Not-So-Terrific Tuesday!

Today, 5th and 7th periods got a dose of commentary while 8th period had the "joy" of sharing their attempts to write commentary.  Remember, the only way it gets easier is to keep doing it!  Here are the assignments due Thursday:

5th:  study for a quiz over the writing process and parts of the essay.  Be sure you pay attention to your notes! Also, you will have to define CD and CM and must know the ratio.  Also, write a CD and 2 CM sentences for the topic "The walls in this classroom are dull and boring."

7th:  study for a quiz--see the note for 5th period for details.  For class, be sure you do page 57 and the top of page 59 in the handouts I gave today.  Remember, you can change the "mall" to another place if you choose.

8th:  For Thursday, do your next round of CM practice (your topic is "my favorite season is __" then you do 3 chunks which is CD:CM2 three times).  Begin working on your "evil in disguise" essay rewrite.  It's due on Monday.  Remember to focus on title, good hook, interesting intro, clear thesis, topic sentence(s) with 3 Ts, and--of course--good CM!  This will be a 100 point major grade; I will grade it like a good rough draft.

Manic Monday!

What a whirlwind of activity today with more writing stuff and more Beowulf.  Here is the run-down:
1st Period:  DLP 2 quiz was today.  Then, I checked your CM homework as you guys did a trade and comment round.  Homework is to write 2 chunks about your favorite season as the topic sentence content.  By Friday, have your evil in disguise essay re-done for a 100 point major grade.  Remember, focus on good writing as we've discussed the past week.  Be sure you type the essay and follow all MLA guidelines.

2nd period:  DLP 2 quiz was today.  We read more Beowulf after taking a quiz.  For Wednesday, finish reading the Beowulf excerpt and be ready for a quiz.

3rd Period:  DLP 2 quiz was today.  After a writing review, we began discussing the concept of commentary.  For Wednesday, do the commentary practice exercise on page 57 and the top of page 59 handouts I gave in class.  Also, study for a quiz that covers the writing process and parts of the essay, including the questions I told you about commentary (what is concrete detail?  what is commentary? and what is the ratio of CD to CM?).

ATTENTION DUAL ENROLLMENT STUDENTS!

DON'T FORGET:  Wednesday, Sept. 1 is the deadline for applying to Lipscomb and for applying for the Tennessee Dual Enrollment grant.  If you don't apply to Lipscomb, you will have to take a different English class--YOU CANNOT STAY IN DUAL ENROLLMENT!  If you don't file the grant application, you will receive a bill for $300 from Lipscomb.  Remember, this is out of our hands at Goodpasture!

Go to this link for the grant application:  http://www.tn.gov/CollegePays/mon_college/dual_enroll_grant_rules.htm

B Classes Homework Due Tuesday, Aug. 31

It's been another whirlwind day as we've all tried to wrap our brains around ways to write better essays.  Keep paying attention and keep trying to improve!  Here are the assignments due Tuesday, Aug. 31.

5th and 7th periods:  Study for your DLP 2 quiz and write 3 thesis statements that follow the formula we discussed in class today (see your notes).  Topic one is your favorite song with 3 reasons; topic two is your favorite holiday with 3 reasons; topic three is the importance of studying with 3 reasons.  So, you should come to class with 3 separate thesis statements that follow the formula.  You are NOT writing a full paragraph nor an essay!

8th period:  Study for your DLP 2 quiz and do your CM practice.  You should write 2 chunks for the Harry Potter topic (or your own book) and write 2 chunks for either the baseball/football topic or the Edward Cullen/Jacob Black topic.  This is due on Tuesday.  Good luck!

Beowulf and Writing Madness--Thursday update

While the DE Comp and English III classes are getting a crash course in essay writing with a dose of commentary tossed in, the DE lit class started reading the epic Beowulf in class today.  Oh, the joys of a mead hall environment as we read something bloody and ruthless!  Here are the assignments:

1st period:  Write 2 commentary chunks for the Harry Potter option (or a book of your choice) then write 2 chunks for either the baseball option or the Edward Cullen/Jacob Black option.  Do your best!  Don't forget your DLP quiz on Monday.

2nd period:  Read through page 29 of Beowulf, study for DLP quiz on Monday, and be ready for a reading quiz.

3rd period:  You got off the hook today since it took us longer to go over types of intro. paragraphs. Your only homework is to study for DLP quiz 2 for Monday.  Review your writing notes, too--there could be a pop quiz in your future!

What a Busy Day (or Two)!--Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 24-25

It's been a whirlwind couple of days as I've tried to cram a writing process review and essay parts review into a short class period.  The good news is most everyone has kept up!  Here are the specific homework assignments for each class.
First Period:  You need to read the first 2 1/2 pages of the Commentary handouts for class on Thursday.  You do NOT need to do the practice--yet!

Second Period: Be ready for a lit. terms quiz on Thursday and finish your resume of activities for Thursday.  We will begin the epic Beowulf in class--yippee!

Third Period:  Be sure you have your diagnostic essay typed and ready to hand in on Thursday.  Focus on the title, the hook, and the intro since we discussed them on Tuesday.

Fifth and Seventh Periods:  You need to type a new intro paragraph for the goals essay.  Focus on a catchy title, use an interesting hook, use a clever funnel paragraph, and end with the thesis statement.

Eighth Period:  Read the first 2 1/2 pages of the Commentary handouts for class on Friday.  You do NOT need to do the practice--yet!

What's on the Agenda for the Week?

By now everyone has finished the summer reading tests--everyone except Mrs. Boyd who now gets to grade them all! 

For Tuesday's class:
1st period:  be ready for DLP quiz and to take lots of notes about essays
2nd period:  be ready for DLP quiz, have essays ready to turn in (your fave book), and be ready for some lit. review and early Anglo-Saxon stuff
3rd period:  be ready for DLP quiz and to take notes about essays.  You will finally be assigned the diagnostic essay that I've been skipping!

For Wednesday's class:
5th and 7th periods:  make sure you have all supplies in class for a grade
8th period:  you also have a supplies check for a grade-be ready to take lots of notes!

Assignments for Friday and the week of August 23

We're nearly finished with the first week--yippee!  I know many of us were dragging today, so I hope our energy levels will be better as we continue to adjust to getting up early!  Here is what you need to work on for the next few days:

1st period:  Your summer reading test is tomorrow (Friday).  You will have a DLP quiz on Tuesday of next week after we finish DLP in class tomorrow.  We will begin notes on how to write an essay for Mrs. Boyd next week:)

2nd period:  Your summer reading test is also tomorrow (Friday), and you will have a DLP quiz on Tuesday of next week.  Please be working on your resumes for college and scholarship apps; they are due on Thursday.  We will begin our excursion through British literature on Tuesday!

3rd period:  Your summer reading test is tomorrow (Friday), and your DLP quiz will be Tuesday of next week.  We will begin discussing the writing process and the parts to an essay review next week.  You will have to write a diagnostic essay over the weekend to turn in on Tuesday!

5th, 7th periods:  Your summer reading test is Monday along with your DLP quiz.  We will begin discussing the writing process and the parts to an essay next week.  

8th period:  Your summer reading test is Monday along with your DLP quiz.  We will begin taking notes on how to write an essay for Mrs. Boyd in class next week!

Assignments for 1st thru 8th periods for Wednesday or Thursday

1st period:  For Wed., be ready to discuss A Gathering of Old Men and remember summer reading test is Friday.

2nd period:  For Wed., finish your Dracula Facebook profile.  Your summer reading test will be Friday.

3rd Period:  For Wed., get your signatures and work on supplies--extra credit for items 1-8 if you bring them all on Wednesday.  Summer reading test is Friday.

5th & 7th Periods:  For Thursday, finish your diagnostic essays.  Type a 3 paragraph essay (well-developed please!) that explains your goals for this school year.  You cannot have only atheletic goals!  You must also find a Bible verse to tie into your essay somewhere.  This is an essay to show me where you are as a writer, so do your best, but don't stress about it!  Your summer reading test and DLP quiz 1 will both be on Monday.

8th period:  For Thursday, make a list of questions/concerns about A Gathering of Old Men.  Your summer reading test and DLP quiz 1 will both be Monday.

We're almost to the middle of the first week!

What a Day--our first full day!

For some of you, today was fairly boring, but for others, it was a "free" day.  In case you didn't hear, Mallory, my 4-year-old, suddenly passed out today as her class went into the gym.  So, I had to take her to the doctor to have several tests administered.  The good news is, so far, everything is fine.  The doctors think it was probably a fluke possibly related to the heat.  So, for second, third, and fifth period classes, I'm sorry you did get to see me today!  Below you will find the assignments for each class:
1st and 8th periods:  get your course description signed and type your rough draft that explains how evil disguises itself in your life.  Remember, this is a rough draft!  We will discuss summer reading books next week.  First period, your summer reading test is Friday, Aug. 20 while 8th period, your test is Monday, Aug. 23.

2nd period:  get your course description signed and be ready to discuss summer reading.  Summer reading test is Friday.

3rd period and 5th period:  We'll get caught up on Monday!  If your parent(s) came to parent night last night, read through the course description with them and bring it in signed on Monday or Tuesday.  Summer reading test will be Wednesday for 3rd period and Thursday for 5th period.

7th period:  Get your course description signed for Tuesday and finish summer reading.  We will take the summer reading test on Thursday, Aug. 19.

Remember, if you have any questions, please email me at bboyd@goodpasture.org.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Welcome Back to School!

I know summer seemed short, but it's time to get back into the routine!  The plan is for you to use this site for homework updates and classroom announcements and for the syllabus.  It will take me ime to get into the habit of using this site, but I WILL do it!  Make sure you listen in class, too!