Sunday, March 24, 2013

“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 KintzThis 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!






Tuesday, March 12, 2013

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    

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

“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 HaddonThe 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!