Mr. Dreyer said that the process will go much more smoothly if we have a wee bit more time for filming the skits. I hope that Ms. Margolis passed this onto you on Friday.
Be safe, healthy and happy this holiday season.
I look forward to seeing you in 2013
Ms. B
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
I'm Re-Posting This!
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012
Images of Nigeria (thank you Aaron and Maia!)
I have added these images to remedy some of our classroom technological deficit. Please continue past the pictures to view the homework update as well as other reminders.
The image above was requested by Aaron who couldn't picture the kinds of huts the family of Okonkwo were constantly tending to and later, when they are banished, building.
Below you will see several images of the Kola Nut
In case you didn't know...
Below is an image of a Nigerian King as documented by a french photographer whose mission was to make a visual record of African Royalty.
Further Information : Between the years of 1988 and 1991, French photographer Daniel Laine spent about 12 months on the Africancontinent tracking down and photographing figures of royalty, and leaders of kingdoms. During this time he managed to photograph 70 monarchs and descendants of the great African dynasties with his work on this series.
Some form of shell money appears to have been found on almost every continent: America,Asia, Africa and Australia. The shell most widely used worldwide as currency was the shell ofCypraea moneta, the money cowry. This species is most abundant in the Indian Ocean, and was collected in the Maldive Islands, in Sri Lanka, along the Malabar coast, in Borneo and on other East Indian islands, and in various parts of the African coast from Ras Hafun toMozambique. Cowry shell money was important at one time or another in the trade networks of Africa, South Asia, and East Asia.
Film Your Newscast!
Dr. Dreyer will be available tomorrow during our 3rd period class and Friday during our 5, 6, and 8th period classes to film the skits. Friday classes please let Ms. Margolis know at the beginning of the period if you intend to have your skit filmed. I anticipate the process would be no more than 10 minutes per group if you go down to his studio one at a time. I will leave further instructions with her.
Have a wonderful break! Enjoy the free-time if you are finished with the book or use the time to keep up. Extra dialogue journals are in the southwest corner of the classroom if you need them.
I loved your creativity shown today in your rousing performances! Wonderful work all of you!
Ms. B
See you in 2013!
REMEMBER TO SCROLL DOWN!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
If you are interested...
Explore Nigeria
Country Profile
 |
Nigeria is an oil-rich country situated in West Africa. It is considered a regional superpower and is listed as one of the 'Next Eleven' major economies of the world. It is also the most populous country in Africa with one out of five African being Nigerian (150 million people).
The capital city is Abuja, but the largest economic centre and chief port is the former Colonial capital of Lagos.
Located in south-west of Nigeria, Lagos State was created on May 27th 1967. The state is divided into twenty local Government areas.
Lagos City
Lagos is not only Nigeria’s largest city but also its administrative and economic centre, and its chief port. Industries include railroad repair, motor vehicle assembly, food processing, and the manufacture of metal products, textiles, beverages, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, soap, and furniture
Lagos Population Profile
Population: 8,100,000
Area: 69.7 sq km (27 sq mi)
Ethnic composition: About 67% Yorùbá; remainder cosmopolitan (every tribe in the country and different nationalities of the world).
Nicknames: The Island City, Fountain of Common Sense, Gateway to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Center of Excellence
Area: 69.7 sq km (27 sq mi)
Ethnic composition: About 67% Yorùbá; remainder cosmopolitan (every tribe in the country and different nationalities of the world).
Nicknames: The Island City, Fountain of Common Sense, Gateway to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Center of Excellence
12/11 HW Update Period 3
Period 3:
On the reading schedule you'll notice that you are to read Chapter 21 by Thursday. The last four chapters are to be finished over the break but I would suggest finishing as much as you can this week so that you can begin break without work to take home. I will give you time on Thursday in class to read and work on dialogue journals (about a half hour). The rest of class will be devoted to reading and analyzing an anthropological study of a culture.
FREEBIES!
I am creating a Chapter 16 dialogue journal for you. You have two other dialogue journal freebies, so, if you like, choose two chapters (I'd suggest the last two) that you will not turn in. Make sure to write a note to that effect on the dialogue journal packet you've chosen to omit two chapters from.
As for SSR, I want to reiterate that we will revisit our objectives for independent reading in January. For the time being I would like for you to feel free of the requirement to record pages on the calendar or to write up a book review for the Month of November 19 through January 7. I will not collect them. If you have been taking notes diligently and would like credit for what you have done, choose a time to show me your work and I will apply it to your grade.
Challenge Criteria Reminder:
You need 2 by the end of the semester if you are A or B seeking. These are assignments that show you have extended your learning. See 8 options below:
Choose to:
1. Make an appointment this week with Ms. Brandy to be filmed as a group performing your Newscast.
2. Choose an Igbo proverb from the list and illustrate it (beautifully, showing understanding and using symbolism).
3. Read a multicultural novel as an independent book and create a project representing your learning (check with Ms. Brandy about the project first).
4. Write a short narrative (typed and double-spaced) from the perspective of Okonkwo, Nwoye, or Ekwefi.
5. Research some aspect of the book based on a question you have, ie. How did they have guns if they hadn't seen white people before? What is the natural history of the yam? How widespread was its use? Reference at least two sources, cite them and compose a brief report of your findings.
6. Illustrate some aspect of Things Fall Apart, either in a poster or storyboard. Remember, quality is everything. If it's not meaningful to you, it won't be worth the effort.
7. Free Rice--Spend time on the site and earn 10,000 grains. Once you have done this, take a picture of your score with your phone, or print the image of the screen and turn in.
8. Propose a small project that relates to our unit inspired by your own interests.
On the reading schedule you'll notice that you are to read Chapter 21 by Thursday. The last four chapters are to be finished over the break but I would suggest finishing as much as you can this week so that you can begin break without work to take home. I will give you time on Thursday in class to read and work on dialogue journals (about a half hour). The rest of class will be devoted to reading and analyzing an anthropological study of a culture.
FREEBIES!
I am creating a Chapter 16 dialogue journal for you. You have two other dialogue journal freebies, so, if you like, choose two chapters (I'd suggest the last two) that you will not turn in. Make sure to write a note to that effect on the dialogue journal packet you've chosen to omit two chapters from.
As for SSR, I want to reiterate that we will revisit our objectives for independent reading in January. For the time being I would like for you to feel free of the requirement to record pages on the calendar or to write up a book review for the Month of November 19 through January 7. I will not collect them. If you have been taking notes diligently and would like credit for what you have done, choose a time to show me your work and I will apply it to your grade.
Challenge Criteria Reminder:
You need 2 by the end of the semester if you are A or B seeking. These are assignments that show you have extended your learning. See 8 options below:
Choose to:
1. Make an appointment this week with Ms. Brandy to be filmed as a group performing your Newscast.
2. Choose an Igbo proverb from the list and illustrate it (beautifully, showing understanding and using symbolism).
3. Read a multicultural novel as an independent book and create a project representing your learning (check with Ms. Brandy about the project first).
4. Write a short narrative (typed and double-spaced) from the perspective of Okonkwo, Nwoye, or Ekwefi.
5. Research some aspect of the book based on a question you have, ie. How did they have guns if they hadn't seen white people before? What is the natural history of the yam? How widespread was its use? Reference at least two sources, cite them and compose a brief report of your findings.
6. Illustrate some aspect of Things Fall Apart, either in a poster or storyboard. Remember, quality is everything. If it's not meaningful to you, it won't be worth the effort.
7. Free Rice--Spend time on the site and earn 10,000 grains. Once you have done this, take a picture of your score with your phone, or print the image of the screen and turn in.
8. Propose a small project that relates to our unit inspired by your own interests.
Monday, December 10, 2012
HW--Update 12/10
Beautiful Praise Poems All of You! I am so impressed with your writing and your presentations! Bravo!
Period 3: Read Chapter 20 in TFA by tomorrow! Be ready to run through your Newscast Skits and present! You must turn in your scripts tomorrow.
Period 3: Read Chapter 20 in TFA by tomorrow! Be ready to run through your Newscast Skits and present! You must turn in your scripts tomorrow.
Also, remember that allowing your sketch to be filmed later this week fulfills one Challenge Criteria opportunity of the two needed for A and B seeking students.
Period 5,6 and 8: Read Chapters 20 and 21 by Wednesday. Remember, I am not collecting dialogue journals for 20-15 until after break but I recommend keeping up so that you can go into break without homework! Be prepared to present your Newscast sketches on Wednesday and turn in your scripts.
As for SSR--we are going to revisit a way to make reading and the whole SSR business more meaningful and enjoyable. Keep reading a book for fun, especially over break but don't worry about recording pages!
Friday, December 7, 2012
Homework Due 12/10
Hello Lovely Students!
Homework reminder:
Chapter 14-19 dialogue journals due stapled together on Monday
You should have finished reading Chapter 19 in Things Fall Apart.
Periods 5 & 8: Your Praise Poems are due, typed, and ready to be read on Monday.
Performances for the Newscasts will take place on Tuesday (Period 3) and Wednesday (Period 5,6, & 8)
You will need to turn in your scripts. They do not have to be typed, but each student needs to have a copy of the script so I recommend photo copying it, or typing it and making enough copies for the performance to flow smoothly.
I will provide the following props: Yams (3), something like a microphone, and a tie or two. The rest is up to you. I encourage you to be creative, professional and polished.
Worth 75 points (25 for the performance, 25 for the script and prep work, and 25 for the focused, in-class work).
Please remember to scroll down and read any other pertinent information!!!
Have a good weekend!
Homework reminder:
Chapter 14-19 dialogue journals due stapled together on Monday
You should have finished reading Chapter 19 in Things Fall Apart.
Periods 5 & 8: Your Praise Poems are due, typed, and ready to be read on Monday.
Performances for the Newscasts will take place on Tuesday (Period 3) and Wednesday (Period 5,6, & 8)
You will need to turn in your scripts. They do not have to be typed, but each student needs to have a copy of the script so I recommend photo copying it, or typing it and making enough copies for the performance to flow smoothly.
I will provide the following props: Yams (3), something like a microphone, and a tie or two. The rest is up to you. I encourage you to be creative, professional and polished.
Worth 75 points (25 for the performance, 25 for the script and prep work, and 25 for the focused, in-class work).
Please remember to scroll down and read any other pertinent information!!!
Have a good weekend!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Ummmm...it seems some of you were confused so here's this
Albert Chinua Achebe, the author of Things Fall Apart, was born on November 16, 1930, in Ogidi, a large village in Nigeria. Although he was the child of a Protestant missionary and received his early education in English, his upbringing was multicultural, as the inhabitants of Ogidi still lived according to many aspects of traditional Igbo (formerly written as Ibo) culture. Achebe attended the Government College in Umuahia from 1944 to 1947. He graduated from University College, Ibadan, in 1953. While he was in college, Achebe studied history and theology. He also developed his interest in indigenous Nigerian cultures, and he rejected his Christian name, Albert, for his indigenous one, Chinua.
Achebe’s education in English and exposure to European customs have allowed him to capture both the European and the African perspectives on colonial expansion, religion, race, and culture. His decision to writeThings Fall Apart in English is an important one. Achebe wanted this novel to respond to earlier colonial accounts of Africa; his choice of language was thus political. Unlike some later African authors who chose to revitalize native languages as a form of resistance to colonial culture, Achebe wanted to achieve cultural revitalization within and through English. Nevertheless, he manages to capture the rhythm of the Igbo language and he integrates Igbo vocabulary into the narrative.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
HW December 6/7--Remember to scroll down!
Period 3:
Come prepared with Praise Poems typed, and Chapter 15 read Thursday December 6.
Periods 5, 6, 8:
Have Chapters 16 and 17 read for Friday December 7.
*If you have not yet watched the Chinua Achebe article linked below, please watch it and come with 3 questions, notes or comments responding to it.
If I introduced the Praise Poem to your class, it is due on Friday. If I have yet to introduce it, it will be due on Monday.
As always, I am so proud of your depth, insight, questions, and willingness to tackle a story with an unlikable protagonist, to wrestle with his flaws and a culture that is unknown to you.
Come prepared with Praise Poems typed, and Chapter 15 read Thursday December 6.
Periods 5, 6, 8:
Have Chapters 16 and 17 read for Friday December 7.
*If you have not yet watched the Chinua Achebe article linked below, please watch it and come with 3 questions, notes or comments responding to it.
If I introduced the Praise Poem to your class, it is due on Friday. If I have yet to introduce it, it will be due on Monday.
As always, I am so proud of your depth, insight, questions, and willingness to tackle a story with an unlikable protagonist, to wrestle with his flaws and a culture that is unknown to you.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Images of Nigeria (thank you Aaron and Maia!)
I have added these images to remedy some of our classroom technological deficit. Please continue past the pictures to view the homework update as well as other reminders.
The image above was requested by Aaron who couldn't picture the kinds of huts the family of Okonkwo were constantly tending to and later, when they are banished, building.
Below you will see several images of the Kola Nut
In case you didn't know...
Below is an image of a Nigerian King as documented by a french photographer whose mission was to make a visual record of African Royalty.
Further Information : Between the years of 1988 and 1991, French photographer Daniel Laine spent about 12 months on the Africancontinent tracking down and photographing figures of royalty, and leaders of kingdoms. During this time he managed to photograph 70 monarchs and descendants of the great African dynasties with his work on this series.
Some form of shell money appears to have been found on almost every continent: America,Asia, Africa and Australia. The shell most widely used worldwide as currency was the shell ofCypraea moneta, the money cowry. This species is most abundant in the Indian Ocean, and was collected in the Maldive Islands, in Sri Lanka, along the Malabar coast, in Borneo and on other East Indian islands, and in various parts of the African coast from Ras Hafun toMozambique. Cowry shell money was important at one time or another in the trade networks of Africa, South Asia, and East Asia.
Monday, December 3, 2012
12/4 HW
Only two weeks until Winter Break! I hope you all had a nice weekend and used the class period today to get caught up or get ahead. Dialogue journals were due today, chapters 8-13, stapled together and turned into the box.
Period 3 will need to finish chapter 14 by Tuesday.
Periods 5, 6, and 8 will need to finish 14 and 15 by Wednesday. Remember, dialogue journals are due stapled together every Monday, so I won't be collecting dialogue journals on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Tomorrow I will introduce your Praise Poem assignment. For period 3 it will be due on Thursday, typed.
For periods 5, 6, and 8 it will be due on Friday, typed.
Expect to share!
Have I told you lately how lucky I feel to be working with you? You are lovely, bright and interesting people and I feel grateful everyday for our chance to work together this year.
Period 3 will need to finish chapter 14 by Tuesday.
Periods 5, 6, and 8 will need to finish 14 and 15 by Wednesday. Remember, dialogue journals are due stapled together every Monday, so I won't be collecting dialogue journals on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Tomorrow I will introduce your Praise Poem assignment. For period 3 it will be due on Thursday, typed.
For periods 5, 6, and 8 it will be due on Friday, typed.
Expect to share!
Have I told you lately how lucky I feel to be working with you? You are lovely, bright and interesting people and I feel grateful everyday for our chance to work together this year.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
HW: Due Monday December 3rd
Here is a video in which Chinua Achebe, resident professor at Brown University, talks about the devastation of Africa . . .
In addition to reading up to Chapter 13 and completing Dialogue Journals, watch the video (7 minutes long), linked below and write down three ideas that are interesting to you from the information therein.
http://youtu.be/mNdjcFOoVi8
In addition to reading up to Chapter 13 and completing Dialogue Journals, watch the video (7 minutes long), linked below and write down three ideas that are interesting to you from the information therein.
http://youtu.be/mNdjcFOoVi8
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
A Note on Dialogue Journals...
Your dialogue journals should be a record of your reading, summarizing the chapters, but also a collection of artifacts, or evidence from the text that you will use to write an essay. The three main themes I want you to think about are:
- The presence of a developed and complex culture evident in customs, practices, celebrations, ceremonies, cultural codes etc.
- The clash of cultures when the Umuofia people collide with Europeans.
- The development of Okonkwo as a character.
Gather evidence on these three themes and you will be golden.
11/27 Homework Reminder
Period 3, wonderful work today on your proverbs! I am so lucky to be among so many wise and penetrating minds!
Make sure you read chapters 8-9 in Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, by Thursday as well as complete dialogue journals to be handed in on Monday.
Period 5,6. & 8, chapters 8-9 must be completed by Friday.
You will all read 10-13 by Monday and submit dialogue journals for 8-13 on Monday.
If you haven't already:
- turned in your SSR calendar and book review
- turned in your flash fiction edits (aim for Friday--no work accepted later than Monday)
- turned in your final draft of the Role of the Writer/Role of Literature
- dialogue journals from chapters 1-7
then, NOW is the time.
By the way, you are all brilliant, marvelous, humans and I am so very honored to work with you.
SSR reminder!
Calendars for SSR are due each time the calendar period is over. Please submit these with a book review for (October-November), found on the back shelf (second shelf down). New calendars will be handed out. Remember that your goal is to read at least a little every day, ideally a choice book as well as our class novel.
11/25-26
Welcome Back from Thanksgiving!
High Priority Items:
Make sure that you are finished with chapter 7 in Things Fall Apart by Tuesday (3rd period) and Wednesday (5,6,8th period)
Turn in your dialogue journals for those chapters ASAP. I will not accept dialogue journals for chapters 1-7 after Friday.
If you have not turned in your Role of the Writer/Role of Literature Paper it is very important to your grade that you do so as it is weighted heavily and a Final Assessment. You have until Friday to turn this assignment in.
If you have not turned in your Flash Fiction, do so as soon as you can. I will take no newly submitted Flash Fiction after Friday and all late work will lose credit each day that it is late.
If you are working on revisions of your Flash Fiction, please turn them in ASAP, no later than Monday the 3rd. (I would prefer to have them graded by Friday.)
High Priority Items:
Make sure that you are finished with chapter 7 in Things Fall Apart by Tuesday (3rd period) and Wednesday (5,6,8th period)
Turn in your dialogue journals for those chapters ASAP. I will not accept dialogue journals for chapters 1-7 after Friday.
If you have not turned in your Role of the Writer/Role of Literature Paper it is very important to your grade that you do so as it is weighted heavily and a Final Assessment. You have until Friday to turn this assignment in.
If you have not turned in your Flash Fiction, do so as soon as you can. I will take no newly submitted Flash Fiction after Friday and all late work will lose credit each day that it is late.
If you are working on revisions of your Flash Fiction, please turn them in ASAP, no later than Monday the 3rd. (I would prefer to have them graded by Friday.)
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thanksgiving HW
Over Thanksgiving you will be reading chapters 3-7 in Things Fall Apart and creating dialogue journals for each chapter. Don't leave it to the last minute. I advise you to work on it in 2-3 chunks.
*You will see that I have written FREE RICE on your reading schedule. Free Rice is not a requirement, but a suggestion if you get bored and so stuffed that you think you might benefit from a little vocabulary power workout.
To get credit for the Free Rice Challenge you will need ot donate 10,000 grains of rice. The program will keep track of this for you. Once you reach the total (10,000) you may either come to class and show me (you have to login and create an account so that the program will keep track) or take a picture of your score with your phone.
Remember, students seeking As need at least two Challenge Opportunities per semester. Challenge opportunities don't necessarily guarantee you an A, but clear efforts to go over and beyond into the realm of excellence, depth, and mastery are required. This is one way to show effort.
*You will see that I have written FREE RICE on your reading schedule. Free Rice is not a requirement, but a suggestion if you get bored and so stuffed that you think you might benefit from a little vocabulary power workout.
To get credit for the Free Rice Challenge you will need ot donate 10,000 grains of rice. The program will keep track of this for you. Once you reach the total (10,000) you may either come to class and show me (you have to login and create an account so that the program will keep track) or take a picture of your score with your phone.
Remember, students seeking As need at least two Challenge Opportunities per semester. Challenge opportunities don't necessarily guarantee you an A, but clear efforts to go over and beyond into the realm of excellence, depth, and mastery are required. This is one way to show effort.
Periods 5,6, and 8
See the post below for Period 3. You have already turned in your Role of the Writer/Role of Literature Essays. On Friday you will turn in your typed piece of Flash Fiction. Remember, it can be about anything. Your journal writes were meant to help you generate ideas. You can go back to one of those pieces, complete it and enhance it, or you can use one of the ideas on the Short Story Ideas handout I gave you. You may also simply come up with your own idea.
Remember, you are shooting for 500-1,000 words. If you have made other arrangements about length with me, you may alter the length to suit your story.
HW: You are to have Chapters 1-2 of Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe read for class on Friday with six sticky notes annotating sections of the text. For annotation ideas, remember the CARPE notetaking system--Connections (text to text, text to self, text to world), Ask a question, Review what you understand so far, Predict what you think is going to happen, Evaluate the structure, characters, and author's style or choices.
We will be applying your notes to dialogue journals on Friday.
Remember, you are shooting for 500-1,000 words. If you have made other arrangements about length with me, you may alter the length to suit your story.
HW: You are to have Chapters 1-2 of Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe read for class on Friday with six sticky notes annotating sections of the text. For annotation ideas, remember the CARPE notetaking system--Connections (text to text, text to self, text to world), Ask a question, Review what you understand so far, Predict what you think is going to happen, Evaluate the structure, characters, and author's style or choices.
We will be applying your notes to dialogue journals on Friday.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
11/13
Period 3:
FLASH FICTION and ROLE OF THE WRITER/LITERATURE ESSAY
Thursday the 15th I will collect your typed drafts of your flash fiction, as well as your final edits on your Role of the Writer/Role of Literature papers. I know this is a lot of due dates at once, but if you have been keeping up and using your time in class well, it shouldn't be a big strain. If, on the other hand, you have been putting off your work on these two pieces then you are likely going to feel like you have a lot to do.You should also come with the first 15 pages of Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, read with 6 annotations on sticky notes responding to the text. We will go over how to convert these into meaningful dialogue journal notes on Thursday.
JOURNAL/SPIRAL CHECK
Additionally, I will be collecting your spirals to take with me over the break. In class I will have you mark three pieces from you spiral for me to read and respond to.
Including September there should be 13 journal writes--I am giving you a 3 "Grace" writes so looking for a total of 10 entries amounting to at least half a page each, for full credit. This is nothing you should have to prepare for as it was all done in class.
SSR Calendars and Book Reviews will be collected after the break.
11/15
Flash Fiction piece typed
Role of the Writer/Literature. The order of the documents will be
1. (on top) the highlighted 6 writing trait rubric
2. the outline and paper criteria
3. handwritten draft
4. typed draft
5. peer edit sheet
6. final draft
I will show this to you in class, but if you want to know in advance, this is the order I want the work to be compiled.
Chapters 1-2 Things Fall Apart , six notes
Spirals turned in at the end of the period.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Flash Fiction Assignment
By now you should have selected a topic for your very short piece of flash fiction. This piece of writing should be seen as a polished mini-story (think, journal write). You may use any perspective that you like. The story should be vivid, have an opening that grabs the reader, offer a climax of some sort which is either a truth revealed, a moment of heightened tension, a terrible decision, intense danger, facing a fear, or a grand epiphany. The story must have some sense of finale, but it need not be a long draw out resolution. Like many stories we have looked at, the ending might be a character's recognition of his of her own grief as the source of trouble; the realization that their fear was in their mind the whole time; a character's decision to change his or her life; or the sense that the character has learned something about herself or the world. These minor shifts in perception, or sense of destiny, are often the stuff of denouement in a story, and are enough to get a sense of completion, even if it leaves your reader wondering.
I am looking for a 500-1,000 word story typed and turned in by 11/15 for period 3 and 11/16 for period 5,6 &8.
If your story fits the criteria listed on the rubric, and has no glaring flaws, this draft will be considered a final. If there are major holes in your piece of work, I will turn it back to you with no grade until you have made the revisions.
Come see me if you have any questions.
I am looking for a 500-1,000 word story typed and turned in by 11/15 for period 3 and 11/16 for period 5,6 &8.
If your story fits the criteria listed on the rubric, and has no glaring flaws, this draft will be considered a final. If there are major holes in your piece of work, I will turn it back to you with no grade until you have made the revisions.
Come see me if you have any questions.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Challenge Opportunity--SSR
Choose a book that is multicultural in some way. Read this as your SSR book and write a book review.
You will be awarded Challenge Points for this. If you are seeking an A, want to grow as a reader, writer, thinker, or simply as a person, look for challenge opportunities. I will award points for these projects which must be authentic and well-executed, but will not be required.
*A-seeking students must choose at lease two challenge opportunities per semester.
11/5 Homework Update
Period 8, remember to bring your typed draft and the peer comment sheet to class on Wednesday. We will continue revising. Your final draft will be due next Wednesday 11/14. Disregard any date besides this on Edbox, your comment sheet or rubric. 11/14 is the final due date.
We will begin drafting your flash fiction this Wednesday 11/7 Final Draft due 11/14-11/15
Periods 5&6 Your job is to type and revise a draft of your essay on the role of fiction in your life and the role of the writer. Typed, Revised, Draft Due 11/7. Final Draft Due 11/14
Period 3 Come ready with your typed, revised draft 11/6 (tomorrow). Final Draft Due 11/15
Sorry about the confusion on dates. I have been sick this week and my sense of time is the first thing to go. I want to give you time to purposefully revise your paper. DO this and turn it in ASAP. 11/15 is the last day I will accept the papers.
We will begin drafting your flash fiction this Wednesday 11/7 Final Draft due 11/14-11/15
Periods 5&6 Your job is to type and revise a draft of your essay on the role of fiction in your life and the role of the writer. Typed, Revised, Draft Due 11/7. Final Draft Due 11/14
Period 3 Come ready with your typed, revised draft 11/6 (tomorrow). Final Draft Due 11/15
Sorry about the confusion on dates. I have been sick this week and my sense of time is the first thing to go. I want to give you time to purposefully revise your paper. DO this and turn it in ASAP. 11/15 is the last day I will accept the papers.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Do Plotline Diagrams Mislead Students?
http://trappedinadolescence.wordpress.com/2011/09/10/the-plot-diagram/
I want to know what you think. This is a challenge activity for those who are interested. Just go to the link I have posted above, read the blog and write a short, thoughtful response.
I want to know what you think. This is a challenge activity for those who are interested. Just go to the link I have posted above, read the blog and write a short, thoughtful response.
Role of Literature/the Writer in Culture Essay--a few notes on grades
I spoke with several teachers over the weekend and we discussed how to best grade the 6+1 Traits of Writing Rubric. As this is an evolving discussion as we are all working to decide what the best method is to help you develop as writers. The general consensus is as follows: no matter what grade you are in, 6th through 12th, the translation from the 6+1 Rubric to the letter grade should be the consistent (sorry Aubrey!) A mix of 5s and 6s on the 6+1 Writing Traits Rubric puts you in the A/B range for a letter grade. 4s and 5s is B/C range. 4s should be seen as representing C work as it is proficient (meaning it does the job and is not hindered by major errors). Anything below a 4 should be seen as developing but deficient and therefore would earn a D or F letter grade.
Special note*; We all agreed that a scored of 4 for a 6th grader would look different than a 4 for a 10th grader, so that is how we differentiate grades. As high schoolers, you are expected to grow every year, so proficient (an overall score of 4) would mean that as 12th graders you will be in even greater command of the basic skills of writing than you are now. Scores of 5s and 6s really represent a successful command of the finer points of writing.
I hope this makes sense. If you are confused at all, please do come check-in.
Ms. B
Special note*; We all agreed that a scored of 4 for a 6th grader would look different than a 4 for a 10th grader, so that is how we differentiate grades. As high schoolers, you are expected to grow every year, so proficient (an overall score of 4) would mean that as 12th graders you will be in even greater command of the basic skills of writing than you are now. Scores of 5s and 6s really represent a successful command of the finer points of writing.
I hope this makes sense. If you are confused at all, please do come check-in.
Ms. B
Friday, November 2, 2012
Free Rice! Challenge Opportunity!
Type "Free Rice" into your internet browser. Find the site that allows you to select a subject and select "Vocabulary." Spend at least 20 minutes twice a week flexing your vocabulary. In order to get credit for this you must sign in as a regular user to the site creating a password. Print out your score and bring it to class.
*To get credit for this challenge opportunity you must document spending 20 minutes a week expanding your vocabulary on this site.
*To get credit for this challenge opportunity you must document spending 20 minutes a week expanding your vocabulary on this site.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
In Revising Your "Role of The Writer/Literature" Essay, a few things you need to know
You will see that I have used the rubric attached to the top of your paper to give you feedback. There are six categories on this rubric:
Ideas and Content (I/C)
Organization (O)
Voice (V)
Word Choice (WC)
Sentence Fluency (SF)
Conventions (C)
I have highlighted areas in the body of each paper that are flawed, or could us strengthening. In the margins of your paper, I used the above abbreviations to indicate which category the error or weakness falls into. For example, if you use a fragmented sentence to transition from one idea to the next, I have highlighted the section that needs to be worked on and written in the margin (SF) and (C) indicating that the flow was broken and your meaning was lost showing poor Sentence Fluency (SF), and you did not follow the rules of proper grammar, showing that in this instance you made a mistake or misunderstood proper Conventions (C).
What I want you to notice are what we call "patterns of error." Which areas do you need to focus on improving? For further information about what characteristics might strengthen your paper, look at the rubric. Underneath each trait of writing is listed 6 levels of development. The level at the top is the equivalent of a high score showing mastery of that trait. The top level is a 6. Underneath each category, the bottom level is considered a 1 indicating the lowest level of development, showing a lack of skill in this area.
Compare my notes in your paper to what I have highlighted on the rubric to get a sense of how to improve your paper for your typed draft. This is the system we will be using all year so see if you can get comfortable with it.
As always, if you have questions, please do e-mail, text, or come see me.
Ideas and Content (I/C)
Organization (O)
Voice (V)
Word Choice (WC)
Sentence Fluency (SF)
Conventions (C)
I have highlighted areas in the body of each paper that are flawed, or could us strengthening. In the margins of your paper, I used the above abbreviations to indicate which category the error or weakness falls into. For example, if you use a fragmented sentence to transition from one idea to the next, I have highlighted the section that needs to be worked on and written in the margin (SF) and (C) indicating that the flow was broken and your meaning was lost showing poor Sentence Fluency (SF), and you did not follow the rules of proper grammar, showing that in this instance you made a mistake or misunderstood proper Conventions (C).
What I want you to notice are what we call "patterns of error." Which areas do you need to focus on improving? For further information about what characteristics might strengthen your paper, look at the rubric. Underneath each trait of writing is listed 6 levels of development. The level at the top is the equivalent of a high score showing mastery of that trait. The top level is a 6. Underneath each category, the bottom level is considered a 1 indicating the lowest level of development, showing a lack of skill in this area.
Compare my notes in your paper to what I have highlighted on the rubric to get a sense of how to improve your paper for your typed draft. This is the system we will be using all year so see if you can get comfortable with it.
As always, if you have questions, please do e-mail, text, or come see me.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Role of the Writer Essay--Due Dates
The "Role of the Writer" essay will be turned back Thursday (for 3rd period) and Friday, November 2nd, for 8th period. 5th and 6th period will have their essays returned on Monday November 5th.
Please budget time for the revision of this assignment. I will not accept late work. I will turn the work back to you if it is incomplete or it you need to make improvements to achieve a passing (combined score of 4) grade.
See me with questions.
Your Typed Draft is Due Monday 11/5 for period 8
Tuesday 11/6 for Period 3
and Wednesday 11/7 for Period 5 and 6
Final Due Dates: Monday 12 for all students.
Please budget time for the revision of this assignment. I will not accept late work. I will turn the work back to you if it is incomplete or it you need to make improvements to achieve a passing (combined score of 4) grade.
See me with questions.
Your Typed Draft is Due Monday 11/5 for period 8
Tuesday 11/6 for Period 3
and Wednesday 11/7 for Period 5 and 6
Final Due Dates: Monday 12 for all students.
Monday, October 29, 2012
10/29 Homework
Unless you have work missing, you have no homework (other than SSR) tonight. This week we will be reading 4 more short pieces of Flash Fiction in class (I will read another aloud to you). You will discuss, argue and record the plot structure on the handout I give you in class. Early next week, we will talk about what makes a piece of writing "work". You will then choose a topic to begin writing your own piece of Flash Fiction due the week of November 14th.
You will include many elements of storytelling which may include but are not limited to:
dialogue
blocking
interior monologue
allusion*
setting
direct and indirect characterization
symbolism*
rising action
climax
falling action
resolution
denouement
internal and external conflict
*advanced students, seeking mastery, will make sure to include these traits.
and all of this in just 500-1000 words! (Remember, longer is not necessarily better!)
After you finish your piece of Flash Fiction, and typed Draft of the Role of the Writer, we will begin a novel! Yay! I'm ready, are you?
Period 3 come ready Tuesday 10/30 to finish filling Uwem Akpan on your graphic organizer, as well as filling in the "you" section. We will spend some time looking at the outline for the essay, and I will answer any questions you have. We will start and complete the 40 minutes timed write in class. There will be no journal write or SSR tomorrow so remember to read at home!
You will include many elements of storytelling which may include but are not limited to:
dialogue
blocking
interior monologue
allusion*
setting
direct and indirect characterization
symbolism*
rising action
climax
falling action
resolution
denouement
internal and external conflict
*advanced students, seeking mastery, will make sure to include these traits.
and all of this in just 500-1000 words! (Remember, longer is not necessarily better!)
After you finish your piece of Flash Fiction, and typed Draft of the Role of the Writer, we will begin a novel! Yay! I'm ready, are you?
Period 3 come ready Tuesday 10/30 to finish filling Uwem Akpan on your graphic organizer, as well as filling in the "you" section. We will spend some time looking at the outline for the essay, and I will answer any questions you have. We will start and complete the 40 minutes timed write in class. There will be no journal write or SSR tomorrow so remember to read at home!
Flash Fiction
At the end of this week you will pick a topic. You will write a 500-1000 word story based on that topic (see the list in class or choose your own).
This link Flash Fiction Online offers example of Flash Fiction. I expect each of you to spend 20 minutes sometime in the course of the next week on this site exploring types of stories to get ideas for your own original piece of writing.
http://www.flashfictiononline.com/
This link Flash Fiction Online offers example of Flash Fiction. I expect each of you to spend 20 minutes sometime in the course of the next week on this site exploring types of stories to get ideas for your own original piece of writing.
http://www.flashfictiononline.com/
Saturday, October 27, 2012
Check This Out!
This is NOT homework. It is for the architecturally curious and those interested in truly creative projects that can be brought to life.
World’s Narrowest House Opens in Warsaw With Artists Residency Program
Cut and paste this link if you are interested in reading more about a very unique and political architectural project. It will lead you to the description of a house built in a neighborhood that was a Jewish Ghetto in WWII. A polish architect thought something should be done with the very small space between two buildings as a way of recovering the past.
World’s Narrowest House Opens in Warsaw With Artists Residency Program
http://blogs.artinfo.com/artintheair/2012/10/25/worlds-narrowest-house-opens-in-warsaw-with-artists-residency-program/
Cut and paste this link if you are interested in reading more about a very unique and political architectural project. It will lead you to the description of a house built in a neighborhood that was a Jewish Ghetto in WWII. A polish architect thought something should be done with the very small space between two buildings as a way of recovering the past.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Timed Write on Monday 10/29!
On Monday you will use your notes from the graphic organizer to write a short, organized, and grammatically accurate essay on the role of the writer in culture. This will be a timed write which will be graded for completeness, but evaluated on the 6+1 writing traits rubric, including Organization, Conventions, Voice, Content, and Fluency. Completeness will be entered as your grade. The rubric will be used to assess you.
In the essay you will touch on the importance of literature and you will connect your opinion to the work of Adichie, Shafak, Solzhenitsyn, or Akpan. You will consider the role literature has played in your life and the role you think it will play for you in the future. Remember, this is your opinion! Make it authentic!
This timed write will be considered your rough draft. You will have 50 minutes to write. I will score the work on the rubric and next week you will revise the essay according to the scores you receive on the rubric.
The draft/timed write is worth 25 points
The final copy is worth 75 points
Come prepared on Friday with your graphic organizer (due upon completion of the essay for 40 points) to write on these topics.
In the essay you will touch on the importance of literature and you will connect your opinion to the work of Adichie, Shafak, Solzhenitsyn, or Akpan. You will consider the role literature has played in your life and the role you think it will play for you in the future. Remember, this is your opinion! Make it authentic!
This timed write will be considered your rough draft. You will have 50 minutes to write. I will score the work on the rubric and next week you will revise the essay according to the scores you receive on the rubric.
The draft/timed write is worth 25 points
The final copy is worth 75 points
Come prepared on Friday with your graphic organizer (due upon completion of the essay for 40 points) to write on these topics.
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Check This Out!
Pakistani Girl
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19899540
Cut and paste this site if you would like to explore another area of the world in which children necessarily grow up fast. This link will lead you to a portrait of a Pakistani girl fighting for the right to be educated. Her bravery appears to know no bounds. What links does this have with the story of the Kenyan boy from Nairobi in the story, "An Ex-Mas Feast"?
*This is NOT homework. It is for the curious and those who desire to grow a global consciousness.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19899540
Cut and paste this site if you would like to explore another area of the world in which children necessarily grow up fast. This link will lead you to a portrait of a Pakistani girl fighting for the right to be educated. Her bravery appears to know no bounds. What links does this have with the story of the Kenyan boy from Nairobi in the story, "An Ex-Mas Feast"?
*This is NOT homework. It is for the curious and those who desire to grow a global consciousness.
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