Prompt for Self Reflection

Hi all:

So here is what I want you to consider when writing your self reflection:

- The novels/poetry/plays you enjoyed, as well as the ones you didn't like AND WHY!
- The areas of improvement you have made this year (analytical writing, text analysis, creative writing, critical reading). Do you feel more confident in your reading/analysis/discussion of works of literature.
- The areas that you still need to develop further.
- The personal journey YOU have taken as a writer in English 11 this year. Ask yourself *honestly* whether you are motivated by the product of writing or by the process of writing? Has this position changed over the year?
- Recommendations/improvements for teaching English 11 in the future!

Good luck - please be as honest and forthright as possible. Don't write what you think I want to hear. Be yourselves!

Thank you for a wonderful year - I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of teaching you all and hope to have the opportunity to assist you further in your educational adventures!

Best,

Mr. T-S

Reminder

Homework for Friday is to read Act III of Henry IV Part I and to submit the 300-500 word college essay draft!

See you on Friday!

MTS

Study guide to Slaughterhouse 5

Hi guys,

So when studying for the test on Tuesday, consider the following aspects about the book that we discussed in class:

- The book as an anti-war novel - what perspectives are being highlighted. Which war did this book want to target?
 -The use of science fiction themes (time travel, aliens) to promote certain philosophies - what is the authors purpose of using science fiction and where are his beliefs presented?
 - The use of non-linear narrative and its impact on the reader

Good luck!

Homework for Wednesday May 2

Please read to the end of chapter 8 in Slaughterhouse 5. We will discuss this chapter in class on Wednesday.

Homework for Friday 4/20

Please read the first chapter of Slaughterhouse Five for Friday.

Thanks,

Mr. T-S

Homework for Tuesday March 27

Please submit a revised version of your in-class writing assignment on Fences. This paper will be graded based on the revision of the argument that you began in class - the expectation is for you to enhance and further illustrate your response. The grade will be a holistic assessment of your in-class and revised paper, looking specifically at how you took your original ideas of the play and developed them further.

Homework for Thursday

Please finish the play - we will perform it in class too!

Homework for Wednesday 3/7

Read Act 1 Scene 3 from Fences for class - we will be performing the it in the class on Wednesday.

Homework for Wednesday 2/15

Please read the Langston Hughes short story for class. We will discuss the story and the context in class.

Homework for Friday 2/3

Bring to class a hard-copy draft of your paper on values and morality - about 2-3 pages, double spaced, 12pt font.

Homework for Friday

Hi all:

Please finish up to chapter 7 and prep for the quiz by considering the relationships in book between the principal characters.

See you Friday,

Mr. T-S

Homework for Monday (1/9)

Over the weekend, please read until the end of chapter 4 in The Great Gatsby. When reading, consider further the concepts we had been talking about in class (e.g. the development of characters, the voice of the narrator etc.). Also, be sure to read carefully - this may only be a few pages but each line is packed with information.

See you on Monday!

Homework for Thursday Jan 5

Please read The Great Gatsby to page 38 - and when reading please consider how reliable Nick is as an author. We will be discussing this in class Thursday.

See you then!

English homework due before break

Hi all:

So, here is a list of the work that is due by the end of next week:

1) You all have received back from me the drafts for the book review - make changes and post it on the community blog by midnight on Friday (12/16)

2) Although some of you have already submitted it, I need you to submit a draft of the critical paper of your independent reading by this Friday (12/9). I will look over them at the weekend and give them back to you next week. You will post the final draft of the paper on the community blog by midnight on Friday (12/16).

3) Go online and choose a poem by Emily Dickinson. Over the next few classes we will be doing recitations of the poem that you choose, and you will also have to spend a couple of minutes explaining why you chose the poem and what you liked about it. Please let me know what poem you chose so we can project in while you present it. This will be a graded oral exercise!

Any questions let me know!

Mr. T-S

Homework for next class

Hi all:

Sorry about missing class today - but hopefully you enjoyed the grammar worksheets :-)

Seeing as I was unable to get the drafts back to you today, you will be unable to post them this weekend on the blog. Instead, please start/continue working on a draft for the formal paper. For next class, please bring in a draft of the paper into class. I will return your drafts from the book review and then you can make the changes and post it on the blog by Thursday. By Thursday's class, I will return to you the drafts of the formal paper and then you can work on it and post it over next weekend.

“Analyze and explain one theme from the novel you read? Don't just give me one word, but a statement, an idea. (please refer to the definitions from our class discussions)
THEN:
Consider one of the major characters. This character does things and says things that address this theme, either directly or indirectly. Describe the character for me (as if I were unfamiliar with the novel) and explain for me, using events in the novel, how this character's actions are used to address this theme. Please refer directly to the book to illustrate and reinforce your argument”

This paper will be between 3&4 pages, double-spaced, one-inch margins, double spaced.

Homework for Wednesday 11/30

Book review:

Please bring into class a copy of a book review of the book from your independent reading over the holiday. Try to find a credible, published source (such as the New York Time Review of Books or a journal article - check JSTOR on the library website) rather than something like a blog. Also, bring in a copy of a book review of your choice. We will spend time in class on Wednesday discussing book reviews and their structure.

Along with the published book reviews, please bring a draft of your own book review with you into class, modeled on the style of the reviews you have found. We will spend time in class peer editing the reviews. The review should be 1-2 pages long, single spaced (12 pt Times New Roman font), or 3-4 pages double spaced.

Homework for Thursday

Hi all:

As mentioned in class, for Thursday please do the following:

1) Finish and post your quarterly reflection on your informal blog by 12am Wednesday
2) Finish reading the stories by Ambrose Bierce - we will discuss them further on Thursday
3) Select your book for Thanksgiving reading - here are your choices once again:
       One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Ken Kesey 
       All the King’s Men - Robert Penn Warren
       Do Android's Dream of Electric Sheep? Philip K. Dick
       The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula LeGuin
       Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger
       The Color Purple - Alice Walker

Homework for Thursday's class

There will be an in-class writing assignment on Kindred on Thursday. Please prepare for this assignment by spending the next couple of days going over your notes and re-reading parts of the book. Also, please read the critical essay by Robert Crossley at the back of the book - this will help you think more critically about the book in preparation for the assignment.

Homework for Thursday

Hi all:

Thank you for keeping up with the reading over the last week. We'll take a small break from reading the book for Thursday and focus on the questions I raised in class:

What is the purpose of the "third" narrative in Kindred (i.e. the part of the story where Dana recalls the development of her relationship with Kevin)? What purpose does this narrative play in the overall story? Why are we being shown how Dana feels about how she met and married Kevin? How does it contribute to the other parts of the story?

Spend a some time re-reading these parts of the book and then think about these questions. Bring into class at least a page worth of notes on these questions as we will discuss it further in Thursday's class. I will ALSO collect your notes to read from (they won't be graded but you will get a check mark for completion).

Also, as a heads up, you will be finishing the book for Tuesday - I'm letting you know now so you can plan the reading accordingly...

Good luck,

Mr. Twomey-Smith

Homework for the weekend

Hi all:

Sorry about missing you last week - was out sick and still not feeling the best.
Homework for the next class - read the first two chapters of Kindred for discussion on Monday.

Homework for Wednesday - continue working on your Whitman-esque poetry and post by Wednesday evening. We can talk about your progress Monday, as you were expected to work on it in last Thursday's class when I was out.

See you Monday!