November 16-20

This week, we'll work on researching sources for the term paper and finish The Grapes of Wrath. 


MONDAY: Journal warm-up.  Collect research proposals.  Healthy kids survey.  Begin work on Source Packet - instructions and research time on laptops.

Due: The rest of The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 26.  Research proposal.

Homework: Locate, print and annotate/SOAPS for 3 sources for term paper.


WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Term paper check-in.  Research time for additional sources for the term paper.  Current event discussion about Syrian refugees and the rhetoric associated with the issue. 

Due:  First three sources annotated/SOAPS for the term paper.

Homework: Study for current events quiz, continue work on term paper source packet.



FRIDAY:  Journal warm-up.  Current events quiz.  Read and discuss portions of Chapter 28-29 of The Grapes of Wrath. Go over results of last in-class essay and view College Board and Mogilefsky essay samples.  Term paper check-in and work time.

Due: n/a

Homework: Finish the Source Packet requirements and bring all 8 to class for Tuesday.  Finish The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 30 (the rest of the book) for Tuesday, November 24 and be prepared to discuss the ending.

November 9-13

Welcome!  This is a big week for our class; we'll write our third rhetorical analysis essay (our second in-class rhetorical analysis essay) and begin work on the term paper.  The term paper allows for student choice in the topic, gives practice in analyzing "real-world" examples of rhetoric, and will hone your research and term paper-writing skills. 

MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Introduce Rhetorical Historical fall term paper and provide handout with general description.  Review rhetorical analysis essay steps.  In-class rhetorical analysis essay.

Due: The Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 24-25.


Homework:
Come to class on Wednesday with three choices of topics for the Rhetorical Historical term paper in order of preference.  We'll be selecting them and no more than two students can have the same topic.

Study for the vocabulary quiz on Thursday.


WEDNESDAY: Veteran's Day - no school.


THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  Vocabulary quiz.  Rhetorical Historical term paper topic selection and overview. Table reading of completed student papers.   Step 2 Proposal handout.  Grapes of Wrath reading scenes/discussion in class.

Due: Bring three term paper topic choices in order of preference.


Homework:  Finish Grapes, Chapter 26 from page 528 to the end of the chapter.  Please type up Step Two: Research Proposal for Monday, November 16.

November 2-6

It's November!  We'll write another rhetorical analysis essay, continue with The Grapes of Wrath, preview NOISES OFF, and analyze the rhetoric surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement and its critics.

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up.  Overview of 2nd quarter.  Finish asyndeton/polysyndeton activity.  Green essay rewrite exercise due; review in class.  Begin rhetorical analysis paragraph on Steinbeck prompt from The Grapes of Wrath. 

Due:  
Green essay paragraph rewrite: please bring the old paragraph and the new one (handwritten neatly is fine).

Grapes Chapters 21-22. 

Homework:
Study for current events quiz covering TheWeek.com e-mails from Sunday, November 1 - Wednesday, November 4.   NOTE: There will be two Grapes reading questions on this week's quiz.

Read Grapes Chapter 23 (short).

Finish Grapes of Wrath rhetorical analysis paragraph for Thursday. 


THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  NOISES OFF preview from 1-1:30 p.m.  Current events quiz.  Grapes of Wrath reading scenes in class.  The rhetoric surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement - discussion.

Due: Grapes, Chapter 23 and The Grapes of Wrath rhetorical analysis paragraph.

Homework:  Read Grapes, Chapter 24 and 25.  Look over your rhetorical analysis essay notes over the weekend and we'll write another in-class essay on Monday.

October 26 - 30

Welcome!  Please check Aeries this week; Friday is the last day of the quarter and progress reports will be sent out.  If you're missing any work, please turn it in for at least partial credit.

This week, we'll continue with The Grapes of Wrath, add rhetorical analysis terms to our notes, and go over the results of the last in-class essay.

MONDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over multiple choice answers. Discuss Grapes, Chapter 18,  and music inspired by the book and the era.  Literary term: paradox.  Read "Shooting an Elephant" and analyze its rhetorical effects. 

Due: Chapter 18 read. Multiple choice questions answered to the best of your ability.

Homework: Read Grapes, Chapter 19 and Chapter 20 up to the scene where Jim Casy interacts with the police officer (page 357 in the library edition).

WEDNESDAY: Review in-class essay results, along with actual student responses and scoring. 

Due: Grapes reading through Chapter 20 up to the scene where Jim Casy interacts with the police officer (page 357 in library edition).

Homework:  For Friday: Study for vocabulary quiz.  Finish Chapter 20.  For Tuesday: Rewrite one paragraph from the Green essay for Tuesday.  Be ready to share.

FRIDAY: Vocab quiz.  Go over conclusions - what to include, what not to include. (Click here for Conclusions PPT with helpful hints.)  Asyndeton and polysyndeton definitions, group exercises (click here for asyndeton and polysyndeton definitions). 

Due: Grapes, Chapter 20.


Homework: Read Chapters 21-22 of Grapes, finish rewrite of paragraph for Green essay.   Look over rhetorical analysis essay writing notes.

October 19-23

This week we'll write our first in-class rhetorical analysis essay, timed at 1 hour.  We'll continue to write take-home and in-class essays as we move through the semester and get better and better each time.  The goal is "your best first draft" per the College Board, and by the time the exam comes around in May you'll be well prepared.

We'll also read Chapter 18 of The Grapes of Wrath, and head into the heart of the novel.  There are several interesting accompanying current events articles with Chapters 18-20 that we'll look at over the next couple of weeks, including opposing views about the "Black Lives Matter" movement and how best to deal with homelessness in Los Angeles.


TUESDAY:  Journal warm-up.  Review the steps to write a good rhetorical analysis essay, share outlines, collect outlines.  Write a rhetorical analysis essay, timed, 1 hour.  Debrief.

Due: 2 outlines: 1 for JFK's inauguration address and 1 for the Florence Kelley prompt. 


Homework: Study for current events quiz.


THURSDAY: Journal warm-up.  Current events quiz.  Review JFK outlines.  Discuss the multiple choice section of the exam.  Vote on class nominations for known actors for Grapes of Wrath.   Begin reading The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 18. Read opposing articles about what Los Angeles should do about homelessness and tiny houses, analyze each argument, City Council-style discussion.

Due: n/a

Homework: Finish reading Grapes, Chapter 18.  Note the rhetorical devices/appeals Steinbeck uses in these chapters to achieve his purpose and be ready to discuss on Monday. Which issues that Steinbeck highlights are still relevant today?

Multiple choice practice: read two passages (there were 5 on the 2014 exam) and answer the questions that follow each passage.  Please bring in your answers for Monday.   

October 12-16

This week we'll continue on Route 66 with the Joads in The Grapes of Wrath and will read new materials for more advanced rhetorical analysis practice.  You'll receive feedback for the first rhetorical essay, and we'll gear up for the next one, an in-class essay. 

MONDAY: Journal warm-up.  Go over old Glossary Assignment, pass back papers. Cumulative sentence exercise. Groucho Marx's letter to Warner Brothers, more information about thesis statements, and Christopher Morley's "On Laziness."

UPDATE: click here to access articles for today's class and enter "1000" for the passcode.  We read through page 9 of the scan, "Writing a Close Analysis Essay" and "On Laziness".

Due: Grapes, Chapter 13 read, Final draft of Marriage Proposal Rhetorical Analysis Essay to Turnitin.com, any remaining nomination forms for known actors for Grapes of Wrath characters.

Homework: Read Chapters 15 and 16 in Grapes of Wrath. If applicable, add to Glossary Assignment and turn in on Friday.


WEDNESDAY:  (PSAT test - all juniors will take the PSAT on Wednesday morning at 7:45 a.m. until 11:20 a.m. Periods 1-3 will be shortened to 50 minutes).  Journal warm-up. Watch clips from the Democratic Debate, then analyze the rhetorical strategies the candidates used as a class.

Due:

Homework: Study for Vocab quiz, read The Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 17 for Friday. 

FRIDAY: Journal warm-up.  Vocab quiz.  Go over rhetorical analysis essay steps. Read Grapes Chapter 14 out loud in class; identify and discuss the effect of rhetorical appeals in the chapter.   Prepare for in-class rhetorical analysis essay on Tuesday, October 20.  View CBS video providing a context for JFK's inaugural address; watch part of his speech from YouTube, and then read and annotate the transcript. 

Due: Grapes, Chapter 17 read

Homework:

1. Read the transcript of JFK's speech and annotate it.  Create an outline (outline only!) that would address the question: How does President Kennedy use rhetorical appeals and devices to achieve his purpose?

2. Read the actual Florence Kelley essay prompt handed out in class, read and annotate the passage, then write an outline that would address the prompt.

3. Keep up with e-mails from TheWeek.com.  There will be a current events quiz next week on Thursday covering the e-mails from this Sunday through this Wednesday (I'll post them on this website as well.)

NOTE: You're preparing for an in-class essay next Tuesday (we'll review for 30 minutes before the essay next week). Comments and scores on the final marriage proposal prompt are up in Turnitin.com.

October 5 - 9

This week, we'll continue annotating, planning and writing out drafts of an essay responding to the Marriage Proposal rhetorical analysis prompt.  The class will be writing many rhetorical analysis essays, both timed in-class and take-home style.  We'll also continue with The Grapes of Wrath and journey with the Joads along Route 66.

Please note that all juniors will be taking the PSAT on Wednesday, October 14 (next week).  The schedule will follow shortly on the PVHS website and I'll notify the class as soon as I have more information. 

TUESDAY: receive PSAT practice book, receive graded papers and quizzes.  Journal warm-up.  Look at current drafts and write outlines for Marriage Proposal prompt, receive feedback.  Go through Rhetorical Analysis Essay Steps.  Read through previous rhetorical essay responses and note what worked.   


Due: draft of Marriage Proposal essay to Turnitin.com by Monday evening, October 5 at 11:00 p.m.

Homework: Continue to work on draft, study for current events quiz.  


THURSDAY: PSAT set-up. Journal warm-up.  Current events quiz covering "The 10 Things You Need to Know" e-mail article from Sunday, October 4 through Wednesday, October 7.  Begin reading Grapes of Wrath, Chapter 13 in class and acting it out.  Individual or small group activity: play director and cast known actors for an imaginary remake of Grapes of Wrath using textual evidence, logos, ethos and pathos.  

 Due: Tone Vocabulary worksheet, please leave journals in class for participation points.


Homework:
1. Using the feedback from Turnitin.com and in class, please finish a final draft of the Marriage Proposal essay and upload it to Turnitin.com by Sunday evening, October 11 at 11:00 p.m.

2. Please finish Grapes Chapter 13.