26. PERIPHERAL

• Your peripheral vision in the dark is more effective than your central vision.
• Adj. Of or related to or situated on the border or surface; on the edge of, at the boundary; unnecessary, of minor importance
• Synonyms: border; dispensable, irrelevant
• Antonyms: central; essential, imperative

25. CANDID

• Mom could always turn to her aunt for a candid appraisal of her cooking.
• Adj.  Impartial, without pretense or reserve; straightforward, not rehearsed
• Synonyms: frank, sincere
• Antonyms: deceptive, disguised, hidden

24. Innovate

• Since available technology could not create the special effects needed for the movie, the engineers at Dreamworks had to innovate production methods never used before.
• V.  To begin or introduce something new
• Synonyms:  contrive, devise, originate

Questions to William Faulkner's A Rose for Emily

1. What is the effect of the final paragraph of the story? How does it contribute to your understanding of Emily? What is it important that we get this information last rather than at the beginning of the story?

2. Discuss how Faulkner's treatment of the North and South contributes to the meaning of the story.

3. Contrast the order of events as they happen in the story with the order in which they are told. How does this plotting create interest and suspense?

23. Discriminate

• The judge tries to discriminate between those trying to impress him with their eloquence and those who are naturally eloquent.
• V.  To make a clear distinction; distinguish
• Synonyms:  differentiate, identify
• Antonyms:  muddle, confuse

22. Revere

• Tom found several heroes in history he could revere and hope to emulate in his life choices.
• V.  To regard with awe, great respect, or devotion
• Synonyms:  adore, worship, glorify
• Antonyms:  despise, abhor, loathe

Which Banned Book are You?

In celebration of Banned Books Week, take this survey to find out which banned book fits your personality! Add your result to the comments.

21. Objective

• The student went to the counselor to get an objective appraisal of her capabilities based on her test scores.
• Adj.  Uninfluenced by emotion, surmise, or person prejudice
• Synonyms: unbiased, factual
• Antonyms:  suppositional, biased, prejudiced

Homework - Style, Tone & Irony

For homework return to The Prince and the Pauper and find passages that convey the author's style, tone and irony. You do not need to find 3 separate passages if one passage is effective in presenting more than one of these.

Reference the passage by giving the chapter number/name and a one sentence summary of what is happening in the story.

This is not a practice in just finding examples of style, tone and irony. You have to find a relatable passage and explain how it is effective in representing style, tone and/or irony. You may even want to connect it to the author's purpose and/or theme found in the novel.

20. Reproach

• The captain’s inhumane punishment of some members of the crew invited the reproach from his superiors.
• N. or V. -severe expression of censure or blame, rebuke
• Synonyms: rebuke, censure
• Antonym: praise

Preparation for Next Week

Reread The Prince and the Pauper and expect a quiz on Monday.

19. Infiltrate

• As a result of successfully infiltrating the enemy camp, the spy learned many valuable secrets.
• V. -to filter into or through; gain entrance surreptitiously or secretly
• Synonyms: sneak in, mingle  

18. Epitomize

• The wounded soldier’s cries epitomized the suffering of all who had been injured in battle.
• V. -to function as an ideal or typical representation; capture the essence of, to sum up
• Synonyms:  typify
• Antonyms:  refute

Articles for Essay Revision

I have just shocked your system. Devilish grin aside, there is a valuable lesson here.

You will now have the opportunity to go back and revisit your anxiety ridden exam and incorporate some self taught techniques to enhance your writing.

In our class folder you will find a subfolder called writing articles. Your homework is to read the three articles located there and then revise your essay to be turned in tomorrow for a major assessment grade. I will need both the in-class essay and your revised essay.

Happy scribbling students!

17. Nullify

• Will the doctor’s terrible mistake nullify all the good he has done?
• V. -to annul, make void, render invalid; deprive of force or efficacy
• Synonyms:  cancel out, invalidate, void
• Antonyms:  validate, authenticate

16. Jeopardize

• Cheating could jeopardize your career if you get caught.
• V. -to expose to peril or hazard; risk, endanger
• Synonyms:  hazard, imperil, endanger, menace, risk
• Antonyms:  safeguard

15. Acute

• It takes an acute mind to solve such a complex problem
• Ad. -keen, sharp critical, keenly perceptive
• Synonyms: keen, penetrating, incisive, trenchant, piercing
• Antonyms: obtuse, dense, dull, stupid.

14. Exemplary

• Her exemplary efforts won her praise from the entire community.
• Adj. -serving as a model for imitation; worthy of imitation; outstanding
• Synonyms:  paradigmatic, outstanding, admirable, commendable
• Antonyms:  unworthy, evil, corrupt

Homework for tomorrow

You will create a thesis statement connecting a theme from The Great Gatsby with evidence from the DIDLS passage you worked on.

This will be due to me via email before 7 a.m. tomorrow morning.

13. Obsolete

• That kind of computer is obsolete; people just don’t use them anymore.
• Adj. - no longer in use, outmoded, out of date
• Synonyms: extinct, outmoded, outworn, passe, unfashionable
• Antonyms:  contemporary, modern, new-fashioned, up-to-date, current

Stop the Internet Slowdown!

12. Derogatory

• I won’t put up with your derogatory remarks anymore!
• Adj. - disparaging, negative, belittling, expressing low opinion
• Synonyms:  disparaging, detracting, pejorative, depreciatory
• Antonyms: complimentary, laudatory, admiring

11. Rhetorical

• With its exaggerations and self-conscious cleverness, his rhetorical speech had more style than substance.
• Adj. - over-elaborate, showy; concerned primarily with style or effect
• Synonyms: oratorical, euphuistic, flowery, grandiloquent
• Antonyms: plain, unpretentious, unembellished

10. Specious

• Don’t be fooled by this quack’s specious argument.
• Adj. - apparently true, correct, or plausible, but actually not; deceptive, misleading
• Synonyms: deceptive, erroneous, inaccurate
• Antonyms:  valid

Homework for the Weekend

Read "Writing about a Story" which can be found in our class folder.

9. PLAUSIBLE

• Because her excuse sounded plausible, she was spared any punishment.
• Adj. -having a superficial appearance of truth or trustworthiness, possible, likely
• Synonyms:  believable, credible, probable
• Antonyms: improbable, unlikely, impossible

Results of September Structured Tutoring

According to the 13 students that responded (as of 11:15 p.m.), it seems that our structured tutoring will be Monday afternoons and Wednesday mornings. Our first tutoring session will be on Monday, September 8th at 7:45 a.m.

When would be the best time for an hour long structured tutoring session?

Monday Morning	4	31%
Monday Afternoon	4	31%
Tuesday Morning	2	15%
Tuesday Afternoon	2	15%
Wednesday Morning	5	38%
Wednesday Afternoon	4	31%
Thursday Morning	3	23%
Friday Morning	4	31%
Friday Afternoon	1	8%

8. PROPITIOUS

• Let’s wait for more propitious circumstances before we try this again.
• Adj.- favorably disposed; benign, affording favorable conditions
• Synonyms: auspicious, promising, kindly, benign
• Antonyms:  adverse, unpromising

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 tomorrows Gatsby objective test. I will have a sign in sheet.

We will discuss more about this on Friday.

I'm excited!!!

September Structured Tutoring

I am providing at least 4 hours of structured AP Literature tutoring every month. Please take the survey to decide when would be the best time to have the tutoring.

Take Survey

7. MITIGATING

• The student was expelled because she was unable to mitigate the principal’s anger.
• Adj. Or v. -make milder or more tolerable; reduce in degree, as something objectionable; moderate
• Synonyms:  assuage, alleviate, palliate, lessen
• Antonyms: intensify, increase, aggravate

Then Wouldst Thou Know?

Then Wouldst Thou Know? 
Kate Chopin

If some day I, with casual, wanton glance
Should for a moment’s space thine eyes ensnare;
Or more, if I should dare
To rest my finger tips upon thy sleeve,
Or, grown more bold, upon thy swarthy cheek;
If further I should seek
With honey–trick of tone thy name to call,
Breathing it soft, in meaning whisper low,
Then wouldst thou know?
Is there no subtler sense, that holds not commerce
With the glancing eyes, the touch, the tone?
Whereby alone I would convey to thee some faintest gleam
Of what I dare not look, or speak, or dream! 

1. What phrases in this poem are reflected in “The Story of an Hour”?

2. Do you think that late–nineteenth–century adults would be bothered by this language, or with the unveiled sentiment behind it, or both?

3. Why do you think Chopin chose to use anachronistic words such as “wouldst,” “thine,” and “thee” in this poem?

6. BELLIGERENT

• An angry man, he was belligerent to friend and foe alike.
• Adj. - quarrelsome, combative, inflammatory, aggressive, hostile
• Synonyms:  bellicose, combative, contentious, pugnacious
• Antonyms: friendly, peaceable, conciliatory, amicable

NPR - Our Use Of Little Words Can, Uh, Reveal Hidden Interests

As it turns out, function words have a lot to say about our personality. 

Interesting article: NPR - Our Use Of Little Words Can, Uh, Reveal Hidden Interests

Think about conversations you have: with your peers, your parents, your teachers, ect...

Also, think about your written work.

How often do you use the word I?

5. POMPOUS

• Because he boasted excessively, his neighbors thought of him as a pompous fool.
• Adj. - ostentatiously grand or showy; exhibiting self-importance; pretentious, arrogant
• Synonyms:  pontifical, egocentric, pretentious
• Antonyms:  humble, meek, modest