October 31

Happy Hall0ween!! We went over the poetry terms list/worksheet. Today we wrote some subordinate clause poems and simile/metaphor poems and bio poems and verb poems. The next set of flashcards were handed out. You need to be working on these over the next few days/weeks. Remember quiz on terms on Thursday. Thursday is quiz redo day also.

October 30

Today we went over the sentence test from Thursday and marked the Short Story Final Exam from Friday. Next the terms list for Thursday's quiz (#6) was given out. It is a worksheet which must be done by tomorrow. Finally, we started the gramar/poetry review sheet and wrote some short lyric style poems.

October 27

Today we went over the short story review sheet. It was also early work record sheet day. Then we did the Short Story final exam. Have a nice weekend.

October 25 & 26

October 25
I wasn't there but this is what you were supposed to do. Hand in any stories or summaries of the Red Headed League. Then do the sentence review sheet and mark it and do the short story review sheet.

October 26
We did a very quick review on sentences and then did the test. Most people go through it but not as well as expected. Disappointing. We marked some of the test but did not have time to finish and did not have time to go over the short story review sheet. We will do this first thing tomorrow before the test. Study!!!!!

October 24

Today we looked at some examples of plot summary of the Red Headed League. These were student written and most had several flaws of either content or style or both. There was 1 example of a good plot summary organized well and complete. Students were given the text of the flawed summaries and instructed to rewrite them into 1 well organized and complete plot summary. Some people felt they could do better starting from scratch so that was acceptable. The rough copy is due today. Good copy due Thursday. Study for your quiz on sentences and Exam on Friday.

October 23

Today we traded the gothic stories and peer marked them. If they were acceptable, they were handed in. Some needed some editing and will come in tomorrow. Next we got a sheet on mystery and how to structure a mystery/detective story. We tried out a sample mystery game as the assignment will be to create a similar game. Finally we started to read the Sherlock Holmes' story, The Red Headed League. This should be finished by tomorrow and any stories not done need to come in too. Also, Thursday's quiz is on the sentence unit we did last week and the Short Story Unit Final Exam is on Friday. This exam may not be rewritten so start studying now.

October 19

Today we wrote the quiz for Terms list #5. This can be rewritten next Thursday, if necessary. We finished the sentences unit, sections 7 and 8. The test on this material will be next Thursday. We approved the rubric for the gothic story. Copies are available from me or from the website. Finish the good copies over the long weekend. Have a nice 3 days off.

October 18

Today we went over grammar quiz #2. Marks were better but not great. Some of you should think about coming in tomorrow and rewriting. It is quiz rewrite day tomorrow at noon and after school. We also have a quiz on terms tomorrow, from list #5. We went through the first 6 sections of the sentence unit and had races to finish the examples. If we were going too fast for you, PLEASE come in and see me for a little one on one instruction. We will finish the last 2 sections tomorrow. Short stories are now due on Monday. Bring them in tomorrow for editing. We discussed a possible set of criteria for the rubric. I will bring this in tomorrow for approval. Make sure you bring your rough copy story tomorrow.

October 16 & 17

I was away Monday but student handed in their Red Room Assignments and started work on a gothic story. The outline had to be done by the end of class and apparently the rough copy for Tuesday.

October 17
Today we did some work on punctuation and had a little time to edit the stories. These are due on Thursday. There may be some time to edit tomorrow but no promises. Remember that Thursday is the quiz day for Terms quiz #5 and for all redo quizzes.

October 13

Friday the 13th and you survived!!! We did a quick review of grammar and wrote the grammar test version 2 and marked it. Then we heard the last of the "settings" We went over the requirements of a gothing story and read the Red Room. Assignment is to do the questions and picture and get caught up on anything outstanding try the games on the website. Have a nice weekend.

October 12

Today we wrote the quiz on terms 3 (out of order) and marked it. Then we discussed the Metaphor and reviewed a little bit of grammar for tomorrow's test. Reminder of the grammar re-test tomorrow. Subordinate/Co-ordinate clauses, noun, verb, object, subject, compound, complext sentences and punctuation. Terms list for quiz #5 was also handed out. Interims were collected. These are due tomorrow for anyone who forgot today. Also extended metaphors are also overdue. Today was also quiz re-do day and many people came to take advantage of this. The next one will be next Thursday.

October 11

Today we got interim reports. Please have them signed and returned tomorrow.
The paragraphs about Harrison Bergeron that did not come in yesterday were collected. Students had time to work on their extended metaphors and get them edited. The good and rough copies of these are due tomorrow. Then we looked at some examples of how sentence structure and figurative language can be used to create atmosphere. Then we added to a ghost story and read these out loud. Tomorrow we will read the Red Room. Also there is a quiz on Terms (list #3) and it is quiz re-do day at lunch and after school.

October 6 & 10

October 6
Groups got together to answer the question "Is the society in Harrison Bergeron a utopia?" Both sides of the argument had to be researched. Then the groups were split in half and had to present their arguments (mini-debate style) in front of the class. Homework was to read the Metaphor for Tuesday.

October 10

We started with a quiz on the Metaphor on the overhead. This can be rewritten on Thursday. Next we heard the groups present their utopia arguments who had not had a chance on Friday. After this, each student evaluated their own performance using the provided rubric, and wrote their own summary of the argument in question. This was done in rough draft and handed in at the end of the period. The next terms list (#3) was handed out and some notes were added from the overhead. The quiz for this will be on Thursday. Finally, students were asked to write an extended metaphor. An outline sheet was handed out to those students who wanted one. Rough copy of this is due tomorrow.

October 5

We wrote the quiz on terms test #4 today and marked it. Then we took up the grammar quiz from yesterday. It will not be counted and another quiz will be given next week on similar material. We then discussed the story Harrison Bergeron. It was determined that many people had not yet read the story. You must do so before tomorrow and complete the Utopia sheet if you did not get it done last night. Have fun at the dance.

October 4

We had a little quiz on grammar and marked this. Then a reading about the topic of Utopia was handed out along with a concept map. You are to complete the concept map for tomorrow. You can have some time to do the other side in class after the terms quiz. (Terms list #4). We also played some story terms bingo as a review. Most people need to spend some time with their flash cards tonight!!! Today was quiz rewrite day. There will be another one next week. Date T.B.A. Homework: utopia sheet and study for the quiz.

October 3

Today we did a quiz on The Possibility of Evil. Then we did a character web on Miss Strangeworth and used the information to complete a rough copy of a character sketch (written, descriptive paragraph about the character) and handed this in. Tomorrow remember the grammar quiz (sub/pred/obj. noun/verb and sentences types) Thursday's quiz is on terms from the terms list. Homework was to read the story "Harrison Bergeron" .

October 2

Today we finished reading the story "The Possibility of Evil". A character outline chart was handed out. The next list of terms #4 (out of order, sorry) was also handed out. You need to find the definitions before Wednesday. Use your Red Book, the glossary in the text or an on-line literature glossary. There is a quiz on grammar (noun, verb, subject, object and sentence types) on Wednesday and a quiz on terms from Terms list #4 on Thursday. Your flashcards and terms list need to be done for tomorrow. Remember that Quiz Re-do day is Wednesday at Noon and after school in C213.