Assignments for the Week of December 1

COMPARISON & CONTRAST UNIT

This week we will complete our last of three comparison/contrast papers. The rough draft will be due on Wednesday, December 3. The assignment will be given to you in class on Monday. However, the assignment is also listed below.

Choose one of the following topics for your third comparison and contrast essay:

1. What oppositions do you use to evaluate people? Smart vs. dumb? Hip versus clueless? Fun versus dull? Choose your favorite opposition for evaluating people, and write an essay in which you compare and contrast those who pass your “test” with those who fail it. You may choose to write your essay in tongue-in-cheek, as Britt does in “Neat People vs. Sloppy People,” or seriously.
2. Write an essay in which you compare and contrast two apparently dissimilar groups of people: for example, blue-collar workers and white-collar workers, runners and football players, readers and watchers, or any other variation you choose. Your approach may either be light-hearted or serious, but make sure you come to some conclusion about your subjects. Which group do you favor? Why?
3. Write your own “My Two Lives” essay. Compare and contrast your two lives. Think about the topics we discussed in class.
4. Write an essay similar to “Body Imperfect” comparing how an adult and a child view the same situation very differently.

ARGUMENT & PERSUASION UNIT

Senior Issue Paper

We will begin the argument and persuasion unit this week. The following items are due for the senior issue paper:
Due Wednesday, Dec. 3 -- Three possible topics for issue paper. Each topic should be written as a yes/no question.
Due Friday, Dec. 5 -- Final topic for issue paper should be typed in a yes/no question format. Underneath the typed question should be a brainstorm activity on opposing viewpoints of your topic.

The Weeks of November 17 & November 24

Assignments for 1984:

Comparison & Contrast Unit

Due Wednesday, November 19: Pages 157-184 & Pages 217-224

Due Friday, November 21: Pages 225-260 & article/notes on invasion of privacy

Due Monday, November 24: Rough draft of Julia and Winston comparison paper & pages 261-end of the novel

Tuesday, November 25: In-class Writing Assignment on 1984

The Weeks of November 3 and November 10

1984

Comparison & Contrast

November 3-5: This week we will meet at the library to work on researching information for your PowerPoint presentations. You will need to read up to page 69 for Tuesday, November 4. The rough draft of your gender issue article is also due on Tuesday, November 4. Remember, you must narrow down your topic, organize your ideas, and decide on the tone you will take when writing the paper. You are writing this article to entertain/inform young adults between the ages of 16 and 19. Have fun with this! Enjoy your four day weekend -- No Homework!

November 10: Today you will meet me at the library to finalize presentations. You must e-mail me your PowerPoint Presentation by the end of the period today. Please read pages 69-126 for Friday, November 14.

November 11 & 12: PowerPoint Presentations will be given these two days. Continue to read pages 69-126 for Friday, November 14.

November 13: Free reading day for any students who will be in class today. Please bring your novels. Pages 69-126 are due tomorrow.

November 14: Today we will connect the totalitarian governments you created at the beginning of the unit to 1984. We will also discuss the slogans created by the party. Read pages 127-156 for Tuesday, November 18.

The Week of October 27

Comparison & Contrast Unit and 1984

Monday, October 27 --

Read the introduction to the comparison/contrast unit found on pages 165-171 in The Riverside Reader. Next, read "Shop like a Man" found on pages 186-201. We will discuss both in class tomorrow.

Tuesday, October 28 --

The typed rough draft of the memoir is due today!

Today we will be discussing the comparison/contrast essay. We will read "Men vs. Women over Walking at Night." You will be assigned your first comparison/contrast essay. The topic will be a gender article similar to "Shop like a Man" and "Men vs. Women over Walking at Night." The gender comparison outline is due Friday, October 31.

You will also receive 1984 today. You must read pages 1-69 for next Tuesday. Think about the following when reading the book: Compare the happenings of the novel to today's society, note the similarties and differences in the husband and wife relationship, the parent and child relationship, and the relationship between co-workers, and to note the similarities and differences between Winston and Julia.

Wednesday, October 29 --

Group Work: Creatng a Totalitarian Society

Thursday, October 30 --

We will finish our discussion from yesterday

Friday, October 31 --

Gender comparison outline is due today.

I will spend the class period disussing the PowerPoint presentation you will be creating.

Assignments for the Week of October 20

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week will be dedicated to watching the film Stranger than Fiction. You will focus on the following items while viewing the film: the work involved in creating and developing a character, the research involved in writing a piece of fiction, the importance in creating an intriguing, yet believable plot, and the difficulty on formulating a creative, yet strong, meaningful ending. Enjoy the film!

Thursday and Friday will be dedicated to the memoir. You will be doing the pre-writing activities on Thursday. On Friday, you will meet me in computer lab #438 to begin typing the rough draft of your memoir (worth 20 points). Bring your flashdrives to the computer lab to save what you have completed. The rough draft will be due on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Assignments for the Weeks of October 6 and October 13

The Catcher in the Rye

Monday, Oct. 6 --

Due today: Chapters 8-15 of The Catcher in the Rye

Continue reading the novel -- Chapters 16-20 are due on Friday.

Tuesday, Oct. 7 --

Due today: 100 point college essay (please have the rough draft stapled to the final copy)

Today I will assign the color/object essay. The rough draft will be due on Thursday.

Wednesday, Oct. 8 --

Today we will discuss Holden's encounters in New York.

Thursday, Oct. 9 --

Due today: color/object essay (rough draft)

Today you will do peer evaluations on your rough drafts.

Friday, Oct. 10 --

Due today: Chapters 16-20 of The Catcher in the Rye

Today we will discuss what Holden values in life and what upsets him in life.

Tuesday, Oct. 14 --

Due today: The entire novel should be completed for today.

Today we will be discussing the signs of Holden's mental breakdown.

Wednesday, Oct. 15 --

Today we will discuss the importance of the novel's title.

Thursday, Oct. 16 --

End Test for The Catcher in the Rye.

Friday, Oct. 17 --

"Once More to the Lake" by E.B. White

Assignments for the Week of September 29

The Catcher in the Rye

This week we will be discussing The Catcher in the Rye. This is part of the Narration and Description Unit. Therefore, we will discuss the author's writing style, the development and description of his characters, and how he uses satire as a device for characterization.

I will also be giving you the handout for the 100 point college essay final draft. This final draft will be due Tuesday, Oct. 7. All rough drafts must accompany your final draft.

Reading assignments for The Catcher in the Rye:

Due Tuesday, Sept. 30 -- Chapter 1-7

Due Monday, Oct. 6 -- Chapters 8-15