SENIORS: Still working on that final draft of your slam poem; make sure you have those 3 literary devices identified and that the presentation of your slam poem will be at least 30 seconds long.

SOPHOMORES: The rough draft of your research paper is due tomorrow; this is just the writing part, not the works cited page, not the parenthetical documentation, not the visual component (we'll get to those things tomorrow).

SENIORS: Now is the time to get your slam poem into final form: work on delivery and time (30 seconds at least).  Presentations begin on June 5 and carry over into June 6 and 7.

SOPHOMORES: We are continuing with the rough draft of your research paper.  The rough draft of the paper is due Friday, June 1.  Don't forget that included in this assignment are: a works cited page, parenthetical documentation in your paper, and a visual component (meaning pictures, not words).

SENIORS: Today is the due date for your slam poem rough draft, which is worth 500 points, all or nothing.  The rest of the class meetings will be dedicated to finalizing your slam poem and working on your presentation (presentation days are June 5, 6, &7).

SOPHOMORES:  Still working on the rough draft of your research papers (due this Friday, June 1).  We also learned about parenthetical documentation.

SENIORS: Hey, you survived! Congratulations!  Now we can focus full-time on the slam poem.  Your rough draft is due when we come back on Tuesday and it is worth 500 points, all or nothing.  Have a nice break, and I'll see you on Tuesday!

SOPHOMORES: We continued work on the research paper.  Remember to type it in Googledocs so you can share it with me and I can make comments on it that will help you.  The rough draft is due June 1. Here is the rubric for this final assignment: Written (in Googledocs with a Works Cited page)=100 points; Presentation (not read, but presented with note cards)=200; and Visuals (poster board)=50 points, (power point or prezi)=100 points.

SENIORS: Break a leg!  I know you'll do fine with your presentations today.  Just be yourself !

SOPHOMORES: Look over your first paragraph; if you've started it off with something like "I want to be a lawyer," you'll need to revise it.  Your career choice is actually your thesis statement, so that comes at the end of the paragraph.  Focus the beginning of the paragraph on what drew you to this career, is it a family occupation, is it something you want for yourself or is it something your parents want for you.  If you run out of ideas, do some research and add some background history of this career.  Has it been around for centuries (such as acting) or is it relatively new (something technology based)?  Don't forget to share it with me through Googledocs.  Remember that there is a visual element to this assignment.

SENIORS: Focus on the rough draft of your slam poem; it is due 5/29.  I'm giving it a point value of 500, and it's all or nothing; meaning, I get a complete rough draft and you get 500 points--I don't get a complete rough draft and you get nothing.

SOPHOMORES: We began the research paper by writing the introductory paragraph as listed in the Research Paper Outline Handout.  Make sure you write it in Googledocs and share it with me today.

SENIORS: We are now focusing exclusively on the slam poem; I am no longer accepting any other work.  You should have 3 webs completed (3 Things I Know to be True).  From those webs, one should stand out to you as the subject matter for your slam poem.  This assignment is going to be worth a LOT of points, so don't procrastinate.  Here is the rubric: written-100 points; 3 literary devices present and identified-100 points; at least 30 seconds long-100 points; presented with feeling-100 points; EXTRA CREDIT memorized- 100 points.  Presentations will be begin on June 5 and carry on through June 7.  I will ask for volunteers and then randomly pick names.  If you tell me you're not ready, you will receive an F.

SOPHOMORES: Besides Grammar 25, you had some time to browse careers; at the end of the period, you were to tell me what career you planned to research for your paper.  I also collected notebooks for a notebook check.

SENIORS: Today is the LAST DAY I will look at your resume and/or cover letter.  If you want feedback, if you want these documents to look good for your portfolio, then share them with me (or give me a hard copy) TODAY!  If you are done with portfolio work, find your song lyrics (if you haven't given them to me already), and finish the webs on "3 Things I Know to be True" so I can collect them on Tuesday.

SOPHOMORES: We've resumed the Grammar exercises (today's is number 24) and began work on our last unit for the year, a research paper about a career you'd like to have.  Start off by answering the following questions in your notebook: 1. What does it mean to have a dream job?  2. Is a dream job realistic? (If yes, say why; if no, say why).  3. What jobs does society value and how do you know?  4. Does it matter to you if society doesn't value your dream job?  5. What if you don't get your dream job?

SENIORS: We finished Louder Than a Bomb.  Make sure you write in your notebook which poet resonated with you the most and why.  Also, for Monday, bring your webs on Three Things I know Are True.
I'm still missing resumes and cover letters from many of you.  PLEASE don't wait until the last minute do get these done!

SOPHOMORES: Debates are over!  Make sure you bring your notebook to class on Monday as I will be doing a notebook check.

SENIORS: We're watching Louder Than a Bomb.  The purpose is to connect with one of the students and write about why that student resonated with you; was it their background, the subject matter of their poems, their style?  What did they write that was memorable?  Why was it memorable?
Homework: Resume, Cover Letter, Song Lyrics, and a complete web for each one of the Three Things I Know to be True that you began in your notebook.

SOPHOMORES: Debates are still in session, so make sure you show up with all of your research and your completed index cards.

SENIORS: We're catching up on missing work, whether it's for your portfolio presentation or for class.  You can check your grade on Student Connect to see what you are missing.  Please be aware that time is running out on the portfolio work, so don't procrastinate.  I need time to look at your work and make comments; you need time to make corrections, and all this needs to be done before May 24.

SOPHOMORES: We are continuing with our debates.  Make sure you show up with all of your paperwork and note cards.  Take the time tonight to practice what you're going to say so you can speak with confidence.

SENIORS: We concentrated on two slampoems presented by Rudy Franscisco, Immortality and Big Saturday Night.  For the latter, the focus was on observations (written in your notebook) of how his physicality (his actions) help or hinder the meaning of his words.  For the former, there was a handout in which 2 sets of observations were made: what did you notice when you saw Rudy present, and what did you notice that was different when all you could do was hear him speak.
Also, many of you still haven't turned in your song lyrics.  You can print them out or write them by hand, but turn them in!

SOPHOMORES: We spent the class period putting the finishing touches on the debate paperwork.  Tomorrow we debate!

SENIORS: We watched Sarah Kay present two of her slampoems: Toothbrush to the Bicycle Tire and If I Had a Daughter.  In your notebook, write down your observations of her presentation style, content, and audience reaction; also, write down 3 things that you know are true.  These 3 things can be anything: a person, a thing, an idea, an experience, whatever.  The purpose for doing this is so you might have something to start off your own slampoem.

SOPHOMORES: You should be transferring your information from the debate outline handout to index cards.  Study your evidence and study what you think your opponents will say so you can refute them.  The debates will take place on Wednesday, so make sure you're in class: your partner depends on you being here!

SENIORS: We finished the literary terms handout, watched the video of Rudy Franscisco presenting his slam poem, Love Poem Medley, and found examples of the literary terms in a transcript of that poem.  The homework, due Monday, is to bring a print-out of the lyrics of a song you like.  Keep it high school appropriate.

SOPHOMORES: Monday we will transfer your information/evidence/arguments to index cards, so come to class with all of your evidence sheets and the debate outline handout filled out.

SENIORS: Due to my computer having "issues," today was a catch-up day: many of you still owe me a cover letter and/or a resume.  You need hard copies of these documents, they need to look good, and time is running out.

SOPHOMORES:  Today you worked in your debate groups, figuring out who was presenting in what order and determining what evidence you are going to use.  We will continue with this tomorrow.

SENIORS: We watched the video of Adam Gottlieb presenting his Slampoem, "Poet Breathe Now."  After watching, we wrote what we noticed (word choice, literary devices, physicality) in our notebooks.  We also did group work, finding examples of different literary devices and writing them down on a handout.  If you were absent, see me for the handout.

SOPHOMORES: You need to finish both of the evidence handouts (you've been working on them for 2 days) tonight so that tomorrow you can get into your debate groups and get started on the next phase of the debate unit. 

SENIORS: If you still have resume or cover letters to do, that is now homework that you can still send to me for credit.  Wednesday we get into POETRY SLAM!

SOPHOMORES: We're still pulling evidence from the 4 articles you found for your debate topic.  Work on that as homework tonight if you feel you won't finish at the end of the period tomorrow.

SENIORS: Many of you have submitted resumes and cover letters that still need work (a.k.a. revision).  We will continue this work today and tomorrow only, then we will launch into the poetry slam unit.

SOPHOMORES: We are working on finding articles for your debate topic; you need at least 4.  Once the articles are found, we will pull information from them, annotating them for evidence, types of evidence, types of appeals, and pro/con argument.

SENIORS: Have fun, wherever you are!

SOPHOMORES: The ever-popular CSTs continue!  Keep working on annotating the article about surgery for obese teens.  Identity and label types of evidence and types of appeals.