Board Scrabble Continues

Pre AP English 10 continues with the Scrabble Challenge.  The goal was to place 40 vocabulary terms on the board (Scrabble format) in 10 minutes.  The students came really close; they missed only 5.  Great review, everyone!

Giving a Speech

Giving a speech is a difficult task for many people!  Let's try to lighten the mood for this portion our our project.  Respond to this blog with a funny joke (school appropriate) or a funny story in relation to giving a speech...or offer a solid technique that can help people eliminate their fears and concerns.

Remember:  This speech is an assignment for everyone.  I have faith in all of you!  Best of luck!  I am truly looking forward to our debates!

Blog Response:  5 bonus points

Happy Valentine's Day

It was a great Valentine's Day!  Students were more than willing to share their creative efforts with the Haiku extra credit.  Treats were brought.  Smiles were shared!  Even if you don't LOVE this holiday, it was nice to have a little break in the "routine."

I felt I had to share the cookie.  It is Rihanna; can't you tell.  Morgan, from AP, and I have varying opinions in music.  We could use our rhetorical devices to debate it some time.  However, for today, she gave me a sugar cookie in Rihanna's image.  I will cherish it.

Be looking for updates on St. Patrick's Day.  We, of course, will have to explore our creativity again...perhaps with a limerick.

Valentine's Day Haiku

February, the month of love.  Happy Valentine's Day everyone.  Let's have a little fun!

Valentine's Day Haiku--yes, let's show off our creativity--even those of you who don't really like the holiday.  The internet, of course, has tons of haiku examples, even specifically about Valentine's Day.  Look around a bit and then create one of your own!  10 bonus points will be given to those who write and share one with me (to also be shared with our class).  Haiku samples can be "romantic" or funny...

You don't have to like or even love Valentine's Day to write one of these!  You don't have to be a poetry fan to participate, either.  Haiku are short!


Haiku-- Japanese poetic form with  5 syllables in line one, 7 syllables in line two, and 5 syllables in line three.  Three lines/17 syllables total.

Finalize your sample by providing a related graphic/background.

All samples are due on Valentine's Day, February 14th...bring chocolates.  Little treats will make our poetry readings complete!

How to Write Good (a bit of English humor)

It always seems that grammar has to be taken so seriously.  Here is a short, humorous listing that tells you English people can have fun, too.  Thanks for the submission, Caitlin.

Challenge:  Find other fun grammatical ideas to post for others.  Look at sites like Grammarly...look for signs/jokes.  Resources are everywhere!


How to Write Good...

1.  Avoid alliteration.  Always.
2.  Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.
3.  Avoid cliche's like the plague.  (They're old hat.)
4.  Eschew abbreviations, etc.
5.  One should never generalize.
6.  Comparisons are as bad as cliche's.
7.  Be more or less specific.
8.  Sentence fragments?  Eliminate.
9.  Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.
10.  Parenthetical remarks (however relevant) are unnecessary.
11.  Who needs rhetorical questions?

Indefinite Pronoun practice

We have been working with pronoun antecedent issues lately.  These lessons can be challenging (and annoying).  We will, however, keep smiles on our faces and practice, praCTICE, PRACTICE!

Here is a link for you to use.  Insert an answer and grade yourself right away.  There are sights like this all over the internet.  Take the time to search them out and better yourself.

Best of luck as we continue our pronoun lessons.

INDEFINITE PRONOUNS

READING COUNTS DUE

It is hard to believe that 1/2 of the year is now almost over, but IT IS!  As exciting as that may be for many of us, remember with that comes our first READING COUNTS due date.  1850 pages read and tested (with at least 400 pages above the 1025 lexile) must be completed by January 21st.

It can be difficult to squeeze in reading!  Life is busy.  I hope, however, you have all tried to make this a part of your weekly routine.  When I say this, it is not with the only intent of completing an assignment.  It is my hope you all found at least one book you truly enjoyed!  This semester I have enjoyed several books in a genre I typically do not read, mystery.  I read GONE GIRL and THE CUTTING SEASON.  Both have a few unique twists surrounding a criminal case.  Pick one of them up if you are looking for something for the start of next quarter.

Read on everyone.  Enjoy!