"A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike. And all plans, safeguards, policing, and coercion are fruitless. We find that after years of struggle that we do not take a trip; a trip takes us." (John Steinbeck)
Hey happy seniors! Here are the words you will need to study for the vocabulary quiz on Wednesday, 5-15-2013.
acclamation (n): a shout of welcome; an overwhelming verbal vote of approval
bucolic (adj): characteristic of the countryside, rural, rustic; relating to shepherds and cowherds; pastoral
calumniate (v): to slander; to accuse falsely and maliciously
chary (adj): extremely cautious, hesitant, or slow with
collusion (n): secret agreement or cooperation
dilettante (n): a dabbler in the arts; one who engages in an activity in an amateurish wa, trifling way
imperturbable (adj): not easily excited; emotionally steady
increment (n): an enlargement, increase, addition
mandate (n): an authoritative command, formal order, authorization
paltry (adj): trifling, insignificant
paroxysm (n): a sudden outburst; a spasm, convulsion
pedantry (n): a pretentious display of knowledge; overly rigid attention to rules and details
peregrination (n): the act of traveling; an excursion, especially on foot or to a foreign country
profane (adj): impure, defiled; worldly, not connected with religious or spiritual matters; (v): to treat with irreverence or contempt
proffer (v): to present or offer
redolent (adj): fragrant; smelling strongly; tending to arouse memories or create an aura
refulgent (adj): shining, radiant, resplendent
shibboleth (n): a word, expression, or custom that distinguishes a particular group of persons from all others
tyro (n): a beginner, novice; one with little or no background or skill
unremitting (adj): not stopping, maintained steadily, never letting up, relentless
vacillate (v): to swing indecisively from one idea or course of action to another; to waver weakly in mind or will
vituperative (adj): harshly abusive, severely scolding
Happy studying!
“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.”
Helen Keller (1880-1968)
For all my 12th graders:
The following is a list of the new vocabulary words from allege to substantive:
allege (v): to assert without proof or confirmation
arrant (adj): downright, thorough, blatant (as in arrant knaves)
badinage (n): light and playful conversation
conciliate (v): to overcome the distrust of; win over; to appease, pacify; to reconcile
countermand (v): to cancel or reverse one order or command with another that is contrary to the first
echelon (n): one of a series of levels or grades in an organization or field of activity
exacerbate (v): to make worse; to make more violent, severe, or painful
fatuous (adj): stupid or foolish in a self-satisfied way
irrefutable (adj): that cannot be disproved; beyond argument
juggernaut (n): a massive and inescapable force or object that crushes whatever is in its path
lackadaisical (adj): lacking spirit or interest; halfhearted
litany (n): a prayer consisting of short appeals to God; any repetitive chant; a long list (as in a litany of complaints)
macabre (adj): grisly, gruesome, horrible, distressing, having death as a subject
melange (n): a mixture, a medley
paucity (n): an inadequate quantity; scarcity
portend (v): to indicate beforehand that something is about to happen; to give advance warning of
raze (v): to tear down, destroy completely
recant (v): to withdraw a statement or belief to which one has previously been committed; retract
saturate (v): to soak thoroughly, fill to capacity, to satisfy fully
saturnine (adj): of gloomy or surly disposition; cold or sluggish in mood
slough (v): to cast off, discard; to get rid of something objectionable or unnecessary
substantive (adj): pertaining to the essence or substance of something; existing in its own right; real, solid, of major importance
There will be a quiz on these 22 words at the beginning of next week.
Keep practicing your senior presentations! And don't forget to submit your reflective essays to RIEPS.
Have a great night. I hope to see you all tomorrow.
“The year you were born marks only your entry into the world. Other years where you prove your worth, they are the ones worth celebrating.
”
― Jarod Kintz, This Book Title is Invisible
The following post will explain what's tentatively on tap for my 12th graders this week.
Period 1
Grade 12AP
We have begun reading Hamlet. I expect you to keep a reading log as we journey through the text. I will distribute instructions for each entry tomorrow, Monday, 3-25-13.
Final drafts of your research papers are due tomorrow.
There will be a word quiz on Thursday, 3-28-13. All words and their definitions appear at the end of this post.
Periods 3 and 4
Grade 12CP
Everyone should now have a copy of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The reading assignment due on Monday is for reading up to and including Chapter 8. Book projects (of your outside reading) are due on Wednesday, 3-27-13. Please keep in mind that because this project was assigned weeks ago, it is considered a long-term assignment. Fifty (50) points will be deducted for any project not handed in on time. Only excused absences are exempt from this policy!
There will be a word quiz on Thursday, 3-28-13. All words and their definitions appear at the end of this post.
VOCABULARY WORDS
allay (v): to calm or pacify, set to rest; to lessen or relieve
bestial (adj): beast-like; beastly, brutal; subhuman in intelligence and sensibility
convivial (adj): festive, sociable; having fun together, genial
coterie (n): a circle of acquaintances; a close-knit, often exclusive, group of people with a common interest
counterpart (n): a person or thing closely resembling or corresponding to another; a complement
demur (v): to object or take exception to
effrontery (n): shameless boldness; impudence
embellish (v): to decorate, adorn, touch up; to improve by adding details
ephemeral (adj): lasting only a short time, short-lived
felicitous (adj): appropriate, apt, well-chosen; marked by well-being or good fortune, happy
furtive (adj): done slyly or stealthily; sneaky, secret, shifty
garish (adj): glaring; tastelessly showy or overdecorated in a vulgar or offensive way
illusory (adj): misleading, deceptive; lacking or not based on reality
indigent (adj): needy, impoverished
inordinate (adj): far too great, exceeding reasonable limits, excessive
jettison (v): to cast overboard, get rid of as unnecessary or burdensome
misanthrope (n): a person who hates or despises people
pertinacious (adj): very persistent; holding firmly to a course of action or a set of beliefs; hard to get rid of, refusing to be put off or denied
picayune (adj): of little value or importance, paltry, measly; concerned with trifling matters, small-minded
raiment (n): clothing, garments
threshold (n): the board or stone that lies under a door, sill, the place or point of entering or beginning, outset; the point at which a physiological or psychological effect is produced, brink
wraith (n): a ghostly apparition, specter
Enjoy the remainder of your week-end. I hope to see you all tomorrow!
Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity.
Hermann Hesse
Ok, kids! Here goes...
asseverate concord grouse disarray flotsam
consummate glean exigency frenetic incarcerate
ludicrous incumbent mordant jocular nettle
pusillanimous recumbent pecuniary stratagem prepossessing
acuity delineate depraved emend enervate
esoteric fecund fiat figment garner
hallowed idiosyncrasy ignominy malediction mundane
nuance overweening penchant reputed sophistry
sumptuous ubiquitous abject agnostic complicity
derelict diatribe effigy equity inane
indictment indubitable intermittent meretricious moot
neophyte perspicacity plenary prestigious surveillance
sylvan testy travesty
“On the fifth day, which was a Sunday, it rained very hard. I like it when it rains hard. It sounds like white noise everywhere, which is like silence but not empty.”
― Mark Haddon, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Period 1
Grade 12 AP
Just a gentle reminder that there will be a test on Wednesday, 3-13-2013 on all previous vocabulary words beginning with asseverate. There are 66 words total, but the test will contain only 50.
Also, please begin work on your portfolio reflective essays which are also due on Wednesday, the 13th. These must be corrected and returned to you for submission to your portfolios by 4-1-2013.
We continue with the study of sonnets, both Petrarchan (Italian) and English (Shakespearean).
Periods 3 and 4
Grade 12 CP
Just a gentle reminder that there will be a test on Wednesday, 3-13-2013 on all previous vocabulary words beginning with asseverate. There are 66 words total, but the test will contain only 50.
Also, please begin work on your portfolio reflective essays which are also due on Wednesday, the 13th. These must be corrected and returned to you for submission to your portfolios by 4-1-2013.
We are finishing Hamlet; Act V is up this week. I will collect journals on Friday. If you will be on a field trip that day, you must hand in the journal before leaving school. If you are absent, you will be given one day to hand in the journal.
Finally, continue to read your outside reading books and to plan your projects. They are due on Wednesday, March 27, 2013.
I hope to see you all tomorrow!
“Do you really want to be happy? You can begin by being appreciative of who you are and what you've got.” ― Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh
WORDS OF THE DAY (from 1-28-13 to 2-5-13)
derelict (n): someone or something that is neglected or abandoned
diatribe (n): a bitter or prolonged verbal attack
effigy (n): a crude image of a despised person
equity (n): the state or quality of being just or fair or impartial; fair and equal treatments
inane (adj): silly; empty of meaning or value
indictment (n): the act of accusing; a formal accusation
indubitable (adj): certain; not to be doubted or denied
intermittent (adj): stopping and beginning again; sporadic
meretricious (adj): spuriously attractive in a showy, cheap or vulgar way; lacking sincerity and honesty
moot (adj): open to discussion and debate, unresolved
motif (n): a principal idea or feature; a repeated or dominant figure in a design
Period 1
English 12AP
We have begun the research paper process in earnest with many opportunities to think about direction and conduct research. I hope to complete our unit on The Canterbury Tales by the end of the week and have students write an in-class essay on either "The Miller's Tale" or "The Wife of Bath's Tale" at the beginning of next week. The rough draft of the thesis, outline, and works cited page are due on Monday, 2-11-13.
Periods 3 and 4
English 12CP
We are in the middle of Act III of Hamlet and working on the third soliloquy of our tragic hero. By now, you should have 21 journal entries. I will be collecting your journals when there are roughly 30 entries. Everyone has handed in their final drafts of their research papers --Hooray!! This quarter you will be reading independently a book by a British author and completing a reading project.
I hope to see you all in class...be safe!
"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions" - Albert Einstein
WORDS OF THE DAY (from 1-22 to 1-25-13)
reputed (adj): according to reputation or general belief; having widespread acceptance; alleged
sophistry (n): reasoning that seems plausible but is actually unsound
sumptuous (adj): costly, rich, magnificent
ubiquitous (adj): present or existing everywhere
abject (adj): degraded, wretched, complete and unrelieved; contemptible
agnostic (n): one who believes that nothing is known about God; a skeptic
complicity (n): involvement in wrongdoing; the state of being an accomplice
Period 1
Grade 12AP
The research paper process has begun. Signed contracts were handed in on Friday, 1-25-13 and the class went to the library on Monday and Tuesday to begin hunting for secondary sources. Students are working on an analysis of one essay of literary criticism which is due this Friday, 2-1-13. We are also working on "The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale."
Periods 3 and 4
Grade 12CP
We have begun reading The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark in earnest with daily journaling to record thoughts, impressions, questions, etc. As of today, everyone should have read through Act II scene i and should have 18 journal entries.
Do not forget to study for the word quiz on Thursday, 1-31-13. Words to know are recumbent to nuance.
Have a wonderful night!
Advice is like snow - the softer it falls, the longer it dwells upon, and the deeper it sinks into the mind.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
WORDS OF THE DAY (from 1-14-13 to 1-18-13)
garner (v): to acquire as the result of effort; to gather and store away
hallowed (adj): holy, sacred (as in this hallowed ground)
idiosyncracy (n): a peculiarity that serves to distinguish or identify
ignominy (n): public shame or disgrace
malediction (n): a curse; an expression of hatred and condemnation
mundane (adj): earthly, worldly, relating to practical affairs; concerned with what is ordinary
nuance (n): a subtle or slight variation (as in color, meaning, quality); delicate gradation or shade of difference
overweening (adj): conceited, presumptuous, excessive, immoderate
penchant (n): a strong attraction or inclination (as in a penchant for buying expensive shoes)
OK, so here's what's on tap for the coming week...
Period 1
English 12AP
Your original prologues ("Cranston-bury Tales") are due on Tuesday, 1-22-13. I will also be distributing the research paper contract and accompanying documents to you. The signed contract is due on Friday, 1-25-13. You will also be presenting your shields on Wednesday and we will continue our discussion of "The Wife of Bath's Tale". On Friday, there will be a word quiz. The words you need to know are from consummate to enervate.
HW: Read National Review article by Daniel Prager, "What Do Women Want?" Read "The Wife of Bath's Tale", and study vocabulary for quiz on Friday.
Periods 3 and 4
English 12CP
We will finish up the soliloquy presentations on Tuesday, 1-22-13. We will continue our reading of Hamlet, with the hope of completing Acts II and III this week. There may be a surprise quiz on the cast of characters, so keep up with your reading and journaling.
“It is nothing to die. It is frightful not to live.”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
Below are the words from the week of 1-7-13. A list of all other words can be found on the previous post.
acuity (n): sharpness (particularly of the mind and senses)
delineate (v): to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially
depraved (adj): devoid of moral principles; brought to a state of evil and corruption
emend(v): to free from errors, correct; to alter to serve a new or different purpose
enervate (v): to weaken, lessen the mental, moral, or physical vigor
esoteric (adj): intended for or understood by only a select few; private, secret
fecund(adj): fruitful in offspring or vegetation; intellectually productive
fiat (n): an arbitrary order or decree; a command or act of will or consciousness
figment (n): a fabrication of the mind; an arbitrary notion
Period 1 12AP
We have completed Chaucer's Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. There will be a quiz on the characters on Wednesday, 1-16-13. Be sure to familiarize yourself with Chaucer's text as many of the questions will contain quotations for you to identify. You have also been assigned the task of writing your own poetic characterizations. These "Cranston-bury Tales" are due on Tuesday, 1-22-13. Homework tonight is to read pages 197-227 of "The Miller's Tale".
Periods 3 and 4 12CP
We have begun reading Shakespeare's Hamlet. There will be a word quiz on Wednesday (for period 3) and on Thursday (for period 4). The words you need to know are from atrophy to pusillanimous.
Have a wonderful night! I hope to see you all tomorrow!!
“You are the sky. Everything else – it’s just the weather.”
― Pema Chödrön
WORDS OF THE DAY (from exhume to prepossessing -- 11/29/12 to 1-4-13)
exhume (v): to remove from a grave; to bring to light
intractable (adj): hard to manage, stubborn, not responsive to discipline
adumbrate (v): to foreshadow vaguely; to give a sketchy outline or to disclose partially
verdant (adj): green in tint or color; immature in experience or judgment
nefarious (adj): wicked, depraved, devoid of moral standards
murky (adj): dark, gloomy; lacking in clarity and precision
viscous (adj): having a gelatinous or gluey quality; lacking in easy movement or fluidity
piquant (adj): stimulating to the taste or mind; spicy, pungent, appealingly provocative
primordial (adj): developed or created at the very beginning; going back to the most ancient times or earliest stage
unwonted (adj): not usual or expected; not in character
utopian (adj): founded upon or involving a visionary view of an ideal world; impractical
propinquity (n): nearness in place or time; kinship
atrophy (n): the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure
bastion (n): a fortified place; a stronghold
verbiage (n): language that is too wordy or inflated in proportion to the sense of content
asseverate (v): to affirm earnestly and with emphasis
concord (n): state of agreement, harmony
grouse (v): to complain or grumble
disarray (n): disorder and confusion
flotsam (n): floating debris; homeless, impoverished people
consummate (adj): complete or perfect in the highest degree
glean (v): to gather bit by bit; to gather small quantities of grain left by reapers
exigency (n): urgency, pressure, a pressing need
frenetic (adj): frantic, frenzied, highly agitated
incarcerate (v): to imprison, to jail, to confine
ludicrous (adj): ridiculous, laughable, absurd
mordant (adj): biting or caustic in thought, manner, or style; sharply or bitterly harsh
jocular (adj): humorous, jesting, jolly, joking
nettle (v): to arouse displeasure, impatience, or anger; to vex or irritate severely
pusillanimous (adj): contemptibly cowardly
recumbent (adj): in a reclining position
pecuniary (adj): consisting of or measured in money
stratagem (n): a scheme to outwit or deceive an opponent or to gain a desired result
prepossessing (adj): pleasing; tending to create a favorable impression
Period 1
Grade 12AP
We have begun Chaucer's Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. Today we discussed physiognomy and body humors like choleric, sanguine, phlegmatic, and melancholy. For homework, you must read the brief introductory notes that I gave you this morning. You also have a copy of James Lipton's introduction to An Exaltation of Larks that you must read by Monday. You will be responsible for all content. There is also a word quiz on Monday, 1-7-13 from exhume to flotsam.
Periods 3 and 4
Grade 12CP
Rough drafts of research papers are due tomorrow, Friday, 1-4-13. We are currently studying the sonnets of William Shakespeare. You are responsible for knowing the form of a Shakespearean sonnet. Today, we read Sonnet 18 ("Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?")
Have a most productive night! I hope to see you all tomorrow!!
