Wednesday December 8, 2010

American Lit finished "Off the Fata the Lan'" worksheet (which is due for homework on Thursday). We then discussed chapters 5-6.

British Lit continued Paradise Lost.

Tuesday, December 7 2010

American Lit took the vocab 6 quiz today, then we wrote in our journals about our "dreams, visions, or goals." Finally, we discussed chapters 2-4 in Of Mice and Men. 


British Lit continued Milton's Paradise Lost. We noted the dialog between Satan and Beelzebub, Satan's smug tone regarding the "tyranny" of God's reign, Beelzebub's questions about why God spared their lives, and finally Satan's response that their goal would now be to pervert all good.

Monday, December 6 2010

American Lit finished the "Unlikely Pair" worksheet, due tomorrow. They completed study guide questions for chapters 1-4 and were assigned chapter 5 of Of Mice and Men for homework.

British Lit began Paradise Lost. 

Friday, December 3 2010

American Lit took the Romantic Period Test. Homework assigned: read chapters 3-4 from Of Mice and Men. 


British Lit took the Renaissance Period Test. Study guides were distributed. No homework.

Thursday, December 2 2010

America Lit received their midterm study guide, reviewed paragraph structure, and started a worksheet on Of Mice and Men chapters 1-2.

British Lit finished vocab unit 6 and began John Milton, turning in the homework from yesterday.

Tuesday and Wednesday, November 30-December 1 2010

American Lit began Of Mice and Men, reading chapters 1-2 for Thursday. On Thursday, we had a reading quiz.

British Lit finished Macbeth and began Vocab Unit 6. Assigned homework: pp.480-483 in the textbook and review questions 1-7.

Monday, November 29 2010

American Lit completed Vocab Unit 6 and began a lesson on Active/Passive voice. We will begin Of Mice and Men tomorrow. The Romantic Period test will be Friday.

British Lit finished Macbeth and watched clips from the Royal Shakespeare Company's version of Macbeth, answering questions about different interpretations of Shakespeare's work.

Friday, November 19 2010

American Lit discussed briefly the "The Fall of the House of Usher" study guide, and then watched a film adaptation of "The Tell-Tale Heart."

British Lit took a vocab 5 test and nearly finished Macbeth Act V.

Thursday, November 18 2010

American Lit continued "The Fall of the House of Usher" -- homework was to finish the story and the study guide.

British Lit finished discussing Act III and finished reading Act IV.

Tuesday and Wednesday, November 16-17 2010

On Tuesday, American Lit began the Gothic Period, starting "The Fall of the House of Usher." On Wednesday, we continued the same story.

On Tuesday, British Lit continued Act III of Macbeth and began our discussion. On Wednesday, we took a quiz on Acts I-III and continued our discussion.

Monday, November 15 2010

American Lit finished Emerson and began Henry David Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience," to be finished for homework (Pages 382-388).

British Lit continued Macbeth, finishing Act II and beginning Act III.

Wednesday, November 10 2010

American Lit learned about "Transcendentalism" and began Emerson's "Self-Reliance."

British Lit discussed major themes from Act I of Macbeth. 

Tuesday, November 9 2010

American Lit peer reviewed their Huck Papers today and worked on Vocab 5 exercises (Quiz tomorrow!)

British Lit read Act I of Macbeth. 

Monday, November 8 2010

American Lit finished "Thanatopsis" today. The Huck Paper due date was moved to Thursday. Tuesday will be peer review.

British Lit began Macbeth. 

Thursday and Friday, November 4-5 2010

On Thursday, American lit finished reading Unit 2 and began working on Unit 5 vocabulary. Then, on Friday, they took the Huck Finn test and began reading "Thanatopsis."

On Thursday, British lit began reading Edmund Spenser's sonnets, reading Sonnet 30, learning about the Spenserian Sonnet, and practicing paraphrasing. We continued reading Spenser on Friday, finishing Sonnet 75 and discussing its relation to Shakespeare's Sonnet 18.

Wednesday, November 3 2010

American Lit finished our small group discussion, and then began to read the introduction to Unit 2.

British Lit completed Shakespeare's sonnets in the textbook.

Tuesday, November 2 2010

American Lit was assigned the Huck Finn comparison-contrast paper today. Then, we discussed the "Big Ideas" for the American Romantic Period.

British Lit learned the history and characteristics of the sonnet form, and began reading Shakespeare's Sonnets.

Moday, November 1 2010

American Lit continued reading Huck Finn today. The test for Huck Finn will be on Friday, 11/5. Vocab 4 exercises are due on Wednesday.

British Lit turned in journals and other work, and then discussed pastoral poetry. Vocab 4 exercises will be due Wednesday.

Friday, October 21 2010

American Lit continued Huck Finn, discussing chapters 31-32. Chapters 33-35 were assigned for homework.

British Lit reviewed the TPCASTT method of poetry analysis, and then discussed the "Questions for the Times" at the beginning of Unit 2.

Thursday October 21, 2010

**Sorry for the late update!

American Lit discussed Huck Finn chapter 23 and then worked on compare-and-contrast essays. The homework is to read the chapter summaries for 24-30 on Edline, and then chapter 31-32 for homework.

British Lit began a poetry review workshop today, with a poetry worksheet for homework.

Wednesday, October 20 2010

American Lit began Unit 4 Vocabulary and continued our discussion of Huck Finn. Homework for tomorrow is chapter 23. The vocab quiz will be on Monday.

British Lit discussed the chapter on the Renaissance and began vocab unit 4.

October 19, 2010

American Lit finished the group discussion today. Homework is chs. 15-16 in Huck.

British Lit completed a guided note-taking for the Sixteenth Century.

Monday, October 18 2010

American Lit worked on the group discussion worksheets. The homework is to read chapter summaries for 11-14 posted on Edline.

British Lit took their Medieval Period test. The homework is to read 286-297 (Unit 2) on the Renaissance in the textbook.

Friday, October 15 2010

American Lit discussed chapters 1-4 of Huck Finn, noting the major themes and how Huck's views are often relevant to our own, especially when we're young. **

British Lit played the review game for their test on Monday.

**Chapters you are responsible for reading:

Ch. 1-4                                 

Ch. 8-10

Ch. 15-16

Ch. 23

Ch. 31-32

Ch. 33-35

Ch. 40-43

Thursday, October 14 2010

American Lit started Huck Finn by Mark Twain with a biography of Twain.

British Lit finished Le Morte d'Arthur and started the folk ballad genre, reading "Barbara Allan."

Wednesday and Thursday, October 6-7 2010

American Lit took The Crucible test Wednesday and the Vocab 3 Test on Thursday. We then began "Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers," with two worksheets for homework.

British Lit finished Sir Gawain, discussing the questions assigned for homework on Wednesday. We then began the lesson on Le Morte d'Arthur.

Tuesday, October 5 2010

American Lit did 2 Conflict/Suspense worksheets, and then played the Review Game for the Crucible test.

 British Lit started Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, studying medieval romance, honor, and chivalry.

Monday, October 4 2010

American Lit learned to analyze "conflict and suspense," and then reviewed for the test on Wednesday.

British Lit finished "The Pardoner's Tale."

Friday, October 1 2010

American Lit finished our worksheet and began discussing the plot diagram.

British Lit continued reading "The Pardoner's Tale" today, noting irony, exemplum, and foreshadowing throughout.

Thursday, September 30 2010

American Lit took a vocab 3 quiz and then continued working on the Plot Diagram worksheet.*

British Lit took the vocab 3 quiz. Next, we discussed questions 5-9 from the "Wife of Bath's Tale." Finally, we began the lecture on "The Pardoner's Tale."

Wednesday, September 29 2010

American Lit discussed Act IV and began work on a plot diagram for The Crucible. 


British Lit finished "The Wife of Bath's Tale" along with its study guide and questions 5-9 at the end of the selection.

Tuesday, September 27 2010

American Lit started vocab unit 3, with a quiz scheduled for Thursday, and watched Act IV from the film The Crucible (1996). 


British Lit started vocab unit 3, with a quiz scheduled for Thursday, and began reading "The Wife of Bath's Tale."

Monday, September 27 2010

American Lit watched scenes from The Crucible (1996) and began Act IV, which was assigned for homework. Vocab Unit 3 begins tomorrow.

British Lit took the Vocab 2 Test and discussed the characterization worksheet.

Friday, September 24 2010

American Lit finished The Crucible Act III.

British Lit finished "The Prologue" and worked on a characterization worksheet, which will be due for homework on Monday.

Thursday, September 23 2010

American Lit: We completed a character analysis worksheet as a class, received an optional study guide, and continued Act III.

British Lit: We continued "The Prologue" of the Canterbury Tales.

Wednesday, September 22 2010

American Lit: Today we continued Act III of The Crucible. 


British Lit: Today we continued the Prologue of The Canterbury Tales. 

Monday and Tuesday, September 20-21 2010

Sorry for the delay in posting, guys!

American Lit: On Monday, we took a quiz on the Crucible acts I-II. Then, we continued working through Act II. On Tuesday, we finished Act II and began reading Act III as a class. There will be a Vocab Test Unit 2 on Friday.

British Lit: On Monday, we began the Canterbury Tales' "Prologue" and the students turned in their "Written Response" to "The 13th Warrior." Today, we took a test on the Anglo-Saxon Period, and tomorrow we will continue the Prologue.

Friday, September 17 2010

American Lit: We finished Act One of The Crucible and Act II was assigned for homework over the weekend. A quiz on Acts I-II will be given on Monday.

British Lit: We had a quiz on the medieval period, then moved on to the Canterbury Tales (vocabulary, as well).

Thursday, September 16 2010

American Lit: Today we continued Act One of The Crucible, reading Rev. Hale's "Mini-Essay" for homework.

British Lit: Students took notes on the Medieval Period lecture, and we began Geoffrey Chaucer's work.

Wednesday, September 15 2010

American Lit: Students took their Unit 1 Test today. Tomorrow we will continue The Crucible. 


British Lit: Students finished The 13th Warrior and then reviewed the Anglo-Saxon Period in preparation for the test on Tuesday, September 21. Also, the written response is now due MONDAY, rather than Friday, and the Vocab 2 Test has been scheduled for Friday, September 24.

Tuesday, September 14th 2010

American Lit: Today, we continued our reading of "The Crucible," getting midway through Act One.

British Lit: We continued watching "The 13th Warrior" today.

Monday, September 13 2010

American Lit: Today, we began The Crucible, a play by Arthur Miller which deals with McArthyism via the Salem Witch Trials. We began with a powerpoint lecture, and then proceeded to assign roles and read the introductory essay in Act 1. "Parallel Structure" sheet was also checked for homework.

British Lit: We began "The 13th Warrior" today, a retelling of the Beowulf myth. Also, the creative writing for Beowulf was turned in.

Friday, September 10 2010

American Lit: Journal checks today. Students finished reading "The Autobiography" by Benjamin Franklin and answered selection questions 1-6. Then, they completed the "Parallel Structure" worksheet which is due Monday for a homework check. Finally, they were given a study guide for the Unit 1 Exam, which will be on Wednesday of next week.

British Lit: Students finish "The Seafarer" and "A History of the English Church and People" by Venerable Bede. The creative writing will be due on Monday.

Thursday, September 9 2010

American Lit: We took the Vocab 2 quiz and began "The Autobiography" by Benjamin Franklin. Journals are due tomorrow in class.

British Lit: We took our Vocab 2 quiz, spent time working on the creative writing (whose maximum length was extended to 3 pages, not 2), and began our discussion of "The Seafarer," an elegy.

My apologies for updating this blog late this evening -- it's a disservice to the absent students who need it to remain on task for class.

Wednesday, September 8 2010

American Lit: Today we did a lesson on Parallel Structure. Unit 1 exam will be next Wednesday. Review on Friday. Have your journals ready on Friday. Below are the dates which will be checked:

-- September 3rd
-- September 2nd
-- September 1st
-- August 30th
-- August 24th
-- August 19th
-- August 17th
-- August 11th
-- Explorer’s Account
-- August 13th
British Lit: We began a creative writing assignment in which the students, using Beowulf as a starting point, construct a battle scene.

Thursday, September 2 2010

American Lit: we completed a "Persuasive Rhetoric Workshop" in class.

British Lit: We continued Beowulf.

Wednesday, September 1 2010

American Lit: We finished "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," and a study guide was given for homework.

British Lit: We continued reading Beowulf and began working on a literary analysis worksheet dealing with caesurae, kennings, and aliterations.

Tuesday, August 31st 2010

American Lit: We began "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," taking lecture notes and beginning the sermon. Also, we began Vocabulary Unit 2, and manila folders were passed in.

British Lit: We continued Beowulf and started Vocabulary Unit 2.

Monday, August 30 2010

American Lit: We read and discussed "The History of Virginia" by Captain John Smith.

British Lit: We read and discussed Beowulf.

Vocabulary Unit 2 starts tomorrow for Juniors and Seniors.

Bring 2 Manila folders Tuesday and Wednesday with your name on them.

Friday, August 27 2010

American Lit: we took our vocab unit 1 test and finished our discussion of Equiano and modern approaches to social injustice. The "Reader's Check" is due for Monday.

British Lit: We had a guidance presentation and then finished "The Epic Hero." Vocab Unit 1 Test on Monday.

Thursday, August 26 2010

American Lit: We read Olaudah Equiano's "Interestng Narrative," began a small-group worksheet on addressing current injustices through the media, and a "Reader's Check" was assigned for homework, due Monday. Vocab Unit 1 test will be on Friday.

British Lit: Tests were handed back, and an exemplary essay was shown. Students watched Benjamin Bagby's performance of the opening lines of Beowulf and compared the oral poetic experience to the written word. Students then noted the various aspects of Anglo-Saxon poetry (tetrameter, caesura, kennings, etc.) in Rebsamen's translation of Beowulf. Finally, "The Epic Hero," a brief documentary on epic heroes, was begun.

Wednesday, August 25 2010

American Lit: Students finished reading "La Relacion," and then began to write their own "Explorer's Account" in their journals.

British Lit: We went over the Guided Notetaking, covered some aspects of Anglo-Saxon poetry, and began to discuss the differencve between oral and written poetry.

Tuesday, August 24th 2010

American Lit: Students took the vocab unit 1 quiz, finished the introductory lecture, then worked on historical narratives, focusing on primary and secondary sources.

British Lit: Today, students did a "guided notetaking" worksheet and took the vocab unit 1 quiz. Worksheet is due for homework tomorrow.

Monday, August 23 2010

American Lit: We passed back paragraphs, checked Vocab Unit 1 Homework, and commenced the "Early American Period."

British Lit: We passed back paragraphs, checked Vocab Unit 1 Homework, and commenced the "Anglo-Saxon Period."

Check with your classmates for notes!

Friday, August 20 2010

All classes took respective tests (Twisted and Lord of the Flies). For all classes, Unit 1 homework is due on Monday.

Thursday, August 19th 2010

American Lit: We finished our discussion of Twisted today and then listened to an NPR interview dealing with the topic of "date rape." Tomorrow is the Twisted test.

British Lit: We finished our discussion of Lord of the Flies. The discussion questions for homework were checked, and then the students answered the questions by groups. Tomorrow is the test for Lord of the Flies.

Wednesday, August 18th 2010

American Lit: All classes had guidance presentations today. No homework, except to finish Twisted. We will finish discussion tomorrow.

British Lit: We continued discussion of Lord of the Flies. We will finish discussion on Thursday. Test on Friday. Discussion questions were given for homework, due Thursday.

Tuesday, August 17

In American Lit, we started unit 1 Vocabulary, finishing exercise one in class. The remainder of the exercises will be due for homework Monday, with a quiz on Tuesday and a test on Friday. Then, we continued our discussion of Twisted. Tomorrow, there will be a guidance presentation for juniors.

In British Lit, we went to an assembly with Mr. Kelly. Tomorrow, we will work on vocabulary unit 1 and continue our discussion of Lord of the Flies.

Monday, August 16 2010

American Lit:

Today we finished Gerunds and Participles, reviewed Essay Structure, and began discussing Twisted. Students will need to bring Twisted to class tomorrow for discussion, as well as their vocabulary book (which they have been instructed to bring daily).

British Lit:

Today we finished up reviewing Gerunds and Participles, reviewed Essay Structure, and began discussing Lord of the Flies. Students will need to bring their vocabulary books and Lord of the Flies for class tomorrow.

Friday, August 13th 2010

American and British Lit:

Both American Lit and British Lit finished the fishbowl activity, then reviewed Warrick Dunn's career by powerpoint and video. Finally, we reviewed gerunds and participles.

For Monday, seniors need to bring Running for my Life and Lord of the Flies. Juniors need to bring Running for My Life and Twisted.

Paragraph for 3-passage assignment is due on Monday. Students will choose one of the three passages they chose in class from Running for My Life which they feel has particular significance for them. They will write one well-constructed paragraph (1 topic sentence, 4+ sentences for the body, and 1 closing sentence) describing this significance as it relates to their personal experience.

Thursday, August 12 2010

American Lit and British Lit:

We reviewed the disciplinary procedures at the beginning of class. Next, the students chose 3 passages from Running for My Life -- one from the beginning, one from the middle, and one from the end -- between 2-4 lines each. These passages were to be significant or meaningful to the student. For homework, students will turn in 1 paragraph (well-constructed!) dealing with one of the passages. Paragraph should include a main idea, at least 4 sentences in the body, and 1 closing remark. The 3 passages and paragraph will be turned in for a grade (50pts.) on Monday.

Next, students engaged in the "Fishbowl" activity, in which 4 students at a time answered discussion questions about the Big Read, while all the other students recorded their answers (summarily).

For Juniors,  the Twisted test will be next Thursday.
Seniors' Lord of the Flies exam will be announced shortly.

Wednesday, August 12 2010

American and British Lit:

In class today, we covered the syllabus, the major course themes, and extra credit. For extra credit, students will be given a list of texts for memorization with the possibility of receiving 10 points/quarter. Next, students took a "Grammar Assessment" to learn about areas in which we, as a class, can improve in our grammatical understanding. Both the assessment and yesterday's survey (for sections A and C) were turned in at the end of class.

For tommorrow, students (all sections) need to bring "Running for My Life" to begin discussion of the text.

First Day of Class (8/11/09)

American and British Lit:

Today we went over the course guidelines and procedures, discussing briefly the purpose of literature, grammar, and writing as means of growing closer to Christ. Students also received their textbooks and completed a survey. For periods A and C, be sure to bring that survey back tomorrow (other periods turned their surveys in) -- it will be for a 10 point participation grade.

For tomorrow, bring all materials (binder, notebook, pens). If you have a vocabulary book, bring it with you. If not, procure one ASAP.

-- Mr. Carruth