Friday, December 7, 2018

Friday/Monday, December 7/10, 2018


Announcements and Reminders Friday/Monday, December 7/10, 2018:
     
Please return any books you have checked out from our classroom.   Thanks! 
       
Wednesday is the last day to hand in revisions, late assignments, or extra credit. 
            
 Remember to make sure you have done the following: 
  • completed your Canvas Assignments:  Outsiders Text Messages and Argument PreQuiz,
  • turned in your Theme and Evidence Worksheet (goldenrod) from your October Book of the Month, 
  • completed and revised and edited your PEE writing on MyAccess for your October Book of the Month.   (DO NOT not do this because you don't have the page numbers.  Do it for as many points as you can.)
  • reread your book for the December Book of the Month -- the letter to an author.   We will type them on December 13/14.  
  • Instructions for Letters about Literature (1).docx
  • Review and practice for your overall spelling test. 
  • finish reading The Outsiders and answered the questions about the book.  You must have finished them by Wednesday the 12th.  
  • be prepared to type an introductory paragraph for an argument essay -- (imagining that he lived and healed)  "Should Johnny Cade be punished for the death of Robert Sheldon?"   Can you write an effective hook, add background knowledge, and write a thesis sentence with your claim and two or three reasons why it is true? 
Here is The Outsiders -- the whole book -- online -- and searchable -- 



Targets for Today:

I can write an effective letter to the author of a favorite book or books.
I can write an effective introductory paragraph for an argument essay.
I can correctly spell commonly confused words.


Today’s  Agenda for Friday/Monday, December 7/10, 2018:

Making any corrections needed to my evidence for "Is Johnny Guilty?" on CANVAS.
You need  (worth 4 points)
  1. useful evidence, 
  2. the quote copied exactly, 
  3. the page number in parenthetical citation, 
  4. and an indication whether this would be evidence of guilt or innocence.
Example -- 
 If  Two-Bit were on trial for shoplifting, we could collect this piece of evidence from the book:Assignment:  p. 10  Two-Bit stole his switchblade.

Ponyboy reported that "He [Two-Bit] was famous for shoplifting and his black-handled switchblade (which he couldn't have acquired without his first talent), . . . " (10).   This would prove that Two-Bit is guilty.

Edit, then reply to me 


Letters About Literature
Here are the videos to watch: http://www.read.gov/letters/videos.html
Read winning letters:   http://www.read.gov/letters/contests/winners/2018/index.html
All of the lessons:  http://www.read.gov/documents/LAL-Teaching-Guide-REVISED.pdf
      You can scroll down to the handouts.
Instructions for Letters about Literature (1).docx

The Lead Paragraph -- How to Hook the Reader
Hooks:                                                    
Questions are overused, and not usually used well! 

  • an anecdote that relates to a character or event in the book
  •      [An anecdote is a short and amusing or interesting story that relates to the subject of your essay.]
  • a before-and-after comparison
  • an interest or quality you share with the author or one of the characters in the book
  • a strong or surprising statement
  • a brief quote 
  • create a picture in the reader's mind by using descriptive words
  • point out a misconception
  • introduce a simile or metaphor
  • a definition

For your argument writing introduction, you could add
  • a detail or statistic from an authoritative source


Note:  Your letter is more informal than your argument writing will be.

Bookends (. . . or how to close your letter) 
______________________________________________

Writing an introductory paragraph for an argument essay
Three parts:
1. The HOOK
Hooks: 
Questions are overused, and not usually used well! 
  • an anecdote that relates to a character or event in the book
  •    [An anecdote is a short and amusing or interesting story that relates to the subject of your essay ]
  • a before-and-after comparison
  • a strong or surprising statement
  • a brief quote
  • a detail or statistic from an authoritative source
  • create a picture in the reader's mind by using descriptive words
  • point out a misconception
  • introduce a simile or metaphor
  • a definition
2. The needed background information

3. The thesis sentence
= the CLAIM + two or three reasons why the claim is true.
(the CLAIM consists of the topic and what you are saying about it.) 


You must have an INTRODUCTION that contains
o Hook
o Background
o Claim --Claim includes your 2 main reasons

Example claim:  The Curtis boys should be allowed to stay together because they love and support each other, and Darrell has proved himself to be an effective guardian for the younger boys.  

In your composition book, write an introduction for an argument essay about whether Johnny (if he had lived and healed) should be punished for the death of Robert Sheldon. 

  • Look through the evidence we have collected to select two reasons to support your claim.  
  • Write a hook.
  • Write background information (context).
  • Write your thesis sentence.  





Sparkle for Overall spelling 




If You Were Absent:

See above. 


Vocabulary:




 Help and Enrichment 

Instructions for Letters about Literature (1).docx


For Extra Credit:
What is wrong with this? (Think conventions.)
What is it really saying?
How could it be fixed to say what the writer probably intended? 

Spelling Lists and Tests for Term 2, 2018 – English 7

October 29/30: 

its/it's
to/too/two

1. its/it’s
The dog buried its bone.
 It’s alive!


2. to/too/two
Let’s go to the library.
There are too many good books to choose from.
I always carry two pencils.

November 6/7:

your/you’re
there/their/they’re

3. your/you’re
Is that your jacket?
You’re the best!

4. there/their/they’re
You stay here, and I’ll go there.
Their grades are superb!
They’re here.

November 14/15:
cause/because
are/our
a lot/allot/and NOT alot



5. are/our
We are happy.
Our mother is happy.


6. cause/because
Smoking can cause cancer.
He left because he was angry at her.

7.  a lot/allot/ alot
I’m reading a lot of books.
The teacher will allot one pencil to each student.
(There is no word spelled alot.)
November 27/28:
were/we’re/where/wear
then/than
8. were/we’re/where
We were happy to see you.
We’re going to lunch.
Where is he?
Did you wear your coat to school?
9. then/than
First we ate, then we played outside.
I like dark chocolate better than milk chocolate.

December 5/6:
here/hear
barely/barley

10. here/hear
How long have you been here?
I can't hear you.

11. barely/barley
I just barely made it into class on time.
I enjoy bread made from wheat and barley.
December 11/12:
Overall test on the words learned so far 

Carefully edit for these words.  Once you have been tested on a word, if you misspell it in your written work for this class, you will lose five points for each error.  You may complete a make-up assignment to recover the points.


Ms. Dorsey – AFJH – modified for 2018


Teacher Materials: 
Argument

Friday/Monday, December 1/4, 2017


You must have an INTRODUCTION that contains
o Hook
o Background
o Claim
o Claim includes your 2 main reasons

Wednesday, December 5, 2018

Wednesday/Thursday, December 5/6, 2018


Announcements and Reminders for Wednesday/Thursday, December 5/6, 2018 :
                         
       Today's Spelling Test is on these words:  
December 5/6:
here/hear
barely/barley

10. here/hear
How long have you been here?
I can't hear you.


hear/here

11. barely/barley
I just barely made it into class on time.
I enjoy bread made from wheat and barley.

barely/barley


Remember to make sure you have done the following: 
  • completed your Canvas Assignments:  Outsiders Text Messages and Argument PreQuiz,
  • turned in your Theme and Evidence Worksheet (goldenrod) from your October Book of the Month, 
  • completed and revised and edited your PEE writing on MyAccess for your October Book of the Month.   (DO NOT not do this because you don't have the page numbers.  Do it for as many points as you can.)
  • Be rereading your book for the December Book of the Month -- the letter to an author.   We will type them on December 11/12.


Targets for Today:
1. I can respond in writing to things I read and/or view.
2. I can spell commonly confused words.
3. I can correspond instead of just complimenting and I can synthesize instead of just summarizing.
4.  I can collect evidence for an argument essay.


Today’s  Agenda for Wednesday/Thursday, December 5/6, 2018:

Pick up your composition book. 
1.  Listen to/view this video, then write a response that is at least a half page long.  
Respond with your own reactions -- thoughts, feelings, connections (including memories), how this might influence you. 

Title it "Kids Meet a Refugee," and add today's date. 
Kids Meet a Refugee --


2. Spelling Test


                    ________________________________________________
A-Day

3. Letters About Literature  -- Synthesis 



4.  Writing a Body Paragraph

Essay—
Hook
Background Information
Thesis sentence with claim and reasons

Body paragraph #1
    Topic Sentence
     Evidence #1
     Explanation #1
     Evidence #2
     Explanation #2
      Concluding Sentence

Body paragraph #2
    Topic Sentence
     Evidence #1
     Explanation #1
     Evidence #2
     Explanation #2
      Concluding Sentence

(another body paragraph if needed)

Counterclaim Paragraph
Introduce Counter-Argument
Rebuttal

Conclusion  (Concluding Paragraph)

Your October Book Assessment
     PEE Writing




     Point
     Evidence #1
     Explanation #1
     Evidence #2
     Explanation #2

    





Paragraph #1  -- Informative  Paragraph
Highlight the parts,
      Snow may be beautiful, but I cringe when I see it outside—and not just from the cold; I dread going anywhere on a snowy day. First, snow that is condensed by tires on the road quickly becomes ice on the road, which may be invisible to the eye. While most people say that snow plows relieve this danger, it never quite eliminates it,   and this danger makes me think twice about going outside when it snows. Second, where I grew up in Virginia snow an inch thick or more generally meant that school was canceled. When I wake up to snow in Utah and know I have to go to school, it feels like continuing my daily work is a crime against the laws of nature. In sum, I dread going anywhere on a snowy day because it is more dangerous and it seems to go against the laws of nature.



Highlight the parts.
Paragraph #2  -- Some parts for an Argument Essay

Thesis: Ponyboy is a hero because he is willing to think of people beyond the labels they have been given and because he is willing to change.


This is a body paragraph:
        Ponyboy is a hero because he is willing to see people beyond the labels they have been given. The first time he does this is during his conversation with Cherry at the drive-in movie, when Cherry says, “You want to know something? ... Things are rough all over,” Ponyboy says,“I believe you” (Hinton 31).  Since Cherry is a Soc, this shows that he is willing to see things from a different perspective—one that is often hostile to his own. Later on in the novel, after he and Cherry argue about whether she should be helping the Greasers, it is Ponyboy who smooths things over. He asks, “Hey, … can you see the sunset real good from the West Side?” Then he says,  “You can see it good from the East Side, too” (Hinton 110). This exchange shows that he is willing to forgive Cherry for her part in the painful things that have happened and that he recognizes that in the end, people are more similar than they are different, whether they are Greasers or Socs. In sum, Ponyboy’s willingness to see things from a different perspective and to recognize the similarities between people make him a hero.


5. If time -- fix evidence collected.

You need 
  1. useful evidence, 
  2. the quote copied exactly, 
  3. the page number in parenthetical citation, 
  4. and an indication whether this would be evidence of guilt or innocence.
________________________________________________
B-Day
3. Letters About Literature  -- Corresponding and Synthesis

Synthesis:  combining ideas to form a new whole
Letters about Literature:  Find all of the lessons at 

4. Review parts of an argument essay.  See above. 


5.  Collect evidence for an essay about The Outsiders: 
        Imagining that Johnny lives and that he can walk --
Should Johnny be punished for killing Robert Sheldon? 
For the page you are assigned, 
find evidence and record it in a discussion on  CANVAS. 

-->
Example:  While they were mugging Ponyboy, one of the Socs said, "We're gonna do you a favor, greaser. We're gonna cut all that long greasy hair off" (5).     
not guilty/innocent

You need 
  1. useful evidence, 
  2. the quote copied exactly, 
  3. the page number in a parenthetical citation, 
  4. and an indication of whether this would be evidence of guilt or of innocence.
Instructions for the "Finding Evidence"  assignment:
Should Johnny Cade be punished for the death of Robert Sheldon? 
This is imagining that he survives and can walk.

Collect evidence from the book.
Copy the helpful quotes you find into CANVAS.


To get to CANVAS --
Go to your own school Gmail account.
Look for the applications menu in the upper right hand corner:   
Look for CANVAS: 
 Click on it.   
 Find this class. 
Click on Discussions.      “Is Johnny Guilty?”
  
CANVAS Instructions
We are gathering evidence to prove whether or not Johnny is guilty of murder in the death of Bob Sheldon.    We are imagining that he does not die, and that he can walk. 
You will be assigned a set of pages in which you will look for evidence -- for both sides of the question. Enter the evidence you find below.   Make sure you have a useful piece of evidence.  Give the exact words from the book, and use a parenthetical citation for the page or pages where you found it.  Indicate  if it supports "not guilty" or "guilty." 
Example:  While they were mugging Ponyboy, one of the Socs said, "We're gonna do you a favor, greaser. We're gonna cut all that long greasy hair off" (5).    
Grading:  1. It must be useful evidence.  2.  It must be copied exactly (except you may use ellipses to show you have omitted some text within the quote).  3. You must use a parenthetical citation for the page number.   4.  You must indicate whether this would be evidence of guilt or innocence.
This is NOT the place to post opinions or reasons without evidence.  Each reply should be evidence from the book. 
Unrelated comments will deduct points from your grade. 
--> We are sharing the evidence so all can use it when we write our argument essays. 



If You Were Absent:

Here is The Outsiders -- the whole book -- online:


Vocabulary:
 Synthesis: combining ideas to form a new whole


 Help and Enrichment 


PEE Writing 

https://www.deferrers.com/_site/data/files/literacy/PEE-Guide.pdf

Point  -- Evidence -- Explanation

         Skellig has no table manners and is a messy eater.  "The red sauce trickled down from his lips, down over his chin on to his black jacket" (27). This shows that he eats in a disgusting way and gets food all over himself. It could be because he is in a rush to get food as he hasn’t eaten for a long time, or perhaps he is not used to other people watching him eat.

Handy phrases to use for explanation:
this shows
this suggests
this indicates that
this supports . . . . . because. . .
this is important because. . .


Letters about Literature:  Find all of the lessons at