We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 31

Focus: What are the components of the society in Fahrenheit 451?

1. Warming up: Creating a recipe for the society of Fahrenheit 451; click HERE for directions.

2. Cleverly unraveling the poem you're about to meet in F451: "Dover Beach"

a. Tell me the story of each stanza. In other words, put each stanza into your own words.

b. Tell me everything you know about the poem's speaker.

c. Find an important metaphor and explain it to me carefully (what is being compared to what and why?).

d. Find three images, each appealing to a different sense, and explain what they contribute to the poem.

e. Describe what you think is the poem's tone. Defend your response with two details from the poem.

f. Identify what you see as an important shift in the poem, and explain the nature of the shift.

g. Find one important allusion in the poem. Look up that allusion, and explain why the poem might make this particular allusion. In other words, what does it contribute to the poem.

h. Explain one of the poem's motifs, supporting your response with two details from the poem.

i. Explore two sound devices in this poem and explain what larger idea they help reveal (ex: alliteration, assonance, rhyme, euphony, cacophony, etc.).

j. What do you think its the poem's theme? In other words, what lesson is it trying to teach us?

k. Of all the poems in the entire world, why might Bradbury include this one in F451? (You will be coming across it in tonight's reading). In other words, how does this theme of this poem overlap with the ideas in F451?

l. Ask one good level 3 question that pertains to this poem.

(P.S. This is a contest.  The best poetry explication gets a prize.)

3. If time allows, reading Fahrenheit 451

HW:
1. Prepare for tomorrow's fishbowl discussion by reading pages 80-102; fill out one side of your new observation chart.

2. Work on your book talk.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 21, 2014

Focus: How can we improve our understanding of F451 through vocabulary and other reading strategies?

Assembly: Shortened class today

1. Warming up with a little independent vocabulary review

2. Acing the Fahrenheit 451 vocabulary quiz over words 1-15

3. Reading either Fahrenheit 451 (and I have new yellow charts for you) or your banned/dystopian book

4. Listening to book talks

HW:
1. Have a good spring break.  You've earned it.

2. On Tuesday, we will have a fishbowl discussion over pages 80-102; please read these pages for Tuesday and fill out one side on a new yellow chart.

3. Some of you are giving book talks on the Wednesday and Friday after spring break.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 20, 2014

Focus: What is happiness, and why is it lacking in Fahrenheit 451?

1. Warming up with a professional speech about happiness:

• What is the speaker's attention grabber (how does he open his speech)?

• What is his claim?  In other words, what point is he trying to make?

• How was his speech organized?  In other words, what were his topics?

• How did he use the slides projected to the audience?

• Which details in his speech (images, phrases, word choices, etc.) appeal to ethos, logos, and pathos?

2. Fahrenheit 451 Fishbowl #4: Pages 63-80

3. Wrapping up: Responding to our focus question

HW:
1. Bring either F451 or a bannned/dystopian independent reading book to class tomorrow (remember that I need a parent signature).

2. Study for tomorrow's vocabulary quiz over words 1-15.

3. Work on your book talk.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 19, 2014

Focus: What does our future look like, according to Bradbury, and what new words do we need to learn to understand Fahrenheit 451?

1. Warming up: Watching the "Best Vacation Ever" and reading "Texting Your Teens to Dinner"

• As you watch and read, try to make at least one specific connection to the characters and society of F451.

• In your opinion, can technology be a good way to bring your family together?  Or does it create distance?

2. Introducing the first 15 F451 words and entering them in quizlet.com; then pelting each other with vocabulary snowballs for words 1-15 in F451

(Winner, winner, chicken dinner--you get an extra point on Friday's vocabulary quiz)

3. Taking some good old fashioned quality time to read F451 aloud together and ask questions

HW:
1. For tomorrow, please prepare for fishbowl discussion by finishing pages 63-80 in Fahrenheit 451 and completing the other side of your yellow observation chart/reading journal.

2. Remember that this Friday will be your quiz over words 1-15; start studying tonight.

3. Start thinking about which option you're going to take for Friday reading time; if you want to start reading your banned/dystopian novel on Friday, go ahead and bring it along with your signed proposal.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 18, 2014

Focus: What does our future look like, according to Bradbury?

1. Warming up: Considering what you'd like to read on Fridays...

Option 1: Catch up/get ahead in Fahrenheit 451

Option 2: Select a banned book to read; click HERE for the letter to your parents and a list of popular banned books.

Option 3: Select a dystopian novel to read; click HERE for the letter to your parents, but click HERE for a list of popular dystopian novels (you'll need to scroll down just a little).


2. Enjoying Fahrenheit 451 Fishbowl #3: Pages 40-63

3. Wrapping up

HW:
1. For Thursday, please prepare for fishbowl discussion by reading pages 63-80 in Fahrenheit 451 and completing the other side of your yellow observation chart/reading journal.

2. Please bring your yellow F451 vocabulary packet to class tomorrow for a little vocab. review (remember that this Friday will be your quiz over words 1-15).

3. Start thinking about which option you're going to take for Friday reading time; if you want to start reading your banned/dystopian novel on Friday, go ahead and bring it along with your signed proposal.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 17, 2014

Focus: What are the qualities of an effective speech?

Please make sure you get signed up for a book talk.

1. Warming up: Exploring a few definitions of logos, ethos, and pathos

2. Exploring the detailed overview of your book talks (if you don't have your green packet, please click HERE), particularly the part in which you address logos, ethos, and pathos

3. Watching a professional speech and discussing how the speaker uses the three appeals

• What is his attention grabber (how does he open his speech)?

• What is his claim?  In other words, what point is he trying to make?

• How was his speech organized?  In other words, what were his topics?

• How did he use the slides projected to the audience?

• Which details in his speech (images, phrases, word choices, etc.) appeal to ethos, logos, and pathos?

4. If time allows, starting to work on your own book talk

5. Distributing vocabulary packets (they're yellow this week because they are from F451)

HW:

1. Please read pages 41-63 in F451 and complete one side of your yellow observation chart/reading journal by tomorrow (Tuesday).

2. Work on your book talk and be ready to go on your presentation date.

3. This Friday we will have a vocabulary quiz over F451 words 1 through 15 ("abstracted" through "fold").

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 14, 2014

Focus: How are we going to improve our presentations skills through book talks?

Congrats on finishing TCAP!

1. Taking a little time to review SAT Lists 11-15 on your own

2. Acing the SAT 11-15 quiz (if you did not do so last week)

3. Explaining and working on your book talk (please see green packet given out two weeks ago; it's also linked right HERE)

4. Signing up for presentations (Connor, Michael S, Hobey, Collin, Bryan, Luke, Paul, Danny, Carter, Alex, and Eli may sign up first because of their consistent punctuality)

First hour: Imposing the new tardy policy

HW:
1. By Tuesday, please read through page 63 and complete one side of your new yellow observation chart/reading journal (now linked to the class website in case you'd rather type).

2. Continue working on your book talk and be prepared to present on your assigned date.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 12, 2014

Focus: Are we on the path that Bradbury is projecting in Fahrenheit 451?

TCAP : Very, very shortened class today!

Starting a new document in your F451 folder: A Glimpse of Our Society Through Commercials

As you watch each commercial, consider what it reflects about our society and/or how it connects our society to that of F451.  Type your reflections for any THREE of these commercials.

Netflix
More Netflix
Playstation (watching this one is optional)
Jimmy John's 
Radio Shack
iPad
Best Buy 
Wii
Gogurt
Campbell's
Prozac 

HW:
1. Remember that if you did not take the SAT vocabulary quiz last Friday, you will be taking it this Friday.

2. Finish reading your memoir and bring it to class on Friday along with your green packet.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 11, 2014

Focus: What does our future look like, according to Bradbury?

TCAP: Shortened Class

1. Warming up: Perusing your fishbowl grades from yesterday and explaining what they mean

If you were a leader...
In the mastery category, you have a syllabus grade (30 points).  I'm looking for thought-provoking questions, thematic categories, incorporation of quotations, and professionalism.

Also in the mastery category, you have a facilitation grade (10 points).

9 or 10: You posed questions, you listened actively to people's comments, you helped speed up or slow down the conversation when necessary, and you discussed topics as well.

7 or 8: You posed questions, but you didn't really jump in much to move things along.  You didn't discuss much or at all, and you didn't always demonstrate that you were listening.

1-6: You were actually taking away from the quality of the conversation, either through irrelevant comments, side conversations, or other somewhat disrespectful behavior.  I did not get the sense that you had completed the reading.

0: You were either absent on your leadership day or you didn't contribute at all.

If you were on the outer circle...
In the growth category, you have a blogging grade (10 points).

Perfect 10: You commented thoughtfully and consistently from the beginning of the discussion to the end, and you incorporated at least one quotation from the book into one of your comments.

9: You commented thoughtfully and consistently from the beginning of the discussion to the end, using proper grammar and demonstrating that you completed the reading.  You perhaps forgot to include a quotation.

7-8: You had a few solid comments, but you either disappeared for part of the discussion, or you neglected proper grammar, or you had a comment or two that just didn't say much (ex: "I agree.").

1-6: You were having some issues, friend.  Perhaps you were having a side conversation, or listening to music, or doing other homework, or you disappeared from the blog for a significant part of the discussion.  Or perhaps you were posting distracting, irrelevant comments.

0: You did not post any comments.

Note: If you get into a hotseat and contribute thoughtfully, your grade is automatically elevated by one point.

If you were a discusser, you have a grade in the growth category (10 points).

Perfect 10: You elevated the conversation to new levels, reading passages aloud, bringing in historical context, looking up words, and/or approaching the text from a unique angle.

8 or 9: You commented thoughtfully and consistently. I could tell that you read the assigned pages thoughtfully.

6 or 7: The jury is out on whether or not you actually did the reading.  Your comments were somewhat vague or inconsistent.

1-5: You brought shame on the fishbowl.  

0: You were absent on the day you signed up to be a discusser and never made it up.


2. Enjoying our second fishbowl discussion: F451, pages 28-30


HW:
1. If you did not take the quiz last week on SAT lists 11-15, be prepared to take it this Friday.

2. Bring your memoir independent reading book and your green packet to class on Friday.

3. Catch up with F451 if you have fallen a bit behind.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 10, 2014

Focus: What does our future look like, according to Bradbury?

1. Exploring your thoughts on censorship: Agree, disagree, unsure (while you're working on this, I'm going to check out your yellow observation charts)

2. Quickly reviewing fishbowl expectations

3. Diving into the world of F451 together with our first fishbowl: Pages 3-28

HW:
1. Our next fishbowl discussion is already upon us tomorrow (Tuesday) if you're in my 1st or 3rd hour class; if you're in my 6th hour, you have until Thursday.  

2. Please read pages 28-40 in F451 and fill out the back of your observation chart.

3. TCAP reminders:

a. Bring a book to read, but leave your blue bookmark at home.

b. Leave your cell phones in your lockers.

c. Long constructed response: Start with an introductory paragraph, follow with 2-3 body paragraphs, then end with a conclusion.  Show them that you know how to write.  Bring in specific examples, and use up as much of the space as you can.

d. Short constructed response: Start with a thesis/topic sentence, bring in specific examples, and use up as much of the space as you can.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 6, 2014

Focus: How can we become better readers, especially with a text as tough as F451?

Remember to turn in your Midsummer essays by 3:00 today, please.  It must be a printed, clean copy.

1. Warming up: Taking five minutes to review vocabulary, look over old quizzes, and ask questions

2. (Optional): Acing the SAT vocabulary test, Lists 11-15.  Remember that if you choose not to take the test today, you must take it next Friday.  We will not be dedicating any more time in class to review, so it will be up to you to review on your own.

3. Reading your memoirs (you have one week left to finish them)

4. Going back into the world of Fahrenheit 451 and figuring out Bradbury's world; use your yellow observation charts to help yourself.

HW:
1. Turn in your Midsummer essays by 3:00 today (clean, printed copy).

2. Read through page 28 in F451 and complete the front side of your yellow observation sheet by Monday; leaders and discussers for Monday's fishbowl should be ready to go.

3. Memoir reading

(4. If you'd like to revise your memoir, please e-mail me to set up a conference.)

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 5, 2014

Focus: What does it mean to be a "good reader," especially when the text is as challenging as F451 is?

1. Warming up: Reviewing Lists 11-15 so that you can ace tomorrow's vocabulary test

____________________ was startled when he woke up and saw....

2. Returning your reading charts from last week, explaining your grades, and giving you an opportunity to improve

3. Reading the first pages of Fahrenheit 451 together and starting to work on your observation chart

4. Double checking your fishbowl dates

HW:
1. Study for tomorrow's vocabulary test on SAT lists 11-15

2. Bring to class your memoir and the green packet that I gave out last Friday.

3. By Monday, finish reading through page 28 in Fahrenheit 451 and complete the front side of your yellow observation chart.

4. Remember that tomorrow (Thursday) 3:00 pm is the final deadline for your Midsummer essays.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 4, 2014

Focus: What does our future look like?


Early birds: Turn in those essays and give yourself a star (literally).

1. Warm-up: Exploring your thoughts on competition and "equality"

Agree, disagree, unsure: State your stance and give two good, specific reasons/pieces of evidence.

a. We shouldn't keep score at kids' sports games (kids = age ten and under).

b. All high school teams should include a team from which no one gets cut.

c. On every team, every kid should get to play every position.

d. We should treat everyone equally.

2. Reviewing fishbowl expectations and enjoying a 20 minute impromptu fishbowl discussion of the statements above and of "Harrison Bergeron"

3. Signing up for leader and discusser dates for the F451 fishbowls

(4. Diving into the world of F451 together with your blue bookmarks)

HW:
1. Continue reading and annotating through page ___ in F451 (annotate by filling out the reading journal given in class).

2. The final deadline for your essay is this Thursday, March 6. No late work will be accepted after this point.

3. We will be reviewing Lists 11-15 in class tomorrow to prepare you for Thursday's cumulative test over all SAT words covered this semester.

We're English 10 Nerds and Loving It: March 3, 2014

Focus: What does our future look like?

Ever wonder who's really grading all of your essays?

Here he is grading the good essays...

And here he is grading the not-so-good essays...

He says he apologizes for the slow turn-around time, but he is still trying to learn the alphabet.  English is tricky!


1. Warm-up: Viewing an "epic" vision of the future

What does our future look like, according to this video?

What aspects of our 2014 society are being highlighted in this video?

What aspects of our society are being subtly criticized in this video?

2. Participating in a survey about the future of our society by clicking HERE


3. Reading and questioning "Harrison Bergeron" together

• On each page, ask at least three questions (these should be Level 1 and Level 2 questions).
• Try to make one or two solid connections to the video you watched today, to the survey, or to our society.
• At the end of the story, pose at least one good Level 3 question.

HW: 
1. Finish reading and questioning "Harrison Bergeron." If you were absent from class today, click HERE for a copy of the story.

2. The early bird deadline for your Midsummer essay is tomorrow by 3:00 pm.  Remember that you need to print a clean, hard copy to turn in.

3. Bring in your copy of Midsummer to turn in if you haven't done so already.