Academic Writing Unit Test Review

To download a copy of the test review, click here. I will be posting the test review answers at 3pm today!

Vocabulary Unit 1

Today, we started our first vocabulary unit. The quiz will be on Friday, August 23, 2019. The quiz will have 15 questions. Here is the format of the quiz:

• 10 questions - sentences where you pick the correct vocabulary word from the word bank (multiple choice)
• 3 questions - write synonyms for three of the given words (not multiple choice; you have to remember the synonym)
• 2 questions - write a sentence for two of the given words (not multiple choice)

Consider using the Quizlet for Unit 1 to study the words!

Here are the vocabulary notes from Monday's class:

MLA "Bobby Hill" Essay Annotations

In class Friday and Monday, we looked at some sample MLA essays. All of these are essays that were turned in to the English III team over the last few years. I changed all of the student names to "Bobby Hill" out of regard for student privacy. Click the link below to click through a folder of all of the corrected/annotated Bobby Hill essays. Consider reviewing these before the test on block day this week:

Annotated Bobby Hill Essays

Introduction to MLA and APA Formatting

In the last blog post, I posted the information for MLA formatting.  On block day of this week, we reviewed MLA formatting, and then we looked at some of the differences between MLA and APA formatting. All of your English classes use MLA formatting, whereas the social sciences (like psychology) use APA formatting. Therefore, I want to expose you to both formats, but I will only be testing you on the MLA format.

To understand the differences between MLA and APA, we watched the following video and took notes. Click here to download today's handout. The handout goes right along with the video in the same order.

Here's the video:

After the video notes, there's a Scavenger Hunt to complete with the Purdue Owl website. The written directions on the handout should contain all the information you need to complete this assignment.

Academic Writing Notes

We're starting this year by studying academic writing. The first topic in this unit is understanding the difference between formal and informal writing and knowing when to use them.

Here's the handout: Academic Writing Notes and Practice

The first part of the handout requires you to watch a short clip and take notes about the differences between formal and informal writing. Click here to watch the video.

The next pages contain several practices on the topic. There's a list of informal words (like wanna and gonna) and you're supposed to write down a formal version of these words.

For example:

• wanna = want to
• brung = brought

After that, there are some practice emails to write in formal writing. Remember that if you are writing an email to an adult female and you don't know whether or not she is married, you can address her as "Ms." in writing.

Here are the notes you need to finish the MLA Formatting pages:

Welcome to English III!

Welcome to my class! Today in class, you received the class syllabus with my rules, expectations, and procedures, and a calendar for the first quarter. You also received a letter to your parents/guardians with a copy of the honesty contract attached to it.

If you need extra copies of any of these documents, click the hyperlinks to download a copy.

Here's the presentation we looked at today during class:



Things you can do to get set up for a successful year:

1. Sign up for Remind messages. Directions are in the class syllabus document.
2. Enroll in my TurnItIn.com classroom. Directions are in the class syllabus document.
3. Read the whole syllabus and honesty contract. Sign the honesty contract; have your parent/guardian sign the honesty contract. Turn in the honesty contract with signatures for your first daily grade! Signatures are due on Friday.

I am excited to have you guys as my students! Welcome to a wonderful year of English III!

Final Exam Review Answers!

All of the vocabulary terms can be found on this blog as well as my Quizlet page. Click here to go to my Quizlet. I did not retype all of the vocabulary terms onto the final exam review.

Click here to view the final exam review with all the answers. Everything I typed, I typed in red so it's really easy to see what I wrote.

Final Exam Review

Click here to download the final exam review.

Four-square Comparison Assignment

Today, I returned all of the Literature Charts that were turned in on Friday, May 3. I reminded everyone who hadn't turned theirs in yet to turn it in ASAP.

Today's assignment was a Four-Square Comparison. Click the link to download the PDF.

Steps for today's assignment:

1. Look at the Literature Chart. See how it's organized by time period? You can easily see which piece is from which period. There's Puritan, Romanticism-Transcendental, Romanticism-Gothic, Harlem Renaissance, Roaring 20's/Jazz Age, and Science Fiction.
2. Pick four individual pieces of literature from four different time periods.
3. Write the names of the pieces in the four small boxes around the edge of the page.
4. In the space between each of the four boxes, explain how the pieces are related. You can explain any connection the pieces may have. Consider whether they have similar characters, whether they contain similar circumstances, or perhaps whether they have similar thematic content. See below for a copy of the board notes.
5. Compare two titles at a time; write in the space between the titles. Each space should have 4-5 complete sentences comparing the pieces.
6. Turn it in when you are done. 
7. Due when I see you on Tuesday, May 7 (periods 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) or Wednesday, May 8 (period 7).

Board Notes for Thematic Subjects Across All Readings (May 6, 2019)
Click on this image to make it larger.

Literature Chart - due Friday, May 3

This week, we started a retrospective look at the year. We started on Monday (4/29) by taking the Literary Refresher Notes, and then we continued by charting our reading progress through the year with a Comparative Literature Chart.

To view the Comparative Literature Chart and all of its associated documents, click here. This link will take you to my Google folder that has the chart and all of the MGS documents, as well.

This chart was due on Friday, May 3, 2019. If you were absent on Tuesday or block day this week, it will be accepted on Monday, May 6 with no points off for lateness. Any charts turned in after Monday will have late points taken.