Welcome, students!
It is an absolute pleasure to be your teacher this year. Please scan this page for important information regarding my classes.
Daily Dose of Inspiration
Being by water always makes me feel inspired. If you’re ever in need of a dose of inspiration, please look at the menu of this website and click on the Inspiration category where I post short video clips, poems, and age-appropriate memes. Remember that we can make it through any challenge as a community.
How to Be Successful in Ms. Conti’s Classes
Although I chuckle at the meme above, please understand that while maintaining an “A” average is the best case scenario, it will be difficult to achieve if you procrastinate. If you’re not going to heed my warning, listen to some of the greats.
“You may delay, but time will not.”- Benjamin Franklin
“Procrastination is the thief of time, collar him.”- Charles Dickens, David Copperfield
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”- Abraham Lincoln
Complete our Reading Assignments
Each day following in-class reading there may be a Harkness discussion, a pop quiz, an annotation check, or a variety of written assignments. Be sure to note any lingering questions you have regarding the text. It is possible that your peers could have the same question.
How to Annotate Correctly
Read this blog post by Peter Stephens. As this is his personal blog, note that by my hyperlinked suggestion, I am not condoning or endorsing Stephens’ other blog posts; nonetheless, his piece on annotations is very thorough–> Mr. Stephens’ post titled “How to mark a book.”
Avoid Plagiarism
What is Plagiarism?
Need another example?
Please print and sign Ms. Conti’ Plagiarism Contract. Submit it at the beginning of the following class period.
Crediting Your Sources
Quote accurately, name the author and text, never present others’ ideas as your own.
Students in Grand Cayman & the UK
Writers borrow ideas all the time.
When in doubt, ask yourself one question: would the person who wrote this recognise their idea in my work?
If yes, name them.
In Year 8, you don’t need to master a fancy citation system yet (that comes later in your school career, which is something to look forward to). What you do need is the habit of giving credit, and it comes down to three rules:
1. Quote accurately.
If you use an author’s exact words, put them in quotation marks and copy them exactly.
Example:
Dickens shows Scrooge’s transformation is complete when he promises, “I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year” (A Christmas Carol, Stave Five).
2. Name your source.
Tell your reader who wrote it and where it came from.
Examples
- Macbeth reveals how dark his thoughts have become when he begs, “Stars, hide your fires; / Let not light see my black and deep desires” (Macbeth, Act 1 Scene 4).
- From its opening line — “They’ve gone now, and I’m alone at last” — Morpurgo makes Tommo’s loneliness the heart of Private Peaceful.
3. Your ideas vs. their ideas.
This is the big one. Even if you put someone’s idea into your own words, the idea still belongs to them. If your point about ambition in Macbeth came from a study guide rather than your own reading, say so.
Presenting someone else’s thinking as your own is called plagiarism. (Watch the videos below if you want to see exactly what counts.)
At the end of any research task, include a simple list of the sources you used: author, title, and where you found it.
e.g. – Ms. Conti, “Crediting Your Sources” notes, Ms. Conti’s Literature Lab website
Students in the U.S.
Use MLA (Modern Language Format)
Each discipline has its own rules for documenting sources. In English Language Arts, we use the MLA format. Each written assignment or citation must adhere to MLA’s standards.
Google Docs
Microsoft Word
In-Text Citations and Works Cited Page
When in doubt, it’s always best to consult Purdue Owl. They’ve done such an amazing job of keeping up with updates to MLA citation styles.
Class Discussions
The backbone of an English course is discussion. Whether that discussion takes place in a virtual setting (i.e.- a Zoom chat, a virtual comment wall, etc.) or in class, it is incredibly important to come prepared to share your thoughts with your peers. We understand literature together, through each others’ lenses. As we build our readers and writing community together, please take a look at the Harkness method below. Its strength lies in centering the student in each discussion. Instead of students relying solely on the teacher to guide the discussion, students take a more active role.
The video below was created with teachers in mind, but I urge you to watch it in your free time as this overview of the Harkness method is inline with how you should approach participating in class discussions, whether virtual or in person. (I also find this page extremely helpful.) Note: I will, at times, provide reading questions but love to encourage students to create their own.
Creating Discussion Questions:
Follow #1-4:
- Write open-ended questions that are thought-provoking and clear.
- Why is the novel, argument, poem structured in this way?
- If the author had to choose another title for this work, what would the new title be?
- What is the role of ____ in ____’s character development and in their self identity?
- As you read the assigned text, jot down at least three (3) questions you have about the reading. Bring those questions to class every single day. Note that you may have the same questions three days in a row or your questions may evolve with your reading. Your goal is to be intentional.
- Think on the spot.
- Questions may arise during the conversation. Be confident and present your question to the group.
- Relate our readings to real-life situations or current societal debates.
Try to avoid these question types or strategies:
- Yes-No Questions
- Is Nick Carraway in love with Jordan Baker?
- Leading questions
- Don’t you think Daisy is a fickle character?
- Questions that are too simple
- Did you enjoy the reading?
- Slanted questions
- Why are politicians so corrupt?
- Wing it without reading or paying attention
- Could it be that this character is like ____? (After the class just discussed how those characters were not similar).
- Trust us. We can tell.
Ms. Conti's Literature Lab 