Looking at the New SAT

Agenda:

• Listen to NPR Interview with Cisneros
• Look at the new SAT
• See previous post for worksheet

Homework:

• Finish online scavenger hunt

What's with the New SAT?

Name:

Ms. Hoffmann

English 10

Date:

The New SAT Scavenger Hunt

Take a look at https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat  and https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test.   Use them to learn about the SAT and to answer the following questions.

1. The date of the new SAT ___________________________________________________

2. Does it affect you?  (Circle one.)   Yes No

3. You get free college applications if you _______________________________________

4. The new exam lasts for ______________________   or  __________________________

5. One of the three ways the SAT is staying the same is ________________________________________________________________________

6. The best way to study for the test is to _________________________________________

7. The essay on the new exam is _______________________________________________

8. Who won’t the new SAT affect?  ____________________________________________

9. Score scale is ________________________

10. Two of the ways the SAT is changed is ________________________________________

11. The new SAT measures ___________________________________________________

12. Now let’s take a look at some reading passages: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/inside-the-test/reading.  Briefly summarize what the reading section of the test is like.  What is tested?  What sort of passages can you expect to find?
    ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

13. Click into the sample reading questions.  Try the practice questions for Ethan Frome and Richard Florida’s work.  Be sure to read the passages and answer the questions.  After you answer each question, you will be able to check your work beneath the multiple choice bubbles.
1. How did you do on the Ethan Frome questions?  How many did you answer correctly?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. How did you do on the Richard Florida questions?  How many did you answer correctly?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What did you notice about how you did?  What skills needed for reading these passages did you excel in using?  Struggle?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mango Street Test

Test Day Thursday

Connotation/Denotation Continued

Agenda:

• Class announcements
• Review notes and worksheet
• Worksheet #2

Homework:

• Test tomorrow!
• Final name vignettes due tomorrow!
• Extra credit due tomorrow!

Discuss the following with your parent or guardian

English 10 Reading Notification

Dear English 10 Parents and Guardians,

To follow up our reading of The House on Mango Street, your student is scheduled to read American Born Chinese beginning next week (10/5).  American Born Chinese is an award-winning graphic novel that accounts cross-cultural experiences.  More information on the text and its contents are available on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/American-Born-Chinese-Gene-Luen/dp/0312384483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1443540132&sr=8-1&keywords=american+born+chinese.

American Born Chinese is a useful text to continue to build upon the themes discussed in The House on Mango Street.  It is a text that had been used for such in English 10 classes in the past.  However, it does contain a handful of instances of the use of mild language (PG if we are thinking in movie terms) and irreverent humor.  Its publisher labels it as appropriate for students 12-18, but I would like to make you all aware of these contents.  Overall, I would agree with the 12-18 year-old rating given that these instances are few and far between.  If you have any questions regarding the text, you may contact me via e-mail (Jennifer.hoffmann@rcsu.org) or phone (802-459-3353 ext. 2125). 

Should you not want your student reading the text after examining its description, please fill out the form below.  Be aware that if a student is opted out, it is expected that he or she will complete alternate assignments to show understanding of the same skills that the other students are covering through the American Born Chinese unit.  These assignments may include continuing to participate in class discussions based on the alternative text.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

American Born Chinese Opt-Out Form

I do NOT want my student ________________________________________________________

                                            (Student’s name)

to participate in a reading of American Born Chinese.  I agree to my student’s participation in class via alternative assignments.

_____________________________________________________________________________

(Parent/Guardian Signature)

Style: Looking Closer at Word Choice

Agenda:

• Joey Thesaurus Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1tOqZUNebs
• Notes: Tone, Denotation, Connotation
• Worksheet: Choosing the right word

Homework:

• Finish worksheet if you didn't in class

Writing Lab 1

Agenda:

• Writing Prompt:  
• In a one-page, MLA-formatted paper, explain to me whether Cisneros' or Albom's writing style is more effective.  Your answer is going to be your opinion backed up from evidence in both authors' work (with the help of the two style charts).  However, you should not be saying anything along the lines of "I believe" or "in my opinion."  This is an academic paper: leave the Is, mes, and mys out of it.  
• Don't know what MLA formatting is? (It's part of the reason I demand Times New Roman.)  Take a look at the following resource:  https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/  Better yet, bookmark this site.  It's incredibly useful, and many college recommend using it over citation generators.  
• You may write more than a page, but I expect no less than one, full page.  Not almost one page.  Not a page with a heading in 25 pt font and triple spacing.

• I am going to be grading you on your discussion of style as well as the basic format of your paper.  You should know from past English classes to include an intro, body, and conclusion to your piece.  You also should know that your thesis statement needs to come at the end of your introduction--yes, even for a one-page paper.

• The rest of your paper is going to help me to determine what grammar, style, and usage rules we need to review in class.  Do your best.  Don't be lazy with punctuation and capitalization, or we will be spending classes reviewing those topics.

• Please be aware that you DO need to include textual support for what you are arguing.  Even though you are talking about the style of writing rather than plot events, which you may be more used to doing, you need to be sure that you are backing up what you are saying.  Your opinions--even if not stated as "in my opinion"--need to be backed up with support.  

• Link to Albom's full text: http://lib.sdkd.net.cn/2010disc/dianzitushu/105.pdf

Due: Monday at the beginning of class.

Homework:

• Finished writing prompt (Monday)
• Study for test on Cisernos (next Thursday)--your extra credit also is due then
• Signed Infinite Campus Report (if your grade is under a 75%)

Comparing Cisneros' Style

Agenda:

• Discussion of poetic style homework
• Reading of The Five People You Meet in Heaven excerpt
• Analyzing Albom's style

Homework:

• Be aware that a test is forthcoming!  (Likely next Thursday considering our current pace.)  Please review your notes in preparation.
• The extra credit assignment will be due the day of the test.