Today we are going to share our literary analysis paragraphs, sharing what is good, and what needs to be reviewed.
At the same time we will begin reviewing the stories and the terms in preparation for a test in one week and two days!
Next week we will be creating storybirds ... so get ready...it will be unlike any storybird you may have done before!
Homework: none
Friday, September 30, 2011
Thursday, September 29, 2011
What is Dr. Who?
Okay, some of you asked. The season finale is on this Saturday...and I'm really excited!
Looking Ahead: Storybird
Next week we are going to apply what we know and write a really awesome story, using a really awesome website, www.storybird.com check it out!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Literary Paragraph
This is a block day, don't forget!
Today we discussed how humans use the story frame as a way to store information in memory and the strange impact that has on the information (see NPR article posted below).
Afterwards, we took notes on how to write a literary analysis paragraph...not too hard, and they are great frames to store important information about a story...how convenient! You will get to choose any story that we have read together ("All Summer In a Day," "After I Was Thrown Into the River, and Before I Drowned,""The Cask of Amontillado," "Harrison Bergeron," "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," and the one below) AND pick one term (characterization, irony, conflict) to talk about!
Homework: Read the story, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and write your literary paragraph. Due Friday.
Okay, so there is a 12-part Youtube version of it...again, it is not exactly the same as the story, so read the story, but if you want to have some fun...check it out...I put the first installment below...but you have to find the rest if you want to watch the whole thing!
Today we discussed how humans use the story frame as a way to store information in memory and the strange impact that has on the information (see NPR article posted below).
Afterwards, we took notes on how to write a literary analysis paragraph...not too hard, and they are great frames to store important information about a story...how convenient! You will get to choose any story that we have read together ("All Summer In a Day," "After I Was Thrown Into the River, and Before I Drowned,""The Cask of Amontillado," "Harrison Bergeron," "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," and the one below) AND pick one term (characterization, irony, conflict) to talk about!
Homework: Read the story, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" and write your literary paragraph. Due Friday.
Okay, so there is a 12-part Youtube version of it...again, it is not exactly the same as the story, so read the story, but if you want to have some fun...check it out...I put the first installment below...but you have to find the rest if you want to watch the whole thing!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Reviewing the types of conflict: "Harrison Bergeron"
Today we reviewed yesterday's literary terms on satire and conflict. We also talked about the short story, "Harrison Bergeron" and answered the question of what the author was trying to satirize.
Homework: Read the psychologically thrilling story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (due tomorrow)
READ the full story here.
Homework: Read the psychologically thrilling story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" (due tomorrow)
READ the full story here.
(Check out the video link below)
"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" Videos
Soooo...Alfred Hitchcock is a TOTALLY awesome director...and he tackled this famous story...in three parts. He does change the plot...a little...so make sure you read the story, not JUST watch the videos.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Harrison Bergeron, conflict and satire
Today you will copy down some terms, and then read the satirical story, Harrison Bergeron.
Terms:
Satire - a work that ridicules the foolishness of individuals, a society, or humanity.
person vs. person conflict - the antagonist is preventing the protagonist from reaching their goal
person vs. nature/technology conflict - some natural or man-made obstacle is preventing the protagonist from reaching their goal
person vs. group/society conflict - a group of people or society's laws/rules/expectations are preventing the protagonist from reaching their goal
person vs. self conflict - when a character is struggling over a difficult decision, a personality flaw, or a physical or mental limitation which prevents them from achieving their goal
Harrison Bergeron is a futuristic sci-fi story that supposes that everyone is given "handicaps" to make everyone in society completely equal. Nobody is allowed to be smarter, cuter, or stronger than anyone else. Kurt Vonnegut (the author) wrote this satirical story to poke fun of some aspect about our society...what is it?
Homework: finish reading "Harrison Bergeron." Be prepared to answer questions about the story on Tuesday.
Terms:
Satire - a work that ridicules the foolishness of individuals, a society, or humanity.
person vs. person conflict - the antagonist is preventing the protagonist from reaching their goal
person vs. nature/technology conflict - some natural or man-made obstacle is preventing the protagonist from reaching their goal
person vs. group/society conflict - a group of people or society's laws/rules/expectations are preventing the protagonist from reaching their goal
person vs. self conflict - when a character is struggling over a difficult decision, a personality flaw, or a physical or mental limitation which prevents them from achieving their goal
Harrison Bergeron is a futuristic sci-fi story that supposes that everyone is given "handicaps" to make everyone in society completely equal. Nobody is allowed to be smarter, cuter, or stronger than anyone else. Kurt Vonnegut (the author) wrote this satirical story to poke fun of some aspect about our society...what is it?
Homework: finish reading "Harrison Bergeron." Be prepared to answer questions about the story on Tuesday.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Review Terms and Discussion
We will review the terms learned so far, will discuss the story, and will have an in-class free-write:
1) summarize the story using as many terms you know as possible (minimum of three)
Two options:
1) summarize the story using as many terms you know as possible (minimum of three)
or
2) modernize the story into a present-day revenge story...creepy!
Homework due Monday:
1) finish the in-class free-write, if you have not already. One full, hand-written page minimum. It must be legible because it will be going into your writing folder!
Homework due Monday:
1) finish the in-class free-write, if you have not already. One full, hand-written page minimum. It must be legible because it will be going into your writing folder!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
"The Cask of Amontillado," and more lit. terms ... isn't that ironic?
Today we read a story about revenge. We will also learn some more literary terms: irony, verbal irony, dramatic irony, and situational irony, AND symbolism. The definitions will be given in class, BUT they are already on flashcards in an earlier post (look below!)
You can read the story online here, if you prefer.
For a huge list of symbols in literature, and what they often refer to, click here.
Homework:
Finish reading "The Cask of Amontillao"
You can read the story online here, if you prefer.
For a huge list of symbols in literature, and what they often refer to, click here.
Homework:
Finish reading "The Cask of Amontillao"
check out these videos....
Here is what the Parisian catacombs look like:
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Literary Terms Scavenger Hunt...and REVENGE!
Now it is time to apply what we have learned! You will be in teams of 3-5 members. Each team gets a bingo sheet. Only one book per person at a time. The first team to get a three-in-a-row wins! We will be highlighting passages from books for proof that we found the term, so be prepared.
The second half of the class will be spent beginning with reading the story, the "The Cask of Amontillado"... a great story about revenge! Yes, this one is a little dark!
Homework: read the first half of the story, "The Cask of Amontillado"
The second half of the class will be spent beginning with reading the story, the "The Cask of Amontillado"... a great story about revenge! Yes, this one is a little dark!
Homework: read the first half of the story, "The Cask of Amontillado"
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Terms Review
Hey Folks -
Today we will review the terms about narration we learned on Monday. Mr. Stowell selected a few stories that he really likes and read narration from them while the class went about discussing and debating what type of narrator they had. Please note that in novels, the decision of what type of narrator isn't always %100 one type, but a mixture of two, although there usually is a dominate type. In short stories, it's easier to tell (because they are shorter).
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 3rd pers. limited. We see inside Harry's head primarily, although there are times when we do see a little into some of the minor characters, such as the Dursleys...making it a little omniscient.
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - 3rd pers. limited. We see inside Bilbo Baggins' head frequently, although a lot of the narration is descriptive, as if seen by a "fly on the wall," making it a little objective.
Angels and Demons - 3rd pers. limited. We see inside Langdon's head the most, who is the primary character, but to a lesser degree, we do see inside the head of his partner, Vittoria. So, there is more than one, so you could argue that it is a little omniscient.
A Series of Unfortunate Events - The Slippery Slope - 3rd pers. omniscient. We see inside the heads of several characters, most notably the Baudelaire children...but you could argue that the three of them almost act as a single unit, and we don't see into the heads of anyone but them, so you could argue that it could be a little limited.
The Hunger Games - 1st person. Boom. Easy. This book is narrated by the protagonist, Katniss, referring to herself as "I" and we definitely see inside her head.
"The Things They Carried" - 3rd person omniscient. This one is easy too, if you read for long enough. We see into the heads of all of the soldiers as they are on their march. (This is one of my favorite short stories of all time, by the way, but it's about Vietnam and can be kind of graphic, so you may want to wait to high school to really read it and like it).
Tomorrow, we will go on a scavenger hunt and you will find each type of narrator!
Homework: None.
Today we will review the terms about narration we learned on Monday. Mr. Stowell selected a few stories that he really likes and read narration from them while the class went about discussing and debating what type of narrator they had. Please note that in novels, the decision of what type of narrator isn't always %100 one type, but a mixture of two, although there usually is a dominate type. In short stories, it's easier to tell (because they are shorter).
Here is what we determined:
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - 3rd pers. limited. We see inside Harry's head primarily, although there are times when we do see a little into some of the minor characters, such as the Dursleys...making it a little omniscient.
Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring - 3rd pers. limited. We see inside Bilbo Baggins' head frequently, although a lot of the narration is descriptive, as if seen by a "fly on the wall," making it a little objective.
Angels and Demons - 3rd pers. limited. We see inside Langdon's head the most, who is the primary character, but to a lesser degree, we do see inside the head of his partner, Vittoria. So, there is more than one, so you could argue that it is a little omniscient.
A Series of Unfortunate Events - The Slippery Slope - 3rd pers. omniscient. We see inside the heads of several characters, most notably the Baudelaire children...but you could argue that the three of them almost act as a single unit, and we don't see into the heads of anyone but them, so you could argue that it could be a little limited.
The Hunger Games - 1st person. Boom. Easy. This book is narrated by the protagonist, Katniss, referring to herself as "I" and we definitely see inside her head.
"The Things They Carried" - 3rd person omniscient. This one is easy too, if you read for long enough. We see into the heads of all of the soldiers as they are on their march. (This is one of my favorite short stories of all time, by the way, but it's about Vietnam and can be kind of graphic, so you may want to wait to high school to really read it and like it).
Tomorrow, we will go on a scavenger hunt and you will find each type of narrator!
Homework: None.
Monday, September 19, 2011
New Literary Terms and a Great Story!
Hi Kids,
Today in class we are reading the great short story "After I Was Thrown In the River and Before I Drowned" by Dave Eggers, one of the most promising contemporary fiction writers my age. He wrote some really cool, really famous books like The What is The What and one of my all-time favorites, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. This story has an interesting narrator, which I'm sure you discovered.
Also today, we covered five new literary terms:
Today in class we are reading the great short story "After I Was Thrown In the River and Before I Drowned" by Dave Eggers, one of the most promising contemporary fiction writers my age. He wrote some really cool, really famous books like The What is The What and one of my all-time favorites, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. This story has an interesting narrator, which I'm sure you discovered.
Also today, we covered five new literary terms:
- First-Person Point-of-View (p.o.v.): A character in the story is the narrator. Readers see only what that character sees.
- Third-Person Omniscient p.o.v.: The narrator is "all-knowing" and tells the readers what any character thinks or feels.
- Third-Person Limited p.o.v.: The story is told through the eyes of only ONE character. The reader only knows how that one character feels and thinks.
- Third-Person Objective p.o.v.: The story is told as if by a "fly on the wall" without the reader being able to know the thoughts and feelings of any character.
- Tone: The narrator's attitude toward the story, the characters, themselves, and even the world (i.e. pessimistic apathetic, optimistic, happy, angry, ashamed, prideful, excited, frustrated, dark...etc.).
Two questions to ask yourself: What kind of narrator do we have in this story? What is the tone of that narrator?
Homework: Finish reading the story. Summarize it in as few sentences possible while still including the essential plot and character information AND including three literary terms (you can use the old terms as well as the ones you learned today). Due tomorrow!
Homework: Finish reading the story. Summarize it in as few sentences possible while still including the essential plot and character information AND including three literary terms (you can use the old terms as well as the ones you learned today). Due tomorrow!
Friday, September 16, 2011
The flash cards once again.
Reminder: You can go onto www.quizlet.com and search for my cards (search "Stowell"). You can also download these to any iPod Touch flashcard app that can download cards from Quizlet.
How to Coin Walk
This is related to the prompt I wrote on characterization...but it's also a brief preview of the type of project we will work on at the end of quarter 1 / beginning of quarter 2!
Vocab post-test today
Hello Folks!
Today in class is the vocabulary post-assessment that for the words that we have been studying these last two weeks. Based off of preliminary results from first period, things are looking pretty great!
As for Parent Night last night, it was awesome! A special thanks to all the parents who made it out! I did ask how many of them knew you were taking a quiz today, however, and only a few hands went up in each class...let's change that; let your parents help to quiz you as you are washing the dishes after dinner!
As for the writing response you did to yesterday's short story, All Summer In a Day, I'll be collecting that on Monday, so DON'T LOSE IT in your binder (I'm looking at you, Joe)!
Homework: None...have fun.
Looking ahead: More literary terms and short stories next week! Although we have ropes course, we will still be having classes. The next story we will read has a dog as the narrator...it's hilarious, and sad, and awesome!
Today in class is the vocabulary post-assessment that for the words that we have been studying these last two weeks. Based off of preliminary results from first period, things are looking pretty great!
As for Parent Night last night, it was awesome! A special thanks to all the parents who made it out! I did ask how many of them knew you were taking a quiz today, however, and only a few hands went up in each class...let's change that; let your parents help to quiz you as you are washing the dishes after dinner!
As for the writing response you did to yesterday's short story, All Summer In a Day, I'll be collecting that on Monday, so DON'T LOSE IT in your binder (I'm looking at you, Joe)!
Homework: None...have fun.
Looking ahead: More literary terms and short stories next week! Although we have ropes course, we will still be having classes. The next story we will read has a dog as the narrator...it's hilarious, and sad, and awesome!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Parent Night!
Tonight is "Parent Night" or "Open-House" here at C.M.S. Hopefully, I'll get to meet a lot of your parents! Below is a quick slide-show regarding some of the things I'd like to tell them, but mostly it will be a time for me to shake hands and say hello in my typically nerdy, over-excited way.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Our First Short Story..."All Summer In a Day"
WELCOME TO BLOCK-DAYS (Wednesday and Thursday)
Today, we'll start with a little vocab-baseball to get the ball rolling.
Second, we'll check and share your paragraphs on "what makes a character great."
Thirdly, we'll start our first short story, "All Summer In a Day," a cool little science-fiction that takes place on an alien planet where summer only lasts for one day out of several years. We are going to focus on the characterization in this story.
Homework: Write at least one paragraph (10 sentences minimum) making one of the flat antagonists more round. Rewrite part of the story from that antagonist's point of view, turning them into the protagonist. If you don't finish it in class, finish it at home! Due FRIDAY!
DON'T Forget that your first Vocab post-assessment is FRIDAY as well!
Today, we'll start with a little vocab-baseball to get the ball rolling.
Second, we'll check and share your paragraphs on "what makes a character great."
Thirdly, we'll start our first short story, "All Summer In a Day," a cool little science-fiction that takes place on an alien planet where summer only lasts for one day out of several years. We are going to focus on the characterization in this story.
Homework: Write at least one paragraph (10 sentences minimum) making one of the flat antagonists more round. Rewrite part of the story from that antagonist's point of view, turning them into the protagonist. If you don't finish it in class, finish it at home! Due FRIDAY!
DON'T Forget that your first Vocab post-assessment is FRIDAY as well!
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Mr. Stowell's example of the homework!
I've been getting a few questions about the homework...so I did it myself and put up an example!
Doc Holiday from the movie, Tombstone, is one of the greatest characters ever! Although he is not exactly the protagonist (that role belongs to Wyatt Earp) he is given so much indirect characterization, that he almost steals the show. Throughout the movie, Doc Holiday loves to poke fun at the bad-guys, always provoking them into a fight, which he always wins. He is obviously the best gunslinger in Arizona. Although he is suffering from tuberculosis, which he knows will eventually kill him, he doesn't let that stop him from having too much fun and causing too much trouble. His character also has some really great direct characterization in the way he looks in the movie. He is deathly skinny and pale (from his sickness) but always impeccably dressed and playing with a lucky coin that he's constantly rolling between his knuckles (when he's not shooting people). If he were to be categorized as a dynamic/round, or static/flat character, he'd actually be a combination of the terms. He's definitely static, because his personality never really changes; he's the loyal-to-the-end friend of Earp, and a selfish jerk to everyone else from the beginning to the end of the movie. However, he's not exactly flat, because there is so much description of him...although we never fully know what makes him tick. Because of these qualities, he is a very memorable and awesome character!
Okay, so I'm an over-achiever...I did 11 sentences, and included 5 terms, but there you have it!
Doc Holiday from the movie, Tombstone, is one of the greatest characters ever! Although he is not exactly the protagonist (that role belongs to Wyatt Earp) he is given so much indirect characterization, that he almost steals the show. Throughout the movie, Doc Holiday loves to poke fun at the bad-guys, always provoking them into a fight, which he always wins. He is obviously the best gunslinger in Arizona. Although he is suffering from tuberculosis, which he knows will eventually kill him, he doesn't let that stop him from having too much fun and causing too much trouble. His character also has some really great direct characterization in the way he looks in the movie. He is deathly skinny and pale (from his sickness) but always impeccably dressed and playing with a lucky coin that he's constantly rolling between his knuckles (when he's not shooting people). If he were to be categorized as a dynamic/round, or static/flat character, he'd actually be a combination of the terms. He's definitely static, because his personality never really changes; he's the loyal-to-the-end friend of Earp, and a selfish jerk to everyone else from the beginning to the end of the movie. However, he's not exactly flat, because there is so much description of him...although we never fully know what makes him tick. Because of these qualities, he is a very memorable and awesome character!
Okay, so I'm an over-achiever...I did 11 sentences, and included 5 terms, but there you have it!
Tech Setup.
Hi Folks,
First things first: we got to get our computer accounts set up! Ms. Maciolek and Mr. Descoteaux will be there to help us - do whatever they tell you to do!
So, technically, there is no English class today. I'll be in the room, but the class will only be on setting up your computer accounts.
Homework: Same as last night...I'll be checking homework tomorrow!
First things first: we got to get our computer accounts set up! Ms. Maciolek and Mr. Descoteaux will be there to help us - do whatever they tell you to do!
So, technically, there is no English class today. I'll be in the room, but the class will only be on setting up your computer accounts.
Homework: Same as last night...I'll be checking homework tomorrow!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Vocab baseball and Characterization Terms
Hello folks, happy Monday!
So, to get things started, I thought we'd have a little vocab baseball. Two teams, two innings. The pitch will be the pictures. Single if you can correctly guess the word, double if you also guess the correct part of speech, triple if you can correctly use the word in a sentence, home run if you can do all that AND correctly spell the word. This is my first time trying the game, so cross your fingers.
The second half of the class will be concerned with a discussion of characterization. We will talk about what makes a good character great and memorable.
You will also learn some new literary terms:
Homework: Study your vocab - it won't learn itself! Finish the in-class writing.
What's coming up: We will read a cool short story and apply what we know about characterization tomorrow!
So, to get things started, I thought we'd have a little vocab baseball. Two teams, two innings. The pitch will be the pictures. Single if you can correctly guess the word, double if you also guess the correct part of speech, triple if you can correctly use the word in a sentence, home run if you can do all that AND correctly spell the word. This is my first time trying the game, so cross your fingers.
The second half of the class will be concerned with a discussion of characterization. We will talk about what makes a good character great and memorable.
You will also learn some new literary terms:
- Direct characterization - When the author states a character's traits, mostly physical
- Indirect characterization - When a character's personality is shown by their words and actions
- Flat/Static character - a character that who's "soul" is somewhat a mystery and remains largely unchanged.
- Round/Dynamic character - a character who's soul and personality is well-described, and who goes through some kind of change throughout the story.
- Protagonist - the main character, sometimes the "hero" who must overcome the main obstacles and resolve the primary conflict.
- Antagonist - a character or force in conflict with a main character or protagonist
Homework: Study your vocab - it won't learn itself! Finish the in-class writing.
What's coming up: We will read a cool short story and apply what we know about characterization tomorrow!
Friday, September 9, 2011
What makes a good character (cont.)
Today we will continue the "Who the Heck Is That?" game, in guessing our classmates' favorite characters, based off of their detailed descriptions. Afterwards, we will have a class discussion on what really makes a great (not just good, but GREAT) character.
For Monday in-class writing: One fat paragraph (10 sentences minimum) answering the question "what makes a good character?" Be sure to include what you learned from today's discussion. This may be typed or neatly in ink. Be prepared to share.
Homework: Study your vocab flashcards (look below for the earlier post). Post-test is on next Friday.
For the kids who tested out: Your vocab list of ten words is due (the whole sheet needs to be completed) by Tuesday.
For Monday in-class writing: One fat paragraph (10 sentences minimum) answering the question "what makes a good character?" Be sure to include what you learned from today's discussion. This may be typed or neatly in ink. Be prepared to share.
Homework: Study your vocab flashcards (look below for the earlier post). Post-test is on next Friday.
For the kids who tested out: Your vocab list of ten words is due (the whole sheet needs to be completed) by Tuesday.
It's Friday
Firstly, let me welcome you to Friday! Secondly, I want to definitively tell you that the horrible song with terrible lyrics, "Friday" by Rebecca Black, was not written by Boby Dylan, despite the fact that there is a Dylan impersonator singing a cover of it on Youtube. Sorry, Nick - I did the research. Read here, watch here.
Please see what we did in class in the next post.
Please see what we did in class in the next post.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
What makes a good character?
Today we will start by checking and sharing your vocab stories that you wrote in class yesterday. Then we will briefly do some vocabulary review while the "T.O.'s" (kids who tested out) will begin setting up their vocabulary lists.
Midway through class, we will reconvene to do the "Who the Heck Is That?" character game, based off of your last night's homework. Prizes will be given to those with the best character description, and to those who guessed the most characters correctly. Afterwards will follow a brainstorm on what makes a good character.
Homework: Check out the flash cards. Begin studying vocabulary.
Midway through class, we will reconvene to do the "Who the Heck Is That?" character game, based off of your last night's homework. Prizes will be given to those with the best character description, and to those who guessed the most characters correctly. Afterwards will follow a brainstorm on what makes a good character.
Homework: Check out the flash cards. Begin studying vocabulary.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Pretest
Good Day fellow students!
Today is the pretest. If you pass with an 90% or better (this time) you have "tested-out" of the list and will do self-guided vocab, based off of a novel of your choosing. If so, you need to keep a book at school during the first week of the unit to create your list of 14 words. If you do not have a book, you will be promptly sent to the library to acquire one, and will lose time to generate your list, or you may lose your "tested-out" status.
We will correct the pretests in class, and you will know your status today in class.
After the pretest, you will have an in-class writing assignment:
Today is the pretest. If you pass with an 90% or better (this time) you have "tested-out" of the list and will do self-guided vocab, based off of a novel of your choosing. If so, you need to keep a book at school during the first week of the unit to create your list of 14 words. If you do not have a book, you will be promptly sent to the library to acquire one, and will lose time to generate your list, or you may lose your "tested-out" status.
We will correct the pretests in class, and you will know your status today in class.
- Challenge Level: The post-test will consist of half of the words are multiple-choice, half fill-in the blank for sentences.
- Super-Challenge Level: This post-test will look very similar to the pretest without the word bank, and will consist of 14 words.
- Extreme-Challenge Level: This post-test will provide you with a word bank, and you must write a story that correctly uses the words in context. In addition, you must provide the correct part of speech for each word as it is used.
After the pretest, you will have an in-class writing assignment:
- Choice 1: Write a paragraph that uses all ten vocabulary words correctly in a scenario that describe a time where you or a loved one had "a close call." Remember Mr. Stowell's appendectomy story?
- Choice 2: Write a paragraph that summarizes the Jon Krakauer story excerpt from Into Thin Air, which correctly uses all ten vocabulary words.
- (Due tomorrow) Finish your in-class writing. Be sure to use all 10 words.
- (Due tomorrow) Write one paragraph describing (in as much detail as possible) your favorite character from a book or a movie. DO NOT REVEAL THE NAME - we are going to try to guess it in class! (Pen or pencil - as long as it's legible)
- (For people who tested-out) Bring a book tomorrow that you can use for your vocabulary list. If you do not bring a book, you will default to Extreme Challenge.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Rev It Up!
Vocab List for Unit one:
- Ascend (v.) To move upward
- Deteriorate (v.) To have the condition of something get worse and worse
- Deplete (v.) To be completely used up
- Innocuous (adj.) Harmless
- Banal (adj.) Something or someone that is so common that it is boring
- Demure (adj.) Quiet and shy
- Formidable (adj.) Threatening because of size or strength
- Immaculate (adj.) Spotlessly clean
- Arduous (adj.) When something takes a lot of effort
- Err (v.) To make a mistake
- * subordinate * (adj.) To be lower or less than something else
- * pinnacle * (n.) a high peak or point
- * notorious * (adj.) well-known for having a bad reputation
- * benign * (adj.) not causing harm
Pretest - you may test out of each list! If you do, you must bring a book to English class every day during that unit!
Today students passed in their first assignment!! I must say, I was overwhelmingly positively impressed with the turnout...out of those present, only three students out of the entire pod were unable to pass in the assignment on time!
Also today we finished the Jon Krakauer excerpt from Into Thin Air which highlighted our upcoming vocabulary unit. Please refer to the flashcards in the previous post. Tomorrow there will be a pre-test on the words. If you "test-out" of the list (you smarty-pants, you) you will be able to skip the unit and build your own vocabulary list from a book that you are currently reading. More on this as we do it!
Homework: none, pretest tomorrow!
Also today we finished the Jon Krakauer excerpt from Into Thin Air which highlighted our upcoming vocabulary unit. Please refer to the flashcards in the previous post. Tomorrow there will be a pre-test on the words. If you "test-out" of the list (you smarty-pants, you) you will be able to skip the unit and build your own vocabulary list from a book that you are currently reading. More on this as we do it!
Homework: none, pretest tomorrow!
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