Manfra's Wolves

We have officially begun the third nine weeks! Period 1: *Started reading The Great Gatsby *Read "The Lost Generation" passage on Commonlit *Completed assessment questions for the passage *Visited the Wolfsonian museum for the Zines for Progress Project *Zine covers are due on Monday, January 29th Period 2 & 5: *Everyday Edits *Continued reading Of Mice and Men *Continued working on essays for contest *Essays must be uploaded to Turnitin.com by Monday, January 29th Periods 3,4,6: *Began Price Gouging essay contest *Rough drafts must be uploaded to Turnitin.com by Tuesday, January 30th (Period 4&6) or Tuesday, January 31st (Period 3) Period 3 Turnitin.com account info Enrollment Key: Manfra3 (make sure first letter is capital and no space between name and number) Class ID: 16467419 Period 4 Turnitin.com account info Enrollment Key: Manfra4 (make sure first letter is capital and no space between name and number) Class ID: 16467421 Period

For the next couple of weeks you will be working on the John Stossel essay contest topic related to price gouging. Here is the link to the website in case you need to watch the video again or refer to the topic: John Stossel Essay Contest Rough Drafts are due January 30 (Periods 4&6) January 31 (Period 3) You must include an example from the John Stossel video, but you should also include outside examples.  Your essay should demonstrate that you understand the topic and what your position is clearly.

Some of my students have asked about how they can improved their typing.  Here are two websites that you can use that can help you with your typing skills: Typing practice Typing games

This week I reviewed how you need to answer the open-ended essay on the AP exam. I returned your responses to the Sex Ed prompt I had given you back in October.  Here is the prompt: According to Bob Smith, "Our schools only teach the most basic principles of human reproduction: naming and identifying the sexual organs and a simple explanation of how the sperm fertilizes the ovum. If mathematics was taught in the same cursory manner as human sexuality, when children learned to count they would be considered masters of the subject." While Martha Cornog states: "Will sex education reduce or end AIDS, adolescent pregnancy, prostitution, and sexual exploitation? Frankly, we do not know. But silence on sexual matters does not appear to be an option either ideologically or practically. Ideologically, ignorance is no advantage when others have knowledge, especially knowledge misused, and people who know nothing of sex can take risks unknowingly and be taken advantage of.&q

Pick one of the following essay topics: 1. Given George and Lennie's complex relationship, explain what keeps them together.  What does each offer the other? 2. Will George continue to dream of having a home of his own and "living off the fat of the land" after Lennie's death?  Was this dream ever realistic, with or without Lennie? 3. Explain the factors that lead to George killing Lennie.  Did George have any other choice?  Defend your point of view. 4. Describe Slim's role in the community of the ranch.  What sets him apart from the others?  At the end of the novel, why does he alone understand what George has done? 5. Contrast the relationship of Curly and his wife to that of George and Lenny.  Why do both relationships end so tragically? Requirements for the essay contest: Essays must be at least two and no more than three double-spaced pages. Rough drafts must be uploaded to Turnitin by Monday, January 29th.

I hope everyone has had a good first week back and is having a good start to 2018. Period 1: *Next Magazine assignment *Guest speaker from Wolfsonian came on Wednesday to talk about Zines project *Decide on your Zine topics and who you will be working with *Membean (last grade for the second nine weeks) Period 2 & 5: *Finished Everyday Edit worksheet *Began Of Mice and Men * Character worksheet due next week *Membean (last grade for the second nine weeks) Period 3,4, 6: *C-SPAN final videos due *Begin learning requirements of Question 3 essay (Open-ended argument) *Membean (last grade for the second nine weeks) *First Membean assessment for January (counts for third nine weeks) **Register for the SAT and ACT in order to get extra credit for the third and/or fourth nine weeks Remember no school on Monday -- Martin Luther King day Take your child to work day forms are due by January 26th.

Now that we are in the second half of the year it is time to start preparing for senior year. (Already!) I will be giving you a copy of NEXT magazine and you will complete the following assignment: 1. On page 10-11 read what students wish they had done differently in high school.  On page 11 find the box titled "New Year's Resolutions."  Write down two things you can change for this second half of the year. 2. On page 14 there is a list of what juniors should be getting done in preparation for college.  Write down the things you have done and then specify what you still have to do or start. 3. On page 23 there is a chart that shows that difference between the ACT and SAT tests.  Write down which test you think you would do better on and explain why. 4. On page 33 there is an explanation of the Bright Futures scholarship.  Write down if you qualify for the Academic, Medallion or Gold Seal Vocational.  If you do not qualify for any, explain what you could do to qua