Mrs. Stevenson Smith’s English

I hope your return to school finds you refreshed and energized for a year of great learning!

As a sophomore taking my English 2a class, plan to jump right into thinking the first day. You will be analyzing and evaluating and writing about all that thinking on the first day! Don’t worry! It’ll be fun!

As a dual credit student in my English 101 class, prepare to write like you’ve never written before because what you called writing before is only the beginning. Writing is more than the Six Writing Traits. Fear not! I will be by your side as your personal writing coach. Repeat after me: “I will get college credit! I will get college credit! I can do this!”

Regardless, dear student, I know it takes great effort some days to get to the desk in my classroom. Just know this, it will be well worth it. That’s my guarantee: Come to class and your investment will pay off in the long run. Your education is the greatest investment you make for yourself. And that’s the truth!

See you in class!

As we review and analyze the Rhetorical Situation, consider the experiences you have with ‘argument’ every day! Continue to collect your visual arguments for the Weekly Homework assignments – DUE EVERY FRIDAY!(through Feb. 11th)

Our discussion about Aristotle’s Three Appeals will continue through next week (1/25). Do yourself a favor: Keep up with the reading!

Do you agree with the statement (and title of the text) “everything’s an argument”? What are your thoughts on the idea? Answer the question with clear evidence to support your viewpoint.

In English 2b, we continue with weekly vocabuly. Quizzes are every Friday. Be sure to study!!

As we look at the differences between fiction and nonfiction, consider how much fiction you read and how much nonfiction you read during an average day. . .

Which type do you have more experience with? Fiction or nonfiction?

What types of fiction do you experience in a day?

What types of nonfiction do you experience in a day?

Tell me what you think. Write a comment that answers these questions above!

Due date for the comparison essays will NOT change due the AIMS test schedule. The classes will be long enough as to not interfere with our production of the essay. Comparison essays are DUE – Wednesday, October 28th. Come to class with the typed final draft ready to complete the reflection.

It’s done! The blog is updated! Now let’s get down to business . . .

In all classes we are steadily working on improving writing skills. In English 101, this is the main focus of the course, and students are revising  comparison essays for sentence style. In English 2a, students are working drafting the Speak essay, which is due Friday, October 30th – or how I like to say, “Octoboo!”

AIMS testing is this week and students who are NOT true sophomores who need to make up a test or retake a test are testing. The different schedule  reflects a 2-hour later starting time on TUESDAY and a 3-hour later starting time on WEDNESDAY and THURSDAY.

Please direct any questions, concerns, or comments to my new email address: mstevensonsmith@kusd.org.

Have a great week!

Welcome to KUSD Blogs. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

After spending time “on the edge,” we will be exploring what it takes to “strive for success” in the next thematic unit.

What are you currently “striving for success” in at this time in your life? To get good grades? To be a better person? To get a job? To get a scholarship? To stay in school?

For this Theme Paper, you will read about characters who face many challenges while striving for success even though “success” means something different to each of them. Focus on the characterization of each protagonist. What qualities do they each have that will aid them in striving for success? See your assignment paper for more details.

This Theme Paper will be finished Feb. 17th. Your essay will be due on the same day!

As we finish Chapters 1-5, “thinking rhetorically” should be a habit. As you watch every commercial, TV show, YouTube video,  or read a blog, a Myspace page, or even a book, Aristotle’s Trinity should automatically come to mind as you ask the question, “What is the argument?”

Read carefully the ‘yellow pages’ in the book which includes step-by-step instructions to writing a rhetorical analysis. Continually consider what your Human Experience Argument might be. In the next couple of weeks, you can expect to be doing more writing.

Any questions? Don’t forget you can comment here or email me.

English 2a students are reading Running Loose by Chris Crutcher now and until December 16th. Take note of the following due dates:

Read Chapters 1-4 by 11/25 /Graffiti Gram due 12/1

Read Chapters 5-10 by 12/3 /Graffiti Gram due 12/4

Read Chapters 11-15 by 12/10 /Graffiti Gram due 12/11

Read Chapters 16-19 by 12/15 /Graffiti Gram due 12/16

Graffiti Journal due 12/16 also

STUDENTS SHOULD BE SURE TO GET ALL MAKE UP WORK IN BY DECEMBER 12. NO WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED PAST THAT DATE!

1.  Shirts update & $ collection

2.  Set up for Lemonade stand on FRIDAY.

3.  Discuss time line for first 08-09 publication of The Publication formerly known as Students Speak Out.

4.  SHARE.

5. Adjourn