W took notes on how to make some stylistic improvements in our writing. Unfortunately, those notes are not currently availalbe to post online, so if you were absent, you may need to check with a friend. If I don't find the notes to post, they are (in a nut shell):

-avoiding redundancies in word choice
- avoiding sentences that start with "this" after quotations and statements. (This shows that...)
-avoiding linking, progressing, and passive uses of "to be".

Then we discussed the poem "When I Heard the Learned Astronomer" by Walt Whitman. Your assignment is to write a paragraph on the poem as explained below.

When I Heard the Learned Astronomer
by Walt Whitman



When I heard the learn'd astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and
measure them,
When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much
applause in the lecture-room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.

Directions:

Write a paragraph that analyzes how Walt Whitman uses different literary devices in order to adress Romantic themes in his poem. Consider such things as diction, syntax, imagery, sound devices, etc. You may also address how Whitman address Romantic themes by creating contrast to those ideas. The topic sentence of this paragraph should include:

 Name of Poet
 Title of poem
 Poetry devices
 A specific Romantic theme like importance of the beauty of nature rather than a scientific viewpoint.)


You must provide a quotation for each support, and follow all style guidelines. There should be three pieces of evidence per paragraph.

Due on Thursday.

Due 2/16

Grammar Test!!!

There are 60 questions: parts of speech identification, phrase/IC/DC identification, and sentence structure ID. No types of phrases.

For more practice exercises, go to the sentence structure pages of the Online Writing Center.

Simple and Compound Practice
Complex and Compound-Complex Practice

Also, make sure you have your 10 observation notecards done on Tuesday. For more information, see the Research Paper page.

Virtual Notecard Information:

Make sure to include a typed and formally phrased version of your observation on the top of your virtual notecards.

Due Wednesday, Feb 10th

If you were in class today, you've already completed the assignment due tomorrow. If not, here are some more sentences to identify by type: Simple, Compound, Complex, or Compound-Complex. Assignment

Due Tuesday, 2/9

Sentence Structure Practice. Please print and bring completed to class.

Due Monday, Feb 8th

Farming Narrative for History.

The packet explaining phrases, clauses, and different sentence types is available here. You do not need to read beyond the phrases and clauses section to complete the homework due Monday.

Practicing Phrases and Clauses worksheet.

Additional explanations and exercises are available on Lesson 3 at the Sprague Online Writing Center

Due Friday, 2/5 Parts of Speech Practice

Also, please print the following worksheet and follow the directions at the top. Bring the completed worksheet to class for Friday. (Yes, I know there are like 5 number 7's but it's really not worth the hassle of changing it.)

If you are having a difficult time with parts of speech, you can find additional information and practice exercises on the parts of speech page of the Online Sprague Writing Center.

Due Wednesday, February 4th

Your first observation submission is due today. Please visit the Research Paper website for additional information.