Leaning Literary: August 2012

Pledges and Creeds

For Graduation:

The Pledge of Allegiance

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

History

The Pledge to the Christian Flag

"I pledge allegiance to the Christian Flag, and to the Savior, for whose kingdom it stands. One Savior, crucified, risen and coming again, with life and liberty for all who believe."

History of the Pledge

Wikipedia

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Our Common Christian Faith (not recited at graduation, though):

The Apostles' Creed (Book of Common Prayer Version)

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

Born of the Virgin Mary,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, dead, and buried:

He descended into hell;

The third day he rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;

The holy Catholic Church;

The Communion of Saints;

The Forgiveness of sins;

The Resurrection of the body,

And the Life everlasting.

Amen.

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our tresspasses,

as we forgive those who tresspass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Versions of the Lord's Prayer

1. Old English

2. Middle English Pronunciation for Chaucer

Audio:

The Lord's Prayer in Old English

The Lord's Prayer in Anglo Saxon

Emergency Procedures

Sometimes challenging or bad things interrupt us. May the Lord grant us the peace and safety this year He has graciously granted this school throughout its many decades. In the event that an emergency arrives, here are our plans.

In Case of an Unplanned Absence

In the event of an unplanned absence, please work quietly all period practicing the AP English Literature Test.

AP:
Here are two tests released from the College Board with answers and one extra test with answers. Essays are 40 min., multiple choice is 60 min. Each test takes approx. 3 hrs in total.

Here are multiple tests in case I am gone for more than one day. Please work on them in the order below (1999, 1987). You may begin with multiple choice response or essay writing.

If I am absent tomorrow, then you will continue where you leave off today. When I return, we will review the essay and any other sections the time permitted you to progress through. You will receive a gradebook grade for completion. I will gauge assignment completion by comparing how far you progressed in the test with the number of minutes available to you minus 5-10 for roll-call and announcements (some school days provide more class minutes than others). In short, work the entire period on this assignment and all will be well. This assignment is based on class time and is not homework for the evening.

All the best!

Mr. S

Your Paper Journal or Binder

So, you need to keep a journal or binder for our class.

We have you do this for a number of reasons:

We do a lot of handwritten work because it's good for your mind and penmanship.
You can refer back to your papers for reminders of what you need to work on.
It will help your organizational skills.
I can't collect every assignment I assign. I have to spend my best energy on your essay writing. This gives me a way of seeing your notes and such at the quarterly check.
If something goes wrong in the digital gradebook world (say I hit 0 instead of 10...say there's a glitch in an update), you can bring in the hard evidence to make it right.

Does it Really Help? Yes. Here's an email I received from a student who went on to Biola University and later returned to teach at MVCS: "I thought of emailing you because your class had a large impact on me, and when I picture myself as a teacher I often go back to memories of being in your class. In fact, I still have my binder and materials from your class that I look through for inspiration."

Because we no longer have lockers, and space is limited on a table...and it's more convenient to write in a journal while traveling or sitting in bed, we are encouraging you all to use a journal for our class (instead of a binder). If you are already using a binder for another class, you could slip your journal in there...or you may use a binder and not a journal. But we think the journal will be more convenient for you.

Your Journal Must

be of a standard size (9.5" X 7.5") or larger
be college ruled (double check before you buy!)
be neat and clean and have no major tears
include an identifying mark, name, or other distinction on the spine
include your name and period on the cover in pen (outside or inside)
include tabs for your divided sections

Daily Notes and Journal Responses (First 50 pages)
Grammar (Sticky note: 10-20 pages)
Terms and Reading Vocabulary List (Sticky note: 5 pages)
Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes (Stick note: 5 pages)

Binders need to

have nicely working rings so that you can turn the pages easily
be neat and clean and have no major tears
be big enough to fit your papers comfortably (it should not be exploding)
be stocked with blank paper (college ruled, no plastic on the left side)
have no loose papers or papers in pockets that should be filed in a division
have all papers in chronological order in each divider (you may go from most recent to oldest or from oldest to most recent)
include tabs for your divided sections

Journal Responses
Daily Notes
Grammar
Terms and Reading Vocabulary List
Prefixes, Roots, and Suffixes

not have Justin Bieber on the cover...or any other celebrity.

Grading

Your journal or binder is generally worth between 20 and 50 points per quarter
We will check quarterly by any combination of the following

random spot checks
planned checks
end-of-quarter checks

If a spot or quick check

I will ask you to turn to any given note or entry

If you have it, you get an A

If you don't, I ask for a second

If you have it, you get a C

If you don't, I ask for a third

If you have it, you get a D

Otherwise, you fail the spot check.

If at quarter's end

We grade your binder on a given day in the last two weeks of each quarter

We grade it in class during the period, so you may share the binder with other classes

We take off about 5 points for each missing assignment or day of notes.

We take off about 2 points for each minor infraction (a loose paper, torn cover, a paper out of sequence, a paper in the wrong section)

Class Parties =)

Feasting is fabulous! We usually have a class party each quarter. The goal is to be as period appropriate as possible in food selection and attire.

You may get up to 3 points extra credit in your homework category (2 points if you make something yourself or find something unusually appropriate for our period; 1 point for a normal store-bought item or bringing in disposable utensils; 1 point for dressing in period appropriate costume that also conforms to MVCS dress code). Whenever possible, keep your items as local as possible (something you bake at home or is grown or made locally...or something thematically related to our recent reading). The party is often near the end of the quarter. You will take a quiz (usually memorization and one or two reading questions); we will enjoy our party refreshments and watch a video related to our quarter's reading.

Here are foods we generally need. Comment on the blog...usually the day or two previous to the party:

* Baked goods (ginger snaps, apple pie, brownies, etc.)
* Drinks (water, lemonade, etc.)
* Fruit (strawberries, apple slices, etc.)
* Other: lemon curd, whipped cream, hard-boiled eggs, nuts, dried fruit

Here are necessary disposable items to enjoy our food and drinks:
* Cups (paper)
* Napkins
* Plates (paper)
* Utensils (forks, knives, and spoons)

Other possibilities:
* Perhaps bring in a water boiler and tea.

Be sure you take your containers and such with you at the end of the period.