2-28 Class

Today in class we heard the rest of the eulogys and tribute poems that we didn't have time for last Thursday.

Next you did a reflection on your eulogy/tribute poem.

Homework:
Finish the reflection and have it to hand in tomorrow.

2-21 Class

Today we took a look at last night's assignment and checked it.

I did not collect it; you added to this assignment with the work we discussed today on page 559.

Homework:

• Page 560 Part A & Part B--rewrite all of the sentences and follow the directions for each.
• Your final copy of your eulogy or tribute poem is due tomorrow and must have the rubric attached to the back. We will be reading them aloud in class tomorrow, so please make sure they are FULLY edited and that you practice your speech to your mom, dad, brother or sister (or even your dog at home). You do not have to memorize it, just make sure you are prepared.

RUBRICS

Please copy rubric that fits your writing piece and attach it to the back of your writing.

Eulogy Rubric
____/10 must be 1 page to 1 1/2 pages in length (do not exceed 2 pages), contain a rubric, headed with MLA style

____/40 must be thoroughly edited (grammar and punctuation) and include a title

____/40 must include specific examples of how you want to be remembered or how you want the person you wrote about to be remembered

____/10 must have a proper tone

____/100 points GRAND TOTAL

TRIBUTE POEM RUBRIC
___/10 must be at least 30 lines, include the rubric, and headed with MLA style

___/10 must be edited and have a title

___/40 must include specifics on how you want to be remembered or how you want the subject of the poem to be remembered

___/40 must use "showing not telling" details along with sensory images

___/100 points GRAND TOTAL

2-20 Class

Today you had the opportunity to work with two editors on either your eulogy or your tribute poem.

Next we discussed the first section of our next unit on compound and complex sentences.

Homework:
Read pages 556/557. Complete Page 557 Part A, follow the directi0ns and Part B on 558, follow the directions

Looking Ahead
Your final draft of your eulogy/tribute poem is due Thursday and must have the appropriate rubric attached. I will be devising a rubric for the poem and a separate one for the eulogy essay. Both will total the same number or points. Please use the rubric to GRADE YOURSELF prior to coming to class. Ask yourself: Do I include all of the items Ms. Haney wants in my writing?

I will be giving you a short grammar assignment tomorrow night, so you may want to get a head start this evening!

2-19 Class

Today I gave you the hour to write a rough draft of either your eulogy or your tribute poem.

Remember that if you are writing a eulogy in essay format, it must be a page to a page and a half in length.

If you are choosing to write the tribute poem, it must be at least 30 lines. If you are writing only a couple of words per line, please take the initiative to write more than 30 lines.

HOMEWORK:
You must have a completed rough draft for class tomorrow. In class tomorrow we will edit and also work on our next grammar unit.

2-16 Class

Today we went over the answers of the MLK Jr. Packet. We discussed further his February speech prior to his passing two months later.

Next we discussed your next writing assignment. You have a few options. I asked you to decide whether you were A) a very confident writer who needs a challenge or B) a somewhat confident writer who feels they have some things you need to work on.

For those of you who chose A) I would like you to do the following:
Compose a minimum 30 line tribute poem. Remember the two tribute poem/songs we looked at today (Elton John's "Candle in the Wind" and Tobey Keith's "American Soldier"). Try to think about how you would like to preserve someone's memory. What specifics would you include? Make sure you are confident with using sensory imagery, using "showing not telling" details, and you are concise and to the point in your tribute. This does not have to rhyme.

For those of you who chose B) I would like you to do the following:

• write a eulogy in 3rd person (this means the eulogy will be about how you want to be remembered but you will refer to yourself using your name and pronouns of either he/she (if you still have questions, feel free to aske me or reference your textbook--we have discussed this before).
• OR you may choose this one. Write a eulogy or a tribute for someone you love or care about (they may still be living or have already passed on)
• FOR EITHER ONE OF THESE, the final will be 1 1/2 pages typed (about 150-175 words), MLA style, double spaced

FOR MONDAY
You must have made your A or B choice and have completed a SPECIFIED BRAINSTORM. On Monday in class, you will have time to write your first draft and ask any questions you may have about the project

2-15 Class

I hope you enjoyed your Snow Day!

Today you started off by working on page 308 completing Part A #1-10.

Next we talked about one of MLK Jr.'s speeches. I gave you a handout for this.

Tonight:
Make sure to finish the bookwork:
Page 308 Part A #1-10

Also, finish the entire handout packet I gave you. However, you do NOT have to do "Writing About It"--the last section of the worksheet.

2-13 Class

Today we did a lot of bookkeeping.

You turned in many things. If for some reason a letter was not turned in because you did not have a stamp, or envelope, or rubric, make sure you turn it in tomorrow. It will be counted late, but you do need to turn it in!

There is no homework for G Period only this evening (H Period has a short assignment).

RUBRIC FOR THE BUSINESS LETTER

____/ 20 pts. Properly edited (correct spelling/punctuation/grammar)

____/ 50 pts. 8 Parts of the Friendly Letter (correct format/spacing/information)

____/ 50 pts. Proper Body (includes proper tone and specific reasons you liked/did not like the product/service

____/ 5 pts. Includes the Rubric


_____/ 125 pts. GRAND TOTAL

2-9 Class

In class today you were able to watch Wallace and Gromit's "Wrong Trousers" while making excellent final drafts of your 6th grade buddy letters!

For Tuesday Make Sure You Have The Following:

1. Final draft of your buddy letter w/an envelope to send it in
2. 2 COPIES of your Business Letter--one Business letter should be attached to the rubric (make a copy of the rubric and staple it), the other Business letter needs an envelope and a stamp that you need to provide!
3. Any bookwork you did not finish from Thursday night needs to be completed! We will discuss this work in class on Tuesday and I will collect it!
4. Study for the short Business Letter quiz you will have on Tuesday! Make sure to study the handout that I gave you.

2-8 Class

Today I checked to make sure you had your rough draft and revised version of your business letter.

Next you wrote a rough draft of a friendly letter to your 6th grade buddy from 6th grade visit day.

Homework/Classwork:

Read pg 300-301

Do Part A Page 301 #1-5

Read Pages 302-304
Do Part A Page 304 #1-5
Part B #1-8
Part C rewrite paragraph

Also, make sure someone at home reads AND SIGNS your business letter!

2-7 Class

Today we discussed your business letters and you had the opportunity to edit two letters and have your letter edited by two others in class.

Homework:
Make all of the corrections to your letter this evening. Come to class tomorrow with your revised version AND your rough draft.

2-6 Class

Today we corrected the writings of problem sentences covering pages 294-298.

Next we talked about the 8 Parts of a Business Letter and discussed the next writing activity. We talked about tone and I showed you an example of a letter of complaint and a letter of compliment.

Homework:
Create a typed rough draft of your business letter and bring it in to school tomorrow. Tomorrow we will have an editing session and discuss some of the letters in class.

You will have a short "8 Parts of Business Letter" quiz on Friday, so make sure you study the handout that I gave you today!

2-5 Class

Although it was chilly out this morning, we still had school! So if you are home for whatever reason, you missed a few things :)

Today the class took their test on prepositions. Afterward, they continued on with the assignment you did on Thursday dealing with fragments and run-on sentences. On that same sheet they did a bit more work.
Class/Homework:
They read pages 296, 297, and 298. Then they completed Practice Your Skills #1-5 on 296 and Practice Your Skills #1-5 on 298.

Make sure this assignment is complete and we will talk about the fragments, run-ons, stringy sentences and correcting empty sentences in class tomorrow.

6TH Grade Visit Day

I hope you enjoyed touring your sixth grade buddy around today!

Remember your assignment and your test that you will have on Monday (see the post below).

Have a great weekend!

1-31 Class & 2-1 Class

1-31
For the most part, I want to thank you for working so diligently while I was home ill yesterday. In class you reviewed for your test with the following assignment: Page 549 Part A & B, Page 550 Part C, D & E.

2-1
Today we began by grading the review assigment you worked on yesterday. Next I gave you a practice test on the prepositions you are to have memorized for Monday's test. Finally we talked about problem sentences on page 294. You need to finish Page 295 #1-6 Part A and #1-6 Part B for Monday.

HOMEWORK FOR THE WEEKEND: Besides finishing Page 295 #1-6 Part A and #1-6 Part B for Monday, study for the test you will have on Monday too. Also, do not forget the work we have started on page 294 because we will continue with that after the test on Monday.