Oliver Goldsmith

Today we:

1. Reviewed multiple choice practice questions


2. Discussed / reviewed the Oliver Goldsmith essay and vocabulary


3. Reviewed some literary terms from the parallelism homework


4. Began an essay review in groups to be continued next day.

Homework: Study!

Happy Easter!

I don't know why, but I am so excited you are graduting! Don't misread that - I am excited for you, not happy to be rid of you. Seriously, it is soooo soon now, and then the world's your oyster, Bob's your uncle, the future's wide open, and all that stuff. I think I'm envious; I also think when you start a successful hight tech company and you need some solid corporate training you should remember dear old Ms. Mountain, and keep in mind that you could hire her; she's professional, she's nice, she's organized, and she's good with the language! (note the parallel structure - it's everywhere!). Something to think about. Just planting the seed. Remember, it's who you know and all that jazz.

Anyway, this is supposed to be about what you know, so let's stay focussed.

Today we:
Finished questions "On the Rainy River" and began to discuss them; reviewed some emerging themes from the novel; and read two great sample synthesis compositions from your classmates, Vincent and Jon. Good work!

For Homework:
1.Practice multiple choice package to be completed this weekend (give yourselves 60 mins)
2.Read p. 929 - Interview with Chris Hedges
3.Read p. 932 - Oliver Goldsmith - find 10 awesome vocabulary words and their meanings from this selection. The language is terrific here, and you will use the words or come across them frequently.
Have a happy, hoppy Easter weekend! (an example of alliteration).

The Destruction of Culture

It is time to STUDY. You should definitely have a plan to review starting now for the AP Exam. I did overhear someone say, "I never study for English." Throw out that bad habit and study, people. It will be worth it! You need a bit of destruction of your own overly relaxed culture - time to jet it out! In last week's completely unscientific poll, you identified these as your top priorities for review:

1. Synthesis


2. Multiple Choice


3. Terms


4. Overall review for each type of essay

To that end you wrote a synthesis today. Then for homework, I assigned page 339 - 342 and exercises on page 345. Do Exercises 1,2,3, and 5. (NOT 4). Do the reading before you do the exercises - this will help you review the idea of parallel structure and the terms associated with it: zeugma, anaphora, antithesis, and anitmetabole.

Bloggedy Blog

OK: let's make this snappy. Today we:

1. Reviewed how exam scores are calculated - this was quite positive news!


2. Reviewed where you are at (awful clause) with your preparations for the almighty AP exam and how I might continue to help you - PLAN AHEAD, PEOPLE!


3. Began questions on "On the Rainy River" (don't do any others on that handout.)


4. Homework: Read Chris Hedges' from "Destruction of Culture" p. 922

Note: Many of you had concerns about your knowledge of rhetorical terms. I found this link at About.com, which has the top 100 terms from the exam and great explanations linked to each definition. Check out encomium.

Byebeddy Bye. Sorry for the short blog - just not feeling too chatty aujourd'hui!

A Flawed Method of Gauging Understanding

So claims the exam-prep book we are working with. But then, it quickly counters, "Get with the program! It's a necessary evil." So, we spent more time on this evil today - ironically in response to Norma's request. Yes, the Norma who had to write the DELF exam today, and so missed all the multiple choice fun! Oh well. You people will be soooo happy to never write another exam in your life - that's the best part of your 30's and 40's. Well ... there are a few other good things too! :) Homework: Just to prove that she is not as predictable as you think, Ms. Mountain did not assign any more reading today. (It's awkward talking about myself in third person.)

1. Instead, I (that's better) want you to do some viewing: Look at the painting and sculpture on pages 315 and 316 of your text. Answer questions 1-3 on page 316.


2. Then take a look at this website for The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial. Take a look at the photo gallery and the interactive panoramas (scroll down on the photo page). The 360 cameras give a good idea of what the site it like. Then go back to the main page and read some of Today's Wall Casualties. If you click on the INFO PAGE for any of the soldiers, you get a sense of how long they served and the conditions in which they were killed. There is also a link there to comments and pictures from others. It is very mvoing to read about some of the fallen soldiers and will offer greater perspective to the novel, I think.

Ciao!

"Too Frightened to Be Cowards"

Today we read and discussed the first story / chapter of The Things They Carried. We touched on some of the overarching themes and the multiple plot strands in the first story. By now you should have read the pink handouts, and I added a few blue handouts with some notes and terms on "The Things They Carried"; "Love"; and "Spin". You should read those handouts and familiarize yourself with the literary terms: verisimilitude; dynamic and static character; vignettes. For homework, you need to read up to page 84: "Enemies", "Friends", "How To Tell A True War Story", and "The Dentist". Have a lovely weekend!

Write On!

How fun was that? Yikes. I feel like I'm in Grade 12, and now I want to compare the questions with you. What did you write? Did you like that one? Why couldn't I think of anything too interesting to write about money? I opened with Donald Trump, but other than that ... Man, you kids have the hard life! Anyway, hopefully you are recovering nicely and will have time to kick back and relax and read up to page 51 in the novel. Also read the handout about conscription please - part of the pink package I gave out last day. See you Friday!

Lest I Forget

No, this is not a post about Remembrance Day, although in today's class we listened to a podcast about The Things They Carried and the impacts of war and the memories of war that remain when a soldier returns home. Look, there's Tim O'Brien now! My title is actually self-referential - I don't want to forget the blog again.

• We reviewed the in-class you did on Huxley / Orwell / Postman. I gave pointers and feedback in preparation for next day's in-class writing.


• You then signed out copies of The Things They Carried.


• I also went over the idea of a syllogism today. The term came up on the sample multiple choice I gave last week - check out the link because it's worth reviewing.

Homework: I assigned page 1-26 for homework, and you need to read the following handouts: Tips on Reading Linked Short Fiction; The Intro; About the Author.

Doh!

So sorry - forgot all about you! Since we are the action family lately, I've been too busy skiing, working out, taking the kids to mountain biking and skating and attending birthday parties to even think about school. So, let's be quick about this - I've got things to do! Last day:

• We reviewed the homework questions from Ch.3


• We then did a practice of several different AP essay questions in groups of 3 - will discuss those more tomorrow.


• Homework: Finish reading to page 74 in the text (Ch. 3) and then read page 84 - 85.

Oh- I did mention some sort of treat for tomorrow right? I am now bribing you to come to class! The attendance last day was almost record breaking - see what we can do tomorrow. Monday - you love it - don't deny it!

See you then!