April 30 - May 4

Here's what's on the agenda for the week:

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. More about the synthesis-style essay. Go over readings and annotations of Sources C, E, and F from the Science and Nature Packet. Read Source D together and discuss as a class. (6th period will do the Walden warm-up and take the Walden quiz, due to the lockdown last week.) View Source H together as a class.

Due: Please read and annotate Sources C, E, and F in the Science and Nature Packet. 

Continue with Independent Reading. You'll want to be finished with the second semester reading by May 13.

Homework: Please read and annotate Source G, "Test Tube Burgers" for Thursday/Friday. 

Have a rough thesis ready for Thursday/Friday.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day - read and annotate two opposing viewpoints. Discuss and debate, vote. Outline the majority opinion in a synthesis/ACT-style outline response based on the discussion. (NOTE: 6th period will write the Monday warm-up and practice with the words from Vocab 22.)

Due: n/a

Homework: (Same as Monday.)

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocab #22, grammar, and reading.  Whiparound activity with thesis statements for the sustainable foods essay. Write outlines and begin rough draft of essay on laptops in class, with individual help.  (NOTE: we will have less time on Friday because of an adjusted bell schedule for lip dub.)

Due: n/a

Homework: Full outline (in phrases) of Sustainable Foods essay due to Turnitin.com by Sunday, May 6th at 10:00 p.m. that includes the 3 required source material.

Walden Week!

Welcome to Walden Week! We'll discuss the short story "Admiral," enjoy excerpts from the highly influential and relevant book by Henry David Thoreau, and then begin working on the articles about U.S. food policy and sustainable foods.

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Discuss the short story "Admiral" by T.C. Boyle. Begin reading the Walden excerpt that contains 5 vocabulary words for the week. Listen to excerpts from Walden and enjoy an optional, extra credit coloring activity.

Due: Read "Admiral" by T.C. Boyle in the Science and Nature Packet.

Independent Reading Discussion Board post.

Homework for Thursday/Friday:
Finish reading Walden excerpt (if need be).

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Read sources and debate to what extent the government should require "green" practices.

Due: n/a

Homework: same as Monday.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Walden vocabulary and content. Walden discussion. Synthesis essay basics. Introduction to the Sustainable Foods articles and essay. View Peter Menzel's Hungry Planet photo essay as a class.


Due: Finish reading Walden excerpt from Science and Nature packet.

Homework: In the Science and Nature Packet, please read and annotate sources B, C, E, and F for the sustainable foods essay. Which arguments make sense? What are the factors that need to be taken into consideration when thinking about this issue? 

April 16 - 20

We just finished Gatsby; it's been a great experience reading this classic American story with you, and I'm looking forward to the discussions on Monday and Tuesday. This week, we'll have a journal check and enjoy the 2013 Gatsby movie. Juniors will take the CAST (Science) exam this Friday.


MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Gatsby discussion questions. Complete two of the questions by yourself, then share answers in small groups to one of them. Begin Gatsby movie. Turn in journals to the class bin by the end of the period. 

Due: Finish Gatsby (the rest of Chapter 8 and Chapter 9). Be prepared to discuss your impression of the ending, and the book as a whole. 

Have journals ready to turn in at the end of the period.

Continue reading independent reading book.

Homework: Please finish the Final Gatsby Questions assignment for Thursday/Friday. 

Read 25 pages in your independent reading book.

WEDNESDAY: Journal warm-up. Current event day - read and annotate two opposing viewpoints. Discuss and debate, vote. Outline the majority opinion in a synthesis/ACT-style outline response based on the discussion.

Due: n/a

Homework: same as Monday.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: Journal warm-up. Turn in Final Gatsby Questions assignment.  Quiz covering Vocab #21, grammar, and Gatsby reading. Finish Gatsby movie.  Receive Science and Nature Packet. (Note: for those taking the CAST during 4th period, you'll be excused from taking the quiz and will not need to make it up. Please turn in the Gatsby Questions, the library copy of The Great Gatsby, and pick up a Science and Nature Packet, though.)

Due:  Read 25 pages of your independent reading book. 

Final Gatsby Questions assignment. 

Library copy of The Great Gatsby to turn in. 

Homework: Read the modern short story "Admiral" at the end of the Science and Nature Packet and be ready to discus next class.

Please reply to the latest discussion board post on the Independent Reading Turnitin.com discussion board - due before next class. 

Continue reading your independent reading book. 

April 9 - 13

It's official! We have less than two months of school left before the school year is over, and you'll be seniors.  I hope everyone had a fun and relaxing break and is ready for a productive and lively 8 weeks until finals (!)  I'll go over the basic agenda for this last stretch of school on Monday.  I've been reading through it and thinking about it, and I'm excited to facilitate the discussions, debates, and group activities of these last weeks.

This week, we'll get to read and act out the very dramatic seventh chapter of The Great Gatsby, preview Kiss Me Kate (the school play), and take quiz #20.

MONDAY/TUESDAY: Journal warm-up. Overview of last 8 weeks. Argument: straw man fallacy, induction and deduction definitions and examples. Begin reading and acting out Gatsby, Chapter 7.

Due:
Please finish Gatsby Chapter 5, and read Gatsby Chapter 6.
 

If you're not caught up with independent reading, take the opportunity this week to relax and read a bit. We'll be working with the books, and writing about them after break. You should be up to about page 150 - 175 at this point.  If you're reading Omnivore's Dilemma, you'll want to read more for each reading assignment. 

The goal is to have the independent reading books read by May 13. 

Homework: Finish Chapter 7 of Gatsby. 

WEDNESDAY: Kiss Me Kate play preview. Journal warm-up. Income inequality reading and discussion - read excerpts from Nickel and Dimed. Is the American Dream still within reach for the working poor? What, if anything, should a society do to fight poverty?  

Due: n/a

Homework: same as Monday.

THURSDAY/FRIDAY: (Note: students whose last names are between Ko - Z in second period will be leaving class to take the CAST. Those students will receive a "n/a" as a score for the quiz - it won't help or hurt your grade.) Journal warm-up. Quiz covering Vocabulary #20, grammar, Gatsby reading.  Read and act out Chapter 8.

Due: Read the rest of Gatsby, Chapter 7.

Homework: Finish The Great Gatsby - please read the rest of Chapter 8 and Chapter 9.  Be ready to discuss the ending and your impressions of the book next week. 

Journals will be due at the end of next period, fyi.