Tuesday, December 15, 2009

College Search Lesson


I found the college information session today very helpful. It provided me with new resources to use and also gave me new criteria to think about when I look at colleges. I believe this will help me with my college search process.

Jack


I learned several things today about searching online for colleges. Ilearned the differences between safety schools, target schools, andreach schools. I was given helpful hints in navigating a collegewebsite. The "How to Navigate a College Website" worksheet was trulyuseful in categorizing and organizing the loads of information providedon college websites. In using www.collegeview.com we found severalinteresting colleges. Particularly, the Community College of Guam, I'dsay it's definitely a reach school for me. Its address actually happensto be Sesame Street, which i found to be pretty comical thoughunfortunately, its president was not Big Bird or Elmo. Its a vocationalschool and it was recently featured on a Food Network TV Show. Theinformation I learned today is valuable and should help me find theright college for me whether it be in Guam, Hawaii, or the VirginIslands.Thomas

Today in the library i learned that colleges can get as specific as you want. there are lots of things that can determine a good college for youself involving majors, waether, minors, male female ratio, dorms, cash, poulation, and diversity. -Uzi

Today I investigated the many law schools new york has to offer and scholarships that can be attained in order to attend these schools. I learned that the University of Buffalo is one of the least expensive law schools within the top 100. I am planning on throughly researching UB and visiting it over summer break. -Ana

The library visit today taught me all of the important things I should be looking at when I apply to college. Previously I had focused mainly on the reputation of the school, but I now know of other aspects that may alter my decisions when looking at schools.-Julia

Today I learned that there are several different websites that have all the colleges in the United States. These websites gave a lot of different information on each college such as, the courses in the school, the SAT and ACT requirements, how expensive it is and how much financial aid is given. I really enjoyed this activity because it opened my eyes to a lot of different colleges and what Im looking for in a college. -Melissa L.


One thing that I learned today was the presidents message is actually significant. Normally when I would search schools I would just skip over the message because I was uninterested in what the person was talking about. Now I realize that it is very important because he is the head of the school and has plenty of say in what goes on. If I have any questions about the school, he/she would probably be one of the best people to find answers from. Next time that I search for a school I will make sure to read what the president has to say.

-Drew


What I learned about SUNY Binghamton
- Binghamton offers more than 80 academic undergraduate majors
- 84% of undergraduate students at Binghamton are residents of New York State.
- Binghamton employs around 600 full-time faculty, 93% of them have PhDs or equivalents in their fields.- Amy

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Plato's allegory of the cave and its connections to Douglass and Emerson

What connections did you find in Self-Reliance and Frederick Douglass?

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Looking Ahead: Week of December 7

http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/allegory.html

This is a link to Plato's Allegory of the Cave.

Also-- due Friday: the controlling idea practice regents on "Tornado Drill" and the related essay.

Homework due Thurday: Write a response to the connection between Self-Reliance, Frederick Douglass and the Allegory of the Cave.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Looking Ahead: Week of December 1, 2009

We have just begun our reading of The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
This week we will read and discuss Douglass' text, with a focus on rhetorics, and authorial intent and audience.

Tuesday: Your first draft/sketch of your college essay is due. Select one essay topic from the Common Application.

Thursday: The first draft of your Jungle essay is due. Your final draft should:
Be 3-4 pages typed
Double-spaced
12 pt font Times New Roman
Have a clear thesis statement
Use at lest 5 direct quotes to support your thesis statement.

You are free to select the topic to write about. We have discussed the political angle, the use of imagery, elaborating on style, or exploring Sinclair's statement about "hitting America in the stomach."

This week: We will continue preparing for the ELA Regents in January. We will do a practice controlling idea essay and pracice multiple-choice questions this Friday.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Looking ahead: Week of November 16, 2009

We are now up to chapter 20 of The Jungle. Students should be reading and keeping up with journals. We will begin the prewriting stages of an essay connected with The Jungle.

We have completed a full practice examination! We have also completed our Regenst predictive exams!

We will be working to completed our reading of The Jungle in the next week or so.

There will be a test next Monday 11/23 on SAT words, Greek and Latin roots, and The Jungle.

Monday, November 2, 2009

looking ahead for the week of November 2, 2009

Final draft of critical lens essays are due Wednesday. Also, for Wednesday: read chapters 7&8 of The Jungle and create a double-entry journal with five quotes and reflections/responses to each one.

Thursday: read and annotate chapter 9 ; one double-entry journal. Special presentation from the Health Corps representative.

Test on Friday: Chapters 1-9 and SAT words.

For next week: Quiz on greek and latin roots: Chron-Dorm


Also a quick note: I've been reading through your practice essays, and I must say I'm quite impressed with them. keep up the good work!

Amanda's representation of John proctor and Abigail from The Crucible


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Assignments: Week of October 26, 2009

Hello students!
Looking ahead: Wednesday night: read and annotate chapter three.
Thursday: Chapter four of The Jungle.
Friday: Regents packets are due.
Monday: Read chapters 5-7.
Students are off on Tuesday. Please read chapters 8 & 9 for Wednesday
Reading and SAT word test on Friday, November 6.

Next week: New York Times article about e-coli and chopped meat.
Special presentation of Supersize me from Health Corps representative

Sunday, October 25, 2009

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Dear Students,
We are about to begin our study of The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. I am extremely excited about this unit, because this text show just how powerful literature can be in changing public policy.

Regents practice test: Day two

Here is the link to the practice test, with Passage I:

http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/engre/2-606.pdf

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

College Fair Reflections 10/21/2009

Before entering the college fair, I had a grand misconception to which college I should attend. From my adolescent days, I always pictured myself in one the nation’s top tier colleges, studying a career that would influence all of the human population. I was mainly interested in Boston College, which was one of the top 100 colleges in America. But once I entered the college fair, I was enlightened. I realized that my undergraduate school does not have to be the most prestigious or even most popular. Though, told by my parents and peers, I have the grades to get into a top notch college, the college representatives present at the college fair demonstrated that smaller schools usually have a specialty curriculum; Meaning that the school is mainly known for certain majors and programs. Since I have a bloodline of scientist in my family, I am naturally attracted to the sciences. I hope to eventually go off and become any kind of doctor. The college fair demonstrated a couple of schools that had an excellent pre-medical program, for example a college I am now strongly considering is Quinnipiac University, which is known to be the statistical college of America, has one of the strongest medical programs in America. Because of the college fair my mind is more open and I feel that my college selection process has been alleviated tremendously.
-- Roman


The college fair was altogether fun and educational. Since last year, at the last college fair, I knew exactly which college I wanted to apply and attend to. It fit to exactly what I want to do in life and it is also accelerated. I do not plan to take an accelerated course because I wouldn’t want to be in school for a long amount of time, but because of the career I chose, the sooner the better means the sooner I can get out there and help people. However, no matter how much I would like to be accepted into this school, I need to keep the reality of the fact that just in case I cannot be in this school I need to have a back up; that was the whole point of me going back to the college fair. Even though other schools might not have the same the same program that Sophie Davis does, it would be okay to take the extra tests and years to achieve my goal.
-Amanda

The college fair was a huge success. I had a lot of fun walking around and speaking to college advocates whom were representing colleges I had never heard of before. Felicean, for example, sounds like a really good college that caters to my interests. Before attending the fair, I had my mind made up on a dream that may not be realistic for several reasons. After attending the fair, I realized that I have so many options and that as an undergraduate; I don’t have to attend the most prestigious college. I really like the concept of going to college as well. I loved the college fair. Everyone was really nice and professional, and it made me more aware of the varied choices I have and the moves I can make as a junior. Bye now, I’m going to look at my brochures :)
-Frances


Today I went to the college fair with my mother, grandmother, and sister. I brought a pad and a pen and I was ready to commence the search. My top five favorites were Stony Brook, Maine, Hofstra, Ithaca, and Geneseo. They all seem possible for me to get into, it’s all a matter of my keeping my grades up and doing well on these SATs. I am looking forward to looking deeper into these colleges and the others of my choice, by not only looking through these pamphlets, but also by doing my own research online. I want to make this college admissions process as quick and painless as possible. –Matthew


Today the gym was luminously filled up with the hustle and bustle of students eager to ask questions and concerns about their potential future colleges. Personally I only visited a few colleges. Those included UMass Amherst, Standford, Ithaca, and Mount St. Vincent. I asked several of the same questions but always began with the same initiating. The first thing I said to each college table was “Tell me about your school and what is has to offer.” That alone gave me so much information.
The school that really stood out to me even though I don’t want to admit it was the College of Mount St. Vincent. My main concern was my major, which is going to most likely be in biology/chemistry since I want to pursue something in the medical field. CMSV offered all of that and what most caught my eye was its extensive nursing program. Knowing prior knowledge since my sister attends CMSV and is a part of the nursing program, I know how hard and competitive it is firsthand. The representative told me everything I needed to know and also gave me information about the Cory Aquino scholarship that gives the top two Filipinos applying FULL SCHOLARSHIP. So I better start working even harder than I am now because I can see myself as one of the two. –Rey

Last year in the summer time, I bought The Best 368 Colleges. Throughout the summer I read some of the reviews of the colleges I was most interested in. This included some of the Ivy League schools as well as other private and state schools. I read the review for the University of Pennsylvania as well as Colombia and really enjoyed what it had to say. I visited the campus of U-Penn and enjoyed it very much along with the campus of Colombia. Friends of my parents and family members who attended these colleges also had nothing but good things to say. Both universities have great libraries, great off campus food and diverse student types on campus. All of these qualities are extremely important in my opinion when deciding which colleges to go to.-Melissa L.

I was very happy to see Vanderbilt University there again. Last year I met them at the college fair and learned all about the school. I had never heard about it before but became very interested, and it is currently one of my top schools I would like to go to. Seeing Vanderbilt here again this year made me feel comfortable that they know the name of our school and have a connection with it. I also looked at a few other schools which were pretty interesting. The college fair had more positives than negatives, which was satisfying for me. -Drew

Looking ahead! October 21, 2009

Dear Students,
I was so pleased to hear of the positive experience you had at the college fair! It's never too early to start planning and thinking ahead. As a result, we will soon be beginning the process of writing a first draft of a personal statement.

In addition, I am extremely excited to tell you that we will be entering a new unit of study, reading The Jungle by Upton Sinclair. This unit will focus on discussing authorial intent, as well as understanding the way in which literature can be a motivating force. In addition, we will look at modern connections to the text and study articles and graphics related to the food industry today.

SAT Words: List #3 Week of October 20, 2009

Bauble (n): a showy ornament of little value

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Upcoming assignments: Week of October 19

Dear Students,
This week we are perfecting our critical lens essays and reviewing our listening skills. We are also going to have a quiz on Monday on the following SAT words: Eloquence Emendation, Chagrin, Foreboding, Besiege, Pedestrian, Gloat, Macabre, Fallible,Adventitious, Fathom. Also, the test will cover the Greek and Latin roots: Aud-chrom.

I am also excited to tell you that we will be studying The Jungle, and modern connections to the text! This unit will include reading about the current food industry, looking at charts and graphics, and watching documentaries relating to this fabulous text. This unit will approach the controlling idea essay, as well as the elements of a successful analytical essay.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Presentation on "Guilt"

Guilt
By: Clifford Lindsey Alderman
“As usual, when some great injustice is brought to light, no one wanted to take the blame. The guilty ones set about to find a scapegoat, thinking this would ease their own consciences.”
Analysis by: Melisa C, Gisell, Ana, Brandon, Albert
Injustice: The whole situation was simply unjust. This usage of diction sums up the whole Salem Witch trials as well as similar periods in world history in which mass hysteria based on false pretences led to the death of innocent people.
Scapegoat: According to Alderman’s analysis of the Salem Witch Trials, Reverend Samuel Parris had motive to start the accusations and the means to make the intended hysteria a success, making him the guiltiest.
Motives: Starting an event of mass hysteria, such as accusations of witchcrafts would get more people going to church, which happened to be a desirable goal of Parris. He sought to broaden the outreach of his sermons and the numbers in his congregation. Parris, who was insanely anal, would have wanted anyone who opposed his plans to spread the word of God gone. The Salem Witch Trials allowed him the opportunity to do this.
Means: The witch craft delusion had in fact begun right in his house. He was also first to bring out the afflicted girl’s secret of what had occurred with Tituba. He was relentless in pursuing his hunt for these “witches” that had afflicted the girls.
Guilt: Guilt is a major theme in the play, and in the events that actually occurred in reality. Guilt is what allows John Proctor to confess of his infidelity in the play and in reality, guilt picked at the hearts of those who lied about being witches or accused others of being witches.
The citizens of the colony during this time demanded that there be a day of repentance, in which people could atone for their sins during the Salem Witch Trials. This day was January 15, 1697, a day of atonement and fasting.
Judge Sewall who had sent nineteen people to death was plagued by guilt. It was said that he made his son read him a passage from the bible that said “But if ye had known what this meaneth: ‘I will have mercy and not sacrifice,’ ye would not have condemned the guiltless.” This made Sewall conscience of all that he had done wrong, and he sought peace at mind. He then confessed in public what he had done wrong.
Thomas Fisk and the other eleven members of the jury which had convicted Rebecca Nurse confessed on the day of atonement.
Mr. Hale wrote a pamphlet in which he confessed that he too had been wrong in the accusations.
Ann Putnam confessed as well.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Regarding presentations on October 8, 2009

I just wanted to take a moment to say how proud I was of you yesterday. This was a challenging assignment and you showed dedication, diligence, and mutual respect toward one another regarding the assignment and the presentations themselves. I look forward to future group assignments such as these. Yesterday demonstrated just how meaningful and successful collaborative study can be!

Updates for the week of October 12, 2009

The students have been assigned a Critical lens assignment for The Crucible. They will apply their knowledge of The Crucible and one text from last year to write a thoughtful analysis of a quote.

There will be a test on Friday October 16 on Greek and Latin roots and SAT vocabulary words.

We will also begin to read The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and The Jungle in the near future.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Assignments week of October 5, 2009

Group projects are due Thursday.

Test on Friday: Only on The Crucible. Vocabulary and roots test will be next week.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Key lesson points for the week of September 28,2009

What is a "key passage"?

How can we better understand The Crucible through close textual analysis?

What is the significance of the literary element diction?

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Letters of advice to John Proctor following the end of Act II

Dear John Proctor,
Although you may not agree with the advice I am going to give to you, I think it will benefit you and your family in the long run if you speak the true. I believe you should admit your infidelity with Abigail in front of the court and ask for forgiveness. This deed will show the court and everyone else in society that you are a good religious man who is remorseful and wants to be forgiven for the sin that you made. Although this may ruin your reputation it will clarify why Abigail is accusing people of witch craft including Elizabeth Proctor, your wife. This in fact will show that Abigail and the girls are lying in order to cover up dancing in the forest and will show that Abigail truly wants to take your wifes place in your house. Revealing your sin will save the life of you wife, her unborn child if she really is pregnant, many other women who have been accused and will punish the accusers for their false and defying accusations.
Sincerely,
Melissa



Dear John Proctor,
John , haven’t I told you not to get involved with more than one woman at a time. You are a foolish married man John. But I am not here to tell you all the wrong things that you done or to dawn on your mistakes, I want to help you. Give you my advice because frankly I heard what happened to you and I feel bad. Just to get one thing out there I never liked Abigail what you saw in her I will never know. But one thing is for sure it’s going to take a lot to bring Mary as well as Abigail down. What we know is that Mary is working with Abigail, and if Mary does not do as she says Abigail will kill her. You need Mary to testify in court to clear Elizabeth’s name. So here what you what you need to do, find something that Mary is more scared of then Abigail, a secret maybe or even a rumor (that may not be true) to start. At that point Mary will talk about Abigail still wanting to kill her. That’s where you make a deal with her to protect her from any harm that Abigail will do to her. You expose Abigail for what she really is a crazy psychotic Animal.
I hope this Advice was helpful and beneficial in the future and please John tell me how it all works out!!
Yours Truly,
Sky



Dear Mr. Proctor,

It seems like you have gotten yourself in a bit of trouble with women, your wife being taken away after being accused by your former lover. A truly troublesome experience. Perhaps a simple conversation with Abigail might be able to get her to revoke her accusation of your wife ? I am almost certain that Abigail has faked the voodoo done against her, cajoling your Mary Warren to help her in this. Getting rid of Mary Warren would be most beneficial to you and your household, as Abigail seems to have a link to her.
Abigail seems to harbor hard feelings against your wife due to her firing from your employment and your abrupt end to the affair. While having an affair with her was certainly not in your best interest, it was done and you must acknowledge you mistake and go back and fix it. Letting Abigail know that you love your wife and would never leave her for a common whore who came your way and seduced you might be a bit too harsh, but simply sitting her down and letting her know that you will not stand for her attempted destruction of your marriage might just do the trick.


I hope my advice has aided you in your troubles,
all the best from New York,
Ana
Dear John Proctor,

It is very sad to hear about what happened to your wife. I cannot believe that anyone in their right minds would ever accuse your wife of witchcraft. She really does earn the term “Goody” in front of her name.

I admire your strength in trying to rebel against the deputy of Salem. I think that you and your wife are right. Abigail is just trying to get to you and personally, I think that you should give Abi what she deserves; justice for all of her lies and deceit. Your sins of adultery are nothing compared to that of her blaming every innocent woman in the town, brain washing others into believing that they are witches too. Some advice, maybe you really should go see Abigail alone just to fish about what her motives are and then show everyone that she is the only real hag of the town.

Sincerely,
Amanda “Goody” H.




Dear John Proctor,

I believe you are doing a good job so far, and you should focus on contuing to do one specific thing in court the most. That one thing is being honest. As long as you tell no lies (even if someone brings up something negative about you, don't deny it), they cannot automatically say that the evidence you produce (or in general, anything else you say) is a lie. I wish you luck with producing the truth.

From,
Jack


Dear John Proctor,

I think the best thing for you to do is come clean with everything. There are obviously several different accusations against you and the only way to rid yourself of them is by being honest. Explain why you only go to church once a month, or why you plow on Sundays. The people of the court do not understand these things so you must make them understand. I thought it was very brave of you to confess your affair with Abigail. It showed that you were desperate and willing to do anything to save Elizabeth. I can only imagine how difficult it is knowing your wife will soon be hung, so you must be as persuasive as possible. One last thing that I do suggest is to conduct yourself in a more polite and respectful manner while in the court. Throwing yourself around and screaming will not help you at all, except draw attention to your utter madness. I hope this advice may help you in any way possible.

Sincerely,
Drew
Dear John Proctor, I highly recommend you confess your affair with Abigail to Elizabeth and the court. Although Elizabeth has hints of what happened, the court must know this may be a reason of why all this conflict is arising. It is pretty clear Abigail is jealous, and wants revenge on Elizabeth. Which is why she is getting all the other women involved, by blaming it on witchcraft. Although your image would be ruined, just think about all the women you would save that are being accused of witchcraft and might be on the verge of death.

Sincerely,
Gisell

Dear John Proctor,
It is with great sincerity that I write you this letter. I was informed that your wife, Elizabeth, has been falsely accused of being a witch. There may be a connection between the accused and your affair with Abigail, however it is highly important that you admit to the community what has occurred, and everything you know concerning Abigail. Mass hysteria is best countered through prevention; in this case, this stage is just about to conclude. The most powerful way to stop it in its current track is for a calm authority figure to give clear and accurate information. You, my friend, are the only one who can provide such information at this point and time. You must remain visible and available to provide reassurance. In contrast, a message that is dramatic and menacing, as is occurring right now with Hale’s method, is guaranteed to have a catastrophic result. Innocent people are being accused at the price of your infidelity! Mothers and daughters are being stripped away from their families! You must confess. Even if you are sentenced to death, your death will not be in vain. You, in the future will be considered a hero; a person who stood up to the masses to disprove what the masses believe to be real; witchcraft. If you do not act quickly this may prove detrimental to the society you live in, as it takes time for such things to calm down on their own without help.
I pray you will be guided by your conscience.

Sincerely, Melisa

Dear John Proctor,
I think you’re a bad, bad man. This is not the important part though. After everything you’ve done to Elizabeth, including possible adultery, now you want to step up and be a man. I think it’s about time though, so I shall give you a break. You need to stop being so irate about the circumstances at hand right now. Yes, our Goody Proctor is currently incarcerated; however your unreasonable behavior will not alter the situation. You need to keep a level head and maintain your cool. Drag that witch, Mary Warren with you to the courthouse and testify against your wife’s accusations. Justice will be served, but you must remain calm. Should things get out of hand, and they decide to sentence our dear Elizabeth, kill them all. Mary Warren, Abigail, the judge, Hale, ALL OF THEM.
Good Luck,
Goody

Dear John Proctor,
It seems like you have gotten yourself in quite a sticky situation. There are a number of things you can do to try and save you and your wife but I have come up with a plot. Proving your wife's innocence has not been working out too well so there is only one other option; run! You have to come up with an escape scheme or else all the women in town are going to be killed. This is what i came up with; you need to break into the place where your wife is being held captive free her and all the other women. Yes, you will be risking your life for her, but if you love her then she is worth it. So once she has been taken unnoticed, you take you and your children as far away as possible from Salem. Hide out for as long as you can, go where no one knows who you are. Finally after this nonsense has ceased you can go back to your normal life, with you and your new baby. This is the perfect plan for success.

Yours truly,
Matthew


Dear Mr. John Proctor,
I understand that you’re not in the right state of mind right now and you probably don’t want anything to do with Abigail ever again, but for the sake of your wife and many other women in town my advice is to talk to Abigail as soon as possible. She is the one that accused your wife Elizabeth and because of her charge she can face possible death if convicted. You need to convince Abigail to confess to all of her lies. Once she confesses to the truth your wife will be saved and she will face the consequences. I strongly suggest you listen to me.
Your friend,
Rachel

Dear Proctor,
Do you think its morally right that you exploit and force your servant to do something she doesnt want to do in order to save your wife? Well i do. I think you should drag Mary Wellens over to the court and testify against Abigail. You should tell the court what Mary said and get your wife back. However the problem does arise that once you testify Mary against Abigail, she may reveal that you had secret (but not really a secret) relations with her. Thats where you don't agree to anything and don't admit a thing. Unless someone else knew about the two of you together, then youll be fine as long as you make Abigail seem like she's crazy. Get your nothing but good wife back because from what i read, shes a keeper :)

Friday, September 25, 2009

Supporting texts: The Crucible

Below, please find links to supporting texts we will be discussing in class.

http://www.writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/miller-mccarthyism.html

http://etext.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=HawYoun.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1

Characterization and The Crucible by Arthur Miller

Today's mini-lesson surrounded the study of characterization the The Crucible. We discussed who we would consider to be a "major" character in the text thus far. We also defined characterization as:

The representation of persons in narrative and dramatic works. This may include direct methods like the attribution of qualities in description or commentary, and indirect mehtods inviting readers to infer qualities from characters' actions, speech, or appearance.

We worked collaboratively to select the major characters in the etxt, and explore their characterization using specific texual evdience to support out observations.

Assignments for week of September 28, 2009

Complete your reading and annotation of Act Two in The Crucible. I will be checking this as a homework assignment.

Study Greek and Latin roots Aud-chrom on your roots list.

You will have a vocabulary and roots test on Friday, October 9. This will also include questions on The Crucible.

You will also be working on a group presentation in the next few days. This will receive a group project grade. More details regarding this project will follow.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Assignments for week of September 21, 2009

Summer assignments are due this week!
Tuesday: Comparative essays are due.
Thursday: SAT and Greek and Latin roots test on Thursday (ag-aster)
We will also begin to read The Crucible by Arthur Miller!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

In-class work: Week of September 14, 2009

This week we will be completing our baseline writing pieces. We will also do a comparative study of two poems: "I hear America singing" by Walt Whitman, and "I, Too" by Langston Hughes. Lessons will surround annotation and how to "dig" into a poem. We will also discuss how to develop a strong thesis statement and use textual support in our writing. Looking ahead: a 2-page essay comparing the two poems.

SAT word of the day!

9/11/09: Factious: fac⋅tious –adjective: given to faction; dissentious: A factious group was trying to undermine the government.

9/14/09: Ignoble: (adj.): dishonorable

9/15/09: Perspicacity: (noun) keeness of perception

9/16/09: Fervent: (adj): showing great enthusiasm

9/17/09: Boor (noun): a rude person

opulence

Macabre

Foreboding

Student definitions of the word "American"

As a class, we are about to embark on an American literary journey. It is in that vein that the students have created their own personal definitions of what it means to be an American:

To be an American is to have your own views and be able to express them. It is not just a culture or language but a mix of every culture, language and belief throughout the world. -Melissa L.

America is a symbol of peace, liberty, and justice, that other countries try to replicate. America represents freedom and is the ideal nation not only because it is united, but it's system of government allows for people in society to to make decisions on what life should be like.--Matthew

American- Americans are the people who live in a large multicultural land that believe in freedom and personal liberty. Americans seek for better, richer, and happier life. They believe they have certain inalienable rights, golden opportunities, and same voice despite the gender. -Amy

America is a nation filled with hundreds of years of freedom created by the ideals of the people and powered by the knowledge and achievements of the people. This country is what it is because its determined leaders didn't want future generations to go through hardships they had to. -Lenny

America- a country that shows no boundaries to its people, hides no opportunity, and offers everything as long as you are willing to work for it. -Roman

American - Whether you were born here or brought here, the only limiting factor is how much you are willing to work and risk for what you want to achieve. Being American is a unique experience; one that many give up what they have at home to have, and those born with the title sometimes take for granted. –Natalee

What it means to be an "American" is, taking pride in the opportunities our country has to offer.-Giselle
American - Someone who has freedom, is surrounded by a diverse growing population, and has endless opportunities. -Jack

America- A largely diverse population that is capable of looking past race, gender or sexual orientation to reach the ultimate goal of prosperity.-Drew

American: the defenders of freedom. -Melisa C.

To be an American- To follow traditions of another culture while at the same time taking part in American culture. -Julia

American: pride; having a dream and believing that it can come true with hard work and determination. -Rachel

To be American means to live in a country of liberty and prosperity with many opportunities to improve.- Leandro

To me, American not only means someone who is a citizen of the United States, but is a symbol of many things. It is a symbol of freedom. -Amanda

To be American is to be free with no boundaries only obstacles that can be overcome with hard work. It is to be able to express yourself in a comfortable and understanding setting.- Kristina

American: Having faith and patriotism that every free person within the country gets the same respect and liberty being deserved.-Rachel

American: To be one who us from a country that is diverse; to be from a country that is free and very opinionated. -Rey

A person of any ethnicity that believes in freedom and equal opportunity for all people and agrees with the values portrayed in the writings on which our country is based.-Ana

Feeling a sense of belonging in the United States of America whether born in the country or being someone who has immigrated to the country, while having a common American cultural connection, yet still having one's own distinct cultural identity.-Thomas

To me it symbolizes a diverse society that stands for freedom and liberty.-Allen

To be American is to have limitless possibilities to achieve your dreams and always have pride in your country. It is also a mix of cultures and religions that make it unique.- Imani

A sense of freedom, justice, or being able to work for the ultimate American dream.-Sky

Anyone who can come to America who can make a living and be successful no matter sex, race, or skin color.-Maurice

An American is a person who lives in a diverse place of many cultures and whose ancestors are from another country (unless Native American), and come to America in search of opportunities.-Albert

Where people dream, where money is made, where liberty is granted.-Uziel

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

supplies for class

Hello students!
I hope you had a wonderful summer. I am very excited about this school year. I know that you will gain valuable skills, engage in insightful conversations, and read some great literature! Below, please find a list supplies you will need for class. If you should have any trouble obtaining any of the supplies due to financial concerns, please feel free to see me.

  1. 1 notebook or binder section solely devoted to our class notes.
  2. 1 journal/composition book (you can use one from a previous year)
    1 folder
  3. post-it notes
  4. index cards
  5. pens
Please have all supplies and signed course requirements no later than Monday, September 14.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Syllabus 2009-2010

Dear parents and students,

Welcome to English 5H! This course focuses on the study of American literature with an emphasis on improving reading and writing skills to prepare students for college-level work. The students will study various periods in American history and their correlation to a range of major American literary movements. The course is designed to begin with Puritanism and culminate in the twentieth century. The students will gain a deeper understanding of literature and how to master more challenging works. They will also embark on writing a college-level thesis paper.

This year I am excited to announce that I have begun an online blog pertaining to our class. It will be a place where I post assignments, announcements, and where your child may write comments about our class discussions and the literature we will be studying. I will be updating the blog on a weekly basis. I encourage students to check the blog periodically, and hope that parents will enjoy reading about our class! The website is: http://www.juniortigerwriters.blogspot.com/
I have also started to use an online grading system through https://snapgrades.net/login/?20409. I will update scores on a weekly basis.

The students will be studying from among the following texts:

  • The Crucible by Arthur Miller
  • Selections from The Things they Carried by Tim O’Brien
  • The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
  • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  • The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald
  • The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
  • The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
  • Fences by August Wilson
The students will also be engaging in study in:

  • The applications of the Greek and Latin roots
  • Commonly used SAT words and vocabulary study
  • Thematically related readings from American poetry and prose
  • The grammar and mechanics of the English language
  • Regents examination preparation for the ELA regents exam in January
  • The writing process
  • Writing the college application essay
  • Working collaboratively with peers
  • Understanding literary elements and techniques as found in literature
  • Writing a standard 4-5 page thesis paper that includes the MLA format for citing and documentation

Essential Questions that will be addressed throughout the term:

  • What’s in a name?
  • To what extent do fame and fortune bring happiness?
  • How do we achieve the American dream?
  • What does it mean to be American?
  • What happens when dreams become reality?
  • How do we create our own identity?
  • What happens when we don’t conform to society?
  • What are social expectations?
  • To what extent does the past form our future?
  • Does the “apple fall far from the tree?"
  • How do we find happiness?
Examples of mini-lessons include:

  • Understanding literary elements and their applications in literature
  • How to write a thesis statement
  • How to organize ideas in a paragraph
  • Writing Regents-based essays
  • Mastering multiple choice exams
  • How to “dig” into poetry
  • Understanding Greek and Latin roots
  • How to understand texts in juxtaposition with one-another
  • How to improve grammar and sentence structure
  • Developing an analysis of literature
    Improving vocabulary
Assignments will include:

  • Analytical essays
  • Personal response papers
  • Homework that relates to the day's lesson
  • Exams
  • Independent reading
  • Journaling/blogging
  • Creative projects
  • Group projects
  • Portfolios
Classroom expectations:

1. Students should arrive to class on time and immediately begin the task at hand. Students who arrive late to class will be asked to sign a late book.
2. Homework is assigned every night and is key to supporting the lesson/unit we are studying. Homeworks are graded according to a rubric and will receive one point off (out of four) for every day assignments are submitted late. Assignments will not be accepted after three days past the assigned date without documentation from a caregiver.
3. Papers, exams, and projects will be assigned well in advance and will frequently be broken into parts through mini-lessons. Ten points will be deducted for every day projects are submitted late without documentation. Students will have opportunities to make up exams as well, but only with a doctor's or parent's note.
4. In accordance with the school’s policy, no electronic devices such as i-pods and cell phones are permitted.
5. No food or gum chewing is permitted in class.
6. This class will be a rigorous class that will enrich your skills. It will take hard work and dedication, but with effort you will accomplish a great deal of work you will be proud of!

Grading Policy – High School English

Participation 15%
• Class discussion• Listening• Group work/process• Conferring• Book Talk• Sharing Work Aloud

Classwork / Homework 30%• Homework assignments and readings are completed• Independent work during class time is completed• Journals are up to date• Group work – process and product• Reflections • Student is prepared for class• Student’s work is organized

Assessment 55%• Essays• Quizzes• Tests• Projects• Presentations

I am always available via e-mail should you ever have questions or concerns. I encourage parental involvement and hope to be in communication with you throughout the school year regarding your child's process. I will also accept assignments through e-mail as well. My address is Jdavid4 at schools.nyc.gov