Time Warp!

Holy moly!  It seems as though March was just beginning... how is it already the 28th?  Here are a few updates and some information about 4th quarter:

1. I've talked with students, and had them brainstorm, about possible biography/autobiography subjects they may find interesting.  Our final book report will be based on a biography/autobiography and they should be searching for one now.  The school's library has at least 100 books that will work.  We will work quite a bit on this project in class, but not until after end-of-level testing is over.  Which brings me to...
2. END-OF-LEVELS!  I put them in all-caps because that's how important they are.  :)  DHMS students will test this year in the following order: science, language arts, and math.  These are intensive, comprehensive tests that measure an entire year of learning in each subject.  Our Language Arts 8 testing window begins on Thursday, April 21, and ends on Monday, May 2.  Please stay healthy, eat nutritious foods, and get many hours of sleep--this will help your brain function at full-capacity!

Thank you for all your support and involvement!  

DWA Practice #3... The final practice! dun...dun...dun...

Students have completed their final practice essay in preparation for the Direct Writing Assessment (DWA) this week!  Wednesday, February 23, and Thursday, Feb 24, we were in the computer labs writing beautiful, persuasive, 5-paragraph essays. 

Our prompt: 
Persuasive: What Makes for Success?   Which would best help you succeed in life as an adult: money, intelligence, or good looks?  Be sure to develop your response fully.

If you have missed class--for SUPAF, sickness, or any other reason--make sure you are making up any missed essay practices!  These can be done up until the last week of the quarter, but the sooner you write, submit, print, and hand in...the better.  

One more important note: extra credit is available!  Any student can complete an additional persuasive essay of their choice from utahwrite.com for extra credit points.  Up to 30 points can be earned!  Take advantage of my benevolence!

DWA Practice #2

D.W.A. Practice #2—Wed. February 16 & Thurs. February 17

Persuasive: Community Service   The principal at your school is considering making community  … service a requirement of all 7th and 8th graders.  This would require 10 hours of volunteer work in the community each year.  Do you agree or disagree with this idea?  Write an essay stating your position, and give persuasive examples that support your view.  Be sure to develop your response fully.

Persuasive: Tracking Your Whereabouts   Parents can now buy a global positioning device that can let them  … know exactly where their child is at any moment.  Decide whether or not you agree that it is acceptable to track their child's whereabouts.  Give reasons in support of your stance, and be sure to develop your response fully.

Directions:

1.      Read each prompt carefully.  Choose a position for the one you can support with the most LOGIC: facts, statistics, examples, and expert testimony.

2.      Once again, we’re going to do a 5 minute quick write—just like a journal write.  Get as many ideas from each side of the issue as you can!

3.      Most students who scored a 24 or above on their essay on the first submission had planned and written lots on their graphic organizer!  So, my hypothesis is correct: the more planning and thinking you do beforehand, the better your essay will be.  We will have 7-10 minutes to fill out our graphic organizers using your bright orange papers. 

4.      Go directly to utahwrite.com and get started.  Once again, DO NOT go to any other website or program to type your essay.  Be sure to proofread your essay with a critical eye before submitting for the first time!

5.      You will only have ONE resubmission attempt after getting your first score.  Please check and correct every red or green highlighted section before handing in your essay. 

Print your essay directly off of utahwrite.com.  Staple your essay to your graphic organizer before handing it in.  These scores will go onto Powerschool out of 26 points. 

Essay Writing Practice

D.W.A. Practice—Thursday, Feb. 10 & Friday, Feb. 11

Persuasive: Computers and the Internet   The Internet offers us many great opportunities. There are,  … however, disadvantages to consider.   Do you think the internet is a positive or negative influence on our lives? Be sure to develop your response fully.

Persuasive: Who Belongs on the Postage Stamp?  Many famous individuals, both real and fictional, have been  … honored with a commemorative postage stamp.  Choose a real person or fictional character that you feel deserves this honor.  Write a paper that would persuade others to support your choice.  Be sure to develop your response fully.

Persuasive:  Home School?   Imagine you have a choice between being schooled at home full- … time or attending school with others.  Think of the positive and negative aspects of each of these types of schooling.  Choose whether home schooling or attending school with others is better.  Be sure to develop your response fully.

Directions:

1.      Read each prompt carefully before deciding which to write about.  Also, make sure that the position you take is the one you can support with the most LOGIC: facts, statistics, examples, or expert testimony.  Just having a strong feeling one way or another is not enough to PERSUADE. 

2.      Do a fast-write (like a journal write) for 5 minutes to get as many ideas (positive and negative) written as you can.  The more writing and thinking you do at this stage, the easier your entire essay will be.  I promise!  J

3.      Take 5-10 minutes to fill out your graphic organizer.  Use your bright orange paper with all the introductory and concluding paragraph ideas RIGHT NOW!  The only materials you can take with you to the computer lab are a pencil/pen and your graphic organizer.  Once again, planning and organizing your thoughts before you begin your essay will help your writing. 

4.      At the computer lab, go directly to utahwrite.com.  I don’t want anyone to type anywhere else or use any other website.  Part of your grade for the D.W.A. is based on ‘conventions’—the trait that has to do with spelling, grammar, and punctuation.  Proofread your writing with a critical eye before submitting for the first time!

5.      You have 3 attempts at resubmitting your work.  Next time you will have 2 tries, then just one.  The essay you hand in to me should be free of red and/or green highlights!

6.      Print out your essay, as well as the scoring pages, from utahwrite.com.  Circle your name and your score, and staple it to your graphic organizer.  This will go on Powerschool out of 26 points. 

Checklist for Revising Winter Benchmark Essay

Checklist for revising winter benchmark persuasive essay:

ð        Did you use an “introductory” idea from your orange paper?  Which one?  _______________

________________  Write out your “hook” sentence here: ____________________________

               ____________________________________________________________________________

      ____________________________________________________________________________

ð        Is your opinion statement clear?  Write it here: _____________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

ð        It is very important that your voice is somewhat formal for an essay.  Double check that you didn’t use any abbreviations (u, lol) or slang (cause, til, whatev).

ð        Make sure that your punctuation isn’t over-the-top.  Very few sentences need exclamation points.  Sentences that have multiple end-marks like (!!?!) should NEVER be used!

ð        Did you add a simile somewhere in your essay?  Write it here: _________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

ð        Double-check all the times you used “there,” “their,” and “they’re.”  Make sure you used them all correctly!

ð        In your concluding paragraph, you should have summarized the three reasons why you are for or against the prompt.  Write that summary here: ___________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

ð        Did you use a “concluding” idea from your orange paper to wrap up your essay?  Which one: _____________________  Write out your sentence here: _____________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

ð        If you got a score of ‘4’ or below on IDEAS, it could be because your essay isn’t quite long enough.  Go through and add at least one sentence to each paragraph.

ð        Write your final Winter Benchmark Persuasive Essay score here:

3rd Quarter Book Report Breakdown...

Hi Parents/Guardians and Students!

Since the first week back from Christmas, we have had book report sign-ups, due dates, and details posted on our front bulletin board in our classroom.  I've even had one report already finished and handed in!  (Yay Fischer!)  Here is the breakdown for your information:

On a separate sheet of paper, type out the following information for your book report.  These may be handed in any time during the quarter, but are officially DUE on March 3 (A-day) and March 4 (B-day).

1.      1. Title and author:  Correctly capitalize the title and give some brief background information about the author’s life and other works s/he has written. (10 points)

2.      2. Setting: Describe the time, place, and atmosphere of the story.  (10 points)

3.      3. Point of view:  Tell from what point of view the story is told.  Give some specific information about the narrator.  (5 points)

•   1^st person: the narrator uses “I” and is herself/himself a character in the story.  3^rd person: the narrator is outside the story and refers to the characters as she, he, or they.) 

4.      4. Characters:  Answer the following questions about the three main characters... (15 points)

•   What does s/he look like?

•  What is her/his personality like? 

•   What conflicts do they face?

5.      5. Plot:  The plot is the chain of events which creates the entire story.  Summarize the plot of the story by breaking it down into the following parts…  (20 points)

•  Exposition—the beginning.

• Conflict—the problems and complications.

• Climax—the point of highest emotion, where big decisions are made.

• Dénouement—the falling action, resolution.

6.      6. Theme:  The lesson about life or human nature that the author was trying to convey.  State the theme in one sentence.  (5 points)

7.      7. Example passage:  Choose a passage from the book (5-10 sentences) that illustrates something important to the story.  It may show something about the main character, the theme, the conflict, or climax of the story.  Explain its importance and why it is significant or meaningful.  (10 points)

8.      8. Recommendation:  Would you recommend this book?  Why or why not?  Who would be most interested in this novel?  Why?  (5 points)

9.  Quality of work:  Is this your best work?  Did you proofread?  (10 points)

10On time:  Did you hand in your work on or before the due date?  (10 points)

Total:  100 points