We'll Serve Them Chicken Soup on Toast!

October!  Already!?  Time sure flies when--oh, never mind.  We'll start placing bets on when the first snow will fall, while we rake up leaves and analyze rhetoric this week.  Also, novels are still front and center--the only actual homework you'll have--so keep turning those pages, kids.  Whoopy once whoopy twice . . .

MONDAY, 10/1 Focus: Literary Analysis (11-12.RL.1; 11-12.RL.3)
Novels, continued
• Barbarians--Section 1 Discussion ( Read Section 2 by Wednesday)
• Gatsby--Chapter 1 discussion, Chapters 2 & 3 preparation
• Focused reading time

TUESDAY, 10/2 Focus: Literary Analysis/Writing ( 11-12.RL.3; 11-12.W.5)
Someplace essays
• Style sheet #1
• Feedback and opportunity
Novels: Gatsby, Chapters 2 & 3
• Reading check
• Discussion
• Read Section 2 (4-6) by Friday

WEDNESDAY 10/3 Focus: Writing Production ( 11-12.W.4; 11-12.W.5)
Rhetorical Analysis
• Attempt #1 Reviewed: Feedback
• Attempt #2: Redo
Novels: Waiting for the Barbarians
• Reading check
• Asking questions
• Read Section 3 (to end) by Monday

THURSDAY 10/4 Focus: Reading Key Ideas and Details (11-12.RI.4; 11-12.RI.5)
Joyas Voladoras
• Reading the layers: whole class discussion
• Response:  groups

FRIDAY 10/5 Focus: Literary Analysis (11-12.RL.1; 11-12.RL.2
Novels: Gatsby, Section 2
• Reading check
• Discussion:  structure and character development
• Read Section 3 (to end) by Tuesday

A Novel Idea

While we're focusing on the power of language, let's examine a little more closely how authors of fiction work to make arguments.  This week, in addition to analyzing rhetoric of non-fiction, we'll begin a novel.  Literary analysis is the fraternal twin of rhetorical analysis; they have lots in common.  Since I will be expecting you to read at home, we'll spend class time working on writing and reading skills.  What could be more fun?

MONDAY, 9/24 Focus: Reading difficult text (11-12.RI.1; 11-12.RI.2)
We Are Still Only Human
• Close reading: Identifying key ideas
• Paraphrasing

TUESDAY, 9/25 Focus: Reading difficult text (11-12.RI.3)
We Are Still Only Human
• Close reading: Analyzing development of argument/ideas
• SOAPS + outline

WEDNESDAY, 9/26 Focus: Prereading
The AP Language Novel: choices and checkout
• Introductory info
• Read first section by Friday

THURSDAY, 9/27 Focus: Writing, analysis (11-12.W.2; 11-12.L.5)
John Updike on Baseball
• Naming the parts
• Practicing analysis

FRIDAY, 9/28 Focus: Speaking and Listening (11-12.SL.1)
The AP Novel
• Reading Check: Section 1
• Discussion
• Read second section by Tuesday

How does it mean?

This week we'll focus our efforts on the art of rhetoric--analyzing it in our reading and applying it in writing our first essay.  It's not WHAT but HOW, all the tricks of the trade that make for an effective argument.  On Friday we'll spend a period discussing Ishmael, so be sure to bring your book (and your ideas, questions, and thoughts) to class. Open House Wednesday evening--mark your calendar!

                MONDAY, 9/17 Focus:  Writing strategies          (11-12.W.3, 11‐12.W.4) Someplace in Bend: small group prewriting work

• choosing details
• establishing a thesis
• considering organizational structures
• first draft DUE THURSDAY
Read We Are Still Only Human for Wednesday, 9/19

TUESDAY, 9/18 Focus: Reading, Analysis (11-­12.RI.1, 11-12.RI.2, 11-12.RI.3)
Rhetorical appeals/stylistic choices
The Death of Benny Paret: whole class analysis; individual response 
• SOAPS
• Analysis of appeals

WEDNESDAY, 9/19 Focus: Reading, Analysis (11-­12.RI.1, 11-12.RI.2, 11-12.RI.3)
We Are Still Only Human: small group analysis
• SOAPS
• Analysis of appeals and stylistic choices

THURSDAY, 9/20 Focus:  Writing revision (11-12.W.4, 11-12.W.5)
Someplace in Bend: editing machine
• Final draft DUE (Googledocs) Monday, 9/24

FRIDAY, 9/21 Focus: Reading, Speaking (11-12. L.1, 11-12.L.6)
Ishmael
• shared inquiry

Let's Get it Started in Here!

So much for revving our engines.  It's time to step on the gas!  We'll start with a look at the summer viewing assignments, and use those to begin building strategies for comprehension, analysis, argument, and evaluation.  Let's continue the ideas we touched on last week, rethinking our whole purpose and investing in learning that is worthwhile.  Your first regular season assignments will be due this week; work that will be turned in or done for a grade is noted in red. Also note, the focus items in parentheses are from the Common Core State Standards, for which you will be held accountable this year.

MONDAY, 9/10
Beware Online "Filter Bubbles" (Focus: 11-12.SL.3,  11-12.W.9)  
  • Sharing responses:  Identifying the SOAPS
  • Trying it out:  Personally tailored results
  • Writing:  What do you notice?  (SOAPS + class results)

TUESDAY, 9/11
Paradox of Choice (Focus: 11-12.W.3)
  • Sharing responses:  Main ideas, support; SOAPS
  • Narrative techniques: personal experience as argument support
  • Writing:  What do you think? (Response + personal experience)

WEDNESDAY, 9/12
Someplace in Queens (Focus: 11-12.RI.2, 11-12.RI.4)
  • Reading:  Strategies, Active reading
  • SSR:  Read Someplace for Thursday

THURSDAY, 9/13
Someplace in Queens (Focus: 11-12.RI.5,  11-12.SL.1)
  • Reading Check
  • Shared inquiry 

FRIDAY, 9/14 
Someplace in Bend (Focus: 11-12.W.3,  11-12.W.4)
  • Unlearning the rules
  • Essay requirements

Ima let you finish

Oh my holy hayfever!  It's August already.  Time for the rest of your summer assignments.  GOOD work to those of you who completed the first task on the GOOD show.  Several students have checked in a little later than the recommended time, and some have NOT YET CHECKED IN AT ALL!!  What?  Lucky for them/you, summer is forgiveness season, a time to allow yourself a little slack before the NOOSE tightens in September.  Hahaha.  Anywho, please get on your social media and remind your slackier AP comrades it's time to get on the ball--sign in with contact info and complete the assignments BEFORE the first day of class.

So, now that you've listened and responded to the GOOD show, it's only fair that you do the same with the BAD show--your second LISTENING.  This time, replace the word kindness in each statement with the word cruelty:

1.  Cruelty is hard-wired in our brains, a biological imperative that promotes survival.
2.  Cruelty is chiefly a product of experience and circumstance, a quality that is found only in some individuals.

Are some people just born bad?  Are we all equally capable of cruelty?  Is environment more influential in the manifestation of evil than of good?  Is your answer the same as it was in Assignment #1?

Once again, respond by clicking the comment link at the bottom of this post, identify yourself and the number of the question you most closely agree with.  Use evidence from BOTH shows to support your position.

For your VIEWING assignments, please go to TED.com and watch both The Paradox of Choice and Beware online "filter bubbles."  Come to class on Day 3 with two copies of this sheet printed and filled out--one for each Ted talk. 

Meanwhile, I will collect the golden lines you have been selecting from Ishmael as you read on the FIRST DAY of class.  We will be doing some work with this novel, but probably not until the second week, so you won't need your book with you right away. 

Man, you guys, this is going to be fun!  I know it's hard to let go of summer and get back to the grind, but this will be a whole new grind!  You're going to like it!!