Week 9

This week I am PROUD of you!  For a job well done on the NLE; for GREAT brainstorming and strategizing in mock trial; and for tackling your work (and your "small thing") with diligence and perseverance this week!

DEVO 

We discussed chapter 8 of Do Hard Things - about the "small things" that are hard!

LATIN

Students took the National Latin Exam or played some fun review games.  

This week we're in LESSON 25: direct questions are addressed to a person and generally are in the indicative mood.  Direct questions can be introduced by:

Interrogative ADVERBS (p. 267)
Where were you?  Ubi fuistī?
Why did he come?  Cūr vēnit?

Interrogative PARTICLES  (rule 503)
-ne  Vīdistīne Rōmam?  Have you seen Rome?


+ nōnne (yes expected) & num (no expected)

Nōnne Deus best bonus?  God is good, isn’t He?
Num Caesar victus est?  Caesar wasn’t conquered, was he?

Interrogative PRONOUNS 
Who, whom, what, whose = pronouns (here they don’t modify a noun, but take its place)
Quis & quid (who / what) = decline per rule 140

Interrogative ADJECTIVES
Pronouns can be used as an adjective:
Which men did you see?  Quōs virōs vīdisti?
Decline interrogative adjectives exactly like relative pronouns! (rules 139; 141)

I hope to see you tomorrow night at our Toga Party to celebrate the Ides of March and finishing the NLE!

SCIENCE   

We discussed our final chapter of Defeating Darwinism!  Students also took turns explaining the 3-5 main points from one of the chapters.  Hopefully you took very good notes in your journals!  We also played a trivia game - I am impressed with how much you all learned from this book!

Our Defeating Darwinism assessment is on Monday (3/18).  Please bring your completed summaries with you to class.  This week you will also survey/skim through Discovering Atomos - this is a pdf available through CC.  Be sure to bring your printed copy with you to class!

LOGIC

We worked through some sample exercises from lessons 18 and 19.  Reread these lessons this week if you are still uncertain about anything, and finish up all exercises for 17b-19.  Next week, we skip lessons 20 & 21....Stay tuned!

MATH

Be prepared with a problem to lead on Monday!  

SHORT STORIES

Students shared more from their plot outlines - this time focusing on OBJECTIVE, OBSTACLE, and OUTCOME.  You have one more week to develop your plot - this time thinking about plot twists and surprise endings.

We also discussed A White Heron.  A few of our classmates found some really interesting and varied Bible verses that apply to this story.  Please make sure you all bring a verse next week!

This week you have THREE stories to read (don't worry; they're fairly short!) and at least one applicable Bible verse.  You need to DEFINE the ending of your own short story and be prepared to share that with the class.  Will there be a plot twist or surprise ending?  Don't just tell us that Shrek and his son are reconciled, or the boy forgives his bullies, or the girl learns to value people outside of her societal class - these are all great OBJECTIVES, but on Monday we want to hear DETAILS about how the objective was realized.  

And remember....you only have two and half weeks left to write your story - the complete, typed draft is due week 11 (April 1)!

MOCK TRIAL

We had a great conversation in class about closing arguments, themes, and examinations.  I gave each attorney all of their classmates' work for their assigned examination.  And then on Tuesday - WOW!  Great job in working through all the statutes, case law, witnesses, and exhibits to really develop a strong structure for what you need to prove.  This should help you tremendously this week as you draft TWO closing arguments.  Remember your basic outline:

Intro: Your Honor. Members of the jury. May it please the court...

Silver bullet (sort of like an exordium): This is a case about _______. (Short theme/description....)

Enumeration: 3 basic reasons why defendant is guilty/not guilty. (Here you are “sorting” the evidence like you do your ANI chart - into 3 broad categories)

Proofs: then go through each category and argue the evidence that supports it (this can be testimony, documents/exhibits, statutes or case law....)

Refutation:  address any incriminating evidence the other side raised. How do you defuse or refute it?

Conclusion: wrap up your theme/story. And tell the jury what you want them to do: return a verdict of (not) guilty on the charge of murder....

Once you finish writing your two closing arguments (remember - 5 minutes each!), turn back to working on the examinations you are assigned (witnesses should be working with the attorney to draft these - it sounds like you all set up some google docs so you can collaborate - great idea!).

On Monday, you will present your closings - you can read them. No need to work on memorizing them at this point. Please bring a typed copy of each closing to turn in to me.  

POSTREMO

• Don't forget to bring to class: math problem; typed, printed copies of both closing arguments; written work on your short story plot/ending; relevant Bible verse(s) for our 3 assigned short stories; all of your chapter summaries for Defeating Darwinism; your Discovering Atomos materials; and your completed logic exercises.

• Friday, 3/15:  Toga Party

• Spring Break starts after class ends on Monday!  No community on March 25!

Blessings on you and your studies this week!

~ Mrs. D