Week at a glance January 28 - February 1, 2013

 Attention must be paid..." This week we'll wrap up the KS Writing assignment while getting into our first official reading unit of the semester: Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.. It's a tale of a salesman desperately aiming for the American dream brought down by his own tragic flaws. As we read the play in class, we'll be focusing on the relationships between the characters and how Miller shows how events in the past inescapably shape our future.  Our work for the unit will involve study guides, a unit exam, and a literary analysis essay.

• Mon: Meet in Lab B one last time to wrap up the KS Writing Assessment.
• Tues: Death of a Salesman - pre-reading PowerPoint and discussion.
• Wed: Death of a Salesman - preview Act One
• Thurs: Death of a Salesman - read and discuss Act One, pages 1 - 23.
• Fri: IBP reading time. Death of a Salesman - study guide for Act One, pages 1 - 23 due by the end of the hour.

Week at a glance January 21 - 25, 2013

This week is all about the KS Writing Assessment.  This will be a four-day writing test.  Students will not have to do any research.  All materials will remain in the classroom, so students will not have any homework.  Students should have the KSWA done by the end of the hour on Friday.  The KSWA will be worth 60 major assessment points -- the largest number of points for any assessment so far this semester.

• Mon: Martin Luther King, Jr Day - No school
• Tues: KSWA - select a topic and begin prewriting
• Wed: KSWA - begin shaping a draft of the essay
• Thurs: KSWA - revise and edit; begin typing
• Fri: KSWA - final draft due by the end of the hour

Week at a glance January 14 - 18, 2013

We'll continue our Urban Legends Unit this week with more discussions and examples for what makes an urban legend.  We'll then have a bit of creative fun as we develop our own creative example of an urban legend.  Students will have the option of sharing their legend in class on Friday.  We'll also use part of our time this week to prepare for the KS Writing Assessment as we look at sample prompts and structures.  We'll wrap up the week with reading time for the IBP and time for sharing the urban legend.

• Mon: Urban Legends and persuasive writing discussion.  Urban Legend assigned - come to class tomorrow with an idea in mind.
• Tues: Urban Legend - create a rough draft of the legend.
• Wed: Urban Legend - continue shaping and developing the legend. Rough and final draft due Friday.
• Thurs: KS Writing Assessment - structure and sample prompts discussion.
• Fri: IBP reading and notes time. Urban Legend due. Opportunity to share the Urban Legend.

Week at a glance January 7-11, 2013

Welcome back!

This week we'll start with a getting to know one another activity as we create and present a Biopoem.  On Tuesday, we'll begin our first writing unit as we discuss and analyze folklore and legends.  This will later lead to our own Urban Legend writing assignment.  Toward the end of the week, we'll begin preparing for the KS Writing Assessment and review persuasive techniques.  We'll wrap up the week with a library book talk and a preview of the 3rd Quarter Independent Book Project.

• Mon: Review expectations and procedures.  Begin creating the Biopoem.  The Biopoem is due in class Tuesday.
• Tues: Present and turn in the Biopoem.  American Folklore -- notes and discussion.
• Wed: Urban Legends -- notes and discussion.
• Thurs: KS Writing Assessment Prep -- persuasive techniques review and practice.
• Fri: Library book talk.  Preview the 3rd Quarter IBP.  Read quietly for the rest of the hour.