Research Papers

Today was our last day to work on our research projects. Your papers are due Monday at the beginning of the class. We will not take class time to work on the papers.

Research Papers

Today in class we continued to work on our research papers. By now you should be starting to type out your paper. Tomorrow, Friday, will be your last day to work on your annotated bibliography, web organizer, research outline and paper. The paper is due at the beginning of class on Monday.

MLA Format

Today in class we went over these MLA format checklists. We also evaluated a paper for proper use of MLA format.

We then spent the rest of the block in class working on our research papers. Annotated bibliographies were due today. The web organizer and outline are due at the beginning of class on Friday. If you have not begun to type your paper by the end of the day tomorrow, you may be a little behind. Your papers are due on Monday.

Annotated Bibliographies and Using Quotations in a Paper

Most of our class time today was spent in the library working on our annotated bibliography assignment. That assignment is due at the beginning of class tomorrow, Wednesday.

We also went over how to integrate quotations into our papers, using this as a guide. This was not worth points, but you might want to get the notes from a classmate.

In-Text Citations

Today in class we went over how to do proper in-text citations for our research papers. We used this as a guide. It is not due, but should be referred to later this week when you work on in-text citations for your papers.

We went over the next part of the assignment: the web organizer and the outline. These are due on Thursday. Be sure to pick up copies of the handouts in class.

We spent the rest of the class in the library working on our annotated bibliography assignment. The five notecards are due at the beginning of class on Wednesday.

Annotated Bibliography

Today in class we began our work on our annotated bibliographies. Here is a guide to the assignment.

MLA Format

Today we worked in groups to learn MLA format for cited works and applied the format to a few practice examples. We used this handout as a guide. This work is not for points and does not need to be made up, but you will be expected to create a properly formatted works cited page for your research papers. Let me know if you need some help.

RIP Notes

Today in class we finished up our practice RIP notes over Shakespeare. Be sure to turn in what you have if you were absent. Then we went to the library to begin our research for our RIP notes on our American author. We'll continue working on this tomorrow as well.

RIP Notes and Databases

Today in class we began our research unit. We chose our American authors for the research and we worked through a practice RIP notes. Those notes are here. You get with a classmate to get those notes. We'll finish up this work tomorrow.

Quizzes and Poetry Portfolios

Today we quizzed over subject-verb agreement and our poetry unit. After our quizzes, we went to the computer lab to type out the five poems we produced over the two weeks of our unit. Your poetry portfolio should include the following five poems:

Invitation poem (from 4/4)

Acrostic poem (4/5)

Chain poem (4/6)

Haiku (4/8)

Found poem (4/13)

Guidance Counseling Presentations

Today in class we heard from our guidance counseling department about post-high school planning. Tomorrow we'll finish up our poetry unit with a quiz over subject-verb agreement, a quiz of over our literary/poetry terms and we'll type out the poems we've written over the past week.

Analysis and Found Poem

We started our class today with some practice with subject-verb agreement.

Then we analyzed some poetry for the literary terms we took notes on last week using this as a guide. The poems can be found here. You will be expected to be able to do something similar on Friday's quiz.

Finally, we finished the day with our last poetry writing assignment. A found poem uses an existing text to provide the language of the poetry. The assignment sheet is here. You can use this copy of Charlie Sheen's recent interview as your text from which to base your poem.

Poetry Stations and Questions

Today's class was run by our practicum teacher, Ms. Lorts. Don't worry about making up her activities. At the end of the class, we answered a few questions concerning the poem we read to the class yesterday. This should be made up.

Poetry Performances

Today in class we read a couple of poems and watched their performances. Then we took some time to some poems individually and then read a poem to the class. If you were absent yesterday, you cannot (and do not need to) make this up. We also finished teaching each other our literary terms, so, if you were absent, be sure to get these notes from a classmate.

Haikus

We started the day off practicing some subject-verb agreement with this handout. Then we took part in a creative writing/haiku activity. Some instructions can be found here. Make sure you include a haiku in your poetry portfolio that we'll turn in next week.

Assembly

Today we attended the "To Save A Life" assembly during first block. Before the assembly, we were able to continue to teach each other our literary terms in small groups, but only a few of them. Make sure you are up to speed on these notes.

Chain Poetry and Literary Terms

Today in class we wrote chain poems in small groups. This cannot (and does not need to) be made up. Then we took some time to teach each other our literary terms in small groups. If you were absent, be sure to get these notes from a classmate.

Subject-Verb Agreement, Acrostics and Literary Terms Research

We started the period with some work on subject-verb agreement using this handout. It is not for points, but it will be the basis of further grammar work, so make sure you know it.

Then we went to the lab to work on a short acrostic poem activity. We also used our lab time to research various poetic/literary terms. No need to make up this research, but be ready to listen and learn from classmates' research tomorrow in class.

Robert Frost and an Invitation Poem

Today's bellwork is here. In small groups, we read and discussed a few poems by Robert Frost. Those poems are here. Your assignment is to write a poem in the model of Frost's The Pasture, which is included on the handout. Here's is a copy of the assignment.

The Great Gatsby Test

Today in class we took our unit test over The Great Gatsby. Afterwards, we finished our work on our character collages while watching some scenes from the film. Have a great weekend!