Honors Students

Hi friends,

I hope you've enjoyed a very merry Christmas.  But now what can fill the terrible void of two more weeks deprived of huge manatees?  I know!  Let's read something good.  Check the
 Honors Reading List.

Based on those who expressed direct interest and showed capacity to take on the extra work, our honors group will be the following:

• Madison Courtney
• Ezekiel Mata
• Annalisa Matangelo
• Lucan Schwager

Students taking the honors track need to attack one quarter 2 extra reading over Christmas break (if you did not already do so when I assigned this before Thanksgiving).  Students not taking the honors track should still consider reading an extra book(s) as they will help you grow in intelligence and academic prowess.
 
If anyone else not currently on the list is interested for consideration, please let me know.  These are the indicators to guide you:

• You should have earned an A or B on the final exam, as semester 2 will have more testing for you than semester 1. 
• You should have earned an A or B in both quarters. 
• You should desire to read extra novels and take challenging, analytical tests. 

Thank you!

Mr. S

Life Lesson

More Photos to Choose From

Click the link below to review your work, please.

Art Imitates Submissions page: Ben needs to add to this; Eden needs to choose another;
some of you need titles.  Everyone, at least review your work. 

Also, here are some new photos for reflection:

See the Link Below

Borrowed Future Podcast: Considering student loans? You need to listen to this (this is the link).

 

New Fall Photo #2

New Fall Photo #1

Columbus Question

In 1493, Christopher Columbus, sailing near the Dominican Republic, sees ___________ — in reality _________ — and describes them as "not half as beautiful as they are painted." Fill in the blanks.

Seniors, think you're too busy to apply for scholarships?

Not impressed.

Art Imitates

Hi friends,

We will be working toward submissions to an interesting poetry project. 

You can review it here: https://www.instagram.com/art_imitates/

The focus for us is writing, but they will consider photo submissions also.  Let's do this!

Enjoy!

Mr. S

Some Scholarship Info.

Hi students,

First, here is a page from Dave Ramsey (dedicated to getting and keeping people from debt): https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/how-to-find-scholarships

Second, here is one app. for your scholarship search.  It does a few dollars/mo. but appears to be worth it: https://myscholly.com/

There's a start!

Blessings,

Mr. S

Contest Time!

E N T R Y   R U L E S

1. Entries may be on any subject in any genre—including fiction, nonfiction, biography, autobiography, mystery, humor, science fiction, fantasy, or poetry.

2. Each entry must be an original work, submitted in the appropriate age group: 6–9, 10–13, or 14–17.

3. Word count limit: 2,100 words.

4. Entries can be submitted online or at the store. Those entries submitted in hard copy must have a copy of the entry form attached to the story. We’re sorry, but entries cannot be returned.

5. Employees of Bookshop Santa Cruz and their immediate families are not eligible to enter the contest.

6. All entries must be received no later than Monday, September 30, 2019.

Download an Entry Form

Submit an Entry Online

Example stories that they liked: 

• "Walking" by Ross Clifford

• "The Octopus" by Lauren Michelle Finkle

College Survey and Regret

Findings: https://www.payscale.com/data/biggest-college-regrets

Caveate: I did not find the total number of responders, and this is basically gleaned through an online survey, so that may not be the most representative, but it still may be of interest to some. 

Take-away: Basically, don't take on school debt (#1 regret for all), and don't choose a lower paying direction unless you can handle you neighbor earning more than you do without coveting, hehehe.

Also, if you're going into English or the Humanities (which I did, and I'm happy I did), make sure you go to a good school that will teach you good things (ideally, a sound, rigorous Christian education)...it's easy for the Liberal Arts (which should be among the highest pursuits) to degenerate into a political-correctness freak show (as 46 of 52 "top" schools no longer even require a Shakespearean class for English Lit. majors, which was noted this past week in a Wall Street Journal article).

Week Four: Two Journals Due Thursday 9/12

Journal 9: Jonathan Edwards Reading 

• “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” pp. 111–128

• Answer: 1–5, 10–12, 14

• “The Excellency of Christ” 129–152

• Answer: all odd questions 

Journal 10: Jonathan Edwards Essay

• Scored Short Essay (one page or longer): Choose pg. 128 # 15 or 152 #16

 

Thursday, 9/5/19

Journal 7 Creative Writing Prompt: The late William Burroughs once wrote that "language is a virus from outer space." We at the University of Chicago think he’s right, of course, and this leaves us wondering what else came here with it. Could this finally explain such improbable features of modern life as the Federal Tax Code, non-dairy creamer, Dennis Rodman, and the art of mime? Name something that you assert cannot have originated any other way. Offer a thorough defense of your hypothesis for extraterrestrial origins, including alternate explanations and reasons for eliminating them from consideration. (University of Chicago)


Writing

Literature
 

HW: 

Journal 8: 

Read 80-88, answer 7–11

Read 96–106, answer pg. 98 #1-2, pg. 102 #7,  pp. 105-106 # 6, 12, 13, 14

Journal 6

Journal 6: 

    Read “Of Plymouth Plantation” --pg. 55

    Answer questions 13,14, 17, 19, 20

    Read “Narrative of Mary Rowlandson” --pg. 77

    Answer questions 2, 6, 7, 18, 21

Journal 5

Read pages 30-34. Answer in 3 sentences: what was the most amusing aspect of this story (and why was this amusing to you)?

Journal 3

College Prompts Page (click anywhere on this line). 

You will see writing instructions when you click the link.


Due on Thursday 8/29. 

 

William Bradford's Tombstone

 



Hebrew: "Let the right hand of the Lord awake." Perhaps from Isaiah 51:9.

Latin:

“What our forefathers secured with so much hardship do not easily relinquish.”  
Qua patres difficillime adepti sunt nolite turpiter relinquere

You Could Buy a Copy of the American Literature Book for Home

Save your backs!  Buy a copy of our book for $25 (plus shipping):

https://www.christianbook.com/american-literature-whit-jones/9781940110318/pd/133514?event=ESRCG

Enjoy!

Mr. S

First Post of Our 2019–2020 American Literature Course

Welcome!

You'll notice that the lesson plans and syllabus links to the left have been updated.

Since this blog serves both my old Brit. Lit. course and now the current American Lit. course, some links will take you to Brit. Lit. things.  I'll be updating where needed as we progress.

But you can get a good idea of the types of things we study and do by snooping around here.

All the best!

Mr. S