TV makes you smarter?! Bring it on!

This weekend, read Watching TV Makes You Smarter on page 766 and do the questions on page 776. Maybe watch some TV. After all, the AP test is coming up. ;)

By request, I'm identifying the grammar sections in the book that would be the most beneficial to you on the AP test. Those grammar sections are the ones in chapters 10 and 12-13. See the table of contents for page numbers. Look them over before the AP test and make sure you get it. I will take those grammar sections for extra credit up until May 20th.

Any artists out there?

Do any of you write poetry, short stories, or plays?  Do you take pictures? Do you paint or sculpt or something else?

Mirror Magazine (available at Spring Fling) showcases the talents of FHS students. We would like to feature as wide a selection of student work as possible. If you'd like to be in the magazine, send your work to me (note it's for Mirror), email it to mirrormagazine.fife@gmail.com, or just give it to me.

You don't have to be brilliant to be included in the magazine -- you just have to go to FHS.

Watching Mean Girls in AP? That is so fetch!

Cady being groomed by her frenemies.

Now that you have watched these cutouts of high school royalty crash through their school creating angst-filled drama wherever they go, it’s time to analyze what’s going on.

Remember the rhetorical triangle, context, and purpose. Though several Saturday Night Live alums have roles in the movie, Tina Fey (she wrote the screenplay) takes the film far beyond the typical SNL star vehicle (way deeper, but not nearly so funny as Tommy Boy). What is she doing in relation to the Denby article? How does this movie fit in with what we’ve read? Go beyond matching up characteristics of the movie to the article to real rhetorical analysis.

Your homework this weekend is to write a blog post analyzing this film in the terms discussed above. Have fun!


Check out this analysis review framework for Monday too.

Show and Tell

To practice working with visual texts, read the graphic essay beginning on page 737 of TLC and blog the questions 1-8 on page 737.

For those interested in story, check this out! I want it as a poster!

Timed Writes and the AP Test

Tuesday 3/19 we will do an analysis timed write. The original plan was to do one of each analysis and argument over the next two weeks. We are doing analysis first just in case the class decides they want more practice at analysis before the test (it has been a little while). Regardless, when we have our practice test, you'll write an argument, an analysis, and a synthesis.

As we get closer to the test, please communicate to me where you feel unprepared and we can spend some time on it. I have plans, but we can be flexible.

High School Confidential

For Monday, blog the Rhetoric and Style questions 3-7; 9-12 on page 715. If anyone has the time and inclination, watch Election and report back to the class. Is it as good as Denby says it is?

Remember that we will be registering for next year's classes on Monday. We'll meet in the room and head over to the computer lab where Mrs. Johnson will guide you through registering with the Career Cruising software.

5th period: I am sick and tired of talking over you. This is possibly the most disrespectful class I've had. If you do not find a mature place to operate from next week, you will have the dubious honor of becoming my first AP class with a seating chart. One of your classmates believes I should use junior high classroom management strategies with you and is all right if I can't trust this class to use the executive functions in your brains to moderate your behavior. If you can't get it together, I will start writing individuals up and calling home to parents. And I will make sure you have so much to do after the AP test that you have no time to screw around. I'm sure we can find something else to do with the end of the week besides watch a movie to pair with this essay.

Chris, you left your book in the classroom. It's in the library now (we checked it in to find out whose it was).

For Friday

Don't forget that Grammar Chapter 7 on p. 420 and following is due Friday.

Ever feel a bit dumb? Who hasn't? Don't despair!!!

Intelligence isn't static. The brain operates a bit like a muscle that gets stronger the more work it gets. If you haven't already figured that out just by working hard in school, the article above should help explain it.

Oddly enough, sleep and exercise both improve the brain's functions. Go figure. If you're interested in learning more about how the brain works and how you can make yours work better, I recommend checking out Brain Rules.