One Month Till School Starts

I actually can't even remember how I got everything done last summer.

English: For starters, I read two choice books (Patriot Reign and Longitude). Keep in mind that for Longitude I had to thoroughly answer 10+ questions as outlined in the summer assignments handout. Then, I had to read and take notes on Walden in preparation for the project. I didn't start Walden until August 16 and I read it all in one night. The next day, I visited the pond and filmed footage for my video. The editing process was completed just two nights before school started. One night before school started, I read the Scarlett Letter. Keep in mind, we had a shit load of questions to answer to go along with the reading. Undoubtedly I couldn't answer many of the questions to the best of my ability and this was reflected in my less than perfect (but still awesome) grade. It took me approximately six or sevens hours to read the book and answer the questions. Minutes before the first day of school, a few souls who didn't read the book rushed over to me so they could copy my answers to the questions. That was eventful, to say the least.

History: We had to read somewhere between 700-900 pages of text (I forget the exact requirement). We could form any sort of reading combination we wanted. Time-crunched, I chose to read one book (896 pages) and do one two page paper on that book. My paper was pretty awesome even though I sped-read most of the text. It took me about two weeks to speed-read.

Precalculus: Here is where I really screwed up. Don't get me wrong, I took notes on every section and answered all of the section questions completely, but I ran into the problem of forgetting most of what I was doing. I finished all of my math related stuff by early August and I'll tell you that this only hurt me. When Hoover said we were having a test within the first week of school, he meant it. I got a 61 on that test -- a cruel awakening because 1) I naturally suck at math and 2) I didn't review. That was actually one of my better test scores...we won't get into it anymore. Ha ha.

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I'll be honest in saying I haven't read any of my summer reading books since July 7. Am I screwed? Definitely. Will I some how manage to do everything? Of course! Will I do OK on the graded assignments? Hmm, that's too tough to tell. Judging from the past, as long as stuff is non-math related, I'll do decent.

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A note to everyone that is planning on taking Precalculus Honors. If you naturally suck at math, don't take the class! If you slid/plan on sliding through Algebra 2 and to get a B...don't take the class! If you don't have the time to solve problems completely by hand or just don't care...don't take the class! You will fail (no, not an F or a D, but somewhere close). I'm just warning you. If you are Chris Mogni, go ahead take the class and get your well-deserved A. You might ask why I would take such a class if I suck at math. Well, I technically don't suck at math. I'm what a normal person would call a hair above average. You don't want to be that guy.

Walden Update for all interested and uninterested

As you should know if you do not know, I emailed Ms. Tinker regarding my idea for the Walden project. Turns out that my facts were not straight about something: 45 pages, not 90; but that is still a 1:6 journal to text ratio. Ms. Tinker actually approved of my idea for one massive entry, which I will write on Saturday/Sunday. This is how the journal will be set up:

Chapter 0: A Note to the Reader ~ 3 pg

• My introductory chapter will remind readers of the setup of this journal and briefly describe each chapter. Moreover, it will discuss the time it took for reflection and how long it took to read the book.
  

Chapter 1: Concerning the Teachings of Thoreau in Walden ~ 10 pg

• This chapter will talk about Thoreau's life using the text Walden to evaluate his behavior; no outside sources will be used for this. I will attempt to explain what I think is right and wrong with the actual text of Walden.
  

Chapter 2: An Account of Thoreau's Life on Walden Pond from Various Sources ~ 7pg

• After documenting my thoughts on Thoreau's lifestyle by means of the book Walden, I will further validate my arguments through use of other sources. Said sources will validate my arguments, and show the nature of Thoreau's actual life, not the one that he describes in his book.

Chapter 3: An Evaluation of the Teachings in Walden ~ 10 pg

• In this section, I will basically set up an argument with myself, attempting to determine whether Thoreau was consistent with what he did in the book, or if the book itself was not consistent. From the side that I chose to finally believe, I will endeavor to explain why he was either consistent or inconsistent throughout the book and his actual lifestyle. This section will also allow me to reflect again on whether I actually agreed or disagreed with the teachings in the book.
  

Chapter 4: An Analysis of the Reasoning of Thoreau's Ideas Expressed through Walden ~ 15 pg

• I will devote this chapter to a psychoanalysis of Thoreau and also an anaysis of the text of Walden. In it, I will attempt to discover why Thoreau wrote the novel the way he did and what truly shaped his thought process expressed in the text.

What do you know...45 pages! At least this will let me reread Walden in one sitting and do all of the journal entries at once. Thank the lord for email.

P.S. I will be posting the journal when I am finished for all eager readers...which will be slim at best >-(

Just A Heads Up

I read somewhere that we go back to school on Wednesday, September 3rd.

In the meantime make sure you are doing your summer reading for English

............summer reading for History

...........assignments for Math

OR, if you are Matt Hurton

...........summer reading to recall Biology

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If you are Ben Tan, however, you can sit back, relax, and do no assignments.

WHS says...

Remember summer reading.

Oh, I did. I've already read the first two Oedipus plays and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and I've started True Notebooks. I've also checked out The Handmaid's Tale. Not to mention I'm in the middle of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Spoiler alert: everyone gets killed. The end.

I'd call honors English stupid, but that would be an oxymoron.

Students who have elected Honors or AP English for next year must attend a mandatory meeting after school on June 5 to pick up summer assignments.

Ha ha. You stupid kids decided to take honors/AP and have to do summer homework. Good thing I didn't take honors...oh...shit.