Thursday, November 30, 2017

Friday/Monday, December 1/4, 2017


Announcements and Reminders Friday/Monday, December 1/4, 2017:



Book sign-ups were due last time.   
We have only three to four class times for everyone to complete their interviews.  Do yours as soon as you finish your book.  
                      
December 5/8 -- Test on argument writing vocabulary. 

Scholastic Book order due date -- by December 8.  
Our next book genre is historical fiction.
We will use nonfiction after that.  

See the books recommended at scholastic book clubs.
Class code GKLJW

Targets for Today: 
I can recognize and properly use pronouns.
I can write an effective argument essay.  
I can read realistic fiction and determine themes expressed in that fiction. 


Today’s  Agenda:

Conventions in Sentences Investigations 
1.  In your composition book under
CSI Sentences/Grammar.  Page 83/84 +
label this CSI #  14,   and add today's date -- December 1 or 4, 2017.  
Underline all of the pronouns.  Then list each with the noun it refers to.  
 Example:   
 I hope the Tigers. . .  (Write the rest of the sentences, underling the pronouns.)

(After the sentences, make a list of the pronouns and the nouns they are standing in for. )
     
Pronoun     Noun
       I            Cindy

Your sentences: 
 “I hope the Tigers win today’s game,” Cindy said.  “If they lose today, that would be five losses in a row.  I hope they win  it for us .” 
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2. Write an Argument Essay   -- You can write a timed essay. 
                      This is due by the end of the period. 
       1) Finish reading the articles.
       2) Decide on your claim and the three reasons you are using to support that claim.
       3) Write a rough draft on the graphic organizer, and check it off with the teacher.  
    • Remember to use evidence (quoted or paraphrased) in each body paragraph, including your counterclaim paragraph. 
    • Cite at least two of the three articles.
The assignment:  Write an argument essay that presents a claim with three reasons to support it.  Include all the parts of an argument essay and cite the sources provided.  Your essay will answer the question:  "Which makes the better pet, cats or dogs?"   Your audience is a group of seventh grade English teachers who really do want to know whether dogs or cats make better pets. 
    Examples of citations: 
    A citation lets your reader know 
         where you got the information. 

    Introduction                   "Quote"            
    Ponyboy Curtis said, "I bet we started it.  We must have dropped a
                                                   (Cite).  
    lighted cigarette or something" (91). 

    Quoted
    Introduction
    According to the article "Cats vs dogs: Which pet is smarter?" from the New York Daily News
    Quote                                                                                   Parenthetical Citation
    "Cats have 300 million neurons to dogs' mere 160 million" (Greene). 

    Paraphrased  
    Introduction                                                                      Paraphrase
    Frances Storrs, writing for The Boston Globe, states that the average cost for getting a dog 
                                                                                Parenthetical Citation
    is $408, while the average for a cat is only $66 (Storrs).  

    Quoted   (If you have already used the same article for another piece of evidence.)
    Dogs are more willing and able to interact with human beings.
                    Quote                                                  Parenthetical Citation
    In fact, "the average dog can learn 165 words" (O'Neill).

    Counterclaim 
    Transitions phrases  to use for a counterclaim:
    Dog lovers (or Cat lovers) may argue that. . . . .   However. . . .
    A common argument against dogs (or cats) is that. . .   , but. . .
    Some people would point out that. . . . .    However. . . .

           4)  Using your rough draft, write a final draft by hand on lined paper.
            This is due by the end of the period. 
                 Staple together with
    1.                     lined paper draft on top,
    2.                     rough draft on graphic organizer, 
    3.                     grading rubric.


    ____________________________________________________________

    3.   When you have finished your essay:  Individual Reading Time and Interviews for the Book of the Month.
    We have three to four class times for everyone to complete their interviews.  Do yours as soon as you finish your book.  


    _________________________________________________________________



           



    If You Were Absent:



    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