Honors/Regular Expository Composition

Please Take the Class Survey

2012-02-01T19:52:00.001-08:00

PowerPoint Slides Due Tuesday

2012-01-13T18:47:00.000-08:00

You should have 8-12 slides, including the title slide. I told everyone to delete the colon after the word By. On second thought, delete the word By. Just put your name on one line and the words Senior Project on a line below it.

It would be a good idea to have your thesis on one of your slides. It does not have to be identified as such, nor does it have to be in a complete sentence. However, this is your central idea, and it should be expressed.

PowerPoint Slides Due Jan. 17, 20-Hour Log Due Jan. 23

2012-01-12T13:41:00.001-08:00

Your PowerPoint slides are due by the end of class on Tuesday, Jan. 17. Save them on a flash drive and transfer them to the appropriate laptop. (I will have a list of whose slides go on which laptop.)

Your 20-hour project log is due on Monday, Jan. 23. If you still have not completed a project, consider creating a brochure, a blog, or a Facebook group page.

Period 5: Rough Draft Research Paper Graded

2011-11-27T15:59:00.000-08:00

There were 17 out of 25 research paper rough drafts turned in. All of those turned in on Nov. 23 have been graded. Please read the comments on Turnitin.com. The three that were turned in on Nov. 24 will be graded next. The remaining eight papers should be turned in as soon as possible, as the later it is turned in, the lower the grade will be.

Overall, I was pleased. Most people cited sources where necessary. There is still some confusion on the formatting of in-text citations and the Works Cited page. Please see the OWL website for clarification.

Some of you are in great shape. Jonathan, Mari, Maria: All you need to do is add an interview and double check your citations. Bravo! Others have more work to do, but now that you have feedback, it should be easy enough to do. It's those who have not turned anything in that need to worry.

Rough Draft of Research Paper Due Wednesday, Nov. 23

2011-11-16T10:43:00.001-08:00

You will turn in the rough draft of your paper to turnitin.com
First, you will need to go to the website and create an account. You will use the ID 4573808 and password period4 or 4573811 and password period5, according to which class you are in.
I've created an assignment called Introduction. This is just a practice assignment, so you can see how the program works. It won't be graded. It won't explode. It won't hurt you. Go ahead and try it.

SAS Teachers Available for Feedback

2011-11-03T12:12:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, SAS teachers will be available upstairs in the 400 building from 1:40 to 2:00 p.m. to give you feedback on your Senior Project topic and/or thesis statement.

If you are unable to attend, you must get feedback from a teacher at some other time (advisory, nutrition, lunch, after school)before class on Thursday. This is a homework assignment.

Those who attended the last "office hours" session have completed the assignment.

Education Week Teacher: Senior Projects: A Cure for Senioritis

2011-10-30T21:13:00.000-07:00

Education Week Teacher: Senior Projects: A Cure for Senioritis

Q. and A. | How Facebook Use Correlates With Student Outcomes - NYTimes.com

2011-10-24T18:48:00.000-07:00

I thought you might find this interesting.

Q. and A. | How Facebook Use Correlates With Student Outcomes - NYTimes.com

Cyberbullying: The Power and Peril of Anonymity - Digital Education - Education Week

2011-10-23T14:48:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are researching this topic, read the following article.

Cyberbullying: The Power and Peril of Anonymity - Digital Education - Education Week

10 Bibliography (Source) Cards Due Monday

2011-10-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

Turn in 10 index cards, one for each source, when you walk in the door on Monday. Use the cheat sheet I gave you for formatting, or check on the OWL link on this page (see below, right). Write on one side of the card only.

Next week, you will be taking notes from your sources, so you will need to buy some index cards.

SAS "Office Hours" on Tuesday After School

2011-10-17T19:29:00.000-07:00

In college, your professors will have office hours when you can discuss questions that you have. After school tomorrow, SAS teachers will have "office hours" to discuss the Senior Project with you. The lineup is as follows:
English Teachers: Room 422 (Carmicle)For questions about MLA style or thesis statements
Math Teachers: Room 424 (Hermosillo)For how to use statistics in your research paper
History/Social Studies Teachers: Room 420 (Tobenkin)For all those current event topics such as immigration or global warming
Science Teachers: Room 421 (Cusolito)For topics that involve one of the sciences
Foreign Language/ Electives Teachers: Room 423 (Taron)For feedback in general

Ms. Taron also has expertise in nutrition. Counselors will be in various rooms.

This is not required, but it is highly recommended. Teachers are often busy and this is a chance to have their undivided attention.

Field Trip to Los Angeles County Museum of Art

2011-10-06T19:08:00.001-07:00

Get your field trip slips in! We are going to LACMA this Tuesday. We will get a tour of the new California Design exhibit from 11:15 to 12:15. After the tour, you can eat your lunch on the lawn, or buy something from the museum cafe or the lunch trucks on Wilshire Boulevard.

Letter of Intent

2011-10-06T18:34:00.001-07:00

5th Period Honors: Your letter of intent is due Friday, Oct. 7.

4th Period Regular: Your letter is due Monday, Oct. 10

Letters must be typed. Follow the guidelines in the Senior Project Survival Guide. Remember to sign your name above your printed name.

Syllabus is Available

2011-09-05T21:46:00.000-07:00

Download from the box at right. This syllabus is subject to change depending on assemblies, field trips, guest speakers, and the like.

Download Senior Project Survival Guide.

2011-07-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

It can be found in the box at right. Read through it and keep a copy handy on a flash drive. (Bonus: You will receive a handy flash drive/rubber bracelet as soon as your project's thesis statement is approved.)

I Miss You All Already

2011-06-23T15:08:00.001-07:00

Thanks for a great year. I will remember the Class of 2011 fondly. Remember to send me a pennant from your college and I will put it on my wall with your name, so all my future students can be inspired.

7 insider tips to paying for college - Paying for College | GreatSchools

2011-05-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

7 insider tips to paying for college - Paying for College | GreatSchools

James Joyce

2011-05-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

The next two weeks we are reading the great Irish writer James Joyce. First we will read "Eveline" from the book of short stories Dubliners (pgs. 1207-1212 in your textbook) and complete Writer's Response on page 1208.
Then we will review some questions about the story and complete an exercise in using precise verbs. Replace the verbs in the passage beginning with "A bell clanged upon her heart" and ending with "Amid the seas she sent a cry of anguish." (pg. 1212 column two) Rewrite the passage with different verbs.
We will read "Araby," another story from Dubliners and do a Venn diagram comparing the character Eveline and the boy from "Araby." Students will use the Venn diagram as notes for a comparison essay of "Eveline" and "Araby."
Finally, we will watch an A & E Biography video on Joyce and take notes.

Comparison of Andrew and Meursault

2011-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

Turn in your 250-word comparison of Andrew from the film Garden State with Meursault from the novel The Stranger.

The Stranger Essay Test on Monday

2011-04-22T11:37:00.000-07:00

I hope you enjoyed your Spring Break and are well rested. Be prepared on Monday to write an in-class essay on The Stranger, by Albert Camus. You will choose one of two prompts. You may use your book and your notes.

Choose one: explain Meursault's philosophy of life, or your own.
1. Throughout The Stranger we see Meursault's philosophy develop from a man who didn't think much was important through events such as his mother's death and funeral, and his trial. It is only in prison, just before his execution that he formulates his philosophy of life. What is his philosophy?
2. What is your philosophy of life? What do you believe in? How do you live your life? What do you think about life and death? How do you define morality? God? How does love factor into your life?
Remember, you are writing an essay, not simply answering the questions. Make sure you have an introduction, body and conclusion.

Philosophical Journal

2011-03-30T10:32:00.000-07:00

As I told you in class, you will be keeping a philosophical journal as you read The Stranger by Albert Camus. You may get a special notebook or use notebook paper and staple the entries together. Each entry should be at least a half a page of standard size notebook paper; if you use a smaller notebook, adjust accordingly. Write each entry on a separate page. There will be 15 entries, including three separate entries over one weekend. Journal entries will be posted on the board each day. The entire list is as follows:
1. In The Guest, Daru doesn't want to take sides. He thinks he can escape responsibility by letting the Arab decide his fate. Can you really avoid making decisions in life? When is not making a decision a decision in itself?
2. In The Guest, the Arab chooses prison over freedom. Freedom can be liberating or frightening. Can it be isolating to be completely free?
3.Read chapter two of The Stranger. On pg. 21, Meursault says, "I don't like Sundays." Compare how you feel on a Friday afternoon with how you feel on a Sunday afternoon. Is there a difference? What is it?
4.On pg. 21, Meursault says, "I cut out an advertisement for Kruschen Salts and stuck it in an old notebook where I put things from the papers that interest me." Cut out pictures, ads, articles that interest you from a newspaper or magazine and paste them on a separate page in your journal.
5. Read chapter three of The Stranger. On pages 27-28, Salamano says, "He's always there." Comment on the love/hate relationship in your life. (sibling, computer, etc.)
6. On page 39, Meursault realizes the sound he hears is Salamano crying. If you heard someone crying (neighbor, friend, stranger), what would you do?
7. Read chapters four and five of The Stranger. Choose one of the following journal entries:
Have you ever been disappointed in a goal? What did you do? Give up or try again?
Does adversity make you stronger?
Is marriage a serious thing? What does marriage mean to you?
What is your impression of Paris? Do you want to visit there?
What is your impression of old age?
What is your best physical quality? What if you lost it?
8, 9, and 10: Read chapter six of The Stranger. Keep a diary for the weeekend. You must have at least an entry for Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday. (see handout for complete instructions.)
11. Read part II, chapter 2. "There are some things I've never liked talking about." (pg. 72) What are the things you don't like talking about? Why? If nothing, why are you able to talk about everything?
12. Read part II, chapter 3. "It was just chance." (pg. 95) Comment on the role chance has played in your life.
13. Read part II, chapter 4. "My fate was being decided without anyone so much as asking my opinion." (pg.98) Have you ever felt this way? Explain.
14. Read part II, chapter 5. "Maman used to say you can always find something to be happy about." (pg. 113) How do you find things to be happy about? What makes you happy?
15. Read Albert Camus's Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech. "Each generation feels called upon to reform the world." (handout pg. 526) Does this observation apply to your generation? Why or why not?

Meet in the Library on Monday

2011-03-27T16:09:00.000-07:00

Before you begin reading The Stranger, by Albert Camus, I want to introduce you to various philosophies, including existentialism. We will meet in the library on Monday, where you will pair up and do some quick research on a philosopher. Each pair will give a two-minute presentation on their philosopher while the rest of the class takes notes.

Bring your literature textbook on Wednesday

2011-03-21T21:13:00.001-07:00

We will continue our short story unit with The Guest, by Albert Camus.

Verb Tenses

2011-03-18T13:51:00.001-07:00

If you were absent on Friday, we did Practice pg. 579 in writing.

On Monday and Tuesday, you will have an open-book test on Grammar Review pgs. 592-596.

Poetry Trilogy Due Friday by 5 p.m. on Turnitin.com

2011-03-04T12:41:00.001-08:00

3 Poems - 2 Poets - 1 Theme

Choose three poems by two poets that have the same theme. (You must choose two poets we have read in class but you may find others poems written by them.)
Possible themes: love, nature, death, loneliness, alienation, routine of life

Write a five-paragraph essay about the three poems and their theme.

Write one-to-two biographical paragraphs on each poet in your own words.

Reproduce the poem and annotate at least three literary terms (such as simile, metaphor, personification, etc.).

Upload the assignment as one document on Turnitin.com. Your user name and passwords are the same as last semester. If you should need the class codes they are:
3646394 (period 2)
3646413 (period 4)
3646395 (period 5)

Memorize a Stanza

2011-02-16T14:05:00.001-08:00

Your test on The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, by T.S. Eliot, is to memorize a stanza of 10-12 lines on Friday.

Score Sheets, Portfolios

2011-02-05T07:41:00.001-08:00

I received all the score sheets yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to read through them or record the scores. I will do this on Monday while you write your portfolio reflections and I will return the score sheets to you by the end of class.

In our teachers' meeting on Friday, consensus was that your speaking skills were good, but that the level of analysis was low. Teachers made such comments as, "all show and tell, no analysis," "encyclopedic in breadth, superficial in depth," and "where's the beef?" They thought that the presentations need to show more of the research from your research paper.

With that in mind, I'd like you to address the Five States of Mind in your reflection. They are as follows, along with sample questions for you to address:
Craftsmanship: What criteria did you use to decide to _____(create a product, volunteer, whatever you did for your 20 hours)___________?
Consciousness: How did you make decisions about your Senior Project? How does your Senior Project compare to how you planned it?
Efficacy: What are some of the things you did to make the Senior Project go so well? How did you know that you could handle the situation?
Flexibility: What were some options you considered for your Senior Project?
Interdependence: What were some of the resources you utilized in your Senior Project? Who helped you with those resources?
(Cognitive Coaching Foundation Seminar Learning Guide, 7th ed, Arthur Costa and Robert Garmston)

Score Sheets, Portfolios

2011-02-05T07:39:00.001-08:00

I received all the score sheets yesterday, but I haven't had a chance to read through them or record the scores. I will do this on Monday while you write your reflections and I will return the score sheets to you by the end of class.

In Friday's teachers meeting, consensus was the your speaking skills were good, but that the level of analysis was low. Teachers made such comments as, "all show and tell, no analysis," "encyclopedic in breadth, superficial in depth," and "where's the beef?" They thought that the presentations need to show more of the research from your research paper.

With that in mind, I'd like you to address the Five States of Mind in your reflection. They are as follows, along with sample questions for you to address:
Craftsmanship: What criteria did you use to decide to _____(create a product, volunteer, whatever you did you your 20 hours)___________?
Consciousness: How did you make decisions about your Senior Project? How does your Senior Project compare to how you planned it?
Efficacy: What are some of the things you did to make the Senior Project go so well? How did you know that you could handle the situation?
Flexibility: What were some options you considered for your Senior Project?
Interdependence: What were some of the resources you utilized in your Senior Project? Who helped you with those resources?
(Cognitive Coaching Foundation Seminar Learning Guide, 7th ed, Arthur Costa and Robert Garmston)

Slides Are Looking Good

2011-01-27T19:42:00.000-08:00

Great work, everyone! I like what I have seen.
Now that your slides are done, the only thing left to do is practice,practice, practice.
I think the best use of our time is to practice in groups of three or four, using either the laptop assigned to you or (if this is unfeasible) your flash drive. You can make corrections to your slides, if necessary, but no major changes.

On Monday, we will watch a 26-minute video on Overcoming Stage Fright and practice some more.

PowerPoint Slides are due tomorrow

2011-01-26T11:38:00.001-08:00

All students (periods 2, 4, and 5).
Your slides are your ticket in to class tomorrow. Failure to bring your slides will result in not being admitted to class. You will load your slides on to the individual computer that you will be using for your presentation next Thursday. To avoid last-minute panic, we are requiring that all slides be turned in on Thursday, Jan. 27. If you forget your slides, you will need to go home and get them, or have someone bring them to school.

Guidelines for Slide Show Presentations

2011-01-15T20:18:00.000-08:00

These are guidelines. Use your own judgement.

Between seven and 15 slides
Easy on the text. Use bullets instead of paragraphs.
Choose a color/style that is pleasing to the eye. Keep it clean and simple.
Limit the use of "bells and whistles." These can be annoying.
Remember to use spell check. There is nothing worse than seeing a misspelled word on a big screen.

Concord Review Showcases Student Writers - NYTimes.com

2011-01-09T19:06:00.000-08:00

I found this article interesting. Please read and write a one-paragraph response.

Concord Review Showcases Student Writers - NYTimes.com

20-Hour Project Log Due on Jan. 10

2010-12-31T18:19:00.000-08:00

But you knew that, right? Remember, 20 hours = A, 16 hours = B, 14 hours = C, 12 hours = D. Even 10 hours is better than zero, so if you haven't finished already, hop to it.

All the research papers that have been submitted to turnitin.com have been graded and entered in Engrade. I think the turnitin procedure went fairly well. After I set the filters to exclude quotations and the Work Cited page, the similarity index went down, in some cases, way down.

When we return to class, you will be working on your slide presentations and practicing in small groups for your Feb. 3 presentation.

Nice Job on Socratic Circle

2010-12-08T20:22:00.000-08:00

It's been awhile since we've had a Socratic Circle, so I was happy to see that you got back into the groove today. It was also the first time the class has talked in depth about each person's Senior Project. Everyone had valuable comments and questions, which is good practice for the questions you may get at your presentation on Feb. 1.

Directions for Turning in Final Draft of Research Paper

2010-12-03T07:35:00.000-08:00

After you've added your interview (see handout) and made your revisions, log on to turnitin.com (see link at right). Upload your paper before 8 a.m. on Monday. If you click on Compatibility Report, it will show you how many of your words match your sources. If it said 100%, then that would mean a person cut and pasted an entire paper. If it said 50%, it would mean a person copied half the paper. It compares it to your sources. If it is 20% or less, it will show as green (good). It's fine if you have a 4% or 8% compatibility report; it's chance that a certain amount of words will be repeated.

You can only upload an assignment once, so you may want to upload your paper to the assignment that says Rough Draft first to see what the compatibility report says. I've already recorded a grade for the rough draft; I created that assignment so students could try it out first.

I'm trying to figure out how to set the website to allow resubmissions. In the meantime, let's see how this works.

Period 2 Stars

2010-11-29T09:59:00.000-08:00

Near Perfect Citations and Work Cited page: Wendy

Best Introduction: Catherine

Most Interesting: Jackie and Luis

Period 5 Rough Drafts

2010-11-24T16:26:00.000-08:00

I've finished grading all the rough drafts that were turned in. Those who did a particularly good job include: Samuel, Vanessa, Malika, Hugo and Anahit.

Some people are struggling with the citations. Remember: the citations in your paper must match the Work Cited page! The words inside the parentheses are the first words for that source listed on the Work Cited page. If you don't cite a source in your paper, you do not list it on the Work Cited page.

Interview an Expert

2010-11-22T09:19:00.000-08:00

Now that most of you (15 in period two, 14 in period five) have completed your rough draft of the research paper, you should be pretty knowledgeable about your topic. Now you can add the piece that will make your research paper unique: you will interview an expert.

When we return on Nov. 29, your assignment will be to write 10 questions that you could ask an expert. Look at your rough draft and see where any information seems missing. You may not end up using the answers to all 10 questions, but it will give you quotations to choose from.

If you want to get a head start, begin writing questions and take a look at the expert links on the right. Look for someone who fits the description of your topic. These are the types of experts I'm looking for, not friends, family, or (generally) teachers at school.

Citing Sources

2010-11-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

As you write your research paper, each time you use a note card, cite the source in parentheses. This is known as a parenthetical reference. At the end of every quotation, paraphrase, and summary write the author's name and page number in parentheses. For example, if it is from a book write (Smith 65). If it is from a newspaper or magazine, write (Smith A1) or (Smith 15). The period goes outside the parentheses.

If there is no author, put the title in quotation marks in parentheses. For example ("Animal Shelters"). Do not put the URL or anything ending in .com, or .net, or .org!

For more information, click on MLA Citations link or the OWL link at right.

Deadlines for notes, outline, rough draft

2010-11-10T17:26:00.000-08:00

You have turned in your first 20 note cards. On Friday, Nov. 12, 20 more note cards are due. This is not a magic number. You may need more, but at least you will have something to work with as you write your rough draft next week.

Tuesday, Nov. 16: Outline due

Friday, Nov. 19: typed rough draft of research paper due, including Works Cited page (which counts as a page). If you meet this deadline, you will have no homework during the Thanksgiving week.
If you need more time, you may turn in your rough draft on Monday, Nov. 29 for a lower grade.

Thesis Statement/Taking Notes from Sources

2010-10-31T08:41:00.001-07:00

Everyone should have turned in their 10 bibliography cards by now. Everyone should be working on a thesis statement. When you have one with which you are satisfied, turn it in. For more help with thesis statements, click on the OWL link at right and type thesis statements in the search box.

This week we will be taking notes from sources. Periods 2 and 5 will meet in the library on Friday. Monday through Thursday, please bring your source material with you to class in order to take notes. If you need to check out a book from the library, please do so. If you have checked out a book, please bring it to class.

Using Digital Library From Home

2010-10-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

Now that most of you have your student email activated, you can use Digital Library from home. Remember to click on Teacher Pages and Ms. Abad. From there click on the link for Digital Library from home.

We will meet in the library again on Monday. You should have 10 bibliography (source) cards to turn in by the end of class on Monday.

On Tuesday, we will review how to take notes from your sources: summary, paraphrase and direct quotation. Then you will begin to take notes from each of your sources, as many note cards as necessary, one idea per card (front side only). This is where you will need a stack of index cards. We will do this for a week or two, so it is important that you have sources at the ready.

Research Paper: Finding Sources

2010-10-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

All classes will meet in the library on Friday, Oct. 22 and Monday, Oct. 25 to find sources for their research papers. Students will locate sources and record the information on an index card (one side of the card only) according to the handout you were given and the chapter in your Writer's Choice book. Ten bibliography (source) cards are due at the end of class on Monday.

Although you need only seven to eight sources for your research paper (and one of them will be an interview), I'd like you to find 10 sources in case a couple of them don't meet your needs. This will be worth 10 points. Your sources should include books, newspapers and magazine articles. They may not be entirely composed of websites. (You can read the newspaper or the magazine article online. It is a newspaper or magazine article if it was originally published in a newspaper or magazine.)

Letter of Intent

2010-10-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

Everyone should have turned in a letter of intent by Monday. I will give feedback and you can revise it. We did experience a glitch in the computer-printer situation. Most of period 4 and 5 did not print because the computer could not locate the printer. I am trying to address the situation. However,you may need to save your letter on a flash drive and print it from the desktop computer in the classroom.

In response to your concerns about the common application essay, I have asked Mrs. Sounsani, college counselor, to visit and answer your questions. She will visit classes on Thursday and will bring worksheets you can use in writing your personal statement. Have specific questions ready to ask her.

I have also discovered an online writing lab that may be able to help you. I will tell you more about it in class on Monday.

Your next step in your research paper is to generate at least five questions you want your research to answer.

The Rhetoric of the Op-Ed Page (Per. 2 and 5)

2010-10-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

Today we brainstormed synonyms and antonyms for the word persuade. Then we read and annotated "Three Ways to Persuade" in the Rhetoric of the Op-Ed page module in the Expository Composition book (pgs. 29-32)

We will discuss the questions tomorrow. Those who have not yet met with me about their Senior Project, should do so.

Topic Selection Periods 2 and 5

2010-10-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

See post below. All classes will meet with me individually this week. Next week you will write your Letter of Intent. See the Senior Project Survival Guide for a sample letter and a breakdown of the paragraphs.

Period 4: Senior Project Topic Selection

2010-10-01T15:44:00.000-07:00

By now, you should have completed pages 8-12 of the Pathfinder booklet. This should give you a topic and focus for your research paper, as well as ideas for a physical project (20 hours of hands-on learning).

Next week you will begin writing your letter of intent. We will also begin the next module in the Expository Writing book.

Reflection (Periods 2 and 5)

2010-10-01T15:40:00.000-07:00

If you taught your lesson on Friday, your homework is to write a reflection on how your lesson went. What went well? What didn't? How well did the students understand your lesson? How could you tell? If you had it to do over again, what would you change? What grade would you give yourself?

If you were absent Friday, collect from your group members any evidence such as quizzes that will tell you how well the information was understood. You may turn in your reflection on Tuesday.

If you teach your lesson on Monday, you will write the reflection for homework Monday night.

Your grade will be based on the thought, honesty, insight, and clarity of writing shown in your reflection, not on your actual presentation.

Teach Your Chapter on Friday

2010-09-29T17:33:00.000-07:00

Today you started planning your lesson. Tomorrow you will finish doing so, and on Friday each group will teach for about 10 minutes. This includes checking for understanding, either in the form of oral questions, a quiz, a written response or a demonstration.

Your homework on Friday is to write a reflection on how your lesson went. What went well? What didn't? How well did the students understand your lesson? If you had it to do over again, what would you change?

Fast Food Nation Chapters

2010-09-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

On Monday, we will be using the laptops to read chapters from the book Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser. The following are the assignments:

Laptops 1-5 will read the Food Product Design, from chapter 5 "Why the Fries Taste Good."
Laptops 6-10 will read McTeachers and Coke Dudes from chapter 2 "Your Trusted Friends."
Laptops 11-15 will read The Most Dangerous Job from chapter 7 "Cogs in the Great Machine."
Laptops 16-20 will read Throughput from chapter 3 "Behind the Counter."

You will have two days to read and annotate the sections and two days to plan how you will teach your section to the class. You will not be merely presenting. You must check for understanding: ask questions orally, give a quiz, require students to answer a question in writing, conduct a taste test, etc. You must also bring any items you need and make copies of anything you will hand out to the class.

Fast Food Module

2010-09-20T13:56:00.000-07:00

We have now read and annotated the first two articles in the Fast Food module of our textbook: "Portion Distortion" and "If You Pitch It, They Will Come." We also filled in the vocabulary chart on pg. 51 for those stories. On Monday, half the class answered questions on "Portion Distortion" and half the class answered questions on "If You Pitch It" on pgs. 53-54.

If you were absent Friday or Monday, you need to complete the above.

Homework for Period 5: Fill in the vocabulary chart on pg. 51-52 for "The Battle Against Fast Food." (Period 2 you should have already done this.)

Coastal Cleanup Day Saturday, Sept. 25

2010-09-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Coastal Cleanup Day

Check out Heal the Bay's opportunity for volunteering, especially if your Senior Project is environmental in nature.

Download Senior Project Survival Guide

2010-08-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

It can be found on the school website under Students>Senior Project and on my teacher page as well. Read through it and keep a copy handy on a flash drive.

Summer Assignment Due Sept. 13

2010-08-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

Download the assignment from the Summer Assignments page of the SAS section of the school website.
Procedure for Turning in Assignments
All major assignments are to be typed and a copy saved on a flash or hard-drive. You must be able to reproduce your work in case your essay is lost or misplaced. All work (hard copy) is to be turned in at the beginning of the class in which it is due. Do not wait until the night before to begin printing out any major assignment. Do not expect to print assignments during class time as the classroom printer is unreliable. Unexcused late work will lose points on a daily basis until it is submitted, and cannot be turned in after a unit is completed. We will be taking notes daily, both in class and on outside assignments.

Book Club

2010-05-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

You have until June 3 to complete your book, at which time you will take an essay test in class. As you read (or at the beginning or ending of a day's reading) take notes of significant moments on your graphic organizer. If you need more space, use more than one box, or type it on a computer. Your classroom assignment is to take notes on 20 significant moments in your book. You will use the notes to write your essay. You can proofread your essay on June 4, but keep in mind we are on a shortened schedule for the All School Fair.

Metamorphosis Study Questions Part 1

2010-04-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

1)What does the boss represent?

2)The only thing in the room that is described is the picture of the woman in the fur boa and muff. Do you suppose this picture has any significance?

3)Why is Gregor having such a difficult time getting out of bed?

4)How does time create a element of anxiety in Gregor's life?

5)Before he is chased back into his room, what does Gregor try to do?

Essay: Meursault's Philosophy or Yours

2010-04-21T08:44:00.001-07:00

You have the choice of two essay questions.

Question 1: In The Stranger, what is Mersault's philosophy of life? Consider what Meursualt believes about life and death; friends, relatives and strangers; morality, love, God.

Question 2: What is your philosophy of life? Consider the following: What is your philosophy of life? What do you believe in? How do you live your life? What do you think about life and death? What is your responsibility to friends, relatives, strangers? How do you define morality? How do you define God? How does love factor into your life? Do not simply answer these in order. You don't have to address all of them. Use them as guidelines.

Philosophical Journals Due Tuesday

2010-04-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

Journals 1-15 (see previous posting) are due tomorrow. Remember to give each entry its own page in your notebook. Notebooks will be returned in a couple of weeks after I have recorded the grades.

Philosophical Journal

2010-04-05T11:07:00.000-07:00

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Cache-Control: max-age=0

%0D%0AWhat+is+your+impression+of+Paris%3F%0D%0AWhat+is+you+impression+of+old+age%3F%0D%0AWhat+is+your+best+physical+quality%3F+What+if+you+lost+it%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3Abold%3B%22%3EJournals+8%2C+9%2C+10%3A+Weekend+journal%3C%2Fspan%3E%0D%0AYou+must+have+at+least+one+entry+for+Friday+afternoon%2C+Saturday+and+Sunday.+See+handout+for+complete+details.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3Abold%3B%22%3EEntry+11%3C%2Fspan%3E+Read+Part+II+chapter+2.+%22There+are+some+thing%27s+I%27ve+never+liked+talking+about.%22+%28page+72%29+What+are+the+things+you+don%27t+like+talking+about%3F+Why%3F+%28You+don%27t+have+to+go+into+detail+if+you+don%27t+like+talking+about+it%2C+but+you+should+be+able+to+articulate+why.%29+If+nothing%2C+why+are+you+able+to+talk+about+anything+and+everything%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3Abold%3B%22%3EEntry+12%3A%3C%2Fspan%3E+Read+Part+II+chapter+3.+%22...it+was+just+chance.%22+%28pg.+95%29+Comment+on+the+role+chance+has+played+in+your+life.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3Abold%3B%22%3EEntry+13%3A%3C%2Fspan%3E+Read+Part+II+chapter+4.+%22My+fate+was+being+decided+without+anyone+so+much+as+asking+my+opinion.%22+%28pg.+98%29+Have+you+ever+felt+this+way%3F+Explain.%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3Abold%3B%22%3EEntry+14%3A%3C%2Fspan%3E+Read+Part+II+chapter+5.+%22Maman+used+to+say+you+can+always+find+something+to+be+happy+about.%22+%28pg.+113%29+How+do+you+find+things+to+be+happy+about%3F+What+makes+you+happy%3F%0D%0A%0D%0A%3Cspan+style%3D%22font-weight%3Abold%3B%22%3EEntry+15%3C%2Fspan%3E%3A+Read+Albert+Camus%27s+Nobel+Prize+Acceptance+Speech.+%22Each+generation+feels+called+upon+to+reform+the+world.%22+%28see+handout%29+Does+this+observation+apply+to+your+generation.+Why+or+why+not%3F

Spring Break Homework Due Monday April 5

2010-03-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Read the excerpt from Racism and Colonialism as Praxis and Process by Jean-Paul Sartre (1960) and choose five questions to answer from the following:

1. How is the colonized reduced to sub-human?
2. What kind of economic and soical systems does France have?
3. What kind of economic and social systems does Algeria have?
4. What kind of relationship did the nineteenth-century colonials wars produce between the colonialists and the natives?
5. How is this relationship carried out?
6. What does France use to pacify the Algerians?
7. How did the natives respond to pacification?
8. What is the Muslim (native Algerian) considered by the French colonialist? Why?
9. How did the French transform the Algerian feudal structure? Into what did they transform it?
10. What determined the "class" that ruled Algeria? Of whom was this class composed?
11. How did this class establish its system?
12. Define pauperization and explain what role it played in colonizing Algeria.
13. What was the colonial goal?
14. Identify two main French institutions that worked to colonize/pauperize Algeria.
15. What is the main purpose of Algerian colonization?
16. What are the three direct levels of action of the colonialists to achieve their goals?
17. What do the children of the colonialist and those of the colonized share in common?
18. Where do you think this relationship will lead?
19. Define the French bourgeois. Why could they not conceive of the Algerian as anything but a dog?
20. What is the pauperization of the community actually a result of?
21. Where does the violence return to when there is a lull in the colonial war?
22. What examples does Sartre provide to support this assertion?
23. Who must the colonialis discover the native to be? What does this provide for the colonialist?
24. What literary parallel does the author use to illustrate the necessary perception of colonial power?
25. What is the necessary perception of the colonized?
26. Can the colonialist exist without the colonized?
27. What is the purpose of racist progaganda?
28. Why does the colonialist need the status quo?
29. What is the raison d'etre of the colony/metropolis relationship?
30. How does the colonialist keep the native in a state of "sub-humanity"?
31. What does the colonial oppressor recognize in violent rebellion against him?

Earn extra credit by answering more than five questions.
Source: Steven Avalos, Franklin High School

Introduction to Existentialism

2010-03-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

This week we are reading the short story The Guest, by Albert Camus, as an introduction to existentialism. There will be a test on Thursday. On Friday, we will pass out copies of Camus's novella The Stranger.

Existentialism: a modern European philosophy emphasizing the meaninglessness of the outer world. Camus believed humans are free to make moral choices and that what gives meaning to life.

Bring Your Writer's Choice Book

2010-03-10T15:55:00.001-08:00

We will be doing grammar the rest of the week.

Poetry Trilogy Assignment

2010-03-04T09:54:00.000-08:00

1. Choose three poems (by two or three poets) with the same theme. At least one of the poets should be one that we read in class. Write a five-paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the poems in terms of theme.
Possible themes: love, death, nature, loneliness, alienation, routine of life How does each poet deal with the theme?

2.Write one to two paragraphs on each poet in your own words. (Plagiarism will be punished by receiving a zero on the assignment and notification of college counselor Judy Campbell. Three instances of cheating disqualifies a student from scholarship opportunities.)

3.Reproduce each of the three poems and annotate by highlighting or underlining at least two literary terms and making a note in the margin.

DUE MONDAY MARCH 8 TYPED

Test Friday on The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock

2010-02-11T14:03:00.000-08:00

You can choose to take a written test (multiple choice and short essay) or to recite a stanza from the T. S. Eliot poem. If you are taking the written test, I will give you the first 25 minutes of class to complete it. If you are reciting, you can spend that time rehearsing in the hallway or picking up our textbooks from the book room. Recitations will be during the second 25 minutes of class.

An A grade recitation will be memorized and read loudly, clearly and slowly with mistake.
A B grade recitation may include a minor mistake or two or be read too quickly or softly.
A C grade would include stops and starts or numerous pauses.
A D grade would be embarrassingly bad.

Final Exam: Portfolio

2010-01-30T19:50:00.000-08:00

Your portfolio should have a professional look, either a three-ring binder with plastic sleeves for each page, or some other type of folder with plastic sleeves.

Plan on studying for the final you have that afternoon or the next day, since I will be meeting with you one-on-one, meaning you will have a lot of down time before and after our portfolio review.

Final Portfolio

2010-01-24T20:34:00.000-08:00

This week you should be preparing your portfolio for this class, which is due on the day of the final exam. All items must be typed. The contents should include:
Cover Page
Table of Contents
Letter of Intent
Research Paper
20 Hour Log
One or more score sheets from your presentation
Reflection

You may also include any additional items that you feel are important, such as photos, evidence of your projects, or paperwork pertaining to your project.

On the day of the final, I will call each of you to my desk one at a time. You will show me your portfolio. I will read your reflection and you give a grade. You may keep your portfolio.

Belated Congratulations on Your Presentations

2010-01-24T20:30:00.001-08:00

I was only able to see a few presentations, but I was pleased with what I saw. I have also talked to many of the judges who had positive things to say. All of them said your PowerPoint slides looked good. Most said some people were poised and articulate, others were nervous. I think as you read over the score sheets, you will see most of the comments were valuable and encouraging.

Be the Expert

2010-01-15T19:00:00.000-08:00

Tuesday in class is the last chance for those who haven't practiced to do so. I am making this a credit/no credit classroom assignment.

Read pg. 55 in the Pathfinder on appropriate attire.
Ladies: No distracting jewelry or high-heeled sandals. (You are not going clubbing.)
Men: You don't need to wear a suit, but a shirt and tie would be nice. (No sneakers)

Turn in an entry detailing what you did on your project since we went on break. You can turn in the 20-hour sheet Wednesday.

Finally, remember: you are the expert. You know more about your topic than anyone in the room. Put down your note cards and speak from your heart.

All PowerPoints Due Tomorrow

2010-01-11T16:04:00.000-08:00

Bring your PowerPoint on a flash drive in a version that is compatible with a Mac laptop. The laptops run Microsoft Office 2008. Computer technician Jonathan will be in class period one to help us sort out any problems as you transfer your file to the particular laptop that you will be using on Jan. 19. Hopefully, by period two we will have it figured out. If not, I'll ask him to stay and help.

In addition, I'd like to have the people who were scheduled to present today, to do so tomorrow. It is a shortened day, so we can't waste any time.

Are Your PowerPoint Slides Ready?

2010-01-07T15:14:00.000-08:00

If not, time to get to it. I have drawn up a schedule for practicing in front of the class. Those scheduled for Monday are (in reverse alphabetical order for a change):

Period 1
Adriel
Kathy
Eduardo
Jasmine T.
Evelyn
Ilse
John
Allie

Period 2
Chulee
Kevin
Jocelyn
Norma
Armine
Natalie
Dulce
Anthony Q.

If your slides aren't ready on Monday, you make speak from notes. Everyone else should have their slides, since they are due on Tuesday, when we will load them on to the particular laptop that you will use for your presentation.

Have you finished your 20-hour project?

2010-01-04T16:27:00.001-08:00

If not, now would be the time to do so. Before the holiday break, I had said the 20 hours were due on Jan. 18, 2010. That is a school holiday (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday), however, so you have an extra day, until Jan. 19, the day of your presentation.

To repeat: the 20-hour project should show a learning stretch, meaning you learned something new. This is what you should stress during your presentation. Emphasize what you have learned from your research paper and your project.

It will be graded as follows: 20 hours = A, 16 hours = B, 14 hours = C, 12=D, 10 hours =F (better than zero).

I will compare the number of hours you turn in with your weekly log entries to keep you honest. You will turn in one more log entry covering what you did over the holiday break.

Second Log Entry Due Friday/Room Assignments

2009-12-15T16:03:00.000-08:00

What have you done to further your project this week?

A downloadable list of room assignments for your Jan. 19 Senior Presentation is available on my teacher page (I can't add files here). Click on Honors Expository Composition and Homework.

Project Log Entry Due Friday

2009-12-10T13:54:00.000-08:00

The first of your six project log entries is due Friday. What have you done to further your project this week? Look at your physical project task analysis: have you accomplished any of the items you listed on your timeline? If not, why not? Do not put off for tomorrow what you can do today. It's a cliche because it's true.

Senior Presentation Guidelines*

2009-12-07T10:15:00.000-08:00

This information is also on the Senior Project Survival Guide on the school's website.

The purpose of the Senior Presentation is to tell the story of the Senior Project by synthesizing what was learned from the product creation with the information from the paper. It is your chance to describe what you learned to a group of interested adults and peers.

Guidelines:

• The student should explain the process of creating the product and writing the paper. There should be an introduction, body and conclusion.

• The presentation must include visual or auditory aids such as PowerPoint or iGoogle.

• The presentation must be 7 to 10 minutes in length including a question and answer period.

• The presentation should be rehearsed in front of an audience at least three times. You may use note cards or PowerPoint presentation as prompts.

• This is a formal presentation. Students should dress in business attire.

*Adapted from Santee Education Complex Senior Project Student Survival Guide

20 Hour Project

2009-12-04T08:50:00.000-08:00

The deadline for completing your 20-hour project is Monday, Jan. 18. It will be graded as follows: 20 hours = A, 16 hours = B, 14 hours = C, 12 hours = D, 10 = F (beats a zero).
This includes six detailed log entries, one per week (see Pathfinder pgs. 40-41).

Interview is Part of the Research Paper

2009-11-24T13:17:00.000-08:00

In case anyone missed the 50 times I've said it, here's 51: Your interview is part of your research paper! It is not separate. It is one of the six (or eight for an A) sources used in your research paper. Do not include the questions. Do not use the first person (I or me).

After your interview, read over your notes and choose the most interesting or pertinent ones. Put the quote or paraphrase in the part of your research paper where it fits best. In parentheses, write personal interview.

On the Works Cited page, list the interviewee alphabetically by their last name, first name, followed by personal interview (or phone interview, or email interview as the case may be) and the date on which you conducted the interview.

Final Drafts of Research Paper Due Nov. 25

2009-11-21T21:07:00.000-08:00

Your 7-to-10-page research paper (with 6-8 sources) is due Wednesday. It may be turned in Monday for a lower grade.

Be sure to see your Writer's Choice book on citing sources, revising and presenting the final draft. You may also want to see the MLA citations link on this page.

If you are looking for an expert to interview, see the link to USC experts on this page.

Style Notes on Research Paper Rough Drafts

2009-11-15T15:34:00.000-08:00

Many of you are making the same mistakes. Here are some notes on style:

Punctuation goes inside the quotation marks. That means commas, periods, exclamation points are followed by the quotation marks. "I fell down the stairs and nearly broke my neck!"

Book titles are italicized. You underline when you are writing by hand since it is hard to write in italics.

There's no need to use the words "out there" as in, "There are many people out there in the world."

There is no comma between the author's name and page number in a parenthetical reference. Example: (Smith 40)
There is no comma between the student's name and the page number in the upper right hand corner. Example: (Hernandez 2)

Grades

2009-11-11T11:32:00.000-08:00

I will be turning in midterm grades this coming week. Consider your research paper rough draft your midterm exam.

Many of you are behind schedule. Too many people have not turned in their note cards; a few have not turned in their bibliography cards.

I am enlisting the help of your advisory teachers. I've spent the past two hours compiling lists of my students according to their advisory and writing letters to the advisory teacher. I've asked the teacher to meet with you individually to track your progress. I provided a color key to show who is getting an A/B and who is getting a D/F. Those who have a D or F, I made a note of your percentage and what assignments you are missing. Ms. Estangui, Mr. Tuomala and Mr. Alas are on board; I will speak to Mr. Garcia and Ms. Langer on Thursday.

Congratulations to those of you who have an A or a B. Good work!

To those with a D or and F, you have been warned.

Rough Draft of Research Paper due Friday

2009-11-06T17:23:00.000-08:00

Monday: Turn in any late note cards by the end of class. Watch the section of the Standard Deviants video on "writing the first draft." Prepare an outline if you have not done so already.

Tuesday:Read the section on Drafting in your Writer's Choice book. See the link MLA Citations on this page.

Wednesday: school holiday. You should plan on setting aside this day to write your rough draft.

Thursday: You may continue to type your rough draft in the library. See handout Rough Draft Self-Evaluation Guide.

Your typed rough draft (including an outline) is due by the end of class on Friday. Any rough drafts turned in after this date will receive one grade lower for each day it is late.

Note Cards: Direct Quotation, Summary, Paraphrase

2009-11-03T10:34:00.000-08:00

To review: the bibliography cards that you actually use in your research paper become the Work Cited Page of your research paper.

The notes you are working on become the seven (or more) pages of exposition for your research paper.

Your notes should be a mixture of direct quotation, summary and paraphrase. Remember to write only one idea per card. Include the author's name and page number on the card. The rest of the information is stored on your bibliography cards.

Twenty note cards are due Friday, but you may turn in up to 40 cards (total) for extra credit.

Bibliography Cards, Note Cards Due

2009-11-02T09:19:00.000-08:00

You should have turned in 10 bibliography cards by now. Although you will only need 7-8 sources for your research paper, it's good to have some wiggle room.

You will now begin take notes from each of your sources. Write one idea per card. Use as many note cards as necessary. You may take a lot of notes from some sources and a few notes from another. (You may need to buy note cards.)

Due Friday: 20 note cards

Are You an Intellectual?

2009-10-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Other small learning communities encourage their students to choose research topics that pertain to their SLC. As School for Advanced Studies students, you are free to choose nearly anything, but it should be intellectual.

According to Dictionary.com, the word intellectual as an adjective means:
1. appealing to or engaging the intellect: intellectual pursuits.
2. of or pertaining to the intellect or its use: intellectual powers.
3. possessing or showing intellect or mental capacity, esp. to a high degree: an intellectual person.
4. guided or developed by or relying on the intellect rather than upon emotions or feelings; rational.
5. characterized by or suggesting a predominance of intellect: an intellectual way of speaking.
–noun
6. a person of superior intellect.
7. a person who places a high value on or pursues things of interest to the intellect or the more complex forms and fields of knowledge, as aesthetic or philosophical matters, esp. on an abstract and general level.
8. an extremely rational person; a person who relies on intellect rather than on emotions or feelings.
9. a person professionally engaged in mental labor, as a writer or teacher.

Those of you whose topics are less intellectual by nature will need to find a way to treat your topic in an intellectual manner.

Time Management

2009-10-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

By now everyone should have selected a topic, read a general article and written a thesis statement. If you have done that, you should be working on a rough outline for your research paper. This may change as your research progresses, but it it good to have a road map, so you don't get lost or wander around the library, figuratively speaking.

Tomorrow will be a catch-up day for those of you who are behind or need help. I don't want anyone to feel they are hopelessly behind. I also don't want people who are ready to go to feel that they are being held up. Those who are on schedule can go to the library and start their research. The rest will use the laptops to get up to speed.

One more thing: buy some index cards on which to take notes. You can split a set of 100 with a friend. Or you can sell them individually when less organized people become desperate.

Revised Syllabus

2009-10-04T16:29:00.000-07:00

I've revised the syllabus for this class to add the date for your presentations to the judges: Tuesday, Jan. 19. The revised syllabus can be downloaded from my teacher page. Click on teacher pages, my name, the name of this class, and you will see it.

Fast Food Nation Lesson

2009-09-25T15:59:00.001-07:00

Plan on presenting your lesson based on a chapter from Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser. It should be about 10 minutes in length and should include some type of check for understanding, such as a quiz.

I'm looking forward to seeing these.

Changing Schedules

2009-09-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

I really hope you are all finished changing your schedules. Didn't you all meet with your counselor last year? Mr. Grijalva is a saint; I'd never be able to do what he does.

We will be working with the Expo Comp book all week, so be sure you have it with you. We won't be using the Writer's Choice books just yet; I will keep them in the classroom for the time being. That is, unless you piss me off, then I will issue them to you and you can add them to your heavy burden.

You should also be thinking about topics for your Senior Project.

Requirements for Assignments

2009-09-07T16:45:00.000-07:00

All major assignments are to be typed and saved on a flash or hard-drive. You must be able to reproduce your work in case your essay is lost or misplaced. All work is to be turned in at the beginning of the class in which it is due. Do not wait until the night before to begin printing out any major assignment. Unexcused late work will lose points on a daily basis until it is submitted, and cannot be turned in after a unit is completed. We will be taking notes daily, both in class and on outside assignments.

Summer Assignment Due Sept. 9

2009-08-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

Download the assignment from the Summer Assignments page of the SAS section of the school website.

Senior Project Presentation Tuesday

2009-01-23T20:19:00.000-08:00

I am very encouraged by what I've seen during your practice presentations in class. Remember, the more you practice, the easier time you will have on Tuesday afternoon. I suggest practicing in your advisory class on Monday or Tuesday, or in another advisory if your teacher doesn't have a laptop/projector available. You can also practice in our classroom during nutrition.

Please bring your flash drive on Monday. I will have the laptop cart, so everyone should make sure their program opens and works properly.

I'm very proud of the progress you have shown. I'm confident that you will do a great job.

Final Drafts Due by Friday, Dec. 19

2008-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to all who have turned in their research paper rough drafts. I am confident you will all make the necessary revisions for a final draft of which you can be proud.

Unfortunately, four students have still not turned in a rough draft. Those people will be receiving a failing grade on their progress report.

Research Paper Rough Draft Due

2008-11-26T11:48:00.000-08:00

Your rough draft, including an outline and Work Cited page, was due today. I'm happy to report that 25 students out of a class of 35 (Period One) turned their assignment in, with one, Diana Sanchez, turning it in early. Out of a class of 29 (Period Two), 17 turned in their assignment, plus two people who experienced printing problems.

Those who turn in their paper on Monday will be penalized one grade. If your paper is an A paper, it will receive a B, and so on.

Next, you should be planning your interview and writing your interview questions. You will conduct the interview and use whatever is valuable to fill out your final draft of your research paper. You will NOT include the entire transcript of your interview. You decide what goes into the final draft. We will review this next week.

Last Day to Turn in Note Cards is Friday

2008-11-17T21:09:00.000-08:00

You had 20 note cards due on Nov. 7 and 20 more due on Nov. 14. More than that is extra credit. If you have not turned in any notes, you are failing the class. Note cards will not be accepted after Friday (even if you have an excused absence). Failure to turn in notes = inability to turn in a rough draft (due Nov. 26) of your research paper.
Failure to turn in a rough draft = inability to turn in a final draft (due Dec. 19)
Failure to turn in research paper = inability to take part in Senior Presentation (Jan. 20).
Hence, failure to turn in your notes = fail in the class.

Note Taking

2008-11-02T17:06:00.000-08:00

We will meet in the library again on Monday, so that you can take notes from your sources. The rest of the week you will need to bring your sources to class with you and take notes in the classroom, as the library is booked.

Bring a stack of index cards as well. If you can't afford index cards, the school can provide them; however, this is not the case in college, so you may as well get in the habit of providing your own supplies. You have 20 note cards due by the end of class on Friday. The following week you will turn in another 20 note cards. Additional note cards can be turned in for extra credit.

The rough draft of your research paper, including a formal outline and a Work Cited page, will be due typed on or before Wednesday, Nov. 26.

The final draft is due typed on or before Friday, Dec. 19.

10 Bibliography Cards Due

2008-10-24T15:28:00.000-07:00

Seniors,

We will meet in the library again on Monday. By the end of class you will need to turn in index cards for 10 sources.

Help is Available for the Senior Project

2008-10-08T20:03:00.000-07:00

The Senior Project teachers are excited about your topics and the projects you are planning. In order to give more personalized attention, we will begin tutoring exclusively for the Senior Project. Teachers will be available Mondays (Mr. Rodriguez in his classroom), Wednesdays (Mr. Alpert in his classroom), and Thursdays (Mr. Goldyn and myself in the library) from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. You don't have to be there at 3:15, nor do you have to stay the whole hour. You don't have to be in one of our classes; you can get advice from any of us. Just drop in and ask for help. We can advise you on the following:

Narrowing Your Topic

Focusing Your Topic

Writing Your Letter of Intent

Finding Sources

Coming Up With Project Ideas

MLA Style

Senior Project Topics

2008-09-29T20:24:00.000-07:00

Plan on meeting with your advisory teacher, or another teacher you know well, to get advice on your Senior Project topic. You should decide on a topic by Monday, Oct. 6.

Week of Sept. 22

2008-09-19T19:53:00.000-07:00

Be prepared on Monday to teach your chapter of Fast Food Nation to the class and to check for student comprehension.

We will then turn our attention to the Senior Project for the rest of the week. I will get a class set of paperback books called Pathfinder that helps with choosing a topic and writing a thesis statement.

See the Senior Project section on the Hollywood High School library website for details.

Week of Sept. 15

2008-09-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

We will review the vocabulary for the two articles you read over the weekend. You will answer critical thinking questions involving logos (facts), ethos (author's credibility) and pathos (appeal to emotion). You will read the directions for an in-class essay test and write the essay on Wednesday.

Thursday and Friday will be spent reading chapters from the book Fast Food Nation in groups and planning how you will teach your chapter to the class.

Week of Sept. 8

2008-09-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

On Monday, you are turning in your Writing Autobiography (rough draft, partner form, final draft typed). Period 2 gets their books on Monday; Period 1 gets theirs on Tuesday. We will distribute them all on Wednesday.

Monday: Reading and writing in college. Homework: Read The University of Planet Earth.

Tuesday: Socratic Seminar on The University of Planet Earth.

Wednesday and Thursday: Fast food unit in textbook.

Friday: Essay test on fast food unit. Homework: Read a chapter from Fast Food Nation.