If you have questions, you can see me during office hours, Monday and
Wednesday after school and Thursday before school.
If you have an urgent matter, you can email me. But please keep in mind that
I generally check email between 8am and 5pm weekdays. Not getting a response
to a last minute email is not an excuse for missed homework!
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WEEK OF DECEMBER 14
This week we are working on book group presentations and first drafts of short stories. By
Tues(1,2,3,4)/Weds(6), you must finish reading your book group book. Due Weds(1,2)/Thurs(3,4,6)
is a group grey sheet (one per group) that outlines your presentation idea. Presentations will happen
Thurs(1)/Fri(2,3,4,6). Also due Thurs(1)/Fri(2,3,4,6) is a first draft of your short story - double-
spaced, legibly handwritten or typed, edited with an editing checksheet.
We are adding Notebook #14 "A Good Short Story..." and Notebook #15 "Short Story Structure" to our
notebooks. See the handouts link for a copy if you miss class.
6th period has a revised poem due Tuesday, 12/15 (typed, 1.5 spaced).
WEEK OF DECEMBER 7
Book groups and preparatory work on short stories continue this week. Each class's deadlines are a
little different, so please refer to the homework board in the classroom and ask me if there are any
questions.
Due Tuesday, December 8: Final revision of one poem in your poetry packet; preparation for
discussion (grey sheet; see handouts link); book group reading (whatever pages your group decided
to read)
Due Weds (1,2)/Thurs(3,4)/Fri(6): Decide on ONE conflict from your list in NB#13 and write a page,
single spaced about the conflict, including: Who, What, When, Where, Why (does it matter)? Be sure
your conflict is narrow in scope (covering a short period of time) and comes from first-hand
experience.
Due Thurs(1)/Fri(2,3,4,6): Preparation for discussion (NEW grey sheet; see handouts link for
"Preparation for Discussion - Focus on THEME"); book group reading; main character questionnaire
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30
REMINDER: There are no READNG UPD8'S or spelling tests in December!
Our first book group meetings are this week. A discussion preparation form is
due before each meeting (see handouts). You are also responsible for reading
the pages set by your group. If you missed school before Thanksgiving, you
must check with your group to find out the required pages. Please be sure to
bring your book to class for discussions.
We are also starting a unit in writing short fiction. Due
Weds(1st,2nd)/Thurs(3rd,4th,6th): a list of possible problems/conflicts/what
if's for your own short story.
Due Tuesday, December 8: Final revision of one poem in your poetry packet.
Due Tuesday, December 15: First draft of a short story (handwritten or typed,
double spaced, edited)
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 23
This week we are starting book groups. Please see the Book Group link to find
out which book you have
been assigned. Students decide in class how many pages to read for each
meeting. The first meeting
will be next Tuesday, December 1. See the Handouts link for the discussion
preparation form to be
completed before class on 12/1. (Page 2 will be completed IN CLASS after the
discussion.) Expect to
read at least 2 hours in your book before the Dec. 1 meeting.
