Weekly Agenda 3/12 - 3/16

Monday 3/12 - Late Entry (6, 7, 1, 2)

Tuesday 3/13 - Day 7
- Review 1984 Part 2, Chapter 9
- D.J.
Homework: Read Chapter X and complete a D.J.
Prepare for a quiz on Part 2.
(Note: the due date for Research Paper Rough Draft has been moved to Friday 3/16)

Wednesday 3/14 - Day 6
no class

Thursday 3/15 - Day 5
- 1984 Part 2 Quiz
Homework: Rough Draft of Research Paper is due tomorrow. It must be saved as a Google Document in the appropriate folder of your "Binder."

Friday 3/16 - Day 4
- Peer Editing
Homework: Final Draft of Research Paper due Wednesday 3/21

Weekly Agenda: 2/27 - 3/2

Monday 2/27 - Early Release (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)

- Evaluating Sources for Research Paper

Homework: Annotated Bibliography due Wednesday

Tuesday 2/28 - Day 2

- 1984, section III

- Dialectical Journal

Homework: Annotated Bibliography due tomorrow! This means it must be saved in your Google Doc Collection under "Annotated Bibliography" by the beginning of class.

Wednesday 2/29 - Day 1 (Leap Day!)
- Outline information & example.

Homework: Begin working on outline. Complete outline due Monday.

Thursday 3/1 - Day 7

- 1984, section IV

- Dialectical Journal

Homework: Completed outline due Monday. Don't forget your weekly progress report!

Friday 3/2 - Day 6

- no class

This Week

On Thursday 2/16 and Friday 2/17 our class will meet in the Computer Lab H206 to work on research. Ms. Musilli will be there to introduce you to some helpful databases and to help you find information.

I will not be in school on Thursday or Friday. Ms. Musilli is covering class. Do not go to study. Meet in H206 as planned.

Weekly Agenda 2/6 - 2/10

Monday 2/6 - Late Entry (5, 6, 7, 1)

- 1984 Part One Quiz

Homework: 2 page essay (typed, double-spaced): "How is language used to shape reality and to control people's thoughts and behaviors?"

You must include a clear thesis in which you make an assertion about the power of language to shape reality and control thoughts and behavior. Your essay must also include examples to support your points. As much as possible, these examples must be based on fact. Think about the world today as well as historical examples.

This essay will be graded as an Open Response (not a major assessment). I’m looking for thoughtfulness, insight and clarity as well as some actual examples of how language can shape our realities or control our thoughts and behaviors.

Due: Thursday 2/9

Getting the wheels turning...

It's time to start thinking about your Senior Research Project!

Click on the link below for some ideas:

Current Issues & "The Future"

Tuesday's Assignment

Today you will do some research to learn a bit more about George Orwell and the background to his most famous novel, 1984.

Use the links provided below to answer the following Who, What, When, Where, Why and How questions. Type your responses and hand them in. You will be graded on the thoroughness and thoughtfulness of your answers.

Links:
George Orwell Biography
The Literature Network
Levity.com
L-1.com Biography

1. Who was George Orwell? Include key information about his life and identity.
2. What personal beliefs were reflected in his writing?
3. When did he write 1984 and when was it published?
4. Where did he experience the things he wrote about?
5. Why did Orwell write 1984?
6. How did Orwell explain his topics and reasons for writing?

Monday's Assigment

Computer Lab assignment:

Read the following article and answer the questions below.

NY Times Article: Little Brother is Watching

1. What does Mr. Kirn mean when he says that the invasion of privacy has been “democratized”?
2. How are today’s communication technologies and communicators different from those Orwell imagined in “1984”?
3. Do you agree or disagree with Mr. Kirn that the actions of Tyler Clementi’s roommate are “more disturbing” than those of Orwell’s Big Brother?
4. In what way, according to Mr. Kirn, can the actions of “Little Brother” benefit society?
5. How has today’s technology blurred the lines between what’s public and what’s private?
6. What does Mr. Kirn mean when he says modern technology contributes to the fragmentation of society?

(Questions from The Learning Network: Teaching and Learning with The New York Times)