Counterargument

Reminder: In class tomorrow (TUE), we will visit the I.S. Book Fair. Bring some cash along with you to spend at the Fair!

Use these steps to build your counterargument:

Thesis/Claim
Even though advocates of advertising on T.V. might argue that this bustling industry supports the U.S. economy through the creation of 1 million jobs each year, a law should still exist that prohibits television commercials targeting young children. School aged children are exposed to inappropriate content, unhealthy foods and are often manipulated into situations where actual bodily harm occurs as a directly result of the products pitched to them in their living rooms.Mentor Text:

Can you spot the steps below that build the counterargument


Proponents of the current status quo on advertising argue quite loudly that this industry creates over 10million jobs across the nation. Effective advertising leads to profitable  businesses; profitable businesses lead to more jobs, and more jobs lead to  a healthy successful economy. However, do the benefits outweigh the pitfalls? The APA estimates that advertisers may spend more than $12 billion per year on ads created to pull in the youth market. Because young children do not understand the actions of advertisers, they will eat the fatty foods without knowing it could harm them. The advertising leads to poor health and poor health leads to a greater demand on the countries health care system thus adversely affecting the economy.  Manipulating, influencing, and persuading students to eat unhealthy food is wrong.

Writing
H/W: Write out the counterargument for either your sports essay or your 1:1 computing essay. You must give this to the class (in small groups) in the format of a short speech! 
Due: Wed
Reading 
Don't forget 15mins of Membean practice for tomorrow. Remember - I can check how long you are on for!

How effectively do you speak in public?


For Next Tuesday: You will be given the freedom to select which research based argument you would like to argue for your final essay. You must be thinking of a topic that you would like to research. You may get ideas from your parents for a topic to research.
All topics must be approved by me first. 6th grade topics (chocolate milk, gun control etc. ) will not be allowed. Step out of your comfort zones!

And the practice begins...

How many words will you learn? -Riya has begun to set the pace!

Top 100 Teen Novels: Which will you read? Add this link to your favorites. Target books from this list to read next

Membean

Membean: Log on Page: Singapore American School

Membean: Share Your Learning Day

Make a copy of this link: Membean - Student Master Why Membean?

Membean Study Cycle

Two Week Cycle:

Week 1: YOU MUST SPEND A MIN. OF 15 MINS on MEMBEAN before TUESDAY!

• Membean in class
• Membean at home
• Membean in class

Week 2:

• Membean in class (up to 15 new words)
• Membean at home
• Quizlet for new words
• Interactive session in class - Share your learning activities
• Membean Assessment (end of week 2)

Students can do extra work on membean to learn more words quicker at ANY time.

What is 'A' Research Based Writing paper?
Many of you might be surprised or disappointed by your progress grade on your 'supporting paragraph assessment today. Effectively building support and elaborating on that support using precisely worded rhetoric is a vital skill for now and in the future. "OK - So what an I doing wrong?" you might ask. Look at how this piece superbly moves from anecdote into evidence and each piece of evidence almost seamlessly builds on the next.

The issue of whether laptops should be under the control of children has both its proponents and detractors. The innumerate possible distractions these devices can create for Middle School aged children is the primary reason why 1:1 computing should not be common place in our schools.  I’m not going to lie.  Everyday I see almost half of my class going on websites that are not relevant to the school work at hand.  Another person who has noticed children getting off task in class is Faria Sana, a researcher on how computer distractions impact kids. One day she was spying on some college students, and noticed that even young adults were on social networking sites or playing games rather than paying attention to their studies.  Lynette Owens, author of “Stricter Filters and Rules Are Not the Answer for Laptops in School”, believes computers are the most motivational tool to help children engage in their work and work harder.  I would like to argue that having a computer sitting by a child’s side is only encouraging him or her to avoid work by play games or going on social networking sites.  Generally, when a child is distracted in class, they are neither working nor learning.  The child may very well end up with lower test scores as a direct consequence of their lack of attention in the classroom.  The article “Research Says… / One-to-One Laptop Programs Are No Silver Bullet,” by Bryan Goodwin, gives a good example.  “After five years of implementation of the largest one-to-one initiative in the United States, Maine's statewide program, evaluations found little effect on student achievement—with one exception, writing, where scores edged up 3.44 points.”  Moreover, Faria Sana claims “Computers distractions can change your grade from a B+ to a B-.”  Not only does the disturbing aspect of computers’ affect children in class.  But they can affect children outside school.  Computer distractions are a ripple effect in which if a student ignores tasks in class, they must do it at home.  Older teengager’s, especially, can stay up very late at night doing work they didn’t finish and/or learn the work that was taught during the day.  I know teenagers have a lot of homework in the first place.  But not working hard and staying focused in school just adds to the bucket load of work.  As a rule, kids who lack sleep will not perform their best the next day.  The article Cellphones/Computers Are Keeping Kids Awake At Night says, “45% of adolescents get less than eight hours of sleep at night (below the minimum hours of sleep for a childs age) caused by school work and games/social networking.” Perhaps if in the future there wasn’t one on one computing, more children would get more sleep, and more children would get higher test scores and learn more than before.

Look at the use of strong word choice (blue words are mine) and the voice of the writer - You can see how my adult voice actually doesn't fit with the text because this student's style is so unique. In addition, look at the depth of the argument. This student did not write '5' llines! -

Learn form this...please!

Superlatives

Make a copy of our new grammar unit: Advanced Superlatives and Comparatives

Make a copy Credibility of Sources

Alternative thesis statement generator: Click Here

Word Study Assessment: Many of you said the the -ing form of a verb is the same as a verb. This is normally not the case.  Watch this video for explanation. We will do a whole unit on gerund phrases as part of our 'Sentence Tools Grammar Units' in the new year.
Superlatives: Recap. Can you put some superlative phrases into your critical analysis of the article?

Coming TOMORROW: Introduction of our revolutionary new way to learn vocabulary and roots: Our new Word Study program...The Membean Method!
<
Membean Educator from Membean on Vimeo.

HomeBase: Student of the Week - Kalia

Supporting Paragraph

Use this link to learn how to create a Claim/Thesis statements

H/W: Writing Class
Below is an important mentor text (thanks Maddie) on how to craft your graded supporting paragraph.

This piece of writing (your supporting paragraph) is  due THURSDAY

Bring a small object to class. This can be anything. However, don't spend forever trying to think of something! 

Reading Class

Your analysis of the article is due FRIDAY. I will give you 30minutes of class time tomorrow to work on this.Your finished product will contain:

a) Claim/thesis paragraph

b) Two additional paragraphs with detailed support for your thesis. (Each paragraph should contain multiple paragraph snadwiches)

Don't count the days...Make EVERY DAY count! (Thanks David +1 for contributing)

Learn more here