Thursday, January 30, 2014

HW 1/30 and 1/31

periods A, D, and E:  write a 1 page editorial taking a position as if you're a person in Mrs. Strangeworth's town, explaining how her actions have effected the town.
"The Possibility of Evil" by Shirley Jackson

period C and F:  finish Watership Down, no writing needed, but expect a quiz on Monday/Tuesday

 The Possiblity of Evil

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

HW 1/28 and 1/29

Periods A, D, and E:  1 page response to question 4 on p. 227:  What do you think motivates Mrs. Flowers to help Marguerite?
"Mrs. Flowers" by Maya Angelou

Period C and F:  Read Watership Down chapters 45 and 46: 1 page Golden line

Friday, January 24, 2014

HW 1/24 and 1/27

E, A, and D:  return to your independent reading now that we have completed The Contender

F and C:  chapters 41, 42, 43 and 44:  Explain in 1 page in great nuanced detail how the story of Rowsby Woof contributes to the Watership Down rabbits future escapades

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

HW 1/21 and 1/23

Periods A, D, and E:  finish Tappan Zee article ORQ
"A Colossal Bridge Will Rise Across the Hudson"

ORQ prompt:  Using specific and relevant evidence from the text, thoroughly explain the most important details that make the bridge currently under construction different from the first bridge built in 1955.

Periods F and C:  Golden Line 39 and 40 don't forget to use the quote analysis to springboard into a full discussion of the chapters including summary and analysis

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

HW 1/15 and 1/16

Honors  C and F read Watership Down ch 36, 37 and 38  Golden line and page explanation of summary and analysis

A, D, E periods:  catch up on late work

Late Contender essays should still be submitted but they are now -10 points.

Late poetry anthologies and poetry essays have been bumped to -15 points

Monday, January 13, 2014

Sample conclusion structure

Sentence 1:  reframe or revise your thesis
Often times asking a bigger, essential question is a good way to jump start the conclusion

Sentences 2 and 3:  answer the essential question with details from the book

Sentence 4:  address the universal message as it relates to the essay prompt of the novel


Sample:
Does Alfred really change by the end of the book?  After all, he has not risen to be any sort of champion, and it is not clear whether he will even continue boxing because he lacks the killer instinct to enjoy beating people.  Nonetheless, Alfred has come a long way from the teenager with little confidence getting beaten up by his "friends."  By novel's end, he not only can stand up for himself against a bully like Major, but he also has the self-discipline to train for a fight and win.  He may not be a contender to become champion of the world, but he is a much better person, one who can hold a job, improve his life, and stay out of trouble.

HW 1/13 and 1/14

A, D, and E:  Final draft of Contender essay

C and F:  Golden Line into 1 page of summary and analysis of chapters 34 and 35

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Intro paragraph structure

General Statement about book

Specific Statement about book that relates to prompt and thesis.

Two sentences briefly summarizing the book and leading up to Thesis

Thesis:  A claim you make taking a position on the prompt

Sample Thesis:

Alfred changes throughout The Contender, transforming from a scared weakling to a confident young man, ready to test the limits of his manhood.

Body Paragraph structure for Contender essay

1.  Topic sentence

2.  Create context for quote

3.  Integrate quote (without writing the word "quote")

4.  Explain quote thoroughly

5.  Tie up paragraph with clincher sentence


With every body paragraph, go back and check for effective transition words and phrases

HW 1/9 and 1/10

Periods A, D, and E
write your intro paragraph for the Contender essay


Periods C and F
read Watership Down chapter 32 and 33
select one Golden Line then fully explain its significance in 1 page of writing

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Golden Line example for the Contender

“He hit the first step, feeling it sag under him, but he kept going . . .Alfred, panting, huffing, low steps but hundreds of the them, thousands of them in the darkness . . “ (Lipsyte 19)
Alfred begins his quest to become a boxer when he is not in shape and gets tired easily.   The author’s hyperbole indicates how desperate Alfred is after Major and the gang beat him up.  Lipsyte uses dark, fearful images to demonstrate Alfred’s state of mind. 

Monday, January 6, 2014

HW January 6 and 7

A, D, and E 3 Golden Lines and explanations for how Alfred changes throughout the book

C and F Golden Line for chapter 30 and 31 Watership Down