Mrs. Charlton's Site

Writing 421:

• Due today: Good News Article. Submit to turnitin.com and (if necessary to maintain organization of article) print off a copy to be corrected.
• Students worked with their “Business Partners” to create a team name a logo today.
• We discussed the relevant information and writing traits associated with creating an effective resume and cover letter.
• Students responded in their Reader’s Response Logs to the sample resumes and questions: List ten items that should appear on a resume, and list five items that should appear in a cover letter.
• In-class freewrite question: Of the 6 + 1 traits of writing, which two do you think are most important to creating a resume and cover letter?
• Resume/Cover Letter notes and writing prompts available on class page.

English 421:

• Class discussed and corrected Act II scene 2 from the Julius Caesar study guide which can be found under the May files on the English 421 page .
• Students performed Act II scenes 3 and 4.  Scenes 3 and 4 were summarized and explained to the class.
• A review sheet for Act II was distributed.  Students worked on the Act II review and then corrected it as a class. The Act II review can be accessed under the May files on the English 421 page.
• Homework: study the Act II review for tomorrow’s quiz.

Writing 421:

• Due tomorrow: Good News Article. Articles should be uploaded to turnitin.com by 3:30pm. If the photo and columns are lost when uploaded, please print off a copy to submit with proper organization.
• Today, students spent some class time free-writing in response to the following questions (Writer’s Notebook): What are some of the major weaknesses of our school? What are the major opportunities available to our school? What are the major threats facing our school? What are some of the major strengths of our school?
• Students brainstormed ways in which the school shows weakness and strength.
• Students were assigned their groups/teams for the remainder of the school year (Business Writing unit). Groups are responsible for submitting a team name and logo tomorrow (class time will be provided).

English 421:

• Students performed Act II scene1 and watched that scene from Julius Caesar.
• Class discussed Act II scene 1 questions from the study guide.
• Students performed Act II scene 2.
• Both scenes 1 and 2 were explained and paraphrased.
• Homework: do Act II scene 2 questions from the study guide.

Writing 421:

• Students submitted their Introduction/Conclusion assignments to turnitin.com today.
• Students received the last Expository Writing Unit assignment: Research Paper Analysis. We went outside into the Peace Garden so that students could begin reading and gathering information to respond to analysis questions. The Analysis is due to be submited to turnitin.com by Thursday, June 2nd.
• Reminder for weekend: Good News Article due Tuesday, May 31st

English 421:

• Students completed the Act I review/quiz.
• Homework: read Act II scene 1 and do the questions from the study guide.

Writing 421:

• With the substitute teacher yesterday, students received and worked on article analysis questions. This practice will help students be more comfortable with their more comprehensive essay analysis (students will receive essay and questions tomorrow – due Thursday, June 2nd).
• Students in Block B are responsible for writing a letter of apology to the substitute teacher for their behaviour yesterday. It is to be typed and submitted tomorrow. Students are expected to treat substitute teachers with respect and dignity, but that was not shown yesterday while I was out. Students who were absent yesterday (Weds, May 25th) are excused from this homework.
• Due tomorrow: Introduction/Conclusion Assignment. Word-format file of the essay body paragraphs can be found on the class webpage. Must be submitted to turnitin.com by 3:30pm.

English 421:

• Students worked on the Act I quiz/review assignment which is due tomorrow.

English 421:

• Class corrected questions for Act I scene 2.
• Students acted Act I scene 3 and then watched the film version of that scene.
• Act I scene 3 was explained and summarized.
• Students then worked on the questions from the study guide for Act I scene 3.
• Homework: study for Act I Quiz which is tomorrow.  Review notes and questions.

Writing 421:

• Students completed the Show & Tell presentations today. All students who presented received their mark back today as well. For any student who was absent at Track & Field (and who did not present on Friday), you may present tomorrow without penalty.
• Students received the article for which they will create an introduction and conclusion. This assignment is due on Friday, May 27th. A copy of the article as well as guidelines for creating introductions and conclusions can be found on our class page. The article is in Word and Rich Text formats so that students can type directly into the file to submit into turnitin.com.
• If students submit their assignments to turnitin.com by attaching a file (not copy&paste), it is no longer necessary to print off a paper copy. 
• Students (and parents) should feel free to email me and speak to me before or after class if concerned about marks.

English 421:

• Students received their marked novel tests, journal entries and novel projects.
• Students received notes entitled “Shakespeare Terms” which can also be accessed under the May files on the English 421 page. 
• Act I scene 1 of Julius Caesar was discussed and summarized, and the questions were corrected.
• Students listened to Act I scene 2, viewed Act I scene 2 from the movie, and received notes on the scene as well.  The scene was also explained and summarized.
• Homework: do the questions for Act I scene 2 from the study guide handout (booklet).  Read Act I scene 3.
• There will be a quiz on Act I on Thursday.

Writing 421:

• Students presented their Show & Tell Assignments during class today. We had a wonderful class in which the students taught each other how to do or create something, or informed each other about important objects in their lives. What a great way to head into a long weekend! Thanks to Lorinda in Block A (the cupcakes were scrumptious!).
• Writer’s Notebooks and Reading Responses were collected at the end of class.
• For Tuesday, students should ensure that they’ve read a news article, written a precis/summary of the article, and answered the 5W’s and How of the story.

English 421:

• Students received their “Interactive Phone Systems” group activity marks. 
• Students received their A&E Biography (Shakespeare) questions sheet mark.
• A handout entitled “Creating Your Own Shakespearean Insults” was distributed.  Students had time to create three Shakespearean-sounding insults; many students shared their creations aloud with the class. 
• A handout explaining the use of the semi-colon was distributed.  The handout was read aloud.  Students were then given time in class to correctly punctuate sentences using the semi-colon.  The sentences were then corrected together.
• Students viewed 25 minutes of the documentary “Ancients Behaving Badly: Julius Caesar.”
• Homework: read Act I scene ii and complete the questions from the study guide for Act I scene ii.

Writing 421:

• We reviewed yesterday’s discussion about surface vs. critical thinking questions.
• We discussed the importance of introductions and conclusions. We also learned some strategies to create effective introductions and conclusions.
• In pairs, students assessed the 5W’s of an article/essay of their choice. Students also answered questions about the effectiveness of the writer’s introduction and conclusion. (Due Tuesday, May 24th)
• Tomorrow (Friday), students will present their Show and Tell assignments to the class. All students must be prepared to present tomorrow. It is not necessary to submit presentation notes to turnitin.com as there is no formal written component required for this assignment.
• Enjoy the beautiful evening!

English 421:

• Class finished discussing the two scenarios from the Julius Caesar pre-reading activity. 
• Class viewed slideshow about William Shakespeare and Julius Caesar which can be accessed under the May notes on the English 421 page. 
• Class viewed first 15 minutes of Shakespeare in Love to see what life was like in sixteenth-century London.
• Class read Act I scene i of Julius Caesar aloud.  Class viewed Act I scene i of the film.
• Study guide for the play Julius Caesar was distributed.
• Homework: complete the questions for Act I scene i.  Read Act I scene ii.

Writing 421:

• Today was the last opportunity to resubmit any rewritten Persuasive Essay papers for consideration. Papers not submitted to turnitin.com or papers that have been plagiarized and not rewritten will receive a score of zero.
• Students received a new expository writing assignment: Good News Article (due Tuesday, May 31).
• We discussed the difference between surface questions and critical thinking questions. The students in each class brainstormed possible questions using the 5W’s and How.
• Homework: write a precis/summary of any current news article (online or print) and identify the who, what, when, where, why, and how as it is explained in the article.

English 421:

• The class corrected the question sheet on the A&E Biography film “William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama.” 
• A pre-reading activity for Julius Caesar was distributed.  Students worked on this activity individually, and then shared their responses in small groups and then with the class.
• Julius Caesar texts were distributed.
• Homework: read “The Life and Times of William Shakespeare” handout which was distributed today.

Writing 421:

• Students submitted their Emotional Recipes to turnitin.com and handed in a paper copy during class. Using a feedback sheet for comments, students read each other’s Emotional Recipes.
• Students also received an assignment sheet for the Show & Tell Presentation (students will present on Friday, May 20th). Assignment available on class webpage.
• Reminder for Block B students: “Trimming Wordiness” sentence corrections for homework (also found on class webpage).
• Resubmissions of Persuasive Essay will be accepted until 3:30 tomorrow (Weds, May 18th).

English 421:

• Students viewed the A&E Biography “William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama.”  A question sheet about the film was distributed.  Students completed the question sheet while viewing the film.
• Handouts about Shakespeare and his theatres were distributed.
• Homework: Finish the film question sheet which is due Wednesday and read the handouts.