Last Days & Next Week's Schedule

English 9HP:

Today - In-class Essay

Monday- Summer Reading & Course Evaluation

Final Exam - Stand-up Seminar on Carol Jago's article. Focus Question: To what extent do reading and writing prepare students for the real world?

English 10HP:

Today - Final Literature Circle Discussions on Independent Book

Monday- Summer Reading & Course Evaluation

Final Exam: Oscar Wilde Extravaganza! Share Final Satire Projects, tea & cucumber sandwiches/muffins, & view a portion of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband

NEXT WEEK’S SPECIAL SCHEDULE

Monday, June 15, 2009		Thursday, June 18, 2009
Period A	7:12 – 8:08 am	Per. 6 Final	8:15 – 10:27 am
Per. 1 Final	8:15 – 10:27 am	Break	10:27 – 10:47 am
2	10:37 – 11:21 am	Per. A Final	10:53 – 1:05 pm
3	11:27 – 12:11 pm
4	12:17 – 1:01 pm
Lunch	1:01 – 1:36 pm
5	1:42 – 2:26 pm
6	2:32 – 3:16 pm
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Per. 2 Final	8:15 – 10:27 am
Break	10:27 – 10:47 am
Per. 3 Final	10:53 – 1:05 pm
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Per. 4 Final	8:15 – 10:27 am
Break	10:27 – 10:47 am
Per. 5 Final	10:53 – 1:05 pm

Getting Close to the End

English 9HP: You had two options today.
1.) Work on your essay planner (perhaps speak with me) in preparation for tomorrow's in-class essay.
OR
2.) Prepare for the Final Exam / Stand-up Seminar and write a 1-2 page response on the following question: To what extent do reading and writing about literature prepare students for the real world? Reference Carol Jago's article in your response. If you do not choose this option today, you must complete it by the day of the final.

English 10HP: We finished the movie version of The Importance of Being Earnest and discussed what the play is satirizing. Finally, you told me which option you are doing for your Satire Final Project (due exam day). We postponed the literature circle discussions on your independent book until tomorrow.

In My Absence

Hi gang,

I'm sorry I was out today. Calvin is ill, and it looks likely that I will be out tomorrow, too.

English 9HP: Finish your essay planners for tomorrow. You'll be conferring with two peers in class tomorrow.

English 10HP: You finished the play today! Tomorrow you'll be doing some thinking about the play as a whole and determining what Wilde is satirizing. Remember to read the next 100 pages of your book by this Thursday. Also, your Final Satire Project is due next week (exam day).

See you Wednesday!

English 9HP

I gave feedback on several thesis statements, using the ELMO. You revised them, and some of you began working on your essay planners.

Homework:
Write your introduction (with revised thesis) and claims.
Your in-class essay is Thursday.

English 10HP

We watched a film version of Earnest and continued reading Act II.

Homework:
Read 100 additional pages of your independent book (due Thursday).
Work on your Final Satire Project (due exam day).

English 9HP

Using the thesis-opinion continuum, you evaluated the three potential high-interest thesis statements you created for homework. Then your peers helped you revise one of them to submit to me at the end of the period. We also updated grade sheets.

No Homework.

English 10HP

You met and discussed your independent books in literature circles. Afterward, you posted two examples of satirical devices on posters around the room. Finally, we continued reading The Importance of Being Earnest.

Homework:
Work on Satire Final Project (due exam day).
Read your independent book (100 additional pages due next Thursday).

English 9HP

In literature circle groups, you completed The Bidlack/Thompson/Anderson Three Simple Steps of Literary Analysis for your independent books.

Homework:
Create three potential "high interest" thesis statements for an essay on your book's theme. Remember to include the title and author and an argument verb like "suggests" or "demonstrates."

English 10HP

Ms. Ramos and a panel of juniors and seniors came to discuss "what I wish I knew before junior year."

Homework:
Read 100 pages of your independent book for tomorrow's literature circle discussions.

English 9HP

Literature Circle Discussions on independent reading books

No Homework

English 10HP

We began Oscar Wilde's play, The Importance of Being Earnest.

Homework:
Read your independent book (100 pages due tomorrow).

English 9HP

We returned Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
SSR

Homework:
Finish your independent book (due tomorrow).

English 10HP

After viewing and discussing example of visual satire, we looked at another "modest proposal," regarding the mascot issue. In addition, I gave you the Final Satire Project / Final Exam options:


SATIRE UNIT – FINAL PROJECT OPTIONS


A MODEST PROPOSAL
Description: Write an original essay that provides an exaggerated or absurd solution to a problem experienced at your school, in your city, or by teenagers in general. Your title should include a creative title, followed by a colon, and then the phrase “A Modest Proposal,” as an immediate clue to your audience that you are alluding to Swift’s famous essay

Your essay should be well-developed enough to tackle the problem, and include humorous techniques like jargon, incongruity, hyperbole, understatement, specific details, and others to comment the problem and exaggerate its folly. Your essay should include the same steps that Swift uses in “A Modest Proposal”:
• Establish the problem
• Create suspense
• Drop the bombshell – an absurd solution
• Dismiss “other” solutions as ones that “clearly wouldn’t work” (but that actually are more realistic and probably would)
• End by saying you, the author, aren’t biased – and have nothing to gain or lose (not simply being opportunistic)

Examples: “A Modest Proposal,” “Let’s Spread the Fun Around,” student essays

“ONIONIZING” A CURRENT EVENT
Description: Find a news article that reveals some sort of problem with human nature or society, or that lends itself to an aspect of the ridiculous about it or to mocking people with some sort of power. Print out or clip the article. Then, using humorous techniques like jargon, incongruity, hyperbole, understatement, specific details, and others to comment on the same issue as the article and exaggerate its folly. Your article should include the same components as the articles from The Onion that we’ve examined in class:
• Include “interview” or “dialogue” from “experts”
• Include details – place, time, people involved
• Use journalistic diction and conventions
• Use diction from other realms as appropriate to make your point humorous
• Includes an image and a caption (photograph, graph, table, chart, timeline, etc.) for humorous effect

Examples: Articles from The Onion: “Fall Canceled After 3 Billion Seasons,” “3’ By 4’ Plot of Green Space Rejuvenates Neighborhood,” “Kitchen-Floor Conflict Intensifies As Rival House Cats Claim Same Empty Bag”



SATIRICAL IMAGE
Description: Create an original drawing or “Photo-shopped” image that makes a satirical comment about human nature or American society. You may use a parody to help convey your ideas. The image should contain the elements of visual composition, using color, lines, focal point, text, figures, contrast, and/or symbols for effect. Your image should also use humorous/satiric techniques like hyperbole (though your image may be grotesque rather than “funny”). Once your image is finished, complete an OPTIC analysis exploring the pieces of the image. Your conclusion paragraph(s) must include references to four details from the image and how they contribute to the overall satiric meaning of the work.

Examples: Gin Lane, mascot cartoons



COMMON ELEMENTS FOR SCORING GUIDE
Humorous techniques: incongruity, jargon, hyperbole, understatement, parody, irony, etc.
Satiric comment: exposing a folly of human nature or American society in a direct or indirect way
Production value: quality, demonstrates effort
Image/song: needs deconstruction/analysis in writing


Homework:
Read 100 pages of your independent book (due Thursday).