Assignment for December 9

1.  Read the following two essays:
           Sample Essay #1 (submitted to Princeton)  http://www.quintcareers.com/collegegate4.html
           Sample Essay #2 (submitted to Cornell)  http://www.quintcareers.com/collegegate5.html

2. Write a critique of the 2 essays in which you compare the essays in term of the following.  (Write a brief paragraph on each):

• contains rich use of detail
• shows voice and personality
• portrays values likely to be important to the college

3. Submit your completed critique to the basket in front of the classroom.

4.  Use the remaining time to draft, revise, or polish your own college admissions essay.

College Admissions Essay Tips & Resources

The College Board has useful section on Essay Skills for the college admissions essay. Included are a section on how to choose a topic and tips on writing the essay itself.

Samples of successful essays can be found at quintcareers.com/ and at
college-admission-essay.com

The Common Application essay prompts are at http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/a/common-application-essay-prompts.htm 

Bad topics for your college essay are graciously provided for you at:
http://collegeapps.about.com/od/essays/tp/bad-essay-topics.htm

A list, "Top Ten Common College Admissions Mistakes," is at
www.college-admission-essay.com/collegeadmissionessaymistakes.html

An extensive list of college admissions essay topics is at:
http://www.eduers.com/University/College_Admission_Essay_Topics.html

True fact: You can pay more than $1000.00 to have a professional essay editing service such as EssayEdge help you with your essay. (Or you can just ask me and get help for free).

The College Board suggests you compete the following as part of your brainstorming process:

• Discover Your Strengths: Do a little research about yourself: ask parents, friends, and teachers what your strengths are.
• Create a Self-Outline: Now, next to each trait, list five or six pieces of evidence from your life—things you've been or done—that prove your point.
• Find Patterns and Connections: Look for patterns in the material you've brainstormed. Group similar ideas and events together. For example, does your passion for numbers show up in your performance in the state math competition and your summer job at the computer store? Was basketball about sports or about friendships? When else have you stuck with the hard work to be with people who matter to you?

Reading for Variety

Standard 2 in English reads: "Students will read a wide variety of literature from many periods and genres to build an understanding of the dimensions of human experience."

It's a worthwhile standard and one that we hope you continue to build on through your lifetime.

Your Quarter 2 online reading journal, which is due by Jan. 21 (no penalty for getting it done early!), should include a personal reading list of books you have read during high school. It's ok to include a few favorite titles from your earlier years as well. Details, as well as a sample list, are below:


The goal is to list 12 or more titles that you have read in entirety during high school. These can be assigned texts or independent reading. If you have read dozens and dozens of books, it is ok to list only the top most memorable titles in your post. If you have read fewer than 12 books, it is ok to list books that you have read at least in part.

Listing author names is also a nice touch.

Sample List: The Adventures of Ulysses
Monster
The Outsiders by SE Hinton
To Kill a Mockingbird
Romeo and Juliet by Wiliam Shakespeare
Night
Speak
The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
After the First Death by Robert Cormier
Where the Heart Is
The Crucible
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
The Scarlet Letter
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
Where Men Win Glory by John Krakauer --IR
Into the Wild by John Krakauer --IR
Great Heart: The History of a Labrador Adventure --IR
Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race
the World Has Never Seen --IR

*IR= Independent Reading

Poetry Out Loud!

Every senior at SDHS is expected to find and learn a poem and to present it during our classroom competition.  (The date of this competition will be announced soon).

Poems are at http://poetryoutloud.org/poems-and-performance/find-poems

Poetry Out Loud learning goals include:

• in-depth understanding of a poem
• exposure to a variety of poems through the classroom competition
• develop skills in memorization
• develop ability and confidence in public speaking
• increased appreciation of poetry

Poems that are high on the short, easy, & accessible scale include:
"Another Feeling," "Battlefield," "Boy and Egg," "Carmel Point," "Catch a Little Rhythm," "The Cities Inside Us," "Domestic Situation," "Dream Song 14," "Eagle Plain," "Golden Retrievals," "Keeping Things Whole," "Layabout," "The Last Laugh," "The Lamb," "Question," "Sadie & Maud," "Thoughts in a Zoo," "War Widow," "Youth."

Loaded Words and Your Issue

Loaded words, as we have defined them, are words that have a strong positive or negative "charge" to them.  Your job, in this part of the project, is to read a number of news articles related to your topic and to highlight any use of loaded words as you do so.

The next step is to group the loaded words according to which side of the issue is likely to use them and whether they are positive or negative.

Finally, you will use your list of loaded words to write up this section of your report.  Additional guidelines and a sample Section #6 are on a Google doc.

Norman Rockwell, "Freedom of Speech"

 Interpretation:  Why is this man standing?  What is going on?

What attitude do the other people seem to have toward him?

How is he different from them?  Are there places in the world

where this kind of scene could not take place?

The Merchants of Cool

Please respond to prompt #1 below. 

Then watch Merchants of Cool, Ch. 1, "Hunting for Cool," and Ch. 2 "Under the Radar Marketing" at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/view/

Then respond to prompt #2 below.

Prompt #1 (before viewing):  What is your sense of how new products become cool?  What makes everyone want them?  Are you a cool kid?  Why or why not?

Prompt #2 (after viewing):  What did you learn that you didn't know before about how things get to be cool?  Does this new knowledge make you any more (or less) willing to participate in that ongoing teen quest to be cool?

Resources for Research on Freedom of Speech Issues

News articles about these issues also mention the types of people who are most involved in the issue and why those people believe what they do about the topic. 

Google News Search:
https://news.google.com/

ProQuest News Search:
via Marvel -- scroll 2/3 down the list of links and click "ProQuest Newspapers"

Google Blog Search:
http://www.google.com/blogsearch

ProCon.org
http://www.procon.org/

Issues & Controversies
http://www.2facts.com/icof_home_feature.aspx

Euphemisms, Loaded Words, & Double-Speak

A euphemism is a word or phrase used in place of another word or phrase.  Often euphemisms are used in order to mislead, to confuse, or to neutralize the reaction of an audience.  An example of an euphemism is to call a used car a "pre-owned vehicle." 

Loaded words are words used to engage the emotions of the reader or listener.  These are words that have strong connotations.  Some loaded words (especially the ones with positive connotations) are also euphemisms.  When Maine legislators who oppose the "estate tax" started calling it the "death tax," they were using loaded words.

Double-Speak is another term for ambiguous language that is intended to deceive of confuse.  Double-speak involves the use of words or phrases such as "War is peace" or "genuine imitation leather."   Double-speak is the use of words in an attempt to make something untrue, true.

Campaign Bumper Stickers

Your challenge is to create a campaign bumper sticker that communicates who you are, what you believe, and why people should vote for you -- all within the space of less than 0.5 square foot and using fewer than a dozen words.

Resources to Review as a Class:
Sample Stickers with Brief Critiques (slideshow)
Typography Basics 
The Basics of Fonts & Typography  (Site temporarily down)

Additional Resources:
Color as Symbol
How Color Communicates Meaning
Color Symbolism
10 Awesomely Dorky Facts About Fonts

Tips for Creating Your Campaign Sticker:
1. Use the Drawing Program on Libre Office
2. On Libre Office Draw, Go to "Format," select "Page," and then change your document width to 9 inches and your document height to 3.5 inches.
3. Set your background color.
4. Add text and images.  (Images can be from clipart or can be located on Google images and pasted to your sticker from your clipboard.)

Welcome to Senior English

This blog is a home base for Senior English.  Visiting this page often can help you be successful.

Please bookmark this page on your laptop browser.

Reasons to visit this blog include:

• to complete class assignments
• for links for research and reading
• to get caught up in case you are behind or absent
• if you are confused and need more information
• if you want to challenge yourself and complete an honors assignment
• if you missed a class and want to make sure you are on the right track
• if you are interested in something we discussed in class and want to learn more

Plan for Wednesday, May 29

Dear Seniors,*

Sorry to be unexpectedly out today, but I trust that you will use the time to get your work done.  There isn't much time left!

Here's the scoop:
1) Blue 2 -- You have 2 classes left, including today, and then your exam.
2) Blue 3 -- You have 3 classes left, including today, and then your exam.

Assignments to complete include:
(1) Finish independent reading book, 5 online journal posts, and 3 peer posts.
(2) Complete responses to all 5 prompts on the Future Board of the forum (Long Bets, Future Bets, Technology, Government, and Work).
(3) Complete future project and get ready to present it.
(4) Complete critique of future project.  An online copy of the critique guidelines is here.  The basic rule of the critique is that if something in the guidelines is not fully explained in the project, it should be fully explained in your critique.  Each student (not each group) should plan to submit a critique of 1 - 2 typed double-spaced pages.  (The only exception to this is if you are already doing a writing-based project such as an essay or short story with a length of more than 2 pages per person).  In this case, you will still have a critique, but it might be briefer.

Have a good day.  I look forward to your projects and your visions of the future.

*It won't be long and no one will call you a "senior" anymore.  Enjoy it while you can!

Links to the Future

newsoffuture.com Future News for Year 2020 and Beyond

futureforall.org/ A Layperson's View of Future Technology and Society

globalfuturist.com Harnessing the Power of Innovation

thefutureofourworld.ytmnd.com The Future of Our World

wfs.org World Future Society

Fw:Thinking Videos on The Future of Money, Future Fuels, Future Time, and more

10 TED Talks on Predicting the Future

TED talks about the Future

A template and sample outline for the future essay is at:
http://wirthyenglish.blogspot.com/2011/06/sample-outline-for-future-essay.html

Life in the Future -- A Reading

An article about the future 100 years from now is here.

Prove it! (An intro to persuasion)

Prove It!

You are a lawyer involved in the case spelled out below.  Your job is to read the facts, think about the facts, think outside the facts, and then develop a logical, well-supported case to prove the guilt or innocence of the accused.  We will not actually conduct the case in class, but your job is to spell out what you would research, what you would aim to find out, and how you would support your case.


The case:

The theft of $2 million has been reported by Bangor Savings Bank in Bangor, Maine.  The bank believes it was an inside job because no doors, windows, or locks were broken during this nighttime robbery.  They believe that whoever entered had a key and also had knowledge of the security camera and alarm system.  .  

The accused is Janet Con, a 32-year old former employee of the bank.  Evidence gathered at the bank included a security camera video that showed a shadowy, hat-wearing figure who seems to resemble Janet Con.  Additionally, a partial fingerprint of Ms. Con was found on the door to the vault.   

Create an outline for your case that looks something like this:

Janet Con is __________________________ (guilty/ innocent)  Choose one.

Issues to Investigate:

--Argument 1 and supporting details:

• We would investigate and aim to show . . .
• We would investigate and aim to show

--Argument 2 and supporting details:

--Argument 3 and supporting details

(The more arguments you can present,  and more more closely you are able to tie the details (evidence) with your case, the better chance you have of winning the case.  Be creative.  Think outside the box.  Leave no stone unturned.

Critical Review -- Sample Paragraphs

Sample paragraphs of a critical review are here.

Resource of the Day -- ProQuest

ProQuest provides access to reviews and news stories not found on Google.

Proquest is accessible via Wirthportal / the Student Research Center .  
Scroll down once you reach that page.

An additional benefit of ProQuest is that it provides ready-made source information for your bibliography,

Extending, Revising, & Polishing Genre Pieces

I've spent time reading over your draft genre pieces. Here are some general suggestions that will help strengthen your pieces:

1. Develop your headings and titles. A fully developed heading may be 2 - 3 sentences or more. A title is generally short -- but make the most of it. "Waris Dirie" or "Waris Dirie -- One Determined Woman" The 2nd title is stronger, yet it still doesn't "cost" that much. Agree?

2. Among your 5 pieces, include at least 3 pieces about specific events or moments in your biography. General pieces that give an overview of a person and that person's accomplishments can be useful, but don't stop there.

 3. Aim for at least one piece from the point of view of a "contemporary" of your subject -- someone who knew your subject and had a relationship of some kind with him or her. That person undoubtedly had an opinion on your subject and a way of voicing that opinion.

Biography Project Resources

Sample Feature Article 1
Sample Feature Article 2

Sample Interview

Sample Character Sketch

How to Write a Haiku

Sample Annotated Bibliography

Easybib.com 

Biography Project Research

The goal is get started on researching topics related to the biography you are reading.  Don't worry about what the research will be used for.*  Follow your interests.  Find some sources.  Save the source information so you can easily go back later.

1. Identify topics for research, using the handout

2. Set up a place to save and organize all your bookmarks.  This could be a folder with Safari or Firefox Bookmarks.  Or you may choose to set up an account on Delicious or Diigo.

3. Start identifying sites that are potential resources.  Don't just rely on Google.   See the Biography section of  Wirthportal (also on the right sidebar link of this site) and check out Marvel, Internet Public Library, Google Search tools such as "Advanced Search" and Time Defined Searchs, Google News, and Google Blogs.

4. Save your sites you find within your bookmarks folder (or on Delicious or Diigo).

*Some of your research may be later incorporated into a review of your biography. Some of your research may help you write genre pieces and may become part of your presentation. Even if your research is not directly used, it may help you have a better understanding of your biography and -- importantly -- you will get credit for each source you include as part of your bibliography.

Hamlet Project

The steps of the project include:
1. Choose a partner.
2. Choose a theme.
3. Collect 5 quotes on your theme & save them to a word document.
4. Write a statement that explains and interprets each quote.  (The statement should explain in a general sense what the quote might add to our understanding of the theme; it should not be specific to the play and its characters).
5. Choose an image to go with each quote & statement.
6. Put quotes, statements, and images together in the form of a slideshow, prezi, poster, or other.
7. Present to the class.

The full text of Hamlet is here.  You can locate quotes with your theme by using the "Command F."

The rubric for the project is here.

"There is the story of the woman who read Hamlet for the first time and said, 

'I don’t see why people admire that play so. It is nothing but a bunch of quotations 

strung together.'”             –Issac Asimov, Asimov’s Guide to Shakespeare

Literary Terms

Definitions for literary terms can be found at:

http://dictionary.reference.com/wordlist/literary/

http://www.babylon.com/define/58/literary-terms-dictionary.html

http://library.thinkquest.org/17500/data/litdev/litdevA.html

Hamlet Journal

Click here for the Hamlet Act I Journal template.
Click here for the Hamlet, Act II Journal template.

Then copy and paste the template to your favorite word processing program.  Then save it as a document.

Hamlet on Facebook:
 If only Elsinore had Wifi:
Click here to view.

Hamlet Resources

 Resources:
Hamlet -- Full Text online

Enjoying "Hamlet" 
Shakespeare Resource Center
Hamlet: The Undiscovered Country