5/07/09 - Good Grief! Jake just helped me to remember that I failed to discuss your essay assignment. Here's
a quick summary of my expectations:
- topic - Moral Courage
- standard 5-paragraph format due Monday, May 18th
- worth 100 points
- body paragraph #1 - an examination of moral courage as seen in the fictitious character of Atticus Finch
- body #2 - an examination of moral courage as seen in the real life of some person from American history (ie not Corrie
ten Boom) This may be someone we've studied or someone else of your choosing.
- body #3 - an examination of moral courage either A) in the life of someone you know OR B) in your personal
decision to stand in someone else's shoes "and walk around in them."
- conclusion - must address the need for moral courage in the life of a Christian.
Get to work on this, if you find yourself w/ some questions hold onto them until Monday and we'll discuss them as a group.
DO NOT FORGET to be settled in the classroom by 8:00 on Monday.
4/20/09 - Elsa scores with the answers: 1) Maine 2) Pennsylvania
3) Wisconsin 4) Mississippi 5) Georgia
4/18/09 - Okay - you need to work for this point. Answer all five correctly and don't forget to study your
states!!
- Which US state is only one syllable?
- In what state is the Mushroom Capital of the World?
- In what state is the Toilet Paper Capital of the World?
- From what state was the first football player to appear on the front of a Wheaties box?
- From what state is the MLB team that the Pirates crushed 10-0 today?
4/15/09 - WOW! That was fast: Tracy Mee earns this point. Miss Corrie
ten Boom was born on April 15th, 1892 and then died on her 91st birthday in 1983. Keep checking back.
- SPRING BREAK BONUS OPPS: Question
#1 - Today is the birthday of what author whose book we've read this year? What else was significant about this day
in that person's life? Note: The Dialectics have this same question, so the first person in either
class will be the only one to earn the point.
4/7/09 - In addition to today's reading, don't forget your relevant current events item. Be sure to check
firedogs over Break for an occassional opp to earn a bonus point or two....
4/2/09 - Just a reminder that your Thursday/Friday assignment has been changed to reading ch 1-8 in The Hiding Place,
adding any new names to the Character list, and beginning your "Lessons Learned" list on the back of that sheet.
So no AP reading to do (you're welcome!).
3/24/09 - As promised: Using Of Mice and Men as a platform, address the question "Am I My Brother's
Keeper?" Steinbeck creates characters and a tragic plot and then asks his readers to consider this question. Be
sure, in some way, to relate your thoughts to the plot a/o thematic elements in the novella. I am not looking for a
specific format in this essay. I do, however, expect it to be thoughtful and well-written. Mull it over for a while,
jot some stuff down, and see where it takes you.
3/09/09 - Joanna (aka JJ!) gets the point for question about the Flight 93 National Memorial.
The 93' tower will contain 40 windchimes, one for each victim, and will be called the Tower of Voices.
3/06/09B - Bonus Question #2 - A proposed national monument will have a tower containing windchimes. What will
be the name of that tower? What will be memorialized at that site?
3/06/09 - Elliot gets the bonus point! It's was Teddy's folded and very lengthy speech
in his chest pocket that lessened the impact of the assassin's bullet. I doubt any other bull moose had it so lucky
during hunting season! Check back later for another bonus opp!
2/27/09 - We ran out of time on Wednesday so you'll need to read the rest of the Animal Farm section in your
Omni text. This info will be critical to the part of your essay in which you explain how the novel is written from a
Christian worldview. (Be sure to see the Bonus Op below!)
2/25/09 - WINTER BREAK BONUS OPS will occasionally show up here over the next week. Rules:
1) ONLY the first person to correctly respond to each question will earn the point. 2) There will be a limit of 3 bonus
points for any one student. 3) I will only post the next question once someone has correctly answered the current
question. 4) At that point, I will also post the answer to the previous question. Here's the first one: What
prevented the would-be assassin's bullet from doing worse harm to Teddy Roosevelt?
2/12/09 - Happy 200th Birthday President Lincoln!
- You all know that I'm not a big
fan of Wikipedia, but I did find a helpful chart there that shows the number of WWII deaths, both military & civilian,
by country. The Soviet Union total is depressingly close to what I told you in class. Incredible numbers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties
12/08/09 - In case any of you haven't been able to sleep wondering what poem I was talking about when I said the innaugural
poem was a knock-off of Walt Whitman's "I Hear America Singing" -- I've posted a link to it on the right.
1/20/09 - Your R&J essay question is: Discuss the role of good intention in Romeo & Juliet.
How does Shakespeare use them in conjunction with the theme of fate? You should have an intro paragraph that
offers a brief plot summary and moves toward your thesis statement. Support paragraphs should offer plenty
of examples of characters with good intentions and the outcomes. (Brainstorm & skim the play before writing anything!!)
Wrap it all up with a conclusion that summarizes the relationship between intnentions and fate, as seen in this play.
Note: I'd be really impressed if you managed to work in something relevant from our friend Ralph Waldo....
1/08/09 - Meant to mention an opp for last-minute second-quarter Bonus Points yesterday in class. If any of you
would like to do a short bio research on a significant person from the early 20th Century, let me know. I have a list
of names from which you may choose. I'm thinking a 2-page paper would be worth UP TO 20 points; a poster highlighting
their life could earn you 10 points. The quarter closes next Wednesday, so if you're interested, get on it!
12/22/08 - Wow - a month since my last post. Just wanted to apologize to any of you who received multiple copies
of my e-Thank You note for your wonderful Christmas gifts. Not sure how that happened but.... And yes, I do realize
that the wise men were not at the manger but, hey, I liked the music and that it tickled the baby Jesus!
11/22/08 - In case you have any questions next week, you should know that I will be out of town & (hopefully) away
from computer access until Saturday evening. Yep, I'm heading a trio of Northern aggressors into Virginia. In
addition to visiting family, we plan to visit some of the local Civil War sites. We've already seen Fredricksburg &
Antietam and are planning to get to Wilderness and Chancellorsville. I hear there are markers for where Stonewall Jackson
was shot, where he had his arm amputated, and where he died. A special pass is required to access the cemetery where
the arm is buried. Nuts! Anyway, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and know that I am thankful for each of you!
11/18/08 - FYI - I sent out 3 emails last night: one w/ study tips, one w/ funny similes & metaphors, and one
w/ the test attached. I foolishly cut & pasted the parental signature spot from another sheet and forgot to change
the date. Just ignore that, have a parent sign it, and bring the test w/ you Wednesday. Forgetting it is
NOT an option.
11/12/08 - Enjoy the OHenry stories! "Red Chief" is one of my all-time favorites. OHenry is especially known for
a certain style of writing - try to figure it out after reading the stories and add that to your literary devices
column on your charts.
- Four more days 'til my Steeler game!!
11/05/08 - I was not pleased today by the quality of attention several of you gave to your last short story reading
assignment. The two Hawthorne stories, esp "R's Daughter," will demand MUCH more attention. These are not
SI articles or FaceBook logs; they are pieces of literature that require an engaged brain. To help motivate an
appropriate level of attention, I will be offering you the "opportunity" to demonstrate your comprehension on a quiz
on Monday. On another topic - I'd like to see your extra credit posters on Monday. They will
be accepted as late as Wednesday, the 12th.
10/27/08 - Quarterly grades close next week. Make sure that I have all your biography work (esp. your "1st
final" draft w/ the eval sheet) on Monday. Submitting all that is part of the process.
10/22/08 - SURVEY SAYS.... Do me a favor. Right now - before you forget - send me a quick email with your
best guestimate as to how much time you spent on Tuesday's Philemon assignment. Add in any time you spent thinking about
a/o researching a faith-based organization as well. Be sure to subtract any time you spent walking the dog, talking
on the phone, etc. - just actual work time. There's a link to my email at the bottom of this page - do it now.
Thanks!
10/17/08 - I sent the following as an email but wanted to back it up here as well.
I just want to clarify a few details that I should've spelled out from the beginning.
- Honor requires the closed-note section to be taken in one continuous
session. ie don't start it today & finish it tomorrow. This one session may be anytime between now and class
on Monday.
- The open-note / essay section may also be taken at your leisure anytime before class on Monday.
The difference here, however, is that you may work on it in bits & pieces throughout the weekend.
- Both essays should be double-spaced & typed. While I'm primarily looking for content
-- careless spelling & grammatical errors will make me grouchy. Always proofread.
10/10/08 - Just to let you know that I will be away from home most of Saturday. I will send AP quiz confirmations
when I get home in the evening. If you don't hear from me by Sunday a.m, then I did not receive your quiz score.
10/08/08 - Thanks to Jake & Evan for volunteering to go first w/ your bio speeches on Monday. Just a few tips:
- Do NOT read your paper. Notecards would be your best route.
- Plan the use of your photo(s)
- No need to be super-formal but don't go too casual either
- Pace yourself
- Practice aloud over the weekend (ie don't wing this entirely!)
10/01/08 - Just a note to say thanks for the great discussion today! I hope you enjoyed it almost as much
as I did. History & good lit is chock-full of ideas and issues that can serve to help us stretch our minds
and faith. Let's put 'em to work!
9/25/08 - All set with the quiz link. If you haven't already, make sure you see my email about the extension on
your biography papers.
9/18/08 - It might be too late to change now, but if anyone is struggling w/ their bio topic and would like to switch
to Dorthea Dix (the woman who campaigned for reform in the treatment of the mentally ill), let me know. I'd forgotten
about her! I'm sure you could turn our stomachs just as she did with her reports.
9/17/08 - Hey - I just checked out that bibme site - very cool!! I fired off an email to Steven right after that
to let him in on it. Great resource. Ain't technology grand?!?!
9/10/08 - Be sure to notice the 2 links I added under "Resources." These will show you how to do any in-text citations
& bibliography that you'll need for your E Whitney essay. If using a webpage, be sure to follow the directions for
electronic resources. OK - Get to work!
9/05/08 - Welcome Rhets! See you on Monday.
8/20/08 - Pittsburgh Pirate Nyjer Morgan starts in his second straight game, racking up an OBP of .750. Rocco still
ignores him.
