What to do over vacation

Hi kids,

Yesterday was our last full day of in-class research.  Today we'll talk not only about our thesis statements (our main points), but also topic sentences (our sub-points or reasons).

So, if you find yourself with extra time this next week, aside from researching, you can start to read your sources and try to categorize your facts around the three sub-points.  If a fact can't go with one of the three sub-points, it just won't fit in your paper.  You'll be tossing out a bunch of facts, unfortunately; that's why I had you find so much to begin with.


Homework:  Due the Monday you get back are your topic sentences

Don't forget these useful news sites:


seacoastonline.com
nytimes.com
bostonglobe.com
bbc.com
cnn.com
necn.com
msnbc.com
npr.org

Rants and Research

Today you are delivering your 30-second RANT, of which you worked on in class last Friday.  A rant is a super-mini early version of your speech...kind of like training wheels.  You need a thesis, three reasons (topic sentences), and at least one fact.  The competition for best rant in the class happens today.

The rest of the day, and rest of the week we have the mobile PC lab.  We are doing research.  It is your job to find as many articles as you can on your topic during this time.  Your homework all week:  continue researching at home.

Homework:  By Wednesday (there are NO blocks this week) you need to have found, and have signed (by Mr. Stowell) three good articles that have information on your topic.  You will be passing those in with a Worksheet that asks you to summarize those articles briefly. 


DON'T FORGET TO EASYBIB AS YOU GO...OR IT WILL REALLY STINK LATER!!

Persuasive Essays!

Today in class you handed in your books and Twelve Angry Men essays.  For the rest of class we began talking about persuasive essays and how to pick a topic.

You can view the pod-wide poll on topics here to see what your classmates think about the issues.

You can view the list of topics here.

Homework:

Challenge:  Pass in 12AM essay tomorrow.  Print out and bring to class one article on a topic from the list by Wednesday.

Super and XC:  Bring in one article by tomorrow, and have two more by Wednesday.

Hooks, Finales, Transitions, Works Cited Page, and Finishing/Editing Your Essay

Today is the last day to have class time to put the finishing touches on your essay.  We have example essays in class for you to peruse if you have spare time.  Please notice that you must also include a Works Cited page.

• In class we talked about what makes for a good hook and finale.  There is a handout included.
• We also checked to see that we have transitions to keep the writing flowing.
• Finally, we briefly talked about www.easybib.com and how to make a Works Cited Page.
• If you want bonus points, have a parent/guardian write "I have read both the rubric and my child's essay and I believe they did a great job!" on the rubric with their signature.

Homework:  Final draft due at the beginning of class on Monday for Super and Extreme.  Challenge has until Tuesday.

Pass in all books Monday.

Works Cited Page

Be careful when you are copying and pasting this into your works cited page, because you are using only one or two of the following entries.

...or you can create your own using www.easybib.com

Works Cited

Avi. Nothing but the Truth: a Documentary Novel. New York: Avon, 1993. Print.

Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1999. Print.

Rose, Reginald. Twelve Angry Men. New York: Penguin, 2006. Print.

Do you want bonus points?

Take this survey in preparation for our upcoming persuasive speech unit. - I'll take submissions all week...until Friday.

Possible Persuasive Speech Topics

http://docs.google.com/View?id=ddh7j72z_133dcf7mqgq

Block Day: Finish Your Outline

Today in class, we finished the outline for our literary analysis essay, and had them checked.  We will discuss what to do with your intro and conclusion paragraph on Friday.  Final draft is due Monday.  Be sure you can transfer your files back and forth between school and home: flash drive or email.

Thesis and Topic Sentences

Today we discussed thesis statements and topic sentences in class; the backbones of your essay.  A handout can be seen here and here.  That worksheet is due at the beginning of class tomorrow.

Homework:

Challenge:  Outlines are due Thursday.
SC and XC:  Outlines are due Wednesday.

We have the computer lab in class all week to write our essays - if you are going to be working on your outline at home as well, you will need some way to transfer your file back and forth.

An article on the upcoming vote on teacher contracts

click on this.

Today in class...

We finished watching the film of Twelve Angry Men.  Also in class, everyone received a copy of the outline for the essay.  Use it to write your paper which is due one week from tomorrow.

Homework:
      Challenge: 

• All three quotes that you plan to use from your essay (written down in your outline) are due Monday.

      Super and Extreme: 

• Plan to finish reading your books by the end of the day on Friday.
• Book quotes are due (written down, so I can check them) Monday.
• Outlines due Wednesday to be checked in class.

Essay/Reading

Today in class we are watching the film of Twelve Angry Men for some final review. In the meantime, you are reading and planning out your final essay. The essay is due on Friday, 2/11. This week: (Super-Challenge and Extreme) Your homework all week is to read your extra book. You should be finished with it by THIS Friday. Make sure you have read over your essay topic THREE times to be sure what quotes you are looking for! I can't stress how important this is! (Challenge) Begin filling out the outline for your essay. Sign out a copy of Twelve Angry Men.