August 28

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Sonata No. 16 C Major" and "Symphony No. 40 in G Minor" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart]

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Would you prefer a big city or a small town, close to your family or far away, in the U.S. or another country? Why? Explain your reasons.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss Latin Roots/Quiz
3. Archetypes of Mythlogy 

We won't have time to watch this in class...

but you should to enrich your understanding of recurrent archetypes in mythology.

An archetype is a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art, or mythology. Today we're going to explore some of the most common archetypes from mythology. You will be responsible for creating a Flipchart to demonstrate your understanding of these concepts and creativity. It will be due next Wednesday, September 3rd. 


HOMEWORK:

1. Latin Roots due tomorrow (Blog Post and Worksheets). Study for Quiz.

2. Tie up loose ends (i.e. blog posts, lit. analysis sign-up, latin roots) and begin reading lit. analysis #1

3. Begin Archetypes of Myth Project. Due 9/3.

August 27

TURN BOR ROUGH DRAFT/OUTLINE and FINAL DRAFTS in your class inbox (DO NOT STAPLE FD to Pre-Writing.

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Achilles' Last Stand" by Led Zeppelin]

Given what you've learned about mythology, and how it reflects the culture/values of its times, nominate an epic story from our times that will be remembered as an emblem of this culture in two thousand years. Explain your choice.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Review Myth Introduction


HOMEWORK:

1. For Thursday's (tomorrow's) class meeting, answer the following questions and post your responses to your blog  (entitle the post Purpose of Myth Review):

1. Name 4 fundamental questions that myths address.
2. Name 4 themes in world mythology.
3. What is the beginning of the universe for most major cultures?
4. What do hero myths and epics teach members of society?
5. Why do ordinary people identify with heroes?
6. What is the foundation of the Matriarchal Society?
7. What is Sigmund Freud's view of myths?
8. Myths demonstrate that people possess...

2. Tie up loose ends (i.e. blog posts, lit. analysis sign-up, latin roots) and begin reading lit. analysis #1

3. Print Archetypes of Myth

August 26

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Never Meant" by American Football and "Every Second is a Second Chance" by The Last Dinosaur]

What does it mean to be a hero? How are heroes depicted in modern movies and literature? How do you think these portrayals are different from classic and ancient ideas of heroes?

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss BOR Final Draft and Literature Analysis #1
3. Myth Introduction

HOMEWORK:

1. Final Draft of BOR due tomorrow (Wednesday).

•  Upload to blog and turn in by Wednesday's class period 

2. By Thursday's class meeting, answer the following questions and post your responses to your blog  (entitle the post The Purpose of Myth):

1. Name 4 fundamental questions that myths address.
2. Name 4 themes in world mythology.
3. What is the beginning of the universe for most major cultures?
4. What do hero myths and epics teach members of society?
5. Why do ordinary people identify with heroes?.

3. Let's use this week to tie up loose ends (i.e. blog posts, lit. analysis sign-up, latin roots) and begin reading lit. analysis #1

the first ammendment

Essay must be printed and turned in for Wednesday's class. I forgot about our class writing portfolios (in addition to the digital one's AKA your blogs).

August 25

Turn in Birth Order Research rough draft and outline (staple draft on top)
JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: nada]
AGENDA:
1. No Journal
2. Discuss due dates
3. Break into groups and work on what you find most valuable: latin roots #1; peer editing of rough drafts; literature analysis #1; your blogs
4. Please do a quickie audit by period and make sure everyone's commented to the literature analysis posts (I think we're close; if we're still missing a few, please help 'em so you can go over questions together in class on Tuesday.)

HOMEWORK:

1. Final Draft of BOR due Wednesday. Upload to blog and turn in by Wednesday's class. 

2. Tie up loose ends (i.e. blog posts, lit. analysis sign-up, latin roots)

How to post a t-chart on blogger

Nothing will help you learn something better than having to teach it to someone else...
Thank you Edgar Jimenez for your time and helpfulness. Rock on!
Here's the link to his how-to video: http://edgarjimenezworldlit.blogspot.com/2014/08/video-tutorial.html?m=1

August 22

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: nada]

AGENDA:
1. No Journal
2. Review Birth Order Research Findings
3. Format Instructions / Scoring Guide
4. Review Sample Paper
5. Writing Prompt:

• In a well-written paper, argue how accurately birth order research describes you. Use evidence from your own life to support your thesis

HOMEWORK:

1. BOR Outline (see graphic organizer below) and hand-written outline and completed rough draft will be brought to class for Monday, August 25th. Final Draft will be posted AND printed for class on Wednesday, August 27th. 
Writing Prompt:

• In a well-written paper, argue how accurately birth order research describes you. Use evidence from your own life to support your thesis

Here's a graphic organizer AKA outlilne to help ya'll out
Here's a note about introductions

2. Please comment to the literature analysis #1 sign-up post for your period as soon as you choose a book/author.  If you have one already please bring it to our next class period (Monday).

August 21

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Celluloid Heroes" by The Kinks, "Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner" by Warren Zevon, and --depending on time-- "Heroes" by David Bowie]

Why is it that so many young people want to be older, and so many older people want to be young? How do you feel about your age? Be sure to explain your answer.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Birth Order Groups
3. Traits Group Presentation
4. Birth Order Research Findings


HOMEWORK:
1. Review slides about birth order research findings. Make a T Chart (see example). On the left, write an aspect of the research that applies to your birth order; on the right, write an example from your own life that reflects the accuracy (or inaccuracy) of the research. 

• Use specific pieces of evidence. This needs to be done for class discussion tomorrow (Friday). You should share your findings to the blog too (A+ if you can figure out how to put a T Chart on there). Entitle it: Birth Order Traits.

2. Please comment to the literature analysis #1 sign-up post for your period as soon as you choose a book/author.  If you have one already please bring it tomorrow (Thursday).

literature analysis #1 sign-up (period 3)

Please comment to this post with the book and author you chose.  Thank you.

literature analysis #1 sign-up (period 2)

Please comment to this post with the book and author you chose.  Thank you.

August 20

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Freedom of Choice" by Devo; "Freewill" by Rush]


Many of us use the word boring to describe anything we don’t like or understand. How can a book be boring to one person and interesting to another? Describe something you really like and imagine how someone else might think it’s boring. Use a specific example.


AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Discuss Literature Analysis requirement
3. Vocabulary 
4. Continue presenting blogs and your six words 

HOMEWORK:
1.  Choose Lit Analysis novel by Friday
2. Define and write sentences around the words in LATIN ROOTS #1 and post to your blog (title: LATIN ROOTS #1). Practice pages available in Course Documents due on 8/29 --there will be a quiz.

3.  Old Posts that should be done, but if not...get 'em done:
REFLECTIONS ON WEEK 1 and MY SIX WORDS posts

August 19

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Learning to Fly" performed by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, and "Learning to Fly" performed by Pink Floyd]

Why do you think television has become more popular than books? Books don’t have interruptions or try to sell you stuff, and you can use your imagination when you read to picture whatever you want. So why watch TV when you can read? Explain your answer.

AGENDA:
1. Journal
2. Observations on Week 1/feedback on journals, assignments, and overall performance so far
3. Vocabulary 
4. Present blogs and your six words 

HOMEWORK:
1. REMINDER: Post the video with link to your six word memoir as well as a write up explaining the thought process of creating your six words and an in-depth explanation of how those six words represent your life, beliefs, philosophy, etc.. Entitle the post: MY SIX WORDS

• FYI: Explanation should be a few paragraphs

2. Define and write sentences around the words in LATIN ROOTS #1 and post to your blog (title: LATIN ROOTS #1). Practice pages available in Course Documents due on 8/29 --there will be a quiz.

3. Answer the following questions in a post on your blog entitled REFLECTIONS ON WEEK 1

1. Are there any factors that you think are going to affect your participation or experience in this class? Access to a computer?  Mobile/smart phone?  Transportation?  Friends/family? Schedule?
2. Think of an awesome best ever learning experience that changed you. What did you learn? Where were you? What happened? Who else was there? Did it teach you anything about how you learn (or pay attention... or remember, or think?) How did you know what was happening? 
3. What are you most [excited/concerned] about in this class? What do you look forward to in learning?  How do you think it can/will make a practical difference in your life?

Words from Latin Roots #1

ROOTS AND DERIVATIVES

1. act, ag, ig: to do, to move, to drive
2. ali, alter: another, other
3. am: at/ to love
4. anim: life, spirit, soul

WORD LIST

1. agenda
2. agile
3. alienate
4. altercation
5. amiable
6. amorous
7. animated
8. equanimity
9. inalienable
10. inanimate
11. magnanimous
12. reactionary

HOMEWORK:

Define and write sentences around the words in and post to your blog (title: VOCABULARY #1)

August 18

2nd Period: 

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Little Know It All" by Iggy Pop and "Words (Between the Lines of Age)" by Neil Young] 
What did you learn in this class last week? 

AGENDA:
1. Class work time

HOMEWORK:
1. If you haven't created a course blog and emailed it to me yet...DO IT! 
On your blogs, post the video with link to your six word memoir as well as a write up explaining the thought process of creating your six words and an in-depth explanation of how those six words represent your life, beliefs, philosophy, etc.. Entitle the post: My six words

2. Latin Roots #1 assignment is available under course documents. It is due in class on 8/29/14. You will be quizzed in class that day.  

August 15

(taken from AP Lit and Comp 2013 exam):

August 14

Make sure to turn in your course agreement/syllabus in your inbox if you didn't yesterday.

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: David Bowie's "Let's Dance" and Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust"] 
What is heroism? Is it defined by personality traits such as courage, or just by doing the right thing in the right place at the right time? Describe someone you consider to be a hero.

AGENDA: 
Period 2
1. Journal 
2. Ken Robinson: How School Kills Creativity
3. Reflection: “The fact is that given the challenges we face, education doesn't need to be reformed -- it needs to be transformed. The key to this transformation is not to standardize education, but to personalize it, to build achievement on discovering the individual talents of each child, to put students in an environment where they want to learn and where they can naturally discover their true passions.” 

Do you feel this has been your experience with schools? Do you feel like you are just a cog in an industrial model of education? Or do you feel like your education has been personalized and you've been able to discover your individual talents? What would an English class look like that allowed you and gave you freedom to discover these passions?


Period 3:
1. Our day has been highjacked by a grade level assembly. Feel free to watch the TedTalk from second period for enrichment.

HOMEWORK:
In order of due date...drumroll please...
1. Print and Complete EFC14 Data Sheet for tomorrow
2. Make course blog and email url to me at jostini@smjuhsd.org. Remember this is an online representation of your learning in this class--so make sure the url displays last and first name as well as course title i.e. willferrellworldlit.blogspot.com. Also, if you could tell me what period you belong to that would be most helpful. (Sorry, I forgot to mention that yesterday. Just resend me an email with your fixed urls and period...)
3. Six word memoir due for 8/17

August 13

Make sure to turn in your course agreement/syllabus in the box.

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: Mozart's Symphony #25 in G Minor] 

There is a story about Thomas Edison in which one of his assistants said something like, "We've tried this a thousand ways and it doesn't work! We've accomplished nothing!" Edison reportedly replied, "Nonsense. We've learned a thousand ways it doesn't work." What's the moral of the story, and what is your perspective on the idea? 

AGENDA: 
1. Journal 
2. Tower of Power
3. Six Words 

HOMEWORK:
1. Print and Complete EFC14 Data Sheet for 8/15
2. Make course blog and email it to me at jostini@smjuhsd.org. Remember this is an online representation of your learning in this class--so make sure the url displays last and first name as well as course title i.e. willferrellworldlit.blogspot.com. Also, if you could tell me what period you belong to that would be most helpful. (Sorry, I forgot to mention that yesterday. Just resend me an email with your fixed urls and period...)
3. Six word memoir due for 8/17

August 12

JOURNAL TOPIC: [today's tunes: "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield] 

"Action expresses priorities." -Mohandas Gandhi 

What are your priorities?  Specifically, what are you doing here?  Why are you enrolled in this course?   What actions can your colleagues and I expect from you this year that will express your priorities?  What does success look like to you?  How will we know when you've "made it"?  If you've ever set bold goals at the beginning only to accept less at the end, how can you prepare your mind to see things through this time around so you won't have any regrets next June? 


AGENDA: 
1. Journal (normally we'll complete this at the beginning of class periods)
2. Intro of myself and the course
3. Essay *(on Friday)
4. Discuss summer reading

HOMEWORK:
1. Print syllabus from course documents and sign by you and your padres for 8/13
2. Print and Complete EFC14 Data Sheet for 8/15
3. Make course blog and email it to me at jostini@smjuhsd.org

Creating a blog

In addition to the assigned below, you need to start creating your course blog. Let's say it should be done some time this week.
For now, here's what you should be getting ready:

1. Your blog.  You can use Blogger, WordPress, Tumblr, or something even cooler we haven't thought of yet, but think about what you're good at, what you want people to see online, and which media and tools will help you tell that story.  If you have a strong perspective, great; we'll be asking you about it during the first week in class.  If this is all brand new, start with Blogger (it's easy and you'll have lots of help).  You can always migrate later. Here's an intro to blogger Jesus Dulay made last year in World Lit: 

Blogger Tutorial Part I

Blogger Tutorial Part II

 As soon as you create your blog, please email the URL to jostini@smjuhsd.org

Welcome

Hi,

If you just went through registration and you're on the blog for the first time, welcome! This is the place where you will get all the information you need for the course. We will also be using it as a one-stop online stop for collaborative opportunities, additional online tools, and asynchronous idea-sharing in general.

Please bookmark the URL and follow the blog so that you will receive updates automatically instead of having to check back all the time.  If you don't know your way around blogs or the Internet, have no fear-- we are going to be learning together  (*Working with each other to do a task and achieve shared goals is the definition of collaboration.  Collaboration is not cheating.  The pre-AP curriculum will also require you to demonstrate your individual mastery of close reading, literary criticism, and written organization and expression.  Don't even think about cheating when you know it's cheating.)

This class and your experience in it is ultimately about you and what you are willing to put in.  In the next couple weeks some past students (and students across town) have offered to provide more of an introduction to the experience. In the meantime, please feel free to post any questions or comments here, email to jostini@smjuhsd.org, or stop by room 361 and introduce yourself.  I look forward to meeting you!

Best,
Mr. Ostini