Monday - 9/28/09

This morning we started working on the DGP for Week #8. The weeks seem to be flying by now! The October calendar is now also posted under the handouts, as well as Vocabulary Unit #3 which is due on 10/13 (the quiz will also be that day!).

We also assigned roles for Act II of The Crucible today, and began reading. We got about halfway through the act and will hopefully finish it up tomorrow.

The persuasive essays have been graded and handed back. We discussed common mistakes and what to do on the GHSGWT for Juniors on Wednesday (during 2nd and 3rd period). Newspaper groups also got to meet and discuss their progress for the last 10 minutes of class.

Friday - 9/25/09

Today we finished up DGP #7 and then began working on the Crucible Study Guide for Act I. Students worked in groups to answer these questions, as well as begin their character chart. For the character chart students had to list all the characters from Act I and complete any information they have learned about them. The following characters are in Act I:

• Susanna
• Tituba
• Parris
• Abigail
• Mary
• Giles
• Betty
• Mr. Putnam
• Proctor
• Hale
• Mrs. Putnam
• Mercy
• Rebecca

Thursday - 9/24/09

Today we finished reading Act I in The Crucible, and worked on Week #7 DGP. Homework tonight is to complete the final draft of your presuasive essay.

Wednesday - 9/25/09

I hope everyone stayed dry and safe during our extended weekend! Today we played catch up and turned in the Crucible Research Homework assignment, took the Vocab #2 quiz and turned in the practice exercises, and turned in DGP for weeks #5-6. Students also had time to peer edit their persuasive essays in class, and prepare them to be turned in on Friday. The September calendar was updated and posted in on the handouts page.

Friday - 9/18/09

Class is being held today in Lab 610. We spent the first part of the period registering for the online textbook. Once reigistered, students can access the textbook at home online at www.pearsonsuccessnet.com - or click on the link on the left side of this page. Student then began typing the test of their persuasive essays. By the end of the period the essay had to be emailed to mrs.lusher @ gmail.com (no spaces). Students also received a peer review sheet today for their essay. By Monday they need to have their essay printed out, with this sheet attached. We will be peer reviewing on Monday.

Students also received "The Cruicible" Study Guide today and the book order form. Students are able to order all the novels, plays, and vocab book for the year. Order forms must be accompanied by check only, and they are due September 30th.

Thursday - 9/17/09

We started out the period today assigning roles for Act I of the "The Crucible". We then began reading the text (pg. 1234). All periods ended in different parts of Act I. However, we all stopped the last 10 minutes of class to give groups time to meet and talk about their newspaper projects. Every group handed in their newspaper name and group member assignments.

Wednesday - 9/16/09

Today we started "The Crucible" Unit. In this unit we will be going back to the Puritain times and reading Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible". We started off by taking notes on the author and play today. We also completed Persausive Writing #5. The Crucible Newspaper Project was also assigned today, and groups were formed.

Tuesday - 9/15/09

Test Day! Today we took our Unit 2 Test on the Rationalist and Persuasive Devices. The test took the entire period.

Monday - 9/14/09

Today the students are starting the period by writing their fourth persuasive practice essay and using four different persuasive devices. Afterwards we are going to have a publishing day with our Writer's Notebooks. We also discussed the material that will be on the Unit 2 test tomorrow:

• Rhetorical/Persuasive Devices
• Declaration of Independence
• Crisis, Number 1
• Speech in the VA Convention
• Autobioghy by Benjamin Franklin
• Logical Fallacies

Friday - 9/11/09

Friday was a busy day finishing up the Rationalist writers. We started by reading a piece of Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography and noting the number of times he used the pronoun "I". This piece we read discussed Franklin's plan to become perfect, which highlighted the Rationalists' belief that all people were born good and through hard work, could become perfect.

We then divided into groups and started working on reviewing for the upcoming test, by going back to look at the selections we read and discussing the emotion and rational appeal and giving examples.

For homework, students had to find the transcript of a speech online and print it out. They then had to highlight and label all the persuasive devices the speaker used. This was due on Monday.

Thursday - 9/10/09

We started class by writing our third persuasive practice essay in class today. This time we used three persuasive devices and highlighted them in the essay. Afterwards, we read Speech in the Virginia Convention by Patrick Henry. We looked through the different persuasive techniques he used and talked about his famous line, "Give me liberty or give me death."

Wednesday - 9/9/09

We started by reading Crisis, Number 1 by Thomas Paine and discussing the piece by looking at the different persuasive devices and answering questions as we read. The second half of the class we wrote our second persuasive essay practice, using two different rhetorical devices in the essay.

Tuesday - 9/8/09

After a nice, long relaxing weekend we started reading the Declaration of Independence today. As we read, we highlighted the different persuasive devices and answered some questions. Afterwards, in our Writer's Notebooks, we wrote our declarations from something we want to be free.

Football Friday - 9/4/09

Today is the first home football game...which is exciting...but not as exciting as the Rationalists!

Today we finished up sentences #3 and #4 of the DGP and turned them in for a grade. We then took notes on the Rationalists and Persuasive Devices. The rationalists begin Unit 2, along with our study of persuasive writing. This is perfect timing for the GHSGWT, which is in a couple of weeks and deals with persuasive writing.

After taking notes the students were assigned their first outside reading assignment. This assignment will be done in literary circles. Students need to pick their book this weekend and have their parents fill out the permission form and return it on Tuesday.

Have a happy 3 day weekend!

Thursday - 9/3/09

Today we are starting our Persuasive/Rationalist Unit. In this unit we will be studying the Rationalists, while examining their persuasive techniques and incorporating them into our own writing. We will also be preparing for the GHSGWT, which is persuasive.

Today we are taking notes on persausive writing and then writing the first persuasive essay, and getting in some practive for the GHSGWT. Students will also be encouraged to complete their essays in 25 minutes to help with SAT essay practice.

Wednesday - 9/2/09

Today we took the Unit One Test. After the test, students used their Writer's Notebooks to complete a brief writing assignment. Here is the assignment:

Pick a topic you feel very strongly about and write a 10 line poem in the Puritan Plain Style. (Think "Huswifery" or "To My Dear and Loving Husband") Make sure your poem has a title!

Tuesday - 9/1/09

Today we read "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards. This piece is in the Reader's Companion workbook. As we read, we highlighted and identified the persuasive devices that he used in his sermon. We also answered all the questions. At the end of the period we took some time in class to review for the Unit One test on Wednesday. This test will include:

• Native Americans: "Earth on Turtle's Back" and "When Grizzlies Walked Upright"
• Narrative/Explorers: "Equiano" and "First Voyage"
• Puritans: "Huswifery", "To My Dear and Loving Husband", and "Sinnners in the Hands of an Angry God"