for Eng. 3: Brief Note on Lit. Circles

Students,

Today you will conduct a bit of personal research (using amazon.com as a starting point) to determine the book you want to read for our Lit. Circle unit.  Click over to this Google Doc in order to get started ...

Dr. Jones

for Eng. 3: Quiz Schedule for TTTC

Students,

Please, read over the weekend in prepartion for your first reading quiz on Monday.  Make note of the schedule we discussed in class today.  You will notice that you have two reading quizzes next week.

~Dr. Jones

new presentation notes AND remarks about your research sites

Adv. Comp. Students,

I have recently updated the order of presentations, and I have posted a new copy as a Google Doc.  Take a look!

You will notice that we do NOT have presentations this Friday, March 8.  I will not be in school on that day, and I will ask your sub to take you to the "Reading Rainbow."  Bring your "independent book" for reading that day.

Also, you may want to take a look one more time at the requirements for your research-notebook-website as they stand now.  I posted the actual rubric, which is more comprehensive than the list from last week, I will use to evaluate your sight.  I will begin to grade your sites early next week, so you have (even) a few more days yet before I account for the required components and content.

~ Dr. Jones

Eng. 3: schedule changes due to the snow-day!

Students,

• Today (3/6/13) you will work in the lab (C-115) one more day.
• Tomorrow (3/7/13) you will peer-critique your paper re: Into the Wild in class, so print your rough at home tonight.
• Bring your rough draft to class tomorow for peer-critique.
• You will take your practice ACT on Friday (3/8/13) in class.
• The paper is now due on next Monday, 3/11/13.
• Take a look at the Google Doc where I am gathering the "pitfalls to avoid" based on your last writing assignment.  Eliminate these from your writing!

~ Dr. Jones

preparing for your editorial flyer presentation

Students,

After you have finished creating and perfecting your flyers, rememember to

1. convert the .pub to a .png for upload to your Portfolio page (from your research website) by using "Save As" to save/convert to .png

2. and, then, upload the new file!

You should double-check your presentation date -- the one established in class today.  Access the presentation schedule table to confirm your date.

~ Dr. Jones

For Eng. 3: upcoming INTO THE WILD work and schedule changes

Eng. 3 Students,

I've made some changes to the schedule for ItW for upcoming class meetings.  On Monday you will complete a "short write" (or timed writing), and this weekend you should prepare.  Here's the prompt.

I have adjusted the schedule of reading accordingly.  Take a look at the new schedule.

~Dr. Jones

class selection for 2013-2014

English 3 Students and Parents:

Today marks the opening of the recommendation window for teacher recommendations for senior courses.  I will discuss the recommendation procedure in class, but there are two helpful documents for students to use as they select classes for 2013-2014.

Please, refer first to the English Department "flow chart" of progress through Maine South.  The course titles available for senior year are listed in the final column of the flow chart.

Also, please refer to the course descriptions, as provided by the SPS office.  These descriptions should answer student questions regarding the content of courses for 2013-2014.

Students and parents alike should give careful consideration to courses for senior year.  The Maine South English Department strongly encourages all students to take a reading/literature course and a writing course during their final year of high school.

Adv. Comp. - fresh rubric

Students,
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the holidays!  I want to let you know that I finally put the finishing touches on an "analytic" version of the ACT-based rubric we have used throughout the semester.

I've added this to my Google Drive, and I have posted it to the internet.  You may want to take a close look, as you are finishing your paper for Monday, Jan. 7.  

Notice that this is the same rubric, but I have broken the component parts into various "strands" for better understanding.  I will evaluate your papers across these "strands" which will render a more accurate understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.

~Dr. Jones

Eng. 3 - reminder regarding home access to network drives

Students, 

Throughout our study of The Great Gatsby, you will need access to the school share drive.  I've linked here to the instructions from our tech. dept.

Please remember, just as you do when on a nature-hike, leave the drive as you found it when you leave.

~ Dr. Jones

adv. comp. - clarification on homework for 11/13/12

Students,

I wanted to send just a few ideas as clarification of your homework for this long weekend.

For the homework we discussed on Friday (due on Tues.), use my model entries at my "Research Notebook" (link at my blog) as helpful guides.  You are writing two entries total: (1) a short, three paragraph entry that est. some background to the film and then gives (a) your assessment of the criticism you read and (b) your assessment of the film AFTER reading the criticism; (2) this is a short entry that includes your criteria for what to include in a review BASED on reading the reviews we have read.

For the second entry, you have three options:

1. for an "A-level" response - you come up with your own criteria all together

2. for a "B-level" response - you rewrite mine and add your own

3. for a "C-level" response - you fill in the blanks on mine and/or make minor changes ...

~ Dr. Jones