Assignments for November 3rd, 2025

Explorations in British Literature
We went over the entire test for the Middle Ages today and then started our reports. Silja was sick today, but we went through all the rest. I added anything I thought they might need to know. We also talked about the video on the website last week,Why Shakespeare, and focused mainly on words that Shakespeare created like “swagger” and idioms like “break the ice” and “heart of gold”. We talked about Elizabeth the Queen and how England became a great nation. We will finish the homework itself next week.
For next week, read the morality play about Everyman on page 49 and 50 and answer the three questions that follow. On page 59, read about Shakespeare’s stage. You just need to write a paragraph at the bottom of the page. Read about the Royal Fans on page 60 and briefly answer the questions. Read the excerpt from Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus and answer the questions on page 63. Lastly, complete the little sonnet on pages 65 and 66, along with the questions.
Watch this short tour of Shakespeare’s Globe Theater.
American History
We passed back the tests on Chapters 4-6. The students did much better on this test. Parents, don’t forget to sign the test or text me that you saw it! (269-217-9996) We also went over Chapters 7 and 8. as well as the Chapter Review for each of these. We then played games to continue to review the states and capitals and general history and geography of our country.
Watch the following videos of things you need to know from these chapters.
XYZ Affair
War of 1812
U.S. Government
We reviewed for Quiz #2 and then took the quiz itself. We did a sheet on the core beliefs of our two major parties and the third parties in America. They were supposed to put the sheet in their notebooks with lessons on political parties. We went over the lesson on the President and will quickly go through the Vice-President next week.
Next week, we will have our first Government test on the lessons on Voting, the Electoral College, Political Parties, the President and the Vice-President. (Lessons 8-12) The students were told to add the sheet we did today to the the Political Parties section and the notes from the Powerpoint to the Voting section. (Understanding the Electoral College and the voting map 2022 with updated electoral college counts) Also, complete Lesson 15 on the Supreme Court on pages 58-60.
Watch this video to review the Electoral College before our test.
The Electoral College
Quick Looks at Great Books
We reviewed last week’s reading quickly and then took Quiz # 4. The students are doing well with the discussion and coverage of each section of their reading. They are asking excellent questions! We discussed today’s reading up to the reading of Dr. Manette’s letter that he wrote in his prison cell. He condemned the Evremondes and all their descendants!
For our next reading, we will finish the book by reading Chapters 11-15 and answering study guide questions 73-80.
Here is an explanation of one of the chapters in your reading this week.
Practical Public Speaking
We finished our last four extemporaneous news articles this week, and I helped each student choose a topic for his informative speech. We went over the outline for this speech as well as a planned introduction and conclusion.
Begin planning your informative speech by coming up with an outline, an introduction, and a conclusion. We will cover more pages in your text next week and begin giving our speeches the following two weeks.


