MAY 11th - MAY 15th 11th Grade Agenda

MONDAY, MAY 11th:
CST Prep
Work on note cards

TUESDAY, MAY 12th:
No Shortened Day!
Correct Unit Four Vocabulary today in class.
CST Prep
Work on note cards

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13th:
CST Prep
Pass out “Unscrambling Adjective Clauses”; this will be due on Friday, May 15th.

THURSDAY, MAY 14th:
CST Prep
Work on thesis statement for research paper.

FRIDAY, MAY 15th:
CST Prep
The “Unscrambling Adjective Clauses” handout is due today.
Work on outline for research paper.

MAY 4th - MAY 8th WEEKLY AGENDA FOR CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION

Monday, May 4th:
Go over Unit 3 in Vocabulary Workshop
Work on Research Project Letter which will be due on Tuesday, May 5th.
Please make this a formal letter addressed to me.
Please include the topic you would like to research.
Please write why you want to do this particular topic for your research paper.
List five questions about your topic you would like to find answers to.
Additional information can be found in THE WRITER’S CHOICE; page 329.

Tuesday, May 5th:
Shortened Day.
Present the Research Project Letter.
Begin research in books, journals, newspapers and the internet.
Record your quotations and information on notecards; the format for notecards can be found in WRITER’S CHOICE; page 328.

Wednesday, May 6th:
Vocabulary Unit 4 will be due today. Go over in class.
Continue working on the notecards.
The target number should be a minimum of fifty notecards.
Progressive check ups on work.


Thursday, May 7th:
Warmup: Write five sentences using words from the Unit 4 vocabulary with subordinate clauses.
Go over “The Unscrambling Adjective Clauses” handouts. This will be due on Tuesday, May 12th.
Continue working on the notecards.


Friday, May 8th:
Warmup: Write five more sentences using words from the Unit 4 vocabulary with subordinate clauses.
Turn in notecards for grade.

Essay Topics for THE BLUEST EYE

SUGGESTED ESSAY TOPICS
FOR
THE BLUEST EYE

1. Analyze how Toni Morrison depicts the ways in which internalized white standards of beauty deform the lives of black girls and women.

2. Analyze the connection between seeing and being seen in THE BLUEST EYE. Note all the references in the book to being watched or the many references to eyes in the novel, the most obvious is the title THE BLUEST EYE. What connection does this have to power - who has it, who doesn’t? What connection does this have to a young girl’s sense of worth or how others may see and value her? Be sure to give specific examples from the book.

3. Most of the female characters in THE BLUEST EYE are emotionally dependent on men in some way except for three notable exceptions: the Maginot Line, China and Poland, the three prostitutes who prey on men. Describe their standing in the community and their attitudes toward themselves and toward each other. What does the prostitutes’ story line seem to say about women and their position in the community?

4. Which is the greatest threat to the children in THE BLUEST EYE, racism or sexism? Give specific examples from the novel to defend your position.

5. To what extent is Cholly to blame for his violence against his family? Which other people or cultural forces might be to blame for his violence? What is the community’s position on blame?

6. The novel, THE BLUEST EYE, has a number of secondary story lines, such as the histories of Geraldine, Junior, Maureen and Soaphead Church, which are intertwined with the main story line of the Breedlove family. Select one of these story lines and explain how it comments on or relates to the main story of Pecola and her family.

7. How does nature function in the story? Is it a benevolent presence against which the events of the novel are contrasted or a potentially malevolent force? Is Morrison’s use of natural imagery hopeful or ironic?

8. Although there are relatively few instances of direct white oppression of blacks in the book, one of the themes in THE BLUEST EYE is the effect of white racism on the black community. Discuss the effect that internalized racism has on the community. Be sure to include specific examples from the novel.

WEEKLY SCHEDULE
APRIL 27th - MAY 1ST
CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION

Monday, April 27th:
Finish presenting your psychology piece today.
Today, WRITER’S CHOICE, 13.2, pages 536 and 537; “Subordinate Clauses”; exercises 2 and 3 will be assigned. This will be due on Thursday, April 30th.

Tuesday, April 28th:
Shortened Day:
Today you will be given a list of essay topics for THE BLUEST EYE, which we will begin working on today.

Wednesday, April 29th:
Continue working on the essay which will be due at the end of the period, along with your Cornell notes for THE BLUEST EYE.

Thursday, April 30th:
Unit 4 Vocabulary will be assigned today. This will be due on Wednesday, May 6th.
Today we are going to the library to begin working on our research paper. This is a major assignment which will take up the rest of the semester. We will be working out of WRITER’S CHOICES; Unit 7; “Prewriting, Planning and Researching”; pages 324.

Friday, May 1st:
Today you must write a formal list of topics to present today as possibilities for research subjects. You will then begin doing research on your topic and compiling bibliography and note cards (WRITER’S CHOICE, pages 327, 328 and 340, 341 and 342). These will be due on Tuesday, May 4th which I will check for accuracy.

APRIL 20th - APRIL 24TH WEEKLY AGENDA
FOR 11TH CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION

Monday, April 20th:
Today we will break into our groups and then begin presenting our “Hot Seats!”
Hot Seat:
Each group, with the five questions for each of the four characters in THE BLUEST EYE will present in front of the rest of the class.
Each student will represent one of the following characters: Pecola, Polly, Cholly or Claudia. The class will ask each student one to three questions about her/his character. The student will answer as that character. The other students in the group will then speak as Toni Morrisson and then answer as the author about that character. Then the next group will get up field questions regarding the four characters.

Tuesday, April 21st:
Shortened day!
Today we will finish “Hot Seat!”
We will break into new groups to read and analyze an article about one of the following topics and how it relates to THE BLUEST EYE: the after effects of rape; the long term effects stemming from the lack of a strong male role model in the lives of children; the dominant cultural definition of beauty and its effect on minorities. On Wednesday we will then present these articles to the rest of the class.

Wednesday, April 22nd:
Presentations of the articles to the rest of the class.

Thursday, April 23rd:
Today you will be given a list of essay topics for THE BLUES EYE which we will then discuss. You will choose one and then begin working on it in class. This essay will be due at the end of class on Friday, April 24th.

Friday, April 24th:
Continue working on your essay.

APRIL 13th - APRIL 17th AGENDA FOR 11th GRADE ENGLISH

Monday, April 13th:
Break into groups and prepare five questions and answers for the following characters from THE BLUEST EYE: Claudia, Pecola, Cholly, and Polly.

Tuesday, April 14th:
Shortened day!
Please bring your Vocabulary book to class today. Unit Three will be assigned and will be due on Friday, April 17th.
Finish up your group work. We will begin our Hot Seat Presentations.

Wednesday, April 15th:
Today my acting class and I will be going on a field trip to the Pasadena Playhouse. Please work on Writer’s Choice; pages 472. 473, 474 and 475; Conjunctions, Coordinating Conjunctions, Correlative Conjunctions and Subordinating Conjunctions.

Thursday, April 16th:
Go over yesterday’s grammar assignment.
Perform your hot seats!

Friday, April 17th:
Finish your hot seat presentations!
Your Unit Three Vocabulary is due today.

MARCH 30th - APRIL 3RD WEEKLY AGENDA FOR
11th GRADE CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION

Monday, March 30th:
Grammar homework will be assigned today: WRITER’S CHOICE; pages 450, 451 and 452; “Action Verbs: transitive and intransitive”; exercises 27, 29, 30 and 31. This assignment will be due on Wednesday, April 1st.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please be sure to do Cornell Notes.

Tuesday, March 31st:
Shortened day!
Warm-up: Write five sentences using your vocabulary words from Unit 2; please write two sentences with transitive verbs and three sentences with intransitive phrases.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please be sure to do Cornell Notes.

Wednesday, April 1st:
Your grammar homework is due today: WRITER’S CHOICE; pages 450, 451 and 452; “Action Verbs: transitive and intransitive”; exercises 27, 29, 30 and 31.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please be sure to do Cornell Notes.

Thursday, April 2nd:
Warm-ups: Write five sentences using five more words from Unit 2; please write three sentences with transitive verbs and two sentences with intransitive verbs.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please be sure to do Cornell Notes.



Friday, April 3rd:
Please be sure to bring your vocabulary book. Unit 3 will be assigned and will be due on April 13th.
When we finish THE BLUEST EYE we will participate in a socratic circle and “Hot Seat!”.

MARCH 23rd - MARCH 27th WEEKLY AGENDA FOR
11TH GRADE CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION
Monday, March 23rd:
Your Unit Two Vocabulary is due today which we will go over in class. Remember: once we go over it in class, you cannot turn the work in late.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please work on your Cornell notes.

Tuesday, March 24th:
Shortened day!
Warm-up: Write five sentences using your vocabulary words from Unit 2.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please work on your Cornell notes.

Wednesday, March 25th:
Grammar homework will be assigned today: WRITER’S CHOICE, pages 450, 451 and 452; “Action verbs:transitive and intransitive”; exercises 27, 29, 30 and 31. This assignment will be due on Friday, March 27th.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please work on your Cornell notes.

Thursday, March 26th:
Warm-ups: Write five sentences using vocabulary words from Unit 2 using both transitive and intransitive action verbs.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please work on your Cornell notes.


Friday, March 27th:
Warm-ups: Write five sentences using vocabulary words from Unit 2 using both transitive and intransitive action verbs.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE. Please work on your Cornell notes.
We are nearing the end THE BLUEST EYE. When we are finished, we will do a Socratic circle and “Hot Seat!”

MARCH 16th – 20th WEEKLY AGENDA FOR CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION


Monday, March 16th:

Read THE BLUEST EYE

Please do your Cornell notes: write a summary of what you have read on the left side of your paper; write questions, predictions and responses on the right side of your paper. On the bottom of your paper please write unfamiliar words and their definitions.

Tuesday, March 17th:

Shortened Day!

Please bring your vocabulary book to class today. Unit 2 will be assigned: please write the word, the definitions and the synonyms and the antonyms on pages 28 – 30. Under “Completing the Sentences” just write out the correct words; under “Synonyms” and “Antonyms” write out the phrases, underline the bold faced words and write the correct vocabulary words; under “Choosing the Right Word” just write out the correct words - you do not need to write out the entire sentences. This will be due on Friday, March 20th.

Read THE BLUEST EYE and be sure to do your Cornell words.

Wednesday, March 18th:

WRITER’S CHOICE; pages 565 – 567; “Diagramming Simple Sentences”; exercises 1 and 2 is due today.

Read THE BLUEST EYE and do your Cornell notes.




Thursday, March 19th:

Warm-up: Write and then diagram five simple sentences using five of your vocabulary words from Unit 2.

Read THE BLUEST EYE and do your Cornell notes.

Friday, March 20th:

Minimum day.

Warm-up: Write and then diagram five simple sentences using five of your vocabulary words from Unit 2.

Read THE BLUEST EYE and do your Cornell notes.

MARCH 9th - MARCH 13th WEEKLY AGENDA FOR CONTEMP-COMP

Monday, March 9th:

Read THE BLUEST EYE
Be sure to do your Cornell notes after each session of reading.

Work on your vocabulary presentations at the end of class.

Tuesday, March 10th:
Shortened Day!

Present your vocabulary word studies.

Wednesday, March 11th:

Read THE BLUEST EYE.
Be sure to do your Cornell Notes after each session of reading.

Assign Unit 2 Vocabulary. Please write the word, the definitions and the synonyms and the antonyms on page_____. Under “Completing the Sentences” just write out the correct words; under “Synonyms” and “Antonyms” write out the phrases, underline the bold faced words and write the correct vocabulary words; under “Choosing the Right Word” just write out the correct words - you do not need to write out the entire sentences. This will be due on Tuesday, March 17th.

Construct a “KNOW/KNOW SOMEWHAT/DON’T KNOW AT ALL” Chart.

Thursday, March 12th:

WRITER’S CHOICES; pages 565 - 567; Diagramming Simples Sentences. Exercises 1 and 2. This will be due on Monday, March 16th.

Read THE BLUEST EYE.
Be sure to do your Cornell Notes.


Friday, March 13th:

Read THE BLUEST EYE.
Be sure to do your Cornell Notes.

MARCH 2nd - MARCH 6th
Weekly Schedule
for
Contemporary Composition

Monday, March 2nd:
Today we will go over last week’s grammar homework: WRITER’S CHOICE; “Subordinate Clauses”; 13.2; Exercises 2 and 3; pages 556 - 558. Remember, you cannot turn in late work after we go over the work in class.
WRITER’S CHOICE; Lesson 3.4; “Writing a Character Sketch”; pages 140 - 143. The assignment is to write a character sketch of someone you know. The sketch should be approximately five paragraphs. This assignment will be due on Wednesday, March 4th.
Read THE BLUEST EYE. Don’t forget to do your Cornell Notes.

Tuesday, March 3rd:
Shortened Day!
Read THE BLUEST EYE.
Today we will inaugurate a new way of learning vocabulary: Everyone will help to look up the vocabulary word and a rotating crew of two will be in charge of writing the vocabulary word and its definition on butcher paper.
Read THE BLUEST EYE. Dont forget to do your Cornell Notes.

Wednesday, March 4th:
Journal:
Using your vocabulary words from Unit One, write five sentences with subordinate clauses.
Your character sketch is due today. Break into groups of four, exchange papers and peer edit. When you get your paper back, rewrite and turn in on Thursday, March 5th.
Read THE BLUEST EYE. Don’t forget to do your Cornell notes.

Thursday, March 5th:
Journal:
Using your vocabulary words from Unit One, write five sentences with subordinate clauses.
Break into groups of five, choose five words from Unit One and prepare either: a song and dance with the words or a scene using the words. The songs and scenes must use the words, must show how the words are used and must convey the meaning of the words.
We will present these tomorrow.
Read THE BLUEST EYE. Don’t forget to do your Cornell notes.

Friday, March 6th:
Present your vocabulary words to the class.
Read THE BLUEST EYE. Don’t forget to do your Cornell notes.

FEBRUARY 23RD - 27TH
AGENDA FOR
CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD:
Go over Unit 4 Vocabulary in class.
Read THE BLUEST EYE
Please be sure to do your Cornell notes: a brief summary on the left side of your page, your reaction to what you have read on the right side, and unfamiliar vocabulary words and their definitions at the bottom of the page.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH:
Shortened Day:
Go over the grammar homework from Friday:
Read THE BLUEST EYE
Please be sure to do your Cornell notes: a brief summary on the left side of your page; your reaction to what you have read on the right side, and unfamiliar vocabulary words and their definitions at the bottom of the page.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH:
WRITER’S CHOICE will be checked out to you today. 13.2; “Subordinate Clauses”; exercises 2 and 3 will be assigned and will be due on Friday, February 27th.
Read THE BLUEST EYE
Please be sure to do your Cornell notes: a brief summary on the left side of your page; your reaction to what you have read on the right side, and unfamiliar vocabulary words and their definitions at the bottom of the page.



THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 26TH:
WRITER’S CHOICE; Lesson 3.4; “Writing a Character Sketch” pages 140-143. The assignment is to write a brief character sketch (about four paragraphs) of someone one know. This assignment will be due on Monday, March 1st.
Read THE BLUEST EYE
Please be sure to do your Cornell notes: a brief summary on the left side of your page; your reaction to what you have read on the right side, and unfamiliar vocabulary words and their definitions at the bottom of the page.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27TH:
Read THE BLUEST EYE
Please be sure to do your Cornell notes: a brief summary on the left side of your page; your reaction to what you have read on the right side, and unfamiliar vocabulary words and their definitions at the bottom of the page.

CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION
WEEKLY AGENDA
FOR
FEBRUARY 16TH - 20TH

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH:
Day off!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17TH:
Shortened day!
Vocabulary Unit One is due today.
Read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE
Please be sure to keep up with your Cornell Notes: A brief summary is written on the left; the response to what you have just read is written on the right; plus, vocabulary, etc. at the bottom.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH:
Go over the "Completing the Sentence" section of the vocabulary homework.
Continue to read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE, and of course, work on your Cornell Notes.
Check out your ENGLISH WORKSHOP (this is your grammar book). An assignment will be given to you.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH:
Go over "Synonyms" and "Antonyms" in Unit One in VOCABULARY WORKSHOP.
Continue to read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE and of course, work on your Cornell Notes.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20TH:
Go over "Finding the Right Word" section of the vocabulary homework.
Continue to read and discuss THE BLUEST EYE and of course, work on your Cornell Notes.

Weekly Agenda
for
June 20th
Contemporary Composition

Monday, June 20th:

Your reading logs for Chapters 12, 13, 14 and 15 will be due today. Chapters 13, 14, and 15 were your weekend reading assignments. We will read Chapter 16 during class. For homework tonight you must finish reading the “Christine” portion of the book and and do your reading log.


Tuesday, June 21st:

Your adverbial clause handouts will be due today. We will briefly go over the homework, and discuss last night’s reading, and then once again plunge into Yellow Raft in Blue Water. We will begin reading “Ida”. You must be current on your reading. We may start having pop quizzes on the reading and many of you cannot afford to accrue any more low grades.

Wednesday, June 22nd:

Read Yellow Raft in Blue Water, plus do your reading log.


Thursday, June 23rd:

We will finish reading Yellow Raft in Blue Water today.

Those students who are leaving early (Kayla Bodden and Phylicia Wissa) must turn in their notebooks, their Yellow Raft in Blue Water reading log, their essay over Yellow Raft in Blue Water and take their final which will be over Yellow Raft in Blue Water.


Friday, June 24th:

Your notebook is due today. You will be given a test over vocabulary unit 11 today.

Your final wil include your reading log, a test and an essay over Yellow Raft in Blue Water.

Contemporary Composition
June 13th Weekly Agenda


Monday, June 13th:

2nd Period: Pass out “Adjective Clauses” handouts; assign Practice 1; exercises 1 - 8; the additional assignment is to write three original sentences using adjective clauses. This will be due on Wednesday, June 15th.

4th Period: You already received this, so your copy will be due on Tuesday, June 14th.

For extra credit: You may break into groups of four and do a word study using five of your vocabulary words.

Discuss Yellow Raft, Blue Water; don’t forget your reading log!

Continue reading Yellow Raft; read the next chapter for homework tonight.


Tuesday, June 14th:

Shortened day!

Your Unit 11 is due today! The test over Unit 11 will be after we finish the book, Yellow Raft, Blue Water.

4th Period: Your adjective clause homework is due.

Continue reading Yellow Raft, Blue Water.


Wednesday, June 15th:

2nd Period: Your adjective clause homework is due today.

For both periods: The “Adverbial Clause” handout will be given. Practice 1 will be assigned plus the additional assignment of writing three original sentences using adverbial phrases. This will be due on Friday, June 17th.

Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water. Read the next chapter for homework and of course, do not forget your reading log.


Thursday, June 16th:

Journal: Write an original story using ten of your vocabulary words.

Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water. Read the next chapter for home work.




Friday, June 17th:

Collect homework, “Adverbial Clause” handouts. Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water.

For homework, read the next two chapters. You must be finished with “Christine” by Monday, June 20th. Don’t forget your reading log! This will be due on the day of the final.

June 6th Weekly Agenda
for
Contemporary Composition

Monday, June 6th:

Everyone must finish reading “Rayona” in Yellow Raft, Blue Water. Be sure to do your reading log.
Assign grammar; ”Sentences Classified by Structure”; pages 93 - 97; exercises 10 and 11. This will be due on Thursday, June 9th.


Tuesday, June 7th:

Assign Unit 11 in your vocabulary book. This will be due on Tuesday, June 14th. The test over Unit 11 will be on Thursday, June 16th.
Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water; don’t forget your reading log! This will be a major part of your grade!


Wednesday, June 8th:

A little poetry today to break up the routine. A little Plath, anyone?
Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water. Reading logs.


Thursday, June 9th:

Grammar due today! “Sentences Classified by Structure” - Oh joy! What fun!
Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water. Reading logs.


Friday, June 10th:

A little fun grammar game that you guys love so much!
Back on board that yellow raft to see more blue water!
Reading logs.

Depending on how well we do on reading, we may start reading over the weekend.

Don’t forget your vocabulary! It’s due on Tuesday, June 14th.

May 22nd Weekly Agenda

May 22nd Weekly Agenda
for
Contemporary Comprehension



Monday, May 22nd:

Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water
Reading log


Tuesday, May 23rd:

Periods 4, 5 and 6 only
Final day of testing: Science


Period 4:

Unit 10 Vocabulary test
Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water
Reading log


Wednesday, May 24th:

Regular schedule

Period 2:

Unit 10 Vocabulary test

Periods 2 and 4:

Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water
Reading log


Thursday, May 25th

Please bring grammar book.
Assign adverbial clause; this will be due on Tuesday, May 31st.
Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water
Reading log.


Friday, May 26th:

Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water
Reading log.

May 16th Weekly Schedule
for
11th Grade
Contemporary Composition


Monday, May 16th:

Grammar homework is due: “Appositives”; exercise 17 and “Review Exercise A”;
pages 71 - 79.

Read Yellow Raft, Blue Water; reading logs!



Tuesday, May 17th:

NO PERIOD 2 ON TUESDAY
PERIOD 4 MEETS FOR 26 MINUTES (12:11 - 12:37)



Wednesday, May 18th:

Period 2 meets from 1:16 to 2:16
Read!
No period 4 today!



Thursday, May 19th:

Period 2 meets from 1:16 to 2:16
Read!
No period 4 today!



Friday, May 20th:

Regular schedule!

Unit 10 Vocabulary test today!
Then read!

for
Contemporary Composition


Monday, May 9th:

Bring your grammar books. We are going to go over “infinitives” page 74; exercise 14. This is going to be due on Tuesday, May 10th.
Finish reading “Young Goodman Brown”
Begin reading Yellow Raft in Blue Water. Don’t forget your reading log!


Tuesday, May 10th:

Your grammar homework will be due.
Cat-6 prep test
Read Yellow Raft in Blue Water.


Wednesday, May 11th:

Cat-6 prep test
Read Yellow Raft in Blue Water
Don’t forget reading log!


Thursday, May 12th:

Your vocabulary unit 10 will be due. Vocabulary test will be on Tuesday, May 17th.
Bring your grammar book! “Appositive phrases”; pages 77 - 79; exercise 17 and Review Exercise A; this will be due on Monday, May 16th.
Read Yellow Raft in Blue Water.


Friday, May 13th:

Bring your vocabulary book. Write a short story using ten of your vocabulary words.
Read Yellow Raft in Blue Water

May 2nd Weekly Schedule
for Contemporary Composition

Monday, May 2nd:

Read “Young Goodman Brown”
Go over Friday’s homework in Warriner’s Grammar; pages 70 and 71.
Assign pages 72 and 73; exercise 14; “The Infinitive”; due Wednesday.



Tuesday, May 3rd:

Test over Vocabulary Unit 9
CST prep questions
Finish reading “Young Goodman Brown”



Wednesday, May 4th:

Warriner’s Grammar; pages 72 and 73; exercise 14; “The Infinitive” is due.
Assign pages 74; exercise 15; “How the Infinitive is Used”; due Friday.
Start reading new book!



Thursday, May 5th:
Minimum day today! Open House tonight from 6 to 8.

Assign Vocabulary Unit 10. Will be due on Wednesday, May 11th.
Read new book! (And keep a reading log!)



Friday, May 6th:

Quickly go over grammar, page 74; exercise 15!
Read!