*Check annotations: 1209-end
*Discuss graphic organizer
*Info.: Essay test
---Tomorrow, 10/1
---Will go on 2nd quarter
---Prepare for test
*OBJECTIVE: Compose text with a strong controlling idea; relevant, specific details; and effective paragraphing
Halli M.
ReplyDelete4th Hour
Class started as usual today, trying to fit into my small awkward desk. Thinking “Me and the kid behind me would get the most uncomfortable sits in the classroom”. So after everyone managed to take their sits Mr. Becker announces to everyone to take out the story we’ve been reading the last couple days and to get out the graphic organizer over Medea and Jason we did in our small groups the day before. Once everyone’s ready, Mr. Becker sat in his usual spot in front of the class to get the discussion going. We all talked for about 30 minutes until he said those two words every student dreads…”test tomorrow”. We all gasp in shock, some out loud and some just try to unravel in it their minds. Then he tells us, not only is it a test, but it’s an essay test over the role Medea plays in the story. Right about now everyone has about a million questions going through our heads about this essay test, but the prepared Mr. Becker already printed a paper for us answering all the questions our minds could think of. He told us we can make a study guide like thing tonight for this test, but we can’t have more than 30 words on our paper. He also lets us know that the grade on this essay will go on our 2nd quarter grades. After we all calm down from this shocking news he gives us about 15 min to start getting quotes for our story and get prepared. Some kids got hard to work with their noses buried in papers and other kids; sorry to say I’m one of them, sat there and watched the clock countdown tell the bell rang. And before I knew it, it was time to finally go home...well for me.
Rachel L. Painter
ReplyDeleteI walk in the door to silence and a cold seat once again. Brianna informs me that we will be writing yet another essay. I groan a little, but brush it off like it's nothing. Mr. Becker tells us to take out our charts from yesterday, nobody really listens except a few. I look around and see that most of my classmates have not attended class today. I overhear a conversation about Ian Vaughn looking like Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas. I give it a laugh and continue writing. People start showing up late for class. Then out of nowhere, Mr. Becker point out a foreign smell he discovered in his classroom. We all give our opinions of what the foreign smell relates to. Burnt hair, a dirty mop etc. We start up with discussing the charts. Nathan as usual makes some great points, other than that there are just blank stares and silence coming from my classmates. As I relax in my chair,I receive a "pound it" from Miles. Very nice of him to do that. I return my attention to the discussion. When asked a question, my classmates and I hesitate to answer. The discussion goes on and fades into "Deus ex Machina". We talk about movies that represent this saying. I have never seen any of these movies. Star Wars, Monte Python and the Holy Grail and Huck Finn. A paper is passed out and we complain that we have to write an Essay Test? I don't know what that is, but I must complete the assignment to pass the class. Mr. Becker tells us the directions as to when and how the assignment will be completed. He shows us an example of this Essay Test. I am trying my best to understand these directions, but I will succeed. We are released to brainstorm. My 6th hour has now ended. Good Bye!
Albert H., 4th hour.
ReplyDeleteI came into class and sat down at my desk like any other day. As other students began to arrive to class, i realized they were a bit more talkative today than usual. The tardy bell rings and all the students sit down in their seats. Mr. Becker warns that we have a busy day today, so he may not be able to check our annotations today. Mr. Becker asks the students to get out their assignment from yesterday so we can discuss our answers. We begin our discussion by talking about Jason's role in the Medea play and how it follows the Greek path of tragedy. Mr. Becker informs the class that all throughout his journeys, Jason always had someone helping him. A student then commented on how in the play Jason is very calm and careful when speaking to Medea. Next we tried to reason that one of the reasons he wanted to marry the princess was to become a distinguished man. Silence falls upon the classroom. Mr. Becker asks for the other groups to share what they found. Next, the class discusses whether or not Jason's reputation in the Greek society would drop because of the deaths of his wife, father in law, and two sons. After that, we move on to talk about how Medea is a very powerful, intelligent woman. But then, we notice how all she wanted was Jason back, yet she did nothing that would persuade him to come back to her. Instead, she threatens to kill Jason's new royal family. Also, we noted that Medea wouldn't let Jason give her anything to help her live in exile. Mr. Becker reads the prelude from the play to help him explain how it was Medea's pride that caused her to such horrible deeds as murdering her own children. Medea didn't want to be mocked by Jason and his new family so she killed all of them except Jason. He had to live on in suffering. Next, Mr. Becker compares the ending of the play to some Latin words, "Deos os Machina,". These very interesting words mean an unexpected turn of events; which seems appropriate for this play because the whole thing was a series of unexpected events. After the discussion, Mr. Becker goes back to his desk and grabs a large stack of paper. As he passes out this paper he explains to the class that tomorrow we will have an essay test over this play. He tells us we will have one class period to write a response to the questions on the direction sheet. The class is warned that we can only have thirty words on a "cheat sheet" to have with us during the essay test. While Mr. Becker is explaining what we must have for this essay, I look around and notice many students, such as myself, are slowly lowering their heads in the dread of having to write an essay on the last day before fall break. I look back up and noticed Mr. Becker at the smartboard. On it, Mr. Becker had an example of what our cheat sheet might look like. Last he finishes with aadvice to go home and look back at the play to find six quotations to add in our essay. Students begin to pack their belongings as Mr. Becker returns to his desk. The bell rings and all of the students rush off to their next class, hoping to forget about this essay test until later when they get home.