English 9HP

I presented a 4-part body paragraph structure for impromptu essays. You wrote your two body paragraphs and the conclusion for your essays.

No Homework!

English 10HP

I shared my life map. You created your own and shared it with a partner.

Homework:
Write about two events on your map (10 minutes each). Capture the event with as much detail as possible.

English 9HP

You submitted your fate / free will paragraphs and chart. We viewed Acts IV and V of Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet. Afterward, we discussed which factor - fate or free will - Luhrmann emphasized more in his film and whether he maintained the integrity of Shakespeare's play.

Homework:
Finish pre-writing for tomorrow's impromptu response to literature essay on Like Water for Chocolate. Prepare a 3-part introduction for the essay. Bring these to class with you tomorrow!

English 10HP

We discussed yesterday's impromptu essay; you said you'd like more practice writing timed essays. After some preparation time, you discussed your independent memoirs / autobiographies, focusing on how the writers used language creatively. I also gave you a new grade sheet for the semester and we reconciled our grading records.

No Homework! Can you believe it?

English 10HP

Today you wrote an impromptu essay from a CAHSEE-style prompt.

Homework:
Finish your independent book by tomorrow! Don't forget to bring your book tomorrow!

English 9HP

With a partner, you analyzed and discussed the prompt for your Like Water for Chocolate essay.
Then I gave you instructions for writing a 3-part introduction for your essay (I included a sample introduction).

Homework:
*Your fate-vs-free will paragraphs are due tomorrow! Don't forget to attach the chart!
*Write an introduction for the Like Water for Chocolate prompt (due Friday). You'll write your essay in class on Friday.

English 10HP

You worked with a partner to label the following in your essays: the 3 parts of your introduction, the 4 parts of each body paragraph, and the conclusion. Then you gave your partner feedback. As a whole class, we discussed common issues and tackled yet another prompt, creating claims and discussing potential evidence. Tomorrow you will write a "real" a.k.a. "graded" impromptu persuasive essay.

Homework:
Don't forget to bring your handouts, practice essay, and Black Boy book with you tomorrow!
Finish your independent book (due Thursday).

English 9HP

We discussed how Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy by our definition, and we completed a chart in which we identified elements of fate and free will.

Homework:
*Write a few paragraphs in which you discuss which is a greater factor (fate or free will) in determining the course of Romeo and Juliet's lives (due Thursday!).
*Finish Like Water for Chocolate by tomorrow! Don't forget to bring your book!

English 9HP

We interpreted and discussed key lines from Act V of Romeo and Juliet.

Homework:
Finish Like Water for Chocolate (due Wednesday!).

English 10HP

We continued our study of impromptu essay writing and discussed the basic structure of a body paragraph. In class, you wrote two body paragraphs to go with the 3-part introduction you wrote last week, and then I gave you tips on writing a conclusion for an impromptu persuasive essay.

Homework:
Finish your body paragraphs and write a conclusion for the released CAHSEE prompt I gave you (due tomorrow).
Finish you independent book (due Thursday!).

English 9HP

We interpreted and discussed key lines from Act IV of Romeo and Juliet. Then we had time for a quick, one-statement agree/disagree discussion.

Homework:
Read Act V of Romeo and Juliet for Monday! In other words, finish reading the play!
Finish Like Water for Chocolate by Wednesday and bring your book to class on that day!

English 10HP

We finished yesterday's seminar.

Homework:
Read independent book (I extended the deadline to Thursday, Feb. 26).

English 9HP

We viewed Act III of Romeo and Juliet and discussed how the director adapted the play while keeping much of the play, including dramatic irony and the play's star-crossed lovers theme, in tact.

Homework:
Read Act IV of Romeo and Juliet (due tomorrow).
Finish Like Water for Chocolate (due 2/25).

English 10HP

Today we had a text-based stand-up seminar, using the articles and questions I gave you on Tuesday.

Homework:
Write a 3-part introductory paragraph on the second CAHSEE writing prompt I gave you.
Read your independent book!

English 9HP

We finished interpreting and discussing key lines from Act III of Romeo and Juliet.

Homework:
Read Act IV of Romeo and Juliet (due Friday).
Finish Like Water for Chocolate (due 2/25).

English 10HP

You read and evaluated three student responses to a released CAHSEE writing prompt. I revealed the scores these essays received, and I presented a brief lesson on writing a 3-part introductory paragraph for persuasive essays.

Homework:

Read and notate the two articles I gave you on Tuesday ("Delusions of Grandeur" and "White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack"). Then write 1 1/2 - 2 pages (handwritten and double spaced) on the following question: Do you agree with the authors that there are systematic ways society perpetuates racism? Who is responsible to change "the system"? (due tomorrow)

Write a 3-part introductory paragraph for the other released CAHSEE persuasive writing prompt I gave you (due Friday).

English 9HP

We had an agree/disagree discussion on the following question: "If someone kills my brother, I have a right to kill that person."

After our discussion, we interpreted key lines of Romeo and Juliet (Act III, scenes i and ii), focusing heavily on dramatic irony and the theme of fate.

Homework:
Finish Like Water for Chocolate (due 2/25).

English 9HP

We finished translating and discussing key lines from Act II of Romeo and Juliet. Then we viewed the remainder of Act II (the Luhrmann version).

Homework:
Read Act III (the climax) of Romeo and Juliet (due Tuesday).
Read chapters 7-12 (July-December) of Like Water for Chocolate (due 2/25).

English 10HP

We played "The Number Game" and discussed whether the game was fair, whether number one deserved his/her power, how the game reflects our society, and how the game relates to Black Boy.

Homework:
Read your independent book (due 2/24).

English 9HP

We read a movie review of the Baz Luhrmann adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Afterward, you discussed the first half of Like Water for Chocolate in small groups.

Homework:
Read the remainder of Act II (due tomorrow).
Read the second half (July-December) of Like Water for Chocolate (due Feb. 25).

English 10HP

We finished yesterday's stand-up seminar on naturalism. Afterward, we read an article called "The Burden of 'Acting White'." We discussed what "acting white" and "acting black" means today and what these phrases meant in Richard Wright's day. Finally, we discussed how Richard responds to these societal expectations.

Homework:
Read your independent book (due 2/24).

Stand-up Seminar

10HP'ers discussed how Richard Wright's Black Boy is a naturalistic book.

9HP'ers discussed which film adaptation of the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet is truest to Shakespeare's intent.

Homework:

10HP'ers: Finish Black Boy (Part One) for tomorrow's class. We'll finish today's seminar tomorrow, too.

9HP'ers: Read Ch.1-6 (January-June) of Like Water for Chocolate for tomorrow, and bring your notated book with you to class!

English 9HP

You viewed two more versions of the balcony scene, the Baz Luhrmann adaptation of the film and West Side Story. You took notes on a chart I provided.

Homework:
Write a formal paragraph on which version of the balcony scene is truest to Shakespeare's original intent. Use the criteria and rubric I provided to guide your writing (due tomorrow).

Read Ch. 1-6 (Jan.-June) of Like Water for Chocolate (due Thursday).

English 10HP

I introduced the three components of Naturalism: determinism, objectivity, and pessimism. To prepare for tomorrow's Socratic seminar, you reflected on what makes Black Boy a naturalistic book and supported your ideas with evidence from the text.

Homework:
Finish Black Boy by Thursday!
Your independent book is due February 24.

English 9HP

We interpreted key lines from the famous balcony scene and viewed the first of three film versions of this scene. You took notes on a chart, including your own ideas about how the scene should be presented.

Homework:
Read Ch.1-6 (Jan.-June) of Like Water for Chocolate for Thursday, Feb. 12. Don't forget to bring your notated book on that day!

English 10HP

We had our first Stand-up Socratic Seminar on the following question: Is Richard a bad kid?

Homework:
Read Black Boy.

English 9HP

We discussed and interpreted Act I, scene v of Romeo and Juliet. Among other things, I noted the light motif and dramatic irony in the scene. We ended class with an agree-disagree discussion on the following statement: "I believe in love at first sight."

Homework:
Read Romeo and Juliet (Act II, the prologue and scenes i and ii) by Monday.
Read Ch. 1-6 of Like Water for Chocolate (due Wednesday, Feb. 11).

English 10HP

We finished watching A Soldier's Story. Afterward, you worked in groups to complete a "quiz" on the movie.

Homework:
Finish Ch. 1-5 of Black Boy for tomorrow!

English 9HP

I defined some important literary terminology. Then we translated and discussed Act I, scenes i-iv, applying many of the terms.

Homework: Read chapters 1-6 of Like Water for Chocolate (due Wed. Feb. 11).

English 10HP

We continued watching A Soldier's Story.

Homework: Read Black Boy and your independent book.

English 9HP

We checked out Romeo and Juliet from the textbook office. I explained that Act I of the play is the exposition and introduced the meanings of the names Tybalt (meaning Theobold or "bold"), Mercutio (the Roman god known for skill of hands and quickness of wit / eloquence), and Benvolio (a combination of the Latin words "bene" and "volo," meaning "I wish well"). We began reading and translating Act I, noting (among other things) how these characters are already living up to their names.

Homework:
Finish Act I of Romeo and Juliet (for tomorrow).
Read Like Water for Chocolate (Chapters 1-6 are due Wed., Feb.11).

English 10HP

I defined several terms related to racism and oppression. You began viewing A Soldier's Story. After the movie, you will analyze the film, applying many of these terms of oppression.

Homework: Read Black Boy and your independent book.