What I'm Doing This Winter Break

Use descriptive language and imagery to write about what you'll be doing over winter break. You have 16 days off from school - how will you fill those days? Write to entertain. Be creative.

Due Sunday, December 19.

Also, don't forget your outside reading project is due Monday, January 3.

Remaining Poetry Out Loud performances will also be Monday, January 3.

Poetry Out Loud: My Poem

Poetry Out Loud is about taking a well-known poem and making it your own. When you commit a poem to memory, you let every word become a part of you. The words and images in the poem are now ingrained in your brain - connections are formed between your memory of the poem and memories of your own life experiences. This is why choosing a poem that you feel strongly about is crucial to a successful performance.

Write several paragraphs about your poem selection. Include the title and poet and discuss its meaning and its relevance to your own life. Discuss how you intend to convey the meaning of the poem with your voice, face, and gestures. Be specific and detailed in your writing - demonstrate and in-depth knowledge and passion for the poem you have chosen.

Due Tuesday, December 14.

Poetry Out Loud Selection Assignment

Using the handout given in class, complete parts 1-5 on your blog. Be sure to clearly label every part.

Due Friday, December 3.

Thanksgiving Break Extra Credit Blog

I hope you all enjoyed your two snow days and had a happy Thanksgiving.

Unbelievable as it may seem, more than one fourth of the school year has passed. For extra credit, write about the most important skill or concept you've learned in English thus far. Describe in detail what the assignment/unit was, what you learned and why it is important. The higher quality writing and reflecting you post, the higher amount of extra credit points will be awarded.

Due Monday, November 29.

Nature vs. Self-Reliance

Consider the excerpts from Emerson's Nature and Self-Reliance read and discussed in class this week. Which of the two essays do you think is more relevant to your own life?

Choose one of the two essays and write about its relevancy to your life. Think about the broad ideas contained in the essay and the implications it has to you. You do not need to discuss specific quotations or agree with everything Emerson says about nature or being yourself, just write about how you connect with the general ideas in one of the essays.

Write at least two paragraphs. You can include a photo to enhance your writing if you like.

Post by Sunday, November 21.

Essay Writing

This week you'll be writing your first formal essay of the year. As you think about and begin composing your essay, take some time to reflect on your development as a writer: how have your literary analysis and essay writing skills evolved over the course of your high school career?

Write at least two paragraphs about your growth and development as a writer since your freshman year of high school. One of the two paragraphs should mention specific literary analysis (writing about a play, novel or story) writing assignments that have helped you learn what it means to write an essay. The other paragraph should focus on yourself as a writer and the skills and tools necessary to achieve essay-writing success.

Due Friday, November 5

The Crucible: Injustice

In Act Three of The Crucible, it is clear that the proceedings of the court are unfair and that justice is not being served. Defendants are denied legal representation by lawyers and people are convicted without real evidence. Clearly, our legal system is much more effective in the 21st century than it was in the 16th. However, the court system still has its flaws.

Find and discuss a famous contemporary court case that you think was unfair and that justice was not served. Describe the case, defend your argument, and compare it to the proceedings during the Salem Witch Trials as depicted in The Crucible.

Write at least two clear paragraphs. Post and comment by Sunday, October 31.

Extra Credit: Video or Photo Post

Extra Credit! Find a video, photo, or song that you think relates thematically to The Crucible and post it to your blog.

Go beyond the obvious, try not to be too literal. More points will be given for choices that show the meaning of the play and its characters and conflicts rather than just the plot (for example, a picture of a witch will get you less credit than something that requires more complex thought.)

Embed the video, photo, or song into your post and write at least one paragraph that explains why you chose it and how it relates to The Crucible.

Due Sunday, October 21.

Why are we reading The Crucible?

Over the past few weeks I've been faced with a difficult question from many of you: Why are we reading The Crucible? I've feebly responded to it with reasons that reference understanding the American literary tradition and understanding where some of our current values as Americans stem from. However, I'm not sure that answers the question at all.

Trying to answer the question of why we're reading The Crucible is like trying to answer the question of why do we study literature at all. Why do we read novels, stories, poetry and plays? How does reading the same things your parents and possibly grandparents read in high school help you become a mature member of society?

A good place to start when thinking about why we're reading is to think about how what we're reading relates to your life and your personal experiences. Choose something from The Crucible and relate it in an insightful way to your own life. You could discuss a character, conflicts between characters, a character's struggle between their own impulses and doing what is right or wrong, or events from the play in general.

Write at least two paragraphs in which you discuss something from The Crucible and how it relates to your own personal experiences. The connection between the play and your life should be clear and insightful. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the play in your discussion of characters, conflict or events.

Due Friday, October 15.

Introduction: American Literature

The purpose of your individual English blog is to supplement class discussions with your own personal ideas. This is a place where you will post weekly in response to an idea that gives you a chance to put your own personal spin on the meaning of the literature we're covering and how it relates to your life.

11th grade English is American literature. We'll be covering several literary movements that align with American history in order to attempt to answer the question - what is unique about American literature? What do stories, poetry, plays and novels created by Americans tell us about American culture?

Consider these questions: What do you think it means to be an American? What do we, as a people, have in common? What are our common goals and dreams? What stereotypes about Americans exist and to what extent are they true? What are positive viewpoints on Americans? Why is it great to be an American?

For your first blog post, write an introduction to your blog in which you discuss the implications of being an American. Write several paragraphs about what America and being an American citizen mean to you. You may want to write about your goals in life and the similarities or differences between them and that of the typical "American dream." Use your knowledge of American history and pop culture to give depth to your response.

Due Friday, October 1.