Mulhern's English Site

Due March 12, 2015 Directions: Copy the vocabulary words. Most of them have been taken from your textbook; some words/terms are not typical vocabulary words (for example, names of places or allusions to famous things); nevertheless, you should know them. Look up the definitions and parts of speech of each word. Write both in your notebook. ( You must handwrite this assignment;  not type, or cut and paste). For each of the words, find an excellent context sentence by googling the Internet (always cite your source within parentheses after the sentence--the name of the website). In addition, create an  excellent  context sentence  of your own.  Please clearly label the "googled" sentence and your "own" sentence:  "I" for Internet sentence; "My" for the sentence that you create. Also highlight the vocabulary word in each sentence. All of this work should be written on loose-leaf paper in your notebook, so that it can be turned in for a grade. ...

The Bravery of Martincho in the Ring of Saragassa, Francisco Goya (1815-1816) Due February 24, 2015 Directions: Copy the vocabulary words. Most of them have been taken from your textbook; some words/terms are not typical vocabulary words (for example, names of places or allusions to famous things); nevertheless, you should know them. Look up the definitions and parts of speech of each word. Write both in your notebook. ( You must handwrite this assignment;  not type, or cut and paste). For each of the words, find an excellent context sentence by googling the Internet (always cite your source within parentheses after the sentence--the name of the website). In addition, create an  excellent  context sentence  of your own.  Please clearly label the "googled" sentence and your "own" sentence:  "I" for Internet sentence; "My" for the sentence that you create. Also highlight the vocabulary word in each sentence. All of this work should be wr...

Scholars: Notice how the elaboration in the original paragraph is vague and non-specific. To say that an author "elicits the beauty" that "etches a picture in each listener's mind" says nothing especially original or interesting. Basically, I am saying, "Imagery creates a picture in a reader's mind." That is stating the obvious.  Of course, visual imagery creates a picture!  The original elaboration does not "dig deep" enough. It fails to say what   was effective about that specific use of imagery, the  meaning  of those particular words .   I need to elaborate on this new information in King's text and, through reflection (utilizing the SOAPSTone technique), decide how I can better express the effectiveness of King's prose. Every time I reflect in this way (metacognition), I not only utilize the skills I have already learned, but I also improve my learning process for future assignments.

Reflection Sheet Scholars: Consider the following before, during, and after any lesson. Write your responses on a separate sheet of paper after the class, but I encourage you to simply think about these questions during the lesson. By reflecting as much as possible about your learning (metacognition), you will be more engaged, and as a result, become a better student not only in this class, but all of your classes.

Romeo and Juliet, Frank Dicksee (1884) Due February 18, 2015 Directions: Copy the vocabulary words. Most of them have been taken from your textbook; some words/terms are not typical vocabulary words (for example, names of places or allusions to famous things); nevertheless, you should know them. Look up the definitions and parts of speech of each word. Write both in your notebook. ( You must handwrite this assignment;  not type, or cut and paste). For each of the words, find an excellent context sentence by googling the Internet (always cite your source within parentheses after the sentence--the name of the website). In addition, create an  excellent  context sentence  of your own.  Please clearly label the "googled" sentence and your "own" sentence:  "I" for Internet sentence; "My" for the sentence that you create. Also underline (or highlight) the vocabulary word in each sentence. All of this work should be written on loose-leaf paper...

Romeo and Juliet, Frank Dicksee (1884) Due February 18, 2015 Directions: Copy the vocabulary words. Most of them have been taken from your textbook; some words/terms are not typical vocabulary words (for example, names of places or allusions to famous things); nevertheless, you should know them. Look up the definitions and parts of speech of each word. Write both in your notebook. ( You must handwrite this assignment;  not type, or cut and paste). For each of the words, find an excellent context sentence by googling the Internet (always cite your source within parentheses after the sentence--the name of the website). In addition, create an  excellent  context sentence  of your own.  Please clearly label the "googled" sentence and your "own" sentence:  "I" for Internet sentence; "My" for the sentence that you create. Also underline (or highlight) the vocabulary word in each sentence. All of this work should be written on loose-l...

Synthesis of Movement, Giacomo Balla (1914) Responding to the Synthesis Prompt on the AP Exam (You Can Use These Ideas to Write Any Synthesis Essay) The Synthesis Prompt appears first in the Free-Response Section of the AP English Language and Composition Exam.  Synthesis is a blending of ideas from other sources to create a new whole (your essay).  In this exam, there will be either 6 or 7 Sources (A through G) that you will need to read and gather ideas to support your argument--your response to the prompt. At least one of the Sources will be visual (a chart, a graph, a picture, a cartoon).  The directions on the exam tell you that you must incorporate at least 3  different  Sources into your discussion (essay).  You may think of the Synthesis Essay as a mini Research Paper.  You are being tested on your ability to read, evaluate, and utilize the Sources in a coherent written argument.  Below are some pointers that I have come up with...

The Book, Juan Gris (1913) Print out the following notes (or handwrite) so that you can keep this rubric in your binder for future essay assignments. Analysis means explaining (with textual evidence, i.e., quotes) how an author effectively renders/shows/establishes a particular literary aspect.  For example, theme, mood, characterization, conflict.  Before you begin to write the essay, you have to figure out what larger aspect of the text you will be analyzing. (Sometimes your teacher will assign a specific literary aspect for you to analyze; other times, you will have to choose that literary aspect on your own.)  As you are reading the text, you need to find excellent examples (quotes) that will support that larger literary aspect.

The following examples are products of collaborative writing in my first period English I class. Group One      “I have hunted every kind of game in every land.   It would be impossible for me to tell you how many animals I have killed.”   This quote is proudly spoken by the self-confident character General Zaroff from the short story “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell.   However, his self-confident personality is quickly overpowered by his more practical opponent, Rainsford, who shows the general that he can outsmart him in his own hunting competition.   Connell's story shows us that s elf-confidence can turn on you when you are trying to survive.

Banks of the Seine, Paris Albert Marquet (1896) Due February 3, 2015 Directions: Copy the vocabulary words. Most of them have been taken from your textbook; some words/terms are not typical vocabulary words (for example, names of places or allusions to famous things); nevertheless, you should know them. Look up the definitions and parts of speech of each word. Write both in your notebook. ( You must handwrite this assignment;  not type, or cut and paste). For each of the words, find an excellent context sentence by googling the Internet (always cite your source within parentheses after the sentence--the name of the website). In addition, create an  excellent  context sentence  of your own.  Please clearly label the "googled" sentence and your "own" sentence:  "I" for Internet sentence; "My" for the sentence that you create. Also highlight the vocabulary word in each sentence. All of this work should be written on loose-leaf paper in you...

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. 

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.

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.