Day Thirty-Eight / 10.29.10

Today we started with a quote from Elmore Leonard: “If it sounds like writing, rewrite it.” Then we had a quiz on to/too/two and its/it's. After that, we read silently, then worked on our ads and conferenced about our rough drafts. The rough draft is due on Monday. Most of you have serious work to do to improve your current draft, so I expect quite a bit of time and thought will be given to these drafts. Best of luck, Happy Halloween.

Day Thirty-Seven / 10.28.10

Today we started with a quote provided from a student, by Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." Then we continued working on it's/its. Next, we did the following paragraph unscramble:

Paragraph Unscramble

Finally, we worked on creating ads that support our persuasive papers.

Day Thirty-Six / 10.27.10

Today we started with a quote from Alexandra David-Néel: “Does one become a visionary or, rather, is it not that one has been blind until then?” We discussed the idea of learning that we already have within us (the blankey-theory) and learning as building blocks. Then we worked on it's/its.

Next, we took a vocabulary quiz on -inter words. Finally, we looked at advertisements and what they are selling/saying. An example is below:

Day Thirty-Five / 10.26.10

Today we started by peer editing our rough drafts. Then, we read a quote from John-Paul Sartre: "A writer who adopts political, social, or literary positions must act only with the means that are his own—that is, the written word." We discussed a writer's place, and whether he should remain only in the world of the page. After that, we had another to/too/two practice sheet.

Next, we read silently, then we continued discussing the argument / counterargument from the two cheerleading articles.

Day Thirty-Four / 10.25.10

Today we started with a quote from Doris Lessing, "Think wrongly, if you please, but in all cases think for yourself." We then worked on our to/too/two. After that, we discussed that commentary does not always have to directly follow facts/opinions, but it can come at different times, sometimes you start with commentary, sometimes a fact, sometimes an opinion. Then we read silently. After that, we looked at argument/counterargument through the lens of this article from Sports Illustrated, and this article from Cheerhome.com. Your Persuasive Essay Rough Draft is due tomorrow.

Day Thirty-Three / 10.22.10

Today we started by talking about the dress code. We then participate in the morning announcements with the elementary school students. After that, we discussed the quote of the day, "The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple." (Oscar Wilde) We read silently, then went over interviewing techniques and practiced our own interviews.

Day Thirty-Two / 10.21.10

Today we started with a quote from John Milton: "...for smiles from reason flow." We journaled on whether reason, emotion, or fact were the highest form of virtue (or good). After that we worked on their/they're/there. Then we discussed premise's v. conclusions. Finally, we peer reviewed our classmates outlines.

Day Thirty-One / 10.20.10

Today we started with the Vocabulary Quiz on -dis words. Then we discussed facts versus opinions. Finally, we figured out where commentary fits into the equation (hint: it can be fact or opinion, at different times). After that, we took our Tangerine quiz. Finally, we worked out our outlines, which are due tomorrow. Here's the outline to help you, and here's my example:

My Story Outline

Day Thirty / 10.19.10

Today we started with a quote from Eliza Griswold's poem "Evolution."

The moral is movement

is awkward. The lesson is fumble.

We then reviewed the vocabulary words for tomorrow's quiz. Next, we continued working on their/they're/there. If you'd like more practice, click here. After that, we read silently, then wrote poems about the downpour. Finally, we started to identify the differences between facts and opinions, based on this sheet.

Here are some great poems about the rain today:

Rain is peaceful, like flowers

falling on your head.

God is crying, he is sad. And flowers, trees, and

nature grows thanks to God.

Clouds crying of depression

making people sick by its coldness.

The sky is dark

the clouds are out

and nature is getting a shower

from the spouts of water

coming out of the sky.

The clouds got in a fight

one lost

and started to cry

rivers of

rain.

There is no rainbow, so

maybe there will be a flood.

Day Twenty-Nine / 10.18.10

Today we started with a quote from A.J. Liebling: "Cynicism is often the shamefaced product of inexperience." We talked about the difference between a critic and a cynic. A cynic is a person who believes that people are motivated purely by self-interest rather than acting for honorable or unselfish reasons. A critic is a person who judges the merits of literary, artistic, or musical work. We wrote about how can you be persuasive without being cynical.

Then we worked on a their/they're/there worksheet. We read silently, then went over the Persuasive Essay Prompt.

Essay Prompt

Day Twenty-Eight / 10.15.10

Today we started with a quote from Henry David Thoreau: “Thaw with her gentle persuasion is more powerful than Thor with his hammer. The one melts, the other breaks into pieces.” We discussed, power v. persuasion.

Then we finished going over the article about Texting. We then read silently, then finished our discussion of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. On a separate sheet of paper, please complete the following. Your homework is below:

Persuasive Thesis Statement: _______________

Ethos. Provide 3 reasons for why you are a credible source.

Pathos. Provide 3 reasons for how you can draw someone’s feelings into your argument (humor, appeal to happiness, etc.).

Logos. Provide 3 facts you can use to strengthen your argument.

Show one example of inductive / deductive reasoning to prove one of your facts.

Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Day Twenty-Seven / 10.14.10

Today we started with a quote by Paul Simon: “Facts can be turned into art if one is artful enough.” We journaled on why facts would not be art to begin with, and how we can use facts to persuade people in an artful way.

Then we talked about our Ethos and Pathos statements that we did for homework. After that we read silently, then discussed this article about texting.

Day Twenty-Six / 10.13.10

Today we started with a quote from John Cleese: “If I can persuade you to laugh at the particular point I make, by laughing at it you acknowledge its truth.” We took a Vocabulary Quiz on -Un words. We read silently. We worked on our Persuasive Thesis Argument Statements. Then we talked about Ethos, Pathos, and Logos. Here's the short version on those three:

Ethos: the source's credibility, the speaker's/author's authority

Pathos: the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details.

Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument.

Check SchoolLoop for your homework assignment.

Day Twenty-Five / 10.12.10

Today we started with a quote from Alexander Hamilton, "Those who stand for nothing, fall for anything." Then we finished reading the article by Steve Almond. We outlined his persuasive progression. We then read silently, reviewed vocabulary, then started writing what we know, which led to some persuasive statements.

Day Twenty-Four / 10.11.10

Today we started by sharing our essays. Then, we wrote on a quote by Paulo Friere, "Critical reflection is also action." Next, we wrote our own reflections on the Personal Moral Narrative stories. The form is below.

Personal Moral Narrative Reflection

We then read silently, then started analyzing Steve Almond's argument in his article. The article is here.

Day Twenty-Three / 10.08.10

Just a reminder, your Personal Moral Narrative Final Draft is due Monday. Moral Story Prompt

Today we started with a discussion of the rules. We clarified a few things that needed clarification. We then wrote on a quote by Deepak Chopra: “All great changes are preceded by chaos.”

After that, we finished defining a knowledgeable English-person. We then read an article on music by Steve Almond. It is here. Next, we read a prosety poem (poetry + prose) by David Shumate. It is below.

Shooting the Horse

I unlatch the stall door, step inside, and stroke the silky neck

of the old mare like a lover about to leave. I take an ear in

hand, fold it over, and run my fingers across her muzzle. I

coax her head up so I can blow into those nostrils. All part of

the routine we taught each other long ago. I turn a half turn,

pull a pistol from my coat, raise it to that long brow with the

white blaze and place it between her sleepy eyes. I clear my

throat. A sound much louder than it should be. I squeeze the

trigger and the horse's feet fly out from under her as gravity

gives way to a force even more austere, which we have named

mercy.

Finally, we wrote poems about Dusty...

Day Twenty-Two / 10.07.10

Today we started with a quote from Machiavelli: "Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul." We journaled on what plans we had that "stirred our soul." Then we practiced responding to stories.

Next we outlined what a Knowledgeable IB person would look like. After that we had conferences during SSR. Finally, we did an activity creating our own dialogue.

Day Twenty-One / 10.06.10

Today we started with a quote from Dr. Wilbur: “Why do we as a society, feel the need to act ‘fine’ when we are sick? What does this tell us about ourselves?” We journaled on this topic. Then, we reviewed the story "A Day's Wait." We took a quiz on the story. Then we studied for vocabulary, and took the "sub-" vocabulary quiz. Next, we had a SSR time and conferences on our essays. Then, we started on a dialogue project with our table groups.

Day Twenty / 10.5.10

Today we started with the end of WS Merwin's quote: "One is trying to say everything that can be said for the things that one loves while there's still time." We journaled, then worked on some language problems. After that, we reviewed our "Two Kinds" quiz, then did a quick vocabulary review. We read silently, then read Ernest Hemingway's story "A Day's Wait."

Day Nineteen / 10.04.10

Today we started with a quote from W.S. Merwin: "I think there's a kind of desperate hope built into poetry now that one really wants, hopelessly, to save the world.” We talked about hopeless hope, then journaled on whether or not we can save the world. After that, we peer edited our rough drafts. Then we read silently, and then talked about converting cliches.

Day Eighteen / 10.01.10

Today we started with a Question of the Day: How do other's ideas influence our own? This lead into a discussion on leaders and followers, and whether we come up with our own ideas, or if we simply regurgitate other's ideas.

After that, we read silently, then took a quiz on "Two Kinds." Finally, we discussed Show don't Tell and how to avoid Cliche. Your Rough Draft is due on Monday. 3 pages, typed, MLA format, size 12 font, show don't tell, avoid cliches, create tension, include a moral, and make a great story.