ELA 10: Nov.2-Nov.6

This is a very important week in English 10 as we are wrapping up our first big unit.  Students have been practicing two different types of writing--narrative and literary analysis--for the past nine weeks and this week they will submit both their final narrative essay and their final literary analysis constructed response. They have also been practicing their reading comprehension skills with our class novel, Catcher in the Rye, multiple short stories and poems, and their own independent novels.  I will assess their reading comprehension with a unit test on Friday.  
Here's what you should ask your students about:

1. Narrative Essay:  The assignment is a letter to an author about a book or short story the student has read. It is not a book report; rather, students are writing about how they connected to a book on a personal level. It is part of a national writing contest and students will be encouraged to submit their letters to the contest.  Click here if you'd like to see samples.  All of the students have had at least one writing conference with me about their essay. They are all welcome to come in before school or during AA on Wednesday if they would like additional feedback.  Essays are due THURSDAY.
2. Independent novel:  Students are given a minimum of 10 minutes a day to read in class, and I have been working hard to help students find books they truly enjoy.  Ask your student what he or she is reading!!
3. Unit Test Review:  Students were given a unit test review last week that went with the short story "The Sniper."  I posted an additional, optional review on Google Classroom today that we will go over on Wednesday.  The test Friday will be a new short story that the students will read independently. The questions will be similar to the questions asked in the review.

Please let me know if you have any questions! Next week's post will give you an idea of what we're doing in the next unit.  Have a great week.