Happy Everything

I'll miss you all but enjoy break. See you in 2015!

Xoxo

ROOF

Hope you enjoyed today's College Panel - thanks to those of you who asked questions!!

ROOF tomorrow!!!

xoxo

Sorry About the Test Today...

...but it had to happen.

Be ready for your class' debate tomorrow.  Have quality research from quality sources and be ready to defend your position.

Thursday we will have a College Panel so think of any and all questions you have for current college students.

Friday = R.O.O.F.

xoxo

Debate Topics and MWF

Gosh I loved seeing all of you little MWF's wander about and make people's days.  Yay!!!

Debate topics were chosen:
2nd & 3rd - teen drinking and fines for parents
4th - medical consent for minors
6th - CIA and toture
7th - legalization of prostitution (and apologies to y'all...I was sassy and irritated beyond my own recognition.  Sorry.  I do believe in each of you.)

I'll see y'all tomorrow for Day 2 of MWF.  Yeow!!!

xoxo

Read the Weekend Work Post!

Thursday Tantrum

Kinda got mad at you in my own way about the lack of effort some of you are displaying.  Remember that connections matter and those who pay attention get noticed for all the right reasons.

Tomorrow have your thematically appropriate SAS  - Winter Traditions Around the World.  I look forward to hearing what you find.

MWF starts Monday so get your creative and thoughtful ideas prepared.

xoxo

Weekend Work

To do or not to do?  That is the question...

Before Monday, please read the Classification and Division essay Going to the Movies by Susan Allen Toth.  Pay attention to the characteristics that make it that particular rhetorical mode.

Also read the brilliant Alice Walker's essay Beauty: When the Other Dancer Is the Self.  Don't worry about the last page in the PDF - it's another teacher's homework assignment.  Pay attention here to how this is the rhetorical mode of Definition.  Characteristics, qualities, etc.

Thank you and have a great weekend!

p.s. - MWF starts Monday so get your gift-giving self ready!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday Warriors

Anna Quindlen's essay Between the Sexes, A Great Divide is what we used today as an example of the rhetorical mode of compare and contrast.  Make sure you are creating and taking notes on all of the modes.  Use the Readings for Writers book.  It's quite handy.

I'm in the holiday mood, so I will likely be posting more thoughtful gift ideas just for fun.  And I think Friday's SAS should be thematically linked to "Traditions Around the World".  Use that as your guide.

I'll see y'all on the flipside.

xoxo

p.s. - shoutout to YOU, YOU know who YOU are, right???

p.p.s. - I want everyone to comment.  I'm checking....

Tuesday Topics

Today's TED Talk centered on my favorite topic:  FOOD.  Rewatch and pay attention.

Tomorrow, bring your Norton Reader to class.  We'll be reading an essay from it.  (You'll need it in class on Thursday as well.)

Mysterious Winter Figure Guidelines:

• Your assigned person is Top Secret so don't get loose lips,
• Starting Monday 12/15, leave a thoughtful little something for your person,
• Try not to spend money - it's a gift, remember,
• Gifts left Monday 12/15-Friday 12/19,
• On that Friday (the 19th), SIGN your name on your gift or deliver it in person.

How to deliver the gifts:

• Use me or Posternack to help - he can give me stuff when I arrive period 1 and I can distribute it throughtout the day,
• Have a classmate in the class help you especially if the are in the same class period as you,
• Deliver it yourself but early to the class they have...

Too fun!!

xoxo

Monday Musings

The past weekend was great...Hope you feel the same.

Tons of information below.  I'll be posting some ideas for MWF if you need ideas for thoughtful gifts - i.e., items that don't cost money but do take time.  And since we read Joan Didion's piece in class today, "On Going Home" make sure you have all the discussion points answered and have created a flow chart.

If you were absent, the points were:

• When is the Description mode used?
• How do you write a Description?
• What is the theme of the text?
• Create a flow chart of the experiences that Didion describes.  Have experience A flow to B to C, etc.  
• Do you think parents today can give their children "home"?  What is "home" to you?

MWF Thoughtful Ideas

• handwritten or typed note that compliments your recipient
• a jar of compliments
• an inspirational quote a day with a piece of candy or gum attached
• a handmade hide and seek puzzle that has inspirational words in it
• a single flower
• a homemade treat (check allergies!!)
• a cup of cocoa delivered to them or a cup and a packet to make themselves
• a candy cane with a sweet thought attached
• a lollipop with a good deed you completed in their honor
• a list of really awesome funny videos that you've linked so all they do is click for a laugh
• their initials made from whole crayons that you glue to the paper
• a hand planted succulent in a little container
• a cup of tea

I'll post more as I think of them.  My personal favorite...a compliment a day that ends with a jar full of compliments that they can keep forever and read when they need it.

xoxo

Friday Love and Requests

Morning -

I'm posting during period 1 so I have no idea how the Shark Tank SAS is going to go.  But I'm a person who believes in all things - like love and light and gifts from the unlikeliest of places - so I'm going to go out on a limb and say, "Good job."

On Monday please bring The Norton Reader  to class.  We're going to be reading an essay in class.  Thank you!!

xoxo (for GC)

Characteristics of the Modes

Compare your characteristics created in class today to the ones listed from The Riverside Reader.  And if you are so inclined and are motivated to do what an AP Lang student should do, you can use Readings for Writers and read the sections on each of the modes.  Some would argue that I should read and organize all the information and present it to you in let's say, Power Point form, but this is an AP class, college bound babies.

For Shark Tank SAS tomorrow, keep in mind that you are presenting an idea or a concept or an invention that has value and worth to society.  Please write down your ideas/thoughts on an index card that will be turned in tomorrow.  I will select presenters based on an arbitrary inkling.  You may also include a dollar amount if you feel you can put a price tag on your work.

And don't forget that your 2 page One Word assignment is due tomorrow as well.

xoxo

P.S. - Cool contest for $2500...check it out.

Song for the Special

Follow this link to Marina Keegan's essay "Song for the Special" in case you were absent from class today.  Tomorrow all of you need to have Keegan's work with you - ANNOTATED and also have a precis written.  We'll be using them at the beginning of class.

Also, please bring your blue Readings for Writers book for the first time EVER to class.  We're going to be reading a couple pages from it to save me the horror of going to the copy room.

Enjoy the beautiful rain!
xoxo

p.s - fill out the MWF form online (a post from Monday) otherwise your assigned MWF won't know your likes or preferences.  Please INCLUDE YOUR NAME!!

The Power of Introverts

The TED Talk today was about the power of introverts.  Made this introvert's heart sing.  Make sure on Friday that you have your Shark Tank like idea ready for presentation.

Your two page One Word assignment is also due Friday.  Sorry Cole!  xoxo

Also, please make sure that you fill out your Likes and Preferences for Mysterious Winter Figure.  Include your name!!!!!

Some Things

Welcome back!!  14 more days until winter break.  I am so excited!!!!

The One Word assignment was explained today - see me or a classmate for the details.  Due Friday, final draft, blue or black ink please.

Also, those of you who want to participate in MWF can fill out the form below. I don't know if it will work, so let me know if it doesn't.

Fill out the form here.  Make sure you sign your name.  It will only be sent to me so no one else will know!!!

xoxo