5/31 just a quickie

Last day of May!

I'm almost finished grading ESC and Capstone essays for juniors, which is all I need to finish prior to attacking the finals. I should be grading finals tomorrow. I will post grades for things tomorrow as well and probably send out some emails. Not all pieces will prompt emails, though, so if you want to ask me something after your grade posts, please do so.

It's almost over....

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5/30 the post-exam edition

Some grading notes:

• Don't expect the exams to be graded in the morning. They won't be. (Maybe Thursday...)
• Juniors: T-shirt grades are negatively impacted by failure to turn in or fully develop written explanation.
• Sophs: I am missing several CR journals!
• Extra Credit from this weekend is not yet added into grade.
• Sophs: CR "Fishbowl" essays have become extra credit.
• Most old grades are now on PS. I could be missing one or two. If you think something is missing that should not be, please email me immediately, preferably including a copy of the missing work.

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5/29 taking advantage while the net is up

Doing this quickly while I can, since I do not know if the net will go out again in fifteen seconds or not.

Juniors: Here is the link to your final exam questions. I have instructed the proctors to allow the Barth story and your WW pieces as well as handwritten notes, books, and graded essays.

Sophomores: Here is the link to your final exam questions.


Good luck!

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5/28 Weekend Update #3

Important message for Juniors:

As of 4:50, only 2/3 of the class has responded to the exam survey. While the majority does favor getting the prompt this afternoon, I cannot in good conscience provide an advantage that enormous when a third of the class will not receive it. (Sorry!)

It's OK. You will have tomorrow evening to prep the exam. And I will tell you this much: the "Lost in the Funhouse" question will be the subject of group discussion for the entire period tomorrow. If you spend time this evening exploring the layers of meaning within that story, you will bring more to your group and help yourself to answer the essay question far more substantially.

Note: I am aware that there are online sources to help with this story. Anyone whose essay sounds like these sources will lose a significant percentage of its grade.

See you tomorrow!

Don't forget the Course Evaluation!

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5/27 weekend update #2

For the link to the course evaluation and the extra credit, check yesterday's blog post.

Today we will discuss your final exams.

Sophomores:


The exam will consist of two or three essay questions that will ask you to discuss issues and concepts related to the literature we have read this year from the novels to the poetry in Sound and Sense to the short stories in Short Fiction.

We brainstormed a list of stories on Friday and I am sorry to say that I did not copy it down. If someone did, please email it to me and I will put the full list on here. But some titles I recall are:

• "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"
• The Kate Chopin Stories
• "Girl"
• "Barbie-Q"
• "Car Crash While Hitchhiking"
• "Hills Like White Elephants"
• "The Cask of Amontillado"
• "The Fall of the House of Usher"
• "The Yellow Wallpaper"
• "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"

You do not need to be thoroughly familiar with everything we have read. No essay will ask you to discuss any story specifically. You will be given questions such as:

Select any two pieces of literature we have read this year and discuss the author's choice of narrator. What does this choice do to add to the objective of the story?

As you can see, this kind of question can be answered with almost any two books or stories and in many different ways. So in order to study for this exam what you should do is this:

• Review all of what you have read, especially the books.
• Decide on a few of the stories and a few of the poems to focus on, and review these more carefully and in more detail. Review the books too, but obviously this is more a matter of reminding yourself what they were about and what the writing style and characters were.
• Use a highlighter to find and prepare interesting quotes in these pieces that you might fine useful, depending on the question you are asked.
• Don't try to do everything; it will drive you crazy. Just do a few things really well.

I have not yet written the actual questions. If you check tomorrow for Update #3, I will have done so and can be more specific.

Juniors:


Your final exam will consist of two questions. You will receive both questions in advance and be able to prep your answers fully. I have not decided whether to give them to you on Tuesday or perhaps to give them to you tomorrow. Tomorrow gives you more time but it ruins your Memorial Day. Please take a second to let me know your preference by going to Edline and voting.

There will be an update tomorrow either way.

CollegeHumor’s Favorite Funny Videos

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5/26 weekend update #1

OK. This is the first of what may be a few blog updates this Memorial Day Weekend.

Currently we are at the tail end of some thunderstorms passing through the area; the weather report says we may expect scattered storms much of the day but, hey, I'm an optimist: let's say it is going to be a nice day because tomorrow and Monday are going to be HOT. (And for some reason I agreed to play tennis tomorrow morning when I know it's supposed to be heading to 94 degrees.) Oy!

Anyway:

First of all, don't forget that you need to take some time this weekend to fill out the Course Evaluation located on Edline.

About that extra credit stuff:

Your three options are...

Vocabulary-Focused X-Credit:


Create a song/rap using as many of our vocabulary words as you can in a way that makes it obvious that you understand both their usage and their meanings. Then either record yourself singing it or make a music video of it

Literature-based X-Credit:

Create an online Literature Portfolio using prezi.com:

• Select a short story (sophs) or poem/poems (juniors)
• Find illustrations that connect to key elements and themes from it
• Write brief illuminating segments that help examine themes
• Show quotations from the story or poem
• Use prezi to connect to other pages/links/videos/etc. that might help clarify or illuminate your points.
• Prezi is a very flexible site: use it to make your exploration fun and enjoyable.

Crossover (Lit and Vocab) Extra Credit:

With a partner, write a script for a scene based on one of the pieces of shared literature we have read: a short story, a scene from a novel, etc. For juniors, it might be the trip to Cork from Portrait  or Antigone's confrontation with Creon. For sophomores, it could be something from any of our short stories or perhaps a scene from Catcher in the Rye. In this scene, use as many vocabulary words as possible in ways that show that you know their meanings and usages. The scene can (and probably should) be silly. Record yourselves performing the scene.

Here is an old example of a rap done with vocab words:

More to come later as I check back with information about final exams...

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5/25 last friday

I will post a real Memorial Day Weekend this is how you study for your finals etc. sort of message tomorrow (Saturday), so check back. This one is just a quickie because I need to get out of the building quickly this afternoon and will lack the time to do it properly.

Call it a thank god this long week is over sort of message.

Here is the link to the Course Evaluation.

:

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5/24 Thursday (maybe)

Another day. Same message. (See yesterday!)

Here's Fun. doing "Call Me Maybe":





And here's a supercut of...well...just about everyone doing it:

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5/23 senior seyonara

It will be a lot less crowded around here tomorrow...

Juniors:  Continuing capstones and ESC papers (due Friday, remember?). Here is the link to the John Barth story! We are trying to deal with it in class, but I do not know if we will be able to get to it all.

Sophs: We got 10 (!) speeches done today. More tomorrow!

With the seniors leaving, I thought a Commencement Speech might be appropriate. It's long but it's funny:

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5/22 oh it's getting closer

SENIORS: IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SHOWN YOUR PRESENTATION, YOU MUST DO SO TOMORROW!!!!

Juniors: It's Capstone and ESC week! ESC papers are due Friday and Capstones...well, you know...  Also: here is the link to the John Barth story. Read it and remember: it is intentionally confusing; Barth is breaking all of the narrative rules as he writes it. (Also: mentally replace the n-word with "slaves"; it is not a whole lot better, I know, but it helps some.)

Sophomores: Time for your speeches!  You know the order, but anyone may have to speak tomorrow!

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5/21 walk on

Just know when you are suppose to present. That's all you need to know from here!

Check the calendar below, folks!!!

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5/18 last normal weekend

There are a lot of "lasts" this time of year. :-)

Film: We did not quite finish "Annie Hall" today. There are about five minutes remaining, which means that the conclusion to Alvy's part of the story has not occurred. As the topic of the extra credit assignment has to do with how the film techniques help tell the story (see yesterday's blog entry), you really need to finish the entire film. Thus: I will show the ending at the start of class on Monday. And you have two alternatives:

1. Wait until then and do the extra credit essay by Wednesday.
2. Watch the ending somehow over the weekend and do it as scheduled (for Monday).

Either way, we start presentations on Monday. Check the schedule. Everyone's projects are due and must be in on Monday.

E2CP: We worked on presenting speeches today. Strong suggestion:

• Make note cards that include in large printing 
• All salient facts, stats, quotes (on individual cards)
• All major elements, points, transitions (on individual cards)
• The key parts of your intro and conclusion (on individual cards)
• You may use these cards to help to move along in your speech without having to try to remember every single word you wrote and yet maintain a strong sense of the integrity of your speech.
• PRACTICE THE SPEECH OVER AND OVER USING THESE CARDS.

E3H: We finished the film today. You are responsible for it on the final. We begin CAPSTONES on Monday!

Super use of Senior Yearbook Quotes!

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5/17 time keeps on slipping, slipping, slipping...

Film: Projects are due Monday!!  We are watching Annie Hall. This film is available for EXTRA CREDIT. In order to receive such credit:

• Explore how the specific directorial techniques used by Woody Allen help him tell the story
• Show examples in your essay of these techniques using available stills from the film.
• Email all papers to me by Monday.
• Papers will be run through turnitin.com; any paper lifted in whole or in part from internet sources will be discarded.

E2CP: We worked on speeches and how to perform them. New drafts due tomorrow!!! In class tomorrow we will be working on presentation. Be sure to have your Draft 3 with you and all facts/stats/quotes/etc. on note cards. 

E3H: We are watching Macbeth. If you will miss tomorrow or have missed today or yesterday, you should definitely find a way to see this film before the final. Failing to do so will limit your options during the exam. 

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5/15 if it's tuesday this must be, um, tuesday

I'm seriously running out of anything at all interesting to say, which will not prevent me from saying it. Follow me if you dare on Twitter @sunspark.

Film: We finished "Casablanca" today and your project dates are posted on the calendar. Tomorrow we'll begin our Very Last Movie.

E2CP: Speeches Draft @ are due tomorrow. Mrs. Obiala will let me know who has one and who does not. COLOR KEY IS REQUIRED!!!! If it is not partially in color, bolded, or highlighted, she will be instructed not to count it as a second draft.


E3H: Watching Macbeth.

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5/14 penultimate Monday of the school year

It's true. Check your calendars.

Meanwhile:

Film: We're watching "Casablanca." Check the HW Calendar for the order of Final Projects. NB: Everyone must have projects completed and in school on Monday.


E2CP: Too many did not have a draft with them today. Have it tomorrow!


E3H: Nice discussions today!  Moving on tomorrow!

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5/12 prom eve and Mother's Day weekend

It's the day before prom. Also known in some quarters as: the day juniors get to pretend they are seniors.


ALL: IF YOU HAVE NOT LET ME KNOW YET ABOUT YOUR FILM PROJECT STATUS OR YOUR JUNIOR CAPSTONE STATUS, YOU MUST DO SO TODAY BY EMAIL!!!


Film: There were actually five people here! So we started watching Casablanca. We watched about 42 minutes of the movie, past Ilsa's arrival and to the part where Rick asks Sam to play "As Time Goes By." You can find this movie in many places. Try to catch up to us over the weekend! And have a great time at Prom.

E2CP: Today was Research Check #2. Monday is Draft One and Map. Go go go!

E3H: Today was RW. (last one!) :-(  Have a safe and wonderful weekend!



MOTHER'S DAY SURPRISES:















And some Jimmy Fallon:

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5/10 new music thursday

I found some cool music videos today. Take a look (and listen) below for some wonderful things.

Film:  I must hear from each of you TODAY  regarding your choice of projects.


E2CP: We'll be grading the second research check tomorrow. Why not start that script tonight?

E3H: So, we're finished with Macbeth. Whatever shall we do now? Well...guess what? Tomorrow is a Reading Workshop. Inviolable. Indelible. Immovable. (and the very last one!)

This group calls itself Pentatonix:






This is an 18-year-old high school student named Heather Traska:

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5/9 wednesday...three weeks left

OMG!

Film:  The Tenenbaums march on. If I don't have your video I cannot grade it!

E2CP: We watched sample speeches today. I'll be grading your more organized research notes tomorrow.

E3H: Macbeth is at war! We finish the play tomorrow!

Here are some things that you should just stop saying or doing.

And here are two guys talking about more things you shouldn't say:



And here's news from today from the President:

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5/8 counting down the days

Not much new at this end. Have I seen everyone who needs to see me about whatever you need to see me about?

Film: More Tenebaums today. I need all videos and write-ups. I need to know this week what you will be doing.

E2CP: If I did not see your research today, I need to see it tomorrow. We are in the classroom tomorrow. We'll talk about how to actually write one of these things.

E3H: Last day to see me about serious capstone issues. I need to know this week whether you will be doing yors in writing. Also: where are your ESC conferences????

RIP Maurice Sendak.

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