I have an unexpected doctor’s appointment on Wednesday, so I’m afraid that we won’t be able to do our movie after school However, you can still get the same amount of extra credit if you watch the 1999 version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and complete this viewing guide (A Midsummer Night’s Dream Viewing Guide) — you must turn this in to me on the Monday that we get back.

It’s Friday the 13th, but it’s also the last class day of the semester, so I think we can call it even.

Some important announcements:

1. You have an opportunity to earn up to 5 points of extra credit on your final exam by reading a free-choice book (approved by me in advance) over the break and submitting a reflection through Google classroom. You can check a book out from the classroom library after your final exam.
2. And another extra credit opportunity! After your finals on Wednesday, at 1:30 PM, you can come to my room and watch a movie connected to our curriculum in some way. Which movie? I haven’t decided yet — I need to preview some stuff over the weekend to make sure that it’s school-appropriate. I’ll post the selection on Monday. (It might be something connected to the Hero’s Journey or something related to Shakespeare.) But this movie will be special because I will give you the choice of either 1) adding 10 points onto a quiz or 2) bringing a zero or a low score on a daily assignment (not something weighted double) up to an 80. It can be a reading check that you bombed or a reading guide that you forgot to do or somesuch.
3. Please, please, please study for your final. As we discussed in class, what will have the biggest payoff will be studying grammar and vocabulary. You have a grammar review, you have practice quizzes for vocab, and you can create your own lists using Vocabulary.com.

On Thursday we considered how the plot of The Count of Monte Cristo could translate into different forms of media. 😉 No new homework!

Today in class, we discussed the climax of The Count of Monte Cristo. You only have one section left (CMC Reading Guide 10), and that’s due on Friday.

I also gave Periods 1, 2, and 4 copies of a grammar review to help study for the final exam (Parts of Speech Review). Periods 6 and 7, the copy room didn’t make enough copies, and now all of their machines are broken, but I will try to get you a paper version tomorrow.

Today in class, we talked about prepositions (prepositions) and handed out a review for the final (2010 Fall Final Exam Review). Please make sure that you have completed your reading guide for tomorrow.

On Monday students wrote their final exam essays. The next reading guide (CMC Reading Guide 9) is due on Wednesday.

We used today in class to clear up misunderstandings about the complicated plot and the characters of The Count of Monte Cristo! Students also finished their written responses to “The Cask of Amontillado.” Homework for the weekend is 1) to finish the next reading guide (CMC Reading Guide 8) and 2) to prepare for your final exam essay on Monday.

Today we talked about your final exam essay (Fall 2019 Pre-AP ELA 1 Essay Prompt), which you will write on Monday during class. You can bring that paper with you so long as it doesn’t have a rough draft written on it. The essay is worth 50% of your final exam grade, so please prepare!

We also went over the last CMC vocabulary list — we won’t have a quiz over those words, but you will see them on your final exam.

Today students are reading and listening to a famous Edgar Allen Poe short story with some strong thematic connections to The Count of Monte Cristo, “The Cask of Amontillado.”Click here for the audio.

The next CMC reading guide (CMC Reading Guide 7) is due Friday.

Today we talked about conjunctions — here are those notes (Conjunctions). Please remember to finish your reading guide for The Count of Monte Cristo tomorrow — I am giving you advance notice that there will be a reading check.