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

Vocab Unit 7

Exercises due:

ALL Blocks: Wednesday, Dec. 15

Sentences due:

ALL Blocks: Thursday, Dec. 16

Quiz on:

B and C Block: Monday, Dec. 20
F and G Block: Tuesday, Dec. 21

Foster Reading Journal Due Dates: Pt. 2

Vampires:

ALL Blocks: Wednesday, Dec. 15

Violence:

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

Flight:

B and C Block: Monday, Dec. 20
F and G Block: Tuesday, Dec. 21

Cumulative Check:

Journals are due - printed and stapled, with a cover page - on:

B and C Block: Monday, Dec. 20
F and G Block: Tuesday, Dec. 21

Foster Reading Journal Due Dates: Pt. 1

Marked:
B Block: Wednesday, Dec. 8
C Block: Wednesday, Dec. 8
F Block: Tuesday, Dec. 7
G Block: Tuesday, Dec. 7

Blindness:
B Block: Friday, Dec. 10
C Block: Friday, Dec. 10
F Block: Monday, Dec. 13
G Block: Monday, Dec. 13

Heart and Illness:
B Block: Tuesday, Dec. 14
C Block: Monday, Dec. 13
F Block: Tuesday, Dec. 14
G Block: Tuesday, Dec. 14

Vocab Unit 6

Exercises due:

Blocks F and G: Friday, Dec. 3
Blocks B and C: Monday, Dec. 6

Sentences due:

Blocks F and G: Tuesday, Dec. 7
Blocks B and C: Wednesday, Dec. 8

Quiz on:

Block G: Wednesday, Dec. 8
Blocks B, C and F: Thursday, Dec. 9

"Hills" Essay

Students must write a 3-4 page paper (with a minimum of 5 paragraphs) on Hemingway's use of setting to convey a particular theme or motif in "Hills Like White Elephants".

A rubric and specifications for the essay are included on the essay organizer distributed in class.

Your organizer will be collected - for credit - along with your essay.

Papers are due - printed and stapled - on:

Monday, Dec. 6: Blocks F and G

Tuesday, Dec. 7: Blocks C and B

(Pre-) Thanksgiving Break Homework

B Block:

Final draft of creative writing piece due Monday, Nov. 29

Read Ch. 16 "It's All About Sex..." (due Monday, Nov. 29). Take notes per usual guidelines.

If absent on Monday, Nov. 29, read "Hills Like White Elephants" (sent via Google Docs).
- be prepared to repsond to the question, "What are the man and the girl talking about?"

C Block:

Final draft of creative writing piece due Tuesday, Nov. 23
- if present on Tuesday, printed
- if absent on Tuesday, emailed by 1:30pm

Read Ch. 16 "It's All About Sex..." (due Tuesday, Nov. 23). Take notes per usual guidelines.
If absent on Tuesday, Nov. 23, read "Hills Like White Elephants" (sent via Google Docs).
- be prepared to respond to the question, "What are the man and the girl talking about?"

F Block:

Final draft of creative writing piece due - printed! - on Friday, Nov. 19
- if absent, emailed by 11:00am

Read Ch. 16 "It's All About Sex..." (due Monday, Nov. 22). Take notes per usual guidelines.

If absent on Monday or Tuesday (22nd or 23rd), read "Hills Like White Elephants" (sent via Google Docs).
- be prepared to respond to the question, "What are the man and the girl talking about?"

G Block:

Final draft of creative writing piece due - printed! - on Friday, Nov. 19
- if absent, emailed by 12:30pm

Finish reading Ch. 16 "It's All About Sex..." (due Monday, Nov. 22). Take notes per usual guidelines.

If absent on Monday or Tuesday (22nd or 23rd), read "Hills Like White Elephants" (sent via Google Docs).
- be prepared to respond to the question, "What are the man and the girl talking about?"

New Gradebook

Parents and students:

A new gradebook for the second quarter has been posted.

New ID numbers will be distributed in class and may also be requested via email.

Vocab Unit 5

Exercises are due on:

Blocks F and G: Friday, Nov. 12
Block C: Monday, Nov. 15
Block B: Tuesday, Nov. 16

Sentences are due on:

Block G: Monday, Nov. 15
Blocks C and F: Tuesday, Nov. 16
Block B: Wednesday, Nov. 17

Unit quiz will take place on:

Blocks C, F and G: Wednesday, Nov. 17
Block B: Friday, Nov. 19

Setting Unit Deadlines

Your 10-minute lesson plans (including an introductory prompt, 10 key points from your assigned chapter, and reflective prompt for the end of your lesson) will be implemented (i.e. are due) on:

Blocks F and G: Tuesday, Nov. 9
Block C: Wednesday, Nov. 10
Block B: Friday, Nov. 12

Your completed thesis and backwards SCASI for your creative writing piece will be due on:

Blocks F and G: Friday, Nov. 12
Block C: Monday, Nov. 15
Block B: Tuesday, Nov. 16

The first draft of your creative writing piece will be due on:

Block G: Monday, Nov. 15
Blocks C and F: Tuesday, Nov. 16
Block B: Wednesday, Nov. 17

The second draft of your creative writing piece will be due on:

Blocks C, F and G: Thursday, Nov. 18
Block B: Monday, Nov. 22

The final draft of your creative writing piece will be due on:

ALL Blocks: TBA

Read Foster Ch. 14: Christ Figures

Personal Notes (Groups One, Three, and Four):

Blocks F and G: Tuesday, Nov. 2
Block C: Wednesday, Nov. 3
Block B: Thursday, Nov. 4

Study Guide (Group Two):

Block G: Wednesday, Nov. 3
Blocks F and C: Thursday, Nov. 4
Block B: Friday, Nov. 5

Allusions Group Project

Study Guide Checklist:

• Completion of chapter study guide (per usual guidelines, including a visual, questions, and examples)
• Completion and incorporation of research from "directions"
• Responses to guided reading questions
• Thesis and key points of line-by-line analysis
• Organization/clarity

 Presentation format:

• Introduce topic/chapter
• Summarize and explain key points of chapter (including 'clues and cues', questions raised' and key vocab)
• Read poem
• Present background information/research on poem
• Present poem thesis and line-by-line analysis (incorporating both a statement of meaning and commentary on the effectiveness of your allusion)

Rubric:

• Completion of all components of checklist
• Organization and clarity of Google Document
• Pronunciation, enunciation, use of complete sentences, lack of social fillers
• Ability to give both a prepared and extemporaneous (improvised) response to a question
• Structure of presentation (organization of roles)
• Accuracy and level of detail of: poem thesis; poem summary and analysis; and chapter summary and explanation
• Application of literary terms and elements
• Completion of reflection on the role and contributions of each team member
• Feedback from team members will be used to adjust presentation grades!

*Note: the teacher will pull your study guide up on the projector for your presentation. Beyond that, the only notes you may use include a copy of your team's assigned poem and an index card with no more than 12 words written on it. *


Presentations will be given on the following dates:

B Block: Wednesday, Nov. 3
C Block: Tuesday, Nov. 2
F and G Blocks: Monday, Nov. 1

Foster Ch. 5

Personal Notes AND Study Guide:

Blocks B, C and F: Tuesday, Oct. 26
Block G: Monday, Oct. 25

* Note: Blocks B and C will complete most of this reading in class on Monday, Oct. 25

Vocabulary Unit 4

Completing the Sentence, Synonyms and Antonyms Exercises due:

Block G: Monday, Oct. 25

Blocks F, B and C: Tuesday, Oct. 26

Sentences due:

Block B: Friday, Oct. 29

Blocks C, F and G: Thursday, Oct. 28

Quiz taken on:

Blocks F and G: Friday, Oct. 29
Block C: Monday, Nov. 1
Block B: Tuesday, Nov. 2

Foster Introduction Unit Test

There will be a short-answer test on the first five chapters we have read in Foster. Questions will cover key concepts and vocabulary. In preparation both for the test and for beginning our next unit, we will review the unit material and student-generated study guides. That said, students are strongly encouraged to study independently or with a friend outside of class.

ALL Blocks: Thursday, Oct. 21

Symbolism Paper

Students must write a 1-2 page paper discussing the symbolism in either "November" by Robert Frost or "The Sick Rose" by William Blake. Essential texts and instructions have been distributed in class. If you were absent on Tuesday, Oct. 12, please check in with Ms. Derby to collect the necessary handouts during your first day back at school. Please refer to the editing checklist - and the standards for essay structure and presentation - before turning in your - printed, not emailed! - paper on the following due date:


Blocks B and C: Monday, Oct. 18
Block G: Tuesday, Oct. 19
Block F: Wednesday, Oct. 20

Rubric:

5 Points - Thesis: clear, concise and relevant
5 Points - Presentation: title; required spacing (double) and margins (1"); indentation of paragraphs; header; number of sentences in introduction and conclusion (minimum of 3); number of paragraphs (3)
10 Points - Development and demonstration of own analysis
10 Points - Language and mechanics: accurate spelling, capitalization and punctuation; transitions between sentences and paragraphs; use of present tense, active voice and 3rd person perspective

Header (single-spaced):

Name
Teacher Name
English 10: Block ___
Date
                               Centered (Creative and Descriptive) Title

Progress Reports

Students should check the course Gradebook to see if they have any missing work.

Grades for progress reports will be turned in to the school administration next Tuesday (Oct. 12).

To receive credit, all missing work must be turned into me by Friday (Oct. 8).

P. S. Be on the lookout: A new-and-improved, more aesthetically pleasing Gradebook - complete with new ID numbers (which will be distributed in class) - will be posted by the end of the week!

Foster Notes and Study Guide Due Dates

Foster Chapter 25: Eyes

Personal notes: Groups 1, 3 and 4

ALL Blocks: Tuesday, Oct. 12

Study guide contributions: Group 2

ALL Blocks: 8 am Tuesday, Oct. 12

Foster Chapter 12: Symbols

Personal notes: Groups 1, 2 and 4

Blocks B and C: Monday, Oct. 18

Blocks F and G: Tuesday, Oct. 19

Study guide contributions: Group 3

Blocks B and C: 8 am Monday, Oct. 18

Blocks F and G: 8 am Tuesday, Oct. 19

Foster Chapter 26: Irony

Personal notes: Groups 1, 2 and 3

C Block: Tuesday, Oct. 19

Blocks B, F and G: Wednesday, Oct. 20

Study guide contributions: Group 4

C Block: 8 am Tuesday, Oct. 19

Blocks B, F and G: Wednesday, Oct. 20

Foster Interlude: One Story

Personal notes: Groups 1, 2, 3 and 4

C Block: Tuesday, Oct. 19

Blocks B, F and G: Wednesday, Oct. 20

Foster Introduction Mini-Unit Note Check 

All ‘Introduction Mini-Unit’ Personal Notes:

C Block: Tuesday, Oct. 19

Blocks B, F and G: Wednesday, Oct. 20

Vocabulary Unit 3

Sentences:

For each word in the unit, students must:

• Write the word, marking any stressed syllables
• Write an original, contextual sentence

Students should think of this assignment as practice - and preparation - for their quiz.

Block C: Thursday, Oct. 7

Blocks B, F and G: Friday, Oct. 8

Students must finish the Completing the Sentence, Synonyms and Antonyms exercises in the workbook by:

ALL Blocks: Tuesday, Oct. 12

Students will take the Unit 3 Vocab Quiz on:

Blocks B, C and G: Thursday, Oct. 14

Block F: Friday, Oct. 15

Foster Chapter One

Finish reading and taking notes on Foster Chapter One.

Personal notes: Groups 2, 3 and 4.

Blocks B, C and G: Monday, Oct. 4

Block F: Tuesday, Oct. 5

Study guide contributions: Group 1.

Blocks B and C: 8 am Wednesday, Oct. 6

Blocks F and G: 8 am Thursday, Oct. 7

Google Docs "Quests" Assignment: 

All students have been emailed an invitation to a Google Doc entitled "___ Block: Quests". Instructions for the assignment are included in the Google document. We will review instructions and form groups for this assignment during our first class period this coming week. Please do not work ahead between now and then.

Blocks B and C: 8 am Tuesday, Oct. 5

Blocks F and G: 8 am Wednesday, Oct. 6

Important Note:

Students should have received invitations to five different Google Docs. Please email me if you have any trouble accessing or editing any Google document.

Foster Unit

We are finally on our way with Foster!

Copies of the following documents may be found in the Handouts section of the blog:

• Unit Reading Schedule
• Instructions for Personal and Class Notes
• Study Guide Contribution Schedule

Students have been emailed invitations to the following Google Docs:

• Study Guides for the first three chapters we are covering
• Quest chapter assignment
• Group assignments

Unit 2 Vocab Homework and Quiz

The Completing the Sentence, Antonyms, and Synonyms exercises for Unit 2 of the Vocabulary Workshop are due on:

Block C: Tuesday, Sept. 28

Blocks B and G: Wednesday, Sept. 29

Block F: Thursday, Sept. 30

The Vocabulary Quiz for Unit 2 will occur on:

Blocks B, C and G: Thursday, Sept. 30

Block F: Friday, Oct. 1

Writing Workshop

Students: You must review your essay and highlight 3 sentences that you are willing to share and work on during an in-class writing workshop. The sentences should be ones that you have questions about, or that you are unsure of how to correct or refine. You must also bring in a red pen (listed as one of the required course materials).

Blocks G, B and C: Wednesday, Sept, 22.

Block F: Friday, Sept. 24.

Check Your Grades!

The Gradebook for all blocks is up and running, and may be accessed by clicking the link at the top of the right-hand column of the blog. Grades are organized first by class block and then by student ID number.

Students are responsible for keeping track of both their confidential ID number and their grades. Student ID numbers have been distributed along with feedback on the summer reading essays.

A few notes:

1)  Incomplete work will be marked with a zero. Work missing due to extenuating circumstances will be marked with a blank cell. Blank cells are automatically counted as zeros until filled. This will be reflected in the Total Points column of the Gradebook. Please speak with me privately before or after class - or via email - if you have any questions.

2) All students must check the Parent Email column in the Gradebook. If you have a zero for this assignment, then I do not have your email address. Without your email address, I cannot give you access to the Google Doc that we will be using to complete the first assignment for the Foster unit, for which you will then not be able to receive credit. If you have a zero in the Parent Email column of the Gradebook, you must immediately email me from a Google Doc enabled address to avoid further penalties. My email address can be found in the header of the Course Syllabus (which you should have in hard copy, but is also available in the Handouts section of the blog).

TED Film Response

In class, we watched author Chimamanda Adichie speak on "The Danger of the Single Story". You may view - or rewatch - the film by clicking on the title to this post.

Your response to the film - which should be between two paragraphs and two pages in length - will be checked on:

Blocks B, C and G: Tuesday, Sept. 21
Block F: Wednesday, Sept. 22

Unit 1 Vocab Quiz Dates

Students will be taking their Unit One Vocabulary Quiz on the following dates:

ALL Blocks: Tuesday, Sept. 21 or - if class is disrupted by the the health assembly - Wednesday, Sept. 22.

In other words, all students should prepare to take the quiz on Tuesday!

Homework: Vocabulary Exercises and Note Organizers

The following exercises in the workbook must be completed as homework:

• Completing the Sentence
• Synonyms
• Antonyms

Blocks B and C: Due Thursday, Sept. 16
Blocks F and G: Due Friday, Sept. 17

________________________________________________

Please also note that students will be held accountable for making up all work missed in class this week. I will be checking ALL note organizers from this unit. This includes the:

• Cornell Method and Double Entry Journal templates
• Making Meaning Protocol
• Summarize This template

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

Homework: Close Reading Coetzee Chapter One

1) Reread Coetzee's Chapter One.

2) Complete either the Cornell Method graphic organizer or the Double Entry Journal in detail.

4) Write at least one bullet point explaining how you might change your notes to fit into and make the best possible use of each section of the organizer that you did not fill out for Step 2.

Blocks B, C, and G: Due Tuesday, Sept. 14.

Block F: Due Wednesday, Sept. 15.

P.S. Don't forget to bring your vocab workbook into class each day this week!

Money for Vocab Workbooks and PSAT Prep

Students are strongly encouraged to purchase their vocabulary workbooks for $10.

Students who do so may write in the workbook when completing exercises, and may keep the workbook at the end of the year. Students who choose not to purchase the workbook must complete all work on separate paper, and may not keep the workbook at the end of the year.

Students are also strongly encouraged to prepare for and take the PSAT this year, for which they will need $15.

The PSAT is a prime opportunity for students to familiarize themselves with the SAT format, and to get an idea of how they might score when taking the SAT for college applications. Students who perform well on the PSAT may be invited to participate in advanced enrichment programs, or even offered scholarship opportunities.

Both $10 for the vocab workbook and the $15 for the PSAT are due to Miss Derby by Friday, Sept. 17. Both cash and checks will be accepted. All checks should be written separately to Sturgis. If paying in cash, no twenties will be accepted.

Vocabulary and Note Taking Unit

On Monday, Sept. 13, all blocks will begin an introductory unit to vocabulary and note taking.

Clicking on the title to this post will take you to a schedule for the unit, including homework assignments. Each "day" of the schedule represents one class period.

Links to other handouts for the unit - including graphic organizers and techniques for studying vocabulary - may be found in the Handouts section of the blog.

Parent Contact Information

Students:
Please email the name, email address, and phone number of at least one parent or guardian to Miss Derby (email address on syllabus) by the end of the day on Friday.


Requirements:
* Use either your Gmail address or the address under which you signed up for Google Docs access.
* Include the letter of your English class block in the subject line of your email (ex. "Block B Contact Info").

Summer Reading Exam

There will be a combined assessment of both the required and choice texts from the summer reading list.

Throughout the week, students will participate in an in-class workshop on how to develop a thesis and an outline for a comparative paper. On the exam date below, students must use the thesis and outline that they have created as the basis for an in-class essay.

Students are strongly encouraged to hone and review their outlines at home prior to their exam date. Please note, however, that students may neither pre-write nor plagiarize any part of their paper. To ensure against either behavior, I will review all outlines during the examination period and require students to turn their outlines in along with their essays.

Exam Dates: 

Block F - Thursday, Sept. 9

Block G, Block B, and Block C - Friday, Sept. 10

Important Note on Blog Use

If you wish to receive email notification of all posts made to this blog, you may choose to 'subscribe' or 'follow' the blog. Widgets for each function can be found in the right-hand column of the blog.

Students are encouraged to sign up for a free Google account to facilitate both this process and the use of Google Docs throughout the year.

School Cancelation and Homework #2

Dear parents and students, please note that Sturgis Charter Public School will be closed on Friday, September 3 due to the probability of heavy rain and the need to prepare for the arrival of a hurricane or strong tropical storm. School will resume on Tuesday, September 7 on a Day 2 schedule.

Students who have not yet completed their summer reading should use the extra time this weekend to do so. Those who have finished their summer reading should take some time over the course of the weekend to refresh their memories on the content of the works read.

Block B, Block C, Block F: Bring Homework #1 and both the required and choice summer reading texts into class on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Block G: We will cover remaining logistics on Tuesday. Bring Homework #1 and both the required and choice summer reading texts into class on Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Homework #1

What is the difference between a comparative essay and comparative literature?

Please take 5 minutes to research both of the underlined terms online. Using 2-3 sources, create and bring your own definition into class.

Block B, Block C, Block F: Due Tuesday, Sept. 7.

Block G: Due Wednesday, Sept. 8.

Welcome parents and students!

We have a big year ahead of us! Luckily, we have this handy blog to help us.

Blog features:

Posts (like this one): These are where you will find information on assignments and assessments. Each post will include a descriptive title, an explanation of the work to be completed, and a due date for the assignment for each section. There are four sections of Pre-IB English II using this site - Ms. Derby's Block B, Block C, Block F, and Block G - so please take extra care to look at the right block when checking due dates.

Gradebook: This link will take you to a current record of each student's progress. This can be checked in lieu of speaking privately, via email, or over the phone with the instructor. To protect student confidentiality, each student will be assigned a random identification number once or twice per quarter.

Handouts: This section will include PDFs of files including the course syllabus, grading rubrics, graphic organizers, and other useful documents.

Links: This is where you can find links to sites containing important information on the Sturgis Charter Public School, the IB, the MCAS, research databases, and other key resources.

Search: This gadget - located in the upper right of the window - allows you to search for posts, handouts, and links on the course blog. This feature is especially helpful when searching for information on specific assignments.

Important note for students:

Please do not assume that you and your friends are all checking the same blog! The blogs for Ms. Derby and Ms. Fenney's classes look very similar and have similar addresses. Course content and assignments, however, will vary. When checking the blog for handouts, assignments, or grades, please ensure that you are viewing the correct site. Ms. Derby's blog can be identified by the blue template and the name "Miss Derby" under the "About Me" section in the bottom right of the window.