5/23 Class and 5/24 Class

Yesterday you read a selection from "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou.

Today (5/24) we will take a look at the answers to the questions you had on this selection as well as the MLK, Jr. selection.

We will also discuss the short essay portion of your final exam. This will entail watching "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe" next week. Much like "The Neverending Story" essay, if you are absent for part of the movie, you will still be able to answer the short essay question as it will pertain to you and your life.

No homework this evening except to make your lunch tonight and break in your running shoes for Field Day tomorrow!

5-21 and 5-22 Class

Yesterday (5/21) we read a primary source, a speech given by Martin Luther King, Jr. We discussed the significance of a primary source and also strategies in reading one. We also discussed and reviewed tactics of good speech writing.

Today (5/22) we reviewed the article you read last week "The Other China" and focused in on the questions that were asked and why you may or may not have understood the types of questions the author wanted answered. We discussed again inferences.

Homework: finish the questions that go along with the MLK speech article and have them ready for tomorrow!

5-16 Class

Today you had about 15 minutes to finish the work packet on The Power of Words that we began yesterday. We corrected it as a class.

Next we took at a non-fiction selection called "The Other China". We only had time to read this in class. This will be due at the end of class tomorrow. Please take this into consideration when you think about HOMEWORK for this class tonight. Tomorrow for class I am going to give you a day of rest and the promised "Ice Cream Treat Day". During class I plan on showing "A Close Shave" from my Wallace and Gromit Collection. If you feel you can work under these conditions (watching a quiet movie and eating some ice cream) then perhaps you do not need to finish this worksheet tonight. However, if you know this will hinder your work efforts too much, please finish the questions as homework tonight.

5-15 Class

Today we shared some of the fun sentences from yesterday's creative writing exercise.

Next we explored 3 Liners and created impromptu poems.

Finally I handed out an article called "The Power of Words" and we read this as a class. This article will be due on Friday, 5/18.

Homework:
Make sure the Final Package is complete, perfected, and ready to hand in tomorrow!

5-15 Class

Today we took a bit of a breather from the structured research paper. We explored some creative writing options--taking a look at metaphorical quotes and how combine nouns and verbs to create new/interesting/original images.

Homework:
The Final Package is due on Thursday! Keep working on editing at home. Make sure you have it perfected for Thursday! If you are going to be absent on Thursday, I expect that you will make arrangements to hand it in early!

Again, if you do not know what the is included in the Final Package, see me at Homeroom or Lunch time!

5-14 Class

Today you had your last in-class editing session.

Homework for Tonight and until Thursday:

For TOMORROW: bring in a fun "Writer's Hat" to do some creative writing in

For Tonight, Tuesday night, and Wednesday night: Your FINAL PACKAGE is due on Thursday for you research paper. If you are unsure of what the FINAL PACKAGE is, you need to see me! (I lectured on this for a whole day last week!)

5-11 Class

Today you had your first editing session with your peers. I know that everyone received his/her paper back with at least something to correct.

Homework:
Make all corrections to your paper and come to school on Monday with a clean copy. When you enter class on Monday you should not have any writing on your paper. Again, it should be a fresh, clean copy. If for some reason you did not come in with at least 5 pages today, you MUST come in with at least 5 pages on Monday. We will have one more editing session on class on Monday.

5-10 Class---A DAY OF GRACE

Today I went over what you will need for the FINAL PACKAGE which will be due on THURSDAY, MAY 17th! (I changed the due date from Wednesday to Thursday).

I also went over a sample paper to show you proper parenthetical citations and Works Cited page. Finally I passed out the rubric that I will use to grade your paper. This will be handy to have in the editing process. Ask your parents and/or friends to use it as a guideline to "pregrade" your paper :)

See me if you missed class today so I can get this information to you!

Again...due dates and plans for the next week:
Tomorrow (FRIDAY):
Bring your completed rough draft to class for editing

Monday
Bring your completed rough draft to class for another editing

Tuesday & Wednesday night:
Edit and make your Final Package perfect to turn in on Thursday

5-10 Class

Today you had your last class period to work on your rough draft and ask questions.

HOMEWORK:
Tomorrow your 5-7 page rough draft TYPED is due! You must come to class with it; I will be checking to make sure you have it completed for points! If for some reason you have a last minute computer error, come with a double-spaced hand written version! If you have printing issues, save it to a disk and bring it in and I will print it out for you. Another option would be to email it to me at haney@shrineschools.com and I will receive it when I arrive in the morning and print it out for you!

Again, you MUST have it here so we can edit!

5-8 Class

Today was another class day to work on your rough draft and ask questions as you went along.

HOMEWORK:
Continue working on your rough draft. The rough draft, 5-7 pages, typed, is due THURSDAY! Continue using your class time wisely, but don't forget to work on this at home as well!!

5-7 Class

Today I checked over everyone's outlines and gave you a grade. I was much more pleased with this portion of the research paper. I was very happy that I was able to give out more A's and B's this time :)

Today while I checked outlines, you had your first opportunity to work on your rough draft.

Tonight's Homework and the plan for the rest of the week:

• Monday - Wednesday your objective is to complete a typed outline. I would suggest writing it in class (I will be giving you the entire class period Mon-Wed to do so), and every night, you can type up what you finish in class.

• On Thursday you MUST bring your completed, typed rough draft to class. I will be giving you a grade for this... I will also be putting you in editing groups on Thursday and on Friday. In order to participate you must have your completed typed draft with you!
  Over the weekend you can begin making changes and preparing to turn in the "Final Package".

• I will be talking to you about what is included in the final package on and what is on the rubric before you begin editing on Thursday.
  
• You will have the weekend, Monday and Tuesday night to finish everything.
  
• The Final Research Paper will be due on Wednesday of next week.

5-4 Class

Today we discussed introductions and how write one that would really grab your reader's attention. We also discussed how you could make your introduction sound mature. We focused in on our audience (teacher and others who are middle-school aged and older).

DUE MONDAY:
A typed outline. Your outline MUST include where you plan to put your STAT, PARA, IQ, and DQ. Your outline must also include your introduction/thesis statement. Also, make sure you at least include the roman numeral for your conclusion (although if you would like to take it one step further, you may actually write your conclusion).

5-2 Class

Welcome back everyone!

Today we discussed introduction/thesis statements and outlines. I showed you an example of each of these and what you should do for them for your papers.

Your outline and introduction/thesis will be due on Monday. They must be typed.

You will have tomorrow and Friday in class to work on them and ask questions while you are working through them.

Homework:
Your notecards are all due tomorrow. Make sure you have them all completed!!!