Monday, September 15, 2014

English 10 Honors--9/18/2014

Jump Off (8 mins.)
--Turn in your homework (two markedly different essay hooks) by placing the writing in the black basket on the front table.  Make sure that your name is located somewhere on your writing.
--Pick up both the "The Art of Quoting" document and the "Introducing Quoted Material" document from the front table.
--Take out your notebook and date the page (9/18).  Label the page as follows: "Everything I Know About Writing an Essay".  Spend the first five minutes of class quietly and independently populating a list under this heading.  For example, you might write "Strong and thorough evidence is needed in support of all of the claims that a writer makes."  We will then use this information in order to consider what needs to be done between now and officially beginning writing your Thematic Writing Assignment--Partner Interviews essay.
--PLEASE SEE ME: Josh B.

S. the C. (20 mins.)

--agenda/HW
--Transition--pick up additional homework materials from the front table (article[s] and "Diagnostic Test")
--share out as per the J.O., creating a sort of picture of the brainstorming/organizing/outlining/drafting process

Teambuilder/Research/Writing Workshop -- Thematic Writing Assignment--Partner Interviews (remainder of class)

  • Group/Presentation Activity -- "Mini-Lessons": Deftly Integrating Direct Quotations
    • task explained
    • Transition--four groups formed via a drawing of cards:
      • "Introducing Quoted Material"
      • "The Art of Quoting" pgs. 42-44
      • "The Art of Quoting" pgs. 45-47
      • "The Art of Quoting" pgs. 48-50
    • group work time--preparing mini-lessons
    • mini-lessons--important take-aways/"news you can use" from documents
--gather additional information about your partner one more time--DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE DIRECT QUOTATION COMPONENT OF THE ASSIGNMENT!
--brainstorming/organizing/outlining/drafting time--how can I help?

T0-Do List Developed Earlier in Block:
  • Write a rough thesis statement
    • A thesis statement is a sentence or sentences clearly defining an essay's purpose--in our essay, the thesis ought to include the overarching theme statement as per the essay's purpose.
    • A thesis statement includes focus words that essentially "blueprint" the contents of upcoming body paragraphs--in our essay, focus words might include "realms" in which the overarching theme can be seen in the subject of the essay's life.
  • Process through details gathered during the "research" process and determine what information you will use (constantly bearing in mind your rough thesis statement if it exists or simultaneously developing a rough thesis statement based on the details and what the details suggest)
  • Once you have details selected, for each, write a sentence or two explaining how the detail connects back to your rough thesis statement--these sentences become your tiebacks
  • Put together an outline, perhaps using the basic essay structure notes crafted on the front board today during the first part of the block (SEE THE "Essay Notes from 9/18/2014" BLOG POST)
*I WILL TAKE A LOOK AT AS MANY HOOKS AS I CAN DURING THIS BLOCK OF TIME*

HW Time

HW
--Finish your work with Article of the Week #2, which is due at the beginning of class next time (Monday, 9/22). This task will include purposefully reading the directions in the box at the top of the page and completing your best work with regard to the directions.  Also, you must read/view the work of one or more of the "contrarians" to which Matthew Herper is responding in his piece and find a way to deftly include some information from this outside source/these outside sources in your template-based "They Say/I Say" two-paragraph response.  Here is a link to the Ezekial Emanuel video that Herper references:
http://www.bloomberg.com/video/what-doctors-make-of-the-ice-bucket-challenge-AjP6JPSFSy~ntpVIuSzsBg.html
--Complete the "Diagnostic Test" for our vocabulary program to hand in at the beginning of class next time (Monday, 9/22).  Do not look up any of the words as you complete the assessment--it is a pre-test meant to diagnose your current knowledge and understanding.  The assessment will be scored based on completion, not how you actually perform.  Thank you for your cooperation!
--If necessary, finish getting in touch with your partner and engaging in the "research" process. The more intriguing information you have gathered about your partner, the more engaging your essay will likely be.
--Are you ready to craft a thesis statement for your essay?  If so, have at it!  I hope to have some commentary for you on Monday (if I don't finish during class today) so that you can make an informed decision about which hook to use (though the choice is ultimately yours!).
--The Thematic Essay Writing Assignment--Partner Interviews essay (your best effort) is due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, 9/24 typed in proper MLA format.  
--We will have computer access on Monday, so you might want to bring a flashdrive!