Final Countdown: Part I

Finals are coming. A week from Wednesday (12.10), 6th hour will be the first to begin the tests.
Part I: The final exam essay. The rough draft is due Wednesday. For students under 84.5 percent, the final draft is due Thursday. For students over 84.5 percent the final draft is due Friday.
Part II: Grammar Packet II. This will be made available (with final exam study guide) on Thursday and students will be working on this in-class all week, with the ability to type what you need to type at home, as part of your review.
Part III: Independent Reading Assignment due Tuesday, December 17th (via e-mail)
Part III: Grammar Final: 6th hour: Wednesday; 4th hour: Thursday; 7th hour: Friday

Media Literacy

A break from literature as we take on media literacy, something that affects all of us everyday, sometimes in adverse ways. We will be deconstructing advertisements, looking at the power of media, and examining elements of propaganda, which will be useful in AP language and literature courses later in high school plus AP history and the school's dynamic and popular Holocaust class.
The planner is online, but all students have a copy of the planner and root list #5, which will be tested on Friday.

Necklace-Ibis: The Grinch Has Arrived

Ahhh, I just got finished watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". Perfect timing.
We start Monday with The Necklace. Study questions will be available in class.
The text is available online as well. I have e-mailed the text to you.
This assignment is due Wednesday, November 19th. Use this link to help you with your work:
www.unc.edu/~getkara/The%20Necklace/Home.html

The vocabulary this week is the Figure of Speech list, which will be available online as well as in class. This will be tested on Friday, November 21st.

The Scarlet Ibis "boot camp" begins Wednesday. The study guide will not be available except via class.
The text will be sent to you via e-mail and also via Snapgrades. Please consult the NEW! planner, as this is an extensive assignment. More details will be revealed on this site.
There are no late days on these assignments, so stay on top of your work!!!

Short Story Unit Week 4: Bergeron

This is the calm before a light storm.
There will not be much in the way of homework as we gear up for the last two short stories that will take us to Thanksgiving.
The hardest part of the week is the Lesson 4 and 5 vocabulary tests from the SAT/ACT lists. These are not available online, so please be sure to have copies of these!
We will be working in-class on diagramming and also the Point of View handout.
Do not forget to be reading your book for independent reading. I will need a notecard announcing which book you are reading by Friday.

Short Story Unit Week 3: Poison

Update: Harrison Bergeron is due Monday, November 11th. The text is available via online...a printable version is also available.

This week, we are focusing on Point of View and also reading Roald Dahl's "Poison". You will not be able to get the Point of View handout online or via e-mail. The text for "Poison" is now available.
A new planner, which will take us through Thanksgiving, is now available.
Root Test #4 is Friday. Also, be advised, there will be weekend homework this week, as we start "Harrison Bergeron" on Friday.
The AP Reading List (for independent reading) has been revised and is now up-to-date!
The "Grin" rubric link is now active, by the way, so be sure to check and see what is acceptable for your assignments!

Short Story Unit Week 2: The Birds

This week is actually a relatively light one (in context with the Grin), as we will be investigating du Maurier's "The Birds". The study questions, and a topic sentence assignment, are due on Thursday.
Students will also be revising their essays this week (7th hour, you will receive your essays beginning Tuesday or Wednesday). A copy of the topic sentence/context assignment and the blank for rough drafts are now online.
Fiction terms will be tested on Friday; students should be keeping a literary terms journal that will be checked the week before finals.
Students should also have a copy of the "Grin" rubric, which has been revised to warn students of what I will be "borrowing" from your assignments.

Short Story Unit Week 1

Welcome back from your much deserved break.
We are now back to work, and in week one of the short story unit. Check out the planner for the rest of the unit.
We start with "The Sniper", which is due Wednesday. The text has been provided to students in class and will not be posted online.
We will also be reading "'The Most Dangerous Game", which will be due Friday. Copies of the story are available online.
Root Test #3 is scheduled for Friday, October 24th, while Root Test #4 is November 7th

Odyssey Final Week

The Nine Weeks comes to an end next Friday, but grades for this nine weeks actually culminate on Thursday, October 9th.
The new in-class study questions are available via Snapgrades and e-mail.
The final two homework assignments for the Odyssey are available (and also via Snapgrades and e-mail). Both are Word documents.
Get the revised planner!

• Friday, October 3rd: Literary Terms Quiz #1
• Monday, October 6th: In-Class reading of the Odyssey (end of class)
• Tuesday, October 7th: Sections 1 and 2 of The Odyssey (quotes and archetypes)
• Tuesday, October 7th: Odyssey Objective Test
• Wednesday, October 8th: Odyssey five-paragraph essay due* (Students with a 77 percent or above as of Monday, 10.6 may turn in Thursday, October 9th without penalty)
• Thursday, October 9th: Literary Terms Test #2
  

Odyssey Week 2

We now head into the critical portions of the Odyssey. Get the revised planner to stay up to date.
First, Books 9 and 10 study questions are due on Tuesday. I have added a modern English version of the Odyssey for those of you who are slower readers or want to read the story in more depth. The online reading chapters Books 9 and 10 are not required, as all the questions can be read from the text. These have been e-mailed to you or can be found via Snapgrades.
The full Book 11 is required, again this can be found via Snapgrades.
I have also sent out a template for typing assignments to help students with the problems of margins and using bullets or numbers. In addition, version 1 of the "'Grin Rubric" has been completed, so that students (and parents) have a better idea how I grade and how points "disappear" from assignments.
Book 13-24 study questions are also now available!
Tuesday 9.30: Book 9 and 10
Wednesday 10.1 Book 11 (the critical essentials handout will be distributed Monday and is needed to complete the Book 11 study questions)
Thursday 10.2 Book 12 (will be provided Tuesday)
Friday 10.3: Literary Terms Test (first page of the handout)

The Odyssey kicks into full gear

After turning in the summaries on Tuesday (Books I-IV, which not be available online), we shift our direction to Books V-VIII, where we will be going full force into the reading of The Odyssey.
We will read Books V-VIII (study questions available here) in class Wednesday (pp. 890-899), which is actually a fairly quick read.
In case students do not finish, there is a summary of these readings which were provided last week to you, but again these will not be available online. Please check to make sure you have the summaries and if you do not let me know ASAP, as I also do not have a digital version of these to e-mail you.
Books 9 and 10 study questions are available. See planner for due date.
DO NOT FORGET ACT/SAT vocabulary test #3, which is on Friday
Literary Terms Test (first page of handout) is Friday, October 3rd
Literary Terms Test (both pages of handout) is Thursday, October 9th

Mythology/Odyssey Unit Week 1

Separate Peace and the Hobbit are (finally) over, and now, after Choices Tuesday and Wednesday, we will be in the midst of the Greek mythology and The Odyssey to finish the nine weeks.
The planner (with revised calendar for the literary terms) is available, as are the literary terms, which will be tested October 3rd and 9th.
The first assignment is the Pre-Odyssey research on the Greek gods, which has three sections (Sections 1 and 2 are due Thursday, Section 3 is Monday).

Greek Mythology links:

• Greek Mythology.com. Great site for section 1 and 2
• Mythweb, a popular Greek myth site with illustrations
• Greek Mythology from the Iliad to the Tyrants is an advanced source for mythology lovers and those who want to have a deeper examination into Greek myth.
• Greek Mythology Link has charts, maps, dictionaries, etc. Another good source for those of you, especially if you are doing the extra creditQ
  

Writing Week Part 2: Amended

In order to make your writing stronger, the Archetype Project has been amended and is now focused on quotes and commentary. Download the Word Document to make this process easy. It is due Monday, September 15th. You may bring your rough draft to class on Thursday for peer evaluation.
Some pages you might need:

• Need help formatting in Microsoft Word? Download this handout for Windows users.
• Keep a copy of Mr. Tyler's grading criteria for essays.
• Independent Reading list is now available. It is strongly urged that you read several from this list each year as you prepare for college.

Do not forget that Root Test #2 is Friday! Please start studying this week.

Writing Week

We are now in the process of refining basic essay skills. By the way, here is the new planner
Here is the week at a glance:
Tuesday 9.2: Introductions; Vocabulary List (do not lose...these lists cannot be placed on line)
Wednesday 9.3: Thesis Statements: (Homework assignment due Thursday 9.4)
Thursday, 9.4: Topic Sentences/Concrete Detail (in-class assignment)
Monday, 9.8: ACT/SAT Vocabulary Test; Commentary

Hobbit Archetype Project:
Sections 1-5 due Monday, 9.8
Section 6 (Archetype Essay) due Friday 9.12

Separate Peace/Hobbit Paragraphs

The first writing assignment is due Thursday as a rough draft.
Students can download extra handouts (page 1) (page 2) if they want to do more than one rough.
This should be a completed rough draft. If you need help, you can use the Literary Essay Essentials or the Pre-AP Survivor's Guide
The final draft, typed, is due Tuesday, September 2nd. Students who will have excused absences on Friday should e-mail their rough draft to me as well as bring it to class on Thursday, so I can send you a digital copy back to fix for your final draft.

Writing/Literary Elements

Now that we are finished with A Separate Peace, it is time to focus on the core elements of writing and literature.
During class, we will be operating from the Organization handout received on Monday (this will not be online because it is copyrighted material specifically for our class).
Tuesday is the "Worldview" lecture, a good general examination into why people do what they do.
Wednesday and possibly Thursday (Wednesday is a half day) is the Archetypes lecture.
For more details, get the planner now.
Root Test #1 is Friday, so be sure to study!!!

Separate Peace Ends; Writing Unit, Hobbit Begins

We are in the process of completing the introductory unit on A Separate Peace
Students can get the study questions for Chapters XI-XIII here.
You can also get an early look at the Archetype lecture by downloading it now. However, do not print it out...you will be getting a copy next week.
The Separate Peace test is FRIDAY, August 22nd. You should have completed reading the novel by then, although the study questions are due on Monday.

Please be sure to look throughout the year at the Key Honors Links and/or Honors English 9 handouts for the latest handouts, including support for assignments we do in class!

Separate Peace: Week Two

We are now well into Separate Peace. Get the planner for the next two weeks and stay ahead of your assignments.
Chapter 4 study questions are now available
Chapter 5-6 questions are also now available
Get: Chapter 7 questions; Chapter 8-9 questions, Chapter 10 questions

A Separate Peace, a New Start

We start the new school year running as we leap into the novel A Separate Peace by John Knowles.
First, be sure to have the following items:
Syllabus: (English 9H Foundations)
Weekly Planner (Aug. 6-15th, 2008)
You will want a copy of Pre-AP Survivor's Guide, which is only available for download.

Separate Peace study questions are now available!
Chapter 1
Chapter 2-3

More information concerning the novel will be in the next post. Welcome to Mr. Tyler's honors classes!

Welcome to Doth Grin Honors 9 Blog

Welcome to Gilbert High School and also this blog/web site, the critical link between you and Mr. Tyler this year.
Some key things to this page:
1) You will need to have an active e-mail account, preferably Yahoo, Cox, or Gmail (Please do not use AOL for this site if at all possible). You need to e-mail me as soon as possible so you can be eligible for e-mails from me and also eligible to use the blogging capabilities of this site later this year.
2) Please note the Assignment Advisor section of this page.
3) Look over some of the posts on this page from last year, so you have a flavor of what the class will be about. Be careful, however, in attempting to use assignment handouts, as several will be changed this year.
4) Bookmark this site and check it daily, especially if you are absent.
5) Items will be posted according to unit, assignment, or situation, as evidenced in the archive material on this page.

Final Exam Week

Final Exam Essay: Friday, May 16th
Archetypes Handout
Tone Handout

Section 1: Final Exam Multiple Choice Exam: Monday, May 19th

Section 2: Final Exam Multiple Choice Exam: Wednesday, May 21st

Non-Fiction Unit Begins

The final three weeks of school are upon us, and the non-fiction unit has also kicked in to full gear.
Get the full color planner now (this is also being e-mailed to all of you due to the nature of the upcoming weeks)

The non-fiction stories are in a packet and will not be available online.

Due Tuesday 5.6: “Don’t Hang Up, That’s My Mom Calling” (from handout)
Due Wednesday 5.7: “Delusions of Grandeur” (from handout)
Due Thursday 5.8: “At the Heart of a Historic Movement” (from handout)

We will also continue working on improving writing and also the basics of MLA.
Do not forget: Root Test 1-7 next week! (see root lists further down this page)

Final Week of the Poetry Unit

We wind down the poetry unit this week with the end of the project.
Also, the new planner is now available.
The project is due Wednesday.
The individual poem and AP multiple choice questions are due Friday by 11:59 pm
Subject line should be mc questions.
Please name your file with your last name and mc questions:
Example: tyler_mcquestions or tyler mcquestions

The poetry explication is due Friday.

Poetry Unit Week 3/Research Project

This week will continue to be busy: We will be reading "The Raven" and doing a poetry sound elements assignment (due Tuesday 4.22) from Poe's epic work. The Raven is available on line. Click the link on the title to get to it, or simply use "Google". We will be watching the "Simpsons" version of the Raven as well.

Research Project:
Wed. 4.23: (No homework except project on Tuesday 4.22) Biographical Data and Ten Poems due
Fri. 4.25: Part 2 Ten Poem Annotation Check

TP-CASTT; Lyric Poetry vs. Narrative Poetry

Due to the nature of recent in-class activities, some students may not be able to complete their TP-CASTT in class.
Here are links to the poems for this assignment:
"Kidnap Poem"
"Beware, Do Not Read this Poem"
"The Seven Ages of Man"
"My Papa's Waltz"
"The Gift"

Due Monday: the Lyric Poetry and Narrative Poetry assignment. It will be distributed Thursday, but you may download today!

Poetry Unit Week 2

The unit kicks into high gear this week, so keep up with the site and your planner!
Monday, April 14th: Ms. Kemp returns with an expository essay based on the poem "The Road Not Taken". The essay will be on "The effects of tone on communication in daily life". Students who have questions can e-mail Ms. Kemp at mskemp@asu.edu.

Tuesday, April 15th: TP-CASTT practice on a poem from the text book.

Wednesday, April 16th: Expository essay due (Ms. Kemp assignment); Poetry MC practice quiz (in-class); TP-CASTT assignment due 4.17 (students may use a poem from the book or a song)

Thursday, April 17th: Poetry Focus Project begins; students will also be doing an immediate assignment "Lyric Poetry vs. Narrative Poetry", which will be due on Monday, April 21st

Poetry Unit Week I

The poetry unit begins with an introduction to three different methods for analyzing poetry: TP-CASTT, SOAPS and DIDLS. We will look at those methods and will be using some of them in the coming months.
We will have an initial poetry assignment due on Friday, which is a look at two poems: "The Legend of the Paper Plates" and "My Mother Remembers Spanish Influenza".
The planner for Thursday 4.10 through next Thursday is now available!

Warning: The next three weeks are going to be intense. Please plan accordingly and take full advantage of the long range planner I have provided for you.

Poetry Unit Starts

After two rounds of testing, we head into an intense poetry unit which covers important elements needed for students planning to engage in the AP curriculum their junior year.
Students can take a cursory look at what is coming with the advanced planner; students will receive this planner along with the weekly planner this Thursday.
Students should also grab the TP-CASTT, DIDLS, and SOAPS handout, something they will definitely want to keep!
Need help? Check out this poetry terms website, or for students hoping to excel in AP, especially in the poetry area, go to this loaded AP link site for poetry.
Watch for more details!

Romeo and Juliet Acts III and IV; Terra Nova

We continue our rather brief but intense examination of Romeo and Juliet by looking into the pivotal third act and then the brief (if you can call it that) respite of Act IV.
Students can get the new planner, as well as the Act III study questions, which are due on Tuesday, April 1st (sorry, no April Fool on this one).
Wednesday is a half day, and Act IV will be due on Thursday, April 3rd.
Root Test #7 is on Friday, April 4th.

Parents (and students): An advisory concerning the upcoming Terra Nova and AIMS Science test will be on the main dothblog page.

Romeo and Juliet Acts I and II

We are taking a different approach with Romeo and Juliet. There is an emphasis on literary terms and finding examples of those terms in the text. You will be reading several literary analysis essays reflecting different aspects of the novel, written by scholars and giving you a flavor of what you will be able to add to your future discourses.
Act I is due Wednesday (you are responsible for seven of the ten quotes)
Act II is due Friday: You will have vocab and quotes, plus a reflection essay on the balcony scene that you need to read and highlight for Friday's discussion.
Thursday, you will be doing an in-class reading on Mercutio's character.
Root List #7 is also now available. That test is scheduled in the planner.
Please check out the planner for a look at the rest of the school year!

Romeo and Juliet (Condensed) Begins

We will start a rather quick evaluation of Romeo and Juliet upon our return Monday.
Students who have not read R and J will need to begin reading as soon as possible. Those who have still need to read it, because we are going to be looking at different nuances of this play in regards to Shakesperian tragedy and what to look for in future readings with Shakespeare.
Students may get the No Fear version (although I will not be using it on quote tests) to help with their reading.

The Act I study guide is available. We will be discussing Act I on Wednesday and Act II on Friday. The schedule for Act III, IV and V will be based on timing due to testing next week.

Animal Farm Movie vs. Book

Students:
Please comment (respectfully, cleanly, etc) on the comparisons and contrasts between the book and the movie.
Especially discuss the use of television and also the ending of the movie.
You have from now until around 7:30, 8 pm tomorrow to either discuss comments here or during class discussion time on Thursday.

Last Week before Spring Break

There may not be a planner this week, so here is the tentative schedule:
Monday: Discussion of Animal Farm Chapters 6-9
Tuesday: Completion of Animal Farm movie; Assignment for Thursday: comparison/contrast of the film and the book (details to come)
Wednesday: Hearing Tests
Thursday: Turn in comparison/contrast of movie and book; Advertising power point
Friday: Advertising mini-lesson
Then: Spring Break!

Animal Farm Persuasive "Mini" Assignment

Animal Farm Assignment (Chapters 1-9)
Due Friday, March 7th, 2008

1) In one paragraph, defend Napoleon’s actions. Use any rhetorical strategy necessary to achieve this goal. You must use clear information from the text to support your arguments.

2) In one paragraph detail what it would have taken for Animal Farm to be successful (that is, the animals achieving at least a decent to high degree of equality). Please use evidence from the book and also reinforce with any ideas in history and/or government.

Your paragraphs must be at least 9-11 sentences long. Do not merge the two paragraphs. You will do this in place of the dialectical journal for Friday. Be prepared to argue your points in class on Friday. This must be completed on Friday to achieve full credit. If you feel you need to add more information, expand your paragraph up to 13 sentences.

Animal Farm Chapters 5-9

Animal Farm is rolling along. However, thanks to several interruptions this week, the assignments have changed.
Chapter 5 is due Monday, March 3rd.
Chapters 6-7 is due Wednesday, March 5th
Chapters 8-9 is due Friday, March 7th
The planner is already ready!
We will also be watching the TBS version of Animal Farm beginning on Thursday. We will be doing some film analysis and also some blog conversation based on the book and movie versions.

Animal Farm Chapter 1-5 (revised)

"Serious sport is war minus the shooting" - George Orwell

Animal Farm has now begun!
You are responsible for dialectical journals for this novel, at least four per chapter unless otherwise specified.
For potential enhanced credit (+5 above normal score), use any research from the Orwell site in your dialectical journals and/or comment on them during class!
There will also be some close readings and other assignments.
Monday, February 25th: Chapter 2 (same as Friday) Also, get the new planner
Tuesday, February 26th: Chapter 3 (reading only)
Thursday, February 27th-28th: Chapter 3 and 4 dialectical journals (focus on symbolism and connections to Communism)
Friday, February 29th: Chapter 5 dialectical journal: Theme: The role of technology in society; elements of satire in this chapter

Animal Farm Unit Begins

I hope the break was good for you. However, in true Grin fashion, we're right back at it.
We start Tuesday with a mini-research project to fulfill the state standard in researching, one that is critical since all of you are college bound.
That mini-project is due on Thursday, February 21st, although students with a "A" or "B" can receive an extension if they notify me by Wednesday morning.
One link I will give you is to the Animal Farm movie page, but the rest (read the directions) must be done by you!
The first two chapters will be due by Friday, February 22nd. You will need to do a dialectical journal on them, but it must be on any quotes that reflect the following themes: education as a weapon, propaganda, or Orwell's warning concerning communism.
The planner for this week is also now available!

TKAM Blogs Revisited

The TKAM blogs are no longer available, but the comments have been preserved as pdf files and as archives for future reference.
Blog 1: Chapter 1-11
Blog 2: Chapters 12-20
Blog 3: The strongest character
Blog 4: The Trial and Conclusion
Honors, great first effort!!!

Break (yeah right, Mr. Tyler) time

There will be a one week break between the completion of To Kill a Mockingbird (except the essay) and the start of Animal Farm.
We are going to be focusing on how to take AP/SAT style multiple choice tests, especially since the final exam will be styled like such tests as we prepare you to advance into sophomore year and the PSAT exams.
Monday is the root test, and the freshmen registration video (The new Planner is now available for week of Feb. 11th, by the way).
Tuesday 2.12: Rough Draft
CHANGE: Friday 2.15: Final Draft

TKAM Literary Analysis Paper

The novel is just about over, and now it is time to reflect via essay. This is a critical essay for you right now, so make sure you take the time, organize yourself properly, and be focused. DO NOT TAKE SHORTCUTS.
The rough draft is due Monday, February 11th. You must do the rough draft in order to turn in the final draft, which is due on Wednesday, February 13th.
If you need help with your essays, be sure to download the literary essay essentials handout, which has a link on this page. You can also get your peer editing checklist for TKAM early.
Remember, even though it is a 7-11 sentence body paragraph essay, students should be writing close to 125 words.