Monday, November 26, 2012

"You will be transformed by what you read."
                                    ---Deepak Chopra

WORDS OF THE DAY>
11-13-12  articulate (v):  to express well in words/articulate (adj):  employing language clearly and forcefully
11-14-12  credence (n):  belief; mental acceptance
11-15-12  evince (v):  to display clearly; to make evident (example:  "did not evince any sign of panic")
11-16-12  feckless (adj):  lacking in spirit and strength; ineffective, weak, irresponsible, unreliable
11-19-12  cavort (v):  to romp or prance around exuberantly
11-20-12  derogatory (adj):  designed to belittle or degrade; disparaging
11-21-12  eulogy (n):  a formal statement of praise usually at the time of a person's death
11-26-12  decry (v):  to condemn; to express strong disapproval of

Period 1
Grade 12 English AP

Today, as part of the SLO process, students wrote a 3-paragraph response to informational text, i.e., a Wall Street Journal article entitled "The Power of the Powerless:  A Brother's Lesson."

Tomorrow, we shall complete the class code of chivalry.  Also, be prepared to tell me the title of the book you plan to read for the second quarter.  A writing assignment will follow!

Period 3
Grade 12 English CP

I collected the outlining assignment/deconstructing a critical essay.  I explained the outline structure I require for step two of the research paper process.  Please remember the due date for the next step which is Thursday, December 6th!

Tomorrow, I look forward to your "Cranstonbury Tales"!

Period 4
Grade 12 English CP

Class dropped today, E-day.  Do not forget, however, your outlines and your "Cranstonbury Tales".

Have a good night.  I hope to see you all tomorrow!

Monday, November 12, 2012

WORDS OF THE DAY:  
11-5-12  overt (adj):  open, not hidden; expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

11-7-12  pejorative (adj):  tending to belittle; having negative connotations (ex:  a pejorative reply)

11-8-12  sacrilege (n):  improper or disrespectful treatment of something held sacred

11-9-12  talisman (n):  an object that serves as a charm or is believed to confer magical powers

Period 1
English 12AP

Is chivalry dead?  We have begun reading Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory and agree rather unanimously that the first chapter ("The Tale of King Arthur") is laborious as it lists numerous, un-memorizeable names!  Homework, nevertheless, is to carry on and read pages 59-94.

There is a word quiz on Thursday, 11-15-12 from propound to talisman

Period 3
English 12CP

Be sure to study Chaucer's "Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales.  There is a quiz tomorrow on the characters and their descriptions.

Period 4
English 12CP

No class tomorrow, but be sure to study Chaucer's "Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales.  There is a quiz on Wednesday, 11-14-12 on the characters and their descriptions.

I hope your week-end was fun!  Hope to see you all tomorrow!

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Wow!  It's amazing how quickly the days go by and how easily I forego my promise to keep this blog up-to-date.

Let's begin with the words of the day since Tuesday, 10-23-12.

propound (v):  to put forward, offer, or suggest for consideration (example>propound a startling new hypothesis)

maelstrom (n):  a whirlpool of great size and violence; a situation resembling such a whirlpool

suppliant (n):  one who makes a request humbly and earnestly

undulate (v):  to move in waves or in a wave-like motion (example>The highway sank at so many points, that its surface began to undulate like a roller coaster.)

myopic (adj):  nearsighted; lacking a broad, realistic view of a situation; lacking foresight

propriety (n):  the state of being proper; appropriateness; standards of what is proper or socially acceptable

summarily (adv):  without delay or formality; briefly; concisely

overt (adj):  open; not hidden; expressed or revealed in a way that is easily recognized

pejorative (adj):  tending to belittle; having negative connotations

Period 1
Grade 12AP

On Monday, the class finished up their in-class essays on Beowulf.  Today, period 1 dropped.  Tomorrow, we'll begin Arthurian Romances with introductory information on life in Medieval Times.

Period 3
Grade 12CP

Today, we finished reading the "Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales.  I distributed an assignment in which you will write 10 characterizations of 4 lines each in the style of Chaucer.  The project is due Tuesday, 11-27-12.  Dates to remember:  Tuesday, 11-13-12>test on Chaucer's pilgrims; Thursday, 11-15-12>word quiz from propound to talisman; Monday and Tuesday, 11-19 and 11-20>to the Library to begin research for the research paper.

Period 4
Grade 12CP

We continue our reading of the "Prologue" to The Canterbury Tales.  Dates to remember:  Tuesday, 11-13-12>test on Chaucer's pilgrims; Thursday, 11-15-12>word quiz from propound to talisman; Monday and Tuesday, 11-19 and 11-20>to the Library to begin research for the research paper.

Have a good night, everyone!  See you tomorrow!