link to thesis building web site

Here's a good thesis building web site on the web:
thesis builder

HW 10/31 and 11/1 Homework

Turn the video game violence debate into a 3-4 paragraph essay.

Turn it in UPDRAFT form:

Updraft = draft, print, read aloud, revise and final.

Green Day due =  Monday 11/4
White Day due = Tuesday 11/5

Common Assessment Scoring

For this month's common assessment (10/30), students will be scored out of a potential 30 points as follows:

20 pts for a full effort with a good attitude

up to 5 pts for improving your ORQ score or scoring a 4/4 if you were already perfect.

up to 5 pts for improving your MC score or scoring a 12/12 if you were already perfect.

HW October 28 and 29

Prepare for debate on the following question:
Does video game use promote violence in the United States?

Green Day debate will be Thursday 10/31
White Day debate will be Friday 11/1 

A starting point to find more research is at the following link:

http://videogames.procon.org/

HW October 24 and 25

Independent Reading

As compared to your last reading, you need the equivalent of 4 new chapters or 50 pages due for next week's IR log.

Also, be prepared to write in class on your practice of the new habit that you took on for the month of October.

Montesquieu's "Persian Letter 11"

If you lost your Montesquieu copy, you may find it here:
http://www.webpages.uidaho.edu/mickelsen/texts/montesquieu%20-%20letters.htm 

Rousseau arguments

         Rousseau is right that man is born free, but everywhere is in chains because everyone has to follow rules and laws.   These laws are not legitimate if everyone disobeys or when the strong use force to manipulate people.   Monarchy demonstrated the problems of the concept of might makes right.  In Rousseau's time, ineffective or corrupt Kings made the life of common people nasty, brutish, solitary and short.  He argues that might does not make right.
        What creates legitimate authority?

HW October 21 and 22

Periods A, D, and E:
write a 2 paragraph argument for or against Rousseau's principle:
"Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains."

Periods C and F
write two 1 paragraph arguments:
One against Rousseaus's principle:
"Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains."

and

One against Locke's principle:
"The Liberty of Man, in Society is to be under no other Legislative Power, but that established by consent."

This homework is due 
Green Day:  October 24
White Day:  October 25

sample thesis for Montesquieu argument

While many may argue that people are more  motivated by seeking pleasure than seeking virtue, Montesquieu demonstrates that the pursuit of pleasure ends up in murder, mayhem and famine.



Remember that the second paragraph should begin with a counter-position that you go on to disprove.

HW 10/17 and 10/18

Write a two paragraph argument addressing Mirza's question in Montesquieu's Persian Letters:

"Whether men are made happy by pleasure and the satisfaction of the senses, or by the practice of virtue?"

Use specific and relevant details from the story and from your own understanding of history and life.

Green day this homework is due 10/21
White day this homework is due 10/22

Cell phone arguments Pro and Con

Reasons Against Cell Phones in Schools

Reasons	Explanations
Irrelevant to school and education	You’re at school to learn not to text and take pictures
Could be used for cheating	Borrow ideas off the internet; text eachother for answers
Phone could buzz or ring in the middle of class	During a test or meeting it could be a distraction
They could listen to music in class	It’s a distraction to others and you can’t hear the teachers

 

Reasons for Cell Phones in School

It’s a good source for research	Calculators, maps, dictionaries, ect.
Teachers don’t have to wait for comp. labs	They can research it on their phones faster
You could do more in the class period
Students can keep track of projects easier	They can keep track of it on their phone when they need to during the day

Hw for 10/10 and 10/14

Write a two paragraph argument taking a position for or against school cell phone use 

Remember to follow the same format as our previous 2 paragraph argument.

Thursday's class on 10/10 meets next on 10/17 for a full period.  That's when this assignment is due.

Tuesday's class on 10/14 meets next on 10/18.  That's when this assignment is due.

HW 10/9 Mid-term reflection

For full credit, written reflection and parent signature on your mid-quarter report due in your next class:

What have you learned in English in the first six weeks?
What have you learned by reading?
What have you learned as a writer?
What have you learned about habits?
What have you learned about life?
What has made this a good class so far?
What would make this a better class in the future?
What goals do you have for English, school and life?

Evidence from "Women in Science" article

Eileen Pollack

Women should have equal representation in the STEM.

evidence:
girls taking more hs physics, but far worse rep in comp science, and drop stem in college.

Pollack graduated in '78 after being discouraged from science.

Girls are dropping out because more guys are in the program and they're doing  better.

"Swim in your own lane" theory--can't worry about others, focus on your own goals.

Male professor admitted that he had D's but he didn't care, so he became a professor.  Women are afraid of bad grades.

Men overestimate their abilities while women need more encouragement.

Big Bang theory:  smart women are ridiculous not feminine. 

Thesis: Women have fewer numbers in science because they have been discouraged by fellow teachers and students.


Counter:  Some people such as Laurence Summers say that women just aren't as capable at science.
However, most of the graduating women, like the author, graduated with honors.

Electronic Waste sample arguments and concession/refutation

article can be found at www.upfrontmagazine.com
2nd paragraph:

US manufacturers need to make money to stay in business and it costs money to recycle.
However, the current system of electronic recycling is unhealthy because it gives off mercury and other harmful contaminants that can stop growth in children.

Electronic Waste ORQ for periods A, D and E

Write a two paragraph essay following the same argumentative format as our "Most Dangerous Game" essay.

Prompt:  argue for or against:  Consumers should do more to recycle electronic waste.

Below is the outline in graphic organizer form for a fully developed Open Response essay. Please fill it in before beginning your DOWNDRAFT of the essay.

_____________________________________________________________________

Topic sentence:  turn the question into your statement that strongly reveals your position

Supporting evidence from article:

Explanation:

Supporting evidence from story:

Explanation

____________________________________________________________________

Topic sentence:  consider a strong point for the opposing side, but show that it’s wrong

Supporting evidence from story:

Explanation:

Supporting evidence from story:

Explanation

Clincher sentence/conclusion

English 9 HW for October 7 and 8

periods A, D and E:

 write argument open response questions for electronics recycling

Honors:

write argument open response questions for women in science
New York Times article

For Wednesday:  Bring your Independent Reading Book to read silently in class

graphic organizer for "Most Dangerous Game" argument

Name:________________

October 3 or 4, 2013

“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell tells a story that brings to life the question, “Does Might make Right?”  Is General Zaroff right to hunt people not animals because he is stronger?  When Zaroff claims, “Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and if need be, taken by the strong” (Connell 11) does that make him correct?

Write a two paragraph argument taking a position for or against Zaroff, using specific and relevant evidence from the story.

Below is the outline in graphic organizer form for a fully developed Open Response essay. Please fill it in before beginning your DOWNDRAFT of the essay.

_____________________________________________________________________

Topic sentence:  turn the question into your statement that strongly reveals your position

Supporting evidence from story:

Explanation:

Supporting evidence from story:

Explanation

____________________________________________________________________

Topic sentence:  consider a strong point for the opposing side, but show that it’s wrong

Supporting evidence from story:

Explanation:

Supporting evidence from story:

Explanation

HW October 3 and 4

Study for finding and fixing fragment quiz

Continue Independent Reading

Work on your new positive habits every day

revise and improve ORQ’s for “The Most Dangerous Game”