Outlining the Synthesis, Final Day: April 30, 2019

Focus: How can synthesizing texts help us understand them better or differently?

1. Warming up with the rubric

2. Completing your Big Synthesis Outlines and conferencing with me

HW:
FRIDAY: Synthesis outlines are due (today was the last day of in-class work time, so come see me during an off hour if you need help).

Outlining the Synthesis, Day 2: April 29, 2019

Focus: How can we fortify our outlines with creativity and analysis?

1. Warming up with three good things and your new Weekly Focus goals

2.  Making your transitions work hard! Click HERE for some ideas.

3.  Recalling the close reading pyramid and finishing your outlines

HW:
By WEDNESDAY: Outlines must be completed.

Outlining the Synthesis: Day 1: April 26, 2019

Focus: How do I effectively structure my complex ideas?

Please take out your Weekly Focus and Participation and reflect on how you did.

1. Warming up with a few thoughts on the procrastinating brain

• What have you been putting off?
• What needs to happen today?
• What needs to happen this weekend?

2. Checking out your thesis feedback and breaking down your thesis into two body paragraphs: Two tricks

THESIS: People must reject their societies' false "truths" and embrace their individuality, showing that the human desire for truth conquers the allure of lies.

EACH TOPIC SENTENCE TAKES A PIECE OF THE THESIS AND GETS MORE SPECIFIC WITH IT.

1. First body paragraph: Sylvia from The Truman Show and Clarisse from Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 inspire the protagonists to question and ultimately renounce their societies' inauthentic realities.

2. Second body paragraph: In Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451, The Truman Show, and Hosseini's The Kite Runner, the protagonists must pursue what makes them unique in order to build a more authentic, fulfilling reality.


What if my thesis is only making one point right now?

People must escape their repressive societies.

My trick: Turn this into a problem-solution essay, in which you dedicate one body paragraph to developing the problem and one body paragraph to developing the solution.

Repressive societies create ignorance, but escaping these societies fosters intellectual and emotional growth.

3. Finalizing your topic sentences and gathering examples; finish your entire outline by the end of class on Monday, April 29

HW:
For MONDAY: No more procrastinating! Make sure your outline is complete before you go to bed on Monday night.

Seeking Patterns: April 25, 2019

Focus: How do we form complex thesis statements from our brainstorming?

1. Warming up by modeling a Venn diagram with two birds

2. Using the Venn diagram to seek patterns in your research

3. Forming thesis statements from the overlap in your Venn diagram (Step

PLEASE POST YOUR THESIS STATEMENT ON TODAY'S BLOG.

HW:
For TOMORROW:
Finish Step 4 and post your thesis on today's class blog. If you have been absent this week, you need to catch up by Monday.

Make sure all F451 fishbowls have been made up if you were absent. Check Infinite Campus for grades (fishbowl, Truman Show notes, journals); if you're handwriting, make sure you bring your sticky notes/journals to class each day until I check them.

Getting Specific: April 24, 2019

Focus: How do we generate specific, complex support?

1. Warming up with a sample close reading of a scene

• Which details in this scene stand out to you?

• What do these details symbolize?

• How is this scene significant to the film as a whole?

2. Completing Step 3 in The Big Synthesis

• Remember to look for quotations/examples that have a striking word, phrase, symbol, etc....something you can sink your teeth into when you analyze.

3. Seeking patterns with a little color coding (if time allows)

HW: 
1. For TOMORROW: Complete Step 3 before class tomorrow if you did not do so in class today.

2. By FRIDAY: Make sure all F451 fishbowls have been made up if you were absent. Check Infinite Campus for grades (fishbowl, Truman Show notes, journals); if you're handwriting, make sure you bring your sticky notes/journals to class each day until I check them.

Go Big or Go Home: April 23, 2019

Focus: What big ideas this semester interest us the most?

1. Warming up with the beginning and the ending

• What shifts from the beginning to the end?

• Why do these shifts happen?

• What do the shifts mean? What does the film want us to understand better or differently?

2. Meeting The Big Synthesis (click here and make a copy for yourself inside your F451 folder)

3. Developing your questions and sources (Steps 1 and 2)

HW:
1. For TOMORROW: If you didn't finish Steps 1 and 2, you need to complete them before class tomorrow. Remember that completing each step on time is essential to this essay; late work will lose three points per assignment. If you're absent, be aggressive about staying caught up.

2. By FRIDAY: Make sure all F451 fishbowls have been made up if you were absent. Check Infinite Campus for grades (fishbowl, Truman Show notes, journals); if you're handwriting, make sure you bring your sticky notes/journals to class each day until I check them.

How's It Going To End? April 22, 2019

Focus:

1. Warming up three good things and how to maintain your in-class focus the rest of the semester

2. Finishing The Truman Show ; make sure you're keeping thoughtful notes, as this document will eventually be worth 40 points in the growth category

3. If time allows, analyzing the film with your grid groups

Topic #1: What specific moments from the ending of the film seemed most important to you? What do you think they meant?

Topic #2: What were the most important symbols and motifs? What larger patterns did they form? And/or, what did you think about the characters' names, especially "Truman" and "Christoff"?

Topic #3: Peter Weir is the director of this film. What big questions do you think Weir wants us to be talking about after watching this film?


HW:
By FRIDAY: Make sure all F451 fishbowls have been made up if you were absent. Check Infinite Campus for grades (fishbowl, Truman Show notes, journals); if you're handwriting, make sure you bring your sticky notes/journals to class each day until I check them.

Something's Missing: April 19, 2019

Focus: What's missing from Truman's life? What do humans need in order to feel fulfilled?

1. Warming up with a Friday Freewrite: Click HERE for the picture and prompt (10 minutes)

2. Stacking your blue sheets and journals in the back of the room so I may grade them in class

3. Viewing and analyzing The Truman Show; remember to use your notes to analyze the film as you watch

HW:
For MONDAY: If I have not graded your annotations / journals yet, this is your last chance to turn them in. Please bring them to class.

The Perfect Life: April 17, 2019

Focus: Is a perfect life a happy life?

1. Warming up with a close reading of the final page of Fahrenheit 451

• What does it mean?

• Which words stand out?

• What tone / theme do those words create?

2. Explaining how to set up your notes for The Truman Show 

3. Starting The Truman Show

HW:
For TOMORROW: If I didn't grade your F451 journals / annotations in class today, make sure you bring them tomorrow.

The New Life: April 16, 2019

Focus: Why do we read Fahrenheit 451?

1. Warming up with reflections on your Bradbury challenge and considering this book's larger themes

• Transition into fishbowl: What aspects of Fahrenheit 451 will stay with you?

2. Enjoying our final discussion of F451

3. Wrapping up with take-aways: What does Bradbury want us to understand better or differently?

HW:
For TOMORROW: Make sure your annotations  / journals are complete. Bring them to class tomorrow so that I may grade them.

The Underlying Structure: April 15, 2019

Focus: How does the structure of F451 contribute to its meaning?

1. Warming up with three good things!

2. Exploring the three parts of F451 by using this symbol chart

3. Silent reading and journalling on F451: Please finish the novel for tomorrow's fishbowl.

• Please stay in your regular seats during reading time.

• Remember to fill out your reading tracker at the beginning and ending of class (you will turn it in on Monday).

• Grant, Liam, and Eli may use this time to go into the hallway and prepare their syllabus. If you need to see a sample syllabus, check out the website or the fishbowl overview I gave you.

HW:

1. For TOMORROW: Finish reading and journaling on F451. Leaders--please post your syllabus to the website.
2. WEDNESDAY: All F451 journals must be complete.

Risks Worth Taking: April 12, 2019

Focus: What risks are worth taking?

1. Warming up with an extended Friday freewrite on "The Overprotected Kid" (20 minutes)

As you read the article, please respond to these questions in your F451 notes (feel free to watch the videos, but please use earbuds or turn the volume off)...

In your "Friday Freewrites" document, please do the following: 

Summary/Clarification:

• What is "The Land," and what makes it unique?

• What's happened to our playgrounds over the years and why?

• What is problematic about today's playgrounds?

Personal Response:

• Does "The Land" appeal to you? Why don't we have playgrounds like this in the U.S.?

• In your opinion, can playgrounds affect the kind of people we become? How so (or not)? Do you think you (or American teenagers in general) are overprotected?

• If you could design your own playground, what would it be like, and why?

2. Transitioning from Freewrite to Fishbowl: PLEASE POST THIS ON TODAY'S OUTER CIRCLE BLOG: 

• What connections can you make between this article and F451? Please post this one on the class blog.

3. Enjoying F451 Fishbowl #6: Pages 119-138

Leaders: Lyndsey, Leah K, Jenna, and Pria

Assigned Discussers: Matthew, Kyle, Eli, and Nikolay

Voluntary Discussers:

HW:

1. For TUESDAY: Finish reading and journaling on F451. Leaders--please post your syllabus to the website.
2. WEDNESDAY: All F451 journals must be complete.

Montag, the Hero: April 11, 2019

Focus: How does the hero's journey help you understand Montag's character?

1. Warming up with a quick refresher on the hero's journey (5 min)

2. Exploring how Montag is following the steps of the hero's journey using this handout; please do this with your table-mate. (10-15 min)

• Follow up question: What does the hero's journey help you understand about Montag?

3. Silent reading and journalling: You need to read through page 138 for tomorrow's fishbowl.

• Please stay in your regular seats during reading time.

• Remember to fill out your reading tracker at the beginning and ending of class (you will turn it in on Monday).

• Lyndsey, Leah K, Jenna, and Pria may use this time to go into the hallway and prepare their syllabus. If you need to see a sample syllabus, check out the website or the fishbowl overview I gave you.

HW:
For TOMORROW: Finish reading and journalling through page 138 in F451. Leaders--please post your syllabus to the website.

Man on the Run: April 10, 2019

Focus: What line has Montag drawn for himself, and what are the consequences?

Shortened class due to testing

1. Warming up with a sneak preview of upcoming days!

2. Enjoying F451 Fishbowl #5: Pages 107-119

HW:
1. For FRIDAY: Read pages 119 to 138 in F451; continue annotating / journalling.

2. Optional: Frustrated by the "sameness" of contemporary cities? Watch this TedTalk on how to diversify our landscapes.

Coming Back to Life: April 8, 2019

Focus: What does it mean to be alive but not alive, dead but not dead?

1. Warming up with three good things!

2. Performing a close reading of the graphic novel's interpretation of Montag and Mildred's book extravaganza (page 90)

On the left-hand side of your notebook paper...

• What are you noticing about use of colors / shadows in this scene?
• Who are the characters in this scene, and what are you noticing about the way they're drawn?
• Any other observations about the way this scene is illustrated?

On the right-hand side of your notebook paper...

• How do you interpret the observations you made on the left-hand side? What do you think this artist is suggesting?

At the bottom of your notebook paper...

• What's alive/coming back to life in this scene?
• What's dead or dying in this scene? Is that a good thing or a bad thing?

3. Reading, journaling, and conferencing (through page 119)

HW:

1. For WEDNESDAY: Read and journal through page 119 in F451.

2. For FRIDAY: Read and journal through page 138 in F451.

Life in Black and White: April 5, 2019

Focus: How are the characters in F451 living in black and white? What do they have to do to get the color back?

1. Warming up with a clip from Pleasantville (start around 23:00, skip to 34:16) and an excerpt from The Giver

• What are you noticing about this society?

• What are you wondering? 

2. Composing a Friday Freewrite on homogenized society; sharing your freewrite with a partner, and using three sticky notes to respond:

1. Things you like / things you'll remember
2. Questions
3. Ideas for further development

3. Enjoying F451 Fishbowl #4: Page 88-106

HW:
***READING SCHEDULE SWITCH ***

1. For WEDNESDAY: Read through page 119 and prepare for Fishbowl #5.

2. For FRIDAY: Read through page 138 and prepare for Fishbowl #6.

On Monday and Thursday, we will have mini lessons, reading time, and reading conferences.

Destruction and Growth: April 4, 2019

Focus: How do the symbols from F451 reveal Bradbury's larger ideas?

1. Warming up with Pictionary Telephone (using F451 symbols)

After each round...

• In real life, what does your symbol sometimes represent? What do you associate it with?

• In F451, find several pages where your symbol appears. Reread them carefully.

• What is Bradbury using this symbol to suggest?

After both rounds are done...

• What is the nature of the relationship between these two symbols?

2. Reading, journalling, and conferencing on Fahrenheit 451

3. Wrapping up with beautiful words

HW: 
1. FOR FRIDAY: Read and journal through page 106 in F451; leaders should prepare and post their syllabus.

2. FRIDAY MARKS THE END OF THE 12-WEEK GRADING PERIOD. Please submit any make-up work / revised work (including your Macbeth essays) from the last 6 weeks.

3. Stay true to your Bradbury Challenge!

The Quality of Human Life: April 3, 2019

Focus: What is the relationship between technology and the quality of human life?

Shortened class, lengthened TRIBE

1. Warming up with the results of your technology survey and offering you the Bradbury challenge!

2. Enjoying our third fishbowl discussion of Fahrenheit 451: Through page 88

3. Wrapping up with your questions, kudos, and epiphanies

HW: 
1. FOR FRIDAY: Read and journal through page 106 in F451; leaders should prepare and post their syllabus.

2. FRIDAY MARKS THE END OF THE 12-WEEK GRADING PERIOD. Please submit any make-up work / revised work (including your Macbeth essays) from the last 6 weeks.

3. Stay true to your Bradbury Challenge!

English 10 Competency, Day 2: April 2, 2019

Focus: What writing skills have we mastered this year?

1. Warming up with a little visualization

2. Showing our level of mastery in writing on the English 10 competency exam

Note: Your essay score will be worth 30 points in the Mastery category. You should spend the entire 45 minutes writing. Essays composed in under 20 minutes will likely NOT receive passing grades.


HW: 
1. FOR WEDNESDAY: Read and journal through page 88 in F451; leaders should prepare and post their syllabus.

2. FOR FRIDAY: Read and journal through page 106 in F451; leaders should prepare and post their syllabus.

3. FRIDAY MARKS THE END OF THE 12-WEEK GRADING PERIOD. Please submit any make-up work / revised work (including your Macbeth essays) from the last 6 weeks.

English 10 Competency, Day 1: April 1, 2019

Focus: What reading skills have we mastered this year?

1. Warming up (quickly) with three good things

2. Showing our level of mastery in reading on the English 10 competency exam

Note: Various English 10 teachers will be assessing your tests (not me). It will be entered in the Mastery category in IC.

HW: 
1. FOR WEDNESDAY: Read and journal through page 88 in F451; leaders should prepare and post their syllabus.

2. FOR FRIDAY: Read and journal through page 106 in F451; leaders should prepare and post their syllabus.

3. FRIDAY MARKS THE END OF THE 12-WEEK GRADING PERIOD. Please submit any make-up work / revised work (including your Macbeth essays) from the last 6 weeks.