December 20th! (AND ASSIGNMENT FOR BREAK)

Today you took your mid-term exam and completed a short self-evaluation.

Here is your assignment over break:
Read Chains through page 67 (up through Chapter 10).  Anderson is a highly descriptive author.  She uses specific details to evoke her readers' 5 senses.  You must highlight/put a sticky note on two scenes you found personally engaging because of the rich description.


EXTRA CREDIT: Email me over break at ehle@shrineschools.com by  January 2nd.  In the email include page #'s for one of the scenes you highlighted.  Include a summary, in your own words, of the scene and specific sentences in the scene that include excellent description. Explain why you were moved by the scene.  What senses did it evoke?

December 17th!

Today you had a study hall.  You were able to spend time reviewing for those tests you think are going to be your hardest!

On Monday for the English Exam, please bring your copy of Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson along with a #2 pencil for the test! 

Have a Great Weekend

and Study HARD :)



December 15, 2010

Today we corrected the rest of the punctuation packet.

Next you designed 40 notecards as Vocabulary Flashcards.  Bring these completed flashcards to school tomorrow in a zip lock bag!  We will be using them for a game.  Remember you are only putting the definition and a complete sentence using the word on back.  Also, at least 10 cards need icons or pictures representing what the word means to you.

Also, bring in the final copy of your TKM paper that I handed back today.  We will be adding these to your portfolio tomorrow.

December 10th

Today we corrected the first portion of the punctuation packet you were assigned.

Next we discussed the examples from the next portion including: punctuation, apostrophes, hyphens, and dashes.  You were assigned, in class, to finish the remaining exercises in the packet.  We will correct and I will collect the entire packet on Monday.  Please make sure you finish this weekend what you were unable to finish in class.


In addition, FOR MONDAY, YOU MUST BRING IN EITHER:

• 41 notecards & a zip lock bag OR 8 sheets of lined paper & a zip lock bag.  If  you have any coloring supplies (markers, crayons, or colored pencils---bring those too!)

December 8th

Today we only had five minutes to begin checking the comma assignment before we were called to go to the buses.  Please make sure tomorrow you have the assignment so we can finish correcting.

We will also continue our punctuation unit with some more discussion and lessons.

YOUR ONLY HOMEWORK THIS EVENING IS TO GET YOUR PAPER READY FOR A FINAL DRAFT.  I WILL EXPECT YOU TO HAVE THE FOLLOWING WHEN YOU TURN IN YOUR DRAFT TOMORROW:

• The original with my remarks on it
• The revised version with your peers remarks on it
• Your final version, complete with the Work Cited page
• The rubric (remember, if you lost your original copy I gave you, you can scroll down the blog, find it, copy and paste it and print out the copy)

I am really looking forward to reading your final draft! :-)

December 7th

Today we began by looking at formatting issues.  I showed you an example of a Work Cited page as well as a sample paper.  PLEASE: if you forget, look at the MLA handbook you purchased for school.  IT IS AN EXCELLENT resource!  It has examples of a Word Cited and sample paper as well.  Formatting should be "gimme points" on your paper---VERY EASY!!!

Next you had the remaining time to peer edit with two other students.

YOUR FINAL DRAFT IS DUE THURSDAY!  This will be your only homework on tonight and tomorrow night!  This is worth a great deal of your grade!  Have someone at home read it too!!

December 6th

I postponed the peer editing session until tomorrow.  I took from you the original draft you turned in to me along with your newly revised draft.  I want to take it home this evening to quickly check to see you did your homework.  You will have your peer editing session(s) tomorrow in class.

Today we began by taking a look at comma usage.  We did an example from each section. With the remaining time you began your homework assignment and also had a 10 minute preview of the bookfair.  Whatever you were unable to finish in class you must do at home this evening.

The assignment is as follows.  I will collect it tomorrow for an exposure grade:

1. Page 748 #1-6 (write out the new sentence)
2. Page 750 #1-6 (write out the word before the comma, then the "," and the word following the comma
3. Page 752 #1-6, 8, 10 (write out the new sentence)

LOOKING AHEAD
Tuesday: Peer editing sessions
Wednesday: formatting issues, grammar
Thursday: FINAL PAPER DUE (bring in all drafts as we will be adding them to your portfolio)
Friday: Finish Facebook
NEXT MONDAY: You will need 40 notecards and a ziplock bag!
BEFORE BREAK: You will need to own the novel Chains.  It is being sold at the book fair this week!

December 2nd

Happy Holidays!

Today you took your vocabulary test. 

After you finished you had more time to look over my comments I returned to you on your rough draft yesterday and ask me any necessary questions. 

Your NEW rough draft is due on Monday so that you can be involved in a peer editing session.  YOU may NOT simply print off a copy of the rough draft you turned in to me.  YOU MUST MUST MUST make corrections to the draft and print out your new version for your peer editor to read in order to participate.  You must also have with you the copy with my corrections on it so I can verify, if needed, that you indeed made changes.

You were also given the grading rubric I will use when you turn in your final draft.  (See below).  If you lose the copy I give you, you MUST highlight the one below and copy and paste it into a word document. If you fail to turn in a rubric with your final draft you will automatically be deducted TWO points.

Homework:

Your only homework for Thursday-Sunday is to improve your draft.  The final copy of this paper is worth a great deal of your 2nd term grade.  Have others read it over the weekend!  Make good use of this time!

• Monday bring to class: an editing pen, your NEW 2nd Version Rough Draft, and your 1st Version with my corrections

To Kill A Mockingbird Paper Rubric

Name ____________________________________

English _____ Period

Category	Points Possible	Points Awarded
Organization: Paragraphs logically flow.  Each paragraph has a topic sentence with details to support.  Evidence is not listed in the paragraph, but carefully explained.	20
Sentence Fluency:  Uses diverse sentence structure properly.	10
Word Choice: Uses words appropriately.  Does not use   contractions or “forbidden words.”	10
Voice: Uses ONLY 3rd person and only uses ONE verb tense throughout the paper.	10
Conventions: Has been thoroughly edited for punctuation and grammar and has VERY FEW mistakes.	20
Ideas and Content: Has a clear thesis and focused details.   Introduction includes author’s name and title of the book.  Each piece of evidence is clearly relevant to the topic.	20
MLA Work Cited, citations, and heading: Paper includes at least 3 parenthetical citations.  Citations are properly placed and punctuated.  The heading is formatted properly.  There are no spacing issues in the paper.	20
Total Points:	110

December 1st!!

Today we corrected Vocabulary and the Fact and Opinion work.

I also passed back your rough drafts of your TKM paper.  You need to revise your paper and have a new draft by Monday.

Homework:

1. Study for your Vocabulary Unit 9 Test
2. Begin revising your rough draft.  The new draft is due on Monday.  On Monday you will peer edit.