Today we watched the Cyclops part of the Odyssey movie and started reading the Circe story in our textbooks.

Today we discussed logical flow and transitions. We also connected the reading from Friday to this topic.

Homework: Read “The Ways We Lie” in 50 Essays

22nd

Today we discussed the concept of a hero and learned what an archetypal hero is. We learned the stages of a hero’s journey.

23rd

Today we took notes on the epic. You need these notes from me if you were not in class.

24th

Today we started the Odyssey and read as much as we could.

25th

We finished the Cyclops story and took a short quiz!

Monday, September 21st

Today you took your Short Story Assessment. Tomorrow we will start our new unit!

Homework: Relax.

Today we discussed your Short Story Assessment which I will give on Monday. Here are the details:

Short Story Assessment
Section 1 – Reading & Multiple Choice
-I will provide you with a short story, and you will answer multiple choice questions related to the story.
-These multiple choice questions will test the reading strategies we have been developing during this unit.
-These questions will also test all the elements of fiction terms we took notes on at the beginning of the school year.
Section 2 – Essay
-You will write a four paragraph essay –intro, 2 body paragraphs, a conclusion – responding to one of the following topics:
-Compare and contrast two characters from two of the stories we read.
-Compare and contrast themes from two of the stories we read.
- Evaluate a major choice a character made in one of the stories we read and describe what you would have done similarly or differently in his or her situation.

So, what should you do to prepare?
Look over the stories so that you can decide what you will write your essay question on. Get an idea of the paragraphs you will write and the details you will include.

Look over your reading strategy bookmark and your elements of fiction notes so that you will recognize key terms when they appear on the test.

We then discussed our last story.

Remember, your study guides need to be completed for Monday.

Homework: Finish study guides if you haven’t already and study for the test!

Thursday, September 17th

Today we discussed the short story you read.

Homework: 5th and 7th – read the last short story.

Today we read and worked on the study guide for the next story. You also turned in your papers.

Homework: Read the next story on your study guide and be ready to discuss tomorrow.

5th and 8th hours – You need to finish the study guide for “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” on your own time. I will check the study guides on Monday. Make sure you have your textbooks tomorrow as well!

7th hour – You need to finish the study guide for “Just-Life Politics” on your own time. I will check the study guides on Monday.

Homework: Finish the final draft of your paper. It is due tomorrow! You also need to turn in your rough drafts.

Today we peer-edited and self-edited your Narrative papers in class. Remember, the final drafts are due this Wednesday, no exceptions!!

Narrative Paper Self-Edit
1. Look at the rubric on the back of your original assignment. In what category do you feel you are the strongest? Why?
What category may need some work? What can you do to improve in that category?
2. Underline three examples of imagery (words that appeal to the senses) in your paper. If you cannot, make sure you edit your paper to have more imagery.
3. Underline three ways in which you give detail about the setting of your story. If you cannot, edit your paper to include more detail about setting.
4. Look closely at your first and last paragraphs. Are they attention-grabbing and interesting? If not, edit these so that they are more effective.
5. Underline your three different sentence combinations. Check over these with your PowerPoint slides to make sure you used the rules correctly. If you cannot underline three sentence-combining techniques, make sure to add these to your paper.
6. Underline the dialogue you use in your paper. If you do not have dialogue, add it! Check to make sure that all your punctuation and quotation marks are in the correct spots.

Homework:

Finish reading the next short story if you haven’t already.

Tuesday, September 8th

Today you received the results of your Grammar Pre-test and we learned about Independent and Dependent Clauses. You set grammar goals for yourself based on the categories you need work on.
You also completed an evaluation of your short story group and turned in your study guides.

Homework: Grammar Writing practice if you didn’t finish in class.

Handouts:
Independent and Dependent Clauses
Grammar Writing Practice
Group Evaluation Sheet

Wednesday, September 9th

Today we learned sentence combining techniques and read our first short story. I handed out your short story homework calendar. I also handout out the study guides you all made. Make sure you have your study guide with you every single day in class, and make sure you have your textbook when indicated on your calendar.

Homework: Read the short story assigned for today on your calendar. Be ready to discuss it tomorrow.

Handouts:
Sentence Combining Powerpoint #1
5th Hour Assignment Calendar
7th Hour Assignment Calendar
8th Hour Assignment Calendar
See me for the study guides for your class period.

Thursday, September 10th

Today we discussed the short story that was homework yesterday. We also learned more techniques for sentence combining.

Handout:
Sentence Combining Powerpoint #2

Homework:
Read the next short story required on your assignment calendar and be ready to discuss.

Friday, September 11th

Today we discussed the story from last night and you learned your last sentence combining technique. You need to have your next story read by Tuesday of next week. Your main focus this weekend should be finishing your rough draft. Remember, you MUST have a rough draft to me on Monday!!!

Homework: Rough Draft due Monday
Next short story due Tuesday.