April 21/22, 2009

April 21/22, 2009

Students handed in their Vietnam War Interviews today. These may still come in next time for full points.

Is Tree's grandpa a hero?

We discussed the essay the students will write in computer lab on Thursday and Friday, April 23/24. See the assignment in the post below: "April 23/24 Computer Lab -- Heroes Assignment"

Students took their test on the Seventh Grade Confusing words. Those who received a score below 19 out of the possible 24 will be retaking the test, so should be studying these. There is a printable list on our class wiki.

We also discussed the upcoming state core tests, and took a practice test.

April 23/24 Computer Lab

April 23/24 Computer Lab -- Heroes Assignment

We'll be in a computer lab again on April 23/24 to write an essay on MYAccess. This will be about heroes. We'll use the MYAccess prompt about "Character Traits." Notice that I have modified the prompt from the way it is presented on MYAccess.

Character Traits

Character traits in fictional or real people may have positive or negative effects on the people around them.

Select a person, real or fictional, who possesses character traits that influence others in a positive way. This is someone who could be considered a hero. You may write about a real person (someone you know or know quite a bit about, or one of the real people from Ice Story, or about one of the fictional characters from the class novels we have read this year. You could use a character from The Giver, Words By Heart, The Outsiders, or Stand Tall. Don't use characters from other novels or other books -- only from the ones we've read as a class.

Write an essay in which you describe this person's character traits and provide examples of how these traits affect other people. If you wish to, you may try writing about the character traits you find in several of these characters or people and how these are the traits of a hero.

--- Use the words "positive influence" and/or "positively influence," and the words "character trait(s)."

Your score will be based on how well you:

develop a multi-paragraph response to the assigned topic that clearly communicates your controlling idea to the audience.

support your controlling idea with meaningful examples, reasons, and information based upon your research or readings.

organize your essay in a clear and logical manner, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.

use well-structured sentences and language that are appropriate for your audience.

edit your work to conform to the conventions of standard American English.

Use any of the tools available to you, such as the Checklist, Spellchecker, or Graphic Organizer.

You will have unlimited opportunities to revise until about May 20th.

Confusing Words

Be prepared for a test on our Seventh Grade Confusing Words. If you did well last time we tested, you might want to review. If you didn't do well, you need to spend some serious time studying!

For the chart, go to cavemanenglish.pbwiki.com and look for the folder and file for Confusing Words.

April 10/20, 2009

Students will read from the novel Stand Tall by Joan Bauer. They will be filling in their packets for this novel. For a copy of the packet, go to http://cavemanenglish.pbwiki.com/

After you open the needed folder, click at the bottom of the navigation box on "Files."

They will also play Confusing Words Sparkle! to review our seventh grade confusing words.

For a chart of the Confusing Words, go to the wiki, and look for the document under Confusing Words.

Handouts

For copies of handouts you miss or lose, go to http://cavemanenglish.pbwiki.com/

After you open the needed folder, click at the bottom of the navigation box on "Files."

Book-of-the-Month Club for Term 4

See the requirements in a post below, or on your class wiki, or pick up a copy in the classroom.

Complex Sentences

Complex Sentences
Watch for information about Subordinating Conjunctions!

For now, see this very helpful site:
http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000377.htm

Here's another site about sentence patterns:
http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/sentencepatterns.html

And this site offers games and activities:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/words/grammar/sentencebasics/whatisasentence/