Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Monday Night's Homework

We will begin our next unit on Monday, "The Tenacity of the Human Spirit."  Though Anne Frank's story will be the focus of our journey, we (yes, you!) will add supplemental texts.  This time around, you'll be the one supplying materials for our unit.

For the weekend's homework, please conduct an internet search for nonfiction materials related to the word "genocide" (the deliberate killing of a large group of people, esp. those of a particular ethnic group or nation).  Based on your experience with the RST (research simulated task) in LA and Science, find a source that you believe would be appropriate for school. 


You need to print out and bring in one resource related to the keyword of genocide.  Make sure that you write down the website address.

Source styles may include:
  • maps
  • graphs
  • photographs
  • political cartoons
  • video clips
  • news articles
  • personal experiences (not yours, but a victim's)
  • infographic
  • timeline
  • polls

Friday, November 22, 2013

American Dream/Nightmare Research Synthesis Task

Rewritten papers are due Monday, December 2.
  • Use the rubric and notes to improve your paper. 
  • You will earn the grade of your rewritten draft, according to the rubric. 
  • If you would like feedback on your draft or reworked work, you must allow Miss Drosdick 24 hours notice and time to do so.
  • Use your source packet--it was returned with your paper.
  • Pay attention to the notes and questions because those are the points that led to your grade.  
  • I will not be available to edit this weekend.  Plan accordingly. 

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Vocabulary Lists for Tuesday's Vocab Quiz

https://www.vocabulary.com/lists/342811
New website... let me know how it works out for you. You'll need to create a free account!

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Text "The Tell-Tale Heart"

THE TELL-TALE HEART

by Edgar Allan Poe
1843
TRUE! --nervous --very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses --not destroyed --not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily --how calmly I can tell you the whole story.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it --oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly --very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man's sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! would a madman have been so wise as this, And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously-oh, so cautiously --cautiously (for the hinges creaked) --I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights --every night just at midnight --but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.
Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than did mine. Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers --of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was, opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled. Now you may think that I drew back --but no. His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness, (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers,) and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily.
I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening, and the old man sprang up in bed, crying out --"Who's there?"
I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed listening; --just as I have done, night after night, hearkening to the death watches in the wall.
Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief --oh, no! --it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me. I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise, when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeless, but could not. He had been saying to himself --"It is nothing but the wind in the chimney --it is only a mouse crossing the floor," or "It is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp." Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions: but he had found all in vain. All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim. And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel --although he neither saw nor heard --to feel the presence of my head within the room.
When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little --a very, very little crevice in the lantern. So I opened it --you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily --until, at length a simple dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye.
It was open --wide, wide open --and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness --all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot.
And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the sense? --now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.
But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I tried how steadily I could maintain the ray upon the eve. Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant. The old man's terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! --do you mark me well I have told you that I am nervous: so I am. And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me --the sound would be heard by a neighbour! The old man's hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once --once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length it ceased. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the corpse. Yes, he was stone, stone dead. I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many minutes. There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. His eve would trouble me no more.
If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs.
I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye --not even his --could have detected any thing wrong. There was nothing to wash out --no stain of any kind --no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all --ha! ha!
When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock --still dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, --for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.
I smiled, --for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my visitors all over the house. I bade them search --search well. I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.
The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. I was singularly at ease. They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct: --It continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness --until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears.
No doubt I now grew very pale; --but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased --and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound --much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath --and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly --more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men --but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed --I raved --I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder --louder --louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! --no, no! They heard! --they suspected! --they knew! --they were making a mockery of my horror!-this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! and now --again! --hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!
"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous heart!"
-THE END-

The Tell-Tale Heart Vocabulary Words



The Tell-Tale Heart Vocabulary Words

1.   Acute: sharp; sensitive.
a.       Walking down the street, I had an acute sense that I was being watched from the shadows.  That often happens when I’m already nervous and on high-alert.

2.   Wary: cautious.
a.       George was wary of talking to Curley because he had a sense of Curley’s aggression.

3.   Suavity: smoothness; politeness.

a.       Miss Gruwell urged her students to act with suavity as they shared dinner with the elderly Holocaust survivors. 

4.   Vehemently: forcefully; passionately.
a.       Eva vehemently threw The Diary of Anne Frank on Miss Gruwell’s desk when she learned that Anne died because she was so angry.
5.   Sagacity: intelligence and good judgment.
a.       Miss Gruwell’s dad had the sagacity to understand that his daughter was dedicated to her job. 

6.   Audacity: boldness.
a.       I couldn’t believe the nerve and audacity of the student to insult their teacher in that way.


7.   Gesticulations: energetic gestures.
a.       Some say that Jersey folks speak loudly and with gesticulations as they make their point and tell their stories, acting out what happened.


8.   Vexed: disturbed; annoyed.
a.       I can’t understand why the madman was so vexed by the old man’s eye.  It was just an eyeball and the gentleman was perfectly kind!  That wouldn’t annoy me!


9.   Refrained: held back.
a.       George and the guys on the ranch refrained from talking to Curley’s Wife because they feared getting fired. 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Letter To Parents

As we start the second marking period, I wanted to give you a quick overview of where we have been and where we are going academically.

I am pleased to inform you that most students are making a beautiful transition into 8th grade’s expectations.  While assessment scores may be disappointing for some, students are training for a lifetime of analytical and critical skills.  Assessments encompass understanding, applying, analyzing, and evaluating trains of thought in relation to curriculum and the modern world.  As their “brain training” moves along, assessment styles will become more predictable (if you will).  Following most assessments, students review their assessment and self-assess their areas of strength and weakness, which are addressed in a multitude of ways in the days following.

During the second marking period, we will study and explore two texts, The Diary of Anne Frank and Heroes.  The themes are “Tenacity of the Human Spirit [in Holocaust times]” and “Freedom from Demons in Disguise.”  The units are fascinating and eye-opening on many levels.

This week, students will submit a self-reflection of the first marking in which they identified: a) their overall feelings about the first marking period, b) their work ethic (and a way to improve), c) a second marking period goal (and how to achieve it), d) their favorite activity/book/assignment.  As marking period grades become finalized this week, I encourage you to discuss these goals and plans with your child.

I will also assign this marking period’s Freedom Write, one entry which explore the “big ideas” of the marking period.   Continue to check the blog for class calendars, assignments, “extras,” and audio files of text.  There are many ways to stay both on top of work and ahead of the game.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

MP2 Freedom Write (begin as soon as you'd like)



Free Yourself.  Free Write.
Due: January 17

This marking period, we would like you to reflect/address one (or all if you run out of topic ideas!) of the following “big ideas” you’ll encounter throughout the second marking period.

  • ·         Holocaust
  • ·         Human Tenacity and Resilience
  • ·         Heroes vs. Idols
  • ·         Reality vs. Illusion
  • ·         Diaries
  • ·         Guilt vs. Truth
  • ·         Identity
  • ·         Injuries (emotional, mental, or physical)


Your very first entry must reflect a topic from the list.  This way, you’ll get it out of the way and won’t forget to address it (as happened a lot during the first Freedom Write).

Your entries are due one week before the end of the second marking period, TBA.

You are responsible for:
·         Handwritten composition pages: 5
·         Typed, double spaced, size 12 pages: 3

Each entry is required to be dated and each page numbered.

RUBRIC: COMPLETION
·        (4/4) Complete (every line of each page filled, except for skipping a line between entries)
·        (3/4) mostly (short .5 or 1 page)     
·        (2/4) somewhat (short two pages)            
·        (1/4) barely (short more than two pages)
·        (0/4) nothing turned in

Monday, November 11, 2013

RST and Write or Die


Final copy due tomorrow.
  • typed
  • 1.5 or double spaced
  • turn in marked up source packet
Try out this fun (but really annoying) website if you have trouble staying on task.  Check it here: Write or Die!

Want to watch "The Landlady"? Check here.


Literary Elements Review for Wednesday's Quiz

Focused on figurative language: http://www.quia.com/quiz/1314532.html

Well-rounded variety of our terms:  http://www.quia.com/rr/482059.html

Power Point that includes other terms besides ours: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved=0CEoQFjAE&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclassroom.jc-schools.net%2Fcoleytech%2Fdynamic_curriculum%2FLanguage%2Fjeopardyliteraryterms.ppt&ei=CxSpUPT4K8XG0AGg-IGICw&usg=AFQjCNHUqyjobRrvgj7_hlYJWjSrBtcVXg

Quizlet: http://quizlet.com/2019811/literary-elements-flash-cards/

LIterary Elements Review: Use whatever resources necessary.

Due: Tuesday
Directions: For homework, define the words below.  You will see them in our quizzes.  We will also have a quiz on the terms alone.  
Characters:

1.    Static  change   don’t change


2.    Dynamic  change   don’t change


3.    Antagonist    good guy    bad guy


4.    Protagonist   good guy   bad guy


5.    Characterization is revealed through…
-
-
-
-
-

6.    Motivation


Setting:

7.    Atmosphere

Plot:

8.    Exposition


9.    Complications


10. Climax


11. Resolution

Conflict:



12. man vs. ____________
man vs._____________
man vs. ____________
man vs.______________
13. Internal

14. External


Writing Style:
15. Allusion


16. Simile keywords are…


17. Metaphor keywords are…


18. Personification


19. Style


Narrator/Author Decisions:
20. Flashback


21. Foreshadowing


22. Irony
a.    Verbal

b.    Situational


c.     Dramatic


23. Inference


24. Point of view:

a.    Omniscient

b.    Third person limited


c.     First-person

25. Symbol


26. Theme