From now on . . .

Please check my wiki for updates:  msmelville.wikispaces

Vocab Prompt: Monday, November 23

Get out your thought transitions packet and your vocab words.  Write three sentences that start with a thought transition and use a vocab word. 

Journal Prompt: November 20, 2009

A dynamic character is a character that changes in an essential way (personality, beliefs, etc) over the course of a story.  A static character is a character who remains the same.  In the story of your life, are you a dynamic character or a static character?  Why do you say so?  Explain in 5-10 sentences.

Journal Prompt: November 13, 2009

In Night, Moché the Beadle says, "There are a thousand and one gates leading into the orchard of mystical truth.  Every human being has his own gate."  Describe in your own words "the orchard of mystical truth."  What do these words mean to you?  Do you have your own beliefs, practices, or spiritual life?

Journal Prompt: November 12, 2009

Describe the ghetto in Elie Weisel's hometown of Sighet.  How is this ghetto similar to our modern idea of an urban ghetto?  How is it different?

Answer in 5-10 sentences.

Journal Prompt: November 10

Today are the debates for president and vice President of student government.  What do you look for in a good presidential candidate?  What issues are important to you?  What do you consider the role of the vice president?  What will help you to decide who you will vote for?

Journal Prompt: November 9, 2009

Journal Prompt: November 9, 2009

Write a possible thesis for each of the following prompts.  Remember:  THESIS = Stance + 3 reasons.

1) Are Septa workers justified in striking?

2)  Should sex education be manditory in high school?

3) Who is the best musician of 2009?

Journal Prompt: November 6, 2009

"People find it easier to do evil than to do good."  Do you agree or disagree?  Explain your answer in 5 sentences or more.

Septa Strike Work

For those students who are absent due to the Septa strike, please see my wiki (msmelville.wikispaces.com) for assignments.

Journal Prompt: November 5, 2009

What is your style as a learner? How do you learn best?  Do you need quiet or someone to talk it through with?  Do you prefer to read about it or do it yourself?  When do you do your best work?  On projects?  On tests or quizzes?  In class or on homework?   What are your strengths and weaknesses as a learner?
Please answer in 5-10 sentences

Vocab Prompt: November 2, 2009

Choose FIVE of the following vocab words and write sentences that show you understand the meaning of the word:

deterrent               revitalize            sparse
implication           infringe              succint
inequity                                          subjective
infirmity
innovation

Journal Prompt: October 30, 2009

What is the scariest movie you've ever seen or the scariest story you ever read?  What made it so scary?

Journal Prompt: October 29, 2009

NHD is one of the most exciting and most stressful parts of being a student at Constitution High School.  How is it going so far?  Did you choose to work with a group or as an individual?  Why?  What's your topic and why did you choose it?  What parts of NHD are you looking forward to?  What are you nervous about?  What can I, as your teacher, help you with?

Please answer in 5-10 sentences.

Journal Prompt: October 27, 2009

Answer in 5-10 sentences:

What does it mean to have a sarcastic sense of humor?  Do you make sarcastic comments?    What are some sarcastic comments you have heard or used lately?  How did you know they were sarcastic?

Journal Prompt: October 26, 2009

Do you think Montressor is a reliable narrator or an unreliable narrator?  Explain why in 5-10 sentences.

Journal Prompt: October 23, 2009

We will learn in "The Cask of Amontillado" that the narrator, Montressor, has a family crest and motto.  His crest is a picture of a snake biting the foot that is stepping on it, and his motto is "Nemo me impune lacessit" (No one attacks me without punishment).  Create a motto and a crest for your family.

Vocab Prompt: October 22, 2009

Choose three of the ten words and use each one in a complete sentence that shows you know the meaning.

acclaim

elicit    

engross                   

escalate                   

exploit

terminate

obsolete

adjacent

methodical

tangible

Grammar Prompt: October 21, 2009

Write the following sentences correctly by using a semi-colon (;) to separate complete sentences.
1)  For example, he only cared about himself he didn't concern himself with her thoughts and feelings.
2)  I understand why this chapter is called saved it's because in this chapter Malcolm saves his mind.
3)  The movie earned acclaim all the critics loved it.
4)  She longed for tangible evidence of his affection she wanted a ring. 
5)  Poe's stories elicit fear and horror his poems do the same. 

Journal Prompt: October 20, 2009

Today is the National Day on Writing.  To celebrate, read the 6-word memoirs below, and then try one of your own!

Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends.
Lucky in everything else but love.
40K tuition. 30K salary. What gives?
Saw the world and came home.
Found God. Still looking for man.
I can't explain. I'm just sure.
Big hair, big heart, big hurry.
In a Manolo world, I'm Keds.
My period started, I was eight.
Got the ring, lost the girl . . .

Journal Prompt: October 19, 2009

Do you think it's tougher to be a girl or a boy?  Explain your answer in 5-10 sentences.

Journal Prompt: October 16, 2009

According to the story ("Am I Blue?" by Bruce Coville), on "Blue Day" about one in ten people would be bright blue and about one in three people would be at least a little blue.  Given these proportions, do you think the world is ready for "Blue Day"?  Why or why not?

Please answer in 5-10 sentences.

Journal Prompt: October 15, 2009

A stereotype is a commonly held belief about certain social groups or types of individuals. For example: Young people are irresponsible.  Men never cry.  Elderly people are out-of-touch.  Have you ever felt that someone was judging you based on a stereotype?  What happened and how did it feel?

Please answer in 5-10 sentences.

Grammar Prompt: October 14, 2009

Write the following sentences correctly:
1)  The short story Battle Royal was actually the first chapter of a book.
2)  I enjoyed the book Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.
3)Thank You M'am is a short story by Langston Hughes.
4)  Our next story will be Am I Blue?.
5)  Have you read the book Night?

Vocab Prompt: October 13, 2009

Try to think of a word that begins with each of the prefixes below:

bi -                                                                           pre-
dis -                                                                         pro-
in -                                                                           re-
inter-                                                                        sur-
mis -                                                                        un-  

Journal Prompt: October 9, 2009

The scores are in from the Acuity tests we took!

                                         reading                reading            total
                                    comprehension        analysis            score
District Average             51.5%                53.0%                 52.2%
Region Average             66.0%                65.2%                65.6%
School Average             65.5%                 64.0%                  64.8%
Class Average                 70.0%                63.7%                67.0%




What do you notice about this data?  What does it say about our school?  What does it say about our class?   Write 3-5 sentences.

Journal Prompt: October 8, 2009

We've all heard people talk about the "American Dream."  What is the American Dream?  What do you have to do to acheive it?  Is it open to everyone, or just to certain people?

Please answer in 5-10 sentences.

Grammar Prompt: October 7, 2009

Correct the following quotes.  *Remember I,QPP!

1)   The narrator's grandfather tells him to overcome 'em with yeses, undermine 'em with grins, agree 'em to death and destruction (1)
2)  Before the battle royal, the narrator says "it was though I had suddenly found myself in a dark room full of cottonmouths (3).
3)  The narrator explains why the speech is important to him when he says, "I felt that only these men could judge truly my ability. (6)

Journal Prompt: October 6, 2009

Every day, at school and in the city, I hear dozens of insults.  What are the different types of insults you hear each day?  Who are these insults meant for?  Who says them?  Why do you think people insult each other?  When you have insulted someone in the past, why did you do it?

Please answer in 5-10 sentences.

Vocab Prompt: October 5, 2009

Choose one adjective, one noun, and one verb, and write a sentence for each.  Make sure your sentence shows that you understand the meaning of the word.

adjectives - curt, irate, wary, subsequent

nouns - zeal, dilemma, inclination

verbs - retort, demoralize, sabotage

Journal Prompt: October 2, 2009

Write a mathematical word problem to try to stump your classmates.  It could involve distance or time travelled (think of your trip to school), grades, prices for things you like to buy, or the money that you make and spend each week.  Be creative, but make sure you solve the problem and have a correct answer ready.

Journal Prompt: October 1, 2009

Answer the following prompt in 5-10 sentences:
When was the last time that you faced a dilemma?  What were your options?  Why was the choice difficult?  In the end, what did you decide?

Grammar Prompt: September 30, 2009

There are errors in the following two sentences.  Please write the sentences correctly:

1)  For example, Roger could of stolen the purse when he was in the house and he also could of run away.

2)  While Roger was trying to steal her purse, he could of done anything to her.

Journal Prompt: September 29, 2009 and REFLECTION

Today we will be taking a standardized, multiple-choice test.  What are some strategies we can use to be successful?

REFLECTION
In addition to the journal prompt, students wrote reflections on their first vocab quiz grade and their first essay grade.  They wrote these reflections on notebook paper and handed them in by the end of the period.  This was the prompt:

1)  Your first vocab quiz:  What did you get on your vocab quiz? Are you satisfied with your grade?  How much time did you spend studying outside of class?  How can you improve?  Be specific about what you could do differently.

2)  Your first essay:  Make sure you read my comments (in the essay and on the rubric).  What did you get on your essay?  Are you satisfied with your grade?  How much time did you spend working on it outside class?  How can you improve?  Be specific about what you could do differently.

Journal Prompt: September 25, 2009

On your quiz today, there are a total of 25 questions.  There are 10 questions worth 2 points each and 5 questions worth 4 points each.  If the total number of points is 100, how many points are each of the 10 remaining questions worth? 

Explain your answer in complete sentences.

Journal Prompt: September 24, 2009

Richard Connell's ending of "The Most Dangerous Game" is ambiguous (open to several possible interpretations).  What do you think happened to Zaroff?  What do you think Rainsford will do next?  What makes you think so?

Please answer in 5-10 sentences.

Grammar Prompt: September 23, 2009

These four sentences - written by students in this class - have one error each.  Please rewrite the sentences correctly. 

1) When they finally reached there home, the living room was trashed.

2) In there huge library, he studies subject to subject.

3)  Most people wouldn't do that because their not very trusting.

4)  As there journey to head back to the city continued, Matilda, her grandfather, the woman, and the orphan children rode through a dying town.

Journal Prompt: September 22, 2009

"If you don't stand for something,  you'll fall for anything."    - Malcolm X

In a 10-20 sentence response, answer the following questions:
- What do you think Malcolm X means?
- What do you stand for and why?
- Can you think of a time when a person (or people) "fell for" something because they weren't firm in what they believed? 

Vocab Prompt: September 21, 2009

Choose three of our vocab words and write each one in a sentence that shows its meaning:
malign
adamant
epitome
encounter
antagonist
animosity
absolve
eccentric
amoral
amiable

Jounral Prompt: September 18, 2009

In "Thank You M'am," Mrs. Jones can buy a little cake for 10 cents, and Roger can buy shoes for 10 dollars.  Fifty years later, little cakes cost a dollar and shoes cost 100 dollars.  By how much have prices increased?  If inflation continues at the same rate, how much will a cake  cost in 2059?  How much will shoes cost?

Journal Prompt: September 17, 2009

What are your three most salient characteristics?  Are you amiable, amoral, or eccentric?  Give examples of how you show these characteristics through your actions and words.  You can choose any three characteristics to explain (you do not need to choose one of the vocab words I suggested).

Journal Prompt: September 16, 2009

Write a paragraph on the topic "What I'd do with a million dollars."  Follow the Step Up to Writing format:
Green topic sentence:
Yellow transition sentence: First,
Red explanation sentence:
Red explanation sentence:
Yellow transition sentence: Second,
Red explanation sentence:
Red explanation sentence:
Green conclusion sentence:

Vocab Prompt: September 15, 2009

Write the following words and then write if each one is a noun, verb, or adjective.  Make your best guess!
Absolve -
Encounter -
Eccentric -
Epitome -
Malign -
Amiable -
Antagonist -
Animosity -
Amoral -
Adamant -

Journal Prompt: September 14, 2009

Think back to our group work on Body Biographies last week.  Reflect on the way your group was functioning.  You may want to consider the following questions: 
- Did everyone get a chance to share their ideas?
- Who helped the group move forward?  How?
- Did you enjoy working with other people or do you prefer to work on your own? 
- What can we do to make sure group work is successful in this class?

Journal Prompts for September 8-11

Welcome Ninth Graders!

Journal Prompt:  September 11, 2009

Look at the section of your syllabus called "Grading Scale."  If you can, create a pie chart that illustrates the portion of your grade each category is worth.

Then, answer these questions in complete sentences:

What category of assignments will influence your grade the most?  What category will influence your grade the least?
What do you think will be your strongest category?

Journal Prompt:  September 10, 2009

Choose a character or person from one of the books listed below:
o    The Autobiography of Malcom X As Told to Alex Haley by Alex Haley
o    A Prayer for a City by Buzz Bizinger
o    Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
o    The Chocolate War by Robert Comier

Write 10 sentences or more describing this person. What goal is this person working towards? What are his or her strengths? What are his or her flaws or weaknesses?  How does he/she handle conflicts or setbacks? In what ways are you similar to this person or character?  In what ways are you different?


Journal Prompt:  September 9, 2009


In a written response of 5-10 sentences, write about your name. You may want to consider some of the following questions:
o    What does your name mean?
o    Who gave you your name?
o    Are you named after someone? If yes, who? Why?
o    Do you like your name?
o    Do you have a nickname? If yes, what is it?
o    Do you have any stories about your name? If yes, tell it!

Journal Prompt:  September 8, 2009

Today, your first day of high school, President Obama is addressing you, the students.  In a written response of at least one page, answer the following questions the best you can:

What most stood out to about Obama’s speech, and why?  As you look forward into your last four years before college, what do you hope to accomplish? What are you most looking forward to about high school? And, what are you worried or nervous about? What can you do this year to make sure that your grades and school work stay on track? What activities, sports, clubs or organizations would you like to join? What do you expect from me as your teacher to help you reach your goals and succeed this year?