Pre-writing for Persuasive Essay

Good Morning!

*Article of the Week #11  -- annotation and written response is due.

*Persuasive Essay -- At the end of this unit of study, you will be writing a persuasive essay.  Not only will you be expressing your opinion, but you will try to convince others to agree with you and possibly take some action.  Today, brainstorm a list of possible topics that are important to you.  Think of controversial issues in the news and speak to other classmates and adults to find out what current issue they think is most important and controversial.  The topic might also be something more immediate in your world of which you feel strongly.  For today, think of 5 possible topics and write them down.  You might begin with "Something that I feel strongly about is . . . ."

*Homework :  Select your next independent reading book for the final six weeks.  If you have not selected a book from the recommended list, you must do so for the next book.

Thomas Paine

Good Morning!

 *Period 1 -- Please turn in the assignment on "The Declaration of Independence"

*Thomas Paine -- Please read the excerpt from Thomas Paine's "The American Crisis."  Provide thoughtful responses to the questions.  Carefully compose your responses.  That is part of what you are practicing here, i.e. thinking and responding.
Thomas Paine

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #11

"Declaration of Independence"

Good Morning!

*Note:  If you have not selected a book from the recommended book list, be sure to do so for the final six weeks. Read over Thanksgiving vacation.

*Period 1 -- you did not turn in the assignment on "Speech in the Virginia Convention."  I am ready to collect that from you. 

*"Declaration of Independence"  -- yesterday we read and annotated this text.  For homework you were asked to memorize: "We hold these truths to be self-evident . . . "  I have a little quiz for you today.

*Assignment on "The Declaration of Independence"  (handout) -- please complete in class.  

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #11 -- annotation and written response is due on Friday.

Declaration of Independence

Good Morning!

*Note:  If you have not selected a book from the recommended book list, be sure to do so for the final six weeks. Read over Thanksgiving vacation!  Book reviews were due yesterday.  I will not except late reviews.

*"Declaration of Independence" -- Your copy is formatted for annotation.  We will read this text together and annotate together.  Listen closely as the text is read.  (two handouts)

The Declaration of Independence

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #11 is due Friday

"Speech in the Virginia Convention"

Good Morning!

I hope that you had a very enjoyable weekend! 

*NOTE:  Be sure to have your cell phone put away and out of sight.

*NOTE:  Book reviews are due no later than midnight tonight.  They must have the time stamp of November 17th. 

*Article of the Week #11 -- annotation and written response is due Friday

*"Speech in the Virginia Convention" -- we finished 

reading this speech on Friday.  You annotated your copy of the text as I read and discussed each part.  I should see no less than two annotations on each page. Your annotations should show examples of allusion, metaphor, parallelism, and rhetorical questions. You have completed the vocabulary exercise.  Today, please neatly and accurately complete pages 64 and 65 -- and then questions on a separate handout.  Due this period. 

HOMEWORK:  AOW #11 -- annotation and written response is due Friday

 

"Speech in the Virginia Convention"

Good Morning!

*Book reviews are due Monday, Nov 17th. Be sure to follow the rubric.  I should immediately see three paragraphs when I go to your review on Goodreads.

*Article of the Week #10 is due -- annotation and written response

*"Speech in the Virginia Convention" --  we will finish reading Henry's speech and you will annotate the text as we go along.  Listen carefully to the discussion and what notes should be recorded.  I will pause to give you time to take notes.  When we finish reading this you should be able to identify:
     *Patrick Henry's purpose
     *The use of logos, pathos, ethos
     *Examples of rhetorical questions and their purpose
     *The use of metaphor
     *The use of allusion
     *Evidence that supports Henry's argument

*Complete the activities that follow the speech.  Be thorough.

HOMEWORK:   Your book review is to be posted on Goodreads by midnight on Monday, November 17th.  Share the URL to your Goodreads review by filling out the "Book Review URL Form" under "Important Links."

"Speech in the Virginia Convention"

Good Morning!

*Please read quietly until we are ready to begin.  Book reviews are due Monday, Nov 17th. Be sure to follow the rubric.  I should immediately see three paragraphs when I go to your review on Goodreads.

*"Speech in the Virginia Convention" --  we will read this together and you will annotate the text as we go along.  Listen carefully to the discussion and what notes should be recorded.  I will pause to give you time to take notes.

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #10 -- annotation and written response

Writers of the Revolution

Good Morning!

I hope that you had a good day off for Veteran's Day.

*Please read your independent reading book until we are ready to begin.  Book reviews are due Monday, November 17th.

*Introduction to Writers in the Time of Revolution -- this was intended as a homework assignment from your text, but we will complete this together in class.  Please follow along as this introduction is read. (Handout).

*"Speech in the Virginia Convention" --  Please review the textual features of this handout.  You will be annotating as we read this speech in class.  (handout) 

Homework:  1.  Article of the Week #10  2. Book Review

Era of the American Revolution

Good Morning!

I hope that you had an enjoyable weekend!

*Please read your independent reading book until we are ready to begin.

*Article of the Week #10 -- annotation and written response is due on Friday

*Transition from Puritan Era to the American Revolution -- We have read The Crucible, and last week we read Anne Bradstreet's poem "Upon the Burning of Our House."  What comes next?  We will be reading writings from the era of the American Revolution.  Today we are learning about the transition from the Puritan era to the era of the American Revolution to have a sense of events that followed after the Puritan era.  (Two  handouts)

Homework:  1. AOW #10, 2. Independent reading (book reviews are due Monday, Nov 17th).

"Upon the Burning of Our House"

Good Morning! 

*Please get your netbooks when you arrive.

*Article of the Week #9 due -- annotation and written response

*Yesterday you began to compose a written response to "Upon the Burning of Our House."  I would like you to put this written response in your ENGLISH JOURNAL. Be sure to carefully and thoughtfully compose your sentences.  Afterall, we are practicing written composition here!  Also, be sure to put the most recent assignment on the TOP.  This is due by the end of the period.  If you have finished early, please read you independent reading book.

This was on my blog yesterday:
*"Upon the Burning of Our House" -- Please write a well-developed paragraph on this poem.  Include the following:
             *Title and author
             *A statement of the poem's main theme (or central 
               conflict)
             *A summary of the poem (refer to your paraphrasing of 
               each stanza).  Include a clear statement of how the 
               conflict is resolved.
             *In a separate paragraph explain how this poem is 
               relevant to our lives.  Do some thinking here.


HOMEWORK:  Independent reading

"Upon the Burning of Our House"

Good Morning!

*Please read your independent reading book until we are ready to begin.  Book reviews are due November 17th.

*"Upon the Burning of Our House" -- Please write a well-developed paragraph on this poem.  Include the following:
             *Title and author
             *A statement of the poem's main theme (or central 
               conflict)
             *A summary of the poem (refer to your paraphrasing of 
               each stanza).  Include a clear statement of how the 
               conflict is resolved.
             *In a separate paragraph explain how this poem is 
               relevant to our lives.  Do some thinking here.

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #9 -- annotation and written reponse
            

"Upon the Burning of Our House"

Good Morning!

*Please return to the library your copy of The Crucible asap.

*Please read your independent reading book until we are ready to begin.  Book reviews are due Monday, November 17th.

*Before we leave the Puritan era of The Crucible, I would like us to read Anne Bradstreet's poem "Upon the Burning of Our House."
Before I pass out the poem, let's first look at some biographical information on Bradstreet which will give you more appreciation for the poet, the poem, and most important of all, for the socio-cultural context.
Anne Bradstreet

*Work with a partner in paraphrasing this poem.  Put into your own words the main thought of each stanza.  (Handout)

*Extra Credit opportunity -- Memorization of the first stanza.  

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #9 -- annotation and written response is due on Friday

Evaluation of The Crucible

Good Morning!

*Please get your netbook when you arrive. 

*NOTE: Book Reviews are due November 17th

*ENGLISH JOURNAL -- Please open your English Journal in your Google Drive and respond to the following questions: (Copy into your English Journal)

Evaluation of The Crucible

1.  Was reading the play in class effective or would it have been more effective reading it on your own? Explain.

2.  Was it difficult for you to pay attention to the reading in class?  What might have helped if this was the case?

3.  Was the play confusing to you as we read it?  If so, what might have helped your understanding?

4.  Were the assignments on the play helpful?

5.  Do you feel as though you have significantly increased your knowledge by reading this play?  Explain.

*After you are done with these questions, please read over your Character Analysis Essay  -- proofread it again.  I will also be looking at your essays.

HOMEWORK:  Article of the Week #9

Character Analysis

Good Morning!

*Article of the Week #9 -- you will receive the article tomorrow.

*PARTNER WORK: Please get you netbook when you arrive.  Today you will carefully edit your essay.  This will be done by having a partner read through with you your essay.  You will do the same for your partner.  Carefully proofread for the following errors:

      
        * All first person pronouns are capitalized 

        * Sentences properly punctuated -- read for complete  

           sentences and run-on sentences

        * The title of the play is properly punctuated

        * No contractions

        * Proper use of quotation marks
        * You have entitled your character analysis
        * Your name, course, instructor, and date are in the right place
            (upper left)
        *  Double space
        *  Word Count at end -- minimum of 500 words

HOMEWORK:  Independent reading -- book review is due November 17th