Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Welcome to Sophomore English


                                                      Ms. Russell
                                                      krussell@sch.ci.lexington.ma.us
                                                      August 31, 2016

Welcome to Sophomore English (aka Honors Literature and Composition II)


In preparation for diving into the curriculum next week, you may want to dedicate a ¾” binder for English with pockets for handouts.  Additionally, please bring your copy of The Other Wes Moore to the first couple of weeks of class. We will be using the text to examine the author’s use of vocabulary and his incorporation of a variety of literary elements in creating two parallel narratives.  On Thursday, September 8 our in-class written assessment will be an informal written response to what you find particularly compelling about the text.  You may want to think about how a particular aspect informs your perspective on a social issue or on human nature itself.  Alternately, you may want to discuss an affinity you have with one or both of the Wes Moore’s experiences.  

Throughout the year we will often take a few minutes of class or homework time for journal-type responses to a variety of writing prompts that relate to either the literature under study or our own shared experiences predicated on the flow of the year.   Prompts that you find or construct for the class will be among the selections for our quick writes. Contribute one prompt per quarter with a brief comment about your selection. At the close of each quarter you will choose one of your responses to expand and deepen into a formal writing assignment.  Your revision may take the form of analytical essay, poetry, dramatic dialogue or personal narrative. 


As we make that leaping transition from the languorous rhythms of summer to the vigorous pace of the school year, let’s enjoy the gift of our upcoming long Labor Day weekend. If you reach for something to read or feel inspired to write, then make your choices to please yourself. 

I look forward to the extraordinary opportunity of getting to know you as you express yourself in writing, class discussion, and our individual conferences. Here’s to having a great year together.


Writing Prompt #1:
“Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”  Joshua J. Marine


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