9th Grade Spring Syllabus


Welcome to 9B English. I hope this semester is fun, enjoyable, challenging, thought provoking and educational for you. We will be concentrating on reading comprehension, writing literary and persuasive essays, and of course, the mechanics of writing - otherwise known as grammar. We will be using the following books:

Vocabulary for High School Students: Level C
HOLT HANDBOOK (grammar)
Elements of Literature: THE ODYSSEY and ROMEO and JULIET
NIGHT

You are expected to keep a notebook for my class. A separate three ring binder would be nice - one that you can put papers into (which I will thoughtfully hole-punch for you so that you can put them into your binder). EVERYTHING I GIVE YOU SHOULD BE PUT INTO YOUR NOTEBOOK! That means handouts I give you, your homework, your classwork, your tests, your essays - in short, everything you will do or have done in my class should go into your notebook. This acts as protection for both you and me. Sometimes teachers make mistakes (Yes, that does happen. Even with me.) If I forget to record a grade (and that does happen sometimes) then you have proof that you did the work. If you have thrown it away then........Okay, so keep ALL your work in your notebook. At the end of the semester I will check your notebook for organization and completeness. This is a major grade. (And keep it small and lightweight! Those backpacks get heavy!)

We will finish reading THE ODYSSEY this semester, and after we finish we will work on a five page research paper. You will choose one topic related to THE ODYSSEY; the topic may be about some aspect of THE ODYSSEY, or about Greek Culture or The Greek gods, etc. You will have about two weeks to work on the paper and we will spend time in the library so that you may do research.  Don’t blow this off, it’s an important part of your grade!

After we finish the research paper, we will begin reading ROMEO and JULIET.  You will keep a running reading log on ROMEO and JULIET, which will be collected and graded; five open book tests on the play, plus group acting activities (rewrites and performances of  your scripts) and essays.

If there is time, we will read the autobiographical NIGHT by Eli Wiesel.

Now for the good news: I don’t give homework over the weekend. Now for the bad: I do give homework - lots of homework! But I do give you plenty of time to do it. If you are absent, then you are allowed to turn in the work the next day after your return. So if you are absent on Monday, you return on Tuesday, then you will turn in the work on Wednesday. The week’s work as well as the due dates will be written on the blog. The handouts will be in the baskets on top of the book case.  It is up to you to check the blog and the baskets for any work you may have missed during your absence. Saying that you didn’t know about the work is not a valid excuse - it will be posted on the weblog,  and the hand outs will be on the table.

If you have internet access you can log onto hollywoodhighschool.net, go to the teacher’s weblog and click on my name (Bridges - in case you’ve forgotten) and there you will be able to see an updated class agenda for the week. You may also check your grade on engrade.com. In order to do that, you must sign up for a student account, which is free.

Class participation is a must. The class is only going to be as good as we all make it. If you help make the class fun and interesting, yet you have a borderline grade, then that extra class participation grade may make the difference between a lower and a higher grade. So don’t fall asleep! Pinch yourself, say something smart and interesting, or ask a good question and your grade just might go up.

Finally, let’s make this a safe environment where everyone feels secure and valued. Let’s respect our differences and realize that it is these differences that make the world wonderful and brilliant.

The grading schedule is as follows:

90 - 100 = A
80 - 89 = B
70 - 79 = C
60 - 69 = D
59 - 0 = F

Tests are worth 30%
Essays are worth 30%
Homework is worth 30%
Class participation is worth 10%

Finally, if you are not happy with a grade on a test or an essay or even homework, then you may rewrite the essay or the test or the homework, incorporating the corrections on your work, staple your corrected work to the original version and turn it in for a higher grade. The corrected grade will be one grade higher than your original grade. If you made a "C/C", and you rewrite the essay, then the grade will be raised to a "B/B".

I am here to help you learn, to grow in appreciation of literature, to improve your reading, writing and grammar skills,  and to pass with a good grade. I am here to help you. You can make this happen by working with me, and being respectful to everyone in the class, including yourself.

I have read this and understand the requirements of the class.

Student:___________________________________________________________


Parents:___________________________________________________________

March 12, 2007 Weekly Schedule for 9th Grade

March 12, 2007
Weekly Schedule
for
9th Grade

Wednesday, March 14th:

Warm-up assignment: SIX-WAY PARAGRAPH.

Check out VOCABULARY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS to 1st, 5th and 6th Period.

1st, 5th and 6th Period:
Assign pages 60 - 68 in vocabulary book. This assignment will be due on Tuesday, March 20th.

3rd Period:

Check out VOCABULARY WORKSHOP; Level D. Unit One will be assigned. This will be due on Tuesday, March 20th.

Begin reading ROMEO and JULIET; Act One, Scene One.



Thursday, March 15th:

1st Period:

Please turn in PAULA packet.

Warm-up activity: Write an original story using five of your new vocabulary words from pages 60 - 68.

Shakespeare Handout: “Words from Shakespeare”

Begin reading and acting out ROMEO and JULIET; Act One, Scene One.

Begin reading log for ROMEO and JULIET.

3rd Period:

Please turn in PAULA packet.
Your “Participle Unscrambling” packet, “Practice One” is due today.

Warm-up activity: Write an original story using five of your new vocabulary words from VOCABULARY WORKSHOP; Level D.

Shakespeare Handout: “Words from Shakespeare”

Read and act out Act One, Scene One. Begin reading log for R and J.


5th Period:

Please turn in “The Monkey Garden” packet.

Warm-up activity: Write an original story using five of your new vocabulary words from pages 60 - 68.

Shakespeare Handout: “Words from Shakespeare.”

Begin reading and acting out ROMEO and JULIET; Act One, Scene One. Begin reading log for R and J.

6th Period:

Please turn in ALWAYS RUNNING packet.

Warm-up activity: Write an original story using five of your new vocabulary words from pages 60 - 68.

Begin reading ENDER’S GAME. Begin reading log for ENDER’S GAME.


Friday, March 16th:


1st Period and 5th Period:

Warm-up activity:

Selection from the book SIX-WAY PARAGRAPH.

Shakespeare Handout: “Phrases from Shakespeare.”

Continue reading and acting out ROMEO and JULIET; Act One, Scene Two. Continue reading log.


3rd Period:

Warm-up activity: Grammar Game: Participles

Check out ENGLISH WORKSHOP; pages 155-156; exercise 7.

Continue reading and acting out ROMEO and JULIET; Act One, Scenes Two and three.

6th Period:

Warm-up activity:

Selection from the book SIX-WAY PARAGRAPH.

Jeopardy: Vocabulary words from pages 60 - 68.

Read ENDER’S GAME and continue reading log.

This is the last post for 2006 for the 9th grade - yipppeeee!

Monday, December 18th:

First Period:

Today we will finish reading THE ODYSSEY, BOOK 23: "Odysseus and Penelope".

Then you will break into groups and dramatize your favorite scene from THE ODYSSEY. Make sure you make a list of your three favorite scenes. It's going to be first come, first serve, so if a group chooses your scene first, then make sure you have an alternative scene you can live with.

Tuesday, December 19th:

Second Period: 7:40 to 9:45

Turn in your Odyssey reading log and time line.

First hour: Work on your scene. Second hour: Present your scene and your script.


Wednesday, December 20th:

Third Period: 7:40 to 9:45

Turn in your Odyssey reading log and time line.

First hour: Work on your scene. Second hour: Present your scene and your script.


Thursday, December 21st:

First Period: 7:40 to 9:45

Turn in your Odyssey reading log and time line.

First hour: Work on your scene. Second hour: Present your scene and your script.

NOTEBOOK ORGANIZATION
FOR
FIRST PERIOD
9TH GRADE
FALL SEMESTER

Title page with name, period and date
Syllabus

GRAMMAR:


English Workshop; pages 63 - 64
English Workshop; Subordinate Clauses; pages 65 - 66
English Workshop; pages 67 - 68
English Workshop; Verbs; pages 105 - 110
English Workshop; Adjective Clauses; pages 167 - 168
English Workshop; Adverbial Clauses; pages 173 - 174
Unscrambling Adverbial Clauses
Unscrambling Adjective Clauses
*********************************************************************************************

VOCABULARY:

Vocabulary for the High School Student; pages 4 - 7; homework
Vocabulary for the High School Student; Test over pages 4 - 7
Vocabulary; pages 11 - 15; homework
Vocabulary test over pages 4 - 16
Vocabulary; pages 30 - 33; homework
Vocabulary; Test over pages 30 - 33
Vocabulary; pages over 35 - 39; homework
Vocabulary; Test over pages 35 - 39
Vocabulary; pages 40 - 45; homework
Vocabulary; pages 47 - 50; homework
Vocabulary words + adverbial clauses
Vocabulary words + adjective clauses
*********************************************************************************************

LITERARY PACKETS:


The Most Dangerous Game Packet
Test over The Most Dangerous Game
Quiz over Plot for Most Dangerous Game
The Cask of Amontillado Packet
The Necklace Packet
The Odyssey Packets
Cat’s Eye Packet
*********************************************************************************************




ESSAYS:

Autobiography
Cordelia’s Point of View
An Event that Changed My Life
Land Mine Essay + Packet
Literary Analysis + Rough Draft + Reading log
*********************************************************************************************


CREATIVE WRITING:

The Sniper Rewrites
The Necklace - “What Happens Next?”
The Cask of Amontillado - “The Three Ironies”
*********************************************************************************************


CLASS NOTES:

The Sniper
The Most Dangerous Game
The Cask of Amontillado
The Necklace
*********************************************************************************************

ANYTHING ELSE YOU MIGHT CARE
TO THROW IN THAT YOU THINK
MIGHT HELP
YOUR GRADE ;-)

Odysseus






DECEMBER 11TH
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
FOR
9TH GRADE ENGLISH


Good morning, everyone! I hope you had a restful and fun-filled weekend. Just one more week and then finals!

Monday, December 11th:

Today your Trojan War open book test is due.

We will climb into our boats and sail off again in search of the witch Circe’s island; then we’ll go to the Land of the Dead to find the blind prophet Tereisias to learn the best way to get back to Ithaca (Odysseus’s home); then back to Circe for some last minute instructions. If we have time we will sail past the lovely to listen to but oh so ugly to look at Sirens!


Tuesday, December 12th:

Today is the last day to turn in late work. After today no more late work or corrections will be accepted.

Today your ten sentences using your new vocabulary words from pages 40 - 49 are due; remember, five of the sentences must use adverbial clauses and the other five must use adjective clauses.

We will climb back onto our ships and set sail for the dreaded Charybdis and Scylla - let’s see if the Witch Circe was right in telling us how to avoid the two monsters. Then if we make it safely past the sea monster and the whirlpool, we will lay anchor off the island of Helios, the sun god. Then, after our ship gets blasted by Zeus for our eating of Helios’s “cattle and sheep who never die” - unless they’re eaten by Odysseus’s hungry men - we will be lost at sea for twenty days until we get washed ashore on the island of Ogygia, home of the lovely nymph, Calypso (Vanessa Williams). Did you get that we’ve made a full circle?


Wednesday, December 13th:

Today we will return to the Court of Alcinous - where actually we’ve been all along because the story is told in flashback - and from there - finally! - we will set sail for Ithaca! (King Alcinous will take pity on us and give us a magic ship to take us home.) After stepping foot on our native soil for the first time in twenty years, we will go to the hut of the swine herder where we will meet Telemachus, whom we last saw as a new born baby and who is now a man. Then we will see our beloved and faithful dog, Argos, before we enter the great hall of Odysseus’s home.




Thursday, December 14th:

We will return to Ithaca where we will watch as Penelope fails to recognize Odysseus; however, Odysseus’s old nanny does! Then Penelope will devise an almost impossible contest to determine who will win her hand in marriage.....well, let’s see if Odysseus or some other suitor can string Odysseus’ bow and shoot an arrow through twelve ax handle rings to hit a bulls-eye.

Friday, December 15th:

Your notebook is due today at the beginning of class. And no, you will not have time to put it together in class.

Finally, we will see the suitors and the disloyal maids get their just desserts!

And there remains one last test for poor Odysseus set forth by the even wilier Penelope. Let’s see if he passes it and the two of them can be united for an eternity!

9TH GRADE
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
FOR
DECEMBER 4, 2006

Monday, December 4th:

Journal: Using five of your new vocabulary words, write five sentences with adjective clauses.

Read Parts 3 and 4 of “The Trojan War”. We will run around with swords and reenact the Trojan War ;-) You will be given an open book test over “The Trojan War”, which will be due on Wednesday, December 6th.


Tuesday, December 5th:

The “Unscrambling Adjective Clauses” will be given to you; we will briefly go over this grammar homework. You will be assigned Part One, #1-8. This will be due on Thursday.

We will read “A Son Searches for His Father”, Part One of
THE ODYSSEY. We will also quickly go over the vocabulary and literary packet for this section of the story. You will be expected to keep a detailed reading log for THE ODYSSEY.


Wednesday, December 6th:

Your open book test over “The Trojan War” will be due today.

Today we will read “Odysseus at the Court of Alcinous”. We will begin a timeline over our reading. The TIMELINE, along with your READING LOG, will be VERY IMPORTANT GRADES, SO DON’T BLOW EITHER OF THEM OFF!


Thursday, December 7th:

Your “Unscrambling Adjective Clauses” is due today!

Today, we will climb back into the SS Odyssey and sail back to Troy where it all started ten years ago - we will read about Odysseus and his men’s encounter with the tribe of the Ciccones; their encounters with the Lotus Eaters, and Polyphemus, the Cyclops.


Friday, December 8th:

Journal: Using ten of your words from VOCABULARY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT (pages 40-45), write five sentence with adverbial clauses and write five sentences with adjective clauses.

We will once again scramble aboard the SS Odyssey, and set sail for the Island of the Sirens. If we escape the Sirens’ call, we will then head for the island of the beautiful witch Circe who gives men poison which reveals their inner animal.

NOVEMBER 27TH
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
FOR
9TH GRADE ENGLISH


Monday, November 27th:

I hope you had an enjoyable weekend sleeping in, eating delicious food and being with your family!

For your journal entry: Please write five sentences with adjective clauses using your vocabulary words from pages 30 - 39 in VOCABULARY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.

We will watch a video about THE TROJAN WAR!


Tuesday, November 28th:

Today is a shortened day!

Your ENGLISH WORKSHOP homework is due today

For First Period:

ENGLISH WORKSHOP; “Adjective Clauses”; pages 163 - 164; both exercises.

For Second and Third Periods:

ENGLISH WORKSHOP: “Adjective Clauses”; pages 171 - 172; both exercises.

We will board the ship and sail away to Troy today - in other words, we will begin reading THE TROJAN WAR!


Wednesday, November 29th:

Vocabulary will be assigned today. Pages 41 through pages 45; exercises 31 - 34. This will be due on Friday!

Continue reading THE TROJAN WAR.


Thursday, November 30th:

Journal: You guessed it! Write five sentences with adjective clauses using your new vocabulary words!

A wee little test over THE TROJAN WAR!


Friday, December 1st:

We will board the ship and head back to Ithaca with Odysseus. Let’s see how long it will take us to get there.

NOVEMBER 20, 2006
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
FOR 9TH GRADE ENGLISH


Monday, November 20th:

By today, you should have written the rough draft of your first, second and third paragraphs of your literary analysis which I will quickly check. Then, we will go over the fourth, fifth and the final, sixth, paragraphs of your literary analysis.

Tuesday, November 21st:

Today you will work on your fourth, fifth and sixth paragraphs of your literary analysis.

Wednesday, November 22nd:

Your final draft and your literary analysis will be due today.

We will start work on the Trojan War.

Please bring your grammar book to class today.

For homework:

First Period:

ENGLISH WORKSHOP: “adjective clauses”; pages 163-164; exercises 1 and 2; due Tuesday, November 27th.

Second Period:

ENGLISH WORKSHOP: “adjective clauses”; pages 171- 172; exercise 2; due Tuesday, November 27th.

November 13th
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
FOR
9TH GRADE ENGLISH

Monday, November 13th:

Journal: Using five of your vocabulary words, please write five sentences with adverbial clauses. You will turn this in for a grade.

Go over “The Necklace” vocabulary, grammar and literary packets. These will be due on Wednesday, November 15th.

Work on “What Happens Next?” which is a continuation of the “Necklace” story. What does Madame Loisel say to Madame Forestier after the story ends?

We will present these on Tuesday and of course, you will present your script to me at the time of the performance.


Tuesday, November 14th:

Shortened Day!

Journal: Using five of your vocabulary words, please write five sentences with adverbial clauses. You will turn this in for a grade.

Presentation of “What Happens Next?”
Turn in your scripts.


Wednesday, November 15th:

Journal: Using five of your vocabulary words, please write five sentences with adverbial clauses. You will turn this in for a grade.

Your “The Neckace” packet is due today.

Vocabulary test on word s from pages 35 - 39 in VOCABULARY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.

Begin work on the long awaited literary analysis! Please bring in your book, your handouts from last week, and your reading log.



Thursday, November 16th:

Continue working on your literary analysis.



Friday, November 17th:

Continue working on your literary analysis which will be due, along with your reading log, on Monday, November 20th.

9TH GRADE
WEEKLY SCHEDULE
FOR
NOVEMBER 6TH - NOVEMBER 9TH


Monday, November 6th:

Work on the connotative/denotative handout given to you on Friday.
ENGLISH WORKSHOP is due today; “Adverbial Clauses”; pages 165-166; exercises 4 - 5.

Work on your ironic scenes. You will turn in the script to me and you will present your three scenes to the class on Tuesday.

2nd and 3rd Period:

Your "Cask of Amontillado packet” by Edgar Allan Poe is due today.

Your ENGLISH WORKSHOP is due today; “Adverbial Clauses”; pages 173 - 174; exercises 3 and 4.


Tuesday, November 7th:

1st Period:

Your “Cask of Amontillado” packet is due today.

Today we will work on an adverbial clause scrambling handout.

You will present your scenes today and turn in your scripts to me.


Wednesday, November 8th:

We will finish presenting our scenes today.

Vocabulary test today over the words on pages 30 - 39 in VOCABULARY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.


Thursday, November 9th:

Today we will read “The Necklace”.


Friday, November 10:

Veterans’ Day observed. There is no school today.

Next week we will work on the literary analysis. You must be finished with your book and your reading log by Monday, November 13th. The literary analysis will be due on November 20th along with your reading log.

OCTOBER 30TH
WEEKLY AGENDA
FOR 9TH GRADE

Monday, October 30th:

Pass out the vocabulary packet of “The Cask of Amontillado” and go over verbal, dramatic and situational irony.

Please bring your vocabulary book, VOCABULARY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT; pages 30-33; exercises 21 - 24, will be assigned. This will be due on Tuesday, October 31st.


Tuesday, October 31st (Happy Halloween!):

Today in celebration of Halloween, we will read some masterpieces of the great Gothic writer, Edgar Allan Poe: “The Tell-Tale Heart”, and “The Raven”.

We will begin working on a group project in which you will break into groups of three or four and write three scenes, one scene showing dramatic irony, one scene showing situational irony and the third scene showing verbal irony. We will present these on Thursday, November 2nd.

Today, pages 35 - 39; exercises 26 - 29 in your VOCABULARY FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS will be assigned today. This will be due on Thursday, November 2nd.


Wednesday, November 1st:

All Saints’ Day or The Day of the Dead:


Journal Entry: Does your family celebrate The Day of the Dead? If your family does, how do they celebrate it? How does your culture remember loved ones who have passed?

For first period:

Please bring your ENGLISH WORKSHOP. Today, adverbial clauses will be assigned; pages 165 - 166; exercises 4 - 5. This will be due on Monday, November 6th.

For second and third period:

Please bring your ENGLISH WORKSHOP. Today, adverbial clauses will be assigned;pages 173 - 174; exercises 3 and 4. This will be due on Monday, November 6th.

Continue working on our ironic skits.


Thursday, November 2nd:

Journal: Choose ten of our vocabulary words and write a short story using them.

Present our ironic skits today complete with your typed scripts.

Your vocabulary homework is due today!


Friday, November 3rd:

Journal: Chose ten more of our vocabulary words and write a short story using them.

Finish presenting your skits today.

Today we will read the short story “The Necklace”. I think you will like this one.

Hey guys!

We didn't have an agenda last week because I went home to Texas for the weekend to celebrate my mom's birthday. We didn't get very far the week of October 9th through the 13th so we tried to finish the work we were suppose to have finished by the 16th - but didn't. So for the parents, if you want to know what we did last week (October 17th - October 20th) we did what we were suppose to be doing on October 11th - October 16th, which was preparation for the District Periodic Assessment. Last week we read articles and essays on whether the U.S. should sign the Ottawa Land Mine Ban Treaty. After carefully analyzing the material, the students were to write a persuasive essay stating and supporting their position.

This week we will be doing the real District Periodic Assessment on whether adolescent access to violent video games should be restricted. The students will be reading articles and essays (some material supporting restriction, others not) and writing their own persuasive essay on the subject. This will be graded and the results will be recorded downtown.

Last week there were problems with chronic tardiness. The class starts at 7:40 and the students must know that if they arrive by school bus then they CANNOT LEAVE CAMPUS to buy food at the area fast food restaurants. Students CANNOT saunter into class late carrying bags of steaming french fries or hamburgers or coffee. This is becoming a serious problem. Please take care of breakfast before you get on the bus.

That said have a great week and I will see you tomorrow.

October 23rd Weekly Schedule
for 9th Grade English


Monday, October 23rd:

Work on the District Assessment Test and Persuasive Essay. This is a two to three day assessment designed by the district to test students’ reading, writing and analytical skills. We will read essays and articles on the subject of video games and violence in children. You will then answer some multiple choice questions over the subject matter and then write a “short constructed response” and a persuasive essay stating your opinion - just like we did last week on the landmine ban treaty.


Tuesday, October 24th:

The shortened day has been cancelled. Continue working on the District Assessment Test and Persuasive Essay.

Wednesday, October 25th:

Final day to work on the District Assessment Test and Persuasive Essay.


Thursday, October 26th:

Today we need a break from all this work so we will read Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Cask of the Amontillado”.



Friday, October 27th:

We will finish reading “The Cask of the Amontillado.”

October 9th Weekly Schedule
for
9th Grade

Monday, October 9th:

1st Period:

Please bring your ENGLISH WORKSHOP to class on Monday. It seems we need to do a little review on verbs. Pages 105 - 110; exercises 10 - 16 will be assigned and will be due on Thursday, October 12th.

We will also finish the plot graph for “Most Dangerous Game”.


3rd Period:

We will also finish the plot graph for “Most Dangerous Game”.

1st, 2nd and 3rd:

Your “Most Dangerous Game” packet will be due on Wednesday, October 11th.

We will begin working on the Persuasive Essay. We will read an article on the Ottawa Convention which prohibits the use of land mines (page 2-15). We will then read and compare two persuasive essays on this topic - one essay is for the ban; the other is against the ban (2-16). We will then answer multiple choice questions over the excerpts (page 2-17).

Tuesday, October 10th:

2nd and 3rd Periods:

Please bring your ENGLISH WORKSHOP today; we will review run-on and sentence fragments; “Review; exercises A and B; pages 75 - 76.

1st, 2nd and 3rd Periods:

Analyze pro and con arguments on the signing of the Land Mine Treaty (page 2-20). Analyze the “Short Constructed Response” (page 2-21). Analyze the SAMPLE EXTENDED CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE (pages 2-22) and read the essay, “Saving the Children” (page 2-25). We will then cite reasons and evidence given by the author supporting his/her position in “Save the Children” (pages 2-34 and 2-36).


Wednesday, October 11th:

We will go over “Recognizing Persuasive Techniques” today (pages 2-37) and “Weighing an Argument” (pages 2-38 and 2-39).

For your homework tonight, watch television! Yippee! Yes, you can tell your parents that your homework assignment is to watch t.v.! Write down some of the techniques advertisers and politicians use to get your vote or get your money!

Thursday, October 12th:

Today we will work on “Planning Your Essay” (pages 2-40, 2-41, 2-42 and 2-43) in preparation for writing your essay which you will do in class on Friday.

Friday, October 13th:

Write the first draft of your essay which you will turn in at the end of the period.

October 2nd Weekly Schedule
for
9th Grade English


Monday, October 2nd:

I hope you had a fun-filled yet restful weekend! Now, here's a little something that will tire you out.

Today “The Sniper” handout is due.

Journal: Write a short story using ten of your vocabulary words found on the pages 18 through 26 in VOCABULARY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.

We will finish up “The Most Dangerous Game” and discuss plot, theme and character.

For extra credit, you may create a board game based on “The Most Dangerous Game.” The board game must follow the basic plot of the story. You may work with a partner or partners on this. This will be due on October 12th. Be creative! Have fun!


Tuesday, October 3rd:

Today we will have a brief vocabulary test over the words on pages 18 through 26 in VOCABULARY FOR THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT.

Please bring your grammar book, ENGLISH WORKSHOP, today.

For 1st Period:

We will go over “Subordinate Clause Fragments”; pages 65 and 66. This will be due on Thursday, October 5th.

For 2nd and 3rd Periods:

We will go over “ Run-On Sentences”; ex. 6; pages 73 - 74. This assignment will be due on Thursday, October 5th.

A packet over the vocabulary, grammar and literary concepts of “The Most Dangerous Game” will be handed out.

We will continue our review of “The Most Dangerous Game”.


Wednesday, October 5th:


We will continue our review of “The Most Dangerous Game”.

Today we will begin work on a new and very important unit, which is in preparation for the district mandated assessment on persuasive writing. We will begin learning about how to write a persuasive essay - which some of you may already know. The topic that we will analyze is whether land mines should be banned by the international community. We will read and analyze information from various sources (newspaper articles, statistics from governmental and international aide agencies, etc.) and then synthesize (which means put together different things to create something new) this information about land mines. Based on this information we will arrive at our own beliefs about the subject (and no, you don’t have to agree with me) and write a persuasive essay which will try to persuade the reader of the correctness of your position.


Thursday, October 6th:

Your grammar homework is due today.

We will have a test over “The Most Dangerous Game” which will include vocabulary, plot, and the plot graph.

Your “The Most Dangerous Game” packet will be due today. This packet is the one you worked on in your groups in which you summarized each section, created your own vocabulary words and questions.

We will continue working on our “Persuasive Essay Writing Unit”.


Friday, October 7th:

We will continue working on our “Persuasive Essay Writing Unit.”

September 25, 2006
Weekly Schedule
for
9th English


Monday, September 25th:

Hello, scholars and artists, I hope you had a great weekend.

Journal Entry: Saturday, September 23rd, was the first day of autumn. Imagine that summer and autumn are humans. Describe their personalities. Describe how they look. Imagine that they are in a forest clearing and describe Summer’s leave-taking. How does s/he pass the “mantle” to Autumn?

Today, please bring your vocabulary book. The next section will be assigned. Pages 18 - 21, exercises 11 - 14; and pages 23 - 26, exercises 16 - 19. This will be due on Friday, September the 29th.

We will also go over a vocabulary, grammar and literary packet for “The Sniper”.

We will begin presenting our rewrites of “The Sniper” today. The assignment is to rewrite the story from the perspective (point of view) of one of the other characters in the story and then present it. For extra credit, you may act it out.


Tuesday, September 26th:

Today is a shortened day.

We will finish our Sniper rewrites.

Please bring your grammar book, English Workshop.

1st Period: We will go over “Run-On Sentences”. exercise 4; pages 67 and 68. This will be due on Thursday, September 28th.

2nd and 3rd Periods: We will go over “Subordinate Clause Fragments”; exercises 4 and 5; pages 71 and 72. This will be due on Thursday, September 28th.


Wednesday, September 27th:

Journal: Write a short story using ten of your vocabulary words from pages 18 - 23 in your vocabulary book.

We will begin reading “The Most Dangerous Game” and creating our reading logs for “Most Dangerous Game”.


Thursday, September 28th:

Improv! We’re going to do a game of improvs using our vocabulary words!

Your grammar homework from your English Workshop is due today.

First Period:

Pages 65 - 66 are due.

2nd and 3rd Periods:

Pages 71 and 72 are due.

Continue reading “Most Dangerous Game” plus of course, working on our reading logs!

Tonight from 6 to 8 I will meet your lovely parents in room 509 and I WILL GET TO TELL THEM ALL ABOUT YOU!

Friday, September 29th:

Your vocabulary homework is due today.

We will finish up with “The Most Dangerous Game”.

Have a great weekend and don’t forget to read your outside book and to keep a reading log on it!

September 18th Weekly Schedule
for
9th Grade English

Monday, September 18, 2006:

We are going to start with Six-Way Paragraph this morning.

Your Cat’s Eye packet will be due today.

We will then finish reading “The Sniper” by Liam Flaherty. (Don’t forget your reading logs!) Then we are going to break into groups with each group choosing a character and rewriting the story from that character’s point of view. We will present the rewrites on Wednesday.

Tuesday, September 19th, 2006:

Today IS a shortened day!

We will have a small vocabulary test today over the words from pages 4 - 15 in your vocabulary book, Vocabulary for the High School Student.

Please bring your English Workshop book today.

For 1st Period: English Workshop: Third Course; pages 64 - 65: “Sentence Fragments”.

For 2nd and 3rd Periods: English Workshop: Fourth Course; “Phrasal Fragments”: pages 69 - 70.

The grammar homework will be due on Friday, September 22nd.

After the test you will break into groups and begin working on the rewrites.


Wednesday, September 20th, 2006:

We will start with Six-Way Paragraph.

Today we will break into groups and work on our rewrites of “The Sniper”.


Thursday, September 21st, 2006:

We will begin presenting our rewrites today!


Friday, September 22nd, 2006:

Your grammar homework will be due today!

First Period: English Workshop; “Sentence Fragments”: pages 64 - 65.

2nd and 3rd Period: English Workshop: “Phrasal Fragments”; pages 69 - 70. We will start reading The Most Dangerous Game.

September 18th Weekly Schedule
for
9th Grade English

Monday, September 18, 2006:

We are going to start with Six-Way Paragraph this morning.

Your Cat’s Eye packet will be due today.

We will then finish reading “The Sniper” by Liam Flaherty. (Don’t forget your reading logs!) Then we are going to break into groups with each group choosing a character and rewriting the story from that character’s point of view. We will present the rewrites on Wednesday.

Tuesday, September 19th, 2006:

Today IS a shortened day!

We will have a small vocabulary test today over the words from pages 4 - 15 in your vocabulary book, Vocabulary for the High School Student.

Please bring your English Workshop book today.

For 1st Period: English Workshop: Third Course; pages 64 - 65: “Sentence Fragments”.

For 2nd and 3rd Periods: English Workshop: Fourth Course; “Phrasal Fragments”: pages 69 - 70.

The grammar homework will be due on Friday, September 22nd.

After the test you will break into groups and begin working on the rewrites.


Wednesday, September 20th, 2006:

We will start with Six-Way Paragraph.

Today we will break into groups and work on our rewrites of “The Sniper”.


Thursday, September 21st, 2006:

We will begin presenting our rewrites today!


Friday, September 22nd, 2006:

Your grammar homework will be due today!

First Period: English Workshop; “Sentence Fragments”: pages 64 - 65.

2nd and 3rd Period: English Workshop: “Phrasal Fragments”; pages 69 - 70. We will start reading The Most Dangerous Game.

Weekly Schedule for
9th Grade English

Monday, September 11, 2006:

Six-Way Paragraph assignment for journal.

Please bring your vocabulary book to class today. We will go over pages 8 - 15 in your vocabulary book. This will be due on Thursday, September 14th.

Do the contrast and compare chart in your packet for the characters Elaine, Cordelia and Carol from Margaret Atwood’s novel, Cat’s Eye.

Begin working on a rough draft of your essay. The essay will be about a situation you experienceed that changed you.


Tuesday, September 12, 2006:

Today is not a shortened day today!

Six-Way Paragraph assignment for journal entry.

Please bring your grammar book, English Workshop.

For first period: pages 141-142; exercises 1 and 2; "prepositional phrases" will be assigned.
This will be due on Friday, September 15th.

For second and third period: pages 67 - 68; exercises 1 and 2; "Sentence Fragments" will be assigned. This will be due on Friday, September 15th.

Continue working on your essay.

You must have your outside book selected and ready to give me the title and author.


Wednesday, September 13, 2006:

Your essay will be due today.


Thursday, September 14, 2006:

Your vocabulary homework is due today; pages 8 - 15.

We will begin reading “The Sniper”.


Friday, September 15, 2006:

We will continue reading “The Sniper” and working on our reading logs.

Week of September 4th, 2006

9th Grade English


Welcome back from your three day weekend! I hope it was relaxing! Now, back to work!

Tuesday, September 5th:

Today you should have the title of the book that you are going to read for your literary analysis.

We will share the paragraph we wrote about a person we know who reminds us of a character in Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye.

Then we are going to read the second installment from Margaret Atwood’s Cat’s Eye. We will then break into groups and do a chart on how Elaine has changed, which we will discuss. The chart is on page 149 in your handout. Then we will do a point of view exercise on page 151 in your handout in which you will write an interpretation of the three events from each character’s viewpoint.

Wednesday, September 6th:

Today we will begin working on an individual assignment which will be a three paragraph essay about an event in your life which changed you. This essay must have a rough draft. This will be due on Thursday, September 7th.

Thursday, September 7th:

If our books arrive this week, I will assign some work out of the class set, Six Way Paragraphs, and some vocabulary out of your vocabulary book which you will get to take home with you (pages 4 - 17). This will be due on Tuesday, September 12th.

We will begin reading “The Sniper” - a cool story with a twist - from the anthology, Elements of Literature, and begin working on our reading logs!


Friday, September 8th:

Journal: Choose ten words from your vocabulary and write a short story.

Continue reading and working on “The Sniper”. We may break into groups and rewrite the story from the different characters’ points of view.