Mon. Feb. 29, 2016: Age of Chivalry and Ideals

Today, you handed in your assignment from Friday. If this is not in by the end of the day, then you will have to do an alternative.
We then viewed a Powerpoint introducing the Age of Chivalry and the poem Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I have attached it below.

For this assignment, you are to actively read the Short story, being sure to create a three-sentence summary and a statement of purpose. You are then going to create a short story critique for this reading (the one I am giving you has been turned into a story rather than a poem). The critique must be in your student folder. It will be due at the end of class tomorrow.

If you are not here, you will need to come to school early tomorrow and get it out of your portfolio so you can have it actively read for class (you will have time over lunch).

Chivalry Powerpoint

Fri. Feb. 26, 2016: Beowulf Questions

Today, you were given questions to answer in relation to the text, Beowulf. All of these questions, with the exception of question 3 or 4, need to be in paragraph form (9 - 12 sentences).

Sentence 1 is an introduction to topic
Sentence 2 is an introduction to thesis
sentence 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are evidence (3) and explanations
Sentence 9 is conclusion

These can be added to if needed to develop your ideas (hence the 12 sentence limit).

This assignment is due for Monday.

I have linked it below for those who are not in class today.

Beowulf Paragraph Questions

Thurs. Feb. 25, 2016: Beowulf Active Reading Discussion

Today, you were to have read the Epic Poem Beowulf for class. I handed out the sheet "How to Read Poetry" to those who did not have it and we reviewed the expectations (many are like the steps to reading any text).
I then read Beowulf out loud, drawing attention to stylistic devices (these were also handed out to students who did not have them) and how to highlight and paraphrase.

When we finished, we discussed the poem as a narrative of its time, comparing it with reactions today.

I have posted the sheets I handed out today down below.

How to read poetry

Stylistic devices sheet

Wed. Feb. 24, 2016: Beowulf Reading

Today, we finished the notes on Beowulf. I then gave you an excerpt from the poem. We actively read the context together. You were then instructed to actively read the poem itself on your own. I reminded you to always review an entire work, paying attention to subheadings and footnotes. You are to have it actively read for tomorrow.
If you were not here, the reading is in your portfolio. Collect it and read before school.

Tues. Feb. 23, 2016: Heroes Cont.

Today, you handed in your active reading from yesterday. We then went through questions that should have been answered in relation to this reading.
From here, I continued the talk about heroes and ideals. We left off discussing the Epic Poem Beowulf.

Mon. Feb. 22, 2016: Heroes Introduction and Reading

Today, I introduced the Heroes sub unit and the Unit itself. We discussed hero archetypes (Roman and Christian) as well as general heroic traits.
You were then provided with three papers:

1. Human Qualities and Ideals
2. Unit One: The Human Condition in Search of Self
3. Life and Literature in Early Britain

You are to read all of these and actively read the last one for tomorrow's class.

Fri. Feb. 12, 2016: Understanding Comma Usage: Continued

Today, we discussed #8 and # 15 in your "15 Common Errors" booklet. These sections, along with #2, all refer to comma usage. I showed a Powerpoint and provided example sentences to support what the booklet explains.
Over the break, keep in mind that I have chosen not to build in course work. This is done in order to allow you the time needed to read your independent novel. Use your time wisely and get this done.

Thurs. Feb. 11, 2016: Reading/Catch-Up

Today, students were given the option of reading their independent novels or getting caught up on assignments (some did not have their novels here). We will continue with the "15 Common Errors" tomorrow.

Wed. Feb. 10, 2016: Comma Splices, Run-Ons and Sentence Fragments

Today, we reviewed the "15 Common Errors" booklet examining points number one and two: sentence fragments and run ons/comma splices. We then did some group activities with sentences to solidify our understanding of these.
If you were not here, actively read these two sections and search out exercises on-line.

Tues. Feb. 9, 2016: Understanding the Rubrics

Today, I discussed the marking rubric with the students, explaining how each mark is determined. Papers will be returned tomorrow.

I also handed out the "15 Common Errors" help booklet to those who do not already have it.

Mon. Feb. 8, 2016: INS First In-Class Reading Activity: Determining Time

Today, all students brought their novels to class and did the first time activity in order to determine reading time as well as a reflection activity. The minimum amount of time needed for this activity is 30 minutes. If you were not here, you need to come in at lunch ASAP to do this.

Fri. Feb. 5, 2016: Personal Response Paragraph

Today, you were given instructions on how to write a personal response paragraph (see attached) as well as your first paragraph writing assignment (see below). This is to be completed in class or submitted by the end of the day at the latest.

Paragraph Assignment


How to Write a Personal Response Paragraph

Keep in mind that the text critique assignment is also due and the INS activity is due on Monday.

Also, you need your novel here and your supplies here for Monday!

Thurs. Feb. 4, 2016: Text Critique Creation

Today, students created text critiques for the text they have worked on this week. They were given the handout "Understanding Text Critiques" to assist them in doing this correctly (pasted below).

Understanding Text Critiques

One of the students put the template for critiques on Student Media. Check there and use it to save set-up time.

Wed. Feb. 3, 2016: Determining Citation, Summary and Purpose

Today, you were to have read the text assigned to you yesterday. I then broke the students into groups to discuss the reading. They were to ensure they all agreed on citation and met basic summary outcomes. They were then to answer the question"So what? What does the text indicate or say/teach us about human nature?"

Tues. Feb. 2, 2016: Introduction to Citation and novel study

Today, I gave students the information regarding their choices for their final independent novel study assignments. If a student wasn't here, it is in the student's portfolio. We determined that the deadline for the independent novel studies and any other work will be Wednesday, June 8.

I then gave them the first assignment relating to the novel study, which is a pre-reading activity. I have attached it below. Students are to do this activity for Monday, February 8. Failure to complete this will result in an NHI as it is a pre-reading activity and we will start reading on Monday.

INS Pre-Reading Activity

I then gave the students a handout entitled "MLA Citation" booklet. If a student was not here, these are in front of the student portfolios (some have these from last semester). We went through it as a class, discussing what plagiarism is and how to avoid it, as well as how to layout the first page of an essay and where to find the computer usage steps to do this accurately.
Finally, I gave the students each a text to actively read, summarize and do a citation on. This is due at the start of class tomorrow.