Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Dead men tell no tales
Death silences a man forever. if he knows something in his lifetime that others do not want made public, he cannot reveal their secret when he is dead, so they are safe.
Monday, September 29, 2014
The darkest hour is that before the dawn
Even when things seem at their very worst, they may shortly improve.
Friday, September 26, 2014
Proverb of the Day
Cowards die many times before their deaths
This proverb is a quotation from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
Caesar says:
Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never tastes of death but once.
A coward often imagines that he is on the point of death when he is not, with the result that, unlike a brave man, he frequently experiences the fear of dying.
This proverb is a quotation from Shakespeare's Julius Caesar.
Caesar says:
Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never tastes of death but once.
A coward often imagines that he is on the point of death when he is not, with the result that, unlike a brave man, he frequently experiences the fear of dying.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Canterbury Tales Assessment Question Results
48 out of 105 responded
Summary
* I am giving you a rare opportunity to realize your mistake and the ability to correct it. If I get 75% or more of our students (79+ student votes) to ratify the results, I will change the result to be a project. In order to do this, I will need students to comment 'ratify' in the comment section of this post. This opportunity will end at midnight.
What type of test would you like to take at the end of The Canterbury Tales?
| Formative Assessment (50+ question test) | 4 | 8% |
| Project (Creating your own Canterbury Tale | 16 | 33% |
| Either one will work. | 5 | 10% |
| Option 4 | 23 | 48% |
Proverb of the Day
Courtesy costs nothing
There is nothing to be lost by behaving in a courteous way.
There is nothing to be lost by behaving in a courteous way.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Proverb of the Day
A constant guest is never welcome
People like their friends' company at fairly long intervals. If their friends come too often they are apt to grow to dislike them.
People like their friends' company at fairly long intervals. If their friends come too often they are apt to grow to dislike them.
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Which Banned Book are You?
In celebration of Banned Books Week, take the time to take this survey. Find out which banned book fits your personality!
Homework - Analyze Passage
The following passage is found in The Wife of Bath's Tale
"Thus the wise poet of the Florentines,
Dante by name, has written in these lines,
For such is the opinion Dante launches:
'Seldom arises by these slender branches
Prowess of men, for it is God, no less,
Wills us to claim of Him our Gentleness.'
For of our parents nothing can we claim
Save temporal things, and these may hurt and maim.
Here we have an allusion to Dante (a famous Italian poet), do some quick research on him and explain how this quote relates to the crones explanation to her new husband.
Add a comment to this post with your answer.
"Thus the wise poet of the Florentines,
Dante by name, has written in these lines,
For such is the opinion Dante launches:
'Seldom arises by these slender branches
Prowess of men, for it is God, no less,
Wills us to claim of Him our Gentleness.'
For of our parents nothing can we claim
Save temporal things, and these may hurt and maim.
Here we have an allusion to Dante (a famous Italian poet), do some quick research on him and explain how this quote relates to the crones explanation to her new husband.
Add a comment to this post with your answer.
Proverb of the Day
Constant dripping wears away the stone.
The lesson to be learnt is summed up in the last two words of this quotation from Ovid: 'What is harder than rock, or softer than water? Yet soft water hollows out hard rock. Only persevere.
Similar proverbs:
If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.
It's dogged that does it.
Little by little and bit by bit.
Little strokes fell great oaks.
Rome was not built in a day.
Slow but sure wins the race.
Where there's a will there's a way.
The lesson to be learnt is summed up in the last two words of this quotation from Ovid: 'What is harder than rock, or softer than water? Yet soft water hollows out hard rock. Only persevere.
Similar proverbs:
If at first you don't succeed, try, try, try again.
It's dogged that does it.
Little by little and bit by bit.
Little strokes fell great oaks.
Rome was not built in a day.
Slow but sure wins the race.
Where there's a will there's a way.
Monday, September 22, 2014
Homework - What is the thing that women most desire?
In the Wife of Bath's Tale, the knight accused of rape has a year and a day to answer one question: "What is the thing that women most desire?"
You are charged to answer this question twice. First, give me your personal opinion, then infer and attempt to answer the way the knight should answer given his position, during his time period.
Email or write down your answers.
You are charged to answer this question twice. First, give me your personal opinion, then infer and attempt to answer the way the knight should answer given his position, during his time period.
Email or write down your answers.
Proverb of the Day
Circumstances alter cases.
Here 'case' has the meaning of situation, the position in which one finds oneself; and this position is determined by the circumstances surrounding it. If the circumstances change, the situation (i.e. the case) changes also.
Here 'case' has the meaning of situation, the position in which one finds oneself; and this position is determined by the circumstances surrounding it. If the circumstances change, the situation (i.e. the case) changes also.
Friday, September 19, 2014
Quiz on Monday
You will have a quiz on Chaucer's Canterbury Tales - Prologue on Monday. You will need to be able to identify key pilgrims and examples of situational irony found in the prologue.
I have added a file that summarizes each pilgrim.
I have added a file that summarizes each pilgrim.
Proverb of the Day
Cherchez la femme
This is one of those proverbs that have remained more common in their original form than in the English translation. It is French for 'Find the woman' and means that whenever there is any trouble there is usually a woman behind it.
This is one of those proverbs that have remained more common in their original form than in the English translation. It is French for 'Find the woman' and means that whenever there is any trouble there is usually a woman behind it.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Proverb of the Day
Catch not at the shadow and lose the substance
This warns us against wasting time on trivial aspects of a matter, because in doing so we may neglect the essential matter itself.
This warns us against wasting time on trivial aspects of a matter, because in doing so we may neglect the essential matter itself.
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Proverb of the Day
A cat may look at a king
A cat may look at a King
And surely I may look at an ugly thing.
This is one of Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes. It means: 'If a cat may look at a king, I have as much right to take an interest in what you are doing. Are you so important that I can't even look at you?'
A cat may look at a King
And surely I may look at an ugly thing.
This is one of Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes. It means: 'If a cat may look at a king, I have as much right to take an interest in what you are doing. Are you so important that I can't even look at you?'
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Proverb of the Day
Call a spade a spade.
Speak plainly and to the point, saying exactly what you mean and using the simplest terms.
Speak plainly and to the point, saying exactly what you mean and using the simplest terms.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Proverb of the Day
Brevity is the soul of wit
This was already a proverb in Shakespeare's time. In Hamlet we find the fist record of it in literature.
A witty remark or retort is all the better for being short.
Example: 'How would you like your hair cut, sir?' asked the talkative hairdresser. "If possible in silence,' replied the customer.
This was already a proverb in Shakespeare's time. In Hamlet we find the fist record of it in literature.
A witty remark or retort is all the better for being short.
Example: 'How would you like your hair cut, sir?' asked the talkative hairdresser. "If possible in silence,' replied the customer.
Friday, September 12, 2014
Proverb of the Day
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
If a hunter has shot one bird, he should be satisfied with that and not go off looking for the ones that flew away.
We use the proverb to mean that it is better to accept something small than to reject it and hope to get more later on.
If a hunter has shot one bird, he should be satisfied with that and not go off looking for the ones that flew away.
We use the proverb to mean that it is better to accept something small than to reject it and hope to get more later on.
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Proverb of the Day
The biter is sometimes bit
'Biter' is a slang word for a cheat or swindler, e.g. a cardsharper. When he himself is cheated by his prospective victim. 'the biter is bit'. In a general way, this refers to any form of retribution.
'Biter' is a slang word for a cheat or swindler, e.g. a cardsharper. When he himself is cheated by his prospective victim. 'the biter is bit'. In a general way, this refers to any form of retribution.
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Proverb of the Day
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know
An unknown danger or hardship is much more frightening than one we have already experienced.
An unknown danger or hardship is much more frightening than one we have already experienced.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Introduce yourself Beowulf Style!
We just read Beowulf's speech introducing himself to King Hrothgar. He did it in grand fashion. Now it is your turn. Create a speech introducing yourself through your family line and your boasting. You can describe your siblings and other actions/activities you think are noteworthy in your life. No epic boasting is without its 'embellishments' so you can have creative license to 'beef up' you boasts (try not to make it too unbelievable or you'll be called out on it!)
I will pick this up tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10th. It will be a quiz grade.
*** Following the Anglo-Saxon Alliterative form of poetry will earn you extra credit!
I will pick this up tomorrow, Wednesday, September 10th. It will be a quiz grade.
*** Following the Anglo-Saxon Alliterative form of poetry will earn you extra credit!
Proverb of the Day
Better be sure than sorry
Here 'sure' is used in the old sense of 'safe, free from danger'. 'If we reach the forest, ' says a character in Shakespeare, 'we shall be sure enough.' So the literal meaning of the proverb is: 'It is better to be safe than to do anything that may place us in a dangerous position.'
Here 'sure' is used in the old sense of 'safe, free from danger'. 'If we reach the forest, ' says a character in Shakespeare, 'we shall be sure enough.' So the literal meaning of the proverb is: 'It is better to be safe than to do anything that may place us in a dangerous position.'
Monday, September 8, 2014
Unit 1: Anglo-Saxon Period & Beowulf Test
We will have a test on the Unit 1 materials and Beowulf on Monday, September 15th.
Proverb of the Day
Better late than never
It is better to do a thing after much procrastination than not to do it at all. It is often used as a semi-humorous excuse, e.g. 'Dear Tom, -- I'm sorry I've not written for such a long time, but better late than never...' A longer version of the original Latin proverb is: 'Better late than never, but better never late. '
It is better to do a thing after much procrastination than not to do it at all. It is often used as a semi-humorous excuse, e.g. 'Dear Tom, -- I'm sorry I've not written for such a long time, but better late than never...' A longer version of the original Latin proverb is: 'Better late than never, but better never late. '
Friday, September 5, 2014
Homework for the Weekend
Read the first 10 pages of the Beowulf Summary document located in our class folder. Be prepared to have an engaging discussion on the characters and plot of the story.
See ya Monday!
See ya Monday!
English Proverb of the Day
The bait hides the hook
It is the hook that catches the fish, but it is the bait that tempts it to take the hook into its mouth. The moral is: beware of an attractive offer, for there is very likely to be a catch in it.
It is the hook that catches the fish, but it is the bait that tempts it to take the hook into its mouth. The moral is: beware of an attractive offer, for there is very likely to be a catch in it.
Thursday, September 4, 2014
English Proverb of the Day
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
We should not always be working. Unless we can enjoy some form of recreation, we become stale and our work suffers in consequence.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
European Trip Summer 2015!!!
Mr. Lopez in room 75 is sponsoring a European tour this summer. I am planning to join him and would like to extend the invitation to my students.
There will be a parent meeting tomorrow night, Thursday, in room 75 at 5:30. Those that bring their parents will receive extra credit toward our next test. I will have a sign in sheet.
We will discuss more about this on Friday.
I'm excited!!!
There will be a parent meeting tomorrow night, Thursday, in room 75 at 5:30. Those that bring their parents will receive extra credit toward our next test. I will have a sign in sheet.
We will discuss more about this on Friday.
I'm excited!!!
English Proverb of the Day
Any port in a storm
In times of difficulty or danger any refuge is better than none.
In times of difficulty or danger any refuge is better than none.
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Independent Reading
Access our class folder and read (in Unit 1 Folder.):
Unit 1 - Introduction
Unit 1 - Epic
English present and future
You will be tested on the materials from all three documents next week. We will be covering these documents, but it is important that you read them independently (or in groups) so that you can get a double dose of the material.
We will begin our lesson in Anglo Saxon Literature accompanied with Beowulf.
Unit 1 - Introduction
Unit 1 - Epic
English present and future
You will be tested on the materials from all three documents next week. We will be covering these documents, but it is important that you read them independently (or in groups) so that you can get a double dose of the material.
We will begin our lesson in Anglo Saxon Literature accompanied with Beowulf.
English Proverb of the Day
A bad workman always blames his tools.
Good workmanship depends no more on the quality of the tools than it does on the way in which they are used, so to blame the tools for bad workmanship is to attempt to excuse one's own lack of skill. For example: 'I lost he match because my racket needed re-stringing.' "My essay wasn't very good because I had to use someone else's pen.' 'How did you expect me to catch fish with this rod?' To all these the response could be: 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'
Good workmanship depends no more on the quality of the tools than it does on the way in which they are used, so to blame the tools for bad workmanship is to attempt to excuse one's own lack of skill. For example: 'I lost he match because my racket needed re-stringing.' "My essay wasn't very good because I had to use someone else's pen.' 'How did you expect me to catch fish with this rod?' To all these the response could be: 'A bad workman always blames his tools.'
Monday, September 1, 2014
English Proverb of the Day
As you make your bed, so you must lie in it
Should you make your bed badly, you will probably have an uncomfortable night, for which you will have only yourself to blame. In much the same way, all of us are responsible for the consequences of our actions, so we must put up with them.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
Should you make your bed badly, you will probably have an uncomfortable night, for which you will have only yourself to blame. In much the same way, all of us are responsible for the consequences of our actions, so we must put up with them.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
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