ELA in Room 305

Farewell!

2008-09-04T19:57:00.001-04:00

I wish all of you the best of luck in your future endeavors, and make sure to drop me a line to inform me of your educational success. I have decided to seek new opportunities outside of the Buffalo Public School district, but can be reached via email (mrmalley04@yahoo.com). Better yet, befriend me on Facebook.

It's been a pleasure teaching all of you and good luck in all that you do.

To anyone outside of class who has been checking in on what we're doing, I am retiring this site, as I'm no longer tangibly in room 305 (although spiritually I will always be there...or something like that). If you like the kind of stuff my kids did, stop back. I'll be posting links to my new classroom blogs in the coming months.

Questions? Problems? Concerns?

2008-06-25T14:51:00.003-04:00

Seeking guidance? Use the comment section of this post for any questions related to class and I will respond promptly or address the question in class.

Exhibitions

2008-05-27T08:03:00.002-04:00

Between June 4th - 11th you will be presenting an exhibition of your knowledge/learning/understanding you gained from your inquiry project. You will select a date tomorrow.

As I've said before, I expect your exhibitions to be a creative repackaging of the ideas and essence of your project. Look to the last post for ideas, but I do not expect, nor would I encourage, you to stand in front of the class empty handed and talk at us for five minutes.

Senior Inquiry Project - Exhibition Ideas

2008-05-13T14:02:00.002-04:00

Today in class we discussed your ideas about your exhibition. Here are the ideas you came up with. Make sure this says at the top of your "to do" list. If the print is too small, you can look over the outline form right here.

Drum Roll Please! Final Reflection

2008-05-12T08:50:00.004-04:00

Comments are Back in Business!

2008-05-06T08:32:00.002-04:00

Hello folks. Back by popular demand! COMMENTS! You are required to make five comments between now and Friday, May 24th. Keep me posted on the bulletin board by highlighting the appropriate space on the checklist.

Note: These comments are to be about content and ideas, not observations about grammar/spelling/punctuation. If you find that one of your peers have made a comment based on mechanical concerns notify me right away so that I can rectify the situation.

Effective Searching

2008-05-05T08:19:00.001-04:00

Fine Tuning Your Blog

2008-04-28T23:12:00.001-04:00

This Week - Editing Workshop

2008-04-22T08:07:00.003-04:00

This week we're going to look at your first posts about your research process. I'm going to assign ten of you to copy and paste your week one process post to ~~Google docs~~ and print out five copies.

Sign in to Blogger
Open Microsoft Word
Find your 2nd blog about your research.
Copy the text from your blog and paste it into Microsoft Word
Print five copies to the library: the printer with WCP55 in the title. If you can fit multiple copies of your post on one page, do so to save paper.

Infotrac

2008-04-22T07:58:00.003-04:00

The BPS pays for student access to Infotrac. It is advisable that you familiarize yourself with using a database as you will do much college research in this medium. Here are some advantages to using this database:

hundreds of thousands of articles from magazines, reputable journals, newspapers, and other sources.
search terms are not limited or blocked
articles have been reviewed to ensure accuracy

When you use Infotrac, you have to choose a different citation form on the Citation Machine. Choose "Work from a Subscription Service Accessed through a Library - one or more authors
Author." It is under "Non-print" but you must choose to view more sources.

Citation Machine Instructional Video

2008-04-20T22:29:00.012-04:00

Hey folks. If you're checking this from school today (Monday), then right on! Take today to work on the blog post that is due today. I'll see you tomorrow.

Hey, if you are having trouble adding an annotation, then check out this video! I made it last night.

MLA Citation Practice

2008-04-14T22:03:00.006-04:00

Barack Obama article from Rolling Stone

Directions:
1. Go to Room 305.
2. Open up a new tab. Sign in to blogger, and create a new post.
3. Put the following information:

The names of both people in your pair.
Use the Son of citation machine to create MLA style citations for the following articles (open each in a new tab)

Publish that post.

(You should have a total of five tabs open: Rm305, a new blog post, the citation generator, and the two articles.)

Senior Inquiry Project - The Body Section

2008-04-13T22:27:00.003-04:00

Next Monday, your 1st blog report on your research is due. Here are two samples of the type of writing that goes into the body section.

From Jessica's paper on self mutilation:

Our English 4 teacher Mr. Malley introduced InfoTrac Novel Database to my class and that is where my research began. I found out that this site was very easy to use and filled with information I needed to answer my question. In an article I found by Pamela Daniel, she explains that the body releases body chemicals called endorphins that give the self-mutilator a feeling of well-being. This good feeling the person experiences does not last long, and this is why I think that people may hurt themselves more. Daniel answered my question in more than one way. She stated that someone might self-harm to stop feeling rage, loneliness, being numb inside, or emotionless. Some may feel that they need to release all the tension they keep bottled up deep down inside. Many people that self-harm like the sight of their blood or like picking at their scabs and having it leave a mark on their body. An alternative method mentioned in this article is to draw on yourself with a red marker or tempera paint. If you are one of those people who likes to pick at scabs and never let them heal, then you should purchase a henna tattoo kit. As many people know, a henna tattoo kit allows to make a temporary tattoo that stays on longer than a .50-cent tattoo. When you place the henna provided on your body and pick at it, it will leave a red-orange mark on your body like a scab would (Daniel).

From my paper on Mark Twain:

So, I began my search at my computer. It was a simple method. I went to Yahoo and typed in “Mark Twain humor.” I clicked on the second result, which led me to The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. In 1998 The Kennedy Center established the “Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.” The center, which proclaims itself “the nation’s busiest arts facility,” celebrates, in the words of John F. Kennedy, Americans’ “contribution(s) to the human spirit” (“Welcome”). Their prize is given annually “to honor the brilliant minds that elbow American culture to see if it's still alive—and make us laugh about it” (“Mark Twain Prize”). The site celebrates Twain’s humor:

For a man who gleefully named characters Spinal Meningitis Snodgrass or Huckleberry, Mark Twain was always painfully aware of what he called "the baseness and hypocrisy and cruelties" of the human race. Twain's humor was always a thin veil, if any, of his social criticisms. His fearless observations outraged many while delighting many more.

Although not a prerequisite for winning the award, the description, on three different occasions, reference not simple humor, but a socially conscious humor. Past winners of the award seem to reflect this. The first winner was Richard Pryor, a comic known for both his profanity laced tirades and social criticism. A few weeks ago, I caught one of performances at around 2 a. m. on Comedy Central. Even though the show was taped over twenty years ago, Pryor’s humor was still relevant to today’s society. When accepting the Twain award, he stated "I feel great about accepting this prize. It is nice to be regarded on par with a great white man…Seriously, though, two things people throughout history have had in common are hatred and humor. I am proud that, like Mark Twain, I have been able to use humor to lessen people’s hatred!"
The other winners have similar comedic styles. Past winners include Whoopi Goldberg and Lorne Michaels, two artists who also use humor to draw attention to hypocrisy and the ills of society. Goldberg recently annoyed Republicans everywhere while unleashing a profanity-laced diatribe against George W. Bush. Michaels, 2004 winner and creator/executive producer of Saturday Night Live, has established the careers of dozens of comic superstars. People such as Dan Akroyd, Chevy Chase, Eddie Murphy, Chris Rock, and Dennis Miller have built careers on the social and political humor employed by that show. It seems that this award focuses on a certain part of Twain’s comic repertoire, political and social satire. When I originally conceived of this I-search topic, the main humorous sources that reminded me of Twain were Jon Stewart’s the Daily Show, Dave Barry’s columns, and The Onion. All three share this socially critical style.

Introductory Post

2008-04-10T08:22:00.006-04:00

Today, we have two goals:

Task One: I would each of you to write down your essential question, name, and period number and staple it to my bulletin board. Feel free to make it look nice. Doodle if you want. It's for a display.

Task Two: Today you are working on your introductory blog post. Follow the format:

How did you become interested in the topic?
What did you know before?
What is your essential question? Foundation questions.
This is due by Monday. But, class time Monday will be spent talking about the middle section of the project.

Carefully consider your blog post title. Use a title and a subtitle. The title should be related to your topic and the subtitle should be something like "Before the Search."

My initial post might (will) read "Developing My Personal Learning Network: Before The Search"

Here are the links to the introductory sections we read yesterday.

Introductory Section Brainstorming

2008-04-08T12:35:00.001-04:00

(Thanks Gerry B.)

Developing Your Essential Question and Foundation Question

2008-04-06T21:56:00.004-04:00

Hmmmm....

2008-04-04T23:09:00.002-04:00

Getting to Know Inquiry

2008-04-03T22:02:00.002-04:00

Today we're going to listen to an episode of Radiolab, a podcast published by WNYC. Radiolab is a show that inquires into different themes and topics, much like I'm asking you to do. Today I want you to listen to get a sense of what inquiry is.

But first, these three questions

This is a free podcast offered through iTunes. If you like what you've heard, check 'em out.

Senior Inquiry Project Materials

2008-04-02T23:16:00.001-04:00

Further Brainstorming Assignment

2008-04-01T07:54:00.000-04:00

Senior Inquiry Project

2008-03-30T20:07:00.001-04:00

Movie Trailers

2008-03-19T08:59:00.002-04:00

ALL Videos are up!

Period One
Class Day - Extraordinary Voices in Room 305

War Fiction Trailer - School Prisoners

Who Killed John Rogers? - One Man and Five Secrets

Gothic Literature - Lecture Ignored

Period 4/5
Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar? - Education For Eternity

Horror - Wudd If?

Memoir - United Learners

African American Literature - Minds of Chained Teenagers

Horror - BARP

Horror - Ruff Writers

Starship Enterprise - Pathological English

Period 6/7
Fantasy Genre - Kielbasa, Potatoes, and Everything Else in the Stew

Buster the Clown - Determined Motivated Speakers

Hubris and Spice's young adult literature film can be found on their website.

Mystery - Raven's Nest

Young Adult Literature - Editor's Post

Period 9
The Killings of Craig Blitzer

Mystery - Chin High

Classy Never Trashy's young adult literature film can be found on their website.

Young Adult Literature - Classy Never Trashy II

Young Adult Literature - Poetry Prodigies

Sports Nonfiction - Hold That Dictionary

Young Adult Fiction - MOTA

Screening

2008-03-14T08:18:00.002-04:00

Today we will be screening our movies. First we'll talk about the rubric:

Then, each group is responsible for introducing their project. Please share the following:
* your genre
* the books you read
* anything else you need to do to set up your film
* no self criticism!

Finally, we're going to discuss the films based on the following format:

T - tell about something in the film you liked
A - sk a question about techniques or meaning
G - ive advice

Movie Trailer Project Assessment Time

2008-03-12T08:48:00.003-04:00

Here are the materials I am using to assess your involvement in the movie project/genre study independent reading project:

1960's Heisman winner Reniya.

2008-02-28T08:37:00.002-05:00

Film Your Issue

2008-02-27T20:43:00.003-05:00

This via email:

Film Your Issue Global Competition
High School and College Students Invited to Create Short Films for FYI -

USA Today, the United Nations, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and
other organizations and media leaders have joined forces to engage young
adults (14-24) in contributing to the public dialogue on pressing social
issues using the power of the Internet and user-generated content.

In its 4th year, FYI - Film Your Issue has grown into a global
Internet-based competition that invites high school and college students in
the United States and around the world to express themselves on pressing
contemporary issues by creating and uploading short two-minute films on
issues that impact them and their generation.

Beginning February 15, films can be uploaded to multiple participating
platforms, including MTV, YouTube, and American Film Institute Screen
Nation, as well as promoted on MySpace TV.

Awards and prizes include internships at USA Today, the United Nations, the
award-winning PBS Series "P.O.V.", and the Humane Society of the United
States; a $5,000 college scholarship from the Gates Foundation; having your
film broadcast on Starz; having entries distributed by the Associated Press
to its 1,800 Online Video Network media outlets; being profiled on MTV News
and presented at the NAACP annual conference; VIP Pass/film presentation at
AFI Silverdocs; the Walter Cronkite Civic Engagement Leadership Award and
Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award; and many more.

Visit the program's Web site for complete program information, filmmaking
tips, and full descriptions of the program's awards and prizes.

Moving Pictures

2008-02-26T21:47:00.002-05:00

Vincent and Kearia looking for breadcrumbs.

Marlene capturing footage of a good young adult gone bad.

Buster the Clown autograph session.

Luis the interloper.

Holy cow...did the earth move? Productivity from Dictionary!

Pics from filming

2008-02-25T10:39:00.002-05:00

I've been trying to snap some pictures of you guys working the last few days. Here's a few:

We promise you that no one was harmed during the shooting of this film.

Now that's what I call working towards good shot composition.

Checking the footage.

Canisius Poetry Presentation

2008-02-25T10:37:00.001-05:00

Today Sababu Norris brought in his squad of poetry performers. Here's some pics. Click to enlarge.

Genre Movie Trailer Rubric

2008-02-25T10:27:00.002-05:00

Today we're going to stop for a second to take a quick look at the evaluation tool I am giving you.

Oh Wow!

2008-02-20T22:50:00.002-05:00

Now it's even easier to find new posts on other student's blogs. Check out the new widgets I've added to the sidebar. When you post, my sidebar is updated.

Food for thought: Give a catchy a title to your post to see if it attracts more comments.

Tidbits

2008-02-20T08:00:00.003-05:00

I want to address a few things with you this morning.

1. I will accept no late blog postings after Tuesday, February 26th. At midnight, those little horsies turn into pumpkins.

2. I love the comments so far. Here is an exchange that I was especially impressed with. Also, there is an interesting exchange going on with someone from outside McKinley right here. Don't feel the need to praise. Try to stick to the question the writer raises. If a writer doesn't raise a question, avoid responding to that post.

3. Don't lose points for stupid reasons. Again, there is a specific format I want you to follow:

Title Field: Post Title
Blog Post Field: Title, Author
Pages Read
Response

Here is a response utilizing the ideal format.

4. Some of you folks are reverting to plot summary. Choose a question from the response prompts linked to your blogs.

Hard at Work

2008-02-13T14:52:00.001-05:00

Saw an interesting site today. Here's Kaysha setting up a shot with Brittany and Ladazia while Ashley takes charge of holding up the sheet. Nice work gals!

Commenting on Your Peers' Posts

2008-02-07T22:18:00.001-05:00

Hey folks, just a quick reminder. I am not asking you to comment on other people's posts for the purpose for evaluating them. You need not point out spelling or grammar mistakes.

What I'd like you to do is wrestle with the ideas expressed. Answer their question. Raise a question. But don't correct...people hate that (and that is coming from an English teacher!). I'd like us to focus on higher order concerns.

Lastly, if you'd like an easy way to find out who has recently posted on their blogs, you can do the following:

Download this XML file to your desktop.
Go to Google Reader
Make sure you're signed in to your Blogger/Google Account.
You should have a Google Reader account already. If not, accept one.
At the bottom of the column on the left side click on "Manage Subscriptions"
In the yellow toolbar click on "Import/Export"
"Choose File" and figure out where you saved it.
Upload it.
Oila. If you were successful, your Google Reader should now look like this.

Every time one of your peers publishes a post, it will be sucked (for lack of a better word) into your Google Reader. Now you can be kept up to date with what your fellow classmates are doing, and comment accordingly. You can also easily subscribe to other blogs, news feeds, etc.

Looking for Alaska

2008-02-07T20:05:00.000-05:00

Today I showed you John Green's response to a handful of Depew citizens' call to ban Looking for Alaska. If you're home, here's that video:

If you're interested, here's his website and here's that Nerdfighter's site. After all, these guys are made of awesome. Here's an article about the Nerdfighter's cause.

Digividra

2008-02-06T09:03:00.000-05:00

Here's that video we watched in class today.

Movie Trailer Project

2008-02-03T22:55:00.000-05:00

Over the next 2-3 weeks you will be using digital video cameras and iMovie to create movie trailers selling your genre. Here are the assignment sheets.

Here's a picture of the MPAA green screen. You can import it and use it as the first shot of your film. Click on the image to bring up the larger version. Then, right click (or option click) on image and save it to your desktop.

New Response Guidelines

2008-01-28T08:36:00.001-05:00

Due Dates
Blog Responses (Regular) - 2/1, 2/8, 2/14
Final Paper Due - Friday 2/22
Presentations - Adapting that into an iMovie project

Here are some examples of good responses thus far. They are in now way perfect, but they fall in the top percentage of good responses.

1st Response to the Genre Study

2008-01-16T08:36:00.001-05:00

Your first blog response to your book is due by Friday.

Start a new blog response for your new book. To begin the post, type your author's name, the title of the book, and the pages you've read so far. Then, write 175-225 words about your first impressions of the book. What have you noticed so far? Don't merely retell the plot...focus on something larger.

This is your first grade of the third quarter.

Group Blog Response

2008-01-15T09:11:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I asked you to blog a group response in the library. In case you didn't get to it, here are the guideline questions:

Why did your group choose to study that genre? In a larger sense, why do you think people read books in your genre? What types of things do you think that particular genre provides humanity?

Your Wikis

2008-01-15T08:39:00.001-05:00

I've constructed wiki pages for you. Find your period and blog name, click and add your content. Remember, you are to take the information you organized on Friday and transfer that to the wiki. If any of your group members were missing their research, that information must be added to the appropriate subheading.

Period One
One Man, Three Ladies - Mystery
Extraordinary Voices - Horror
Skool Prisoners - War Fiction
Fab Five + 1 - Sports Fiction
Lecture Ignored - Gothic

Period Four/Five
BARP - Genre Unknown
Education Four Eternity - Genre Unknown
Literature is Powerful - Genre Unknown
Minds of Chained Teenagers - Genre Unknown
Pathological English - Genre Unknown
Ruff Writers - Genre Unknown
United Learners - Genre Unknown
Wudd If - Genre Unknown

Period Six/Seven
Determined Motivated Speaders - Genre Unknown
Editor's Post - Genre Unknown
Hubris of Sugar and Spice - Genre Unknown
Kielbasa, Potatoes, and Everything Else in the Stew - Genre Unknown
Raven's Nest - Genre Unknown

Period Nine
Classy Never Trashy - Young Adult Literature
Hold Your Chin High - Mystery
Hold That Dictionary - Sports Fiction/Nonfiction
MOA(T) - Young Adult Literature
Poetry Prodigies - Young Adult Literature
The Despair of Craig Blitzer - Horror

Organizing Your Information

2008-01-11T08:06:00.000-05:00

Today you'll be assembling your blogmates information into a well organized, digestible form. Create subheadings (ex. Major Characteristics) and paraphrase your information under these subheadings.

Steps:
1. Read over the major guideline questions.
2. For each step, group members should look for relevant information.
3. Record the information until all information is exhausted.

Notes:

Not all information will be important, so don't feel you have to include all the information. Discuss the points. Figure out what's important.
Depending on the information you have found, you may have to create more subheadings than the guideline questions imply
Each group member must create their own sheet, but everyone should have the same information on their paper.
The paper you record information on today is a rough draft. Don't be afraid to cross out or draw arrows.

Starting your Research

2008-01-09T08:14:00.000-05:00

Today we're getting going on that wiki. I've prepared a sample wiki about the epic characteristics of the epic genre. It's a tad incomplete but it should give you an idea.

Today you are going to work in teams of two.
You and your partner are going to research the characteristics of your genre. Each pair must fill out a "researching for your wiki" worksheet.
On Friday you will with your blogmates, share research, and layout the information for your wiki.

Genre Study Project Materials

2008-01-08T10:23:00.000-05:00

This week we are embarking on a new project. Make sure that if you have a book from the library (or from my classroom library) that you return it immediately. We go back down to the library on Monday.

Adding Your Motto/Mission Statement to Your Sidebar

2008-01-07T10:38:00.000-05:00

While in "Page Elements," add a page element to your "Sidebar"
Choose "Text"
Type your motto or mission statement into "Content"
Save Changes
View your blog to make sure it worked

Uploading Your Comic Life Header

2008-01-07T08:16:00.001-05:00

After you have completed your header in Comic Life:

1. In the file menu choose "Export - Export to Image(s)
2. Save the file to your desktop

Then, sign in to Blogger

3. Under Layout (or Template), go to "Page Elements"
4. Find your header. If your template doesn't have a header, "pick a new template"
5. Click "Edit" your header
6. "Choose" a file from your computer. Find your header .gif
7. Choose placement "Instead of title and description"

Creating a Blog Header

2008-01-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

Today in class we entered into preliminary blog header design discussions. Today I expect you to work on your finished draft, be it photograph, multiple photographs, or drawing.

Directions for Using Comic Life:

Import your photos into iPhoto
Drag the photos to your desktop
Open Comic Life (App folder)
Look to the bottom of "Album" and choose finder. Find the desktop and select it.
Choose "Page Format" from the "file menu"
Change "Page Size" to "Customize Size (in points). Change the width to 660 and the height to 200
Change "Orientation" to "Landscape"
Play around and format your picture/pictures/text.

Set a Goal for Today

2007-12-18T08:37:00.001-05:00

On a 1/4 sheet of paper I'd like you to do the following:

1. Write down your goal for today.

Make it specific*, realistic, and with an eye on your overall weekly goals.

_________________________________________
* i.e. read two chapters OR write 1st draft OR write a response/read

Personal Essay

2007-12-18T08:30:00.000-05:00

Hey chums. I've been asked to write a personal essay for the Buffalo Public Schools English website that is being unveiled Friday (coincidentally, that's my birthday too). I had a number of questions to choose from, but I chose this one:

Did you always want to be a teacher when you grew up? What did you want to be instead?

If you'd like to take another look at a personal essay (we read the two My Turn essays from Newsweek), you can take a look at my essay here. Note that it is still a work in progress. I'd love to hear your comments if you have any feedback or constructive criticism. Use the comments section of this post to share your thoughts.

Lastly, Teen Ink has many personal essays/narratives/memoirs written by students. Check them out.

2007-12-12T08:33:00.000-05:00

"I don't know what happened to it, unless my cat took it, and it's just a kitten so I don't know if it can pick up a book."

Uploaded with Skitch!

John G.
1st Period
- Attempting to come to terms with how his copy
of The Things They Carried disappeared after
he fell asleep reading earlier this week.

Adding Links to the Sidebar

2007-12-11T22:37:00.000-05:00

Today we're going to try to accomplish three extra things. I'd like you to grant all members of your blog (myself included) full administrative privileges.

Secondly, I'd like you to add two links to your blog's sidebar.

Element Title: Important Links
URL #1: http://rm305.blogspot.com
Link Title #1: Mr. Malley's Class Blog:

URL #2: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhtdpk4z_214f67mfm
Link Title #2: Response Questions

Today's Tasks

2007-12-11T08:36:00.001-05:00

Hello folks. Today we are going to be entering THE WORKSHOP ZONE! I expect you to be working arduously to complete the assigned tasks, well.

1. Essay introduced yesterday.
2. Blog Responses
3. Reading Novel
4. Adding Links to the Sidebar

We Probably Need a Welcome Mat

2007-12-10T22:46:00.000-05:00

I was just looking over the data that Google analytics churns out for me (something I'll show you how to do soon) and I was surprised at the following map. Since October 1st we've received over 1000 visits from 34 countries.

Recently we've added visitors from Taiwan, Kenya, the Phillipines, Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Serbia/Montenegro and Singapore. Interesting stuff, although I'm not sure why.

Tech! Huh! What is it good for!

2007-12-10T08:12:00.000-05:00

Open your notebook to the next blank page. Skip a line. Then, copy and answer the following question.

How do you see yourself/rate yourself in the current landscape of technology? Please explain.

Essay Assignment: Due Friday, 12/21

2007-12-09T22:24:00.001-05:00

Oops. The assignment should read "In what ways have recent advances in social and communication technology ~~technological innovations~~ affected your life?" I'll fix that typo later.

2nd Response

2007-12-06T12:07:00.001-05:00

For your second response...I'd like you to think back on the parts of the book you've read already. Then, look over the list of prompts I gave you in class yesterday. Choose one, and answer the question in 175-250 words.

Homework Schedule

2007-12-04T22:34:00.001-05:00

The homework schedule in the sidebar has been updated.

Also, regarding those of you who have finished your novel, you have a choice.

Choice One: Choose another book. Read it. Finish it by break and I'll give you 25 extra credit points. This will be 1.75-2 points on your second quarter average. Read another one and I'll double it. Write your responses to the new book, the old book, or a pleasant mix.

Choice Two: Be a bum. Write your responses to the book you've finished and go back and mine for responses.

What Am I Supposed to Write About?

2007-12-04T22:21:00.000-05:00

You're going to have to change the way that you do responses, as you now have a real audience beyond me. Essentially, you are writing for the following:

your blogmates
your peers - I will be asking your peers to comment on your responses
your teacher
your parents, your community members
the world

Just keep it in mind. What do you have to consider when writing for your group mates as an audience? Do you need to tailor your information in a certain way? Include contextual information they'd need to know? How can you make sure your writing is interesting to read?

To help you get started, I've collected a list of questions and prompts that might get you started on a response.

Lastly, the question of length. As we move throughout the year I am going to expect that your responses grow in development and sophistication. For blog reponses, I'm looking for responses in the 175-250 word range. In layman's terms, 3/4 to 1 full page if typed and double spaced.

Your 1st Post!

2007-12-03T08:06:00.000-05:00

Today in class we will be posting to our blogs. To keep things simple, this first post will be a kind of introductory thing. Here's what I'd like each of you to write (make sure it is under your own display name):

In 2-3 sentences, give us a taste of the book. What is the title? Who is the author? What is the "gist"? (It's about a girl who...)
In a separate paragraph of 2-3 sentences, finish this sentence: One thing I like (or don't like) about the book so far is...

Creating Your Blog

2007-11-28T12:20:00.000-05:00

As you come in, meet with your group. Make sure that your blog title is free of errors. Make sure your eventual URL is short and memorable.

Today we are going to:

1. Create a blog.
2. Choose a template.
3. Add authors
4. Add Mr. Malley as an author (jcmalley@buffaloschools.org)
5. Add your quotation as a page element

Tonight each of you must:
* check your email and accept the invitation to join the blog. This should be the last time you have to use email in this process.

Newsweek Perusal

2007-11-28T08:11:00.000-05:00

We will be getting a regular subscription to Newsweek. Today I'd like you to browse through the November 26th issue. Take a 30-40 minutes. Read a few articles. Browse at your own pace. When you are finished, I'd like you to use the comments section on this post and share a little about one thing you've read.

Step One: If there are any comments posted by your peers, read them.
Step Two: If the comments involve the article you've read, feel free to respond to your peer.
Step Three: If there are no comments, share a little bit about the article. One or two sentences summing the article up, and 2-3 sentences about something you found to be interesting.

This is a 25 point assignment.

Email Me!

2007-11-21T13:42:00.000-05:00

Remember, your homework for Thanksgiving break is as follows:

1. Sign up for an email account, if you do not already have one. Yahoo and Google both offer great email services that are free and have many free services. Google would work best as you'd have a shortcut for the next step.

2. Sign up for a Google Docs account.

3. Check your email. Click on the Google Account verification email.

4. Send me an email at mrmalley04@yahoo.com or jcmalley@buffaloschools.org. Let me know that you've successfully signed up for both and include your name.

Enjoy the turkey.

7th Annual Day Before Thanksgiving Riddle Challenge

2007-11-20T20:59:00.000-05:00

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Last year a record fell. This year I've added questions and revamped the whole process. Here are the rules:
No groups of more than four
No cheatin'
No cheatin'
No cheatin'
One answer sheet per group

Working diligently on this task will get you 25/25.
Breaking the all time record will get you 50/25.
Coming in first place, but not breaking the all time record, will net you 40/25.
Coming in second place will net you 35/25 points.
Coming in 3rd place will net you 30/25 points.

Opening Activity 11/20

2007-11-20T10:43:00.001-05:00

Open your notebook to the next blank page. Then, describe this scene in one sentence that employs at least two vivid, descriptive details.

Mix and Match Day

2007-11-14T15:30:00.000-05:00

You guys clash so well it's almost natural.

Quarter One Grades

2007-11-13T22:52:00.001-05:00

Here are your grades for the 1st quarter. Remember, look to the grade report I gave to you a few weeks ago. Your ID# can be found in the upper right hand corner.

Period One
Period 4/5

Period 6/7

Period Nine

Opening Activity

2007-11-09T08:16:00.000-05:00

In your notebook, skip a line and label this entry

"The Real Prompt #4"

You are now 1/4th of the way through your senior year. What are your impressions so far? Has it been everything you hoped and more?

Extra Credit Assignment #1

2007-11-08T12:41:00.000-05:00

If you have an active email or Google account, then do this assignment:

Directions for "Extra Credit"*:

Today you're going to sign up for Google Docs, compose a brief document, invite me as a collaborator

1. Go to Google Docs.
2. If you have a Google Account, use it to sign up for Google Docs. If not, create a Google account. The directions are there. Follow them step by step.
3. Once you have Google Docs opened, create a document.

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In this document, type something along the lines of

Hi Mr. Malley!
- {Your Name]

4. In the upper right hand corner, click on "Share".

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5. Invite me as a collaborator by typing the following email address into the box: jcmalley@buffaloschools.org. Then click invite. No message is necessary. Click "send."

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Step One is Complete! If I get that email/notification, you earn yourself an extra 25 points to your total point value.

Today's Extra Credit Assignment #2

2007-11-07T22:17:00.001-05:00

Extra Credit Assignment #2
If you don't have an email address or Google Account, do this assignment:

1. Read the following article from Rolling Stone. (Click to enlarge.)
2. When you have finished reading the article, use the comments section of this post to address the following issue:

Downloading is killing the record industry. You know the story about illegal downloads. Now, such artists as Radiohead and Saul Williams have offered their CD's on the internet for an optional donation. Furthermore, this article delves into deeper problems facing the recording industry. If you were "Joe Record Executive," what steps would you take to help revive the industry?

___

3. After your answer, put your first name, last initial, and period. All of this information is required to earn the other 50 points of possible extra credit. Only reasonable answers will be credited.

* This is an extra credit grade, but will it is mandatory that you do it if you've finished with your college essay.

____________________________________________
Hiatt, Brian and Knopper, Steve. "Big Chains Psh CDs Off Shelves". Rolling Stone Magazine Rolling Stone LLC. Issue 11039 - 11/15/2007/

Opening Activity

2007-11-07T08:09:00.000-05:00

Creative Prompt #4

Open up your notebook to the next blank page. Take three minutes to address the following prompt:

"Most people are conformists*."

Do you agree? Disagree? How does it relate to high school?

* comply with rules, style, standards, or idea

Opening Activity

2007-11-05T08:11:00.000-05:00

Stanford is one of the nation's most prestigious universities. As an opening activity, choose one of the following two essay topics and start to formulate your answer.

1. Take out your notebook and turn to the next available page.
2. Copy down one of the following two prompts.
Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
3. Write a paragraph addressing the question.

For your own reading pleasure, here are the rest of the Stanford essay topics:

Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

Opening Activity

2007-11-01T22:16:00.000-04:00

Directions:
1. Grab a half piece of an index card.
2. Put your name at the top.
3. On the index card, answer the following questions:

What experience will you be writing about?
What qualities will you be highlighting?
Do you have any questions about this assignment?
Where are you in the process? (Brainstorming, drafting, information seeking, etc.)

College Essay - The Assignment Sheet and other Project Materials

2007-11-01T15:05:00.001-04:00

Here are the class handouts for the project:

Here is the illustration we worked with in class:

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Opening Activity

2007-11-01T08:17:00.000-04:00

Directions:
Open your notebook to the last entry
Skip a line.
Label this entry "Free Writing - Prompt #2."
Copy the following prompt:

Write about a time as a child when you played in one of the following: a treehouse, a cornfield, a construction site, a junkyard, an abandoned house or barn, a stream, a cemetary, a swamp, a pasture, OR railroad tracks.

Time: 5 minutes

Wednesday's Creative Writing Prompt

2007-10-31T06:36:00.001-04:00

Directions:
Open your notebook to the next available page.
Label this entry "Creative Prompt #1."
Copy the following prompt:

The candle sputtered and went out. My hand groped the cold stone wall, frantically searching for something familiar. The passage was pitch black.

Tell the story from here. Be creative.

College Essay Assignments

2007-10-29T13:53:00.000-04:00

While I was out, I wanted you to read two college essays and answer the discussion questions that accompanied them. Here are those two essays.

College Essay

2007-10-29T10:45:00.000-04:00

Read the essay "Devil's Hole" together. Then, we broke down the essay paragraph by paragraph.

1. Give the paragraph a title.
2. What quality (ies) does our paragraph highlight about the applicatnt?
3. Any other questions /observations.

9th Period's Summary/Analysis

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Diction Lesson #5

2007-10-29T07:58:00.000-04:00

Diction Lesson #5

Consider the following quote:

A rowan* like a lipsticked girl.
- Seamus Heaney, "Song," Field Work

_________________________________
* a small deciduous tree native to Europe, having white flowers clusters and orange berries

Then, answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper in the Voice Lessons section of your binder:

1. Other than color, what comes to mind when you think of lipsticked girl?
2. How would it change the meaning and feeling of the line if, instead of lipsticked girl, the author wrote girl with the lipstick on?
3. Write a simile comparing a tree with a domesticated animal. In your simile, use a word that is normally used as a noun (like lipstick) as an adjective (like lipsticked).

example: The willow hung like a droopy eared beagle.
___________________________________________________
from Dean, Nancy. Voice Lessons: Classroom Activities to Teach Diction, Detail, Imagery, Syntax, and Tone. Maupin House. Gainesville FL, 2000.

Some Reasons for Favorable Responses/Reviews

2007-10-23T07:56:00.000-04:00

On page 100 of your textbook the following list appears. I think it will help you if you are still brainstorming ideas for your book review. If you flesh out any of these ideas in your review, make sure you fully explain yourself.

You like and admire the characters and what they do and stand for. You get involved with them. When they are in danger, you are concerned; when they succeed, you are happy; when they speak, you like what they say.

Even if you do not particularly like a character or the characters, you are nevertheless interested in the reasons for and outcomes of their actions.

You get so interested and involved in the actions or ideas in the work that you do no want to put the work down until you have finished it.

You like to follow the pattern of action or the development of the author's thoughts, so that you respond with appreciation upon finishing the work.

You find that reading enables you to relax or to take your mind off a problem or a pressing responsibility.

You learn something new--something you had never before known or thought about human beings and their ways of handling problems.

You learn about customs and ways of life in different places and times.

You gain new insights into aspects of life that you thought you already understood.

You feel happy or thrilled because of reading the work.

You are amused, and you laugh often as you read.

You like the author's descriptions of scenes, actions, ideas, and feelings.

You find that many of the expressions are remarkable and beautiful, and are therefore worth remembering.

Diction Lesson #4

2007-10-22T08:14:00.000-04:00

And now, a return to Voice Lessons.

Consider the following quote:

The man sighed hugely.
- E. Annie Proulx, The Shipping News

1. What does it mean to sigh hugely?

2. How would the meaning of the sentence change is we rewrote it as

The man sighed loudly.

3. Fill in the blank below with an adverb:

The man coughed _____________________.

Your adverb should make the cough express an attitude. For example, the cough could express contempt, desperation, or propriety*. Do not state the attitude. Instead, let the adverb imply it.

propriety - the state of conforming to acceptable rules of behavior.

___________________________________________________
from Dean, Nancy. Voice Lessons: Classroom Activities to Teach Diction, Detail, Imagery, Syntax, and Tone. Maupin House. Gainesville FL, 2000.

Writing a Book Review

2007-10-18T06:48:00.000-04:00

Assignment: Write a book review in the ballpark of 500 words. In this review you must either recommend or advise against a peer choosing this novel.

We have several resources for writing a book review. The resource I'd like everyone to heavily rely on is Write a Book Review with Rodman Philbrick. Go to the site and follow at least the first four steps. We'll see about the last step, "Publishing Online." I want to have you share your reviews, but with the uncertain state of the servers over the next few weeks I think we may be limited.

I'll have a print version of his advice in case we have problems accessing the computer. Writer's Inc is also a great resources.

Lastly, you can find many book reviews at Teen Ink. These are not my favorite reviews, as they tend to run short and rely too heavily on unexplained praise, but feel free to visit to get a better picture of the genre.

_________________________________________________________
photo from Flickr Commons Pool...exact URL to be supplied later

Book Review Analysis

2007-10-17T09:10:00.001-04:00

Period One

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Period 4/5

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Period 6/7

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Period Nine

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Elements of Fiction: Overview

2007-10-16T21:52:00.001-04:00

We have finished with the group presentations. Your second exposure to the material will come in the form of the following visual aids/definitions. Get to know them. Use them in your double entry journals.

Presentation Schedule

2007-10-04T07:36:00.001-04:00

Unfortunately, I had to miss school yesterday. As I did not plan for my absence, here is the amended class schedule. We're going to fan out the presentations throughout next week.

Thursday:
Finish Planning Presentation (25 min)
Group One Presents Modern Fiction: An Overview
Group Two Presents: Verisimilitude & Donnee

Friday:
FEAR

Tuesday
SAT Presentation (20 min)
Group Three Presents Character and Plot
Group Four Presents Structure and Theme

Wednesday:
Voice Lesson
Group 5 Presents Narration and Style
Group 6 Presents Point of View
Group 7 Presents Description and Dialogue

Thursday:
Group 8 Presents Tone and Symbolism
Group 9 Presents Commentary and Wrap Up
Quiz

Friday
FEAR

"Fiction: An Overview" Presentations

2007-10-01T08:19:00.001-04:00

Your Task: In groups of 2-3, you will be preparing and delivering short presentations based on short sections of the introduction to chapter two in the textbook. This will give us a nice overview of fiction as we embark on our first independent reading project.

Schedule: Prepare today & tomorrow...present Wednesday and Thursday
Length: 3-5 minutes
Guidelines:

----you are responsible for teaching the information in your section...the class will be required to take notes and will be quizzed on Tuesday, October 8th
----you will each receive two pieces of posterboard to use...but...if you have any familiarity with powerpoint...
----You need to ask yourselves two questions:

-- What terms and concepts do my classmates need to know? What is important?
-- How can you present this information in an engaging way that ensures that your peers will comprehend the information?

Rules for Sustained Silent Reading

2007-09-28T08:34:00.000-04:00

In order to help things run smoothly, consider the following rules for sustained silent reading days:

1. No talking.
2. No sleeping. If you get a little dozy, get up and move to another seat. Ask to get a drink of water.
3. Double Entry Journal: I'm going to ask that you keep your double entry journal in your spiral notebook. You may have it out on SSR days in order to work on this aspect of your reading project.
4. No talking. Yes, I've already said that.
5. Unpreparedness - You're losing your points. For the purpose of this class, grab a book of short stories, Rolling Stone magazine, or one of my other browse-able books.

Independent Reading Project #1

2007-09-27T13:18:00.000-04:00

Greasy Lake Discussion

2007-09-27T08:53:00.001-04:00

Here's a link to the quotations we discussed regarding "Greasy Lake."

Binder Sections

2007-09-24T08:06:00.000-04:00

Today we will be setting up our binder. Here are the sections you need:

1. Reference
2. Voice Lessons
3. Finished Writing Pieces
4. Drafts and Planning
5. Quizzes and Tests

Greasy Lake Discussion

2007-09-20T09:11:00.000-04:00

So, you've finished T. Coraghessan Boyle's short story "Greasy Lake." I'd like to put our heads together and create a resource for our class discussion. Here goes...

Directions

We're going to assemble a quotation database from your double entry journals.

Look over your double entry journal for a quotation that stands out. Once you find one, copy it into the comment section of the post. After copying the quotation, add your commentary.
If you someone else typed in your quotation, feel free to add your commentary to theirs.
If you check back later, feel free to add your thoughts about other people's quotations. Discuss discuss discuss.
After your commentary, put your first name, last initial, and period # in parenthesis (ex. Jake M., Per. 4/5)

Here are a few possible topics

Setting - Greasy Lake
Setting - Time Period
Digby
Jeff
The Victim
The Victim's Girlfriend
The Corpse (Al)
Frat Boys
Al's Girl Friends
The Fight

T.C. Boyle's "Greasy Lake"

2007-09-19T13:13:00.000-04:00

Over the next three days we'll be taking a look at T. C. Boyle's "Greasy Lake" out of the textbook. I'd love to link to a full version online, but due to copyright no one has reposted it. Google books has a large part of the story, and if you'd like, you can find it here.

I also recorded the book if you'd like to listen in class. Unfortunately, I cannot publish this recording due to copyright. However, feel free to take advantage of it in class.

Here's the Assignment:
Read Boyle's story, starting at page 143. While reading, keep a double entry journal of quotations that you find noteworthy. In one column, copy the quotation. The other is for your commentary. Write four to five sentences explaining why you felt that quotation was noteworthy. Remember, be a color commentator, a la John Madden, rather than a play by play announcer. I want to here your thoughts.

Voice Lessons #1 - Diction

2007-09-17T08:02:00.000-04:00

On Friday we took notes about diction, which led up to today's activity. I'd like to see some examples of your work. In the comments section of this post, write down the sentence you developed from the activity. Underneath your sentence, put your first name, last initial, and period.

In case you forgot, here's the prompt:

Brainstorm with the class and develop a list of medical terms, then write a sentence using a medical term to characterize art.

Don't forget your name and period.

Icebreaker Videos

2007-09-14T20:21:00.001-04:00

Again, great job working on the films this week. I'm impressed with your shots and your preparedness. Enjoy your weekend, and remember...summer reading extension is due Thursday.

Period One

Period 4/5

Perid 6/7

Period 9

Edit Blogger Profile

2007-09-12T08:33:00.001-04:00

Congratulations on finishing A&P. We'll be discussing the story in class tomorrow. Since most people read at different speeds, I'm giving the class the entire period today to finish up the story.

Now that you've finished, I'd like you to edit your Blogger Profile. Look to the upper right hand corner of this page and sign in to blogger. Once signed in, you'll be brought to your main page. When you are there, the "edit profile" is at the top of the page at the right hand side. Click on it, and fill out the information.

IMPORTANT: YOUR LOGIN ID IS AN EMAIL ADDRESS. IF YOU TRY EVERYTHING YOU CAN, AND CANNOT REMEMBER THE EMAIL ADDRESS OR PASSWORD, THEN SIGN UP FOR A NEW ACCOUNT. THIS TIME WRITE IT DOWN!

Double Entry Journal

2007-09-11T10:28:00.000-04:00

The double entry journal is designed to help further the development of your observational skills. It is a chance for a reader to say, "hey, this quote is important, and I'm going to elaborate on why I feel this way." However, this is not a contest to identify the top ten most important lines from a story. There are no wrong answers, just unsupported answers. As each reader brings a different background to a piece of writing, so each reader will also probably find importance in different quotes.

If you get stuck, try to identify quotations that do one of the following:

say something about society or life as you know it
show something about a character's motivation or nature
show something about the setting of the the story
illustrate the mood of the piece or tone of the author
illustrate the voice of the narrator
are humorous
are insightful
are confusing

John Updike's A&P

2007-09-10T22:05:00.000-04:00

Today in class you are to begin to read John Updike's classic short story A&P. In order to prepare for discussion, you are to fill out a double entry journal sheet for a grade. These have been provided to you in class.

Google Account

2007-09-07T08:04:00.001-04:00

Primary Task: Finish your work on your piece of the film. We are looking to finish today.

Secondary Task: Sign up for a Google/Blogger account and answer the following question in the comment section:

Steps:
1. Click on the "Comments" link in this post.

2. Under "Username/Password" click on "Sign Up Here"

3. Fill out the required information

4. Post your comments

Here's the question:
You're going to be given a good amount of choice in the literature you read this year. What novels, nonfiction, or poetry have you read in the past that you've enjoyed. What about this particular work(s) have you enjoyed? Share a bit about the experience.

Put your first name and last initial after your comments.

(75-150 word range)

Welcome AP

2007-09-06T08:30:00.000-04:00

Writing Prompt: You are in Advanced Placement Literature because you have chosen to be. What has helped you develop an appreciation for literature. What were those factors? Was there an important book(s)? Important people? Momentous experiences? What has made you like books to such a degree that you are willing to do extra work during your senior year for an opportunity to study at an advanced level?

Be truthful, be poignant. We're going to end up making this into a film.

Welcome Back!

2007-09-04T22:59:00.000-04:00

I'm very excited to start a new school year and work with you folks. Today, most of the classes are shortened and we'll be a little rushed for time, but I want to accomplish a few things:

1. Summer Reading
2. Supplies
3. Complete Informational Handout
4. Introductory Film Project

Summer Reading Questions

2007-08-15T23:52:00.000-04:00

2007-2008 AP Literature students,

On the summer reading assignment I handed out I told you that you could post any questions on this site. Find the comment link right underneath post and fire away. I've spoken to a few of you, left message with a few of you, and even dropped a few of you MySpace messages. Make sure you forward any questions, and happy reading.

Mr. Malley