Ironing Essay

A few students needed an optional summer assignment, so here it is. If I did not already talk to you about doing this assignment, please do not do it!

Have a great summer!

Assignment:

Read the short story "I Stand Here Ironing" by Tillie Olsen (you can get a .pdf of the story here) then write a 4-6 paragraph essay on the following prompt. Your essay must be typed using MLA format (you can find directions on typing in MLA format here). When you are finished, you can email the essay to me at naylor_lori@ausd.us.

Be sure to attach the essay as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf file and to ALSO copy and paste the essay into the body of the email in case the attachment doesn't open. Put your full name as the subject of the email.

Prompt:

A symbol is an object, action, or event that represents something or that creates a range of associations beyond itself. In literary works a symbol can express an idea, clarify meaning, or enlarge literal meaning. One symbol in Tillie Olsen's short story "I Stand Here Ironing" is the iron. Write an essay analyzing how the iron functions as a symbol in the work and what it reveals about the characters or themes of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

Finally, be sure to avoid plagiarism. It is NOT OK to copy ANYTHING off of the internet. You can only include your own ideas and/or quotes from the story.

Tomorrow and tomorrow with Sir Ian McKellen

Here is the YouTube version of the video we watched in class:

Tomorrow and Tomorrow video

Finals

The end of the year is almost here!

We are not having a final exam, instead your Independent Reading project presentation will be your final assignment. Here is the assignment sheet I passed out in class in case you need another copy:

Final Assignment

We will also have a test on MacBeth when we finish reading it. Make sure to take notes while we are reading. You will also want to study before the test, which will probably be on Thursday, May 22nd. You can read the entire play here:

MacBeth Full Text

OR you can read the NoFear Shakespeare version here:

No Fear Shakespeare: MacBeth

You can also visit the Sparknotes page for MacBeth - it has summaries, a list of characters, themes/symbols, etc.:

Sparknotes: MacBeth

The Sparknotes page also has a practice quiz which will help you prepare for the test:

Practice Quiz

and a 10 minute video summary here:

MacBeth 10 Minute video

MacBeth - Day One

You are supposed to read Act I, Scenes 1 & 2 before class tomorrow. Here is a picture of what I wrote on the board today in case this helps!

Introduction to MacBeth

And here is a link to the No Fear Shakespeare for Macbeth. It takes Shakespeare's original text and puts it side-by-side with a more modern version (this is useful if you are having major difficulties understanding what's going on):

No Fear Shakespeare: MacBeth

The Scottish Play!

Tomorrow we will go to the book room to pick up MacBeth! Here is a copy of the study guide (I will pass it out in class):

MacBeth Guide

Antony's Funeral Speech from Julius Caesar

Your assignment is to write a short (one page only) essay on two different versions of Antony's funeral speech from Act III, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. You must compare one "reading" and one "video." Here are the choices:


Videos:

HESTON:
Charlton Heston (1970):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bi1PvXCbr8

FEARON:
The Royal Shakespeare Company, Ray Fearon as Antony (2012):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Q7apiYunEU

BRANDO:
Marlon Brando as Antony (1953):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X9C55TkUP8

Readings:

NAYLOR
Ms. Naylor's reading/interpretation of the speech from class (you should have notes)

LESTER
Adrian Lester's Antony from the BBC audio production (CD)

YOU
Your own interpretation/reading of the speech.


Here is the question (and the standard it is based on):

Compare two of the following: your reading of Antony’s funeral speech, a film version, and/or a CD version. How do the two versions differ? What words does he emphasize? What is his tone? What is the crowd’s reaction? Be sure to provide evidence from the text and/or the film/CD to support your answer.

(RL.9-10.7): Analyze the representation of a subject or a key scene in two different artistic mediums, including what is emphasized  or absent in each treatment (e.g., Auden's "Musee des Beaux Arts" and Breughel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus).


The Assignment:

Write a one-page paper using MLA format. In your paper, answer the above question. Note that this is NOT a compare/contrast - you are only to focus on how the speeches differ. Make sure to answer ALL parts of the question and to explain your examples. You may work alone or with a partner (if working with a partner, put BOTH of your names on the first line of the heading, separated by a comma).

The paper is due on Monday at the beginning of class, but it is recommended that you finish by the end of the period on Friday (we will be in the computer lab), print it in the lab, and turn it in by the end of the period.

For more information about MLA format, see this previous post.

Benchmark Revision

Now that we are finished with the benchmark, I want to give you guys a chance to look at your essay (I will now call it the "draft") and see how you can improve it.

If you got a 3 on the draft, for example, it is probably because you were missing the personal example and/or that your thesis wasn't about identity. Now is your chance to change the thesis and add the personal example so you can get a 4, 5, or 6! The draft "grade" will not count for your class grade, it is just to show you where you are so you know how to improve for the final draft.

The final draft of your benchmark is also different from the first draft because you will be asked to type it, using MLA format. For more information about how to type in MLA Format, see below.

I will grade your final draft using the Analytic Rubric used by all teachers in our district to grade the benchmark. Essays will be given a holistic score from 1-6. I break down the 1-6 scores into the following grades (out of 100 points):

6 = 100 (A+)
5+ = 95 (A)
5 = 90 (A-)
4+ = 85 (B)
4 = 79 (C+)
4- = 74 (C)
3+ = 70 (C-)
3 = 65 (D)
2 = 55 (F)
1 = 45 (F)

A score of 3 or below is not passing. Be sure to read the prompt carefully.

Your essay must be TYPED using MLA format. Please do not ask me to print your essay for you in class. You can print it at home, in the computer lab, or in the library.

We will spend at least two days in the computer lab working on this assignment. Students who are absent should see me to find out about extra time.

Here is the prompt and the article:

Prompt A and Article

And here is the rubric that will be used to grade your final draft:

Analytic Rubric 2014

Here is a previous post from my Senior class website about typing in MLA format:

Writing Essays in MLA Format

And here is a sample essay (it is not on the same prompt) written in MLA format. (Note that since the sample is saved in Google Docs, the page number is not in the correct place. Also, this is not a great essay - it is just meant to be a good example of MLA format):

Sample MLA Essay

(Of course, where this essay says "World Literature" you would put "English 4H").

See me if you have any questions or need help. Good luck!

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

Here is a copy of the Ethos, Pathos, and Logos document we went over in class today.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Byj0T4Z090A1ZG1rV2E5SDh5aEU/edit?usp=sharing

Benchmark!

Tomorrow (March 6th) we will write the benchmark essay. Here is a copy of the rubric used to grade these essays in case you want to check it out:

Analytic Rubric

Each essay will be given a score from 1-6. For the purposes of our class, this is the grade scale I will use:

6 = 100 (A+)
5+ = 95 (A)
5 = 90 (A-)
4+ = 85 (B)
4 = 79 (C+)
4- = 74 (C)
3+ = 70 (C-)
3 = 65 (D)
2 = 55 (F)
1 = 45 (F)
You can only get a zero if you did not do the essay at all, if it was written in a language other than English, if you cheated on or plagiarized all or part of the essay, etc.

Honors Essay Tutoring

Next week there will be essay tutoring at lunch on the following dates. I recommend that AT LEAST everyone who got a D or F on the last essay attend (everyone is welcome). Because this is one-on-one tutoring, you need to sign up in advance so there are not too many students showing up on the same day. The sign up sheet is posted on the board in our room. See me if you have any questions. We will be going over your last two essays (In the Time of the Butterflies and Madame Bovary) to prepare for the next two which will be before Spring Break.

The dates are:

Monday, Mar. 3rd
Tuesday, Mar. 4
Wednesday, Mar. 5
Friday, Mar. 6

Tutoring is only offered at lunch. If you cannot make it to any of these dates, see me and we can discuss an after school option.

See you next week!

A Message for Parents and Students

Open House: A Celebration of Learning is scheduled for Thursday, February 13th from 6:15 to 7:45. It will be a busy night, so I will not be able to stay in my classroom the entire evening. Here is my schedule:


5:15 - 6:15: Appointments
6:15 - 6:40: Spaghetti Dinner (Cafeteria)
6:40 - 6:55: Yearbook table (outside the Student Bank/Moor Market)
7:00 - 7:20: Open Classroom (C224)
7:25 - 7:45: AP/Honors Night (Career Center)


If I don't get a chance to speak to you personally that night, here is a description of what to expect from this class for the rest of the year and some advice about how to succeed in English!

English 3/4H (10th grade Honors English):

Ms. Naylor's Period 3.

Semester Two FAQ:

Q: What are you studying now?

A: We are currently reading A Tale of Two Cities and Fahrenheit 451. For more information about these works, helpful links, handouts, etc. See my PREVIOUS POST. Students should also be reading their third outside read, which is due on March 14.

Q: What works will you be studying for the rest of the semester?

A: After Spring Break we will read Shakespeare's MacBeth, Gulliver's Travels, and another supplemental selection. We will also cover satire, rhetoric, and complete and outside reading project.

Q: Is there any extra credit available?

I do not offer extra credit. Occasionally you may earn a few points on a quiz or by going to a free school-sponsored event, etc.

Q: Do you accept late work?

Late work is not accepted, except in the case of an excused absence. See the ENGLISH 3/4H COURSE SYLLABUS for more information on this policy.

Q: What can I do to improve my grade in English?

A: Keep the following things in mind if you want to do well in English:

• Come to class on time. If you are often tardy or absent, you will miss important instruction time.
• Be prepared every day (bring your book, packets, pen, etc.).
• If you are absent, bring a note and speak to me about what you missed. It is also a good idea to get the phone number and/or email of one of your classmates who can keep you informed on what you missed.
• Ask questions whenever there is something you do not understand. You can ask during, before, or after class.
• Participation in class discussion is essential and required for all honors students.
• Check your grades regularly at family.ausd.us
• Tutoring and help with essays is available (usually at lunch) by request. See me. If you keep getting the same grade on an essay it is a good idea to come and see me about it!
• Take notes/annotations when you read. Deep analysis of the text is required in this class and will prepare you for the future. You need to "read with your mind" not just with your eyes.
• Study! Sparknotes.com is a good website to use when reviewing for a test or essay on a novel or play. Our class website (this one) has links to grammar and vocabulary websites, etc.

Q: What do I do if I have a question about grades?

A: You should check your grades regularly at family.ausd.us - as soon as something is graded it shows up there. If you click on your grade for English, a detailed list of assignments and scores will pop up. Any score that looks like this: --/10 is for an assignment that has not been entered yet. A score of zero (for example: 0/10) means you did not turn in the assignment (it could also mean you turned it in late and the new grade has not been entered yet). I do not give zeros if you turn in the work - zeros are only for work that is missing.

Essays take at least a week to grade; it is a long and careful process. All essays that are turned in on time will be marked in the grade book with a checkmark until the grade is entered. Missing essays will be marked with a zero until the essay is turned in.

If you cannot check your grades online, you are welcome to see me before or after class and I can look up your grades for all of your classes. Please ask nicely!

Q: Should I take AP Language next year?

A: Yes! This class is preparing you to go into AP Lang. However, if you are getting a C or below in this class or if your schedule includes more than one other AP or Honors class next year, you may want to reconsider. Talk to Ms. Padilla in D207 for more information.

Q: What if I have another question that has not been answered here?

A: For other questions about our class, please refer to the COURSE SYLLABUS or contact me (email is the fastest way to reach me). My email address is listed on the syllabus.

Thank you!

Ms. Naylor

A Tale of Two Cities/Fahrenheit 451

We are currently studying Charles Dickens's A Tale of Two Cities in class and reading Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury at home. Don't forget about the last of your three outside reads, too. It is due the day we get back from Spring Break!

Here is some information you may find helpful.

The READING SCHEDULE for the next few weeks. It is subject to change, but we should be able to stick to it pretty closely.

Here is the SPARKNOTES PAGE FOR A TALE OF TWO CITIES and here is the SPARKNOTES PAGE FOR FAHRENHEIT 451.

There is more to come!

Madame Bovary

The second semester is here and you have three texts to read. Our in-class novel is Madame Bovary, the supplemental read is In The Time of the Butterflies, and you should also be reading your third (and final) outside read which is due the last day of the third quarter. Here is some information that may be useful to you. Happy reading!

Here is the Madame Bovary POD & Annotation Packet.

Here is the Sparknote for Madame Bovary.

Here is the Madame Bovary reading schedule (Note that the Madame Bovary essay is actually on Friday the 2nd (Tuesday the 4th is the CAHSEE!):

Here is the Independent Reading list. Remember that you need to read one independent book from this list for quarter one, two, and three. You may choose a book that is not on this list ONLY if you check with me FIRST. You MAY NOT use Fahrenheit 451 as an independent reading choice. You MAY choose, for example, three distopian novels from the list and then ALSO do Fahrenheit if you wish. Keep in mind when choosing your works that they should all three have something in common.

Independent Reading List 2014.

CAHSEE

The California High School Exam Exam will be on Tuesday, February 4th (English) and Wednesday the 5th (Math). Here is some information that can help you prepare:

This high school has a handy link to the CAHSEE study guides.

There is more to come!

CAHSEE

The California High School Exam Exam will be on Tuesday, February 4th (English) and Wednesday the 5th (Math). Here is some information that can help you prepare:

This high school has a handy link to the CAHSEE study guides.

There is more to come!

Typing an Essay in MLA Format

Microsoft Word

Usually, you will be typing your essays in Word. Because there are different versions of Word, some of these directions will be slightly different.

Sample Paper

First of all, here is a sample paper written in MLA format. The paper is not excellent, and has errors, but the formatting is correct (The page number was just typed into the paper instead of using a header because Google Docs wouldn't let me use a header, but you get the idea.):


Sample MLA Paper


Word is already set up with a format, but you need to make some changes. It starts you off with one inch margins at the top and bottom, but with 1.25 inch margins on the left and right sides (it should be one inch all around) for example. On a Mac at least, it gives you Cambria 12 pt. as the default font, when it should be Times New Roman 12 pt., etc.

Here are the main rules:

1. You need one inch margins (format - document - change the ones with 1.25 to 1)
2. Double Space (format - paragraph - line spacing: double)
3. Use Times New Roman 12 pt. font (format - font - Times New Roman - 12 pt.)
4. Add a header/page number (insert - page numbers - Uncheck "Show number on first page" - Top of Page (Header) - Then click OK. It will add the numbers. Click on the number and type your last name in with one space between your name and the number).
5. If you have a title, center it (select the title - format - paragraph - alignment: centered). There is probably an easy button for this in the toolbar, though.
5. When starting a new paragraph, don't forget to hit "tab" on the keyboard to indent.

It sometimes helps if you type first before you begin step 2 or 3.

More Info.

Here is a blog with helpful information about how to use Microsoft Word 2010 to write a paper in MLA format. It basically says what I just said, but in a different way, if that helps you:

MLA Format in Word

And here is a comprehensive (in other words, long) guide to MLA Format from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University:

The OWL at Purdue: MLA Format

Save

Finally, don't forget to save a digital copy of your perfectly formatted paper! The next time you need to type an MLA paper, you can just open the old one, change the date, etc. delete your old text and type in the new. This will save you from having to set up the format every time. You can also save MLA format as your default format if you like.

Grammar: Semicolons

We will have a grammar quiz on semicolons on Monday, September 23rd. Here is the handout:

Semicolons

Here is a website that explains how to use semicolons and includes a video and a quiz.

Semicolon Website

Happy Labor Day!

Yes, you do have to follow the Mythology reading schedule - even today. You will also need to read the flower myths from the first day eventually.

Because the benchmark is this Wednesday and Thursday (not Tuesday and Wednesday) we cannot have our Week 2 vocal. quiz on Thursday. Instead, we will have the Week 2 vocal. quiz on Monday the 9th (the same day as the part of speech grammar quiz). We will NOT skip week 3, however. The week 3 vocal. quiz will be on Monday the 16th.

Parts of Speech Review/How to Study for a Grammar Quiz

Many of you have asked how to improve your grammar quiz scores because you did not do well on the first one. First of all, the first quiz is over, so let's focus on getting ready for the next quiz. Our next grammar quiz is on Parts of Speech and will be on Monday, September 9th. Here is the handout:

Parts of Speech

How can you do better on this quiz than you did on the last one? Try studying more, or in a different way:

If you didn't study at all, try studying. I suggest reading the handout I gave you and take some practice quizzes, then work on the skills you missed on the practice quizzes. You can try taking Cornell Notes from the handout and/or our class discussion then use those notes to study. You can go online to learn about the parts you don't know from the Cornell Notes.

If you did study last time, did you study every day? Studies show that studying every day for, say, fifteen to thirty minutes a day is better than studying for two hours the night before the test. Try studying a little every day leading up to the quiz. If there is a week before the quiz try this schedule (oe whatever works for you):

Monday night: Review the handout and see if you have any questions you want to ask in class tomorrow (we usually do a DO NOW about the grammar on Tuesday).

Tuesday night: Take Cornell Notes on what we discussed in class and on the handout. Review the DO NOW we did in class.

Wednesday night: Quiz yourself from your Cornell Notes and check off the ones you know. Study the ones you did not know by going online, reviewing your notes, etc.

Thursday night: Quiz yourself on the ones you did not know yesterday from your notes. Did you get some of them right? Now you can cross those off. Study the ones you still do not know.

Friday night: Take an online practice quiz. Study the ones you got wrong.

Saturday night: Quiz yourself on the ones you still do not know from your notes. Take another practice quiz if possible and/or just look up exercises on the ones you got wrong last night.

Sunday night: Review everything, but especially the things you still do not know. MAke sure you REALLY know the ones you say you know.

If you studied every night and still did not do well on the quiz, there are a couple of things that might be up. Did you understand the quiz? Did you follow directions? Did you put your name, date, and period on the quiz? HOW did you study? Did you go online and take practice quizzes? Did you write your own Cornell Notes based on the lesson and the handout? If you had questions or if there was something you still did not understand before the weekend, did you ask the teacher or someone else about it?

Try these tips - basically, do more (or do something better) than you did last time and your score should improve.

The Parts of Speech quiz will not have any writing on it, nor will it have any SAT-style questions (those two things were hard for some of you). It will basically be about twenty sentences. Each sentence will have one word underlined and you will be asked to identify the part of speech of that word. Here are a few sample questions (these will not be on the quiz, but they are very similar to the actual quiz questions). The answers are at the bottom of this post.

Parts of Speeh: Noun, Pronoun, Verb, Adjective, Adverb, Preposition, Conjunction, Interjection.

1. Ouch! That snake bit me!

2. The teacher told everyone in the class to bring his or her book to class every day.

3. The parrots flew quickly above the heads of the shoppers at the Farmer's Market.

4. I bought my prom dress at the dress store at the mall.

5. Marianne cried bitterly after finally getting a response to her letters from Willoughby.

How do you think you did? Did you study before you took this quiz? Right before? It's better to study, then wait a day or so and then take a quiz. If you take the quiz right after you study, you might get some answers right even though you don't really KNOW them yet. If you take a quiz before you have studied AT ALL you might not do very well. The answers are at the bottom of this post, so you can go check them now.

Finally, here are a few online practice quizzes. The first one is especially good and VERY similar to the one we are going to do in class. Study a little, take the quizzes, make a note of which ones you got wrong, and then study those again. Good luck!


Review: Parts of Speech

Parts of Speech Quiz

This one is only on noun, verb, adjective, and adverb

Finally, here is a Quizlet on the eight parts of speech with flashcards, a quiz, etc.

Here are the answers to the quiz:

1. This is an interjection. Interjections are usually followed by commas or exclamation marks. Watch a video about interjections here.

2. This is a pronoun. Pronouns like everyone are used instead of listing all of the names of each student in the class. Read more about pronouns here.

3. This is a noun. Heads are things. Watch a video about nouns here.

4. This is an adjective. But wait, isn't a dress a thing? So, it's a noun, right? Right - but in this case it is being used as an adjective; it is telling us what kind of store she went to. Watch a video about adjectives here.

5. This is an adverb. It tells us HOW she cried. Many adverbs end in -ly. Watch a video about adverbs here and read Marianne's story in Jane Austen's novel Sense and Sensibility (there's also a great movie version with Kate Winslet as Marianne).

Mythology Reading Schedule and Independent Reading

Here is a copy of the Mythology Reading Schedule and the Independent Reading List, both of which were passed out in class today:

Mythology Reading Schedule

Independent Reading List

Happy Reading!