English

Here are some more definitons of terms:

 

• assonance occurs when vowel sounds are repeated
• consonance features repetitive consonant sounds throughout, usually in the middle or end of words.
• Alliteration = repetition of the first consonant:  Laresa likes ladders and other things.
• Onomatopoeia = sound words, ex:  bam! Crash! Thud! Pow!
• Simile = comparison of 2 things using “as” or “like
• Metaphor = comparison of 2 things NOT using “as” or “like”
• Personification = giving human characteristics to non-human things – Ex:  The ocean danced in the moonlight.  Another ex:  The words appeared to leap off of the paper as she read the story.
• Paradox = opposing things; opposites put together. Ex:  The older you get, the younger you look.
• Hyperbole = obvious exaggeration; ex:  I texted you 1,000 times last night!
• Illusion = something seems real but isn’t real
• Allusion = a reference to something
• Myth = a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation., especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods.
• Epic = noting or pertaining to a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style.
• Media res =  In the middle of the action. Epics often begin in medias res.

English

5-15-15 – Harris

1. Poetry Slam this morning! J  The kids who volunteered to participate did a very good job!
2. We returned all of our textbooks.
3. Ms. Harris announced that the review sheet would be ready sometime this afternoon—you can check back with her, otherwise she’ll have it to give out Monday.
4. Be sure you know the following (Note: I did not get all of what she called out!)  Start Studying now!

• Paradox
• Assonance
• Consonant
• Onomatopoeia
• Rhythm
• Myth
• Epic
• Epic simile
• Media res
• The different sentence types (simple, compound, complex, compound-complex) and know how to punctuate compound sentences –2 different ways
• Fragment
• Sentence run-on
• Protagonist vs. antagonist
• Flat rhyme
• Slant rhyme
• Internal rhyme
• Primary source
• Persuasive essay
• Humorous essay
• Understatement
• Emotionally charged
• Lyric form
  
   

English

5-14-15 – Harris – Eng. 1

Note:  Tomorrow is turn in all 9th grade text books and Poetry Slam day (In here we have 5 students who volunteered to participate in this optional activity).

Note:  M is absent;  L turned in her “Do Now” book.

1. Do Now:  What have you done with the information to the right?  Why??? Be specific.  

Info to the right was about the exam pages and topics to review for the exam.  Ms. Harris called on students to tell what they wrote for their “Do Nows”.  Why would you have written what you say you have written and why have you accessed the information you have?  REMEMBER:  TOMORROW WE TURN IN OUR BOOKS.  AFTER THIS,

YOU WILL HAVE TO DEPEND ON ONLINE ACCESS (username:  englishoneone    /  password:  periods124 = this is on the link:  www. peaarsonsuccessnet.com.)

Exam Review (a repeat from my notes beforeJ

426 – 430; 498, 606 – 609; 617, 519; 539, 1030 – 1040; Sentence types / Infinitives

2. I presented the poem “Richard Cory” by Edwin Arlington Robinson, and I’m delighted to say I think the class really enjoyed it.

3. We saw a video of some excerpts from a Poetry Slam.

4. Some people turned in their “Do Now” books as she said they could, if they were in “perfect condition.”

English

5-13-15 – Harris – Eng.1

1. Do Now:  Lit Book.  Pg. 669 – Practice A, 1 – 4.

2. On board:  Again, Exam review pages were listed.  

3. On board – Homework:  Study for your semester exam.   Prepare for your Poetry Slam.

4. Read aloud several different students doing the reading, “I Wander Lonely as a Cloud.”  Be sure you know what is being compared (in the similes) and know the rhyme scheme.

5. Pg. 626. What is the tone of the poem—in the first stanza?  Perhaps it’s relaxed or calm.  Look at the questions that surround that poem.  

6. Know the difference between connotation and denotation.  (go back to 608).  (connotation = what kind of emotions do the words evoke (create)).   Denotation is the literal meaning of the word.  (Fill in:  connotation = _______________________________________________.

7. 628.  Answer #1,2, & 3.  Go to pg. 621, the poem “A Dream”  Life is being compared to a broken wing bird and a bare field.  Don’t let go of your dreams because without them life can be too depressing.

8. How many questions does “A Dream Deferred “ ask?  6

9. The last question is that there is more finality to it, if a dream just “explodes.”

10. Look at the questions of “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”

11. Read pg. 643.  Fluency = reading smoothly but at the same time with rhythm.  Poem for fluency:  

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

 

It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, who am I not to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?

 

You are a child of God.  Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

 

We were born to make manifest the glory of God within us.  It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.” ----Marianne Williamson

English

5-12-15 -  English I – Harris

Note:  Absent:  L)

How sweet!!  Ms. Harris presented me with a brown paper bag full of notes from the class to me, in appreciation of whatever it is I have done throughout the year.

1. Friday:  Bring all of your books first period.  We have to return them to audit. Lobby area.

2. Poetry Slam:  this activity is optional.  You do not have to sign up.  Nothing will happen to you if you don’t sign up.

3. Do Now:  Lit. book:  pg. 668.  Do Practice A (#1-4).  Go over in class with the answers and reasons for such.

4. Exam Review Pages:  426-430,  498, 606-609; 617, 519; 539, 1030 – 1040.  Sentence Types and Infinitives. 

5. On Homework:  Study for your semester exam.  Prepare for your Poetry Slam.

6. Analyze and evaluate poetry from Langston Hughes.

7. What does “deferred” mean?  Put aside; to put off.  Be able to answer questions about this poem.  What does it mean if a dream becomes infected?  What does it mean if something explodes?  Analyze the poem and be sure you understand the imagery in the poem.  “A heavy load” –what happens to this?  How would you end up carrying it.  

8. Pg. 624. Turn to pg. 621.  What does the picture on 620 and the poem “A Dream Deferred” have to do with each other.  Pg. 619 – read about Langston Hughes

9. Tomorrow answer the questions on pg. 628.

English

5-11-15 – Eng. I – Harris

Note:  J, when she calls on you make an attempt to answer!! “Personification…”what word do you hear?”  J, do you not hear “person”?  Please eat before coming to class and get in a better mood.   You do not need to show you are not in a good mood in this class!!!  She takes note of this and that’s not good for your grade!!

1. On board:  Do Now:  For homework, I chose the poem __________________by ___________________________because it  _____________________________________________________________________________.

2. Also on the board:  class work pgs. 613-614, Ex. On p. 615.

3. Ms. Harris spoke of what the students need to study for their upcoming Final Exam.  I got here late, so sorry I missed that, but hopefully the students wrote this down.  Be able to recognize simile, personification, and other figures of speech.  Know what is meant by historical context.

4. Lit. bk. Pg. 606.  We’ll study syllables and look at “scanning Meters.”  Know the definition of poem, meters, stanza—be able to know the definitions.  

5. Handout:  Learning about Poetry.  Know what these definitions mean.

6. What is narrative poetry?  Haiku? What is onomatopoeia? What is a sonnet?  (a 14-line lyrical poem).

7. Rhythm:  follows a certain pattern.

8. Know the definition of figurative language….and all the definitions on that handout!

9. What is poetry?

10. Lyric poetry:  expresses the feelings of one speaker, creating a single effect.

11. Be able to give examples of a sound device.  There are 5 different kinds of these.  Can you list them and give examples of each?

12. Students were called on to read aloud their “Do Now.”

13. Pg. 620. “A Dream Deferred” by Langston Hughes.   

Hold on to your homework.  There is no homework.  Study those pages I gave you earlier.  Be sure to be able to know how to access the lit book online.

English

5-7-15 – Eng. 1 Harris

Note:  I don’t see L.  I turned in sentence type quiz #2 to Ms. Harris (from J and L)

1. Do Now:  List the types of formal poetry and a brief definition of each one.

2. Know the name of poems that take on the shape of whatever you writing your poem about.

3. She announced that the books would be taken up next Friday, but since the text is online they are still responsible for what’s assigned in the lit. book.

4. She seemed disappointed –I came in late—about the homework, but hopefully our kids did it.

5. Haiku = Take out a sheet of paper.  Writ a topic –(keep it natural, but choose a topic about nature.  Haiku topics are about nature or the seasons.

6. Syllables?  What is the importance? When you break down the word, how many sounds you get is called finding syllables.   Some Haiku poetry examples were shown:

Colorful leaves blow  = 5 syllables

Trees lose their colorful leaves = 7 syllables

Crisp smell of apples.= 5 syllables = unrhymed

7. On your paper write your topic:  the name of a season, an outdoor sport, weather, etc.

8. Think, and then write your own Haiku

9. Homework on board—due Monday:  Find a poem.  Print it out.  Write on the poem rhyme scheme.  What it’s talking about?  What type of poem Is it.

10. A poem with 4 lines:   a,b,a,b rhyme scheme. (Lines 1 and 3 must rhyme, and lines 2 and 4 must rhyme).

11. Now do a poem that rhymes :  a, a, b, b and bring this back to her before the end of the day.

12. Now we’re going to write a poem where you make the rules—free verse.

 

English

4-29-15 – English 1 – Harris

Note:  I do not see M or L

1.     Dramatic poetry = usually a narration; a telling of a story and is usually written in first person (I, me, my, mine).

2.     Do Now:  EOC packet, do # 71 – 75.

3.     In class we went over #59 – 69. Answer to #63 = D.  The answer to #65 = C.

Note:  Be sure you go over your EOC packet and make notes if you need help.  Remember:  “a vivid replacement” means a better word or phrase.  Ex:  instead of saying “happy” say “joyful.”  #58 = A.

#57 = A. (because it’s the object of a preposition (“between”) so you have to use an objective case pronoun).

Note:  Tomorrow come see Ms. Harris:  on board:

Thursday, 04/30 Afer school @2:29 –make arrangements –Odyssey background quiz= retake

English

4-28-15 – Eng. 1 – Harris

Note:  L is not here; M is taking his Odyssey Test make-up.

1. Do Now:  Skim pages 853-857.  Do Ex. 2 on page 857.  Give 1 or 2 reasons for your answer. W.C. book.

2. NOTE ON BOARD:

Periods:  1,2, and 4 = Thursday, April 30th, after school @2:29.  Make arrangements – Odyssey background QUIZ & PLUS – This is a re-take.

3. Homework (on board):  Study your EOC packet.

4. Class activity:

Yesterday you had to read the Cyclops section.  In a group you are going to write a story that makes sense, with a lot of variety in your sentences, proofread for errors, and everyone has to add to the story, as Ms. Harris will be able to tell if everyone has had a chance to contribute to the story.  Rubric on board:

REWRITE THE CYCLOPS STORY:  Humorous and/or suspenseful

• Sentence variety

• Coherent (makes sense)

• Proofread for errors

• Everybody writes – passes the paper.

Note:  Thankfully and lucky for Mario Ms. Harris gave Mario a second chance to look over his test.  I reviewed some of the information with him orally, and then he went back to his answers and hopefully made some necessary adjustments.

 

Note to one and all:  If you know a test is coming up—especially a big test like this, and you’re absent on test day, rest assured when you return you will have to take the test.  You may or may not be given some time to review notes before the test is given out.  

The “moral” (lesson) of the story:  Come to class prepared!!!!

English

4-20-2015 – Eng. I – Harris

Note:  Congratulations to Mario for winning Super Spartan for the Day!J

Note:  L is absent

1. Do Now:  pg. 739 – Ex. 8, 1-5 – Using commas.

2. Lit. Bk.  Back to the Odyssey.

3. Why did Zeus send a lightning bolt to destroy the ship?  

4. What did the men do that they were not supposed to do?  (turn to 1079)

5. On board:  Homework:  Highlight, annotate, and complete EOC packet.

6. Whose cattle did they sacrifice?  When did they do it? Where was Odysseus?

7. All of the men were destroyed.  In Part II – 20 years has elapsed (happened). Where does he go back to?  What city? Ithaca.  In Part II he comes back to….who? 

8. Turn to pg. 1089.   Odysseus’ son as Telemachus.  Athena appears to Odysseus, son of Laertes.  She tells him to tell his son that he will bring doom to the suitors in the town.  He embraced (hugged) his son and admitted that he was Telemachus’ father. Then Telemachus began to weep as they realized their relationship and how much they missed each other.  The Venetians brought Odysseus on a ship to Ithaca.  His son doesn’t understand how he and and his father will fight so many men.  Odysseus said Athena and father Zeus will watch over them and help them to win.  The father said when he nods toward the son, the son will collect all the armor he can.  Telemachus is about 40 years old.

9. Know which animal is Argus and why.

English

English Friday

4-15-15 Eng. 1 – Harris

Note:  C and L, come see me if you want to do a makeup quiz!  I told you this yesterday!!

1. Do Now:  W.C. book, pgs. 759 – 760., Ex. 24.  Answered aloud in class.
2. For Friday:  On board:  Know vocabulary on pg. 1042.  1,3,4 = 15 questions;  5,6, & 7 = 20 questions.  14 multiple choice and 1 short answer.
3. On board:  Odyssey – Part 1 /  Odyssey – Part 2 / TEST = 4/17/15 – PART 1 (THAT’S THIS FRIDAY, PEOPLE!!!!)
4. On board:  Homework:  The Odyssey, Part 1 = Study the epic and vocabulary.
5. The Odyssey =
6. What is a Homeric or epic simile?  It’s a simile that is longer.  Pg. 1093, lines: 1063-1065.  To what are their cries being compared to?  Their tears are being compared to the hawk.
7. What’s the difference between an epic simile and a regular simile?  An epic simile is more elaborate (more involved)and may take several lines. It may also use words of comparison like:  “just as” or “so”.  It might recall an entire place or story.  Epic similes are sometimes called Homeric similes.
8. Number your paper 1 – 4:  Answer questions regarding Homeric similes using analogies (on smartboard).

English

4-17-15 – Harris – Eng. 1

Note:  J came in late;  L is not here....yet; 

1. Do Now:  W.C. book:  pg. 738, Ex. 7.

2. TEST:  Selection TEST A – From the Odyssey by Homer. 

3. They answered on notebook paper.  

4. Bonus:  What do you call the word or phrase thatmodifies or tells more about a noun?  Sorry, kids, I thought it was adjective.  My bad.  Don’t know what she had in mind, as she announced “adjective” was not the answer.  

Now that I think about it, I think she might have meant “appositive” as it gives more information about a noun.

5. (Ms. Harris showed me the kids’ grades—except for Camryn—and although they may be inflated (higher than average) it’s because of make up grades and Blitz classes, but after this test the grades may go down.

I hope everyone studied and did their very best!*

 

*Don’t forget there is EOC Blitz classes tomorrow and next Saturday as well.  Yeah, L, for going!  Please try to go as many Saturdays (left) as you can!

English

English

4-16-15 – Harris – Eng. 1

Note:  M is absent; L said she thought he was having surgery. (?)

1. Do Now!  Block Day #2, Periods 1,3,5,7.  I gave Ms. Harris the quizzes that C and L took yesterday but Ms. Harris assured me that due to attendance at Saturday school and….something else, can’t remember--- she really didn’t need to enter the grades, but she’ll hold on to them anyway.

2. An EOC packet (Eng. 1 – Item Sampler, pgs. 7 – 38)—quite thick—was distributed and class told to use scantron and paper to answer #1 – 25 on scantron.

3. Students were told to write their name on the packet, and if they came across something they didn’t know or we haven’t covered, to write that down in the margin. They were to complete the packet, writing answers directly in the acket, but just turn in the scantron with #1-25 answered.

4. Take out the sheet yesterday on epic similes.  

5. Thesis (or Topic sentence) = tells you what’s it’s about

6. # 1 = A, #2 = A, #3 = D, #4 = A, #5 = C, (false premise = a statement that is not true), #6 = A, (it was a testimony.  Bandwagon= everybody else thinks it one way, and then you join in; loaded words = you just talk; putting out a lot of words; #7 = C, #8 =B, #9 = D, #10 = C, #11 = 

DON’T LOSE YOUR PACKET!!

7. Get in groups of 6.  

TEST FRIDAY, BRING YOUR NOTES!!

TEST FRIDAY, BRING YOUR NOTES!!

TEST FRIDAY, BRIING YOUR NOTES!!!

English

4-13-15 – Harris – Eng. I

1. Do Now:  W.C. book, pg. 635, Ex. 3.
2. We went over this in class.  Know your coordinating conjunctions.  Be able to give her 6.
3. Lit. Bk. Pg. 1084, practice A.  pg. 633 – read the top of this page!  Read the rules and the examples, and then re-read the “Do Now.”
4. The class did exercises  3 and 4 and 5 around the topic of proper pronoun case usage.
5. Reviewed briefly the story of the Odyssey.  It helps to read it by sections.  
6. We know they tied him up but look at 1073- when does he give the speech.  Note line 766, but first look at 1075.  How many arms, how many people does she have, what is she made up?  She has the men wrapped up.  Her arms are called what? tentacles.  What’s coming out of her face? How many faces d you count?  Note: she ate 6 people.
7. On board:  Odyssey – Par 1  &  Odyssey – Part 2 = TEST ON 4/17/15.
8. Bring her any extra credit work you have to her by tomorrow.
9. DON’T FORGET IF YOU WANT TO DO A MAKE UP QUIZ GRADE SEE ME TO TAKE IT!

On board:  Bring me tearable puns to me tomorrow. All extra credit and EOC credit will post at the end of tomorrow.

English

4-10-15- Harris Eng I

I.  Grammar, EOC Review:  Practice Test, pg. 29-30 – we did the answers as a class:

43. A

44. H.

45. A.

46. G

2.  Literature, choose any page between 1047 and 1063.

• Students were asked to select a question on the page they pick , read it, and then tell the answer for all to write it down.

• By Odysseus dividing sheep among his men shows that (pg. 1063) (note:  when they defeated the men, he therefore win and therefore gets the man’s sheep.  Once they arrived at where they were going he divided the sheep.  Note phrase:  “share and share alike”.  It speaks to his characters that he rewarded his men by sharing the sheep.

• There is a test that’s coming with your finishing reading this story.

• He knows how to be crafty; he can fight in any situation = this is the answer to Laresa’s question of choice.

• Pg. 1054 – What do you think Odysseus has in mind by offering the Cyclops the wine?  He wants the Cyclops to be slow to respond and hopefully to go to sleep.

• Pg. 1055 – They plan to make the stake sharp so they can gouge the Cyclops in the eye.  They plan to blind him which is how they will escape.

• Pg. 1052 = 

 

Students, please be sure you’re reading, taking notes, and re-reading.  You will probably have a TEST on this next WEDNESDAY.  Get ready now!

Try to take advantage of these Sat. Blitz classes!

Have a good weekend.