What to read this summer?

So, incoming eighth-graders, if you are wondering what to read, you can search Barnes & Noble for grade level-appropriate books, using a measurement called "Lexile score."

I did it for you, and sorted the list by what is most popular.  Give it a look!

http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?SRT=SA&DREF=1&STORE=ALL&SZE=10&LEXILE=830^1090&SAT=1

Summer Honors Reading Assignment for Incoming 9th-Graders and THANK YOU EVERYONE!

Hiya folks,

I miss you already!  Thanks to every one of you for a wonderful year!  I hope you have a relaxing and safe summer full of family and friends fun-time!  Best of luck as high-schoolers!  Woo-hoo!

For those of you who are going into the honors freshmen English class next year...here is a link to the assignment in case you already lost your handout.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3PCuWOS-Ae7em1QOS1HS25aUDg/edit?usp=sharing

Persuasive Speech Semifinalists to vote for on Monday

Period 5:
Haley
Andrea
Chris
Caroline
Emma

Period 7:
Kristen (guaranteed spot)
Cole
Diana
Katrina
Solon
Morgan
Kyle

Period 5 Persuasive Speakers for Wednesday

Ben
Haley
Justin
Samantha
Jake
Emma
Bryan
*Makayla
*Anna

Giant Final Draft Checklist

1. Name, teacher, period, date in the upper-left corner
2. An interesting title, centered, not bolded, not large, not underlined
3. An interesting hook (1/3 of the intro paragraph)
4. basic background info on your topic (2nd 1/3 of your intro paragraph)
5. A universal statement right before your thesis
6. A clear, direct thesis at the end of your intro paragraph
7. Do all parts of the intro flow together when read aloud?
8. A transitional phrase a the beginning of 1st body paragraph, telling the reader this is your first point.
9. Transitional phrases in between every body paragraph to help your reader hear that you are going from one point to the next (remember, your listener can't hear paragraph indentations)
10. Is there a clear topic sentence for each body paragraph that says what the paragraph is about and matches the fact(s) within the paragraph?
11. Does each fact have a parenthetical reference right after it?  The period goes after the parenthesis.
12. After every fact, is there at least one sentence of your own words discussing/explaining it?
13. Have you embedded your facts? The New York Times reports...
14. Every time you mention a newspaper, news organization, book title - it should be in italics.
15. Does every body paragraph have a conclusion sentence?
16. Does the rebuttal paragraph mention the other side's point, and then shoot it down?
17. Is there a transition tot he conclusion paragraph?
18. Does the conclusion end in a thoughtful, meaningful way?
19. Is the call to action specific enough?
20. Is everything in Times New Roman 12pt. font, double-spaced....EVERYTHING!!
21. Did you take off all unused citations from your works cited page?
22. Are your citations in alphabetical order?

Rebuttal

Intro and conclusion

Intro paragraph:

First, you need a hook to get us interested.  You can have a thought-provoking quote or fact, or even a strong statement, or pose a question to the reader.  If you do, at least follow-up with a few sentences to develop/discuss that fact or quote or question.  Also, you can start it with a hypothetical scenario, putting the reader in the shoes of the situation.  The hook typically takes up the first third of your intro.

Second is the background information - the stuff we need to know to understand this topic you will be discussing.  Give us a brief history or understanding of some of the terms you will be using.  This takes up another third of the intro.

Next comes a universal statement.  This is the sugar to help the medicine of your thesis go down.  You need to come up with a statement that even people who might be on the opposite side would agree with.  To do this it may be very broad.  If my thesis was we should have universal health care, a universal statement would be..."Everyone wants to have the care they need, and would want the same for their friends, families and neighbors."

Finally, one sentence: your thesis.  Make sure it is concise and to the point.

Conclusion paragraph:

1) restate your thesis in different words.

2) summarize each of your body paragraphs

3) give the call to action

4) Finale: just like the hook got us interested, the finale needs to be interesting and leave us thinking.  Again, this can be a quote, fact, statement, question, or hypothetical scenario.  End strong, because this is your last impression.

Have you shared your outline?

I have met with you personally and gone over your outline, or I have commented upon your Google Doc for everyone that has given me access.  If you haven't, I marked it as a "U" in my gradebook, so you better get your act together!  :)

We have a field trip tomorrow, and on Friday we will discuss what goes into your intro and concluding paragraphs in more detail.  After that, you should have a completed rough draft for Monday!  Hooray!

Wednesday's Class

Hi Class,

I'm out sick today.  Ms. Maloney will be your sub.  You know exactly what to do: continue to work on your body paragraphs.  Please follow the example body paragraph on the poster (on the whiteboard).

I will not be able to meet with you individually, but if you shared your file with me and allowed me to make comments, I can do so for some of you from home.  To see if I made comments, go to the "Comment" button on your Google Doc.

Periods 2:  it is really important that you plug your computers back in at the end of the period.

If there are any burning questions, you can email me at dstowell@sau16.org

I expect you be on your best behavior.  Thanks!

Pre-Writing Outline

Pre-Write Outline:

I.               Thesis (One sentence that clearly states your claim)

Ex:  The United States needs universal health care now.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

II.  First Reason We NEED What You Propose.  (If your claim is for the status quo, than give us a reason why we don’t need change)

A)   Topic Sentence – clearly state this need in one sentence

B)   Supporting Fact (quote or summarized – be sure to know what source it came from

III.  Second Reason We NEED What You Propose.  (If your claim is for the status quo, than give us a reason why we don’t need change)

A)   Topic Sentence – clearly state this need in one sentence

B)   Supporting Fact (quote or summarized – be sure to know what source it came from

IV.  First Reason Your Proposal is of Value.  (Explain the satisfaction, value, or benefit your position or claim produces for others; your claim is not only necessary, but is beneficial or helpful for others.  If you are proposing the status quo, explain the value of keeping things the same and not changing).

A)   Topic Sentence – clearly state this need in one sentence

B)   Supporting Fact (quote or summarized – be sure to know what source it came from

V.  Second Reason Your Proposal is of Value.  (Explain the satisfaction, value, or benefit your position or claim produces for others; your claim is not only necessary, but is beneficial or helpful for others.  If you are proposing the status quo, explain the value of keeping things the same and not changing).

A)   Topic Sentence – clearly state this need in one sentence

B)   Supporting Fact (quote or summarized – be sure to know what source it came from

VI.  Counter Claim and Rebuttal.  Now it is time to consider a reason that the other side has for opposing your claim.  Concede that they have a valid point, but then you must try your best to rebut it or point out the flaw/problem with their argument.  You may say that they have a logical fallacy as a problem, or refute them with evidence.

A)   State a reason that the other side has.

B)   Point out a flaw with their reason.

V.  Conclusion with Call to Action.  State the specific call to action you believe we should do.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Article

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/06/28/sicko.fact.check/

Notes

Here are the notes from the film and terms.  The quiz will have you writing 1-3 paragraphs, using this information.  Be prepared.

Persuasive Organizer

Giant List of Topics

      Should the town of Stratham pass the teachers’ contract?

·      Should the second floor of the school be completed?

·      Should we eliminate summer vacation?

·      Should we eliminate standardized testing? (NWEA, NECAP)

·      Should New Hampshire repeal the death penalty?

·      Should we be vegetarians?

·      Should the government have more gun restrictions?  31-bullet clip?

·      Should the government do more to prevent illegal downloading?

·      Should the government do more to prevent homelessness, or is it not that big of an issue?

·      Should the hacker groups Wikileaks and Anonymous be arrested?

·      Should the government do more to prevent illegal immigration, or is it too expensive?

·      Should the government have more restrictions on genetically modified food?

·      Are we doing enough to prevent childhood obesity in America?

·      Does homework our school gives cause more harm than good for students?

·      Should we close all nuclear power plants in the U.S.?

·      Should the U.S. have more trade restrictions with China?

·      Should the U.S. immediately withdraw troops from Afghanistan?

·      Is too much of our nation's budget spent on defense?

·      Should we have levels in the middle school?

·      Should the U.S.  modify or repeal N.C.L.B. legislation?

Should we approve the Keystone pipeline project?

·      Should the U.S. drill in the Alaskan wildlife preserve for oil?

·      Do there need to be more restrictions on oil drilling in the U.S.?

·      Should the U.S. do more to prevent global warming?

·      Should economic sanctions be lifted from Cuba?

·      Should the president do more to close the Guantanomo Bay detention center?

·      Should major agriculture-producing countries stop producing crops for biofuel?

·      Is the Obama administration taking appropriate actions to reverse the recession?

·      Should the U.S. apply more pressure on China for human-rights issues?

·      Should the U.S. do more to coerce China to grant Tibet independence?

·      Should the U.S. put more pressure on Israel to have a peace agreement with Palestine?

·      Is the Obama administration doing enough to protect the environment?

·      Are our schools doing enough to prevent bullying?

·      Should our school start time be later?

·      Should N.H. keep the law allowing gay marriage?  (be careful to keep it fact-based, not opinion)

·      Should we keep the new health care legislation?  "Obama-care"?

·      Should American citizens boycott the sale of S.U.V.'s?

·      Should American citizens boycott Walmart?

·      Should plastic bags be banned in grocery stores?

·      Is the U.S. doing enough to reduce the stockpile of nuclear weapons worldwide?  (We just signed a new treaty with Russia)

·      Should people be allowed to own exotic/dangerous pets?

·      Are we, as a nation, doing well enough to educate our students?

Examples to study

To study

Present:  study, studies
The students study their verb examples.

Past:  studied
The students studied for an hour.

Future: will study, shall study
The students shall study on a regular basis.

Present Perfect: has studied, have studied
The students have studied a lot for this quiz.

Past Perfect:  had studied
The students had studied before they played their video games.

Future Perfect:  will have studied, shall have studied
The students will have studied before they play their video games.

Present Progressive: is studying
She is studying her algebra homework.

Past Progressive: was studying, were studying
They were studying their French sentences in study hall.

Future Progressive:  will be studying
Mr. Stowell's class will be studying tonight!

Present Perfect Progressive:  has been studying
He has been studying for seven days.

Past Perfect Progressive:  had been studying
He had been studying when his dog ate his homework.

Future Perfect Progressive:  will have been studying
We will have been studying for three hours by dinnertime.

Verb Notes

Here are the notes we took today on the verb tenses and progressive verb forms.

Progressive Verb Forms

Presentations All Week

We are presenting our short stories in class all week.

Finishing the Short Stories

Period 5: you will have different iPads on Monday to finish your projects.  I know, very sad.  We cannot have the SAME iPads on Monday, but I have moved any presentations to Dropbox.

Everyone else: you will have to make sure you have finished and uploaded your project by the end of the day on Friday, for we will present on Monday.

Please fill the below form out immediately!

Epic Rap Battles Winners

Finally!  After much waiting and nagging....the results are in!  Claim your prize tomorrow

Period 1: The Friends Girls
Period 2: Oprah vs. Ellen
Period 5: Perry vs. Doofenshmirtz vs. Candace
Period 6: Sonic vs. Road Runner
Period 7: Bane vs. Joker vs. Penguin     tied with      Ozzy vs. Robert Plant