Giddings Noodleblog

One of the more ridiculous scenes from the original Star Trek.

Helen found a helpful site on transition words organized by function.  It is linked to the left as “Transitions.”

We are in the library computer lab both 1st and 2nd periods. We’ll go ahead and meet there. Bring your books and your JFK questions. I’ll check those off tomorrow.

You may notice a new page link entitled AP Forum at the top of the page.  Remember how I told you I could create a discussion forum where you could talk about a given assignment or tap into each others’ understanding on how to do an essay etc?  Well, I remembered and the result is the forum above.

You can join a topic by clicking on it and see the thread and add to it.  Or you can also create your own topic if there isn’t one about what needs to be discussed on a given day.  Check it out and see if it might be useful to you.  If not, we certainly don’t have to use it.

Starting TODAY, the FHS open computer lab and tutoring services will be up and running.  The days and times are listed below but we will also be publishing a flyer that can hang in classrooms (mine is by the clock for you clock watchers).  In addition to an adult supervisor, the tutoring times will be staffed with students who are strong in the math and English areas.  Please use these programs to your advantage.

Monday – Open Lab

• Room 407 (Study Hall)
• 2:30-4:00

Tuesday – Tutoring

• Room 801 (Art room)
• 2:40-4:40

Wednesday – Tutoring and Open Lab

• Room 407 (Study Hall)
• 2:30-4:00

Thursday – Tutoring

• Room 801 (Art room)
• 2:40-4:40

Welcome to a fun, challenging course of study!  The summer assignment is posted on my school website and on the Class Info & Docs page (see the page link in the upper right hand corner?).

In a nutshell, read the two articles about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn provided in the summer assignment, then read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn¹ whilst completing the study guide², and lastly familiarize yourself with the rhetorical vocabulary included in the summer assignment document (there will be a quiz!).  All this is due on September 4, 2009.

Have a great summer and feel free to email me if you have questions.

NOTE (12 August 2009): There have been a couple of inquiries about buying books.  You will not need to buy any books in this course.  All books will be provided by the school.  As this is the first year this class has been taught over the course of a whole year, it is possible we may not get to all of the novels listed on the syllabus.  This class is, after all, concerned primarily with non-fiction writings and preparing for college and the AP test in May.

image credit

Thanks for the great feedback.  I typed it all up and will use it as I plan for next year.  It was encouraging as much of what you suggested, I was already planning to do.  Great minds, eh?  Seriously though, it helps to know that my assessment matches with your assessments as students.  Thanks again.

Best wishes in AP Lit next year.  If you haven’t gotten the summer assignment, it is on Mrs. Robison’s blog.  You can use your same blog you had this year, just email her with your blog address so she can add it to her blog and know where to get your work.

I will miss you all, but not so much that I’m not glad it’s summer.  This will be my last post to the wonderful group of Spring 2009.  Sniff.

Have a wonderful summer and drop by to see me next year if you are so inclined.

If you’d like a copy of the pictures we took in class today, go to http://giddings.pbworks.com/AP-English-Language-and-Composition for the picture files.  Also, can someone with more talent and time than I have splice Kyle (1st Period Tardy Boy.jpg) into one or more of these pictures?

I forgot to upload your grades to grade checker before I went home.  (Sorry!)  They are all done though and I will upload them at school tomorrow.

You did well this semester.  Like I said in class today, you all did a really amazing job given how rushed the semester was.  I’m really proud of how you grew.  And thank you for the feed back.  I have a lot to consider over the summer as I try to make this class better.  Thanks again for being a great class and a wonderful group of people (yes, even Kristian — wasn’t he “student of the day” two days in a row once?).  :)