The Daily: Summary + a Poem or a Word

Burke/Fall/2002

 

Intro          Successful adults are able to listen well, take useful notes, read critically, and speak clearly to a group of people. They use these skills as employees, consumers, and community members. This daily assignment provides an interesting way to develop these skills while having some fun. Each day a different student will do the following:

á      Take notes (using Cornell Notes) on what we discuss, do, or turn in;

á      Go online (visit http://www.englishcompanion.com/room82 for links) and find either a poem to read (see Poetry180) or a word whose story youÕll tell;

á      Begin the next dayÕs class by reading the poem or telling the word-story, then reporting (from their notes) on what we did the previous day.

Instructional

Objectives       This assignment challenges students to become better:

á    Listeners by requiring them to take notes on important ideas in class

á    Note-takers by having them to use the Cornell Notes format

á    Speakers by reading to and discussing ideas with their classmates

á    Researchers through online investigations into words and poems

á    Readers through close reading of literary (poetic) texts

á    User of language by learning new words

Performance

Standards        To meet the standards on this assignment, you must:

á      Identify and include in your Cornell Notes the most important ideas, events, and information (e.g., assignments, due dates) from class that day;

á      Use the Cornell Notes format as intended;

á      Find, print, and turn in your daily poem;

á      Read your notes and poem (or daily word) to us with eye contact, clear voice, and appropriate pacing (not too slow, not to fast);

á      Show some style when you speak so we will enjoy and remember what you say.

 

Sample Word of the Day

 

<http://www.merriam-webster.com/cgi-bin/mwwod.pl>

The Word of the Day for August 24 is:

 

apotheosis ¥ \uh-pah-thee-OH-suss or ap-uh-THEE-uh-suss ("th" as in "think")\ ¥ (noun)

*1 : elevation to divine status : deification

  2 : the perfect example : quintessence

 

Example sentence:

Abraham Lincoln underwent an apotheosis of sorts, from controversial politician to saintly father of democracy, shortly after he was assassinated.

 

Did you know?

Among the ancient Greeks, it was sometimes thought fittingÑor simply handy, say if you wanted a god somewhere in your bloodlineÑto grant someone or other god status. So they created the word "apotheosis," meaning "making into a god." (The prefix "apo-" can mean simply "quite" or "completely," and "theos" is the Greek word for "god.") There's not a lot of Greek-style apotheosizing in the 21st century, but there is hero-worship. Our extended use of "apotheosis" as "elevation to divine status" is the equivalent of "placement on a very high pedestal." Even more common these days is to use "apotheosis" in reference to a perfect example or ultimate form. For example, one might describe a movie as "the apotheosis of the sci-fi movie genre."

 

*Indicates the sense illustrated in the example sentence.