Thursday/Friday, March 9/10, 2017

Announcements and Reminders:                           Don't forget your homework:  The information you collected about your own name. If you were not here to take the word parts test, come during Cavetime on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, or before (arrange with Ms. Dorsey) or immediately after school on any of the days Tuesday- Friday. This Friday, March 10, is the last day to hand in late work, revised work, and extra credit (except the hall passes)  for Term 3. If you are failing, see me, please. If needed, revise your book assessment and hand it in again (with the first submission and rubric) by Friday, March 10. Have you finished your Long Walk to Water Packet? Is your composition book caught up? See the tab for Composition Book above for all of the assignments that are being checked. The term ends on March 16. Happy Mario Day!

Targets for Today:

Today’s  Agenda: 1) How to write a thesis statement: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCzuAMVmIZ8 Examples of Thesis Sentences: 1.  We should wear school uniforms because they would help reduce discipline, be cheaper than other clothing, and help create school pride. 2. Zoos should be banned because animals need to remain in the wild, zoos cannot provide natural experiences for animals, and animals in zoos get sick and die. 3. I have earned an A in English because I have completed and handed in every assignment, and I have revised and resubmitted all work that had not met the requirements.   4. The people of American Fork, Utah should donate to Water for South Sudan because those donations would allow girls in South Sudan to be educated and would prevent many deaths caused by drinking dirty water.  2) Elaboration: Explain your evidence. Explain how it supports your claim.  Anecdotes Examples Definition Explanation Showing Connections Example of elaborating on a piece of evidence from Water for South Sudan.  The website for Water for South Sudan states that "We operate successfully with a small paid staff,  and a network of committed volunteers, . . . "  Elaboration/Explanation:          This means that almost all of the money you donate to this organization goes to the actual cause, not to overhead.  In fact, Water for South Sudan was founded by a young man from Sudan who was one of the Lost Boys from the Sudanese Civil War, and wanted to help the people in his country.  He and the other people who run Water for South Sudan really care about this cause, and care about using donations effectively.  You don't have to worry about whether your money is really helping people. Play "Elaborate On That."  Can you elaborate? https://www.classtools.net/random-name-picker/98_NSS8am 3) Peer Help Pick up the computer that corresponds with your folder/composition book. Open up MyAccess, and read any messages from me.  If they are there, open a second window and open up your essay.  Make any corrections suggested by my messages.   Trade computers with your partner, and Check your partner's essay with the blue rubric. Trade back and use the rubric your partner filled out to improve your essay.  Take turns reading aloud the other person's essay.  Let the other person make corrections as you read. __________________________________________________ Next time:   Informational Writing Names http://lbrogers.schoolloop.com/file/1212277326139/3326083117925375144.pdf http://bookbuilder.cast.org/view_print.php?book=56485 http://www.behindthename.com/

If You Were Absent:

Vocabulary:

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson-docs/Key_Elaboration.pdf

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/lesson-docs/Samples_Model_ICED_Paragraphs.pdf

"Body" Organizer for an Argument Essay

The parts your argument essay should have:

←Introduction [You'll find the big idea -- the central idea -- of the whole essay here.  The reasons are also stated.]
←Body Paragraph
←Body Paragraph

←Counterclaim Paragraph with the "But. . . " 


←  Conclusion   [Your reader feels the he or she can walk away feeling satisfied.]








Check your RAFTS, ARMS, and SMILES!

The Essay

Argument

Sample Argument Essay

Remediation/Preparation for Argument Essay

Tuesday/Wednesday, March 7/8, 2017

Dreaming of Spring!  

Announcements and Reminders:                           If you were not here to take the word parts test, come during Cavetime on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, or before (arrange with Ms. Dorsey) or immediately after school on any of the days Tuesday- Friday. This Friday, March 10, is the last day to hand in late work, revised work, and extra credit (except the hall passes)  for Term 3. If needed, revise your book assessment and hand it in again (with the first submission and rubric) by Friday, March 10. Have you finished your Long Walk to Water Packet? Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx Is your composition book caught up? See the tab for Composition Book above for all of the assignments that are being checked. The term ends on March 16. Do you know what the "Ides of March" means?  Extra credit for the first person from each class who can explain that to me.    http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/what-are-the-ides-of-march Do this for our next class time. (You can find the handout on Skyward.)  For our next writing assignment: If you don't already know, ask your parents why they gave you your first name.  Also, find out what it means.  And, what does it mean to you?  Do you like it or hate it?  Why? See the handout. Questions to consider include -- What is the meaning of your name? What other names were being considered when you were born?  Do you like your name?  Why or why not? What you like most and/or least about your name? Is your name gender or culture specific?  If so, how? How many people in your family or in your life have the same name? Were you named after someone specific?  If so, does this affect how you are treated or how you are expected to act?  Does it influence your own expectations of yourself? Do you have a nickname?  If so, how did you get it?  If not, do you wish you had one?  Why or why not?

Targets for Today: I know and understand the parts of an effective essay.      I also understand and can produce the qualities of formal writing. I can collect evidence and write an argument essay. I can revise and edit for clarity and conventions.

Today’s  Agenda: 1. Brain Spill about writing an argument essay.       Write down and/or draw everything you know about writing an argument essay.         You can use words, pictures, sentences, phrases, etc. 2. What are the parts and qualities of an effective argument essay?     Review. Sample Argument Essay "Body" Organizer for an Argument Essay Graphic Organizer for Argument Essay Remediation/Preparation for Argument Essay Student Example: Sample Letter About Water for South Sudan  3.  Create your own graphic organizer to use when you need to write an argument essay. 4.  Finish your essay about Water for South Sudan.  Lab 224 -- take your packet and organizer. Example of a Fundraising Letter (Yours will have an argument essay inside!) Look for the messages from Ms. Dorsey when you first log into MyAccess.   You will earn a C+ or above only if you have the letter format and all the parts of an argument essay.   Frame for a thesis sentence:   (Our school or Our Community) should raise funds for Water for South Sudan because (two reasons why).   If you finish early     finish the packet for A Long Walk to Water if you still need to, Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx     work on your composition book if you are missing work there,      quietly read.   5.  Peer Review, if time.      Perhaps more time to revise and edit in response to your peer review.

If You Were Absent: Finish your essay on your own.  I will begin grading them the next day after you have class.

Vocabulary:

Thursday/Friday, March 2/3, 2017

Announcements and Reminders:                           Do not forget to study your word parts!  http://cavemanenglish.blogspot.com/p/vocabulary-2014-2015.html Test today!!! No intervention Cavetime in this classroom either Thursday or Friday of this week. Your argument essay about Water for South Sudan is due by March 7 -- next Tuesday.  Today will be our last day to work with computers in class.

Targets for Today: I can use word parts such as prefixes, roots, and suffixes to help me understand the meaning of unfamiliar (and familiar) words.  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.  I can write an effective argument essay.

Today’s  Agenda: You DO NOT need your composition book today. 1.  Spend about 10 minutes reviewing your word parts for the test.  You may work together to prepare, if you are on task.   2.  Testing conditions and instructions:  Clear your desks for the test.  Make sure any charts with the word parts are not showing. Do not communicate with other students. Do not look at another student's paper. Answer by writing the matching letters in the first column. When you are done, place your test in the top wire basket for your class. You may then read quietly -- your own book or A Long Walk to Water. 3. Individual students may choose to either finish reading the novel  A Long Walk to Water and finish filling out the packet that goes with it (when the packet is finished, you should just keep reading to the end of the book), or you may pick up a Chomebook from the cart to use ONLY for gathering information from the site Water for South Sudan and writing an argument essay on MyAccess.   Your argument essay about Water for South Sudan is due by March 7 -- next Tuesday.  Today will be our last day to work with computers in class.   Reminders:   Login for MyAccess is your Skyward username and as password your student number. You are taking notes right in your  MyAccess document, then will use those notes to write an argument essay letter on that same document.   The notes should be erased after the essay is done.  Citing a source: According to Water for South Sudan.org, "By providing access to clean, safe water and facilitating hygiene education, Water for South Sudan sows the seeds for growth. " or "By providing access to clean, safe water and facilitating hygiene education, Water for South Sudan sows the seeds for growth" (Water for South Sudan.org).  or Nya, a main character in the novel A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park, carries water for her family from a distant pond, two trips a day for seven months a year, and during the other months, she much dig holes in a muddy lake bed and wait for water to fill them (Park, 20, 26). or The fictional account in Linda Sue Park's novel, A Long Walk to Water,  describes a small girl who has been sickened by the water the family must drink: "For the elderly and for small children, the illness could be dangerous. Unable to hold anything in their systems, many of them starved to death, even with food right in front of them." 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.   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.  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?   This document shows the layout for the letter-essay: 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  This document shows the layout for the letter-essay:  Argument Letter -- Support Water for South Sudan Arrange with me to take the Word Parts Test. Study packet for part of  A Long Walk to Water: Study Packet for A Long Walk to Water.docx

Vocabulary: