February 28

JOURNAL TOPIC:
When should an argument bring people together? When should it end a relationship?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Vocab

HW:
1. Read for Lit. Analysis #4 (due 3/11)
2. Vocab sentences (due Tuesday 3/1)

February 25

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a habit of yours that bugs other people.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Writing a thesis statement
3. The meaning of "If"-- how to decode a poem
3. The persistence of memory


HW:
1. Read a good book (the weather will be perfect for it!)
2. OPTIONAL ESSAY

In honor of the upcoming CAHSEE (March 8-9), you have the option to complete the following essay and turn it in Monday for teachers to read during our meeting time after the early dismissal. This essay is mandatory for College Prep classes. Although Honors students have already completed assignments that exceed this standard, it is important (and legally compliant) to offer equitable access to academic support, so if you want/need the practice, please respond to the following prompt and bring it with you on Monday.

WRITING TASK

Community curfews for teenagers are controversial. Some people believe that community curfews for teenagers are a good idea. They reduce certain crimes connected to teenagers, such as vandalism and underage drinking, and they also protect teenagers from becoming victims of more serious crimes. Others assert that communities shouldn’t take over the role of parents. In other words, it should be up to individual families to decide upon an appropriate curfew for their teenage children.

What do you think? Write an essay in which you express your opinions about community curfews for teenagers. Taking either position is acceptable as long as you present clear, well-reasoned evidence to support your position. You should anticipate and respond to the arguments of people who would disagree with your opinion.

February 24

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Modern science has led to the creation of new breeds (labradoodle, e.g.) and even animals (consider the liger). What hybrid or new species would you create if you could? Why?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Finish "If" and discuss Kipling's intended meaning
3. Last week's essay prompt
4. Discuss "Mind-Gamer" memorization article

HW:
1. Make sure you've got a literature analysis book (#4 due 3/11)
2. Quick-write: What is your impression of standardized testing? Do you think it's helpful? Do you think it should be continued, improved, or abandoned? Why? Come to class Fri. ready to discuss.

February 23

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Imagine that you've accomplished all you set out to do. What would it take for you to risk it all, lose it, and move on without complaint?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss "If"
3. Analyze weekend essay prompt & thesis statements
4. E.C. opportunity

HW:
1. Read "Secrets of a Mind-Gamer" (if you haven't already) and take active reading notes for discussion Thursday 2/24

Secrets of a Mind-Gamer

Friends, Romans, Countrymen:
It's been a while since we memorized anything in class, and some of you struggled with the poem "If." Apart from the neurological and practical benefits we've discussed in class, memorization also causes us to spend time with a text, which changes the way we think about it, so it's worth giving another thought-- especially if you think you can do it better.

Since a strong, flexible mind is the ultimate learning technology, I'm always interested in ways to improve it. This weekend I read an article (see below) that describes a simple technique people just like you and me have used to increase their ability to memorize more information than I would have guessed possible.

Click on the link below to read "Secrets of a Mind-Gamer" and be ready to discuss in class on Wednesday 2/24:

Secrets of a Mind-Gamer

February 19

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe how you would make a person with no sense of humor smile.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/turn in HW
2. "If"
3. Leftover meetings with guidance techs
4. Begin discussing weekend essay prompts

The Importance of Primary Sources

Ever wonder why the game of telephone works so well, or why your gossip-y friends never get the story quite right, or why some of your textbooks contain incorrect information?

As much as we try, we have a hard time replicating ANYTHING exactly. Check out this video to see what happens when 500 people try and trace a simple line by looking only at the one that came just before and not the original. That seems simple enough, doesn't it?

A Sequence of Lines Traced by Five Hundred Individuals from clement valla on Vimeo.

February 18

***REMINDER: MEET IN CAREER CENTER FOR COURSE REGISTRATION***

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[No journal today]

AGENDA:
1. Registration/ROP Presentation
2. Poetry for E.C.
3. Discuss homework/ask questions to prepare for Tuesday

HW:
1. "If" due 2/22
2. Literature analysis #3 due 2/22
3. Expository essay due 2/22 (see below, and use both your primary resources and your Socratic seminar notes to help you)

ESSAY TOPIC:
Based on your examination of primary sources, explain the events that led to the recent fall of the Egyptian government. Describe the causes of the protests. Analyze the reasons the protests were successful. Predict what you think will happen next. Compare conditions in Egypt with our own economy, culture, and systems of government to determine whether nonviolent protest can make such a dramatic difference in 21st century America. Agree/disagree with the statement popularized by the protests: "Innaharda, ehna kullina misyreen." Be sure to cite sources where appropriate.

IF by Rudyard Kipling

1. Memorize the poem;
2. Write a brief paragraph in which you explain Kipling's intended meaning.

DUE: Tuesday, February 22
EXTRA CREDIT: If completed by Friday, February 18


if by kipling -

February 17

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe something unusual you'd like to see happen today.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Socratic seminar
3. Collect HW

HW: Please note due dates as follows:
1. Memorize poem "If" (see next post) by Tuesday, 2/22; E.C. if completed by Friday, 2/18
2. Literature analysis #3 due Tuesday, 2/22
3. Expository essay (see 2/18 post) due Tuesday, 2/22

February 16

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Write the introductory paragraph of a persuasive essay in which you attempt to convince the reader that it would be a good idea to run around in circles, screaming, wearing only the ugliest underwear on Earth.

(CAHSEE prep notes: make sure your introduction includes a clear thesis statement, a minimum of three clear supporting reasons that can form topic sentences for body paragraphs, and at least one counterclaim; also be sure to proofread for spelling, punctuation, grammar and capitalization.)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Review/update 6-year plans
3. Discuss yesterday's quote and primary resources

HW: Prepare 3 comments/3 questions and annotated bibliography of 5 primary sources for tomorrow's Socratic seminar.

February 15

JOURNAL TOPIC:
How far away from you (or how different a life from yours) does a person have to live in order for you to consider him/her a "foreigner"?


(Note: This week we have two registration meetings with guidance staff, so there is no vocabulary list; please keep your journal and assignments up to date by working at home)

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Innaharda, ehna kullina misyreen
*Translate (by 2/16)
*Research using five primary sources (for in-class discussion on research 2/16)
*agree/disagree with prepared resources, comments and questions (for Socratic seminar 2/17)
*prepare for take-home expository essay this weekend (due Tuesday 2/22)

February 11

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[No journal today.]

AGENDA:
1. Turn in Journal
2. Turn in Career Portfolio
3. In-class persuasive essay

HW:
1. Begin reading your next book if you haven't already (Literature Analysis #3 due February 21)

February 10

JOURNAL TOPIC:
What makes a person "hard core" or gentle? Are such qualities innate or learned? Can they be changed? How?


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Working period: portfolio, vocabulary, and/or literature analysis reading

HW:
1. Portfolio due tomorrow
2. Study vocab for in-class essay tomorrow

February 9

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Design a robot that serves a useful purpose. Think about what you and your community need, and explain how your invention will meet that need.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Finishing your Portfolio

HW: Work on Portfolio

MLA Bibliography Format

mla bibliography format -

Skateistan

One benefit of being home sick is discovering things I wouldn't have otherwise, like a perspective on Afghanistan that is different from what we've seen in The Kite Runner and even Three Cups of Tea. When you're ready for a break from your Career Portfolio, check out this three-minute interview with a documentary filmmaker about skateboarding in Afghanistan:

Turnstyle » Talking About “Skateistan” w/ Director Orlando von Einsiedel

CAREER PORTFOLIO CHECKLIST

Don't forget your cover letter (it should go first, before your resume).


CAREER UNIT PROJECT

February 8

The biggest assignment of the semester so far is due on Friday. Your teacher is nowhere to be found and the clock is ticking. Career Lesson #147 (for which there is no curricular standard): Don't Panic. This is a lousy week for any of us to get sick, but the show must go on. That's why I'm posting the Career/Research Portfolio requirements (see next post). This is your checklist to make sure your portfolio is complete. We've discussed each element and I've even collected drafts of a few, so even though I'm not there you should have no trouble finishing by Friday. I should be back on Wednesday, so you'll get your cover letters back with two days to revise as needed. I will ask tomorrow's substitute to return your lists of resources and TIP write-ups. Remember to find the MLA guide in the back of your textbook to format your bibliography; I'll also take questions on this in class when I get back. Tomorrow (and on your own, if necessary) you should complete a draft of your email to your future self. I'll give you the website instructions etc. when I see you on Wednesday. By Thursday you should only have some light typing and printing left. If you run into trouble, crowd source your question here on the blog, ask a classmate, or send me an email. As for tomorrow, I'll miss you. Try and convince the substitute teacher that you are in fact the wonderful people I say you are.

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe a time when you felt panic but later felt foolish about it. What accounted for the change in your perspective?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Work on your portfolio (Future Me email, TIP write-ups, research paper, and/or anything else you need to complete)
3. Literature Analysis #3 reading (If you haven't found a book yet, find one and remember to bring it to class whether I'm there or not)

February 7

JOURNAL TOPIC:
To paraphrase poet Robert Burns, the best laid plans of mice and men often go astray. Describe a time you planned something perfectly and it got all messed up anyway.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Turn in: TIP write-up, list of 10 resources, Literature Analysis #2, youtube research
3. Vocab/sentences due Tuesday

February 3

JOURNAL TOPIC:
[No journal today]

AGENDA:
Meet in Career Center for presentation on college/career research.

HW (DUE MONDAY 2/7):
1. Time Investment Portfolio write-up
2. Youtube.com assignment
3. 10 resources for SMART goal research
4. Literature Analysis #2

(Have a nice weekend!)

Research assignments

1. Please complete the youtube.com assignment for Monday.
2. Please review the Career Pathways research assignment and collect ten (10) resources that help you answer these questions. Bring them-- along with your textbook-- to class on Monday.


research handouts 1 and 2 -

Analyzing your Time Investment Portfolio

HOW TO ANALYZE YOUR TIME INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO (use this for your 1-2 pp. write-up and turn in with your actual TIP in the final portfolio)

1. Imagine your IDEAL week. How many hours would you sell, give, spend, and pass?
2. Total your ACTUAL weekly time investment totals; how many hours did you sell,give, spend and pass?
3. Did any of the totals from #2 surprise you? Explain.
4. Was there a significant difference between weekdays and the weekend? Explain.
5. Was there a significant “one-time” event that changed your time investment
patterns? Explain.
6. Does your time investment support the SMART goal you have in mind? How? Can
you tweak either your time investment or your goal to lessen your stress and
increase your effectiveness? How?
7. Describe how understanding your use of time helped you think about your goal(s)
in a different way.

February 2

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Out of all the vocabulary words you've learned so far this year, choose three that you've adopted/used in your own thinking/speaking/writing. Describe a time that having these words enabled you to express something you might not have otherwise.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/turn in
2. Collect resumes
3. Check formatting on cover letters/discuss content
4. T.I.P. analysis

HW:
1. C.O.P.S. survey
2. Cover letter
3. Remember that we meet in the Career Center tomorrow (Thursday 2/3)

notes on cover letters

As seen in today's class:

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverlettersamples/a/covertemplate.htm

Sample Resume

sample resume -

February 1

JOURNAL TOPIC:
Describe your favorite color-- to a blind person.

AGENDA:
1. Journal/check HW
2. Resumes
3. Cover letters

HW:
1. Make sure your T.I.P. is current; bring to class tomorrow