For those of you asking for homework...(!)

Yes, it's true and I have witnesses.

I'm posting Step 3 instructions for the Rhetorical Historical paper, along with a Step 3: Search Tips Sheet under "Class Handouts." Two notes of caution: 1. you may want to request notes back on your Step 2 paper through e-mail if you're going to work on this, and 2. it's important to note this is NOT an informational research paper about your chosen event. It is an analysis of the rhetoric or persuasive language surrounding an event. Typically, there are two different perspectives that are each trying to persuade, or the prevailing attitude about an event at the time is very different than it is later in time.

If you insist on starting this over the break you may, though it is absolutely not expected in any way. It's important to have a real break so you're rested for three more solid weeks of school.

If you're clamoring for more to do, check out the article below for inspiration, and then go online and reserve a book at your local library about a topic that interests you and pick it up...for free!
The Greatest Shortcut for Leaders is Reading Books

November 18-22

Welcome to our last week before Thanksgiving! It's been quite a stretch without much of a break, I know. This week, we'll just get started on the longer rhetorical analysis paper we'll be writing. You'll be researching and writing about the rhetoric surrounding an event of your choice. We'll be completing this paper in steps. Since you'll be writing papers of similar length and with a similar process at university, I believe the experience will be valuable.

No quiz this week. We'll start back fresh in December with a vocabulary quiz at the end of that week. Here's the agenda:

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over Frederick Douglass essays. Group activity: rhetorical analysis, ranking several contemporary apologies, defending your choices. Topic selection for Rhetorical Historical Research Paper. Go over Step 2 of the Rhetorical Historical Research Paper.  

Due: Read through Rhetorical Historical Step One: Overview and Topic Selection and come to class on Tuesday with 3 topics of interest.

Homework: Please complete Step 2 of the Rhetorical Historical Research Paper, with a 300-500 word write-up.

Make sure warm-up journals are ready to turn in. 

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Multiple choice exercise: individual, group, whole class. Visual analysis, what to look for, how to analyze visual arguments. Cumulative sentences: creative group activity.

Due: Please complete Step 2 of the Rhetorical Historical Research Paper, with a 300-500 word write-up.

Homework: None. Get plenty of rest and have some fun! Explore topics of interest and keep up with current events.

Have a terrific Thanksgiving week.

I look forward to seeing everyone in December!

November 11 - 15

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 as good reference points for introductions and conclusions in rhetorical analysis.

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

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Begin work on the Supreme Court cases in groups on Chromebooks. Each person will have his/her own individual assignment, and discuss their portion in groups.

Due: Albert i.o. multiple choice: The Gettysburg Address (1863), and "Shopping for Knowledge" (more modern). Note: I can see how much time was spent on the passages. Please do your best, and spend more than 20 minutes on Gettysburg and 15 minutes on "Shopping" for full credit. (See the Albert i.o. instructions on the right-hand sidebar for more info.)


Homework: Complete the written portion of your chosen section of the group work for your Supreme Court case and upload it to Turnitin.com. 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. Intro: Rhetorical Historical Fall Paper, overview and Step One Topic Selection.

Due: The written portion of your chosen section of the group work for your Supreme Court case and upload to Turnitin.com before the beginning of Friday's class. Be sure to cite your sources.

Homework: Read through Rhetorical Historical Step One: Overview and Topic Selection and come to class on Tuesday with 3 topics of interest.

Make sure journals are ready to turn in on Thursday of next week.

November 4 - 8

Hopefully everyone had a chance to sign up and pay for the AP exam before the regular due date. If not, you can still sign up with a late fee. This week, we'll continue with more advanced rhetorical analysis terms and examples.

MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over "On Laziness" and "Killing an Elephant." (5th period only notes: paradox). Oxymoron, hyperbole notes. Rhetorical analysis of Disney songs -short video for fun. Satire notes, how to write about the effects of satire, video examples as a whole class. If time: cumulative sentences and group activity.

Due: Please read "Killing an Elephant" by George Orwell.

Homework: Please read "Death of the Moth" and annotate for rhetorical devices. What is the speaker's purpose in the short story? How does Woolf make her point?

Keep up with current event e-mails.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Play preview - 4th Period: 9:50-10:20, 5th Period: 11:25-11:55.
Sign up for Albert i.o. multiple choice practice on Chromebooks. Discuss "Death of the Moth" and share annotations. Debate watch and analysis.

Due: Read "Death of the Moth" and annotate for rhetorical devices.

Homework: Study for Current Events and reading quiz covering "Killing an Elephant" and "Death of the Moth."Click here for current events e-mail information for the quiz on Friday, November 8.

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Current events/reading quiz. Notes: Parallelism/parallel structure. Current event discussion/debate. Analyze debate answers with rhetorical devices. 

Due:  n/a

Homework: Albert i.o. multiple choice: The Gettysburg Address (1863), and "Shopping for Knowledge" (more modern). Note: I can see how much time was spent on the passages. Please do your best, and spend more than 20 minutes on Gettysburg and 15 minutes on "Shopping" for full credit. (See the Albert i.o. instructions on the right-hand sidebar for more info.)

Enjoy the three-day holiday for Veteran's Day! 

I look forward to seeing you next week.