Canterbury Tales~ The PowerPoint {English 12}

The Canterbury Tales-- a group of pilgrims engaged in a story telling contest on their way  to see the bones of a murdered Archbishop. It's a unique way to pass the time. What stories would we tell to pass the time of five days and sixty miles?  I'm sure many of your stories would amaze and astound or scare us.

Interested in background information {because I'm forcing you to do cloze notes}, but were absent or fell behind in class during the powerpoint? Here is your rewind...The Canterbury Tales ppt lost your cloze notes? Ask me for another copy in class...it just won't load right now.

When Wicked Lies Ruin Lives {Crucible Exam Review} Eng. 11

The mighty John Proctor has fallen, Abigail fled and Parris---well, he's collecting more cutlery than one knows what do with. After all it's not like he can take his own steak knife to the local chop house now can he?

In class we reviewed The Crucible  via powerpoint. If you were absent or missed a few questions please, click on the link above and review. Your study guides will be extremely helpful as well so review those too.

Good luck and study :)

Good Morrow Gentle Ladies and Sirs {English 12}

Geoffrey Chaucer,
Dreamy English Poet

As we put our college essays behind us {they are due tomorrow though} let us continue our voyage into the the past. Imagine traveling back into time- a time when hero's fought demons and their mothers---wait--- wait---we went to far that was Beowulf go forward a little go to the time of Geoffrey Chaucer (1345-1400) the late middle ages.

Pilgrims on their way to Canterbury

 It has been rumored that Chaucer is the father of English poetry. I say just a rumor since it is not laid out clearly with a marker at his house "Hey People, English Language Born Here!" we can gather by the way he wrote that he laid the foundation of what we know today as the English language. Pretty snazzy right? {That's right I said snazzy. I'm bringing it back people} In order to start off the fun of the middle ages let's do ancient medieval math... just jesting my friends we will really start off with an Internet medieval scavenger hunt. See, I'm combining your love of technology with literature, this way we're both winners.

As we continue our literary vacation through the middle ages we will take a deeper look into Chaucer's life {there's some pretty juicy gossip}, life in the middle ages and read a few excerpts from  The Canterbury Tales---they were a really raucous bunch just take a look at the picture to the right. Rowdy, bawdy middle agers.

Let the story telling begin!

Oh, What a Tangled Web we Weave When We practice to Deceive.. Act IV of The Crucible

I enjoy dramatic irony, no-- really I do. I just hate it when good people are holding the wrong end of the dramatic irony stick. Why, oh why does Elizabeth have to take the high road in order to save her husband's name when we (the audience) already know that he has tarnished it with the truth?  But, I digress.

We are on to Act IV the final act in The Crucible. What will happen next? Will Abigail finally be discovered for what she is or will the village and judges continue to buy that pile o' horse poo she is selling? I can't wait to talk about it with you in class.
In case you lose or forget your Act IV packet you can find them here. There are only two components to the packet this week...so maybe it's more of a handout with extensions. Just click on Act IV Vocabulary Chart or Act IV Questions if you've lost or misplaced them.

So, Tell Me About Yourself {The College Essay}

You're thinking about applying to a myriad of colleges (yay), but they require an essay. Well, never fear English 12 is here with an assignment that is helpful! In class we are starting a college essay that describes you. Now remember---while the essay is about you it should not be so personal that you are unable to share it. If you feel uncomfortable sharing it with your peers or myself then it probably is too personal and you should choose a different moment of your life to share.

We are using the University of California prompts {if you're applying to a Cal State they don't require this essay, but it is still a class assignment}. The prompts are:

Prompt 1:

Describe the world you come from—for example, your family, community or school—and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations.

Prompt 2:

Tell us about a personal quality, talent, accomplishment, contribution or experience that is important to you. What about this quality or accomplishment makes you proud and how does it relate to the person you are?

Final Draft Requirements: MLA Format, Times New Roman/Courier New Font size 12, Total of 1,000 words for both prompts {this is ONE essay that addresses both prompts}, limited use of state-of-being verbs and you must address each of the prompts. (One prompt response may be longer, but the shorter response must be at least 250 words).

Important Dates:  First in class edit (you pick your editor): Tuesday, November 15--25points

                               Upload edited version of your essay to Tii.com --Friday, November 18-15 points

                               Complete two peer edits on Tii.com {papers chosen at random}--Tuesday, Nov. 22

                                                                                                                                   50 points (25 per)

                               Upload final version of your essay to Tii.com --Tuesday, November 29--100 points

                               Staple and turn in any in class editing drafts with peer edit handouts--Tuesday, 

                                                                                                                                      Nov. 29--10 points

                                      Essay Point Value Total: 200