Final Stretch

Types of Opening

1) Rhetorical Question: Is individual choice stifled across America because of mandatory school uniform policies?  (often parallel structure is used here)  

2) Create a scenario:  Picture this. It's a typical Monday morning in suburbia. Two very opinionated tweens are each squabbling over a pair of Feline pants. Each is desperate to wear them at school in order to look cool.  

3) Tell a SHORT anecdote:  Mary Jane Roe walked nervously down the halls of Shane Elementary. After no more that a few steps, the giggles began soon followed by a barrage of   insults. Mary Jane was wearing Wrangler jeans, and this style was simply not cool

Anybody can write an opening: The trick is CONNECTING the  opening  (hook) to your claim/thesis - see how these sentences below relate to the hooks

Example 1)  Answer the question  by referring to the claim e.g. Clearly, the is a dire need to  protect the freedoms of self expression before they become eroded.(state claim)

Example 2) Families around the country can avoid these sibling squabbles if ….(state claim)

Example 3) Sadly, this story is repeated across America. This behavior can only be changed if….(state claim)

EVERYBODY
You must copy and paste your introduction into this file for grading You will receive an error analysis report  and a grade for this piece. The due dates for the other sections of your essay are below with the files attached. By giving you 'process' grades, you have the opportunity to improve before turning in the final paper.

Due: Tue -  Your Introduction
Due: Wed - Your counterargument
Due: Thur: - Your conclusion
Make sure you 'personally' read your supporting paragraphs against the criteria I used for your last graded supporting paragraph grade.
Due: Fri: - Finished piece

C/D & E/F

You should have done 15mins on Membean between last Thurs. & tomorrow.

Comment: You must write a comment based on what you, 'saw, thought, or wondered' about the Invictus so far.

Ubuntu

Ubuntu "I am who I am because of who we all are." Remembering a great leader...

The poem that has come to symbolize Mandala's legacy

Research Based Essay: Officially, I expected finished pieces in during next Friday's class. This is over 3 more hours of class time. - If your progress to date means that you will not meet this deadline, they you need to increase your H/W load!

Next Thur: First Membean assessment - You do not need to study for this. Just make sure you have practiced using the software.

Say Something Nice...

G/H Class -  You should have chosen your supporting ideas and  begun to fill in your powerplans

E/F & C/D - You should have a completed thesis statement and be will on the way to finishing filling in your graphic organizers.


15mins Membean Practice: Due for Next Tuesday. First Membean assessment will be next Thursday. You DO NOT have to study for this assessment. Membean method ensures that words become part of your long term memory. Therefore you should naturally be able to recall their meanings and usage.

Tomorrow: We will write anecdotes and/or scenario openings

Watch this video in preparation for the lesson


Homebase Student of the Week: Jordan



Make a difference in the simplest way...

Finding Supporting Ideas

Research writers take special care to organize their notes into 'Supporting Categories.' THIS  IS THE MOST CHALLENGING STEP OF BUILDING AN ARGUMENT.  Once you have your supporting categories, you can start to build your thesis/claim. Look at the these two samples below:

What categories could these research facts be organized into?

Reading Classes: H/W - Make sure your supporting topics and have written your supporting topic sentences in the graphic organizer. 

Don't just 'talk the  talk' - WALK THE TALK - click link to find out more http://www.dosomething.org/

Research Day

Membean: Feedback 1

C/D & E/F Classes

You should be finished with your research by the end of today.  Many of you will have begun to draft your thesis statements. Remember: Go to an earlier blog post to find links to the thesis generators.

Don't forget: 10 mins of Membean for tomorrow

G/H Class
You will have begun your research. You should have collected your sources and be finished researching by END OF CLASS Thursday.

I was once introduced to the phrase, "what goes around, comes around." It never really clicked to begin with. Now it does...