Today, after SSR, we wrote a letter, in business letter format, to give advice to incoming tenth graders for how to do well in Mr. Rabins' English class.  The letter must have at least three pieces of advice.  THIS IS BEING GRADED, AND YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.

 

Then we had our vocabulary bingo quiz.  If you were absent, you must write me a paragraph using ten of the vocabulary words to replace the grade.

 

 

Monday - Listed above.

 

Tuesday -  There will be a sub.  You'll watch the second half of "MacBeth"

 

Wednesday - Essays returned.  We'll watch the first half of "Scotland PA"

 

Thurday - Finish "Scotland PA," write a paragraph comparing the two films.  THIS IS A GRADED ASSIGNMENT.

 

Friday - Final grades posted.  End of term.

 

No school on Monday, B-trackers!  Good luck in 11th Grade!

 

Today, we started with SSR.

 

Then we reviewed our paragraphs about why the Lakers lost to the celtics, using eight SAT vocabulary words.  This should be done in your notebook.  It can be fiction, I just want you to use the words correctly.

 

Finally, we started watching Roman Polanski's version of "Macbeth," which we will finish on Wednesday.

 

 

Have a nice weekend.  I'll be suffering in 100-degree heat, grading your essays.  It's a lot like how I would imagine hell, actually.

 

Today, after SSR, I passed out a permission slip for the film versions of MacBeth that we're going to watch, both of which are rated R, (mostly for violence).

 

 

Then we went to the computer lab to finish our essays and turn them in.

 

At the end of class, I gave a writing assignment: In your notebook, using the latest twenty-four SAT vocabulary words, write a paragraph explaining why the Lakers lost in the NBA finals to the celtics. It can be fiction if you want. You should used at least eight vocabulary words. They will be shared tomorrow, complete this for homework.

 

Today, we went to the computer lab to work on our essays.  We will go again tomorrow, then they are due at the end of class.

 

 

 

Today we started with SSR, because it was not a shortened day.  (Don't blame me, I don't make the schedule... besides, what are you bitching about?  You skipped!)

 

Then I gave some more writing tips about things I'm expecting to see in this essay, including COMMAS AFTER INTRODUCTORY ELEMENTS!  If you set the time or place of a sentence with an introductory phrase, you MUST separate it with a comma.

 

Examples:

 

After killing King Duncan, MacBeth starts to show signs of guilt.

 

While it is true that MacBeth receives his future from the witches, it is he who decides to act on these portents in order to make them come true.

 

Papers missing these commas will be graded down SEVERELY.

 

I then gave a lesson on how to handle long quotes from the text.  It didn't do you any good to miss that, either.

 

I then gave the rest of the period, about an hour, to work on your essays.  WHICH ARE DUE THURSDAY!

 

Today, after SSR, I passed out a practice worksheet for the new SAT vocabulary words.  We worked on it in class, and then went over it.  The next Vocabulary bingo will likely be this Friday, so you need to get to know these words.  Just like last time, the bingo game will count as a quiz score.

 

Then I gave the rest of the period to work on your essays. 

 

NOTICE FOR HABITUAL SKIPPERS: I know you think you're slick, but you're not.  I recommend VERY STRONGLY that you start coming to class every day this week.  The essays are DUE ON THURSDAY.  If you haven't started writing your essay yet, you are way, way behind.  If you don't turn in your essay, I am going to fail you.  I'll be here after school to help with your essay every day until it is due.

 

Today, after SSR, we took our quiz on Acts IV and V of MacBeth.  If you weren't here, you'll take them when you get back.

 

I then showed the class a sample student essay, giving hints to what makes good writing, and what will get you an "A."

 

We spent the rest of the class working on our essays, as I circulated around the room, checking everyone's thesis and topic sentences.

 

THE ESSAY IS DUE NEXT WEDNESDAY.  YOU'RE NOT PASSING THIS CLASS WITHOUT TURNING IT IN.  My very strong suggestion is that you have at least two body paragraphs written before Monday.

 

ALSO: Don't forget, the practice SAT vocabulary worksheet is due Monday!  Poor babies.

 

Have a nice weekend.  Take two hours off from your essay and go see The Hulk.

 

Today, we finished MacBeth.  There will be a quiz tomorrow, Friday, on Acts IV and V.

 

Then I passed out the writing prompt for the essay.

 

 

Basically, you have a choice of what you want to write about.  I want you to take a subject, such as guilt, consequences for evil actions, or betrayal, and tell me what the play is saying about that subject.  Then you are addressing a theme of the play.  Your thesis and your three topic setences are due tomorrow, Friday.

 

This paper is due soon.  Don't waste any time, get to work!  You're not passing my class without turning in an essay.

 

1. SSR

 

2. We read Act V Scenes 4 and 5 of MacBeth.  We'll be finishing the play tomorrow.

 

 

3. I gave out a new list of twenty-four SAT vocabulary words.  Your are to look up the definitions and put them in your notebook.  Here are the words:

 

Admonition

Affirmation

Charlatan

Diffident

Ebullient

Emboldened

Garnered

Indignant

Indulgent

Intrigued

Mercenary

Moratorium

Mosaic

Naive

Portent

Prosaic

Provincial

Quibble

Sanguine

Serene

Surly

Trepidation

Volatile

Wry

 

There you go.  Get to work.

 

Today we read Act V, (that's a five), Scene 3 of MacBeth, which shows some important changes in the character MacBeth.  Read it.

 

Next, we had our vocabulary bingo.  Fun was had, candy was doled out, a great time was had by all.  If you weren't here, you need to make up the quiz score by writing me a paragraph using ten of the vocabulary words.  (Preferably, correctly.)