Please make sure your parents know there will be no class on September 30.  Thanks.

September 16

1. Read “The Tartan Army” by Peggy Noonan. If you were absent today, email me for the pdf.
2. Answer these questions on that essay –
   1. Noonan opens her essay with “a small sweetness that was gratefully received.” What was this sweetness?  Why was it gratefully received, and by whom?
   2. What did foreign visitors expect to see in America? What did they discover instead?
   3. Noonan lists visitors’ reactions – a Canadian, a German, an Englishman, a man from South Africa. Choose just one of these and explain why this person was “gobsmacked”.
   4. Explain why Americans “see ourselves pessimistically.” Your words, please.
   5. Respond to the essay. You aren’t “agreeing with” or “disagreeing with” the author.  Instead, you are thinking about what you’ve read and expressing your thoughts, thoughtfully. (Aim for at least 50 words in your answer).
3. Refer to the handout I gave you in class on “Squirrel Wars”, which is an “anecdote”. Your job this week is to come up with a topic which is meaningful to you and prepare to write an Open Form Essay using it.
4. First, think of incidents, thoughts, discussions, from your own life which could work as a springboard for an “exploratory essay.”
5. Choose one and do a 3-4 minute free write on it. We did this in class with “hot chocolate.”  You will turn in your free write.
6. Your topic idea must suggest a “debatable question.” Mine is “Why do I value birds over squirrels?”
7. Draft an anecdotal paragraph from your list, ending with your debatable question.
8. Three writes due next time:
   1. Answers to “The Tartan Army” questions.
   2. Your Free Write
   3. A rough draft of an anecdotal paragraph

 

September 9

Read the two articles I gave you in class today, “Writing is Thinking” by Steven Mintz and “Writing as Thinking” by Julia McKenzie.  Answer these questions, please.  Then, staple your questions and the articles together; they are due next time.

From McKenzie’s article –

1. What does McKenzie mean by “We’re toast”?
2. What have we come to see as the goal of writing?
3. What is the true goal of writing?
4. McKenzie writes, in paragraph seven, that students who let The Bot speak for them aren’t doing themselves any favors. What does she mean by this?
5. What is your overall impression of this essay? In other words, did you learn anything new?  Do you think McKenzie presents relevant points?

From Mintz’s article –

1. “Academic writing is not simply a method of imparting information or demonstrating understanding,” writes Mintz in paragraph six. What is it, then?
2. Why do we write, according to Mintz?
3. In the section titled “Step 5: The craftsmanship stage,” what does Mintz mean by “There’s no writing, only rewriting.”
4. What is your overall impression of this essay?

Now, you may be wondering how long your answers should be, or how much detail you should include in them to “get a good grade.” Good question.

My answer is that first, you’re taking an English class.  And second, if you’ve read both articles as they are intended to be read, you’ll understand how to answer that question.

Thanks.  This assignment is due next Wednesday.

August 2026

Hello English students and parents,

Welcome to High School English class!  I am excited to read, discuss, and write with you this year.

Our focus will be on essay writing and Hamlet. Below are just a few bits for you to absorb before I see you on Wednesday, September 9, 1 p.m.

About Writing

• My job is to teach you to write, and I love my job!
• Your job is to write for me, without using AI. We’ll discuss this thoroughly when we see each other.

About Essays

• This year we’re writing essays.
• Essays are nonfiction, informational and/or persuasive writing.
• We write best when we write about topics which interest us. I will give you freedom to choose your own topics.
• You will also write in-class essays.

About Hamlet

• We’ll begin our study of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in January. Please make sure you have the No Fear Shakespeare Hamlet play by January 5, 2027.
• You will read, recite, and perform a very short portion of the play.
• You will also write a literary analysis essay on it.
• Fun Fact: Seattle Shakespeare Company is performing Hamlet this fall, September 19 – October 11. Sadly, I will not be able to attend, but if you and your family/friends are interested, check it out here:  Hamlet

About Homework

• You will always have homework.
• Know what’s due and how to complete homework by checking the post right here each Wednesday afternoon.
• I am happy to answer questions regarding homework via email. Please do not text me with a homework question.

About Your English Grade

• English is worth one credit on your high school transcript.
• I will evaluate your homework and assign a grade for it.
• I will also send your parents a copy of your grade report approximately every 2 weeks so they can keep track of your progress.
• Due dates are real. If you don’t turn in any assignment when it is due, you have just one extra week to get it to me — in person, not via email – and if you don’t, you’ll receive a “0” for that assignment.

Thank you, and please enjoy the few weeks of summer remaining before we dive into high school English!

In Christ,

Mrs. B