Blended Families: The Force Awakens the Elf on the Shelf

My husband and I are both major Star Wars fans. In fact, we really needed a pre-nup for our individual Star Wars memorabilia collections.

He was determined to do the Elf on the Shelf today. Typically, he finds this tradition to be a chore that annoys him. Yet, his eyes twinkled and he would say, "I have an idea."

Good job, hubs!!!

Ms. Hatfield’s 2015 Semester I Exam Study Guide for English II

Ms. Hatfield’s 2015 Semester I Exam Study Guide for English II

You will have two Open Response questions on the literature portion of your exam. The short essay questions are designed for you to show mastery in the following areas:

·        Identifying and explaining theme between two texts, including how the author uses characters, setting, and plot developments to shape the theme.

·         Continuing a creative narrative while maintain the same tone and mood as the author.

The pieces of literature will be:

1. "Lamb to the Slaughter" by Roald Dahl
2. An excerpt from Bram Stoker's "To the Rescue"
3. An excerpt from "Ice" by Toni Cade Bambara

The remainder of the exam will be used to assess your mastery of the skills that you have studied this semester.

Common Core State Standards Taught and Studied during 1st Semester

Reading Literature Skills

RL.10.1 - Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RL.10.2 - Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze in detail its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

RL.10.3 - Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.

RL.10.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or informal tone).

RL.10.5 - Analyze how an author's choices concerning how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g., parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g., pacing, flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension, or surprise.

Reading Informational Text Skills

RI.10.1 - Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

RI.10.2 - Determine a central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped and refined by specific details; provide an objective summary of the text.

RI.10.3 - Analyze how the author unfolds an analysis or series of ideas or events, including the order in which the points are made, how they are introduced and developed, and the connections that are drawn between them.

RI.10.4 - Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative, connotative, and technical meanings; analyze the cumulative impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone (e.g., how the language of a court opinion differs from that of a newspaper).

RI.10.5 - Analyze in detail how an author's ideas or claims are developed and refined by particular sentences, paragraphs, or larger portions of a text (e.g., a section or chapter).

RI.10.6 - Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text and analyze how an author uses rhetoric to advance that point of view or purpose.

Language Skills

L.10.1 - Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

• L.10.1a - Use parallel structure.

L.10.5 - Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

• L.10.5a - Interpret figures of speech (e.g., euphemism, oxymoron) in context and analyze their role in the text.

Language Progressive Skills

LP.10.3.1f -Ensure subject-verb and pronoun-antecedent agreement.

LP.10.4.1f - Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to/too/two; there/their).

LP.10.5.1d - Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb tense

LP.10.6.1d - Recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or ambiguous antecedents).

LP.10.6.1e - Recognize variations from standard English in their own and others’ writing and speaking, and identify and use strategies to improve expression in conventional language.

LP.10.6.3a - . Vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style.3

LP.10.6.3b - Maintain consistency in style and tone.