Do Now

1. Do Now Introduction to a class routine English 2 2013

2. Do Now • Each day we start with a Do Now • May be a quote, painting, film clip, song or other short activity. • Written in your notebook (on the left side page) • Posted on the board when you walk in class. • Minimum 50 thoughtful words. • You are responsible for completing ALL do nows (even when you are absent. • Power points will be posted online—hopefully each week. • All Do Nows will be available in the class notebook • Due at the end of each unit or month, whichever comes first—some checks could be more often

3. 8/13 Do Now • Select one of the three quotes on the back wall and reflect on it. What does it mean to you? How does it apply to your life? • Pg. 8

4. 8/14 Do Now • Video: Angela Lee Duckworth: The key to success? Grit • We will be watching a short TEDtalksvideo. Watch it carefully and when it is over you will have a few minutes to write a 50 word thoughtful response. Remember, thoughtful responses include what you think of the presentation, how it makes you feel, what other things it might make you think about, the questions you might have, and how it applies to your life. Pg. 10

5. 8/15 Do Now • Go to page 2 in your notebook and add to the list of memories from your home blue print. Write as many as you can; most people can think of at least ten events.

6. 8/16 Do Now • Pg. 12 • Respond to the following quote: • “There is a lot of skepticism today as to whether memoir is real. But when fiction is done at a certain level there is skepticism as to whether it is really fiction.” Junot Diaz, author of The Brief Wondrous life of Oscar Wao

7. 8/19 Do Now • Pg. 14 “When it comes to memoir, we want to catch the author in a lie. When we read fiction, we want to catch the author telling the truth.” Do you agree or disagree? What does it say about human nature?

8. 8/20 Do Now • Pg. 14 • How is social media (facebook, instagram, twitter) a kind of modern memoir? If someone looked at one of your social media pages what could they tell about you without ever even meeting you? What “story” does it tell?

9. 8/22 Do Now • Pg. 16 • Write about a time when you knew you were in trouble.

10. 8/23 Do Now • Pg. 16 • Write about time you felt compassion unexpectedly. • Compassion: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.

11. 8/26 Do Now • Pg. 18 “When I was at school we always had books, starting from the earliest grades. Now my grandchildren get a variety of printed sheets instead of books. Their learning is scattered. The result is described by Hirsch in his article: “And between 1962 and the present, a big segment of the American population began knowing fewer words, getting less smart, and becoming demonstrably less able to earn a high income.” From the blog “The Linguist” June 25th, 2013. • What do you think of this claim? How does this apply to you? Are you aware of your vocabulary level? What do you do to increase it or what will you do from now on knowing it has an affect on your future success and earning power?

12. 8/29 Do Now • Pg. 18 • A lot of writers admit they get their stories from life. Some even think their stories are somewhat autobiographical. Why do we tend to like to talk and write about ourselves? Think about how you do this in your life, from conversations with friends, to the online posts you write.

13. 8/30 Do Now • Pg. 20 • Take a few minutes to read an article in the school paper The Town Barker then reflect on what you read. Your response IS NOT a summary of what you read, but your thoughts on it.