Welcome to Semester 2! (2/2 & 2/3)

Hooray for a new semester, a fresh start, a new beginning. Take advantage of the times in your life when you get to start over; they are few.

Freshmen:
We are beginning our unit on Short Stories and Literary Elements. Today we started class with a freewrite looking back at first semester and looking forward to second semester. These ended up in your writing folders. Then, we took some notes: plot, exposition, narrative hook, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. We also put some vocab words in our notes. Be sure you hang on to these, they will definitely appear on a test. We had just a few minutes to begin reading "The Most Dangerous Game" and identifying its plot elements. We will continue with this story next class.

AP Lit:
A few reminders for second semester: no late papers accepted, essay rewrites must be completed within a week and be prepared for unannounced reading quizzes which cannot be made up. You have been warned. You may be thinking to yourself, "Yeah right...Mrs. Peterson is a pushover, I'll be able to talk her into letting me turn things in late or retaking this quiz. After all, I'm her favorite (insert your name here) she has in class..." If you are thinking this, you are wrong. I'm very comfortable saying no. I have toddlers at home. I am well practiced. I will, however, say "I'm sorry, no" with a smile.
As far as class goes, we took a few minutes in groups to talk about Oedipus, and a few minutes as a whole class to talk about Oedipus.
HW: Write a brief, rough essay about what you think Oedipus' tragic flaw is. (Pick just one flaw. Don't write for more than 15-20 minutes)

Shakespeare:
Welcome! We spent a few minutes on introductions, a few minutes on a freewrite. Then, I handed out the syllabus and we reviewed it briefly. Then, in groups we talked about everything we know about Shakespeare right now. Think of how much more you'll be able to come up with if we do the same thing at the end of the semester.