Wink...Wink! Daily Assignments Title Graphic
Grades/Homework
Utah Compose
Thompson's Textbook
Grammar Punk
Word Cells
Word Cells Biglist
To see all the weeks in the term, scroll ALL THE WAY DOWN!

October 29-November 2, 2018: Welcome to Term 2!

Monday, October 29: Professional Day (No School for Students/Visit URS @ 9:00 A.M.)

  • This term you will learn...
  • ...to differentiate informational writing from argumentative writing.
  • ...to practice both.
  • ...how to acknowledge and rebut a counterclaim.
  • ...how to elaborate, not embellish.
  • ...to close read, annotate, and analyze more complicated text.
  • ...to use QAR to generate a claim of your own.
  • ...how to use commas correctly.
  • ...to read and understand epic poetry.
  • ...a bit about Greek mythology.
  • ...to analyze, appreciate, and author poetic epitaphs.
  • ...to close read "Interactive Fiction" to solve a mystery.
  • ...more word cells!
  • ...to read.
  • ...to write.
  • ...to repeat.
  • Word!

Tuesday, October 30: A Day
Wednesday, October 31: B Day (All Hallows' Eve)

  • Poem o' the Day: "Halloween" by Mac Hammond
  • New Hall Passes
  • Journal #2 Second Term Pre-flection [Get it? PREflection, not REflection: -flect-/-flex- = bend; -re- = back/again; -pre- = before -- "bend before" to look on the coming term.]
  • Since the second term begins today, write a PRE-flection (looking before) of your expectations for the next two months. Based on the lessons you learned last term, what are you going to do differently this term? Remember that the second term includes two long holiday breaks. (The term ends on January 10, 2019! Think of it!) Do you have any big plans for those breaks? What books will you be reading independently this term? Are you planning to do more homework? Less homework? Are you going to have fun? Are you going to make me keep asking all these questions, or can’t you just write for a page about the future on your own? Honestly! Fill the page!
  • Goal Setting: In your journal, on the page after your reflection & preflection, set three goals for the second term, phrased as "I will" statements:
    • Academic: a school goal
    • Social: a goal about your interactions with peers
    • Personal: a goal to improve something in your family or life
  • Halloween Horror: Critical Thinking/Inquiry/Argumentation Exercise
  • Vocab: Means, Motive, Opprtunity, sometimes M.O., Narrative (for jury)
  • Make your case: Write a narrative for the jury explaining who killed the ghost and what evidence proves it. Explain HOW that evidence supports your claim. A winning case will include the perpetrator’s means, motive, and opportunity and will address these questions: How did the ghost come into possession of the poisoned candy bar? How could the killer be reasonably sure s/he would kill the ghost and not some other random person? How did the killer’s costume play a role in the murder? Address counterarguments and conclude appropriately. Turn in!
  • Have fun trick-or-treating, but watch out for the Butterfingers!


Thursday, November 1: A Day (All Saints' Day)
Friday, November 2: B Day (All Souls' Day)


Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

November 5-9, 2018

Monday, November 5: A Day
Tuesday, November 6: B Day

  • Finish Meet the Olympians
  • Journal #3 : 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, what is your background with Greek mythology? Did you study it in elementary school? Have you read the Percy Jackson books? Did you like Disney's Hercules? Clash of the Titans? Jason and the Argonauts? Troy? (Fill the Page!)
  • Poem o' the Day: "In the God's Dreams" by James Laughlin
  • Grammar/Conventions
  • Grammar Punk Intro: Let the games begin!
  • Roll the Bones!
  • Word Study
  • How' bout another Word Cell o' the Day: -con- + variants
    (-co-/-com-/-cor-/-col-)
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment


Wednesday, November 7: A Day [Computer Lab 202]
Thursday, November 8: B Day [Computer Lab 202]


Friday, November 9: A Day



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

November 12-16, 2018

Monday, November 12: B Day


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

  • The Odyssey Begins....
  • Invocation to the Muse Assignment (SBV, p. 371)
  • Eight Different Translations: Follow the instructions; answer the questions!
  • Summarize the Invocation to the Muse [separate paper]
  • Grammar/Conventions
  • Grammar Punk: Roll the Bones!
  • Comma Rule #1 (forming compound sentences with conjunctions & commas)
  • One sentence about The Odyssey [on paper with summary]
  • One more about epithets/nicknames [on paper with summary]
  • Turn in the paper with summary and two sentences stapled atop the Invocation to the Muse


Thursday, November 15: A Day
Friday, November 16: B Day

  • Literature Handout: Title Each Book in the Odyssey/Heroic Cycle (Don't lose this!)
  • Quickly look at this: Trojan War Review
  • The Odyssey: Books 1-4 (Short Summaries) [aloud]
  • Journal #5a: Homeric Epithets from the Odyssey of [YOU]
  • Fill the bottom part of the handout with appropriate epithets (nicknames) for people you know! [Make 'em descriptive and flowery!]
  • The Odyssey: Books 1-4 (Short Summaries) [aloud]
  • Book V (Summary) "Calypso, The Sweet Nymph" -- Examine a page or two of the actual text.
  • "Calypso"by Suzanne Vega (Caveat Web Surfer: Classical Paintings Rated PG-13): Listen to the song. (Here are the lyrics.) SOAPSTone it in your head. Now write a solid ninth-grade-level R.A.C.E. response that answers this question: How is Suzanne Vega's version different than Homer's version? [Contrast: You'll need textual evidence from both.]
  • Check off Calypso's island on your map!
  • Composition: Developing Claims/Topic Sentences: How to Think! [Invocation/Calypso -- Green Handout]
  • Staple this to your R.A.C.E. response and turn them in!



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

November 19-23, 2018

Monday, November 19: A Day [Computer Lab 202]
Tuesday, November 20: B Day [Computer Lab 202]


Wednesday, November 21: Thanksgiving Recess
Thursday, November 22: Thanksgiving Recess
Friday, November 23: Thanksgiving Recess


Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

November 26-30, 2018

Monday, November 26: A Day
Tuesday, November 27: B Day


Wednesday, November 28: A Day
Thursday, November 29: B Day


Friday, November 30: A Day


Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

December 3-7, 2018

Monday, December 3: B Day


Tuesday, December 4: A Day [Computer Lab 202]
Wednesday, December 5: B Day [Computer Lab 202]


Thursday, December 6: A Day
Friday, December 7: B Day

  • Turn in these things in this order: Revision of term paper due now!
  • Top: Printed Essay/Works Cited with heading, title, and in-text citations.
  • Middle: First Draft with Grader's Comments
  • Bottom: Checklist/Rubric filled in by the student
  • Finish The Odyssey
  • Homecoming: Books XIII, XIV, XV, XVI
  • Book XVII: The Beggar and the Faithful Dog (SBV, pp. 401-402)
  • Beggars, Penelope, Faithful Servants: Books XVIII, XIX, XX,
  • Book XXI: The Test of the Great Bow (SBV, pp. 403-407)
  • Book XXII: Death in the Great Hall (SBV, pp. 408-412)
  • Book XXIII: Odysseus and Penelope
  • Book XIV: The End
  • Review: The Odyssey Rap
  • Test on The Odyssey
  • Journal #2: If you were going to direct one "book" or episode in a TV series of The Odyssey, which episode would you most want to put on film? Why? Who would play the parts? (Get a firm picture in your mind before watching the movie.) How would you portray the action and/or emotion. Would it require CGI? What would the background music be? Explain.
  • Word Study
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -ex- / -e- / -ec- & -re-
  • -am- / -ami- (love, also -phil-)



Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

December 10-14, 2018

Monday, December 10: A Day
Tuesday, December 11: B Day

  • Okay, so if you didn't turn in the Heroic Cycle Essay Revision, now's the time!
  • Turn in these things in this order: Revision of term paper due now!
  • Top: Printed Essay/Works Cited with heading, title, and in-text citations.
  • Middle: First Draft with Grader's Comments
  • Bottom: Checklist/Rubric filled in by the student
  • Word Study
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Word Cells o' the Week: & -junct- (finish pages 2 & 3)
  • (Final Handout)
  • -fid- & -ten- / -tain- / -tin-
  • 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.
  • Use your prefix/suffix list and this Big List o' Word Cells to get it done by the end of this week!
  • The Odyssey Chronological Review: Trojan War & Cyclops & Aeolus


Wednesday, December 12: A Day
Thursday, December 13: B Day

  • Journal #3: The Year in Review (2018)
  • What were the personal, educational, and world highlights and lowlights of 2018? Explain and analyze the most important and memorable happenings since January 1. When you look back on this year from the future, what will you say about how 2018 impacted your life as a whole? What were the turning points and big realizations that will make the most difference in your life? Fill a page or two reviewing your year. How have YOU changed? [This is a double-length journal entry, worth twice the usual points.]
  • Spend a few minutes finishing the Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment.
  • The Odyssey Chronological Review: Land of the Dead (Meanwhile, in Ithaca), Scylla and Charybdis
  • Close read the Poem o' the Day: "Ithaka" by C. P. Cavafy
  • (Here's how it looks in the original Greek!)
  • Here's an inspirational cartoon based on the poem!
  • (Here's a sample to get you started.)
  • What does Ithaka represent?
  • What is YOUR Ithaka?


Friday, December 14: A Day


Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

December 17-21, 2018

Monday, December 17: B Day



Tuesday, December 18: A Day [Computer Lab 202]
Wednesday, December 19: B Day [Computer Lab 202] -- P.M. Assembly


Thursday, December 20: A Day [Early-out Schedule]



Friday, December 21: Winter Recess


Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

December 24-28, 2018

December 24-28


Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions

December 31, 2018 - January 4, 2019

Monday, December 31, 2018


Tuesday, January 1: Last Day of the Break!


Wednesday, January 2: B Day [5 Months]



Thursday, January 3: A Day
Friday, January 4: B Day

  • Continue/Finish the movie and the Tone/Mood Assignment from last time. Turn it in!
  • Welcome to Spoon River: Travel back a century in time by talking to some of the the sleepers on The Hill: Elsa Wertman, Hamilton Greene, Richard Bone, Rutherford McDowell, Hortense Robbins, Anne Rutledge, Hannah Armstrong, Knowlt Hoheimer
  • Term Test
  • Journal #5: The End of the Beginning -- Go back in your collection of scored journals and read and reflect on the entries from October 30/31. What do you know now that you wish you had known then? Did your pre-flection/goalsetting pay off? The end (of the semester) is near. Are you ready? Why or why not? Is it the same feeling you always have at the end of the term, or is this one more hopeful? Less hopeful? When you look back on this entry later, what do you hope you will be able to say? Finish this entry with a note to your future self: What do you want to know about the time between now and the end of the year that would help you succeed in school and life?
  • (Staple/Turn in Journals)


Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions
  • Spoon River Review: Familiarize yourself with the relationships between the characters in these epitaphs before you play the game.
  • Judge Somers & Chase Henry
  • Editor Whedon & Carl Hamblin
  • The Town Marshal & Jack McGuire
  • Ollie McGee & Fletcher McGee
  • Cooney Potter & Fiddler Jones


  • January 7-11, 2019

    Monday, January 7: A Day [Computer Lab 202: VOSR]
    Tuesday, January 8: B Day [Computer Lab 202: VOSR]

    • Voices of Spoon River
    • Use the map!
    • Don't forget to save your game!
    • Are you too cool to play this Interactive Fiction game? Then do this:
    • Compare these poems using a Venn Diagram: "The End" by Mark Strand & "George Gray" by Edgar Lee Masters
    • On a separate sheet of paper, write a one-paragraph comparison of "George Gray" and "The End," much like what we did with "Ithaka" and "George Gray," except this one has to be even better.
    • Academic Writing Checklist: Complete the checklist and LABEL your paragraph as indicated.
    • Staple/Turn in.


    Wednesday, January 9: A Day [Computer Lab 202: VOSR]
    Thursday, January 10: B Day [Computer Lab 202: VOSR]

    Friday, January 11: Professional Day [No School for Students]



    Sections of English Binder: Journal, Word Study, Composition, Reading/Literature, Grammar/Conventions
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    A: Yes.
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