The film Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is currently showing at the Cinemark.  It is based on the book I shared with you during Banned Book Week, and its protagonist has many similarities to Christopher John Francis Boone, so it could provide some insight into his character.  I will give Extra Credit for anyone who sees this film and writes a review of it. Your review should include your opinion of the film, strong and weak points in it (with specific examples), and a brief comparison to Curious Incident.  It should be approximately one page long– better reviews will receive more points!

The film is rated PG-13 for its strongly emotional content, and some very intense scenes.  Click here for an explanation of the rating.

Click here to see when the movie is playing: Google movie times

On test day, remember to bring the following:

• A #2 pencil (and a backup)
• A sheet of lined paper for short answer questions
• Your note card with notes (front and back is okay)
• A book or other quiet activity for after the test
• Seniors: Bring your final drafts! It won’t be possible to turn these in late, so this is extremely important.

Please feel free to e-mail me over the weekend if you have any questions about any of these things.

Seniors: Remember to get your outlines finished by Jan.4

Sophomores: I’m looking forward to seeing your first drafts when we get back on the 4th!

If you need help with an assignment during the break, don’t hesitate to e-mail me (jclark@helena.k12.mt.us).  I’ll be checking my e-mail throughout the break.

I hope you all have a wonderful, restful break.

12/26 Update: Seniors– The outline template you requested is up! Feel free to use this tool to help you format your outline.

“‘Weasel Words’ such as ‘in my opinion,’ ‘I think,’  ‘I believe,’ or ‘I feel’ weaken your arguments; they are unnecessary.  Also, do not muddle the subject of your essay by inserting yourself with such expressions as ‘In my essay. . . ,’ ‘I have thought a long time about this assignment, and . . ., ‘ or ‘In this paper I will. . . .’  Focus on the essay’s thesis.”

Power Points are due Friday 12/2– I need them in my e-mail by Friday morning so that we can project them!  Bringing a USB drive is fine, but come early so that you won’t have to spend class time setting up. Be ready to present your character to the class, and please remember that you are the teacher, so you need to know enough to be able to discuss your character.

12/2 Edit: Great job, seniors!  Some had technical difficulties, so we have a few more presentations to go on Monday, but overall this went very well.  If you haven’t done so already, please be sure to e-mail your presentation to me so that I can have it on file, whether or not you already presented.

Sophomores:

1st Drafts of your Character Analysis essays are due Friday!  We will be peer editing, so you must have a PRINTED COPY in class with you on Friday.  You will not be allowed to go to the library to print, so be prepared.  If you need me to print for you, then please e-mail your draft to me by Thursday night.

You will use peer editing feedback to revise your draft by Monday 12/5.  I will give you additional feedback by Thursday 12/8, and your final draft will be due on Monday 12/12.

We will have the mobile lab in the classroom on Monday 12/5 and Friday 12/9 so that you will have class time to incorporate both sets of revision. Please use this time wisely so that you will have minimal homework!

12/2 Edit: Many of you did not have drafts for peer editing today, which unfortunately does mean you’ll have homework over the weekend. Regardless of what you had today, here’s what I need on Monday:

1. Your first draft with editing marks
   
2. Two completed Peer Edit sheets to help you revise the first draft
   
3. Your outline

We will incorporate the peer edits into your drafts in class on Monday (unless you need a major overhaul, in which case you should have some of that done before class due to the limited time in class) and your second draft is due AT THE END OF CLASS on Monday, as planned.

I will be checking my email (jclark@helena.k12.mt.us) over the weekend, so if you are confused or need help, please feel free to touch base!

“When I finished Middlesex I was living in Berlin and [my editor] flew all the way over to Berlin, took the manuscript back to New York, read it and told me I was finished.” ~author Jeffrey Eugenides in a BBC interview

I recently acquired a super-awesome Grammar and Composition Guide!!  All classes will be using this extensively as a reference in the near future, so I will create hard copies for everyone (which, like the sophomores’ Caesar Packets, CANNOT BE LOST), but in the meantime it can be found on the main page for each grade, as well as in the links on the right.

Seniors should really check out the information on phrases and clauses, or I will have to threaten you with even more DOL activities.

I will be taking big assignments, such as essays, for late grades until Friday (10/28). Quizzes can also be made up until this day, so please be sure to make an appointment with me to take any you missed.  As stated in the syllabus and throughout the last quarter, small homework assignments, like character charts or discussion questions, cannot be made up.  I will also not accept any make-up quizzes or essays after Friday, so be sure to get these done this week.

I understand that there has been some confusion about the due dates for this essay.  This is due to schedule changes since the assignment was first written up.  Please be advised of the following:

• Rough Drafts will be due this Wednesday, October 19th.  Those who are gone Wednesday may send their essays via e-mail to jclark@helena.k12.mt.us
• At this point, Final Drafts are still due the following week, on Wednesday, October 26th. Projects are also due at this time. Revisions will be an option, as we discussed in class, but I need to have a draft to put in the grade book by Wednesday.
• We will spend time next week doing peer editing (Monday) and other revising techniques (Tuesday).  I will check your drafts over the long weekend to be sure that they meet the basic requirements.