Week 1
August 25-27: Intrtoductions. Reading Assignment in INTERACTIVE READER was "Of Plymouth Plantation."
Students should have read the account, done the marginal notations as the reader provides, and then written answers to the exercises on pp. 10, 11, and 12 (summarizing, primary resources, vocabulary reinforcement).
The Reader will be collected periodically to see that students are doing its work. This book is for the student to keep and to write in (called a "disposable," it contains many of the same assignments as the textbook but is more portable).
Students were asked to keep a NOTEBOOK JUST FOR ENGLISH. This,too, is collected periodically and will contain class work, notes, daily oral language exercises, thought exercises, rough drafts, speculations, predictions, vocabulary work, and so on. It can be worth between 10 and 15% of the grade for the six weeks and is taken as evidence of the student's effort at engaging in the work of class. Poor attendance will result in a very low grade for the notebook.
Week II
August 30-Sept. 3
Monday: "La Relacion" p. 72 of Literature book (the textbook was assigned today). We read the background notes on p. 66 and 67; students were asked to read Columbus's Log, p. 67-68 on their own. The vocabulary for study and quiz purposes will include all the words in the orange boxes for this report.
Tuesday: "Historical Narratives"--we talked about primary andf secondary resources and slave narratives. We read 93-99, the slave narrative or Olaudah Equiano.
Wednesday: We did our first DOL. Students were given the syllabus, a broad outline of the first trimester's goals with the work for Honors Students in italics, as they will have additional enrichment assignments. The first writing assigment, "The Eyewitness Report" and related handouts were discussed.
Thursday: Students had some time to work on brainstorming ideas for the Eyewitness Report. Pages 120-124 of the Literature Textbook may be read to support the writing task Finished Slave Narrative. Read "Song of the Sky Loom, " p. 33-34; students given handout for "The World on Turtle's Back," p.16-19 (background) and on through p. 31. It is due on TUESDAY, Sept. 7th.
Friday: Students went to writing lab to type Eyewitness Reports. Handouts on Using Sensory Detail, Showing not Telling, Elaboration, and Using Transitions were handed out; these should be read and applied to the eyewitness report.We will finish this writing exercise on Tuesday, Sept. 7th; in the meantime, I will look over the drafts they printed out today.
Students now have a copy of the class policy; this includes information about contacting the teacher and must be signed by the parent or guardian and returned to me for recording. Then the student will keep the class policy in his or her notebook; it is worth points under "class participation" when I collect the notebooks.
Students should read for HOMEWORK, p. 295+ "Lecture to a Missionary" (Red Jacket)
Week III
Monday: NO SCHOOL: LABOR DAY
Tuesday, Sept. 7: Finish eyewitness reports; reading time given in class. Finish "Lecture to a Missionary" on p. 295 and answer 3,4, pl 298 for Writer's Notebook.
ATTENTION HONORS TRACK STUDENTS: You should be starting the Maya Angelou assignment on the syllabus; it will be called in on Sept. 10.
Wednesday: Sept. 8: "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," p. 13-19, INTERACTIVE READER. Be sure you have done questions 3 and 4 for "Lecture to a Missionary," on p. 298. Vocab quiz tomorrow!!
(Film of "The Crucible" started on Friday; you may start reading act I in the Interactive Reader, however, today).
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!!!!!VOCAB QUIZ!!!!! on the 9th over these 20 words:
contend(v): to compete, to vie
succumb(v): to give up, give in, yield
historical narrative (p.70): accounts of real life historical experiences either by a person who has studied or observed them, taking two forms: primary sources (letters,diaries,journals that present direct, first hand knowledge of a subject) and secondary sources(histories, biographies).
placate (v): to soothe another's feelings; appease
ingratiate(v): to gain another's favor by deliberate effort
innundate(v): to cover with water, overwhelm
beseech(v): to beg or implore
infirmity (n): a sickness or weakness
embody(v): to represent in bodily form
cauterize(v): to burn or sear to destroy abnormal tissue
solace (n): comfort in sorrow or distress
providence(n): an instance of divine care or guidance
vanquish(v): to defeat utterly in battle
commodity (n): something useful; an article of commerce
feigned(adj): not real, pretend
consternation(n): a state of paralyzing dismay; fear
pestilential (adj); deadly,poisonous
copious (adj): in large amounts; abundant
countenance (n) the face, especially as an indicator of emotion
avarice (n): greed
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Thursday, Sept. 9: Start THE CRUCIBLE (Interactive Reader): Film in Auditorium; read Acts I in the INTERACTIVE READER (p. 21-47) and do the activities as directed by margin notes and directions. QUIZ over vocabulary today! Also DUE: marginal notes/answers to questions posed in your InterActive Reader version of "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." I will check these while you are taking the vocabulary quiz (see words above).
The quiz will be "recognition"only--there will be a bonus "usage " section.
Friday, Sept. 10: Film (in auditorium). HOMEWORK: Read Act I in INTERACTIVE READER Textbook and fill in the margins as directed; also the material at the end of the act in the reader should be done by this coming Tuesday, Sept. 14.
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Week IV:(Sept. 13-17) Finish "Crucible," Act I in interactive reader/finish film/ finish vocab study/ test for understanding/ mini-research assignment.
VOCAB for active study (this means you should recognize and be able to USE the new vocab words):
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"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," pp.153-158 (and Interactive Reader) plus CRUCIBLE vocabulary, Act I
QUIZ on WEDNESDAY, Sept. 15
1. wrath (n):fierce anger or punishment resulting from such anger
2. appease (v): to bring quiet or calm, to soothe
3. loathsome(adj): arousing strong dislike
4. abhor (v): to regard with disgust
5. abominable (adj)thoroughly detestable
6. ascribe(v): to attribute to a specified cause or source
7. incense (v): to cause to be extremely angry
8. deliverance (n): rescue from danger
9. mitigation (n): lessening of something that causes suffering
10. inconceivable (adj): not able to be understood or imagined
(from Act I)
11. antagonist (n): character who opposes the main character
12. foil (n) : a minor character whose traits constrast sharply with those of the main character
13. predilection (n): a personal preference
14. subservient (adj): acting like a servent, servile
15. calumny (n., p. 175, textbook, footnote word): slander; lies about someone
16. arbitrate (v): to judge or act as referee
17. iniquity (n): wickedness; immorality
18. ascertain (v): to find out, to determine with sureness
19. licentious (adj., p. 186, footnoted word): lacking moral restraint
20. blanched (verb, past tense, p. 187, footnoted word): turned pale with shock or fear
Monday, Sept. 13: I want to check the Interactive Reader; work through Act I (as well as previous assignments in the reader) will be collected. We will continue the film in the auditorium--DRESS WARMLY!!
Tuesday, Sept. 14: Finish any part of the film as yet unwatched. Study selected vocabulary from Monday's handout for quiz on Wednesday. Quiz will also test your accountability for knowing Act I and the film.
Wednesday: Quiz. Introduce mini-project (handout)
Thursday: Lab/library to finish mini-project (may switch hours with Mrs. Gunkel in order to get the facilities we need for this)
Friday: REVOLUTION. Bring your BIG TEXTBOOKS to class.
CALENDAR for Sept. 13-17
MONDAY, SEPT. 13: FILM ("The Crucible") Finish your work in the interactive reader on Act I of this play. DUE TOMORROW. QUIZ (worth 20 pts)on Act I tomorrow.
TUESDAY, Sept. 14: Finish film if necessary. Go over Vocabulary for Wednesday's s quiz. TODAY there will be a short quiz on the contents of Act I. It will NOT BE OPEN BOOK. BRING YOUR LIT BOOKS; you will be reading Acts IV and V silently today and on Wednesday after your little quiz.,looking for evidence of any differences between the play and the film, but also simply reviewing the ending of the film.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 15: VOCAB QUIZ. Class work: read acts IV and V in small groups or silently as desired.
THURSDAY: LIBRARY work on project (may switch periods with Mrs. Gunkel). You will be receiving a handout explaining the project (may work with one partner). Mrs. Gunkel will give you some of her time,also, for this work.
FRIDAY: Work on Reports for presentation on Monday. If you are taking ISTEP re-tests, you must go on Monday; I hope we can get all the reports done that day. For those of you who will be missing class on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, we will probably be doing enrichment work on Lewis and Clark, the American Revolution, and writers not on the regular syllabus (writers in our book whose works we simply don't have time to cover).
DON"T FORGET THE $5 we must collect in advance for the IMAX.
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MONDAY, Sept. 20: REPORTS DUE, all of them. Keep the collection of notes, handouts, overheads, highlighted print outs, etc. you've been collecting so you may hand that material in and demonstrate your commitment to the task assigned.
REMINDER: Please give your $5 in advance for IMAX ticket to me or to Mrs. Gunkel.
TUESDAY--THURSDAY (Sept. 21,22,23): I-STEP re-tests for some; enrichment for others.
REMINDER: $5 for IMAX turned into teacher, please.
FRIDAY, Sept. 24: FIELD TRIP TO EITELJORG: IMAX; cost is $7, 5 of which you should have given us in advance!
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MONDAY, Sept. 27: Read the Declaration of Independence; bring lit books tomorrow. Bring Interactive Readers on Wednesday (Patrick Henry's Speech to the Virginia Convention). HONORS: Book report forms given out: you must do a report and give a brief oral accounting of your reading to the class on Oct. 8; other students who wish to do this for possible bonus points, see me. There are 20 bonus points any six weeks, but should be done by the 5th week of the term.
TUESDAY, Sept. 28: Read Declaration and start paraphrase activity. For homework, complete paraphrasing of GRIEVANCES (p. 272-276) so you can say in your own words just why the colonists wanted to break away from England and King George. BRING INTERACTIVE READER for Wed/Thursday work on Patrick Henry; we'll pick vocabulary for Friday vocab/content of unit quiz.
WEDNESDAY, Sept. 29: Reminders about homework (collected on Friday, after quiz) on Declaration Paraphrasing; start P. Henry, and start homework in your Interactive Reader which did not get finished in class. Select Vocabulary and check this site later for review list if you are absent today.
THURSDAY, Sept. 30: Review Declaration, P. Henry finish, vocab and content drill/review for tomorrow's quiz (worth 30 points).
FRIDAY, Oct. 1. QUIZ Honors Students are reminded to be reading their book for the OCT. 8 deadline for book chat/report out to class/"notecard" written review.
NOTE TO PARENTS: Some students are missing work or not completing assignments; I cannot yet post grades on Internet, but should you have any concern about your student, please call me or e-mail me as I can give you an update any time on how your child is doing. cgardner@www.mccsc.edu;phone, 330-7714, ext. 1101; voice mail box 2180
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MONDAY, Oct. 4: Students should bring their American Literature book to class. We will be looking at some poetry and short stories this week (Hawthorne, Poe, Irving, ); then we'll come back to the essayists who have inspired many thoughts and questions about life, liberty, and the pursuit of justice (King, Malcolm X,Thoreau, Emerson; then on to the poets who inspired democracy, Whitman and Longfellow. Literature books all week!
TUESDAY, Oct. 5: Continue with Irving (p. 349+); move into Hawthorne.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 6: HAWTHORNE ( p. 500+)--Who was Nathaniel Hawthorne? Why did he change the spelling of his last name? What novel is he most famous for? What is an allegory (see your handout)?
Note: Handouts on the two stories for this week are due on MONDAY (See change below)after the quiz.
THURSDAY, Oct. 7: Vocabulary review, finish Hawthorne. Reading and work time given. Vocab for Monday's quiz chosen (see below)
READING TIME will be provided, so make sure you have your literature book or your outside novel. If you work on the novel because you are turning in a book report on Friday, make sure you finish reading "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" on your own (p. 500+)
FRIDAY: OCT 8: Review for our quiz on Monday. Literary terms gone over, as well as literary history. Poe is nex and we may have time to start "Masque of the Red Death." . NOTECARD book reports due for Honors Students and others going for some bonus points. ALSO PAST DUE are your Interactive Readers. Anyone re-doing these for half of the missing points must have them in to me absolutely no later than Monday morning or they cannot go on this six weeks grading period, and even then I make no promises.
OK--BIG CHANGE: due to plaintive pleadings from you, I will defer the quiz until MONDAY. We selected 10 words only from "Devil and Tom Walker," namely these (example sentence follows):
censurer: noun. One who expresses strong disapproval; harsh criticism. Tom's usury made censurers of former friends.
parsimony (noun): extreme economy; stinginess. Mrs. Walker's parsimony is notorious.
piety (noun): religious devotion, reverence for God Tom's false piety does not fool the devil.
propitious (adj): helpful or advantageous; favorable. The signs for a good picnic are propitious.
ostentation (noun): display meant to impress others; boastful showiness. The ostentation in Tom's carriage was in sharp contrast to the cruelty shown to the poor horse who had to draw it.
prowess (noun): superior strength, courage, or daring, esp. in battle. Mrs. Walker showed her prowess when she took on Old Scratch and gave him a run for his money.
resolute (adj): firm or determined, unwavering. Both candidates say they are resolute in their willingness to help the Iraqui people.
singular (adj): unusual or remarkable; unique. She is of singular intelligence; I'll bet she gets the Nobel prize someday.
surmise (verb): to guess. We cannot surmise what will happen in tomorrow's weather.
repose(verb) to rest or relax. She reposes on the garden bench everyday after school.
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FIRST WEEK OF NEW TERM
MONDAY: No school!
TUESDAY: RAVEN Pckets gone over; start Masque of the Red Death in text or Interactive Reader. You will be doing the exercises at the end of "Masque" in the Interactive Reader (;112 and then the exercises on 128-130). You do not have to do the sidebars this time.
WEDNESDAY: PSAT test time, no class
THURSDAY: Read Masque aloud. Hand back papers. Finish "The
Raven" or "Masque" exercises.
FRIDAY: FILM "A Rose for Emily" and book report presentations. HOMEWORK: finish in WRITER'S NOTEBOOK the comparison you started between the film and the Poe story, "Masque of the Red Death"--what do these different stories share that makes them both "GOTHIC"? Make a t-chart or a list. For those who wish to work ahead, "A ROSE FOR EMILY" is in the Interactive Reader and you will be asked to do the sidebars and the vocab page only (171--story starts p. 158 in IR)
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MONDAY, Oct. 18: Today we compared the film version of "A Rose for Emily" to the book on tape version. Students will work together to finish a handout and be prepared to discuss the differences between the two media versions. We will have a vocab/story quiz over Rose for Emily and The Raven on Thursday, with a vocabulary review tomorrowl Here are the words to review:
Encroach, obliterate, coquettish,edit, pallid, temerity,circumvent,virulent, tedious, profoundly
TUESDAY, Oct. 19: We will hear book report-outs today and finish our discussion of Rose; students will read pp. 446-448. You will have a work period of at least one-half hour to get help and work with your partners.
All students have a handout which is a reminder sheet/checksheet for assignments this week. Be sure to ask me for one if you have been absent.
WEDNESDAY, Oct. 20: Bring your literature book; we will review for quiz. You will also have a MUGS (Mechanics, Usage, Grammar, Spelling) homework assignment to start. This will not be due until Monday, Oct. 25th.
THURSDAY, Oct. 21: QUIZ and start "Narrative of Life of Frederick Douglass, Slave." TURN IN YOUR INTERACTIVE READERS.
FRIDAY: FALL BREAK, no school!
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WORK WEEK for Oct. 25-30, E-11, American Studies
October 25 (Monday): We listened to the tape of a section fromNarrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave (p.562) and those who had their books read along. Then we had an oral quiz to test our recall and reading comprehension. This quiz was collected for participation points (this means it was not scored for accuracy; I have provided written feedback). I will be asking you this week to think about how you learn best, how you can take advantage of opportunities given to you, and how you can cultivate academic success.
October 26 (Tuesday): You will read in groups today from Anne Moody\rquote s autobiography,Coming of Age in Mississippi. (p. 609).}You will answer questions 3-8 on page 616 of the textbook.(These will be kept in the Writer's Notebook/Folder along with other writing we will be doing this week and next. The notebook will be collected November 5th). We will have a whole class discussion tomorrow on this story of modern resistance and heroism. Students were asked to generate a list of songs or sayings using the word "free" or "freedom."
October 27 (Wednesday): Class discussion and three poems on Freedom: p.574+ and 615. A reflective question will be assigned for the writer\rquote s notebook and discussion.
October 28 (Thursday): A section of Emerson's essay, Self Reliance (p. 363) and Longfellow'spoem "A Psalm of Life" will be discussed for the ideas they express. A reflective question will be assigned for the write's notebook.
October 29 (Friday): Students will start an assignment in the textbook on p. 438 "Sharing Your Experience," the reflective essay.. My own assignment sheet will be given which follows the format in the text, with some variations and prompts added, as well as some specific requirements not mentioned in the textbook. We will brainstorm ideas and specific guidelines for the essay will be explained. Time will be given for students to start the essay, which will be due a week from the 29th (Nov. 5).
Noverber 1 (Monday)-Friday (November 5): You have a printed calendar of events/due dates, etc. Please refer to it. This is an abbreviated version of it:
Monday: "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" plus assigned pages (184-186) in Interactive Reader (sidebars bonus point option). All work due Friday.
Tuesday: BRING YOUR BOOK: "Civil Disobedience" by H.D. Thoreau; in Interactive Reader, do page 94 (HONORS do 93 also), again sidebars optional for bonus points.
Wednesday: "Strive Toward Freedom: and, if time permits, Malcolm X's speech (see pages 300+ in Literature Book): THOUGHT q uestions assigned. We did mini-research project reports to class on the history and nature of civil disobedience in America.
Thursday and Friday: Lab for drafting last narrative of term: college application personal essay/reflective essay which offers a valuable lesson.You should be able to use these two hours to complete all work due tomorrow.
FRIDAY: Class notes/notebook work, and Interactive Reader due. Reflective Essay due.Notebook collected.++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CALENDAR from November 8th--November 19th. AMERICAN STUDIES
Monday, Nov. 8th: We will discuss STRIVE (p. 300+ in textbook) and interview with Malcolm X. Groups who did not get to present on Wednesday will tell us what they learned about PROTEST in America.
Tuesday: Thoreau,p.260; 605; Whitman in Interactive Reader, p. 96 (396 textbook). You will do sidebars and p. 111. Vocab words picked for quiz on Friday are these:
apprise
inaccessible
ineffable
perceptibly
preternaturally
summarily
(Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, p. 186 in your Interactive Reader)
absolve
aversion
bestowed
nonconformist
predominate
(p. 74 in Interactive Reader from Emerson's "Self-Reliance"
Wednesday: Finish Whitman Mark Twain in book and Interactive Reader, p. 187, do. exercise on 196
Thursday: Grammar Review and Interactive Reader help time or you may work on your essay if it is not done.
Friday: Quiz over vocabulary; ALL REFLECTIVE ESSAYS are due now; after quiz, we'll discuss Mark Twain
HOMEWORK: Read "A Wagner Matinee," p. 197 in Interactive Reader. Do 207, 208, 209. Last assignment this term in interactive reader. It will be collected on Thursday (the day of the final).
Next week: Monday, we will finish Cather and start our FINALS REVIEWING. This instruction is exceedingly important for your success on the final. It will continue Tuesday. Wednesday you will use class time for a written essay which will ask you to review materials we've read from Units I and II. The test will be comprehensive and cover all the materials and authors through Cather..
Nov. 15-17: : Preparation for final (MUGS, history of writing, great ideas). There will be an essay you will write in class for the final exam, as well as a test you will take. We will do the essay the last day before the final; it will require you bring your literature books.
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TRIMESTER II, Term 3 and 4 (Nov.29-March 4)
November 29-Dec 3: Readings in INTERACTIVE READER include all the Emily Dickinson poems and the story "The Yellow Wallpaper" (these are also in the Literature book).
Assignments in the Interactive Reader include:
--all sidebars to Emily Dickinson
--all sidebars to "The Yellow Wallpaper"
--work on pp. 239 and 240
Collection date for Interactive Reader: Dec. 10 (Friday)
Assignments in the Literature book include
--p. 780 (Yellow Wallpaper), Writing Options--do any ONE of " 1,2, or 3 (1-2 pages) DUE DATE: Tuesday, Dec. 7
--p. 786 ("The Story of An Hour"), answer questions 8 and 9 (para. length responses please). DUE DATE: Wednesday, Dec. 8.
REMINDERS about past assignments: On Nov. 29 you went to the computer lab for the "Common Assessment" quiz and essay. If you took this essay home to work on it, you must return it by Dec. 10 or you will receive no credit for it.
You were given a short story to read on that date for homework called "A Blizzard Under Blue Sky," and you were to turn it in by Friday, Dec. 3. MOST OF YOU DID, but a few stragglers have not turned it it with its assigned worksheets. I will accept NONE OF THE WORK L:ISTED ABOVE after Dec. 10th. Those of you who have excused absences last week need to realize that this deadline encompasses and takes account for the make up days you are due for your past absences.
December 6th, Monday: Finish Story of An Hour
Dec. 7th: work time most of the period
Dec. 8th: Start the reading of The Great Gatsby
Dec. 9th: Love poetry and a poem due by Dec.13th that is a 10 line or longer response to the handout of poems and their themes and which includes at least 2 words from the "Jazz Age Vocabulary" handout. You may take a serious or numorous approach, but keep it rated PG-13, please!
Dec. 10th: MORE "Gatsby" reading and a study guide handout; reading silently and out loud will be choice possibilities for each student.
BE SURE TO PICK UP THE American Studies SYLLABUS for Trimester II today!
Week of Dec. 13-17: GATSBY every day with related activities. You do NOT NEED TO BRING YOUR LITERATURE BOOK any time this week. You will be having a quiz over the first three chapters and related vocabulary before you see the FILM (we will try to show it in the auditorium). You WILL BE TESTED over the events and characters in the Film, and you will be required to read the last chapter of the novel for the GREAT GREAT GATSBY TEST which you will endure before winter break. You are forewarned! Read!
(Projection for next week: