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Book Review /Test Outline
Grammar Punk
Thompson's Textbook
Word Cells
Word Cells Biglist
 To see all weeks in the term, scroll all the way down!

November 3-7, 2014: Welcome to Term 2!

  • This term you will learn...
  • ...to differentiate informational writing from argumentative writing.
  • ...to practice both.
  • ...how to use commas correctly.
  • ...a little about Greek mythology.
  • ...to read and understand epic poetry.
  • ...more word cells!
  • ...to close read, annotate, and analyze more complicated text.
  • ...how to acknowledge and rebut a counterclaim.
  • ...to use QAR to generate a claim of your own.
  • ...to read.
  • ...to write.
  • ...to repeat.
  • Word!

Monday, November 3: A Day
Tuesday, November 4: A Day

  • First Day of Second Term
  • Poem o' the Day: "November for Beginners" by Rita Dove
  • New Books & Reading Schedule -- Sign up now!
  • ARGUMENTATION
  • Writing Notebook: Halloween Horror
  • Did you solve the case correctly? Whatever you guessed last time, play the lawyer and make a case for that guess. Try to make your argument convincing enough to get the jury to believe you? Fill the page!
  • Claim: Who killed the ghost?
  • Evidence: Why do you think so?
  • Reasoning (Warrants): How does the available evidence support your claim? No guessing or illogical conclusions! You have to have a connection between your claim and your evidence.
  • Counterclaims: Can you definitively say why certain people are NOT guilty?
  • INFORMATIONAL WRITING Prep.
  • Poe Finale: Analyze an argument by looking at the facts
  • MPT (pp. 181-190)
  • Biographical Info: The Facts/Timeline of Poe's Death (pp. 181-183)
  • Read Rabies Theory (Objective Newspaper Article, pp. 184-186)
  • Identify the claim, three pieces of textual evidence from the article that support the claim and their warrants.
  • Read Letter to the Editor #1, p. 189
  • Identify the counterclaim this article offers to the first reading, two pieces of textual evidence and their warrants.
  • Read Letter to the Editor #2, p. 190
  • Identify the rebuttal to the counterclaim, two pieces of textual evidence and their warrants.
  • Test Practice (MPT, pp. 191-192): Why are the correct answers correct?
  • Poe CRT Practice (if time)
  • HOMEWORK: Using information from the (video) biography and these texts, outline an informational essay about Edgar Allan Poe. Make three informational claims about Edgar Allan Poe that you can support with biographical evidence from the film and text. Fill in the notes/outline with the appropriate information.

Wednesday, November 5: A Day (Writing Lab)
Thursday, November 6: B Day (Writing Lab)

  • Poem o' the Day: "Like Coins, November" by Elizabeth Klise Von Zerneck
  • Check Homework!
  • Utah Compose Assignment: Using your Poe Outline and Movie Notes, write an informational essay about Edgar Allan Poe. This is a TIMED informational essay, and you will receive whatever score Utah Compose assigns to you PROVIDING you have answered the question and not copied material from other sources. Don't be a Bubba! You have one hour! Go!


Friday, November 7: A Day

  • Sign up for (or be assigned) Indepdent Reading Books
  • Reading Schedule: Get on it!
  • Writing Notebook:
  • -flect-/-flex- = bend; -re- = back/again; -pre- = before
  • Last week you wrote a First Term REflection: That was your chance to slough off your old skin (like Juliet sometimes does around this time of year).
    Today, you are going to write a PREflection, where you can stretch out those fresh new legs (all 8 of 'em!) and PREFLECT ("bend before" to look) on the coming term. What do you expect? What will you do differently? What are you looking forward to? Discuss your expectations.
  • Fill the page with your preflections!
  • Poem o' the Day: "In the God's Dreams" by James Laughlin
  • Meet the Olympians: Mythology Grid
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -clud- / -fin-
  • 9th Grade Word Cell o' the Week: -pend- (-pens-)


November 10-14, 2014

Monday, November 10: B Day

  • Sign up for (or be assigned) Indepdent Reading Books
  • Reading Schedule: Get on it!
  • Writing Notebook:
  • -flect-/-flex- = bend; -re- = back/again; -pre- = before
  • Last week you wrote a First Term REflection: That was your chance to slough off your old skin (like Juliet sometimes does around this time of year).
    Today, you are going to write a PREflection, where you can stretch out those fresh new legs (all 8 of 'em!) and PREFLECT ("bend before" to look) on the coming term. What do you expect? What will you do differently? What are you looking forward to? Discuss your expectations.
  • Fill the page with your preflections!
  • Poem o' the Day: "In the God's Dreams" by James Laughlin
  • Meet the Olympians: Mythology Grid
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -clud- / -fin-
  • 9th Grade Word Cell o' the Week: -pend- (-pens-)


Tuesday, November 11: A Day
Wednesday, November 12: B Day

  • Finish Mythology Intro (Video)
  • Hang onto the Mythology Grid!
  • Writing Notebook: If you were the god or goddess of something, what would it be and why? Describe your symbol, weapon/gadget. What special power would you have? Who would pray to you for help and protection? Discuss. Also discuss which of these characters from mythology you would like to learn more about and why. (Fill the Page!)
  • Poem o' the Day: "Gee, You're So Beautiful That It's Starting to Rain" by Richard Brautigan
  • How' bout another Word Cell o' the Day: -con- + variants
    (-co-/-com-/-cor-/-col-)
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Grammar Punk: Intro + Let the games begin!
  • How to Make a Word Pool
  • Practice Sentences
  • Homework: Close Read & SOAPSTone: "Did This Really Happen?"
  • Note: The copy you were given in class has tons of room in the margins for your commentary. There is a reason for that. Fill that space with your annotations, comments, questions, and arguments. Defend your generation...if you dare.
  • Also, "Interesting," "Wow!" and "I disagree" do not qualify as thoughtful commentary. Underlining and/or highlighting are meaningless if you don't write WHY they are significant in the margins. Lots of unexplained question marks don't provide "evidence of a close reading." Cute clouds and artwork are nice...but they do not count as thoughtful commentary. Speculating on whether or not Thompson is actually reading your comments does not illustrate that you read the article carefully. A genuine close read must show EVIDENCE OF THOUGHT, and the only way to do that is to WRITE THE THOUGHTS!
  • Want full credit? Make it like these! And these!


Thursday, November 13: A Day
Friday, November 14: B Day

  • Writing Notebook: Write a one-page reflection on the article entitled “Did This Really Happen?” which was assigned as homework, and which you should have close read and SOAPSToned. What did you notice about the article? The speaker? Do you know any “Johnny Jabberjaws”? Do you think the article addresses a problem we need to be worried about? Why or why not? Fill the page! Now TURN IN THE CLOSE READ/SOAPSTONE!
  • Poem o' the Day: "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon
  • "Where I'm From" Notes & Models
  • Literal vs. Non-literal Activity
  • (Sample & Template)
  • "The Fenris Wolf" -- Norse Myth (MPT, pp. 726-730)
  • Read the myth; take the quiz.



November 17-21, 2014: Research Week

Monday, November 17: A Day (Writing Lab)
Tuesday, November 18: B Day (Writing Lab)


Wednesday, November 19: A Day (Media Center)
Thursday, November 20: B Day (Media Center)

  • Poem o' the Day: "Forgotten Planet" by Doug Dorph
  • Mythology Research: Continue learning about your assigned topic.
  • Library Research Worksheet
  • B-Day: Your independent reading test is next Monday, November 24, so you have the weekend to complete your book. BRING THE BOOK AND THE COMPLETED OUTLINE TO CLASS ON THAT DAY!


    • Friday, November 21: A Day

  • Book Test #1: Your independent reading test will be moved to next Tuesday, November 25, so you have the weekend to complete your book. BRING THE BOOK AND THE COMPLETED OUTLINE TO CLASS ON THAT DAY!
  • 9th Grade Word Cells o' the Week: -aqua- & -hydro- (water)
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Poem o' the Day: "The Poet" by Tom Wayman
  • Remember that Mythology Grid? Get it out for a sec...
  • Intro to The Odyssey -- "Epic and Myth" (MPT, pp. 639-646)
  • Two-Column Notes (like these!)
  • As we read this introduction, consider how the information might apply to your own assigned research topic, about which you have filled out a Library Research Worksheet and a Computer Lab Research Worksheet. Could something in this text help you develop the informational essay you will write this term?
  • Writing Notebook: What does it require for someone to be a hero? What qualities does a hero possess? Tell the story of a heroic act you have witnessed and explain why you thought it was heroic. Can anyone be a hero, or does it require something outside of our control (like size or strength)? Who is your hero? Why? Define and discuss heroes. Fill the page!
  • Finish your book this weekend!



November 24-28, 2014

Monday, November 25: B Day

  • Book Test #1: Have the book here and the outline completely filled out!
  • Honors: Close read the assigned passages from Jane Eyre.
  • 9th Grade Word Cells o' the Week: -aqua- & -hydro- (water)
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Intro to The Odyssey -- "Epic and Myth" (MPT, pp. 639-646)
  • Two-Column Notes (like these!)
  • As we read this introduction, consider how the information might apply to your own assigned research topic, about which you have filled out a Library Research Worksheet and a Computer Lab Research Worksheet. Could something in this text help you develop the informational essay you will write this term?
  • Writing Notebook: What does it require for someone to be a hero? What qualities does a hero possess? Tell the story of a heroic act you have witnessed and explain why you thought it was heroic. Can anyone be a hero, or does it require something outside of our control (like size or strength)? Who is your hero? Why? Define and discuss heroes. Fill the page!
  • Poem o' the Day: "Thanksgiving" by Mac Hammond


Tuesday, November 26: A Day

  • Book Test #1: Have the book here and the outline completely filled out!
  • Honors: Close read the assigned passages from Jane Eyre.
  • Finish Intro to The Odyssey -- "Epic and Myth" (MPT, pp. 639-646)
  • Two-Column Notes (like these!)
  • Remember that Mythology Grid? Let's finish the back of it!
  • Poem o' the Day: "Thanksgiving" by Mac Hammond
  • Writing Notebook: Thansgiving Preview (Fill a page!)
  • Grammar Punk:
  • Comma Rule #1: Use a comma between two independent clauses that are joined by a conjunction.
  • Ticket Out


Wednesday, November 26: Thanksgiving Recess
Thursday, November 27: Thanksgiving Recess
Friday, November 28: Thanksgiving Recess



December 1-5, 2014

Monday, December 1: B Day

  • Writing Notebook: Thanksgiving Review (Fill a page!)
  • New Reading Schedule: Test on December 19!
  • Sign up now!
  • Poem o' the Day: "Who Has Seen the Wind?" by Christina Rossetti
  • Finish Intro to The Odyssey -- "Epic and Myth" (MPT, pp. 639-646)
  • Two-Column Notes (like these!)
  • Remember that Mythology Grid? Let's finish the back of it!
  • Grammar Punk:
  • Comma Rule #1: Use a comma between two independent clauses that are joined by a conjunction.
  • Ticket Out


Tuesday, December 2: A Day (Writing Lab)
Wednesday, December 3: B Day (Writing Lab)


Thursday, December 4: A Day
Friday, December 5: B Day

  • Turn in finished Literal vs. Non-literal Activity
  • The Odyssey: Homer's Prayer to the Muse (MPT, p. 651)
  • Poem o' the Day: Calypso, The Sweet Nymph (pp. 651-654)
    Notice: The Odyssey is epic poetry, composed in verse to be shared by word of mouth; therefore, it may periodically serve as our Poem o' the Day during the time we study it.
  • Writing Notebook: SOAPSTone "Calypso" by Suzanne Vega (MPT, p. 665): Listen to the song (lyrics on page 655). Answer these questions: How does the song help you understand the character's feelings? What does it tell you that the song was inspired by a story that is more than 3000 years old? What timeless themes are addressed?
  • "I am Laertes' Son, The Lotus Eaters" (pp. 655-659)
  • Quiz
  • WN: On the next blank page in your Writing Notebook, put the heading Homeric Similes. You will return to this page frequently in the next few days. First, read the instructions on page 688 (MPT) and discuss the assignment called "Practice 2," which includes explaining one of the Homeric similes in the text. Today, write one (1) of your own. More to come!
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -pel- / -puls- & -tract- (not 7th/8th)
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment



December 8-12, 2014

Monday, December 8: A Day
Tuesday, December 9: B Day

  • Writing Notebook: Add another one to your Homeric Similes from The Odyssey of [Your Name]. (That's two total, so far.)
  • Poem o' the Day: "The Cyclops in the Ocean" by Nikki Giovanni (MPT, p. 672)
  • Define Epithet (MPT, p. 715)
  • Review Quiz (open-book): Were you paying attention last time?
  • The Odyssey: The Cyclops (MPT, pp. 660-670)
  • Assignment: Passage Summary
  • WN (new page, today's date): Epithets: Read page 715 in The Massive Purple Text. In your Writing Notebook, write suitable descriptive epithets for ten (10) people you know, including yourself.
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • (7th/8th) Word Cells o' the Day: -pel- / -puls- & -tract-
  • Word Cells o' the Week: -oper- / -labor- (labor)



Wednesday, December 10: A Day
Thursday, December 11: B Day

  • Poem o' the Day:"Fragment 3: Come, Come, Thou Bleak December Wind"
    by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

  • Review those Research Outlines: Are you making claims (conclusions) that show synthesis of information, not just restating facts from the texts?
  • Checklist: Research Paper Requirements
  • Bring all research materials next time. It is our last time in the lab before the final drafts are due.
  • All of these Writing Notebook entries will be on separate pages with different headings. Date each entry.
  • Writing Notebook: Add one more Homeric Simile from The Odyssey of [Your Name]
  • Writing Notebook: Add one more Homeric Epithet from The Odyssey of [Your Name]
  • Writing Notebook: Grammar Punk -- Comma Rules 1 & 2
  • The Odyssey: The Enchantress Circe & The Land of the Dead (MPT, pp. 673-677)
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -ex- / -e- / -ec- & -re-
  • Word Cells o' the Week: -ama- / -ami- (love, also -phil-) & -junct-


Friday, December 12: A Day (Writing Lab)

  • Poem o' the Day: "Snow" by David Berman
  • Okay, today is the day! Final drafts of research papers are due! By the end of the period, you will be turning in a paper that looks kind of like these. The question you will answer is different, but the basic idea is still the same. While this is an informational (as opposed to an argumentative) essay, it still must contain and develop claims that synthesize your understanding of your myth, so your reasoning is a very important aspect of this assignment. Be sure to make it clear and logical!
  • Logic: All men are mortals. + All mortals die. Therefore, all men die.
  • A=B. B=C. Therefore, A=C.
  • Write Research Paper in Word.
  • Include Parenthetical Documentation. (Here's a more complete explanation.)
  • Print one copy (from Word).
  • Utah Compose: Submit your first draft to Utah Compose ONE TIME! This is not a final draft, but it should be complete.
  • Take an Editor's Checklist and have a parent review the draft with you.
  • You have until next Wednesday night to submit your final draft to Utah Compose.
  • Research Paper Final Draft due on Utah Compose by December 17th @ 11:59 P.M.
    Return the completed Editor's Checklist on Thursday, December 18th.


December 15-19, 2014

Monday, December 15: B Day (Writing Lab)

  • Poem o' the Day: "Snow" by David Berman
  • Okay, today is the day! Final drafts of research papers are due! By the end of the period, you will be turning in a paper that looks kind of like these. The question you will answer is different, but the basic idea is still the same. While this is an informational (as opposed to an argumentative) essay, it still must contain and develop claims that synthesize your understanding of your myth, so your reasoning is a very important aspect of this assignment. Be sure to make it clear and logical!
  • Logic: All men are mortal. + All mortals die. Therefore, all men die.
  • A=B. B=C. Therefore, A=C.
  • Write Research Paper in Word.
  • Include Parenthetical Documentation. (Here's a more complete explanation.)
  • Print one copy (from Word).
  • Utah Compose: Submit your first draft to Utah Compose ONE TIME! This is not a final draft, but it should be complete.
  • Take an Editor's Checklist and have a parent review the draft with you.
  • You have until Thursday night to submit your final draft to Utah Compose.
  • Research Paper Final Draft due on Utah Compose by December 18th @ 11:59 P.M.
    Return the completed Editor's Checklist on Friday, December 19th.


Tuesday, December 16: A Day
Wednesday, December 17: B Day

  • Poem o' the Day: "December Notes" by Nancy McCleery
  • The Odyssey: The Sirens; Scylla and Charybdis & The Cattle of the Sun God (MPT, pp. 678-686)
  • Writing Notebook: Sketch Scylla and Charybdis based on the descriptions of them in The Odyssey. (pp. 678-9 & 682-3)
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -ten- / -tain- / -tin-
  • Word Cells o' the Week: -fid-
  • The rest of the word cells for the term are number-related (-uni- / -mono- / -sol- / -bi- & -di- / -tri- / -poly-), and you probably know them from math and science classes. The completed Term 2 Word Cells Assignment is due on January 9, 2015. Use your prefix/suffix list and this Big List o' Word Cells to get it done by then!
  • WN -- Grammar Punk: Comma Rules 3 & 4
  • Homework:
  • Submit Final Draft of Research Paper to Utah Compose & Turn in Editor's Checklist next time! (Do NOT print the paper from Utah Compose.)
  • Finish your book and the reading log/outline for next time!


Thursday, December 18: A Day
Friday, December 19: B Day

  • Due Today: Book Test #2 & Editor's Checklist with signatures and scores.
  • Poem o' the Day: "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost
  • Writing Notebook: The Year in Review (2014) -- Think of what you were like on the first day of this year. How have things changed? What were the highlights and lowlights of 2014? Fill a page or two reviewing your year.
  • The Odyssey
  • "Coming Home," p. 690
  • The Meeting of Father and Son, pp. 691-694
  • The Beggar and the Faithful Dog, pp 694-695
  • An Act of Mercy & Hope
  • "Cranes" by Hwong Sunwon (MPT, pp. 222-227)
  • Make one for Kate.
  • Extra Credit Opportunity
  • Enjoy the break!


Poem o' the Vacation: "December Substitute" by Kenn Nesbitt

December 29, 2014 - January 2, 2015

Monday, December 29, 2014


Tuesday, December 30, 2014:


Wednesday, December 31, 2014: New Year's Eve!


Thursday, January 1, 2015: Happy New Year!
Friday, January 2: Last Day of the Break!

  • Welcome! Welcome!



January 5-9, 2015

Monday, January 5: A Day (Writing Lab)
Tuesday, January 6: B Day (Writing Lab)


Wednesday, January 7: A Day
Thursday, January 8: B Day

  • Poems o' the Day: Same as last time!
  • Writing Notebook: Explain the Ithaca metaphor. What does Ithaca mean to you? What is your Ithaca? Fill the page!
  • Hey, while we got these notebooks open...
  • Writing Notebook: Review/Complete Homeric Similes and Epithets. A full page of each, por favor!
  • Grammar Punk: Comma Rules 5 & 6 & 7
  • The Odyssey
  • Summary: The Epic Continues
  • The Test of the Great Bow, pp. 698-702
  • Death at the Palace, pp. 703-705
  • Homework: You need to show me that you can read epic poetry on your own. Close read the passage that we did not read as a class. Answer the multiple-choice questions. Write a well-supported response to the essay question. Bring it back next time! You can do this!
  • Word Cells Term 2 Assignment due next time!



Friday, January 9: A Day



January 12-16, 2015

Monday, January 12: B Day
Extra Credit due Today!

  • Turn in the following:
  • Word Cells: Literal Definitions Assignment
  • (Homework) Odyssey Close Read + Questions + Short Essay
  • Writing Notebook: The end (of the semester) is near. Are you ready? Explain. Fill the page.
  • Hey, while we got these notebooks open...Score 'em!.
  • Poem o' the Day: "Amoretti XXIII: Penelope for her Ulisses sake" by Edmund Spenser
  • The Odyssey: Let's finish this!
  • Odysseus and Penelope, pp. 706-709
  • Movie & Study Guide (Day 1)


Tuesday, January 13: A Day
Wednesday, January 14: B Day

  • Study your entire list of Word Cells and Comma Rules for the Semester Exam! Know what a Homeric Similes and Epithets are! Be literate!
  • The Odyssey Movie & Study Guide (Days 2 & 3)
  • "Numbers" by Mary Cornish

Thursday, January 15: A Day
Friday, January 16: B Day
Last Day of the Semester


Q: "Did I miss anything?"
A: Yes.
^ Scroll up to find it. ^

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