Work Day

Today was mostly a work day on the speeches with your partner. I also assigned the speech groups so everyone should be reading a total of three speeches for Tuesday. I also had a few announcements. First, registration is coming up soon. If you are getting a C or better I would suggest CIS or AP World Lit. However, more importantly I would like to encourage you to think about Broadcast and Yearbook as your electives. I need some creative reliable people.

Upcoming: Speeches on Tuesday
Flight for Thursday
Vocab test for Friday

Have a good weekend and good luck Tri-Mers

AP Practice

Tough day, you took a practice AP lit. test with the full AP scoring. I hope to have them scored and back to you by Monday so we can go over them. The good news you only have a few left! The test you today was actually the real one I took my senior year. Yikes I'm starting to feel old.
I hope everyone is keeping up with the reading of "Flight" (notice quotation marks since it's a chapter title).
Tomorrow you will have work time with your partner on the speech and you'll find out what speeches will be in your groups.
Upcoming: Speech analysis and discussion 3/2
Flight discussion 3/4
Vocab test 3/5

Remember conferences are on Tuesday too. Bring your parents! Down with Mrs. Thao!

Double Blog

I forgot to post yesterday so you get a double dose today.
Yesterday was the class discussion on Fear. It was very tough to keep myself silent but I managed for most of the class. I thought the discussions leaders did well. For some groups I think the talking could have been spaced out more. I know it's hard to get some people to talk but there were definitely times where a quite person had their hand raised and was passed up by someone who spoke a lot. There were also some questions that actually got over-analyzed. Remember it is okay to move on if everyone just keeps saying the same things.

Today we went over the open essays you just got back and some writing tips. They are on the website if you would like another look or if you were to lazy to take notes as I was speaking. The main things I'd like to see people work on are organization and sentence clarity. Finally we started the speech analysis assignment (aren't you glad you don't have to write a speech!). You will have a work day on Friday with your partner so make sure you bring your speech.

Upcoming: Tomorrow timed MC
Tuesday Speech analysis and discussions
Thursday finish Flight and discussion

Vocab Day!

Today you got another round of vocab words with a wonderful student made video.
The vocab test will be in two weeks on the 5th.
You then had a short reading check test and we briefly talked about Native Son.
I didn't want to take away from the discussion tomorrow so I will post my notes here since I didn't discuss them in class.

Upcoming: Flight for next Thursday
Timed MC this Thursday

Native Son: Fear Notes
Contrast Bigger’s home p. 1 to Dalton’s home
Treatment of Bigger from his mother—manhood, “why I birthed you”
Living behind a wall p. 9
Activities of Bigger’s friends—rob blacks, “play white” 18,
Flight imagery—plane 17, pigeon 22
Bigger’s behavior when in presence of whites—54
Irony of Dalton being member of NAACP
Why such graphic violence?
Purpose of media— Portrayal of Communists, whites, blacks
Is it okay for black authors/characters to use the N-word?
Structure—start and end with violence
Use of color and blindness
Key Passages:
Mary 23, Bigger 20
Contrast Bigger’s home p. 1 to Dalton’s home
Treatment of Bigger from his mother—manhood, “why I birthed you”
Living behind a wall p. 9
Activities of Bigger’s friends—rob blacks, “play white” 18,
Flight imagery—plane 17, pigeon 22
Bigger’s behavior when in presence of whites—54
What is the “fear” that is so prominent in this chapter? What does he mean when he says “living behind a wall” (9).
Both Jan and Mary attempt to befriend Bigger, yet it only seems to make Bigger more angry. What is Wright trying to say with this?

Vocab Test 582

Today was almost entirely devoted to the vocab test with some reading and chat time.
Hopefully the test went well for everyone. Only three more sets of words to go!
Remember to "Feat" for Monday.
Upcoming: Discussion on Tuesday
MC test on Thursday (February is almost done)

Split lessons part two

Today the classes were split again due to longer presentations in 4/5.
4/5 read yesterday's blog
Per. 9 you all got to practice your thesis writing and BSing skills--a very rare treat. Tomorrow will be the in-class essay due to the field trip fun.
The essay will be an open one. If you are going to be gone please make up the essay either Wednesday or Thursday after school.
Upcoming: Vocab test on Friday
Fear reading due Monday
Discussion on Tuesday

Catch-up

Today was a mixed day for both classes. In 4/5 we just finished up the presentations and you got your next novel. Yes I know it's huge but give it a chance.
In per. 9 we went over some introductory material on the book and I passed out the assignment sheets.
Upcoming: Friday vocab test
Monday finish Fear and the discussion will be on Wednesday

Work Day part 2

Today was another work day so nothing exciting to report--except the fact that I have two new followers!
Projects seem to be going okay. I look forward to seeing the presentations tomorrow. Please make sure you practice a little bit and if you're nervous curl your toes it relieves the tension in your shoulders and facial muscles.
Upcoming: Can you believe it nothing?

Gatsby Work Day

Oops I forgot to post yesterday and I was doing so well. Anyway yesterday was the discussion day for Gatsby. The discussions went well but I'd still like to see more people get involved--if you are a talker try to elicit responses from the more quiet people. It also helps to refer to specific passages. By the way what is going on page 115??
Today we had a work day in the library for the Gatsby presentations. Remember to keep in mind that each group should have a specific claim they are proving to the class.
Upcoming: Presentations Thursday
Tuesday we start our next novel and it is intense!
Posted by Kristin Marie Meister

Vocab Test 1.1

Today was the first vocab test of the new quarter. It seems like it went okay, but I guess grades will tell. After the test I tried to cram in the new set of vocab words with the original Quack vocab video. I will play the review on Monday quickly before the discussion but remember the words are also on the website.
The Awakening papers were also due today and at least some came in. Please try to get the procrastination under control.
Upcoming: Monday finish Gatsby and discussion
Thursday and Friday Gatsby presentations

I also have to give some neglected acknowledgment to Leif who provided 4/5 with an Oscar worthy interpretation of sentence types. Per. 9 you missed out but I'm sure if you ask politely he would reenact it for you.

Open Essay

Today we finally covered the last of the different types of essays on the AP test. The open essay requires you to discuss a novel of your choosing on a predetermined topic. The key with this essay is to stay focused on the question and avoid plot summary. Also remember to include the title in your thesis so they know which book you are writing about.
Upcoming: Vocab test and Awakening paper due Friday
Gatsby reading due Monday

Gatsby Part 1

Today we mostly talked about the first half of Gatsby. While reading get in the habit of taking notes so you have things to refer back to. You should be engaging with the text. Since it drives me crazy to keep my mouth shut, I'll use this as my outlet.
Some things to consider

Nick as narrator—how reliable is he? He makes a big deal out of saying how honest and nonjudgmental he is but I think the narrator doth protest too much. He definitely makes judgments about Tom, Daisy, and Jordan. Speaking of Jordan why is she such a liar?

Not to mention did anyone catch the Nick is a bit of a player?? (p. 59)

Pay careful attention to the descriptions of people.
Description of Tom—very masculine, physical, cruel
Jordan--very masculine as well but then George Wilson is very feminine--what's going on here?

Daisy's bizarre mothering skills. Why turn your head away and weep at the sight of a girl?

Don't be like the elitist and neglect the Valley of Ashes. There is a lot going on here some hints—desolate, biblical, industrial, lower class p. 24

Watch for parallel scenes. Fitzy is a genius when it comes to this. We already talked about Tom's violence with both Daisy and Myrtle but there are others. Look at the different settings we have between ch. 1 and 2 along with Myrtle's treatment of Tom.

Okay, I'll stop now but upcoming pay careful attention to everything surrounding Gatsby and Daisy's meeting...

Upcoming: Awakening Paper and Vocab due Friday
Finish Gatsby for Monday