A New Way to Punctuate

Courtesy of Victor Borge...

Gatsby/Kane Comparison Essay

This post is for juniors only.

In your 'to student' folder on your Google Drive you will find a document entitled "Gatsby/Kane Comparison Notes." Open the file and take a look at it. It is the material we collected in class contrasting Jay Gatsby to Charles Foster Kane. Your task is to select ONE of the thesis statements provided and craft a one page essay. 

We're looking for three paragraphs:

• Paragraph 1 - Thesis statement
• Paragraph 2 - Gatsby body paragraph (with at least one properly cited quotation from the novel)
• Paragraph 3 - Kane body paragraph (with at least one specific example summarized from the film)

Be sure to use the One Page Essay Rubric when drafting and revising.

Friday's Morning Announcements

Happy Thanksgiving

Here is a little holiday treat for you...

Morning Announcements

Here are today's morning announcements.


Morning Announcements Nov. 22, 2013 from Glenbrook South Television on Vimeo.

Like Pale Gold

Here's a nice little recap of the novel and some of its themes.

Tea Party Revision

Today we're going to start working on revision our tea party one page essays. There are a few steps in the process, so read the directions before you start.

1. Add the two following sentence patterns to your essay. The first pattern needs to be in body paragraph 1; the second pattern needs to be in body paragraph 2. Highlight them using the color patterns indicated.

Body Paragraph 1

Body Paragraph 2

2.  Print your essay.

3. Swap your essay with a partner.

4. Edit each other's essays using the Samurai editing form.

5. Once you get your essay back from your partner, you need to also edit your essay using the Samurai editing form.

6. Go back to you Google Doc and make the changes. Your revised essay needs to be ready to be graded by Tuesday.

A Cup of Tea

This post if for JUNIORS only.

In a thoughtful, thorough, one-page essay, answer the following question. Be sure to use the One Page Essay Rubric when drafting and revising.

Was it a good idea for Nick to host the tea party?

You can answer this question one of two ways:

1. While it appears that Nick should host the tea party, he actually makes a mistake by doing so.
2. While it appears that Nick should not host the tea party, he actually made a good choice by doing so.

Southern Gothic Lit Review

This post if for freshmen only.

Southern Gothic

Literary Tradition

Gothic literature is fiction in which strange, gloomy settings and mysterious, violent, often supernatural events create suspense and terror. Southern gothic literature uses gothic motifs to explore social issues and reveal the cultural character of the American South.

Following are a few characteristics of gothic and southern gothic literature:

1. The gothic novel tries to evoke chilling terror and gloom by exploiting mystery and horror. Gothic is about haunting and possession.  We are supposed to feel a chill at some point in the story, and this emotional response is in part the point of the gothic experience. Paradoxically, this fear is a source of pleasure.  "Tis so appalling--it exhilarates," Emily Dickinson says in a poem.
2. In a Gothic work, there is usually confusion about good and evil. What does ‘good’ actually mean? What about ‘evil’? And how can we tell the difference?
3. Gothic reveals a fear of institutions, such as religion, education, or marriage.
4. Gothic shows the dark and hidden side of things. It rips open the lies and shows a world of cruelty, lust, perversion, and crime hidden beneath society’s rules and customs.
5. Gothic tears through censorship and explodes hypocrisies. It exposes the world as a corrupt, reeking place.
6. Gothic is a reaction to the conventional, common sense, and enlightened world. If society is supposed to be orderly and sensible, gothic shows how it really isn’t.
7. Southern gothic tips stereotypes on their side and kicks them in the gut. Sweet Southern belles are crafty and greedy, chivalrous gentlemen are sneaky and perverse, and righteous preachers are manipulative and evil.

Our Prezi presentation on Southern Gothic Literature can be found HERE.

Your task: We've tackled two short stories that can be considered Southern Gothic - "Good Country People" and "A Rose for Emily." We also viewed Night of the Hunter - again, classic Southern Gothic. Select one of the stories, and in a paragraph explain how one aspect of the story meets one of the criteria listed above.

Be sure that your response is thoughtful and thorough and includes a cited quotation. Keep in mind all of the elements of a good paragraph: topic sentence, set-up, cited quotation, explanation (claim - evidence - warrant). Write in formal third person. Follow all of the Road to Formal Essay Writing criteria (which can be found HERE.) Post your paragraphs in the comments below. Include you name. you may comment on your peers' entries for extra credit.

The text for "A Rose for Emily" can be found HERE.  The text for "Good Country People" can be found HERE.

Morning Announcements

Morning Announcements Oct. 25, 2013 from Glenbrook South Television on Vimeo.

Flintstones FYI

Intro to Gatsby - The Roaring 20s

This post is for JUNIORS only.

There is a pretty good page of 1920s culture at http://roaringtwenties.tumblr.com/archive.

Here are some more images/video clips of 1920s culture.

More Banksy

One of My Favorite Cartoons

One of Tex Avery's best. (And Tex Avery himself was one of the best.)

Thursday Morning Announcements

Here you go...


Morning HC Announcements 10.10.13 from Glenbrook South Television on Vimeo.

Spare Change

This post if for JUNIORS only.

In a thoughtful, thorough, one-page essay, answer the following question. Be sure to use the One Page Essay Rubric when drafting and revising.

Does Toby successfully change himself
throughout the course of the book?

You can answer this question one of two ways:

1. While it appears that Toby changes himself throughout the course of the book, he actually fails to do so.
2. Even though Toby does not appear to change throughout the course of the book, he actually succeeds at doing so.

Essay - Cool Hand Luke and Of Mice and Men

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

Now that we're wrapping up Of Mice and Men, and now that we've watched Cool Hand Luke, it's time to start thinking about our essay. 

Luke and George have many similarities:

• They both live in a male-centric environment.
• They are both friends with man who is larger and more powerful yet who is less intelligent.
• They are both concerned with authority and fitting in.
• They both want something more than what they have.
• They are both dissatisfied with where they are.
• They both, in some way, are forced to deal with the notion of being a leader.

However, these similarities are shadowed at times by their differences:

• Different obstacles holding each back.
• George is haunted by his responsibility, Luke works hard to escape his.
• Luke holds himself back, whereas George is held back by his circumstances.
• Luke is drawn to the spotlight, but George fears it.
• They have different goals.
• They have different attitudes regarding fate.
• Luke is focused on God’s compassion – or lack there of, while George is focused on man’s compassion.

For your essay, answer the following question:

Are Luke and George more alike than they are different

or are they more different than they are alike?

  

Your thesis statement should look something close to one of these models:

• While most people might say that Luke and George are quite similar, they are in fact quite different from one another.
• While most people might say that Luke and George are quite different from one another, they are in fact quite similar.

For each of these thesis statements, use one body paragraph to support the first aspect of your thesis statement and two body paragraphs to support the second aspect of your thesis statement.

Remember the two tools you have at your disposal:

• The Wonderful World of the Five Paragraph Essay contains all of the details relating to the content of your essay.
• The Road to Formal Essay Editing contains all of the details relating to the mechanics and formatting of your essay.

If you have any questions throughout the writing process, ask your teacher.

Morning Video Announcements

Here are the video announcements from the past two mornings.  Enjoy.


Morning HC Announcements Monday, Oct. 7, 2013 from Glenbrook South Television on Vimeo.




Morning HC Announcements Tuesday Oct. 8, 2013 from Glenbrook South Television on Vimeo.

One-Page Emerson Essay

This post is for JUNIORS only.

Instead of writing in your study guide today, you are going to complete the study guide question as a three paragraph, one-page essay. Write your essay as a GoogleDoc. Title it "Emerson." Place it in your share folder. Have your rubric and/or samurai sheet out and follow the one-page essay criteria you have been given. (For example, present tense, no contractions, incorporated and cited quotations, etc.)

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said:  "Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies."

In your first paragraph, explain what this quotation means. (If you use the quotation, you do not need a page number in your citation.)

In your second paragraph, use scenes from anywhere throughout the book to answer this question:  What is a 'beautiful truth' Toby has discovered? (This paragraph needs at least one incorporated and cited quotation.)

In your third paragraph, use scenes from anywhere throughout the book to answer this question: What is a 'beautiful lie' Toby has used? (This paragraph also needs at least one incorporated and cited quotation.)

Cool Hand Luke Journal 3

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

(Sorry for the lateness. You will have a one day extension.)

JOURNAL 3


On a scale of 1 – 10, how concerned is Luke about each of the following?

• Dreams / goals 
• Morality 
• God 
• Fate
• Popularity 
• Being a leader 

 Answer in the same document as journals 1 and 2. 150 words min. Neat. Follow criteria on “Road to Formal Essay Editing.”

Cool Hand Luke Journal 2

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

JOURNAL 2

How virtuous is Luke?

Take into consideration loyalty, honesty, responsibility, respectfulness, compassion, etc.

Answer in the same document as Journal 1. 150 words min. Neat. Follow criteria on “Road to Formal Essay Editing.”

Of Mice and Men Reading Agenda

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

Here are the due dates for this unit. Remember to keep up to date even if you are absent.

Chapter and Study Guide Due Dates 

Date                    Quiz               Study Guide

Oct. 1                  Part 1

Oct. 2                  Part 2            Part 1

Oct. 4                  Part 3            Part 2

Oct. 7                  Part 4            Part 3

Oct. 9                  Part 5            Part 4

Oct. 11                Part 6            Part 5

Oct. 14                                     Part 6

Oct. 16                                      Part 7 (SG COLLECTED)

Section Page Numbers

Part 1                  pages 1-16

Part 2                  pages 17-37

Part 3                  pages 38-65

Part 4                  pages 66-83

Part 5                  pages 84-98

Part 6                  pages 99-107

Cool Hand Luke journal 1

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

What does Luke mean when he says, “Sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand?”

Use evidence from the film to illustrate your response. Do you agree with Luke? Can ‘nothing’ be a ‘real cool hand’? Give one solid external example (from film, literature, politics, etc.) to support your response.

150 words min. Neat. Follow criteria on “Road to Formal Essay Editing.”

Papa Dwight

This post if for JUNIORS only.

In a thoughtful, thorough, one-page essay, answer the following question. Be sure to use the One Page Essay Rubric when drafting and revising.

Is Dwight an acceptable father figure for Toby?

You can answer this question one of two ways:

1. Even though Dwight does a poor job of being a father figure to Toby, having Dwight as a mentor is still better than nothing.
2. Even though Dwight tries at times, having Dwight as a father figure still does more harm to Toby than good.

Mr. Cowlin's Answer to Citation Quiz 1

Some of you were making things too complicated, I think. Quoting and citing is easier than some of you think. Take a look...

"My mother looked over at me. I saw how tired she was,

and she must have seen the pain I was in."

What are the important words in that quotation? In my opinion...

"My mother looked over at me. I saw how tired she was, 

and she must have seen the pain I was in."

Therefore, here is an acceptable answer...

Toby's looks over at his mother and sees how "tired" she is (Wolff 79).

She then notices how much "pain" Toby is in (Wolff 79).

All you really need, in this case, are those two words. Now, you can certainly cite more if you like. Just try not to make it too hard on yourselves.

STAR reading test login

https://hosted201.renlearn.com/171543/default.aspx

FYI - Blood Drive on Oct. 17

Juniors: Interact is sponsoring a blood drive on Oct. 17.

http://www.bethegivingtype.org/

Lawrence Welk and his Champagne Orchestra

The first two clips are form 1957 - just about the time Toby would have been watching Lawrence Welk with Dwight.








Here's Lawrence from a few years later...





And here's a skit from Saturday Night Live lampooning Lawrence...

Group Work Criteria

THIS POST IS FOR JUNIORS ONLY.

From this point forward, you will receive a participation grade (5 points) for each day we work on our literary study guides, so work hard and stay focused. The criteria for your participation is as follows:

GROUP WORK CRITERIA

1. Is your group sitting in a tight circle? 
2. Is your book on your desk? 
3. Is everyone working on the same question? 
4. Do you re-read parts of the book aloud before answering questions? 
5. Do you discuss and defend possible alternative answers before answering? 
6. Are you on task?
7. Are you using unsanctioned technology? 
8. Are your responses thoughtful and thorough? 
9. Are you properly citing your quotations?

Dream a Little Dream...

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

A Raisin in the Sun is about a family of dreamers.  It is an exploration of where those dreams have brought them and where those dreams are likely to lead them.  The play also challenges the popular view that dreams are always helpful, that people need to have dreams to be happy.  Your task in this essay is to answer the following question:

Can dreams ever be harmful to dreamers?

Your thesis statement should look something close to one of these models:

• While most people believe that dreams usually help individuals by/because __________, dreams can actually harm dreamers by/because ____________.
• While most people believe that dreams usually harm individuals by/because __________, dreams can actually help dreamers by/because ____________.

For each of these, you should use one body paragraph to support the first aspect of your thesis statement, and you should use two body paragraphs to support the second aspect of your thesis statement.

Remember the two tools you have at your disposal:

• The Wonderful World of the Five Paragraph Essay contains all of the details relating to the content of your essay.
• The Road to Formal Essay Editing contains all of the details relating to the mechanics and formatting of your essay.

If you have any questions throughout the writing process, ask your teacher.

This Week's One Page Essay Deal...

This post is for JUNIORS only.

In a one page essay, answer the following question:

Should readers feel compassion (pity, empathy, concern) or contempt (dislike, disapproval, scorn, disrespect) for Toby?


Follow one of these two formats when crafting your response:

While some readers might feel compassion for Toby because ___________, readers should actually feel contempt for him because __________.

While some readers might feel contempt  or Toby because ___________, readers should actually feel compassion for him because __________.


Be sure to use your rubric to guide your drafting and editing decisions.

Tobias Wolff on Cather in the Rye

What's Opera Doc

The Golden Days of Annette Funicello

The post is for JUNIORS.

Toby has a crush on Annette Funicello. Who was she? Toby would have known her from the original Mickey Mouse Club. Feast your eyes...








Annette later went on to make a series of 'beach movies', such as Beach Blanket Bingo.

This Boy's Life - Establishing a Tone

This post if for JUNIORS only.

For your one-page essay this week, you will answer the following question thoughtfully and thoroughly in a multi paragraph essay:

What is the tone of Tobias Wolff's book as the story opens?

Here are a few ideas to keep in mind:

• Follow the criteria outlined in the 'One Page Essay Rubric'.
• Since we are now writing our essays on Googledocs, the length is not technically one page; instead, the length requirement is 275-325 words.
• To submit your work, place the document in the folder you shared with me. (Do not share the individual document itself.)
• Clearly label your document. (A document name such as 'Cowlin TBL Tone Essay' would e helpful to both of us.)

One more this...

What is tone? Well, the tone of a text is defined as the attitude of the author/narrator towards the text. Below you will find some handouts that categorize common tones. Feel free to use one or two of these when answering your question. 

Strike a Pose

This post is for JUNIORS only.

Answer the following prompt thoughtfully and thoroughly in a one-page, multi-paragraph essay according to the one page essay rubric. If you have an questions, please ask an instructor.

Madonna says, “Strike a pose; there’s nothing to it.” 

What types of poses do freshmen strike when they come to high school.

Is Madonna right that there is nothing to it?

Extra Credit Book Report

This post is for JUNIORS only.

Once you have finished your required two-part book reports, you may read a second (or third) book for extra credit. When you finish that book, you may write an extra credit book report and receive extra credit. The amount of credit will depend on (1) the length and dificulty of the book and (2) the length and quality of the book report. Include a minimum of three correctly cited quotations throughout the report. Use the following format:

1. Provide the following information: your name, the book title (underlined) the author, and the total number of pages
2. Provide a detailed summary of the events of the book. Include characters, settings, and plot details. (Remember, the point of this paragraph is to prove you read the book, so the more the better.)
3. Provide a thoughtful review of the book. Would you recommend the book to a friend? Why or why not? (The point of this paragraph is to prove you thought about the book, so the more thoughtful the better.)

Please note that you must get the book cleared with the teacher prior to reading it in order to receive credit. Also, YOU MUST HAVE A COPY OF THE BOOK ON HAND WHEN YOU TURN IN YOUR EXTRA CREDIT BOOK REPORT. If you do not have a copy of it on hand at that time, you may not receive credit.

Independent Book Report 2nd Half

This post is for JUNIORS only.

Once you have read the second half of your book, complete the following book report.


First, in the upper right hand corner, enter the following information:

1. student name
2. book title (underlined)
3. author
4. total number of pages
5. the pages numbers that the second book report will be covering

Here's an example of the header:

          John Perkins
          Carter Beats the Devil
          Glen David Gold
          339 total pages
          pages 1-172



Second, answer the following four questions in four thoughful, thorough paragraphs. Each paragraph should be a minimum of 150 words. Use at least three cited quotations throughout the report. (Introductions and conclusions are not necessary. The report should take the form of a four paragraph essay.)

1. Summarize in detail the events of the second half of the book.
2. Describe how each of the major characters has changed/grown throughout the course of the book. For each, explain whether or not achieved their goal - is each character satisfied at the end with regards to what motivated him or her?
3. Relate a significant incident from the second half of the book that truly interested you or impressed you, and explain why you liked it.
4. Evaluate the book, indicating in specific terms what you liked and/or disliked about it.  Do not use words like “good” or “bad” – which are vague and useless.  Give concrete reasons for your evaluation.

Note: Your job here is simple: Prove that you have read half the book. Remember that 150 words per paragraph is the minimum. You will be graded here for quality as well as quantity. Students who do not demonstrate a thorough understanding of the first half of the book are subject to a follow up verbal quiz.

If you have any questions, please ask your instructor.

This book report is due Tuesday, May 29.

Final Exam Review - Of Mice and Men

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

You and your classmates are going to publish a final exam study guide for Of Mice and Men. In the comments section below, you will record TWO separate entries. Each entry will entail a SIGNIFICANT quotation from the novel. Follow the criteria listed below when writing your entries:

1. one significant quotation from Of Mice and Men
2. the page number of the quotation
3. the speaker of the quotation
4. to whom the quotation is being spoken
5. a brief context of what is happening in the scene
6. your name (to receive credit)

There are a few stipulations. First, no repeats. Second, first come, first served. Third, the more significant and important your quotation, the more helpful this study guide will become.

Final Exam Review - A Raisin in the Sun

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

You and your classmates are going to publish a final exam study guide for A Raisin in the Sun. In the comments section below, you will record TWO separate entries. Each entry will entail a SIGNIFICANT quotation from the play. Follow the criteria listed below when writing your entries:

1. one significant quotation from A Raisin in the Sun
2. the page number of the quotation
3. the speaker of the quotation
4. to whom the quotation is being spoken
5. a brief context of what is happening in the scene
6. your name (to receive credit)

There are a few stipulations. First, no repeats. Second, first come, first served. Third, the more significant and important your quotation, the more helpful this study guide will become.

12 Angry Men Essay

This post is for JUNIORS only.

Here's your task for you 12 Angry Men essay.  Answer the following question in a three paragraph essay:

Of all the pieces of evidence presented during the trial, which two were- at first - the most persuasive (paragraph 1), and how were each of these pieces of evidence brought into question by the jury (paragraphs 2 and 3)?

Write formally, using correct grammar. Answer the question thoughtfully and thoroughly. Use cited quotations to support your claims. Write in present tense and in third person. You may use your book for quotations and your two worksheets for inspiration.

To Kill a Mockingbird Essay

This post is for freshmen only.

Here is your prompt for your in-class essay:

Is To Kill a Mockingbird an example

of Southern Gothic literature?

We spoke at length on this topic, so I'm not going to repeat myself here. Needless to say, five paragraphs, correct spelling a grammar, thoughtful and thorough, transitions, cited quotations...you know...the works.

Use the "Road to Formal Essay Writing" handout and the "Wonderful World of the Five Paragraph Essay" Prezi - links to both of which can be found under "Pages" on the right hand column of this page.

Independent Book Report - 1st Half

This post is for JUNIORS only.

Once you have read the first half of your book, complete the following book report.


First, in the upper right hand corner, enter the following information:

1. student name
2. book title (underlined)
3. author
4. total number of pages
5. the pages numbers that the first book report will be covering (Note: Be honest. If you have read less than half of the novel, indicate truthfully exactly what pages your report will cover.)

Here's an example of the header:

          John Perkins
          Carter Beats the Devil
          Glen David Gold
          339 total pages
          pages 1-162



Second, answer the following four questions in four thoughful, thorough paragraphs. Each paragraph should be a minimum of 150 words. Use at least three cited quotations throughout the report. (Introductions and conclusions are not necessary. The report should take the form of a four paragraph essay.)

1. Give an overview of the book so far: list the major characters, describe the setting (time and place), and describe the central conflict.
2. Describe each major character and explain what motivates him or her.  Ask yourself what these characters are like as people.  Also, ask yourself that causes them to behave as they do.
3. Relate a significant incident from the first half of the book that truly interested you or impressed you, and explain why you liked it.
4. Predict what will likely happen in the rest of the novel. Are you looking forward to finishing it? Why or why not? (If you have already finished the novel, think back to when you were only half way through reading it, and write about what you thought at that time.)

Note: Your job here is simple: Prove that you have read half the book. Remember that 150 words per paragraph is the minimum. You will be graded here for quality as well as quantity, so don't hold back. Students who do not demonstrate a thorough understanding of the first half of the book are subject to a follow up verbal quiz.

If you have any questions, please ask your instructor.

A Major Award

Elements of Southern Gothic Literature

Here's our Southern Gothic presentation:

Sci-Fi Dilemmas in District 9

This post is for JUNIORS only.

District 9 tackles a variety of real world problems: South Africa's apartheid, South Africa's racist attitudes towards Nigerians, people's willingness to buy into media smear campaigns, immigration issues, the abuse of authority by police, the utilization of concentration camps, and more. 

The film, however, is basically broken into three acts with each act focusing on one basic problem:

1. The first third of the film deals with MNU's treatment of the aliens and the way they plan to force them into a concentration camp. In other words, the first third of the film explores how horribly governments and corporations can treat groups of minorities.
2. The second third of the film deals with MNU's inhuman treatment of Wikus and how horribly governments and corporations can treat individual members of society.
3. The final third of the film deals with how people have a natural instinct for self preservation which often leads to selfish and callous behavior towards others.

Your task is to accomplish the following objectives:

• Select one of the three acts about which you would like to write.
• View the clip below that illustrates the act's central real world problem.
• Write a thoughtful, thorough, grammatically correct paragraph in which you thoroughly explain how the clip illustrates just how the problem exists in the film.
• Write a second paragraph in which you thoroughly explain how this real world problem exists in either (1) the real world, (2) A Long Way Gone, or (3) another film or book or your choice.

If you have any questions, please ask an instructor. As always, use the following list to edit your work:

• third person
• present tense
• no contractions
• correct grammar/punctuation
• correct spelling
• correct capitalization
• book titles italicized
• a creative, original title for your essay 

Act I:  The treatment of the aliens by MNU

(The treatment of minority groups by governments and corporations)

Act II:  The treatment of Wikus by MNU

(The treatment of individuals by a government or corporation)

Act III:  Wikus is ruled by his fear of MNU and his prejudice of the aliens
(Individuals are ruled by instinctive fears and prejudices)

Two more points of interest:

Be sure to bring your Fahrenheit 451 novels the day after break.

If you enjoyed District 9, you might also enjoy Monsters.

Sci-Fi Analysis

This post is for JUNIORS only.

In the TOSTU folder, you will find a document entitled "Veldt, True Love, EPICAC activity." Open the document and answer the questions in the text fields provided. Be sure to save the document to your own folder. Turn in a hard coy tomorrow.

A Raisin in the Sun Essay

This post if for FRESHMEN only.

Essay Overview
A Raisin in the Sun is about a family of dreamers. It is an exploration of where those dreams have brought them and where those dreams are likely to lead them. The play also challenges the popular view that dreams are always helpful, that people need to have dreams to be happy. Your task in this essay is to answer the following question:

In what ways can dreams harm dreamers?

Format

1. First, determine three general ways that dreams can be harmful to people.
2. Next, find one example for each way in the text.
3. Finally, find a second example for each way from one of the following exterior sources: current events, other literature, history, or popular culture.

You may wish to consider the following characters and dreams that each has:

• Ruth and Mama dream of becoming homeowners.
• Walter dreams of becoming an entrepreneur.
• Beneatha dreams of becoming a doctor.
• Asagai dreams of bringing independence to Africa.

Use the model found HERE to guide your planning.


Organization
While you do not need to complete a formal outline for this essay, you should use the following organizational structure for your five-paragraph essay:

I. Introduction
   A. hook
   B. link/topic
   C. thesis
   D. bridge

II. Harm 1
   A. example from text
      1. claim
      2. evidence
         a. set-up
         b. cited quotation
      3. explanation
   B. example from exterior source
      1. claim
      2. evidence
      3. explanation


III. Harm 2
   A. example from text
      1. claim
      2. evidence
         a. set-up
         b. cited quotation
      3. explanation
   B. example from exterior source
      1. claim
      2. evidence
      3. explanation


IV. Harm 3
   A. example from text
      1. claim
      2. evidence
         a. set-up
         b. cited quotation
      3. explanation
   B. example from exterior source
      1. claim
      2. evidence
      3. explanation


V. Conclusion
   A. reflection of thesis
   B. real-world application (So what?)

Who Would Win in a Fight?

This post is for JUNIORS only.

We're going to look at another essay based on research. Your first task is to read the Slate essay entitled "Who Would Win in a Fight: a Modern Human or a Neanderthal?" You'll notice that throughout the essay are links to articles that support the author's claims.


The next step is to copy and past the following questions into a Word document:

1.  What is the essay's guiding question?


2.  What unique physical detail helps make La Ferrassie 1 one of the "most important discoveries made in the field of Neanderthal research"?


3.  How old is La Ferrassie 1?


4. Why did Neanderthal males likely have "Popeye forearms"?


5. What are two ways that Neanderthals were physically superior to homo sapiens?

A.

B.


6.  What are two ways that homo sapiens were physically superior to Neanderthals?

A.

B.


7. What three conditions would give modern man "an excellent chance of defeating a Neanderthal?"


8. What is the average height and weight for males in the United States who are twenty years and older, and what is the source of this information?

A.

B.

C.


9.  How can the "human brain work against us in combat"?


10. What is the answer to the essay's guiding question, and is this answer found at the beginning or end of the essay?


Your final task is to answer the questions. Here are a few tips. You can copy and paste answers directly into your document from the sources. You will find some of the answers in the Slate essay, but you will also find some of the answers in the articles to which the Slate essay links. Be sure to read through the links as well as the essay itself.

When you are done, save, print, and hand it your Word document.

Morning Announcements

Morning Announcements Feb. 8, 2013 from Glenbrook South Television on Vimeo.

Do Armed Citizens Stop Mass Shootings?

This post is for Juniors only.

We're going to spend the day looking at an essay based on research. Your first task is to read the Slate essay entitled Do Armed Citizens Stop Mass Shootings?  You'll notice that throughout the essay are links to articles that support the author's claims.

The next step is to copy and past the following questions into a Word document:


1.  What is the essay's guiding question?


2.  Rep. Louie Gohmert of Texas said on Fox News on Sunday, “I wish to God she had had an M-4 in her office.” What is the rest of this quotation?


3.  In the second paragraph,the author provides three examples of armed civilians stopping violent perpetrators. Summarize each of these examples in one sentence each.

A.

B.

C.


4. According to the essay, what are more common than armed civilians stopping violent perpetrators?


5. "When a shooter entered an AT&T store in 2010 in a small New York town with a list of six employees he planned to kill and shot one of them, a shopper who was an off-duty officer drew his .40 caliber handgun and killed the man." Was the off-duty police officer required to carry his gun at the time?


6. "An investigation by Mother Jones concluded that no more than 1.6 percent of mass shootings were ended by armed civilians." Name the title and author of the source of this information.


7. "Gun advocates argue that many mass murderers target 'gun-free' zones." According to the National Review Online, in what countries did the three worst K–12 school shootings take place until the Newtown horror?


8. What is the answer to the essay's guiding question, and is this answer found at the beginning or end of the essay?

Your final task is to answer the questions. Here are a few tips. You can copy and paste answers directly into your document from the sources. You will find some of the answers in the Slate essay, but you will also find some of the answers in the articles to which the Slate essay links. Be sure to read through the links as well as the essay itself.

When you are done, save, print, and hand it your Word document. 

This post if for FRESHMEN only.

Hansberry's title for A Raisin in the Sun came from a poem by Langston Hughes. First, read the poem.

A Dream Deferred

by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up 

like a raisin in the sun? 

Or fester like a sore-- 

And then run? 

Does it stink like rotten meat? 

Or crust and sugar over-- 

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags 

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Now go to my 'tostu' folder (open the jcowlin folder) and open the document entitled "A Dream Deferred: Text and Activity." Complete the activity by typing directly into the document. Be sure to save your copy to your personal folder and to print out a copy to receive credit.

Juniors - Here's the full video if you're interested.

Morning Announcement

Morning Announcements Feb. 1, 2013 from Glenbrook South Television on Vimeo.

Works Cited Page

This post is for JUNIORS.

Here is the link for easybib.com - the site you will use to generate a citation for any books you are using in your research project.

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

You and your classmates are going to publish a final exam study guide for A Raisin in the Sun. In the comments section below, you will record TWO separate entries. Each entry will entail a SIGNIFICANT quotation from the play. Follow the criteria listed below when writing your entries:

1. one significant quotation from A Raisin in the Sun
2. the page number of the quotation
3. the speaker of the quotation
4. to whom the quotation is being spoken
5. a brief context of what is happening in the scene
6. your name (to receive credit)

There are a few stipulations. First, no repeats. Second, first come, first served. Third, the more significant and important your quotation, the more helpful this study guide will become.

Final Exam Review - Of Mice and Men

This post is for FRESHMEN only.

You and your classmates are going to publish a final exam study guide for Of Mice and Men. In the comments section below, you will record TWO separate entries. Each entry will entail a SIGNIFICANT quotation from the novel. Follow the criteria listed below when writing your entries:

1. one significant quotation from Of Mice and Men
2. the page number of the quotation
3. the speaker of the quotation
4. to whom the quotation is being spoken
5. a brief context of what is happening in the scene
6. your name (to receive credit)

There are a few stipulations. First, no repeats. Second, first come, first served. Third, the more significant and important your quotation, the more helpful this study guide will become.