Colors and Symbolism

Here are links that provide tips on symbolic meaning of different colors:

http://www.princetonol.com/groups/iad/lessons/middle/color2.htm

http://desktoppub.about.com/cs/color/a/symbolism.htm

http://crystal-cure.com/color-meanings.html

Spoof Ads

spoof (noun)
1. a mocking imitation of someone or something, usually light and good-humored; lampoon or parody: The show was a spoof of college life.
2. a hoax; prank. --Dictionary.com

View the spoof ads at Adbusters.org and then complete the related thinksheet.

Merchants of Cool -- Frontline Program Available Online

The Frontline Merchants of Cool program is available online at the following link:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/cool/

English 12 Assignment for Tuesday, March 23

Please complete the following as a way to get started with our Language & Power unit:

1. Print copies of the following worksheets:
--How to Read an Ad
--Recognizing Appeals and Claims
2. Go to the webpage "Ad Dissection 101: How to Read an Ad"
3. Read and click your way through the activity. Be sure to respond to the corresponding questions on the worksheet.
4. Go to the webpage "Recognizing Appeals and Claims"
5. Read and click your way through the activity. Be sure to respond to the corresponding questions on the worksheet.
6. Turn both worksheets into the basket on the front desk. Thanks!

Resources for Creating a Bibliography

Use this to create your bibliography: EasyBib

Go here to learn about annotations: Purdue Owl: Annotated Bibliographies

This site includes a sample of what your bib page should look like:
Lesley U.: MLA Format Annotated Bibliography Sample

Evaluating Online Sources

Evaluating Online sources: 5-Question quiz

1. Please read and discuss the "Evaluating Your Sources" handout together as a class.

2. Below are a few tips related to the handout:
---Authority (authorship) can often be determining by scanning the top of the web page, the bottom of the web page, and the "about us" page (if any). Keep in mind that unless the person is famous and/or known to you, a name only tells so much. Who is this person? What do they do for a living? What kind of education do they have?
---Objectivity: Is the site selling anything? Trying to persuade you of anything? Are there ads on the site?
---Authenticity / Reliability: Is there an organization, corporation, or educational institution associated with the site? What is it? As before, look at the top of the web page, the bottom of the web page, and the "about us" page (if any).
---Timeliness: Is there a date provided somewhere on the page or even in the copyright (if any) at the bottom of the page?

3. Visit each of the 3 diet sites below and complete the chart by making comments about these sites in each respective box in the chart:
Weight Loss Center (article)
Medicine.Net (article)
Diet Pills Hoopla & Hype (article)

Coming Soon:
You can travel into space for $200,000.00
Right now you can go to
The End of the Internet for free.
Check it out!

English Wide Open Exam

An online copy of the English Wide Open Exam will be placed here.

(If typing your exam, please copy and paste the exam into a word program and then type each of your responses below the respective question.)

English 12 Semester Outline

Writing:
Acadia storm wave essay
Resume
College admissions essay
Persuasive essay
Question paper (interpretative paper)

Readings:
Beowulf (3 episodes)
Canterbury Tales: Prologue, Pardoner's Tale
"The Somebody"
Hamlet
Independent reading: ________, __________ (2 or more books)
Biography: ________________

Terms:
Concrete detail
sensory detail
chronological
functional
voice
organization
revision vs. editing
simple, compound, complex sentences
thesis
argument
opposition argument / rebuttal
objective
critical
analysis
synthesis
evaluation
literary period
genre
alliteration
rhythm
climax
resolution
conflict, internal & external
ambiguity
point of view

Themes:
The Story of English (how our language has evolved)
Inheriting Earlier Voices
Writing for Results

English Wide Open -- Semester Outline

Writing:
Descriptive writing
Writing about a place
Persuasive writing
Wild places essay
Acadia storm wave essay
Resume
College admissions essay

Readings:
Island Girl
The Reach
The Island / Polar Dream
Into the Wild
Into the Wild (film)

Terms:
Concrete detail
sensory detail
chronological
functional
voice
organization
revision vs. editing
simple, compound, complex sentences
refute
critical
analysis
synthesis
evaluation
literary period
genre

Themes:
The Importance of Place
Going to Extremes in Search of Truth

Going to Extremes in the Search for Truth

In a world where extremism is so prevalent, we might ask why is it that so many individuals are going to such extremes. We also might ask if extremism is more a reflection of the individual or of society.

• What is extremism? Do all (most, many) of us have extremist tendencies? Can any of us become an extremist?
• Is extremism always bad? Are some forms of extremism more harmful than others?
  
• What are the causes of extremism?
• What would a world without extremism look like?
• Are some people more susceptible to extremism? What characteristics do these people have?
• What can we do as individuals and as a society to reduce extremism?

Links for further research:

ADL: "Extremism in America"
Islam for Today: "Muslims Against Extremism and Fundamentalism"
SPLCenter: "Active U.S. Hate Groups" (map)
Religious Tolerance: "Hate Websites"
Hate Groups for Dummies: "How to Build A Successful Hate Group"
Tolerance.org: "Responding to Obama: America at the Extremes"

Into the Wild Resources

Links for your Into the Wild interpretation are at:
http://delicious.com/wirth_ray/mccandless

Evaluating Internet Resources

1. Please read and discuss the "Evaluating Your Sources" handout together as a class.

2. Below are a few tips related to the handout:
---Authority (authorship) can often be determining by scanning the top of the web page, the bottom of the web page, and the "about us" page (if any). Keep in mind that unless the person is famous and/or known to you, a name only tells so much. Who is this person? What do they do for a living? What kind of education do they have?
---Objectivity: Is the site selling anything? Trying to persuade you of anything? Are there ads on the site?
---Authenticity / Reliability: Is there an organization, corporation, or educational institution associated with the site? What is it? As before, look at the top of the web page, the bottom of the web page, and the "about us" page (if any).
---Timeliness: Is there a date provided somewhere on the page or even in the copyright (if any) at the bottom of the page?

3. Visit each of the 3 diet sites below and complete the chart by making comments about these sites in each respective box in the chart:
Weight Loss Center (article)
Medicine.Net (article)
Diet Pills Hoopla & Hype (article)

Coming Soon:
You can travel into space for $200,000.00
Right now you can go to
The End of the Internet for free.
Check it out!

Beowulf Resources

Beowulf -- Translations.net

Beowulf -- Easy to read version

Beowulf -- Hypertext version

College Essay -- 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 www.quintcareers.com/

The Common Application essay prompts are at https://app.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/CommonApp2008.pdf

True fact: You can pay as much as $1000.00 to have a professional essay editing service such as EssayEdge help you with your essay. (Or you can just ask Wirthy 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?

American Parks Network, History of Acadia

John William Uhler, Acadia National Park Information Guide -- History

Acadia.net, History of Acadia

National Park Service, Acadia -- History & Culture

Park Vision, Acadia National Park -- Photographs