Until we arrive at Austin in August, we can keep in touch via Edmodo over the next few weeks.
If you use the following code - 9ccnpf - on Edmodo, you can join the Summer Reading Help and Questions group, just for incoming freshmen. Also, please help spread the word about the assignment. August 24th is right around the corner, and I don't want anyone ill-prepared! Late assignments will not be accepted, so it is important that you finish the work and begin your freshman year on the right foot. Visit the Pre-AP English I home page if you need extra copies of any documents or short stories. Hope to talk to you all soon! I am getting a bit excited to meet all of you, and have a rockin' school year. Cheers, Ms. Bellon
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What I've posted above is an excerpt from the novella Heart of Darkness, by Joseph Conrad. Though I'm not expecting you to read the excerpt, what I do want you to see is the writing/underlining that is present on the page. The person annotating is making an attempt to actually connect with the text, and there are MANY ways to do this.
1. Find something that is an obviously important point in the story. This can be anything from a character detail, a change in setting, a crux in the plot setup, etc. Underline or highlight the text where you found the detail, and write something that shows your reaction to that particular detail. 2. Make a connection between the text and the world around you. What makes fiction wonderful is that it mirrors humanity...sometimes, at its best; other times, it mirrors humanity at its absolute worst. Sometimes it mirrors a story you heard on the evening news (because you guys are sleeping in...no way you're up for The Today Show), and other times it can mirror something that has actually happened to you. Underline the detail and write about it. 3. Make a "jump" in your reasoning and become a philosopher. And you all read this and said..."Huh?" What I mean by this is that you need to try to go beyond the text. Going beyond means that you found deeper meaning in the words of the story...something so profound that your light bulb glowed at full tilt and almost burst. An "A-ha!" moment, if you will. Here's the beautiful thing about going beyond the text - If you can back up how you made the connection, and place it in the context of the story...you can't be wrong. Ever. Now, backing up your connections can be difficult - just be prepared to discuss WHY you wrote your particular comment on the page. No Fear Annotation!! Now, some clarifications have been made... - The link to "The Lottery" has been taken down...boo! So, I found another one! You can find it here, and the link on the main English 1 page has also been replaced. - If you are missing the summer reading assignment, again, look at the top of the page...there should be a link that says "Download file." (Or you can click on the link. Ha!) - As far as the annotations...you can annotate to your heart's content. The only thing this will do is benefit you in the long run. Now, I am only grading the page that you turn in, but there is no reason why you shouldn't annotate the entire story to help you with the assignment. I will see one pattern, I assure you: those who annotate the entire story will have more thorough work on the summer assignment than those who choose to annotate a specific section. It shows you read the stories with care and diligence. Make sure you are keeping up with your Mythology assignments as well. Is there any link we can figure out between the Tom Cruise/Katie Holmes divorce to ancient mythology? Hmmm...I'll bet someone can make that link! Keep talking to me guys...I will be a bit more present than I was before. Promise! :-) Cheers! So looking forward to August! Until next time, Ms. Bellon I promised myself I'd never have a Twitter...lo and behold! I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right?
So, here's my Twitter feed. When I post to my blog, I will make sure I post to Twitter so you guys can continue to follow up with questions and such. I will also post dates where I will be publicly available over the summer to discuss summer reading (noooo...no...don't all rush at once!...). Over the course of the school year, you will see posts linking to my personal website. Resisting is futile. Follow your English teacher into cyberspace. Check you on the flip side of summer! Now, go buy those copies of Mythology! Peace, Ms. B Hello, class of 2017! Way to make your teacher feel old...not starting off on the right foot, are we??
:-) Just kidding. However, on a serious note, I want to direct your attention to the Pre-AP English 1 page. Your summer reading assignment has been posted for your access, as well as hot links to the short story reading passages. All you need to purchase (or acquire from someone else) is a copy of Edith Hamilton's Mythology. I will post as often as possible, but if you need help with the assignments, drop a comment on this post and I will respond as quick as I can. I wish you the best of luck with your last days in middle school, as well as a terrific summer vacation. Until next post, Ms. Bellon Okay, my children... I am transferring my notes to keep up with my classes, so find my blog on my personal website and look for The Daily Rant. There, you can find a few "do"s and "don't"s for the first days of school. You can also continue asking questions about the summer reading assignment using the "Got Questions?" page. As your summer winds down, I genuinely hope that you feel both refreshed and prepared for what is to come. I still have my own work to do, but I look forward to meeting all of you on August 27th. Until then, you can ask your questions. If not, enjoy this final week off, and I will see you very soon. If you study the diagram on the right, you probably recognize this as something you have been taught for a while - the classic, five-paragraph essay. While this essay format is entirely formulaic (and something which you will have to grow out of), it is a good model for those who haven't practiced the art of writing in a few weeks (i.e. all summer long). The model depends on a few things: 1. You must have a point that you can defend. This is your thesis statement. 2. You must have evidence that you can use to defend your thesis. 3. You must be able to discuss how your evidence proves your thesis. I told you that your essay needed to be short. If you have more explaining to do, explain until the point is covered, but do your best to be 'to-the-point' brief in your commentary. You do not need much general commentary to introduce your point, and you don't need much of a conclusion. What I want you to focus on is the discussion. Show me you understand the ideas of violence that are presented in the selected short stories. And, if you feel like you don't quite get it, do your best and try. I am not going to grade you with an iron fist on day one...that would be a little rude, don't you think? What I need you all to understand is that this summer assignment is meant for you to remained tuned into what the course will demand - a heck of a lot of reading and writing. We'll have fun, but we have to work toward that with a bit of understanding and analysis of the texts we will tackle as a class. Since I have your attention, I want to also answer a few of your FAQs. FAQ #1: "Will you check our Mythology books for annotations?" Answer: I answered this a few times. It is beneficial but not required for you to annotate Mythology. When we begin studying the Greek myths with more depth, and showing their connection to The Odyssey, the book will be a quick reference full of your notes...if you took the time to do the work. FAQ #2: "When you're checking annotations from the short story, can it be any five paragraphs, or do they have to be consecutive?" Answer: I never thought I'd have to answer this out of respect for common sense, but yes...please keep them as consecutive paragraphs. I want to see a steady stream of thought processes...not a random jumble that I (or maybe you) can't connect very well. FAQ #3: "Can we just use any modern example for the Mythology comparisons?" Answer: No. The idea is for you to be in tune with current events. It doesn't have to be a serious example either. The Greek myths are examples of comedy, tragedy, love, deceit, and basic human faults. You could watch CNN, as well as read celebrity gossip, and probably find all the examples you need. Hint: Yahoo's home page has their top headlines in a very convenient scroll. So would any cable news network's website. When you wake up, after you eat your powdered donuts, take a look at the headlines and make some basic connections. They don't have to be perfect matches; they should jog your memory in some way relevant to the myths you studied. PS: My website is incomplete, but it is live! This site is where I will update you on everything Pre-AP English 1. I'll even make the occasional study video just for you. :-) Syllabus, class supply list, 1st day "do"s and "don't"s to come. Peace, children! namaste, ms. bellon By Ms. Bellon
Hello future AHS Bulldogs! If you look on the main English 1 Page, there is a link to the document file containing your summer reading assignment. You should receive a hard copy from your English teachers at GMS and SMS, but if you need to replace a page, the file is there for your reference. Be on the lookout for more posts and v-logs that will give you assistance with the summer reading assignment. If you have a question, respond to any blog post - this is the place to ask. Remember, take the assignment a little bit at a time, instead of rushing to finish it the first week of school...it isn't smart to approach it that way, and it will be completed with much more care if you have lots of repeat practice. Let us know how summer is going! Hope you are enjoying your reading, especially Mythology...those myths are so intriguing. Until, Ms. Bellon Posted by Ms. Bellon
The English 1 teachers at AHS are anxiously awaiting your arrival next August! In the meantime, we need you to prepare yourself for what is to come throughout the school year with some prep reading. The only book you need to purchase is Mythology, by Edith Hamilton. Why this book? The many allusions and mythological stories in this book will be referenced many times throughout your reading in Pre-AP English 1, as well as the rest of your English coursework throughout high school. The book is both interesting and informative, and it should be a fun read. Mythology should be easy to find at your local bookstore, or through online order at Amazon.com or BN.com We are also asking you to read 4 short stories. We are providing links to the following short stories, but they may also be purchased in bookstores, websites, or found for free if searched. You are responsible for reading the following short stories: "To Build A Fire", Jack London "Lamb to the Slaughter", Roald Dahl "The Lottery", Shirley Jackson "The Tell-Tale Heart", Edgar Allan Poe Both Mythology and the short stories assigned will have activities assigned for completion over the summer. A suggested schedule will also be posted on this website. Stay tuned for more details. |
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