10.12 - Final (Day 01)

Today we had the first part of our two part final. At the beginning of class, we reviewed the materials for finals and then everyone had the rest of the period to work on their final.

Final Materials

The final materials are available through the link above.
People may review and think about these materials in between our finals sessions.
No work from outside the classroom may be brought in to the final.
All final materials must stay in and be completed in our classroom.

Individuals who feel they will not be able to complete the final in two class periods may come in during the make up periods, at times when they have a study hall, or after school with advanced notice (especially if you are completing another final and then coming in).

06.09 - Reflection and Course Feedback

For today's class, we first had an activity in which people used activity cards to discuss the successes and challenges they experienced this year along with what they had for goals next year (directions from class below).

Next, everyone had time to incorporate their successes and goals from this year into their goal flags from the beginning of the year (directions below). There was also time for people to provide me with feedback on our course this year as a way to help me plan next year's course (link below).

English Course Feedback

 

 

06.06 - Bechdel Test

At the beginning of class today, we discussed individuals' favorite movies and what makes these movies a favorite movie. Next, we took a look at a comic by Allison Bechdel that lays out a way to look at the inclusion of women in movies (this comic can be seen here). Then, we looked at a YouTube video (see below) which further describes the Bechdel test and shows how it can be applied to movies.



We then returned to looking at the movies that people came up with as their favorite to see if any of them passed the Bechdel test (none of them did). We looked at how this doesn't mean these are bad movies (they're still good for all the reasons that people liked them), but that it does show that these movies don't reflect how women exist in the real world outside of movies. In bringing this back to The Hunger Games we discussed different ways that Suzanne Collins makes Katniss a real and complex character. This is the perspective that people should touch on in their discussion of Katniss in the "Katniss Everdeen - TV Star" writing.

Everyone had the rest of the period to work on this piece of writing. Upon finishing this, people could work on completing or revising any other assignments for the quarter. All work is due by 2:30 p.m. on Friday.

Homework:

If you have not finished reading The Hunger Games you will need to finish it by the time we have the final.

06.05 - Katniss Everdeen - TV Star

We started class today by returning to the work we began yesterday in looking at Katniss' interactions with other tributes in The Hunger Games. Individuals met with their partner to share the quotes they selected and their analysis regarding what it showed about Katniss.

When partners had exchanged their responses, people were able to move on to the writing assignment "Katniss Everdeen - TV Star" which looks at what Katniss communicates to the viewing TV audience through the ways she participates in the hunger games.

Everyone had the rest of the period to work on this writing. People who finished early were able to work on their reading and reading logs for The Hunger Games (the reading log for chapter 26 and 27 will be due tomorrow).

Handouts:

Katniss - TV Star and Battle Tested Tribute assignments

Hunger Games Reading Schedule (includes reading logs)
Reading Logs Folder (Google Drive folder with all reading logs)
If I photocopied your own set of characteristics and you need an extra copy, come check in with me.


Homework: 

If you did not do so today in class, finish your written response for "Katniss Everdeen - TV Star".

Read chapters 26-27 in The Hunger Games for Friday.

Complete a reading log on Katniss OR Peeta for chapters 26 & 27.
(For a 100, note characteristics for both Katniss and Peeta and then, in your discussion compare and contrast them in these chapters).

If you did not complete the creative writing activity, here are the resources to do so:
Author's Reflection/Statement
Creative Writing Tips
Hunger Games - Chapter 11 (writing prompt - 200 word minimum)

Complete any unfinished assignments.

Revise any assignments scoring below a 92.

     To see which assignments need to be completed or revised check out Pinnacle:
     In school: 192.168.8.7/Pinnacle/PIV
     Outside of school: http://pinweb.lisbonschoolsme.org/pinnacle/pin

06.04 - Katniss - Battle Tested Tribute

We started today's class with everyone responding to and then discussing the following prompt:

How does the dystopia of Panem compare to that of Anthem?

Discussion around this question lead us back into looking at Katniss as a hero within her dystopia. Previously, we had looked at the qualities Katniss possesses from growing up in District 12 and people have been keeping track of the characteristics she exhibits throughout the book. Today, we looked specifically at Katniss' interactions (often confrontations) with other tributes in the games and what those tell us about her.

For this work I gave everyone a copy of the sheet "Katniss - Battle Tested Tribute" which identifies a variety of people with whom Katniss interacts throughout the games (see handouts below). In class we looked at how to approach completing the sheet with everyone filling out the first example together (see below). Then, everyone began work with a partner, splitting the remaining twelve encounters into sets of six. One partner completes the first set and the other partner completes the second set. Everyone then had the rest of the period to work on these notes. If people finished early, they had the time to read in The Hunger Games and work on their reading logs.

Click Image to Enlarge

These responses all address the discussion portion well by talking about what the encounter tells us about Katniss. A 100-level response would be one that incorporates two or more of these ideas (so not just a "green" response but a "green" and "blue" response.

Handouts:

Katniss - Battle Tested Tribute

Hunger Games Reading Schedule (includes reading logs)
Reading Logs Folder (Google Drive folder with all reading logs)
If I photocopied your own set of characteristics and you need an extra copy, come check in with me.


Homework: 

If you did not do so today in class, finish your notes on the six encounters for the "Katniss - Battle Tested Tribute" assignment.

Read chapters 26-27 in The Hunger Games for Friday.

Complete a reading log on Katniss OR Peeta for chapters 26 & 27.
(For a 100, note characteristics for both Katniss and Peeta and then, in your discussion compare and contrast them in these chapters).

If you did not complete the creative writing activity, here are the resources to do so:
Author's Reflection/Statement
Creative Writing Tips
Hunger Games - Chapter 11 (writing prompt - 200 word minimum)

Complete any unfinished assignments.

Revise any assignments scoring below a 92.

     To see which assignments need to be completed or revised check out Pinnacle:
     In school: 192.168.8.7/Pinnacle/PIV
     Outside of school: http://pinweb.lisbonschoolsme.org/pinnacle/pin

06.03 - Television and Culture

At the beginning of class today, everyone responded to questions about the role that television plays in our lives. People answered these questions for themselves and then we had a concentric circles discussion where we discussed these topics with a partner. Next, everyone responded to the following writing prompt:

How significant is the role that television plays in our culture?
(How much does it effect us and in what ways).

Responses should be 75-100 words (more is never bad though)

Everyone then had the rest of the period to be reading in The Hunger Games and completing reading logs.

We will return to this idea of the role that TV plays in culture tomorrow.

Handouts:
Hunger Games Reading Schedule (includes reading logs)
Reading Logs Folder (Google Drive folder with all reading logs)
If I photocopied your own set of characteristics and you need an extra copy, come check in with me.


Homework:

Read chapters 26-27 in The Hunger Games for Friday.

Complete a reading log on Katniss OR Peeta for chapters 22-25.
(For a 100, note characteristics for both Katniss and Peeta and then, in your discussion compare and contrast them in these chapters).

If you did not complete the creative writing activity, here are the resources to do so:
Author's Reflection/Statement
Creative Writing Tips
Hunger Games - Chapter 11 (writing prompt - 200 word minimum)

Complete any unfinished assignments.

Revise any assignments scoring below a 92.

     To see which assignments need to be completed or revised check out Pinnacle:
     In school: 192.168.8.7/Pinnacle/PIV
     Outside of school: http://pinweb.lisbonschoolsme.org/pinnacle/pin

Final Due Date - Fri 6/06, 2:30 p.m.

All work is due this Friday, June 06 at 2:30 p.m.

Assignments on Google Drive have the same time requirement. I will be going by the time stamp on the document (i.e. before Friday at 2:30 p.m.)

This includes completing and revising assignments.

I am available after school from 2-3:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday to help people with their work. I will be available from 2-2:15 on Thursday and from 2-2:30 on Friday.

Please see me if you have any questions or need help.

06.02 - Grade Reports and Revision

At the beginning of class today, I handed out grade report sheets and returned assignments that were submitted last week.


In completing and revising work today, everyone was encouraged to focus on our recent work with creative writing and chapter 11 of The Hunger Games. This includes the fan-fiction version of chapter 11 and the author's reflection on that writing (see handouts below for extra copies). Feedback for these two assignments is as follows:

Click Image to Enlarge

Click Image to Enlarge

A reading log for chapters 22 - 25 is due tomorrow and the final reading log for chapters 26 and 27 will be due Friday. All work must be turned in by Friday at 2:30 p.m. No further assignments or revisions will be accepted after this time.


Everyone then had the rest of the period to work on completing and revising assignments as necessary as well as work on completing reading logs and reading for The Hunger Games.

Handouts:
Author's Reflection/Statement
Creative Writing Tips
Hunger Games - Chapter 11 (writing prompt - 150 word minimum)

Hunger Games Reading Schedule (includes reading logs)
Reading Logs Folder (Google Drive folder with all reading logs)
If I photocopied your own set of characteristics and you need an extra copy, come check in with me.


Homework:

If you did not do so in class, finish your polished version of chapter 11 in The Hunger Games and the author's reflection to go with it.

Read chapters 22-25 in The Hunger Games.

Complete a reading log on Katniss OR Peeta for chapters 22-25.
(For a 100, note characteristics for both Katniss and Peeta and then, in your discussion compare and contrast them in these chapters).

Complete any unfinished assignments.

Revise any assignments scoring below a 92.

     To see which assignments need to be completed or revised check out Pinnacle:
     In school: 192.168.8.7/Pinnacle/PIV
     Outside of school: http://pinweb.lisbonschoolsme.org/pinnacle/pin