Thursday, September 10, 2009

Gifted English II: Author of the Day is the late JG Ballard, author of Empire of the Sun, followed by "Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy" by Tim O'Brien. BRING YOUR TEXTBOOK!!!

APees: Oedipus Rex information, including the next focus paper assignment, and review for the test tomorrow in class on the play.

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Today is an anniversary felt very deeply and poignantly by many Americans; seven years ago, terrorists struck on American shores and the sense of complacency felt for so long here was shattered. I hope that none of you are particularly upset today, but I would ask you to take just a moment and consider how lucky we are to live in a country with all of the vast resources and freedoms as America, and if you know someone personally who suffered as a result of the 2001 attacks, you have my empathy.

On the the academic side of things:

Sophys: Thank you for being so focused and intensive with your reading day! Back to business today. Our Author of the Day is Margery Kempe. You have a vocabulary quiz tomorrow on the fourth subset of words; I am NOT reviewing this week (although I will make the distinction between oxymoron and paradox in class) so please be responsible and study diligently. Today: Finish "Billy" and analysis; short writing assignment.

APees: We need to talk about the T-shirt issue each period; there might be a pop quiz on ORex and we need to discuss the Glaysher essay in-depth. Focus papers due tomorrow; let's discuss themes and look at Jocasta's responsibility in all of this mess.

Writing Center training will be during A and B lunch shifts today in room 302. We relocate to 315 next week.

Friday, September 5, 2008

FRIDAY!!! Glorious, glorious Friday. Please wear ORANGE AND WHITE today to celebrate Boone's awesomeness. We really are pretty awesome, aren't we? And if you wear the aforementioned colors, you get to go to lunch one minute early! ONE WHOLE MINUTE! That's like sixty seconds of tater-tot goodness!

Gifted English II: Vocabulary Quiz #3, which is in a slightly different format than before. We're wrapping up our miniature unit on irony today, too. Author of the Day is Yukio Mishima. Your Art Opportunity today, to celebrate your Giftedness (aka: weirdness) is to draw something that symbolically relates to any of the words on your vocab list this week. Perhaps Odysseus flailing around on his boat? Or Johnny Appleseed chasing a tortoise? Or a better version of my Titanic sketch, complete with a confused Celine Dion on the deck of the doomed ship?

APees: Oedipus Rex!!! Hello, King! I know you know the story, but the play itself is quite readable and very easy to follow. Sophocles was a genius. Today, we will discuss aspects of the tragedy and how the Greek model sets the stage for, well, everything else. You need to READ. Really READ. Another focus paper is imminently approaching. . .