Last Day of Poetry!!

December 11, 2014

 

Starter:

Write a Reflection.

Consider the semester overall, for all of your classes, how did it go?

 

Activity:

1. Poetry Practice

We will be going over the answers to the practice yesterday.

 

2.  Work It Out

 

Use this time to do get any work done for this class.

Closure:

In general, what questions do you have about the final exam?

Poetry Practice!

December 10, 2014

E.Q: How do you create meaning?

Obj: I can analyze a poem and answer questions based on the ideas.

 

Starter:

 

Concrete Poetry

 

 Try to write your own.

Don't forget that concrete poetry is when you put it into a shape/image.

Activity:

 

1. Poetry Practice

 

Read the poem and answer the questions.

Make sure you answer all constructed response and multiple choice questions.

 

2.  Work It Out

 

Use this time to do get any work done for this class.

Closure:

In general, what questions do you have about the final exam?

Poem Analysis

December 9, 2014

E.Q: What is the main idea of the poem?

Obj: I can analyze poems and find the main idea.

Starter:

Collaborative Poem

Write one sentence on the top of a sheet of paper.

Pass the paper to your left.

Add On.

Repeat

Activity:

1.  Individually

Poems

Because I Could Not Stop For Death

I Heard a Fly Buzz- When I died

Birches

The Snow Man

Pick two poems to analyze.
In a Google Doc annotate each stanza.
Then answer the following questions

A.  What is the objective summary of the poem?


B.  Which line best captures the main idea and why?

C.  What is the speaker's attitude?

D.  List a few examples of figurative language?
What does it represent?

E.  What is the overall tone and mood?

2.  NoRedInk

Please log in and go to my class.

Select one category from the following and answer all the questions.

Categories:

Possessions

Subject-Verb Agreement

Commonly Confused Words

 

Closure:
In general, what questions do you have about the final exam?

Poetry Continued

December 8, 2014

E.Q: What is the main idea of the poem?

Obj: I can analyze poems and find the main idea.

Starter:

Create your Blackout Poem

Grab a newspaper article from the table and blackout everything except a few words.

Look at the same examples on newspaperblackout for ideas.

Activity:

1. Think Aloud 

Analyze Emily Dickinson's Poem

By The Sea

I started early, took my dog,
And visited the sea;
The mermaids in the basement
Came out to look at me,

And frigates in the upper floor
Extended hempen hands,
Presuming me to be a mouse
Aground, upon the sands.

But no man moved me till the tide
Went past my simple shoe,
And past my apron and my belt,
And past my bodice too,

And made as he would eat me up
As wholly as a dew
Upon a dandelion's sleeve —
And then I started too.

And he — he followed close behind;
I felt his silver heel
Upon my ankle, — then my shoes
Would overflow with pearl.

Until we met the solid town,
No man he seemed to know;
And bowing with a mighty look
At me, the sea withdrew.

2.  Individually

Poems

Because I Could Not Stop For Death

I Heard a Fly Buzz- When I died

Birches

The Snow Man

Pick two poems to analyze.
In a Google Doc annotate each stanza.
Then answer the following questions

A.  What is the objective summary of the poem?


B.  Which line best captures the main idea and why?

C.  What is the speaker's attitude?

D.  List a few examples of figurative language?
What does it represent?

E.  What is the overall tone and mood?

Closure:
In general, what questions do you have about the final exam?

Poetry

December 5, 2014

E.Q: Analyze the poem.

Obj: I can analyze poetry.

Starter:

Please fill out the Poetry Google Form.

 

Activity:

1.  Poetry Analysis

Today will be devoted to reviewing poetry.

At each table, you will be assigned a poem.

Individually, read the poem and annotate it.

When you are done annotating, write a brief summary of the meaning of the poem.

Things to Consider

Overall meaning

Tone

Setting

Audience

Figurative Language

Structure

 

 Next, you will compare notes with your table.

What did you have in common?

How did you interpret it differently?

Collaborate with each other for one coherent analysis.

Create a brief presentation to share with the class.

Poems 

I Hear America Singing

O Captain! My Captain!

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

The Road Not Taken

Song of Myself #1

The Runaway

2.  Presentations

Inform the class on your poem.

Does the class agree with your analysis?

Why or why not?

Closure:

What questions do you still have about poetry?

 

Exam Answers/ NoRedInk

December 4, 2014

E.Q: How is this the best choice?

Obj: I can understand the logic behind the answers.

Starter:

Make one of the charts below for yourself.

Create your own column of "Instead of" and "Try Thinking."

Don't psych yourself out!

You CAN do this!

Activity:

1.  Released Exam Review 

We will go over the answers as a class.

We will work out the reasoning together.

2.  NoRedInk

Please create an account at NoRedInk.

The class code is 8dedewxd

Once you are logged in, it will ask you about your interests.

Be honest because the questions will be geared towards your personal interests.

Then, begin the assignment.

You have 30 questions to complete.

 

Closure:

How many questions did you get correct on the exam?

What can you do to work towards 100%.

Released Exam

December 3, 2014

E.Q: How do you study?

Obj: I can tailor my studying to my individual needs.

Starter:

How do you plan to prepare for the English III Final Exam?

Explain your strategies.

If you don't study, why?

 

Activity:

1.  Best Ways to Prepare for Final Exams

Read the article and take Cornell Notes.

While reading, consider what pointers you may want to incorporate in your study regime.

2.  Released Exam

You will take last years final exam.

Please make sure to answer all of the multiple choice questions and constructed response.

We will go over the answers as a class.

Closure:

Based on the information you gained from the article and exam, what is one thing that you now are definitely going to do to study?

Remediation

December 2, 2014

E.Q: What are the areas I need most improvement in?

Obj: I can improve upon my literature through practice and corrections.

Starter:

Your essay is due today.

Write a 1/2 page reflection on how your paper went.

What went well? What didn't?

What are you proud of?

What would you change?

 

Activity:

1.  Benchmark Remediation

I will let you know the top two areas in which you need remediation.

For each question incorrect, paraphrase the reasoning it gives you.

You must make an 85%.

If you DID NOT finish the benchmark, YOU MUST FINISH THE BENCHMARK.
For your first attempt, for every question wrong please write a test correction.
What is that the correct answer and why?

2.  Finish Early?
Use the remaining time to finalize your essays.

Closure:

I told you the areas in which you needed remediation, according to the most recent benchmark.

Personally, what is the one area that you would select for yourself?

Why?

Peer Editing

December 1, 2014

E.Q: How can I help my peers edit their papers?

Obj: I can evaluate my peers paper and give them critical feedback.

Starter:

Design an ornament that represents you.

We will be decorating our door with them.

 

Activity:

1. Peer Edit

Please share your essay with a partner and fill out the peer edit document.

Exchange with two people.

If you do not have a substantial paper to be peer edited, please continue to work on your essay.
HOWEVER!!!
Please write a TPEEA paragraph explaining how you can work towards not procrastinating.
Attach this to your final essay.

2.  Editing

Review the comments you received from your peers.

Make any edits that are necessary to create a polished paper.

Closure:

How did the peer editing impact your final paper?

Benchmark

November 25, 2014

E.Q: What are you thankful for?
How have I improved from the beginning of the semester?
Obj: I can interpret data to see growth.

Starter:

With Thanksgiving this Thursday, reflect on what you are thankful for.

Write a thank you note that you can deliver to someone.

Activity:

1.  Benchmark

Please log in to USAtestprep and take the benchmark.

2.  Reflection

How did you do on this benchmark compared to the first one?

Did you perform better or worse?  Why?

What can you do in order to prepare for finals week?

Closure:

Based on your benchmark, what is one thing that you need to work on?

DON'T FORGET YOUR PAPER IS DUE TUESDAY.

Semester Success

November 24, 2014

E.Q: How can you finish this semester successfully?

Obj: I can complete quality work using time management skills.

Starter:

Semester Evaluation

Please fill out the above evaluation honestly.

Activity:

1.  Timeline

Create a timeline for class today.

Set up time increments and set a goal for each time deadline.

2.  Catch Up

This is the last day you have to work on either your American Dream Essay or Creative Writing Assignment.

If you finish, you may use the remaining time to work on any missing assignments or revisions.

Closure:

 What did you actually accomplish during class today?

What do you still need to finish?

 

Expanded Free Write

November 21, 2014

E.Q: What is your favorite thing to write about?

Obj: I can write creatively with vivid descriptions.

Starter:

Look back through your Free Writes.

Which one would you like to expand on?

Activity:

1.  Descriptive Writing

Look at the elements in the folder. 

How can you use it as inspiration?

Make sure that you add all senses.

Seeing. Hearing. Tasting. Touching. Smelling.

Highlight each element in a different color.

Which one sense do you need to improve upon?

2.  Expanded Free Write

Using either a previous free write or todays inspiration, create a descriptive piece of writing.

Rubric

Closure:

What is one thing you like and dislike about creative writing?

Final Work Day

November 20, 2014

E.Q: How has the American Dream evolved?

Obj: I can construct a informative paper based on the idea of the American Dream.

Starter:

Read the Following:

“This sentence has five words. Here are five more words. Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.”

― Gary Provost

What is one objective you can set for today that allows you to improve your writing?

Activity:

1.  Partner Swap

Read what your partner has so far.

Highlight two sentences that really appeal to you.

Explicitly state to your partner why it is such a sensational sentence.

Highlight two sentences that need some help.

Offer suggestions.

2.  Work on Paper

Additional Source

If you are struggling to find outside sources this NY Times Article may help.

Closure:

What is something you learned today about your writing style?

Work Day Two

November 19, 2014

E.Q: How do I utilize MLA formatting in papers?

Obj: I can write an informative paper using MLA format.

Starter:

Breakdown the following citation into general information.

1. Fitzgerald, F. Scott. The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner, 2004. Print.

This is the basic format to use for print on your Works Cited page.

Activity:

1.  Review MLA formatting

Setting Up Your Paper

In-Text Citations

Works Cited Basics

2.  Revisions

Look at what you have written thus far.

Make any necessary adjustments based on the information you just gained.

3.  Write. Write. Write.

Closure:

What did you accomplish today?

What do you still need to complete?

Paper Work Day One

November 18, 2014

E.Q: How do I utilize MLA formatting in papers?

Obj: I can write an informative paper using MLA format.

Starter:

Please answer the questions about MLA formatting in the Google Form titled, MLA Pre-Assessment.

 

Activity:

1.  Pre-Writing 

Choose one of the four activities to help get the creative juices flowing.

Information taken from http://www.studygs.net/writing/prewriting.htm

Four exercises in prewriting:

Focused Free writing

1. Use a blank paper or computer screen and set a time limit of 5 - 15 minutes
2. Summarize the topic in a phrase or sentence;generate a free flow of thought
3. Write anything that comes to mind, whether on topic or off, for the period of time you chose,
4. Don't pause, don't stop.
   don't rush; work quickly
5. Don't review
   what you have written until you have finished
6. At the end of your time, refer back to the beginning:
   Rephrase the initial topic
   Repeat a word, phrase, or important thought or emotion that makes sense.
7. Review:
   are there words or ideas you can grab onto for the topic?
   Is there a main idea to this sequence of ideas?

Listing and outlines

This is a more structured and sequential overview of your research to date. You may also outline to organize topics built from free writing, brainstorming, or mind mapping:

1. Arrange items or topics, usually without punctuation or complete sentences
2. List topics and phrases them in a grammatically similar or parallel structure (subjects, verbs, etc.)
3. Sequence topics in importance,
   defining what "level" of importance they are. Items of equal importance are at the same level

Example (using this web site):

Study Guides & Strategies

I. Preparing to learn

1. Learning to learn
2. Managing time
3. Setting goals/making a schedule

II. Studying

1. Thinking critically
2. Memorizing
3. Organizing projects

III. Writing Essays

1. Basics of essays
   1. Prewriting
      1. Definitions
      2. Basics of prewriting
      3. Exercises
      4. ...
   2. Rough drafts
      1. definition
      2. basics of drafts
      3. exercises
      4. ...
   3. ...
2. Types of essays
   1. The five paragraph essay
   2. Essays for a literature class
   3. Expository essays
   4. Persuasive essays
   5. ....

Brainstorming:

1. Use a blank paper or computer screen and set a time limit of 5 - 15 minutes
2. Summarize the topic in a phrase or sentence;generate a free flow of thought
3. Write down everything that comes to mind to generate a free flow of thought:
   • Think of ideas related to this topic, the crazier the better: be wild and amuse yourself; eliminate nothing
   • Make up questions and answers about the topic, no matter how strange: Why am I doing this? What could be interesting about this to me? Why don't I like this? What color is it? What would my friend say about it?
4. Review:
   are there words or ideas you can grab onto for the topic?
   Is there a main idea within this sequence of ideas?

Mind mapping

1. Think in terms of key words or symbols that represent ideas and words
2. Take a pencil (you'll be erasing!) and a blank (non-lined) big piece of paper or use a blackboard and (colored) chalk
3. Write down the most important word or short phrase or symbol in the center.
   Think about it; circle it.
4. Write other important words outside the circle.
   Draw over-lapping circles to connect items, or use arrows to connect them
   (think of linking pages in a web site)
   Leave white space to grow your map for
   • further development
   • explanations
   • action items
5. Work quickly
   without analyzing your work
6. Edit this first phaseThink about the relation of outside items to the center,
   Erase and replace and shorten words for these key ideas
   Relocate important items closer to each other for better organization
   Use color to organize information
   Link concepts with words to clarify the relationship
7. Continue working outwardFreely and quickly add other key words and ideas (you can always erase!)
   Think weird: tape pages together to expand your map; break boundaries
   Develop in directions the topic takes you--don't bet limited by the size of the paper
   As you expand your map, tend to become more specific or detailed

 2.  Begin Writing

Try to finish 2 TPEQEA paragraphs by the end of the block.

Closure:

How confident do you feel about your topic?

What went well today?

What do you still need help with?

What face best represents you?

Gatsby in Closing

November 17, 2014

E.Q: How do symbols function in the Great Gatsby?

Obj: I can determine the purpose in symbolism.

 Starter:

Review your chart from Friday.  What else should you add?

Consider the requirements:

 

Colors and Symbols 

Now that we have almost finished reading The Great Gatsby, we will look back and reexamine some of the textual symbols - with the new understanding that we have gained. In your small group, you will trace the context and implications of an assigned symbol in the book. Remember to use evidence from the text, including page numbers, to support your ideas. 

 

 

Gold vs. Yellow

Green and the green light

White

Gray and the Valley of Ashes

Eyes of TJ Eckleburg
Time 

Activity:

1.  Presentations

Present your information to class.

What role did your symbol/color play in the novel?
 

2.  Library Trip

Look for sources to uses in your paper.

 

 

 

 

Final Project

Purpose: Inform

Audience: Teacher

Genre/Format: Report

Prompts:

-Using evidence from texts you have read in your classes this semester, analyze how the American Dream has evolved over time.  You may want to consider how the Dream varies across time, cultures, and political climate.

Length: 3-5 pages

Requirements: Must use at least two outside sources and textual evidence from one novel read in class.

Rubric

Due Date: December 2

  

 Closure:

What is one thing that you could do tonight to prepare you for the work day tomorrow?

Questions. Comments. Concerns.

Gatsby Chapter Nine

November 14, 2014

 

E.Q: How do symbols function in the Great Gatsby?

Obj: I can determine the purpose in symbolism.

 

Starter:

Free Write

 

Vocabulary:

Use the Great Gatsby Vocab document to keep track of this novel's vocabulary.  

We will be looking at the next four words.

Activity:

1.  Movie Clip

We will be finishing the rest of the movie for chapter nine.

2.  Colors and Symbols

Now that we have almost finished reading The Great Gatsby, we will look back and reexamine some of the textual symbols - with the new understanding that we have gained. In your small group, you will trace the context and implications of an assigned symbol in the book. Remember to use evidence from the text, including page numbers, to support your ideas. 

Gold vs. Yellow

Green and the green light

White

Gray and the Valley of Ashes

Eyes of TJ Eckleburg
Time 

 

 

 

 

Final Project

Purpose: Inform

Audience: Teacher

Genre/Format: Report

Prompts:

-Using evidence from texts you have read in your classes this semester, analyze how the American Dream has evolved over time.  You may want to consider how the Dream varies across time, cultures, and political climate.

Length: 3-5 pages

Requirements: Must use at least two outside sources and textual evidence from one novel read in class.

Rubric

Due Date: December 2

 

Closure:

What symbol resonates most with you.