Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Grades
Please note that though I have been updating grades on PowerGrade, those may not show up on PowerSchool until we are back in school.
A Reminder for the January Book Assignment
Have your book read by January 26/27, and bring it to class that day for a writing assignment that will be completed in class.
Our school librarians know what types of books you are looking for and can help you find a book.
The genres are either realistic fiction or distopian fiction. Please try to find a book that is at or close to your own reading level. Notice that your book this time must be fiction.
Realistic fiction includes books that are set in the real world and have characters that could really exist and plots that could really happen. For this term they should be contemporary -- set in modern times -- not historical fiction.
Joan Bauer is one writer of realistic fiction. We will probably read her book Stand Tall as a class later in the school year.
Some examples of realistic fiction include The Outsiders (which we read as a class), Gary Paulsen's Hatchet (1020L) and others, Because of Winn-Dixie (610L) by DiCamillo, Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie (560L), Stargirl (590L), No More Dead Dogs (610L) by Korman, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (700L) by Konigsburg, Walk Two Moons (770L) by Creech, Rules (780L) by Lord, Downriver (760L) by Will Hobbs.
For more, look under "Life and Its Problems" at
If you've forgotten your own lexile level, look back at your print-out or check with Ms. Dorsey.
Distopian fiction is about a society (usually in the future) that seems to be trying to create a utopia, but has deep flaws. Examples include The Giver (which we will read as a class), Lowry's other books Gathering Blue and The Messenger, Hunger Games and Catching Fire, and The Uglies series.
More young adult distopian fiction include The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau , Running Out of Time by Haddix, The House of the Scorpian by Farmer, Ender's Game by Card, Tunnels by Gordon, Tripods Trilogy by Christopher, The Time Machine by Verne, Feed by M.T. Anderson, The Last Book in the Universe (740L), Storm Thief (880L), the Among the Hidden series.
(Note: I have not read all of these books, so parents may want to find out more about them before approving of them for their children. I highly recommend reading books before or along with your children.)
Brave New World, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and Fahrenheit 451 (890L) are distopian books for older readers.
Unwind (740L) is an excellent distopian book, but probably for readers 9th grade and up. The same goes for Bar Code Rebellion (880L). Parents may also prefer that their seventh graders not yet read Hunger Games or Catching Fire.
Animal Farm, also distopian fiction, will be read by the students in ninth grade, so we don't use it as a class book or as an individual book.
More information at
Here's a new distopian novel I just found tonight (January 4, 2010) during a trip to Barnes and Noble:
The Roar by Emma Clayton -- Grade 5–8—In a bleak future, humans use terrible chemicals to fight The Animal Plague that causes all of the world's animals to go rabid and renders most of the planet uninhabitable. The population now cowers in overcrowded walled cities. Mika, 12, and his parents live in London in terrible conditions. His twin, Ellie, supposedly drowned a year earlier, but Mika is convinced that she still lives. He's right. The story begins with Ellie and a tiny monkey named Puck fleeing a spaceship in a stolen Pod Fighter. Sadly, their attempt to escape is foiled by the evil Mal Gorman, who has a plan to co-opt the entire first generation of children born after the Plague and make them into an army for his own nefarious purposes. And Gorman has special plans for kids like Mika and Ellie, whose mutations give them unique abilities. To save his sister, Mika will have to win a contest involving simulator battle games and many deadly challenges, using abilities he never knew he had. The story starts fast and never slows down. While the bad guys are a bit stereotypical, the good guys are interesting and realistic. There's a touch of the supernatural, some interesting philosophical questions, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave readers hungry for more. Give this one to readers not quite ready for Orson Scott Card.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Our school librarians know what types of books you are looking for and can help you find a book.
The genres are either realistic fiction or distopian fiction. Please try to find a book that is at or close to your own reading level. Notice that your book this time must be fiction.
Realistic fiction includes books that are set in the real world and have characters that could really exist and plots that could really happen. For this term they should be contemporary -- set in modern times -- not historical fiction.
Joan Bauer is one writer of realistic fiction. We will probably read her book Stand Tall as a class later in the school year.
Some examples of realistic fiction include The Outsiders (which we read as a class), Gary Paulsen's Hatchet (1020L) and others, Because of Winn-Dixie (610L) by DiCamillo, Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie (560L), Stargirl (590L), No More Dead Dogs (610L) by Korman, From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler (700L) by Konigsburg, Walk Two Moons (770L) by Creech, Rules (780L) by Lord, Downriver (760L) by Will Hobbs.
For more, look under "Life and Its Problems" at
Recommended Books
To find out the lexile level for a book, go to lexile.comIf you've forgotten your own lexile level, look back at your print-out or check with Ms. Dorsey.
Distopian fiction is about a society (usually in the future) that seems to be trying to create a utopia, but has deep flaws. Examples include The Giver (which we will read as a class), Lowry's other books Gathering Blue and The Messenger, Hunger Games and Catching Fire, and The Uglies series.
More young adult distopian fiction include The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau , Running Out of Time by Haddix, The House of the Scorpian by Farmer, Ender's Game by Card, Tunnels by Gordon, Tripods Trilogy by Christopher, The Time Machine by Verne, Feed by M.T. Anderson, The Last Book in the Universe (740L), Storm Thief (880L), the Among the Hidden series.
(Note: I have not read all of these books, so parents may want to find out more about them before approving of them for their children. I highly recommend reading books before or along with your children.)
Brave New World, Nineteen Eighty-Four, and Fahrenheit 451 (890L) are distopian books for older readers.
Unwind (740L) is an excellent distopian book, but probably for readers 9th grade and up. The same goes for Bar Code Rebellion (880L). Parents may also prefer that their seventh graders not yet read Hunger Games or Catching Fire.
Animal Farm, also distopian fiction, will be read by the students in ninth grade, so we don't use it as a class book or as an individual book.
More information at
January 2010 Book Assignment
Here's a new distopian novel I just found tonight (January 4, 2010) during a trip to Barnes and Noble:
The Roar by Emma Clayton -- Grade 5–8—In a bleak future, humans use terrible chemicals to fight The Animal Plague that causes all of the world's animals to go rabid and renders most of the planet uninhabitable. The population now cowers in overcrowded walled cities. Mika, 12, and his parents live in London in terrible conditions. His twin, Ellie, supposedly drowned a year earlier, but Mika is convinced that she still lives. He's right. The story begins with Ellie and a tiny monkey named Puck fleeing a spaceship in a stolen Pod Fighter. Sadly, their attempt to escape is foiled by the evil Mal Gorman, who has a plan to co-opt the entire first generation of children born after the Plague and make them into an army for his own nefarious purposes. And Gorman has special plans for kids like Mika and Ellie, whose mutations give them unique abilities. To save his sister, Mika will have to win a contest involving simulator battle games and many deadly challenges, using abilities he never knew he had. The story starts fast and never slows down. While the bad guys are a bit stereotypical, the good guys are interesting and realistic. There's a touch of the supernatural, some interesting philosophical questions, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave readers hungry for more. Give this one to readers not quite ready for Orson Scott Card.—Mara Alpert, Los Angeles Public Library Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Monday, December 21, 2009
December 22, 2009, and January 4, 2010
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Important Notices:
All late or revised work is due the day you come back from vacation.
Study all of our prefixes and suffixes that we've tested on so far, and also the spelling words that go with them. We will have a test over all of them after we return from vacation.
Make sure you finish/revise, as needed, your research projects. Follow directions.
Also, as needed, finish and/or revise your wiki book review.
1. Words By Heart Video
B1 (Basketball Games)
B2 (to minute 43)
B4 (to minute 58)
A1 (to minute 39) I've got me a hand now that can work circles around the two of you. . . "
A2 (to minute 55) Mrs. Chism playing the player piano.
A4 (to minute 42) Mrs. Chism beating the rug.
2. Wrote a brief summary in your composition book of the part of the video you watched.
3. Played Sparkle to study the prefixes and suffixes and spelling words that go with them.
Important Notices:
All late or revised work is due the day you come back from vacation.
Study all of our prefixes and suffixes that we've tested on so far, and also the spelling words that go with them. We will have a test over all of them after we return from vacation.
Make sure you finish/revise, as needed, your research projects. Follow directions.
Also, as needed, finish and/or revise your wiki book review.
1. Words By Heart Video
B1 (Basketball Games)
B2 (to minute 43)
B4 (to minute 58)
A1 (to minute 39) I've got me a hand now that can work circles around the two of you. . . "
A2 (to minute 55) Mrs. Chism playing the player piano.
A4 (to minute 42) Mrs. Chism beating the rug.
2. Wrote a brief summary in your composition book of the part of the video you watched.
3. Played Sparkle to study the prefixes and suffixes and spelling words that go with them.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
No-Name PowerPoint
No-Name PowerPoint
I have a PowerPoint from A2 on German POW Camps in America. To whom does it belong. I'd like to give you your points! 100/100 on the facts, etc. and 35/30 on your Works Cited list! Found, thanks to a parent!
From B4 there is an unclaimed PowerPoint about Japanese Internment Camps. It has no informal citations and no works cited list -- no sources.
There is also a no-name poster with a picture of Abraham Lincoln in the center.
From B4 there is an unclaimed PowerPoint about Japanese Internment Camps. It has no informal citations and no works cited list -- no sources.
There is also a no-name poster with a picture of Abraham Lincoln in the center.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
December 18/21, 2009
December 18/21, 2009
Words By Heart
B1 page 17 after 5 paragraph -- "scared of changes." to beginning of chapter 4
video to home from the scripture bee
B2 top of page to page 21 to beginning of chapter 4
video to Ben on his way to bury Bullet
B4 from end of chapter 2 to beginning of chapter 4
video to Ben on his way to bury Bullet
A1 from page 14 "you don't need to be told."
(Basketball games)
A2 from page 20, after 4th paragraph, "arithmetic lesson for tomorrow." to 2nd paragraph to chapter 4
video to Ben on his way to bury Bullet
A4 from page 19, chapter 3 to
video to Ben and Lena talking after they had found the knife in the bread and Claudie was so angry.
We shared some PowerPoints. Please make any revisions and editing that you need to do on your projects -- ASAP.
The last day to hand in late work will be the day you come back to class after our Christmas Break.
Words By Heart
B1 page 17 after 5 paragraph -- "scared of changes." to beginning of chapter 4
video to home from the scripture bee
B2 top of page to page 21 to beginning of chapter 4
video to Ben on his way to bury Bullet
B4 from end of chapter 2 to beginning of chapter 4
video to Ben on his way to bury Bullet
A1 from page 14 "you don't need to be told."
(Basketball games)
A2 from page 20, after 4th paragraph, "arithmetic lesson for tomorrow." to 2nd paragraph to chapter 4
video to Ben on his way to bury Bullet
A4 from page 19, chapter 3 to
video to Ben and Lena talking after they had found the knife in the bread and Claudie was so angry.
We shared some PowerPoints. Please make any revisions and editing that you need to do on your projects -- ASAP.
The last day to hand in late work will be the day you come back to class after our Christmas Break.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
December 16/17, 2009
December 16/17, 2009
1. Take the test on the suffix -less and words using it.
-less = without (This suffix creates adjectives.) Be able to tell which part of speech this suffix creates when you add it to a word base.
hopeless
useless
careless
fearless
worthless
Be prepared when you come back after Christmas Break to take a test on all of your prefixes, suffixes, and words so far. Study your chart.
2. We are going to the computer lab to type up your review/response for your historical fiction book.
Writing About Your Book
A1: http://cavemana1.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
A2: http://caveman-a2.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
A4: http://cavemana4.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
B1: http://caveman-b1.pbworks.com/November-December-Book-Reports
B2: http://caveman-b2.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
B4: http://cavemanb4.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
1. Take the test on the suffix -less and words using it.
-less = without (This suffix creates adjectives.) Be able to tell which part of speech this suffix creates when you add it to a word base.
hopeless
useless
careless
fearless
worthless
Be prepared when you come back after Christmas Break to take a test on all of your prefixes, suffixes, and words so far. Study your chart.
Prefixes and Suffixes from the Seventh Grade Core for Term 2 (and on) Vocabulary
2. We are going to the computer lab to type up your review/response for your historical fiction book.
Writing About Your Book
A1: http://cavemana1.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
A2: http://caveman-a2.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
A4: http://cavemana4.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
B1: http://caveman-b1.pbworks.com/November-December-Book-Reports
B2: http://caveman-b2.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
B4: http://cavemanb4.pbworks.com/November-December-Historical-Fiction-Books
Monday, December 14, 2009
December 14/15, 2009
December 14/15, 2009
Spelling test --
Prefix to study: mis- which means incorrect, bad
1. mistake
2. misprint
3. misplace
4. misinform
5. misuse
Extra credit:
Tell what the word parts for this word mean:
misanthropist:
1) miso = hate
2) anthrop = man, human being
3) -ist = one who
2. Spelling for next time:
-less = without (This suffix creates adjectives.) Be able to tell which part of speech this suffix creates when you add it to a word base.
hopeless
useless
careless
fearless
worthless
( Apostrophes -- (B2 needs to do the apostrophe exercise with Captain Underpants.)
3. Words By Heart
B1 end of chapter one to page 17 after 5 paragraph -- "scared of changes."
B2 from page 15, top of page to page 21.
B4 from page 15, top of page to end of chapter 2
A1 from page 7 4th paragraph to page 14 "you don't need to be told." 2nd paragraph
A2 from very top of page 17 after ". . . is true for her" to to page 20, after 4th paragraph, "arithmetic lesson for tomorrow."
A4 from page 14 "You don't need to be told to page 19, chapter 3.
4. View a few projects
5. Prepare for writing about your historical fiction novel next time. Do you remember your wiki user name and password?
See
Spelling test --
Prefix to study: mis- which means incorrect, bad
1. mistake
2. misprint
3. misplace
4. misinform
5. misuse
Extra credit:
Tell what the word parts for this word mean:
misanthropist:
1) miso = hate
2) anthrop = man, human being
3) -ist = one who
2. Spelling for next time:
-less = without (This suffix creates adjectives.) Be able to tell which part of speech this suffix creates when you add it to a word base.
hopeless
useless
careless
fearless
worthless
( Apostrophes -- (B2 needs to do the apostrophe exercise with Captain Underpants.)
3. Words By Heart
B1 end of chapter one to page 17 after 5 paragraph -- "scared of changes."
B2 from page 15, top of page to page 21.
B4 from page 15, top of page to end of chapter 2
A1 from page 7 4th paragraph to page 14 "you don't need to be told." 2nd paragraph
A2 from very top of page 17 after ". . . is true for her" to to page 20, after 4th paragraph, "arithmetic lesson for tomorrow."
A4 from page 14 "You don't need to be told to page 19, chapter 3.
4. View a few projects
5. Prepare for writing about your historical fiction novel next time. Do you remember your wiki user name and password?
See
Writing About Your Book
Writing About Your Book
Come to class on December 16/17 prepared to write about your historical fiction book.
title
author
number of pages
main character(s)
setting
main conflict/problem: Give both the general one (man vs. man, etc.) and the specific conflict(s) for the book.
Tell enough about what happened to interest a reader in reading this. No spoilers!
Tell about some of the things you learned from this book about the time, place, and or people upon which it was based.
Give the book a rating from one to five stars, and explain why you gave it that rating.
Handout for this assignment:
http://caveman-b1.pbworks.com/
http://cavemana4.pbworks.com/
title
author
number of pages
main character(s)
setting
main conflict/problem: Give both the general one (man vs. man, etc.) and the specific conflict(s) for the book.
Tell enough about what happened to interest a reader in reading this. No spoilers!
Tell about some of the things you learned from this book about the time, place, and or people upon which it was based.
Give the book a rating from one to five stars, and explain why you gave it that rating.
Handout for this assignment:
Writing About Your Book Handout to Prepare a Rough Draft doc
Wikis:
http://caveman-b1.pbworks.com/
http://caveman-b2.pbworks.com
http://cavemanb4.pbworks.com/
http://cavemana1.pbworks.com/
http://caveman-a2.pbworks.com/
http://cavemana4.pbworks.com/
Friday, December 11, 2009
Neatness Counts Contest
I lost the old post, so we're starting over today!
A1
12-11-09 -1 piece of litter on floor
A2
12-11-09 -5 items on the floor
12-15-09 -12 items needed to be picked up after the class left, and the composition books were somewhat messed up -2 = -14
12-21-09 You would have lost 5 or more points for leaving the composition books in a terrible mess if Nathan hadn't straightened them up for you. He deserves your thanks.
-3 Words By Heart books and another book from the shelf left out on the floor. (K.B., I believe at least two of these were your mess.)
A4
12-11-09 -1 piece of litter , -1 composition books
12-15-09 - 2 pieces of litter
B1
12-11-09
B2
12-11-09 Thanks for putting away your composition books and Words By Heart books neatly, but three students left messes. -3
B4
12-11-09
12-16-09 -2
A1
12-11-09 -1 piece of litter on floor
A2
12-11-09 -5 items on the floor
12-15-09 -12 items needed to be picked up after the class left, and the composition books were somewhat messed up -2 = -14
12-21-09 You would have lost 5 or more points for leaving the composition books in a terrible mess if Nathan hadn't straightened them up for you. He deserves your thanks.
-3 Words By Heart books and another book from the shelf left out on the floor. (K.B., I believe at least two of these were your mess.)
A4
12-11-09 -1 piece of litter , -1 composition books
12-15-09 - 2 pieces of litter
B1
12-11-09
B2
12-11-09 Thanks for putting away your composition books and Words By Heart books neatly, but three students left messes. -3
B4
12-11-09
12-16-09 -2
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
For Parents: Book Recommendations?
Here are some best YA lit recommendations found at NPR. They might not all be appropriate for your child, but this list will give you an idea of some of the books that are out there.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121173632&sc=emaf
I can recommend going to this blog for book recommendations:
http://cleanreads.blogspot.com/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121173632&sc=emaf
I can recommend going to this blog for book recommendations:
http://cleanreads.blogspot.com/
December 10/11, 2009
December 10/11, 2009
Turn in Book-of-the-Month Research Projects.
Here is the original assignment:
and bring it to school that day.
1. Spelling test on
-ist = one who
artist (no extra credit)
physicist (pertaining to nature)
chemist (from alchemy)
2. Receive the next spelling assignment:
Prefix to study: mis- which means incorrect, bad
1. mistake
2. misprint
3. misplace
4. misinform
5. misuse
Extra credit:
Tell what the word parts for this word mean:
misanthropist:
1) miso = hate
2) anthrop = man, human being
3) -ist = one who
3. Apostrophes -- (B2 needs to do the apostrophe exercise with Captain Underpants.)
4. Words By Heart
B1 from page 5, end of paragraph 1 to (page 15, top of page?)
B2 from end of chapter one to ? (page 15, top of page?)
B4 from page 7, 4th paragraph to page 15, top of page.
A1 from page 7 4th paragraph to (no reading today)
A2 from very top of page 17 after ". . . is true for her" to
A4 from end of chapter 1 to page 14 "You don't need to be told
Here's another example for a Works Cited Entry:
For the facts, you need to cite (like with easybib.com or citationmachine.net) the sources.
Here is a works cited entry from easybib for a fact from one student's project. I just put in the URL she provided (after I'd selected Click Here to Select a Source, Web Site), clicked on AutoCite, then on Create Citation -- lower on the page. Then I could copy that citation, or wait until I had them all and copy the whole works cited/bibliography from easy bib.
This is the works cited entry:
"Roman Social Class and Public Display." VROMA :: Home. Web. 09 Dec. 2009.
.
Turn in Book-of-the-Month Research Projects.
Here is the original assignment:
November/December Book Assessment
FAQ's about the Project
Have your book entirely read by the 16th/17th,and bring it to school that day.
1. Spelling test on
-ist = one who
artist (no extra credit)
physicist (pertaining to nature)
chemist (from alchemy)
2. Receive the next spelling assignment:
Prefix to study: mis- which means incorrect, bad
1. mistake
2. misprint
3. misplace
4. misinform
5. misuse
Extra credit:
Tell what the word parts for this word mean:
misanthropist:
1) miso = hate
2) anthrop = man, human being
3) -ist = one who
3. Apostrophes -- (B2 needs to do the apostrophe exercise with Captain Underpants.)
4. Words By Heart
B1 from page 5, end of paragraph 1 to (page 15, top of page?)
B2 from end of chapter one to ? (page 15, top of page?)
B4 from page 7, 4th paragraph to page 15, top of page.
A1 from page 7 4th paragraph to (no reading today)
A2 from very top of page 17 after ". . . is true for her" to
A4 from end of chapter 1 to page 14 "You don't need to be told
Here's another example for a Works Cited Entry:
For the facts, you need to cite (like with easybib.com or citationmachine.net) the sources.
Here is a works cited entry from easybib for a fact from one student's project. I just put in the URL she provided (after I'd selected Click Here to Select a Source, Web Site), clicked on AutoCite, then on Create Citation -- lower on the page. Then I could copy that citation, or wait until I had them all and copy the whole works cited/bibliography from easy bib.
This is the works cited entry:
"Roman Social Class and Public Display." VROMA :: Home. Web. 09 Dec. 2009.
Monday, December 7, 2009
December 8/9, 2009
December 8/9, 2009
Important reminder: Your research project on the background (the real/nonfiction facts) of your historical fiction book is due next time.
1. Spelling Test on
"im-" means not
impossible
1 point Extra credit: poss(e) = to be able, to have power
improbable
1 point Extra credit: probā(re) = to test, examination
imperfect
1 point Extra credit: per = a prefix meaning “thorough,” “thoroughly,” “utterly,” “very”
1 point Extra credit: facere = to do
1 point Extra credit: So, perfect means to finish or to bring to completion.
immobile
1 point Extra credit: mōbilis = movable
B4 will also be taking the test on the -ful words.
2. Receive the next set for the test next time: (B4 will do two text time after next if they did not receive the words today for next time.)
-ist = one who
artist (no extra credit)
physicist (pertaining to nature)
chemist (from alchemy)
3. Apostrophes
4. About the project due next time.
5. Words By Heart
In your composition book, keep your log about Words By Heart.
B1 to page 5, end of paragraph 1
B2 to end of chapter one. B2 needs to do the apostrophe exercise with Captain Underpants.
B4 to page 7, 4th paragraph
A1 page 2 to last paragraph to page 7 4th paragraph.
A2 to very top of page 17 after ". . . is true for her."
A4 end of chapter 1
Important reminder: Your research project on the background (the real/nonfiction facts) of your historical fiction book is due next time.
1. Spelling Test on
"im-" means not
impossible
1 point Extra credit: poss(e) = to be able, to have power
improbable
1 point Extra credit: probā(re) = to test, examination
imperfect
1 point Extra credit: per = a prefix meaning “thorough,” “thoroughly,” “utterly,” “very”
1 point Extra credit: facere = to do
1 point Extra credit: So, perfect means to finish or to bring to completion.
immobile
1 point Extra credit: mōbilis = movable
B4 will also be taking the test on the -ful words.
2. Receive the next set for the test next time: (B4 will do two text time after next if they did not receive the words today for next time.)
-ist = one who
artist (no extra credit)
physicist (pertaining to nature)
chemist (from alchemy)
3. Apostrophes
4. About the project due next time.
5. Words By Heart
In your composition book, keep your log about Words By Heart.
B1 to page 5, end of paragraph 1
B2 to end of chapter one. B2 needs to do the apostrophe exercise with Captain Underpants.
B4 to page 7, 4th paragraph
A1 page 2 to last paragraph to page 7 4th paragraph.
A2 to very top of page 17 after ". . . is true for her."
A4 end of chapter 1
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Sample Facts and Works Cited for the Book Research Project
Real (Nonfiction) Facts Behind the Historical Fiction Novel
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
prepared by Mrs. Dorsey
Period A3
December 5, 2009
Facts:
1. PBS explains that the Jim Crow Laws this way: "Jim Crow was not a person, yet affected the lives of millions of people. Named after a popular 19th-century minstrel song that stereotyped African Americans, "Jim Crow" came to personify the system of government-sanctioned racial oppression and segregation in the United States."
2. On the PBS webite about Jim Crow Laws, information about the Ku Klux Klan stated that six confederate war veterans in Tennesse organized the Ku Klux Klan in the winter of 1865-1966. It started out as a secret men's club, and later became a terrorist organization mainly aiming their terrorist acts at African-Americans and anyone who was trying to help the African-Americans.
3. Another fact that I found on the PBS website states that the fourteenth amendment (passed by Congress in June of 1866 and ratified by the states in 1868) granted citizenship to African-Americans, and was designed to protect the civil rights of former slaves.
4. Also from PBS, the thirteenth amendentment had abolished slavery, and the fifteenth amendment would guarantee voting rights to black men.
5. The glossary of Biography for Beginners tells us that in 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court in (Brown vs. Board of Education) declared it unconstitutional to segregate blacks from whites in public schools.
6. I found one of the Jim Crow laws that was mentioned in my novel quoted at American Radio Works: "North Carolina: School textbooks shall not be interchangeable between the white and colored schools, but shall continue to be used by the race first using them.
7. , 8., 9. Here are some more (unbelievable to me) Jim Crow laws as quoted on American Radio Works:
"Louisiana: All circuses, shows, and tent exhibitions, to which the attendance of more than one race is invited shall provide not less than two ticket offices and not less than two entrances.""Texas: Negroes are to be served through a separate branch or branches of the county free library, which shall be administered by a custodian of the negro race under the supervision of the county librarian."
"Mississippi: Any person guilty of printing, publishing or circulating matter urging or presenting arguments in favor of social equality or of intermarriage between whites and negroes, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."
10. According to the American Academy of Achievement's biography of Rosa Parks, it was on December 1, 1955 that she refused to give up her bus seat to a white man, eventually leading to the Supreme Court decision to strike down laws that segregated public bus transportation.
11. An institute at Stanford University reports that on November 13, 1956, the Supreme Court decided the case of Browder v. Gayle, which was the case that struck down laws segregating public transportation.
12. The World Book Encyclopedia verifies that Medgar Evers was a leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement who was shot down (murdered) outside his home on June 12, 1963. (In my historical novel, his wife and children see it happen.)
13. According to an article on the NPR website, Medgar Ever's killer was not brought to justice for 31 years.
14. I also found out on the NPR website that at the time of Ever's murder, Mississippi was the state that led the nation in the lynching of black Americans. Today it is the state with highest number of black elected officials.
15. Articles published with in the last ten years and reported on the internet, including a report on CBS News, one on a Florida television station, and one from an African American news source, complained of U.S. companies that had segregated (based on race or ethnicity) bathrooms in 2000, 2005, and 2007.
Works Cited
"BlackNews.com - Tyson Foods Sued For Maintaining Segregated Work Areas." BlackNews.com - Black News | African American News | Black America. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. .
Evers, Medgar. Garrow, David J. Web. 6 Dec. 2009. .
First Coast News | WTLV NBC12 | WJXX ABC25 | Jacksonville, FL | St. Augustine, FL | Brunswick, GA |. Web. 07 Dec. 2009. .
Harris, Laurie L. BIOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS--AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS. Vol. 1. 2007. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 6 Dec. 2009.
"King Institute Encyclopedia." King Institute Home. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. .
"The Legacy of Medgar Evers : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. .
"Remembering Jim Crow : Presented by American RadioWorks." American RadioWorks from American Public Media. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. .
"The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow |." PBS. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. .
"Rosa Parks Biography -- Academy of Achievement." Academy of Achievement Main Menu. Web. 06 Dec. 2009. .
"Segregated Bathrooms At Halliburton - CBS News." Breaking News Headlines: Business, Entertainment & World News - CBS News. Web. 06 Dec. 2009.
Note: The facts would also be accompanied by illustrations, and I'd tell where I found my illustrations.
See also
FAQ's about the Project
Links about civil rights:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1294360 Medgar Evars
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/jimcrow/education.html Jim Crow
http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/remembering/laws.html Jim Crow
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Letters to Authors -- October Book of the Month
The deadline has been extended through December 3rd. That is your last day to revise and edit.
myaccess.com
user name: firstnamestudentnumber
password: 999lastname
When you first get to the page with the horizontal bar graph showing your overall progress, look at the right to see if you have any messages.
When you are revising and editing, use the My Tutor and My Editor. Also, click on comments on the upper box to see the teacher comments. Click on the blue or other colored words to see the comments.
Make sure you've right aligned your name and the school address.
Don't forget the date over the greeting.
Make sure you include the book title in your letter.
Italicize book titles.
Check organization. Do you have a beginning, middle, and end (conclusion)?
myaccess.com
user name: firstnamestudentnumber
password: 999lastname
When you first get to the page with the horizontal bar graph showing your overall progress, look at the right to see if you have any messages.
When you are revising and editing, use the My Tutor and My Editor. Also, click on comments on the upper box to see the teacher comments. Click on the blue or other colored words to see the comments.
Make sure you've right aligned your name and the school address.
Don't forget the date over the greeting.
Make sure you include the book title in your letter.
Italicize book titles.
Check organization. Do you have a beginning, middle, and end (conclusion)?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
December 4/7 2009
December 4/7, 2009
Pick up your composition books.
1. Prepare for spelling test.
Take spelling test on the suffix "-ful' (Except for one class that I think didn't get the study guide yet for the "-ful" words.
careful
beautiful
useful
helpful
frightful
2. Receive a new word part and new words:
"im-" means not
impossible
1 point Extra credit: poss(e) = to be able, to have power
improbable
1 point Extra credit: probā(re) = to test, examination
imperfect
1 point Extra credit: per = a prefix meaning “thorough,” “thoroughly,” “utterly,” “very”
1 point Extra credit: facere = to do
1 point Extra credit: So, perfect means to finish or to bring to completion.
immobile
1 point Extra credit: mōbilis = movable
3. More About the Book (Historical Fiction background) Research Project. -- view and discuss sample PowerPoint.
4. Titles
5. Words By Heart
In your composition book, keep a log about Words By Heart.
B1
B2
B4
A1 page 2 to last paragraph
A2 finished chapter 1
A4 to page 4, "She looked out the window at the calm dusk and tried to believe she would win."
For answers to questions about your November-December book project, see
Pick up your composition books.
1. Prepare for spelling test.
Take spelling test on the suffix "-ful' (Except for one class that I think didn't get the study guide yet for the "-ful" words.
careful
beautiful
useful
helpful
frightful
2. Receive a new word part and new words:
"im-" means not
impossible
1 point Extra credit: poss(e) = to be able, to have power
improbable
1 point Extra credit: probā(re) = to test, examination
imperfect
1 point Extra credit: per = a prefix meaning “thorough,” “thoroughly,” “utterly,” “very”
1 point Extra credit: facere = to do
1 point Extra credit: So, perfect means to finish or to bring to completion.
immobile
1 point Extra credit: mōbilis = movable
3. More About the Book (Historical Fiction background) Research Project. -- view and discuss sample PowerPoint.
4. Titles
5. Words By Heart
In your composition book, keep a log about Words By Heart.
B1
B2
B4
A1 page 2 to last paragraph
A2 finished chapter 1
A4 to page 4, "She looked out the window at the calm dusk and tried to believe she would win."
For answers to questions about your November-December book project, see
FAQ's about the Project
Saturday, November 28, 2009
December 2/3. 2009
December 2/3. 2009
1. Prepare for spelling/prefix test.
2. Take the test.
Test on the prefix il-, its meaning, and on the example words.
Test next time will be on the suffix "-ful" which means full of or characterized by. Words using -ful are adjectives. (Did B4 receive these?)
1. careful
2. beautiful
3. useful
4. helpful
5. frightful
3. Finish and pass off the Magical Study Guides!
4. In your composition book, write an entry answering these questions:
Label it with: [Today's Date] What is worth fighting for? What causes would you be willing to stand up for?
Introduce the book Words By Heart.
5. Book Fair
For answers to questions about your November-December book project, see
1. Prepare for spelling/prefix test.
2. Take the test.
Test on the prefix il-, its meaning, and on the example words.
Test next time will be on the suffix "-ful" which means full of or characterized by. Words using -ful are adjectives. (Did B4 receive these?)
1. careful
2. beautiful
3. useful
4. helpful
5. frightful
3. Finish and pass off the Magical Study Guides!
4. In your composition book, write an entry answering these questions:
Label it with: [Today's Date] What is worth fighting for? What causes would you be willing to stand up for?
Introduce the book Words By Heart.
5. Book Fair
For answers to questions about your November-December book project, see
FAQ's about the Project
November 30/December 1, 2009
November 30/December 1, 2009
1. We went to the computer lab where students had the opportunity to revise and edit and complete (if needed) their letters to the author. The deadline has been extended to December 3.
2. Students worked on making a "Magical Study Guide" for practicing their 7th grade core prefixes and suffixes.
Parent-Teacher Conference December 3.
Last chance to edit and revise your October Letter About Literature. Do it by Thursday, December 3.
Do as much revision and editing as you wish, but make sure you
-- right align your name and the school address at the top of the page.
-- edit for complete sentences, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation (check for teacher comments, suggestions).
No spelling test today.
Test next time (December 2/3) will be on the il- words:
1. illegal
2. illiterate
3. illegible
4. illogical
Extra credit for knowing what these word parts mean:
1) "leg" as in legal -- lēgālis -- the law
2) "litera" as in literate -- litterātus -- learned, scholarly from "letter"
3) "leg" as in legible -- leg(ere) -- to read
4) "logo" as in logical -- Gk logikós -- of speech or reason
Notice that all your prefixes and suffixes, word parts, meaning, and spelling words are on your chart of prefixes and suffixes.
1. We went to the computer lab where students had the opportunity to revise and edit and complete (if needed) their letters to the author. The deadline has been extended to December 3.
2. Students worked on making a "Magical Study Guide" for practicing their 7th grade core prefixes and suffixes.
Parent-Teacher Conference December 3.
Last chance to edit and revise your October Letter About Literature. Do it by Thursday, December 3.
Do as much revision and editing as you wish, but make sure you
-- right align your name and the school address at the top of the page.
-- edit for complete sentences, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation (check for teacher comments, suggestions).
No spelling test today.
Test next time (December 2/3) will be on the il- words:
1. illegal
2. illiterate
3. illegible
4. illogical
Extra credit for knowing what these word parts mean:
1) "leg" as in legal -- lēgālis -- the law
2) "litera" as in literate -- litterātus -- learned, scholarly from "letter"
3) "leg" as in legible -- leg(ere) -- to read
4) "logo" as in logical -- Gk logikós -- of speech or reason
Notice that all your prefixes and suffixes, word parts, meaning, and spelling words are on your chart of prefixes and suffixes.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Thank You!
Thank you to the students who quietly clean up our classroom without being asked or reminded. I may not mention it, but I often notice you doing it -- especially as class ends, and I very much appreciate it.
By the way, if the rest of the class won't allow it, the few students who usually do won't be able to mess things up for everyone else. Stand together to tell those students to pick up their stuff, to not make messes in the first place, to not deface desks, books, class materials. Tell on them if needed. Such actions are good citizenship.
By the way, if the rest of the class won't allow it, the few students who usually do won't be able to mess things up for everyone else. Stand together to tell those students to pick up their stuff, to not make messes in the first place, to not deface desks, books, class materials. Tell on them if needed. Such actions are good citizenship.
Monday, November 23, 2009
FAQ's about the Project
Assignment and grading
Newest questions:
How do I use easybib.com ?
1. Click on "Click here to select a source."
2. Select from the menu the type of source. Most often you are probably using a web site.
3. Enter web address and click on Autocite.
4. Click on "Create Citation."
5. Copy and paste your entry or do your whole works cited list and then copy and paste it.
Can I use the URL (web address) in my informal citation?
Answer: No. Do not use the URL there. You may, however, use the name of the web site, or in some cases, part of the name of the web site. You may use name of the author or sponsor of the web site.
For instance:
Instead of writing this -- (NOT THIS)
1. Do I have to put my name on it?
For whatever sort of project you do, don't forget your name, period, and date!
2. How many sources do I need to use?
You will use at least 3 or 4 different sources for your facts. If you use Wikipedia, you may not count that among the required 3 sources. You'll need another source to verify what you found there.
3. May I use my historical fiction novel as a source? Can I use other books as sources?
You may not use your historical fiction novel, only nonfiction sources. You may use nonfiction books. Use citationmachine.net or easybib.com to create your works cited entry for a book.
4. What do I need for a PowerPoint?
You're aiming for 15 facts (found in at least 3 or 4 different sources), a title slide, and a works cited list. Each fact will be introduced with an informal citation such as "according to Captain Jack Sparrow : ) , . . . " or "The Caribbean Museum of Piracy states that. . . ." Then you will have your works cited list at the end. I should be able to look at the informal citation and be able to tell which works cited entry goes with it.
You will also use illustrations, and if you find them online, include the URL for each either on the same page with the illustration or on a slide or two at the end. (You can create a citation on easybib.com for photos, etc., or you can just use the URL.)
Don't forget to either put your facts in quotes if you are quoting directly, or put them into your own words to avoid plagiarism. Most should be in your own words.
5. What do I need for a Blog?
See the question about PowerPoints, only substitute posts for slides.
6. What do I need for a Poster? (no text in pencil!)
You need a title (with your name, period, date), your fifteen facts on a list or attached separately to the poster (each introduced -- in the same sentence -- with an informal citation such as "According to an article in the World Book Encyclopedia about sharecropping, . . .," or "George James, an expert on the Civil War, stated that. . . "
You also need attractive illustrations that help the reader understand your subject. Tell where you found the illustrations -- with them or with the Works Cited list. (You need at least 5 illustrations.)
Your Works Cited list may be attached to the back of your poster. I should be able to look at the informal citation and be able to tell which works cited entry goes with it.
Your product must be neat and attractive.
7. What do I need for a Scrapbook?
You need a page with the title, with your name, period, date.
Each page will have one or more facts with an illustration or illustrations.
You should have at least 5 pages (to 15 pages) of facts with illustration.
Your Works Cited list will be a page at the end, along with where you got your illustrations unless you already showed that with illustration. I should be able to look at the informal citation and be able to tell which works cited entry goes with it.
No text in pencil.
Your product must be neat and attractive. No lined paper for illustrations.
8. What is a Works Cited List?
It is a list of the sources you actually used in your project.
The easiest way to create the entries is to go to citationmachine.net or easybib.com
Use MLA format. Pick the type of source you are using -- text or online.
On easybib, just pick the type of source from the list.
Do the best you can to get the information about your source into the citation.
Submit and then copy to a Word document the entry created by citationmachine or easybib.
You will have three or four or more entries on your Works Cited List.
Saying you found something on Google or Yahoo or Wikipedia is not enough. That is like saying you found a book in the library without telling which book it is or who it's by or where in the library you found it.
You may use several facts from each source. For each fact that you use, you should link it to a works cited entry by using an informal citation.
Example:
According to Ms. Dorsey on our class blog, you should link each fact you use on your project to an entry in your works cited list.
Works Cited entry :
Dorsey, Claudia E. Web log comment. Caveman English. Claudia E. Dorsey, 23 Nov. 2009. Web. 23 Nov. 2009.
The red part above is the "informal citation."
Here's another example for a Works Cited Entry:
For the facts you need to cite (like with easybib.com or citationmachine.net) the sources.
Here is a works cited entry from easybib for a fact from one student's project. I just put in the URL she provided (after I'd selected Click Here to Select a Source, Web Site), clicked on AutoCite, then on Create Citation -- lower on the page. Then I could copy that citation, or wait until I had them all and copy the whole works cited/bibliography from easy bib.
This is the works cited entry:
"Roman Social Class and Public Display." VROMA :: Home. Web. 09 Dec. 2009.
.
9. Where do I put my works cited list?
If you are doing a PowerPoint, put it on the last slide or two.
If you are doing a poster, tape it on the back of the poster.
If you are doing a blog, put it on one of your posts.
If you are doing a scrapbook, it should be the last page in the scrapbook.
If you are doing a video or other recording, print it and attach it to your printed script.
Title your works cited list "Works Cited."
10. What do you mean by an "informal citation"?
You use an informal citation when you tell right in the same sentence with the fact where you got that fact. See the example above, and this example:
I learned on a web site for the Buxton Historic Museum that the community of Elgin (Buxton) was founded in 1849, and that there are still descendants of those original settlers living there now.
Here's the works cited entry to go with it:
Gardner, Lori. "BUXTON WEB EXHIBITS." BUXTON HISTORIC MUSEUM. Buxton National Historic Site and Museum, Nov. 2009. Web. 23 Nov. 2009..
11. How many slides do I need to have if I choose to do a PowerPoint?
You will have about 10 to 17.
-- One for the title page.
-- 8 to 15 for your facts -- Each fact will use an informal citation. You'll have an illustration on each slide. The illustration will illustrate with the fact.
-- One or more for your Works Cited List.
-- If you don't put the URLs where you found your illustrations beside or below them, put the URLs for illustrations together on another slide at the end. For each URL, give the page of the slide that illustration is on.
12. What is the project about?
After we have practiced finding information online, and using easy-bib or citation to create works cited, and had some time to seach online, the rest of the project is to be completed on your own.
Links:
Newest questions:
How do I use easybib.com ?
1. Click on "Click here to select a source."
2. Select from the menu the type of source. Most often you are probably using a web site.
3. Enter web address and click on Autocite.
4. Click on "Create Citation."
5. Copy and paste your entry or do your whole works cited list and then copy and paste it.
Can I use the URL (web address) in my informal citation?
Answer: No. Do not use the URL there. You may, however, use the name of the web site, or in some cases, part of the name of the web site. You may use name of the author or sponsor of the web site.
For instance:
Instead of writing this -- (NOT THIS)
According to http://www.asdk12.ort/schools/romig/pages/museum/Gold%20Group/Gold.htm, the Klondike Stampede, though it was entirely in Canada, dramatically helped Alaska's economy. Due to the Klondike, Alaska earned $103,000,000.00 in gold. When gold was found in the Klondike, some 80,000 adventurers ventured north to Dawson City. 30,000 of them actually arrived there. The other 20,000 were scattered all over, from The Bering Sea to MacKenize River in Canada.
You could write: (BUT THIS)
According to the Anchorage School District web site, the Klondike Stampede, though it was entirely in Canada, dramatically helped Alaska's economy. Due to the Klondike, Alaska earned $103,000,000.00 in gold. When gold was found in the Klondike, some 80,000 adventurers ventured north to Dawson City. 30,000 of them actually arrived there. The other 20,000 were scattered all over, from The Bering Sea to MacKenize River in Canada.
(Thanks, Addison.)
1. Do I have to put my name on it?
For whatever sort of project you do, don't forget your name, period, and date!
2. How many sources do I need to use?
You will use at least 3 or 4 different sources for your facts. If you use Wikipedia, you may not count that among the required 3 sources. You'll need another source to verify what you found there.
3. May I use my historical fiction novel as a source? Can I use other books as sources?
You may not use your historical fiction novel, only nonfiction sources. You may use nonfiction books. Use citationmachine.net or easybib.com to create your works cited entry for a book.
4. What do I need for a PowerPoint?
You're aiming for 15 facts (found in at least 3 or 4 different sources), a title slide, and a works cited list. Each fact will be introduced with an informal citation such as "according to Captain Jack Sparrow : ) , . . . " or "The Caribbean Museum of Piracy states that. . . ." Then you will have your works cited list at the end. I should be able to look at the informal citation and be able to tell which works cited entry goes with it.
You will also use illustrations, and if you find them online, include the URL for each either on the same page with the illustration or on a slide or two at the end. (You can create a citation on easybib.com for photos, etc., or you can just use the URL.)
Don't forget to either put your facts in quotes if you are quoting directly, or put them into your own words to avoid plagiarism. Most should be in your own words.
5. What do I need for a Blog?
See the question about PowerPoints, only substitute posts for slides.
6. What do I need for a Poster? (no text in pencil!)
You need a title (with your name, period, date), your fifteen facts on a list or attached separately to the poster (each introduced -- in the same sentence -- with an informal citation such as "According to an article in the World Book Encyclopedia about sharecropping, . . .," or "George James, an expert on the Civil War, stated that. . . "
You also need attractive illustrations that help the reader understand your subject. Tell where you found the illustrations -- with them or with the Works Cited list. (You need at least 5 illustrations.)
Your Works Cited list may be attached to the back of your poster. I should be able to look at the informal citation and be able to tell which works cited entry goes with it.
Your product must be neat and attractive.
7. What do I need for a Scrapbook?
You need a page with the title, with your name, period, date.
Each page will have one or more facts with an illustration or illustrations.
You should have at least 5 pages (to 15 pages) of facts with illustration.
Your Works Cited list will be a page at the end, along with where you got your illustrations unless you already showed that with illustration. I should be able to look at the informal citation and be able to tell which works cited entry goes with it.
No text in pencil.
Your product must be neat and attractive. No lined paper for illustrations.
8. What is a Works Cited List?
It is a list of the sources you actually used in your project.
The easiest way to create the entries is to go to citationmachine.net or easybib.com
Use MLA format. Pick the type of source you are using -- text or online.
On easybib, just pick the type of source from the list.
Do the best you can to get the information about your source into the citation.
Submit and then copy to a Word document the entry created by citationmachine or easybib.
You will have three or four or more entries on your Works Cited List.
Saying you found something on Google or Yahoo or Wikipedia is not enough. That is like saying you found a book in the library without telling which book it is or who it's by or where in the library you found it.
You may use several facts from each source. For each fact that you use, you should link it to a works cited entry by using an informal citation.
Example:
According to Ms. Dorsey on our class blog, you should link each fact you use on your project to an entry in your works cited list.
Works Cited entry :
Dorsey, Claudia E. Web log comment. Caveman English. Claudia E. Dorsey, 23 Nov. 2009. Web. 23 Nov. 2009.
The red part above is the "informal citation."
Here's another example for a Works Cited Entry:
For the facts you need to cite (like with easybib.com or citationmachine.net) the sources.
Here is a works cited entry from easybib for a fact from one student's project. I just put in the URL she provided (after I'd selected Click Here to Select a Source, Web Site), clicked on AutoCite, then on Create Citation -- lower on the page. Then I could copy that citation, or wait until I had them all and copy the whole works cited/bibliography from easy bib.
This is the works cited entry:
"Roman Social Class and Public Display." VROMA :: Home. Web. 09 Dec. 2009.
9. Where do I put my works cited list?
If you are doing a PowerPoint, put it on the last slide or two.
If you are doing a poster, tape it on the back of the poster.
If you are doing a blog, put it on one of your posts.
If you are doing a scrapbook, it should be the last page in the scrapbook.
If you are doing a video or other recording, print it and attach it to your printed script.
Title your works cited list "Works Cited."
10. What do you mean by an "informal citation"?
You use an informal citation when you tell right in the same sentence with the fact where you got that fact. See the example above, and this example:
I learned on a web site for the Buxton Historic Museum that the community of Elgin (Buxton) was founded in 1849, and that there are still descendants of those original settlers living there now.
Here's the works cited entry to go with it:
Gardner, Lori. "BUXTON WEB EXHIBITS." BUXTON HISTORIC MUSEUM. Buxton National Historic Site and Museum, Nov. 2009. Web. 23 Nov. 2009.
11. How many slides do I need to have if I choose to do a PowerPoint?
You will have about 10 to 17.
-- One for the title page.
-- 8 to 15 for your facts -- Each fact will use an informal citation. You'll have an illustration on each slide. The illustration will illustrate with the fact.
-- One or more for your Works Cited List.
-- If you don't put the URLs where you found your illustrations beside or below them, put the URLs for illustrations together on another slide at the end. For each URL, give the page of the slide that illustration is on.
12. What is the project about?
Your project is about the real (factual/nonfiction) setting for the book -- the time period, events, real people and or places that form the basis for the fictional story.
13. Will we have more time in class to work on this?
After we have practiced finding information online, and using easy-bib or citation to create works cited, and had some time to seach online, the rest of the project is to be completed on your own.
Links: Phrases for Informal Citations
Sample of a fact for the Book-of-the-Month Assessment
Sample Facts and Works Cited for the Book Research Project
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Phrases for Informal Citations
Informal Citations -- Some of the Phrases You Could Use
according to
as reported by
as stated in
affirms that
agrees that
asserts that
validates
as you could read in
[name of person/author] states in [name of source] that. . .
[name of person/author] , an expert on [the subject], says that . . .
[name of person/author, the author of . . . , writes. . . (or wrote that. . . )
reports that
says that
In found in [name of source] that. . .
according to
as reported by
as stated in
affirms that
agrees that
asserts that
validates
as you could read in
[name of person/author] states in [name of source] that. . .
[name of person/author] , an expert on [the subject], says that . . .
[name of person/author, the author of . . . , writes. . . (or wrote that. . . )
reports that
says that
In found in [name of source] that. . .
Friday, November 20, 2009
Research for Words By Heart
Research for Words By Heart
http://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/novelguides/ms/Mini-guides.sebestyen.pdf = study guide for the novel (some information on reconstruction and civil rights
"Reconstruction Period." Encyclopedia Britannica. Found with Sirs Discoverer, 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2009..
picture: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/picture?picurn=urn:sirs:US;IMAGE;GIF;0000109026&urn=urn:sirs:US;ARTICLE;ART;0000224494
Caption: Campaigns of terror were waged against black officials and voters by secret societies of whites. The efforts of these societies helped overthrow the Reconstruction governments.
Encyclopedia Article about the Ku Klux Klan: (found by way of Sirs Discoverer: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000223162
About Andrew Johnson: Northerners and black people found Johnson's clemency to leading Confederates particularly alarming because he had done little to stop a campaign of terror that extralegal organizations had launched against Southern freedmen and pro-Union whites. In addition, Johnson vetoed a Civil Rights bill, as well as a bill to extend the life of the Freedmen's Bureau, which Congress established just before the end of the Civil War to aid and protect the freed slaves. He also condemned the proposed 14th Amendment. Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights bill was overridden, and the 14th Amendment-which, like the Civil Rights bill, conferred citizenship upon the freedmen-was eventually ratified. Although later efforts to remove Johnson from office proved unsuccessful, Congress was able to act over his opposition to protect the rights of the freedmen in the Southern states.
from
"Reconstruction Period." Encyclopedia Britannica. Found with Sirs Discoverer, 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2009..
Sharecropping:
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-3590
Photos of sharecroppers: http://www.english.illinois.edu/Maps/poets/a_f/brown/photos.htm
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/economy/sharecroppers.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/sharecropping.aspx (included ready-made citation)
http://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/novelguides/ms/Mini-guides.sebestyen.pdf = study guide for the novel (some information on reconstruction and civil rights
"Reconstruction Period." Encyclopedia Britannica. Found with Sirs Discoverer, 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2009.
Caption: Campaigns of terror were waged against black officials and voters by secret societies of whites. The efforts of these societies helped overthrow the Reconstruction governments.
Encyclopedia Article about the Ku Klux Klan: (found by way of Sirs Discoverer: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000223162
About Andrew Johnson: Northerners and black people found Johnson's clemency to leading Confederates particularly alarming because he had done little to stop a campaign of terror that extralegal organizations had launched against Southern freedmen and pro-Union whites. In addition, Johnson vetoed a Civil Rights bill, as well as a bill to extend the life of the Freedmen's Bureau, which Congress established just before the end of the Civil War to aid and protect the freed slaves. He also condemned the proposed 14th Amendment. Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights bill was overridden, and the 14th Amendment-which, like the Civil Rights bill, conferred citizenship upon the freedmen-was eventually ratified. Although later efforts to remove Johnson from office proved unsuccessful, Congress was able to act over his opposition to protect the rights of the freedmen in the Southern states.
from
"Reconstruction Period." Encyclopedia Britannica. Found with Sirs Discoverer, 2006. Web. 23 Nov. 2009.
Sharecropping:
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-3590
Photos of sharecroppers: http://www.english.illinois.edu/Maps/poets/a_f/brown/photos.htm
http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/northamerica/after1500/economy/sharecroppers.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/sharecropping.aspx (included ready-made citation)
Sample of a fact for the Book-of-the-Month Assessment
I could present my facts on a PowerPoint (no more than one or two facts per slide), a poster, a scrapbook, etc. Fifteen facts would earn full points if they meet the requirements. Each fact should be appropriately illustrated. See the pink assignment and grading sheet. You could also create a blog for this assignment.
Required for all formats:
15 facts -- each including informal citation
3 sources or more where you found your facts (If you use Wikipedia, you must have 4 sources.)
Works Cited
Tell where you found your images.
Quality work, not plagiarized, but edited well.
Make sure you have your Works Cited list in or with your project. You could place it on the back of your poster, on a last slide or slides on a PowerPoint, or on a separate page of your scrapbook.
Sample:
According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in their publication “The Holocaust: An Historical Summary,” the approximately nine million Jews murdered by the Nazis from 1933 to 1945, weren’t the only ones the Nazis persecuted and killed. They also murdered, persecuted, and enslaved Gypsies, mentally and physically disabled people, Soviet prisoners of war, communists, socialists, members of trade unions, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Poles and other people from Slavic nations, and
more.
On a separate page or slide, you'll have the works cited list. Use EasyBib or citationmachine to create your works cited entries.
"THE HOLOCAUST: An Historical Summary." BEYOND THE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE (1993): 5-10. Web. 19 Nov 2009.
Slide 1: Image of bodies found at: http://www.americanvoiceinstitute.org/Remembering%20Auschwitz.htm (I also found the photo at several other sites. Do not go to this site for information. It is very a very biased site -- anti-Palestinian, and is there for a current political agenda.)
Note: Notice that you are to use informal citation for each fact. The bolded part in my fact above is the "informal citation" where I told where I got my information.
Required for all formats:
15 facts -- each including informal citation
3 sources or more where you found your facts (If you use Wikipedia, you must have 4 sources.)
Works Cited
Tell where you found your images.
Quality work, not plagiarized, but edited well.
Make sure you have your Works Cited list in or with your project. You could place it on the back of your poster, on a last slide or slides on a PowerPoint, or on a separate page of your scrapbook.
Sample:
more.
On a separate page or slide, you'll have the works cited list. Use EasyBib or citationmachine to create your works cited entries.
Works Cited
Images
Note: Notice that you are to use informal citation for each fact. The bolded part in my fact above is the "informal citation" where I told where I got my information.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Doing Research November 17-20
Doing Research
Here is the shortened version of the full lesson, and we didn't even get to all of it in class.
Special Note: For your project, you need at least three sources. Wikipedia always must be confirmed by another source, so if you include it, you would need four sources.
1. Create a list of search terms to use when looking for information about the nonfiction setting for your individual book.
* Often you can find a site about the book or find the author's official site that may tell you about some of the reality behind the fiction.
* You could look up places and characters you think may be real.
* Don't look up fictional characters or places.
* Look up the "big" subjects such as "holocaust" or "Japanese Internment" or "Pony Express." You search terms could be the sorts of words and terms you would look up in an encyclopedia.
Words that you would just look up the meaning for in the dictionary may not make good search terms.
2. You may want to check the media center or public library catalog for nonfiction books about your research topic.
3. Try some of the best places to search on the Internet.
The best places to search there for this assignment are Sirs Discoverer and World Book.
Type in your term or terms and look for the best sources.
On Sirs Discoverer, I typed in Holocaust, and found this article: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000025141http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000025141
If I decide to use some of this information, I would make sure I save the citation information, including the URL.
B. Try CactiSearch (cactisearch.com) which is a metasearch engine which searches several regular search engines.
C. Try clusty.com and notice the categories at the left which may help you narrow your search.
D. Try kartoo.com and notice how it is different from the other search engines you have used.
E. Try dogpile.com
Notice the suggestions at the right.
F. Try using an advanced search on google,or yahoo, or clusty, or dogpile, or another search engine, using special search words and signs. Often on a search engine, to the right of the search bar is the word ADVANCED or ADVANCED SEARCH. Try clicking on it and you can narrow your search.
Even without an advanced search, you can narrow or broaden your search by using these special terms and signs:
AND If you put "and" between two terms, the search engine will select items that have both of the terms.
OR If you put "or" between two terms, the search engine will select everything that has either one.
- (minus sign) If you use a minus sign before a term, the search engine will reject any item that contains that term.
" " (quotation marks) If you use quotation marks around a phrase, the search engine will select only those items that contain that set of words together in that order.
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
I could go to citationmachine.net, select MLA at the left, then on-line journal or magazine article at the left, and enter my information to create a Works Cited Entry for the above article which would end up looking something like this:
"THE HOLOCAUST: An Historical Summary." BEYOND THE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE (1993): 5-10. Web. 19 Nov 2009.
When you use World Book Online, each article provides a works cited entry at the bottom of the page.
When you have a Works Cited entry, make sure you know which information you got from that source.
When I find a fact, I could go ahead and put it into my own words with an informal citation. Here's an example that I took from the above article:
According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in their publication “The Holocaust: An Historical Summary,” the approximately nine million Jews murdered by the Nazis from 1933 to 1945, weren’t the only ones the Nazis persecuted and killed. They also murdered, persecuted, and enslaved Gypsies, mentally and physically disabled people, Soviet prisoners of war, communists, socialists, members of trade unions, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Poles and other people from Slavic nations, and more.
The bolded part is the "informal citation" where I told where I got my information.
This is the works cited entry that goes with my fact:
"THE HOLOCAUST: An Historical Summary." BEYOND THE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE (1993): 5-10. Web. 19 Nov 2009.
You can copy the Works Cited Entry (from citationmachine.net or from the bottom of the page on World Book) and paste it into a Word (or other word-processor) document. Put your facts on one page and your Works Cited entries on another.
Also try easybib.com to find out if you like it better than citationmachine.net.)
The facts will be used to create your project/presentation.
Here is the shortened version of the full lesson, and we didn't even get to all of it in class.
Special Note: For your project, you need at least three sources. Wikipedia always must be confirmed by another source, so if you include it, you would need four sources.
1. Create a list of search terms to use when looking for information about the nonfiction setting for your individual book.
* Often you can find a site about the book or find the author's official site that may tell you about some of the reality behind the fiction.
* You could look up places and characters you think may be real.
* Don't look up fictional characters or places.
* Look up the "big" subjects such as "holocaust" or "Japanese Internment" or "Pony Express." You search terms could be the sorts of words and terms you would look up in an encyclopedia.
Words that you would just look up the meaning for in the dictionary may not make good search terms.
2. You may want to check the media center or public library catalog for nonfiction books about your research topic.
3. Try some of the best places to search on the Internet.
A. Go to our school web page and scroll to the bottom of the home page to find the link to Pioneer -- Utah's Online Library.
The user name is pioneer and the password is time.
The best places to search there for this assignment are Sirs Discoverer and World Book.
Type in your term or terms and look for the best sources.
On Sirs Discoverer, I typed in Holocaust, and found this article: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000025141http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000025141
If I decide to use some of this information, I would make sure I save the citation information, including the URL.
B. Try CactiSearch (cactisearch.com) which is a metasearch engine which searches several regular search engines.
C. Try clusty.com and notice the categories at the left which may help you narrow your search.
D. Try kartoo.com and notice how it is different from the other search engines you have used.
E. Try dogpile.com
Notice the suggestions at the right.
F. Try using an advanced search on google,or yahoo, or clusty, or dogpile, or another search engine, using special search words and signs. Often on a search engine, to the right of the search bar is the word ADVANCED or ADVANCED SEARCH. Try clicking on it and you can narrow your search.
Even without an advanced search, you can narrow or broaden your search by using these special terms and signs:
AND If you put "and" between two terms, the search engine will select items that have both of the terms.
OR If you put "or" between two terms, the search engine will select everything that has either one.
- (minus sign) If you use a minus sign before a term, the search engine will reject any item that contains that term.
" " (quotation marks) If you use quotation marks around a phrase, the search engine will select only those items that contain that set of words together in that order.
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
I could go to citationmachine.net, select MLA at the left, then on-line journal or magazine article at the left, and enter my information to create a Works Cited Entry for the above article which would end up looking something like this:
Works Cited
When you use World Book Online, each article provides a works cited entry at the bottom of the page.
When you have a Works Cited entry, make sure you know which information you got from that source.
When I find a fact, I could go ahead and put it into my own words with an informal citation. Here's an example that I took from the above article:
According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in their publication “The Holocaust: An Historical Summary,” the approximately nine million Jews murdered by the Nazis from 1933 to 1945, weren’t the only ones the Nazis persecuted and killed. They also murdered, persecuted, and enslaved Gypsies, mentally and physically disabled people, Soviet prisoners of war, communists, socialists, members of trade unions, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Poles and other people from Slavic nations, and more.
The bolded part is the "informal citation" where I told where I got my information.
This is the works cited entry that goes with my fact:
Works Cited
You can copy the Works Cited Entry (from citationmachine.net or from the bottom of the page on World Book) and paste it into a Word (or other word-processor) document. Put your facts on one page and your Works Cited entries on another.
Also try easybib.com to find out if you like it better than citationmachine.net.)
The facts will be used to create your project/presentation.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
November 23/24, 2009
November 23/24, 2009
Today: Spelling Test on -er, -or and words.
Next time: il- which means not This test will be given on December 2/3.
1. illegal
2. illiterate
3. illegible
4. illogical
Extra credit for knowing what these word parts mean:
1) "leg" as in legal -- lēgālis -- the law
2) "litera" as in literate -- litterātus -- learned, scholarly from "letter"
3) "leg" as in legible -- leg(ere) -- to read
4) "logo" as in logical -- Gk logikós -- of speech or reason
Usage Note: For most of its long history in English, literate has meant only "familiar with literature," or more generally, "well-educated, learned." Only since the late 19th century has it also come to refer to the basic ability to read and write.
logic -- of Gk logikós of speech or reason.
Bring your historical fiction book to read.
Today: Spelling Test on -er, -or and words.
Next time: il- which means not This test will be given on December 2/3.
1. illegal
2. illiterate
3. illegible
4. illogical
Extra credit for knowing what these word parts mean:
1) "leg" as in legal -- lēgālis -- the law
2) "litera" as in literate -- litterātus -- learned, scholarly from "letter"
3) "leg" as in legible -- leg(ere) -- to read
4) "logo" as in logical -- Gk logikós -- of speech or reason
Usage Note: For most of its long history in English, literate has meant only "familiar with literature," or more generally, "well-educated, learned." Only since the late 19th century has it also come to refer to the basic ability to read and write.
logic -- of Gk logikós of speech or reason.
Bring your historical fiction book to read.
Friday, November 13, 2009
November/December Book Assessment
November/December Book Assessment
You are reading historical fiction. Historical fiction is fiction (a made-up story) set in a real time and place (the place in general is real -- our own world -- but a particular town, home, etc. may be fictional), and sometimes there are some real characters in the story. Events may be manufactured, but they fit with events that really happened in that time and place -- they could have happened.
-- You will be researching the reality behind the story of the historical fiction book you are reading.
See suggestions for research in the handout at Asking Questions and Finding Answers .
-- Your end product will be a presentation of facts about that reality. You will use informal citation to introduce each fact.
-- You will hand in with your prepared product a list of where you found your facts: a "Works Cited" list. -- -- You will use MLA style to prepare that list. You may use easybib.com or citationmachine.net to prepare your Works Cited list.
-- You will not plagiarize. You will study about your facts, then present them in your own word.
Download a handout on research and how you need to cite sources at Asking Questions and Finding Answers .
easybib.com or
http://citationmachine.net/
When you do your Works Cited Page, you need at least three (3) sources. If you use Wikipedia, you need four (4).
Purpose:
1. You will learn about a time and place, event, or person or people from the past.
2. You will practice doing research, and hopefully learn new research skills and understandings.
3. You will learn how to cite information from sources.
4. You will practice writing about a topic after you have researched it.
5. You will learn how to avoid plagiarizing.
6. Your product (project) will teach other people about your subject.
Audience:
The teacher, your classmates, seventh graders in future years, others who may see your product.
Your general procedure will be --
1. Select an historical fiction book about a subject or era you find very interesting.
2. Read your book.
3. As you are reading, think of questions you could ask about the historical setting: about times, places, events, or people.
4. Do research to answer the questions you have asked, and to find out even more. (You may be doing your research and creating your project as you read your book.)
5. Select the most interesting or important facts about your subject.
6. Present them in a PowerPoint, on a neat and attractive poster, as a scrapbook, as a videotaped news program (handed in with a written script), or in another way you propose and the teacher approves. All projects should include illustrations (pictures, photos,maps, graphs or charts, representative art, etc.). You could create a blog for this assignment.
Grading:
5 points for each fact that is important or interesting, and is stated clearly so the reader or viewer can understand. Each fact will include an informal citation. No points will be given for any fact for which the source is not cited.
75 points or 15 facts will be full points for that aspect of the assignment.
If you got the full 25 points below and provided 10 facts, you would receive a 75%. Twelve facts and full points on quality would receive 85%.
25 points will be based on the quality of your product:
25 (outstanding and attractive), 15 (okay), 5 (handed in, but doesn't show much effort)
Considered in this grade will be these items:
conventions (capitalization, punctuation, spelling)
neatness and attractiveness of the product
text clearly and legibly written in blue or black ink or typed (no pencil for text)
materials used are appropriate and are well-kept (no spiro-bits, no projects that have been
scrunched or spilled on)
These projects will be due December 10/11.
Examples of Informal Citations and Entries for a Works Cited Page
When you do your Works Cited Page, you need at least three (3) sources. If you use Wikipedia, you need four (4).
Each time I give a fact, I use informal citation to tell where I found it.
Fact: According to whitehouse.gov, William Howard Taft was President of the United States from 1909- 1913.
Fact: Also according to the whitehouse.gov entry about President Taft, Theodore Roosevelt picked Taft to be his successor, then later worked to defeat him when Taft tried for re-election.
I'm collecting information to create a works cited entry: Title: "William Howard Taft" http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/wt27.html , accessed on February 5, 2008.
Fact: In January of 1910, the New York Times reported that Austria had accused Russia of espionage.
Information to use in a works cited entry: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free "AUSTRIA ACCUSES RUSSIA.; Military Attache Said to Have Been Involved In Espionage." January 27, 1910. Found in the New York Times Archives online -- accessed February 5, 2008.
Other Helps and Links:
Sample of Facts with Works Cited Page Your facts should be turned into a PowerPoint, a poster, a scrapbook or electronic scrapbook, or another quality presentation.
Checksheet for using internet sources: http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/checklist.pdf
A PowerPoint on doing research on the web:
The handout to go with the PowerPoint:http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/student.pdf
This lesson has lots of great suggestions and helps for creating a PowerPoint and for citing sources and creating Works Cited page: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=787
The handout to go with the PowerPoint: http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/student.pdf
You are reading historical fiction. Historical fiction is fiction (a made-up story) set in a real time and place (the place in general is real -- our own world -- but a particular town, home, etc. may be fictional), and sometimes there are some real characters in the story. Events may be manufactured, but they fit with events that really happened in that time and place -- they could have happened.
-- You will be researching the reality behind the story of the historical fiction book you are reading.
See suggestions for research in the handout at Asking Questions and Finding Answers .
-- Your end product will be a presentation of facts about that reality. You will use informal citation to introduce each fact.
-- You will hand in with your prepared product a list of where you found your facts: a "Works Cited" list. -- -- You will use MLA style to prepare that list. You may use easybib.com or citationmachine.net to prepare your Works Cited list.
-- You will not plagiarize. You will study about your facts, then present them in your own word.
Download a handout on research and how you need to cite sources at Asking Questions and Finding Answers .
easybib.com or
http://citationmachine.net/
When you do your Works Cited Page, you need at least three (3) sources. If you use Wikipedia, you need four (4).
Purpose:
1. You will learn about a time and place, event, or person or people from the past.
2. You will practice doing research, and hopefully learn new research skills and understandings.
3. You will learn how to cite information from sources.
4. You will practice writing about a topic after you have researched it.
5. You will learn how to avoid plagiarizing.
6. Your product (project) will teach other people about your subject.
Audience:
The teacher, your classmates, seventh graders in future years, others who may see your product.
Your general procedure will be --
1. Select an historical fiction book about a subject or era you find very interesting.
2. Read your book.
3. As you are reading, think of questions you could ask about the historical setting: about times, places, events, or people.
4. Do research to answer the questions you have asked, and to find out even more. (You may be doing your research and creating your project as you read your book.)
5. Select the most interesting or important facts about your subject.
6. Present them in a PowerPoint, on a neat and attractive poster, as a scrapbook, as a videotaped news program (handed in with a written script), or in another way you propose and the teacher approves. All projects should include illustrations (pictures, photos,maps, graphs or charts, representative art, etc.). You could create a blog for this assignment.
Grading:
5 points for each fact that is important or interesting, and is stated clearly so the reader or viewer can understand. Each fact will include an informal citation. No points will be given for any fact for which the source is not cited.
75 points or 15 facts will be full points for that aspect of the assignment.
If you got the full 25 points below and provided 10 facts, you would receive a 75%. Twelve facts and full points on quality would receive 85%.
25 points will be based on the quality of your product:
25 (outstanding and attractive), 15 (okay), 5 (handed in, but doesn't show much effort)
Considered in this grade will be these items:
conventions (capitalization, punctuation, spelling)
neatness and attractiveness of the product
text clearly and legibly written in blue or black ink or typed (no pencil for text)
materials used are appropriate and are well-kept (no spiro-bits, no projects that have been
scrunched or spilled on)
These projects will be due December 10/11.
Examples of Informal Citations and Entries for a Works Cited Page
When you do your Works Cited Page, you need at least three (3) sources. If you use Wikipedia, you need four (4).
Each time I give a fact, I use informal citation to tell where I found it.
Fact: According to whitehouse.gov, William Howard Taft was President of the United States from 1909- 1913.
Fact: Also according to the whitehouse.gov entry about President Taft, Theodore Roosevelt picked Taft to be his successor, then later worked to defeat him when Taft tried for re-election.
I'm collecting information to create a works cited entry: Title: "William Howard Taft" http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/wt27.html , accessed on February 5, 2008.
Fact: In January of 1910, the New York Times reported that Austria had accused Russia of espionage.
Information to use in a works cited entry: http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free "AUSTRIA ACCUSES RUSSIA.; Military Attache Said to Have Been Involved In Espionage." January 27, 1910. Found in the New York Times Archives online -- accessed February 5, 2008.
Other Helps and Links:
Sample of Facts with Works Cited Page Your facts should be turned into a PowerPoint, a poster, a scrapbook or electronic scrapbook, or another quality presentation.
Checksheet for using internet sources: http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/checklist.pdf
A PowerPoint on doing research on the web:
The handout to go with the PowerPoint:http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/student.pdf
This lesson has lots of great suggestions and helps for creating a PowerPoint and for citing sources and creating Works Cited page: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=787
The handout to go with the PowerPoint: http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/student.pdf
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Accessing the Media Center "Card Catalogue"
Question: How do I access Alexandria on the Internet?
Answer: Go to www.alpine.k12.ut.us and click on the following links in this order:
Parents & Students,
Departments,
Alpine Instructional Media Center,
Secondary School Collections,
American Fork Jr.
I can't guarantee it will work, but it may be worth a try.
Answer: Go to www.alpine.k12.ut.us and click on the following links in this order:
Parents & Students,
Departments,
Alpine Instructional Media Center,
Secondary School Collections,
American Fork Jr.
I can't guarantee it will work, but it may be worth a try.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
No Cave Time for Author Letter this Week
Week of November 9-13
Tuesday was the only day this week that the computer labs were available for working on your Letter to the Author. There is no Cave Time Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday are reserved for enrichments.
You may work on this at home, with unlimited submissions. Please let me know when your letter is ready for grading if you are submitting or have revised and edited.
Your user name is is yourfirstnamestudentnumber.
Your password is 999lastname.
Tuesday was the only day this week that the computer labs were available for working on your Letter to the Author. There is no Cave Time Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday are reserved for enrichments.
You may work on this at home, with unlimited submissions. Please let me know when your letter is ready for grading if you are submitting or have revised and edited.
Your user name is is yourfirstnamestudentnumber.
Your password is 999lastname.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
More Recommendations for Historical Fiction
More Recommendations for Historical Fiction
Goodnight, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian -- World War II
Here is a site that lists historical fiction recommended by the Anchorage Public Library librarians for kids and teens:
http://lexicon.ci.anchorage.ak.us/guides/kids/booklists/historicalfiction/
From the Scholastic Website, from Tarry Lindquist came these recommended books:
With Every Drop of Blood: A Novel of the Civil War by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier (Delacorte/BDD); 228 pages; $15.95
In this first-rate novel, two young men are caught up in the Civil War: Johnny is on a bold mission to supply Rebel troops, while Cush, a Yankee, is a runaway slave. They form an unlikely alliance during the final days of the war.
Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury (Delacorte/BDD); 192 pages; $15.95
As Japanese-Americans living in Hawaii, Tomi and his family face prejudice and hatred after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Father is taken to an internment camp and Grandfather disappears. Tomi discovers how people respond to crisis.
The Captive by Joyce Hansen (Scholastic); 128 pages; $13.95
This novel chronicles the life of a young Ashanti boy from his captivity in West Africa to his life as a slave in Salem, Massachusetts, and then to freedom with African-American ship captain Paul Cuffe.
The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers (Scholastic); 288 pages; $14.95
This novel is about the experiences of five generations of an African-American family on Curry Island, South Carolina. The book encompasses the Lewis family's joys and challenges, beginning with the first slave boat that landed on the island.
Shuttered Windows by Florence Crannell Means is a period piece (Kingman 446) set in the 1930s that remains a valuable part of social history (Helbig andPerkins 338). The story introduces Harriet, a young Black orphan from Minnesota who journeys to the Carolina lowcountry's tidal islands to visit her grandmother.
In Katherine Lasky's True North, the reader meets Lucy, an off-spring of Boston's high-society, and Afrika, an escaped slave traveling freedom's Underground Railroad. Their two worlds collide when Lucy discovers Afrika hiding inside her grandfather's house.
See also
Goodnight, Mr. Tom by Michelle Magorian -- World War II
Here is a site that lists historical fiction recommended by the Anchorage Public Library librarians for kids and teens:
http://lexicon.ci.anchorage.ak.us/guides/kids/booklists/historicalfiction/
From the Scholastic Website, from Tarry Lindquist came these recommended books:
With Every Drop of Blood: A Novel of the Civil War by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier (Delacorte/BDD); 228 pages; $15.95
In this first-rate novel, two young men are caught up in the Civil War: Johnny is on a bold mission to supply Rebel troops, while Cush, a Yankee, is a runaway slave. They form an unlikely alliance during the final days of the war.
Under the Blood-Red Sun by Graham Salisbury (Delacorte/BDD); 192 pages; $15.95
As Japanese-Americans living in Hawaii, Tomi and his family face prejudice and hatred after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Father is taken to an internment camp and Grandfather disappears. Tomi discovers how people respond to crisis.
The Captive by Joyce Hansen (Scholastic); 128 pages; $13.95
This novel chronicles the life of a young Ashanti boy from his captivity in West Africa to his life as a slave in Salem, Massachusetts, and then to freedom with African-American ship captain Paul Cuffe.
The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers (Scholastic); 288 pages; $14.95
This novel is about the experiences of five generations of an African-American family on Curry Island, South Carolina. The book encompasses the Lewis family's joys and challenges, beginning with the first slave boat that landed on the island.
Shuttered Windows by Florence Crannell Means is a period piece (Kingman 446) set in the 1930s that remains a valuable part of social history (Helbig andPerkins 338). The story introduces Harriet, a young Black orphan from Minnesota who journeys to the Carolina lowcountry's tidal islands to visit her grandmother.
In Katherine Lasky's True North, the reader meets Lucy, an off-spring of Boston's high-society, and Afrika, an escaped slave traveling freedom's Underground Railroad. Their two worlds collide when Lucy discovers Afrika hiding inside her grandfather's house.
See also
Recommended Historical Fiction Books
Monday, November 9, 2009
November 19/20, 2009
November 19/20, 2009
Spelling/Vocabulary
Test on these:
fore- means "front"
1. forehead
2. forecast
3. forethought
4. forefront
cast -- to throw, calculate, prepare, contrive
O.E. þencan "conceive in the mind, think, consider, intend" (past tense þohte, p.p. geþoht), probably originally "cause to appear to oneself," from P.Gmc.
c.1290, from O.Fr. front "forehead, brow," from L. frontem (nom. frons) "forehead," perhaps lit. "that which projects," from PIE *bhront-, from base *bhren- "to project, stand out."
No retakes will be available, so study the words and word parts sets as they come.
Test next time will be on
-er, -or which mean one who, that which (nouns)
1. farmer (The root word comes from a word meaning property.)
2. baker (The root meant "to roast.")
3. dancer (Just that.)
4. teacher (The root meant "to show or point out.")
5. author (The root comes from a Latin term for "to create.")
6. doctor (The root word comes from a word that means "to teach."
No retakes will be available, so study the words and word parts sets as they come.
I'm wondering if there is a general rule about using -er or -or.
Hmmm. There's actor, author, director, doctor, donor, editor, governor, juror, mayor.
There's barber, dreamer, grocer, jogger, baker, teacher, dancer, lawyer.
I'm not seeing a rule that seems to apply generally.
Doing ResearchHere is the shortened version of the full lesson, and we didn't even get to all of it in class.
Special Note: For your project, you need at least three sources. Wikipedia always must be confirmed by another source, so if you include it, you would need four sources.
1. Create a list of search terms to use when looking for information about the nonfiction setting for your individual book.
* Often you can find a site about the book or find the author's official site that may tell you about some of the reality behind the fiction.
* You could look up places and characters you think may be real.
* Don't look up fictional characters or places.
* Look up the "big" subjects such as "holocaust" or "Japanese Internment" or "Pony Express." You search terms could be the sorts of words and terms you would look up in an encyclopedia.
Words that you would just look up the meaning for in the dictionary may not make good search terms.
2. You may want to check the media center or public library catalog for nonfiction books about your research topic.
3. Try some of the best places to search on the Internet.
The best places to search there for this assignment are Sirs Discoverer and World Book.
Type in your term or terms and look for the best sources.
On Sirs Discoverer, I typed in Holocaust, and found this article: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000025141http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000025141
If I decide to use some of this information, I would make sure I save the citation information, including the URL.
B. Try CactiSearch (cactisearch.com) which is a metasearch engine which searches several regular search engines.
C. Try clusty.com and notice the categories at the left which may help you narrow your search.
D. Try kartoo.com and notice how it is different from the other search engines you have used.
E. Try dogpile.com
Notice the suggestions at the right.
E. Try using an advanced search, using special search words and signs. Often on a search engine, to the right of the search bar is the word ADVANCED or ADVANCED SEARCH. Try clicking on it and you can narrow your search.
Even without an advanced search, you can narrow or broaden your search by using these special terms and signs:
AND If you put "and" between two terms, the search engine will select items that have both of the terms.
OR If you put "or" between two terms, the search engine will select everything that has either one.
- (minus sign) If you use a minus sign before a term, the search engine will reject any item that contains that term.
" " (quotation marks) If you use quotation marks around a phrase, the search engine will select only those items that contain that set of words together in that order.
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
I could go to citationmachine.net, (or go to easybib.com) select MLA at the left, then on-line journal or magazine article at the left, and enter my information to create a Works Cited Entry for the above article which would end up looking something like this:
"THE HOLOCAUST: An Historical Summary." BEYOND THE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE (1993): 5-10. Web. 19 Nov 2009.
When you use World Book Online, each article provides a works cited entry at the bottom of the page.
When you have a Works Cited entry, make sure you know which information you got from that source.
When I find a fact, I could go ahead and put it into my own words with an informal citation. Here's an example that I took from the above article:
According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in their publication “The Holocaust: An Historical Summary,” the approximately nine million Jews murdered by the Nazis from 1933 to 1945, weren’t the only ones the Nazis persecuted and killed. They also murdered, persecuted, and enslaved Gypsies, mentally and physically disabled people, Soviet prisoners of war, communists, socialists, members of trade unions, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Poles and other people from Slavic nations, and more.
The bolded part is the "informal citation" where I told where I got my information.
This is the works cited entry that goes with my fact:
"THE HOLOCAUST: An Historical Summary." BEYOND THE WALL OF REMEMBRANCE (1993): 5-10. Web. 19 Nov 2009.
You can copy the Works Cited Entry (from citationmachine.net or from the bottom of the page on World Book) and paste it into a Word (or other word-processor) document. Put your facts on one page and your Works Cited entries on another.
The facts will be used to create your project/presentation.
November 19th -- If you were absent today, you could view what we did by uploading these:
The handout to go with the PowerPoint:http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/student.pdf
This lesson has lots of great suggestions and helps for creating a PowerPoint and for citing sources and creating Works Cited page: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=787
Spelling/Vocabulary
Test on these:
fore- means "front"
1. forehead
2. forecast
3. forethought
4. forefront
cast -- to throw, calculate, prepare, contrive
O.E. þencan "conceive in the mind, think, consider, intend" (past tense þohte, p.p. geþoht), probably originally "cause to appear to oneself," from P.Gmc.
c.1290, from O.Fr. front "forehead, brow," from L. frontem (nom. frons) "forehead," perhaps lit. "that which projects," from PIE *bhront-, from base *bhren- "to project, stand out."
No retakes will be available, so study the words and word parts sets as they come.
Test next time will be on
-er, -or which mean one who, that which (nouns)
1. farmer (The root word comes from a word meaning property.)
2. baker (The root meant "to roast.")
3. dancer (Just that.)
4. teacher (The root meant "to show or point out.")
5. author (The root comes from a Latin term for "to create.")
6. doctor (The root word comes from a word that means "to teach."
No retakes will be available, so study the words and word parts sets as they come.
I'm wondering if there is a general rule about using -er or -or.
Hmmm. There's actor, author, director, doctor, donor, editor, governor, juror, mayor.
There's barber, dreamer, grocer, jogger, baker, teacher, dancer, lawyer.
I'm not seeing a rule that seems to apply generally.
Doing ResearchHere is the shortened version of the full lesson, and we didn't even get to all of it in class.
Special Note: For your project, you need at least three sources. Wikipedia always must be confirmed by another source, so if you include it, you would need four sources.
1. Create a list of search terms to use when looking for information about the nonfiction setting for your individual book.
* Often you can find a site about the book or find the author's official site that may tell you about some of the reality behind the fiction.
* You could look up places and characters you think may be real.
* Don't look up fictional characters or places.
* Look up the "big" subjects such as "holocaust" or "Japanese Internment" or "Pony Express." You search terms could be the sorts of words and terms you would look up in an encyclopedia.
Words that you would just look up the meaning for in the dictionary may not make good search terms.
2. You may want to check the media center or public library catalog for nonfiction books about your research topic.
3. Try some of the best places to search on the Internet.
A. Go to our school web page and scroll to the bottom of the home page to find the link to Pioneer -- Utah's Online Library.
The user name is pioneer and the password is time.
The best places to search there for this assignment are Sirs Discoverer and World Book.
Type in your term or terms and look for the best sources.
On Sirs Discoverer, I typed in Holocaust, and found this article: http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000025141http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/article?urn=urn%3Asirs%3AUS%3BARTICLE%3BART%3B0000025141
If I decide to use some of this information, I would make sure I save the citation information, including the URL.
B. Try CactiSearch (cactisearch.com) which is a metasearch engine which searches several regular search engines.
C. Try clusty.com and notice the categories at the left which may help you narrow your search.
D. Try kartoo.com and notice how it is different from the other search engines you have used.
E. Try dogpile.com
Notice the suggestions at the right.
E. Try using an advanced search, using special search words and signs. Often on a search engine, to the right of the search bar is the word ADVANCED or ADVANCED SEARCH. Try clicking on it and you can narrow your search.
Even without an advanced search, you can narrow or broaden your search by using these special terms and signs:
AND If you put "and" between two terms, the search engine will select items that have both of the terms.
OR If you put "or" between two terms, the search engine will select everything that has either one.
- (minus sign) If you use a minus sign before a term, the search engine will reject any item that contains that term.
" " (quotation marks) If you use quotation marks around a phrase, the search engine will select only those items that contain that set of words together in that order.
Giving Credit Where Credit is Due
I could go to citationmachine.net, (or go to easybib.com) select MLA at the left, then on-line journal or magazine article at the left, and enter my information to create a Works Cited Entry for the above article which would end up looking something like this:
Works Cited
When you use World Book Online, each article provides a works cited entry at the bottom of the page.
When you have a Works Cited entry, make sure you know which information you got from that source.
When I find a fact, I could go ahead and put it into my own words with an informal citation. Here's an example that I took from the above article:
According to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in their publication “The Holocaust: An Historical Summary,” the approximately nine million Jews murdered by the Nazis from 1933 to 1945, weren’t the only ones the Nazis persecuted and killed. They also murdered, persecuted, and enslaved Gypsies, mentally and physically disabled people, Soviet prisoners of war, communists, socialists, members of trade unions, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Poles and other people from Slavic nations, and more.
The bolded part is the "informal citation" where I told where I got my information.
This is the works cited entry that goes with my fact:
Works Cited
You can copy the Works Cited Entry (from citationmachine.net or from the bottom of the page on World Book) and paste it into a Word (or other word-processor) document. Put your facts on one page and your Works Cited entries on another.
The facts will be used to create your project/presentation.
November 19th -- If you were absent today, you could view what we did by uploading these:
The handout to go with the PowerPoint:http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/student.pdf
This lesson has lots of great suggestions and helps for creating a PowerPoint and for citing sources and creating Works Cited page: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=787
November 17/18, 2009
Spelling/Vocabulary
-ate means cause, make, operate upon (This suffix makes verbs.)
1. separate
2. create
3. segregate
4. dominate
Test next time.
fore- means "front"
1. forehead
2. forecast
3. forethought
4. forefront
cast -- to throw, calculate, prepare, contrive
O.E. þencan "conceive in the mind, think, consider, intend" (past tense þohte, p.p. geþoht), probably originally "cause to appear to oneself," from P.Gmc.
c.1290, from O.Fr. front "forehead, brow," from L. frontem (nom. frons) "forehead," perhaps lit. "that which projects," from PIE *bhront-, from base *bhren- "to project, stand out."
No retakes will be available, so study the words and word parts sets as they come.
Book Groups -- Doing Research
November 18 -- A-Day students, if you were absent, see the PowerPoint and Handout at
The handout to go with the PowerPoint:http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/student.pdf
This lesson has lots of great suggestions and helps for creating a PowerPoint and for citing sources and creating Works Cited page: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=787
-ate means cause, make, operate upon (This suffix makes verbs.)
1. separate
2. create
3. segregate
4. dominate
Test next time.
fore- means "front"
1. forehead
2. forecast
3. forethought
4. forefront
cast -- to throw, calculate, prepare, contrive
O.E. þencan "conceive in the mind, think, consider, intend" (past tense þohte, p.p. geþoht), probably originally "cause to appear to oneself," from P.Gmc.
c.1290, from O.Fr. front "forehead, brow," from L. frontem (nom. frons) "forehead," perhaps lit. "that which projects," from PIE *bhront-, from base *bhren- "to project, stand out."
No retakes will be available, so study the words and word parts sets as they come.
Book Groups -- Doing Research
November 18 -- A-Day students, if you were absent, see the PowerPoint and Handout at
The handout to go with the PowerPoint:http://www.readwritethink.org/lesson_images/lesson983/student.pdf
This lesson has lots of great suggestions and helps for creating a PowerPoint and for citing sources and creating Works Cited page: http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=787
November 13/16, 2009
1. A Word about Vocabulary for Author Letters and other Writing
In Six Traits, it's called Word Choice.
Read about improving the vocabulary in your writing.
Receive an opportunity for extra credit.
Get the handout (A Word About Vocabulary) at http://cavemanenglish.pbworks.com/Letters-to-Authors
2. Spelling/vocabulary test on "extra-" words.
Receive your new Spelling/vocabulary words:
Suffix to study: -ate which means cause, make, operate upon (This suffix makes verbs.)
Words to learn for the spelling test:
1. separate
2. create (on state list)
3. segregate
4. dominate
Test next time.
No retakes will be available, so study the words and word parts sets as they come.
Extra credit information for the above spelling list from dictionary.com:
separate (v.)
1393 (implied in separable), from L. separatus, pp. of separare "to pull apart," from se- "apart" (see secret) + parare "make ready, prepare" (see pare).
Origin:
1350–1400; ME creat (ptp.) < L creātus, equiv. to creā- (s. of creāre to make) + -tus ptp. suffix
1350–1400; ME creat (ptp.) < L creātus, equiv. to creā- (s. of creāre to make) + -tus ptp. suffix
Origin:
1400–50 in sense “segregated”; 1535–45 as transit. v.; late ME segregat < L sēgregātus (ptp. of sēgregāre to part from the flock), equiv. to sē- se- + greg- (s. of grex flock) + -ātus -ate 1 ; see gregarious
1400–50 in sense “segregated”; 1535–45 as transit. v.; late ME segregat < L sēgregātus (ptp. of sēgregāre to part from the flock), equiv. to sē- se- + greg- (s. of grex flock) + -ātus -ate 1 ; see gregarious
Origin:
1605–15; < L dominātus (ptp. of dominārī to master, control), equiv. to domin- (s. of dominus) master + -ātus -ate 1
1605–15; < L dominātus (ptp. of dominārī to master, control), equiv. to domin- (s. of dominus) master + -ātus -ate 1
3. Book Groups Strategy Lesson: Asking Questions
Book Groups -- Asking Questions/Finding Answers
Find the handout at Asking Questions and Finding Answers
To get into the Pioneer Library from home, the username is Pioneer, and the password is Time.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)