Manfra's Wolves

Hi students!  Whether you are in my English I, English III or AP Lang class, I want you to refer to this blog page in case technology crashes and this is the only way to stay in touch and keep working on assignments. If you are feeling anxious or frustrated you are not alone.  I want you to focus on learning while we are in this virtual environment and not so much on grades.  Don't get me wrong, I will still be grading you, but there will be a variety of ways to show me that you understand the material. There will be informal projects, exit slips, short writing, and even one-on-one phone calls or Zooms to make sure if you don't understand a concept I get you up to speed. With that said, here is my first introduction assignment for you. Watch this music lyric video and decide whether you want to email me, write a comment below, or have a one-on-one discussion where you address how this song impacted you.   Here are some questions to help you think of ways to resp...

Monday, Period 2 presented their Billion Acts projects and you guys did a great job. If you are interested in seeing the pictures I took here is the link:   Period 2 Billion Acts Wednesday, my AP students participated in the World Energy Game and helped negotiate a mock treaty to get the world's temperature below two degrees by the year 2100.  Here is the link to those pictures for those who are interested:  World Energy Game Thursay, Period 5 presented their Billion Acts projects and you guys did a great job as well. Here is the link to those pictures:  Period 5 Billion Acts Since you all did such a great job you can have Monday, May 28th off.  ENJOY!

Here are the Common App Essay topics for 2018-2019: 1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.  2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?  3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?  4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma - anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.  5. Discuss an accomplishmen...

General Themes: 1.   Community (Importance of community) 2.   Death (How do people face death?) 3.   Education (Goal of education) 4.   Fate and Free will (Can we control these things?) 5.   Honor and Courage (What is considered brave or heroic?) 6.   Justice (What is fair?) 7.   Love (How does love change us?) 8.   Gender issues (What roles to men and women play?) 9.   Social Change (How do people create change?) 10.                    Technology/Progress (What does the future look like?)

In class you will get into groups based on the area you put on your worksheet at the beginning of the year (Billion Acts worksheet). With your group you will get a science display board and put the following information on it: Board requirements 1. Title (Should be large enough to see clearly and from a distance) 2. Images associated with the topic 3. At least 10 facts about the topic or associated with the topic. (Make it interesting. Find facts/info that would catch people's attention and help them remember it.) 4. Websites where students can go to get additional information. 5. How students can get involved? Volunteer opportunities or ways they can make a difference. 6. Sign-in sheet to demonstrate how many people came by to get information and learn about your cause. The following are optional to include with your presentation: *Flyers with general information that students can take with them. *Laptop or tablet (for example, showing a video of your topic) *Sticke...

Part 1:  Select a college/university that you would be interested in applying to. (Refer to list in NEXT magazine of you need ideas) Part 2:  Begin research by going to the school's website Part 3: Create a Powerpoint, Prezi or use Google Slides Include the following information: Slide 1 – Name of school, picture, and location Slide 2 – Cost to attend school (tuition, room and board, meal plans, etc.) Slide 3 – Programs of study (Majors, programs, etc.) Slide 4 – Admission requirements (GPA, test scores, community service, etc.) Slide 5 – Enrollment (student to teacher ratio) Slide 6 – Extracurricular (athletic programs, sororities/fraternities, organizations) Slide 7 – Ratings (example: Has it been rated as a top school for academics or a party school?) Slide 8 – Would you recommend applying? Slide 9 – Interesting info, school mascot, video, comments Slide 10 – Works cited (websites, books or magazines used to obtain information) Part 4: Presenta...

Period 1: *Finished reading Tuesdays with Morrie *Read poems "No Man is an Island" and "Do Not Go Gently" on Commonlit and answered assessment questions *Collected five more thankful journals Period 2 & 5: *Read Part 2 and started Part 3 of Fahrenheit 451 *Collected Character Chart *Figurative Language worksheet Period 3,4,6: *Reviewed results from practice AP test (multiple choice, essays) *World Energy Game week 4 assignment *Watched video on Carbon Pricing Next week schedule is: Monday -- 3,5,1 Tuesday -- 4,6,2 Wednesday -- 4,6,2 Thursday -- 5,1,3 Friday -- 5,1,3

1. Prepare a five minute presentation with your group addressing: a. Who are the members of your sector? What are your main issues? b. Your team's proposal -- What does your team propose to change and how will your contributions help reach the 2-degrees goal? c. How does your sector relate to the other sectors, and what partnerships and requests do you seek from other teams? 2. What issues do you think may arise with your proposal? Do you think the other groups will easily accept your proposals, or do you think some groups will feel that your group is "asking for too much"? List these and how you plan to address them. 3. Prepare your input sheets for Game Day. (I will provide the sheet to your group) Use the En-ROADS program En-Roads link 4. Prepare your debate points for Game Day. All team members should contribute. The member attending the final game day will present the speech to the class to see if it is logical as well as...

Period 1: *Reading Tuesdays with Morrie *Read "Coping Mechanisms" passage on Commonlit *Answer assessment questions *Turn in five what you are thankful for journal entries Period 2 & 5: *Introduction quiz for Fahrenheit 451 *Allusion presentations *Reading "Censorship" Commonlit *Answer assessment questions *Review for FSA Reading test Period 3,4,6: *Pre-administration for AP (bubble sheets) *World Energy Game Week 3 questions *Review of Week 2 questions *Quick write All classes need to complete Membean sessions by Sunday before midnight. Schedule for next week is: Monday -- 1,3,5 (Period 5 FSA testing) Tuesday -- 1,3,5 (Period 5 FSA testing) Wednesday -- 2,4,6 (Period 2 FSA testing) Thursday -- 2,4,6 (Period 2 FSA testing) Friday -- 3,5,1

1. What is a carbon tax (price/dividend) and what is its goal? a. Which are some countries or states that are implementing a "carbon price"? b. Who are the most prominent advocates and proposals for carbon price in the United States today? Research link: www.carbonpricingleadership.org/what/ www.carbontax.org/whats-a-carbon-tax/ 2. What is GDP, and how does it relate to climate change? 3. What are some of the burdens that developing countries currently face to transition to renewable energies? What countries have already made the shift to mostly renewable energies? 4. What other real world implications and challenges arise contextually while trying to solve the climate crises? What are the major moral arguments to consider? 5. Play with the EN-ROADS Model. What are the best strategies to achieve the goal of under 2 degrees? Which levers are the most important, and which teams can help you?

Period 1: *Introduction to ALS *Lou Gherig speech *Commonlit questions for Stephen Hawking passage *Begin reading Tuesdays with Morrie pg. 1-61 *Keep a daily journal about things you are thankful for *Showed video of Nightline special with Morrie *Read "Three Types of Friendship" and answer assessment questions on Commonlit Period 2 & 5: *Introduction to Ray Bradbury and science fiction Ray Bradbury Info Definition of Science Fiction *Watch interview with Bradbury *Read "The Pedestrian" by Bradbury and discussed Science fiction elements *Read "Burning a Book" answer questions for homework *Noredink practice for Semi-colons *Character worksheet for Fahrenheit 451 *Start reading Fahrenheit 451 in class (Part 1) *Noredink practice for Parallel structure *Allusions assignment *Intro quiz next class Period 3,4,6: *Collected documentary worksheet (Spring Break assignment) *World Energy Game assignment 2 *Practice rhetorical analysis...

In class we have finished reading Part 1 of Fahrenheit 451 -- The Hearth and the Salamander. With a partner, you will select a number that represents an allusion made in part 1. You are to research that allusion and create a brief presentation (2-5 minutes) where you explain the significance of that allusion and why Bradbury included it in the novel. Include an image. You can use Powerpoint, create a video (like a TED Talk) or some other presentation program. 1. Edna St. Vincent Millay 2. Walt Whitman 3. William Faulkner 4. The Phoenix (mythology) 5. Benjamin Franklin 6. Nicholas Ridley 7. Tower of Babel 8. Dante Alighieri 9. Jonathan Swift 10. Marcus Aurelius 11. Civil War (American) 12. Declaration of Independence 13. Little Black Sambo 14. Uncle Tom's Cabin 15. The Happiness Boys Presentations are due April 10 (Period 5) or April 11 (Period 2)

I want to recognize the following students for being awarded for their Creative Writing entries at the 2018 Miami-Dade County Youth Fair: Sophie Penafiel -- First place Adrian Fiandor -- First place Angelina Boudy -- Second place Anh-Tran Dang -- Second place Saylor Hokien -- Second place Jackson Margulies -- Second place Yasamin Nojaba -- Second place Ryan Rodriguez -- Second place Malena Romero -- Second place Alejandro Sandoval -- Second place Catalina Vasquez -- Second place A special congratulations goes to Gissel Garcia for receiving a Judges Choice award for her poem titled "Where I'm From."  She was recognized at the Fair on April 4th.

Instructions: Research to answer the question. Provide specific examples and important statistics. Add your sources. 1. Give three examples of how climate change and sea level rise impacts people in Florida. 2. Give three examples of local environmental initiatives that you find inspiring. Name them, give examples of what they do, and why do you think what they're doing is important? 3. Research and list the major for-profit, nonprofit and government organizations that are involved in your team's sector. Provide brief descriptions for each.   Everyone should then choose one organization to represent. Work with your team members to ensure that your sector is well represented. 4. How can the organizations you mentioned above make impacts on both a local and global level? How do world sustainability goals conflict with your other responsibilities? Who are the constituents that you serve? 5. Briefly research the other five teams i...

Here is a list of acceptable documentaries to watch over the break: Before the Flood Heroin(e) Saving Capitalism Time: The Kalief Browder Story Capitalism: A Love Story The Hunting Ground The White Helmets Chasing Ice Teach Us All Targeted The Mask You Live In Miss Representation Happy Joshua Another World Dirty Money Fed Up Icarus You will select one of the documentaries from the list and complete the worksheet I provided you in class.  Complete the worksheet while watching the film and bring it completed either April 2nd (Period 3) or April 3rd (Periods 4,6)

Period 1: *Presented Great Gatsby projects *Watched "The Great Gatsby" movie Period 2 & 5: *Saw live performance of "The Tempest" *Watched "Romeo and Juliet" movie *Watched "The Women's List" and took notes on the women presented Period 3,4,6: *Read in class excerpts from Emerson and Thoreau *Watched video clip about Transcendentalism *Answered questions based on four sources related to Gun Control *Working on World Energy Game questions Last grade I am putting in for this nine weeks is the Membean grade.

Each group will complete the following questions. All group members should be involved and divide up the questions to complete. Instructions: Research to answer the question. Provide specific examples and important statistics. Add your sources. What is the UN COP climate change conference and what are its goals? Research Resources http://unfccc.int/bodies/body/6383.php http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9485.php What are our world’s greatest sustainability and environmental challenges? Research Resources UN Sustainable Development Goals https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?menu=1300 Planetary Boundaries Framework http://www.stockholmresilience.org/research/planetary-boundaries.html What causes climate change? Which industries and corporations are the largest greenhouse gas emitters? What countries are the major contributors to global warming and how so? Research Resources http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-s...

I want you to take into consideration the following commercial, speeches and articles related to Gun Control. After taking into consideration the message of each source, I want you to answer the following questions on turnitin.com: 1. Which source do you feel had the strongest message?  Explain. 2. Which source(s) incorporated use of pathos?  Give examples. 3. What is your opinion on Gun Control? Explain. 4. Did any of the sources sway your opinion?  Why or why not? Must be completed by Friday (all classes). Source 1: NRA Time is Running Out Source 2: Fred Guttenberg will not sit down Source 3: Emma Gonzalez speech Source 4: Respect first, then Gun Control

Period 1: *Grammar practice using Noredink program *Read passage about the American Dream and answered assessment questions (Commonlit) *Issued Great Gatsby project (due on Tuesday, March 13th) *Tips for SAT test Period 2 & 5: *Took FSA Writing test (Period 2 on March 6th) *Read Pyramus and Thisbe to compare with Romeo and Juliet *Wrote opinion of which one you liked best with specific examples and submitted through turnitin.com *Recited monologues from Romeo and Juliet Period 3,4,6: *Grammar practice on noredink.com *Read passage on life without electricity and answered assessment questions (Commonlit) *Practiced quick write strategy for argumentative essay *Showed clip from Mitch Landrieu's speech and discussed elements of rhetoric used *Returned scored Mock exams to students *

Now that we have finished reading the novel, you will be analyzing why this novel still applies to our culture today.  Using Powerpoint, Prezi or another presentation program you will put together a presentation with the following slides: Slide 1 -- An image that represents the novel for you.  When you present you need to explain why you picked the specific image as far as how it represents the book. Slide 2 -- List four facts about the author: F. Scott Fitzgerald Slide 3  -- What character was your favorite?  Explain why you liked them and include a picture of what you think they looked like. Slide 4  -- The setting of the novel takes place in New York.  If you were to modernize the novel, where would you have it take place.  Explain your reason. Slide 5  -- Pick one of the following themes to explain: society and class, love, memory and the past, lies and deceit, or religion.  Explain a specific part from the book that demonstra...