Thursday, January 16, 2025

Writing 2 Class Notes–Week 1 (January 11)

 Hello Dear Students,


Even though some may not be that excited to start up again, I am very proud of you for all your effort this past year.  There’s much to be grateful for!


We started the day out with a Quick Write.  Today’s topic was a bit humorous as they were to imagine that their toaster has gone on strike.  They were to come up with a list of demands from the toaster (Clean my crumb tray!  Stop sticking forks inside!) and optionally, to design a snappy sign with a slogan.


After that, we previewed the Spring Syllabus, Homework Checklist and Late Homework dates.  We highlighted the important due dates and took a brief look at what this semester has in store.  I told them a good strategy is to use the Homework Checklist to help them parcel out their work during the week to avoid having it all pile up at the last minute.


For Literature, we kicked off the class by introducing our new book:  Six Great Sherlock Holmes Stories by Arthur Conon Doyle.  Some students had seen a TV show or movie based on the stories–and some had read a few stories themselves.  After handing out the book, we had a  discussion on what images come to mind when you think of “Sherlock Holmes” and what elements make a good detective story.  


Some students were surprised to hear that Sherlock Holmes never actually said, “Elementary, my dear Watson.”  He merely said “Elementary!”  We watched two short videos on Sherlock and the fact that this character is so enduring that he is a palimpsest–he’s been reinterpreted so much over which makes him an enduring and timeless character.   I hope students will thrill at meeting this calculating and intense sleuth themselves.  


We read a few pages of the first story aloud and they are to finish reading “Scandal in Bohemia” & “The Red-Headed League” this week and answer 4 questions from the Study Guide.  As they encounter new words, they are assigned to define three words per story on a Vocabulary Sheet.


Lastly, for Grammar, I introduced the comma unit we will be studying this year. We discussed coordinating conjunctions–FANBOYS and compound sentences. They got started on the three worksheets they will need to complete this week.  Don’t forget to correct your work and mark it!  KEYS are posted in GC.


Enjoy your weekend!

Blessings, 

Mrs. G


Homework for This Week

Syllabus

Homework Checklist

Homework & Late Dates

Sherlock Holmes & Arthur Conan Doyle videos (in class)

Read Ch. “Scandal in Bohemia” & “Red-Headed League” 

Study Guide Questions

Sherlock Holmes Weekly Vocabulary sheet

FANBOYS

Compound Sentences and Commas

Sentence Structures:  Simple and Compound Sentences


Links for this week

Sherlock Holmes & Arthur Conan Doyle videos (in class)

Comma Reference Sheets


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