Assignment for Monday, Dec. 19, and Tuesday, Dec. 20

For Monday, finish reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold. For most of class, you will work on the exploratory essay, which is due Tuesday.

For Tuesday, complete the exploratory essay, which is due in class. During class, you will have time to finish reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

For both sections, you will work on the writing assignment on Chronicle of a Death Foretold and We Should All Be Feminists after the break.

Assignment for Monday, Dec. 12, Tuesday, Dec. 13, and Wednesday, Dec. 14

For Monday, read this review of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold published in the Christian Science Monitor in 1983. Then, read pp. 3-24 in  Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

For Tuesday and Wednesday, read Chronicle of a Death Foretold, pp. 25-47. Also, bring They Say / I Say to class again. We will do an exercise from the end of chapter four.

Assignment for Thursday, Dec. 8, Friday, Dec. 9, and Monday, Dec. 12

For Thursday, Read all of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists. Also, bring They Say / I Say.

For Friday and Monday, read this review of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's Chronicle of a Death Foretold published in the Christian Science Monitor in 1983. Then, read pp. 3-24 in  Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

Assignment for Wednesday, Dec. 7, and Thursday, Dec. 8

Read all of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's We Should All Be Feminists. Also, bring They Say / I Say.

Assignment for Wednesday, Nov. 16, Thursday, Nov. 17, and Friday, Nov. 18

For Wednesday, come to class with some work completed on Griftopia project. Also, come to class with a potential research question for the research prospectus.

For Thursday and Friday, make significant progress on the Griftopia project. Be prepared to work on it in class. If you are writing an essay, the topics are posted to the right.

Also, bring your research question to class. You will receive a handout that explains the research prospectus as well as sample research prospectuses from the last two years.

Lastly, bring They Say / I Say. You will find it helpful for developing your research prospectus.

Assignment for Wednesday, Nov. 16, Thursday, Nov. 17, and Friday, Nov. 18

For Wednesday, come to class with some work completed on Griftopia project. Also, come to class with a potential research question for the research prospectus.

For Thursday and Friday, make significant progress on the Griftopia project. Be prepared to work on it in class.

Also, bring your research question to class. You will receive a handout that explains the research prospectus as well as sample research prospectuses from the last two years.

Lastly, bring They Say / I Say. You will find it helpful for developing your research prospectus.

Assignment for Monday, Nov. 14, Tuesday, Nov. 15, and Wednesday, Nov. 16

For Monday, develop and idea for a project, presentation, or paper about Matt Taibbi's Griftopia. The goal of this assignment is to demonstrate your understanding of the causes and ramifications of the 2008 financial crisis.

For Tuesday and Wednesday, come to class with some work completed on this project. Also, come to class with a potential research question for the research prospectus. 

UPDATE: Assignment for Monday, Nov. 7, Tuesday, Nov. 8, and Wednesday, Nov. 9

For Monday, read Griftopia, pp. 277-296.

UPDATE For Tuesday and Wednesday, read this article about income inequality by Paul Krugman. The article refers to a very important book, Capital, by Thomas Piketty. You will get an excerpt from Capital in class. Also, look at this explanation of income inequality. Then, scroll through the next "cards," up to card 12. You don't have to read it too closely, but pay attention to the charts and graphs. UPDATE: Bring They Say / I Say to class.

Assignment for Thursday, Nov. 3

Read Griftopia, pp. 241-264. Here is the prompt you will write about in class. Feel free to respond to it at home, if you prefer; you will still have time to write it in class. If you do this at home, you shouldn't spend more than twenty minutes working on it: Do you agree with Taibbi that bankers and others responsible for the financial collapse should be imprisoned?

Assignment for Monday, Oct. 24, Tuesday, Oct. 25, and Wednesday, Oct. 26

For Monday, in Griftopia, read pp. 78-123. This will be a difficult chapter to read, so allow yourself some time to make sense of it. While reading, don't get lost in the details; instead, pay attention to the big picture, to the major consequences of the decisions and policies related to housing and the financial industry. Nevertheless, there are a lot of significant consequences to these changes, and you'll have to give this chapter your sustained attention.  

Here is the question you will write about in Monday's class. Feel free to respond to it at home, if you prefer; you will still have time to write it in class. If you do this at home, you shouldn't spend more than twenty minutes working on it:

Taibbi writes as though there is something wrong with the way the financial industry treated housing loans and new homeowners in the 2000s (that is, the first decade of this century). What does Taibbi think is wrong? How does he support his view about what's wrong? Do you agree with him?

For Tuesday and Wednesday, in Griftopia, read pp. 206-221. Also, continue working on the annotated bibliography.

Here is the question for Tuesday's and Wednesday's class. Feel free to respond to it at home, if you prefer; you will still have time to write it in class. If you do this at home, you shouldn't spend more than twenty minutes working on it:

Taibbi claims, "[I]n a society governed passively by free markets and free elections, organized greed always defeats disorganized democracy" (p. 210). Since you haven't finished the chapter, try to predict the ways Taibbi thinks Goldman "defeats" democracy. What does Taibbi reveal about Goldman that might lead to its defeat of democracy?

Assignment for Friday, Oct. 21, and Monday, Oct. 24

For Friday and Monday, in Griftopia, read pp. 78-123. This will be a difficult chapter to read, so allow yourself some time to make sense of it. While reading, don't get lost in the details; instead, pay attention to the big picture, to the major consequences of the decisions and policies related to housing and the financial industry. Nevertheless, there are a lot of significant consequences to these changes, and you'll have to give this chapter your sustained attention.  

Here is the question you will write about in Friday's and Monday's classes. Feel free to respond to it at home, if you prefer; you will still have time to write it in class. If you do this at home, you shouldn't spend more than twenty minutes working on it:

Taibbi writes as though there is something wrong with the way the financial industry treated housing loans and new homeowners in the 2000s (that is, the first decade of this century). What does Taibbi think is wrong? How does he support his view about what's wrong? Do you agree with him?

Assignment for Thursday, Oct. 20, Friday, Oct. 21, and Monday, Oct. 24

For Thursday, in Griftopia, read pp. 35-77. As you read, think about whether Taibbi proves his central claim about Alan Greenspan.

For Friday and Monday, in Griftopia, read pp. 78-123. This will be a difficult chapter to read, so allow yourself some time to make sense of it. While reading, don't get lost in the details; instead, pay attention to the big picture, to the major consequences of the decisions and policies related to housing and the financial industry. Nevertheless, there are a lot of significant consequences to these changes, and you'll have to give this chapter your sustained attention.  

Here is the question you will write about in Friday's and Monday's classes. Feel free to respond to it at home, if you prefer; you will still have time to write it in class. If you do this at home, you shouldn't spend more than twenty minutes working on it:

Taibbi writes as though there is something wrong with the way the financial industry treated housing loans and new homeowners in the 2000s (that is, the first decade of this century). What does Taibbi think is wrong? How does he support his view about what's wrong? Do you agree with him?

Assignments for Tuesday, Oct. 18, Wednesday, Oct. 19, and Thursday, Oct. 20

For Tuesday, read Matt Taibbi, Griftopia, pp. 3-34. Pay attention to the author's tone (his attitude toward the subject) and his narrative persona. Think about how his attitude toward the financial crisis influences the way he writes about it.

For Wednesday and Thursday, in Griftopia, read pp. 35-77. As you read, think about whether Taibbi proves his central claim about Alan Greenspan.

Assignment for Monday, October 17, and Tuesday, October 18

Read Matt Taibbi, Griftopia, pp. 3-34. Pay attention to the author's tone (his attitude toward the subject) and his narrative persona. Think about how his attitude toward the financial crisis influences the way he writes about it.

Assignment for Thursday, October 13, and Friday, October 14

Complete the writing piece on Coates's Between the World and Me. Be sure to have it printed and in your hand before class. If you would like me to look it over before you turn it in, email it to me by Tuesday afternoon.

Also, I strongly encourage you to watch Sunday night's presidential debate. It goes from 9:00-10:30. This debate has a town hall format, with the candidates taking questions from undecided voters in the audience. (The audience members have been selected by the Gallup Organization, a highly regarded polling firm.) We've never had a presidential campaign like this one, and with the town hall format, there is very little that we can anticipate about this debate.

Assignment for Thursday, October 6, and Friday, October 7

For Thursday: Choose one of the topics posted to the left on Coates's Between the World and Me. If you can come to class with one written page, great. If not, that's fine. Either way, bring your book to class and come prepared to work on this assignment during class. 

For Friday: Choose one of the topics posted to the left on Coates's Between the World and Me. Come to class with one written page (printed). Be sure to bring your book to class and come prepared to work on this assignment during class. 

Assignment for Monday, Sept. 26, and Tuesday, Sept. 27

Read Ch. 3 of They Say / I Say (pp. 42-51), and complete one of the exercises at the end of the chapter.

Reminder: The STP Mentor Commitment Letter is due Tuesday, September 27. Also, give the Mentor Guidelines to your mentor. Both documents are posted to the right. Keep in mind, if you don't turn in this letter on time, you will lose five points from your quarter grade.

Also, the first presidential debate of the general election will take place Monday night at 9:00. You might find it worthwhile to get some background on the candidates' positions:

Hillary Clinton
Donald Trump

In addition, you might be interested in reading some of the following articles from the New York Times.

What We Are Hearing About Clinton and Trump
Donald Trump Hits Familiar Chords Before First General Election Debate
Hillary Clinton Tells College Students, "I Need You"
Anticipating Debate, Trump Says He Thinks System Rigged
Donald Trump, the Unsinkable Candidate
When a Crackpot Runs for President (by Nicholas Kristof)
15 Questions for Clinton and Trump. You Choose.

Assignment for Thursday, Sept. 22, and Friday, Sept. 23

Read Coates, Between the World and Me, pp. 73-111. 

Reminder: The STP Mentor Commitment Letter is due Tuesday, September 27. Also, give the Mentor Guidelines to your mentor. Both forms are available via the links to the right.

Even-day Assignment for Wednesday, Sept. 21

Read Coates, Between the World and Me, pp. 39-71.

Reminder: The STP Mentor Commitment Letter is due Tuesday, September 27. Also, give the Mentor Guidelines to your mentor. Both forms are available via the links to the right.

Assignment for Monday, Sept. 19, and Tuesday, Sept. 20

Read Ch. 2 of They Say / I Say (pp. 30-41), and answer either question 1 or question 2 at the end of the chapter.

Also, if you missed the senior class meeting in the theater on Friday, print out the STP Mentor Commitment Letter and STP Mentor Guidelines posted to the right. Complete the Mentor Commitment Letter (with your mentor's signature) and return it to me or Mrs. Chhablani by Tuesday, September 27. Give the Mentor Guidelines to your mentor.

Odd-Day Section Assignment for Friday, Sept. 16

Read Coates, Between the World and Me, pp. 39-71

Assignment for Wednesday, Sept. 14, and Thursday, Sept. 15

Read Coates, Between the World and Me, pp. 5-39. Stop at the break in the middle of p. 39.

Assignment for Monday, September 12, and Tuesday, September 13

In They Say / I Say, read ch. 1, and answer either question 1 or question 2 on pp. 28-29.

If you want to get ahead, for Wednesday and Thursday you'll need to read pp. 5-39 (stop at the break in the middle of p. 39) of Coates's Between the World and Me. 

Welcome to Senior Seminar

Welcome to Senior Seminar (formally known as "Advanced Language and Composition"). Here's the link for the homework reading due on Thursday and Friday:

How Race and Identity Became the Central Dividing Line in American Politics

In class, you will write a little bit about this article. Pay attention to the author's argument and the evidence he uses to support his points. Also, bring They Say / I Say to class.

Revising the Research Paper

Concerning the research paper, you must turn in the revision by May 24. I will also need you to turn in the draft with my comments. If you don't turn in the draft, your grade will go down by a third of a letter grade. If you don't turn in the revision, the grade you received on the draft will go down by a full letter grade (i.e., a B+ becomes a C+). Most of you received this in class, but if you didn't get it or if you misplaced it, see the handout posted to the right for a checklist of things you must do to improve the draft.

Assignment for Wednesday, April 13

Finish preparing your presentation. Bring to class both the text and the images you will use in the presentation; after the one scheduled presentation in class, you will practice your presentation in small groups and get feedback on it from your peers.

Click here for the form that will be used to evaluate your presentation. (It is also posted to the right.) Use it and the presentation guidelines (also posted to the right) to prepare your presentation.

Assignment for Monday, April 11

Bring to class a version of your presentation. This version should include your main point, your three take-aways, and an attempt at concluding your presentation in an inspiring way. You should also bring to class the images you have selected so you can begin to make sure that they suit the points you  are making. 

Assignment for Thursday, April 7

Work on your presentation. Review the guidelines for the presentation that are posted to the right. Go over your paper and think about your project (if you performed community service, worked at an internship, conducted an experiment, or completed a visual or performing arts STP). Make sure that you follow the guidelines as you prepare the presentation. You might find that you'll need to adjust the images you've selected as you clarify your main point, three takeaways, and conclusion.

You will have time during class to work on the presentation, but don't rely just on class time to do so.

Assignment for Tuesday, April 5

If you were absent on Wednesday, March 30, view this TED talk, which we watched during class. Pay attention to the ways the speaker connects with the audience, the strategies she uses to communicate her message, and the ways the images reinforce and enhance her points.

If you have turned in the complete draft of your research paper, you have no homework for Friday, April 1. If you have not turned in the complete draft, you need to turn it in by Friday. For Tuesday, April 5, complete the speech assignment that was handed out in class and is posted to the right.

Assignment for Thursday, March 24

Read and annotate the article distributed in class (Thomas Doherty, "Art Spiegelman's Maus: Graphic Art and the Holocaust"). If you missed class, it is available on JSTOR.
Work on your research paper. In class, you will give extemporaneous speeches in preparation for your STP presentations, then we will talk about the rest of Maus.

Assignment for Friday, March 18, and Tuesday, March 22

For Friday: Read and annotate chapter two of Maus, Vol. II (pp. 39-74).

For Monday: Read and annotate chapter three of Maus, Vol. II (pp. 75-136).

Assignments for Monday, March 14, and Wednesday. March 16

In Spiegelman's Maus, read and annotate chapter one of Volume II (pp. 9-37). In class, you will begin applying the terms of graphic illustration to your analysis of the text.

In class, you will have time to work on the research paper. The next three-to-four pages are due on Wednesday, March 16. Also, if you need to speak to anyone to make arrangements for your presentation (such as a teacher whose class you'd like to present to), you should do so as soon as possible.

Assignment for Wednesday, March 9

Work on the research paper, and try to write an additional page. You will have time to work on it in class, and you will continue to work on avoiding plagiarism and integrating your sources. You do not have to read any part of volume 2 of Maus for Wednesday.

The next three-to-four pages of the research paper are due Wednesday, March 16. 

Assignments for Tuesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 3

In Spiegelman's Maus, read and annotate chapters 3 and 4 (pp. 41-93).

Also, keep in mind that the first three-to-four pages of the research paper and the outline for the research paper are due on Thursday, March 3. You will have some time to work on them in class on Tuesday, and you will not have to read Maus for Thursday.

Assignment for Friday, Feb. 26

Read through the end of ch. 2 in Spiegelman's Maus. (to p. 40). Work on the first three-to-four pages of the research portion of the STP paper which are due on Thursday, March 3.

Summarizing and Paraphrasing and Homework

Sorry I can't be in class today, but I hope everyone had a restful break (I did) and is refreshed for this long stretch of school we have ahead of us. Summarizing and paraphrasing are two essential skills you will need for writing the research paper. Today, you will practice them with an article about comics and graphic novels. First, some definitions.

A summary is a text that has significantly reduced in length another text, using your own words while preserving its essential content and meaning. You use a summary when you need to convey the content and meaning of a text to an audience that isn't familiar with it.  A paraphrase is a text that you have rewritten in languate appropriate for an audience that might not understand the discourse of the original text because of its jargon or technicalities. It is usually, but not always, slightly shorter than the orignal text. Typically, you paraphrase a passage or sentence that is difficult for your itnended audience to understand.

When you summarize or paraphrase, you must cite the original source, including any page numbers. If you don't, then you will have plagiarized the original text.

Here's what you'll do in class. First, read the handout distributed in class titled "1986: The Year That Changed Comics." (You can also read it online here if you prefer; you'll be able to see images from the comics mentioned in the article.) Second, summarize the article in a well-written paragraph. Third, take a paragraph from the article and paraphrase it. (Be sure to insicate clearly which paragraph you're paraphrasing.) Email these to me (fmontas@mph.net) or handwrite them and turn them in to the coverage teacher. If you have time when you finish these, you can begin (or continue) reading Maus.

Your homework for Wednesday is to write one paragraph (any paragraph) of your research paper. Also, read at least the first fifteen pages of Maus.

Assignment over the Break

You don't have one, but keep in mind the first two-to-three pages of the research paper will be due on Monday, February 29. Also, you may start reading Art Spiegelman's Maus if you wish, or you can look around the web site of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in preparation for reading Maus.

Assignment for Thursday, Feb. 11

Complete and turn in the Much Ado about Nothing project. 

Assignment for Tuesday, Feb. 9

Try to complete the Much Ado about Nothing assignment and bring it to class. You will have time to work on it, but by the point you should be putting the finishing touches on it.

Assignment for Friday, Feb. 5

Come to class with some work completed on your Much Ado about Nothing assignment.

Assignment for Wednesday, Feb. 3

Select one of the topics for the final assignment on Much Ado about Nothing posted to the right. Bring Much Ado about Nothing to class.

For Wednesday, Jan. 27

Since you had homework over the weekend, but it was the end of the semester, you do not have an assignment due on Wednesday. Bring Much Ado about Nothing to class. We'll be finished with it by Friday.

Assignment for Monday, Jan. 25

Read and annotate Act 4, scene 1, of Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing (pp. 58-69). You will have a writing exercise about this scene. Note that nearly all of this scene is written in verse. Think about why that is the case and what effect that has on the language and its meaning.

Assignment for Tuesday, Jan. 19

Read and annotate through the end of Act 3, scene 1 of Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing. Expect an in-class exercise on this reading.

Assignment for Tuesday, Jan. 12

Read and annotate through Act 2, scene 2, in Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing, which ends on p. 31.