Friday,

Do Now: You've read  the Jim Crow excerpt. What parts stand out for you? Why?
Classwork: To Kill A Mockingbird:
1. The Historical Connection
2. Chapter 1:
The setting: Maycomb, Alabama 1930

 

Meet the characters: Jem Finch, Scout Finch, Atticus Finch, Calpurnia, Dill, Boo Radley and family.
Analyze the legend of Boo Radley: Why is the story called a "legend"?
Homework: Answer the reading questions that we have covered in class.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Do Now: What can you imagine life must have been like for a black teenager in Alabama in 1930? (5 lines/5 minutes)
Life after Benchmarks
Classwork: Today we start To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee!

Read "The Author's Connection on your handout.
1.Underline events in the author's life and in the novel that are similar.
2. Summarize the briefly in the margin.
3. Circle the events in the Civil Rights Time Line on your handout that interest you.
Homework: Read and follow the annotation directions for "The Historical Connection".

Friday, January 25, 2013

Do Now:  Can you make a personal connection to a text about the Vietnam War?

 How about the war in Iraq or Afghanistan? ( 5 lines/5 minutes)

Classwork: Benchmark Practice

1. Review test-taking strategies.

2. Hands on Practice: The Things They Carried

Make a connection to the text.

Annotate the questions

Use the questions as the purpose for reading.

Annotate the text

Answer Multiple Choice questions using evidence from the text.

Constructed Response Questions strategies

Homework: Use this weekend to re-visit your wiki to improve your grades.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Do Now: Correct the following sentence:
veronica a brilliant student will probably get a higher grade then i will naomi remarked
Classwork: Poetry review.
Compare/contrast the cultural perspectives of each of the four poems.
Compare/contrast the tone of each of the four poems.
Compare/contrast the themes of the four poems.
Homework: Test tomorrow! Review your handout . Make sure you have answered all reading questions and annotated.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Do Now: Read "Frederick Douglass" by Hayden on your poetry handout. Circle unfamiliar vocabulary and write what you believe to be the poet's purpose in the margin.
Classwork: Poetry continued.

The focus is on tone and cultural perspective.
Look at the structure of the poem. Annotate for evidence of tone, author's purpose, and theme.
Review the four poems that comprise this unit on cultural perspectives.
Homework: Test on these two handouts tomorrow.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Do Now: Put the rough draft of your poem on your desk. Prepare for laptops.
Classwork: Wiki directions:
Open Safari. Go to our wiki at
 http://mrswillisenglish3.pbworks.com
Log on by entering your user name ( firstnamelastname)
Your password is your student number.
Click on your name on the home page of the wiki.
Create a page: Title it:  First initial Last Name poem
Be sure to put the page in your folder.
Type your poem using the appropriate format.
After you have proofread it, include a picture from the Internet that illustrates the event, setting, character, or theme of your poem.
This project is due by the end of class. 
Homework: If you have not finished your wiki, complete it over the weekend. Late is better than incomplete!

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Do Now: What event is your poem about? Who are the characters?
Classwork: 
1. Constructing your poem:
Start with the setting and add images that help the reader to "see" it.
Describe the first characters.
Explain the event.
End the poem with your feeling or message about life.
Grading guidelines: Use "The Legend" as your goal. That poem includes powerful images that set the tone and involve the reader. We can use our five senses to  understand his shame and message about contemporary inner-city life.
2. "Sympathy" Paul Lawrence Dunbar.
Focus on the imagery in this poem to understand Dunbar's theme.
Homework: Your poem is due tomorrow. It is a wiki project. ( 100 points )

Wednesday, January 15, 2013

Do Now: Review "The Legend" and its vocabulary for the test.
Classwork:
1. Vocabulary Test
2. Review the legend of The Weaver Girl and The Herd Boy?
3. Why was Hongo inspired to write this poem? What was his puporse?
4. Poetry Project:
Describe the who, when, where, and the event that inspired you to select this article.
What images can you use to make the reader "see" the event? Use your graphic organizer to help you.
What message about life  or theme do you want your reader to understand as a result of reading your poem?
Homework:  Write a rough draft of your poem for writers' workshop tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Do Now: In "The Legend", who are the people involved? What is the setting? What is the event?
Classwork: "The Legend" by Garrett Hongo

We have focused on the who, what , where, and when in this poem. Today we focus on the why.
Why is the author ashamed of himself.
Why does he include the allusion to a Hawaiian legend?
Why is this poem a perspective on our inner-city culture?
Poetry Project - You will use a newspaper article and create  a poem in Hongo's style. More information tomorrow.
Homework: Vocabulary test on Wednesday! You will submit this handout tomorrow for grading. Be sure you have answered all reading questions.

Monday, January 14, 2013

Do Now: Correct the following sentence:
we saw dad who was searching everywhere trying to find his tool box unfortunately he did not find them
Classwork: 
1.  Vocabulary from the poetry handout:
allusion,  tone, theme   twilight   rumpled    dingy    dumbfounded    bewildered  array dappled  carcinogenic     solitude     celibate      legend
2. Cultural perspectives continued:
"The Legend" by Garret Hongo
The poem is based on a newspaper story that inspired the author.
Focus on the setting, event, and characters.
How is imagery used to establish tone?
How does the reference to the legend of The Weaver Maid and The Herd Boy illuminate the theme of the poem?
Why is the poem a statement about contemporary inner city culture?
Poetry project: Select a newspaper or TV description of a recent event to create your poem that reflects tone and theme. 
Homework:  Answer all reading questions on this handout. It will be graded tomorrow.  Vocabulary quiz on Wednesday!

Wednesday, January 9, 2012

Do Now: What did you think of the Keystone? What was difficult? What was a apiece of cake? What did you learn about this kind of high-stakes testing that you will use in May?
Classwork: Poetry
"Same Song" by Pat Mora

Focus on allusion, imagery, and theme.
How does this poem relate to Powell's argument or theme?
Homework: Annotate the poem and answer reading questions

Tuesday, January 8, 2016

Do Now: The author argues in "Manhood, Football, and Suicide" that...
"Too many of us have been taught manhood in a way that is not healthy." 
Do you agree? Why?
 Classwork:
1. Analyze the author's purpose and the argument in this article.
2. How is this situation similar to the situation in Othello?
3.  Is the inability to express yourself a tragic flaw?
4. "Same Song" concerns a similar theme. 

What are the gender roles presented? How do they damage our society?
Homework: Finish annotating both texts. Answer reading questions!
 

Monday, January 7, 2013

Do Now: Is a tragic flaw limited to a Shakespearean tragic hero? What might be a tragic flaw in a contemporary hero? ( Hint - Who are our heroes today?)
Classwork:
"Manhood, Football, and Suicide" CNN article 

1. Annotate the text for who, what, where, and when.
2. Define key terms fro the text.
3. Is he a tragic hero? Why?
4. Analyze the author's perspective on manhood and our cultural values.
5. The 'why' of this article.
Homework: Finish reading the article and answer the CRQ:
What values go with the "supersized macho world of football". Summarize them in the margin.
Why does the author feel they are unhealthy? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Do Now: Why do you think Iago is a heinous villain? Cite evidence from the play that proves your point.
Classwork:  Review for test and focus on Othello as a Tragic Hero.

1. Identify the characteristics of a tragic hero.
2 Does Othello meet the criteria of a tragic hero? Cite evidence.
3 What is Othello's tragic flaw?
4. Competing theories that explain  Othello's downfall.
Homework: Test tomorrow!
All Othello handouts will be graded tomorrow.

January 2, 2013

Welcome Back!

Do Now: How do you define 'VILLAIN'? List at least three characteristics a villain might have.

Classwork: We are focusing on Iago and the characteristics he displays throughout the play that

support the definition of a classic villain.

Antagonist/Protagonist handout:

1. Annotate the text for definitions of villain, foil, adversary, and motivation.

2. Why is Iago the most terrifying villain in Shakespeare's tragedies?

3. Use specific evidence from the play that illuminates the character traits that prove Iago is heinous!

4. Watch the Folger analysis of Iago's villainy. 
Homework : The Antagonist section of your handout must be fully annotated by tomorrow. ( 100 points)  
Othello test is Friday! Review your handouts and your annotated text!