Challenges:  Throughout the year you will have the opportunity to do “challenge” assignments that can stretch your learning and critical thinking a bit further than what we do during class time.  These assignments are not graded, in that I do not assign you extra credit points.  I read them to see if the student has truly challenged his/herself.  Even though points are not received, I keep track of the work you have done.

I will post challenge assignments on the blogspot and mention them in class.

Ongoing challenge:  Read a book independently from class.  You are given SSR time most class days, and I encourage you to read interesting books of your own choosing.  When you finish reading a book, write a book review – a handout entitled “How to Write a Book Review” is available in the classroom.

Current challenge:  Read "Body Ritual among the Nacirema" (ask me for a copy) and type a one-page, double space response about this culture.    Due no later than 7 and 8 Oct.

Thur (A flex) 10/1 and Fri (B flex) 10/2

SSR

Fat Rules #5 and #6

Whistle Blowers

 - terms

 - read and mark text of "Whistle Blowers Quandary"

 - discuss

 - jigsaw group work on 5 scenarios 

HOMEWORK:  Please bring an SSR book to class every day.

If you need to finish the in-class on "Everyday Use" by Allice Walker, you must come to tutorial on 10/2




Tue (A) 9/29 -- Wed (B) 9/30
SSR
Fat Rules #3 and #4
Social Justice - Antigone
  - "Cracking White City"
  - "Whistle Blower's Quandary"

Fri (A) 9/25 -- Mon (B) 9/28
SSR
Comp Book:  Writing -- Fat Rule #1 and #2

"Everyday Use" by Alice Walker
- make sure you have your class notes
- write a short, in-class essay, which will be collected with your notes

Social Justice -- Antigone

All tutorials on A flex day -- assembly on B flex


Wed (A flex) 9/23 -- Thur (B flex) 9/24

SSR -- don't forget your book to read for pleasure

Final "Value of Literature" essay due -- attach organizer/outline and rough draft indicating revisions
(Remember, if you need more time, you must ask for an extension before the due date and give me the date you will have the essay finished.)

Finish "Everyday Use" by Alice Walker -- characterization notes and writing

Mon (A) 9/21 -- Tue (B) 9/22

SSR - Silent Sustained Reading of student's book choice

"Value of Literature" essay
   - rough draft check
   - student and peer review
   - revise and edit

If time, start Alice Walker short story

HOMEWORK:  Final Essay is due Wed 9/23 (A) or Thur 9/24 (B) -- attach graphic organizer and rough draft(s) indicating revision

Thu (A flex) 17 Sep -- Fri (B flex) 18 Sep
Sentence Type/Variety (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex)
"Value of Literature" essay
  - check graphic organizer (complete and on time - 20 non-academic points)
  - essay introductions
  - how to use quotes
  - begin writing rough draft

HOMEWORK:  Have a complete, double space, typed rough draft in class Mon-Tue 9/21-22 for peer review (complete and on time = 20 non-academic points)

Tue (A) 15 Sep -- Wed (B) 16 Sep
Figure of Speech:  personification
Solzhenitsyn:  discuss homework and note taking
Class Discussion -- value of literature
Add the "you" notes to your chart
Groups collect quotes from Adichie, Shafak, and Solzhenitsyn

HOMEWORK:  Complete graphic organizer for class Thu 9/17 and Fri 9/18 -- you need to have this done for class.

Fri (A) 11 Sep -- Mon (B) 14 Sep
Term - onomotopeia
Elif Shafak
- discuss "Sugar" -- check for text marking/annotation
- watch TED talk
- note taking
Alexander Sozahenitsyn
- background
PSAT

HOMEWORK:  Read and annotate Solzhenitsyn for 9/15-16

Wed (A) 9 Sept -- Thur (B) 10 Sept

Finish reading Adichie short story " The Thing Around Your Neck"
- discuss short story
Introduce note taking -- distribute chart
- watch TED Talk by Adichie
- work on notes
Background on Elif Shafak

HOMEWORK:  Read and mark chapter excerpt by Elif Shafak-- bring questions to discuss in class