Tuesday/Wednesday, February 28/March 1, 2017

Announcements and Reminders:                           Do not forget to study your word parts! http://cavemanenglish.blogspot.com/p/vocabulary-2014-2015.html Test next time!

Targets for Today: Today:  I can select information from reliable sources that will help me write a convincing argument.  I can cite that source when I use information from it in my own writing. Beginning today: I can write an effective argument essay.

Today’s  Agenda: You DO NOT need your composition book today. 1.  Finish A Long Walk to Water  or finish it next time.  If you haven't finished your packet, complete it.   Then go ahead and finish reading the book. Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx If you are done, pick up the two page packet for the letter/essay, and read through it. The sample essay is to remind you of what an effective argument essay looks like. On the back of that page, it explains why the essay earned 6's on MyAccess. You've thought about charity, and you've read about problems that children in Africa have experienced (and are still experiencing).   You have become a sort of expert.  Now you are going to increase that expertise and then write an argument essay, convincing your readers to help solve the water problem in Sudan.   2. Computer lab to do research for writing  an argument essay, Your purpose will be to convince others to donate to Water for South Sudan.         You may write           to students at your junior high,           to our administration, convincing them to host a fundraiser for this cause,  or          to adults in your neighborhood or community.  RAFTS Role   Audience   Format    Task   Strong Key Words  See  RAFTS You will use and cite the information available on http://www.waterforsouthsudan.org/       Write a complete essay with           Introduction (and a great hook),              at the end of the introduction an effective claim (thesis),         two to three body paragraphs,  (Cite at least two pieces of evidence, etc. from the site you have been given to use),          plus a paragraph addressing a counterclaim,          plus a concluding paragraph. Do not forget to use transitions.   Keep it formal:  no "you," or "I"; no contractions, no slang.  Today: Log into MyAccess with your  1. Research 2. Take notes -- collect information.   3. Begin Writing Getting into MyAccess:  Username:  Your Skyward Login Password:  Your Student Number  You are the experts!   Convince others that this is a good cause. As you research today,  remember that your reader most likely knows nothing about this subject.   How can you explain briefly?   What can you say that will convince them that this is a worthy cause?   Argument Letter -- Support Water for South Sudan Images for A Long Walk to Water

If You Were Absent:  Here is the handout for the MyAccess project:  Argument Sudan Fundraising.docx

Vocabulary:

Sample Draft for Exploring Oceans with Technology

Draft: 

      Adventurers who want to go “where no one has gone before” do not need to travel to outer space.  According to “Oceans: Earth’s Final Frontier,” ninety five percent of earth’s oceans have not yet been explored.  Under the ocean there are mountain ranges, volcanoes,  and seven-mile-deep valleys. There are strange creatures, some huge, some small but still frightening.   The problem has been that like outer space, the ocean is a hostile environment to man.  So men have needed to come up with technology before they can explore these places on our own planet where no one has been able to go before.

     As much as explorers wanted to dive deep into the oceans, they couldn’t because of the “extreme darkness, freezing cold temperatures, and crushing water pressures” (DiveTechnology).   And of course there is the obvious problem of breathing under water. 

The famous Jacques Cousteau helped invent the breathing apparatus that later became known as SCUBA gear, but even with this, divers couldn’t go any further than 130 feet (DiveTechnology).  There were still the problems of cold and fatal water pressure.   As the space program brought new inventions, a diving suit was based on space suits.  It included a breathing apparatus and added to that protection from water pressure and extreme temperatures.  The new Jim Suit, as it was called, allowed divers to descend to 1,250 feet (DiveTechnology). 

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     To travel deeper, it took a submarine where the diver could be protected and have air and visibility, but even those small subs had their depth limits.  Before 2012 four miles below the surface was the deepest the small deep diving submarines could go.  Then along came James Cameron, the filmmaker and deep sea explorer.   He invented The Deepsea Challenger, and with it was able to explore the bottom of the Mariana Trench – seven miles down and the deepest known place on earth (Lights, Camera, Inventor).   As mankind continues to develop new technology, perhaps more of us will explore these places we have not been able to go before, and who knows what we will discover. 

Sunday, February 26, 2017

Today is

Example of a Fundraising Letter

This letter is for an entirely different type of nonprofit organization, but is a good example of a fundraising letter.  Yours will be different because you are using an argument essay format within your letter.  Use all the parts of and requirements for an effective essay.

Company
Street
City, State, ZIP
July 7, 2008

Name
Company
Street
City, St ZIP

Dear Name,

I’m pleased to announce that the third annual Fall Pops benefit concert will be held on Saturday, October 25. Since this event can offer great exposure for your business, I wanted to give you an early opportunity for your organization to get involved.

Fall Pops is the Inland Foundation’s biggest fundraising event. This year the concert’s proceeds will benefit Inland’s cardiac rehabilitation program. Participating in a cardiac rehab program after a heart attack or stroke is the proven to be the single most important health prevention tool available. Your involvement will help the program be open to even more people that need it.

This year’s Fall Pops will feature some of the top musicians from the Bangor Symphony Orchestra. Once again, we’re honored to have the BSO’s Music Director, Xiao-Lu Li, conducting these musicians as well as performing on the violin. We’ll follow the concert up with the very popular “Meet the Musicians,” gourmet dessert reception!

The two main ways to get involved are:
• by joining more than a dozen of us as a sponsor, or
• by advertising in the Fall Pops program.

Both options allow you to get your company in front of hundreds of people the night of the concert. And all sponsorship levels give you two complimentary tickets both to the concert and the “Meet the Musicians” gourmet dessert reception. Some levels also give your organization exposure before the event.

Please call Marc Pitman if you’d like to participate. His direct line is 861-xxxx and his email is mpitman@ourorg.org.

Thank you for considering supporting this year’s event,

John Doe, Chair
Inland Foundation Board of Trustees

P.S. Act soon, a few of these opportunities are on a first-come first-served basis.

Friday/Monday, February 24/27, 2017

Announcements and Reminders: If you brought your completed registration, turn it in.  There is a wire basket  for the registration papers on Ms. Dorsey's desk.      You need your composition book!     Practice test today on Word Parts!  Have you been studying your magical study guide? See the tab above for  Vocabulary 2016-2017                  Work Due -- If you haven't handed it in ---- As soon as possible, print your book of the month assessment, staple it to the front of the rubric, and hand it in.  Also share the document with Ms. Dorsey.  Before you print, make sure you have completed all the parts of the assignment, including your five facts with explanation and citations;  an explanation of why your particular book is fictional;  and a comparison/contrast between your experiences reading the fictional and nonfiction account of this issue or event.  Don't forget to sign if you've read the whole thing!

Targets for Today: I can read for enjoyment. I can sometimes figure out unfamiliar words because I recognize word parts within the word.  I can read to understand, to recognize elements of literature, and to consider ideas.

Today’s  Agenda: You will need your composition book today. 1. Practice test on Word Parts!  Have you been studying your magical study guide? See the tab above for  Vocabulary 2016-2017       (Note to Ms. D. -- cover the list on the board!) 2.  Review of Point of View --   Point of View        First Person        Second Person        Third Person     What is the point of view for A Long Walk to Water? 3. Review of  Plot Map:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-uzJB9Bc9U  Piper  (This animated short just won an Oscar!)         Draw the plot map in your composition book under Notes.   4.  Theme?  In your composition book, under Writing Prompts, write a paragraph explaining this  theme from the short film Piper.        Conquering our fears can lead to major rewards. 5. Read the book, and work on your packet for A Long Walk to Water.  Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx

If You Were Absent: See above.   See Ms. Dorsey for the Practice Test.   Complete the other activities as outlined above.  Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx

Vocabulary: Word Parts Point of View Plot Plot Map Theme

Wednesday/Thursday, February 20/21, 2017

Announcements and Reminders:                           LIVE Week Lesson? Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. https://vimeopro.com/rodsantiano/afjh  Video about LIVE Week -- Helping Refugees Work Due -- If you haven't handed it in ---- As soon as possible, print your book of the month assessment, staple it to the front of the rubric, and hand it in.  Also share the document with Ms. Dorsey.  Before you print, make sure you have completed all the parts of the assignment, including your five facts with explanation and citations;  an explanation of why your particular book is fictional;  and a comparison/contrast between your experiences reading the fictional and nonfiction account of this issue or event.  Don't forget to sign if you've read the whole thing!

Targets for Today: I can read for enjoyment. I can pay careful attention and learn how to register for 8th grade. I can read to understand, to recognize elements of literature, and to consider ideas.

Today’s  Agenda: 1. Individual Reading 2. Counseling with Registration for 8th Grade. 3. Reading from A Long Walk to Water, and answering questions from the book. Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx Protagonist or Antagonist?

If You Were Absent: Pick up a registration worksheet from Ms. Dorsey or from the counseling office. Come in during Cavetime or after school to catch up on reading A Long Walk to Water. Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx

Vocabulary:

Friday/Tuesday, February 17/21, 2017

Announcements and Reminders:     There will be no school on Monday.               This week is LIVE Week at our school.    PTSA - LIVE WEEK!!!  February 21-24 the PTSA will be doing LIVE Week.  This week we will be focusing on “Life is a Valuable Experience!”  Each day we will have a theme. Tuesday: We will be focusing on our choices.  One of our goals is to assemble Refugee Kits.  We need the help from both parents and students to make this happen!  If you are willing we need donations that can be brought to school to the PTA box outside the main office. The following items are needed: Buckets: 5 gal-Lowes 2.98, Home Depot 2 gal $1.48, or Dollar Store Laundry Soap: 40 load Walmart $4 Dish soap: 25oz Walmart .97 Sponges: dollar store 2/$1 All-purpose cleaner: Walmart or Dollar Store Kitchen rag: dollar store 2/$1 or (auto-motive sections) Walmart 30/$12.44 Costco 36/$15.99. We would love to be able to make a couple hundred of these kits to help refugees. We would like this all collected by Friday, February 17th. See Attachment for details AFJH Refugee 2017 flyer.pdf  If you have any questions about the donations please email artigas6@msn.com Wednesday: “Respect each other and their differences.” The students are allowed to have crazy hair or wear a hat.   Thursday: “I will Honor the Cave.” The students will be rewarded for keeping the school clean.  They can also wear crazy socks. Friday: “Proud to be a Caveman!”  The students will be encouraged to wear their red and black caveman hoodies or T-shirts.   We will have lunch time activities during the week.         Work Due -- If you haven't handed it in ---- As soon as possible, print your book of the month assessment, staple it to the front of the rubric, and hand it in.  Also share the document with Ms. Dorsey.  Before you print, make sure you have completed all the parts of the assignment, including your five facts with explanation and citations;  an explanation of why your particular book is fictional;  and a comparison/contrast between your experiences reading the fictional and nonfiction account of this issue or event.  Don't forget to sign if you've read the whole thing!  There will be NO CAVETIME with Ms. Dorsey on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.

Targets for Today: Write an effective paragraph. Learn about the element of literature -- plot.] Read more from A Long Walk to Water, applying what we have learned about plot, and watching for other elements of literature.

Today’s  Agenda: 1. Writing:  In your composition book under Writing Prompts,  label this entry "CHARITY." Write about Charity.   Consider how you feel about these words, then,  write one paragraph with  a topic sentence and  supporting details about that topic sentence.   Do not use the words "I" or "you."   Some suggested topic sentences (or you could use your own): Charity is important because. . .  Charity should begin at home. Charity is about more than money. In our world, people expect charity too often.  Charity helps both the giver and the receiver. There are many opportunities to show charity. 2. Literary Elements: We have looked at Conflict with the terms protagonist and antagonist Setting for time and place, recognizing that there are settings from macro to micro. Today we will look at PLOT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YaHkrkH7yM  Dug's Special Mission    TO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZYAHGwS3mA   For the Birds     WITH https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTBkcY5S-08    Lifted    BY 3.  Read from A Long Walk to Water. In a novel, there is usually more than one climax.  (more than one "mountain") The plot so far. . . .  Another term to learn:  Inciting Incident A1 is on page 44 or up to 50 up to page 70 if time.  A2 is on page 56  to page  70 if time.  B5 is on page 50 to 56.  B6 is on page 50 to 56.

If You Were Absent: See above. Write to the writing prompt. Complete the Plot Assignment. Catch up on your reading in A Long Walk to Water. Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx Watch this video for LIVE Week:  https://vimeopro.com/rodsantiano/afjh

Vocabulary:    See    Literary Terms Plot: Exposition: Inciting Incident: Rising Action: Complications: Climax: Falling Action: Resolution: