Welcome to the '09 - '10 school year. This will be your source of class information.
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Monday, August 24
Letter to Parents / Suggestions for Success (Handout, signed slip due next class)
Biographical Essay Assignment - typed version due next class: (Uniqueness, Hopes and Expectations, Ideal English Class) 250 word minimum, Times Roman typeface, 12 pt. font, double or 1 1/2 spacing. Save on your USB drive.
Short story in large group: "Killings" by Andre Dubus - we got to the middle of page 12. Finish on your own for Wednesday.
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Thursday and Friday, August 20 and 21
Introductions
Biographical Pre-Writing (Uniqueness, Hopes and Expectations, Ideal English Class)
Letter to your future self
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Monday, May 4
Final Exam - PowerPoints in class
Essay on Courtroom 302 (extra credit unless your grade is 65% or lower) is due
Wednesday, May 6 by 12:00 noon.
Wednesday, May 6
Semester grades are posted on my door. Good luck, you guys.
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Monday, April 27
(Callison out sick)
- Computer Lab to work on PowerPoints
Wednesday, April 29
- Computer Lab; 1st PowerPoint presentations
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Monday, April 20
-The Handmaid's Tale (1990) to 1:35
- Journal 17 (three parts): 1)Who, if
anyone, has rights and liberties in the film? 2)Are the women in the film inferior to men? What power do they have? 3)Margaret Atwood (the author) has
argued that the potential exists for the type of society pictured in this
story. Be specific about what she
might mean, in your opinion.
Wednesday, April 22
-The Handmaid's Tale to end
Journal 17 / Journals due
- Sign up for your PowerPoint
- Last reading assignment from Courtroom 302 will be
Chapter Seven, "A Real Lawyer" (p.124-140). Questions from this chapter and from "Hellhole" article will be the objective section of your Final Exam.
Friday, April 24
- You need a thumb drive
- PowerPoints start Wednesday, the 29th (extra credit for presenting early)
- Courtroom 302 , Chapter Seven, "A Real Lawyer" (p.124-140) will be on your Final Exam.
- Computer Lab
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Monday, April 13
Due: from Chapter Six "Busted Again" Courtroom 302 (pages 107-123) you need to create four solid multiple-choice questions w/answers. Take them from throughout the chapter, and don't include any "gimmes" or ridiculously easy questions.
Handout: "Hell Hole: the U.S. holds tens of thousands of inmates in long-term solitary confinement. Is this torture?" For Weds., be able to answer these questions:
-Define torture. Your source?
-Has this definition changed in the last decade?
-Know who Terry Anderson, Bobby Dellelo and Robert Felton are.
-Be clear on how England has been approaching the solitary confinement issue,
and if they are having success with it.
Wednesday, April 15
-Quiz on "Hellhole" handout
-Details on PowerPoint Assignment given
-The Handmaid's Tale (1990) to :33
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Monday and Tuesday April 6 and 7 were testing days for the Juniors
Wednesday, April 8 (abbreviated day)
- did not get to questions from "Baggage" in Courtroom 302 (pages 58-71)
-The Thin Blue Line (1988) to end; notes and six questions due
- Read Chapter Six "Busted Again" Courtroom 302 (pages 107-123) for Monday
Friday, April 10 - no classes - Vernal Holiday
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Week Six of Six Week Grading Period
Monday, March 30
-from Courtroom 302: two questions as reading check on pages 1-39
-Read through p. 58
-Three questions for Wednesday from p. 40-58
Wednesday, April 1
-Notecard assignment on handout: "Civil and Criminal Cases: The Differences"
-Read "Baggage" in Courtroom 302 (pages 58-71)
-The Thin Blue Line (1988) to 16 minutes in
-Cyberstalking presentation tomorrow, 9am, Lecture Hall
Friday, April 3
-Cyberstalking presentation discussion; notes due if you attended
-The Thin Blue Line (1988) almost to end
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Week Five of Six Week Grading Period
Monday, March 16
- Get a stamp on your Journal 16 for credit
- Notecards back / death penalty discussion
- Anton Chekhov's "The Bet"; Study Questions due end of period
Wednesday, March 18
-Discussion of "The Bet"
-Bookroom for Courtroom 302
-Read to page 40 for Monday, the 30th
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Week Four of Six Week Grading Period
Monday, March 9:
Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" out loud in class;
Questions on a notecard due
Wednesday, March 11:
(Callison out)
- Dead Man Walking to 1:20 mark
Friday, March 13:
- Dead Man Walking to end
- Notecard assignment for movie reaction turned in
- Journal 16:
"I just want to say I think killing is wrong - no matter who does it. Whether it's me, or y'all, or your government." (Mathew Poncelet) Do you agree? Disagree? Why? In which cases is the death penalty appropriate? Is it ever?
*Complete over the weekend, and get a stamp Monday
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Week Three of Six Week Grading Period
Monday, March 2:
- Due: Two different examples of numbers given on genocides larger than the Holocaust. Be sure to cite sources - bring URL's
-Title story, The Things They Carried. Five study questions due today
- Journals 11-15 will be due Wednesday
- Handout: Study Questions for Chapters Four and Seven
Wednesday, March 4
- Journal 15: (references "How To Tell A True War Story")
Do you agree with O'Brien's idea of "the real truth"?
A "true war story"?
Can fiction reveal things that factual history can't? What?
How does this idea connect to the Maus books?
- Journals 11-15 due w/ self-score
HOMEWORK DUE: Bring two different examples of numbers given on genocides larger than the Holocaust. Be sure to cite sources - bring URL's
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Week Two of Six Week Grading Period
Monday February 23:
- Journal 14:
Four parts: plans for next year, expectations for college writing, etc.
Share-Out of Journal entries
- Book Room for The Things They Carried
- Handout: 'Genocide Remains a Current Event' (not covered)
Wednesday, February 25:
-What makes a legitimate source on the Internet?
HOMEWORK: for Monday bring two different examples of numbers given on genocides larger than the Holocaust. Be sure to cite sources - bring URL's
-title story, The Things They Carried. Five study questions due Monday
Next Step day - no classes scheduled
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Week One of Second Six Week Grading Period
Wednesday, February 18:
-Create four solid questions (with answers) for Chapter 3 of Maus II , three for Chapter Four, and two for Chapter Five. Due at end of class.
-Quiz over all of Maus I and II Friday
Friday, February 20:
-Five Question Opinion and Knowledge Survey on
The Complete Maus, Schindler's List, genocide
-intro to The Wire
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Week Six - End of Six Week Grading Period
Monday, February 9
-Journal Thirteen Part One: Why did Schindler do it? Part Two: character study of Amon Goeth -Maus II reading time - be through Chapter Two for Wednesday
-Answer Questions 2, 3, and 5 from the 'Schindler' packet (page 24)
Wednesday, February 11:
-Questions 2, 3, and 5 from the 'Schindler' packet (page 24) are due
-Create four solid questions (with answers) for Chapter One of Maus II and four for Chapter Two
-Finish reading Maus II by Wednesday, the 18th
Friday the 13th is a "B" day
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(Week Five, Term One, Semester Two)
Monday, February 2
-Maus Study Questions on Chapters 4, 5, and 6 are due
- Handout (read half for Wednesday) the Schindler's List Teaching Guide
-Schindler's List, cont. Your notes should be focused on the behavior of the characters
Itzak Stern, Oskar Schindler, and Amon Goeth.
Liam Neeson as Oskar Schindler, Ben Kingsley as Itzak Stern
Ralph Fiennes as Amon Goeth,
Schindler's List
Wednesday, February 4
- Your notes focused on the behavior of the characters Itzak Stern, Oskar Schindler, and
Amon Goeth are due, along with your questions about the film.
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Schindler's List 
to about :40 from end
- Handout: finish reading the Schindler's List Teaching Guide for Quiz Friday
Friday, February 6
-Book Room for Maus II
-Be sure you've read the Schindler's List Teaching Guide for Monday
-Schindler's List, to end. Notecard assignment on your impressions collected.
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(Week Four, Term One, Semester Two)
Monday, January 26:
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Study Questions for Chapters 2 and 3 in Maus are due
-Holocaust Q and A; some notes
Wednesday, January 28
-In-class reading time
-Journal Twelve off PowerPoint:
Why might people choose to act or to be silent?
What is at stake when someone speaks out against a dominant cultural movement?
Pastor Niemoller wrote:
"First they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew..."
What does this quote mean?
-Study Questions for Chapters 4,5 and 6 in Maus are due Monday
-Schindler's List
to about :25
Friday, January 30 is a "B" day
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(third week of second semester)
Monday, January 19 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - No Classes
Wednesday, January 21:
-12 Angry Men re-cap;
- Journal Eleven: describe the process the jury goes through in 12 Angry Men
- Maus intro, Chapters 1 and 2
Friday, January 23
-Study Questions for Chapters 2 and 3 in Maus are due Monday
-Read through Chapter 4, also for Monday
-Notecard w/ facts about the Holocaust on one side, questions on the other is due
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(second week of second semester)
Monday, January 12:
-10 Study Questions for "Suffering Souls" due
-Bookroom for Maus
- First 31 minutes of 12 Angry Men
Tuesday, January 13 - NM State Competency Exam - No Classes
Wednesday, January 14:
- We self-scored ourselves on the Psychopathy Checklist
- 12 Angry Men to end
-HOMEWORK: Read through Chapter One of Maus, at minimum
Thursday, January 15 - "B" Day
Friday, January 16 - Cluster In-Service Day - No Classes
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SECOND SEMESTER
Monday, January 5:
-Journals, Essays and Finals returned
-(handout) "Let's End Drug Prohibition"
-Fishbowl practice (participation grade)
Wednesday, January 7:
-Handout: "Suffering Souls" (The search for the roots of psychopathy)
-10 Study Questions are homework, due Monday
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Monday, December 15:
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'Stranger' Study Questions from Part Two, continued. Questions 6,7,9,10 and 13 are due in written form.
-Multiple Choice Quiz on The Stranger
-Preview of Essay Questions for Final Exam
Friday, December 19: Final Exam 8:50-10:20 am
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Last day of First Semester is December 16; Finals are Dec. 17-19
Monday, December 8:
-Make sure you bring your copy of The Stranger to class today
-A Clockwork Orange to end; notes due
-Journal Nine: "...by definition, a human being is endowed with free will. He can use this to choose between good and evil. ...It is as inhuman to be totally good as it is to be totally evil. The important thing is moral choice." -Anthony Burgess, from the preface
Wednesday, December 10
Class definition, Existentialism: 20th century philosophy - analyzes individual's existence - free will is responsibility without distinction of right and wrong; used to make personal decision(s).
Journal Ten:
-from The Stranger :An essential quote from each Chapter in Part One (1-6),
with your explanation of why it's central to that chapter (and to the book).
-Journals will be due Friday, and once again worth 200 points
Friday, December 12:
**You need to be done reading The Stranger by Monday the 15th**
-Journals 6-10 Due (self-scored out of 200 points)
-Class Questions on The Stranger dicussed, along w/PowerPoint Study Q's from Part One
-1st Seven Study Q's From Part Two given
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* Week Five of Six Week Grading Period *
Monday, December 1:
Bring your IDs Weds. to get your copy of The Stranger
Film version A Clockwork Orange to 1:10 point
Notes should touch on:
1.) Does the film glamorize violence in your opinion?
2.) What are the major differences between the book and the movie?
3.) What do you notice about the visual style of the film?
Wednesday, December 3:
-*Revised Essays Due* with earlier draft and detailed, self-scored rubric attached
-Book Room for The Stranger by Albert Camus
-film version 'Orange' to 1:50
-Quiz on 'Orange' on Monday
Homework: Read Chapters 1,2,3 in The Stranger and know basic definitions for:
-Colonialism
-Existentialism
-French Algeria (where the novel takes place)
Friday, December 5 is a "B" day 
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Monday, November 24:
-Essay Drafts: (Second Drafts are due Wednesday, December 3)
1.) Get a Stamp (credit for having your draft on time)
2.) Due: a full-page Classmate Assist, following the Rubric format
-got that film permission slip taken care of?
-Beethoven's Ninth Symphony
-Journal Eight:
What is the significance of music in A Clockwork Orange?
Describe and quote from at least three scenes where music is an important plot element. Give page numbers and choose your own examples.What is the significance of music in A Clockwork Orange?
Wednesday, November 26:
-Monday is the last day to turn in film permission slip; Essays are due Wednesday
-Re-cap of Part Three
-Notecard assignment / reading check
-"A Clockwork Orange Resucked"
Thursday and Friday, November 27 and 28 - Thanksgiving Break
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Monday, November 17:
-more conferences w/students regarding narrowed essay topics
Journal Seven: from A Clockwork Orange :An essential quote from each Chapter in Part Two
(1-7), with your explanation of why it's central to that chapter and the book
-Typed drafts (with sources) of Essays are due next Monday, the 24th
Wednesday, November 19:
-Two handouts on footnoting
-Journal Check
-Roundtable, student-led discussion on Part Two of 'Orange'
-signature sheets for R-rated films sent with students - return ASAP
HOMEWORK: read the first two chapters of Part Three
Friday, November 21:
-Typed drafts (with sources) of Essays are due this Monday, the 24th
-got that film permission slip taken care of?
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Monday, November 10:
-Two paragraphs exploring two of your possible essay choices are due; individual conferences to narrow your choice
-Journal Six, Part Two: from A Clockwork Orange :An essential quote from each chapter
(3-7), with your explanation of why it's central to that chapter and the book
Tuesday, November 11: Veteran's Day - No School
Wednesday, November 12:
-Get a stamp on your Journal Six
-Share-out of Journal Six
-Firm up that essay topic
-Part Two, Chapter One in 'Orange'
-A malenky quiz (thirteen questions, multiple choice)
*Homework* Read through Part Two in Clockwork Orange for Monday, the 17th
-Thursday and Friday are "B" days
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scene from Stanley Kubrick's 1971 film version of A Clockwork Orange
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Monday, November 3:
A Clockwork Orange
Journal Six: (Part One) Summary of two 'Clockwork' handouts
-Part Two yet to be assigned
Tuesday, November 4: Election Day - No School
Wednesday, November 5:
-quick 'Clockwork' reading check
-Brainstorming topics (to be self-selected) for upcoming essay(Rubric as handout)
The essay subject choice is yours, as long as it is a legal issue, is something you are interested in,
and is approved by me
-onward w/ A Clockwork Orange
Homework: read through Part One, Chapter Seven for Monday
-also, bring two paragraphs exploring two of your possible essay choices
-Thursday and Friday are "B" days-
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Week Six of the Second Six-Week Grading Period; Grading Period Ends Nov. 3
Monday, October 27:
-Book Room for A Clockwork Orange
-Hamlet Famous Lines Assignment, including scoring sheet for all of your classmates
Wednesday, October 29:
-Hamlet Famous Lines Assignment completed; scoring sheet for all classmates is due
-(handout) Intro to A Clockwork Orange
-Homework: Chapter One in 'Orange'
Friday, October 31
Next Step Day - No Classes Scheduled
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(Week Five of the Second Six-Week Grading Period; Grading Period Ends Nov. 3
Monday, October 20:
-Signup for Hamlet Famous Lines Assignment
-Hamlet 1996 film version to end / notes and 15 Questions due
-Bring Next Step choice parent letters
Wednesday, Oct. 22:
Famous Lines Assignment warmup - ex. credit if you go Friday
Review for Hamlet Exam, which is also Friday
Grade for Next Step letters being returned
Friday, Oct. 24:
-50 question multiple-choice Hamlet Exam
-Grade for Next Step letters being returned
-Hamlet, 1990 version virtually to end
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(Week Four of the Second Six-Week Grading Period)
Monday, October 13:
-Famous Lines Assignment details given; have your section chosen for Monday the 20th
-Hamlet from 2:21 in on Part One to :29 in on Part Two (to end Act IV)
-Next Step letters given to students whose last names are A-S; please have your folks get in touch with me as soon as possible
Wednesday, October 15 (PSAT testing in morning, 30-minute classes in afternoon) No new material presented
Thursday, October 16 - Teacher Training - No School for students
Friday, October 17 (A "B" Day)
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(Week Three of the Second Six Week Grading Period)
Monday, October 6:
-Journal 5: Three Parts
1. Marcellus senses that “something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”
How can an entire country be so identified with the death, even the murder, of one man?
2. Relate Hamlet’s need for vengeance to his words,
“The time is out of joint.
Oh, cursed spite /
That ever I was born to set it right!”
3. Using your conclusions to the first two questions, summarize and describe the overall purpose of Act I.
-200 words combined total
(minimum) for entry-
-Journals Due
-(1996) Hamlet to 1:19
Wednesday, October 8
-Famous Lines Assignment intro.
-Hamlet Act II to (very near) end Act III (scene IV, line 175)
2:21 mark in film
Friday, October 10
Fall Break - No School
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| William Shakespeare (1564-1616) |
(Week Two of the Second Six Week Grading Period)
Monday, September 29:
-15 Questions from Act One, Hamlet done in-class
- Homework is to read to end of Act Two for Wednesday; Quiz at beginning of class
- We watched the first 18 min of the 1990 film version of Hamlet
Wednesday, October 1:
-Quiz on Act II, Hamlet
-Onward with 1990 film version
Friday, October 3:
-A more thorough introduction to William Shakespeare and Hamlet (PowerPoint)
Definitions of blank verse, iambic pentameter, etc.
-Read/Watch of 1996 film version, which follows the play word-for-word
Act I notes due at end of period
Kenneth Branagh in the 1996 film version of Hamlet
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(Week One of the Second Six Week Grading Period)
Monday, September 22:
-Questions and Answers on The Corporation are due, hard copy and electronic version
-Book Room for Hamlet
-"Shakespeare and Me" notecard assignment
-In-class reading of short story by Andre Dubus: "Killings."
Wednesday, September 24:
Journal #4: Imagine events five years after the story "Killings" ends. Describe how life is now from the perspective of Matt Fowler, Mary Ann Strout, and / or Willis Trottier.
Intro / Beginning: Hamlet
Homework: read up to end of Act 1 in Hamlet.
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(Week Six of the Six Week Grading Period)
Monday, September 15
-feedback on The Corporation collected
-Journal #3:
1. Which parts of The Oresteia translate / carry over to the 21st century?
2. Are our ideas of justice more like Athena’s or the Furies?
3. Is our court system “fair”?
Give examples and argue both pro and con.
-The Corporation, continued
Wednesday, Sept.17
Oresteia quizzes handed back; Test is Friday. A dozen new questions given verbally for you to study.
Here are the guidelines for the questions you will be coming up with for The Corporation:
You need:
-Four multiple choice questions, with four possible answers (A-D) for each.
-Two true/false questions
-Two short answer (fill-in blank) q’s - these will be due Monday, the 22nd. To get full credit for your questions, you need to bring them on your thumb drive as a Word document, along with a hard copy.
We watched up to the 1:09 point in the film, and will finish it Friday.
Friday, Sept. 19
-25 Question scantron test on Acts 1 and III, The Oresteia
-Finished The Corporation - Your questions and answers (see above) are due Monday the 22nd; don't forget your Word version on your thumb drive. Q's and A's are worth 100 points, and the electronic version is worth an additional 30.
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(Week Five of the Six Week Grading Period)
Monday, September 8
-Act II Study Questions
- In-class reading of The Oresteia, up to page 76
Wednesday, September 10
Finished in-class reading of
The Oresteia
Finished Study Questions on Acts II and III
A short quiz on Act III
Funeral Pyre
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Week of Sept. 1-5 (Week Four)
Monday, Sept 1 - Labor Day Holiday
Wednesday, September 3
In-class reading of The Oresteia up to Act III (page 65)
Friday, September 5
Quiz on Agamemnon (Act 1 of The Oresteian Trilogy)
Journal #2: (Two Parts)
a. How sympathetic a character is Clytemnestra?
b. Should we applaud or condemn her husband's murder?
(argue both sides)
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Week of Aug. 25-29 (Week Three)
Monday, Aug. 25
Mr. Parnell was kind enough to come in and lecture on background and context for
The Oresteia;
not all students lasted the whole period in class
Journal #1: Give an example of revenge from your own experience/observation - it need not be on the order of a felony. If this situation did end up in court, please describe those results. All Journal entries should be 200 words minimum, with a word count at top.
Further Oresteia notes taken from PowerPoint
Wednesday, 27th
In-class reading of The Oresteia
Friday, 29th
Callison out; sub showed the first half of The Corporation
Clytemnestra Aeschylus
Week of Aug. 18-22 (Second week of school)
Monday, August 18
We did more complete introductions as the class is still growing. Homework (emailing me, and the four questions connected to Greek Tragedy) was collected and graded. If you didn't get it to me, do an extra complete job and turn it in Wednesday for partial credit.
Wednesday, August 20
The Oresteia, Aeschylus - intro notes were taken, and we read to the bottom of page 39 in the handouts of the play.
Friday, the 22nd was a "B" day
Week of Aug. 12-15 (First week of school)
Wednesday, August 13
I went over the reading list for the class, and talked about the general idea of this alternative to English 12. I asked that class members write me a short intro/ bio. pce to give me an idea of who you are and why you signed up for this class.
Friday, August 15
We broke down the article titled "The Face of Evil" as a jigsaw, that is into sections. The written requirement was a short summary of your section, and then your reaction / the implications of the piece.
You have homework - Get a Composition Book, send me an email off this site, with your name and period # as the title, and on a legitimate site look up these four things: 1) Greek Tragedy as a genre. 2) The function of the Chorus in Greek Tragedy. 3) Have some biographical info on the writer Aeschylus. 4) We will be reading "The Oresteia" by Aeschylus first - get a little background on it.