THANKSGIVING FEAST

Since many of you decided you'd rather have a potluck Thanksgiving feast than boring old donuts, I thought we might organize ourselves and post what we're bringing so that we don't have 17 people bringing cookies.

For anyone who doesn't feel like making food, we also will need PLATES, FORKS, AND CUPS (if someone volunteers for drinks).

REMEMBER, you are NOT required to bring anything. You just shouldn't eat or drink if you don't contribute.

ALSO, LETS MEET IN THE CAFETERIA AT 7:40, so we are legal and not breaking any school rules about eating in the classroom.

SO...... GO AHEAD AND POST WHAT YOU PLAN TO BRING, so everyone can plan accordingly. I'll bring something too....
I haven't decided what yet.

Senior projectpowerpoint

The topic of my senior project powerpoint is whether or not elementary schools should offer foreign languages. I think it should be offered because young minds have the ability to absorb information better, it helps to learn another language later in life, and children are better able to mimick the pronunciations correctly.

TIME TO POST! 10 POINTS

PLEASE POST YOUR TOPIC AND THREE-PART THESIS STATEMENT FOR YOUR SENIOR PROJECT POWER POINT. ALSO POST HOW YOUR TOPIC CONNECTS TO YOUR SENIOR PROJECT.

I want us to do this publicly, for a couple of reasons:

1. We can't have duplicate topics, so once your topic is posted and approved no one else can take it. By posting it, we can all see the topics as they are approved.

2. I will provide comments and guidance on your topic, and everyone can get a better sense of what the guidelines are if we can all read the feedback.

SO, YOU NEED TO INCLUDE THREE PARTS TO YOUR POST.

1. Your research topic (you MUST take a position).

Example: The U.S. should adopt a policy of universal health care.

2. Your three part thesis statement.

Example: The U.S. should adopt a universal health care policy because it would be less expensive; it would be more equitable for all people; and it would improve the overall quality of health care in the United States.

***You could also argue AGAINST universal health care and provide three reasons.

3. Explain the connection to your senior project.

DUE DATE FOR THIS POST IS MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24 BY 7:40 A.M.

HEROES WIN AGAIN!!

IS THERE ANY STOPPING THEM?

Iguanas, you gave them a run for it this time, but Ashley, Colten, and Tyler came on strong in the end. 5 bonus points to all heroes. Iguanas, better luck next time.

TEAM COMPETITION FOR EXTRA CREDIT

WHO WILL WIN?



I know it's been awhile since we've done anything with our teams: the iguanas and the heroes, but in looking at the current grade book, I thought we could all use a little extra credit, SO......

Here's the competition:


INSTRUCTIONS: Provide the definition (please be thorough) of ONE of the following literary terms AND provide an example:

allusion, foreshadowing, hyperbole, cliche, metaphor, irony, imagery, personification, onomatopoeia, alliteration, genre, connotation, denotation, stream-of-consciousness, oxymoron, allegory, reversal

EXAMPLE: narrator: the voice of the person telling the story, not to be confused with the author's voice. Much of Animal Dreams is narrated by the main character, Codi. She narrates from first-person, limited point of view.

***The first team to have 6 DIFFERENT team members respond to a DIFFERENT TERM wins 5 extra credit points per team member. (REMEMBER: 5 points raises a timed writing by one letter grade). Team members MUST list their team name after their response or it doesn't count.

***RULE: once a term is used by a team member, no member of either team may use it again. This is so we don't have 12 people define hyperbole, giving the same definition and example. The idea is for everyone to define a different term.

***If you have forgotten which team you are on, check the archived posts. I posted it some time ago, and you can still find it on the blog.

LAUREN'S IN ORLANDO!

Sorry about the picture, Lauren. If you email me an actual picture of you from this week, I'll use that instead. Until then, all we have is this cheesy movie poster.

As many of you already know, Lauren has been in Orlando all week competing in a Karate tournament.

She was supposed to compete starting Tuesday of this week, SO.....how is it going?

Any news you can post here, Lauren, would be most interesting to all of us. Hope things are going well and that you're having a great time!

SENIOR SCRAPBOOK REMINDERS

The senior scrapbook is primarily a second semester project; however, several of you have asked a variety of questions about it, so I thought I would post some information here.

Some things you should know:

1. If you haven't already, go to my teacher web page (you can click on the Reitz Web page linked to this blog and get there from here) and print the three options for scrapbooks for AP students.

You can do 1) a regular scrapbook
2) a video scrapbook
3) a historical/cultural anthology

Make sure you read the descriptions for each project.


2. Sometime in January, you will be required to have your actual book. You should start thinking now about whether you'd like to use a photo album or a traditional scrapbook. For video projects, you'll need to see me about what to have in January.

3. Your friday essays are actually your scrapbook writings, so you are working on that part of the assignment already. Make sure you save all of your friday essays. You'll need to revise and print clean copies of all writings for the book.

4. Any other questions? Post them here.

SENIOR PROJECT REMINDERS

Here are some photos I took at Tamara's senior project on Saturday. Things seemed really organized and everyone there was having a lot of fun.

Just a couple of reminders for your own senior project:

1. Take lots and lots of pictures. You'll need them for your presentation in February.

2. Refer to the handbook I passed out at the beginning of the school year and/or the senior project website. Make sure you are logging your hours and looking over the other items you are supposed to be filling in as you go.

3. If you haven't started organizing your project, now is the time. You must have everything completed by January.

4. Any questions???? Post them here.

TAMARA'S SENIOR PROJECT

Tamara's senior project is this Saturday at the Barker Complex. It begins at 11 a.m. She's doing a mother/daughter softball tournament to support breast cancer research.

Anyone who is free, should stop by to support her and her very important cause.

FRIDAY ESSAY DUE: WHO IS YOUR HERO AND WHY?

Don't forget that you have your "hero" essay due this Friday.....Remember that handout I gave you a few weeks ago?

You may write about a family member, famous person, or anyone else that inspires you to achieve more, appreciate life, etc.

Please type the essay in MLA format and PROOFREAD!!!!!!! The essay must be a MINIMUM OF ONE PAGE in length. I will evaluate you on content, grammar, mechanics, and proofreading ability.

If you have any questions, post them here as usual.

ELECTION DAY!!!!

This is a very important day for our country. If you are 18, please vote! It is your patriotic duty as an American.

I know that you are a responsible group of young people, and you represent your generation well. Today is an important day to live up to the ethics and patriotism that I have seen in all of you.

If you haven't already, you must go to the polls and cast your ballot!

ASHLEY'S SENIOR PROJECT

I hope the health fair went well. I, and my girls had planned to come; however, Kate and I were struck with a stomach virus that had us on the couch most of the weekend. I am starting to feel a little better this evening, so fear not everyone.......The literary terms will still be presented Monday.

Anyway.....I hope you had a good turnout, and I'm sorry I missed it. Did anyone else from class attend?

LITERARY TERMS PRESENTATIONS......POST YOUR QUESTIONS HERE!

Remember that tomorrow everyone will present ONE of the their literary terms. Please refer to the handout I gave you several weeks ago for the directions and rubric that details how you will be graded.

**You must include a VISUAL AID (power point, movie clip, poster with VERY LARGE TYPE).

**You must provide a handout for the entire class (17 students plus me).

**You must involve the class in an activity that helps teach the term.

**You must stay within the time limit.

PLEASE POST ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT THE ASSIGNMENT HERE. I'LL TRY TO CHECK IN MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY SO I CAN ANSWER YOU. (KEEP IN MIND THAT I'M OLD AND GO TO BED AT A REASONABLE HOUR....OR TRY TO AT LEAST......THE EARLIER YOU CAN POST YOUR QUESTIONS, THE BETTER).