1st period
On Monday, we had a seminar on two topics: 1) Does Chris make the right choice in going to war? 2) Why is June so sexual?  If you missed class, write about a page in response to one or both topics.  The today's meet thread from the seminar is here.  Tuesday, we took a quiz on pages 268-368 and discussed the final essay (topics at: bit.ly/alfinalessay) and the final project.

2nd period
On Monday, we worked on the final essay for most of the period.  It is due Friday, and we will have 40 minutes in class on Friday so you can work on finishing touches.  On Tuesday, we had a seminar on the arguments students chose for their English change on the final essay.

3rd period
On Monday, Victoria, Reilly and Samantha presented, Daniel and Khari presented, and Erin presented.  On Tuesday, Taylor, Maxime and Maddy, and Corey and Aaron presented. 

4th period
On Monday, we had a seminar on several topics: 1) the relationship between June and Chris, 2) how do the issues that June/Chris had with their fathers affect their marriage? 3) do you feel sympathy for June? 4) do you feel sympathy for Chris? If you missed class, write about a page in response to one or both topics.  The today's meet thread from the seminar is here.  The final section of reading is due Friday.  We did Journal 6 (choose a different topic from Journal 5 or write your own) and read the second "Spirit Journey" chapter (258-267) and discussed the purpose of it.

6th period
On Monday, we had the end of Pierre, Charlie and Micah's presentation on stand-up, as well as Jackie and Jenny's presentation on the ten types of humour.  On Tuesday, Ryan presented about modern and classic slapstick.

1st period:
On Monday, we took Quiz 3 in class.  On Tuesday, we examined two passages - page 159 (last paragraph) to page 160 (to "there was no escape."), and page 163 (last two paragraphs, starting with "The Williams Trace...").  We highlighted the context/setting details, then the details about plot - what was happening in the present (the marked up passages are at the end of this entry).  Finally, we talked about the story that was left - the "real" story/emotional story.  If you were absent, use the marked up passages below and write the "real" story, as you understand it.  Then on Wednesday, we worked on preparing for the final and filled out a google form.  On Friday, we did Journal #4 and discussed section 3 (pages 156-257).  The final section is due Tuesday.

2nd period:
On Monday, we wrote a timed write about the purpose of school and whether homework fits that purpose (between one and two pages).  On Tuesday, we wrote an exploded image about homework, and shared several examples from class (thanks to Cameron, Julian, Beckie and Sophie for offering their work up to be analysed).  On Thursday, we spent the period working on the portfolio and final essay. On Friday, we continued work on the final essay.

3rd period and 6th period:
We continued the student presentations, and all work was turned in to the presenters.

4th period:
On Monday, we discussed June and Chris and looked at passages that helped us understand their character.  On Tuesday, we examined two passages - page 159 (last paragraph) to page 160 (to "there was no escape."), and page 163 (last two paragraphs, starting with "The Williams Trace...").  We highlighted the context/setting details, then the details about plot - what was happening in the present (the marked up passages are at the end of this entry).  Finally, we talked about the story that was left - what the "real" story - the emotional story was.  If you were absent, use the marked up passages below and write the "real" story, as you understand it.  Then on Thursday, we did Quiz #3 and Journal #4, then worked on preparing for the final and filled out a google form.  On Friday, we developed a list of potential journal topics and wrote one of them (Journal #5).  The final section of the book is due on Friday 12/14.

1st period:
Indian Country reading for section two (to page 139) was due Monday.  Section three (to page 256) is due Monday 12/3, and the final section (to the end of the book) is due Monday 12/10.

On Monday, we took a reading quiz and revised it with partners.  On Tuesday, we worked on Parts 1-2 of Indian Country Journal 1 and discussed our responses.  On Wednesday, we watched Vietnam: A Homecoming and completed Part 3 of Indian Country Journal 1.  On Friday, we had a discussion about what people want, and what the characters in the book want.

2nd period:
On Monday, we had a Socratic Seminar where we discussed the role of reading in English class, as well as the power that books have to change our lives (especially Harry Potter).  On Tuesday, we worked on this set of assignments.  On Thursday, we worked on Exploding Images and Micro(non)fiction.  On Friday, we typed the Exploded Image assignment and added it to our playlists.  We also did Write Something New - a new composition under 300 words on any topic, and in any genre.  Finally, the revised essay we worked on during writing conferences is due by midnight on Sunday.  Everything should be on your playlist, including your revised essay - but make sure you make the essay its own NEW assignment, so both your original AND your revised are on the playlist as separate steps.

3rd period:
On Monday and Tuesday we worked on Blank White Page Project #2 and on selecting a book to read for the last few weeks of the year.  The book can be anything, so long as it's roughly age-appropriate and has some element of humour - the book must be selected and brought to class by Friday, 11/30.  On Wednesday, we read A Modest Proposal, discussed purpose and audience, watched an Armstrong and Miller clip, and started our own satires.  On Friday, we continued the original satire and also did Write Something New - a new composition under 300 words on any topic, and in any genre.

4th period:
Indian Country reading for section two (to page 139) was due Monday.  Section three (to page 256) is due Wednesday 12/5, and the final section (to the end of the book) is due Friday 12/14.

On Monday, we took a reading quiz and revised it with partners.  On Tuesday, we worked on Parts 1-2 of Indian Country Journal 1 and discussed our responses.  On Thursday, we watched Vietnam: A Homecoming and completed Part 3 of Indian Country Journal 1.  On Friday, we did Indian Country Activity #5 and had a discussion about anti-catalysts.

6th period:
This week, we worked on the final project and signed up for dates.  On Thursday, we worked on writing a rubric for how the work would be assessed.  On Friday, Chelsea, Peter and Jackson presented about political humour/satire.

1st period:
We had a quiz on pages 1-60 of Indian Country, finished Secret of Luck and had our Socratic Seminar (these are the collaborative notes).  You need to read through page 140 in Indian Country by Monday, 11/26.  Your Crucible project should be turned in.

2nd period:
We finished writing conferences, read this article (found purpose and audience and turned it in) and completed this assignment.  Your revised essay is due the Friday after break (12/1).

3rd period:
We finished and turned in this assignment, and started working on BWP 2.

4th period:
We took a quiz on pages 1-60 in Indian Country, and you need to read to page 140 by Monday, 11/26.  We had our final Socratic Seminar for the Crucible unit.  If you missed it, you can write a one page summary of your thoughts about these questions: Could what happened in the Crucible happen again?  Are humans born good/bad/blank?  Has your opinion changed in this unit?  On Friday, we watched this.  Part 2.

6th period:
We started working on the final unit of the year.  Everyone chooses a topic relating to humour, and prepares a one-class period lesson on it.  It must include a "text" of some kind, as well as a class discussion and writing activity.  We will start the presentations after break.  Here is the collaborative brainstorm notes.

Language of Humour
3rd period:
On Tuesday, we wrote the Derren Brown Essay and turned it in.  On Wednesday, we read these open letters and had a class discussion about the authors' use of satire and how effective it was.  On Friday, we watched this video and discussed the purpose of reading.  All students need to find a book to read for the last unit of the course.  It can be anything, as long as there is humour somewhere in it.  We also started this project.

6th period:
On Tuesday, we talked about college essays and what makes for a good college essay in a Socratic Seminar format. On Thursday, we talked about the purpose of school and education in Socratic Seminar format and read this text.  We started this writing assignment.  On Friday, we watched this video and discussed the purpose of reading.  All students need to find a book to read for the last unit of the course.  It can be anything, as long as there is humour somewhere in it.  We also started this project.

SAX
The main focus has been continuing individual writing conferences.  While those were going on, we watched The Heist and took collaborative notes.  We discussed Derren Brown's persuasive techniques, and watched Messiah to determine if audience made a difference in how he is received.  On Friday, we watched this video and discussed the purpose of reading and writing, and how that changes when one is forced to read or write something for which they have no passion.  Over the weekend, please consider some books that have influenced you greatly in either a positive or negative way.

American Literature
This week focused on finishing the Crucible project, finishing the third of the Experiment series, writing the Derren Brown mini-essay, and starting Indian Country (pages 1-60 should be finished by now, quiz on Monday).  4th period added their projects to the submission playlist after registering at www.mentormob.com.  1st period will do this next week.    

American Literature
We have been working on two things: 

• Derren Brown (Gameshow, Assassin, Guilt Trip)
• Crucible Project

1st period completed "Start of Crucible Project" on Wednesday.  All assignments are on this playlist.


SAX
We have been working on this playlist while doing one-on-one writing conferences with Ms. Morris.  Sign up here.  We completed Steps 1-10 in the Unit 3 playlist in class.

Your playlist portfolio should also be done by now. 


Language of Humour
We have been working on two things:

• Derren Brown - finding humour in his work (for which the purpose is not to be funny)
• Completing our portfolio playlist (3rd period 6th period)
• 6th period wrote the Derren Brown Essay

American Literature:
This week, we did the following things:

• Watched The Crucible (available on Netflix)
• We took a quiz on The Crucible - see me to make it up if you missed class that day
• We watched In Search of History: Salem Witch Trials (available on Netflix)
• We had a Socratic Seminar on each of these topics: 

        1. "What possible motivations would you have for framing your best friend of a crime they didn't commit?"
            "What methods would you use to frame them, assuming people think they're a good person?"

        2. "Are people born good, born bad, or born as a blank slate? What did the Puritans believe?"
           Note: 1st period will have this seminar on Tuesday, 6 November.
To make either of them up (i.e. you were absent), write one page on the subject and you will get credit.

In 4th period, we started this project (1st period will start this on Wednesday):
Using your assumptions about human nature (whether we are born good, bad or as a blank slate) and the impact that has on your view of the Salem Witch Trials, consider how the conditions could be created for this kind of situation to happen again: 

Friends and neighbours turn on each other.  Best friends give each other up to authorities for punishment.  Everyone is suspicious of others.  All hell breaks loose.  

Construct that scenario and describe how it plays out.  And since accusing people of witchcraft is currently out of fashion, what crime is likely to replace it (but keeps the same connotation and impact witchcraft had in Salem)?

You may complete this project in any medium you want.  Be creative.  Go crazy. 

We also began our first Derren Brown Experiment.  1st period started with The Gameshow, and 4th period selected Assassin to start.  We finished the episode on Monday, 5 November.

SAX:
This week, we worked on building our MentorMob playlist.  Here is the assignment description.  It was due Monday, 5 November.  We also watched Derren Brown's Assassin in class on Friday.

This week, we are working on the assignments on this playlist.  Everything through Step 5 should be done by the end of class on Monday.  Make sure you sign up for a writing conference with Ms. Morris (this will focus on the piece of writing of your choice, in a one-on-one conference where we figure out how to make your writing MOAR AWESOME).

Language of Humour:
This week, we worked on building our MentorMob playlist.  Here is the assignment description.  The playlist is due by the end of the day on Tuesday, 6 November.  We also watched Derren Brown's Apocalypse.   In 6th period, we wrote our own Food Reviews and List Narratives.  


If you are in 3rd period and missed class on Wednesday, here is your make-up assignment for the activity we did in class:
Read this.  Write about how the author develops the humour in the text.  1/2 page minimum.

American Literature:

• We watched the video of Mr. Thomasson reading Chapter 20 in Their Eyes Were Watching God and we started working on Close Read #5.  It is due Friday by midnight.
• We also started watching The Crucible.  It's available on Netflix streaming if you need to see it.  1st period finished to just over an hour, and 4th period finished to 1:14:00.

SAX:

• We wrote a Review of New Food and read some examples (on this playlist).  Your review was due Tuesday.
• We started the musicology project.  It is due next week.
• We read a list narrative and then wrote an observation piece.  I shared my example.  Yours is due Monday, and can be on anything you've seen.  It should be short.

Language of Humour:

• 3rd period: We wrote a Review of New Food and read some examples (on this playlist).  Your review was due Friday.  Then we wrote list narratives, and yours is due on Monday.  
• 6th period: We read examples of Review of New Food, wrote the Style Alike Essay #2 and turned it in.  Then we had a Socratic Seminar on the question, "Why do we have humour?"