Tuesday, May 20, 2014

How to Write an Abstract

Please click on the link to discover the power of writing an abstract

Please pay particular attention to the Checklist and Other Considerations sections



When it is time to email your project out into the world:




Friday, May 16, 2014

Presentation Etiquette

There are 8 elements to consider when creating a presentation:

  1. Be consistent 
  2. Use contrast effectively
  3. Use color appropriately 
  4. KISS
  5. Have a "Take Home Message"
  6. Do not go crazy with images
  7. Do not do anything childish/immature/"funny"
  8. Know your audience 







Compiling your Proposal


Counter Arguments


Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Planning your Final--Using Rhetorical Appeals

Please watch the video below to review the Rhetorical Appeals and how you will need to incorporate them into your project.

Now that you have reviewed the video, go to the "Final Project Planning" document in your Drive and begin planning out the specifics of your final.

Example


Monday, May 12, 2014

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Tuesday is just better than Monday

Thank you for taking the time to help yourself be successful.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

May Day

Enjoy the following Quiz. Your Welcome!


Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Wednesday 4.30--Video for Research Checklist and Tracker

Please watch the video below.  When you are done, you need to complete:

--Checklist of research needs (hard copy and electronic)
--Research Tracker (in your Drive)

You need to be completing the research you will need for your project.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Friday, April 25, 2014

Student-Led Research Project Day One

Below you will find the important details and resources for this project.

What are you doing?

You will be creating a driving question around something you would like to see changed in GVR, Montbello, or Denver.  You will then research how to implement your ideas and who to get your ideas to.  Finally, you will share your work with that person or group in order to try and get your suggested change enacted.

Why are we doing this:

A large number (66%) of you said that participation was down in class because: you're bored, you feel like it doesn't apply, or you don't care.  This is your chance to pick something that you are interested in.  If you are bored and disinterested in this project, the blame lays with you.  This is your topic; this is what you want to change; this is about your neighborhood or school.



Driving Question Generator

You must have a driving question for this project that has a component from each column:









Proposal Letter Sample

Your proposal letter should be in this format.  Your final letter will be due: 4.28.14

Trouble Viewing?  Click Here

April 25, 2014

Please complete the following quiz. Thank you.

Thursday, April 24, 2014

Friday, April 18, 2014

April 18, 2014

Please complete the following quiz.  Thank you.


Thursday, April 17, 2014

Tim Wise Video- Culture of Power

Questions to Consider as you watch

1. Why is it that people of color are not taken seriously when talking about race?


2. Is race still a determining factor in a person's success in life? IOW, is race still an issue? If so, why?


3. What is White Denial?

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Example Outline with George Wilson

The 1920’s American society was focused on what you had or your possessions rather than your contribution to society.  In a well developed essay, analyze a character’s response to the influences of money.  Analyze how the characters identity is impacted by their financial standing. How is this theme still relevant today?


Money plays an important role in our everyday lives.  In 1920s America, society focused on what you had or your possessions rather than your contributions to society.  This is not to far off from today.  Society still tends to be money driven rather than focused on applauding people for their contributions.  The media focuses on people’s wealth and what famous people are doing rather than highlighting individuals who are actually helping the community.  F. Scott Fitzgerald’s, The Great Gatsby depicts the evils of money and wealth.  Fitzgerald’s shows this through his character George Wilson.  Wilson symbolizes the struggling lower middle class Americans during the 1920s.  His lack of wealth eventually drove him to his demise. Through this character, Fitzgerald is showing the immoral values of Americans.


  • Use quotes from Ch. 2, 7, 8 to show his downfall into becoming so angry or distraught that he kills himself and Gatsby because he felt he needed to save some sort of dignity.
    • His unsuccessful relationship with Myrtle.
    • lack of friends/social life
    • The failed American Dream?
  • Media shows when a celebrity adopts a baby or donates money but doesn’t show the people who dedicate their lives to helping others.  
    • Ex. Angelina Jolie, people who work in homeless shelters, people who are fighting for gay marriage, etc.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Gatsby Paper


PAPER DUE 3. 30.14

Essential Question: How does money influence one's identity?

ESSAY PROMPT: The 1920’s American society was focused on what you had or your possessions rather than your contribution to society. In a well developed essay, analyze a character’s response to the influences of money. Analyze how the character's identity is impacted by their financial standing. How is this theme still relevant today?

Thursday, March 13, 2014

March 13, 2014

Preparation for 3.14.2014

Read Ch.4

Tomorrow we will have a Socratic Seminar focusing on the Ch. 3 & 4


Socratic Seminar opening questions:

1) Why does Fitzgerald choose to highlight this specific class of the 1920s?

2) Do you agree that nick is honest and Nonjudgemental? Can you call yourself honest and nonjudgemental?

3) Is Nick a trustworthy narrator?

4) "There are only the pursued, the pursuing, the busy and the tired" (pg 78). Why do you think Nick repeats this over and over? What do you think it means? What does it say about his lifestyle and the people who he hangs out with?

Sunday, March 9, 2014

March 9, 2014

As you read "The Great Gatsby" chapter 2 &3 please read to understand the significance of the following:

Chapter 2

  1. Tom's New York city apartment
  2. What Mr. Wilson wants/needs from Tom
  3. The Valley of Ashes
  4. The eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg 
    1. These eyes represent most clearly a God figure, specifically to George Wilson. They also represent a moral judge of society.  As the story progresses you will learn how Mr. Wilson is slightly mentally unstable. 
Chapter 3

  1. Nick' connection to Gatsby
  2. The rumors surrounding who Gatsby really is and how he got his money
  3. Gatsby's behavior and presence during his parties

Thursday, March 6, 2014

March 5, 2013

Read Chapter One of The Great Gatsby

You're looking at the characterizations of the main characters, as well as the setting of the story.

Here is a link to help you with looking at characterization: Click Here

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

March 4, 2014--Old Money v. New Money

Complete this chart in your notes

An important idea that plays out in The Great Gatsby is the interplay between "Old Money" and "New Money."  Today's goal is to gather and discuss your ideas about Old Money and New Money.


Monday, March 3, 2014

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Unit 5 Essay Minutae

Watch the video below and ace the quiz!

Also, remember that you have an outline due tomorrow.



Saturday, February 15, 2014

February 15, 2014

Please watch the following video and complete the Quiz

Do not forget to do the reading of Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper".

Remember that we will also have a Mid Unit Assessment on Wednesday 2.19.14 where we will be covering the following:

Irony, Dialect, Diction, Theme, Plot, Characterization, Point of View, Grammar (Commas, Independent Clauses, Dependent Clauses, Subject/Verb, Coordinating Conjunctions, etc)


Friday, February 14, 2014

Today's Meet Links for Gilman, "The Yellow Wall Paper"

Use this site to ask questions you want discussed in the next class.

Remember to use your number or your name to post your question so we can track your participation and give you a grade.


Ms. Williams' 3rd Period: http://today.io/kx6v
Ms. Williams' 4th Period: http://today.io/kx6w

Mr. Smith's 3rd Period: http://today.io/kxkx
Mr. Smith's 4th Period: http://today.io/kxl0
Mr. Smith's 6th period: http://today.io/kxl2


This is your chance to ask the questions we all know you have about the reading, but you're too shy to ask in class.  You CANNOT be successful if you do not ask questions about things you do not understand.


Thursday, February 13, 2014

Flipped Video over Bierce, Plot, and POV

Watch the video below, complete the quiz, and read "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

Remember, you need to complete your PIXTON comic and share it with Mr. Smith or Ms. Williams.

Whether you are reading the hard copy of the story or reading an electronic version, you need to be annotating for point-of-view, stream of consciousness, and plot structure.


Friday, February 7, 2014

Flipped Video for Twain and "Regional Color"

Watch the video below, complete the quiz, and read "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"

Whether you are reading the hard copy of the story or reading an electronic version, you need to be annotating for irony and "regional color"/dialect.


Thursday, February 6, 2014

Unit 5 Introduction Flipped Video for February 6

Watch the video, take notes, ace the quiz.

Notes should cover:

1865-1914
  • The Frontier and Expansion
  • Immigration
  • Industrialization & The Social Classes
  • Literature
    • New characters
    • New styles
      • Realism
      • Naturalism



VIDEO NOT WORKING?  click here or click YouTube Channel link to the Right -------> 


Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Unit 5 Vocabulary

Here are the words you should have for Unit 5 in Section 1 of your notebook.


Here is a sample of what your Vocabulary Notebook will look like as we work through it.



February 5, 2014

Please complete the following Vocabulary Inventory


Thursday, January 30, 2014

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Dickinson Video and Quiz

Complete Video and Form quiz below

MAKE SURE YOU CLICK CONTINUE AFTER THE VIDEO

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Whitman and Poetry

Complete Video and Form quiz below

MAKE SURE YOU CLICK CONTINUE AFTER THE VIDEO



Video not working?  Click Here

Friday, January 24, 2014

Weekly Assessment II (Jan. 21- Jan. 24)

Please complete Weekly Assessment 2 below

When you are finished, complete the SRI test by following the link below the weekly assessment.  (The SRI test will only work at school; if you are taking this at home, you will have to make up the SRI when you return to school; for right now, only take the weekly assessment)





SRI test

Click this link

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Flipped Video 1.21.14

Please watch the following video and read Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address.  Click HERE to read the address.


January 21, 2014

Go ahead and ACE the following quiz.  It will feel great! 


Friday, January 17, 2014

Emerson, "Self-Reliance," and Transcendentalism

View the video below, then read "Self-Reliance"

Remember, as you view these videos, you should be taking notes on important ideas, new vocabulary, and information about the text.  


Here are the links to more information mentioned in the video.

Unit IV Weekly Assessment I

Complete the following weekly assessment over characterization, diction, imagery, and tone.


Thursday, January 16, 2014

January 16, 2014

Please watch the following video in addition to your reading of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven"


Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

January 14, 2014

"The Tell Tale Heart" by E.A. Poe

Please watch Flipped Video 3

Enjoy!


Sunday, January 12, 2014

January 11-12, 2013

Please watch Flipped Video 2 below, and the read "The Minister's Black Veil."

The reading can be found on the right of this page under the "Readings" link.

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Please watch the following video before the beginning of class tomorrow 1/10/14.

The reading for Rip Van Winkle can be found under the READING tab on the right side of this page.

Enjoy!