We looked at a poem from the famous Lord Byron (a name you will hear frequently throughout your future English classes) today – a section from “The Giaour” about vampires. Here is that poem, along with MC questions: The Giaour

Homework for tonight was to read chapters 23 and 24 and complete a short answer response comparing the novel to the poem: Dracula Chapter 23 SAR

Students read two articles about vampires in literature today and practiced answering multiple choice questions – if you were out, please come see me, as I don’t have electronic copies of both of the readings.

Homework was to read chapters 21 and 22 and complete the SAR for chapter 21: Dracula Chapter 21 SAR

We took our revising and editing test in class today. Homework for tonight was to finish the Dracula play questions – here’s an electronic copy, in case you lost your sheet: Dracula Play Questions

Please make sure that you have also read chapters 19 and 20 by the time you come to class tomorrow.

I’m sorry this post is late – the website was down for two days and I wasn’t able to post anything.

On March 5, we read a poem and answered multiple choice questions – La Belle Dame Sans Merci. That poem was also part of the short answer response for homework – Dracula Chapter 16 SAR.

On March 6, we read an article of literary criticism  and answered multiple choice questions – The Zoophagous Maniac. That article was also part of the short answer response for homework – Dracula Chapter 18 SAR.

We continued practicing multiple choice revising and editing, as well as performing the play version of Dracula. Homework is to read chapters 13 and 14, and complete the chapter 13 SAR: Dracula Chapter 13 SAR.

Some important announcements:

This Friday, I will be showing the original 1931 film version of Dracula, starring Bella Lugosi. Students who attend are eligible for 10 extra credit points on this week’s vocabulary quiz. If you come, you must arrive on time, stay through the entire film, and be quiet and attentive during the screening.

On Monday, we will take a revising and editing/vocabulary test. There will be multiple choice questions about the best ways to revise a piece of writing, as well as questions from all four Dracula vocabulary lists. We’re practicing answering multiple choice revising questions this week in class, so please pay attention.

Our lesson today focused on performing the play version of Dracula – we’ll continue that tomorrow. Homework for tonight was to read chapters 11 and 12 of the novel and complete the chapter 11 SAR: Dracula Chapter 11 SAR

Students took their Dracula Vocabulary List 3 quiz in class today. If you were absent, you must come make up your quiz during Friday’s lunch tutorials; otherwise, the grade will remain a zero.

Homework for tonight was to read chapters 9 and 10 and complete the SAR for chapter 10: Dracula Chapter 10 SAR

Lots going on today! We began by reviewing your recent performance on the SARs. If you were absent, those sheets are in a folder on the wall. We talked about the Dracula readings from the night before. Next, students read an article and answered multiple choice questions on the historical origins of the vampire myth – if you were absent, this is not something you need to make up. Finally, we talked about subordinate conjunctions and practiced writing vocabulary sentences using them. Homework for tonight was to read chapters 5 and 6 and complete this SAR: Dracula Chapter 5 SAR

I won’t be at school tomorrow due to a doctor’s appointment, so this is what I told you in preparation: Your activity tomorrow will be to write an expository essay about the nature of evil. Evil Essay Prompt (Please be both serious and kind as you think of examples.) You may pre-write tonight. Tomorrow you have all class period to write; you must turn your essay in to the substitute at the end of the period. You must have and highlight five subordinate conjunctions in your essay. You may use your subordinate conjunction page and your laptop (for the dictionary and thesaurus features only – no research during class time) as you write. Homework over the weekend will be to read chapter 7 and 8, complete this SAR about chapter 7 (there will be paper copies at the sign-in sheet tomorrow, but here’s an electronic version – Dracula Chapter 7 SAR), and make sure you are ready for the Dracula List 3 vocabulary quiz on Monday.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend!

We began today with a quick recap of how students felt about the first two chapters of Dracula. Then we discussed the Dracula Vocabulary List 3 (quiz on Monday) – see the vocabulary section if you need an electronic list. Finally, students wrote an in-class SAR over chapter 2. Please come in tomorrow during lunch if you missed it.

Homework for tonight is to read (and annotate!) chapters 3 and 4, and complete a SAR for chapter 3 – Dracula Chapter 3 SAR.

We did lots in class today! First, we discussed some important background information for understanding Dracula: Dracula Schema Guide. Then we talked about a major essay that you will write as you read the novel: Dracula Critical Essay Assignment Page. Finally, we talked about expectations for writing short answer responses over the next few weeks:Writing a Short Answer Response – Guidelines and Expectations

Homework for tonight (due tomorrow) was to read chapters 1 and 2 of Dracula and complete a SAR for chapter 1: Dracula Chapter 1 SAR