Adv. Comp.: Setting Up Pulse for News Reading

Pulse.me is pretty cool, and I have had many students over the last two years tell me that they really enjoyed it's graphic interface.  Pulse.me is also very forward-leaning with respect to current web technologies.  Here's a paragraph, written by Seth Rosenblatt at Cnet and posted about a year ago:

Pulse's Web app at Pulse.me is built entirely from HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript, and indicates that the future-Web technologies are rapidly approaching a state where they can easily re-create native app experiences in the browser. The site is accessible from most major browsers on traditional PCs and mobile devices. With the touch-focused Windows 8 and its associated touch screen hardware coming at the end of October, the site has been specifically designed to be touch-friendly.

Also, I found that Pulse's core mission is agreeable to the modern writing class and very much agreeable to me personally.

In class we discussed the way to set-up your pulse.me account and feed, and I encouraged you to download the app corresponding to your smart phone and/or tablet.

Once logged in, you are to include "News" as a category and add five feeds that I require: The Daily Beast, Salon, Slate, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic.  When you click on your news category the feeds should look like this:

After setting up "News" then you should add seven of these "required" feed-categories:

Your final list should look something like this:

Now, finally for this first step, add two articles for future reading from all eight categories or at least 16 total (for now at least).

eng. 3: some extra credit avail.

Students

The annual Summer Reading book fair is coming up on Thurs. of this week.  (That's the day-after-tomorrow!)  We are going to be dropping by the LRC during class.  As you remember from past years, the bookfair is a good time for the purchase of that essential summer reading.

Every Maine South student MUST read at least two books this summer -- one from the "choice" list and one that is assigned.  As you know, your required book is based on the English course you have in the first semester of senior year.  In order to learn which book you must read, follow this link to a .pdf copy of a spreadsheet with your first and second semester English course listed.

If you want a bit of extra credit related to summer reading THIS school year, I have a small task for you.

1. visit the Maine South home page and print a copy of the "choice" list and a copy of the "required" list ...

2. after consulting the .pdf referenced above, determine which book you will read this summer ... this is of course non-binding but it would be good to get an idea of what you might/will read ...

3. staple the lists together and highlight  the two books you will read ... put your name on these lists and bring them to the beginning of class on Thurs.

It's that simple!

~Dr. Jones

at home access to data bases

Dear Students,
Over the weekend and into next week, you may require access to the school's databases of your research.  
Remember the helpful discussion on the Prewriting Checklist, and, also, reference the .pdf (I sent via email today) for the login passwords to our databases when off campus.  I have highlighted the databases you are to use in yellow on the attached .pdf.
Good luck!
~Dr. Jones

Eng. 3: Lit. Circle Meetings

Students,

As you prepare for each day of our lit. circle discussions, keep in mind my expectations for your work during the period.  I discussed these (albeit broadly) yesterday in class, but, after some feedback from 5th period students, I put together a "checklist" for daily activites.  You should read this list here.

~Dr. Jones

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