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 To see all weeks in the term, scroll all the way down!

November 4-8, 2013: Welcome to Term 2!

  • This term you will learn...
  • ...to write a research-based argument.
  • ...how to use commas correctly.
  • ...a lot 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 4: A Day
Tuesday, November 5: A Day

  • First Day of Second Term
  • Writing Notebook: Review the Halloween Horror: Now that you know the answer, finish writing your case to the jury.
  • Claim: Who killed the ghost?
  • Evidence: Facts from the story and interrogation
  • Warrant: How does the evidence prove the claim?
  • Counterclaim: Acknowledge and rebut
  • Conclusion: Bring the house down, Atticus!
  • Poem o' the Day: "Gee, You're So Beautiful That It's Starting to Rain" by Richard Brautigan
  • More Writing Notebook: Juliet molted! What a perfect metaphor for this transition!
  • First Term REflection: Slough off your old skin!
    -flect-/-flex- = bend; -re- = back/again; -pre- = before
    First, REFLECT ("bend back" to look) on your first term of ninth grade. How did it go? What were the highlights and lowlights? Were there unexpected things that happened, or did it go about as you thought it would?
  • Fill a page with reflections!
  • Second Term PREflection: Stretch out those fresh new legs (all 8 of 'em!)
    Then, 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 another page with preflections!
  • Read "The Cask of Amontillado" (MPT, pp. 172-179)
  • Comparison: Write an argumentative paragraph comparing this story to The Raven.
  • Claim: How are they alike?
  • Evidence: How do you know?
  • Warrant: So what? How does that prove your claim?
  • Counterclaims: In what ways are they different?
  • Conclusion
  • Begin Poe Biography: Terror of the Soul


Wednesday, November 6: A Day
Thursday, November 7: B Day

  • Poem o' the Day: "Like Coins, November" by Elizabeth Klise Von Zerneck
  • Finish Poe Biography: Terror of the Soul
  • Watch, listen, take notes, answer questions in class.
  • Read MPT Poe's Final Days: Informational Text (pp. 183-186) -- Add helpful info to your notes.
  • (Homework) Assignment: Argumentative (Two-Column) Notes (Due next time!)
  • Make three claims about Poe that you can support with biographical evidence from the film and text. Fill in the notes/outline with the appropriate information. This will be used for a writing assignment later.
  • (Here's what they might look like when you are finished!)


Friday, November 8: A Day (Writing Lab)

  • Teacher Evaluations (Mrs. Torrico): Login to MyDSD & follow instructions
  • Turn in Homework: Poe Bio + Argumentative Outline/Notes
  • Argument: From this day forward, you KNOW this!
  • EVERYTHING IS AN ARGUMENT, not just an assignment.
  • You have to make your writing your own.
  • Bubba never learned that. Don't be a Bubba!
  • Poem o' the Day: "November Night" by Adelaide Crapsey
  • Reading Schedule & Book Assignments: Great Expectations
  • Read Chapter 1
  • StudySync Assignment: Now write about Pip! (No Bubbas!)
  • Analyze the character of Pip. As always, employ the elements of argumentation: Make a CLAIM about Pip based on your reading of the first chapter. Provide EVIDENCE (quotations from the text) to support your claim. Try to have at least three (3) textual references. After each piece of evidence, provide a WARRANT that explains why the evidence supports the claim. Consider other ways Pip might be seen as COUNTERCLAIMS; acknowledge and rebut them. Finish it up with a simple CONCLUSION statement. Here is a color-coded sample.
  • Read GE Chapters 2 & 3 for next time!


November 11-15, 2013

Monday, November 11: B Day (Writing Lab)

  • Teacher Evaluations (Mrs. Torrico): Login to MyDSD & follow instructions
  • Turn in Homework: Poe Bio + Argumentative Outline/Notes
  • Argument: From this day forward, you KNOW this!
  • EVERYTHING IS AN ARGUMENT, not just an assignment.
  • You have to make your writing your own.
  • Bubba never learned that. Don't be a Bubba!
  • Poem o' the Day: "November Night" by Adelaide Crapsey
  • Reading Schedule & Book Assignments: Great Expectations
  • Read Chapter 1
  • StudySync Assignment: Now write about Pip! (No Bubbas!)
  • Analyze the character of Pip. As always, employ the elements of argumentation: Make a CLAIM about Pip based on your reading of the first chapter. Provide EVIDENCE (quotations from the text) to support your claim. Try to have at least three (3) textual references. After each piece of evidence, provide a WARRANT that explains why the evidence supports the claim. Consider other ways Pip might be seen as COUNTERCLAIMS; acknowledge and rebut them. Finish it up with a simple CONCLUSION statement.
  • Read GE Chapters 2 & 3 for next time!


Tuesday, November 12: A Day
Wednesday, November 13: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 2 & 3
  • Poe Finale: MPT (pp. 181-190) -- Analyzing Argument
  • Read Rabies Theory (Objective Newspaper Article, pp. 184-186)
  • Writing Notebook: 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
  • WN (same page): 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
  • WN (same page): Identify the rebuttal to the counterclaim, two pieces of textual evidence and their warrants.
  • Score/Review Test Practice (MPT, pp. 191-192): Why are the correct answers correct?
  • Poe CRT Practice (Did not have time for this, but it is still a good exercise.)
  • Poem o' the Day: "Where I'm From" by George Ella Lyon
  • Literal vs. Non-literal Activity (Finish the front only and turn back in for now.)
  • (Sample & Template)
  • Speaking of Literal...
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -clud- / -fin-
  • 9th Grade Word Cell o' the Week: -pend- (-pens-)
  • Read GE Chapters 4-6 for next time!
  • StudySync Assignment: Review at least three (3) of your classmates' analyses of Pip. Write thoughtful, reflective reviews that will help them see their paper in a new light, not just "Good job!" Be specific about what you like and what needs to be improved or repaired. Due by Friday!


Thursday, November 14: A Day
Friday, November 15: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 4 - 6
  • Poem o' the Day: "The Poet" by Tom Wayman
  • 2nd: Cali D.
  • 4th: Cole S.
  • POS Review Quiz
  • Grammar Punk: Intro + Let the games begin!
  • Comma Rule #1
  • Writing Notebook: Three Practice Sentences
  • 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.
  • Want full credit? Make it like these! And these!
  • Read GE Chapters 7 & 8 for next time!



November 18-22, 2013

Monday, November 18: A Day (Library)
Tuesday, November 19: B Day (Library)

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 7 & 8
  • Poem o' the Day: "In the God's Dreams" by James Laughlin
  • Mythology Research: Topic Assignments
  • To the Media Center, Batman!
  • Library Assignment


Wednesday, November 20: A Day (Writing Lab)
Thursday, November 21: B Day (Writing Lab)



November 25-29, 2013

Monday, November 25: B Day (Library -- 1/2)


Tuesday, November 26: A Day


Wednesday, November 27: Thanksgiving Recess
Thursday, November 28: Thanksgiving Recess
Friday, November 29: Thanksgiving Recess



December 2-6, 2013

Monday, December 2: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Quiz/Discussion on Chapters 17 & 18
  • Poem o' the Day: "Who Has Seen the Wind?" by Christina Rossetti
  • Writing Notebook: Thanksgiving Reflection (Fill the page!)
  • Grammar Punk: Comma Rule #1
  • Meet the Olympians: Mythology Grid


Tuesday, December 3: A Day
Wednesday, December 4: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Test on Part I
  • Poem o' the Day: "Snow" by David Berman
  • Writing Notebook: Score 'em! (Be honest!)
  • Finish Meet the Olympians: Mythology Grid
  • Compare your assigned research topic to some of the characters mentioned in the video.
  • Mythology Research Assignment: Part III
  • Using information on the Library Worksheet & Lab Worksheet you finished last week, develop an argument about your topic.
  • What did you notice?
  • Are any of these themes or motifs true of your topic?
  • What claims will your evidence support?
  • Do you need more evidence?
    (Hamilton's Mythology books are available.)
  • Assignment: Complete this outline (in class, if possible).
  • Grammar Punk: Comma Rule 2
  • Writing Notebook: Copy the rule and write two sentences that illustrate Comma Rule 2.
    (AT4 adjective books & BU3 preposition food/drink)
  • Homework: Finish this outline & read Chapters 20-22 in Great Expectations.



Thursday, December 5: A Day (Writing Lab)
Friday, December 6: B Day (Writing Lab)

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 20-22
  • Poem o' the Day: "Numbers" by Mary Cornish
  • Works Cited Pages: All Together Now!
  • Citation Builder or KnightCite or Citation Machine
  • Mythology Research Assignment: Part IV
  • Write a draft of your argument.
  • Turn in these things (in this order) at the end of the period:
  • Top: Your first draft so far, including at least an intro paragraph w/thesis
  • Finished Outline
  • Bottom: Works Cited Page
  • Homework: Read Chapters 23-26 in Great Expectations
    (and fill in quiz answers while you read).



December 9-13, 2013

Monday, December 9: A Day
Tuesday, December 10: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 23-26 (Turn in!)
  • Poem o' the Day:"Fragment 3: Come, Come, Thou Bleak December Wind"
    by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -pel- / -puls- & -tract-
  • Word Cells o' the Week: -oper- / -labor- (labor)
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Intro to The Odyssey -- "Epic and Myth" (MPT, pp. 639-646)
  • As we read this introduction, consider how the information might apply to your own assigned research topic. Could something here help you develop the argument you started writing last time.
  • 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!
  • The Odyssey: Homer's Prayer to the Muse (MPT, p. 651)
  • Grammar Punk: Comma Rule 4
  • Use commas to separate items in a series.
    (Note the difference between this and Comma Rule 2.)
  • Roll the Bones:
    • GI3 pronoun movies/TV: Big King Kong was crushing planes, helicopters, and people on his way up the building.
    • DE4 conjunction parents: My demented dad demands that I finish my homework, do the dishes, and cook edible dinners.
    • EL 4 pronoun mythology: Homer was a teller of tales who lived in his ancient world with Cyclopes, Gorgons, and Centaurs.
  • Homework: Read Chapters 27-29 of Great Expectations


Wednesday, December 11: A Day (PT Conferences -- 3:45-7:15 P.M.)
Thursday, December 12: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 27 - 29
  • 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. (I'll need about ten readers today!)
  • 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? (Fill the page and take the Calypso quiz!)
  • Grammar Punk: Comma Rule 3
  • Roll the Bones: PI3 adverb Calypso
  • 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!
  • "I am Laertes' Son, The Lotus Eaters" (pp. 655-659)
  • Homework: Read GE Chapters 30-33 and complete the take-home quiz.


Friday, December 13: A Day

  • Great Expectations: Turn in quiz on Chapters 30-33
  • Poem o' the Day: "The Cyclops in the Ocean" by Nikki Giovanni (MPT, p. 672)
  • Review Quiz (Open-book): "I am Laertes' Son" & "The Lotus Eaters"
  • The Cyclops (pp. 660-670)

  • Writing Notebook: Add another one to your Homeric Similes from The Odyssey of [Your Name]. (That's two total, so far.)
  • 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.
  • Grammar Punk: Comma Rule 5 (HE4 adjective)
  • Homework: Read Chapters 34-36 for next time!



December 16-20, 2013

Monday, December 16: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Turn in quiz on Chapters 30-33
  • Poem o' the Day: "The Cyclops in the Ocean" by Nikki Giovanni (MPT, p. 672)
  • Review Quiz (Open-book): "I am Laertes' Son" & "The Lotus Eaters"
  • The Cyclops (pp. 660-670)

  • Writing Notebook: Add another one to your Homeric Similes from The Odyssey of [Your Name]. (That's two total, so far.)
  • 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.
  • Grammar Punk: Comma Rule 5 (HE4 adjective)
  • Homework: Read Chapters 34-36 for next time!



Tuesday, December 17: A Day (Writing Lab)
Wednesday, December 18: B Day (Writing Lab)


Thursday, December 19: A Day
Friday, December 20: B Day


December 30, 2013 - January 3, 2014

Monday, December 30, 2013


Tuesday, December 31, 2013: New Year's Eve!


Wednesday, January 1, 2014: Happy New Year!


Thursday, January 2: A Day
Friday, January 3: B Day

  • Turn in "Naming of Names" & Review GE Chapters 40-47
  • Writing Notebook: "Happy New Year!" Write that at the top of the next blank page, then fill the page with your hopes for the new year and any "resolutions" you have. What do you resolve to do differently (or better or more), and how will this improve your life? If you are not one for resolutions, write some predictions about where you will be a year from now. You could also share some of your holiday highlights.
  • "You're wearing glasses today! That means you have to tell the Eyeball Story!"
  • So be it.
  • Poem o' the Day: "January" by John Updike
  • Word Cells o' the Day: -ten- / -tain- / -tin-
  • Word Cells o' the Week: -fid-
  • Second Term Word Cells & Literal Definitions Assignment
  • Homework Assignment (due January 8/9): Take the first completed draft of your research paper to a parent or trusted adult. Politely ask that person to read your paper and fill out the Editor's Checklist. Have a conversation about what you need to do to improve your paper. You will have time during class to revise and print a final draft, but you must have this assignment completed before you come to class next Wednesday/Thursday.



January 6-10, 2014

Monday, January 6: A Day
Tuesday, January 7: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 48-51
  • Poem o' the Day: "Bad Day" by Kay Ryan
  • (Writing Notebook) Grammar Punk: Comma Rules #6 & #7
  • Handout: All the Rules (Never Lose!)
  • Comma Rule Review (+ Term Test Review)
  • The Odyssey: How much? (Only time will tell.)
  • The Sirens; Scylla and Charibdis, pp. 678-683
  • The Cattle of the Sun God, pp. 684-686
  • Writing Notebook: Review Homeric Similes (you should have three) and Epithets (you should have 10).
  • Don't forget the Homework Assignment Due Next Time: Take the first completed draft of your research paper to a parent or trusted adult. Politely ask that person to read your paper and fill out the Editor's Checklist. (I gave you one in class last week when I returned the drafts.) Have a conversation about what you need to do to improve your paper. You will have time during class to revise and print a final draft, but you must have this assignment completed before you come to class next time!


Wednesday, January 8: A Day (Writing Lab)
Thursday, January 9: B Day (Writing Lab)
Extra Credit Due Today!


Friday, January 10: A Day

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 55-57
  • The Odyssey: How much? (Only time will tell.)
  • "Coming Home," p. 690
  • The Meeting of Father and Son, pp. 691-694
  • The Beggar and the Faithful Dog, pp 694-695
  • Summary: The Epic Continues
  • The Test of the Great Bow, pp. 698-702
  • Death at the Palace, pp. 703-705
  • Odysseus and Penelope, pp. 706-709
  • Analyze one of these passages from The Odyssey using this worksheet.
    (Here's a model based on the Cyclops scene.)
  • Grammar Punk: Review Comma Rule Review from last time.
  • The Odyssey Movie & Study Guide


January 13-17, 2014

Monday, January 13: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Quiz on Chapters 55-57
  • The Odyssey: How much? (Only time will tell.)
  • "Coming Home," p. 690
  • The Meeting of Father and Son, pp. 691-694
  • The Beggar and the Faithful Dog, pp 694-695
  • Summary: The Epic Continues
  • The Test of the Great Bow, pp. 698-702
  • Death at the Palace, pp. 703-705
  • Odysseus and Penelope, pp. 706-709
  • Analyze one of these passages from The Odyssey using this worksheet.
    (Here's a model based on the Cyclops scene.)
  • Grammar Punk: Review Comma Rule Review from last time.
  • The Odyssey Movie & Study Guide
  • Assignment: Close read the article about The Odyssey.


Tuesday, January 14: A Day
Wednesday, January 15: B Day

  • Great Expectations: Final Test (Part III)
  • Poem o' the Day: "Ithaca" by C. P. Cavafy (MPT, p. 711)
    (Here's how it looks in the original Greek.)
  • Word Cells o' the Day (Numbers): -uni- / -mono- / -sol- / -bi- & -di- / -tri- / -poly- /
  • Word Cell o' the Week: -dom- (rule)
  • Second Term Word Cells: Because we are running out of time, you will write only one (1) sentence for each word cell this time. You still have to define all three words for each cell, but you can decide which one of them you write the sentence for. That means you will write seven sentences total today, at which time you should have this finished the entire Literal Definitions Assignment. You will turn it in next time for lots of points!
  • Study your entire list of Word Cells for the Semester Exam!
  • The Odyssey Movie & Study Guide


Thursday, January 16: A Day
Friday, January 17: B Day
Last Day of the Semester


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

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