Jennifer Holzhausen's Homework Blog

November 26, 2013 (Gold)

G1 - Final Drafts of the Persuasive Letter were DUE today.  Act III: Scenes 4-5 Review Sheets were also DUE.  I passed back a little bit of graded work today.  Students wanted to act out Act I: Scene 1, so we had a little readers' theater for a while this morning.  After their re-enactment, we were able to read and discuss Act IV: Scenes 1-3 together today (p. 1018 - 1026).  Students took notes over the "Friar's Second Big Plan."  After giving students the notes, I gave them the remainder of the block to work on their assignment.  Assignment: Complete the Review Sheet for Act IV: Scenes 1-3.

G3 - Outlines DUE.  I checked those and spoke individually with each student to see how they are progressing on this paper.  Students were given the entire block in the Computer Lab to work on their drafts.  Assignments: Final Drafts of the Comparative Analysis are due from about 1/3 of the class on Tuesday.  The remaining students will be turning in their Final Comparative Analysis on Thursday.  Please pay close attention to the due dates you are given individually on your rough drafts.  In addition, everyone should draft out their Introduction and at least one major section of the Research-Based Analysis paper for Tuesday for peer-editing.  I would recommend the Introduction and Background or the Introduction and the Analysis section.  As time allows, work ahead rather than behind.  Don't forget that you will need Works Cited and Works Consulted pages for this paper as well.  The sooner you get those ready, the sooner I can help you spot-check them for errors.

G4 - Quiz: Chapters 1-18 (Characters and Symbols).  After the quiz, we discussed Chapters 15-18.  For the last fifteen minutes, students made "hand turkeys". lol.  Assignments: SAT Vocab. Test #30 coming up soon... check your calendar.  Read Chapters 19-21 for next time and complete the chapter summaries as you read.

November 25, 2013 (Blue)

B1/B2 - All Extra Credit Projects DUE.  We discussed Chapters 12- 14 today.  In small groups, students discussed some of the important character relationships, then we briefly discussed the two scaffold scenes we've read about and then made some predictions about what will happen in the third scaffold scene (near the end). Assignment: Read Chapters 15-18 and be prepared for a quiz. Be sure you are very familiar with the characters at that point.

B4 - Rough Drafts of the Persuasive Letter were DUE today.  We went over the Elizabethan Words to Know Translation Exercise #3, then students completed Daily Oral Grammar Exercises #9 and #10.  For the rest of the block, we ALMOST caught up on the play!  We were able to read Act III: Scenes 2-4 (p. 999-1008), and we started reading Scene 5 (p. 1010-1011).  Assignments: Please complete the Review Sheet for Act III: Scenes 1-3 which you received in class last time.  In addition, please answer questions #1-9 for the review sheet for Act III: Scenes 4-5. If you were absent, please be sure to read what you missed!

November 22, 2013 (Gold)

G1 - We went back to review the end of Act III, and I gave students notes over "Friar's Big Plan." Students were asked to check their review sheet answers after taking the notes, then the Review Sheet for Act III: Scenes 1-3 was DUE.  Next, students completed Daily Oral Grammar exercises #9-10.  We read and discussed Act III: Scenes 4-5 in class today (pages 1007-1016).  Students were given almost thirty minutes to work on their assignments at the end of the block today.  Assignments: Final Drafts of the Persuasive Letter are DUE on Tuesday.  I will not accept them late.  The due date has been given to you ahead of time, and you are expected to turn in this assignment on time.  In addition, please complete the Review Sheet for Act III: Scenes 4-5.

G3 - Writing Plans DUE.  Students read and discussed two articles about real-world plagiarism scenarios, then we went through the Plagiarism lecture material.  Please be sure to read through this if you were absent!!!  For the rest of the block, students went to the computer lab to begin working on their outlines.  Assignment:  The Outline for the Research-Based Analysis paper is due next time.  I have posted a template on Moodle to help you get started.  Begin working on the draft of your paper as time allows. It will make your workload over Thanksgiving Break much easier!

G4 - All Extra Credit Projects DUE.  We discussed Chapters 12- 14 today.  In small groups, students discussed some of the important character relationships, then we briefly discussed the two scaffold scenes we've read about and then made some predictions about what will happen in the third scaffold scene (near the end). Assignment: Read Chapters 15-18 and be prepared for a quiz.  Be sure you are very familiar with the characters at that point.

November 21, 2013 (Blue)

B1/B2 - Quiz: Chapters 8-11.  After the quiz, students wrote in their journals.  Journal Prompt: Write about a time when you felt really guilty about something.  Write about those feelings.  After our discussion, we went through chapters summaries for Ch. 8-11.  Groups worked together to map out a chart of characters' good and evil traits.  Assignment: Read Ch. 12- 14 and complete chapters summaries as you read.  All Extra Credit Projects are DUE on Monday.

B4 - We worked on getting caught up!  In class today, I checked a small handful of outlines for the Persuasive Letter, then we completed Daily Oral Grammar Exercises #7-8.  Next, students completed Elizabethan Words To Know Translation Exercise #2 using their three lists of vocabulary.  We went over those together.  Next, I gave students some notes to review Acts I & II prior to starting Act III today.  We read and discussed all of Act III: Scene 1 (pages 992-999).  At the end of the block, I impressed upon students the importance of putting together the rough draft of the Persuasive Letter for next time.  I cannot give anyone feedback without seeing a Rough Draft.  Final Drafts will be due after Thanksgiving Break.  Assignments: Write a Rough Draft of the Persuasive Letter.  Complete Elizabethan Words to Know Translation Exercise #3.  In addition, please complete the questions for Act III: Scene 1.  We will finish Act III in class next time.  

November 20, 2013 (Gold)

G1 - Rough Drafts of the Persuasive Letter DUE.  Elizabethan Words to Know Translation Exercise #3 also DUE.  We actually went over the translation exercise together in class.  I passed back a little bit of graded work, then we returned to the play and read Act III: Scenes 1-3 together.  Assignment: Complete the Review Sheet for Act III: Scenes 1-3.  

G3 - Students were taken to the computer lab for the whole block today to work on their research for the Research-Based Analysis paper and the Writing Plan.  I recorded preliminary research questions for each person.  Assignment: Writing Plans are due on Friday.

G4 - Quiz: Chapters 8-11.  After the quiz, students wrote in their journals.  Journal Prompt: Write about a time when you felt really guilty about something.  Write about those feelings.  After our discussion, we went through chapters summaries for Ch. 8-11.  Groups worked together to map out a chart of characters' good and evil traits.  Assignment: Read Ch. 12- 14 and complete chapters summaries as you read.  All Extra Credit Projects are DUE on Friday.

November 19, 2013 (Blue)

B1/B2 - Take-Home Tests DUE.  We discussed and went over Summaries for Chapters 1-7 today as needed. In B1, we discussed some of the statements on the Opinionnaire.  Students in B2 worked in small groups to discuss and take notes over a variety of characters and symbols for most of the rest of the block today.  Assignments: Please read Chapters 8-11 and complete the chapter summaries as you read.  In addition, you have Extra Credit projects due on Monday.

B4 - Acts I & II Test Review Sheets DUE.  After giving students some time to study, they were given the test for Acts I and II today.  After the test, we returned to the notes we began quite a while ago on Argument and Persuasion.  I reviewed what we previously covered, then students finished taking their notes.  We then walked through the Persuasive Letter assignment, discussing several possible options along the way.  Assignment:  Please complete an outline for the Persuasive Letter assignment.  This may be hand-written using bullet points.  We will work on formal formatting procedures in class next time.  

November 18, 2013 (Gold)

G1 - Students received new homework calendars today which will take us up to Final Exams next month.  Outlines were DUE today for me to check, and only a small handful of students did the assignment.  I went through the formatting information for the Persuasive Letter assignment with some examples, then I gave students about 25 minutes in class to work on their rough drafts.  Next, we went over some notes to review Acts I & II prior to starting Act III on Wednesday.  Students worked on Elizabethan Translation Exercise #3 and their rough drafts for the rest of the block today.  Assignments: Rough Draft of the Persuasive Letter due next time.  Please also complete Elizabethan Words to Know Translation Exercise #3.  Use your three lists to help you.  We will resume the reading of the play in class on Wednesday.

G3 - Comparative Analysis Draft #3 DUE to me for brief comments.  Three inquiry questions for the Research-Based Analysis paper DUE.  I checked those, then I asked students to discuss their questions in groups based on similar topics.  Each person's inquiry focus should be different from others with similar ideas.  For the remainder of the block, we breezed through Powerpoint presentations to review how to create Bibliography entries and cite sources properly in MLA Format.  At the end of the block, we walked through the Writing Plan assignment.  Assignment: Begin your research.  The Writing Plan is due to me for a grade on Friday.    

G4 - Take-Home Tests DUE.  We discussed and went over Summaries for Chapters 5-7 today. Students worked in small groups to discuss and take notes over a variety of characters and symbols for most of the rest of the block today.  Assignments: Please read Chapters 8-11 and complete the chapter summaries as you read.  In addition, you have Extra Credit projects due on Friday.

November 15, 2013 (Blue)

B1/B2 - Students were given a few minutes to study prior to taking SAT Vocab. Test #29 today.  After the vocab. test, I asked students to write a half-page journal.  Journal Prompt:  Write about something you were caught doing that you would have preferred to have not been caught doing and which many people found out about.  B1: Write this as if you were a sea creature speaking with other sea creatures about "sea creature-like" things.  B2: Write this as if you were a sea creature speaking with other sea creatures OR as if you were a farm animal speaking with other farm animals.  In other words, change the story into an allegory.  Play with narration, voice, character, and allegorical symbols. :)  After sharing several journals, we then discussed Chapters 1-4 of The Scarlet Letter and/or groups worked together to find textual descriptions of four primary characters.  Assignments:  Take-Home Tests are DUE on Tuesday.  In addition, please read Chapters 5-7 and complete the chapter summaries as you read.  

B4 - I passed back some graded work and gave students time in class to work on their test review sheets. Students studied their review sheets in small groups, then we played Jeopardy for most of the rest of the block.  Assignment: Test over Acts I & II next time.  Review Sheets due next time.  All other late work from this part of the unit is due at that time as well.

November 14, 2013 (Gold)

G1 - Acts I & II Test Review Sheets DUE.  After giving students some time to study, they were given the test for Acts I and II today.  After the test, we returned to the notes we began quite a while ago on Argument and Persuasion.  I reviewed what we previously covered, then students finished taking their notes.  We then walked through the Persuasive Letter assignment, discussing several possible options along the way.  Assignment:  Please complete an outline for the Persuasive Letter assignment.  This may be hand-written using bullet points.  We will work on formal formatting procedures in class next time.  

G3 - Comparative Analysis Draft #2 DUE for peer-editing.  Students spent the first half of the block peer-editing their papers.  After lunch, we went through a Powerpoint presentation that outlines the requirements for the Research-Based Analysis paper (the fifth unit).  I distributed a copy of the Powerpoint notes and new homework calendars today.  Assignment:  Please revise and complete Comparative Analysis Draft #3 for Monday.  I may or may not collect them on Monday for my comments, depending on how comfortable you are at that point with what you have completed.  Please assume that I will be collecting them and do the best you can on this revision.  In addition, I need you to generate three potential inquiry questions for the research-based analysis.  We will share and discuss these questions in class on Monday.  

G4 - "Young Goodman Brown" Study Guides DUE.  Students were given a few minutes to study prior to taking SAT Vocab. Test #29 today.  After the vocab. test, I asked students to write a half-page journal.  Journal Prompt:  Write about something you were caught doing that you would have preferred to have not been caught doing and which many people found out about.  Write this as if you were a farm animal speaking with other farm animals about "farm-like" things.  In other words, change the story into an allegory.  Play with narration, voice, character, and allegorical symbols. :)  After sharing several journals, we then discussed Chapters 1-4 of The Scarlet Letter and groups worked together to find textual descriptions of three primary characters.  Assignments:  Take-Home Tests are DUE on Monday.  In addition, please read Chapters 5-7 and complete the chapter summaries as you read.  

November 13, 2013 (Blue)

B1/B2 - After passing back some graded work and going over the study guide for "Young Goodman Brown," we discussed Hawthorne's Romance and the elements of a true "Gothic Romance," and students took notes over that information today.  In B2, we spent quite a bit of time discussing the Opinionnaire they took, then I distributed copies of the novel and the summary worksheet to go with it.  Assignments:  You have an SAT Vocab. test next time over Unit #29.  Please read Chapters 1-4 of the novel and complete the summaries.  Work on the Take-Home Test and Extra Credit. PLEASE NOTE: You are expected to do the readings for this class. You are not to consult SparkNotes or Cliffs Notes or any other resource material in lieu of doing the actual readings.  This is an Honors Class, and I expect Honors-Level Academic Habits.  Use your time wisely. 

B4 - Review Sheet for Act II: Scenes 4-6 DUE.  Students watched Acts I and II of the 1968 version of the movie, Romeo and Juliet to review.  Students were given test review sheets to work on for the remainder of the block.  Assignment: Work on the Test Review Sheet.  We will be playing some review games in class on Friday using these questions.  You'll want to study.  If you are behind or have make-up work to do for Acts I and II, this is your opportunity to get caught up... I will not take late work from this part of the play after the test next week.  ALL GRADES IN THIS CLASS ARE CURRENT.