Assignments due for the week of October 14th, 2019

PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep

We will take the PSAT Math test next week in class. Don’t forget to bring your calculator to class to use on this test. (You may not use cell phones, any calculator that has access to the internet or requires electricity, or any calculator that has a paper tape or makes any kind of noise.)

To prepare for the math sections, go to Khan Academy . Then, go to the SAT test prep and the math section. Do AT LEAST TWO problems in each of the areas on the site:

1. Heart of algebra
2. Problem-solving and data analysis
3. Passport to advanced math
4. Additional topics in math (page 36 in your notebooks)

You will be given the answers and explanations to all the problems on the test next week.

Explorations in British Literature

Read the summary of the General Prologue.

Take a look at the full General Prologue in modern English to find more details about each character.

On pages 32 and 33 in your notebook, read the description of each of the “pilgrims”. To the left of the number, identify the character described. (You may need to check the link for the modern English version of The Canterbury Tales.) To the right of the description, describe the physical appearance and/or the character traits given. We did 1-6 in class as an example. We will define each character in class next week.

Page 39 is to be used for “Analyzing a Pilgrim’s Tale”. Read the following two tales and answer the questions on this page. One of the tales should be done on a separate piece of notebook paper. Answer the same 1-8 points for each one of the tales.

“The Nun’s Priest’s Tale”

“The Pardoner’s Tale”

Remember that with each story, you need to read only the tale itself, not the prologue or other information.

U.S. Government

Be prepared for a quiz next week on the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. Study the terms on pages 19, 23, and 27.

Watch this new video on the explanation and review of the function and duties of Congress: (our bicameral legislature)

Quick Looks at Great Books

Complete Book 2 by finishing Chapters 20-24 (short reading!) and answering study guide questions 53-58. The French Revolution finally comes in full force in July of 1789 as you see the fictional characters interact with the historical characters we have studied. Note the details of the storming of the Bastille and the metaphor (comparison) Dickens makes about the attacking mob. What prior act is referred to when the chateau of the Marquis is set on fire? What is a lodestone rock? There is quite the element of suspense at the end of Book 2!! 🙂

Previous Assignments:

• Assignments for 10/07/2019
• Assignments for 09/30/2019
• Assignments for 09/23/2019
• Assignments for 09/16/2019

Assignments due for the week of October 7th, 2019

PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep

We will take the PSAT Writing and Language test in class next week. Do the last practice section on pages 34 and 35 in your notebook. We will go over all the correct answers before you take the next test in class. Also study the principal parts of irregular verbs on the sheet you were given. We will have a quiz reviewing those commonly missed verbs and go over the correct answers as well.

Explorations in British Literature

In your notebook, read “A Parody of Knighthood” on pages 20-22. Underline or mark in some way the examples of how T.H. White gently parodies the conventions and assumptions of chivalry. Read the two different accounts of King Arthur’s death written one hundred years apart—”The Passing of King Arthur” from Morte D’Arthur (pages 25–27) and an excerpt from The Once and Future King (pages 28-29). Answer the four questions comparing the two accounts. Read Chaucer’s description of “A More Than Courteous Knight” on page 31 and make a list of the inner qualities and the outer appearance of a knight on the bottom half of the page.

Watch the following video song describing the idyllic area where King Arthur lived:

Watch the following parody of the song:

U.S. Government

We completed the “crossword puzzle” on page 29 with the new terms and definitions regarding voting. Complete pages 30-32 for next week. Also, be prepared for a matching quiz on the terms on pages 11 and 15. (Terms will come from the boxes on those two pages.)

Watch the following video about the Constitution:

Quick Looks at Great Books

We will take our quiz on this past week’s reading at the beginning of the next class period. Read Book 2, Chapters 10-19 and answer the corresponding questions on pages 44-46. You gain even more information about the characters you have already met and also see previous characters reappear!! In a terribly serious story, Dickens manages to insert a bit of humor as well!

Previous Assignments:

• Assignments for 09/30/2019
• Assignments for 09/23/2019
• Assignments for 09/16/2019

Assignments due for the week of September 30th, 2019

PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep

We are now ready to move on to preparing for the PSAT Writing and Language test. Read page 23 in your notebook for explanation and format of the next test. Look at the definitions of a sentence, a fragment, and a run-on sentence. Write to the left of the five numbered “sentences” if each is a sentence, a fragment, or a run-on. Review the grammar rules on pages 24-27.

Explorations in British Literature

Prepare for a quiz on the Anglo-Saxon period of British literature. Be able to match the terms and characters in Beowulf, recognize alliteration in poetry, analyze the two Welsh poems in your notebook, and match literary terms and definitions. (Check the Literary Terms sheets you were given and the words we have gone over—alliteration, elegy, epic, kenning, foil, and metaphor.) Be prepared to present orally to the class the topic you were given to research for the middle ages in the United Kingdom.

U.S. Government

In your notebook, complete the following pages: 18-20, 22- 24, and 26-28. We did the “crossword puzzle” pages in class, so you should have some terms to work with. Once again, there will be a lot of repetition. Prepare for our first quiz by knowing the three branches of government and their functions, the number of U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives, and the term length for Senators and Representatives. Watch the following video to review the two parts of Congress:

Quick Looks at Great Books

Great start to your reading and understanding of A Tale of Two Cities! We will take the quiz over Book I at the beginning of class next week and discuss the week’s reading—Book II Chapters 1-9. Answer the corresponding questions in your study guide on pages 42-44. We will not have the quiz on this section until we have discussed it and answered your questions. Enjoy meeting new characters in England!!

Previous Assignments:

• Assignments for 09/23/2019
• Assignments for 09/16/2019

Assignments due for the week of September 23rd, 2019

PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep

Great job with the Reading practice sections we did in class today. For homework, finish the questions following the reading section on George Washington’s “Farewell Address to the United States of America”. Then complete the last section by reading the excerpt from a 2013 article titled “The Great Seal” and answer the questions that follow. We will go over these in class and then take the timed Reading test for the PSAT. This is the longest of the PSAT tests, so please be on time so that we can get it all in! 🙂

Explorations in British Literature

We will continue to do the textbook pages on Beowulf in class. Be prepared for the quiz on the epic at the beginning of our next class period. Read the two Welsh poems and answer the questions that follow on pages 16-18. We will then review the Anglo-Saxon era for a quiz before we begin the Middle Ages and the era of knighthood.

View the following brief review of the story of Beowulf:

U.S. Government

Great job going over all the government terms and philosophies today. We will keep reviewing these, so that they will be totally familiar to you! 🙂 Make sure you have completed through page 16 in your notebook, and I will give you background material for the Constitution itself. Let me know if you are interested in the upcoming Michigan Constitution Bee, and I will have more details. Don’t forget to ask the two questions of your parents that we talked about today. We will learn more about our “mystery” founding father next week. 🙂

Watch the following presentation by high school students for this week’s celebration:

Quick Looks at Great Books

Great job on your historical reports today! Hopefully, you have some basic facts about the Revolution and some of its famous “characters”. We will have our quiz on pages 2–33 at the beginning of our next class period. (historical information in your study guide)

Begin A Tale of Two Cities by reading Book I Chapters 1–6 for next week. We will discuss this section and answer any questions you may have. Note the famous opening lines of this novel.

Previous Assignments:

• Assignments for 09/16/2019

Assignments due for the week of September 16th, 2019

PSAT/SAT/ACT Test Prep

Great first day of class!! Don’t forget to bring your syllabus/notebook back to class next week as we will be doing some practice sections to prepare for the PSAT Reading test. No homework. 🙂

Explorations in British Literature

Happy first day of class! In your British literature textbook, read pages 10 and 11 (Translations of Beowulf) and answer the two questions on page 11.

For #3 just write a sentence instead of a paragraph to show how the translations are alike and how they are different.

Read the following modern summary of the story of Beowulf.

Watch the following brief videos to help your understanding of the early poem Beowulf:

U.S. Government

Great job participating in our game on government facts today. You will be amazed at the end of the semester how much you know and how easy it will be when we try this same game!! In the “textbook” you were given, complete pages 3-4, 7-8, and pages 11-12. No worries about those pages in between. We will work on those together next week in class.

Watch the following video to focus on the three branches of government and their functions:

Quick Looks at Great Books

Great job giving your comparisons with the American Revolution and the French Revolution!! For next week, read pages 2-33 in your purple study guide and be prepared for a quiz. We will discuss all of these pages BEFORE the quiz. Also be prepared to present to the class the information you found on the subject you were assigned. Just give us some extra facts about each person or subject you were given.

Watch the following brief summary to review the events of the French Revolution:

Previous Assignments:

• No previous assignments – welcome back!

Assignments due for the week of May 20th, 2019

Practical Public Speaking

All speeches need to be completed next week. Most of you will be doing your Persuasive speech, but we still have three Demonstration speeches to finish. Don’t forget to turn in an outline for each speech, FOLLOWING THE FORMAT ON PAGE 48 IN YOUR NOTEBOOK. Try to incorporate into this last speech all the different areas we have worked on—eye contact, volume, inflection, gestures, strategies in introduction and conclusion, etc. Plan to eat your lunch in our room so that we are sure to have enough time to finish all the speeches we have left.

Adventures in American Literature

We will review the poems by Edna St. Vincent Millay and Robert Frost as well as “The Last Leaf” by O. Henry. Before the final exam, we will do a game review of the terms and material you are to study for the test. Use the Final Exam Review and Study Guide along with the list of Literary Terms to prepare for your exam.

No-Spin Economics

Your final exam will cover Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? Chapters 1-13 and Crash Course Economics #1-7 and #9-12. Use your past tests and quizzes as well as your study guides to review. Check the past weeks’ assignments at the bottom of the page if you would like to rewatch any of the videos.

Quick Looks at Great Books

Review for your final exam by studying your Literary Terms notebook. The terms will be covered on the exam in a multiple choice or matching format. Be familiar with the six novels we have read this year. Know the author, main characters, setting, and major events of each book.

Watch the following video for a quick review of some of our key literary terms:

Previous Assignments:

• 05/13/2019
• 05/06/2019
• 04/29/2019
• 04/22/2019
• 04/15/2019
• 04/08/2019

Assignments due for the week of May 13th, 2019

Practical Public Speaking

We will finish any “make-up” speeches due to absences and begin our final speech of the year next week. If you have not given me the topic for your Persuasive speech, don’t forget to email me by Friday. Use this speech to perfect all of the pointers we have discussed throughout the semester. Remember that this is an extemporaneous speech, not a manuscript! Tell it to us with references to your notes, but do NOT read it to us. Concentrate on eye contact and vocal and facial expression.

Adventures in American Literature

Review for the final test on The Giver by completing the Chronolog on page 13 of your study guide. Read the two sonnets by Edna St. Vincent Millay on pages 160 and 161 and answer the questions that follow.

Read “The Mending Wall” by Robert Frost and answer the two questions on p 148.

Read or listen to “The Road Not Taken” by Frost and be prepared to discuss its meaning.

Read the short story The Last Leaf by O. Henry or listen to it note the typical situational irony.

No-Spin Economics

We will have a test on Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? Chapters 1-13. We will do a review game in class before the test. Use your chapter summary sheets to review and look over the past tests and quizzes.

Watch our last video Crash Course Economics #12 and complete the study guide you were given.

Quick Looks at Great Books

Review for our test on To Kill a Mockingbird by completing the Chronolog on page 16 in your study guide. Be prepared for a quiz on the background material for this book. The quiz will come from pages 18-26 in your guide.

Watch the following final scenes from the novel:

Previous Assignments:

• 05/06/2019
• 04/29/2019
• 04/22/2019
• 04/15/2019
• 04/08/2019

Assignments due for the week of May 6th, 2019

Practical Public Speaking

Great job on both Informative and Demonstration speeches today. I’m always amazed at the unique variety of subjects you show or tell us about. Such fun!! We will finish our Demonstration speeches next week and any other make-up speeches due to absences. Be thinking about your final speech topic. We talked about the Persuasive speech today. Be prepared to give me your selected subject next week in class.

Adventures in American Literature

Finish your reading of The Giver by Lois Lowry by reading Chapters 13-23 and answering questions 31-48 in your study guide. Look over the Discussion Questions on page 10 as we will talk about these in class. If you did not watch the video from last week on the “Dystopian Novel” please check the Previous Assignments (April 29) and watch the short commentary.

No-Spin Economics

Watch Crash Course Economics videos #10 and #11 and complete the study sheets you were given in class.

In preparation for our review of the book Whatever Happened to Penny Candy?, read Chapter 13 (Summary) and go over the notes for that chapter that you were given in class.

If for some reason, you did not look at the U.S. National Debt clock or watch the video describing the extent of “a trillion”, please go back to the April 29th week of assignments and view those short sites.

Quick Looks at Great Books

Finish your reading of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, by reading Chapters 15-31 and answering questions 35-72 in your study guide. Notice the development of the novel’s central themes: education, prejudice, trust, truth, and femininity. We will take the quizzes on the two sections of the book that you read. (Chapters 1-14 and Chapters 15-31)

Watch the following videos to “put a face” on the main characters:

Previous Assignments:

• 04/29/2019
• 04/22/2019
• 04/15/2019
• 04/08/2019

Assignments due for the week of April 29th, 2019

Practical Public Speaking

Be prepared to finish any Informative speeches we have not yet done due to absences. We will begin and enjoy our Demonstration speeches in our next class. If you have not yet given me your subject for this speech, be sure to email me by Friday, April 26.

Adventures in American Literature

Begin our next book, The Giver by Lois Lowry, by reading Chapters 1-12 and answering questions 1-30 in your new study guide. At the age of 82, she is still alive today! Note the characteristics of a dystopian novel and identify what freedoms have been given up to achieve this way of life.

Watch the following video about dystopias in literature:

No-Spin Economics

Read Chapters 10-12 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? We will discuss the ideas and principles in class. Watch Crash Course Economics video #9 and complete the study guide you were given in class.

Look at the website of the national debt. Locate the total debt (under “U.S. National Debt”) in the upper lefthand corner. How long does it take for the U.S. to add $1,000,000 to our national debt total?

Watch the following brief video to get a better idea of how much one trillion dollars actually is.

Review today’s assignment for a quiz next week. Penny Candy Chapters 7-9 and Crash Course Economics video #7.

Quick Looks at Great Books

Begin our last novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, by reading Chapters 1-14 and answering questions 1-34 in your new study guide. Observe the detailed use of “local color” throughout this section and watch for details of the historical time period. (during and after the Great Depression in the deep South).

Previous Assignments:

• 04/22/2019
• 04/15/2019
• 04/08/2019

Assignments due for the week of April 22nd, 2019

Practical Public Speaking

Great start on very “informative” speeches today! Make sure to be prepared to finish the Informative speeches next week. Also, be thinking about what you would like to do for your Demonstration speech and let me know in class.

Adventures in American Literature

We will finish our discussion of “The Outcasts of Poker Flat” next week. Continue analyzing Stephen Crane’s poetry on pages 130-135 and answer the questions given.

Read Jack London’s short story “To Build a Fire” (PDF).

If you prefer, you can also listen to “To Build a Fire”:

Answer the questions on page 136 in your notebook and be prepared for a quiz on the story.

Read the short story “After Twenty Years” by O. Henry on pages 137-139 in your notebook. Note the situational irony so typical of all of O. Henry’s stories. We will do page 140 together in class.

Read the two excerpts on satire. There is a selection from Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis on pages 149-150. Answer the three questions on page 151. Then read the modern selection by Erma Bombeck on pages 152 and 153 and answer the comparison questions on page 154.

No-Spin Economics

Great job on the review of Crash Course Lessons 1-6 today! Read Chapters 7-9 in Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? We will get a more in-depth look at inflation. I will give you review sheets from these chapters to study.

Also watch the Crash Course video #7—Inflation, Bubbles, and Tulips and complete the study guide you were given in class.

Quick Looks at Great Books

We will have a review game and final test on The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. Review by completing the Chronolog on page 13 of your study guide.

Make sure you have completed all the assigned terms in your Literary Terms notebook.

Watch the following video for historical background on our next novel—To Kill a Mockingbird.

Watch the following brief video on the life of author Harper Lee:

Previous Assignments

• 04/15/2019
• 04/08/2019