Tuesday, August 28, 2007

AP Lit: Return focus papers; guidelines for solid writing/review; passage analysis of Flaubert's diction. Tomorrow we will take our first Multiple Choice Practice Session*, so bring a pencil and an open mind.

*The AP Exam comprises three rigorous essay topics, to be addressed within two hours, and a 55-58 question multiple choice session on four or five short passages. Generally a third to a half of the test is on poetry, and the remainder on fictional prose passages. Also, half of the selections are usually from before the 19th century European/British/American canons, and the other are from after the 19th century. We will address various strategies for best addressing this multiple choice session throughout the year, and today is the first enjoyable reading opportunity!

Gifted English II: Our Author of the Day is Louise Erdrich, the Native American poet and novelist. Today we will be working with a PSAT Practice session, including a short reading passage by Jamaica Kincaid. The PSAT will be administered in October and all of you are signed up to take it for free! This might be one of your last opportunities in life to do something with no fee attached, so enjoy!

Non-Academic Note:

We will have a brief travel meeting this evening in my classroom, 313, for anyone interested in either the London or the Venice/Florence trips this year. These are NOT Boone trips, although they involve only Boone kids, and are chaperoned through an OCPS-approved non-profit association called Art Events, Inc. Travel insurance is included in the trip price, and I do not make any money off of these ventures. I just like to travel, and think that when kids are exposed to other cultures, they have opportunities for growth and understanding. This will be my fifth year traveling with this organization and I really enjoy working with my guides. Both trips are almost full, so contact me if you have any questions.