This YOU Believe

Today we started our This I Believe essays in class. Handouts are available in the classroom folders, but basically, you should write an essay like those we have been reading, explaining the reasons behind one of your core values or beliefs. Choose one thing you REALLY believe. What experiences in your life have shaped that belief? Remember that this is NOT a persuasive paper.

By tomorrow (Thursday) you should at least have a plan for your essay and two different introduction options. For extra credit, bring in a completed draft.

Quotations that Guide Us...

This I Believe Quotations Assignment
Using either www.bartleby.com or www.brainyquote.com, find two quotations that express ideas that you agree with, preferably ideas that speak to your core values, things you think are very important. One of your quotations must be from an Enlightenment philosopher (those you studied with Brooks) and the other can be from anyone. Carefully copy and cite each quotation (use the MLA citation link) and answer the following questions:

1) In your opinion, what does this quotation mean? (Paraphrase)

2) Briefly, but specifically, why do you agree with the idea presented in the quotation?

Due 10/31

What do you believe?

Today we began preparation work on the first formal revised paper of the year by listening to another "This I Believe" essay and doing a kinesthetic activity called 4 Corners.

HW: Interview a parent, guardian or role model (at least 10 years older than you) who has made a lasting influence upon your way of thinking or acting.

Ask:

1. What is the most important message or belief that you hope I will take with me and remember through my entire life?
2. What experiences in your life have caused you to believe this? (Push them for specifics!)
3. Take notes and have your subject sign them.

Due 10/30 if at all possible

The Test, Part 2: The Actual Test

Today I collected books and we too the final exam on Catcher. Absent students will have to make up the test on their own time sometime before Wednesday.

The Test, Part 1: This Holden Believes

In class "This I Believe" essay written from Holden's perspective. Planned and written in class.

After a bit of enlightenment...

Today we used the time left after your Enlightenment movies to talk about the positive things Holden believes in (family, innocence, treating women with respect, etc.) and to go over the end of the novel. Remember, essay tomorrow and exam Friday!

Wrapping up Catcher: Two Parts

Thursday: In class "This I Believe" essay written from Holden's perspective.

Friday: Final Exam on Catcher in the Rye.

Wrap Up Work

After a short quiz on the end of Catcher, we spent the rest of the day working on the Catcher art assignment from Friday and the final review questions. Both assignments are available online and are due Wednesday at the beginning of class.

Vocab Quiz and Some Art

After our vocab quiz and a bit of discussion of chapters 22 through 24 (especially that creepy bit with Mr. Antolini), we spent the rest of the period working on the Catcher Art assignment. We'll have a bit of time for this on Monday, but if you didn't get a good start today in class you will probably want to work on it. The handout is online.

HW: Finish Catcher.

Power Reading

After a short quiz today, we spent the day power reading, working on chapters 22-24: Due Friday.

Let me trimma tree...

Today we talked about those questions from chapters 13-16 in small groups, collected the questions and started on chapter 20.

HW:

• Wed. ~ Ch. 20 & 21
• Thurs. ~ Ch. 22 - 24
• Fri. ~ Ch. 25 & 26
  

Don't forget your vocab quiz on Friday!

Club/Agency Fair Madness

After adding a new vocab word we worked on the 13 through 16 review questions. Finish them for homework if you didn't finish in class. Also, read chapters 18 and 19.

A Time to Review...

After adding a new vocab word, we worked on review questions for chapters 13 through 16 of Catcher. Most folks got to number three and we will continue these in class tomorrow. If you were not here or you'd like to work on them at home, the questions are at the handouts page.

HW: Read chapter 17.

Vocab Quiz Friday!

Bourgeois Suitcases...

After a brief quiz on chapter 15 we did a few discussion questions (available on the handouts page), which I collected after we talked about them.

Read chapter 16 over the weekend.

Are you a duck or a fish?

So today we finished our discussion of chapters 1 through 12 (adding a bit of chapters 13 and 14 as well), and I collected the discussion questions.

For HW read chapter 15. Take notes and be prepared for a quiz.

Chapters 1-12 Review

Today we started a review activity for Catcher chapters 1 through 12. The handout is online. We will finish the discussion and I will collect the questions tomorrow in class.

HW: Read chapters 13 & 14.

Vocab & Ch 10

Today we started a week or two of vocab warm-ups with all words taken from Catcher. Today's word: nonchalant. Then after a note check and discussion of chapter 10, we moved on to chapters 11 and 12. Due tomorrow.

The Catcher Quizzes Continue...

Quiz on chapters 7 through 9 today, followed by some discussion. Mr. Lee and I handed back a huge pile of papers (in period 1) and I explained the ESP grading system.

Read Chapter 10 for HW.

Pre-Test for Mr. Lee

Today after finishing and passing in warm-ups, we took a pretest for a literacy project Mr. Lee is doing. If you were absent you WILL need to make this up.

Ed Bankey's Car and Other Scary Places...

Today we discussed chapters 5 & 6 of Catcher after a short reading quiz. Have chapters 7 through 9 read by Monday.

Stradlater: What a Jerk

After our POW today, we talked about Holden's roommate Stradlater and his rather unfortunate attitude towards women and hygiene. We then started on chapters 5 & 6. Due tomorrow.

Meet the Phonies

After our continued work with the POW, we talked about chapter two of Catcher and started chapter three. Be through chapter four by tomorrow. Don't forget to take notes!

New POW & Catcher in the Rye

Today we started our new poem of the week: "Hanging Fire" by Audre Lord.

Started Catcher in the Rye and took a few notes. We read chapter one aloud in class. For homework, read chapter two (due 10/2). Don't forget to take notes and be ready for a quiz!