Welcome! August 16th, 2017 Wednesday Do Now Get out your weekly Bell Ringer sheet and begin working on Wednesday’s assignment. Once the bell rings, you will have five minutes to discuss the prompt with your group. Make sure you stay on task!  Remember: Do Now's are INDEPENDENT and QUIET exercises. Thank you 

What if humans could fly? © Presto Plans

1930’S Presentations! As your classmates present, make sure you pay attention – the background knowledge will be useful when we begin reading To Kill a Mockingbird this week!  Also make sure you are being good audience members – I will take off points if you talk or if I see you on your phone. Oh no!

Journal heading At the top of your paper, you need: Your name The date Class/Block Assignment Title (For today, it’s “The N-Word”)

Quickwrite – 10 sentences/10 minutes What is your reaction to this word? When, if ever, should this word be used? Where do you hear this word in your world? How do you feel about people using this word?

“The Meanings of a Word” Underneath your quickwrite, respond to the following questions about Gloria Naylor’s essay. Why does Naylor think that written language is inferior to spoken language? (paragraph 1) In paragraph 15, Naylor says that although the word “nigger” had been used in her presence many times, she didn’t really “hear” it until a mean little boy said it. What do you think she means by this? Explain your thinking. According to Naylor, the word “nigger” has different meanings even amongst the black community she grew up in. What are some of the different meanings of the word she describes in her essay? Describe at least two different meanings. (page 2) Naylor suggests that different words—even offensive words —mean different things to different people. Would you agree or disagree, and why?

“Incident” by Countee Cullen Underneath questions 1-4, respond to the following questions about Cullen’s poem “Incident.” 5. What might lead a child to insult another child in this way? 6. In what ways is a child’s prejudice even more disturbing than an adult’s? 7. What do you think the author means by the last line? Why is that all she remembers? 8. How does Cullen’s experience echo Gloria Naylor’s story from the essay I just read? What’s significant about the fact that two writers from two very different times (1925 and 1986) faced the same ugliness?

Homework - IXL For homework, you have two IXLs to complete by Friday. For full points, you need at a score of at least 90% on A.2 and A.3 in the ninth grade skills Language Arts section. If you forgot, your IXL log in is your first initial and last name @jenningsk12.us For example, alane@jenningsk12.us If you can’t remember your password, let me know.