Monday

• Grades are complete at WEHS and STC.

• Please turn in your ENGL2341 textbook ASAP.

• Here is the key for the semester exam.

• We will have a brunch and game period on Wed. 12/19/18. You can sign up to bring something on the doc in Google Classroom.

• I have decided to start collecting donations to send girls in developing nations to school for a year. It is $58 for each student, so let's see how many we can support throughout the year! 

• Info on worldwide education for girls:
• Fact list- ABC News
• 264 Million Children Don't Go To School
• 10 Toughest Places for Girls to Go To School
• 5 Ridiculous Reasons Girls are Denied an Education (video)
• Meet Girls Who Are Fighting for Their Right to an Education (video)
• The organization I support: International Rescue Committee rescue.org

Thursday

• Semester Exam
• Written Responses graded

Tuesday

• Semester Exam
• Q&A on the poetry and drama parts of the exam study guide today.
• Exam will be in class on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018

• Literary Research Paper
• Workshop day today for Literary Research Paper due Wed. 12/12/18. No late papers can be accepted.
• Overview of MLA (poster)
• How to format a paper for MLA
• How to execute in-text citations
• How to create a proper Works Cited page
• Sample Works Cited page
• Example paper in MLA 1
• Example paper in MLA 2
• Also, there are examples and guidelines in your textbook: p. 89-112 orange; p. 84-103 red; p. 106-129 purple

• Due: Written Responses #12-14 were graded today

• Upcoming Dates:
• Wed. 12/12/18: Research paper due 11:59 pm- NO LATE PAPERS!

• Thurs 12/13/18: SEMESTER EXAM

• Mon. 12/17/18: End of Semester

• Wed. 12/19/18: Only 1B meets; Early release

Friday

• Semester Exam
• Q&A on the grammar and short fiction parts of the exam study guide today.
• Exam will be in class on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018

• Literary Research Paper
• Workshop day today for Literary Research Paper due Wed. 12/12/18

• STC Course Evaluations are now available until Mon. 12/10/18. You can complete yours here.


• Upcoming Dates:
• Tues. 12/11/18: 
• Workshop for research paper & exam review (I will take questions on the poetry and drama parts of the exam study guide.)
• Due: Written Responses #12-14 will be graded today

• Wed. 12/12/18: Research paper due 11:59 pm- NO LATE PAPERS!

• Thurs 12/13/18: SEMESTER EXAM

• Mon. 12/17/18: End of Semester

• Wed. 12/19/18: Only 1B meets; Early release

Wednesday

• Workshop day for Literary Research Paper due Wed. 12/12/18 & exam review

• Semester Exam
• Exam will be in class on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018
• Study Guide 

• STC Course Evaluations are now available. You can complete yours here.


• Upcoming Dates:
• Wed. 12/5/18: Workshop for research paper & exam review

• Fri. 12/7/18: Workshop for research paper & exam review (I will take questions on the grammar and short fiction parts of the exam study guide.)

• Tues. 12/11/18: 
• Workshop for research paper & exam review (I will take questions on the poetry and drama parts of the exam study guide.)
• Written Responses #12-14 will be graded today

• Wed. 12/12/18: Research paper due 11:59 pm- NO LATE PAPERS!

• Thurs 12/13/18: SEMESTER EXAM

• Mon. 12/17/18: End of Semester

• Wed. 12/19/18: Only 1B meets; Early release

Monday

• Drama Study
• "The Brute" by Anton Chekhov (p. 1068 orange; p. 1048 red; p. 1176 purple; online). 
• Response #14
• Notes / discussion of characterization, staging
• Watch the following productions of the play:
• Version 1
• Version 2
• Assignment: Literary Research Paper due Wed. 12/12/18.

• Semester Exam
• Exam will be in class on Thursday, Dec. 13, 2018
• Study Guide will be ready Wed.

• STC Course Evaluations are now available. You can complete yours here.

• Upcoming Dates:
• Wed. 12/5/18: Workshop for research paper & exam review

• Fri. 12/7/18: Workshop for research paper & exam review

• Tues. 12/11/18: Workshop for research paper & exam review

• Wed. 12/12/18: Research paper due 11:59 pm- NO LATE PAPERS!

• Thurs 12/13/18: SEMESTER EXAM

• Mon. 12/17/18: End of Semester

• Wed. 12/19/18: Only 1B meets; Early release

• JUNIORS CLICK HERE

Thursday

• Drama
• Written Response #13
• Notes on theater of the absurd
• Discussion of "Applicant" by Harold Pinter (this play is in the orange book, p. 1091, otherwise, you can read it here.) 
• Complete a comparison of "Applicant" and "Beauty" using this chart. (Turn in.)
• HW due Mon. 12/3/18: 
• "The Brute" by Anton Chekhov (p. 1068 orange; p. 1048 red; p. 1176 purple). 
• We started an experiment for vocab in this play, a group glossary (1B is here) (3B is here) for the text. The idea is that everyone contributes to looking up necessary words from the play and together we have a document that helps everyone. 
• Be sure to read the background information along with the play.
• Come to class with characterization notes in your notebook for the main characters.

• Test Prep: I can create an account for anyone who would like to practice for the ACT / SAT / or TSI online. If you would like to try this out, please let me know by filling out this quick form.

• STC Course Evaluations are now available. You can complete yours here.

Tuesday

• Poetry / Commas test reviewed- See answer key here.

• DRAMA
• Written Response #12
• Notes on the comedic ladder
• Notes
• Slideshow with examples
• HW due Thurs. 11/29/18: Read "Applicant" by Harold Pinter (this play is in the orange book, p. 1091, otherwise, you can read it here.) Make notes on the comedy usage in the play.

• STC Course Evaluations are now available. You can complete yours here.

Friday

• Intro to Drama
• Notes/discussion: "Tragedy and Comedy" & "Defining Drama", p. 1062 - 1067 (orange); p. 1042-1048 (red); p. 1170-1175 (purple)
• Notes: Stage directions 
• Definitions of proscenium stage & thrust stage
• Stage directions diagram (we drew this in the notebook)
• In-class reading: "Beauty" by Jane Martin p. 1087 (orange); p. 1069 (red); p. 1198 (purple)
• In-class assignment: Add detailed stage directions for "Beauty" to the script & diagram the set using this blank handout

• STC Course Evaluations are now available. You can complete yours here.

HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING BREAK! NO HOMEWORK 😊🦃

Wednesday

• TEST: Poetry & Commas

• HW due Fri. 11/16/18: Read and take notes on drama:
• "Tragedy and Comedy" & "Defining Drama", p. 1062 - 1067 (orange); p. 1042-1048 (red); p. 1170-1175 (purple)

• STC Course Evaluations are now available. You can complete yours here.

Monday

• Poetry: Discussion of "O Captain! My Captain!", assignment turned in

• Grammar: 
• Notes on commas in appositives & introductory elements. If you were absent, please see the resources below for notes and tutorials.
• In class: Practice sheet for commas
• Additional practice sheet (answer key)

• TEST: Wed. 11/14/18: Poetry & Commas
• POETRY REVIEW
• Notes on the test:
• "Origins of Modern Poetry & "Defining Poetry"
• p. 654-663 (orange)
• p. 652-660 (red)
• p. 706-715 (purple).
• "Imagery"
• p. 741-748 (orange)
• p. 39-745 (red)
• p. 811-818 (purple)
• "Metaphor, Simile and Personification"
• p. 760-765 (orange)
• p. 758-762 (red)
• p. 834-839 (purple). 
• I've made two Kahoot games (login) for you to use while studying for the test. You can continue studying with the link on the weblog.
• Kahoot for Poetic Eras
• Kahoot for Poetic Movements
• Additionally, you will be asked to read poems we have not studied, analyze them, and answer questions about them. You can review your notes on the poems we have completed during this course of study.

• COMMA REVIEW
• I gave notes and examples in class for each type of comma usage. Review them.
• Additional materials for study:
• Commas in compound sentences:
• Class notes
• Video tutorial
• Online practice
• Commas in a series
• Class notes
• Video tutorial
• Online practice
• Joining dependent (subordinate) clauses with independent (main) clauses
• Class notes
• Video tutorial
• Video tutorial- Khan
• Online practice
• Commas in introductory elements
• Class notes
• Video
• Online practice
• Appositives
• Class notes
• Video tutorial
• Online practice
• Additional online comma practices:
• Easy quiz
• Quiz 1 
• Quiz 2

Thursday

• Grammar: Commas to join dependent(subordinate) and independent (main) clauses. If you were absent, you can get the notes from this video.

• Previous grammar lessons:
• Commas in compound sentences
• Commas in a series

• Poetry:
• Return of quizzes for "Origins of Modern Poetry" and "Defining Poetry". You can check your paper here.
• Discussion of homework,  "She Walks in Beauty" by George Gordon, Lord Byron 
• We watched the ending of the film today. The film can be viewed on Netflix or you can make arrangements with me to watch the part you missed after school. 
• Written Response #11
• HW due Mon. 11/12/18: 
• Read "O Captain! My Captain" by Walt Whitman, which is a centerpiece of the film. Analyze the poem using this info/question page.
• Review poetry notes for test next week.

• Written Response Due Fri. 11/9/18: Because of the college admissions essays, I will not be able to read all of the responses you wrote this six weeks (#6-11). Please submit ONE of your responses on Google Classroom for me to grade as a representative of your responses from this group. Directions are on the Classroom.

Tuesday

VIEW THE CURRENT WRITING CONFERENCE SCHEDULE HERE

• Grammar: Notes on commas in a series. If you were absent, you can watch this video to get your notes.

• College Admissions Essays
• Turn in your final draft on or before TODAY, Tues. 11/6/18. 
• Remember that you need to conference one-on-one with me at some point in your college essay process. I have already entered grades for those who have completed their conference. You can have more than one conference if you like.

• Poetry
• HW turned in: "To the Virgins" by Robert Herrick
• Written Response #10
• Discussion/notes of "To the Virgins" and "Carpe Diem" poetry
• Dead Poets Society: We watched the next segment of the film today. The film can be viewed on Netflix or you can make arrangements with me to watch the part you missed after school. We will study the poems that occur in the movie and at the end we will analyze some scenes from the film.
• HW due Thurs. 11/8/18: Read and annotate "She Walks in Beauty" by George Gordon, Lord Byron 
• Complete 1-2-3 analysis.
• Determine why/how this is a love poem.
• Identify how the poem rhymes
• Summarize each stanza.
• Theorize about why this poem is in the film "Dead Poets Society".

Friday

VIEW THE CURRENT WRITING CONFERENCE SCHEDULE HERE

• Short fiction tests returned / discussed

• College Admissions Essays
• Turn in your final draft on or before Tues. 11/6/18. 
• Remember that you need to conference one-on-one with me at some point in your college essay process. I have already entered grades for those who have completed their conference. You can have more than one conference if you like.

• Poetry
• Q&A for "Imagery", p. 741-748 (orange), 739-745 (red),  811-818 (purple), and "Metaphor, Simile and Personification", p. 760-765 (orange), 758-762 (red),  834-839 (purple). 
• Dead Poets Society: We began watching this film in class, about an hour today. The film can be viewed on Netflix or you can make arrangements with me to watch the part you missed after school. We will study the poems that occur in the movie and at the end we will analyze some scenes from the film.
• HW due Tues. 11/6/18: Complete a 1-2-3 analysis and answer the questions for "To the Virgins" by Robert Herrick

Wednesday

                       VIEW THE CURRENT WRITING CONFERENCE SCHEDULE HERE

Grammar: 

• Notes on using commas in compound sentences. You can watch a video about this here.

College Admissions Essays: 

• We had a writing workshop today to work on the next draft of the essays. I also conferenced with anyone who still needed that grade.
• Turn in your final draft on or before Tues. 11/6/18. 
• Remember that you need to conference one-on-one with me at some point in your college essay process. I have already entered grades for those who have completed their conference. You can have more than one conference if you like.

Poetry:

• Due Fri. 11/2/18: 
• Read and take notes on "Imagery", p. 741-748 (orange), 739-745 (red),  811-818 (purple), and "Metaphor, Simile and Personification", p. 760-765 (orange), 758-762 (red),  834-839 (purple). Make sure you are familiar with the poems that are used as examples in those sections.

Monday

                       VIEW THE CURRENT WRITING CONFERENCE SCHEDULE HERE
Poetry:

•  QUIZ: "Origins of Modern Poetry" and "Defining Poetry", p. 654-663 (orange), 652-660 (red), 706-715 (purple). 

• Discussion:
• "Speaker in the Poem",  (p. 679- orange;  676-red;  743-purple)
• Why is the speaker so important?
• How is the speaker different from the poet?
• Speaker in "Where Mountain Lion Lay Down with Deer" by Leslie Marmon Silko (p. 684- orange;  682-red;  748-purple).

• Assignment Turned In: Speaker Analysis- Choose one of the poems listed below and write an original 1-page analysis of the speaker. Use the checklist in the text for ideas (p. 709- orange;  711-red;  778-purple)
• "Suicide Note" - Janice Mirikitani (p. 686- orange;  683-red;  750-purple)
• "The World is Too Much With Us" - William Wordsworth (p. 695- orange;  692-red;  759-purple)
• "Hope is the thing with feathers" - Emily Dickinson (p. 710- orange;  974-red;  779-purple)

College Admissions Essays: 

• I am looking at your submissions. You should receive it back today.
• Due Wed. 10/31/18: Work on your next draft. We will have workshop and I will conference with the remaining students about their progress.
• Remember that you need to conference one-on-one with me at some point in your college essay process. I have already entered grades for those who have completed their conference. You can have more than one conference if you like.

Thursday

• Introduction to Poetry
•  Discussion of notes on: "Origins of Modern Poetry" and "Defining Poetry", p. 654-663 (orange), 652-660 (red), 706-715 (purple). There will be a quiz over this material on Monday. You can listen to me go over these pages here.
• 1-2-3 Annotation for "How to Write a Poem" by Allen Lee Taylor (3B has already completed this)
• Written response #9
• HW Due Mon. 10/29/18: 
• QUIZ on "Origins of Modern Poetry" and "Defining Poetry"
• Read and take notes on "Speaker in the Poem",  (p. 679- orange;  676-red;  743-purple)
• Read "Where Mountain Lion Lay Down with Deer" by Leslie Marmon Silko (p. 684- orange;  682-red;  748-purple). On a piece of paper, complete a 1-2-3 analysis of the poem and answer questions 1-4 that follow the poem in the textbook.

• College Admissions Essays: 
• I will begin looking at your submissions. Watch for the return of your essay with feedback. When you receive it, you will have one week to complete a new draft and turn it in to me. 
• Remember that you need to conference one-on-one with me at some point in your college essay process. I have already entered grades for those who have completed their conference. You can have more than one conference if you like.

Tuesday

2019 Sejong Writing Competition ($1000 and $500 prizes)

• Contest website
• Basics of sijo 
• How to write sijo (video)

Introduction to Poetry 

Written Response #8 

Notes: A few points about poetry   

Discussion/analysis/notes: "How to Read a Poem" by Al Zolynas

 HW due Thurs. 10/25/18: Read and take notes on "Origins of Modern Poetry" and "Defining Poetry", p. 654-663 (orange), 652-660 (red), 706-715 (purple)

College Admissions Essay: Due Tues. 10/23/18: Submit a new, improved draft to me on Google Classroom by the end of the day, 11:59 pm. I will take off points for:

1. Late essays (points accumulate by the day)
2. Grammatical errors of any kind (points off for each error)
3. Incomplete essays
4. Essays without the proper MLA formatting

• Other college essay/planning resources:
• 🔉LISTEN TO ME INTRODUCE THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS ESSAY HERE
• Apply Texas Topics 
• Search to find application requirements (including essays) by university
• Scoring Guide for essay
• Sample essays
• 8 Questions Your College Admissions Essay Should Answer
• College Essay Advisors (video)
• 5 College Essays That Suck (SuperTutorTV)
• What Colleges are Looking For (SuperTutorTV)
• Other planning resources:
• Steps2College
• MakeMeAFreshman
• Application Tracker Spreadsheet to Download
• Printable Application Tracker (PDF)
• Virtual College Tours
• If you need to write a resume for your application, here is a good site to use for directions and here is an example of a high school student resume.