Ms. Carlton

November 30, 2011

Carlton: Today we continued our practice on analyzing writing prompts, and we continued work on the prewrite for the persuasive letter.

HW: If you did not finish your prewrite today, complete it tonight.  Everyone should have a completed prewrite (intro, body and  conclusion) tomorrow.  See yesterday's blog for the example.

November 28, 2011

Carlton: Today in 3rd period, we worked on analyzing writing prompts and identifying the speaker, purpose, audience, format and then writing a thesis statement.  We also continued our prewriting for the persuasive parent letter.

For homework tonight, students should complete the 3 body paragraph organizers using the format they were given in class today.  If you were absent yesterday, you should also complete the introduction triangle.  I have attached the example we are using in class to help guide you through the process.  ALL students should have the introduction and 3 body paragraphs of the organizer completed by tomorrow.

Download Persuasive parent letter organizer

Attard/Carlton: SAT 4 flashcards due Monday, 12/5; quiz 12/9

Johnson/Carlton: SAT 8 quiz and  cards this Friday

November 14, 2011

Carlton: We evaluated and analyzed persuasive ads today.  The students identified speaker, purpose, audience and persuasive appeals used.  We also introduced our persuasive writing assignment and assigned YOUR homework tonight.  Parents, today the students wrote a thesis statement telling you about something that they would like to receive.  It could be a holiday gift or a privilege they do not currently have.  Your homework is to respond to your child's request with your objections.  I am including the copy of the letter with my example for your review.  Please complete this assignment with your child tonight.  I look forward to reading the responses tomorrow!

Download Spring break parent letter

Other homework: SAT 4 notecards are due Wednesday; SAT 4 quiz Friday, 11/18

Attard: We are exploring persuasive appeals and techniques through evaluation of commercials, speeches and other persuasive materials.

Johnson: The students are working on the  rough draft of their persuasive parent letter.  The  final copy will be due Friday, 11/18.  If students will not be at school on Friday, the essay is due on Thursday or the last day they will be at school this week.

November 7, 2011

Carlton: Students wrote a reflection on their narrative essay today.  If you did not finish this in class today, please finish the reflection for homework.  Both the final narrative and the reflection are due Wednesday at the beginning of class.  I have attached the directions for the reflection below.

Download Reflection on narrative writing assignment

We also watched the SAT 4 vocabulary video.  Notecards for SAT 4 are due Wed. 11/16 and the quiz will be Friday, 11/18.  If you will be absent next Friday, please make arrangements with me to take the quiz before Friday.

Attard/Carlton: We read "The Ransom of Red Chief" and discussed the use of irony in the story.

Johnson/Carlton: The students worked on their 100 thesis statement assignment which is due this Friday.  We also introduced the parent letter assignment which is due tomorrow.  Please read the letter that your student is bringing home tonight and read the request they have made.  Please respond to their request with your reasons against their request or your concerns.  Your responses are due Wednesday.  The parent letter assignment is attached.

Download Persuasive Parent letter

 

November 4, 2011

Carlton: Today students completed their narrative essays.  If you did not turn in a completed final paper today, it will be due Monday.  You may come in at 8:15 Monday morning to finish the work, or you may complete it at home this weekend.

Attard/Carlton: Students c ompleted their beach descriptive paragraph today.  If you did not finish it in class, this is homework.  It is due Monday at the beginning of class.

Johnson/Carlton: Students were given time to work on their 100 thesis statements project and SAT 7 note cards.  We also reviewed compound subject and verb agreement with completion of workbook pages.

HW: The 100 Thesis Statements project is due Friday, 11/11 - SAT 7 note cards and quiz 11/11

November 1, 2011

Carlton: Today students continued to work on their rough draft of the narrative.  We practiced revision strategies using the MESS strategies.

HW:

• If your rough draft was not complete today, finish it tonight.  Remember you should have 3 paragraphs: introduction, body and conclusion.   See my example below.
• When your rough draft is complete, practice the slotting strategy by circling garbage words and less descriptive words in your rough draft and replacing them with more vivid words.  Use your blue writing sheets and the thesaurus to help you with this! 
•     Example:  The bird sang a happy song.  Circle bird, happy and song and improve the sentence.  The scarlet cardinal whistled a joyful tune.
•  
• Download Ms. Carlton narrative example revised

 

Attard/Carlton: The students worked on their "Thriller" grammar and took a pop quiz on the stories we read yesterday.

Johnson/Carlton: We reviewed the requirements for the thesis statement project and watched the SAT 7 vocab. video.

HW: Thesis statement project and SAT 7 cards and quiz will be due November 11. 

Project: Students were given a packet of 125 writing topics today.  They should choose 100 of these and develop a clear thesis statement.  They may also choose to select 50 of the more controversial topics and create a thesis statement for both sides of the argument.  Students will have approximately 10 minutes at the beginning of each class period to work on this assignment.  Project is due November 11.