Assignments due for the week of October 17th, 2022
Quick Looks at Great Books
We had to go over la lot to finish last week’s reading and also to watch it on the DVD. (BBC version of the book) We then took the quiz on Chapters 1-9. We will continue our explanation next week of Chapters 10-19, beginning with Chapter 13, and then take the quiz on those chapters. Be sure to have your questions ready if you have trouble knowing what is happening or how to answer the study guide questions.
For next week, you have a shorter amount of reading in chapters and pages. This would be a good time to catch up if you are behind in your reading. Reading through Chapter 24 completes Book 2 — The Golden Thread and leaves us with Charles Darnay’s naïveté and rash decision. In your study guide, complete questions 53-58. Enjoy the excitement of this section!!!
Watch this brief explanation of literary terms that Dickens uses so often!
PSAT/SAT/ACT TEST PREP
We reviewed today for the PSAT Writing test. (mainly grammar) We went over last week’s quiz, completed pages 28-30 (“Summer Break”), took another quiz on verb usage, did pages 31-33 (“Electroconvulsive Therapy”), and took another quiz on grammar rules we have gone over. The students now know the format of this second half of this PSAT test. To finish our practice for the test, complete the final practice section on pages 34 and 35 (“Resumes”). We will go over the answers next week and discuss any problems you may have had. Then we will take the PSAT Writing timed test to average with the score on the Reading test. Then you can see how you did on the verbal section of the test. Great job on recognizing the grammar errors on today’s practice sections!
American History
Happy Columbus Day!! We discussed again what we had learned about this explorer and how he has been criticized in today’s environment. He is a fearless explorer and a role model for all Italians in America today. We then briefly reviewed for today’s test on Chapters 1-3 and took our first test. We will have a short quiz next week on Chapters 4 and 5 and begin reviewing the major events of the Revolutionary War for our next test. For next week, read Chapter 6—The War for Independence. We will go over all the facts and names you will need to know from the Revolutionary War. Do the section reviews in this chapter.
Watch this overview of the American Revolution to reinforce what you have read.
U.S. Government
We went over our first quiz, expectations, and what the format would be for the second quiz. It takes a little time for students to know what to expect! We took our second quiz today on Lessons 3 and 4, and I’m sure they did even better than last week!
We will have a short quiz next week on the contents of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. There will be no fill-in-the blanks on this quiz. There will be a matching section where they will match certain amendments with the appropriate explanation of that amendment. They should be able to match the content of amendments 1, 2, 4, 5, 13, 15, 18, 19, 21, and 26. They were given detailed descriptions of each amendment in the Bill of Rights and also a sheet on amendments 11-27. Study from those sheets. They also need to number the correct article of the Constitution with its corresponding subject. Article 1–Legislative branch, Article 2–Executive branch, Article 3–Judicial branch, Article 4–Federal and State Governments, Article 5–Changing the Constitution, Article 6–Constitution as the Highest Law, and Article 7—Making it Official (Ratification). There will also be seven True/False questions about material we have discussed.
Besides reviewing for the quiz, complete Lesson 8 on Voting in your notebook. (pages 30-33) I have attached the Crossword answers for page 29. Just copy them into your notebook to help you complete Lesson 8. We will be studying these pages and a lot of other material that I will give the students to prepare for the upcoming election.
Adventures in American Literature
Today we went over the life of Benjamin Franklin. He invented so many things in addition to being a great writer, ambassador, politician, and founding father! We discussed his writing of Poor Richard’s Almanack and the success he achieved. We also talked about Phillis Wheatley’s contribution to our heritage of literature. We finished with Crevecoeur’s comments and observations. Next week, we will work with some of Franklin’s aphorisms.
For next week, we will begin learning about the many tall tales that have become an important part of our literary history. Read and answer the questions on pages 47-48 (Paul Bunyan), page 49 (Johnny Appleseed), and pages 50-51 (Mike Fink and Davy Crockett.) Each person in class was assigned an oral report on a tall tale hero/heroine to tell about to the class. Each profession had its own hero, either legendary or in real life. (however exaggerated) Please let me know if you have any questions about your report. It does not need to be handed in, but just given orally to inform the class about that person and his accomplishments.
Watch this short video about this midwest hero that you read about in this week’s homework.