1. Catalysts #16-24 COLLEGE READINESS CENTER FALL 2014 *FOURTH BLOCK DOES NOT NEED TO COMPLETE #24

2. Catalyst #16 September 12, 2014 College Freshman Friday: Accepting Personal Responsibility We will use the A-B Tech freshmen seminar book to continue building your skills from the self-assessment. 1.In your On Course text, turn to p. 32 and read “Victims and Creators” until you reach the bottom of the page. Then, skip to p. 39 and read “The Language of Responsibility.” Be sure to read the green and yellow statements in the chart. In your journal, record THREE things you just learned about the differences between victims and creators. 2.Turn to p. 41 and look at Journal Entry 5. Choose ONE “Victim language” statement and record it in your journal. Then, below it, translate this statement into “creator language” that reflects personal responsibility. 3.Answer: Is it your habit to speak as a victim or as a creator? Write an example of one time in which you used victim or creator language this week. 4.What is one goal you can set for how you will change your language in the next week? (Pick an area in which you usually make yourself a victim: homework, dealing with parents, a boss, etc. and set a goal for how you will change the way you talk about this into creator language.)

3. Catalyst #17 September 16, 2014 SAT/ACT/MFL Vocabulary 1. ACQUIESCE (verb) Context clues: After enduring hours of his nagging and whining, Mrs. Nixon acquiesced to her son’s pleas and gave him a later curfew. A. Write down the SYNONYMS for acquiesce from this list: Consent; oppose; agree; dissent; accept; submit; fight B. Write a sentence of your own using the word acquiesce. Make it relate to a real-life situation if possible. 2. INNATE (adjective) Context clues: LeBron’s impressive achievements as a basketball player are likely a combination of not only his innate ability but also his dedicated training. A. Complete the two antonyms for innate: lea_ n _ _ pr_ _t_ _ ed B. Write two synonyms for, or your own definition of, innate. 3. PERFUNCTORY (adjective) Context clues: The greeter at Walmart said “Hello” to each guest in a perfunctory manner: the whole time she was texting on her cell phone, leaning against the wall and paying little to no attention to those around her. A. Complete the two antonyms for perfunctory: th_ _ g _ _ ful c _ r _ _ ul B. List three chores, tasks or assignments that you do in a perfunctory manner.

4. College Research and Applications: If you are unsure of any answers, please write “Unsure” 1. List as many things as you can think of that you have heard are required on a college application. 2. Some schools charge you an application fee to apply. How much do you think/know these fees are? 3. Based on what you know or have heard, what do you think “rolling admission” means? 4. Based on what you know or have heard, what do you think it means to apply “early decision” to a college? What about “early action”? By what time of year do these applications need to be submitted? 5. Some schools require “letters of recommendation” in their applications. To the best of your knowledge, what does this mean and who should these letters come from? 6. Many colleges require you to submit your scores on the ____________ or the __________. 7. What do you think it might mean if a college asks you to submit “supplemental” material? 8. What types of keywords should you look for on a college’s website that you can click on to find out more about applying to this school? 9. To the best of your knowledge, what does it mean if a school has “selective” admission? 10. Where can you go to get a copy of your transcript sent to a college you are applying to? Catalyst #18 September 17, 2014

5. SAT/ACT/MFL Math Prep Remember that you MUST show your work!! 1. If a + 3 = 14, then 2a-6 = a. 7b. 14c. 16d. 18e. 22 2. If x = 1-y and 3x = 8-5y, what is the value of x? a. –2b. –3/2c. –1/2d. 5/2e. 5 3. If f(x) = ax(x-3) and f(-2) = 5, what is the value of a? a. –1/2b. 1/2c.1d.2e.–2 4. If g(x) = 2x 2 + bx + 5 and g(1) = 4, what is the value of g(-1) a. 1b. 2c.3d.7e.10 Catalyst #19 September 18, 2014

6. Accepting Personal Responsibility Part 2 1. Turn in your On Course text to p. 44. Read pages 44-46, stopping in the middle of p. 46 at “If not, I’ll revise my plan.” What are two things that you just learned about the Wise Choice process? 2. Think about a problem that you are currently having at school, work, or home or in a relationship. What is your present situation? (Focus on simply WHAT is happening, NOT HOW you feel about it.) 3. How would you like this situation to be? (What would you like to have happen in the future?) 4. Make a two-column chart. In the left column, list as many different (positive and negative) choices you could make in this situation. 5. In the right column, list the outcomes of each of these choices. 6. Pick 1-2 “wise” choices that you will COMMIT to actually doing. Write these in a sentence that begins, “I commit to making the wise choices of …” 7. Choose date(s) to evaluate your plan within the next week (Next Friday by the latest) 8. Leave space to evaluate your plan. For now, write “When I evaluated my plan, I found that…” Catalyst #20 September 19, 2014

7. Question of the Week: Common App Essay #4: Where is your absolute favorite place to go to in the entire world? 1. Write the name of the place. 2. Describe this place in detail, using as much imagery (appeals to the five senses) as possible. (In other words, what do you see, hear, smell, etc. in this place?) 3. When did you first find/visit this place? What do you remember about the first time you were there? 4. Why do you have such a strong connection to this place? (Consider the following: memories/sentimental reasons, resources this place offers, how you feel towards this place) 5. How often do you get to go to this place? When were you last there? 6. What do you do when you are in this place? Why is this action important or meaningful for you? 7. Do you think other people you know would enjoy this place as much as you do? Why or why not? Catalyst #21 September 22, 2014

8. SAT/ACT/MFL Vocabulary 1.NULLIFY (verb) Context clues: The impressive test results were nullified when it was discovered that the entire class had cheated. A. Complete the two synonyms for nullify: c _ _ c_ l v _ _ d B. Choose the antonyms for nullify from this list: accept trash keep approve restrict scratch 2.PREREQUISITE (noun) Context clues: In order to become a doctor, taking classes in biology and chemistry is a prerequisite; without these classes, you cannot continue in medical school. A. Complete the two synonyms for prerequisite: re_ _ _ r_m_ntnec_ _ _ _ ty B. List three prerequisites for the following: graduating from high school AND playing a professional sport 3.IMMINENT (adjective) Context clues: When the passengers on the 9/11 planes realized that their aircrafts had been hijacked by terrorists, they knew that they were in imminent danger. A. Complete the two synonyms for imminent: i _ _ _ d _ _ te unav _ _ d _ _ le B. Write a sentence using the word imminent. Catalyst #22 September 23, 2014

9. College Research and Application Day: Check –in 1. Take out your college research sheet. What is one thing that you learned about a college from your research last week that you did not already know? (Be sure to include the name of the college in your answer.) 2. What is one thing that you learned about a college that made you more interested in this school? (Size, majors offered, etc.) (Be sure to include the name of the college in your answer.) 3. What is one thing that you learned about a college that made you less interested in this school? (Tuition, required test scores, etc.) (Be sure to include the name of the college in your answer.) 4. You should have found out the application fee for at least one college in your research last weel. What was the fee for one of these schools? (Be sure to include the name of the college in your answer.) 5. Based on your research, what college(s) do you now know that you (almost definitely) want to apply to? 6. An important part of the college application process is making sure you have talked to parents, your counselor, and any other mentors about your choices. Who have you spoken to about the colleges that you are interested in? 7. SENIORS ONLY: Are there any colleges that you will need/want to apply to early action? (By Nov. 1 st )? 8. Today your college research sheet will be due by halfway through class. SENIORS ONLY: If you finish early, you will start working on a college application--Do you think you will have time to begin working on an application today? Catalyst #23 September 24, 2014

10. Catalyst #24 September 25, 2014 SAT/ ACT/ MFL Math Prep: Remember that you MUST show your work! 1.A certain building has 2,600 square feet of surface that needs to be painted. If 1 gallon of pain will cover 250 square feet, what is the least whole number of gallons that must be purchased in order to have enough paint to apply one coat to the surface? (Assume that only whole gallons can be purchased.) A.5B. 10C.11D. 15E. 110 2. Jamal ran a distance of 360 feet. Lonnie ran a distance of 30 yards. What is the ratio of the distance Jamal ran to the distance Lonnie ran? (3 feet = 1 yard) A. 4:1B. 5:1C. 6:1D. 12:1E. 36:1 3. Which of the following sets of numbers has the property that the product of any two numbers in the set is also a number in the set? I: The set of even integers II: The set of prime numbers III: The set of positive numbers A.I only B. II onlyC. I and III D. I, II and IIIE. None of them 4. A car averages 20 miles per gallon of gas in city driving and 30 miles per gallon in highway driving. At these rates, how many gallons of gas will the car use on a 300 mile trip if 4/5 of the trip is highway driving and the rest is city driving? A. 5B. 11C. 14D. 20E. 25