Assignments:
1/28: We've started reading American Born Chinese and will have several related assignments. First is a hero's journey chart for the main characters: Jin, Danny, and the Monkey King. There is a question packet to check comprehension and a writing packet for deeper discussion.
1/22: Last date to turn in hero editing assignment, workshop paper with Wagner. We are workshopping these papers because it is more helpful to students to get real-time feedback. This counts as an assignment. Students who do not turn in the final draft on the due date should expect to come in during tutorial to workshop. Students who get their papers workshopped early may finish missing work, work on Honors assignments, or begin reading our next book, American Born Chinese.
1/11-12: Final drafts of hero papers due.
12/16: Hero packets due. Huge.
11/20: Odyssey test. Also, starting the hero paper!!!
11/13 update: We have spent the last two days reading The Odyssey graphic novel. Due to copyright restrictions, I can't post a link here. But if you have missed class, please give me your gmail address and I will share a PDF of the book with you. You need to be done with the reading by Monday/Tuesday 11/16-11/17. We are going to start our HERO papers!!!
Work in progress starting 11/3: Odyssey study guide and background notes
We watched Crash Course Odyssey and took notes on our study guides. These notes will become the basis for part of the final test. We also read about Aphrodite and Helen, and compared a brief graphic novel section of the Iliad with the epic poetry version. See downloads.
Due 10/28: Graphic Novel Introduction
Take notes on the elements of a graphic novel. Terms and assignment can be found in downloads.
Due 10/19-10/20: Perfect Paper Packet
Choose one of your descriptive papers and create a final draft. Avoid the following grammar mistakes: you're, your; their, they're, there; its, it's; a lot, capitalize I. Use at least one deep editing technique (detailed on Powerpoint - see downloads). Type it and turn it in in a packet that includes grammar notes, notes on classmates' papers (we will be sharing), and drafts of all the other papers.
Due 10/7-10/8: Smell Paper
Describe 1-3 places you would know just by their smell alone; i.e., if you walked in blindfolded and with headphones on, you would still know you were in ____________ because of the smell. 1 page. Brainstorm, article, no peer review.
Due 9/29-2/30: Pain Paper
Tell a descriptive story about a time you or someone you know got hurt. Your objective is to make me go "EW!" as I read it. Describe the setting, people involved, what happened leading up to it, and what happened after. Brainstorm, article, peer review.
Due 9/17-9/18: Music Paper
Choose 1-4 songs that really affect you personally. Imagine your best friend had been deaf her/his whole life. Which song should they listen to first and why? Listen to the song as many times as you need to; describe what the song does, how it makes you feel, and why it's an important song for your friend to hear. Use good verbs (The drums crash and thump their beat right into your brain). Brainstorm, article, peer review.
Due 9/11-9/14: Color Paper
Pick a color and try to describe it to a blind person in terms of sound, taste, touch, smell, and emotion. Use similes (Blue tastes like soft serve ice cream after you've been swimming on a hot summer day). Brainstorm and peer review.
1/28: We've started reading American Born Chinese and will have several related assignments. First is a hero's journey chart for the main characters: Jin, Danny, and the Monkey King. There is a question packet to check comprehension and a writing packet for deeper discussion.
1/22: Last date to turn in hero editing assignment, workshop paper with Wagner. We are workshopping these papers because it is more helpful to students to get real-time feedback. This counts as an assignment. Students who do not turn in the final draft on the due date should expect to come in during tutorial to workshop. Students who get their papers workshopped early may finish missing work, work on Honors assignments, or begin reading our next book, American Born Chinese.
1/11-12: Final drafts of hero papers due.
12/16: Hero packets due. Huge.
11/20: Odyssey test. Also, starting the hero paper!!!
11/13 update: We have spent the last two days reading The Odyssey graphic novel. Due to copyright restrictions, I can't post a link here. But if you have missed class, please give me your gmail address and I will share a PDF of the book with you. You need to be done with the reading by Monday/Tuesday 11/16-11/17. We are going to start our HERO papers!!!
Work in progress starting 11/3: Odyssey study guide and background notes
We watched Crash Course Odyssey and took notes on our study guides. These notes will become the basis for part of the final test. We also read about Aphrodite and Helen, and compared a brief graphic novel section of the Iliad with the epic poetry version. See downloads.
Due 10/28: Graphic Novel Introduction
Take notes on the elements of a graphic novel. Terms and assignment can be found in downloads.
Due 10/19-10/20: Perfect Paper Packet
Choose one of your descriptive papers and create a final draft. Avoid the following grammar mistakes: you're, your; their, they're, there; its, it's; a lot, capitalize I. Use at least one deep editing technique (detailed on Powerpoint - see downloads). Type it and turn it in in a packet that includes grammar notes, notes on classmates' papers (we will be sharing), and drafts of all the other papers.
Due 10/7-10/8: Smell Paper
Describe 1-3 places you would know just by their smell alone; i.e., if you walked in blindfolded and with headphones on, you would still know you were in ____________ because of the smell. 1 page. Brainstorm, article, no peer review.
Due 9/29-2/30: Pain Paper
Tell a descriptive story about a time you or someone you know got hurt. Your objective is to make me go "EW!" as I read it. Describe the setting, people involved, what happened leading up to it, and what happened after. Brainstorm, article, peer review.
Due 9/17-9/18: Music Paper
Choose 1-4 songs that really affect you personally. Imagine your best friend had been deaf her/his whole life. Which song should they listen to first and why? Listen to the song as many times as you need to; describe what the song does, how it makes you feel, and why it's an important song for your friend to hear. Use good verbs (The drums crash and thump their beat right into your brain). Brainstorm, article, peer review.
Due 9/11-9/14: Color Paper
Pick a color and try to describe it to a blind person in terms of sound, taste, touch, smell, and emotion. Use similes (Blue tastes like soft serve ice cream after you've been swimming on a hot summer day). Brainstorm and peer review.