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Pre-IB Summer Reading Challenge

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Greetings Juniors!

Hey doesn’t that sound fantastic! I’m so proud of all of you. Again, you continue to demonstrate a commitment to excellence in your academics and everyday endeavors. We had a great year together and we finished strong! Ujima!

As we move into our summer, I’m asking that each of you accept the Sac Library‘s Summer Reading Challenge, where you can win an iPad and other cool gifts! It’s important that we find books we enjoy and share those with our friends and family. Summer reading, as you well know, is an important activity for the inquisitive, college-going students you all are.

1. Make sure you have a library card

2. Sign up for the summer reading program

3. Find your books and start reading!

 

Each month, I will post on our class website and ask you to give a brief synopsis of one or more of the books you have read. Also, you can brag and share your overall summer reading score. This will allow us to share book titles and provide reviews.

So far, Mr. Coey has read The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson and Outcast by Aaron Allston. 200 pts to Mr. Coey!

Kind Regards,

Mr. Coey

p.s. our first class post will be at the end of this month, so you have a couple of weeks to read your first book!

Vocabulary

Latin/Greek Roots and Prefixes

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Sophomores!

First of all, congratulations for passing the CAHSEE. Well-done! That must be a huge relief to know that test is behind you.

As we continue our study of Latin/Greek roots, you may need to refer to this resource Latin Greek Roots and Prefixes.

Remember, we are selecting (80) roots and (20) prefixes to study. Select the roots and prefixes you want/need to learn to expand you vocabulary.

For a brief history of the English language and its relationship to Latin and Greek influence, please review this online resource 

We’ll have our first practice test on Thursday, so be sure to have your flashcards ready!

Thank you,

Mr. Coey

Poetry

International News Poem

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Dear Poets!

Please read and review our current international news topics. You may select a topic from one of these recommended websites:

International News

News Poem

Write a poem that is based on a newspaper story, television news report, or online video.

Follow Hongo’s pattern in “The Legend”:

 

  1. Begin with a close observation of the scene, focus on the setting by using vivid imagery. Describe the characters (people) involved.
  2. Using present tense active voice verbs, describe the events
  3. Begin with an objective, factual tone and create a shift in tone, moving to a more subjective, personal tone.
  4. Include an allusion to a famous person, which helps to make a philosophical statement
  5. End your poem with a comment on your feelings and thoughts about the event.

 

Writing

Oedipus Online e-books!

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Dear sophomores/almost juniors:

In an effort to support your Oedipus essay, I would like to suggest that you refer to this e-book from Project Gutenberg. Just be sure to cite this source in addition to the book we are using in class, which by the way can be cited as this:

Sophocles. The Complete Plays of Sophocles. Trans. Jebb. Ed. Moses Hadas. Toronto: Bantam, 1982. Print.

You can use easybib.com to create your MLA citation.

For further resources related to proper MLA citation refer to Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab

Remember your 1st draft, 800-1,000 word essay is due Tuesday!

Be sure to check your essay for topic sentences, advanced paragraphs, revision of ‘dead words,’ active voice present-tense verbs, and a conclusion in which you discuss the writer’s choices (e.g. Sophocles).

You can do it!

Coey

 

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CAHSEE Practice Test

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Dear sophomores,

CAHSEE is next week, and we can prepare for this exam by reviewing a sample test and looking at practice questions. Look through this sample test, which begins on page 22 of this CAHSEE Study Guide. Answers to the practice test can be found on page 129. If there are any concepts or ideas you are unclear about, I want you to ask me for further assistance.

Also, review the CAHSEE Released Exam Questions for additional practice.

I believe that we are well-prepared for this exam, and I expect each one of you to pass quite easily.

Thank you for all of your hard-work and commendable effort.

Kind Regards,

Mr. Coey

IB English

How to Read Literature Like a Professor!

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Hello, future IB juniors!

We are so pleased that you have chosen IB English and that you are excited about reading, writing, and of course thinking!

IB English is a college-level course in literature, so we thought this resource would be helpful.

1.       Read “Every Trip is a Quest” from HowToReadLiteratureLikeAProfessor. Certainly you may peruse other chapters as well.

2.      Go to ksynhorst.com

   Click on “forum” in the column on the left.  

Open the post called “Class of ’15 first assignment: Every Trip is a Quest” and follow the instructions there.

  Due by Wednesday, September 4th.

If you need clarification or to reach us for any reason, you may contact Ms. Synhorst at kesynhorst@gmail.com or you may contact Mr. Coey at jccoey@gmail.com

Kind Regards,

Mr. Coey and Ms. Synhorst

 

Writing

Writing Your Essay on Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Julius Caesar

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Greetings plebeians,

Your 600-800 word essay is due Monday, June 03.  Be sure to use your original ideas; in other words, you are not permitted to plagiarize at all. You may not borrow ideas from other essays (unless you properly cite the work both in your paper and your works cited page). Sparknotes is not necessarily forbidden from your research; however, you don’t want to write an essay with generic ideas. You want your thinking to be fresh and insightful and that can only be accomplished when you take a risk with your interpretation.

For an ebook copy of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar use Project Gutenberg.

For an example of a properly cited essay on Julius Caesar, check out this example from Northern Michigan University.

The rubric used for grading your essay is this Rubric for Development of Literary Analysis

Have a Growth Mindset!

Yours,

Mr. Coey

Poetry

Young poets- This is your opportunity to be published

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CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS SACRAMENTO-AREA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!

 

Young poets-

 

This is your opportunity to be published with the best young Irish poets in a perfect-bound print anthology from Rebel Poetry Press, edited by Gene Barry, Director of the Fermoy International Poetry Festival. Send ONE poem- your best- in an email attachment to poetrycats@gmail.com by April 30th. Include a 30-word bio (name, school, grade, contact info.) with your poem. Format poem in Times New Roman, 12-point font. Any theme accepted, but poem should be 50 lines or less. Show- don’t tell. “A poem should not mean- but be.” (Archibald MacLeish)

 

16 Sacramento poems will be included in the Irish anthology. This is an incredible opportunity. Send your poem NOW!

Poetry

Period 5 Poetry Publication

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Dear Poets,

Read through the six poems from your English class. Select one. Type it in a word document. As you type, consider making slight improvements and revisions.

1. Reply to this post by publishing your poem. Prior to publishing, be sure it is free of spelling errors and that it is your best version.

2. Reply to your poem with a brief explanation of the choices you have made and describe what you hope your reader will notice  as a result of your choices.

3. Reply to at least two of your classmates’ poems by commenting on their choices, theme, tone, or structure.

Kind Regards,

Coey

p.s. If you are interested in having your poem published in a teen literary magazine, consider submitting your work to Teen Ink.

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