posted on behalf of ms. hilley

Dear Students,

Ms. Hilley went home sick Friday morning, and won't be back at work until next Monday. Don't panic; she has a plan.

She has strep throat which has settled into her tonsils and her highest fever hit 106 this weekend. In addition to being contagious, she is beyond miserable. (I'm typing this for her while she dictates so pardon anything overdramatic.)

She wants you to know the following:

1. Once she can sit up again, she will generate a comprehensive exam review and send it to school.
2. Since she won't be there to review with you, she plans to curve your final.
3. Your writing assignment tomorrow--which should be on the front desk on half-sheets of paper--is to write a letter to your future self. You will receive this letter at the end of your senior year. It will be locked in the school safe in the interim for safekeeping. On Wednesday, you will be given a festive envelope to take home and decorate any way you choose to store said letter. Your name should be clearly delineated somewhere on the outside.

She knows that this "sucks" and she has to miss graduation now, but things were pretty bad there for a while and she is on heavy-duty antibiotics now. And she very much hopes that none of you have this, too.

More details pending. Be nice to your sub!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Happy Thursday!  I missed you yesterday.  

If you have not already done so, please plan to attend Mrs. Nicoll's final AP Language meeting tomorrow morning before school.  Very important!

And please get a copy of Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer, and find a spiral notebook and call it your Moon Journal.  I have now officially told you.

Today in class:  Review Foreign Terms from Tuesday and why modifiers need to be in the right place, before we launch into Grammar Fun of All Kinds and take a comprehensive look at creativity.  And possibly discuss SkyMall.  And marshmallows.  (Yes, it's all connected, and yes, it's all relevant to our pursuit of Higher Knowledge.)

Final question:  Have ya'll seen a short film called The Wave?  If you haven't, we need to really really.  

Official Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Final Trailer

This will be the must-see movie of the summer, and I can't wait until July 15.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Mr. Bailey will be with you today. Don't disappoint me, people. Be good.

Gifted English II: Final scheduled reading day for your chosen novel. If you haven't finished the guided questions I gave you last week--some of which will re-appear on your exam in shockingly similar form--then this is your chance to finish up.

AP Literature and Composition: If anyone needs to make-up a final, this morning is IT. The senior assembly will be at 11:00, after which is the senior bbq in the junior-senior cafeteria. Don't worry; no juniors will be allowed! I am not here today, but I will see all ya'll at UCF Grad Practice next week on the 26th at 1 p.m.

Rising Seniors: If you need a copy of a novel, come see me ASAP. If you did not attend any of the sessions regarding the pre-test and the summer reading, you have been dropped from the course. The summer reading packet is posted on the BHS website if you have lost it already; I don't have extra hard copies.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Gifted English II: Tomorrow will be your last scheduled reading day for your chosen novel. You will NOT get a grade if you forget your book tomorrow, so write a note, inscribe it on your hand, jot it down in your planner. . . Today, though, the commentaries are due, and we will have the obligatory Title Parade and second period will analyze the green sheets from 2005. (First period already did this.) Please don't forget to attend one of Mrs. Nicoll's meetings TODAY, TOMORROW, or THURSDAY in room 315--and don't be late! I believe she wants to start at 8:45. This is REQUIRED for all potential AP Language students next year.

AP Literature and Composition: You have only first and second period exams today; I will be here finishing grades and collecting make-up work. Don't forget to get your orange check-out form signed and turn in all of your textbooks to the Media Center. Tomorrow, the Senor Assembly begins promptly at eleven in the auditorium, after which you will be fed!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Gifted English II: Review of timelines for both novels; reminder about commentaries due tomorrow; overlap into final writing assignment. (You'll really like it!)

Advanced Placement Literature and Composition: Sniff. . .some of you are gone now, but fourth period has their final today! You are dismissed from campus after fourth period today, and after second tomorrow. I will be here both afternoons finishing grades and signing yearbooks. If you owe make-up work you are running out of time, so please submit ASAP. . .

Wednesday-Friday, May 13-15, 2009

Gifted English II: Poetry, non-fiction, and novels, oh, my. Wuthering Heights or Crime and Punishment must be read by the final exam; next week, we will go over both novels preparatory to the final assessment. Don't forget that the commentary paper is due Tuesday, May 20!!!

AP Literature and Composition: The Final Chapter. Senior Exams 5,6,7 are Friday, and 4th period is Monday. If you owe make-up work--and you know who you are--please get it in ASAP.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Note: The first AP Literature meeting is tomorrow morning at 8:45 a.m. in room 313. If you are in my first period class, please wait outside or next door until the meeting is over. Thanks!

Gifted English II: Peer review for Commentary assignment; questions for "Rocking-Horse" due tomorrow. If we have time, we'll take a look at "Porphyria."

AP Lit: Who am I kidding? We're passing time until the final. I'd like to go over the "Life Lessons" for college prep, and need to give ya'll a speech about college safety at some point. Good luck to all the AP Chem test-takers.

I think this might work!!!

Macbeth Parody on The Simpsons

http://www.hulu.com/watch/72418/the-simpsons-four-great-women-and-a-manicure

It's not a bad episode--it parodies Queen Elizabeth, Snow White, Macbeth, and Ayn Rand. Good times. I'm trying to figure out how to upload it directly here; YouTube loads into Blogger but I can't figure out how to make Hulu work. (Alas, I am not a small child--these tech skills seem to come naturally to the younger generation!)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Good luck to AP Music Theory and AP Physics test-takers today! (Particularly the two of you who have to take BOTH. That is just intense. I took two exams on one day, back in the 1980's, and I'm not entirely sure I've yet recovered from that experience.) Pace yourself and be well!

Gifted English II: Finish "The Rocking-Horse Winner" and address the issues raised by the story. HW: Finish your commentary rough draft and answer the questions at the end of "Rocking-Horse."

AP Lit: 50 Things Every 18-Year-Old Should Know (Part I of my Real Life Management Mini-curriculum, and culled from a variety of sources; this can be filed under Trash or Treasure) and then a resumption of Friday's cross-curricular activity with the NEW DVD PLAYER I ACQUIRED THIS WEEKEND! No more borrowing from the Media Center! (Actually, this isn't really a problem, since I can count on one hand how many movies I've shown this year, but I prefer to have my own materials anyway. Simplifies things.) If you were absent Friday, please complete the journal entry on the board for 30 points; we will be going over the green sheets tomorrow in class.

Friday, May 8, 2009

Good luck to all AP Euro test-takers today!

Gifted English II: A neat cross-cultural visual curriculum activity.

APees: Journal entry about yesterday's test (which I won't read until midnight tonigh, but you get 30 points) and perhaps the cross-cultural visual curriculum activity, too.

Monday, May 4-Friday, May 8, 2009

It's AP season, so I haven't slept much of late. Here is the schedule for this week; I will update ASAP.

MONDAY: Gifted English II: TP-CASTT analysis of two poems of your choice, worth 40 points, from the Perrine book. AP Lit: Finish review for AP exam re: figurative terms; read the Angry Passage about Gallant from the practice test. Some of you are out for AP Government; the t-shirts are in, but cost me an extra 150.00 for the sleeves. Happy Graduation to everyone. Meh.

TUESDAY: Gifted English II: Lecture on Commentary, with examples; Character lists for C&P and WH; Commentary assignment given. (Rough draft due on Tuesday next.) Some of you are out for AP Stats. AP Lit: Go over essay samples regarding the Practice Test and go over final strategies for testing on Thursday.

WEDNESDAY: Gifted English II: OUTSIDE READING DAY. Bring a copy of your novel, a beverage, and a blanket (if so inclined) and we are going to go together to the courtyard to read and savor the last shreds of spring. AP Lit: Most of you will be out for Calc, so I will be working one-on-one with the rest of you to prepare for tomorrow's test.

THURSDAY: Gifted English II: More commentary samples; transition to AP Language activity; plan for poetry reading. AP Lit: TODAY IS THE DAY. I will have breakfast for interested parties at 6:30 in room 313--bring your own coffee! DO NOT COME BACK TO SCHOOL TO TELL ME ALL ABOUT IT. VERBOTEN. AND DO NOT FACEBOOK IT, EITHER. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FRIDAY: Gifted English II: TBA (I have no idea, but it will be glorious). AP Lit: Written reflection on AP test, stapled shut since I can't see it until later tonight. Credit given!

More pending; we are winding down, people. Next week in Gifted-land: The Commentary, continued; Next week in AP Land: Transition to College (HOPE, Hilley St yle.)

Star Wars Floppy Disk II

And while we're at it. . .this one is for shorter attention spans.

Now go study for AP Euro, or Stats, or Calc, or even. . .dare I say it. . .LIT!!!!

Queen Bohemian Rhapsody Old School Computer Remix

This is one of the coolest things I've seen lately. Enjoy!!!

Oh, and happy Cinco de Mayo tomorrow!

AP Literary Terms to Review

LITERARY TERMS TO REVIEW

Diction: Word choice. On the AP Test, please don't say, "The passage features diction." Everything does. Use an adjective--"The passage's use of esoteric diction highlights the author's purpose, which is to educate and baffle." Or something to that effect.

Syntax: Sentence structure, and yes, this also applies to poems. How are the words connected? Are the sentences or phrases elongated, or terse?

Author’s purpose and tone: When in doubt, “establish mood.” Just don’t rely on that alone. For tone words—check the handy-dandy word bank in the review packet. It’s quite awesome and mighty.

Tone: Don’t forget that tone is NOT mood, and is the author’s attitude toward the subject matter. Thus, while the “mood” of HofD might be melancholy, the tone is judgmental, evaluative, or revelatory.

Structure: How is the passage or poem organized? Is it a sonnet, or a lyric? Even free verse has some structure, even if it is implied.

Social commentary: How has the author conveyed some evaluation of our society? Class consciousness, marital relationships, gender roles, crime—all of these could be construed as elements of social commentary.

Figurative Language:

Metaphor/simile/trope/conceit: These are all analogies. Similes use “like” or “as,” and tropes/conceits are generally expanded metaphors that run through an entire text.

Personification/apostrophe/ode: Remember the example of the bell from class. The bell sings is personification; “O bell, thou sing” is apostrophe, and “Ode to a Ringing Bell Covered in Bling” is an ode.

Synesthesia: confusing or blending sensory images. “Dark sound” is a good example.

Characterization: How does the author convey insight into the character? What physical, emotional, or spiritual details are given through dialogue, action, description?

Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sound. Bart bounced bodaciously off the bike.

Allusion: Reference to mythology, Biblical tales, published literature. “She had the beauty of Aphrodite, but, sadly, the brains of Hannah Montana.”

End-stopped v. run-on lines: Where the actual thought ends in poetry; most of Eliot, for example, spills over into subsequent lines, and very few poets end each thought at the end of a natural line of poetry.

Poetic meter and form: You probably won’t be asked to scan a poem for rhythm, but knowing what KIND of poem it is can be helpful. Dramatic monologue, sonnet, lyric, ballad, etc. You will not see haiku unless you write it in a margin.

Rhetorical Stances:

Logos: Appealing to logic or the intellect

Pathos: Appealing to emotions

Ethos: Appealing to morality

AP Examination Schedule for Next Week

Monday, May 4: AP Government and Politics

Tuesday, May 5: AP Stats

Wednesday, May 6: AP Calc

Thursday, May 7: AP Lit and Comp

. . .and that's all I have at the moment. I think Chem is in there somewhere, too.

To wit:

I have first and second period sophomore classes each day this week, and a handful of my sophys will be out for the Stats test on Tuesday. My AP classes will be more affected by the testing schedule, but I will be in my classroom, reviewing material and going over the sample essays for the Practice Examination each afternoon periods 4-7. I do not expect test-takers to attend after their exams, but if you need anything or are freaking out, you can find me there each day until 4:30.

On the examination day itself, Thursday, I might disappear and do paperwork downtown. This is for your protection as well as mine--we CANNOT discuss the exam until Monday at the earliest, and it's easier if you don't bounce back to school to celebrate or commiserate.

And it should go without saying: Do NOT post any AP questions or reactions to your exams on Facebook, blogs, or twitter. College Board will hunt you down and possibly invalidate THE ENTIRE DISTRICT if a student gives away information, even after the test.

AP Update

1. Many, many thanks to Robin B. for trying to pick up our AP Lit t-shirts on Friday, and to Dani M. for getting them after school when they were finally ready! I will be distributing tomorrow--if you have the AP Gov exam, I will try to get over there to the church to distribute them, but you might have to swing by school if you are desperate for them tomorrow.

2. Mrs. Pearson has no problem with you wearing the shirts during the AP test, but I have to double-check with admin. The shirts have NO literary information--not even a quote--so they should be fine, but I will ascertain tomorrow if they are wearable or not.

3. I am still assessing AP Practice exams. There have been academic honesty issues--again. Many, many of you took the noble path, but some of you seemed to have gathered information online. Turnitin is all-knowing, people. IT IS VITALLY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO YOUR OWN WORK. At some point, you are going to get caught--and it will have irrevocable repercussions. Many thanks to those of you who did your own work; for the few errant types, you know who you are, but more importantly, so do I.

4. On a happier note: Don't forget breakfast Thursday! I will have doughnuts and OJ in room 313 at 6:45 a.m. in my classroom for all interested parties. BYOC--Bring Your Own Coffee. I am not interested in transporting hot, potentially lawsuit-inducing liquids.

AP EXAM IS IN FOUR DAYS!!!!!!!! It's like Christmas Eve Excitement!

In honor of someone. . .

One of my favorite blogs for entertainment is www.failblog.org, which isn't very nice but is frequently very, very funny. To wit:

Friday, May 1, 2009

Can you believe it's May?

Seriously. . .can you believe it's MAY?????????

Wow. Time has passed.

Gifted English II: You have a choice of two novels, either of which must be read by the final examination. Choice #1: Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky, a deep look at a man's psychological shatterings after committing the ultimate crime. Depressing, yes, but very well-written. Choice #2: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, a deep look at revenge, class consciousness, and tortured love from the wind-swept moors of 19th century England. Not as well-written as C&P, but a compelling and easier read (perhaps) even though some students have decried it as a "chick book." Oh, the judgments of the young. Both copies are available in our Media Center; as of this update, 90% of you have one in your possession. Hey, ten percent! Get over to the MC! Today in class: Listen to "Richard Cory" by Simon and Garfunkel.

APees: Review for the AP Exam, Part II.