And They're Off!

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Lots of changes this year, ladies and gentlemen! A new grading policy that does assume a lot of effort without much of a 'grade' award. Work considered 'formative' (like homework, practice work, etc.) can count no more than 10% of your quarter grade. Look at it this way; that 10% represents a full letter grade, so you can't earn an 'A' range grade without it! ...Of course grades will be numeric from now on (No more A, B, C etc.), but you get the idea. On top of that, the ineligibility policy has gotten a lot stricter, and includes more extra-curricular activities than before. Stay focused.

Oh yes. It's almost June. :-)

Grade 12

• We discussed the significance of this being senior year.
• Students read an intro letter from me, and wrote a five minute response in their in-class journals.
• Read and signed the Plagiarism Contract, which will need to be in your end of the year portfolio. More on that later.
• Discussed the Reflection Journal. everyone will need an separate notebook for this. More later.
• HW: Working off the journal written in class, type and print a complete response to my letter. Font 12, double spaced, please.

Grade 10

• Discussed the expectations for this year.
• Students will need a multi-subject notebook.
• Discussed the importance of the personal narrative.
• Wrote down and discussed the following vocabulary words:
• 1. Theme: a unifying idea that is a repeating element in literary or artistic work
  
  Ex: “Never give up.” “Accept what can’t be avoided.” “The need of the one outweighs the need of the many.”
  
  2. Tone: a literary technique, that is a part of composition, that shows the attitudes toward the subject and toward the audience implied in a literary work. Tone may be formal, informal, intimate, solemn, sad, playful, serious, ironic, condescending, or many other possible attitudes.