Wrapping up To Kill a Mockingbird

As we near the end of the book, take some time to reflect on what you've read, discussed and written about these past few months.

What are some of your favorite parts and characters? What stands out in your memory as a part we read and talked about in class that you found interesting? Write a paragraph about the characters and parts of the book that you liked.

What do you think is the most important thing you've learned while reading this book? For this you can think about things we did in class, such as annotating and discussing, or the life lessons and messages that the book teaches you. Write a paragraph about what you've learned while reading this book.

Due Friday, February 10.

Poetry Out Loud

Our Poetry Out Loud competition is this Thursday! As you memorize your poem and prepare to recite, it's a good idea to get to know a little about the poet who created it. It's also a good idea to hear your poem read out loud.

For this post, research your poet and find a reading/performance of your poem on the Internet. Using Wikipedia is okay for this assignment as the goal here is just to find out some information about your poet rather than to do an in-depth research project. Find out about your poet's life: what else did/does he/she do besides write poetry? What kind of education did he/she have? What is his/her family life like? Answer these questions and remark on why you think he/she would've written the poem that you are working on for Poetry Out Loud.

For the reading or performance part of this post, watch someone else read/perform the poem. You can usually find a reading on YouTube or another website. Write about which words/lines were given emphasis and what you think the tone of the speaker's voice conveyed about the poem.

Due Wednesday, January 4.

The Mystery of Boo Radley

In To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee sets up Boo Radley's character to keep the reader guessing and wondering what his true nature might be.

What do you know so far about Boo Radley?
In what ways is he scary and in what ways does the author make you think he might not be as bad as Scout originally thinks?
What are the facts and rumors about Boo Radley put forth at the beginning of the book, in chapter 1? Why are the children fascinated by Boo Radley?

Write two paragraphs about what you know about Boo Radley so far in the book. What do you think is really going on with this character? Describe how the author makes Boo Radley mysterious and intriguing. Address all or most of the questions above in your two paragraphs.

Due Monday, December 12.

To Kill a Mockingbird: Social Enviornment

As you know, setting refers to the time and location where a story takes place. Another aspect of setting that you may not have studied in middle school is the social environment created by time and place. For this blog post, use your notes on what makes up the social environment aspect of setting and write about both the social environment in To Kill a Mockingbird and the social environment in Olympia High School.

For your first paragraph, describe the setting of the novel. Where is it set? When is it set? How would you describe the social environment? Describe at least three items from the bulleted list in your notes (for example, gender roles, customs, and traditions.) Use evidence from the novel to support your description of the setting.

For your second paragraph, write about the social environment of Olympia High School. Again, describe at least three items from the bulleted list. Compare our culture at Olympia High School to the culture of the fictional town of Maycomb, Alabama.

Due Monday, December 5.

Essay Reflection

Congratulations! You have just finished your first analysis essay for English. After reading a partner's essay and giving him or her feedback, you should have scored your own essay using the rubric for Ideas, Structure and Use of Language.

Take a minute to think about your writing. How did you feel you did overall on this essay? What was hard about it? What was easy for you? What do you think you most need to work on in your writing? Answer each of those questions, then set a goal for your own writing.

Example goals:
1. I will outline my ideas before I begin.
2. I will spend more time proofreading and editing my writing.
3. I will work on using evidence in my writing.

You can't use the above "example goals" word for word, but you can take the idea from one of them and personalize it for your own writing.

Due Tuesday, November 22.

Tim Burton's Style: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

As we're watching Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in class, what stands out to you about Tim Burton's style?

Next week we'll be watching Edward Scissorhands and you will continue to analyze Burton's use of cinematic techniques.

For this blog post, name at least three cinematic techniques you notice in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, give specific text evidence for each technique, and write your ideas about how they show Burton's style and how they influence your understanding of plot and characters.

Write three paragraphs! Each paragraph should identify a cinematic technique, give evidence, and include your ideas about style and impact on the movie.

Due Tuesday, November 1.

The Link Between Movies and Stories

We are finishing up reading and writing short stories and moving into analyzing style through watching Tim Burton films. For this post, think about how movies tell stories. How is watching a movie like reading a story? How does the style of the movie make it more interesting or entertaining or help you understand the story?

Think of a movie that you think has a unique style and/or a very good story. Give the name of the movie and what you notice about the style. For example, in The Hunger Games, part of the "style" is that the costumes and look of Katniss' home district are gray and gloomy, while the parts in the Capital feature elaborate, bright costumes and hair styles. This helps you understand that Katniss' home is not a happy place and that the Capital is kind of over-the top.

We are going to be watching Tim Burton movies in class. If you want to, choose a Tim Burton movie to write about for this blog post. What do you notice about his style as a director? However, writing about a Tim Burton film is not required. You can write about whatever movie you like!

Write at least two paragraphs for this post. The first paragraph should be about how movies are like stories, and the second paragraph should be about a specific movie and the style of that movie.

Due Monday, October 10.

What it's like to be a Freshman

As we read the excerpt from Speak in class, we discussed how much of the story was relatable. The author used first person point of view to put us in the head of the narrator and wrote about something everyone has experienced - being a freshman in a high school lunch room on the first day of school.

For this blog post, write about what it's like to be a high school freshman. Employ the narrative techniques listed in the short story assignment to describe your experience so far as a freshman.

Write two paragraphs for this post. In the first paragraph, describe what being a freshman is like. Explain your experience by using narrative techniques such as figurative language, imagery, symbolism, and/or irony. In the second paragraph, tell a brief story of something that has happened to you at school this year. This story should be somewhat representative of the experience of being a freshman. Be sure it's a story that includes conflict!

Due Monday, October 3.

Planning Your Short Story

In a short time you will be working on your first major evaluation assignment for English: writing your own short story! As we read, analyze and discuss short stories in class, you should be planning your story.

For this blog post, write about two ideas you have for a short story. At least one of the two should be based on a real experience. Arguably the most important part of a short story is conflict - what is the conflict in each of your story ideas?

Write two paragraphs for this post. Each paragraph should describe your story idea in detail - including the conflict. Start each paragraph by telling me if this story is based on a real experience of if it's purely imaginary.

Due Monday, September 26.

Introduction to My Blog

Welcome to Freshman English!

Throughout the school year you will be required to respond to prompts from this blog on your own personal English blog. The goals for blogging include:
1. Improve your writing through consistent practice.
2. Develop your writing style and voice by sharing your own personal experiences or opinions and ideas about what we read and discuss in class.

For this first blog post, write an introduction to your blog. Your primary audience will be me, your teacher, so think about what you'd like me to know about you as a reader, a writer and a learner. What do you like to read? What is the best book you ever read and why? What do you like to write? How do you work best? What classes do you enjoy in school? Also, tell me a little about your personal life. What is your family like? What do you like to do after school and on weekends?

Please write at least two paragraphs for this post.
1st paragraph: Write about what type of student you are. Consider the questions above and write at least four complete sentences.
2nd paragraph: Write about your personal life, your family and your interests. Write at least four complete sentences.