Back in Action

The number of puns one is able to make with the word "back" are virtually limitless. Anyway, I am seeing this specialist who is a medical doctor but also "cracks" my back. I have back-to-back appointments with the doc and the physio this week. I am progressing well, and I should be back on my feet (you see?) next week. Once I am back in the game, I should be able to back up the instruction you've had in my absence and we can get back to the grind with the AP exam prep (I'm not even trying ... really!).

On the pop culture front, my love of learning and respect for genius has been reinforced by Glee tonight. I actually teared up when Quinn got into Yale! Seriously, what a great role model - well aside from that whole teen pregnancy thing; but she did participate in an adoption plan for her baby, and you know how I feel about that, so all in all, I have to give that one a thumbs up. Plus, you'll notice she mentioned her great application essay and how she maintained A's in the face of adversity, so that's a good lesson too. O.K. My husband now needs to intervene with one of his usual comments such as, "You know it's not real, right? It's a TV show!"

Lest you think I am immersed in idiocy all the time, I want to brag about the fact that my 2 and 1/2 year-old daughter saw the book of essays I got for Christmas on the table yesterday, and said, "That looks like Joan Didion." My daughter had only seen pictures of J.D. now, in her seventies, and she recognized J.D.'s photo from the 60's. So, you see, some intellectual awareness is developing around here.

Anyway, school. Tomorrow is the big test, and hopefully that goes well for you. Check out this link, if you happen to see the blog before tomorrow: The Catcher in the Rye Lit Chart. You see reading the blog should pay off! 

Finally, don't leave your essay on the back burner; once you've studied it's back to the salt mines to get writing, so that you are ready to peer edit on Friday. By next week, you should have your third body paragraph written; then we'll work on getting back to basics (I can't help myself!), and editing and perfecting your writing.   

Well, back to the recuperation efforts, which require lying mostly flat on my - you guessed it - back.

Show What You Know

Hello again,

Clearly when I have nothing else to do but heal and rest, I can update the blog quite frequently. Although I have to admit to watching part of a Twilight movie today. Question, if Bella is so appealing to all the manly types, why can't she just find a guy who is neither a) dead, nor b) truly an animal? Is dating so tough in the modern age? Is her self-concept so low? Anyway, should you find yourself in a similar dilemma, remember: you deserve better. 

Back to A.P. I see that Miss Laroch assigned the Bilingualism in America essay and questions, and the continuing work on your own essay, and reminded you of The Catcher Test on Wednesday. Good! Time to get cracking on all that work - I know it's a lot, but there is much to learn. 

With respect to the questions and the test, I wanted to give you some suggestions about how you answer questions. I always tell students that answering questions, especially at this level, is your chance to show what you know. By which I mean you need to spell it out with details and examples. Push yourself to really expand on your thinking and engage the questions. Let's see if I can break this down more clearly.

1. First, identify what the question is asking, and if appropriate revisit the text to make sure you really know what is being discussed. 
2. Second, in your answer, clarify the question's terms. When you are asked about the impact of "the hip consumer culture" be sure to explain what that means in your answer. That way your teacher knows that you know and understand what the heck this essay / novel / text is all about.
3. Finally, write a solid and thorough answer. Avoid generalities and give specifics, details, examples.
4. And, because this is English, after all, please write in pen and proof-read your work. There are a shocking number of spelling and simple errors in some of the homework I have been looking at.

Unfortunately, in about 95% of cases, a longer answer is better because it gives you the opportunity to write more and to show more of your thinking, which is what I (or your other teachers) are essentially trying to evaluate. My questions in marking are: does the student really get this essay / novel / text? Has the reading pushed them to consider new ideas or rethink old ones? Have they thought deeply about the reading and put some effort into exploring and explaining their answers? Are they able to articulate their thinking and understanding with adequate depth and clarity? 

Anyway, the test on Wednesday will be paragraph-type questions, so keep some of these pointers in mind. I am thinking the questions will focus on the major themes, symbols, setting, characters, etc. in the novel. You can certainly look at some of those novel study sites to help you prepare for the test.
Have a great weekend!

Ms. M

Mountain 911: What a Gas!

Hello students!

And yet another valuable life lesson has been learned this week: never blog about lacking drama. In other words, be careful what you wish for! Not that I was wishing, but maybe subconsciously I envied Aidan's whole being carried down the mountain on a stretcher thing. Well, I ended up on a stretcher after all.

Now picture, if you will, a giant turtle resembling yours truly, stuck on her back, and literally unable to move, stand up, crawl ( I tried), etc. That was me. Standing and walking with assistance led to sweating and crying and some possibly inappropriate exclamations of excruciating pain. So, after 4 hours of general immobility and agony, we called the ambulance at 3:00 a.m. and asked them to sneak into our house, so as not to wake the children. Having two paramedics in your bedroom at 3 in the morning is an unusual experience, but I have to confess, when they brought on the laughing gas to get me out of the house and into the ambulance, I have rarely felt so happy. I was crying from the pain, but also giggling uncontrollably - I could kind of see how absurd the whole situation was from the outside. Anyway, the nice paramedics told me to take as much gas as I needed, so in a relatively pain-free blur, I was transported to the hospital. Once in the ER, I was suitably x-rayed and  injected with morphine and muscle relaxants, etc., so I could move again.  Walking is highly underrated. I am now seeing a specialist who injected some large needle into my SI joint, so hopefully things are improving. Other than that, I'm trying to get over the loss of a whole ski season, but we'll see how things go. (Note: This story is in no way intended to promote, support, or positively reinforce any use of drugs. Just say no, unless you are in the care of medical professionals.)

As for the main issue on all your minds - the learning - yes, I am on top of it, even from the couch! Our goals for this week and next are to finish reading the Rodriguez essay, Aria: Memoirs of a Bilingual Child; read Bilingualism in America; read one more essay next week by Eric Liu; prepare for The Catcher in the Rye test next Wednesday; and keep writing your essays. I am suggesting you are finished the intro and first body paragraph by Monday, and then I think the second body paragraph could be written next week. You will also do some peer-editing next week to make sure you are on track. Finally, you should really be thinking about persuasion and argumentation to prepare for that particular section of the AP exam. That is a lot, and the pressure is on, so try to set a pace for yourself, and keep up on the work. 


For this term, my plan is to mark the Edmunson question set - coming back to you next week; the Catcher test; the journal you just wrote; your peer-editing; and maybe a couple of other assignments. Even though I am away, I really am working closely with the TOC's to keep things on track. I will also update the blog for you, so you know exactly where we are headed. Finally, if you have some burning questions about the curriculum, assignments, etc. you may email - no questions about laughing gas, please!  

Must stagger to the doctor again now. Bye.

Back to the Blog

Hi Folks!

I thought the least I could do was write a blog entry to let you know I am thinking of you; sorry to have been away. I have imagined conducting a Trerise-like telling of my own bad fall, minus the concussion, but there isn't enough drama to make the story very interesting. I have no facial contusions, and I did not call Heather when my life flashed before my eyes (sorry, H!). Anyway, apparently, I may have been working out just a bit too strenuously after Christmas, and I had some sort of episode with my back. I did collapse and yell out in pain, but then I just dragged myself to bed and called my husband. I have been hobbling around like a woman in her early 80's, and since I am decades away from that (just in case you thought otherwise), it is none too pleasant. 

But enough about me; let the learning continue! You should be working on the beginnings of your personal essay. I am pleased that Mrs. Jaques told you to make it both personal and persuasive - a little secret: basically all essays are an argument of sorts - but for this effort, focus on the personal story, which will be uniquely yours. Also, she was correct in suggesting you don't wait until I come back to get working on it. Finally, please note, don't feel the need to make it too personal. You are not going to confession - just writing an essay. Of course, you may include honest and even emotional revelations, but please remember: I am your teacher. 

You have been reading Richard Rodriguez's essay, which I hope will also give you an insight into both the personal and persuasive essay. Next week we will look at Hayakawa's Bilingualism in America. We are going to be studying argument, counterargument, and rebuttal. If you don't know what those words mean, then look here. 

Anyway, hope you have a wonderful weekend - shout out to Will, another sufferer of serious injury - heal soon!

Must go lie flat again, which sounds fun, but is actually really boring!

Maybe I'll read some Joan Didion ...

Ms. M