Rain!!!!

Opening Thought:  




Today, we will be taking Vocab #16 quiz and turning in our work for this week:

Vocab #16 work
Genius Hour proposal
Day 12 work

Students will be able to work on their Genius Hour projects and those who are missing assignments will work on those.

Review, Review, Review

Opening Thought.....



Today, we discussed four ways in which students can improve their first 6-week grades.

We then reviewed Day 12 and the essay prompt.  We spent a considerable amount of time "breaking down" the prompt.  Students will need to submit Day 12 work tomorrow. (Day 12 work includes SOAPStone and questions from yesterday).

Tomorrow:  We had Vocab #16 quiz, Vocab #16 weekly work due,  Day 12 work due, and the proposals for Genius Hour projects.  All three assignments must be turned in for students to work on Genius Hour projects.

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014

Thought for the Day: 




The English Department had an all-day meeting so my classes were covered by a substitute.

Yesterday, students had time to "shred"/analyze the essay prompt.  They were to utilize whatever reading strategies they want from the unit for the analysis.  In addition, students are to answer the following questions on the article:

1. Reread article/analyze it
2.  What is John S. Mill saying? What is his argument? Use your own words...not his!!
3.  Is Mill's argument convincing? Why? Why not? What does he do (techniques) to convince the reader?
4.  Do you agree or disagree with his argument?
5.  Why do you agree or disagree ? (this means you need reasons...not just "because")
6.  Now...what are you going to say about it (his argument) and achieving happiness? 
7.  Write an outline for your essay.

Time to Tackle Writing

Opening Thought:



Today, we will discuss grades and the impact the vocabulary assignments are having.  In addition, the first 6-week grades will be posted in class via Student ID numbers.

Our focus today in class is tackling the writing prompt for this unit. Students will be given their own copy of the prompt and we will determine and discuss what the prompt is actually asking the students to do.

Early Out Monday 2-24

Yesterday, we distributed Vocab #16 list and also returned graded work.  We discussed Genius Hour briefly with reminders that all homework from this week must be turned in to be able to use Friday's classtime for your project.  

Reminders:  Genius Hour Proposal due 2/27; Vocab #16 weekly work and quiz 2/28

Finally Friday!

Thought for the Day?



Today, we will be taking the Vocab #15 quiz and turning in the Vocab #15 weekly work.

Then, we will review the proposal for Genius Hour.  Questions will be answered.

Hopefully, we will then go to the Computer Lab to work on completing the proposals. The students who have not completed this week's work (Vocab #15 work, Movie Writing Assignment or Day 10) will not be able to work on the proposal. They will be working on the missing work.

Have a great weekend!! Completed proposals are due by Thursday 2/27.

When On a Roll....

Please don't resort to this :)





Today, we will review the answers to our questions on Pathos, Logos, Ethos and Critical Thinking.

After that, we will discuss what reading strategies we have used in our unit and reflect on them.

Tomorrow, we have Vocab #15 quiz and weekly work.  Also, you will need to have all of your work done and in, so that you can work on Genius Hour projects.  Please review the proposal before class tomorrow.

"Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof" ('cause I'm happy)

Thought of the day....




1. We are turning in our written arguments from yesterday.
2. Then, we are delving into Logos, Pathos, and Ethos and examing how McMahon used each of these devices in his article.
3.  We will be answering questions (either alone or with a a partner) analyzing persuasive devices.
4.  Reminders:  

• Vocab #15 quiz and weekly work due Friday
• Review Genius Hour proposal by Friday (see last Friday's blog)

Back into the Groove

Today's Thought:  



Today, 

1.  We will finish the movie (we didn't finish on Friday).  
2.  The writing assignment has been adjusted for a one-night assignment instead of a weekend (lengthier) response.  (See Friday's blog for the writing topic)
3.  The writing assignment will be discussed and questions addressed.  Time will be given to start an argumentative response. The completed assignment is due tomorrow at the beginning of class.
4. Vocab #15 words were distributed.

Reminders:

• Need to bring all of our non-fiction work to class each day
• Vocab #15 quiz and weekly work due Friday 2/21
• Students need to review the Genius Hour Proposal by Friday.  

Weekly Wrap-Up!

Thought for the day?

1. Today, we will have our vocab quiz for Week #14 words.  
2. Vocab #14 work is also due at the beginning of class.
3. We will finish the movie in order to complete the writing assignment.
4. Writing assignment--see slide below
5. For our Genius/20% time, we will review the proposal process.
6. If time, we will learn the last summary strategy from Day 9....the rhetorical precis. 

**grades will be updated on Monday Feb. 17, 2014.  The grading period ends 2/21.

Here is the proposal form:  proposal

Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014

In class, we went through steps 1-4 to learn the Five Word Summary process (from Day 9--Second Summary Strategy)

After we completed our summary paragraphs based on the Five Word Summary process (steps 1-4), we continued to watch the thematically-tied movie, Pursuit of Happyness. 

Friday, Feb. 7, 2014

Genius Hour/20% Time....

We talked about creativity, ideas, passion projects, what would you want to do?? We shared our ideas with each other today!

Then, check out these amazing ideas from students from other schools:

Succinct Summary

• Today's class will finish the last 4 questions from Day 8 (Focus on Style).  
• In addition, students will begin to learn appropriate summary skills. Summary should be succinct and clear. Students can summarize, but often take too "long" to get to the main point.  (Day 9)

• After the first part of the Summary strategy is discussed, students will continue to take notes on the movie Pursuit of Happyness.  

• On Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, vocab #14 quiz will be given and the weekly vocab work is due as well.

Thoughts....

Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014

The class is beginning the movie, Pursuit of Happyness.  As we are studying the article "In Pursuit of Unhappiness," this will be a contrast to the article's theme....or is it?

Students will be taking notes on themes and key plot points to use as evidence later in a comparative writing assignment.

Thought of the day:

Style Choices in Writing

Opening Thought.....



In class, we are focusing even closer at the author's word choices and the impact his style of writing has on the reader (umm... that's you!!).  It's tough to look at how we react to writing because it's almost as if we have to take the role of an observer while still being the person reacting.  However, this is an important skill to practice and use.  It helps us analyze arguments, writing, and the choices authors make.  When we understand all three, we gain a full understanding of the article AND it helps us make better, smarter choices as writers.

Day 7...Looking at Quotes Used by the Author

Opening Thought....



In class, we are focusing on how McMahon (the article's author) uses the quotes from Carlyle and Mills to support his argument.  This discussion demands that you first know what McMahon is trying to convince the reader to believe.  What is McMahon's argument?  

Don't forget....we have Vocab #13 work and quiz due on Friday.  Also, NO WORD BANK FOR THE QUIZ!

Grade printouts were distributed.  Please see me after class today if you were absent. 

Noticing Language

Yesterday, we reviewed the concept of formal/informal registers. Today, we will be talking about how language, word choice, and how words have emotions (connotations). We will be using the language chosen by McMahon in his article "In Pursuit of Unhappiness."

In addtion, we will be returning the rest of the graded unit work.  

Don't forget...Vocab #13 is due Friday (and NO word bank for the quiz).  

Grades are in process of being updated to AERIES.  I will send an email to parents when the update is completed.

Let's Get Caught Up

In class today, we reviewed the Weekly Vocabulary Requirements for the class.  The details are included below.  In addition, we distributed graded work from Days 1-3 of our ERWC Pursuit of Unhappiness (our nonfiction unit). 





Here is Day 1 of our unit: