Tuesday 09/21/10

Today's agenda

• Newspaper articles -- Read and summarize two on your own. If this is your first night attending, one of your two articles needs to be the main, front page story.
• Commonly Confused Words worksheet
• Journal Prompt -- Thoroughly respond to the prompt in complete sentences: 
• "What function or role do your parents play in your life? Who or what has replaced your parents over the years?"
• Read and discuss Ray Bradbury's short story "The Veldt."
• Compass Odyssey (or Vocabulary Practice if you can't log in to Compass. If you work on vocab, print out your test results page, write your name at the top, and give it to your teacher.)

Thursday 09/16/10

Today's agenda

• Newspaper articles -- Read and summarize two on your own. If this is your first night attending, one of your two articles needs to be the main, front page story.
• Commonly Confused Words worksheet
• Read and discuss "Pleasure to Burn: Reading Fahrenheit 451" in The Reader 
• Watch Old Spice commercials and think about what Bradbury said in the article.
• Journal Prompt -- Thoroughly respond to the prompt in complete sentences: 
• "How is our society like this? Describe how we see ads working this way."
• Compass Odyssey (or Vocabulary Practice if you can't log in to Compass. If you work on vocab, print out your test results page, write your name at the top, and give it to your teacher.)

Tuesday 09/14/10

Today's agenda

• Newspaper articles -- Read and summarize two on your own.
• Journal Prompt -- Thoroughly respond to the question in complete sentences: "What is utopia? Where do we see examples of it in the "real" world?"
• Read and discuss "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut
• Compass Odyssey (or Vocabulary Practice if you can't log in to Compass. If you work on vocab, print out your test results page, write your name at the top, and give it to your teacher.)

Thursday 09/09/10

Today's agenda

• Newspaper articles -- Read and summarize two on your own.
• Journal Prompt -- Thoroughly respond to the question in complete sentences: "What is the purpose of reading?" ~ Think beyond the obvious! :) 
• Finish watching Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough at Last."
• Discuss irony, purpose(s) of reading, and being careful what you wish for.
• Commonly Confused Words Chart
• Compass Odyssey

Tuesday 09/07/10

Today's agenda

• Newspaper articles -- Read and summarize 1st one together; 2nd one on your own.
• Journal Prompt -- Thoroughly respond to the question in complete sentences: "If you could have one wish granted, what would it be? How would your life be different if your wish came true?"
• Start watching Twilight Zone episode "Time Enough at Last."
• Compass Odyssey

Welcome to English Night School for the Fall 2010 semester!

Mr. Rivest and Ms. Hays are looking forward to a Fahrenheit 451 filled semester.

Why Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451? Check out the latest from the Moline Public Library:

The Moline Public Library is pleased to announce The Big Read. The Big Read gives communities the opportunity to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate selections from U.S. and world literature. Our Big Read will focus on Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Activities will take place September 27th through October 31st. Be sure to check our calendar for programming related to the Big Read and Fahrenheit 451. The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and Arts Midwest. For more on the Big Read see www.neabigread.org.

Comma Worksheet

1. Click on the comma worksheet link http://www.towson.edu/ows/exercisecomma2.htm
2. Fill out the online worksheet to the best of your ability,
3. Click "Check my work,"
4. Print the answer page,
5. Make sure you write your name on it before submitting it to us.

Tu 03/23/10 Final Creed Questions

Congratulations on finishing a novel! 

Read the following questions regarding the end of the novel The Body of Christopher Creed, and post your responses to the blog. Use complete sentences and your best grammar and punctuation.

1. Think back to the scene in Mr. Ames' office after the police came to lunch and escorted Bo away. Do you agree or disagree with what Mr. Ames made Tory and Ali tel Mrs. Creed about Chris?

2. What reasons might explain why Mrs. Creed won't believe Torey and Ali about Chris' note?

3. In Chapter 20, Chief Bowen resigns from the police force. What are some possible explanations why he resigned (quit his job)? What good or bad events might come from his resignation?

4. What were you thinking when Torey found the Lanape burial cave in Chapter 21 and then one of the bodies started burning in an immaculate decomposition? For instance, did you think it was really Chris' body burning?

5. In Chapter 23, we find out a bit more about Chris' brother Justin. What can we infer about Justin when we learn he went to his principal and told him about Chris fighting with their mom? What did you think when you found out their mom had already heard the letter Chris sent to Mr. Ames?

6. Thinking about the outcome of the novel, what reasons might explain why Bo quit school, Torey left Steepleton to attend boarding school, and Renee and Alex broke up? What does all this say about the kids of Steepleton?

Tuesday 03/02/10 Chris Creed Questions

Now that you've read (or listened to) The Body of Christopher Creed chapters 11-13, respond to the following questions.

1. What questions are running through your mind now about Chris? What do you think happened between Chris and Isabella? Is she real?

2. How would you define Justin, Chris's brother, knowing he gave Bo the diary?

3. In your own words, explain why Bo lied to Torey's mom about the diary.

4. What would you predict after the psychic said she saw death in the woods?

Tu 02/09/10

Read the following questions regarding Chapters 4 and 5, and post your responses to the blog. Use complete sentences and your best grammar and punctuation.

1) When Torey and Ali are talking, Ali said Chris's family is weird enough to keep him off balance,  and make him weird, but not insane. Torey responds "You're making it sound like it's more dangerous to have a slightly weird family than a totally weird family" (p. 49). Which do you think is more dangerous? Explain and support your opinion.

2) What do you think is wrong with Ali and her family? What will she finally be able to tell Torey when he goes to her house?

Tu 02/02/10

As we read Carol Plum-Ucci's novel The Body of Christopher Creed, we encounter some highly sensitive issues. Please post your responses to the following questions (by clicking on the comment link). Be honest, and write in complete sentences. 

1. When talking about the kids at Steepleton, Torey refers to them as techies, jocks, science nerds, and boons. Think about a time when you labeled someone or someone labeled you. Without naming anyone, describe what happened and what you learned from the situation. Did you or the people you labeled feel like they were being unfairly treated because of their label?

2. Make a prediction: Why do you think Torey feels so strongly about finding Christopher Creed's body? If Torey wasn't friends with him while he was around, why would he care so much now? Think about how Torey reacts after reading Chris's "good bye" email/letter.

3. Make another prediction: Who is this Alex Healey guy and why does Torey think Alex can help him solve Chris's disappearance?

4. After reading Chris's "good bye" email/letter, what do YOU think happened to Chris?

Welcome! Th 01/28/2010

Hello, Night School English Students!

We'll be blogging throughout our twelve weeks, so it's important for us to know whether you know how to post to a blog.

Please post a response (use complete sentences!) to the following questions, AND sign your name so we can give YOU credit.
Q1: Why are you enrolled in Night School English this semester?
Q2: What is your favorite type of granola bar (chocolate chip or honey oatmeal) and/or cereal fruit bar (strawberry, raspberry, or blueberry)?
Q3: Who is the most important person in your life? Why is this person so significant?