Honors English II/III & AP Language:
American Literature 2024-2025
vocabulary words assigned so far: ratiocination, scientism, eminence, compel, compulsion, infer, imply, plaintive, ascendancy, transgress, lugubrious, anomaly/anomalous, antecedent, congenial/genial, ignominy/ignominious, infamy, sagacity/sagacious, adulterate/ unadulterated, repudiate, flagrant, contumely, remonstrate, peremptory, ascetic, mortify, penitent, plebeian, empirical/empiricism, repose, prevail, purport, discern, exhort, egregious, cognizant, austere, abstruse, mendicant, infamy, heresy, abash, evanescent, obscure, affinity, celibacy, vilify, peripatetic, poignant, gesticulate, contumely, licentious, propitiatory, propitiatory, caprice, capricious, surfeit, stricture, sycophant, laconic, supercilious, taciturn, lassitude, perfunctory, reticent, dissolute, licentious, indolent, disapprobation, credulous, supine, limpid, parsimonious, debilitate, unconscionable, propensity, mendacious, bucolic, acumen, superfluous, vestige, imperious, depravity, ambiguous/ambiguity, sycophant, cognizant, celibacy, disapprobation, nihilism, existentialism
The Elements of Style, Part IV: Words and expressions Commonly Misused
aggravate/irritate; all right; allude; allusion; alternate/alternative; among/between; and/or; anticipate; anybody; anyone; as good or better than; as to whether; as yet, being, but, can, case, certainly, character, claim, clever, compare, comprise, contact, cope, consider, currently
Music Within
by Anna Morgan
The hum of the microwave, the chink of a glass coming to rest, even the scratch of a pencil is all an awaiting symphony. Sounds which concoct something special await me in everyday life. Each one allows humming along, tapping my foot to a new beat, or grinding my teeth to a rhythm that has yet to be created.
My everyday life orchestrates my body in composing music. Depending on my mood, it can be a lively, happy beat, one that moves and grooves without even trying; or, it could be slow - - hard to get right, even in the simplest of patterns. They say the brain is the true conductor. Not only does it manage all bodily movement and functions, but also our feelings to a piece of music, controlling reactions and emotions each time we hear something. The forms of music I relate to the most are those I don’t even realize I hear: the simple tap of an eraser creates a new harmony in my mind.
For some, music isn’t helpful, or just a bother. Schools thus cut funding for music programs, and even entire departments. Administrators see music and arts programs as “blow off” classes: or as ways to get an easy A. But in reality, many students need art to get through the semester. Our band class is one of the only classes in the high school with a single period incorporating students from all grades who share a common interest: making music.
Music classes aren’t just about making music. Many consider band to be a social class. I have made friends with many of the students who sit around me, making class much more enjoyable. Having friends to talk with makes time pass more quickly. Being able to play with people I like makes everything easier. Musicians become receptive to feedback among peers. Listening, as my band director says, is “the most important rule of music.” Feeling heard and accepted both as a player and as a role model for younger students is important to the overall class dynamic.
Music isn’t just a hobby. Many people make a living from doing what they love. Careers in music, or art in general, aren’t the most high paying jobs. My dream job is to become a musician for film. Music makes films special, adding emotion and depth, building suspense and making you cry at just the right time. It’s a once in a lifetime kind of job, but I love the idea of doing it. I would have to intensely study music somewhere like The Juilliard School in order to get a position like that. However, I would have to give my music enough dedication and devote resources in order to make that dream happen.
Music and my emotions are directly related. The more playing time I get, the better, and for me to really love it, the part has to be interesting. At home, or when I'm driving, I listen to music recorded by other artists. Spotify is my best friend in the car. I can’t drive anywhere without music. Coming home late from work or leaving early on mornings for school events, my playlist takes my mind off things. As a distraction, music takes me to a different place for a while. I have multiple different playlists for any type of mood I’m in, whether it's happy, sad or excited. Sometimes I even listen to jazz or music without words while I study because my brain cannot handle two things at once.
Music in everyday life must be encouraged. Only a great conductor can piece together tiny bits of sound that spark emotion. Sound is like a puzzle of tones and rhythm to match as pieces fitting together, flowing into an orchestration of sound. Whether in an environment where it’s welcomed, such as the band room, or an environment where it’s not, such as a quiet classroom, music continues to inspire and surround me, molding my life all the time.
Money
by John Spilotros
Money has played a huge role in my life, whether it's trying to scrape together enough money for a new pair of shoes, or amassing the funds to purchase a luxury car. I've always been worried about my future, and money is the most secure way to control your future. From the time I was seven, I had a curiosity about learning about finances from my father to tracking different investments of politicians. While other kids were worried about their favorite sports team, I was heavily intrigued by the stock market and turning small investments into large sums of capital. The ever-changing atmosphere of the stock market originally made it stressful for me. However, I grew to be able to anticipate stock market imbalances.
As I grew up watching my dad conduct his business from day to day, I was fascinated by his multitasking and ability to problem-solve. When I was twelve, I started my own computer-selling business, buying computers that were broken or defective, fixing them, and selling them for profit. I taught myself how to fix minor computer issues through tech forums and YouTube videos. The valuable skills I learned from my father aided me in scaling my business through using online selling platforms like eBay and Mercari. Running this business until I was fourteen, I made my first profit. This opened my eyes to other business startups.
Using my previous business, I scaled up to flipping lawnmowers and then cars, where I made my first large sum of capital. However, buying and selling goods other than technology required countless hours on forums and watching videos, and getting a job as a mechanic for a brief period of time to gain experience in the field. Just after my 16th birthday, I flipped my first car. I was extremely demotivated by the blunder I made in the sale, by cracking the windshield before selling the car . With computers and lawnmowers, I usually made around a 300% profit margin. As I took time to reconsider my business venture, I had an idea to utilize the help of my peers. I proposed an idea to two of my closest friends. With their availability, I was able to buy and sell cars and more flexibility with the loss of minor profit to my peers as commission. Each successful flip built my confidence and capital, letting me expand my business and garner more employees.
Alongside my business, my interest in commodities like gold and silver grew due to their intrinsic value and lack of volatility. These factors, along with family influence, led me to buy kilograms of gold to resell or to save for long-term investments. When I discovered that gold was a much safer investment opportunity than stocks or crypto, I spent months studying market trends, analyzing spot prices, and understanding how global events impacted the value of gold. Over time, my understanding of gold helped me time purchases and sales more effectively. I built a strategy that balanced quick flips with long-term holds. Building wealth isn’t just about making money; it’s about being able to work in the face of adversity.
Grammar, key terminology, and vocabulary items that we have discussed in class are on the AP Language & Composition Vocabulary Archive. While most of you will not take the AP Language exam until next year, it always helps to become familiar with these terms now (rather than cramming next year). The sooner you get started, the sooner (comparative degree) you will know all your terms.
American Literature vocabulary SEE FULL PAGE HERE
Student Resources: English III
Check every piece for THESE SKILLS before turning anything in for an edit.
Check ALL CITATIONS (quotes) with these formatting rules before turning anything in for an edit.
Click HERE for directions for email editing
Summer reading list for High School students
Access our HS student writing archives to see what our readings and assignments are for this year, and to read sample pieces written by previous English II students.
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English II GRADING:
Participation = 30% (purely subjective, based on my perceptions of your initiative, interest, self-motivation, & tenacity)
Assignments = Revisions (20%)
Edits (20%)
Vocab/Multiple Choice tests= 15%
Timed essay grades= 15%
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AP Language GRADING:
Participation = 30% (purely subjective, based on my perceptions of your initiative, interest, self-motivation, & tenacity)
Assignments (two parts of grade)
1st Semester EFFORT = 20%; CONTENT = 10%
2nd Semester EFFORT = 10%; CONTENT = 20%
Vocab/Multiple Choice tests= 15%
AP Portfolio essay grades= 15%
Exams = 10%
"The difference between predictions and outcomes is the key to understanding a strange property of learning: if you’re predicting perfectly, your brain doesn’t need to change further…Changes in the brain happen only when there’s a difference between what was expected and what actually happens." — David Eagleman in Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain
Unfinished Pieces: Semester II
(updated 5/29/25
Anna
Revisions = 100%
Edits = 100%
timed essays/presentations = 68%
Vocab/Mult. Choice practice = 90%
FINISHED!
John
Revisions = 100%
Edits = 100%
timed essays/presentations = 58%
Vocab/Mult. Choice practice = 69%
FINISHED!
Gleeful
by John Spilotros
In the meadow
gentle winds flow through tall grass,
spreading the warmth from fluorescent sun
that hangs in a bright blue sky.
Grass blades frolic
like gleeful children.
Birds recite sweet symphonies, while
sunflowers flourish in vibrant sunlight
dancing in the meadow.
Twilight
by Anna Morgan
Wind whistles
through drooping branches.
Darkness expands;
sun sinks below dark clouds.
Suspense hangs in the air
like thick eerie fog, a
pale glow of moonlight
breaking through.
Distantly, an owl hoots;
fireflies hover:
glimmers of light dot early morning sky.
