Announcements and Reminders for Wednesday/Thursday, November 29/30, 2017:
Schedule for December 19/20, 2017
Book sign-ups are due today.
The 7th grade assembly today will be in the theatre (Old Auditorium). December 5/8 -- Test on argument writing vocabulary.   |
Targets for Today:
I can read realistic fiction and determine themes expressed in that fiction. I can recognize and properly use pronouns. I can write an effective argument essay. |
Today’s Agenda:
1. Individual Reading Time -- time to read our realistic fiction book. 2.
In your composition book under
CSI Sentences/Grammar. Page 83/84 +
label this CSI # 13, and add today's date -- November 29 or 30, 2017.
This is from a student essay. As you copy it, improve it. Ponyboys older brother, Darrel Curtis, hit him. He had never done that before, so he ran away from home.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
3. Learning about pronouns. Get as much done as you can in the time allotted. 4. Theme -- Reading What theme or themes did you find in "The Smallest Dragonboy?" Theme = An important topic + what the author has to say about it = a complete sentence that states a message that could apply to many people and situations. B5 did not finish the short story: They got to 26:51. 5. Argument Writing If we can't have dragons as pets, perhaps we could settle for cats or dogs? Which one? You will read some articles, and write an argument essay that answers this question:
Which are better as pets -- cats or dogs? Why?
 Your essay will be formal. You will need three reasons in your thesis sentence, with a body paragraph to discuss each. You will use evidence from the articles in your essay. You will appeal to reason rather than to emotion. Audience: a group of junior high English teachers who are all trying to decide whether they should have cats or dogs as pets How will you write differently than you would if you were writing for a different audience? Next time you will write the essay. |
|
Use a rubric, a graphic organizer, and the articles about cats vs. dogs.
If You Were Absent:
See above.
Here are the handouts: |
Vocabulary:
Argument Writing: •A type of writing that states a position on a topic and defends it
Hook: •A sentence or sentences that will engage your reader – get their attention
l Claim/Thesis: •A sentence that states your position and includes your main reasons
Introduction: •The first paragraph of an essay
Topic Sentence: •The sentence near the beginning of the paragraph that states the central idea of the paragraph
Background Information: •The information the reader needs to understand a topic and why it is being discussed
Body Paragraph: •A paragraph that comes between the introduction and the conclusion
Transitions: Words or groups of words that connect ideas and show relationships
Formal Style: Writing that does not include contractions or the pronouns "you" or "I"
Reasons: Logical main points to support a claim
Evidence: Facts, examples, statistics, etc. that support a claim
Explanation: explains the evidence and shows how it supports your reasons/claim
Counterclaim/Opposing Claim: an opposing argument; something the other side would say
Rebuttal: proving why a counterclaim (opposing claim) is wrong using reasons and evidence
Conventions: correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation
Citation: giving the source of the evidence
Conclusion: sums up the main point of the whole essay
|
Teacher notes:
Reasons and evidence: http://tworeflectiveteachers.blogspot.com/2014/01/what-is-difference-between-reasons-and.html
http://mrbehm.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/14214992/claims_reason_evidence.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69btpc8Ds0M
My Dad is an Alien: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=26&v=WQTsue0lKBk
Reasons and evidence: http://tworeflectiveteachers.blogspot.com/2014/01/what-is-difference-between-reasons-and.html
http://mrbehm.weebly.com/uploads/1/4/2/1/14214992/claims_reason_evidence.pdf
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69btpc8Ds0M
My Dad is an Alien: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=26&v=WQTsue0lKBk
