No assignments due!! If you have any extra time over your break, here is a full-length version of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens to watch as you celebrate. This one publication by Dickens changed the way Christmas was celebrated in many countries and added some of our cherished traditions!
Assignments due for the week of December 16th, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
You have now completed the last of the ACT sections!! We will continue with our plan for improving your writing skills in our next class. Your assignment for next week is to turn in to me a written sheet of at least 10 vocabulary words (and definitions) that you can incorporate into any writing assignment you might do. You should have been able to finish them in class today. Just don’t forget to have them ready next week.
Explorations in British Literature
Watch the following video summary of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. We will discuss the play further and have a quiz on the main points.
Complete any pages in your notebooks you had not done from this week’s assignment. (See Previous Assignments below.) Then complete the following pages: pages 71-72 (Cavalier poets and questions), pages 75-77 (John Donne’s writings and questions), and page 78 (excerpt from Pilgrim’s Progress and questions).
We will also discuss how Christmas was celebrated in the Elizabethan Age. (A bit different from us!)
U.S. Government
Great competitive game review for our test today!! Based on your good responses in the game, I have high expectations for the test grades! We will cover state and city government next week as well as go over the section on the post office together in class. You were given the crossword answers for pages 81 and 85 (U.S. Army and U.S. Navy) Using those terms, complete pages 82-84 and pages 86-88 for our next class.
Watch (and listen) to the original U.S. Army marching song. (A caisson was a wheeled cart used by the army to carry ammunition and supplies.)
Watch the following video to experience the words and music of the U.S. Navy’s marching song.
Quick Looks at Great Books
Be prepared to take the final test on Silas Marner at the beginning of our next class. (Great job on today’s review!!)
Read about the lives of Charles Dickens and George Eliot on page 1 in both study guides. (A Tale of Two Cities and Silas Marner) We will have a short quiz on their backgrounds.
Do pages 66-68 (Genre) in your Literary Terms notebook.
In our last class before Christmas, we will also “experience” some of the traditions of a Victorian Christmas and learn why so many of our present traditions originated there. We will also see how A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens influenced how we celebrate Christmas today.
Assignments due for the week of December 9th, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
We practiced each section type of the Science test today and reviewed some basic science principles with review cards. For more practice before you take the test, watch this video from a sample ACT Science test.
Explorations in British Literature
Great job acting some of the scenes from Twelfth Night and finishing the study guide and details of the Globe Theater and Shakespeare’s life! We will have our final test on the play next week after we do a review game. In your British literature notebook, compete pages 61-63. Read the excerpt from Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe and answer the questions. Read the sonnet on pages 65 and 66 and answer the questions after each quatrain. Learn how to read an essay on page 67 and then read Sir Francis Bacon’s essay on studying various subjects and answer the questions on page 69. Read the short poem on page 70 and answer the two questions. (A conceit is a long metaphor that introduces an unusual or witty image.)
U.S. Government
We reviewed the Supreme Court, Law, and Trial today in preparation for our test next week. The test will also cover Immigration and Citizenship. Good pages to review would be pages 60, 64, 68, 52, and 56. We will do a review game before the test. Also, complete pages 70-72 and 74-76. Below are the crossword puzzle answers on pages 69 and 73.
Page 69 — STATE GOVERNMENT ACROSS DOWN 1. political 2. legislature 6. auditor 3. superintendent 8. attorney 4. four 9. constitution 5. secretary 12. governor 7. Rhode Island 13. appeals 10. Nebraska 14. ad interim 11. property
Page 73 — CITY GOVERNMENT ACROSS DOWN 1. municipality 2. charter 5. home rule 3. tax base 8. machines 4. nonpartisan 9. Sumter 6. mayor-council 10. strong 7. Cleveland 12. commission 11. weak 13. patronage 14. grants
We will discuss the state and city governments next week and discuss your opinions on immigration. 🙂
Quick Looks at Great Books
Complete the Chronolog you were given in class to review the characters and events in Silas Marner for our final test. We will also have a review game before the test. Complete the following pages in your Literary Terms notebook: Characters & Characterization (pages 52-53), Conflict (pages 54-56), Dialogue (pages 60-61), and Flashback (pages 62-63).
Assignments due for the week of December 2nd, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
You finished the longest of the four ACT sections today!! We will practice some ACT Science sections next week and take the ACT Science test the following Monday. (December 9)
Watch this video for a few basic tips for approaching the ACT Science practice test.
Explorations in British Literature
Great job analyzing the resolutions of plot and characters from Twelfth Night!! We will finish the study guide next week in class and act out a few of the funny scenes. 🙂 We will also review the entire play in preparation for the test and do a review game if time permits. In your British literature notebook, complete pages 51-54, which includes an excerpt and a few questions. This will be really easy since you are familiar with the entire play. Also, do pages 59 and 60 about Shakespeare’s life and the Globe Theater.
The following video will give you the basic details of Shakespeare’s life that you will need to know.
U.S. Government
We will continue to finish our sections on Law and Trial and review the basics of the Supreme Court. Complete pages 50-52 and pages 54-56 on Immigration and Citizenship. Here are the crossword answers for page 53 since we did not go over these in class.
Watch this video for a simple explanation of court cases.
Quick Looks at Great Books
Complete your reading of Silas Marner by reading from Chapter 13 through the end of the book. The pace picks up significantly from this point forward. Silas makes another appearance in the community for help; this time it is to the wealthy of Raveloe. Major characters are further defined, and new ones enter the “cast”. Many surprises and twists will occur! 🙂
Assignments due for the week of November 25th, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
Look over the math sheet you were given in class and see if you know how to do the listed math procedures. If you are unsure about any, check with your math teacher or anyone you think could explain them to you. (or check a math book) Watch the following brief video to help you use the answer choices given to help you solve the problems in preparation for next week’s ACT Math timed test.
Explorations in British Literature
Finish Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by reading Acts IV & V. Complete pages 15 and 17 in your study guide. We will see the resolution for all of the characters and finish the study guide together in class.
Watch this brief comic scene with Malvolio performed on the Globe Theater stage in London.
U.S. Government
Great job reviewing all the material on today’s test!! Great competition and great responses!! We will now cover the last branch of the U.S. government—the Judicial branch. Using the terms given to you in the crossword puzzle pages, complete pages 58-60, 62-64, and pages 66-68. We will go through the history of the Supreme Court as well as cover terms used in law and trials.
Watch this video to review the process of selecting Supreme Court justices:
Quick Looks at Great Books
Continue your reading in Silas Marner with Chapters 8-12. Be familiar with what happened by reviewing study guide questions 46-86. Great job today with all the details of the story thus far!! Check last week’s assignment page to make sure you have completed all of the assigned pages of literary terms.
Assignments due for the week of November 18th, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
Watch the following video for tips on taking the ACT Reading test. We will do a practice test and then take the test in class next week.
Explorations in British Literature
Read Act III in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and be prepared for a quiz on the basic events. Complete pages 10-12 and pages 14-15 in your study guide. We will watch more scenes from the play as well as a scene from the Globe Theater production after you have read Act III.
U.S. Government
Review in your notebook for a test on the following subjects: Voting—pages 31 and 32, Electoral College handouts, Republican Party—pages 35 and 36, Democratic Party—pages 39 and 40, the President—pages 43 and 44, and the Vice President—pages 47 and 48.
Watch the following video to review the election process:
Quick Looks at Great Books
Great final review of A Tale of Two Cities. You are now officially aficionados of this novel and this period In history!! (aficionado: an ardent devotee; fan; enthusiast)
Read Chapters 1-7 in our new book, Silas Marner by George Eliot. I know there are a lot of questions from each chapter in your study guide, but try to look over questions 1-45 to make sure you got all the details from your reading. Be prepared to discuss these in our next class.
If you had not completed all of your Literary Terms notebook, finish it for next week. Over the past weeks, you should have completed the following: Hyperbole (pages 4 & 5), Metaphor & Simile (pages 10-12), Personification (pages 16-18), Symbol (pages 19-21), Allusion (pages 49-51), Foreshadowing (pages 64 & 65), and Irony (pages 69-71).
Make sure you know the definition of dramatic irony. This is a big part of Silas Marner. Watch this brief definition.
Assignments due for the week of November 11th, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
Be prepared to take a quiz on the Twelve Classic Errors on the ACT (pages 40 and 41) in our next class. Also, we will finally take the ACT practice test for English. We have been reviewing for this for the past two weeks.
Explorations in British Literature
Read Acts I and II in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night and be prepared for a quiz on the basic events. We will take time for any questions before the quiz. Be sure to bring to class the study guide you were given today. Watch the following video to see the development of drama in England:
Watch this video for a tour of the Globe Theater today, which was built exactly as the original one was.
U.S. Government
After recording the answers to the crosswords on pages 41 and 45, complete pages 42-44 and pages 46-49 on the qualifications, duties, and procedures for becoming President and Vice-President.
Watch the following video to review the qualifications and process of becoming a U.S. President.
Quick Looks at Great Books
Watch the following final scene from the novel:
Complete the Chronolog you were given to review for our test. Also complete the following pages in your Literary Terms notebook: Hyperbole (pages 4 & 5), Metaphor & Simile (pages 10-12), Foreshadowing (pages 64 & 65), and Irony (pages 69-71). I will check these in class next week. Great job today in our game review and great job of mastering the major characters and events! Let me know if you have any questions at all. You will need a copy of Silas Marner by next class period.
Assignments due for the week of November 4th, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
Look over the ACT practice grammar sheets we did in class and be prepared for a quiz over the basic grammar rules we have been reviewing.
Explorations in British Literature
We will continue our reports on the historical Renaissance period in England (Elizabethan Age) next week. Complete pages 45-50 in your notebook. Answer the questions about Queen Elizabeth’s poem on page 45. Read the excerpt from an early Greek play on pages 46 and 47. Then answer the questions on page 48. Complete the questions on page 50 after reading the brief excerpt of a famous English morality play. Don’t forget to have a copy of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night by the next class period.
Watch this one-minute review of life in the Elizabethan Age:
U.S. Government
In your notebook, complete pages 34-36 and pages 38-40. Note answers to the crossword puzzle below from pages 33 and 37. You can use this list of terms to help you with the homework pages on the beginnings of our two major political parties.
Page 33 – The Republican Party
Across Clues: Down Clues:
4. Ripon 1. Fremont
5. Watergate 2. Breeds
6. Union 3. Moose
7. Nast 8. Slavery
10. Grand 9. Bovay
11. Hoover 12. Elephant
14. Prosperity 13. Lincoln
Page 37 — The Democratic Party
Across Clues: Down Clues:
1. Dixiecrats 1. Donkey
4. Copperheads 2. Roosevelt
7. Oldest 3. Republican
8. Tilden 5. Solid
9. “New Deal” 6. Money
11. Jackson 10. Wallace
13. Fair Deal 12. Society
We will finish our discussion and notes on the Electoral College next week. Watch the following video which reviews what we did in class today.
Quick Looks at Great Books
Complete A Tale of Two Cities by reading Book 3, Chapters 12-15 and complete study guide questions 74-80.
If you did not do this last week, complete pages 16-21 in your Literary Terms notebook. (Personification and Symbolism)
Also, complete pages 49-51 on the literary term Allusion.
Watch the following scene from your reading of the second trial of Charles Darnay:
Assignments due for the week of October 28th, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
Study your verb sheet on the principal parts of verbs to prepare for another quiz next week on common verb errors. We will begin preparing for the grammar section of the ACT. (This will also help you if you take the SAT in the spring.)
Explorations in British Literature
Study for the test on the Middle Ages in British literature. (Be able to match the descriptions of Chaucer’s characters, know the story behind the characters’ tales, review the accounts of Arthur’s death by Mallory and T.H. White, be able to name some characteristics of ballads, review the types of tales, and remember the story of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight” written by the Pearl Poet.) Since we did not have time to review that story in class today, read the following brief summary of “Sir Gawain and the Green Knight”.
U.S. Government
Be prepared for a short quiz next week matching the following Constitutional amendments with their contents. Use the sheet you were given in class to study. (Amendments 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 24, & 26) There are 17 amendments to the Constitution after the Bill of Rights, but these ten are the most significant. Next week, we will begin our study of the Electoral College.
Watch the following brief video to understand all of the amendments (11-27). Note that our quiz will be specifically over the ones listed above.
Quick Looks at Great Books
Read Book 3, Chapters 9-11 and complete study guide questions 70-73.
Watch the following description of personification:
Watch this explanation of symbolism:
Complete pages 16-21 in your Literary Terms notebook. (Personification and Symbolism)
Assignments due for the week of October 21st, 2019
PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep
We will take the second PSAT Math test in class. You may not use a calculator on this one. (No worries — you won’t need it!) Look over the test we did this week and the answers and solutions I gave you. This will better prepare you for the next one. Go to Khan Academy to the SAT test prep and the math section.
Do four problems in each of the areas on the site:
Heart of algebra
Problem-solving and data analysis
Passport to advanced math
Additional topics in math
Reviewing your mistakes on this week’s test will be super helpful!
Explorations in British Literature
Study for a quiz on the characters in Chaucer’s General Prologue of The Canterbury Tales. Review the descriptions on pages 32–35 in your notebooks and complete the crossword puzzle you were given for more review. Read the lyric poems on pages 40 and 41 and answer the questions about them. Read “Fair Margaret and Sweet William” on pages 42 and 43 and write a paragraph to summarize their story.
Watch the following brief video to review some of the main characters in Chaucer’s Prologue:
U.S. Government
Watch the following video to review for our quiz on the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights:
You were given a sheet to define each of the Bill of Rights. Be able to identify these in a matching section and be able to match the following provisions in the articles of the Constitution.
Article 1 –– The Legislative Branch
Article 2 –– The Executive Branch
Article 3 –– The Judicial Branch
Article 4 —- Federal & State Governments
Article 5 —- Changing the Constitution
Article 6 —- Constitution as the Highest Law
Article 7 —- Making it Official (Ratification)
Review our other notes about the writing of the Constitution and those involved. (Finished on September 17, 1787)
Quick Looks at Great Books
Read Book 3, Chapters 1-8 and complete study guide questions 59-69. What do you think the title of Book 3 might refer to? (The Track of a Storm) Watch particularly for allusions in this section and try to identify events that we studied earlier in The French Revolution that are now coming to pass!
