Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Language of Composition Reading Assignment

Read Mark Twain's "Corn-Pone Opinions" pages 717-722 and answer
Questions for Discussion #1 and Questions on Rhetoric and Style #'s 2, 5, 7, and 11. Due Wednesday, 8 December (immediately upon entering the classroom-I will not accept it late-do not ask to go "anywhere" so you can "print a hard-copy" of the assignment).

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Schedule for Week of 29 November

D-Band- Monday, 29 November: Turn-in Print AD Project-I will not accept it late-so do not make any excuses. You had ample time to complete this assignment. You do not need your textbook today. Complete reading of The Great Gatsby for Thursday's class.

A and B Bands, 30 November: Read statement above.

A, B, and D Bands, 1 December: Textbook not required. Bring The Great Gatsby to class on Thursday and Friday.

A, B, and D Bands, 2 December: Group Test for The Great Gatsby (chapters 6 and 7) : Open book
I will assign the groups.

A, B, and D Bands, 3 December: Final Test: The Great Gatsby (chapters 7, 8 and 9)
You must complete the test during the class period; you will not be permitted to complete the test after school.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Disappearing Test Papers

FYI: At the end of each band on Friday, 19 November, I counted the number of test papers. Much to my chagrin, THREE papers turned-up missing at the end of B-Band. (Immediately after everyone left the classroom, I recounted the papers.) Amazingly, Test A, Test B, and Test C turned up missing-apparently, the individual(s) involved in this serious infraction did not read the earlier post on the consequences of an act of this nature.

Furthermore, I have additional news about a "missing" resource that I will share with you when your class meets. Serious consequences are in store for the guilty individual(s). If I had the power, the individual involved in the disappearing test papers and the "missing" resource would immediately receive a 55 for the class and be dropped from AP English Language and Composition. But I do have the "power" to enter a grade of 55 for the second-marking period!

Schedule for Week of 22 November

D Band-Monday, 22 November- Turn in Questions on Rhetoric and Style AND the Writing assignment (see earlier post). You are not required to bring in any of the texts. We will continue Syntax Analysis from last week.

A and B Bands-Tuesday, 23 November-Turn in Questions on Rhetoric and Style (see earlier post). You are not required to bring in any of the texts. You will complete a DCQ in response to a quote.

A, B, and D Bands-Wednesday, 24 November-We will discuss The Great Gatsby Chapter 3-5 test. Bring the text-do not ask to go to your locker for it.

NOTE: It has becoming increasing obvious that many of you are not using the resources on nicenet.org nor on this blog to further your understanding of rhetoric. Furthermore, I find it rather disturbing that many of you are not studying SAT vocabulary on your own. We will do something about this shortly. By now, you should be working on becoming a "self-directed" learner. Your college professors expect this from their students.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Schedule for Week of 15 November

Monday, 15 November: D-Band-Bring The Great Gatsby text (Keep in mind the "new" policy) Homework: TBA + Read Chapters 3, 4 and 5-Test Friday

Tuesday, 16 November: A and B Bands-Bring The Great Gatsby text (Keep in mind the "new" policy) Homework: TBA + read Chapters 3, 4, and 5-Test Friday

Essential Question: To what extent does pop culture reflect our society's values? (Chapter 11)

Wednesday, 17 November: Bring to class The Language of Composition textbook.

Thursday, 18 November: All Bands-Bring your loose-leaf binder-you will find out why I am specifically directing you to do so.

Read High-School Confidential: Notes on Teen Movies and answer Questions on Rhetoric and Style on page 715 (1-12) DUE Monday-D-Band and on Tuesday for A and B Bands. Also, for D-Band:Respond to Question #1 on page 716 (DCQ)-DUE Monday-22 November.


Friday, 19 November: TEST-Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of The Great Gatsby

A Flashback NOT a Timeswitch:

While engaging in cardio-exercise on the elliptical, listening to music on my i-pod, watching a college football game on a monitor (Saturday afternoon at approximately 1:30), I had a "flash-back" regarding the "situation" described in an earlier post. (Note the absence of conjunctions?) The image involved two "table-mates" finishing their test in less than ten-minutes-both scoring a 100%. Surely, there were others who completed the test similarly, undetected by Diedrich. I wonder if this is another clue...

Diedrich is so amazing-while typing the "Schedule for Week of 15 November," he recalled that the table-mates described above did not open their text. How is that possible OR is it? I wonder if this is another clue...

The Great Gatsby Test Results: Chapter 1 and 2

A-Band: Mean-50.21
B-Band: Mean-50.48
D-Band: Mean-82.72 (7-100; 6-93.33; 4-86.67...)
Remarkable! Remarkable? Remarkable...
(Note the punctuations - rhetoricians)
I have my suspicions that will be shared when the classes meet on Monday (D-Band) and on Tuesday (A and B Bands)

PLAGIARISM includes the giving and receiving of information. Ironically, in this case, the "giver" does poorly and the "receiver" does well! Unfortunately, I am only able to surmise what had transpired on Friday, without specifically identifying the individual(s) involved in providing the test data to others. My investigation should be concluded by the start of classes on Monday.

This is a serious violation of The NYC DOE Disciplinary Code of Conduct! I will notify the parents of those involved, their classroom teachers, the school's administrators, the Dean's Office (for possible suspension), the College Office (a letter will be placed in your file) and finally, if you are involved in an extra-curricular activity (SING, sports, etc) I will insist upon your removal! THIS IS NOT A JOKE!

Why does Diedrich find the following so appealing?

West Point's Cadet Honor Code reads simply that "A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."

CHEATING: A violation of cheating would occur if a Cadet fraudulently acted out of self-interest or assisted to do so with the intent to gain or to give an unfair advantage. Cheating includes such acts as plagiarism (presenting someone else's ideas, words, data, or work as one's own without documentation), misrepresentation (failing to document the assistance of another in the preparation , revision, or proofreading of an assignment), and using unauthorized notes.

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Schedule for Week of 8 November

NOTE: Underclass Pictures: D-Band-Monday/B-Band Tuesday/A-Band Wednesday-Report directly to class-do not ask to use the restroom to brush your hair and/or to put on make-up!

Monday, 8 November: D-Band-Bring your textbook to class. We will discuss "Women's Brains" and the Print AD Project.

NOTE TO ALL CLASSES: Amazingly, too many students have not yet opened up the link posted on the blog describing this project. Bring selected Print AD to class on Friday-I will record the title for my records.

Tuesday, 9 November: A and B Bands-Bring your textbook. See D-Band above for class activity.

Wednesday, 10 November: ALL Bands-You do NOT have to bring your textbook today. Class Activity: TBA

Friday, 12 November: ALL Bands-Bring The Great Gatsby text to class. Be prepared for a test on Chapters 1 and 2 (15 questions/15 minutes) "No, you may not re-take it if you receive a low grade!

Questions on Rhetoric and Style

When responding to any question on rhetoric and style, one must include specific textual references (concrete details) in support of a response. I am puzzled by why so many of you are neglecting to do this-reflect back over what your English 9 and English 10 teachers emphasized. In addition, why would one include a definition of a rhetorical device? Recall what I told you-the AP Readers know the meaning-so why include it? I certainly appreciate how insightful many of you have been in formulating your responses, but without specific references to text-an optimal grade can not be earned.

"A Flapper's Appeal to Parents"

http://faculty.pittstate.edu/~knichols/flapperappeal.html
Read this interesting "letter" in order to gain an understanding of a different sub-culture.

NOTE: To open-you may have to right click-"open in new window."

Thursday, November 4, 2010

A Textbook Reminder

Friday, 5 November: Bring textbook to class-also assignment for "Women's Brains" is also due!

Textbook Policy

Effective Immediately: Since too many students are neglecting to bring the textbook to class as directed, I will begin assigning a question listed under "Suggestions for Writing" to those neglectful students. Furthermore, these students will NOT be permitted to "share" the textbook with their table-mate. In fact, they will be asked to sit in the back of the classroom. Bringing the required materials to class is part of your class participation grade and your class activity grade and your homework assignment grade! (Name that rhetorical device.)

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

A Revised English Regents

http://www.nysedregents.org/ComprehensiveEnglish/english-sampler-2010.pdf

Review the new format-you will discover the modifications.

You will no longer be scheduled for two days of testing which I am sure is a relief to all.

All Juniors will take this examination in January 2011

Originally, I posted this link in August (reference to the class blog appeared on the summer school reading assignment handout). Amazingly, the majority of students were absolutely "clueless" about the new format!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

WARNING!

BE ADVISED: IF AN ASSIGNMENT IS TURNED IN WITHOUT A HEADING AND WITHOUT SPACES BETWEEN EACH RESPONSE, Diedrich will return it to you to make the necessary correction(s) AND he will penalize you one-full letter grade! He is outraged by the quality of work being submitted in an Advanced Placement class. Amazingly, everyone thinks they deserve an "A."

Your assignments should be word-processed and not written in PENCIL!

He is also outraged by the number of students who did not take the time to read the Grammar as Rhetoric and Style (pages 339-342) prior to working on Exercises 1, 2, 3, and 5. The grading of these exercises has been time consuming-most grades:D-F!