Week of October 29th

Monday, Oct. 29th (T-Day)
· Due: Complete a one-pager in the narrative mode (see directions given last week).
· Class: Wrap up Orwell lesson with “interior dialogue” and argument prompt. Trade narrative drafts for peer feedback.

Tuesday, Oct. 30th (W-Day)
· Due: Read and annotate “She’s Your Basic L.O.L. in N.A.D.” by Perri Klass and “Homeless” by Anna Quindlen. Read and complete feedback on narrative draft.
· Class: Discussion: the power of labels. Nickel and Dimed and The New York Times.

Wednesday, Oct. 31st (H-Day)
· Due: Read and annotate “Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of Africa” by David Sedaris and “Black Men and Public Space” by Brent Staples. Read “Little Things Are Big” by Jesus Colon. Prepare discussion questions for class.
· Class: Discussion of essays (“Socratic seminar” or “Fishbowl” methodology).

Thursday, Nov. 1st
· No classes today. Enjoy your day off!

Friday, Nov. 2nd (F-Day)
· Due: Read the introduction to the “Example” section of the anthology. Then complete a one-pager in the example mode on any of the following writing topics: p. 103, #3; p. 107, #1; p. 119, #2 or 3. Read and annotate “Our Barbies, Ourselves” by Emily Prager and “The Ritual of Fast Food” by Margaret Visser.
· Class: Discussion of essays.

Monday, Nov. 5th (S-Day)
· Due: Read and annotate “The Men We Carry in Our Minds” by Scott Russell Sanders. Read the introduction to “Division or Analysis.” Then complete a one-pager in the division or analysis mode on any of the following writing topics: p. 131, #1, 2, or 3; p. 136, #1 or 3; p. 144, #1 or 2. Read and complete feedback on example draft. NB: Tentative deadline!
· Class: Discussion of essays.

UPDATE: For Monday, do all of the reading and the one-pager. We will postpone the feedback on the example draft for a night so that you're not totally overwhelmed. Don't fret, the reading is short, too.

Update

We'll wrap up our study of Orwell on Monday. Do still bring your narrative draft but we won't discuss Quindlen and Klass until Tuesday.

Week of October 22nd

Monday, October 22nd (H-Day)
· Due: Read and annotate “Silent Dancing” Judith Ortiz Cofer and “The Way to Rainy Mountain” by N. Scott Momaday.
· Class: The dominant impression and point of view. Discussion of essays.

Tuesday, October 23rd (F-Day)
· Due: Write a one-pager (see reverse) on any of the following writing topics:
p. 39, #1, 2 or 3; p. 49, #1 or 2; p. 57, #1 or 2.
· Class: Using description as a mode of development. Peer consultation of one-pagers.

Wednesday, October 24th (S-Day)
· Due: Read and annotate “Salvation” by Langston Hughes and “Champion of the World” by Maya Angelou. (Watch out! Essay assigned out of order!)
· Class: Organizing narrative and point of view. Discussion of essays.

Thursday, October 25th (U-Day)
· Due: Read and annotate “The Chase” by Annie Dillard and “Shooting an Elephant” by George Orwell. In addition, watch a TV news program or read the newspaper on the lookout for examples of contemporary face-saving among public officials – be they global, national, or local. Whom can you catch in the act of covering themselves? Bring in an example for discussion. (Be able to talk about the questions outlined in writing topic #2 on p. 90.)
· Class: Discussion of essays.

Friday, October 26th (M-Day)
· Class drops.

Monday, October 29th (T-Day)
· Due: Read and annotate “She’s Your Basis L.O.L. in N.A.D.” by Perri Klass and “Homeless” by Anna Quindlen. Complete a one-pager in the narrative mode on any of the following writing topics: p. 69, #1, 2 or 3; p. 76, #1, 2, or 4; p. 81, #1; p. 90, #1.

Note: When assigned for homework, I expect you to annotate thoroughly. Be sure to address points raised in “Method and Structure” and “Language” questions which follow each essay.

Homework for October 18th

Read the first two essays in the first section of 40 Model Essays, by E.B. White and Joan Didion and annotate thoroughly by writing in the book (if it's your own copy) or using post-its. Through your annotations, try to address the points raised in the "Method and Structure" and "Language" questions following each essay. (The questions are really, really good; it's why we chose this book for our coures reader.) You don't need to CONFINE yourself to those topics, but at least touch base with most of the questions.You may find it helpful to read the essays once through quickly for an overall impression, then read the questions and annotate.

One other thought ... we won't have time in class but I'd recommend checking out the CollegeBoard website on the PSAT if you've never taken it. It's a timed test and you're going to want every minute you've got. If you read through the sample instructions that go with the practice questions (in the "What's on the Test?" section), then you'll already know them for the test itself -- saving several precious minutes. If you have the time, go ahead and do those practice problems -- they give you a clear sense of the KINDS of things that are likely to come up on the exam. That website is:

www.collegeboard.com/psat

See you tomorrow!

Week of October 15th

Tentative calendar for 40 Model Essays Unit coming soon. In the meantime, note that the Elements of Style quiz has been pushed back to Thursday to give us a day of review.

Week of October 12th

Wednesday, October 10 (W)
· Due: Literacy narratives, final draft.
· Class: Begin group work on Elements of Style.

Thursday, October 11 (H)
· Due: Study for vocabulary quiz on Unit #2. Read all the “Elementary Rules” (p. 1-14).
· Class: Vocabulary quiz and complete group work on Elements of Style.

Friday, October 12 (F)
· Due: Come prepared for presentation on Rules #1-5.
· Class: Lessons on Rules #1-5. Practice exercises and discussion.

Monday, October 15 (S)
· Due: Complete the following exercises online and print your results: P1-1, P2-1, P3-1, P5-1.
· Class: Lessons on Rules #6-11. Practice exercises and discussion.

Tuesday, October 16 (U-Day)
· Due: Complete the following exercises online and print your results: P4-1, P7-1, G5-1, G1-3, G3-1, and S3-3.
· Class: Quiz on the “Elementary Rules of Style.”

We’ll start our 40 Model Essays work following the Elements of Style boot camp.

Directions for Online Exercises

To access the online grammar exercises:

· Go to http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/writersref6e/Player/Pages/Main.aspx
· Click on “Grammar Exercises”
· When prompted to login, click “Cancel”
· Select the assigned exercises from the menu
· Save paper by printing “two pages per page”

Week of October 1st

Monday, Oct. 1st (H)
· Due: Read over the “literacy narrative” assignment sheet and start thinking of topics.
· Class: Discussion of the assignment and the writing process; timelines. Assign groups for tomorrow’s work; distribute sample essay(s).

Tuesday, Oct. 2nd (F)
· Due: Read and annotate Mike Rose essay and complete vocabulary exercises for Unit #2; review your assigned essay for the panel.
· Class: Review vocabulary answers; preparations for panel discussion.

Wednesday, Oct. 3rd (S)
· Due: Completed timelines (need not be fancy).
· Class: Perform panel discussion; discuss. Log revised AP essays in writing folder.

Thursday, Oct. 4th (U)
· Due: Complete draft of literacy narrative (typed). Please bring three copies.
· Class: Peer revision of literacy narratives. Assign groups for Elements of Style and explain task for Tuesday.

Friday, Oct. 5th (M)
· Class drops. But life will go on.

Monday, Oct. 8th
· No school today. Life, still, marches along.

Tuesday, Oct. 9th (T)
· Due: I’ll be out today, so why not bring your nearly finished literacy narrative for final review by a classmate?
· Class: Group work on Elements of Style in preparation for class presentation.

Note: Literacy narratives will be due in hard copy at the start of class on Wednesday, October 10th. Anticipate a vocabulary quiz on Unit #2 on Thursday, October 11th.