The class

How does one do well in senior english?

That's what everyone wants to know, isn't it?  On the one hand, there's the usual answer, and it has something to do with writing well, reading what's assigned, talking intellectually in class, and all those more or less obvious habits.  But here's one more thing to consider: we all are in this place for the better part of a year.  We can make it whatever we want to make it, either amazing, horrible, or somewhere in between.  I'm going to work my hardest to make this the best place to be during the time we're in the classroom.  But, I'm one of roughly thirty people, and so your contribution is as important, I'd venture to say more important, to whatever we create here.  The people who are successful here are the people that make something of all this, who find something to love in it, and I don't mean the grade.  If you jump into this mess and find what interests you, what makes you mad, what makes you confused, and what makes you want to live, then you will get the grade you want.  By the way, if you approach life this way, you will live the life you want too.

Another element of your final grade, and still related to the information above, is our discussion in and out of class.  This is a discussion-based class, and we will discuss most of every class.  Your participation is expected.  For more information on this, read In class discussion participation.  Also, look at this rubric to see how your grade is figured. 

Read more about the class

things to consider

WHat you missed and need to complete
If you were absent, click here and complete the work you missed.  It is your responsibility to do so.

all remaining due dates
Groups members for satire project: 5/1 or 5/2.
Topic of satire project: 5/3 or 5/4
Mini-Banksy style satire: 5/9 or 5/10.  You can see a couple examples here.
Satire project: 5/17 or 5/18.
Independent Reading completed: 5/23 or 5/24.
Final discussion for comedy: 5/25 or 5/26
Final Project: 5/30 or 5/31
Final exam (and turn in notes): 6/1 or 6/4.
Last day: 6/5 or 6/6.
mini banksy
For this, create a satirical art piece in the style of Banksy.  His graffiti art is very simple, and that simplicity allows for his message to jump out at you.  Your piece can be no larger than 8.5 by 11.  It can use words, but only a few, and it can use pictures, but it should be uncluttered.  You can't do a piece like we did in class, where we doctored a famous painting.  For this, you must create the images.  For some examples of his work, you might want to check out Banksy's own website.  This assignment is due 5/9 or 5/10.
a2 turnitin information
If you are not in A2, you don't need this information.  For A2 types, the class ID/password is 4605371/mcneal.
THings to consider before turning in your essay

1.      Does each body paragraph contain at least one quotation?

2.      Are all quotations embedded?

3.      Are all quotations formatted using MLA style?

4.      Is there a Works Cited page?

5.      Have you read other sources for this assignment, even sources you didn’t quote?  Did you cite those sources?

6.      Is the essay written in present tense?

7.      Does the essay develop a logical argument, in the staircase fashion?

8.      Does the introduction contain the ‘deep thought’?

9.      Does the conclusion end the essay with a stunning insight (yay!) or with a repeat of the previous ideas in the essay (boo)?

10.   Does the essay refer to the dictionary?  Don’t.

11.   Does the essay contain rhetorical questions. Remove.

12.   Does the essay contain the word ‘you,’ as in, you don’t think about it often, but you really are just an animal.  Remove ‘you.’

13.   Does the essay have a title?

14.   Did you submit the essay to Turnitin.com?

fourth quarter independent reading
To start, you must have a book that you bring to class on 4/23 or 4/24.  If the book you choose is not on the list supplied, you must ask me if it's ok. otherwise you won't receive credit.
THird quarter exam
For the exam, you can expect the same format. So, there will be an essay wherein you'll compare BNW and LOF.  If you have struggled grade-wise with those, two things to consider: One, do you understand how to generate a detailed, arguable thesis? Two, do you understand how to develop detailed, specific supporting paragraphs?  The area most people struggle with is #2.  Pack your paragraphs full of detail from the books, from your life, from other subjects, and you will be in much better shape.  Likewise, consider the IQC method for paragraphs. 
For the short answer, brush up on the ironic persona and why a writer might use an ironic persona.  For example, why does Swift use an ironic persona?
Lastly, for the identification, keep in mind that third quarter we talked about irony.  Chances are 100% that the identification will center on ironic moments in the books.  For example, in Brave New World, who says the line "O brave new world with such people in it"?  What is meant by the line, and why is it ironic?
Big Ole Third quarter essay
Due 4/26 or 4/27.  The assignment is here.
As with everything, at anytime, you have a choice: am I happy or am I miserable?  The choice applies here too: are you going to view this an opportunity to work hard for a short period of time, and produce something great?  Or, are you going to view this as a thorn in your side?  It will be exactly what you choose it to be. 
As I stated in class, if you score higher on this essay than on the Modest Proposal essay, both essays' grades will change. 
Keep in mind the central focus of this essay: develop a logical argument that progresses up a series of steps.  Your conclusion is the most important moment of your essay, because you build up all the ideas to that point.  That is why the conclusion can't be a simple repeat of the essay, as what would be the point of leading the reader through a series of developing arguments if you end it by telling him what he already knows? 
It might be helpful to reconsider your handout on embedding quotations, as well as the handout Everything you need to know about writing great essays.
Need more explanation on IQC?  And example?
I forgot to mention this in class, but you must have a Works Cited page, in MLA format.  If you use Brave New World, that needs to be on it; if you use Informing ourselves to death, that needs to be on it too.  You can use other resources, but keep in mind that you must correctly cite those sources.
Oh yeah, I'm so forgetful, silly me.  You also need to submit this essay to Turnitin.
brave New World Essay #1
Due 3/15 or 3/16.  On this day, we are going to spend the day talking about how our world is similar to the world as described in Brave New World.  In order to do this, you need to find an artifact from our world.  It's all explained here.
Your Modest Proposal
This is due on 2/24 or 2/27.  The purpose of this assignment is to work with logical development in an essay.  You are using Swift's essay as a template, as his essay is about as logical as one can be, and it is immensely famous for its logical structure, among other things.  The assignment sheet states this three times, and this will make four, but it's worth repeating: You must closely follow Swift's outline.  If you deviate from it, the whole thing falls apart.
Read group minds
Read Group Minds for class on 2/24 or 2/27.  We are reading this as a connection to both Lord of the Flies and Brave New World (the next book we read).
Lord of the flies reading scheduLe
 

Chapters 1-4: 2/9 or 2/10

Chapters 5-6: 2/13 or 2/14

Chapters 7-8: 2/15 or 2/16

Chapter 9: Read in class.

Finish the book, and be ready for a graded discussion: 2/22 or 2/23.

Edline is dead
From this point forward, I won't be updating Edline.  If you have some strong desire to visit it, you can certainly do so, but I won't be there.  All information of importance for Senior English will be posted here, and you can bookmark this page (or go through Edline, which is still a little like crossing through a desert wasteland).
A Modest proposal
Read it here.  It would be helpful if you printed a copy to bring to class on Friday 2/3 or Monday 2/6.  Before you read this before dinner, as it has a tendency to make people very hungry.

cool links

These are all to further advance ideas we may be talking about in class

As you well know, the internet is packed full of amazing amounts of information, much of it completely worthless.  The links below are items that I have found that seem to connect with ideas we're are pondering in class.  Some of them might simply be interesting, and have very little to do with our focus.  Whatever the case, the more that you can see how the ideas we discuss in class spread through many different spheres, the more you'll begin to truly understand what this is all about.  With that in mind, if you find any sites that seem relevant to our discussions, please let me know and I'll post them.

  • Pictures! Remember when I said that you can receive a bit of extra credit for connections to the class that you find in the world at large?  Well, here are some of the connections people have found.  
  • Banksy For more on his art, check out his website.  
  • Adbusters This is a very interesting website for a variety of reasons.  Most notable, at least for our purposes, are the spoof ads.  
  • A Wild Sheep Chase If you read it, this might help you understand it a little more.  If you haven't read it, this will give you a little window into the book.  Don't worry, it won't spoil the end.
  • Top 50 dystopian films of all time Or at least one person's opinion of the top 50.  Either way, it's an intriguing list.
  • Oedipus retold using vegetables What more explanation do you need?
  • Oedipus Rex Here's an online source for the entire play.  If you've missed class, read from this.  Send me an email, and I can tell you what section to read.
  • Jude Law as Hamlet As we read Hamlet the play is running on Broadway, with Jude Law in the title role. The New York Times published an interesting review of the play, and all sorts of reviews are all over the internet.  And, of course, people are posting illicit videos of the production on Youtube.  And, since Jude Law is so hot, there are all sorts of videos of Hamlet, I mean Jude Law, signing autographs.  And, more seriously, a great interview on playing Hamlet.  
  • Plato's Allegory of the Cave This is one of the most famous passages in the history of philosophy.  Read the passage, watch the Matrix, and marvel at how the filmmakers made millions by plagiarizing Plato.   
  • Construction and destruction of a sand mandala This is a beginning to end film of the sand mandala ceremony.  As an added bonus, the Dalai Lama!
  • Construction of a sand mandala Fast-forward through the whole construction!
  • Toddler terrorizes monks  A little kid destroys a sand mandala.  
  • A mandelbrot the size of the known universe I'm fairly certain I don't understand this, but it's mind-blowing nonetheless.
  • Tao Te Ching ancient philosophical text that is still profoundly influential.  It's one of the primary texts of Taoism.
  • Tao Te Ching check out this humorous version of the classic that is supposed to read as if Quentin Tarantino wrote it.  Oddly, it's easier to understand than most other translations.
  • The Ten Dimensions a wildly complex and mind-bending explanation of the ten dimensions that may, or may not, exist.
  • Ideas worth spreading a collection of talks on a variety of topics, all quite complex and thought-provoking
  • Rhizome at the New Museum a site dedicated to art that engages techology.
  • WoosterCollective street art, often of a political nature.
  • Hamlet the entire text of what is arguably the most significant play in history.
  • Wordle a fascinating word play site.
  • Philosophy Talk an ongoing NPR program, wherein two Stanford University Philosophy professors discuss all sorts of topics from various philosophical perspectives.