Mr. Sale's English 10 Blog

Macbeth Thoughts

2007-04-13T10:24:00.000-06:00

If you have ideas about the play Macbeth that you didn't get to share in class, please post them here. You may also post any random thoughts about how reading the play is going for you.

Pantoums

2007-02-28T12:43:00.000-07:00

Our period 5 class recently experimented with writing pantoum poems. Everyone's best efforts are published here. After reading these examples, you should be able to derive the rules of writing a pantoum. We invite you to post your own composition here as a comment.

Reading Habits

2007-02-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

Please add a comment in which you describe your reading habits. I am most interested in how you do your reading for school assignments, but it would also be interesting to compare how you read for school with how you read for pleasure. Your goal in this comment is to give a vivid picture of you reading. What would I see if I watched you read? What does it feel like to you when you read? Please write for about five minutes, and post your comment by midnight, Monday, February 12. Try to address all the following:

Where do you read? Don’t just tell where; describe the location, trying to make it vivid for your reader.
When do you read? Obviously, this will vary, but typically, what time of day do you settle down to read? Describe the feel of this time of day.
How do you read? Do you have to have complete silence? Do you do other things while you read (listen to music, chat online, text message, read out loud to yourself)? Do you lie down, sit up, get up frequently?

A Separate Peace -- Chapters 1-3

2007-02-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

Add your comments about the first 3 chapters of A Separate Peace here. Remember that your comments should be original and insightful observations about the book's themes, characters, and symbols. You may avoid the risk of simply repeating ideas from class discussion by posting your comment before the discussion.

Original Arthurian Romance Group Progress

2007-01-31T12:21:00.000-07:00

Please add a comment that describes the progress your group made on the Original Arthurian Romance Tale this week. You may either have one person report for the whole group, or have each person report his or her own contributions. Either way, every group member's name should appear (first name and last initial only, please) and you should describe what he/she did: wrire, research, create slides or pictures, help organize the group, etc. You might also explain the group's overall progress. Include in this comment work done for the week of January 29 through February 2. Please post your comments by midnight, Saturday, February 3.

Original King Arthur Tale Progress -- due January 27, 2007

2007-01-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

By midnight, Saturday, January 27, 2007, please comment about your group's initial plans for the Original King Arthur Tale project. The comment(s) should:

Include the name of your kingdom
State what form you think your project will take
Mention the planned contributions of each group member

For this first report, choose one group member to speak for the entire group. On future progress comments, you may rotate the responsibility for reporting, or have every group member state his/her own contributions.

"The Tale of Sir Gareth"

2007-01-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

Now that you have finished reading "The Tale of Sir Gareth," please add a comment about the story. We have been discussing various ideas connected with the King Arthur tales in class. Please comment about one of the following:

Give one example of chivalry that Sir Gareth (Beaumains) performs in the story. Explain why it the action was chivalric.

Cite and explain one example of an element of the Arthurian romance that you see in the story.

Identify and explain one intelligence that Sir Gareth displays (choose from among the multiple intelligences you have learned about).

Please try to make your comment original (that is, do not repeat a previous comment by one of your classmates). You only have to comment once, but feel free to resond to other classmates' comments. Please post you comment by midnight, Thursday, January 25, 2007.

Multiple Intelligences Study

2007-01-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the new year! To begin our semester, we are going to learn a bit about the theory of multiple intelligences (MI), which may help you understand how you learn. I've provided links to some websites to help you get started. I'm asking you to do three simple assignments this week:

1) Go on line and take a MI (multiple intelligences) inventory to see which are your dominant intelligences. Then read about the attributes of your main intelligence. Print out a copy of the inventory you take and bring it to class on Wednesday, January 10.

2) Go back to the online sources and read about all 8 of the intelligences. By Friday, January 12, be ready for a quiz that will check your understanding of the basics.

3) By Friday, January 12, add a comment to this blog post. Do a two-minute reflection about what you have found interesting about studying MI. In addition, choose a well-known, contemporary person who you feel shares your dominant intelligence. Explai why you think this is so.

We will discuss more about multiple intelligences in class on Wednesday and Friday.

Vocab Word #5 for Group 3 (due Thursday, November 30)

2006-11-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

Please post your vocab word if you are a member of Group 3: Lacey C, Phil E, Kara M, Joy M, Erin O, Emma R, Chris T, Brandy Z. Remember to give the word, the original sentence, the source, and a definition in your own words. Also remember that your word must be different from everyone else's. Post your word by midnight, Thursday, November 30, 2006.

Reading Reflection #2 for Group 1 -- Due Thursday, November 30

2006-11-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

Please post your reading reflection if you are a member of Group 1: Amy B, Cole C, Kyle H, Jeff M, Jessica M, Josh P, Tyler S, Brett V. Your comment should explain what you've read in the past three weeks, and what affected you the most out of what you read. What ideas, interesting information, or feelings did your reading give you? Write for at least 5 minutes. Please post your comment by Thursday, November 30, 2006.

Tortilla Curtain -- Part 3 -- "Socorro"

2006-11-21T09:31:00.000-07:00

If you have comments about the third section of the novel Tortilla Curtain -- "Socorro" -- post them here. If you did not participate in discussion and did not do two-column notes, your comment is required to get discussion credit for either Tuesday, November 21 or Tuesday, November 28. You should post your comment within 24 hours after the discussion.

Tortilla Curtain -- Part 2 -- El Tenksgeevee

2006-11-07T10:23:00.000-07:00

If you have comments about the second section of the novel Tortilla Curtain -- "El Tenksgeevee" -- post them here. If you did not participate in discussion and did not do two-column notes, your comment is required to get discussion credit for either Wednesday, November 1 or Wednesday, November 8. You should post your comment within 24 hours after the discussion.

Reading Reflection #2 for Group 3 (due Thursday, November 9)

2006-11-06T19:48:00.000-07:00

Please post your reading reflection if you are a member of Group 3: Lacey C, Phil E, Kara M, Joy M, Erin O, Emma R, Chris T, Brandy Z. Your comment should explain what you've read in the past three weeks, and what affected you the most out of what you read. What ideas, interesting information, or feelings did your reading give you? Write for at least 5 minutes. Please post your comment by Thursday, November 9, 2006.

Vocab Word #5 for Group 2 (Due Thursday, November 9)

2006-11-06T19:46:00.000-07:00

Please post your vocab word if you are a member of Group 2: Alex C, Christina E, Anna L, Amber M, Morgan M, Marcus P, Josh T, Jenn W. Remember to give the word, the original sentence, the source, and a definition in your own words. Also remember that your word must be different from everyone else's. Post your word by midnight, Thursday, November 9, 2006.

Reading Reflection #2 for Group 2 (due Thursday, November 2)

2006-10-27T10:01:00.000-06:00

Please post your reading reflection if you are a member of Group 2: Alex C, Christina E, Anna L, Amber M, Morgan M, Marcus P, Josh T, Jenn W. Your comment should explain what you've read in the past three weeks, and what affected you the most out of what you read. What ideas, interesting information, or feelings did your reading give you? Write for at least 5 minutes. Please post your comment by Thursday, November 2, 2006.

Vocab Word #5 for Group 1 (due Thursday, November 2)

2006-10-27T09:58:00.000-06:00

Please post your vocab word if you are a member of Group 1: Amy B, Cole C, Kyle H, Jeff M, Jessica M, Josh P, Tyler S, Brett V. Remember to give the word, the original sentence, the source, and a definition in your own words. Also remember that your word must be different from everyone else's. Post your word by midnight, Thursday, November 2, 2006.

Tortilla Curtain -- Arroyo Blanco -- Chapters 1-4

2006-10-27T09:55:00.000-06:00

If you have comments about the first section of the novel Tortilla Curtain -- "Arroyo Blanco" -- post them here. If you did not participate in didcussion and did not do two-column notes, your comment is due by 12:00 noon, Saturday, October 28, 2006.

Reading Reflection #1 for Group 1 (due Thursday, October 26)

2006-10-23T20:20:00.000-06:00

Vocab Word #4 for Group 3 (due Thursday, October 26)

2006-10-23T20:19:00.000-06:00

Reading Reflection #1 for Group 3 (due Thursday, October 19)

2006-10-16T17:15:00.000-06:00

Vocab Word #4 for Group 2 (due Thursday, October 19)

2006-10-16T17:12:00.000-06:00

Reading Reflection #1 for Group 2 (due Thurs., Oct. 12)

2006-10-11T07:22:00.000-06:00

Vocab Word #4 for Group 1 (due Thursday, Oct. 12)

2006-10-11T07:19:00.000-06:00

Pleasantville Discussion

2006-10-03T14:34:00.000-06:00

In our class dicsussion we are trying to compare the ideas in the film Pleasantville to those in the book Fahrenheit 451. If you didn't get to express your ideas in class, add a comment here. Remember that the expectation is that you will contribute at least two comments (either in class discussion or on the blog) while we are watching the film.

Six Week Reflection

2006-10-02T09:34:00.000-06:00

Please do a reflection on your learning in English class over the first six weeks of the semester by answering the following questions on your personal blog:

1. When you look back on this first six weeks in English class, are your thoughts positive or negative? Why?
2. What went well for you in English class over the past six weeks?
3. What was your favorite thing we did in class over the past six weeks? What was your least favorite?
4. What grade would you give yourself for the “Study Skills” category (which includes the following) and why?
 Be on time to class
 Use the student calendar
 Bring materials to class
 Stay on task during class activities
 Support a positive learning environment
 Go the distance (keep working until the end of class)
5. What would make English class better for you during the next six weeks?

Fahrenheit 451: Final Blog Assignment

2006-10-02T09:10:00.000-06:00

Now that you have finished reading Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, look back at the pre-reading survey we did. This will serve as the basis for your final blog writing about the book.

Choose one of the following statements and decide whether Ray Bradbury, the author of Fahrenheit 451, would agree or disagree with it. Then, write about this idea on the class blog. Use specific examples from the book to support your assertion. Your writing should not repeat the ideas of a previous comment, so be sure to read the ideas already posted. You will receive less credit for repeating ideas than for original ideas. Please complete this first comment by midnight, Thursday, October 5, 2006.

After you have posted your original comment about the book, go back to the class blog and respond to at least one other student’s comment. Be sure to address your response to the student, so that it’s clear who you’re responding to. Your response should support or dispute what the other student said; don’t just say “I agree” or “This is wrong.” Add your own examples to support or dispute the comment. Again, you will receive more credit for original comments than for repeating previous comments. If you would like to enhance your chances of an A, you may respond to more than one of your classmates' comments, but you can earn an A if you do two quality comments (one original and one response). Please post this second comment by midnight, Monday, October 9, 2006.
Your grade will be based on both of these blog comments considered together.

Choose one (1) of these statements to write about. Explain whether you think Ray Bradbury would agree or disagree with the statement, and support your assertion with specific examples from Fahrenheit 451.

 History books are accurate.
 Television news is accurate.
 Mass media is a good source of information.
 Watching TV is bad.
 People watch too much TV.
 TV programs are realistic.
 Censorship is never justified.
 People must be treated equally.
 We should always seek happiness.
 Governments should always try to make people happy.
 We should always seek peace.
 Governments should do anything to achieve peace.
 People should always obey the law.
 Technology is good.

Fahrenheit 451: The Sieve and the Sand

2006-09-18T09:38:00.000-06:00

If you have any questions or observations about the second section of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, "The Sieve and the Sand," please add a comment here. As you continue reading the book, you may realize some things about this section that didn't occur to you upon first reading, so feel free to return here to comment as your understanding grows.

Fahrenheit 451: The Hearth and the Salamander

2006-09-12T21:31:00.000-06:00

If you have any questions or observations about the first section of Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, "The Hearth and the Salamander," please add a comment here. As you continue reading the book, you may realize some things about this section that didn't occur to you upon first reading, so feel free to return here to comment as your understanding grows.

Vocab Word #3 (due September 12)

2006-09-06T10:13:00.000-06:00

Please post your third vocab word. When you find a good word, please add it as a comment to this post, along with the original sentence in which the word appeared, the source of the sentence, and a short definition in your own words. Your word should be unique in the class; that is, you shouldn't post the same word as someone else. Therefore, before you post your word and definition, read through the existing comments to see if your word is there already. If it is, you need to find another word. No fair using a word from last week's list.

Vocab Word #2 (due September 5)

2006-08-30T10:30:00.000-06:00

Now it's time to post your second vocab word. When you find a good word, please add it as a comment to this post, along with the original sentence in which the word appeared, the source of the sentence, and a short definition in your own words. Your word should be unique in the class; that is, you shouldn't post the same word as someone else. Therefore, before you post your word and definition, read through the existing comments to see if your word is there already. If it is, you need to find another word. No fair using a word from last week's list.

"Searching for Summer" Response

2006-08-28T09:22:00.000-06:00

Now that you have read "Searching for Summer," you should have written three meaningful questions about the story. Save your best question for class tomorrow, and post one of your other questions here. Please post your question by midnight, Monday, August 28. THEN, on Tuesday, please read your classmates' questions on the blog and comment on one of them. You'll add your comments to this same post. Be sure to mention whose question you're responding to. So, by midnight Tuesday, August 29, I should see 2 of your comments about the story on the class blog.

Progress in Your Lifetime

2006-08-17T09:31:00.000-06:00

For your first post, please comment about an invention, innovation, or social change that has occurred since you were born and that represents "progress." Identify the change, explain how the change represents progress, and explain whether you think this progress has been positive or negative. (If you really can't think of a significant change in your lifetime, comment about a change that has occurred since your parents were born.)

Vocab Word #1

2006-08-10T14:35:00.000-06:00

As we discussed in class, one of your first assignments is to find a word that could add to your vocabulary. When you find a good word, please add it as a comment to this post, along with the original sentence in which the word appeared, the source of the sentence, and a short definition in your own words. Your word should be unique in the class; that is, you shouldn't post the same word as someone else. Therefore, before you post your word and definition, read through the existing comments to see if your word is there already. If it is, you need to find another word.