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NOVEMBER. 2009

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***WHEN you return to school NOV. 30, please staple your original poetry TW-- ("Convergence of the Twain")-- to a printed copy of your revision(s) that you have submitted to me online as e-mail attachments. Remember to print in gray-scale so you don't use up colored ink.

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I posted the category threads for AS I  LAY DYING over 2 weeks ago. Yet some people still haven't signed up--in both classes. We'll get into that book immediately after Thanksgiving. Most of this grading period has points connected to the editorial and the research paper, not much else. You also may have an AILD quiz right away-- You also will have to write a paper describing what you have learned from your thread. If you don't have a thread, the grade will be an automatic zero.

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OVER THANKSGIVING:: GET INSPIRED   & WRITE   STELLAR   POETRY!!!

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SIGN UP for the AS I  LAY  DYING (FAULKNER) THREADS on the General Page. (I showed this sign-up page in class on WED. Nov. 4th. Only Jason M. was absent. ) Everyone will have a discussion category but no presentations. You must be prepared to discuss if I call on you, and you may raise your hand to contribute some of the time. It won't be a race to see who can jabber the most though. =)

ORAL READING of parts of the book: I have room for 10 main characters and 3 smaller roles (Cora's daughters, some neighbors, the pharmacists, etc.). If you can sign up for a reading role that connects to your thread, that would be doubly helpful. You will read more closely if you are looking for something specific.

***NOTE: Enough people have signed up in both classes for the reading parts, but several slots are missing in 3rd period for the threads; 2 are missing in 2nd period)

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***NOTE about DISCUSSION GRADES, present and future: If your grade has been LOW, the reason may be because you did not say anything when called upon, OR you may have made some big mistake when you responded, OR you may have not had your book one day, OR you may have lagged in attention one day, OR you have may have committed multiple sins. If any of these things apply to you, you may be able to redeem yourself the next time we talk about a work in class, but start damage control early by being prepared. For the Cuckoo's Nest discussions, you were graded on your own responses. It's important to speak up if you know something... just to show you've read the book and can make connections. It's not okay to just ad-lib and utter badinage.

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***POETRY  DISTRICT CONTEST -- START CREATING POETRY for the contest. You will have 2 poems due BEFORE Christmas. Each time you move up to the next level, you will get an extra 100 test-grade points. If you're selected as school finalist, you'll receive another 100. If the school selects you to represent us in the district contest, you will get yet another 100.

Get in the mood by reading through poetry anthologies, either hard copies or online. Make some drafts, experimenting with style and form.

**Be careful about plagiarism. Anything copied from another source not only will get zeroes but the plagiarist will receive district penalty for a major infraction.

The 2 contest entries you create are required, not optional. Directions are on the contest page. I'll be adding some past student poems there periodically so you can see the varying styles that have placed in the past.

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@@@ RESEARCH PORTFOLIOTURN-IN POINTS--ANY TIME:

I'm also going to run the papers through a plagiarism search, so if you have copied from non-designated sources, BEWARE. Also, don't let the procrastination bug debilitate you. ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥ ¥

You will need a cover page(name, date, period, and title of your work). You should have all the critical material ready and set to go, highlighted clearly. You should have all drafts in your portfolios. We will NOT peer evaluate these papers in class!

If you have procrastinated and still don't have a decent focus, you may need to see a tutor. Reading the online sample paper would be helpful as well. Some of you haven't taken this project seriously, and we're already 500 points into it. Be careful if you want a decent grade this next 9 weeks!,

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OLD STUFF:

@@@@@@ CHANGE: The next RD will be due TUESDAY INSTEAD OF MONDAY. I could not get all these things done in one night. Also, the speaker came FRIDAY the 13th. We had a little confusion on the date. (Many of the ones I did still need much work for the final 500 points--100 for the Tues. RD and 400 for the final paper. Tuesday will be the last day for "early grade consideration.") What to do about a low grade? Put every ounce of your brain into the LAST drafts. **READ the sample paper again--download page--if you can't see the big picture of your plan, focus, and support.

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TERM PAPER?????????

*****Your first ROUGH DRAFT was due Thurs. Nov. 12. The last RD will be due, Nov. 17, and the final must be in before you leave for Thanksgiving break. If you need your portfolio back right away, let me know by e-mail. I will grade them in the order of requests received.

Did some of you forget to use the Noodle Tools or Citation Machine to check your WC page?

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SAS PATHWAYS REVISION INFORMATION & EDITING  OFFER by Michael Towles (3rd period) -- See the Announcement page. I have the URL there. E-mail me if you can't remember the password.

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Alexa U and Mark B, senior tutors, have used this revision tool for their papers and now are hooked. Contact them for tutoring help and advice on how to make the most of this valuable site.

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SYLLABUS   Week of NOV. 16

Monday--In-class practice poetry writing to help set the mood for the upcoming poetry contest entries.

Tuesday-- Timed Writing. Make up in advance if you'll be out. ****Absent: Casey H,

Your second ROUGH DRAFT will be due TODAY ***PUT PORTFOLIOS IN THE CART. This will be the LAST day to turn in your FINAL COPY for extra grade consideration. If you want this extra-grade consideration, put the portfolio in my black bag. Anything turned in the rest of the week will be graded stringently and probably won't be returned until after Thanksgiving break.

Wednesday--Rubric evaluation on Tuesday's essay.

Thursday-- **First look over the timed writings. REVISE and send to me online. NOTE: A half to 3/4 page of writing does not ever merit a 5, let alone a true upper-half essay.

Friday-- Bring As I Lay Dying for note purposes. Annotation time. TAKE notes! Class notes on Faulkner. MAYBE: Film of Faulkner short story similar to the novel. If you are absent today, get notes from a classmate. The final research update must be turned in (complete portfolio) before you leave for Thanksgiving break.

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AFTER THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS-- Class discussions will commence over your areas of the book *(I will call on you specifically). We'll have oral reading, so know your parts. You may have a quiz to test reading comprehension.

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Syllabus Week of November 30

Monday--TURN in essay revisions. Be ready to start the AILD work. You must have your book!! Number chapters, as instructed weeks ago.

***WHEN you return to school NOV. 30, please staple your original poetry TW-- ("Convergence of the Twain")-- to a printed copy of your revision(s) that you have submitted to me online as e-mail attachments. Remember to print in gray-scale so you don't use up colored ink.

Tuesday--AILD

Wednesday--AILD

Thursday--AILD

Friday--AILD

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OLDSTUFF:

PRELIMINARY RESEARCH PAPER   #3

I will not accept late papers for this project, and the work must be turned in within a PORTFOLIO. Please make sure you understand this.   DO NOT SEND PAPERS TO ME ONLINE. A portfolio cannot go through the Internet. If you don't come to school, make sure your portfolio does. We will spend the entire class period checking the progress, comparing this draft to the last one and offering final advice. The next turn-in point will the ROUGH DRAFT, hopefully an almost-finished version. ((I do NOT want to read jumbled JUNK this time, so I hope you've organized and thought through your paper well.)) Bring another PEER RUBRIC FORM so others will have a place to comment.

Use 12 FONT Times New Roman only. DOWNLOAD the Peer Check form online and put it in your portfolio for this day. Peers will check your work so far and offer suggestions. Then I will give you feedback to let you know the strengths and weaknesses so far. Please include your thesis/outline page and correct Works Cited page. Put COPIES OF CRITICAL SOURCES in this folder with anything used highlighted clearly.

**See the download sample paper and other documents. Use critical sources primarily from a library, not from the Internet! See the links to how to set up quotations correctly (one is at the very top of this page). Never start with a quotation. Introduct it and embed in your own sentence. Use a colon after an introductory statement of your own to present a longer quote, if necessary. Again, see the student sample paper so you know what I'm expecting.

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DUE OCTOBER 29th--PRELIMINARY PAPER #3, in folder--complete 
paper with thesis/outline page, embedded quotes, documentation, and Works 
Cited page. This paper will be peer-evaluated in class.   Number pages 
correctly.  The thesis/outline page is the first page, shown with your last 
name and the number 1.  The Works Cited page is your last paper.  Put your 
name and page number on EACH PAGE of the paper in the upper right-hand 
corner.  Make certain that you have made copies of all critical information 
and highlighted it clearly.

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CLASS   JOBS

CLASS JOBS—2^nd Period     **Take note of people in both classes who are willing to print out something for you if you have last-minute computer glitches.

Camila A.—Primary Social Worker/Liaison to 3^rd period.

Mark B.—Politico and online Tutor.

Dana W.—Event Planner and Class Organizer/Secretary as occasions arise.

Skyler K.—Maintenance Person.  He will repair, tote, search out trash, and lug for APE, Inc.

Britt G.—Sign-up Person.    Britt also will act as our resident musician for special occasions.  (Tunes from the muck, perhaps?).

Brittany C.—Tutor after school and online.  If you need (or if the Lang kids need help), they will post their e-mail and phone numbers.  If you need help, see them ASAP.  (Mon., Wed., and Fri., in my room after school, if scheduled.)  She also will work with people online by e-mail or IM.     Dana also offered to tutor (just need contact info and times available).  Alexa and Tammi-Jo volunteered from 3^rd period.

Justin N. and Jason M.—Technician and computer online helpers.  E-mail or call Matt if you have problems with your computer or web sites.

Joey W. and Jenna C.--Jacks to staple, pass out, collect, empty pencil sharpener, pick up trash, etc.

Amanda N.—Jack of All Trades and after-school Teacher Organizer.

Carley J. and Grace Y.—Writing Folder persons.

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CLASS JOBS—3^rd Period    **Take note of people in both classes who are willing to print out something for you if you have last-minute computer glitches.

Hannah P—Class Social Worker and Liaison with period 2.  She will help Camila compile an e-mail and phone list for everyone.  Politico for LHS.

Miranda  W. and Ben V.—Politicos for Harrison and Event Planners.

Alexa U.  and Tammi-Jo B.—Class Tutors.  They will work with students after school and online.  See them if you have problems.  (We will get their contact info posted)  Tammi-Jo also will continue to help me with Essential Question activities—or she may turn that over to Gretchen and Sarah.

Michael T.--Class helper for SAS Curriculum Pathways help (revision site).

Deann D.—E-mail motivator (will coordinate with Camila in sending out reminders and encouragement to both classes).  These 2 will help compile an e-mail list for all the Lit students (15 in 2^nd and 27 in 3^rd).

Gretchen S.  and Sarah A.—Class Secretaries/Teacher Organizers.  They will help me with attendance and keep track of files and lists from time to time.  They also may make last-minute copies for people and help me some after school.

Lorel S.  and Victoria H.—Folder Persons.

Danielle B. and Lena E.—Library/Resource People.  Will keep up with books and sign-out notebook.

Karlyne R.—Errand Person.  (back-up runner is Lena E).

Daniel C. and Cristina M—Class artists in charge of the bulletin boards.  Cristina may work with Monica and Katie K. on creating a Lit scrapbook.

Emily B. and Monica S—Classroom photographers.  You’ll submit your pictures to the artists and to the online tech people in 2^nd period (Justin N. and Jason M.).  Monica also will work on the scrapbook.

Joel G., Casey H., Katie K., and Kevin G.—Jacks of All Trade to load staplers, dump pencil sharpener, pass out and collect papers, and other helpful duties.  Katie also will work with Monica on the scrapbook.

Anna D.—After-school organizers, trash engineers, and hygienists.  

Mike F—Mr. Fix-it.  He will haul, lug, tote and repair for us.

Brooke W and Ashley H—Classroom Hygienic  Supply Persons.  Will wash down the grimy areas to keep us healthy, especially before class.

Danielle H--Door Greeter, board cleaner

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