We plunged into Chapter One of "Master and Commander" in which Captain Aubrey meets Dr. Maturin and is ordered to command HMS Sophie, a sloop of war. Hunter and I took turns with the reading. We had several breaks during which I explained the arcane naval terminology (e.g., "Broadside," how a Lieutenant, R.N. can be a Captain, et.al.) as well as archaic English from the early 1800's.

Hunter added four new vocabulary words and created cards - chastise, placate, prattle and hubris. We discussed topics for essay-writing. He will begin with creating note cards with ideas for a thesis statement and supporting evidence. We read about paragraphs in essay-writing and discussed "Master and Commander". Hunter began completing prefix exercises and will complete for homework.

We started reading Patrick O'Brian's novel "Master and Commander' which features the initial encounters between Captain Jack Aubrey and Doctor Steven Maturin at the Royal Navy's base at Port Mahon, Minorca in 1805.

We continued with the editing of Will's first draft of his "Impressions," concentrating especially on using paragraphs to break his narration into separate ideas and analyses.

Hunter finished reading the JFK speech about space exploration alluding to exploration of the sea. We analyzed the speech and discussed ways Kennedy used stylistic elements to make it more powerful. We deconstructed the speech and addressed SOAPS. We specifically noted the conclusion and the significant impact of the concluding statement. Hunter and I looked to a graphic illustration of the SOAPS strategy and discussed essay-writing strategies for the SAT. We also looked at visuals for creating an outline for an essay/ the structure of an essay relative to writing about how he felt after watching the movie version of "Master and Commander". We related JFK's appeals to emotion and his choice of words and phrases. We reviewed vocabulary. We also reviewed and differentiated between the definition and use of the words "effect" and "affect".

We finished watching the film and watched part of the follow-on CD which showed Director Peter Weir's comments on what it took to make a film depicting war at sea in the age of sail. We also discussed the pair of actors who played the main characters: Russell Crowe (Captain Aubrey) and Paul Bettany (Steven Maturin.)

Hunter reviewed vocabulary and learned new words from Quizlet with pictures - copies, inane, facetious, etc. We looked at SOAPS and Appeals Drill, reading John F. Kennedy's speech about space exploration and looking for evidence, reasoning, stylistic elements, persuasive elements, emotional appeal and powerful elements. Hunter was able to identify allusion to sea exploration and highlighted where appropriate. We posted a map in his classroom mapping the route of the Master and Commander, which is the novel he is preparing to read. We looked at a SOAPS strategy graphic identifying subject, occasion, audience, purpose and speaker and examining attitude, tone, and style.

We continued watching Russell Crowe and Paul Bettanyi starring as Captain "Lucky Jack", Aubrey, and Dr. Steven Maturin as they and the crew of HMS Surprise headed north to the Galapagos Islands.

Hunter reviewed vocabulary words by defining them and using them in written sentences. We looked at another vocabulary cartoon - compatible and revisited "hospitable hospital". Hunter read a Reading Social Studies - "The Cherokee Removal". He highlighted as he read and answered comprehension questions afterwards. We looked at the grammar textbook and he answered questions recognizing types of nouns - concrete, abstract, proper.

We watched the part of the film that traced HMS Surprise as she followed the French ship Acheron around Cape Horn where Surprise lost a sailor overboard in vicious weather and headed north toward the Galapagos.