Better Huck--Patrick Day or Elijah Wood?

HOMEWORK:
Over winter break finish chapter 22 at least! Try to read ahead and maybe even finish the novel so that you don't have so much homework for the rest of the semester.This novel is your final exam.


Argumentative Writing

Watch first five minutes of both the Patrick Day rendition and the Elijah Wood version of Mark Twain's novel .

Which actor's performance is truer to the text? Write only one paragraph, citing one or two very specific examples from each actor's performance. Remember, a strong paragraph is focused. If you were writing an entire paper on this, you would discuss three or four aspects of the portrayal of the character. Here you should focus on one. 

Take notes--

Patrick Day

Examples of Good Acting                                Weaknesses

1.                                                                   1.

2.                                                                   2.

3.                                                                   3.

Elijah Wood

Examples of Good Acting                                Weaknesses

1.                                                                   1.

2.                                                                   2.

3.                                                                   3.

HOMEWORK:

Write one strong paragraph convincing me that one or the other actor's performance is superior.

Remember, a strong paragraph:

• 
  

December 15

Sky Full of Stars

She is the symbol of hope in a world of darkness.
Focus on the positives
Contrast helps us understand what is beautiful
Bend "reality" to get to your dreams
He is dedicated
He is willing to devote his entire being to her
When he sees her he feels calm
She fills his emptiness
He would sacrifice himself for her--willing to sacrifice




To write an argumentative or expository paragraph, you will need the following:
1. A topic sentence (your idea stating why the point you're making is valid)
2. Evidence from the text (a quote or other example, that supports your argument)
3. Elaboration (explanation of how the evidence supports this argument)
4. Concluding sentence.






Ralph Waldo Emerson: vocabulary from his essay "Self-Reliance,"    Quizlet, Emerson
Using your cell phones, find example sentences and paste them into the following Google Doc:
Our vocab Sentences
You will be quizzed on the first 10 Tuesday.

Valeria from Costa Rica

Twain's Amazing Adventures

Monday
1. Sub for Santa
2. Vocab
3. His Amazing Adventures
Homework: Read to the end of ch. 15
4. PSAT
    Some of you actually want to learn a few things in your life and might be interested in taking a look at this list of vocabulary words from the 2010 PSAT




PSAT Scores are due. Bring them MONDAY, if you haven't already.
Watch Mark Twain, His Amazing Adventures. I think that it can be found on YouTube if you happen to be absent.
We will play Twain Jeopardy on Monday.
HOMEWORK: Finish chapter 14 (XIV) in Huckleberry Finn

Sub for Santa
Please consider contributing to our mid-year service project. It would be nice if you could show your parents the Sub for Santa letter and maybe even buy a gift between now and next Friday. I will be collecting money next week to buy a few extra gifts.

December 5

Dead Poets Society

The real life Mr. Keating    Real to Reel, by Gerald Pitts (the guy with the "unfortunate name")

Homework: Read Huckleberry Finn to the end of chapter VI. Uh, that's 6, for you guys who don't know your Roman numerals. Page 39.

Ralph Waldo Emerson: vocabulary from his essay "Self-Reliance,"    Quizlet, Emerson
Using your cell phones, find example sentences and paste them into the following Google Doc:
Our vocab Sentences
You will be quizzed on the first 10 Tuesday.

Walden
1. Quotes due tomorrow
25 quotes with page references. There is no need to write the entire quote. Elipses are fine

2. Explanations of 3 quotes due.
What I would like you to do is to choose three of your favorite quotes from Walden and explain what the quote is saying to you.
2@ 1/2 page each
1 @ 1 full page typed, double-spaced. For the 1 page explanation it might help to choose an example that illustrates the idea in the quote. And no, you can't count what you wrote for your Walden poster assignment here.


If your written part of the Walden poster assignment was a bit weak, feel free to rewrite it. At this point, most of them would receive B's and C's. Remember, every time you write something for this class, be sure to organize your thoughts and pick and choose words to create powerful sentences. Revise. We need to step it up.

Watch Dead Poets Society. Continue taking notes of examples of Transcendentalist thought in the film. 3/4 page due by end of the movie. Even if you've already written 3/4 page, please jot down a few more things that seem particularly important.





"Self-Reliance"

Take out a sheet of paper.
Number 1-5, double-spacing

Today, as we read "Self-Reliance," I would like you to write down a list of 5 quotes that resonate with you. Then you are to write 1 paragraph telling me what the quote is saying to you.

Be an Individualist and an Innovator, says Rodney Mullen: Pop an Ollie and Innovate


Do Schools Kill Creativity?
Changing Education Paradigms