Semester II Begins for Grades 10-12

ELA TEST ON FRIDAY - CHALLENGES, ISSUES AND CONFLICTS: MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE.

- YOU NEED TO STUDY ALL OF THE SELECTIONS IN THE BOOKLET PLUS "AND THE LUCKY WINNER IS".  I WILL PUT QUOTES FROM EACH SELECTION; YOU WILL HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE NAME OF THE SELECTION AND FULLY EXPLAIN EACH.

- BASIC STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY: INCLUDING FIVE PARAGRAPHS AND THE THESIS.

- SENTENCE BOOKLET - COMPOUND, SIMPLE AND COMPLEX AND FOUR TYPES OF SENTENCES.  I WILL HAVE EXAMPLES OF EACH AND YOU WILL HAVE TO IDENTIFY EACH ONE.

- YOU WILL HAVE TO HAND IN ALL OF YOUR NOTES, QUESTIONS AND WORK FROM THE UNIT.

BOOK REPORTS DUE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3RD.


FEBRUARY READER RESPONSE LETTERS - DUE MONDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH.

Challenges, Conflicts, Choices

Today we are completing two of four worksheets on sentences.  Students will be asked to complete the last two on Monday. 

We reviewed book reports which are due on February 3rd.  Students will have at least two classes next week to work on their book reports. 

Students were assigned to read The Last Leaf from their booklets.  Students will be placed into groups on Monday to dramatically read a portion of the play to the class.

Persuasive Essays

We read a couple of persuasive essays on avalanches and now we are working on persuasive essays this week. They are due This Friday.

Students need:
Title page (1)
Good copy double spaced (2)
Two rough copies make sure they are edited and signed (4)
Introductory paragraph with thesis (3)
Three clear topics to support your argument (6)
Concluding paragraph (3)
Mechanics -grammar, spelling, transition words... (3)

/22

Poem Comparisons

Birdfoot's Grampa and Shoes
Venn Diagram to compare the two poems is due on Monday.

On Monday, we will be reading the play "The Last Leaf" in as a class.  Then the students will have the rest of the class and Tuesday's class to video the play and email to me.  Students will be given a rubric Readers' Theatre for assessment.

Book Report

Select a book to read that can be related to Conflicts, Issues and Choices - Doing the Right Thing.
What plan should you follow when writing a book report?

Book reports may vary greatly in subject and in style. However, almost all book reports may follow a simple plan which will include the following three-part pattern of organization: introduction, body and conclusion.

1. Introduction

   The first section of a book report consists of a simple paragraph that introduces the topic and the main idea of the book report. The introduction includes the title of the book, the author's name and topic or theme. In fiction writing, it may also identify the characters (persons represented in a drama or story) and the setting. If the author has written other similar works, include that mention here or in the conclusion. The most important sentence is the thesis statement, the sentence that tells the main idea of the book report.

2. Body

   The middle section consists of three or more developmental paragraphs.
   • The first paragraph is a synopsis or brief summary of the book organized in the same order as the book itself.
   • The next two or three body paragraphs explain topics related to the subject matter of your class. Organize them in order of importance: easy to understand first, followed by the unknown, complicated, difficult to understand.
   • Develop each paragraph using a topic sentence followed by supporting details which explain or support the topic sentence, transition words to link the details and a concluding statement.
   • Add direct quotations from the book to support the general statements and to lend authenticity to the report.

3. ConclusionThe final section consists of a single brief paragraph. It reveals the book's contribution and the reader's reaction to the book as it relates to the subject-matter of the class. The most important sentence in the conclusion restates and emphasizes the main idea of the book report. That sentence is called the concluding statement.¹²

http://www.ehow.com/how_6391538_write-simple-book-report.html

Thursday, January 13th

Silent Reading - Short Story "Babysitting Helen"

Summarize selection with a minimum of ten sentences, and no more than fifteen.  Hand-in.

Tuesday and Wednesday, January 11 & 12th

"Halting Hatred" - 8 word webs and a single visual assignments.

David

1. Summarize the selection with approximately 5-10 points.
2. Find, write and define five vocabulary words. 
3. List and describe five reasons why this poem is a ballad.
4. Identify, write and explain five fugures of speech.
5. Why did the narrator feel that he had to lie about the circumstances of David's death when he got back to camp?
6. Why might David's death be considered and act of euthanaisa?

Thursday - last class.  Answer all six questions and keep them in your notebook.  Finish January reader response letter.

Wednesday, January 5th - Back to School

Welcome back!  It is Day 6 on the timetable.

- Reader Response Letters for January - Due - Friday, January 7th!

- We will continue with the unit "Doing the Right Thing".  We have read The Breadwinner and "The Lucky Winner Is".  We will continue with the ballad, The Highway Man, on Wednesday.  We will review a few literary devices, define what a ballad is and then we will read the poem.