Category: English 9B

English 9 – Helpful Questions To Prepare for Writing Your Book Review

In preparing to write your book review, please consider the following questions to help you formulate your thoughts:

“What” questions
•    What are you reviewing? What is it about? What happens (the plot)?
•    What is the author’s purpose? (Is there a purpose or a message?)
•    What genre or classification does it fit?
•    What is the tone? What is the point of view? What’s the mood?

When and Where questions
•    When and where was this written?
•    When and where does the action take place?

Who questions
•    Who wrote it? What else have they done?
•    Who are the main characters?
•    Who is the intended audience? (age, nationality, education, etc.)

How questions
•    How does the book convey its main point, mood, or themes? How did the audience (you) react to it?
•    How well does it fulfill its purpose?

Evaluation questions
•    Did I like this in general? Why?
•    Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or why not?
•    What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?
•    Did the author do a good job? Why or why not? Give examples.
•    How could it be improved? Why would particular changes help?

English 9B Syllabus 11/5-11/13

English 9B Syllabus
Jane Belton
Mon., Wed., Th., Fri.

Syllabus:  November 2009
https://blog.lrei.org/jbelton

Thursday  11/5
In Class: Reflection # 3 due. Share our understandings and notions of war.  View clip from “The Forgotten War”. Begin A Long Way Gone
Homework: Read and annotate chapters 1-2, pp. 1-20.

Friday 11/6
In Class: Discuss A Long Way Gone Chapters 1-2. Define window and mirror moments.
Homework: 1) Read and annotate ALWG, chapters 3-6, pp. 21-43. 2) Write a two-paragraph reflection in which you discuss one “window” moment and one “mirror” moment you’ve encountered in the text so far. Devote one paragraph to each moment. Write thoughtfully and with reflection and honesty. Do not summarize what happens in the text. This is Reflection # 4.

Monday 11/9 – No Class

Tuesday 11/10
In Class: Reflection # 4 due. ALWG, chapters 3-6. Window and mirror moments
Homework: Read and annotate ALWG, chapters 7-9 pp. 44-68 for Wednesday. Review vocabulary for quiz on Thursday 11/12.

Wednesday 11/11
In Class: Discuss ALWG, chapters 7-9
Homework: Study for Antigone vocabulary quiz tomorrow.

Thursday 11/12
In Class: Vocabulary Quiz. Hand back essays.
Homework: 1) Read and annotate ALWG pp. 69-99 for Wednesday 11/18. 2) Work on revising your essays according to feedback.  Bring your essay drafts to class on Tuesday. Make an appointment to discuss your paper with me or Tom, if you’d like!

Friday (11/13) – Parent Conferences – No Class

NOTE: Your written book review for the Read, Write, Recommend Project will be due on Goodreads.com by Tuesday December 1st at 6pm. This is a change from the original due date.

Your book talks are still scheduled for the week of 11/30 – 12/4.

English/History Essay Wednesday Nov 4

Please arrive in the PAC at 11:55 ready to write a first draft of your English/History Essay.

We will write from 12 – 1:14 pm.

Please Bring:

1) Your revised outline and introduction

2) Any texts you need (Antigone, Crito, etc)

3) Worksheets (if you want them)

4) A Pen

5) Looseleaf paper to write on

English 9B Syllabus 10/26-11/5

English 9B
Jane Belton
Tue, W, Th, Fri.

Syllabus October 26 – November 5

Monday 10/26
In Class: Worksheet I due. 9A and 9B meet together in Room 12. Discuss essay assignment.
Homework:     Review the texts with the essay question in mind. Begin completing Worksheet II. Make sure to find and gather textual evidence to fill out your worksheet. Bring your Worksheet II to HISTORY CLASS on Tuesday.

Tuesday 10/27 — FRIDAY SCHEDULE
In Tom’s History Class: Finish Worksheet II
In English Class: 1) Write down outside reading title/author for Read, Write, Recommend Project. 2) Review Antigone Vocabulary.
Homework:     1) Complete Worksheet II for English class on Thursday 10/29; 2) Begin formulating your thesis statement (your essay’s overarching argument), ask yourself: What is the main point I want to make in my paper? Write your answer in your notebook and bring it to class on Thursday 10/29; 3) Review Antigone Vocabulary for a quiz on Thursday 11/12.

Wednesday 10/28 – No Class (9th Grade Community Service Field Trip)

Thursday 10/29
In Class: Worksheet II due. Formulating thesis statements. Go over introductions, which serve as “maps” or “blueprints” for the rest of your paper.
Homework: Write a draft of your introduction for Friday. Make sure to schedule a meeting with me and/or Tom if you would like to talk through your ideas in more detail.

Friday 10/30
In Class: Workshop introductions; discuss how to create an outline, using your
introduction as a springboard.
Homework:     Type up a full draft of your outline. Make sure to schedule a meeting with me and/or Tom if you would like to talk through your ideas in more
detail.

Monday 11/3 – No Class

Tuesday 11/4
In Class: Workshop outlines.  Crafting strong topic sentences for each body paragraph.
Homework:     Revise outlines according to workshop. If you would like additional individual feedback on your outline, make sure to schedule a meeting with me or Tom today or Tuesday! Prepare for in-class writing on Wednesday 11/5. Make sure to bring your typed outline and your texts to class at 10:35 on Wednesday. Arrive promptly at 10:35!

Wednesday 11/5
In Class (10:35 – 12:10): Write a first draft of your essay in the time provided (90 minutes)
Homework: In preparation for reading our next book, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah, complete the following written reflection (Reflection # 3): In the course of your experience, what are the texts, images, films, news broadcasts, newspaper articles, etc., that have provided you with your strongest associations with or understandings of war and/or the horrors of war?  1-2 pages, typed, double spaced. You will be sharing these freewrites Thursday 11/6.  Review Antigone vocabulary for the vocab quiz on Thursday 11/12.