3-29 Class

Today I returned your topic card back. I discussed with those who did not have a solid topic or did not ask proper questions to answer.

This weekend should be used to visit the library for sources! You must have at least two hardcopy sources (sources NOT of the internet) (can include hardcopy magazines, books, and pamphlets).

Click on the link below to hear a reminder :) (A new tech site I am trying out!)
Gabcast! G Period English #3 - Research Paper reminder

3-27 Class

Today we took a more serious look at the timed writing process.

Remember, you need to start becoming very good at delegating your time and delegating it wisely. 10 minutes for organized prewriting, 25-30 minutes to construct a good, organized 5 paragraph essay, and 5-8 minutes to edit your work.

If you were absent today, do not worry about making up the prompt. It will just be one less grade factored in for your term grade.

3-27 Class

Today you turned in your punctuation handbook and took your punctuation test.

We discussed the first leg of your research paper (reviewed from Friday's discussion).

Homework:
Topic Notecard with the topic of your research paper and your name/hour on the top. On the lines, include the 5 questions you are going to answer with the research you write about in your paper. See the handout we discussed if you have questions; I included an example on there for you to see. Remember that your question should NOT take one or two sentences to answer. Instead it should take about 3/4 - 1 page to answer (in theory 5 questions should = a 5 page paper :)

I will be collecting these cards tomorrow and reading them. On Thursday when we return for class (remember Wednesday is our field trip) I will return your card either approving or rejecting your topic.

3-22 Class

Today we corrected and collected last night's homework.

Next we discussed more about dialogue. It is crucial to remember that each new speaker, including the first speaker, gets his/her own paragraph! Remember that each paragraph is indented!

Finally I gave you your review assignment for your test on Monday!

Mastery Review Assignment:
Page 654 & 655 #34-40 only, rewrite the sentences
Page 656 Part G, #71-85, rewrite the sentences
I also gave you a worksheet to finish.

Also due tomorrow:
"The Neverending Story" essay! Make sure you have a copy of the rubric with it along with your "Important Characters and Places" worksheet. Read the blog entries below this one if you need the rubric, and even further down if you need to remember what the essay topic is all about!

3-21 Class

Today we discussed hyphens and apostrophes.

Homework:
Page 644 rewrite #1-3 properly
Page 645 #1-10, rewrite sentences
Page 647 #1-10, answers only

Up and Coming:
**"The Neverending Story" Essay and "Important Characteres" worksheet due Friday (see rubric below)
**Friday I will begin talking about the research paper and the first step in the process. This is an important day and you don't want to miss it!
**Test over Punctuation & Punctuation Handbook due Monday

NEVERENDING STORY RUBRIC

(print this out and staple it behind your essay)

__/10 MLA format, typed, rubric attached

__/50 sticks to the topic of the essay (see NEVERENDING STORYESSAY in the earlier blog posting)

__/20 uses proper sentence combining techniques (does not have choppy sentences; remember we want to gain maturity in our writing--it's the 4th Term of school now!)

__/20 clearly edited (use a friend/parent as an editor!)

__/100 TOTAL POINTS

3/20 Classwork

Homework:
Besides the assignments listed above with their due dates, you have the following book work due tomorrow:Page 648 & 650 #1-2 and rewrite the dialogue on 650Page 641 & 642 #1-9

**Also, read the following information below pertaining to upcoming project and test due dates

PUNCTUATION HANDBOOKS, SHORT ESSAY, and 3/20 Class

(click on the link above to go to Amazon.com and a resource for the book)

Punctuation Handbooks

Your punctuation handbooks will be due on Monday. I have taken a look at the material and we will have a test on it Monday, in which case your puncutation handbook will be due that day as well.

"The Neverending Story" Essay

In the movie The Neverending Story, Fantasia is being destroyed by The Nothing. We discussed in class that Fantasia represented the imagination and creativity of humans. Bastian (the little boy reading the book) does not believe that he can make a difference in Fantasia and doubts Fantasia's existence, therefore, killing the chances of Fantasia's survival.

Your essay topic is this: Think about yourself and what alive and motivated everyday? For the world of Fantasia, creativity and imagination kept it alive and thriving. What do you need in your life to keep going? Be specific and give examples. Remember what keeps you motivated cannot be a tangible object/something you can touch (for example, "If I didn't have my IPod, I couldn't survive" or "I don't know what I would do without Mom"). If you can, incorporate similarities between you and the characters and/or certain elements of the movie to get your point across.

This essay should be no longer than a page and a half. Remember what we have been learning about sentence combining! I want you to be concise! Try to rid your essay of short, choppy sentences!

DUE DATE: FRIDAY, MARCH 23rd. We will NOT be working on this in class. It will be up to you to have a friend and/or parent edit your essay! Remember you DO need other people to read your work BEFORE it gets to me!

3-19 Class

Today we finished watching The Neverending Story. Tomorrow we will be discussing the writing topic for this movie.

Homework:
Read 637
Complete questions Page 638 #1-5 (write out sentences)
Read 638 (second half)
Complete questions Page 639 #1-5 (write out sentences)
**try your best and we will discuss the material tomorrow

3-15 Class

Today and tomorrow Mrs. Hardy will be guest teaching while I am away at a technology conference.

Please be on your best behavior!

Today you corrected last night's assignment and the work from last night and Tuesday night was collected.

Next you began watching "The Neverending Story" and had a character/places worksheet to fill out while you watch. Enjoy the movie and we will talk about the writing that will result from this movie when I return on Monday. Don't forget to take good notes!

No Homework.

3-14 Class

Today we covered some more work with usage of commas.

Homework
Page 633 #1-5, #11-15
Page 634-635 #1-5 and Part B, rewrite the paragraph

for all the the problems, you must write out the sentences.

3-13 Class

Today we began by correcting homework.

Next we started on a clean sheet doing a few review problems (page 627 #1-3)

Finally we talked about our new section on commas (there are 9 subcategories for commas so make sure you cover them all in your Punctuation Handbook!)

Class/Homework:
Page 629 Part A #1-5
Part B #11-15
Page 630 Part A #1-5
Part B #11-15
**you must write out the sentences for these problems.

3-12 Class

Today we began our new grammar unit: punctuation. You were given the rules and expectations for the Punctuation Handbook. If you were absent, make sure you see me when you return during lunch or homeroom!

We tackled endmarks today.

Class/Homework:
Page 624 #1-10, answers only
Part B, answers only
Part C, rewrite the paragraph

Page 626 #1-15, answers only

3-9 Class

Today we had a creative writing day. This assignment is due on Monday.

The objective of this assignment was:

1. To use some creativity (instead of working from the grammar book---take a little break)

2. Be able to come up with some concrete work within timed constraints

I gave you this prompt:
You come home and check your phone messages. You hear the third message and freeze.

Remember to set an opening scene using the five senses. Make sure you end your story and everything wraps up nicely.

We will share our storie on Monday.

3-9 Class

Today we had a creative writing day. This assignment is due on Monday.

I gave you this prompt:
You come home and check your phone messages. You hear the third message and freeze.

Remember to set an opening scene using the five senses. Make sure you end your story and everything wraps up nicely.

We will share our storie on Monday.

3-7 Class

Today we began by attending the SSLB Book fair. Next we corrected the first part of the mastery review.

Finally I gave you the second portion to the review assignment.

Homework:
Mastery Grade
Page 568 Part C--rewrite the paragraph following the directions carefully.
Page 571 Part C & D

3-6 Class

Today we corrected last night's homework.

We also discussed the options for those interested in the Detroit Free Press Writing Competition and the after school session Mrs. Rome and I are holding tomorrow in the LRC.

Today in class and at home you are to work on part one of the review for our test on Thursday.

Homework:
Page 569 Part A, write out the sentences and follow the directions
Page 570 Part A and B, follow the directions given.

This will be corrected tomorrow for a mastery grade.

3-5 Class

Today we corrected the ten problems you had on Friday. We discussed any questions you had.

Next you had the entire hour to complete the assignment and ask any questions.

Class/Homework:
Page 566/567/568 #6-20; #26-35 (you did #1-5 & 21-25 on Friday)
Page 569 Part B, follow the directions

Looking Ahead:
Trip to Borders/SSLB sponsored Book Fair on Wednesday. Bring at least $10 to spend or more (depending on if you are interested in purchasing soft or hardcover). We will only be spending 15 minutes in the library to shop.

Scholastic Book Club Orders due March 15th!

TEST THURSDAY!

3-2 Class

March in like a lion

Today we started by correcting last night's assignment.

Next you read about complex sentences and we discussed the differences between those and compound sentences.

Finally you received this assignment:
Homework:
Read Page 565/566
Complete page 566/567/578 Parts A & B #1-5 & #21-25 only--copy the sentences and follow the directions for each section

Looking Ahead
We will have a test over compound and complex sentences Wednesday or Thursday of next week.

3-1 Class

Today we corrected page 560 from last week.

Next we discussed page 562.

Homework:
Page 562 #1-10 write out the sentences
Page 564 Part A--write S for simple sentence, C for complex. Also list the subject(s) and verb(s) for each sentence.