March 25 - 29

It's the week before Spring Break! We'll continue with Gatsby, synthesis, and multiple choice practice. There is no quiz this week.

MONDAY: Journal warm-up (multiple choice practice). Induction vs. deduction. The Declaration of Independence as an argument. Gatsby comparison exercise. Gatsby song assignments - anonymous sharing.

Due: Finish Gatsby, Chapters Two and Three. Please bring the Gatsby Song Assignment with you for next class.

Homework: Please read Gatsby, Chapters 4 and 5 for Wednesday. Why do you think Fitzgerald included the character Meyer Wolfshiem?

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day, synthesis-style: DACA.

Due: Gatsby, Chapter 4 and 5.

Homework: Gatsby, Chapters 6 and 7.

FRIDAY: (Minimum day.) Vocabulary story rounds.

Due: Please leave journals in the classroom bin before the end of the period.

Homework:  Please read Chapter 8 of The Great Gatsby. If you've chosen to rewrite any old essays, please upload them to Turnitin.com.

Enjoy Spring Break - have fun and get plenty of rest! We'll march into battle about a month after you get back. :-)

March 18 - 22

We're now within two months of the AP exam, and the class is doing really well. This week, we'll begin reading The Great Gatsby, and learn about the last of the three types of essays you'll write the day of the exam: synthesis. 

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Receive "Why Johnny Won't Read" outlines back with feedback. Notes: synthesis essay description and how-to. Discuss the "Is College Worth It" synthesis prompt you read for homework. Incorporate the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions cheating scandal current event into possible answers. Intro to The Great Gatsby. Pick up Gatsby from the library, begin reading Chapter One.

Due: Carefully read the provided sample synthesis prompt and responses. This is the third (and final) type of essay we'll learn before the AP exam in May, and we'll get started on it next week.

Homework: Finish reading Gatsby, Chapter One. 

Study for Current Events Quiz. 

Bring the "Is College Worth It?" synthesis prompt with you for Thursday. 

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering current events covering e-mails from Sunday, March 17 - Wednesday, March 20 and reading. Intro Gatsby Song Assignment. Provide one additional source for the "Is College Worth It" prompt and outline your own, original synthesis response. Continue with Gatsby, Chapter 2. View different interpretations of the introduction of Myrtle based on the text.

Due: Read The Great Gatsby, Chapter One.

Homework: Finish Gatsby, Chapters Two and Three. Please bring the Gatsby Song Assignment with you for next class.

March 11 - 15: Supreme Court Case Week!

This week, we'll practice reading and interpreting legal documents and language (per the 11th/12th grade standards), and get familiar with landmark cases that affect many areas of American life. These cases make high-quality examples for argument and synthesis essays as well.

NOTE: There won't be a current events quiz this week. The open-note Supreme Court Case quiz on Friday will take its place. Next week, there will be a current events quiz.

MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Wrap up last items in the Gender Unit. Discuss "Professions for Women" and "There is No Unmarked Woman." Current events and national discussions pertaining to transgender people. Last portion of class: begin work on the Supreme Court cases in groups.

Due:
1. Read and annotate "How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender," pages 23-29 from National Geographic. 

2. Write a one-page reflection about the debate covering the questions below. If you were absent, write about your current opinion based on your research about whether or not women should register for the draft.
1. What were the most effective/convincing pieces of evidence?  What types of evidence were presented?

2. Where do you stand on this issue?  List the two best, most logical reasons why you believe the way you do.

3. Did you hear any fallacies during the debate? 

4. What was the tone of the speaker or speakers who made the most persuasive arguments? 

5. What did you do well? What could you have improved? 

Homework: Complete the written portion of your chosen section of the group work for your Supreme Court case and print a hard copy to turn in at the beginning of Friday's class. Be sure to cite your sources.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Supreme Court Case Group check-in. Go over the results of the last argument essay. View actual student samples and evaluate them with the scoring guide. 

Due: n/a

Homework: (Same as Monday.) Complete the written portion of your chosen section of the group work for your Supreme Court case and print a hard copy to turn in at the beginning of Friday's class. Be sure to cite your sources.

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Supreme Court Case group presentations. No need to dress up, and each person shares their own portion of the group work in under one minute while the class takes notes. Open note quiz immediately following.

Due: The written portion of your chosen section of the group work for your Supreme Court case and print a hard copy to turn in at the beginning of Friday's class. Be sure to cite your sources.

Homework: Carefully read the provided sample synthesis prompt and responses. This is the third (and final) type of essay we'll learn before the AP exam in May, and we'll get started on it next week.

Read the e-mails from TheWeek.com beginning on Sunday. Next week, we'll have a current events quiz on Thursday, March 21 covering the emails from Sunday, March 16 - Wednesday, March 20.

March 4 - 8

 No quiz this week - instead, we'll have a formal debate on Thursday as a part of the Gender Unit. The topic will be whether or not women should be required to register for the draft, like men are.

TUESDAY: At 10:10, write an in-class argument prompt in a timed, one-hour session. You may have the index card written in pen with basic instructions and notes about how to write an argument essay; this is optional. Break. AP Debate Preparation Worksheet for next class on laptops.

Due: Read and annotate "A Challenge for Girls Today: Moving Beyond 'How do I look?'", page 17 of the Gender Unit packet, and take your time completing "The Gettysburg Address" passage and questions in Albert i.o. For full credit, your accuracy should be at least "passing" or 50%.

Homework: Please complete "AP Debate Preparation Worksheet" and have examples and articles ready to bring in for next class. 

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Formal debate (see Debate Prep Worksheet for exact format).

Due: Complete "AP Debate Preparation Worksheet" and have examples and articles with you to turn in.

Homework: Please read and annotate "How Science is Helping Us Understand Gender," pages 23-27 from National Geographic. We will look at related current events this coming Wednesday. 

Please write a one-page reflection about the debate.
1. What were the most effective/convincing pieces of evidence?  What types of evidence were presented?

2. Where do you stand on this issue?  List the two best, most logical reasons why you believe the way you do.

3. Did you hear any fallacies during the debate? 

4. What was the tone of the speaker or speakers who made the most persuasive arguments? 

5. What did you do well? What could you have improved?