence:
The misanthropic old man detested all his neighbours.

Related word(s):
Misogyny: hatred or contempt of the female sex
Misandry: hatred or contempt of the male sex

Here is the class vocabulary list: (noun=n; adjective=adj; adverb=adv; verb=v)

1. misanthrope (n)
2. melancholy (n)
3. prepossessing (adj)
4. patriotism (n)
5. taut (adj)
6. fervor (n)
7. rheumy (adj)
8. amenable (adj)
9. archaic (adj)
10. acquiescence (n)

In addition to this, please write down two truths and a lie about yourself that we can play in class at some point over the course of the semester.

English 11

Today, students worked together to answer a number of questions on the short story "A Handful of Dates".  In addition, they handed in their paragraphs on "Gentlemen, Your Verdict".

Tomorrow, students need to bring in five good, academic vocabulary words and their definitions that they have found this week.  Tomorrow, we will make a class vocab list from these words.  Appropriate words are ones that can be found in a standard dictionary, not words with definitions coming from Urban Dictionary.  The aim of this exercise is to expand your academic vocabulary.

English 10

Today, we went over the different elements in the short story "The Inheritor" and did some vocabulary review.

Tomorrow, students need to bring in five good, academic vocabulary words and their definitions that they have found this week.  Tomorrow, we will make a class vocab list from these words.  Appropriate words are ones that can be found in a standard dictionary, not words with definitions coming from Urban Dictionary.  The aim of this exercise is to expand your academic vocabulary.

English 10

After reading "The Inheritor", I assigned questions 1 and 2 from the textbook and questions 1, 4, 5, and 6 from the handout.  I'll do a homework check tomorrow.

Also, you should be keeping an eye open for new good, academic words.  You need to bring five new words and their definitions to class on Friday.

English 11

On Thursday, your paragraph on "Gentlemen, Your Verdict" is due.  Make sure you use at least one or two quotations in your composition.

Also, you should be keeping an eye open for new good, academic words.  You need to bring five new words and their definitions to class on Friday.

English 10

Today in class, students wrote their responses to the quotations.  Homework is just to write definitions for the vocabulary on the flip side of the plot diagram sheet.  Do not worry about the material on the plot side of the handout as we will discuss that in class on Monday.  For anyone who was not present in class today, the vocabulary words are as follows:

1. desolation (noun)
2. refuge (noun)
3. rear (verb)
4. divert (verb)
5. perversion (noun)
6. indomitable (adjective)
7. inimical (adjective)
8. lacerated (verb)
9. ochre (adjective)
10. fleece (noun)
11. vernacular (noun)
12. obliquely (adverb)
13. exquisite (adjective)
14. trussed (verb)
15. propinquity (noun)

Have a good weekend.

English 11

Today in class, students wrote their responses to a quotation.  During the assembly, some students remained in class where they worked on the vocabulary for the short story that we will begin on Monday.  

I did not assign these words to those who were at the assembly because their classmates will teach them these words next day.  If you have not received the list but are itching to know the words, they are as follows:

1.    proverbial (adjective):  

2.    ghastly (adjective): 

3.    clatter (noun):

4.    fathoms (noun):

5.    shuddered (verb):

6.    bow (noun): 

7.    initial (adjective):

8.    impetus (noun):

9.    stern (noun):

10.  bewilderment (noun): 

11.  tender (noun):  a smaller support vessel that might follow a larger ship or submarine for ferrying crew/supplies

Have a happy weekend.