May 23, 2016

IRT: 15 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "How to rig elections, the legal way" (Here's an image that helps explain the concept of gerrymandering.)

I returned the scored rubrics for the messages essay assignment. Students may revise this essay for up to half of the points back. Students who choose to revise should hand in a printed copy of the paper by Friday, 5/27.

We finished reading Act III of Julius Caesar. We analyzed Antony's speech for rhetorical devices and discussed which of the speeches was more effective. We also talked about the mob mentality that sets in at the end of Act III when the crowd kills a man who happens to have the same name as one of the conspirators.

Coming Up:
Wednesday, 5/25: Argument and Persuasion Test - notes and review on Classroom
Thursday, 5/26: Writer's Notebook check - Absences don't excuse you from notebook entries. Check the blog for entries on days you were absent.
Wednesday, 6/1: 1st and 2nd period Final Exams
Thursday, 6/2: 3rd and 4th period Final Exams; early release

Today's Board

May 20, 2016

IRT: 15 minutes
WNB: Retell the part of your book that you just read using only emojis. Be sure to include the title of your book!

We examined Marullus' speech from Julius Caesar Act I scene 1 for rhetorical devices. We then read the assassination scene in Act III scene 1 and Brutus' speech in Act III scene 2. Brutus' speech serves as a perfect example of an argument, so we looked for those details.

Coming Up:
Monday, 5/23: Antony's speech analysis
Wednesday, 5/25: Argument and Persuasion Test - notes and review on Classroom
Thursday, 5/26: Writer's Notebook check - Absences don't excuse you from notebook entries. Check the blog for entries on days you were absent.
Wednesday, 6/1: 1st and 2nd period Final Exams
Thursday, 6/2: 3rd and 4th period Final Exams; early release

Today's Board

Here's the link to ALA's 2016 Top Reads

May 19, 2016

Students had the first 30 minutes of class to work on their blogs. The last entry is due before 11pm tonight.

We finished watching To Kill a Mockingbird.

I posted the review for next week's argument and persuasion test on Classroom. Students should use their notes (also posted on Classroom) to study for the test which is Wednesday, May 25.

I introduced Shakespeare's Julius Caesar (intro video & summary video), and we read Act I scene 1 and looked for persuasive techniques in Marullus' speech. We will continue this work tomorrow.

Today's Board

May 18, 2016

IRT: 15 minutes (#nowreading The Selection by Kiera Cass)
WNB: Students shared their top 5 books of the semester on a Google form and wrote about the one they picked as their best read.

We examined Atticus Finch's speech for logos, ethos, pathos, repetition, and parallelism. We then compared the text version to the film version.

Sorry, no board photo today. My computer is still broken.

May 17, 2016

IRT: 15 minutes
WNB: Would you rather win $10 million in the lottery or live forever?

We revisited the "Cat Bill" from yesterday and looked for reasons, evidence, and a counterargument. We watched the trial scene from To Kill a Mockingbird. Students should read and analyze Atticus' closing argument for logos, ethos, pathos, repetition, and parallelism. We will discuss the handout in class tomorrow and compare it to the film version of the speech.

No board picture today. My computer is currently out of commission.

May 16, 2016

IRT: 15 minutes
WNB: Article of the Week - "Should Parents Be Allowed To Choose the Sex of Their Baby?"

We finished up the argument and persuasion notes from Friday, covering persuasive techniques in advertising and logical fallacies. We began analyzing Adlai Stevenson's Cat Bill Veto for elements of argument and persuasion. We will wrap this up tomorrow.

Final blog entry is due before 11pm Thursday, 5/19! Students will have time in class on Thursday to work on the blog.

Today's Board

May 13, 2016

We used the first 30 minutes of class for blog time. I reminded students of the book blogging procedures and gave them an update on their previous entries. This final entry is due before 11pm Thursday, 5/19. Students will have blog time on that day.

We began learning about argument and persuasion. Students took notes over argument analysis, purpose, audience, and logos, ethos, and pathos. We will wrap up these notes on Monday and begin examining speeches and essays for these elements.

Today's Board