Health Survey and Process Prompt

Good morning,

Today you will be taking the California Healthy Kids Survey and then we will discuss the process prompt for your next writing assignment.  We call this a process piece because you will work on it over multiple drafts. We will also work together, starting tomorrow, to create some shared resources that will help you with the essay.

Essay Prompt 

Letter From a Birmingham Jail

attribution: National Archives

Good morning,

We will read at the bell.

When your computer is ready please go to your view only folder and find the document called Letter From a Birmingham Jail.  Make your own copy. (Add period number and your name to the title.) Please share your copy with me.

We will read through this today.  Today we are looking to understand what Dr. King is writing about. Later we will look again at the structure and logic of his thinking.

A Stride Toward Freedom

 We have seen how Thoreau's ideas on civil disobedience influenced Gandhi. Today we will see how those ideas were used during the American civil rights movement.

"Prior to reading Gandhi, I had about concluded that the ethics of Jesus were only effective in individual relationships. The "turn the other cheek" philosophy and the "love your enemies" philosophy were only valid, I felt, when individuals were in conflict with other individuals; when racial groups and nations were in conflict a more realistic approach seemed necessary. But after reading Gandhi, I saw how utterly mistaken I was."  -MLK

We will read an excerpt from Stride Toward Freedom by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You will work with a partner to read the text and answer the questions on this form about what you read.

Learning from Gandhi

Good morning,

We will read at the bell and then your will need your English Journal.

Yesterday you read the words of Mohandas K. Gandhi to understand his perspective on non-violent resistance. Today we will watch some clips from a film about his life. You will need your English Journal to write about what you see and think after each segment that I show you.

Examples of Civil Disobedience

Good morning,

We will read at the bell.

We have been reading Thoreau in detail to learn about his concept of civil disobedience. As you know this is a huge part of what makes America the country that it is today, but did you realize how often civil disobedience is still happening? 

Below are five examples of situations that may or may not be forms of civil disobedience. Alone or with a partner, please review all five articles. Then choose three that you would like to write about.


UC Fee Hikes
Cindy Sheehan
Nuns Arrested
Blue Shield
Seattle Teachers

Use this form to explain the details of the situations you read about and also to explain why you think they are or are not examples of civil disobedience.

Semester 2!

Good morning,

Welcome to second semester.

We are reading at the bell.

Then I want to show you a quick video.

Then we read some more, Thoreau this time.  You will need your English Journal open.

Final Preparation

Good morning,

Your final is Thursday.  To prepare for your final copy and paste the quote from Emerson below into your English Journal.  Then explain what Emerson is saying and discuss the extent to which you agree or disagree. Give examples from your life or literature to support your position.

"What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder because you will always find those who think they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude..."

Emerson - Self Reliance

Good morning,

Read at the bell.

When your computer is ready open your English Journal and answer this question. "How do you decide what is right and what is wrong?"

 Today we will read excerpts from "Self Reliance" by Emerson. These passages are in your textbook, but I shared a digital copy with you in your Writing Group Folder.  As we read through the text you will have time to "discuss" each section of the text with your group using the chat window on your shared document. Use the Insert/Comment feature to document your understanding of the text as you discuss it.

In other news:

• Your final is one week from today. I will tell you more about it in class today. 
• All work MUST be turned in by 11:45 am on 1/24/13.  This includes your links to your TWO book reviews which you need to give me on this form. 
• If you have a question about your grade I will be available at lunch to discuss it with you Thursday, Friday or Tuesday.
• No school Monday for Dr. Martin Luther King Day. 

Last full week of the semester!

Good morning,

Today you will be presenting your poet research to a group.

Tuesday I will give you time for your expert project research.

Wednesday we will meet in the back of the library with GearUp, so get your college research sheets done before then.

Thursday and Friday we will be reading Self Reliance by Emerson, but more about that later.

Your FINAL for our class will be Thursday 1/24.  ALL work is due before the final, this includes any late work and your TWO book reviews. Make sure you share the links to the book reviews here. 

A Psalm of Life

Good morning,

We are reading at the bell.

Click on the picture to see it larger.

When your computer is ready go to your English Journal and write about the image to the right.

Today you will be reading "A Psalm of Life" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow with a partner.

After reading and writing about the poem on your document, use this form to turn in the paragraph.

Fireside Poets: Mini Research Project