PW: Keep working on your projects!  We'll talk about newspaper articles more tomorrow.

PA: Last Shrew Paper Revisions.  You need to turn in your old packet of stuff with my comments so I can see what changes you made.  Final copies are due Monday.

12ers: Nice posters :)

FW: Peer editing tomorrow!  Be sure you have a completed final draft so your partner can fill out the sheet.  Be sure to MAKE the corrections over the weekend.  Your paper is due Monday.

SS: We will start reading "The Lie" in class today and finish it tomorrow.

Crew: Last Shrew Paper Revisions. You need to turn in your old packet of stuff with my comments so I can see what changes you made. Final copies are due Monday.

10/25

PW: Worked on Projects today.  They are due by the end of the quarter so we can move on! 

PA: Read the final chapter of Gulliver.  Underline three interesting/important things.  Write what you would like to say about the ACT article in the Tribune.  Paper conferences.

12ers: Poster presentations tomorrow. 

FW: Have a rough draft of your paper: We're typing tomorrow.

SS: Page 15 Developing skills #2 & Writing Skills. Page 16 Developing Skills in Reading #1, Writing Skills (that's four questions)

Crew: Read the final chapter of Gulliver. Underline three interesting/important things. Write what you would like to say about the ACT article in the Tribune. Paper conferences.

10/24

PW: Hunger Games projects!  Good job finishing articles yesterday!
PA: Chapter 11.  Does meeting Don Pedro change Gulliver's view of the Houyhnhnms?  How?  Respond to how Gulliver treats his wife.
12ers: Posters due Wednesday
FW: Writing Assignment for Go Ask Alice!
SS: Pages 4-7 (I read it aloud) Charles by Shirely Jackson.  Getting the Meaning: 2,3,4; Developing Vocab; Developing Writing Skills 2
Crew: Chapter 11. Does meeting Don Pedro change Gulliver's view of the Houyhnhnms? How? Respond to how Gulliver treats his wife.  Consider the ACT article in the tribune.

10/21

PW: Most of you are done with the book!  Get caught up!  Feel better Tone!
PA: Write a parting letter from Gulliver to the Houyhnhnms after reading chapter ten. Consider his tone, character, and how he feels about his horsey friends.
12ers: Posters
FW: Finish the book!  You can also start working on your paper (below) if you'd like to get a head start.
SS: Almost done with the movie!  Time to move on next week!
Crew: Write a parting letter from Gulliver to the Houyhnhnms after reading chapter ten.  Consider his tone, character, and how he feels about his horsey friends.

Sophomore Alice Assignement (Done with the Book Monday)

Beatrice Sparks is an American therapist and Mormon youth counselor who is known for producing books purporting to be the 'real diaries' of troubled teenagers. The books deal with topical issues such as drug abuse, Satanism, teenage pregnancy or AIDS, and are presented as cautionary tales. Although Sparks always presents herself as merely the discoverer and editor of the diaries, records at the U.S. Copyright Office show that in fact she is listed as the sole author for all but two of them.


Sparks began working with teenagers in 1955, after attending the University of California at Los Angeles and Brigham Young University. She has worked as a music therapist at Utah State Mental Hospital and taught continuing education courses at...moreBeatrice Sparks is an American therapist and Mormon youth counselor who is known for producing books purporting to be the 'real diaries' of troubled teenagers. The books deal with topical issues such as drug abuse, Satanism, teenage pregnancy or AIDS, and are presented as cautionary tales. Although Sparks always presents herself as merely the discoverer and editor of the diaries, records at the U.S. Copyright Office show that in fact she is listed as the sole author for all but two of them.

Sparks began working with teenagers in 1955, after attending the University of California at Los Angeles and Brigham Young University. She has worked as a music therapist at Utah State Mental Hospital and taught continuing education courses at BYU.

Critics have called the precise extent of Sparks' qualifications and experience into question. The editorial credit on some of the diaries published by Sparks identifies her as "Dr Beatrice Sparks, PhD". However, when journalist Aileen Pace Nilsen interviewed Sparks for School Library Journal in 1979, she was unable to find any confirmation of where or when Sparks earned her doctorate. Nilsen also wrote that Sparks was "vague about specifics" when asked about her counseling qualifications and professional experience.

Sparks said that her experience working with troubled adolescents made her want to produce cautionary tales that would keep other teens from falling into the same traps. Her first work, Go Ask Alice, was published under the byline 'Anonymous' in 1971.

Other works by Beatrice Sparks

Jay's Journal is a book presented as an autobiographical account of a depressed teenage boy who becomes involved with a Satanic group. After participating in several occult rituals, "Jay" believes he is being haunted by a demon named Raul. The book is based on "true" events of 16-year-old Alden Barrett from Pleasant Grove, Utah, who committed suicide in 1971.

It Happened to Nancy: By an Anonymous Teenager is a book for young adults by Beatrice Sparks. It purports to be the actual diary, only edited by Sparks, of a teenage girl who gets AIDS through being raped.

Almost Lost: The True Story of an Anonymous Teenager's Life is a young adult novel by Beatrice Sparks.. Almost Lost tells the story of Sammy, a runaway teenager who dabbles in rap, the occult, and drugs, and is turned into a happy, wholesome teen by attending therapy with Sparks.

Annie's Baby: The Diary of Anonymous, a Pregnant Teenager The book is about a fourteen-year-old girl, Annie, who falls in love with a rich boy. She soon becomes the victim of domestic violence, along with rape. Not long after the two start dating, she finds out she is pregnant. Annie and her mother are left to decide what will become of the baby. At first, Annie tries to keep the baby, who is called "Little Annie," but soon finds it too difficult and gives her up for adoption.

(Info taken from Wikipedia... shameful, I know... but she's hard to find much about)

Having this information, I want you to write a two page paper about the authenticity of this book.  Do you believe it is the actual diary of a young girl?  Why or why not?

To do this paper, you need to look through the book and find specific spots that you believe prove your point.  Convince me by quoting the ACTUAL TEXT that Alice writes within your paper any analyze it (**see examples below).

Here are some questions to help you start thinking about the paper (please don’t simply go through them in order, they’re only there to help):

·         Is the message too didactic[1] or the plot too formulaic[2]? 

·         Are the topics so personal that they’d be difficult to fabricate[3]?

·         What would someone have to gain from making up this story? 

·         What did you learn from reading this book?

·         Would finding out that the book was a real diary or written by Beatrice Sparks change the way you interpret the book?

I have just read the stuff I wrote in the last few weeks and I am being drowned in my own tears, suffocated, submerged, inundated, overpowered.  They are a lie!  I bitter, evil cursed lie!  I could never have done things like that!  It was another person, someone else!  It must have been!  It had to be!  Someone evil and foul and degenerate wrote in my book, took over my life.  Yes, they did, they did!  But even as I write I know I am telling even a bigger lie!  Or am I?  Has my mind been damaged?  Was it really just a nightmare and it seems real?  I think I’ve mixed up things which are true and things which are not.  All of it couldn’t be true.  I must be insane (pg 108).

Diaries are great when you’re young.  In fact, you saved my sanity a hundred, thousand, million times.  But I think when a person gets older she should be able to discuss her problems and thoughts with other people, instead of just another part of herself as you have been to me (pg. 187-188).

---

[1] (a) Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.  (b) In the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way.

[2] Produced in accordance with a slavishly followed rule or style; predictable.

[3] Invent or concoct (something), typically with deceitful intent.

Thursday 10/20

PW: Trying to get you all caught up to the same place in the book!  I think our newspaper articles are turning out well... hopefully this more diversified approach works well.  Articles are due by the end of tomorrow.

PA: Still working on Gulliver.  Conferences tomorrow.  Take a long hard look at thos papers again.

12ers:  The posters are looking good.

FW: Read to page 149.  Finish the book over the weekend (Tanner and John do discussion questions).  I will give you a writing assignment regarding the book tomorrow.

SS: Movie today and tomorrow.  Turn in anything you may be missing for The Outsiders.

Crew: Gulliver and chimpanzees with AK47s.

10/17

PW: I sent the article to the newspaper this morning!   I can't wait to see it when it comes out.  We were missing 1/3 of class today!  I hope you feel better.

PA: Today we worked on the Walrus and the Carpenter Allegory assignment!  I am interested to see what you came up with!

12ers: Movie Poster Project!  Be sure to include actors names, two critic quotes, a catch phrase for the movie, a rating with an explanation.  Make it pretty!  I look forward to seeing them.  We'll do more Compass Test prep starting tomorrow.

FW: Read through 86. Discussion leaders are Ashlyn and Andie.

SS: Keep working on your soundtrack project.  They should be complete and posted by the beginning of class on Wednesday (I will give you time in class to comment).  Also, many of you are missing parts of The Outsiders journal.  Please locate these and turn them in ASAP.  I will not accept any late assignments past Friday.

Crew: More discussion of the online discussion board!  Also, allegory assignment.

10/14

PW: We are focusing on finishing our newspaper article by noon on Monday!  I have edits and suggestions for you to complete.

PA: IAT discussion today was interesting.  I hope we can keep that going.  I need to collect questions 1 & 2 on Monday (I forgot today), so make sure you hold on to them.

12ers:  Done with the book!  We'll talk more about the movie poster project on Monday.  If you want, look at some sample movie posters online over the weekend to get ideas who you want to start in your movie, and what kinds of information you'd like to include.

FW: Read through page 66.  I want you to write out two discussion questions.  We will talk about general guidelines for discussion questions today.

SS: Soundtrack project should be posted on CC by Wednesday!  I will sign up for the lab to give you time to post them and comment on other people's choices. 

Crew:  Read Gulliver 4&5 (posted online). 

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND!

Allegory and Alice (for Freedom Writers)

Names: _______________________________
ALLEGORY WORKSHEET: The Walrus and the Carpenter
Allegory is a form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions in a narrative, are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative itself. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance, and characters are often personifications of abstract ideas as charity, greed, or envy.

Thus an allegory is a story with two meanings, a literal meaning and a symbolic meaning.

What the heck is a metaphor anyway?

1. A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.
2. A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, esp. something abstract

Examples: That test was a breeze.  She fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down.  He just can’t cut it.

For this assignment, we are going to watch The Walrus and the Carpenter from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland (based on the book by Lewis Carroll).
Watch the video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvOThKOJdas.  Work in a group (or alone) to answer the following questions:

·         What is the moral of this story?  (Consider who profited, who was tricked, who came out the best, who came out the worst, different character traits, etc.)

·         Based on your answer, what do you think this story might be an allegory for?  What alerts you to this?  Underline specific phrases and take marginal notes to explain.

·         Who does the walrus stand for?  The carpenter?  The oysters?

·         So what?  What do you think the author was trying to tell us?

The sun was shining on the sea,
Shining with all his might:
He did his very best to make
The billows smooth and bright--
And this was odd, because it was
The middle of the night.
The moon was shining sulkily,
Because she thought the sun
Had got no business to be there
After the day was done--
"It's very rude of him," she said,
"To come and spoil the fun!"

The sea was wet as wet could be,
The sands were dry as dry.
You could not see a cloud, because
No cloud was in the sky:
No birds were flying overhead--
There were no birds to fly.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
Were walking close at hand;
They wept like anything to see
Such quantities of sand:
"If this were only cleared away,"
They said, "it would be grand!"
"If seven maids with seven mops
Swept it for half a year.
Do you suppose," the Walrus said,
"That they could get it clear?"
"I doubt it," said the Carpenter,
And shed a bitter tear.
"O Oysters, come and walk with us!"
The Walrus did beseech.
"A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk,
Along the briny beach:
We cannot do with more than four,
To give a hand to each."
The eldest Oyster looked at him,
But never a word he said:
The eldest Oyster winked his eye,
And shook his heavy head--
Meaning to say he did not choose
To leave the oyster-bed.
But four young Oysters hurried up,
All eager for the treat:
Their coats were brushed, their faces washed,
Their shoes were clean and neat--
And this was odd, because, you know,
They hadn't any feet.
Four other Oysters followed them,
And yet another four;
And thick and fast they came at last,
And more, and more, and more--
All hopping through the frothy waves,
And scrambling to the shore.

The Walrus and the Carpenter
Walked on a mile or so,
And then they rested on a rock
Conveniently low:
And all the little Oysters stood
And waited in a row.
"The time has come," the Walrus said,
"To talk of many things:
Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--
Of cabbages--and kings--
And why the sea is boiling hot--
And whether pigs have wings."
"But wait a bit," the Oysters cried,
"Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!"
"No hurry!" said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
"A loaf of bread," the Walrus said,
"Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed--
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed."
"But not on us!" the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
"After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!"
"The night is fine," the Walrus said.
"Do you admire the view?

"It was so kind of you to come!
And you are very nice!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"Cut us another slice:
I wish you were not quite so deaf--
I've had to ask you twice!"
"It seems a shame," the Walrus said,
"To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!"
The Carpenter said nothing but
"The butter's spread too thick!"
"I weep for you," the Walrus said:
"I deeply sympathize."
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
"O Oysters," said the Carpenter,
"You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none--
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one.

Forensics

For those of you who are interested in forensics and have not yet checked out this year's categories, go to this website: www.whsfa.org.
There are categories outside of Moments in History, Public Address, Special Occasion Speech, and Storytelling (they just do not have a specific topic chosen each year).  Please talk to me if you're interested!

Crew!

Crew: Spelt, Burgle, and Burglarize are all words.
Who bent the drill bit?  See Collaborize Classroom to find out...

• Melissa?
• Haily?
• Moira?

Missed many of you today.  I like your use of the online classroom though.  Make sure you're through chapter three and have posted.

Soundtrack Project

THE OUTSIDERS: Soundtrack Project

For this project, I want you to following these steps:

1.       Choose what you view as the ten most important scenes from the book, from start to finish.  Write them down.

2.       Consider the emotions from the scene, as well as the actual physical action. Write down a few of the things that happen, and how the characters feel.

3.       Choose a song that you think fits this scene.  List the title and the musician.  DO NOT use songs from the actual movie sound track.  Consider the music that you like and are familiar with—this project should tell me something about YOU and how you view the book.

4.       Write a paragraph for each song explaining why you chose it for the scene.  Be sure to consider the lyrics and well as how the music sounds.  EACH paragraph should be AT LEAST five sentences long.  That means you will have ten paragraphs by the end.

5.       TYPE your answers in Microsoft word. 

a.       LIST

                                                                i.      Scene

                                                               ii.      Action

                                                             iii.      Emotion

                                                             iv.      Song

                                                              v.      Artist. 

b.      WRITE your paragraphs. 

c.       Spell check.

6.       Post your soundtrack in the Collaborize Classroom discussion labeled Soundtrack Project.

7.       Comment on the soundtrack of at least three other classmates.  Write something of substance.  “Cool soundtrack” or “Rob Zombie sux” does not count.  Raise questions, agree heartily (with backup/comments that strengthen their argument), or disagree heartily.  Avoid abbreviations and texting language that makes you appear less intelligent than you actually are.

Geto Man

SS: A visit from the "Geto Man" today.  I was surprised to see it.  Your soundtrack project is on Collaborize Classroom.  Don't forget to practice your stories.

10/11

PW: Thanks to Lonnie for coming in today to talk about journalism!  We will be working on finishing our homecoming article tomorrow, and maybe reading some Hunger Games if there is still time.

PA: Make sure you finished your posts today!  We'll be moving on through Part IV tomorrow!

12ers: Through 180 with one questions, then to 198, and then... done with our first novel!  Yay!  Don't forget to ask for you recommendation letters!  I've still only gotten two.

FW: Read through June 15th on page 29 and be prepared to answer some questions!  Hopefully our reading project can be taken off hold when we get the new Garage Band installed.

ANYONE who hasn't turned in a Shakespeare paper yet really needs to do so.  There aren't many of you... but this needs to happen in order to pass quarter one!

Oops!

Squad: I got overly excited about your new activity.  You are also supposed to read Chapter 10 in The Outsiders and write a half page journal entry.
Keep an eye out on Collaborize Classroom for your CD project.... I will be posting it soon.

10/8

PW: Check collaborize classroom and update your posts tonight.  You need to write there paragraphs that explain your choices for who dies first.  Tomorrow we will be talking about the Episcope/Epitaph.

PA: Read chapters 2 & 3 of Gulliver's travels and answer the questions on collaborize classroom.  We're going to talk about rationality and emotion, so be prepared to answer questions about these two topics.  I hope to have your papers back to you very soon!

12ers: Read through page 166.  Jake and Dylan are responsible for discussion questions.  We'll continue working on Compass test preparation.  Good job today. 

Freedom Writers: Go Ask Alice through October 13th, page 13.  We will also work on recording out children's books on the laptops this week.  Make sure you bring them to class every day.

The author’s name in real life is not Alice.  Why do you think they chose this name as her alias (think about cultural implications)?

What is your impression of her in the first few pages?  Why?  Make a list of her characteristics.

SS: Be ready with stories tomorrow for the following categories:

• Uses sound effects and exaggeration
• Your parent or family member told you about when they were young
• Details what you would say at your own funeral if you could still talk/attend
• Explicated an extended metaphor for your life

Remember the GET YOU SOME/GOT IT component of this assignment. 
1.) Get some/got it
2.) Story
3.)Get some/got it
4.) Questions

Crew: Gulliver again!  Answer the questions/comment on Collaborize Classroom.

9/6

Sorry I've been a little behind lately... here's what's happening...

PW: We read chapters one and two of Part II of The Hunger Games in class.  On Monday we will be in the library working on Collaborize Classroom to answer a writing prompt (if you want you can check it out over the weekend). 
The newspaper editor will be in on Tuesday to talk to you about your homecoming article, paper distribution, etc.

PA: Fun day today!  You did a good job with first impressions of Gulliver.  I posted the reading on Collaborize Classroom if you want to get ahead, but it's not mandatory.

12ers: Read through one 158 and write one awesome discussion question.

FW: A lot of you were gone today... on Monday we will be back in the Mac Lab getting a tutorial on Garage Band from Mr. Anderson.  He will help you import sound effects.

SS: Some of you drew some very interesting things in class today!  Good job on your vocabulary quiz!

Crew: Read Chapter one of Gulliver's Travels and write about your first impressions of him as a character.  How do you feel about him as a narrator?  Is he trustworthy?  Is there anything about his character that makes you want to recoil?
I liked that you enjoyed the writing/drawing activity.  Maybe we could work that in to some kind of creative writing prompt later on in the year.

Hours 1 & 2

PW: Tomorrow you will get the opportunity to work on collaborize classroom to decide who in your class would not survive through the beginning of The Hunger Games.  I will do some in-class reading.

PA: Gulliver's travels! Read the first chapter about the Houyhnhnms and tell me

• What is your impression of Gulliver?
• Why?

This is important because we have not read the first section of the book, and have no gotten to know him yet.  The mutiny and shipwreck should provide some definite clues.

10/4 Over and Out

Lots of people gone for the Dairy Expo today!  I bet it was fun.  The main new thing we tried was logging into www.kickitsenglish.collaborizeclassroom.com.  If you have not done so yet, please go there and register for my online discussion board.  You won't be able to see anything until I officially let you in, but if you at least register that will help get things started.

PW: Today we logged into the online classrooms and did the practice questions.  We'll talk a little bit more about expectations tomorrow, turn in the Hunger Games worksheets (remember, you're supposed to be through the end of Part I), and work on our homecoming article a little bit more.

PA: Nice posters!  We'll start with the text of Gulliver's Travels tomorrow.  If you haven't turned in your papers, you absolutely need to.

12ers: Make sure you're read through 137 and have five discussion questions for tomorrow's class.  I know some of you have finished the book.  Nice job.

FW: I'm happy you guys are excited about the whole online classroom thing.  I hope to get into the Mac lab to do some actual recording for the first graders tomorrow.  Don't forget your VOCAB QUIZ.

SS:  If you didn't get a chance to log in to collaborize classroom and do the opening questions, please do so tonight.  Don't forget your VOCAB QUIZ tomorrow.

Crew:  Try to keep your wild interests under control tonight.  We'll start reading tomorrow.