1. Quick Write • What is one thing you are looking forward to in the second semester of this year? • What is one thing you are dreading in the second semester of this year? • What is one goal you have for yourself during the second semester of this year? • Spend 5 minutes of solid silent writing responding to these questions.

2. Reviewing Semester 1 Common Mistakes from the Final Take Notes and Write All This Down

3. 3 Biggest Issues on Final • Vocabulary – Context Clues • Using what you know and clues in the text to figure out the meaning of words • Reading and Analyzing Cold Passages • Identifying topic, summarizing, analyzing • Responses to Writing Prompts • Breaking Down Question • Responding Correctly • Forming appropriate sentences and paragraphs

4. The SIFT MethodFor Breaking Down Reading Passages • What does sifting do? • If we are sifting while we’re reading, what do you think we’re doing? • The Acronym: • S = • I = • F = • T =

5. Symbolism Define Give me some examples Examples from Things Fall Apart?

6. Imagery Define Give me some examples Examples from Things Fall Apart?

7. Figurative Language Define Give me some examples Examples from Things Fall Apart?

8. Tone Define Give me some examples Examples from Things Fall Apart?

9. Reading a Writing Prompt • Use the CURES method to make sure you are reading and responding to a writing prompt correctly: • C – Circle the Performance Verbs • U – Underline the Question Requirements • R – Restate the Question in Your Response • E – Give Examples to Support Your Argument • S – Write in Complete Sentences

10. Writing Prompt Practice Relations between men and women in Things Fall Apart are quite different than the average American reader is accustomed to. In a well-developed response, analyze the relationship between men and women in the African culture as Achebe presents it. Explain how this relationship is similar or dissimilar to the Western view of the relationships between men and women. Focus on both the positive and negative aspects of the relationship. What comment is Achebe trying to make about the dynamics of the relationship in his culture?

11. What’s the Difference? • Africa vs. the West • Then and Now • Too many people wanted to talk about the difference between the 1880s and today when the question was about Achebe’s African culture and Western culture. • There are still countries where men have multiple wives and are allowed (or encouraged) to beat them.

12. Choosing & Responding to the Prompt • Make sure you understand the question. • Make sure you understand the requirements. • Make sure you have sufficient evidence to answer the question completely. • Make sure you answer ALL PARTS of the question. • Re-read your response and compare it to the question to make sure your answer is correct and complete. • Don’t make up evidence.

13. Writing Sentences & Paragraphs • These things we will work on in the next two weeks (Slowly and Deliberately) as we revise Frederick Douglass Papers.

14. The Do/Due System • Time Management Tool • Using Calendar or Agenda, writing what to “DO” and when it is “DUE” • Weekly Checks of Agendas • Explore iCal app on Macbook – this might be a more workable option for you, but for now, let’s use the paper agendas given out. • I would like EVERYONE to have a binder, composition book, or single-subject spiral notebook by Monday. Please see me if you won’t be able to get one.

15. Reflection • Consider your pre-write (What is one thing you are looking forward to in the second semester of this year? What is one thing you are dreading in the second semester of this year? What is one goal you have for yourself during the second semester of this year?) AND the 3 Strategies I’ve reviewed yesterday and today (SIFT, CURES, Do/Due). • Write one paragraph (3-5 sentences) stating which one of the three strategies you think will be most helpful to you and why, AND how you will apply them this semester to accomplish your goals.