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? 

Special Post: Avoid late fees!

Please make sure to register by this Sunday March 3rd. Any student who registers after this date will have a $50 late registration fee. If you need financial assistance, have any questions, or need to take the late testing day, please see Ms. Hafer in the main office.  

https://user.totalregistration.net/AP/052358

February 25 - March 1

This week, we will march (March?) forward, continuing with the argument unit and gearing up for another in-class prompt. This class has excelled in finding high quality, original examples and evidence so far, and I'm really impressed with some of the brainstorms from last week. This is a critical skill in the pre-writing process and it will serve you well.

The areas we need to work on are writing out good essay drafts by hand, and the multiple choice portion, which we'll address going forward.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: If you haven't already, please sign up for the AP Language exam. So far 11 out of 37 students have signed up. You can sign up through Sunday, March 3. On Monday, March 4th at 12:00 a.m. there will be an additional $50 charged as a late fee.

Here is the link:

https://user.totalregistration.net/AP/052358

SECOND IMPORTANT REMINDER: No current events quiz this week. We have a shortened week due to scheduling, and an in-class essay on Friday instead.

MONDAY: Attendance. Junior guidance sessions. After the session, your counselors will help you sign up for next year's classes, then you'll return to class one at a time.

Due: n/a

Homework: For Wednesday, February 27, please read and annotate the challenging "Professions for Women" from the Gender Packet, as well as "There is No Unmarked Woman." Note the types of evidence and examples provided and come with opinions for class discussion.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Go over the reading. Discussion about the complex issue of the gender pay gap and possible underlying reasons, view statistics. Read blog entry from a young professional about what she wishes she'd known about negotiating her salary (beneficial for everyone in class, not just the women). Speaking and listening: small group activity - improve the blogger's suggestions for phrases that could be used during a conversation with a potential employer that are respectful and effective in negotiations of salary, terms, etc. when accepting a position. Whole class discussion/comparison.

Extension: If you have time, click here for a challenging and informative video from the Stanford Business School about negotiation. I learn something new every time I listen to the lecture.

Due: Please read and annotate the challenging "Professions for Women" from the Gender Packet, as well as "There is No Unmarked Woman." Note the types of evidence and examples provided and come with opinions for class discussion.

Homework: Please put together one index card of notes written in pen that you will use for the argument essay on Friday.  Note: there is no quiz on Friday.

FRIDAY: Video argument: how women are portrayed in ads. Analyze how the argument was made, evaluate. "I Want a Wife" rhetorical analysis and discussion.

Due: Optional: one index card of notes written in pen to be turned in with essay. Keep these for Tuesday.

Homework: Please 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%.

February 18 - 22

Welcome to the beginning of the Gender Unit! I'm looking forward to some interesting discussions and debates as we explore different perspectives and the current events in this area. We will also be honing our argument essay skills and getting ready to write another argument essay.

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Notes: types of claims. Compare the "ideal" man/woman brainstorm from other classes. Discuss the first two articles in the AP Gender Unit Packet, cite evidence. Small group activity - practice brainstorming evidence and examples, present findings to class. Group outlines to prompt from reading homework. Addressing the element of time in an argument prompt.

Due: Please read and annotate "Being a Man" and "Many Ways to Be a Girl, but One Way to Be a Boy..." (pages 1-5 in the AP Gender Unit packet). Come with opinions about the reading for Tuesday's activity.

Please complete a new assignment on Albert i.o. - "Ain't I a Woman?" by Sojourner Truth.

Homework: Read "Why Johnny Won't Read" and create a short, original outline response to the following prompt:

Bauerlain and Stotsky assert that the changes in assigned books for students in grades K-12 have contributed to an alarming decrease in reading for boys. To what extent does the K-12 reading curriculum choices in schools contribute to the widening gender gap between girls and boys? 

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering AP vocab, grammar, and reading. Share outlines and opinions about "Why Johnny Won't Read." Read "Just Walk on By" and then share experiences and observations about this topic. Read and analyze the argument in "I Want a Wife" and participate in think/pair/share discussion questions.

Due: Read "Why Johnny Won't Read" and create a short, original outline response to the following prompt: Bauerlain and Stotsky assert that the changes in book choices for students in grades K-12 have contributed to an alarming decrease in reading for boys. To what extent does the K-12 reading curriculum choices in schools contribute to the widening gender gap between girls and boys?

Homework: On Monday, February 25, the class will go to Junior Guidance Counseling to sign up for classes for next year.

For Wednesday, February 27. please read and annotate the challenging "Professions for Women" from the Gender Packet, as well as "There is No Unmarked Woman." Come with opinions for class discussion.

February 11-15

I hope everyone enjoyed the three-day weekend (the first one)!  Here's the agenda for the week:

TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Finish year 2219 activity. Go through Huckleberry Finn as a book and discuss chapters. Read the first part of Chapter 16. Introduce extra credit opportunity with Huckleberry Finn reading. Discussion and activity: trigger warnings.

Due: Please read the following two articles about controversial topics at college and trigger warnings. Note the speakers in both cases, and come with your own opinions about whether or not trigger warnings should be given before teachers assign books and speakers come to colleges. We'll discuss and then use this as a basis for a group activity on Tuesday.

The Coddling of the American Mind

An Open Letter to Jerry Seinfeld from a Politically Correct College Student

Homework: Please complete the Huckleberry Finn raft assignment.

Study for the Current Events Quiz on Thursday, February 14, covering the TheWeek.com's emails from Sunday, Feb. 10 - Wednesday, Feb. 13.

THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Current Events Quiz. Practice outlining AP argument prompt in class. English class-style Valentine's Day celebration. Intro: AP Gender Unit, receive AP Gender Unit packet of essays. "Ideal man"/"Ideal woman" activity. 

Due: Huckleberry Finn raft assignment.

Homework For Tuesday:

Please read and annotate "Being a Man" and "Many Ways to Be a Girl, but One Way to Be a Boy..." (pages 1-5 in the AP Gender Unit packet). Come with opinions about the reading for Tuesday's activity.

Please complete a new assignment on Albert i.o. - "Ain't I a Woman?" by Sojourner Truth.

February 4 - 8

It's already February! This month, we'll continue the argument unit, survey selected chapters from Huckleberry Finn and discuss related issues, and begin a unit containing essays about gender. I'm looking forward to many good debates around these topics, especially in this class!

Unfortunately, I have been pulled into a meeting on Tuesday morning and will miss class that day. I've scheduled several other items that need to be completed by the end of February on that day, and will be back with your latest round of graded essays on Thursday. 

TUESDAY: First 15 minutes of class: scheduling presentation from the counseling office with form for next year's classes. AP exam sign-up information presentation by Ms. Hafer with forms and deadlines. Healthy kids survey on Chromebooks. Journal warm-up. Remaining time in class to read Huckleberry Finn and work on raft assignment. 

Click here for the link to the Healthy Survey. 

Due: Please read Huckleberry Finn, Chapters 1 - 7. 

Homework: Please read Huckleberry Finn, Chapters 8 - 11 and Chapter 15.

Work on the raft assignment, which is due on Thursday, February 14. 

 
THURSDAY: Journal warm-up. Vocabulary Quiz. Receive argument essays back, with samples. Go over Huckleberry Finn reading, characters, scenes, prose. Read the first part of Chapter 16, where Huck wrestles with his conscience about whether or not to turn Jim in as a runaway slave. Group activity: the year 2319.

Due: Please read Huckleberry Finn, Chapters 8 - 11 and Chapter 15.

Homework for Tuesday, February 12: Please read the following two articles about controversial topics at college and trigger warnings. Note the speakers in both cases, and come with your own opinions about whether or not trigger warnings should be given before teachers assign books and speakers come to colleges. We'll discuss and then use this as a basis for a group activity on Tuesday.

The Coddling of the American Mind

An Open Letter to Jerry Seinfeld from a Politically Correct College Student

Homework for Thursday, February 14:
Huckleberry Finn raft assignment

Enjoy the three-day holiday for President Lincoln's birthday!
I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.