12/17/13
“Continuity gives us roots; change gives us
branches, letting us stretch and grow and
 Meet Ms. Plackowski
reach new heights.” – Pauline R. Kezer
Names
 Where are we going, and where have we been?
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 Routines
 Policies
 Curriculum
 Read Catching Fire over break
Honors dystopian literature: E block
12/18/13
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the
greatest accomplishment.” --Ralph Waldo Emerson
DOL #10
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Journal: What’s your favorite reality TV show? (If you
don’t watch reality TV, why not?)
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Let’s go back to The Hunger Games film and do some
scene analysis!
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Homework: ReadCatching Fire over break
DOL #10
Before he listed the three references on his
application to the University of
Maryland, Brendan obtained permission from those
individuals.
The Hamilton snow thrower, which Mom bought at
the Gifford Nature Center, is
small enough to fit in our subcompact car.
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/6/14
Day 7
“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when
you can’t help it.”—Oscar Wilde
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DOL #12 (Skip #11)
Gathering: a highlight of your break
Journal: If you could create a perfect world, what would it include?
Catching Fire reading quiz
“Traits of a dystopia” Power Point
DOL #12
“Cherokee artists create beautiful paintings,” Mr.
Hernandez exclaimed, “and many of those paintings
are hung in galleries.”
When Mom bought this van, she didn’t know how
expensive it would be to operate and maintain it.
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/7/14
Day 3
“Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most
people don’t recognize them.” --Ann Landers
DOL #13
Journal: What will the world be like 25 years from now? 100
years from now?
 Go over quizzes from yesterday
 Practice SPA paragraphs in groups:
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 Is Panem a dystopia? Explain why or why not.
 Is Katniss a dystopian hero? Explain why or why not.
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Critique paragraphs as a class
DOL #13
While the woman walked her greyhound, the leash broke,
she lost control of the dog, and it bolted.
“How can it be,” Ms. O’Malley asked, “that since buying
an easy-to-use software program, I’ve had nothing but
trouble?”
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/8/14
Day 4
“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you plant.” –Robert Frost
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DOL #14
Journal: Why do people act morally or obey the law? Do they
do it for fear of being caught, or is there more to it?
Finish SPA paragraphs from yesterday
Critique paragraphs on document camera
Introduce book clubs (see next slide)
DOL #14
Some visitors from another school, we suspect, stole our
school mascot’s costume, probably to use at their own
school’s next home game.
My sister-in-law, who lives in Akron, Ohio, called and told
us that it’s official: she is now a senior partner in her
law firm.
Book Clubs
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Book clubs will be every Day 4.
You must choose a dystopian book for this book
club.
Choose group members and your book by the end
of the block today. Take 10 minutes to look up a
book and be ready to “pitch” it to the class.
You must have your book in hand by Monday,
January 7th
You must have read to your first benchmark
(determined with your group) and have prepared
your first role by January 17th.
Book Club Dates:
January 17th
February 5th
February 14th
March 4th
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/13/14
Day 7
“You must jump off cliffs all the time and build wings on the
way down.” –Ray Bradbury
(not necessarily in this order):
 No DOL
 Exam prompt
 Website: www.msplackowski.weebly.com
 Mr. Wallingford
 Finish and critique SPA paragraphs
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/16/14
Day 3
“Your heart is a weapon the size of your fist.”
--graffiti on a wall in Palestine
DOL #15
 Journal: Reflect on anything new or
interesting you learned from Mr.
Wallingford’s talk.
 Review and discuss liberal / conservative
chart
 Introduce concept circles
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Important dates
Friday: first book club
meeting
Tomorrow after school:
extra-help session for
midterm exam
Tuesday after exams:
Extra-help session for
midterm exam
Next Thursday:
midterm exam
DOL #15
Today, I will find the clothes I have outgrown, wash them,
and put them in a bag; tomorrow, I’ll bring them to a
charity in Seattle, Washington.
“My goodness!” Aunt Betty exclaimed. “When was the
last time we sat here and talked?”
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/17/14
Day 4
DOL #17
 No journal
 Book club in F101
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Homework: Complete Concept Circles Worksheet by
Tuesday, January 28th
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/27/14
“Knowledge is power. Information is liberating. Education
is the promise of progress, in every society, in every
family.”—Kofi Annan
DOL #18
 Journal: Reflect on your senior year so far. What have
you learned, and what goals do you want to accomplish
before the end of the year (in English or in general)?
 Review and discuss midterm
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 Common writing issues
DOL #18
To the students seeing Verdi’s opera Aida for the first
time, the performance at the Sarasota Opera House
was both spectacular and stunning to hear.
The Daily News reported that the Omaha City Council
will vote on new basketball courts at Tuesday’s
meeting.
Version A
What is the illustrator’s argument?
What does each element of the picture evoke or
represent?
Version B
What is the illustrator’s argument?
What does each element evoke or represent?
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/28/14
“You talk when you cease to be at peace with your thoughts.” –Khalil Gibran
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DOL #19
Journal: Write your thoughts and reactions to the article from yesterday.
Class objectives: To understand main points and supporting details of the
article; to make our own judgments about the article’s strengths and
weaknesses; to learn how to take Cornell notes using the article, and to
learn how to write a precis.
Hand in concept circles
New semester: new seating arrangements, new grading system
How to take Cornell notes
Practice taking Cornell notes in groups with “The Triumph of the Trivial.”
How to write a precis
DOL #19
While living in Burlington, Vermont, Jennifer had jobs at
two supermarkets, Grand Union and Price Chopper, in
order to save money to attend Georgetown University.
Dad and Uncle Reggie decided not to go fishing last
Saturday; instead, they took us kids to Elkhorn State
Park in Helena, Montana.
Grading system
Term Grades
 Homework and quizzes = 30%
 Papers, tests, projects, and other
assessments = 40%
 Book club = 10%
 Journal = 10%
 Participation = 10%
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Grades will be based on points, not
percentages. For example, a minor
homework assignment with ten questions
might only be worth ten points, while a major
paper might be worth 50 points.
Full Year Grades
Term 1: 20%
Term 2: 20%
Term 3: 20%
Term 4: 20%
Midterm: 10%
Final: 10%
Cornell Notes
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/30/14
“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” -Henry Ford
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DOL #20
Journal: What do you think are some of the most effective ways to
create social change?
Handout: How to Write a Precis
Practice writing a precis using “The Triumph of the Trivial” in
groups
Critique precis
Homework: Mechanisms of Control and Rebellion Worksheet—
due Monday
DOL #20
When Gov. Pazienza opened his briefcase, he saw the
book Upside Economics, which he had forgotten to
give Sen. Drake earlier in the day.
Four members of the French Club decided among
themselves to ask Madame Barbaud to arrange a
luncheon at Chez Claude on May 25, 2000.
Honors dystopian literature: E block
1/31/14
“If there is a book you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.”
–Toni Morrison
DOL #21
Journal: What are you looking forward to about this weekend?
Complete the sentence regarding Catching Fire: “[Dystopian
author] cautions readers about / against [present day problem /
issue] by showing ______________.” Write at least five sentences
using this template.
 Start to categorize issues into “liberal” and “conservative.”
 If time: watch The Daily Show
 Homework: Mechanisms of control and rebellion worksheet for
Monday.
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DOL #21
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denver co
october 19 2000
rosebud floral design
275 west chestnut street
chicago il 60610
dear sir or madam