3/25/2021-Welcome back from spring break! Today, in class, we had a quote quiz over chapters 2-3 of TFS. We also discussed how to write a problem and solution text structure paper.
For HW:
1. Read Ch. 4-5 of TFS and complete this quiz (you may use your book).
2. Write your draft of your problem and solution paper about the topic of your choice (as long as it relates to WWII). Consider how we found quotations in class today (with the bee articles) and include two sources in your draft. Bring a double spaced draft to class next week for peer review. If you do not have a printer, you will need to hand write your draft, skipping a line.

3/11/2021-Happy Spring Break!
For HW:
1. Read Ch 2-3 of TFS and complete this quiz (you may use your book).
2. Write your compare and contrast paper about two topics of your choice (as long as they have something to do with WWII). Consider your topic when selecting your text format (Block or Point by Point). Your paper should be 800-1000 words and include two outside sources. Include properly punctuated citations.

3/4/2021-Two Weeks until Spring Break! Today, in class, we reviewed some grammar skills that I have noticed need attention. These skills have been pulled from students' previous papers. We also finished up our speeches and sonnets unit by discussing the final sonnet assigned for homework. Finally, we discussed Dietrich Bonhoeffer and some of the themes we may find while reading The Faithful Spy (TFS).

For HW this week:
1. Read Chapter 1 of Faithful Spy: The Plot to Assassinate Hitler and complete this quiz. Be prepared for a quote quiz in class next week as well.

2. We're beginning our Informative Writing Block, which we will be doing for the next month (at least). We will be writing a couple of different papers, so brush up on your MLA formatting and your research skills! As we move closer to the end of the year, it is expected that students be able to write a well-formatted paper more quickly than before, so be prepared with good notes throughout to help your drafting. We brainstormed several topics in class today about WWII. Select two related topics (i.e. Code Girls and Radium Girls) and complete comparison matrix with facts and data (don't forget to note the sources as you work). Bring this to class on Thursday .

WWII is a large topic, so narrow it down a bit (weaponry, females, leaders, places, etc. Some of these topics are still quite broad and could be funneled down even more).

3. Watch the review video of Affect vs. Effect (see left)

2/25/2021-For HW this week
1. Listen to Lou Gehrig's "Farewell to Baseball" and analyze the speech.
2. Analyze Shakespeare's Sonnet #104. What is the meaning of each quatrain? What is the overall theme of the sonnet? What is the tone and mood of the sonnet? Bring your analysis to class on Thursday.

2/18/2021-VIRTUAL CLASS
1. Please submit your Sonnet Remix to your Turn it In folder (spring). 2. Keep your Amanda Gorman response and bring to class next week. 3. Read Shakespeare's Sonnet 29 and analyze (which means to breakdown and understand all the individual elements and how that contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole). Look at each quatrain and make note of what you think each means. Bring to class next week (we'll discuss it in more detail then). 4. Listen to the Infamy Speech by FDR and analyze it as you listen. Take a look at the original speech and notes. 5. Consider---How does is this speech different from and similar to the speeches you hear presidents give in our current time?

If you submitted your Typhoid Mary paper to your folder as per the instructions, it has been graded!

2/11/2021-For HW this week: 1. Please finish your sonnet if you were not able to finish it in class. If you do not wish to continue with the comparison you began in class, you are free to start a new one! Remember a sonnet is 14 lines (3 stanzas of 4 lines--a quatrain-- and a 2 line couplet at the end & has a rhyme scheme of ABAB, CDCD, EFEF, GG. In addition, the meter is iambic pentameter).

2. Listen to Amanda Gorman read "The Hill We Climb," which she read at the most recent presidential inauguration. The first time through, simply listen and watch. Listen for a second time and highlight or underline the lines you like best. You can find a print of the copy along with response questions here. Finally, complete the response questions. You will need to print this so you can highlight or underline your favorite lines. Please bring this back to class next week! If you cannot print, hand write the poem EXACTLY as it is on the page.

2/4/2021-For HW this week, please write your multi-paragraph informative paper about Mary Mallon utilizing the outline I gave you in class. You must include three properly cited quotes from the book (choose wisely & make them impactful) and you need to include a Works Cited page (which will be very short!). Submit to your folder.

1/28-This week, we began working on descriptive and informative writing. Descriptive writing is a form of informative writing, so we'll be using descriptive writing as the intro paragraphs for our informative writing pieces. I showed the students a descriptive practice today using a photograph.

For HW, please do the following
Finish TTM
Complete the Response and turn it in to your folder.
Complete the Descriptive Writing graphic organizers and BRING THIS TO CLASS!
Also bring the citation practice (from last week) page back to class next week as well!

1/21 This week, we discussed how to properly create in-text citations. We also worked on how to build a sound argument by providing evidence. We'll keep working on both of these things.

For HW, please do the following:
Read TTMp. 53-118
Complete the Response and turn it in to your folder (if you do not know how to do this, please let me know ASAP)
Complete the citation practice page and BRING THIS TO CLASS!

Welcome back!

This week, I handed back several assignments and discussed the new semester. If you did not get the email about the new books for the semester, please let me know and I'll resend that ASAP!

In reading the argumentative papers, many students had trouble with citations (both in-text and in the works cited). This is understandable---it's difficult! We spent today working on a variety of citation practices. I'd like for everyone to continue doing that at home. Please complete the following assignment and bring it to class (printed or hand written is fine).

In addition, please read Terrible Typhoid Mary (TTM) pg. 1-52 and be prepared for a word/quote quiz! As you read, jot down any scenes or relevant quotes about the following topics and include page numbers for reference:

• healthcare for the poor

• treatment of immigrants

• spread of contagion

• media representations.

12/10-This is a big week! We're finishing up everything for the semester! Here are the assignments for the week:

Folder: A Christmas Carol Reading (finish it) and Response #2
Folder: Final Draft of your argumentative paper (watch video about in-text citations and a works cited pages)*
Bring to Class: Thematic One Pagers (see rubric and info below)

Please email me if we need a virtual session!
*Try your best on the citations and works cited page using MLA style. This is new and we have not had a lot of time to cover it in class. This is your first attempt, so I will be very gracious (and you should be gracious with yourself as well). This is hard, but you can do hard things! We'll keep working on this throughout the spring semester. I highly suggest visiting the OWL Purdue Writing website as it is VERY informative.

Start Here by Watching the Video!

DECEMBER 3rd VIRTUAL CLASS- We will not meet in real time, so you will have until we meet again to work on these assignments. Please read these directions carefully and EMAIL ME if you have issues. We can always set up a time for a virtual meet if it is necessary.

Refugee Work:
We're finishing up Refugee. You should have finished the reading over Thanksgiving break. If you have not, that is your number one priority! I also asked that you review the literary topics list (see 11/19 update) and provide evidence (including page numbers). Please upload this to your Turn it In Folder. We will be completing a thematic one-pager for Refugee and it will be due 12/17. See the video and the assignment page for more information. Finally, complete the final Refugee response page and turn that in to your turn it in folder.

Interactive Poem Link

A Christmas Carol Work:
For the last few weeks of school, we will be reading A Christmas Carol. This is a relatively short book and you should be able to finish it in a week. For this week, I would like you to read Marley's Ghost and complete the response page. Turn that in to your folder as well.

Argumentative Writing:
Take your brainstorm and write your first draft. You should have written your brainstorm and you should have sources to back up your reasons. If you have been doing the assignments each week, it should not be much effort to make your brainstorm into a rough draft (not perfect!). Aim for writing 1,000 words. Bring in a copy of your draft the next time we meet (hopefully 12/10). Please, please, please review the videos from 11/19 before you begin writing. Put a copy of your draft in your Turn it In folder as well.

IF WE MEET VIRTUALLY ON 12/10, WE WILL HAVE A REAL TIME SESSION.

Homework:

11/19-Today, we had another word quiz over our Refugee reading. We also sorted advertisements based on rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos). I was able to look at everyone's claim for their argumentative paper (if they brought one to class) and gave the go ahead for everyone to proceed with their papers. We discussed how to brainstorm and organize our papers and where we could find information utilizing rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos) to support our argument. Watch video 1, video 2, and video 3 for a review of the brainstorm/graphic organizer and bring your completed graphic organizer to class on 12/3. Make sure to only use reputable sources (No wikipedia!). You can use Statista or Google Scholar to get started.

• HW:

• Read Refugee pg. 171-258 (be prepared for a word quiz)

• Review the Literary Topics and select five that you think are represented in Refugee. Cite text evidence (including page numbers) which supports your claim. Bring this to class on 12/3

Take note of the following upcoming dates:
12/3-Completed graphic organizer (with notes & references)
12/10-First draft due. Bring two copies to class. We will workshop this writing during class.
12/17-Completed argumentative paper due to your Turn it in Folder.
12/17-Theme one-pager due in class.

11/12-Today, we had a word quiz over our Refugee reading. We also had a quick grammar review of adjectives and adverbs as well as independent and dependent clauses. To continue our discussion of argumentative writing, the students were introduced to the topics of Rhetorical Analysis and the concepts of ethos, pathos, and logos.

Homework

• Read Refugee pg. 87-170 (expect another word quiz).

• Review the Literary Topics and select five that you think are represented in Refugee. Cite text evidence (including page numbers) which supports your claim.

• Make a graphic organizer of your "claim" for your argumentative paper. Review the video from last week to refresh your memory. Begin thinking about what evidence you will use to support your claim. Bring this to class on Thursday.

• Watch the Ted Ed about Rhetorical Appeals.

• Watch the Background video of The Colossus of Rhodes.
  
  

11/5 HW

• Read Refugee 1-86 and answer the response questions. Also read Langston Hughes's poem, "I, too" and answer the response questions. Turn these in to your folder. Watch the video about argumentative writing. Around the 1:40 minute mark, the speaker begins to make a graphic organizer about a topic. Make a similar graphic organizer about a topic related to our book (there are several topics to choose from). Bring this to class next Thursday!
  
  Topics to consider:
  Who was the most oppressive leader--Castro or Hitler?
  Should refugees speak English if they seek asylum in America?
  Who's story is most compelling (Josef, Isabel, or Mahmoud)?
  Who had a more difficult journey?
  Who had more hardships: Jews in Nazi Germany or Cubans in the 1990s?
  Was "wet foot/dry foot" a sound policy?

• You are free to come up with your own topic as long as it is related (in some way) to our book.

10/29

• Read The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and answer the response questions. Also make a plot diagram/triangle/Freytag model for The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Next week, we'll begin working on argumentative writing & reading the book Refugee by Alan Gratz.

10/15

• Reread "The Raven" and complete the response questions. You can find everything you need if you scroll down to the bottom of this page.
  

10/8

• Reread The Lottery & Answer the Response Question. These will be due on 10/22 (I pushed this date back). Remember to respond in complete sentences and formulate your response with elements of the question.

• Your memoirs are also due on 10/22. These need to be combined into one document (as best as you can) and submitted to the special "Memoir" folder in your Turn it In Folder. If you would like me to bind your memoir all together with my binding machine, please bring printed copies of all your pieces. I had a chance to conference with almost everyone (either in class of Friday, virtually). If you still need a virtual conference, I will be able to have a few meetings on 10/19-10/20, but my times will be limited, so email me ASAP if you feel you need another conference. Remember, your memoir project will count for two grades.

10/1

• Reread The Lottery & Answer the Response Questions. Turn these in to the Turn it In folder.

• Complete the Conference Planning Sheet for our Writing Conferences next week.

• Bring all your writings for the memoir piece next week. You will conference with (only) Dr. Rowe about your pieces. Be thinking on the type of feedback you would like (Bless, Express, Address, or Press).

9/24

• BGD-Finish up the book if you have not already. Complete the quotes page and bring it to class. Also bring your book to class.

• Draft, Draft, Draft on your Memoir Project.

9/17

• BGD Finish up the book. As you finish, reflect back on what we have read so far. Come to class on Thursday with two quotes (including page numbers) that reflect the following topics: family, abandonment, migration/movement, religion, listening, writing.

• Write one of your memories in the narrative style. Use the rubric to guide your writing. You are aiming to contain all the elements in the 3 category. Submit these to the Turn it In Folder.

• Remember that works are always in progress! I will only consider them "complete" when we finish our memoir project (due 10/15).

9/10

• BGD pg. 162-241 and answer the response/analysis questions (these were started in class). Turn these in to your folder.

• Read "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon and complete your own poem using the template.

• Using the writing sample from class, make a T chart showing the positives and negatives. Bring this back to class on Thursday.

• If you haven't already, create your list of 10 memories and think of the creative ways you could tell those memories.

• Get caught up on ANY work you need to turn in to your folder. Use the checklist to make sure you have everything. Look at your feedback and revise & edit any writings.
  

9/3: Open the HW file links. Copy and paste them in your own word processing system (google doc, word, etc.). You only have viewing privileges, not editing privileges.

• Read "I'm Nobody! Who Are You?" poem by Emily Dickinson and answer the response analysis questions. Turn these in to your folder.

• Read BGD pg. 93-161 and answer the response/analysis questions. Turn these in to your folder.

• Finish up your verse poem about your mind and body as a place. Eliminate any unnecessary words (especially pronouns) and get right into the emotional words of the poem. Type it up and submit it to your folder.

• Get caught up on ANY work you need to turn in to your folder. Use the checklist to make sure you have everything. Look at your feedback and revise & edit any writings.

8/27:

• Read "Dreams" by Langston Hughes and answer the response/analysis questions. Turn these in to your "Turn it In" folder.

• Read Brown Girl Dreaming pg. 1-92 and answer the response/analysis questions. Turn these in to your "Turn it In" folder.

• Complete the new writing prompts and submit to your Turn it In folder.

• Using the feedback you received from your peers, improve your age and name writings and turn those in to your folder.

• Make a list of 10 memories you think are important to share in your memoirs. These should be memories in which you learned a life lesson.

8/20:

• Read "My Name" & "Eleven" by Sandra Cisneros (scroll down)

• Complete the writing prompts for those two short stories. Write as much as you can. You are free to hand write or type and print. We will need to have these in class next week.

• Complete the Room Escape and the Student Survey.

• Complete your head maps and heart maps (see images below for examples).

• Get your Brown Girl Dreaming book! We start it next week!

Announcements: Welcome to class and to my website! Here, you will find all the information you might need for the semester. For example, you can find the syllabus, HW assignments, and various required readings. Please don't hesitate to email with questions!