Tuesday, October 31st

Here's our plan for this spooky Tuesday:

• We'll finish viewing and discussing "Courage Under Fire."
• Response: You'll write a well-organized, one page response in your notebook that addresses the following prompt -- Explain some of the differences or similarities in how the news reporters and Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. or Jonathan Swift tell difficult stories.
• Finally, you'll have WORK TIME for the following:
• Read Ch. 3 of Slaughterhouse-Five to the prayer on page 60. You may read this on your own or aloud with a partner. 
• Read and paraphrase six more paragraphs of "A Modest Proposal." (Stop at "Fourthly.") You may do this on your own or with a partner, but you need to write your own paraphrasing on your own paper. 
• Catch up time! Check your grade with me and complete any missing work!

Monday, October 30th

Happy last Monday of October!

Today we'll view and discuss a selection of Walter Cronkite Vietnam coverage called "Courage Under Fire," making connections to our course reading.

Wednesday, October 25th

This is your last day before a FOUR DAY WEEKEND!

• Reading and Notes: We'll begin by continuing to read Jonathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal." We'll focus our discussion on differentiating between the speaker -- a reasonable businessman -- and the author -- a sarcastic reformer. 
• We'll view and discuss a satirical music video "Sue Ya" from Weird Al Yankovic.  
• Reading and Notes: Then we'll begin reading and discussing Ch. 3 of Slaughterhouse-Five. 
• Finally, you'll have WORK TIME for the following:
• Vocabulary Ch. 3-4 (Due Today)
• Turn in Class Notebook (Due Today)

Tuesday, October 24th

Remember to have your parents or guardians schedule Parent/Teacher/Student conferences for this Wednesday and Thursday. No school for you on Thursday and Friday!

• You'll begin by taking the Ch. 2 reading quiz. 
• Reading and Notes: Then we'll read and discuss several examples of our next genre: the obituary. You'll take notes on the characteristics of this genre. 
• Reading and Notes: Finally, we'll begin reading and discussing Jonathan Swift's scandalous 1729 essay, "A Modest Proposal."

Monday, October 23rd

Happy Monday Fun Day, everybody!

• Reading and Notes: We'll continue reading and discussing Ch. 2 of Slaughterhouse-Five. 
• Then you'll have WORK TIME for the following:
• Finish reading Ch. 2 to Yourself
• Complete Vocabulary Ch. 3-4 (Due Wednesday)
• Finish Writing/Editing Your Recipe Poem (In Your Notebook)
• Complete Any Missing Work (I'll do 1-on-1 Check Ins)
• Finally, use the computer to look up and read actual examples of our next genre: Obituary. 

Friday, October 20th

Happy Friday, folks!

• If you haven't turned in your signed syllabus yet, you'll have one more chance to do that for full credit today. 
• We'll begin reading and discussing Ch. 2 of Slaughterhouse-Five. 
• You'll take the Ch. 1 Reading Quiz then carefully read two poems: Kenneth Fearing's "AD" and Janice Mirikitani's "Recipe." 
• We'll discuss and analyze the poems, considering the intersections between genre and meaning in these two pieces.
• Notes: Concrete vs. Abstract and Choosing and Abstraction for Your Own Recipe Poem
• Then you'll have WORK TIME for the following:

• Vocabulary Ch. 1-2 Due Today
• Limerick Due Today
• Choose an abstraction and craft a recipe poem of your own in your Writer's Notebook. 

Thursday, October 19th

Here's what we'll be doing in class today:

• Reading and Notes: We'll finish reading and discussing Ch. 1 of Slaughterhouse Five. (Rdg. Quiz: Ch. 1 Tomorrow)
• Genre Study: We'll go in depth on our genre study of the limerick. 
• I'll distribute your vocabulary packet and go over the directions. 
• WORK TIME: Then you'll have work time for the following:
• Vocabulary Ch. 1 (Due Tomorrow)
• Limerick (Due Tomorrow)

Wednesday, October 18th

Happy Wednesday. Here are our plans for today:

• We'll go to the library and check out copies of Slaughterhouse Five. 
• You'll turn in your signed syllabus. 
• Notes: You'll take some notes as we discuss a key theme for our work together this quarter -- fate versus free will. Then you'll write a few sentences in response, sharing your own beliefs about this theme.
• Reading and Notes: We'll read and discuss Vonnegut's introductory Chapter One, taking notes on key elements as we read. 
• Response: You'll craft a "Peaks and Valleys" map of pivotal moments in your notebook. 
• WORK TIME: You'll begin work on genre #1 -- The Limerick

Tuesday, October 17th

Welcome to English Eight! Here's what we'll cover today:

• Seating Chart
• Syllabus (Attendance, Grades, Phones, Extra Credit, Plagiarism, Class Website, Materials)
• Writer's Notebooks
• Class Folders
• Notes: You'll take some notes over the fire-bombing of Dresden, and we'll talk about how this event influenced the creation of our book this quarter. 
• Notes and Discussion: We'll discuss the definition of obscenity and whether or not it can serve a meaningful purpose in a work of literature.