Understanding the Gradebook

An updated gradebook has been uploaded.

Please note:

• Empty boxes represent assignments that have not yet been logged.
• Empty boxes are automatically counted as zeros. 
• Therefore, the grade in the final righthand column is NOT accurate until ALL of the boxes in your row have been filled.
• Your grade in the final column likely reflects the fact that I have not yet finished grading all "Hills" essays and Foster journals. Marks for all other assignments are up to date; empty boxes in these columns mean missing or late work that should be made up by the Friday before mid-year exams.
• If I have a grade for a particular assignment, it is in the gradebook. I am currently updating the gradebook multiple times a day. 

In other words:

DO NOT PANIC. Take a deep breath. Or three. And be patient.

If you have turned in all of your work, you'll be fine. If not: turn in your make-up work ASAP!

A Separate Peace Readings Pt. 2

In order to finish working with A Separate Peace prior to mid-year exams, we will:

• Cover two chapters a day for the remainder of the term.
• Skip chapters 6, 7, and 10.
• Cut back on the out-of-class work with organizers.

Each chapter that we do read must be fully annotated.

You do NOT need to complete organizers as part of your homework. You DO need to be prepared to work with and discuss the organizer material (the analysis of key passages and summaries of each chapter) in class.

Due dates for the remaining pairs of chapters are as follows:

B Block:
Ch. 5 and 8 due Friday, Jan. 7
Ch. 9 and 11 due Monday, Jan. 10
Ch. 12 and 13 due Wednesday, Jan. 12

C Block:

Ch. 5 and 8 due Monday, Jan. 10

Ch. 9 and 11 due Tuesday, Jan. 11

Ch. 12 and 13 due Thursday, Jan. 13

F Block:

Ch. 5 and 8 due Monday, Jan. 10

Ch. 9 and 11 due Tuesday, Jan. 11

Ch. 12 and 13 due Wednesday, Jan. 12

G Block:

Ch. 5 and 8 due Monday, Jan. 10

Ch. 9 and 11 due Tuesday, Jan. 11

Ch. 12 and 13 due Wednesday, Jan. 12

In light of the quick pace of the remainder of our reading,
it is imperative that you pace yourself and plan ahead 
to use your time effectively.

Vocab Unit 8

B Block:
Exercises due Tuesday, Jan. 4
Sentences due Thursday, Jan. 6
Quiz on Monday, Jan. 10

C Block:
Exercises due Wednesday, Jan. 5
Sentences due Friday, Jan. 7
Quiz on Tuesday, Jan. 11

F Block:
Exercises due Tuesday, Jan. 4
Sentences due Friday, Jan. 7
Quiz on Tuesday, Jan. 11

G Block:
Exercises due Tuesday, Jan. 4
Sentences due Thursday, Jan. 6
Quiz on Tuesday, Jan. 11

A Separate Peace Reading Pt. 1

We are beginning to work with A Separate Peace (ASP) before - and through - Christmas break. The introductory packet to ASP - complete with guidelines for annotation and an organizer template - can be found in the right-hand column of the blog.

Reading, annotations, and organizers are due on the following dates:

Chapter 1 - B/C Block: Tuesday, Dec. 21; F/G Block: Wednesday, Dec. 22
Chapters 2 and 3 - ALL Blocks: First class period after break

All due dates hold if we have school as scheduled. If not, please refer to updates via the course blog and email.

Return Foster Books

I will be collecting student copies of How to Read Literature Like a Professor before Christmas break. Students should bring their books to class for collection on the following dates:

Friday, Dec. 17: B, C and G Blocks
Monday, Dec. 20: F Block