Whoa! Is it December 26th already?

Due Tuesday, January 7: "A Modest Proposal," by Jonathan Swift (from The Language of Composition)
Due Tuesday, January 7: Editorial Review #5
Due Thursday, January 9: "In the Strawberry Fields," by Eric Schlosser (from The Language of Composition)

Due Now: Follow the directions on the blog post below. 
Due January 7: Editorial Review #5
Due January 7: An essay to be named later. I'll have it posted by December 26. 

1. Argument o' the Week
2. A Class Lesson Wasted With Tom Lehrer
3. Juxtaposition (aka Mr. Kline Ruins Christmas)

The News of ...?

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Conduct some brief research into the following news events. First, identify the year in which these events occurred. Then, jot down sufficient information for you to discuss each of these events thoughtfully.

Does this list of seemingly random news events form an argument?

The recent fight in the House of Representatives was over the Open Housing Section of the Civil Rights Bill. Brought traditional enemies together but it left the defenders of the Measure without the votes of their strongest supporters. President Johnson originally proposed an outright ban covering discrimination by everyone for every type of housing but it had no chance from the start and everyone in congress knew it. A compromise was painfully worked out in the house judiciary committee.

In Los Angeles today comedian Lenny Bruce died of what was believed to be an Overdose of narcotics. Bruce was 42 years old.

Dr. Martin Luther King says he does not intend to cancel plans for an open Housing march Sunday into the Chicago suburb of Cicero. Cook county sheriff Richard Ogleby asked king to call off the march and the Police in Cicero said they would ask the National Guard to be called out if it is held. King, now in Atlanta, Georgia, plans to return to Chicago Tuesday.

In Chicago Richard Speck, accused murderer of nine student nurses, was brought before a grand jury today for indictment. The nurses were found stabbed and strangled in their Chicago apartment.

In Washington the atmosphere was tense today as a special subcommittee of the House committee on un-American activities continued its probe into anti-Vietnam war protests. Demonstrators were forcibly evicted from the hearings when they began chanting Anti-war slogans. Former vice-president Richard Nixon says that unless there is a substantial Increase in the present war effort in Vietnam, the U.S. should look forward to five more years of war. In a speech before the convention of the veterans of foreign wars in New York, Nixon also said opposition to the war in this country is the greatest single Weapon working against the U.S.

            That’s the 7’o clock evening news. Good night.

Agenda, December 18

Due Now: "On Compassion," by Barbara Lazear Ascher (handout, from 50 Essays, A Portable Anthology, 2nd Edition)
Due Now: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or offered help. 450-500 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes. MLA format. Include your word count under the date at the top of page one. Staple your final draft on top of your rough draft.  
Due Now: Bring your Language of Composition
Due Wednesday: Follow the directions on the above blog post. 

1. A TEP Free Way to do Rhetorical Analysis
2. A Little Visual

Agenda, December 17

Due Now: "On Compassion," by Barbara Lazear Ascher (handout, from 50 Essays, A Portable Anthology, 2nd Edition)
Due Tomorrow: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or offered help. 450-500 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes. MLA format. Include your word count under the date at the top of page one. Staple your final draft on top of your rough draft.
Due Tomorrow: Bring your Language of Composition

1. Ascher MC in groups
2. 15 minute TEP on your own
3. A Compassionate Discussion

Agenda, December 16

Due Now: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or a time you offered help. 600-750 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes.      
Due Now: Vocab 5     
Due Now: "On Compassion," by Barbara Lazear Ascher (handout, from 50 Essays, A Portable Anthology, 2nd Edition)
Due Wednesday: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or offered help. 450-500 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes. MLA format. Include your word count under the date at the top of page one.

1. Vocab Groups
2. Peer Review
3. Ascher MC
4. 15 minute TEP
5. A Compassionate Discussion

Agenda, December 13

Due Monday: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or a time you offered help. 600-750 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes.    
Due Monday: Vocab 5   
Due Monday: "On Compassion," by Barbara Lazear Ascher (handout, from 50 Essays, A Portable Anthology, 2nd Edition)
Do this weekend: Go see 1941: Christmas From Home (It's really good!)

1. Argument o' the Week
2. Let's go to "Florida" (and let's bring our rhetorical strategies with us)
3. Ehrenreich v. Ruskin cage match

Agenda, December 12

Due Now: "Serving in Florida," by Barabara Ehrenreich (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography)     Due Monday: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or a time you offered help. 600-750 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes.   Due Monday: Vocab 5 
Due Monday: "On Compassion," by Barbara Lazear Ascher (handout, from 50 Essays, A Portable Anthology, 2nd Edition)
Do this weekend: Go see 1941: Christmas From Home 

1. Revisiting Visual Rhetoric
2. 15 minute TEP, solo
3. Let's go to "Florida"

Agenda, December 11

Due Now: "The Roots of Honor," by John Ruskin (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography)  
Due Now: Bring a hard copy of an image about the economy.    
Due Thursday: "Serving in Florida," by Barabara Ehrenreich (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography)    
Due Monday, December 16: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or a time you offered help. 600-750 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes.  
Due Monday: Vocab 5 

Do this weekend: Go see 1941: Christmas From Home 

1. Ruskin Discussion
2. Revisiting Visual Rhetoric

Vocab Sticks

You Say You Want a Revolution?

Words for the Downtrodden

Due December 16

Provide the definition of the following words. Include the dictionary definition and a translation of the dictionary definition into your own words. Write a sentence for each. Post one of the eleven sentences as a comment.

1.     alienated

2.     alliance

3.     disparity

4.     servile

5.     suppressed

You are so Beautiful

Words for the Interior Decorator

6.     embellish

7.     florid

8.     opulent

9.     ornate

10. ostentatious

11. poignant

Agenda, December 10

Due Now: "The Roots of Honor," by John Ruskin (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibligraphy)  
Due Wednesday: Bring a hard copy of an image about the economy.  
Due Thursday: "Serving in Florida," by Barabara Ehrenreich (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibligraphy)    
Due Monday, December 16: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or a time you offered help. 600-750 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes.
Due Monday: Vocab 5 

1. Ruskin, line by line
2. Now that we get it, how did he do it?
3. Periodic Sentences

Agenda, December 9

Due Now: Editorial Review #4. Do you remember how those work?  Due Now: "The Roots of Honor," by John Ruskin (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibligraphy)
Due Wednesday: Bring a hard copy of an image about the economy.
Due Thursday: "Serving in Florida," by Barabara Ehrenreich (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibligraphy)  
Due Monday, December 16: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or a time you helped someone. 600-750 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes.

1. Help! I need somebody.
2. Editorial Review #4
3. Ruskin, line by line

Agenda, December 6

Due Now: "On Dumpster Diving," by Lars Eighner (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography).      
Due Monday: Editorial Review #4. Do you remember how those work? 
Due Monday: "The Roots of Honor," by John Ruskin (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography).
Due Monday, December 16: Write a narrative about a time you needed help or a time you helped someone. 600-750 words. This is a public document. No holiday themes.

1. Argument o' the Week
2. Whole class Dumpstering
3. Small group "Dumpster Diving"
4. Twenty minutes with Mr. Ruskin

Agenda, December 5

Due Now: "On Dumpster Diving," by Lars Eighner (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography).     Due Now: Revision of Education Synthesis. Your grade will be based on the quality of your revision. Paper clip the revision to your previous drafts. Due Now: Bring your copies of The Grapes of Wrath. Due Monday, December 9: Editorial Review #4. Do you remember how those work?  

1. Wrathing up The Grapes of Wrap
2. Whole class Dumpstering
3. Small group "Dumpster Diving"
4. Whole Class Diving

Agenda, December 4

Due Now: "On Dumpster Diving," by Lars Eighner (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography).    
Due Thursday: Revision of Education Synthesis. Your grade will be based on the quality of your revision. 
Due Thursday: Bring your copies of The Grapes of Wrath.
Due Monday, December 9: Editorial Review #4. Do you remember how those work?   
Grapes of Wrath make up tests: today from 2-3 pm in B105. You will need to arrange your own transportation.

1. Small group "Dumpster Diving"
2. Whole Class Diving

Agenda, December 3

Due Wednesday: "On Dumpster Diving," by Lars Eighner (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography).   Due Thursday: Revision of Education Synthesis. Your grade will be based on the quality of your revision. Due Monday, December 9: Editorial Review #4. Do you remember how those work?  Grapes of Wrath make up tests: Wednesday from 2-3 pm in B105. You will need to arrange your own transportation.

1. 4 Sections, 4 Groups
2. Answer Time

A funny story about multiple choice practice

Last spring, on the day before the AP exam, we spent class outside working (or not, in some cases) in small groups. Kids were focusing (or not, in some cases) on the area of the exam that confuzzled them most. I wandered from group to group, eavesdropping and trying to avoid answering questions, as I'm wont to do.

One group told me that they were incredibly frustrated with the multiple choice questions; the questions were just too hard. They suggested that I start practicing the MC sections much earlier so kids would be better prepared. I pondered for a moment, and then I asked them, "Well, you know how I always suggested that, after you took the test and before I gave you the answers, you go home and continue working? I suggested that you go home and look up all the words - in both the selections and the distractors - that got in the way of you answering the questions. Do you guys do that?"

Hm. I wonder if you can tell me how they responded.

Now quit wasting your time on the blog and go look up some words.

Agenda, December 2

Due Now: Vocab 4. Typed, of course.      
Due Wednesday: "On Dumpster Diving," by Lars Eighner (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography).  
Due Thursday: Revision of Education Synthesis. Your grade will be based on the quality of your revision. If your paper says "Come talk to me," then talking to me is part of your revision.  
Due Monday, December 9: Editorial Review #4. Do you remember how those work? 
Grapes of Wrath make up tests: Wednesday from 2-3 pm in B105. You will need to arrange your own transportation. 

1. Multiple Choice Practice Test
2. Vocab Fur in small groups
3. If you write a timed write, it's an experience; if you come talk to me about your essay afterwards, it's a learning experience. See you Thursday!
4. Check the blog this evening for an amusing anecdote about multiple choice practice

Agenda, November 27

Due Monday, December 2: Vocab 4. Typed, of course.    
Due Wednesday, December 4: "On Dumpster Diving," by Lars Eighner (from The Language of Composition - add it to your Bibliography).
Due Thursday, December 5: Revision of Education Synthesis. Your grade will be based on the quality of your revision. If your paper says "Come talk to me," then talking to me is part of your revision.
Due Monday, 12/9: Editorial Review #4. Do you remember how those work? 

1. Let the writing commence!
2. If you write a timed write, it's an experience; if you come talk to me about your essay afterwards, it's a learning experience.

Agenda, November 26

Due Now: The Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 1 - 30  
Coming Wednesday: Grapes Final  
Due Monday, December 2: Vocab 4. Typed, of course.  
Due Thursday, December 5: Revision of Education Synthesis. Your grade will be based on the quality of your revision. If your paper says "Come talk to me," then talking to me is part of your revision.

1. A review of the last final
2. How do you write an argument?
3. Pick a number, any number ...
4. Pick another number ...
5. Do we have time for another number?

For your studying pleasure ...

AP Language and Comp

Grapes of Wrath Essay Exam Topics

Argumentative Questions:

1.     Compare the treatment of the migrant “Okies” in the novel to the treatment of modern immigrant workers. What can modern readers learn from the similarities and the differences of these situations?

2.     Defend, qualify, or challenge the claim that The Grapes of Wrath is anti-religious.

3.     Defend, qualify, or challenge the claim that The Grapes of Wrath is a patriotic novel.

4.     Defend, qualify, or challenge the claim that The Grapes of Wrath is a pessimistic novel.

5.     Defend, challenge, or qualify the claim that Casy becomes a “better” man after he renounces his faith. Be certain to define what “better” means.

6.     How would Steinbeck define justice? Point to three examples of justice or injustice (consider the author’s rewards and punishments) to support your answer. Does his definition agree with or contradict with yours?

7.     In this novel, “bad things happen to good people.” According to Steinbeck, what, specifically, causes bad things to happen to good people? What can good people do about it?

8.     Defend, qualify, or challenge the claim that one of the following is the purpose of Steinbeck’s novel:

a.     Steinbeck argues that blind faith is foolish.

b.     Steinbeck wants to prove that the worst of life’s slings and arrows brings out the best in men’s hearts.

c.     Steinbeck wanted readers to understand that change is inevitable and we should follow its path rather than reject its outcome.

d.     Steinbeck’s purpose is to emphasize the importance of family and show we should stick together and never leave our family behind.

e.     Steinbeck’s main purpose in The Grapes of Wrath is to show readers that the American spirit can lead people to better lives in the worst of times.

Read this because ...

... this is definitely the type of writing that shows up on the AP Lang exam:

"English has a New Preposition" by Megan Garber

Vocab Fur

When the Going Gets Tough

Words to Describe a Struggle

Provide the definition for each of the following words that you don’t know. Even if you think you are familiar with the word, you should check its definition to confirm your understanding. For words you need to define, include the dictionary definition and a translation of the dictionary definition into your own words.

Write an original sentence for each word in the list, whether you need to define it or not. Post one sentence as a comment. You only need to post a sentence for one of the ten following words. Please type your work.

1.     convoluted

2.     cryptic

3.     futile

4.     impede

5.     obscure

6.     quandary

I’m a Loser, Baby

Words to Describe the Lazy

7.     indolent

8.     insipid

9.     listless

10. torpor

Agenda, November 25

Due Now: The Grapes of Wrath, Chapters 1 - 30
Coming Wednesday: Grapes Final
Due Monday, December 2: Vocab 4. Typed, of course.
Due Thursday, December 5: Revision of Education Synthesis. Your grade will be based on the quality of your revision. If your paper says "Come talk to me," then talking to me is part of your revision.

1. Well ...?
2. So. What is Steinbeck's purpose?
3. What's the most interesting thing we missed?
4. A review of the last final
5. A preview of the next final ...

Agenda, November 19

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapter 26

Due Monday, 11/25: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapter 27-30

1. Is second tri. harder?
2. Open Disco 
3. The "What did you highlight?" Game returns!

Agenda, November 18

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapter 26

Due Monday, 11/25: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapter 27-30

1. TEP Pop Quiz
2. What's on the final?
3. TEP Models
4. Open Disco
5. Welcome to the Grand Allusion (anybody recognize this allusion?)

Agenda, November 15

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 23-25

Due Monday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapter 26 (it's 67 pages long)

1. Steinbeck's porpoise review
2. Ketchup on Grapes jigsaw
3. TEP in groups of three
4. Allusion 

Agenda, November 14

Due Thursday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 21-22

Due Friday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 23-25

Due Monday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapter 26 (it's 67 pages long)

Due Now: Revision of Education Synthesis Paper. Be sure to underline your parallelism and attach your Works Cited. Staple your revised copy on top of your original draft.

1. Paper collection.
2. Steinbeck's porpoise
3. Ketchup on Grapes 

Agenda, November 13

Due Now: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 19-20 

Due Thursday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 21-22

Due Friday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 23-25

Due Thursday: Revision of Education Synthesis Paper. Be sure to underline your parallelism and attach your Works Cited. Staple your revised copy on top of your original draft.

1. Laptop time. Feel free to discuss Wrath while you're revising.

Some Helpful Advice From Mr. Kline

While I was reading revisions over the weekend, I found that organization is a recurring problem in papers. These problems fall into three categories:
Global organization
     - Do the paragraphs in your essay come in the best, clearest order? 
     - Do paragraphs break in the right places?
Internal organization 
     - Do the sentences in your paragraph come in the best, clearest order? 
     - Do all of the sentences belong in the same paragraph?
Transitions 
     - Do your topic sentences remind the reader where he's been and tell him where he's  going? 
     - Do you use transitional phrases of addition or contrast in your paragraphs?

Agenda, November 12

Due Now:  Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 17-18 
Due Wednesday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 19-20 
Due Thursday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 21-22

Due Friday: Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, Chapters 23-25

Due Now: Education Synthesis Paper.
Due Thursday: Revision of Education Synthesis Paper. Be sure to underline your parallelism and attach your Works Cited. 

1. Mr. Kline fights evil
2. Peer Review
3. Open Discussion on Wrath, Grapes, or other pertinent material