Archives for June 2016

Cover Letter

June 15, 2016 By

1. Cover Letter (instructions below)

One or two pages
Single-spaced, with a double spaces between paragraphs
Letter format addressed to (top left hand corner):

Sean Leon
The Beacon School
522 W. 44th St.
New York, NY 10036

Sign the letter!

Three paragraphs in all (with an optional 4th opening paragraph)!

Para #1: Optional! A brief introductory paragraph that introduces the purpose of the letter and introduces the contents of the portfolio. Get funky creative in introducing the letter. Leave a trace of your personality here.

Para #2: Which creative piece are you submitting for your PBA? Discuss the creative inspiration behind your creative piece. Take me through that process as well. If you are submitting a group project it is imperative to detail your contributions to the final project.

Para #3: Discuss the process of writing the essay focusing on what you believe to be the strengths and weaknesses of the essay. Address how those weaknesses could be addressed. Address the following questions about the comparative essay: What do you think you did well on this assignment? What do you think you could have done better with this assignment?

Para #4: A concluding paragraph (and most important paragraph) that reflects on the year as a whole. You must reflect on yourself as an English student at this point in high school. What do you need to work on in the future? Where do you go from here? How have you developed over the course of this year? I could go on and on; I think you get the idea for this final paragraph. Optionally, you can reflect on your Self at this point in your journey through life. In short this paragraph is about YOU!

HW due 6/13: PBA

June 11, 2016 By

You must either leave your complete PBA packet in my mailbox or leave it in my classroom. It must be dropped off by 3:15 on Monday. REMEMBER: EITHER EMAIL OR HAND DELIVER A COPY OF YOUR ANALYSIS TO YOUR PBA PARTNER BY MONDAY.

MLA Guidelines for Quoting Poetry

1. Your PBA will include (in this order):

  • A 1-2 page mini-bio of your poet.
  • A 5-7 page foreword that introduces and analyzes the work of your poet. In this analysis you should demonstrate great control of your poet’s work.
  • The 6 poems (untouched) chosen for this project.
  • Two original poems mirroring your poet’s style.

General Formatting:

  • Double-spaced; size 12 font; Times New Roman or similar
  • All pages beyond the first page should be numbered.  Page numbers should be placed at the bottom right of each page. Page numbering starts with the mini-bio and goes through the two original poems.
  • No Cover Page.  Include name, class, and date (Single space the heading)
  • Be sure TITLE reflects the theme of the essay

Due the day of your presentation:

  • Index cards or notes showing that you have prepared for your opening 2 minute presentation. During this time you will tell us a little about your poet focusing on his/her life where relevant and style/techniques/themes.
  • Copy of your essay for YOU to refer to during the presentation.
  • Your partner’s essay with your notes/questions written on the essay. Remember, you are to engage your partner in a discussion about his/her poet.

Failure to have any of the above means you are not prepared for your presentation.

HW due 6/13: PBA

June 10, 2016 By

INDEX CARDS–Be sure to have your index cards filled out for our wee brown bags! Remember, this is meant to be wonderfully positive and absolutely anonymous.

VERY IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO TURN IN ANY OUTSTANDING BOOKS!

1. PBA–Independent Research Paper (You must include a bibliography)

The following are due Monday:

  • TWO COPIES of your PBA essay (one for me and one for your partner)
  • All steps of the writing process including the edited first draft with your editor’s name clearly marked at the bottom of the first page.

Due the day of your presentation:

  • Index cards or notes showing that you have prepared for your opening 2 minute presentation.
  • Copy of your essay for YOU to refer to during the presentation.
  • Your partner’s essay with your notes/questions written on the essay.

Failure to have any of the above means you are not prepared for your presentation.

Expectations for your presentation:

The meeting will last for 30 minutes (10 min per student). The first 2 minutes belong to you. TAKE ME BEHIND THE SCENES OF YOUR ESSAY.

While it is interesting to hear you discuss your thesis and your development of the argument, I am more interested in the thought process behind the essay.  So organize your presentation in this fashion:

* Open with your thesis.

* Then, a little flashback.  Take us through the thought process that led to that argument.  Why did you choose those sources?  How do they help in the development of your argument? Why that argument? What were some of the challenges along the way?  Etc.  All throughout, I expect you to demonstrate great control of the material. (most of the time should be spent here) I am particularly interested in hearing your thoughts on your sources. While you should prepare your notes/note cards for the meeting, I don’t want you reading to me. The notes/note cards are there to show me that you have prepared for the meeting and they are there as a last resort reminder.

* During the remaining time, I and your second assessor will ask you a series of questions. During this time we might:

  • Challenge an assertion
  • Explore your knowledge/understanding of source material
  • Question your use of evidence. Ask questions if you don’t understand how the evidence is being used.
  • Ask that you clarify a point
  • Ask questions about the development of your thesis
  • Present counter arguments
  • Ask questions about your source material
  • Ask questions that give you an opportunity to demonstrate greater depth of control.

HW due 6/13: PBA

June 10, 2016 By

INDEX CARDS–Be sure to have your index cards filled out for our wee brown bags! Remember, this is meant to be wonderfully positive and absolutely anonymous.

1. PBA–Comparative Essay

The following are due Monday:

  • TWO COPIES of your PBA essay (one for me and one for your partner)
  • All steps of the writing process including the edited first draft with your editor’s name clearly marked at the bottom of the first page.

Due the day of your presentation:

  • Index cards or notes showing that you have prepared for your opening 2 minute presentation.
  • Copy of your essay for YOU to refer to during the presentation.
  • Your partner’s essay with your notes/questions written on the essay.

Failure to have any of the above means you are not prepared for your presentation.

Expectations for your presentation:

The meeting will last for 20 minutes (10 min per student). The first 2 minutes belong to you. TAKE ME BEHIND THE SCENES OF YOUR ESSAY.

While it is interesting to hear you discuss your thesis and your development of the argument, I am more interested in the thought process behind the essay.  So organize your presentation in this fashion:

* Open with your thesis.

* Then, a little flashback.  Take us through the thought process that led to that argument.  Why did you choose those quotations?  How do they help in the development of your argument? Why that argument? What were some of the challenges along the way?  Etc.  All throughout, I expect you to demonstrate great control of the material. (most of the time should be spent here)

As you are articulating the hows and whys of your argument (i.e. why this argument, how you proved your argument), feel free to include any last minute points that you would have included had you more time. While you should prepare your notes/note cards for the meeting, I don’t want you reading to me. The notes/note cards are there to show me that you have prepared for the meeting and they are there as a last resort reminder.

* During the remaining time, I and your second assessor will ask you a series of questions. During this time we might:

  • Challenge an assertion
  • Question your application of Existentialism (if relevant)
  • Question your use of evidence. Ask questions if you don’t understand how the evidence is being used.
  • Ask that you clarify a point
  • Ask questions about the development of your thesis
  • Present counter arguments
  • Ask questions about your source material
  • Ask questions that give you an opportunity to demonstrate greater depth of control.

HW due 6/8: PBA

June 7, 2016 By

1. PBA–Keep in mind that you should bring in a working draft of your essay tomorrow. Looking ahead to your Poetry PBA Portfolio, start thinking about your main opinion, or thesis, about your poet’s work. Some good questions to ask yourself as you read:

  • What themes do you notice in your poet’s work?
  • Where and how do these themes appear?
  • Which poems you’ve read most clearly show these themes?
  • What techniques (poetic devices, style, language, etc.) does this poet use most often, and how do they affect the poems?
  • What effect do they have?  In other words, how do they shape and change your reading of the poems?
  • What tone, or mood do you get from these poems? How do they make you feel?

Take some notes on your answers to these questions, and start coming up with an opinion about your poet’s work. Ultimately, your thesis will include a claim about your poet and his/her work. Again, this claim should be informed by research but more importantly, informed by what you see in the poetry.

Your PBA will include:

  • A 1-2 page mini-bio of your poet.
  • A 5-7 page foreword that introduces and analyzes the work of your poet. In this analysis you should demonstrate great control of your poet’s work. (First draft due June 8th!)
  • The 6 poems (untouched) chosen for this project.
  • Two original poems mirroring your poet’s style.

2. Index cards…One index card per student! Remember, do not write your name on the index card; only write the name of each student on the back. Class Lists:  [Read more…]

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