Tuesday- Wednesday, November 13-14

Today we completed the final discussion of The Things They Carried and confirmed choices on topics for the definition essay. We will work on outlining that tomorrow. The assignment handout is posted under Helpful Links.

Thurs.-Fri., November 8-9

Thursday students wrote Entry Slip #6--our final entry slip for the unit! We discussed possible answers toward the end of the class period. Friday will be a reading day, as I will be at AP training. Have a restful long weekend--be sure to finish the book!

Tues.-Wed. Nov. 6-7

Tuesday students signed up for the term you wish to write your definition essay on and had a chance to work with a partner to find additional quotes and begin analysis. You will need to use three or more chapters from the book in order to get a strong grade on the essay. We will focus more on that work next week. Wednesday is a reading day.

Monday, November 5

Today, students completed the 25 minute timed writing on Entry Slip #5 then chose one of the following responses for the grade: op-ed #4 or Entry Slip #5. Afterwards, we discussed the "Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong" chapter and the notion of beginning to determine which term from O'Brien you will focus your definition essay on. That writing will begin next week!

Thursday-Friday, Nov. 1-2

Thursday, students wrote 20-minute responses to Op-ed #4. In the final 15 minutes or so of class, we reviewed Entry Slip #4 which you annotated for rhetorical technique. Friday, we are having a seminar on The Things They Carried, starting with "How to Tell a True War Story" and moving to "Sweetheart of Song Tra Bong." Keep reading!

Tuesday-Wednesday, October 30-31

Today we took the most ridiculously easy quiz ever as a reading check. Most of you are on track--some of you need to get caught up QUICKLY! Then, we took another quizzy-poo on writing statements are argument using specific details. Finally, you worked with a partner on two-column notes on "How to Tell a True War Story." We will be discussing this chapter in a seminar on Friday. Tomorrow is a reading day!

Monday, October 29

Today we reviewed a high and low scoring response to Op-ed #3 and talked about the importance of CLOSE reading and ANNOTATION. You got practice annotating an argumentative essay comparing student protests in the Vietnam era to those in 2002 as the U.S. prepared to invade Iraq. Be sure you've read through "The Dentist" for tomorrow.