Reading+Assignments+and+Activities

Reading Assignments and Activities:
//Please check this page often for updates on class work and projects. This page will also include assigned dates and due dates for major assignments.//

//Reflection- Read and then stop and think. What was the article about? What are the perceived problems? What are solutions to the problems? What was interesting? What can you specifically connect with from the article/topic?//
 * Nonfiction Study:**

Possible in-Class Readings: "Life Without Go-Go Boots," "from Angela's Ashes," "from The Perfect Storm," and "from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings"
 * Assignments**

Communication Reflection: Read the following article and complete a one-page reflection on the ideas presented within. [|Communication in the Workplace]
 * Assigned:**
 * Due:**

"What You'll Wish You'd Known" Reflection: Read the following speech and complete a one-page reflection on the ideas presented within. Evaluate the unspoken line between chaos and conformity. [|High School Graduation Speech]
 * Assigned:**
 * Due:**

"Lowering the Drinking Age" Reflection: Read the following newspaper article and complete a one-page reflection on the ideas presented within. You may use one of the Writer's Notebook questions at the end of the article to guide your response. [|Drinking Age]
 * Assigned: Monday, October 3rd**
 * Due: Tuesday, October 4th**

"Police Sweep Arrests Parents for Students Skipping School" Reflection: Read the following newspaper article and complete a one-page reflection on the ideas presented within. Within your reflection, identify feasible solutions to the school attendance issues. [|Skipping School]
 * Assigned: Tuesday, October 4th**
 * Due: Tuesday, October 4th**

"Fighting over Food" Reflection: Read the following newspaper article and complete a one-page reflection on the ideas presented within. [|Food Fight]
 * Assigned:**
 * Due:**

"Captive Audience: Has Advertising in School Gone Too Far?" Reflection: Read the following newspaper article and complete a one-page reflection on the ideas presented within. [|Paid Attention]
 * Assigned: Thursday, October 6th**
 * Due: Tuesday, October 11th**

"College is a Waste of Time" Prompt: Identify what you would do... Identify the possible problems and positive aspects. [|College is a Waste of Time]
 * Assigned:**
 * Due:**


 * Drama/Script:**

Assigned: Due: "Who's on First?" Prompt: What does it mean to have "a play on words"? How does this transcript serve as an example of a play on words? [|Abbott and Costello] (optional) [|Video Version- You Tube]

Assigned: Due: How is writing for television and movie different from short story and fictional writing? Explain and provide at least five examples.

"The Sniper" "The Most Dangerous Game" "The Tell-Tale Heart" "The Cask of Amontillado" "Through the Tunnel" "Marigolds" "The Scarlet Ibis"
 * Short Story:**

//**End of unit evaluation:**// Create a [|Glogster] for one of the short stories read in class. Your Glog should include: Assigned: Due:
 * 1) Title of Text
 * 2) Author and Author's Background Information
 * 3) Relevance of author's background information to his/her short story
 * 4) [|Music]- that would serve as an appropriate soundtrack if the short story were to be made into a movie
 * 5) Explanation of your chosen music and why it is appropriate for the chosen short story
 * 6) Plot overview- in your own words using literary terminology learned in class
 * 7) At least four pictures that are relevant to the literature- could be maps, author photos, symbols, etc... with a brief caption on what the object/who the person is and how it is related to the literature
 * 8) Comparison- Select one other text you have read in or out of class that shares the same ideas, themes, characteristics, moods, lessons, etc... Provide title and author, explain the direct connections and similarities between the two pieces of literature. This may be something you read in OR out of class, this year or within the past three years
 * 9) Connections- Identify AT LEAST one component of the text in which you connect. This could a connection with a character, a familiar location, a familiar problem/situation, etc...

Poetry Out Loud Collection- [|POL-#1] [|POL-#2] Sign up for your Poetry Minute on the calendar in class. You will need to recite a poem from the Poetry Out Loud anthology to memorize and recite. MUST BE pre-approved by me at least a week in advance ! Find your poem here: [|Poetry Out Loud Website] Calendar Posted: 10/5/2011 Due: 11/30/2011
 * Poetry:**

Poetry through Lyrics- Identify one song that upon listening to it, impacts you. You feel the words and the beat in your heart and soul. Bring those lyrics into class for a discussion and collaboration. Assigned: Due:

//To Kill a Mockingbird (TKAM)// Week One: Historical Content and Background [|Evaluation and Analysis Handout] [|Historical Perspectives Resources] //**Steps and Activities:**// Search Activity (1 day)- assigned: Historical Understanding of Setting (2 days)- assigned: Exploring Oral History (3 days)- assigned: Writing Connection (1 day)- assigned: Getting into the Novel (3 days)- assigned: Mob Justice (4-5 days)- assigned: Pulling it all Together- assigned: Source: http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/lessons/mockingbird/procedure.html
 * Fiction**

//**Lesson Evaluation:**//
Student evaluation may be based on:
 * 1) Completion of all writing assignments:
 * town poem
 * found poem
 * editorial
 * response to oral history interview
 * 1) An objective test on the novel; and
 * 2) Active participation in all class discussions.