10/30/15

• POW: Italian sonnet. 
• Assignment: On the back of your annotated poem, write a paragraph explaining how the speaker's perspective shifts. Poems & paragraphs were turned in.
• 2A: "Holy Sonnet 5" by John Donne
• 4A: "Fairy Tale Logic" by A.E. Stallings

• Short Fiction: Discussion of assigned story.   
• 2A finished presentations on elements of fiction notes.
• Assignment (everyone): Choose the two elements of fiction that are most prominent to you. On one side of your paper, write up your insights about one element. Put your ideas about the other element on the other side of the paper. 
• HW due Tues. 11/3/15: Make a list of topics that are presented in your assigned story. From this list, write two original themes that the work presents. Here is the handout on theme as an element of fiction and how to write themes.
• 2A: "56-0" by T.C. Boyle
• 4A: "Araby" by James Joyce

• College Admissions Essays: Writing conferences have been concluded. Your final paper must be turned in by Wed. 11/4/15.

10/28/15

• POW: Italian sonnet. Focus on shift and speaker's situation, but complete the usual full analysis for Fri. 10/30/15.
• 2A: "Holy Sonnet 5" by John Donne
• 4A: "Fairy Tale Logic" by A.E. Stallings

• College Admissions Essays: Most writing conferences have been concluded (check schedule here) and final drafting stage is underway. Your final paper must be turned in by Wed. 11/4/15.

• Short Fiction: "We Show What We Have Learned" by Clare Beams
• The elements of fiction presentations are underway. You are responsible for the terminology, so get notes on the definitions / examples you might have missed. We will continue notes on Wednesday.
• HW for Fri. 10/28/15- Read the story assigned to your class and annotate for the elements of fiction.
• 2A: "56-0" by T.C. Boyle
• 4A: "Araby" by James Joyce

10/26/15

• POW: Italian sonnet. Focus on shift and speaker's situation, but complete the usual full analysis.
• 2A: "Holy Sonnet 5" by John Donne
• 4A: "Fairy Tale Logic" by A.E. Stallings

• College Admissions Essays: Most writing conferences have been concluded (check schedule here) and final drafting stage is underway. Your final paper must be turned in by Wed. 11/4/15.

• Short Fiction: "We Show What We Have Learned" by Clare Beams
• The elements of fiction presentations are underway. You are responsible for the terminology, so get notes on the definitions / examples you might have missed. We will continue notes on Wednesday.

10/22/15

• POW
• 2A: "My Cathedral" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• 4A: XV by John Barlas
• In-class assignment: Write an explanation of the shift in the poem. This was turned in along with the annotated poem.

• College Admissions Essays: First drafts are currently under review. You should have a conference date (check schedule here) to discuss your paper with me.

• Short Fiction: "We Show What We Have Learned" by Clare Beams
• Groups collaborated for elements of fiction presentations which will start on Monday.

10/20/15

• POW: HW due Thurs. 10/22/15- Analysis of Italian sonnet. Focus on shift, but complete the usual analysis.
• 2A: "My Cathedral" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
• 4A: XV by John Barlas

• College Admissions Essays: First drafts are currently under review. You should have a conference date (check schedule here) to discuss your paper with me.

• Short Fiction: "We Show What We Have Learned" by Clare Beams
• Discussion
• Clarification questions assignment
• Groups for elements of fiction presentations
• HW due Thurs 10/22/15: Begin making notes / researching your assigned section of the elements of fiction list. 

10/16/15

• POW
• Discussion / review of English sonnet essay test
• Discussion / notes on this week's Italian sonnet. We will work with the Italian sonnet for the next few weeks.

• College Admissions Essays: First drafts are currently under review. You should have a conference date (check schedule here) to discuss your paper with me.

• New Unit: Short Fiction
• Notes: List of  elements of fiction
• In-class reading: "We Show What We Have Learned" by Clare Beams
• Homework due Tues. 10/20/15: 
• Complete a second reading of the story, noting the following:

• unfamiliar vocab
• elements of fiction you happen to notice (plot, setting, conflict, character, point of view, theme, mood, tone)
• literary devices and their effect(s)
• 
  
• Write at least 3 clarifying questions. These are questions to which you might not know the answer but realize that the answer could clarify meaning in the story.

10/14/15

• Beowulf Exam

• College Admissions Essays: First drafts are currently under review. You should have a conference date (check schedule here) to discuss your paper with me.

• HW due Fri. 10/16/15: POW- Research Italian sonnet form and apply it to the poem. Also, annotate for vocab, shift, structure, devices, and topic / poetic idea.
• 2A: "If Thou Must Love Me" by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
• 4A: "Read History" by Edna St. Vincent Millay

10/9/15

• Because of the legislative presentation, today's Beowulf exam has been postponed to Wed. 10/9/15. Make sure you use this extra time to STUDY!

• If you are thinking about attending Texas State University next year, consider attending one of these meetings with a rep:

10/7/15

• Beowulf
• In-class assignment: Genres in Beowulf (turned in today)
• TEST will be Friday 10/9/15
• Get the Study Guide here
• Here is the answer key for the character test
• Here is the pronunciation list for the characters and here is a video where I pronounce them for you. (The test will not ask you pronunciation, but this might help you review.)

• College Admissions Essay 
• First draft was turned in today. I should have received a hard copy of your essay (handwritten or typed) by class time whether you were present in class or not.
• Conference sign-up: Make sure you have scheduled a time to conference with me about your essay. There is a sign-up sheet in 143. Conferences will take place from Thurs. 10/8/15 - Wed. 10/28/15.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Tues. 10/13/15: Information night for UT and TAMU @ WISD Boardroom, 6 pm

ALERT for Job Shadowers

10/5/15

• Beowulf
• TEST will be Friday 10/9/15
• Get the Study Guide here
• Here is the answer key for the character test
• Discussion / detailed notes for "The Struggle Between Order and Chaos in Beowulf" by John Halverson. Use this guide sheet to make sure your notes are complete.

• College Admissions Essay
• Q&A 
• Resources:
• ApplyTexas University Search (application requirements by school)
• 8 Tips for Crafting Your Best College Essay (BigFuture)
• Common Application Essay Topics (Apply Texas and Common App)
• CommonApp.org school search
• Sample Essay booklet (passed out in class)
• HW due Wed. 10/7/15: Turn in a hard copy (no email or Google docs) first draft of college admissions essay by today. It can by typewritten or handwritten. Papers turned in after the class period on 10/7 will be read and given feedback, but will receive a grade of 0.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Tues. 10/13/15: Information night for UT and TAMU @ WISD Boardroom, 6 pm

10/1/15

• POW: Sonnet analysis test

• Beowulf
• HW turned in (Heroic Ideal)
• HW for Mon. 10/5/15: Read "The Struggle Between Order and Chaos in Beowulf" by John Halverson. Focus on vocabulary and find as many oppositional ideas in the article as possible. (Examples of opposite ideas = order / chaos, inside / outside)

• College Admissions Essay
• Q&A 
• Resources:
• ApplyTexas University Search (application requirements by school)
• 8 Tips for Crafting Your Best College Essay (BigFuture)
• Common Application Essay Topics (Apply Texas and Common App)
• CommonApp.org school search
• Sample Essay booklet (passed out in class)
• HW due Wed. 10/7/15: Turn in a hard copy (no email or Google docs) first draft of college admissions essay by today. It can by typewritten or handwritten. Papers turned in after the class period on 10/7 will be read and given feedback, but will receive a grade of 0.

IMPORTANT DATES:

• Tues. 10/13/15: Information night for UT and TAMU @ WISD Boardroom, 6 pm