I wholeheartedly apologize for falling behind on updating the blog this week! Needless to say, it has been a hectic week trying to get back into the swing of things. We have had a lot of people gone from class for various school activities, spring pictures, etc. So...here is a quick overview of what we have done this week:
Monday- We resumed our comparison/contrast essay, working on formulating an introduction with a hook statement, background information, and thesis statement.
Tuesday- We continued this work. Several were gone this day so I helped those who came to me individually for help on their intro.
Wednesday- We finalized and turned in our introductions. Then continued to map out the body of our essay, focusing on 3 specific comparisons or contrasts to use in the body paragraphs.
Thurday- We only had a few in class, so I allowed them to read their nonfiction novels. These are due, along with the Nonfiction Independent Reading Packet, at the beginning of class on Monday, April 8!!!!
When we return to class on Monday, you need to be prepared to write body paragraphs. Have a happy Easter weekend!
~Ms. Friend
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Our final day together for spring break was spent finalizing your comparison/contrast of the 2 articles. Today, we wrote a 1 sentence précis for the 2 articles you chose to compare/contrast. We will be working with these when we come back from spring break.
Your assignment over spring break is to read. Yes, that is all. Read your nonfiction. I have a couple of students who are already finished with their books! The due date to have these completely read and your independent reading packets finished is Monday, April 8. NO EXCEPTIONS! At this point, we will begin a documented essay that requires research on your book's subject. I have reserved the library for several days. We will research in groups. If you have not read your book, you will be extremely behind!
I truly hope you all have a relaxing, fun, and safe spring break! Comment on the blog or email me if you have any questions over your nonfiction books.
~Ms. Friend
Your assignment over spring break is to read. Yes, that is all. Read your nonfiction. I have a couple of students who are already finished with their books! The due date to have these completely read and your independent reading packets finished is Monday, April 8. NO EXCEPTIONS! At this point, we will begin a documented essay that requires research on your book's subject. I have reserved the library for several days. We will research in groups. If you have not read your book, you will be extremely behind!
I truly hope you all have a relaxing, fun, and safe spring break! Comment on the blog or email me if you have any questions over your nonfiction books.
~Ms. Friend
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Today we analyzed 2 more articles on the same topic as the Pitts Article we read yesterday. (I am including links to each of these pieces at the bottom of today's blog entry.) After analyzing the 2 new pieces, each of you had to choose one to compare to the Pitts article and make a brief, simple list of comparisons and contrasts between the 2. Write a 1 sentence précis for the article you choose. Almost everyone in class soon realized that Mr. Pitts' article definitely captured their attention more. Why??? One word....HOOK!!!! When Pitts writes, "Dear Mr. President, Congratulations on your second inauguration. Let's talk about drugs," he draws you into the article, "hooking" you. See how that works??? The lesson in this is that you always need to include something in your writing to hook your reader and convince them that your writing is going to be worthwhile! (Especially since your reader is me!!!)
For those of you who missed today, please print these articles, C.U.S. them (haha I know that sounds funny, but just remember Circle/Highlight, Underline, Star), and then choose one to write the précis over and use for the comparison/contrast.
Tomorrow, we will finish comparing and contrasting these 2 articles and discuss why one is preferred over the other. Make sure to bring your nonfiction book to class! If we have extra time in class, you will have to read and work on your independent reading packet.
We are almost there! One more day then you all get more than a week without me! :)
~Ms. Friend
Pitts Article: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/21/3192560/end-war-of-drugs-to-honor-king.html
Block Excerpt: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judge-frederic-block/war-on-drugs_b_2384624.html
Ratigan Article: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-01-16/home/30631016_1_drug-arrests-drug-money-drug-trade
For those of you who missed today, please print these articles, C.U.S. them (haha I know that sounds funny, but just remember Circle/Highlight, Underline, Star), and then choose one to write the précis over and use for the comparison/contrast.
Tomorrow, we will finish comparing and contrasting these 2 articles and discuss why one is preferred over the other. Make sure to bring your nonfiction book to class! If we have extra time in class, you will have to read and work on your independent reading packet.
We are almost there! One more day then you all get more than a week without me! :)
~Ms. Friend
Pitts Article: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/21/3192560/end-war-of-drugs-to-honor-king.html
Block Excerpt: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/judge-frederic-block/war-on-drugs_b_2384624.html
Ratigan Article: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2012-01-16/home/30631016_1_drug-arrests-drug-money-drug-trade
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Class today was a little but less exciting for you all. We did a quick analysis, using the C.U.S. Method (Circle-main ideas, Underline-details, Star-Unknown Vocabulary) on a Leonard Pitts article. However, we used highlighters instead of circling, just my personal preference. Tomorrow we will do the same on another article, then we will do a comparison/contrast analysis of the 2.
This is a pretty relaxed week. Enjoy it, but don't get used to it!!! We will be working like crazy after break!
See you all tomorrow!
~Ms. Friend
This is a pretty relaxed week. Enjoy it, but don't get used to it!!! We will be working like crazy after break!
See you all tomorrow!
~Ms. Friend
Monday, March 11, 2013
Amazing Articles!
I have to say, I truly enjoyed today's class. My purpose in having you find news articles was to incite a genuine interest in what is going on in your world. It is so important that you have this background of current and past events to use when you write! It shows you are informed, self-motivated, and educated on your society, as well as other societies. You should never stop learning!
As part of your weekly grade, you will now be required to bring in 1 nonfiction article per week. (It does not matter if it is from the McCurtain Gazette or the New York Times!) Please be searching for an article that grabs your attention and intrigues you. You will have to bring these in to class each Monday morning. We will begin using those as a brief writing assignment each week.
Because of Spring Break quickly approaching, we will be focusing on short nonfiction pieces and breaking them down using literary analysis techniques this week. You will need to make sure you have highlighters!
I hope you each have your nonfiction book, or at least know which book you are getting and have it ordered. It is important that you read over the break! Be completing your nonfiction independent reading packet as you go. Procrastination=Mediocre Work (at best), which in turn = Mediocre grades. This will not make your parents happy!
3 more days until break! We can do this!!!
~Ms. Friend
As part of your weekly grade, you will now be required to bring in 1 nonfiction article per week. (It does not matter if it is from the McCurtain Gazette or the New York Times!) Please be searching for an article that grabs your attention and intrigues you. You will have to bring these in to class each Monday morning. We will begin using those as a brief writing assignment each week.
Because of Spring Break quickly approaching, we will be focusing on short nonfiction pieces and breaking them down using literary analysis techniques this week. You will need to make sure you have highlighters!
I hope you each have your nonfiction book, or at least know which book you are getting and have it ordered. It is important that you read over the break! Be completing your nonfiction independent reading packet as you go. Procrastination=Mediocre Work (at best), which in turn = Mediocre grades. This will not make your parents happy!
3 more days until break! We can do this!!!
~Ms. Friend
Saturday, March 9, 2013
So...who is up for a little extra credit???
All you have to do is find a recent news article (Aka: Nonfiction) from a major U.S. Publication, such as Time, USA Today, etc. Bring a printed copy of your article to class Monday. Now, here's the kick...you have to be able to tell what your article is discussing and why it is important for our society!
Fun, huh???
I promise to make it worth your time.
See you all Monday! Happy article hunting!
~Ms. Friend
All you have to do is find a recent news article (Aka: Nonfiction) from a major U.S. Publication, such as Time, USA Today, etc. Bring a printed copy of your article to class Monday. Now, here's the kick...you have to be able to tell what your article is discussing and why it is important for our society!
Fun, huh???
I promise to make it worth your time.
See you all Monday! Happy article hunting!
~Ms. Friend
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Why Do We Need To Read Nonfiction?
Considering we were missing several members of our class today, we took it easy. I distributed the new Nonfiction Independent Reading Packet, so those who were absent need to get that from me asap. We discussed the things that changed to accomodate nonfiction rather than fiction.
I have to say, I am so excited that you guys seem receptive to reading nonfiction literature. With the new Common Core Standards that are making waves in the education system nationally, nonfiction is going to be the primary literary focus on tests. Personally, I agree that we need to learn to read more nonfiction, such as news articles, biographies, history, etc. There are so many interesting things out that you only learn about through reading! Knowing what is going on in your world, as well as the past events and people who helped shaped how we live today is extremely important. If you find new nonfiction books that you feel I should add to the reading list, please comment on here!
...Speaking of comments...I'm very patiently waiting for someone to comment on the blog....hmmmmmm....
Enjoy your reading, ladies and gents! See you Monday!
~Ms. Friend
P.S. Keep watching the blog for something fun this weekend!!! Great things come when you least expect them!
I have to say, I am so excited that you guys seem receptive to reading nonfiction literature. With the new Common Core Standards that are making waves in the education system nationally, nonfiction is going to be the primary literary focus on tests. Personally, I agree that we need to learn to read more nonfiction, such as news articles, biographies, history, etc. There are so many interesting things out that you only learn about through reading! Knowing what is going on in your world, as well as the past events and people who helped shaped how we live today is extremely important. If you find new nonfiction books that you feel I should add to the reading list, please comment on here!
...Speaking of comments...I'm very patiently waiting for someone to comment on the blog....hmmmmmm....
Enjoy your reading, ladies and gents! See you Monday!
~Ms. Friend
P.S. Keep watching the blog for something fun this weekend!!! Great things come when you least expect them!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
I apologize for not updating the blog recently! Things have been hectic! By now, each of you should have turned in your Independent Reading Packet to me. If you haven't, please do so first thing tomorrow so I can finish grading these. This completes our first trial run of this type of assignment. While there are few things to tweak, I think it has worked well overall. You will receive your packet for your next book in class tomorrow.
Today in class we took a little trip to the library to check out nonfiction books. If you choose to purchase a book from the reading list on this blog, please get that purchased asap so that you can get started reading! The final date to change to a different book is next Thursday, March 14. However, you will not be allowed to leave class to go to the library to change books! This will have to be done outside of my classtime! These nonfiction books must be completed by Monday, April 8 before class. We will be starting a documented essay over the topic covered in these books. You will be required to research them using primary sources and working towards citing evidence and sources in your essay. We will also be learning the layout of a proper outline and works cited page. This is a very specific process that requires you be present when we learn these techniques! Keep up with your notes and all handouts over the next few weeks as we cover this style of writing. Also, keep in mind that we will be working on the computers in the library from April 9-April 18 during our classtime. We will be researching and eventually typing a final draft of the essay. If you have a personal laptop you would like to use for this, please feel free to bring it to class. If you need it locked up during other classtime to keep it safe, I can do that for you.
If you are not understanding something, please email me or come see me before it is too late! If you come to me the day something is due, there isn't much I can do to help you! DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!!!
Happy Reading, Kiddos!
~Ms. Friend
Today in class we took a little trip to the library to check out nonfiction books. If you choose to purchase a book from the reading list on this blog, please get that purchased asap so that you can get started reading! The final date to change to a different book is next Thursday, March 14. However, you will not be allowed to leave class to go to the library to change books! This will have to be done outside of my classtime! These nonfiction books must be completed by Monday, April 8 before class. We will be starting a documented essay over the topic covered in these books. You will be required to research them using primary sources and working towards citing evidence and sources in your essay. We will also be learning the layout of a proper outline and works cited page. This is a very specific process that requires you be present when we learn these techniques! Keep up with your notes and all handouts over the next few weeks as we cover this style of writing. Also, keep in mind that we will be working on the computers in the library from April 9-April 18 during our classtime. We will be researching and eventually typing a final draft of the essay. If you have a personal laptop you would like to use for this, please feel free to bring it to class. If you need it locked up during other classtime to keep it safe, I can do that for you.
If you are not understanding something, please email me or come see me before it is too late! If you come to me the day something is due, there isn't much I can do to help you! DO NOT PROCRASTINATE!!!!
Happy Reading, Kiddos!
~Ms. Friend
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