Grade 10: "The Monkey's Paw" (Due by midnight Wednesday, September 22, 2010)

Finish reading "The Monkeys Paw." Make sure that you have written down at least two thoughts per page on your post-it notes.

After reading, answer the following question in at least 250 words. Use ideas from your brain to answer, but also make sure that you use details from the text, showing that you finished reading. What do you think is the most important part of the plot in "The Monkey's Paw"? Why? What happens during this part? What effect does this part have on the characters? What effect does this part have on the rest of the story?

If you finish reading and have questions regarding the text, please send me an email. Or, you can post a question to your classmates on the blog.

Remember to also complete the "definitions" section of Unit 1 Vocab.

Grade 12 IB September Book Reports (Due by midnight, September 30th)

Please post your 600-word book report as a comment here on the blog. Remember to bring your completed reading log to class on Friday, October 1st, to be handed in.

Grade 12 IB (List of vocabulary due in class October 1st)

Grade 8 (Due by midnight Monday, September 20th)

Explore John Boyne's website: http://www.johnboyne.com/ and this website about the Holocaust: www.adl.org/education/edu_students_holocaust.asp

Remember those five questions you wrote for today's independent time at the beginning of class? Choose one of the questions you wrote. Attempt to answer that question using what you learned from the website. In your post, first write the question. Then, write the answer you found. Finally, indicate where you looked on the website to find the answer.

Mihnea and Stavros, use this website for your books:
www.percyjackson.co.uk/site/pj_main.php

Assia and Nikita, read this website for Reunion:
http://us.macmillan.com/reunion
and explore this website for information about the Holocaust: www.adl.org/education/edu_students_holocaust.asp


Everyone: Check back on the blog to read your classmates' responses! Remember also that it's a good idea to first type your response in a Microsoft Word document and then Copy/Paste into the blog.

Grade 10 (Due by midnight Monday, September 20th)

Please review the elements of a short story of the fairy tale or story you wrote about in class today. First, provide a summary of the story you and your partner chose. Then, explain which part of the plot you think is the most important and why.

Make sure that you use proper spelling and grammar. I have noticed that not everyone is using correct capitalization. Always capitalize the first letter of every sentence, proper nouns such as names, titles, and the pronoun "I."

Remember, it is a good idea to write your response in Microsoft Word and then Copy/Paste into the blog.

Grade 12 IB: Compare/Contrast Papers (Due by midnight, Sunday September 19th)

Please post your compare/contrast papers on the videos we watched in class. Make sure that you use details and examples from the videos. Pay careful attention to how your paper is organized, spelling and vocabulary usage, and grammatical conventions.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU SAVE THIS COMPARE/CONTRAST PAPER AS A WORD DOCUMENT, TOO!!!

Here are links to the videos if you need them (if for some reason the links do not work you can search the titles on youtube.com and they should come up!):

NY Times Video "Defining the American Dream"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C48aGtPIuZo

"Will Smith Supports the American Dream"
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=will+smith+supports+the+american+dream&aq=o

"I Believe in the American Dream"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QL64pNdzLk

And if you're interested in seeing another related video for fun:
Jay-Z and the American Dream http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=halYFy9-WdU

Grade 12 IB: What does the image tell you? (Due by midnight Wednesday, September 15th)

Write a dialogue between the man and the woman in the photograph above. Consider not only what the couple might be talking about and their relationship with one another, but also the language they might be using. Minimum 1 page typed, double spaced before pasting it as a comment.

Grade 12 IB: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Due by midnight on Monday, September 13th)

Please explain why you think the book is entitled One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Your response must show that you have read the text, use text details or quotations, and be at least 200 words.

After you have posted, read the posts of your classmates. Comment a second time, responding to a classmate. In this second comment, address the person to whom you are responding.

For example, if Federico is responding to Riccardo, his second post would begin:

Riccardo,

I read your response and I think...

Please also make sure that when you type in your name to leave your comment, you do not use your last name. If someone in our class shares your name simply use the first letter of your last name (example: Federico N. and Federico G.).

Plan your weekend carefully! I will also be posting and commenting throughout the weekend!

Grade 12 IB: For Starters (due by midnight Thursday, September 9th)

Please engage in a test-run in using The Marymount Literary Connection by answering the following questions:

1. Do you have any questions regarding the syllabus or set-up of the course?
2. What is your favorite book and why?
3. What is an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know?

Remember, if you are having trouble refer to the directions given to you in class (these directions should always be stored in your notebook) or the directions on the class website.

Grade 10: For Starters (due by midnight Thursday, September 16th)

Please engage in a test-run in using The Marymount Literary Connection by answering the following questions:

1. Do you have any questions regarding the syllabus or set-up of the course?
2. What is your favorite book and why?
3. What is an interesting fact about yourself that not many people know?

Remember, if you are having trouble refer to the directions given to you in class (these directions should always be stored in your notebook) or the directions on the class website.