Mulhern's English Site: 2014

Saturday, December 27, 2014

All Classes--Analysis of Patrick Henry's Speech in the Virginia Convention

Scholars: It is good to read examples of analytical writing because it helps you understand how to write your own analysis essays. The habit of reading and studying models (examples) is the best way to learn how to write more effectively. Below is an analysis that I wrote on Patrick Henry's Speech in the Virginia Convention.

FSA ELA Sample Argumentative Prompt--Student Data

I created the following sample FSA Argumentative prompt for the ELA based on five New York Times articles written especially for students. It has not been approved by the DOE. See the following link for access to the articles for the prompt below:

I created the following sample FSA Argumentative prompt for the ELA based on four New York Times articles written especially for students. This sample prompt has not been approved by the DOE. See the following link for access to the articles for the prompt below:

The following opinions are mine, not necessarily those of the DOE. Unfortunately, there has not been the best communication about this new assessment and there is a lack of clarity on some issues. My recommendations are as follows:

The rubric for the Argumentative Essay on the DOE website does not address the issue of whether students are allowed to include their own original examples to support their thesis. The rubric does state that students must reference all of the sources, however. I suggest that you refer only to the accompanying texts included with the prompt for your examples/support. Be sure to elaborate sufficiently with at least three sentences, demonstrating your thinking/logic. The test is timed; including original examples, while creative and insightful on your part, may take too much time. In addition, it is not clear at this point if your own examples will detract from your final grade, even if you include references to all the accompanying texts.

FSA ELA Sample Informative/Explanatory Prompt--Memory

I created this sample essay prompt, as well as some others on my website. They have not been approved by the DOE.

Below is a sample FSA Informational Writing Prompt. See the attached links for the texts to accompany the prompt. The FSA Writing Component for ELA will have anywhere between two and four passages, with a maximum of 2000 words total.

The first text you could cite from is "Rituals of Memory," in the Collections textbook for Grade 9.

Links to Important Information about the FSA ELA

Monday, November 10, 2014

FSA ELA Informative/Explanatory Writing Prompt--Thinking Process

Thinking, Nicholas Roerich (1918)

The DOE sample prompt reads as follows:

Writing Prompt
(from the Florida Department of Education website)

Write an informational essay on the relationship between clothing styles and developments in clothing creation. Your ideas must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set.

The Florida Standards Assessment for Writing (March) will have either an informational essay prompt or an argumentative essay prompt. Both prompts require students to cite textual evidence from accompanying reading passages. Below are strategies for students to use for the informational essay prompt.

I reviewed the Training Test on the Florida Department of Education Website and extracted the following information:

The Peer Editing Rubric below was adapted from the rubric on the Florida DOE website.

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Florida Standards Assessment Informative/Explanatory Writing Rubric

For each of the following, answer yes or no. Also point out to your peer the sections of the essay that could be improved. Suggest ideas for improvement.

I created this sample essay prompt, as well as some others on my website. They have not been approved by the DOE.

Students should type their responses as practice for the exam. Although the directions from the sample test at http://www.fsassessments.org/

do not specify parenthetical citations, I would have students cite any information they use in their essays (both paraphrased text and text that students choose to quote). I would advise students to write the title or an abridged version of the title within parentheses. For example, the first text below would be cited as (“Black Death”), the next text could be abbreviated as (“Sin”) and the third text could be abbreviated as (“Depopulation”).

The Writing Process

Group of Angels from Correge, Corregio

Scholars: Improve your writing by reflecting on the following key points, whether you are reviewing your own writing, a peer's writing, and whether you are working alone or collaborating in a group.

Freshman English and AP English--Guide to Comment Codes on Your Essays

Portrait of a Man Writing in His Study, Gustave Caillebotte (1885)

Scholars: It is up to you to take responsibility for improving your writing. Every time I return an essay to you, I provide comments, and you, in turn, must write a Reflection on How to Improve Your Writing, which you then need to turn in to me.

Carefully read the comments that apply to the abbreviations (codes) I have written on your essay. Then reflect upon how to improve your writing by reading the information below for each comment code on your paper. For every comment code I have written on your essay, you must write what you will do in your next paper to improve. Of course, you do not need to write the explanations below in their entirety, but you should definitely paraphrase them in your list of improvements, and mention the main points. Reflection equals Thinking equals Improved Writing. You are participating in a process called "metacognition" by doing this exercise.

FSA (Florida Standards Assessment) Argumentative Prompt Strategies

Two Lawyers Conversing, Honore Daumier (1860s)

Writing Prompt:
(from the Florida Department of Education website)

It’s no secret that sometimes great discoveries come as a result of really big mistakes. But are they always worth the problems they cause? Sometimes the mistakes lead to greatness, and sometimes they lead to disaster. Are mistakes key to making discoveries?

Freshman English--Summer Essay Written During Period 2, September 3

Summer Hot Day, Fyodor Vasilyev (1869)

Due In Class, September 3

Attention ALL Ninth and Tenth Graders

Summer Reading Essay

When: Wednesday, Sept. 3

Where: Your second hour class

What: In class second hour, you will respond to a prompt based on the book you read this summer.

Why: Your English teacher will grade this essay and it will count as a grade in that class.

Freshman English and AP English--MLA (Modern Language Association) Format

At the First Clear Word, Max Ernst (1923)

Scholars:

Whether you are turning in a handwritten assignment or one that is typed, follow the MLA format. See the link at the bottom of this post.

AP English--Text of Obama's Keynote Address at the Democratic National Convention on July 27, 2004

Election Night, John French Sloan (1907)

Due August 19, 2014

Cut and paste the following text into a Word document. Bring to class.

President Obama’s Keynote Address at the DNC--July 27, 2004

(Par. 1) On behalf of the great state of Illinois, crossroads of a nation, land of Lincoln, let me express my deep gratitude for the privilege of addressing this convention. Tonight is a particular honor for me because, let’s face it, my presence on this stage is pretty unlikely. My father was a foreign student, born and raised in a small village in Kenya. He grew up herding goats, went to school in a tin-roof shack. His father, my grandfather, was a cook, a domestic servant.

Freshman English--Vocabulary List Eight

descry
startle
liege
grave
ambiguity
forbear
impeach
kindred
discord
circumvent
tryst
bier
bereaved
afflict
succumb
tallow
rivulet
orbs
poppet
delude
cantankerous
repulsed
reprieve
emaciated
execute
decisive
din
laud
stricture
transfix
consume
berate
edict
Grand Central Station
belay

through "Is Survival Selfish?"

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Freshman English--Vocabulary, Final Exam

Due May 28th

Scholars: Look up the words below. Write the definitions and parts of speech. This assignment must be handwritten or it will not be accepted. You are required to do this assignment, whether or not you exempt the Final Exam.

Please note that some words may be repeated. In those instances, you do not need to write the definitions again.

Freshman English--Four Pages of Research Paper and Works Cited Page due Thursday (with revisions)

Scholars: Remember. You MUST print out your paper ahead of time. Papers printed out on the day the assignment is due (May 1) will not be accepted. Plan ahead! Printing out papers on the due date adds to confusion and delays the class lesson. I want to instill in you the importance of planning, meeting deadlines, and not impeding the learning of others by causing delays in the workshop. You can do it! You are great students. Always be your best.

Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Freshman English--Date for First Four Pages of Research Paper Changed

Scholars: The first four pages of your Tolerance Research Paper are due on May 1, 2014. The copy should be considered your best effort. No mistakes in grammar, mechanics, formatting. Consider it a polished assignment--typed, MLA format.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Freshman English--Remember Works Cited Page due for Tolerance Research Paper (April 22nd)

Scholars: Be sure to turn in typed Works Cited Page on Tuesday, April 22nd. Follow examples from links on site. Do not make careless mistakes in formatting, etc. Your Works Cited Page should be perfect (or nearly perfect) :)

FSA (Florida Standards Assessment) Informational Prompt Strategies

The Explanation, Renee Magritte (1952)

Copy and paste the information below. Then keep the document in your binder at all times.

Strategies for Responding to an Informative/Explanatory Essay Prompt Based on Texts

Definition of an Informational Essay: An informational essay informs, conveys, imparts, or communicates factual unbiased knowledge to an audience (gives no opinion; think "just the facts").

If you are asked to write an informational essay based on the knowledge supplied in accompanying texts, you should consider the strategies listed below the following sample prompt:

(This example is from the Florida Department of Education website)

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Write an informational essay on the relationship between clothing styles and developments in clothing creation. Your ideas must be based on ideas, concepts, and information from the passage set.

ENC1102--Poetry Explication Skills

Poetry Explication Skills

1. Read the poem through at least twice.

2. Look up the definitions of any words that you don’t know.

AP English--Junior Exhibition Directions, 2013-2014 School Year

This Bird Looks in All Four Directions, Maria Primachenko (1977)

Below are the directions for the Junior Exhibition. Do not procrastinate. Ask your Technology teachers for more specific information if you have additional questions.

Freshman English--Midterm Vocabulary

1. delegate

2. misconstrue

3. diaphanous

Checking Facts

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/2016/07/20/the-10-best-fact-checking-sites/

Creating College Board and Khan Academy Accounts

Scholars:

All of you want to do well on the important college entrance exams. Well, you need practice, diagnosis of your areas of weakness, and recommendations for improving.

You have the unique opportunity of connecting your College Board account with your Khan Academy account, so that you can practice in your areas of weakness and increase your PSAT/SAT, even ACT scores. (All standardized tests assess similar skill sets.)

First, you must set up a College Board account by going to CollegeBoard.org:https://account.collegeboard.org/iamweb/smartRegister?excmpid=MTG248-ST-1-app.

Next, set up your Khan Academy account:https://www.khanacademy.org/signup

Then watch a youtube video on how to link your Khan Academy and CB accounts:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlveV0131Cw

Additional Help: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

Always Be Prepared for Class

All Classes: Always bring a 3-ring binder with loose-leaf paper to class. In addition, you should have a folder for handouts, a pen, a pencil, an eraser, and a highlighter. If you like to use Wite-Out correction fluid, you should bring that as well. For when we write papers during class on the computer, you should have a flash drive to save all your work.

Any day, I may check agendas, objectives, words of the day, vocabulary assignments, notes, etc. If you do not have the required information, you will receive a grade of zero on that day.

Notebook checks are an easy way to earn a grade. Having a well-organized notebook will help you become more disciplined, focussed, and orderly--excellent qualities for college and/or the working world.

Teaching Methods and Philosophy

All students can definitely make real progress.

A Authentic: Is this lesson truly useful and why? I ask myself exactly why I am facilitating this particular lesson. What skills will my students gain? How? In what ways does this lesson link to a larger unit plan? Is the lesson truly a worthwhile learning experience?

Rubrics for Writing and Reading

For any essay you are required to write, ask your teacher the minimum length requirement. The rubrics below may vary in length suggestions.

The Writing Process:
https://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2014/09/freshman-english-and-ap-english-writing.html

Proofreading Checklist (Staple to the front of your essay.):
https://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2020/02/proofreading-checklist-attach-to-front.html

How to Write an Evaluative Essay:
https://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2014/02/freshman-english-how-to-write.html

How to Analyze and Evaluate an Argument:
https://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2017/12/how-to-evaluate-argument.html

Standards and Accommodations

The links below direct you to Florida English Language Arts Standards, as well as Accommodations for Exceptional Education students.

Scroll down the English Language Arts standards to find the appropriate grade level. These standards are used in all English classes.

http://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/5390/urlt/0081014-lafs.pdf

See Chapters Three and Four of the Accommodations document. When needed, appropriate accommodations are always used.

http://fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7690/urlt/0070069-accomm-educator.pdf

Attendance Policy--Broward College Courses

--Please familiarize yourself with BC's Attendance Policy. See Broward College website: www.broward.edu. Search “Rights and Responsibilities Policy Matters.”

--Professor’s Attendance Policy: You are considered a Broward College student in this class, and as such, must adhere to the guidelines of BC for attendance. Attendance is very important in a college course:

For every four unexcused absences, your final grade will be reduced by 10 points. For example, four unexcused absences would reduce a final grade of B to a C, and eight unexcused absences would reduce a final grade of B to a D. If you receive a D in this course, you do not receive college credit.

For every excused absence, in addition to having your parent or guardian call the Attendance Secretary, you must provide a note from your parent/guardian/physician that explains the legitimate reason for your absence. The note should be given to the Attendance Secretary in Portable 14. Written documentation for the absence is necessary and will be kept on file.

Field trips are an important part of high school life; however, you should exercise discretion in deciding which field trips to attend (an important club event, a college or career event).

Any work due when you have an unexcused absence or unexcused tardy will not be accepted. All assignments are due at the beginning of class.

Makeup work for unexcused absences or unexcused tardies is not allowed.

If you go to a field trip from school on a day that an assignment is due, you musthand deliver the assignment to me in the morning. If I am not in my room, you should bring the assignment to the office secretary. You also have the option of turning the assignment in the day before.

Important: You must still attend this class when it transitions to a Study Hall after the Broward College course end date. Attendance is mandatory until the end of the high school term.

Atte

Teacher's Schedule

Semester One

Monday through Friday, Room 2402

First Block: Planning
Second Block: ENC1101 Dual Enrollment, Broward College Writing Course
Third Block: English III
Fourth Block: English III

Annotating a Text

See these links:

http://schoolhabits.com/annotate-text-reading/

https://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2014/01/english-i-how-to-take-notes-on-fiction.html#more

https://prezi.com/ctwiszjrqb7h/why-how-to-annotate-a-text/

http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/rwc/handouts/the-writing-process-1/invention/Annotating-a-Text

Copyright Law for This Website

Publication/copying for handouts or any similar usage of the material on this website requires written permission from the author. When such permission is granted, appropriate attribution/citation should always be indicated. Copyright law will be enforced.

Avoid Plagiarism

Avoid Plagiarism
http://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2013/08/all-classes-understanding-plagiarism.html

Ideas for Educators

The Henry J. Mulhern Scholarship

My father, who passed on April 12th, 2014, was a man who believed in supporting education. He was the son of Irish immigrants, the first person in his family to achieve a college degree. He taught me that education was one of the most important gifts I could give myself. My dad spent his life giving to others, especially through his dedication to immigrant students and those who may not have had access to the same financial and support services as others. He was on the Board of Directors for the Notre Dame Education Center in Boston and was instrumental in helping the Sisters of Notre Dame obtain a new building for their school. In his memory and as a testament to his legacy, I hope to continue my father's mission by establishing the Henry J. Mulhern Scholarship Fund.

Current Location of NDEC--Boston

Information about The Henry J. Mulhern Scholarship

The scholarship began in the 2014-2015 school year (continuing on a yearly basis), and is awarded to a graduating student at Atlantic Technical College Magnet High School.

The recipient best exemplifies values my father encouraged: authenticity, integrity, compassion, work ethic, and helping others.

Of course, academic achievement is a consideration, as well as financial need, but the ultimate determination is based on character and the values outlined above.

The scholarship is for ATC High School students only at this point, but as more revenue is raised through the publication of my books (Amazon), I hope to offer the scholarship to students throughout the Broward School system, and perhaps the country.

The money from the scholarship may be used for any educational purpose.

If you are an educator and find any of the resources on this website helpful, perhaps you will consider donating to this scholarship.

Ms. Marie Adams
The Henry J. Mulhern Scholarship Fund
Atlantic Technical College
4700 Coconut Creek Parkway
Coconut Creek, FL 33063

All checks should be written out to Atlantic Technical College with the scholarship's title on the check.

My father passed on April 12, 2014, but my heart will not be troubled as I see my father’s return. Wherever I go, he will be there also.

I will see my father in every act of integrity. I will see my father in every affirmation of justice and in every gesture of respect. I will see my father in every manifestation of strength and in every instance of patient listening. I will see my father in every display of love, in every gem of wisdom, and in every generous deed. I will see my father in every illustration of hard work, in every testament of faith, in every quiet moment, in every measure of perseverance. I will see my father in every expression of forgiveness. I will see my father in every family. And I will see my father in every one of you.

In 2015, Joshua Faires was the first recipient of this award. Congratulations.

Joshua Faires, First Recipient of Henry J. Mulhern Scholarship (2015)

In 2016, the following students were recipients: Vincent Chan, Alexandra Barbat, and Jared Suggs. Congratulations.

Vincent Chan, Alexandra Barbat, Jared Suggs (2016)

Congratulations to Alexia Wiggins, the 2017 recipient of the HJM Scholarship.

Congratulations to Jakarri King, the 2018 recipient of the HJM Scholarship.

Congratulations to Caleb Russell, the 2019 recipient of the HJM Scholarship.

Congratulations to Mariana Sorroza, the 2020 recipient of the HJM Scholarship.

Congratulations to Jennifer Lopez, the 2021 recipient of the HJM Scholarship.

Congratulations to Alisha Rambarran, the 2023 recipient of the HJM Scholarship.

Class Rules and Expectations

Until we are back on campus in the 2020-21 school year, adhere to the virtual behavior guidelines posted on Canvas.

Follow uniform, ID badge, and safety rules.
Do not be late for class.
When you enter the classroom, copy the Agenda, the Word of the Day, and the Writing/Grammar Point of the Day. Place any homework on the table.

https://naf.org/about

http://www.gettingsmart.com/2015/06/naftrack-certification-combines-school-and-work/

https://www.jpmorganchase.com/corporate/Corporate-Responsibility/pr-nsaw-naftrack-certified-hiring.htm

https://students.naftrack.org/

English NAF Scholars--Integration of Academic Class with Tech Program

In order to be college and career ready, we will work on the following:

Seniors--Research colleges and career through Naviance.com and Collegeboard.org. Write a Reflection Essay as part of your Tech Exhibition.

Juniors--Research colleges and career through Naviance.com and Collegeboard.org. Write a research paper exploring your college and career path.

In both senior and junior classes we will also write and revise college and scholarship essays, as well as prepare for the SAT, an important consideration for admission to college.

Be NAF Steady and Future Ready!

Creating College Board and Khan Academy Accounts

Scholars:

All of you want to do well on the important college entrance exams. Well, you need practice, diagnosis of your areas of weakness, and recommendations for improving.

First, you must set up a College Board account by going to CollegeBoard.org:https://account.collegeboard.org/iamweb/smartRegister?excmpid=MTG248-ST-1-app.

Next, set up your Khan Academy account:https://www.khanacademy.org/signup

Then watch a youtube video on how to link your Khan Academy and CB accounts:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlveV0131Cw

Additional Help: https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

Test Preparation

http://scholarmulhern.blogspot.com/2015/11/multiple-choice-test-protocol-used.html#more

http://browardschools.libguides.com/ATC/mediacenterhome/ATC/TestPrep (Excellent Resources from Ms. Castelli, ATC High School Media Specialist)

http://infotrac.galegroup.com/default/marg9873?db=TERC (Remember the password that you wrote down during class.)

Analysis Example

I often use models of my own analytical writing to help students understand that writing is a process that can always be improved upon. The original and revision paragraphs below are from a published analysis that I wrote. I explain to students that I am constantly revising and rewriting my own analytical essays. Helping students to understand that you, as a teacher, struggle to constantly improve your own writing gives students a greater understanding that writing is a process and requires hard work.