English Students: Graphic Organizers

If you need to practice with more copies of the graphic organizers we used in class (and you do), please download and print them:

• English I Literary Selection (short story)
  
  
• English I/II Expository Essay
  
  
• English II Persuasive Essay

Enjoy!

English I (Pre-AP): Two More "Flash" Fiction-Writing Resources

This page discusses writing stories 100 words or fewer. You should write more than that, but the page has a couple good tips, nonetheless.

Squidoo also has a flash fiction how-to page. Again, some of the material is for writing far less than you should on your End-of-Course exam, but some good observations and examples can be found, too.

English I (Pre-AP): Short short stories

Please check out this website of short-short stories. Each is 250 words or less (if you write an average of 10 words per line on your literary composition on Monday, you'll write 260 words).

I've scanned the stories and haven't come across anything classroom-inappropriate, but don't let that deter you from reading them. (Conversely, if you come across something offensive, please don't freak out.)

All English Students: Field Test on End-of-Course Exam

I just found out there WILL be field test questions on your EoC exams.

We'll talk more about what that means next week.

Pre-AP English II: Persuasive Essay / Thoughts vs. Actions

If you missed class today, you missed an opportunity to write an End of Course-style Persuasive Essay. In approximately 45 minutes (and 26 lines) please respond to the following prompt:

Write an essay stating your position on which is more important: what a person thinks or what a person does. Be sure to —

• state your position clearly
• use appropriate organization
• provide specific support for your argument
• choose your words carefully
• edit your writing for grammar, mechanics, and spelling

At the end of the essay please answer the following question: What are 2 clues in the prompt/"be sure to..." that inform you that you should write a persuasive, rather than an expository, essay? (Bullet points are fine.)

English I (Pre-AP): Timed Writing / Forgiveness

If you missed class today, you missed an opportunity to participate in an End of Course-style timed writing. In approximately 45 minutes (and 26 lines) please respond to the following prompt:

Write a story about the power of forgiveness. Be sure that your story is focused and complete and that it has an interesting plot and engaging characters.

At the end of the story please answer the following question: Besides the word "story" in the prompt, what are 2 other clues that you should not respond with an expository essay? (Bullet points are fine.)

English I (Pre-AP): No Fear Shakespeare/Romeo & Juliet — Not Quite a Solution

Online, at the No Fear Shakespeare website, you can read their edition of Romeo & Juliet for free.

If you have ordered a copy and are waiting for it to arrive AND you have dedicated internet access on your digital device, you may use the online version in class.

As you cannot annotate it, this will not work as a long-term solution, but it will get the job done until after the EOC test (when we'll work with the text more closely).

Pre-AP English II: Free Othello! (Kindle Version)

If you have the Kindle app on your computer or smart device, you may download a copy of Othello from the Amazon store for free. (You must download the book from your computer or web browser on your smart device; the book will by synced to the app the next time you run it.)

All Students: Half Price Spring-Break Sale

Half Price Books is running a series of special during Spring Break. If you sign up for their mailing list you'll receive a set of coupons that lower their already low prices.

On Monday and Tuesday you'll save 40% on the most expensive item you buy either day.

Wednesday and Thursday the savings is 20%. Friday and Saturday it's 30%.

Sunday has the biggest savings (though on the least inventory): 50%.

Pre-AP English II students, consider getting any of these books: Othello or Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare or Lord of the Flies by William Golding.

English I (Pre-AP) students, books you need include No Fear Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet in the Shakespeare section of the store and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card.

Here's a list of local stores Call ahead to check for availability.

English Students: The Big Spring Break Packet

If/when you lose your Big Spring Break Packet, download and print out another.

Enjoy!

Pre-AP English II: IWA Opportunity

IF you turn in your IWA at your class period on March 8, I will return it to you in PA*, and you can do one last draft over the break.

IF you turn in your IWA at the beginning of PA, I will review it and return it to you there and then, and you can do one last draft over the break.

IF you turn in your IWA at the end of PA, I will review it when we return from break -- you won't get another draft opportunity.

IF PA is cancelled, you must come by my room after 8th period to participate in this opportunity. If it looks to me like no one (else) is coming, I will go home and the opportunity will over.

IF you do not turn in your IWA at some point on the 8th, you will not have any further opportunity. Folders left under my door after I have left will be ignored when I return. Or stepped on. I may step on them. We'll see. At any rate they won't be evaluated.

DOING THE SPRING BREAK PACKET HAS NO EFFECT ON THE ANTHEM IWA.

*I may have to review it in PA; do not expect to pick it up first thing (you will have priority over those who turn in the draft at PA, though).

Pre-AP English II: Anthem Socratic Seminar Questions

Be prepared to discuss these questions in class on Monday, March 4, 2013. Remember to support your answers -- even the World Connection questions -- with evidence from the book.

WORLD CONNECTION QUESTIONS
What would you do if your parents expected you to take a career that you didn't like? --B.C. (2nd)

If you were a member of the Anthem society, which "House" do you think/hope you would be assigned to? --J.C. (2nd)

If you made a new discovery, what would you do about it? --A.G. (1st)


CLOSE-ENDED QUESTIONS
Where did Equality 7 first see his reflection? --M.B. (1st)

Until what age did people go to school? --J.L. (1st)

How did Equality 7 react when he finally saw his reflection? --E.V. (2nd)


OPEN-ENDED QUESTIONS
Why does Equality 7 run from his society? --S.A. (2nd)

Why was there little to no technology in the Anthem society? --F.P. (1st)

Why was International 6 afraid to enter the tunnel? --A.S. (1st)


UNIVERSAL THEME / CORE QUESTIONS
Why is being "different" frowned upon by society? --A.E. (2nd)

At times when your life seems "dystopian" what do you do to improve it? --K.L. (1st)


LITERARY ANALYSIS QUESTIONS
How and why is the word "EGO" personified at the end of the end of the novel? --A.M. (1st)

What does the "Uncharted Forest" in Anthem (as well as many fairy tales) symbolize? --Mr. Mikesell