English 10

Both classes should start learning the 15 vocabulary words from "The Inheritor".

Period 2:  Write your first impressions of the story and try to come up with 2-3 questions about it.  Don't look at my questions; write questions on things you find confusing in the story.

Period 3:  Answer questions #1-4 on the short story.

English Lit

Today, we went over the questions on page 30 in anticipation of Monday's test.  Do read over page 32 on the Venerable Bede and pages 41 and 42 about the development of the English Language.

English Lit

We finished reading the Beowulf section of the textbook.  Tonight, select two out of the eight questions on page 30 and have them ready for discussion tomorrow.  The test will be on Monday.  It will consist of 5 vocab questions, about 10  multiple choice questions, a short answer question on the poetic language of Anglo-Saxon literature, and three paragraph questions.  One of the paragraph questions will relate to a quotation.

Please hand in your vocabulary sheets on Friday--I'll take it Thursday if you have yours ready.

English Lit

Tonight, please write down one question, one quote, and three literary devices from the section entitled "The Battle with Grendel". 
Also, the first five vocabulary words you should put on your Vocab Sheet are...
1.  hosts (p.12; l. 13)
2.  gabled (p. 12; l. 20)
3.  moors (p. 13; l. 39)
4.  reparation (p. 15; l. 95)
5.  solace (p. 16; l. 122)

Finally, the Beowulf test will be next Monday.  Details to follow.

English 10

Tonight for homework, make sure that you have found one example each of...
1.  a point in "Lamb to the Slaughter" when you, the reader, were surprised.
2. a point in the story where you, the reader, knew more than one (or some) of the characters.
3. a point in the story when a character says one thing, but what is said has a second, darker meaning.

Point #3 might be tricky, but try your best!

English Lit

What does Grendel look like?  Draw your version for class tomorrow.

English 10

Keep reviewing your vocabulary words.  As soon as we get to 30, there will be a test.

English Lit

For Monday, go through the sections "The Coming of Beowulf" and "Unferth's Taunt" to find examples of Beowulf being typically heroic.  We discussed in class how a hero is often selfless/self sacrificing, loyal, brave, and noble. 

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English 10

For Monday, make sure that your questions for the short story are completed; there will be a homework check.

English Lit

You get a break tonight.

English 10

Don't read ahead in the story!!!
Other than that, Period 2, remember to have your journals ready to hand in tomorrow.
Period 3, here were your journal topics today:
     a) People can sometimes surprise us.
     b) The perfect crime
     c) Revenge is a dish best served cold.

English 10

Today, we did a punctuation exercise, a reading exercise (Period 2) and then discussed short story terms. 

Period 2 students:
Here are the two journal options you were given today:
1.  Tell me about something you think is great, but others would totally disagree with you about this.
2.  Write a (minimum 3/4 page) story incorporating these four random words:  California, firefighter, bench, and pepper.  Be sure to underline the four words so that I can spot them easily.
This journal is due on Friday at the start of class.

Period 3 students:
Complete a plot diagram for the video we watched today.  The information you give can be given in point form.  Don't feel you have to give too detailed a detailed explanation of the Rising Action--3-4 points will suffice.  You can find a link to the video HERE.

English Lit

Tonight for homework, think about what you'll say tomorrow when we discuss the qualities of a hero.  Also, complete a question, a quote, and just one poetic device from the first section of "Beowulf".

English Lit 12

Today, we talked about the early history of the English language.  Then, students took notes on pages 2 - 9 of the textbook.  Tomorrow, we'll begin reading "Beowulf".

English 11

English 11 Final Exam: Tuesday, January 22, 11-12:30--Period 1 in D200/Period 2 in D203

Section A:  Editing skills

• Multiple choice questions

Section B:  Poem the students have never seen before

• Multiple choice questions on comprehension, word use, and poetic devices

Section C:  Short story the students have never seen before

• Multiple choice questions on comprehension, word use, poetic devices, and short story terms

Section D:  Composition

• Students will write a literary (expository) essay on one of the pieces included in the test.

To review, students should review the editing skills handouts.  They should also be familiar with short story and poetic terms.

For homework tonight, finish sheet #3 on editing skills and complete the poem package "Crab".

English 8

English 8 Final Exam: Monday, January 21, 11-12:30 Room D200 (unless you have been personally told otherwise)

Section A:  Grammar and Usage (parts of speech and punctuation)

Section B:  Poem the students have never seen before

• Multiple choice questions on comprehension, word use, and poetic devices

Section C:  Short story the students have never seen before

• Multiple choice questions on comprehension, word use, poetic devices, and short story terms

Section D:  Composition

• Students will be given three writing prompt options and will choose one of these.
• They will write a one to three paragraph response (one paragraph is appropriate for an expository--argumentative--prompt and two to three paragraphs is appropriate for a story prompt).

To review, students should be familiar with the parts of speech and basic punctuation.  They should also be familiar with short story and poetic terms.

English 11

Your Macbeth presentations are due on Monday.  That is also the day you will wear your t-shirts to school. 
Pizza lunch for the Macbeth winners (you know who you are) tomorrow at lunch in my room.  You'll have to bring your own drinks.

Tonight, read over the five poems in the package you received today.  Then, choose your favourite three poems.  For each of those three do the following things:
1. Ask one good open-ended questions that could generate some discussion.
2. Find one example of a poetic device, write it down and state the device.  Also give an explanation of how this device is effective in the poem.
3. Select a pertinent quote from the poem and note down why you think it is significant.

English 11

Your Macbeth test on Thursday will consist of a matching section where characters are matched to important events or descriptors (from all five acts) and a quotation section where students will be asked to identify speakers and/or be asked questions about the meanings or contexts of the quotes.  Most of the quotations come from the first three acts.

The best way to study for the is to go over the study guide notes.

English 8

We have finished The Outsiders, so we will do review activities tomorrow and write the test on Wednesday.  Tonight, fill in the review sheet given out in class today.  The test will consist of the following sections:
1. true/false
2. fill in the blanks
3. multiple choice
4. short answers
5. two paragraph questions

You will be asked questions on the plot, character, theme and all other ordinary story concepts that we learned in the short story unit. 

The students will also hand in one full page of neat, proofread newspaper copy on Monday, Dec. 17th (not Friday Dec. 14 as stated on the assignment handout).  All students who hand in appropriate copy will have their work published in a class newspaper on The Outsiders.

The newspaper writing assignments are as follows:

1. Naomi: Front page and Why Socs and Greasers fight
2. Yasamin: Girls who love gang members interview
3. Drayden: Johnny jumped by Socs
4. Shion:  Curtis boys can stay together
5. Samantha: Photo essay
6. Reide: Advice column
7. Olivia: Teen heroes rushed to hospital
8. Thomas: Obituary for Johnny
9. Sara:  Ponyboy gets jumped
10. Hayden: Johnny kills Bob
11. Capri: Fashion and word search
12. Finn: Comics
13. Toma: Comics and Rap Sheet (with Seamus)
14. Seamus: Comics and Rap Sheet (with Toma)
15. Brook: Food
16. Allie:  Food
17. Abby: Restaurant review
18. Nicholas: Special Event ad
19. Arianna: Horoscopes (with Laleh) and obituary for Bob Shelton
20. Laleh: Horoscopes (with Arianna) and obituary for Dallas Winston
21. Sage: Soc and Greaser Rumble
22. Jennifer: Sports
23. Lene: Classified/crossword

Students who have questions about their assigned stories need to see me before Friday.  I am happy to give further individual explanation of this.

English 11

We will finish answering the Act II questions on Monday.  This weekend, though, collect one example each of a metaphor, a simile, personification, and a hyperbole from anywhere in Act II.  Also, try to find an example of understatement and an example of paradox from that act if you can.