| 3/26 to 3/29: Week's Objectives: We complete Shakespeare's Julius Caesar and we wrap up our exercises in research with the Final Draft of our Rome Interview | Due/Deadlines: Final Draft Roman Interview due Thursday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 3/26 | T/O: Gateway Transparencies. Group: Reading Strategy, p 771. Read Act 3, Scene 2. Do a speech analysis on one of Antony's speeches 3.2.74-108 (762) or 3.2.170-198 (766). Time for practice. | Final Draft Roman Interview due Thursday |
| 3/27 | T/O: Word Bank, p 771. Read Act 4. Do a speech analysis on Brutus 2.3.18-28 (777) or Cassius 4.3.92-106 (779). Perform Caesar Scenes. | |
| 3/28 | T/O: Word Bank, p 787. Group: Reading Strategy p 787. Read Act 5. Do a speech analysis on Cassius 5.3.33-46 (794) or Antony 5.5.68-75 (801). | |
| 3/29 | T/O: Word Bank, p 802. Group: Reading Strategy p 802. Public Speaking Activity/video. Students will choose a speech to perform from Julius Caesar and write it out entirely by hand. | |
| 3/30 | NO SCHOOL, SPRING BREAK. | |
| 3/19 to 3/23: Week's Objectives: We begin reading Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, and we examine the elements of great speeches. | Due/Deadlines: 1st Draft Roman Interview due Friday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 3/19 | T/O: Rewrite Julius Caesar 1.2.22, 1.2.37, and 1.2.78 (Act.Scene.Line#). Go over bullets & sources in class. Read Act 1 Scenes 1 & 2. Do a speech analysis on Cassisus's words to Brutus. | |
| 3/20 | T/O: Word Bank, p 731. "Yo Mama" Shakespeare insults: H'ville vs. G'town. Read "Julius Caesar Act 1, Scene 3. Do a speech analysis on Casca 1.3.15-32, page 726. | |
| 3/21 | T/O: Grammar p 731. Group: Reading Strategy, p 731. Read Act 2, Scene 1. Do a speech analysis on Brutus: 2.1.161-184 (page 738) or Portia 2.1.237-302 (740-741). | 1st Draft Roman Interview due Friday. |
| 3/22 | T/O: Grammar p 749. Group: Reading Strategy p 749. Read Act 2, Scene 2 (continue). Do a speech analysis on Calpurnia 2.2.13-26 or Decius 2.2.93-104. | |
| 3/23 | T/O: Word Bank, p 749. Literary Focus, blank verse, page 749. Read Act 3, Scene 1. Do a speech analysis on Caesar 3.1.58-74 (page 752-3) or Antony 3.1.254-275 (pages 758-9). Time for work on Assassination Script. | |
| 3/12 to 3/16: Week's Objectives: We begin the Final 9 Weeks with a research unit that will lead us into a reading of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. | Due/Deadlines: 3 Sources & 20 bullets due Monday 3/19 | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 3/12 | T/O: Gateway Transparency. Review class rules/procedures (new procedure for using the restroom through tickets). Lecture/Video Rome. Select a character from ancient Rome to interview. | |
| 3/13 | T/O: Gateway Transparency. Library: Web Assignment: find and cite three sources for your research (include 1 book). Lesson on citing sources using MLA style. | 3 Sources & 20 Bullets due Monday, March 19 |
| 3/14 | T/O: Quiz: cite a source from a book. Deductive research question from "What I Learned: Bryan Anderson." Identify 15 questions for your research subject. Time in library for research. | |
| 3/15 | T/O: Complete deductive questioning from "What I Learned." Time to work on 20 bullets. | BEWARE THE IDES OF MARCH |
| 3/16 | T/O: Shakespeare's Grammar activity. MLA Practice from packet. Time for work on bullets. | |
| 3/5 to 3/9: Week's Objectives: We wrap up the Nine Weeks with our final two essays: The Descriptive Essay and the In-Class 5-paragraph Essay | Due/Deadlines: 1st Draft Descriptive Essay due Tuesday, Mid-term exam Friday. | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 3/5 | T/O: Grammar p 268. Real-World Reading Skills p 297. Read Handout "Waiter, There's a Cloven Hoof on my Plate," Break down the foods to analyze the five forms of description. Write a descriptive story about the grossest thing you ever ate. | 1st Draft Descriptive Essay due Tuesday. |
| 3/6 | T/O: Word Bank, p 331. Grade 1st Drafts of Essays in class. Read poems: "The Bridge," "The Old Stoic," "I am Not One of Those," "Speech During the Invasion of Constantinople." Detail the imagery from the poems. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking p 330. | |
| 3/7 | T/O: p 331. Double Negatives. Read " | |
| 3/8 | ||
| 3/9 | FINAL EXAM | |
| 2/26 to 3/2: Week's Objectives: We complete the Editorial Essay and set our sites on the final homework essay: the Descriptive Essay | Due/Deadlines: Final Draft Editorial Essay due Wednesday, 1st Draft Descriptive Essay due Monday 3/5 | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 2/26 | T/O: Grammar from papers. Read "The Weary Blues" and "Jazz Fantasia" pp 246-247. Write a poem about a career. Begin with the words, "Go To It..." Include at least four onomatopoeias. Read "Conscientious Objector" and "A Man" pp 244-5. Do Comprehension p. 245 and Reading Strategy p 248. | Final Draft Editorial Essay due Wednesday |
| 2/27 | T/O: Word Bank p 248. Do Vocabulary Development p 260. Read "Like the Sun" pp 251-254. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking pp 254-5. | |
| 2/28 | T/O: Grammar practice and writing application p 255. Silent Read: "The Uprooting of an American Family" pp 271-278. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, p 279. | |
| 3/1 | T/O: Word Bank, p 280. Real-World Reading Skills p 297. Read "The Cabuliwallah," pp 283-291. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, p 291-2. Prepare for poetry recital on Friday. | |
| 3/2 | T/O: Grammar p 292. Go over "Potato Chips" handout and evaluate the descriptive techniques therein. Read "The Fish," pp 266-267. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking p 267. | |
| 2/20 to 2/23: Week's Objectives: We prepare for the Editorial Essay. | Due/Deadlines: 1st Draft Editorial Essay due Thursday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 2/19 | No School. Happy Presidents' Day! | |
| 2/20 | T/O: Word Bank, p 402. 5-sentence paragraph: what could be done to make our community safer? Read "Through the Tunnel" pp 219-228. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, pp 228-9 | |
| 2/21 | T/O: Grammar p 229. 5-sentence editorial: What is something in our community that doesn't make sense? Read "The Dog that Bit People," pp 233-239. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking pp 239-240. Go over Editorial Rubric | 1st Draft Editorial Essay due Thursday |
| 2/22 | T/O: Word Bank, p 256. Paragraph organizing activity. Break-it-down: analyzing editorials (we will use a table to identify writes' use of numbers, quotes, and anecdotes). | |
| 2/23 | T/O: Grammar p 240. Grade each others' editorial essays. The final hour of class will be used for make-up work and one-on-one with Mr. Dittes. | |
We're entering the home stretch of the 1st Nine Weeks. After our Product Review Essay we have three to go: the editorial, the descriptive essay, and the mid-term test, which will be a five-paragraph essay you will write to answer the question: What have you learned in Mr. Dittes's class?
| 2/12 to 2/16: Week's Objectives: We move from the Product Review to the Editorial Essay. | Due/Deadlines: Final Draft Product Review Letter due Thursday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 2/12 | T/O: Grammar from papers on overhead. Go over elements of the Introduction and Business Leter. | Final Draft of Product Review due Thursday |
| 2/13 | T/O: Grammar, p 644. Go over sample introductions in groups. Read "Mothers & Daughters," pp 637 to 643. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking pp 643 & 644 | |
| 2/14 | T/O: Word Bank, p 644. Groups work on Literary Focus p 644. Read Analytical Essays "A Picture for the Past" and "What Makes a Degas a Degas?" pp 413-418. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking on pages 414 & 418. | |
| 2/15 | Tip-Off: Grammar p 419. Evaluate Art Transparency #5: George Washington Carver. Illustrate your own life with a Self Portrait. Read "The Bean Eaters" and "How to React to Familiar Faces" pp 405-409. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking p 409. | Self Portrait due Friday |
| 2/16 | T/O: Word Bank, p 410. Read "A Civil Peace" pp 395-401. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking pp 401-2. Write a five-sentence paragraph: "What do you think of crime in your community?" Go over self portraits. Analyze. | |
| 2/5 to 2/9: Week's Objectives: With the project review firmly in our sites, we will evaluate other reviews and work on our Introductions. | Due/Deadlines: First Draft Product Review Letter due Friday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 2/5 | T/O: Grammar from papers. Read poems "Success is counted sweetest," "I dwell in possibilities," "Uncoiling," and "Columbus Dying" pp 147-153. Do Comprehension and 2 of Critical Thinking questions pp 149 and 151. | |
| 2/6 | T/O: Word Bank p. 144. Go over Reading for Success, p 570. Read "The Marginal World" pp 571-576, do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking questions on pages 576-7. Go over review, "Bittersweet Escape." Write a five-sentence paragraph: Describe a song you would not recommend. | |
| 2/7 | T/O: Word Bank, p 577. Read "Star Wars" reviews, pp 626 to 633. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking questions on pages 628 & 633. Go over rubric Product Review Letter | Product Review Letter due Friday |
| 2/8 | T/O: Grammar p. 634. Time for Video Script performances. Go over the Introduction, using examples. Time in class for writing introductions. Read bamboo towels product review, write a five-sentence paragraph: a fabric I use/wear. Read "Mothers & Daughters," pp 637-642. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking p. 643. | |
| 2/9 | T/O: Grammar p. 644. Grade each others' 1st Drafts | |
| 1/29-2/2: Week's Objectives: We will move slowly from shared experiences to product reviews, focusing on evaluation of products. | Due/Deadlines: Final Draft, Shared Experience Essay due Wednesday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 1/29 | T/O: Grammar from essays (go over essays individually while students work on grammar). 5-Sentence Paragraph: Describe someone you know who overcame a difficulty. Read "from My Left Foot" pp. 156-161. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking p. 161-2. | Final Draft Shared Experience Essay due Wednesday |
| 1/30 | T/O: Grammar p. 162. 5-sentence paragraph: "Far too many people are greedy for ____" Read "How Much Land does a Man Need?" pp. 129-136. Last 30 minutes: develop a storyboard for an original script entitled, "How Much ___ does a ____ Need?" | |
| 1/31 | T/O: Grammar, p. 144. Read "How Much Land does a Man Need?" pp 136-143. Do Comprehension (143) and 2 of Critical Thinking (144). Last 30 minutes: develop a script for each of the three scenes outlined on the storyboard. | |
| 2/1 | T/O: Word Bank, p 144. Read "Success is counted sweetest," "I dwell in Possibility," "Uncoiling," and "Columbus Dying" pp 148-151. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking pages 149 and 151. Last 30 minutes: prepare for How Much? productions on Friday. | |
| 2/2 | Tip-Off: Grammar p 152. Perform How Much? in class. Do the Guided Writing Lesson: Submission Letter. Ask a television network to review your script for production as a TV movie. | |
| 1/22-1/26: Week's Objectives: We will climb Mount Everest two more times: once with Tenzing Norgay and once with Jon Krakauer. Along the way we will discuss bias, and we will write our second essay about a Shared Experience. | Due/Deadlines: First Draft Shared Experience Essay due Friday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 1/22 | T/O: Word Bank, p 92. Video Clip "Hillary and Norgay on Everest." Bias Activity The Iraq War: Who Can You Believe? Read "The Dream Comes True," pp 36-41. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, p 41. | |
| 1/23 | T/O: Test Preparation Workshop (overhead). Group: Literary Focus, p. 42. Read Hand-out "Into Thin Air". Answer the following questions: (1) Identify four new terms, (2) identify two similarities and two differences between Krakaur's experience and those of Hillary and Norgay; (3) write a five-sentence paragraph: what is it really like on Everest? | |
| 1/24 | Tip-Off: Grammar, p. 106. Go over the Shared Experience Rubric | Shared Experience Essay due Friday |
| 1/25 | T/O: Grammar, p. 106. Vocabulary from Into Thin Air. 5-Sentence Paragraph: What makes a 'true friend'? Read "Two Friends, " pp. 96-101. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, p 101. | |
| 1/26 | T/O: Word Bank, p 106. Group: do Reading Strategies p 106, #s 1 & 2. Grade each other's Shared Experience Essays. Read "Damon & Phythias" pp 102-105. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, p. 105. Do Guided Writing Lesson, p 107: "Extended Definition of Friendship." | |
| 1/15-1/19: Week's Objectives: We will complete a final draft of the accomplishment essay, and further examine the ways that sound adds to suspense through an activity based on "The Monkey's Paw." | Due/Deadlines: Final Draft Accomplishment Essay due Thursday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 1/15 | Happy 78th Birthday, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.! | |
| 1/16 | T/O: Grammar on overhead. During grammar assignment, I will hand back essays and go over ideas for the 2nd draft. Quiz: The Glass Menagerie. | Final Draft Accomplishment Essay due Thursday |
| 1/17 | T/O: Word Bank, p 58. Read "The Monkey's Paw" pp 46-53. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, p 53. Prepare for English in Action presentation: teams will dramatize the story through the use of sound effects (no words). | English in Action presentation due Friday |
| 1/18 | T/O: Grammar, p 84. Do Literary focus, p 84. Take Summer Reading Test. Read "The Bridegroom" pp. 54-57. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, p. 58 | |
| 1/19 | T/O: Word Bank, p 84. Go over Imagery. Read poems "Fear," "The Street," and "Spring and All" pp 88-91. Do Literary Focus #s 1-4, p 91. English in Action presentations: "The Monkey's Paw" (no words). | |
| 1/8-1/12: Week's Objectives: We will begin our focus on writing, learning the building blocks of writing: the thesis statement, the five-sentence paragraph, and the five-paragraph essay. | Due/Deadlines: 1st Draft Accomplishment Essay due Friday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 1/8 | T/O: Grammar from papers. Grammar from handout. A Concept Attainment assignment will help you to identify the meaning of a thesis statement. | |
| 1/9 | T/O: Top thesis statements. Turning the thesis into a five-sentence paragraph. Write theses and five-sentence paragraphs on the following topics: "What Not to Wear," "A Great Song," and "An Accomplishment You're Proud of." | Quiz over summer reading, The Glass Menagerie, on Tuesday, 1/16 |
| 1/10 | T/O: Grammar p. 19 its/it's. Read "Contents of a Dead Man's Pocket" pp 5-21. Go over elements of suspense (sound, time, repetition). Listen to examples of suspense from movie soundtracks. | Finish "Contents" at home. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking questions, page 21. |
| 1/11 | T/O: Vocabulary, p 42. Read "The Final Assault," pp 25-31. Time in class to work on Accomplishment Essay | 1D Accomplishment Essay due Friday. |
| 1/12 | T/O: Writing Application p 42. Grade each others' accomplishment essays. Finish "The Final Assault," pp 31-34. Do Comprehension + 2 of Critical Thinking, p 34-35. | |
| 1/4-1/5: Week's Objectives: In this short week, you will learn about Mr. Dittes's plans for the class, and you will get to show what you can do! | Due/Deadlines: Dream Job Essay due Friday | |
| Date | Class Assignments/ Activities | Homework |
| 1/1 | Happy New Year! | |
| 1/2 | No Class, Christmas Break | |
| 1/3 | No Class, Mr. Dittes is at school preparing for the semester. | |
| 1/4 | Let's Talk About Me handout. PowerPoint notes, "Your Best Year Ever--Backwards," in-class essay: What is your dream job and how did you get it? | Dream Job Essay due Friday |
| 1/5 | Go over the Dream Job Essay. Review "Best Year Ever" notes. Go to the library for an activity with Mr. Dittes's web site. | |