Monday, October 9th

Good morning! Here are our plans for today:

• We'll view and discuss the documentary Born to Trouble, which explores reactions to Mark Twain's satirical criticism of racism and Jim Crow in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. 
• You'll have WORK TIME to complete all Grammar, Vocabulary, and Reading Quiz corrections. 

Friday, October 6th

Happy Friday, folks!

• Public Service Announcement: Wednesday of next week (10/11) is last day I'll accept any corrections or missing work for this quarter. 
• We'll begin with a Writer's Workshop on your Final Papers. 
• Then we'll continue viewing and discussing Moonrise Kingdom, focusing on symbolism and thematic connections to our study of The Catcher in the Rye. When we finish the film, you'll craft a one page response in your notebook. 
• Finally, you'll have WORK TIME to complete the following:
• Moonrise Kingdom Notebook Response
• Turn in Your Notebook
• Vocabulary Page 8 Due Today
• Corrections and Missing Assignments

Thursday, October 5th

We're getting down to the wire with only six days left of class until the end of the quarter.

• Public Service Announcement: Wednesday of next week (10/11) is last day I'll accept any corrections or missing work for this quarter. 
• You'll have WORK TIME:
• You need to finish and print your first draft of your final paper in class TODAY. We'll workshop the papers in class tomorrow. 
• Vocabulary Page 8 (Due Tomorrow)
• If everyone gets their papers printed with time to spare, we'll continue viewing and discussing Moonrise Kingdom.

(Image source: Shutterstock.com)

Wednesday, October 4th

Happy hump day!

• Notes: We'll discuss the structure and function of a conclusion paragraph in rhetorical analysis. 
• You'll have WORK TIME to complete the following:
• Your 3rd body paragraph should be completed in class TODAY.
• Vocabulary Page 7 due TODAY.
• Finally, we'll continue viewing and discussing Moonrise Kingdom, focusing on symbolic and thematic connections to The Catcher in the Rye. 

Tuesday, October 3rd

Here are our plans for today:

• Notes: We'll review the structure and function of a body paragraph in rhetorical analysis.
• You'll have WORK TIME for the following:
• 2nd Body Paragraph done in class TODAY
• Vocabulary Page 7 due tomorrow.
• Finally, we'll continue viewing and discussing Moonrise Kingdom, focusing on thematic and symbolic connections to The Catcher in the Rye. 

Monday, October 2nd

Welcome to October! It's the most wonderful time of the year! Here are our plans for class today:

• You'll have WORK TIME for the following:
• Introduction and 1st Body Paragraph need to be done in class TODAY.
• Vocabulary Page 7 due on Wednesday.
• We'll continue viewing and discussing Moonrise Kingdom, focusing on thematic connections to The Catcher in the Rye. 

Friday, September 29th

 Happy birthday to Angelo, who will gain a year tomorrow!

Here's the plan for today:

• You'll have WORK TIME for the following: 
• Vocabulary Page 6 (Due Today)
• Final Paper (Due 10/6) -- I'll come around for introduction and body paragraph checks. 
• One-on-one grade checks. 
• Corrections and missing work. 
• Then we'll begin viewing and discussing the film Moonrise Kingdom, focusing on thematic and symbolic similarities to The Catcher and the Rye and making connections to your final papers. 

Thursday, September 28th

Happy rainy Thursday! Here's the plan:

• You'll have WORK TIME for the following:
• GUMS II (Due TODAY)
• Vocabulary Page 6 (Due Tomorrow)
• Final Paper (Due 10/6) - I'll come check your introduction and body paragraphs as they progress. 
• One-on-one Grade Checks
• Corrections and Missing Work

Wednesday, September 27th

• Notes: We'll go over the structure and purpose of a body paragraph in an analytical paper. 
• You'll have WORK TIME for the following:

• Introductory Paragraph Checks 
• GUMS Part II (Due Tomorrow)
• Vocabulary Page 6 (Due Friday)
• Final Paper (Due 10/6)
• One-on-one Grade Checks

Tuesday, September 26th

Here's our plan for today: 

• Notes: You'll take notes on the structure and purpose of an introductory paragraph for a rhetorical analysis. 
• I'll distribute the final paper assignment for this quarter. 
• WORK TIME:
• You'll select a final paper topic. 
• You'll craft and submit a thesis. (Due Today)
• GUMS Part I (Due Last Week -- Many of you have not turned this in.)
• GUMS Part II (Due Thursday)
• You'll begin drafting the first paragraph of your final paper. 
• One-on-one grade checks. 

Monday, September 25th

Happy last Monday of September! Here's what we'll do in class today:

• I'll distribute copies of Kurt Vonnegut's speech "Fates Worse Than Death." 
• We'll listen to the audio recording of him giving the speech in the St. John the Divine Cathedral in New York City. As we listen, you'll read along and annotate your copy of the speech to circle vocabulary that is unfamiliar to you. 
• Notes: You'll take some notes as we review the concept of Rhetorical Technique and Rhetorical Analysis. 
• Then we'll begin reading and discussing the speech for ourselves, focusing on Vonnegut's rhetorical technique and purpose.

Friday, September 22nd

Today we'll finish reading and discussing The Catcher in the Rye. So long, Holden... Well, it's not really goodbye because now we're going to write about him!

• We'll read and discuss Ch. 25-26 of The Catcher in the Rye. 
• You'll complete Rdg. Quiz: Ch. 25-26.
• Notes/Response: We'll review theme and discuss examples from Salinger's novel. Then you'll write a paragraph response about a theme from the book in your notebook. 
• Finally, I'll collect your notebooks for a Notebook Check, and we'll celebrate having finished reading our class novel. 

Thursday, September 21st

 Thursday... Thor's Day

• We'll read and discuss Ch. 24 of The Catcher in the Rye, wherein things get pretty weird for Holden and we really start to question his reliability as a narrator. 
• Notes: You'll take notes on reliable vs. unreliable narrators, a key to understanding Salinger's novel. 
• You'll complete Rdg. Quiz: Ch. 18-24. 
• Finally, you'll have WORK TIME for the following: 
• GUMS Unit One (Due Today)
• Vocabulary Page 5 (Due Today)
• Needed Corrections and/or Missing Assignments

Wednesday, September 20th

 Guess what day it is. C'mon... guess.

• We'll read and discuss Ch. 22-23 of The Catcher in the Rye. (Rdq. Quiz: Ch. 18-24 Tomorrow)
• Notes: I'll introduce RATS, that's Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statements. We'll work together to craft a sentence based on Salinger's text. 
• We'll view and discuss a clip of a satirical speaker, then you'll write your own RATS, which is Due Today in Class. 

Tuesday, September 19th

Happy Tuesday! I hope you all enjoyed your three day weekend. Here's what we're doing in class today:

• We'll read and discuss Ch. 20-21 of The Catcher in the Rye. (Rdg. Quiz: Ch. 18-24 on Thursday)
• I'll introduce your new GUMS unit. 
• You'll have work time for the following:
• Vocabulary Page 5 (due Thursday)
• GUMS Unit 1
• One-on-one Grade Check-ins