Winter Break Reading Assignment

Read these important, key chapters of Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Supplement your reading with any of your favorite literary cheat sites. But actually read the assigned chapter...please...pretty please with sugar on top!

Read the following:

Chapter One 

Chapter Two

Chapters 14 - 17

More on Newtown, CT

Remembrances and some more information about the potential effects on gun control.

Journal #16

Journal #16: Reaction to the President's speech. What was effective about it? How did you feel in light of the tragedy? Do you sense the political implication of his words? How did you feel about that? What do you think these implications will be? Do you agree?

Copy of the speech transcript, here.  

2 teeny weeny new vocab for the week:

reprehensible: deserving blame

innate: a trait or ability that comes with birth, natural

Please bring orange (or yellow) textbooks to class. 

Changes to Course Schedule

Everyone did a really great job today with revisions, and I think we really learned. Thanks to Mr. Sera's flexibility (and I don't just mean his ability to save lives on the beach), we will remain in families until Friday. This has prompted the following changes to the course schedule:

ALL essay revisions (one and two) will be due FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th. 

VOCAB QUIZ will be post-poned until FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th. 


Journal #15 will be due Monday, December 17th. 

Journal #15: To Park or not to Park

Listen to this issue on NPR about the potential of memorializing the "Manhattan Project" development site. Here the battle between advocates for chronicling this specific and significant moment in history and those who find it morbid to "celebrate" one of the largest mass-murders in world history. Discuss it in Journal #15. Do you think the sites should be designated as US National Parks? Why or why not. Bust a Google on "The Manhattan Project" if additional clarification is necessary.

Today's Revision Deadlines

ALL re-writes must have ALL previous drafts attached to the back.

Essay One revisions due Wednesday. 

Essay Two revisions due Monday.

Hey APers!!!

Vocabulary Quiz post-poned until Thursday of this week!

Journal #14: Investigation and Cognitive Injury

Today's NPR story is a fascinating review of how police practice. Listen here. Years ago, in a time before DNA evidence, police wrangled confessions from subjects with no regard of cognitive disorders. As a father of autism, I felt particularly close to this story because I could see my son (pictured) being coerced through these methods. Yet, half of US states have legislation to protect cognitively disabled people during interrogations. What are your thoughts about this? Could such legislation seriously hamper law enforcement? Should this be a federal mandate, or does it open potentially dangerous situations.

11/30: Additional reading for the weekend

Costco: The Anti-Walmart

#CostalAP

Due Monday, 12/3/12

Read the Autobiography of Ben Franklin (and all related materials on pgs. 84 - 96)

Vocabulary Quiz postponed to Monday.

Article about Supreme Court's Potential Involvement with Gay Marriage

On Twitter @ #CostalAP

Or, check it on front page of LA Times.

To My 2nd Period

Some people claimed that I never went over the assignment, but after reflecting on my lesson, I think this is not the case. Either way, the assignment is attached. Do the best you can, and we will discuss it after break. Happy Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Week Assignment Part 2

EAD: Read the Purdue OWL's guide to writing narratives. I will take questions on this Monday.

Chapter One of Shoeless Joe by WP Kinsella

WRITE:

Formal Writing #1: THE DESCRIPTIVE NARRATIVE: Begin by reading the 1st chapter of WP Kinsella's novel. So much of what's moving about it is the passion the narrator uses when describing the things he loves. Write a short narrative describing something (or someone or someplace) you love or are vary passionate about. Could be soccer. Your boyfriend. A holiday. Disney World. A keepsake. Your part-time job. Your group of friends. A hobby. Just make sure you are telling me about it by presenting a specific story. SHOW me, don't TELL me. The narrative should be both a story (first person, with a beginning, middle and end AND proof of your passion). For example, if your passion is scuba diving, write a narrative about a specific scuba trip and through telling the story...let your passion shine through. Don't describe the thing itself. Tell a story that involves the thing and evinces your love. Difficult? Sure. Impossible? Not even close.  Approx. two pages in length.

Thanksgiving Week assignment Part 1

Though we have much to do before getting back to comprehensive foreign affairs coverage, the obvious issue facing the newly re-elected Obama administration will be "balancing act" that is escalating violence in the Gaza strip...an age-old and little understood foreign policy issue that has monumental effects on the future of not only the US, but the world. Take a look at this NY Times topic page in order to start to get a sense of this immensely complex global issue.

George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant"

Here. 

Costal Absent Tomorrow (11/14)

Please bring Zinn to class and begin reading chapter 2, "Drawing the Color Line." More specific assignment with the reading will be forthcoming. Thanks.

Journal 12: The Culture War

For Journal #12, watch the following video first.



Hmmm...I am sure this arouses a tempest of reaction, but before writing your journal, read the following article

Hey, liberals: You haven’t won the culture war

Scarlet Letter Project Comments

Apparently, we are not the only ones who do this! And the girl on our right is totally sleeping. So, even if these don't go your way....HEY...at least you didn't fall asleep standing up!

Comments on the project...just like before. 

Nick and the Unicorns: 

Quite a few missteps in the information category. I really enjoyed the graphics, especially the use of Prezi instead of Power Point. Yet, the lack of any type of citation for research is a huge problem. This

Family Projects

So despite the initial concerns, for better or worse, for drama and peace...your first set of family grades are in the books. Here is some friendly advice on the Family presentations and how everyone can benefit for future projects.  

Nick & the Unicorns: 

Nice job explaining name, really peppy and intricate family

Journal #10: Malala is EVERY girl

Listen to this story from NPR.

Now find and read one other article about Malala from any source you deem credible.

Use your source, the radio piece and the NY Times article from class to write Journal #10 about the most dominant ideas that emerge from Malala's story.

On the top of your journal page, please create an MLA citation for the source you found and used.

Journals will be due on Monday. 

Check This Out

http://www.rootstrikers.org/who_are_you_really_voting_for

Formal Essay #1

You have read the first chapter of Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States as well as an article by Michael S. Berliner, the Executive Director of the Ayn Rand Foundation. Here is another source to complement Berliner's. Any other information necessary to complete this essay will need to be researched. Please make sure your essay makes direct and significant reference to at least two of the texts.

Homework Journal for October 24th

Please listen to this round-up, oh and the one embedded below, on the foreign policy debate to help with your journal and to help with tomorrow's class discussions.

Assignments: 10/22/12 During Scarlet Symposium

Tonight's debate centers on foreign policy. Naturally, I would like you to watch it. I will get an available internet version of it posted to the blog ASAP. This is journal # 7.

For Periods 5 - 8, Thursday and Friday (Ignore this APers, Not for You)

Mr. Costal absent Day One

Make sure the Trayvon case timeline is reviewed so students understand the facts of the case. 

Here is a video of George Zimmerman walking the Sanford police through the events of the evening.

Discussion Questions: 
1. Do you believe him? Why or why not?
2. What most sticks out in your mind about his

Now listen to the call George Zimmerman makes to Sanford Police. Use this to compare and contrast Zimmerman's take on the evening's events.

Discussion Questions: 
1. Do you feel differently about Zimmerman, now? Why or why not?
2. One thing that many people made a case of was Zimmerman's comment: "they always get away." How can this statement be construed in two different ways? Does this reveal something about Zimmerman in your opinion? Why or why not?

Now, just before you think that this is one big accident that Zimmerman's fate changed so quickly, please watch this piece from Democracy Now...one of the media outlets that was pivotal in having Zimmerman re-arrested. There is a lot of footage about all the different controversies raging.



Mr. Costal absent Day Two

As a class, read the article I left from the NY Times, stop to discuss along the way.

Journal # : So...now that you have learned about Trayvon Martin, do you disagree with John Adams' sentiment that "we cannot allow our emotions to dictate law." Are there circumstances in which public outcry is more powerful than the law. Do you agree that "laws are made to be broken?" Why or why not?

Monday...Don't Forget...

Ms. C's party...and vocab test!!!

Scarlet Symposium Topics and Guidelines...because everyone keeps asking me

Scarlet Letter Seminar Topics -- Symposium will be Oct 22 & Oct 23, both periods. 

1. Compare & contrast the varied ideals of Puritanism and how Hawthorne, through the novel’s theme, presents the religion. Provide a brief history of the religion in the United States, and cite other examples of the religion in literature. Describe how the religion's effects are still evident in the values and traditions of the United States.

2. Describe and present the inner turmoil of Dimmesdale’s and Hester’s characters in the novel. Describe the psychological conflicts. Be sure your presentation covers the breadth of the characters through in-depth analysis and profiling. Be sure to chronicle their relationship and the important role each plays in expounding the thematic importance of the other.

Extra Credit to the First Commentor

A silly little company tweeted this to me and millions of others today. Identify the error and fix the sentence. 10 points on next vocab quiz to the victor:

Once Andre the Giant, in a hotel bar drank 127 beers and wasn't moved until he woke up after he passed out in the lobby because of his size.

De Fishes love debates!

No debate about it: Big Bird is small potatoes when it comes to federal budget - Chicago Sun-Times

No debate about it: Big Bird is small potatoes when it comes to federal budget - Chicago Sun-Times

Journal #5: U.S. military in Japan

Listen to this segment about frustrations concerning American military's use of Okinawa in Japan. Do you think the American government should concede to the Japanese wishes? The land we occupy was taken as part of treaties after World War II. Should that supersede the Japanese sentiment? How does it make you feel to see our own government as "occupiers" rather than "liberators," a role we seem far more comfortable publicizing?

Columbus: PRO, an anti-Zinn view

Please read this article as a counter-point to the notions advanced by Professor Zinn.

Rubric for Monday and Schedule Changes

Family Cluster Project Rubric



Points based on the completeness, creativity and originality of each element.


Possible Points: Actual Points


family name 05 pts


family crest or coat of arms 15 pts


family motto, credo, maxim or quotation 15 pts


family cheer or dance 15 pts


family handshake 05 pts


family mascot or symbol 10 pts


will create a set of family goals (5) for the AP cohort 15 pts


Presentation/Originality 20 pts

Upcoming Stuff (Including Changes):

Monday, 10/1: 1st Vocab Quiz POSTPONED (instead, 2-day Family day)

Friday, 10/5: In-Class Family Presentation Prep Day

Tuesday, 10/9: Family Presentations (Double Period)

Friday, September 20th

Hey everyone...I'm rocked with flu : ( Gonna be out again. Bring access (digital or otherwise...I will warn the sub) to Scarlet Letter since I am sure that most of you would like to use this time to catch up on your reading.

Interesting Debate

Tonight will mark the first ever Univision (Spanish television) Presidential candidates forum. There has been a lot of controversy between the network and the national non-profit group that runs all Presidential debates (yep...the political jobs no one even knows about are many), primarily surrounding the group's failure to post even one Latino moderator on the panel (wow...did they really not see that coming?). Either way, unlike the other debates, this one is based on a series of questions developed by Univision viewers, so it promises to be slightly different than the others...and very possibly more interesting.

It is not mandatory, but it would be cool if you could check it out. Governor Romney tonight. The President tomorrow. To catch the English simulcast, just befriend Univsion on Fb...then you can watch it streaming live on the social media site at 10pm. Pero, si tu quedes, vee en espanol en Univision a la diez.

Welcome Parents!

Hello Parents!

My name is Joe Costal, this is my 9th year at Oakcrest, my 7th year teaching in the AP Gov/Honors 2 co-hort. I conceptualized and wrote the curriculum for this course, cumbersomely titled, "Eng Honors 2 w/ AP Gov." This important distinction provided me an opportunity to create a course that focused on current events, government issues, foreign policy and other components crucial to the AP Gov exam, while also staying true to the traditional Early American Lit curriculum.

Journal #4: Muslims, movie and mayhem

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/09/12/reaction-to-anti-islam-film-fuels-debate-on-free-speech-versus-hate-speech/

Watch the video...read the article...and comment on the central question:

Is this free speech or hate-speech? What is the difference in terms of protection and the Constitution?

"My City of Ruins"

Homework for Tuesday, September 11th

READ: Read the Purdue OWL's guide to writing narratives. I will take questions on this Wednesday.

Important (or...er...popular) Convention Moments

The Scarlet Letter Digital E-Book

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25344

Read by September 24, 2012

Journals #1 & #2: DNC speech

Tonight, the President will speak to his supporters at the DNC in Charlotte, NC. It'll be a clappy, hooty holler-fest.

Your job as AP Gov students is to watch it. If not live (he probably won't come on until around 10), then on the internet after the fact.

Journal #1 will be an assessment of what you learned after taking a perusal through the issues (link in previous post).

Journal #2 will be a reaction to the President's speech. Be prepared for discussion on both tomorrow, but as a reprieve, I will NOT be checking journals. You're welcome. : )

Welcome to the AP program...now let's get to work.

Two years ago, with the encouragement and blessing of the GEH BOE and OHS admin, I altered this course and re-wrote the curriculum. This was done for two reasons: 1. To create a greater distinct between students on the AP track and those who chose to remain in Honors. 2. To create a greater distinction between the course of study in the regular English 2 curriculum (which is designed as a survey of Early American literature and high school writing modes) and this one. Ours is a curriculum that balances the study of Early America with analysis of current events in America, especially those with a direct link to comprehensive understanding of American government.

This will be an interesting year to be in this course because we will have a Presidential election to deconstruct. Your job over this next week, while we work our way through the particulars of opening week, will be to familiarize yourself with the candidates. The sign linked below is one of thousands of ways to do this. This site claims to be "unbiased and fact based," but as we will discuss this semester, that is not always the case. Credibility of the site itself is very low, but most sources contained within are well-cited and most seem to be primary. I like the integration of multi-media here, so that's why I am using it. Provides some decent overview.

http://2012.candidate-comparison.org/?compare=Romney&vs=Obama

Period 6/7 "To Build a Fire"

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/BuiFir.shtml

Period 6/7: "Sucker" Story

http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/wp-content/uploads/satevepost/sucker-by-carson-mccullers-SEP.pdf

The End...My Only Friend...The End

Journal #40: Read the excerpt from Self-Reliance. Identify the "exemplary statement" and discuss the works overall message as it relates to the over-arching themes of Transcendentalism.

Please remember that journals are due Tuesday after Memorial Day, and all assignments will close that day.

#39: Transcendentalism, Providence and music videos

For Journal #39...try to analyze the musical works above in the context of New England Transcendentalism and the idea of American "providence."

Journal #38

Please read Emerson's aphorisms on page 222, choose one or a few to write about as Journal #38. Then, please also read Hawthorne's feelings on Emerson and Transcendentalism (hint: he's kinda against it) on page 223.

Baloo the Transcendentalist

For Journal #37 describe the ways in which Baloo's teachings mirror the themes of the "Economy" chapter.

Mini Research Expectations

1. Paper will have CREDIBLE sources used to back a central thesis based on the given prompt for TS
2. These sources will be cited both in a WORKS CITED page at end of the paper AND as parenthetical documentation within the confines of the paper itself.
3. The Works Cited sources should be formatted as either MLA or APA citations (including the source text).
4. Sources should ALSO be introduced through "narrative attribution."
5. There should be a central thesis that evinces your opinion on the given prompt.
6. There should be a divisive, hooky introduction.
7. The paper should be free of the type of grammatical, mechanical errors in grammar and construction discussed through the course of the year (i.e. second person, passive voice, parallelism errors, verb tense errors).

"Meaning of Text" Philosophy

Where does the meaning of a text exist?

Classical: everything a reader needs to know about a text is contained within. Ideas are author-driven

Modern: Ideas exist in the text AND in the CONtext of the reader (allows for cultural values, expectations, etc)

"Horizon of Expectations" -- Readers own expectations in context of work's context (time period, structure, etc)

i.e. Huckleberry Finn will mean something different to you in 20 years than it does today, because you will have more life experiences, you will be reading for pleasure, your sensibilities will be altered, I'll be out of the picture

http://www.costalfilm.blogspot.com/2012/05/what-i-have-been-saying-class-for.html

React to all these resources as Journal #36

Umm...not for nuthing, but you need this

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/577/01/

HL Gates Documentary about Early America

Watch Branford Marsalis and Harry Connick, Jr. on PBS. See more from Finding Your Roots.

Huck Finn Family assignment

In many ways, Huck Finn is a coming of age story. The complexity of Huck's maturity, and the genius of the story, is that Huck is in constant conflict with not only himself in terms of his morality, but also against the conventions of a society in which he is generally an outsider. The book is one of moral crisis, containing a myriad of morally ambiguous moments in which Huck acts, or doesn't, and then must consider his action (or inaction) in the context of what is "right." But the ideas of "right" and "wrong" are muddled when reflected against the ultimately contrasting teachings of society and Huck's inner sense. Today, you will choose a chapter, and you will examine how the events in the chapter relay this thematic idea.  You will:

1. Identify and examine the moral crisis or ambiguity (mc/ma) in the chapter.
2. You will explain how Huck internalizes the mc/ma. Then, you will provide insight into how the mc/ma shapes Huck's identity.
3. What is your family's personal view of the mc/ma...how would your handling of it compare or contrast to Huck's? Why?
4. How does the mc/ma provide a broader sense of Twain's overall thematic purpose? In other words, what is he trying to say about the individual vs. society?

Each member of the team will write a journal about one of the four questions (obviously double up if need be). On Wednesday, answers to each will be shared aloud with the class.

Why Tuesday?

Huck Finn

Keep Reading...Huck Finn Test will be on Monday, April 30th

Journal #33: Watch this presentation and comment

This Week

Tuesday - Costal out, read, work on assignments

Wednesday - Vocab Quiz, Twain doc excerpt

For Monday: Read Finn to Chapter 17

Tom Sawyer Essay Pushed to Thursday

Do not hand to substiute.

In Class Writing Assignment, Wednesday, March 28

http://costalwriting.blogspot.com/2012/03/trayvon-martin-call-to-action-paper.html

Paper is the same as one posted on the bottom of the post. Only difference is that you will write as in-class assignment this Wednesday. Feel free to compile any and all supporting materials that you feel would help you.

This American Life Retraction -- Journals 29 & 30

We will listen to the audio in class. I would like you to write Journal #29 AFTER listening...then your homework is to finish listening to the portion of the broadcast that we did not get to. THEN, write Journal #30. I am doing this for a very calculated reason, as I found that my feelings changed throughout the broadcast. My question for Journal #30 is...did your overall feelings about this entire situation change when you heard the end?

Here's another view from the NY Times, whom we trust...I guess.

All of this caused Daisey to, at least, create a prolouge to the show.

Due Date of Tom Sawyer paper pushed to Wednesday, March 21st

Assignment: Read and Annotate THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER Chapters 1 - 3

The full text of the novel can be found here.

For Period 6/7

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

For Period 6/7

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

For Period 6/7

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

For Period 6/7

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

For period 6/7

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

For my period 6/7

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

Watch The Interrupters (Graphic Language) on PBS. See more from FRONTLINE.

For 2/22/12

Guys...If you can remember....bring your yellow texts with you today!

Journal #21

Please view this short documentaty from PBS and respond as Journal #21

Watch Fri., Feb. 10, 2012 on PBS. See more from Need to Know.

The last terrorist through American legal system?

Associated Press article here.

2nd Week of February Changes

Wednesday and Thursday: Closing ceremonies of Morality Week (Be ready for Rip Van Winkle by Thursday)

Friday: We are helping with elections

Monday: Special Vocab Day and Washington Irving

This First Week of February, 2012

Wednesday: Reading Assignment: Read the intro to Washington Irving and the story, "Rip Van Winkle" in your text. More SATs. New Vocab!

Thursday: Cohort -- Ethics Alley

Friday and Monday: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in auditorium.

Tuesday: Morality Journals Due

Weekend of January 27th...More on Apple

New York Times article.

Period 1's Morals:

Order: stay organized
Silence: Don't talk bad about people ('specially your mama)
Industry: Do more, be more
Justice: Be fair, strive for equality, do what's right
Tranquility: Look for inner peace
Censor: Don't curse!
Humility: Don't act full of yourself
Courage: Stand up for your convictions.

AP Students Ignore This -- Study Guide for Period 6/7

Part 1: Essay: Begin work on it Friday
Part 2: Vocabulary
Part 3: Multiple Choice on Literary Terms from Notes and Chocolate War sheets
Part 4: Quotations from the Chocolate War. Identify speaker and the importance of the quotations
Part 5: Short Answer Questions: Choc War, Introductions & Poverty
Part 6: HSPA practice (for extra credit)

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/01/04/cee-lo-green-defends-his-imagine-lyrics-then-erases-tweets/

John Lennon's lyric: "Nothing to kill or die for/ And no religion too."

Cee Lo Green's change: "Nothing to kill or die for/ And all religion's true"

According to Green's reaction to angry, Lennon-supporting tweeters, the lyric "represents" the same sentiment Lennon made. In essence, philosophically, the ideas are similar. Journal # ___ should discuss your agreement or disagreement.

Papers Due on Monday, Jan 9th

Mandatory revisions: War essay & Resolutions essay

Optional Revision: Columbus essay

Vocabulary Quiz