Tuesday, January 31, 2011

Today, you paired up to discuss your letter (written January 10, 2011). The purpose was to read them to each other and determine if the character's voice was realistic (that of a father writing to a daughter), if the words chosen and structure matched the character represented, and whether your both followed format. I gave you a checklist to fill out.
You then got into groups to work on YPI. Specifically, your group was to create a name for themselves, a map for themselves, and a mission statement.

Monday, Janaury 23, 2012

Today, I handed out the sheet of terms that students must know in order to do well on their midterm exam. I included words I think they might have trouble with. They were then given the rest of the class time to study. Remember that your midterm exam is on Thursday, January 26, at 9:00 in this room.

Friday, January 20, 2012

Today, we discussed the lists from yesterday’s group work to determine just how much studying is needed to accomplish the task. You were then placed in groups to exchange the terms (between readings and questions groups, of course) so you would have another study tood. I then gave you the answers for the test prep activities from earlier this week. I also finalized the groups for YPI and gave your group the name of the charity you will be researching and presenting.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Today, you were broken into groups and pairs. In your pairs, you either had to highlight, write down and define all the words and terms that were unknown to you in the readings, or in the questions.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Today, due to a shortage of students (busses not running), you were given time to work on your multiple choice questions from yesterday, study literary terms, or use the time in a school appropriate activity. Hopefully, the turnout will be beter tomorrow.

Monday, January 16 & Tuesday, January 17, 2012

On these days, you worked on answering multiple choice comprehension questions in preparation for your final. You were given two booklets, one containing poems and one containing novel excerpts to work through, as well as a handout on how to successfully answer multiple choice questions. These are due on Wednesday.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Today, we read the rest of Act I of The Merchant of Venice. I then had you journal out a summary of this act with as much detail as possible. We tehn picked the roles for Act II.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Today, I introduced the YPI unit. In this unit, you are placed in groups and will choose a charity to present to us. The purpose is to cinvince us that your charity is most deserving of receiving $5000. If you are chosen, your charity will indeed get this money. If you were not here, the slide show is in your portfolio.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Today, you worked on learning how to apply the format of a business letter. The assignment is as follows:

Portia feels trapped by her father’s will. Adopting the role of her father, write the letter he might have left her, explaining why the will is so strict and confining.
Be sure to:
· Use your own home address as the father’s.
· Use your own home address as Portia’s
· Give them your last name (just to make it easy)
· Make up the father’s first name
· Follow the business letter format

This is due at the end of class.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Today, you wrote a Shakespeare terms quiz, which we marked. Once again, I also stressed the importance of checking blogger when you are absent. We then read the rest of Act I, Scene two of The Merchant of Venice. I then gave students a handout on how to write a business letter. They are to study and memorize this format.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Today, we began reading The Merchant of Venice. If you were not here, google "no fear Shakespeare", then click on The Merchant of Venice (this is the reading we are doing). On one side of the page, is the original text. On the other side, is the modern text. We read up to Act I, scene 2 (to the part where Portia has just learned from Nerissa that the men who came to try to marry her decided not to try and are leaving... which is right near the end of this act).

Be sure that you study the terms I gave you yesterday as you will have a quiz on Monday (I posted them yesterday). Add the following definition to the list:

"ere" means "before"

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Today, you wrote your character quiz for The Merchant of Venice. I then went over Sonnet 130 to show you the humour of it (you got this one before the holidays).
I then gave you a list of Shakespearean terms you need to memorize (I will quiz you on Monday). I have pasted these below.
Finally, those in class practiced using some of these words in context by pairing up and creating sentences for them (see instructions at the end).

Shakespeare: Terms

1. Prithee – please
2. Marry – really? Or, really!; an expression used in reply to a question (suggests surprise or indignation)
3. Anon – soon, or right away
4. Fie – exclamation expressing disgust or outrage (an “F” word in its day)
5. Sirrah – sir; but also may imply anger or contempt (talking down to)
6. For the nonce – for the time being
7. Ay – yes
8. A’ – he
9. Thou art – you are
10. Thou dost – you do
11. Thou know’st – you know
12. Thou see’st – you see
13. Thou did’st – you did
14. He doth – he does
15. Woul’t – would you
16. Ne’er – never
17. O’er – over
18. O’ – of
19. I’ – in
20. ‘t – it
21. Ta’en – taken
22. E’en – even
23. Favour – meaning approval
24. Owe – to possess
25. An – if
26. Moe – more
27. Sooth – truth
28. Quoth – said
29. Afeard - afraid
30. by my troth (pronounced as "oath") upon my word, truly
Create sentences (grammatically correct) using EACH word highlighted in two (so, 28 sentences). You may do this in pairs if you want. But I want there to be no errors of punctuation.

Thursday, January 4, 2012

Today, I finished introducing The Merchant of Venice. Tomorrow, you will write a character quiz (identifying characters to their characteristics or circumances). Be sure to study the handout I gave you in order to do this one well.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Today, I introduced The Merchant of Venice by discussing usury, stereotypes, racism, caricatures and some of the pertinent information about the theme and plot. I handed out powerpoint slides to everyone who was here. If you were not here, they are in your portfolio.