***WE WILL BE WORKING ALL WEEK***

 

 

Monday and Tuesday, we'll be giving our speeches. If you don't give your speech, you get a zero, and it's one of the biggest grades of the term. I'd do it if I were you. If you can't be in class those two days for some reason, let me know.

 

Wednesday, I will return the essay re-writes. Then we will begin watching "Bowling for Columbine".

 

Thursday, I will post final grades. Then we will finish watching "Bowling for Columbine".

 

Friday we will have a writing assignment on the movie.

 

Saturday, and not before Saturday, we go on break. Have yourselves a wonderful, relaxing break. See if you can't mature a little.

 

Today, after SSR, I distributed a permission slip for an R-rated film we're watching next week, "Bowling for Columbine," (it's about the gun control issue).  The permission slip is a graded assignment.  If you blow it off, not only will you be hurting your grade at the last minute, but you'll also be making more work for yourself, because I'll be sending you to another room with a writing assignment if you don't have your permission slip turned in.  If you were absent, see me for the slip Monday.  They must be in by Wednesday.

 

Then I gave some helpful tips on public speaking.

 

Then we finished our speeches, transposed them onto index cards, and practiced giving them to each other in pairs.

 

YOU MUST BE READY TO GIVE YOUR SPEECH ON MONDAY.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

* For the honors kids, I gave out a writing assignment for "Of Mice and Men."  It's due the day we get back from break.  If you were absent, make sure you see me to get it.

 

Have a nice weekend.

 

Today, we started with SSR because we're not going to have it next Monday.

 

Then I gave an example of a persuasive speech that used all the rhetorical devices we've spoken about.  Remember, this is a persuasive speech.  You're not giving a report on your topic, (that would be exposition), rather you're trying to get your audience to agree with your stance on your topic.

 

I then gave the rest of the period to work on your speeches.  Tomorrow I will be giving tips on public speaking, and passing out index cards to copy your speech onto.  REMEMBER: you can ONLY have the index cards with you when you give the speech.  And I'm not giving index cards to anyone whose speech isn't fully written yet.

 

We're giving the speeches Monday and Tuesday.

 

Today we started with SSR.

 

Then we had our QUIZ on subjects, action and linking verbs, and prepositions.  When everyone was done, we corrected the quiz.  If you were absent, you'd better make sure you get it cleared fast.  I'll give make-ups for the quiz on Friday, if your absence isn't cleared by then, you get a zero.

 

Next, we worked on our speeches.  I spoke about my expectations and how you'll be graded.  Basically, I want you to write a speech on your topic using all thirteen of our rhetorical devices.  We will be giving the speeches next Monday and Tuesday, you really need to make use of class time between now and the end of the week.

 

***Remember, if you haven't gotten your essay re-write done, you have to get it in by the end of the week!

 

Today we had our last practice on subjects, action and linking verbs, and prepositional phrases.  THERE IS A QUIZ TOMORROW. 

 

We also covered one last speech in our notebooks, this one from "A Few Good Men."  If you weren't here, the notebooks have been graded and returned.  If you haven't gotten yours in yet, you need to.  Also, if you're not working hard in class, you might want to start, because you're killing your grade.

 

Finally, I assigned speech topics.  If you weren't here, you should think of a persuasive speech topic that you would like to do.  We are working on the speeches the rest of the week, then DELIVERING THEM NEXT MONDAY AND TUESDAY.  This is a major grade of the mester, if you blow it off, you're asking to fail.  Also, there won't be enough time to do it late.  You have to be ready on Monday/Tuesday.

 

Today, after SSR, Ms. Warman, our college counselor, talked to the class about the PSAT.  The PSAT is a free practice test for the SAT, which is the test you take to get into college in 11th grade.  Taking the PSAT is a good idea b/c it's free, it doesn't hurt your record no matter how badly you do, and it's very good practice for the real test.  Did I mention that it's free?

 

The only problem is that it's given while us B-trackers are off-track, so you have to come in one day to take it, (unless you're already here for intersession, in which case it gives you an excuse to get out of class that day).

 

Date: Wednesday, October 15th

Time: 7:15am

Location: Poly HS Cafetorium

Price: FREE

 

If you were absent but are interested in taking the PSAT, please see me or Ms. Warman in the college office, (right by the library).

 

In class today, we had more grammar practice, (THERE IS A QUIZ ON WEDNESDAY), and we reviewed another speech for rhetorical devices in our notebooks, this time it was Howard Beale's speech in the movie Network.

 

If you were absent, be sure to get your notebooks in, I'm grading them.

Today, after SSR, we examined a new speech, this time it was from the movie "Friday Night Lights." Just like the others, we looked for the rhetorical devices and listed at least five in our notebooks.

Then I handed out another worksheet on action verbs, linking verbs and subject complements. There's going to be a quiz next Wednesday, we'll keep practicing until then.

REMEMBER: THE RE-WRITE OF YOUR ESSAY IS DUE MONDAY!  You must staple the old draft to the back of the rewrite.

One last thing: next week, I'll be asking you what topic you want to do your short persuasive speech about.  None of us want to sit and listen to the same speech over and over, so there's one speech topic per class, pro and con.  I do my best to make everyone happy.  Try to pick a second choice, in case there's a conflict.  Nobody will be doing gun control.

 

Wednesday, after SSR, we reviewed a Malcolm X speech for rhetorical devices, just like we did with the Muhammed Ali speech the day before.  Then we had more practice with action verbs, linking verbs, and prepositional phrases.  We reviewed the worksheet from the day before, and I gave a new worksheet for homework.

 

Thursday, I returned the essays, and we went over common mistakes.  You have to re-write the essay, all of you.

 

 

Then we a speech from "The Godfather" for rhetorical devices, and we reviewed the grammar worksheet that was homework.  Another grammar worksheet was given for homework.

 

Today we dissected a speech by Muhammed Ali for its rhetorical devices.  You should have this in your notebook.  See me for the speech if you were absent.  You should be able to find at least six.

 

Then we covered the first three levels of grammar: action verbs, linking verbs, and prepositional phrases.  See me for the notes if you were out.  I also handed out a practice worksheet on this, which will be due as homework for Wednesday.

 

Today, after SSR, we reviewed the SCR questions from the periodic assessment last week.

 

Then I gave some more time to find examples of the thirteen rhetorical devices from "Ain't I a Woman?" You should have at least one example of each of the thirteen rhetorical devices, from the speech, in your notebook.

 

We then reviewed the answers.  Remember, you'll have to use these devices in your own speeches, so you must understand them first.  If you don't get something we talk about, ask.