November 26 - 30

Welcome back! In addition to sleeping and getting outside, I enjoyed reading your Rhetorical Historical Proposals and the rhetorical analyses of Grapes, Chapter 14. I was really impressed by the willingness of the class to wrestle with the complexities involved in both of these assignments, and I really appreciate that.

In our four weeks before the big break at the end of December, we'll work on the Rhetorical Historical paper in steps, finish The Grapes of Wrath, discuss and debate many related issues (Black Lives Matter, government-provided healthcare, rent control or the guaranteed income proposal), and enjoy a Socratic Seminar discussing some of the bigger questions sparked by The Grapes of Wrath. I'm excited for a lively month with everyone.

Here's what's on the agenda for next week:    

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over last in-class rhetorical analysis style essay in full - read it together and analyze it, review results. (As always, if you're not happy with your score and you received a "6" or less (85%), you're welcome to type up a revision and submit it to the link on Turnitin.com by 12/31/2018.) Pass back Rhetorical Historical proposals. Receive Step 3, the Source Packet, and view a Hurricane Katrina example response. View different types of sources: for this research assignment you will need a variety, including "source" or original documents, as well as heavily biased arguments. Review how to use the library's databases. Time on laptops to begin research.

Due: Please read Chapters 22-25 of The Grapes of Wrath. 

Homework: Please read Grapes, Chapter 26, pages 478-514.

Study for the Current Events Quiz.

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Current Events/reading quiz. Receive vocabulary sheet for next week's quiz. Analysis of visual arguments. View sample of SOAPS for Hurricane Katrina paper. Work on research for Source Packet, receive individual help if needed. 

Due: Please read Grapes, Chapter 26, pages 478 - 514.

Homework: Finish the Step 3 of the Rhetorical Historical Research Paper, the Source Packet, for Monday. Please print it out and bring it to class with you.

November 12 - November 16

It's the week before Thanksgiving! Sadly (for me) the class periods are shortened as well. We'll work on the Rhetorical Historical paper, continue with The Grapes of Wrath, and begin the Argument unit.

MONDAY: Veteran's Day, no school.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Intro to argument. Rhetorical Historical term paper topic selection with bucket. Pass out Rhetorical Historical Step 2 sheet. Act out Grapes of Wrath scene from Chapter 20. Grapes of Wrath character exercise in groups.

Due: Please read Grapes, Chapter 20. Note how the following characters deal with the intense challenges they face in this chapter: Tom, Connie, Uncle John, Jim Casy. 

Homework: Please complete Step Two of the Rhetorical Historical term paper. 

Please read Chapter 21 and note which, if any, current events this chapter pertains to. 

FRIDAY (minimum day): Journal warm-up. Quiz covering vocab, grammar, reading. Current event/discussion: policy brutality in the United States, and whether or not Black Lives Matter is effective at forwarding its goals.

Due: Please complete Step Two of the Rhetorical Historical term paper. 

Please read Chapter 21 and note which, if any, current events this chapter pertains to. 

Homework: Please read The Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 22 - 25. 

Have a terrific Thanksgiving holiday! 

I look forward to seeing you next week. 

November 5 - November 9

It's November, finally. This month, we'll write another in-class rhetorical analysis essay, finish The Grapes of Wrath, begin the Rhetorical Historical research paper, liven up the agenda with discussion and debate, and start the Argument Unit. We'll also enjoy the November holidays along the way!

MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Check questions in packet for "Dumpster Diving" article and discuss. Read student rhetorical analysis example from Expansion Pack, as well as revision. Notes: hyperbole, parallelism, and paradox. Read "Santa Ana Winds" by Joan Didion (pages 10 and 11 in AP Expansion Packet). Read and analyze a practice Rhetorical Analysis prompt, outline in groups. Turn in warm-up journals.  

Due: Please read and annotate Dumpster Diving from the AP Expansion Pack, page 15-21. Please answer the questions on page 22 right into your packet itself and be ready to discuss on Monday.

Please read Chapter 19 of The Grapes of Wrath, page 315-326.

Please make sure you've answered all of the warm-up questions in your journal. At the end of the period on Monday, they'll be due in the classroom bin.

Homework: Read and annotate Shooting an Elephant (pages 4-7 in the Expansion Pack) for Wednesday. Look for at least one paradox in the text. (We will talk about it in class on Friday.)

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Write the second in-class rhetorical analysis essay.

Due: Read and annotate Shooting an Elephant (pages 4-7 in the Expansion Pack) for Wednesday. Look for at least one paradox in the text. (We will talk about it in class on Friday.)

Homework: Study for the Current Events/Reading quiz on Friday. 

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering TheWeek.com current events e-mails from Sunday, November 4 - Wednesday, November 7 and readings ("Dumpster Diving" and Shooting an Elephant). Introduce the "Rhetorical Historical" Research Paper. Discuss Orwell's Shooting an Elephant. Go over Marriage Proposal compare/contrast style prompt from Monday. Current event topic.

Due: Study for Current Events/Reading quiz.

Homework: Please read The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 20, and think about the characters you might like to play during the action scene with Tom, Al, Floyd, Jim Casy, and the deputy and contractor. Also note how the following characters deal with the intense challenges they face in this chapter: Tom, Connie, Uncle John, and Jim Casy.