Writing Warmup: Business Writing

Writing Warmup:

In yesterday's class, you took the Self-Assessment on Skills and Aptitudes (pg. 380, Technical Communication).  Based on your answers to the assessment's questions, please answer the questions below.

1) What did you discover about yourself as an applicant?

2) Based on your answers, what are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?
3) What jobs/fields do you think you would be best suited for?

AP English: Think - Puzzle - Know—Writing about Poetry

I chose this picture for today because it reminded me of our discussion about Walt Whitman's "I Sing the Body Electric."

For today, I wanted to finish our discussion on Writing about Poetry from Tuesday's class.  Before we do, please answer the questions below.

1) What do you think you know about writing about poetry?

2) What puzzles (confuses) you about writing about poetry?

3) What do you want to know more about writing about poetry?

11/12 English: Writing an "A" Newsletter Article

Writing Warmup:
Today you will begin writing your newsletter articles with your partner.  To get you started, watch the video above and then answer the questions below.


1) What do you think you know about writing an article?
2) What puzzles (confuses) you about writing an article?
3) What do you want to know more about?

AP English: Open Form Poetry Discussion

In the last week, we have spent a good amount of time discussing poetry that breaks the rules.  Rather than restrict itself to a specific formula, meter, or style, modern poetry experiments with the poem's form, asking the question, "What is a poem?" (See your notes on Lawrence Ferlinghetti and "Don't Let that Horse.)

Today, read Walt Whitman's poem "I Sing the Body Electric" located in your "Open Form" poetry packets as well as the introduction.  Then, answer the following questions in the comments section below.

Questions:

1) Free Response: What informs this speaker's attitude toward the human body?

2) Read the poem aloud.  Is it simply a tedious enumeration of body parts, or do the lines achieve some kind of rhythmic cadence?

Writing Warmup: "How To Fall in Love with Yourself" by Andrea Russett

Writing Warmup:

Andrea Russett starts off this video explaining how you can learn to love yourself and build confidence. Andrea Russett is such a huge role model to many young adolescents and teenagers, lots of different viewers would consider this a huge inspiration. This video emphasizes on why it's so important to be comfortable with the skin you're in.

Two-Three discussion questions.
1) Why is there more than one person in the video other than Andrea Russett?
2) What is the purpose?
3) What was the first thought that came to your mind after watching this?

AP Socratic Circle (1/5/16)

For today's socratic circle, Hannah, Rosie, and Evan will be our "fishbowl" group members, leading a discussion about the final section of A Christmas Carol.  Our second group will be our audience, observing how discussion is going and if they agree/disagree with the conversation taking place in the middle.

Instructions: 
Audience members: in the comments section of this post, make thoughtful observations about the conversation taking place in the "fishbowl."  Good observations will do the following:

1. Identify when you agree/disagree with observations and specifically state why (ASR: Apt Specific Reference).  
2. Observe what specific group members did that helped to "propel" conversation forward, respond to their group members, and provide thoughtful observations.

Fishbowl members: in yesterday's class, you worked with your group members to pick what sections of Staves 1 and 2 you wanted to discuss and what roles you will play (i.e., discussion leader, "Sherlock Holmes," "Librarian," "Matchmaker," etc.).  You also wrote your own Level 1, 2, and 3 questions about your passage(s).  Students receiving a 3, "Meets," on Speaking and Listening 1, will do the following: 

1. Come to discussion prepared, having read and researched materials beforehand. SL1a
2. Work with peers to promote a civil, democratic discussion, set clear goals, and establish individual roles. SL1b
3. Propel conversations forward by posing and asking questions that probe reasoning and ask for evidence. SL1c
4. Respond thoughtful to diverse perspectives, synthesize (combine) comments, claims, and evidence, resolve contradictions, and investigate meaning. SL1d