Hi Everyone!
The first months of English on the 5th Floor have been action-packed. Hope all of you enjoy the much-deserved break.
While there is no homework over the break, there are some assignment you should be aware of.
1. You will have an independent reading book review due on 1/21, the Wednesday following the farm weeks and the MLK March.
2. For Tuesday, 1/20, you need to have read chapter 8-13 "Tales of Greek Heroes." There will be a blog post and short writing assignment given to you after the break as well, but you may want to get started on this reading over the two weeks we are off.
3. 8th grade, you might be getting an email or two from me about the MLK March, so look out for that.
If you need to reach me at any point over the break, I will be checking my MCS email (tgrattan@manhattancountryschool.org) regularly.
Have a great break!!
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
8th Grade MLK Writing First Draft
The following is a list of the ideas we came up with in class to help in structuring your first draft:
OPENING
o Personal connection to Obama and his election—Congratulations; meaning of his election; Obama and a new
understanding of multiculturalism; creation of new cultural identities; next steps in fight for civil rights
o Specific example of anecdote related to topic; imagining a world where you didn’t have …; connect topic to an everyday
situation; giving the issue a face
o Overview of the topic: Both general info and info about Obama’s plan regarding this issue
BODY
o How this topic connects to the neighborhood we’re marching in.
o Your specific ideas about your subtopic: ideas, responses and critiques of Obama’s plan
o Present the problem and highlight the specific ways he plans to address the issue and respond to his plans: agree/
disagree, criticize, explain its strong points, what you would add/change/expand on. How would the issue affect
Americans and people in the neighborhood we’re marching through?
o Connection to civil rights and MLK
CONCLUSION
o Wrap up what your main ideas are, make sure the audience gets it
o End with a powerful story or anecdote
OPENING
o Personal connection to Obama and his election—Congratulations; meaning of his election; Obama and a new
understanding of multiculturalism; creation of new cultural identities; next steps in fight for civil rights
o Specific example of anecdote related to topic; imagining a world where you didn’t have …; connect topic to an everyday
situation; giving the issue a face
o Overview of the topic: Both general info and info about Obama’s plan regarding this issue
BODY
o How this topic connects to the neighborhood we’re marching in.
o Your specific ideas about your subtopic: ideas, responses and critiques of Obama’s plan
o Present the problem and highlight the specific ways he plans to address the issue and respond to his plans: agree/
disagree, criticize, explain its strong points, what you would add/change/expand on. How would the issue affect
Americans and people in the neighborhood we’re marching through?
o Connection to civil rights and MLK
CONCLUSION
o Wrap up what your main ideas are, make sure the audience gets it
o End with a powerful story or anecdote
Thursday, December 11, 2008
"Tales of Greek Heroes" Chapters 7 Blog Post
What role did fate play in the story of Perseus? What did it say about the role of destiny in the belief system of the ancient Greeks?
8th GRADE MLK WRITING HOMEWORK
For Friday, 12/12
Write 2 paragraphs related to your MLK Speech
1. Overview of topic
2. Connection of your topic and Civil Rights
Write 2 paragraphs related to your MLK Speech
1. Overview of topic
2. Connection of your topic and Civil Rights
Revised Homework for Monday, 12/15
THE FOLLOWING IS DUE MONDAY:
1. Read Chapter 7 in "Tales of Greek Heroes" and answer blog post
2. Finish Greek Myth Comic Strip
3. Wordly Wise Quiz #5
1. Read Chapter 7 in "Tales of Greek Heroes" and answer blog post
2. Finish Greek Myth Comic Strip
3. Wordly Wise Quiz #5
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
"Tales of Greek Heroes" Chapters 5-6 Blog Post
What is the lesson of the story of Cadmus? What does it say about the ancient Greeks and their relationship to the gods?
Independent Reading Assignment #3 - Fiction Free Choice
Independent Reading Assignment #3 – Book Review
For your first Independent Reading assignment, you will write a review of the book you’ve been reading over the last month. A review gives a reader a sense of whether this book might be right for him or her. Your review needs to include specific examples and direct quotes from the book. In order to help you organize this review, I’ve broken down the steps for completing this assignment.
1. Context
The first step is to give the reader the background they need to understand the book. So, in your opening paragraph you should include the basic background information. What kind of book is it? Does it take place in a particular time in history? Is it part of a series? Think of any basic information the reader of your review needs to know beforehand.
2. Description
A short description (but not a summary) should be given so that the reader, as he or she reads the review, will have some understanding of the overall plot. In a detailed paragraph, include an overview of the story. What events set the story in motion? If, for example, the book is about a journey, what leads the main character(s) to begin it? Knowing what gets the story going is most important because it will give the reader of your review a sense as to whether they will be interested in the book without giving away too many of its secrets.
3. Evaluation
This is the section where you discuss what you think the author was trying to get across in the book. Was the book supposed to be funny? Sad? A nail-biter? This is also the place where you review, writing first about what you think the author was
trying to do, then giving your opinion. The evaluation section also a good place to recommend this book to a particular reader. “If you love _________ books, ________ might be the one for you.”
4. Conclusion
Finally, sum up the main ideas you have about the book. Do you recommend it? Why or why not? Who seems to be its intended audience? Restate the major points you had about the book.
This review needs to be two pages long. Ideas, grammar, and organization all count, so please type it if you are able to and proofread! Let me know if you have any questions.
For your first Independent Reading assignment, you will write a review of the book you’ve been reading over the last month. A review gives a reader a sense of whether this book might be right for him or her. Your review needs to include specific examples and direct quotes from the book. In order to help you organize this review, I’ve broken down the steps for completing this assignment.
1. Context
The first step is to give the reader the background they need to understand the book. So, in your opening paragraph you should include the basic background information. What kind of book is it? Does it take place in a particular time in history? Is it part of a series? Think of any basic information the reader of your review needs to know beforehand.
2. Description
A short description (but not a summary) should be given so that the reader, as he or she reads the review, will have some understanding of the overall plot. In a detailed paragraph, include an overview of the story. What events set the story in motion? If, for example, the book is about a journey, what leads the main character(s) to begin it? Knowing what gets the story going is most important because it will give the reader of your review a sense as to whether they will be interested in the book without giving away too many of its secrets.
3. Evaluation
This is the section where you discuss what you think the author was trying to get across in the book. Was the book supposed to be funny? Sad? A nail-biter? This is also the place where you review, writing first about what you think the author was
trying to do, then giving your opinion. The evaluation section also a good place to recommend this book to a particular reader. “If you love _________ books, ________ might be the one for you.”
4. Conclusion
Finally, sum up the main ideas you have about the book. Do you recommend it? Why or why not? Who seems to be its intended audience? Restate the major points you had about the book.
This review needs to be two pages long. Ideas, grammar, and organization all count, so please type it if you are able to and proofread! Let me know if you have any questions.
Monday, December 8, 2008
7th Grade Parts of Speech Test Review Sheet
For the test next week, you need to be familiar with the following:
Nouns
- Common
- Proper
Verbs
-Action
-Linking
-Helping
Adjectives
-Descriptive
- Limiting
Adverbs of
- manner
- frequency
- degree
- comment
- different parts of speech an adverb modifies
Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
Conjunctions
- coordinating
- subordinating
Interjections
Nouns
- Common
- Proper
Verbs
-Action
-Linking
-Helping
Adjectives
-Descriptive
- Limiting
Adverbs of
- manner
- frequency
- degree
- comment
- different parts of speech an adverb modifies
Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases
Conjunctions
- coordinating
- subordinating
Interjections
Homework for Week of 12/8
TRIPLETS
Tuesday, 12/9
-Read Chapter 4 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes"
- Post ONE fantastic discussion question on the blog
Thursday, 12/11
-Read Chapter 5-6 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes"
- Answer Blog Post
- Draft of Cronos/Rhea and their children section for the Greek God family tree
Monday, 12/15
- Chapters 7-8 in "Tales of Greek Heroes"
- Wordly Wise #5 Quiz
7th Grade, Grammar
- Parts of Speech Test, Wednesday 12/17
Tuesday, 12/9
-Read Chapter 4 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes"
- Post ONE fantastic discussion question on the blog
Thursday, 12/11
-Read Chapter 5-6 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes"
- Answer Blog Post
- Draft of Cronos/Rhea and their children section for the Greek God family tree
Monday, 12/15
- Chapters 7-8 in "Tales of Greek Heroes"
- Wordly Wise #5 Quiz
7th Grade, Grammar
- Parts of Speech Test, Wednesday 12/17
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Discussion Questions for Chapter 4 - due Tuesday, 12/9
Post your discussion questions here. Be sure to review the previously posted questions before posting your own.
"Tales of Greek Heroes" Chapters 2-3
Greek myths were created, in part, to teach a lesson or present a moral. What lesson or moral is at the heart of the story of Prometheus? What can we learn about the culture of the ancient Greeks through this myth?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Independent Reading Assignment #3 - Fiction Free Choice
The next independent reading book is a fiction free choice. This book must be fiction and at least 150 pages long. Graphic novels are not an option this time around.
The book and writing assignment will be due on Wednesday, January 21
The book and writing assignment will be due on Wednesday, January 21
Monday, December 1, 2008
Homework for Week of 12/1
Thursday, 12/4
- Read Chapter 1 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes"
Friday, 12/5
- Wordly Wise, Lesson 5 Exercises
Monday, 12/8
- Read Chapters 2-3 in "Tales of Greek Heroes"
- Answer blog post
Tuesday, 12/9
-Read Chapter 4 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes"
- Post ONE fantastic discussion question on the blog
Thursday, 12/11
-Read Chapter 5-6 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes
- Answer Blog Post
Monday, 12/15
- Wordly Wise #5 Quiz
- Read Chapter 1 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes"
Friday, 12/5
- Wordly Wise, Lesson 5 Exercises
Monday, 12/8
- Read Chapters 2-3 in "Tales of Greek Heroes"
- Answer blog post
Tuesday, 12/9
-Read Chapter 4 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes"
- Post ONE fantastic discussion question on the blog
Thursday, 12/11
-Read Chapter 5-6 in "Tales of the Greek Heroes
- Answer Blog Post
Monday, 12/15
- Wordly Wise #5 Quiz
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