Junior/Senior English
1st Qrtr Fall 2004

Robert L. Slater

Clearview High School


Day 44 ñ 11/10
  1. Read: War and othe lines by Stephen Crane.  For each poem tell how it is still current/relevant.  How does it speak to you, intellectually and emotionally?
  2. Class evaluation: This course was new for me as well as for you.  I want to improve it.  Please help me by letting me know what worked, didn't work and what could be better.  Please comment on the major assignments:
    • American Dream Project
    • Autobiography: Me and My Family
    • Questions of the Day
  3. Self-evaluation: I would also like you to reflect on your effort and progress.  How have you grown in this class?  Consider writing, expression, timeliness and effort.  What do you need to continue working on?

Day 42 ñ 11/8
  1. Q.o.t.D. #12 - What struggles do you have with yourself?  Think of specific instances when you did something you regretted.  Think about daily struggles: to get up on time, not yell at my mom, quit smoking, etc.  What process do you go through to work it out? What helps?


Schedule:
Unit 2: The Inner Struggle
Story of My Family/Story of Me
Rough Draft of My Family due 10/22
Rough Draft of Story of Me due 10/27
Final Draft of My Family due 10/29
Final Draft of Story of Me due 11/1




Day 29 ñ 10/20

  1. Q.o.t.D. #11 - What does the phrase, "Liberty and justice for all" mean to you?  In your own life have you seen examples of injustice? Describe those incidents.  How much freedom/liberty should we have? Who decides?


Day 28ñ 10/19
  1. Continue writing rough drafts of  My Family and Story of Me

Day 27 ñ 10/18
  1. Writing rough drafts of  My Family and Story of Me
  2. See Rob's High School Autobiography for a sample.

Day 26 ñ 10/14

  1. Q.o.t.D. #10 - What have been the crux points in your life?  A crux (or a crossroad) is something that changed or solidified the direction of your life.  For me some of my crux points were: the adoption of my sister, the deaths of my grandmother, my favorite uncle and my grandfather.  Getting cast in a play, joining the wrestling team and becoming a teen parent were a few more.  Pick several of your crux points and describe the effect they have had on your life.
  2. Make a list of everything you know about your family that happened before you were born. 
  3. Refer to the handout from Tuesday.  Make a list of all the people you can talk to, call, e-mail or visit that could give you more information about your family. 
Homework: Communicate with at least three people this weekend and ask them for facts, legends and anecdotes about your ancestors.

Day 25 ñ 10/13
  • Bellingham Technical College Visit

Day 24 ñ 10/12
  1. Read: Self-Reliance Excerpt second half.
  2. Answer questions.  Reread your main points from the first half.  What has he added?  This was written in 1841.  What, if anything dates this writing as not present day?  What does he say that still holds true? 
  3. Begin: Story of My Family.  Handout.

Day 23 ñ 10/11
  1. Begin Unit 2: The Inner Struggle
  2. Q.o.t.D. #9 - What does the phrase "Inner Struggle" mean to you?
  3. Scan: Ralph Waldo Emerson - Self-Reliance and write down any words that you don't know.  Don't read it yet.
  4. Read: Self-Reliance Excerpt first half.
  5. Answer questions: What does Emerson say in this first half?  What are his main points?  Are there any phrases that sum it up?


Day 22 ñ 10/8
  1. End of Unit 1: Grade Day

Day 21 ñ 10/7
  1. Final Work Day: Project Due


Day 20 ñ 10/6
  1. Work Day:  Rough Drafts Due

Day 18 - 10/4

  1. Q.o.t.D. #8 - What defines each of the decades from 1940 to 1990?  This can be a series of bulleted phrases rather than paragraphs and sentences.  Think in terms of people and points of view.
  2. Assignment adjustment: 8 of 10 sections.  Letter Grade 10 of 10.
  3. Research and Writing: World War II to the 80s.

Day 17 - 10/1
  1. Notes: Depression notes: Crash of '29, unemployment, families, moving, FDR, New Deal, Civilian Conservation Corps, Dust Bowl, WWII. 
  2. Other Possible Roles:  Artist, Personal Journals/Diary...
  3. Research: Great Depression.  Timeline of the 20th Century

Day 16 - 9/30

  1. Q.o.t.D. #7 - What was the best time of your life so far?  Can you pick a beginning and an end?  What made it great?  Tell me an anecdote (story) about something that happened that you remember with happiness.
  2. Notes: Twenties Boom and Bust; prohibition, women's vote, flappers, speakeasies, Harlem Renaissance...
  3. Research: Twenties Boom and Bust.  Timeline of the 20th Century

Day 15 - 9/29

  1. Notes: World of Changes - 1900-1918; Great White Fleet, War in Europe, American Isolationism, U-Boats/Luisitania, America goes to war, Suffragettes.
  2. Research: World War I

Day 14 - 9/28
  • Mt. Baker Field Trip: Check out the pictures on \\Altsnap\students\Clearview Publications\robsbakerpics04

Day 13 - 9/27

  1. Q.o.t.D. #6 - Talk to me about how the war in Iraq and the war in Afghanistan affect you.  Do you know anyone who is in the military?  What do you think about the idea of "duty to your country" and patriotism?  In what cases is it reasonable or even necessary to go to war?
  2. The Changing American Dream: Create your pages.

Day 12 - 9/24

  1. Research: Here are 2 links to Ellis Island information.  Museum site. Research site. Ellis Island was the entry point for millions of immigrants from 1892 to 1938.  The Statue of Liberty is nearby.  Read the inscription on the Lady.  It is an excerpt from "The New Colossus." by Emma Lazarus.  Read the whole text here.

Day 11 - 9/23

  1. Q.o.t.D. #5 - Moving: How many schools have you attended in your life?  Tell me about your best and worst experience at a new school.  How many times have you moved?  Did you ever have a best friend that moved away?  Did you stay in touch?  Do you want to move away.  
  2. Research: Find links on immigration during the late 1800s and early 1900s.  What was the experience like?

Day 10 - 9/22

  1. Discussion: The Native American Dream of the 1800s and the Average American's interpretation.
  2. Research: Here are links to specific types of information that may be helpful in your research: immigration/emigration, families, social life, chronological (time), location.
  3. Tomorrow: New Immigrants from Ireland and Asia.

Day 9 - 9/21

  1. Q.o.t.D. #4 - Do we (Americans) work too hard?  40-60 hrs/wk?  2-4 Wks vacation/yr?  Do we work to live or live to work?  How are they doing?  Stress level? Burn-out?  Attitude ?  Health?
  2. Research: Read yesterday's links if you have not already read them.


Day 8 - 9/20
  1. Read Seattle Times article on new Native American Museum in Washington D.C.
  2. Research: If you have not yet done it, check what other students have done at the Student Gallery.
  3. Read: Here are links to quotes from Native Americans from the time period of the 1850s to 1927.  
  4. Chief Joseph quotes:
    Chief Josephís Surrender Speech:
  5. "GRAND COUNCIL FIRE OF AMERICAN INDIANS" TO THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO, IN 1927: 
  6. Read: According to modern historical research the following "speech" attributed to Chief Sealth was written in 1887 by a retired white-American doctor named Smith. It certainly captures a great deal of sympathy for the plight of Native Americans in the latter part of the 1800s.  Excerpts from the ìspeech.î
  7. Consider for discussion tomorrow: What was the American Dream for Native Americans in the 1800s?


Day 7 - 9/17
  1. The Changing American Dream: One aspect of your project should be to try to describe what the American Dream might be from the point of view of someone other than the writers of history.
  2. See what other students have done at the Student Gallery.
  3. Research: Resources.  Look at the suggestions for your Role at the bottom of the page.  Make notes.
         

Day 6 - 9/16
  1. Q.o.t.D. #3 - What is your chosen role for presenting your vision of the changing American Dream.  What is your vision for this project?  Who are you working with? 
  2. Read: Lincoln's Speechs
  3. Discussion: What is different about Lincoln's vision of America from the Founder's definition?
  4. Research: Start research for your American Dream Project.  Take Notes as you go!  Check out the Resources links.  


Day 5 - 9/15
  1. Read paragraph 2 of the Declaration of Independence by going to the National Archives.  The Search button is located at the lower right.  Search with "independence" and "declaration."  When you get to the word Prudence. stop reading and paraphrase this section in your notebook.  Write down any words that are archaic to discuss and define later.
  2. With a partner, share your paraphrase and write a list of the main points in modern language.
  3. Share with the class the main points.
  4. Return to the lab and go to American Dream Project.  Read the page then click on Team Roles link at top.  Read Team Research Roles and choose one for yourself.  You may work as a team with up to three people but each of you need to choose separate Research Roles.
  5. What is your Role?  Write as a heading in your notebook
  6. Begin research.

Day 4 - 9/14
  1. Q.o.t.D. #2 - Tell me what you know about the information we talked about yesterday: Ancestor's origin, where they lived, when they arrived in North America, branches of the family tree, training/education/career, religion, traditions.
  2. Sharing: What is your American Dream?
  3. Discussion: Commonalities:
  4. Go to Family Search and look up one of your ancestors, or do a search for a family name in an area that your family has lived.
  5. Begin work on your family tree.
  6. Assignment: Ask your parents/grandparents/aunts/uncles/etc. for help completing your family tree.  While getting names ask if there are stories that go with the names.

     
Day 3 - 9/13
  1. Reading: What is the American Dream.  Explore the links within the writing.  When you get to the question "Is this your American Dream?" go to Brainstorm Activity.
  2. Sum up your days thoughts on the American dream in a few paragraphs.  Save it in your Junior English file.
  3. A few words about saving your work.
        

Day 2 - 9/10

  1. Concept of Question of the Day: Q.o.t.D.
  2. Q.o.t.D. #1 - Tell me an anecdote (story) about something good that happened in your school career.  What do you want to focus on improving?  If I have not had you as a student before tell me about what I should know about you as a student. Tell me what you like and dislike about English.  [2/3-3/4 page (I will give extra points for more.)]
  3. Lab Intro: Logging on. 
  4. Create "astudent" Folder in TempStudFold on altsnap/students/TempStudFold.
  5. Create a subfolder titled Jr/Sr English
  6. Getting to Class assignments online.
  7. Read "This I Believe" by Robert A. Heinlein.
  8. Discuss reading as it relates to the American Dream yesterday and today.
  9. Decorate Cover of notebook.  Pictures are good if they're worth a thousand words, but I also want words that represent you and what you believe.

Day 1 - 9/9
  1. Introduction: Rob's Course Organizer
  2. Expectations:  Electronic Portfolio, Family History/Autobiography, (Seniors) Careers Package



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