Update Jan. 7

Writing Portfolio
I gave the students feedback on their Letters to the Editor assignment. Feedback focused on the following:

1) Using active, instead of passive, voice
2) Qualifying an argument
3) Evaluating the warrant (underlying assumption) of an argument

Homework: The next draft of the letters to the editor are due next Tuesday, Jan. 14.

Core
No bellwrite.

We discussed the organization of the seven articles in the Constitution.

• We discussed possible reasons why the legislative branch would be discussed first: 1. because there is a logical sequence to the enactment of law: make law (legislate), enforce law (execute), and evaluate law (judge) 2. because the legislative branch most directly represents the people, so its placement at the beginning emphasizes the sovereignty of the people.
• We read the background on the Constitution (from American Founding Topic 2) and considered ways in which Article 4 was an outgrowth of the history of the failure of the Articles of Confederation.
• We then considered how Articles 5-7 promote stability in the U.S. government.
• Finally, we recognized that the Constitution is "bookended" with articles that acknowledge the sovereignty of the people, a reiteration of the preamble's beginning "We the people...."

Students took a quiz on their understanding of the Constitution.

In preparation for reading Pride and Prejudice, we experimented with a few of the writing styles that students sometimes find challenging in the novel: the omission of dialogue tags, the reliance on the reader to draw inferences, and the use of verbal irony (similar to sarcasm).

Then we began reading Pride and Prejudice. We read a bit about the author, Jane Austen, and then noted the significance of the first sentence in the novel which establishes central ideas of the novel. As we are introduced to new characters and names of places, we are keeping track of them.

Homework:

• Answer the Relate and Record questions for American Founding Topic 2.
• Read the background for American Founding Topic 3 (The Bill of Rights).
• Study the Bill of Rights for a quiz.
• Show your parents the permission form for the movie of Pride and Prejudice.