Your First Arguments

AP Language

October 3rd, 2009

Themes: , , , , , ,

We decided on this schedule for next week. Note that I have made some changes in order to provide you adequate time to edit and research your topics.

Monday and Tuesday: Presentation of individual arguments

You will each have a few minutes to present your argument and any relevant support. As a class, we will point you in the direction of other helpful information or counterarguments.

Bring your research journal (including an outline of your argument) and sources to class.

Wednesday: Review of rhetorical techniques and editing

We will review the rhetorical techniques we’ve been discussing. I will then illustrate the use of these techniques on examples from your arguments.

I will also give you an overview of what to look for when editing a peer’s paper. We will go over constructive criticism, editing symbols, and what to focus on for this type of writing.

Bring your updated outline, research journal, and sources to class

Thursday: Peer review of arguments

You will each read two rough drafts, using the information from Wednesday as a guide. I will be circulating to answer questions and give advice. I’ll look over the edits at home, and return them Friday.

Bring the rough draft of your argument and your outline, research journal, and sources to class.

Friday: One-on-one discussion and revision

I will spend a few minutes with each of you to answer any last questions and go over the edited draft. While I am working with individual students, the rest will look over the edited drafts and begin the final draft. If there is space, we may work in the computer lab downstairs.

Bring all of your research materials and a copy of your rough draft (on a flash drive or email it to yourself).

Monday (10/12): Presentation of final drafts and discussion

We will have a short dance party in honor of our success, and bask in the glory of a job well done. We’ll discuss the issue, content in the understanding that we can all have a thoughtful conversation about this issue.

Bring your final draft stapled with the outline and rough draft.

Tuesday (10/13): Introduction to “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and Project C

We will begin an in-depth study of this turning point in our nation’s history by discussing what we know about the protests in Birmingham during 1962. I’ll review best annotation practices, then give you a copy of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail”—one of the greatest rhetorical works ever written. You should read and annotate it over the break.

Wednesday (10/14): PSAT!

I’ll be so lonely…

The Reading Journal Experiment

British Literature, World Literature

September 23rd, 2009

Themes: , , , , ,

On Monday I proposed a deal: If you keep a detailed (definition of “detailed” below) reading journal for our current work, one that includes as much or more information than an average essay, and turn it in at the end of the reading, you do not have to write a paper.

My hypothesis: A few of you would decide to just write the paper, as you are familiar with that routine and comfortable with your writing process; most of you would write down a few words you don’t know, perhaps a summary of the reading, a few questions, and be through with it; and a few would run with the idea, draw character maps, look up outside information, learn new words, come to class with questions about weird sentences and quote interesting passages.

The bell curve, right? Shame on me; I should have known better.

The past few days in class have blown me away. Nearly all of you have come to class with questions about the reading (or viewing, in Brit Lit), words you’re not sure about, connections you’ve made with outside works, points I’ve missed, and interpretations I hadn’t considered. You all seem to be enjoying the readings more (even though you have to write as you go), and understanding them in more depth. I’ve practically thrown out all my prepared questions for the past few days; yours are much better. I can’t wait to sit down with your journals at the end.

While I wrote this on the board, here is the list of things to look for or record in your journal:

You will turn in your journals the day after we finish the work. I will read them over that night, and return them to you the next day. I will not write in them, but simply give you advice on organization, some things you should focus on, etc. (I might steal some ideas for my own journal, too. Hope you don’t mind.)

If your journal is detailed enough (covers the entire work, or Act III through the end of Hamlet), you will be excused from the final essay. If you chose not to create a journal, or it seems a bit sparse (or is simply a list of quotations without your reactions), I will ask you to write the paper.

We will be creating reading journals for every reading assignment from here on out. For our next unit, I’ll show you how to write most of your essay in your journal before we even finish the novel.

Send me an email if you have questions, or post them below.

This is going to be an amazing year.

“Quote from the Play Somehow Related to the Post”

British Literature

September 16th, 2009

Themes: ,

Here’s the full text. Search for “Pyrrhus” within the page (usually ctrl+F); the story begins at the first mention of Pyrrhus.

Your assignment is as follows:

Trust Vonnegut

Notes from Stallings, World Literature

September 15th, 2009

Themes: , ,

Two quick articles I promised my Seniors, but think all should read:

How does my good Lord Hamlet?

British Literature

September 14th, 2009

Themes: , , ,

You can catch up on your reading here.

Our main goal with this play is to gain a better understanding of Shakespearean language, snag a few allusions, and take an in-depth look into the motivations of each character. The first two are happy side-effects of the last. There are two questions we should keep in mind as we watch:

  1. At what point does Hamlet’s sanity become questionable?

  2. Why doesn’t Hamlet kill Claudius right away?

Of course, as with all questions worth asking, our initial attempts will raise more questions than answers, and will become more complex as we look deeper into the story. This is a good thing.

We’ll have a quick quiz tomorrow over the action so far. This will do several things for us: