HC English Department

Some interesting ideas here on designing rubrics and assessments based on standards

For those of you who teach The Crucible, this is a 7 minute interview with Stacy Schiff who has a new book called The Witches: Salem,1962

"English and education professor Gerald Graff (2003) writes that "argument literacy" is fundamental to being educated. The university is largely an "argument culture," Graff contends; therefore, K-12 schools should "teach the conflicts" so that students are adept at understanding and engaging in argument (both oral and written) when they enter college. He claims that because argument is not standard in most school curricula, only 20 percent of those who enter college are prepared in this respect"

Literary quotations with related writing prompts

"so much depends upon a red cup filled with coffee or holiday latte fixins.  But does it really? Rutherford's William Carlos Williams started his famous 1923 poem "The Red Wheelbarrow" in a similar fashion, yet a recent controversy swirling around one particular red cup is either a non-issue unworthy of verse or a revealing commentary on modern culture, depending upon who you ask."

"I know that as a former English teacher, movement found its way into many of my "special" lessons, but it was often a missing ingredient of daily instruction. When the main focus of a lesson was reading and writing (as many are in the English classroom), movement was minimal. I've included some strategies that teachers of any content area can use to integrate movement into lessons.  When you have a lesson that looks "sedentary," integrating one of these strategies will surely increase students' learning and engagement."

"I know that as a former English teacher, movement found its way into many of my "special" lessons, but it was often a missing ingredient of daily instruction. When the main focus of a lesson was reading and writing (as many are in the English classroom), movement was minimal. I've included some strategies that teachers of any content area can use to integrate movement into lessons.  When you have a lesson that looks "sedentary," integrating one of these strategies will surely increase students' learning and engagement."

"As we discuss and debate what should be considered poetry, my goal is to challenge students to think broadly about poetry and creativity. I want them to be ready to create work that has meaning to them and not be preoccupied with rules or conventions. As the unit continues, here are four strategies and a number of resources that I've found helpful."

Room for Debate - Five short articles answer the question: Does "Catcher in the Rye" resonate with teenagers today? Does the Holden Caulfield version of alienation speak to a generation connected on Facebook?

"Fifty-seven years later, Irving Adler still remembers the day he went from teacher to ex-teacher at Straubenmuller Textile High School on West 18th Street. It was the height of the Red Scare, and the nation was gripped by hysteria over loyalty and subversion. New York City's temples of learning, bursting with postwar immigrants and the first crop of baby boomers, rang with denunciations by interrogators and spies."

"WHEN ARTHUR MILLER'S drama ''The Crucible'' first opened on Broadway in 1953, the country was in a panic about the so-called Red Menace. On Nov. 27, the first American movie of ''The Crucible'' will have its premiere. To understand why it took 43 years to make this film -- not to mention its contemporary relevance -- it pays briefly to recall the red hunt that no longer beleaguers us."

"In this lesson, we explore ethical dilemmas that face normal people around the world, in all walks of life. Some of their cases are familiar, while others are obscure. But they hold one thing in common: They feature individuals who followed the guidance of their own moral code, often risking personal injury or community censure to do so. We'll ask students to examine the underlying characteristics of such episodes, and consider whether some acts are more deserving of support than others."

"Though often considered second best to his "Death of a Salesman" and opening to lukewarm, if not downright hostile, reviews, Arthur Miller's play "The Crucible" continues to be mounted and taught worldwide because it speaks to universal fears of social isolation and the unknown - fears especially present in a rapidly changing world, not to mention in the topsy-turvy social order of school."

"What are the roots and legacy of minstrelsy and the Scottsboro Trials? How can stereotypes be used not only to reinforce a bias, but also to satirize that very bias? In this lesson, students learn about the minstrel tradition, consider how it echoes through stereotypes of African-Americans today and explore the legacy of black stereotypes and the Scottsboro Trials in popular culture, history and literature."

"In this Text to Text, we pair Dr. King's pivotal "I Have a Dream" speech with a reflection by the Times literary critic Michiko Kakutani, who explores why this singular speech has such lasting power."

"In this Text to Text, we pair President Johnson's "Great Society" speech with an article by Trip Gabriel describing the new face of poverty in rural West Virginia."

"A small group of biotechnology hobbyists and entrepreneurs has started a project to develop plants that glow. Wanting to give new meaning to the term "natural light," these scientists are hoping to grow trees that can replace electric streetlamps and potted flowers luminous enough to read by. What are advocates and critics saying about this sophisticated form of genetic engineering called synthetic biology? Your Task: Summarize the issues surrounding the possibility of developing bioluminescent plants. Be sure to discuss the issues presented by both opponents and supporters of the movement."

"In a well-crafted essay, explain three ways drones would be an improvement over traditional methods. Before you do the task, you might… Pay close attention to the instructions. Understand that the prompt is asking only for ways that drones would be an improvement. Watch this video that explains additional ways that drones might be used in the future. Write down all the possible benefits to drone use explained in the article and observed in the video."

"The misdiagnosis of bullying is making the real but limited problem seem impossible to solve. Adults are quick to label conflicts between teenagers as bullying. But when everything is labeled as bullying, are we doing a disservice to victims? Ms. Bazelon discusses the need to shift the social norm so that bullying moves from being shrugged off to being treated as unacceptable. But she says we can't do that if we believe, and tell our children, that bullying is everywhere. Your Task: Is there a difference between drama and bullying in schools? Using at least one quotation from the article, create a response to Emily Bazelon explaining your viewpoint."

"What is your favorite food? How would you describe it? Using the sample descriptions in the article as mentor texts, compose a two or three-sentence description of your favorite food, using figurative language and unusual comparisons."

"Using the information in the article and the video, write a paragraph arguing whether colleges should continue to spend money on humanities majors when STEM careers are taking precedence after graduation. If so, how should these areas be updated for 21st-century learners?"