English II Honors Reflection assignment

Now that September has come to an end, I want you to reflect on the lessons you learned in my class.  Look back on all the stories, projects and assignments you have completed this month and write down what you will remember the most.

Here is a list in case you need help:
1. Goldfish story
2. Make a Wish project
3. Interview people about what they would wish for.
4. Tolerance essay by Forster
5. We and They poem by Kipling
6. People are people lyrics
7. Country projects
8. American flag stands for tolerance editorial
9. Tolerance essay
10. Hispanic Heritage project
11. PSAT practice
12. Jose Marti poems
13. "A Celebration of Grandfathers" story by Anaya
14. "Only Daughter" by Cisneros
15. Vocabulary.com practice

WOW! We covered a lot in just one month!

I want you to connect the dots in your mind and explain to me what are the most important ideas you learned this month in my class.  You can be as specific or as general as you want to be, but make sure your response makes sense.

Make sure you write your name and period when you post your comment.
You must post your comment by Monday, October 3rd before midnight.

*Remember to complete Vocabulary.com by Sunday.
*No school Monday!  Teacher work day

WSJ Assignment (AP Class)

This weekend I want you to select two articles from the WSJ.  When selecting your articles they should be similar in topics.  For example, pick two articles that deal with the economy or politics, etc.

1. Write a summary of both articles. (Remember to focus on the Who, What, When, Where)

2. Compare and contrast the articles. 
Questions to consider when comparing and contrasting:
Do they both see the topic in a similar way or do they take different sides?
Do they have similar conclusions?
How do they use sources?

3. After comparing the articles, do you think that the editors/writers at the WSJ are biased or do they try to give all sides a fair share?  Explain your thinking.

We all wear a Black Veil (AP class)

To review Hawthorne's story of "The Minister with the Black Veil," I would like you to reflect on the lesson of the story.

Listen to the following Billy Joel song and tell me what you think the connection to the story is?
(Write your answer in the comment section below this post.)
*Comments must be posted before midnight, Friday, September 30th.

**If you did not post by Friday, September 30 you have another chance to post a comment for a grade.  However, you will need to make a connection to a different song or modern day example that you believe connects to the story "The Minister with the Black Veil" and explain that connection.  You will have until Monday, October 3rd before midnight to post your comment.
Make sure to include your name in the comment.

All Classes Reminder

Please bring in a pocket folder to put your graded work in by Thursday.  That way on early release I can hand back graded work and you can put it in your folders, which remain in class.

A Celebration of Grandfathers Assignment (English II Honors)

Go to the following website to read the memoir by Rudolfo Anaya:
A Celebration of Grandfathers

Write the following questions and answers on your own paper:
1. Write down three facts about Rudolfo Anaya.

2. According to Anaya, who deserves respect?

3. What does he learn from the "ancianos"? Use specific examples from the text.

4. How does Anaya describe his grandfather. Use specific examples.

5. What is the literary term(device) he is using when describing his grandfather?

6. How does his grandfather describe death?  Use specific examples.

7. Why does his grandfather tell him to "have patience"?  Explain.

8. According to Anaya, who is "praised in this society"?

9. What does "real life take into account"?

10. How does Anaya keep his grandfather's memory alive?

"Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Assignment (AP class)

In class you will receive an excerpt from Jonathan Edward's famous sermon.
Write down the following questions with your answers:

1. Look up a biography on Jonathan Edwards.  Write down three interesting things you learn about him.

2. Edwards uses vivid imagery throughout his sermon.  Copy down five quotes that demonstrate imagery.

3. What persuasive technique is Edwards using in his speech?

4.  Give an example of another time when you have heard someone use this technique.  Be detailed.

Bring your complete questions Tuesday, September 27th.
I will also collect your WSJ assignment.

WSJ Assignment

Continuing with the Wall Street Journal and current events, this weekend I would like you to complete the following with an article you select:
1. Write a summary of the article.
2. How many sources does the writer use? Highlight the examples in the article.
3. How does this impact you as the reader?  Does it make you trust their information more?

By learning what professional writers do to gain the trust of their readers, you are learning how to become more mature writers.

*Don't forget to complete Vocab.com for the week.

Start with Hello Kickoff

Tomorrow is the first day of the Start with Hello campaign.  This is a national campaign that was started by Sandy Hook Promise.  This is a movement to help prevent violence by getting to know one another.

Wear green tomorrow (9/21) in support of this campaign and help spread a positive message.

**Since this connects to tolerance I will give you an extra point on your tolerance essay grade if you wear green tomorrow.

AP class -- WSJ Assignment

To build up your brain's inventory of information you can pull from when it comes time to write the open-ended argumentative essay (Question 3 on the AP exam) we will continue with our weekly WSJ assignment.

You do not have to create a collage this time.  Just cut out one article based on one of the following topics:
1. Economics
or
2. Politics
or
3. Environment

Summarize the article.
Highlight in the article anywhere the writer used quotes.  I want you to start seeing how writers incorporate quotes.

Due on Monday.

Here is a Friday funny video since we did not have time during class:

Hispanic Heritage Project

September 15th is the official start of Hispanic Heritage month and it runs through October 15th.
In honor of this month, you will either decorate a classroom door or design a poster that will be put on display in the school.

Option 1:  Door decoration (Can work with a group up to 4 people)

1. Ask a teacher if you can decorate their door for Hispanic Heritage month.
2. Tell me what teacher gave you approval and the room number.
3. Depending on the subject of that teacher you will research famous Hispanics that represent that subject. 
Example: English teacher -- You can research writers like Isabelle Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Julia Alvarez, Jose Marti and decorate their door based on those famous writers.
4. You need to include the following items: the words "Hispanic Heritage," pictures of the people you are using, their names, why they are famous.
5. Be creative and make your door exciting.

Option 2:  Individual Poster

1. Select a famous Hispanic figure.  Make sure to check with me first.
2. Include on your poster a picture (can be printed or drawn), their name, why they are famous
3. Be creative.  Use different materials to make it stand out.

Projects are due September 23rd.
Worth 20 points

Speech assignment (AP Class)

After reading and analyzing famous speeches, I want you to create your own speech.
Select one of the following types of speeches and write a minimum 2 minute speech.

Graduation speech: Example -- Barbara Bush Commencement address
Eulogy: Example -- Margaret Thatcher's speech for Ronald Reagan's funeral
Acceptance speech: Example -- JFK's Inaugural address

Remember you are the speaker.
Keep in mind the type of speech it is, who your audience would be and the purpose. 
Will you incorporate logic, emotion or both?
Bring your rough draft to class tomorrow -- September 15

Rhetorical Triangle Assignment (AP English)

In class you gave me a number that corresponds to a speech found on the following website:
American Rhetoric

Complete the rhetorical triangle and be prepared to share tomorrow in class.

10th Graders -- National Achievers Society

If there are any 10th graders interested in applying to the FIU National Achievers Society please see me for more information. 
There is an informational meeting on October 1st at FIU and applications are due October 5th.

Reflection on Week 3 Topic (English II Honors)

We read the poem "We and They" by Rudyard Kipling.
We read "Tolerance" by E.M. Forster.
You researched countries that have a variety of ethnic and religious diversity.
We even listened to the song "People are People" by Depeche Mode, which also connects to being tolerant.
Now it is your turn to reflect and make a connection to a song, television show episode or movie that demonstrates tolerance in some way.
Post your response below by clicking on the "Comment" link.
Make sure to include the following when you post:
1. Name
2. Period
3. Connection to tolerance. Make sure to explain your connection.

Posts must be time stamped by Sunday, September 11 before midnight.

Reminders:
*Vocabulary.com weekly words due by Sunday before midnight.
*Contracts for tablets need to be signed and returned this week.
*Rental fees are the following: $5 for Free lunch students, $10 for Reduced lunch students, $20 you do not qualify for free or reduced lunch.
*Picture Day Monday

AP Class -- Wallstreet Journal Assignment

   

   1. Using a copy of the Wall Street Journal create a collage on a piece of copy paper.  Be creative by cutting out titles, images, words, etc.

   2. On the back, select an article that you find interesting.  Tape or glue it to the back and write a summary of it next to it.

   Bring completed on Monday, September 12.

Country / Tolerance Assignment

In class we have read the poem "We and They" and the speech "Tolerance."
Now I want you to apply what you have read to research a country and decide whether you believe tolerance would be an important quality for those people to have.
In class you will select a number that represents a country.  You must verify with me first.

You will present your findings to your class on Friday.
Make sure to include the following information:
1. What is the population?
2. What is the ethnic breakdown?
3. What is the religious breakdown?
4. Have they been involved in any recent wars (civil or with neighboring countries)?
5. Would tolerance be a good/important quality for the people living in this country?  Explain

Include a picture of your country and where it is located on a map.
If you find any interesting charts showing the population breakdown you can include that as well.

Picture Day

Monday, September 12th is picture day.  You will be taking your picture during my class.

Second Week

This was a very busy week, but we made it!

Here is everything we did. 

AP Class:

Monday -- My Name pieces were due.  You read and responded to the New Yorker piece titled "Why Your Name Matters."

Tuesday (No School)

Wednesday -- Worked in groups on analyzing the different chapters in your summer reading books.

Thursday -- Presentation of Chapters from Summer reading books.

Friday -- Opinion writer "cocktail party" activity to reflect on voice.

This weekend don't forget to complete your weekly words on Vocab.com (due by Sunday).

Junior Orientation is this coming Wednesday, September 7th.

English II Honors:

Monday -- Began reading "What, if this Goldfish, do you Wish."  Homework was to complete Questions 4-7 on page 10.

Tuesday (No School)

Wednesday -- Make a Wish assignment

Thursday -- Make a Wish Presentations

Friday -- Interview assignment for homework

*Don't forget to complete your weekly words on Vocab.com (due by Sunday).

*If you had any issues with submitting your Questions 4-7 from page 10 for the story submit your answers via your "Notebook" using your online book Dashboard.

Have a safe and fun Labor Day.  No school Monday!

AP Terms

You need to be familiar with the following terms by Tuesday, September 6th.  There will be a quiz on these words next week.  You need to know what they mean and examples for each.

Allegory -- The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction or idea (like freedom or peace) in addition to the literal meaning.  In some allegories, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom.  The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.  Animal Farm is an example of an allegory dealing with communism.

Alliteration -- The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in "she sells sea shells").  Although the term is not used in the multiple-choice section of the AP exam, you can look for alliteration in any essay passage.  The effect of this repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, and/or supply a musical sound to a piece of literature.

Allusion -- A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as a well known event, book, myth, the bible, place, or work of art.  Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, or mythical.  There are of course,  many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of allusion.

Ambiguity -- The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.  Ambiguity allows multiple interpretations of literature, and it is often linked with an author's wit and style when done intentionally.

Analogy -- A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.  An analogy can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar.  Analogies can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging.

Antecedent -- The word, phrase, or clause, referred to by a pronoun.  The AP Language exam occasionally asks for the antecedent of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences.

Aphorism -- A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle.  (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb).  An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point.

Apostrophe -- A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.  The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity.  William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes: "Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee."

Atmosphere -- The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described.  Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere.  Frequently, atmosphere foreshadows events.

Clause -- A grammatical unit (a group of words) that contains both a subject and a verb.  An independent, or main, clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as its own sentence.  A dependent, or subordinate, clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause.  Examine this sample sentence: "Because I practice diligently, my AP scores were high."  In this sentence, the independent clause is "my AP scores were high," and the dependent clause is "Because I practiced diligently."

Interview assignment (English II Honors class)

After reading "What, of this Goldfish, Would you wish?" story it is now your turn to conduct your own interviews to find out what people would wish for if they had a fish that would grant them a wish.
Here are the requirements:
1. You must ask a minimum of five people what they would wish for.
2. Write down the person's name, age, and where they are from along with their answer.
3. Two of the people you ask can be around your age.
4. The other three people must be older (at least 10 years older) or younger (at least five years younger)
5. In a paragraph reflect on whether the answers people gave you were what you expected or if there were any answers that surprised you.  Make sure to explain yourself.

Type up your information using 12 point font.

Bonus points: Turn your assignment into a short video to present to the class.

Due on Tuesday, September 6.