Tuesday, December 6th - Period 2

Poetry: Day 9

Do Now: What are the similarities between art and poetry?

Homework: “Poetry is art with words.”  What does this quote mean? (1 Paragraph).

Critical Thinking Question: What happens when you recontextualize words and images?  How can we change meaning?  What is art?

Content: The Art of Collage Video, Magazines and Newspapers, Student Collages and Found Poetry, http://kohlage.com/

Objective: To understand how context affects and shapes meaning in communication, especially with modern forms of art and poetry.

Class Activities: View videos and discussion about recontextualizing words and images, Creating group found poem about class theme

Tuesday, December 6th - Periods 1, 6-7, 8-9, 10

Senior Project: MLA Format

Do Now: Is it possible to accidentally plagiarize?

Homework: News article response on wikispaces.

Critical Thinking Questions: Why do people plagiarize? Can you produce your own knowledge?

Content: MLA format sheet, Uncover Thesis Statement

Objective: SWBAT recognize and use MLA format for citing the sources they use in their writing.

Class Activities: Do now discussion, MLA review, Thesis statement exercise

Monday, December 5th - Periods 1, 6-7, 8-9, 10

Everest Presentation

 

http://www.everest.edu/

Homework: News article response on wikispaces.

Monday, December 5th - Period 2

Poetry: Day 8

Do Now: Is it possible to write a poem about our classroom from the perspective of a desk?

Homework: News article response on wikispaces.

Critical Thinking Questions: What is personification? How does personification offer us another perspective into seeing the world differently?

Content: April Rain Song, The Wind, Trees, Student Poem, Personification in Music

Objective: We will understand personification and be able to begin our own personification poems based on our class theme.

Class Activities: Defining personification and writing examples, Reading and listening to examples of personification, Brainstorming based on personification theme, Writing our own poems.

Friday, December 2nd - Periods 1, 6-7, 8-9, 10

Senior Project: Research Paper Day 1

Do Now: What is your biggest concern or fear with the 6-8 page senior project research paper?

Homework: 1) Completed Research Proposal.  2) Write 5 vocabulary words into a creatively written paragraph.

Critical Thinking Questions: What does good research writing look like? Why is research writing an important post-secondary skill?

Content: Past senior project essays, Student writing,

Objective: SWBAT evaluate research writing and determine the organization writing skills they need for their senior project.

Class Activities: Do-Now Discussion, Analysis of past senior projects, Writing an Research Paper Outline

Friday, December 2nd - Period 2

Poetry: Day 7

Do Now: Why is it important to see and understand things from multiple perspectives?

Homework: Write 5 vocabulary words into a creatively written paragraph.

Critical Thinking Question: How does the perspective of a story affect its meaning?

Content: Student’s own poetry, Emmanuel Jal

Objective: Students will learn Perspective in storytelling (1st, 2nd, 3rd person narration), student will write from one of those perspectives using personification to draft a poem.

Class Activities: Presentation and note taking on perspective, Reading and picking our potential perspectives from class text, Personification poem drafting

Thursday, December 1st - 2nd Period

Poetry: Day 5 (Group Day)

Do Now: From the group agenda, identify the part of speech from each underlined word.  

Homework: No homework.

Critical Thinking Question: Why is it important to know part of speech?  How can parts of speech make you a better writer?  How do good poets and writers use parts of speech effectively?  

Content: Group Agenda, Examples of Cinquain Poems, Poetry Unit Portfolio

Objectives: Students understand and recognize parts of speech.  Students collaborate in groups to generate 3 cinquain poems.

Class Activities: Observing an artifact, Defining Parts of Speech, Cinquain Presentation, Writing Cinquains in groups.  

Wednesday, November 30th - Period 2

Poetry: Day 3

Do Now: What do students live, talk, and think abouton a daily basis?
(What major ideas or topics are a part of your lives?)

Homework: How does the theme that we decided on connect to your life?
(1 paragraph.)

Critical Thinking Question: How do we find themes in poetry, music, and literature?  Why are themes important?  Where do themes come from?

Content: Wiki-Recovery, Wiki-Loud, Langston Hughes Dream Poetry, 5 Word Poem

Objective: To see how themes are embedded in all poetry and to decide on our own classroom theme for the unit.  

Class Activities: Discuss themes of popular music and poetry, Preview Portfolio for Creative Writing Unit, Decide on Theme for class, Write our first poem on theme

Cover Letter Format - Senior Project

Cover Letter Format

Your Contact Information 


Name 


Address 


City, State, Zip Code 


Phone Number 


Email Address

Date

Employer Contact Information (if you have it)


Name 


Title 


Company
Address 


City, State, Zip Code

Salutation
Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name, (leave out if you don't have a contact)

First Paragraph 
The first paragraph of your letter should include information on why you are writing. Mention the position you are applying for and where you found the job listing. Include the name of a mutual contact, if you have one.

Middle Paragraph(s)
The next section of your cover letter should describe what you have to offer the employer. Mention specifically how your qualifications match the job you are applying for. Remember, you are interpreting your resume, not repeating it.

Final Paragraph 
Conclude your cover letter by thanking the employer for considering you for the position. Include information on how you will follow-up.

Complimentary Close

Respectfully yours,

Signature

Handwritten Signature (for a mailed letter)

Typed Signature

Tuesday, November 29th - Period 2

Poetry: Day 2

Do Now: Can any piece of writing be considered poetry?

Homework: Article response on wikispaces.

Critical Thinking Questions: What is poetry? What is art?

Content: Writing Samples

Objective: We will analyze unconventional examples of poetry and begin to shape their own definition of poetry. Also, where do we find inspiration for our poetry?

Class Activities: Poetry analysis, Definition share, 6 Word Poems

Tuesday, November 29th - Periods 1, 6-7, 8-9, 10

Senior Project Day: Research Proposal

Do Now: What are topics that you have been interested in for your senior project research paper?

Homework: News Article Response on Wikispaces

Critical Thinking Questions: How can you narrow down a broad topic to something more meaningful and focused? Can you use your own experiences in your research writing?

Content: Mr. Zeller’s college thesis, 50 Research Questions, Research Proposal Worksheet

Objective: SWBAT write a focused research topic with accompanying research questions.

Class Activities: Do now, Brainstorming Topics, Narrowing Topics, Creating Questions/SignPosts.

Monday, November 28th - Period 2

Poetry: Day 1

Do Now: What is poetry to you? Do you value poetry in your life?  Why or why not?

Homework: Do you already write poetry?  If yes, then why?  If no, then why not?
(1 Paragraph)

Critical Thinking Question: What is poetry?

Content: Dead Poets Society Clip, Saul Williams Videos, Introduction to Poetry,

Objective: Students begin their own inquiries into poetry, to see poetry as an opportunity to see the world a little differently, to see the world anew.

Class Activities: Watch videos, discussion about video, writing about videos.

Monday, November 28th - Periods 1, 6-7, 8-9, 10

Senior Project Day: Cover Letters

Do Now: What are ways that you can “follow up” with an employer after an interview?

Homework: Cover Letter must be completed. (Must be written or typed in googledocs.)

Critical Thinking Questions: For what kind of job do you need a cover letter?

Content: Cover Letter Samples

Objective: SWBAT write their own cover letter.

Class Activities: Do now, Returning Work, Writing Cover Letter

Monday, November 21st - Period 2

After School Inquiry: Day 6

Do Now: Name one thing that you know we had in school last year that we do not have this year. (Or, explain how the school has changed since last year.)

Homework: Study for test tomorrow.

Critical Thinking Questions: How do politics affect our education? How can we make a difference in our communities and in our lives?

Content: Students: Fund Schools Not Prisons

Objective: SWBAT write a letter explaining their view of the budget cuts to schools in Pennsylvania.

Class Activities: Do Now Discussion, Reading Article, Text Rendering and Poem, Dear Tom Corbett Letter, Test Review

Monday, November 21st - Periods 1, 6-7, 8-9, 10

Student Debt Day

Do Now: How do you plan to pay for post-secondary school?

Homework: 1) Study for test tomorrow!    2) College Essay due tomorrow!

Critical Thinking Questions: What does it mean to go into a situation “with your eyes wide open”? How will you plan to pay for post-secondary school? What resources do we have in the school building to help students find funding?

Content: I Owe U - Time Magazine, Test Review, Vocabulary

Objective: SWBAT recognize the seriousness of student loan debt and the importance of having a plan to enter the economy of the 21st century.

Class Activities: Do now, Text rendering on board, Reflection of student-debt crisis, Test review, Vocabulary Word Sort

Student Debt and Senior Test Review

The College Essay

Senior Project: The College Essay

This is a personal expression of who YOU are. The post-secondary schools that you apply to will have an academic picture of you through your high school transcript, GPA, and SAT score. This essay is an opportunity for you to provide an personal picture of you. It should be about 1 ½ pages double spaced.

Think through your entire life and think...

• What was the single moment or experience in your life that has had the largest impact on you and how you see the world?
• Who has been the most influential person in your life? How did he/she influence you?
• What was the most difficult event or period of your life? How did you overcome that time?
• What was the most rewarding moment of your life? A time when you did something selfless for someone else. This could be something ongoing that you still do.
• Also...you can think of extra curriculars, volunteer activities, and jobs that you have had.

Friday, November 18th - Period 2

After School Inquiry: Day 5

Do Now: If you could speak to your home neighborhood or block...what you you say?

Homework: Extra Credit Opportunity: Use 5 of the vocabulary words in a creatively written paragraph. Please underline the words.

Critical Thinking Questions: How do we interact with the non-human world?

Content: Student Dialogue, Student Letter Writing, Holla Back: “Choose to be Great”

Objective: SWBAT write a letter to their neighborhoods synthesizing the knowledge and awareness they have used during this reflective unit to express how they feel and what they believe.

Class Activities: Do Now Discussion, 8 Minute Dialogue, Dear Neighborhood Letter, Holla Back, Word Sort