Feb 3, 2026

 Hello! Sorry I couldn't be there today. Here's what you're up to:

• In groups of your choice, finish the bracket of the question: which is the most powerful cognitive bias / logical fallacy? If you'd like, share your result with the class. When I return, I'll be asking each group about your choice.
• Eng 9 (AM) remaining biases:
• Confirmation vs Declinism vs Sunk Cost
• Barnum vs Framing vs Placebo
• Availability vs Belief vs Group Think
• Pessimism vs Spotlight vs Halo
• Eng 9 (PM) remaining biases:
• Confirmation vs Backfire vs Sunk Cost
• Barnum vs In-Group vs Placebo
• Curse of Knowledge vs. Belief vs. Groupthink
• Pessimism vs Spotlight vs. Halo
• Eng 8 (PM) remaining logical fallacies:
• Strawman vs Slippery Slope vs Loaded Question
• Bandwagon vs Begging the Question vs Appeal to Authority
• Emotional Appeal vs Tu Quo Que vs Burden of Proof
• Genetic vs Texas Sharpshooter vs Composition/Division
• Individually, write down your answer for each of these questions (justify each one) from assignment 1. This will help you prepare for Assignment one.
• English 9:
• Which bias is the most powerful?
• Which bias is the weakest?
• Which bias is affecting society the most?
• English 8
• Which logical fallacy is the most powerful?
• Which logical fallacy is the weakest?
• Create your own argument USING a logical fallacy
• If time remains, please turn your attention to Assignment 2 (the independent novel project). Write down these answers, and hold on to your responses, and I'll check in on them:
• What is the name and author of the book you'd like to read?
• Who will you work with?
• When will you both finish reading your book?

Feb 2, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to:

• Checking in
• Respond to TEAMS post
• Recapping last week
• Assignment 2 - do you know your book yet?
• Change of plans: we'll be doing narrative writing on Wednesday
• Recap Assignment 1
• Eng 9: Introduction to cognitive biases
• What is a cognitive bias?
• Introducing "The Bracket"
• Guiding question: which is the most powerful?
• It's up to you to decide what "powerful" means
• Eng 8: Introduction to logical fallacies
• What is a logical fallacy
• Introducing "The Bracket"
• Guiding question: which is the most powerful?
• It's up to you to decide what "powerful" means
• Tomorrow, we'll wrap up the bracket. If I'm not feeling well, I'll ask you to do it on your own

Jan 30, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• Please react to TEAMS message
• Recapping yesterday
• Thanks for the nametags!
• English 8 announcement on texts
• Introducing Assignment 2
• Introducing / Going over Assignment 1
• Persuasive writing
• Definition: Persuasive writing is designed to persuade. This means it should create a clear thesis (an argument) and support it with relevant details.
• An argument needs to be two things:
• Specific
• Debatable
• The strength of your argument depends on your ability to make a debatable claim and then back it up well.
• Don't "both sides" it - stick to your guns
• Practice:
• Is a cereal a soup?
• Cats or dogs?
• Is AI a force for good?
• How to write a paragraph
• Structure of a paragraph
• Teacher led example, on student choice
• Freewrite to practice
• On Monday, we'll dive into how to write a story

Jan 29, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• 1-5 How are you feeling?
• An added thought
• Presentation from the admin
• Reprising activity - grab a blank piece of paper
• Write the name you'd like me to use (please note if it's different than what's on the attendance)
• Write the pronouns you would like me to use
• Draw something you've been interested in lately
• Write your answer: what's the proper way to eat Neapolitan ice cream?
• Write your answer: is there anything you want to put on my radar?
• Class policies and expectations
• Attempt at names
• Activity to get to know each other
• Looking ahead to Assignment 1
• Freewrite

Jan 28, 2026

 Hello! Welcome to the class! Here's what we're up to:

• Attendance - please correct me if I say it wrong
• Land acknowledgment
• Cowichan ruling
• Senakw
• Jack Khatsahlano
• Seating plan - choose where you are for now, and stay put for a bit
• Introductions
• Myself
• Course Blog
• Course Assignment Page
• Course Calendar
• Not-at-all-useful course syllabus
• Activity - grab a blank piece of paper
• Write the name you'd like me to use (please note if it's different than what's on the attendance)
• Write the pronouns you would like me to use
• Draw something you've been interested in lately
• Write your answer: what's the proper way to eat Neapolitan ice cream?
• Write your answer: is there anything you want to put on my radar?
• First attempt at names
• Class policies and expectations
• Activity to get to know each other

Jan 23, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Check in
• A goodbye!
• List of missing assignments
• My schedule on Monday and Tuesday:
• I'll be in 214 from 10-1130, and 1220 to 310
• Missing speeches
• Film!
• Student interviews
• Take down your drawings

Jan 22, 2026

 Hello! Here's what we're up to today:

• Checking in
• In the news: Museum of Personal Failures
• List of missing assignments
• AM: 
• Missing speeches
• Shrek 2 Rigorous Academic Analysis of Symbolism in Film
• Report card interviews
• PM:
• Speeches!
• Winner?