Daily makeup is located at this page.
Research Project is located here.
Tuesday, Dec. 13:
ACT ENGLISH PRACTICE (Grammar: start with this)
ACT READING PRACTICE (Do at least one part to see how it works!)
ACT Writing Samples: These examples will give you more ideas about what is expected for the writing portion of the test.
Score 1-2
Score 3-4
Score 5-6
A few do's and don't's for the ACT Writing Test
Civil Conversation Challenge -- Writing the Argumentative Essay
Use template here to complete this assignment.
Rubric for our Argumentative Writing essay here.
To see good examples of argumentation, along with room for improvement, go here: Example Comments from Civil Conversation Challenge (with teacher input on requirements for our assignment).
MLA Citation guide here.
Accordion Structure guide here.
Civil Conversation Challenge -- Writing your first CEAL paragraph
Use template here to complete this assignment.
Civil Conversation Challenge -- Analyzing Arguments for the E and A of CEAL
Use template here to complete this assignment.
On the page for your topic, look for the "Comments" button toward the BOTTOM of the page. It will look something like this:
Accordion Structure for your argumentative essay
CEAL Paragraph for your argumentative essay
Civil Conversation Challenge -- Argumentative Essay outline
-- Outline your argument and turn in to teacher by end of period. Use template here.
-- Thesis: See instructions here to create a debatable, focused thesis.
-- Outline of Reasons and Evidence: See example here for "proving" something ridiculous.
-- Presenting your reasoning: The Toulmin method, a type of CEAL paragraph
Civil Conversation Challenge -- Online
Instructions: Explore the resources on the issue/s of most interest to you. Start a Google or Word document to record LINKS and FACTS that are most relevant to your ideas and position on these topics. This will be material for your argumentative essay.
Personal Paper Typing Template here.
Personal Paper Instructions here.
Research project located here.
ACT Practice Record: download here.
ACT GRAMMAR PRACTICE FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 15
ACT READING PRACTICE FOR MONDAY, APRIL 18
ACT Writing Samples: These examples will give you more ideas about what is expected for the writing portion of the test.
Score 1-2
Score 3-4
Score 5-6
A few do's and don't's for the ACT Writing Test
GOOD LUCK JUNIORS! YOU'VE GOT THIS!!
Due at end of period TODAY Monday 3/7/16: Paraphrasing Evidence Outline (see worksheet below).
IF you finish, feel free to move on to your CEAL paragraphs in the accordion structure. Use typing template here.
Plagiarism Project Typing Template: Download typing template here and SAVE to your student folder.
Plagiarism Project -- Accordion Structure
Plagiarism Project -- CEAL Paragraph
Plagiarism Project -- MLA Format Bibliography and In-Text Citations
Plagiarism Project -- Hooks and Punches
Plagiarism Project Evidence Outline: Download worksheet here.
Plagiarism Project Source Packet: Download document here.
Argumentative writing assignment: The Learning Network Student Editorial Contest
Tuesday, 1/19/16:
-- Outline your argument and turn in to teacher by end of period. Use template here.
-- Thesis: See instructions here to create a debatable, focused thesis.
-- Outline of Reasons and Evidence: See example here for "proving" something ridiculous.
-- Presenting your reasoning: The Toulmin method, a type of CEAL paragraph
Friday, 1/15/16:
--
Review contest entries from site above
-- Choose your topic from site below
-- Review contest rules below and scoring rubric
-- Begin researching your topic and building a position! (Feel free to make a new set of eCards...)
301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing
Contest Rules
1. Use at least one Times source. You can write your editorial about any topic, as long as you use at least one source from The New York Times. That should pretty much open the whole world to you since you may be surprised how much you can find in The Times.
Be advised that NYTimes.com has a digital subscription system in which readers have free access to 10 free articles each month, but after that you will be asked to become a digital subscriber. However, all Times articles linked from The Learning Network, as well as The Learning Network itself, are free. That means you can use any of the articles we have linked to on this blog for the editorial contest without exceeding the 10-article limit. (The Times has also introduced a new K-12 subscription plan which covers digital access schoolwide.)
2. Use at least one non-Times source. Make sure, however, that the source you use is a reliable one.
3. Always cite your sources. If you found evidence in an article on the Internet, link to it. If you used a print source, state the title and author, linking to additional information about it if possible. If you interviewed an expert, state his or her name and position. Readers (and judges) should always know where you got your evidence.
4. Be concise. This Composition assignment must be AT LEAST 500 words long for a passing grade, but top papers will likely be longer. (Learning Network contest limit is 450 words, however.)
5. Have an opinion. Editorials are different from news articles because they try to persuade readers to share your point of view. Don’t be afraid to take a stand.
6. Write your editorial by yourself... please submit only one editorial per student.
7. Be original and use appropriate language. Write for a well-informed audience, but include enough background information to give context. Be careful not to plagiarize: Use quotation marks around lines you use verbatim from another source, or rephrase and cite your source.
8. Submissions must be from students who are 13 to 19 years old, though students can come from anywhere in the world. No last names please, but an initial is fine, as is a school or class code of some type. (For example, “Ethan G. CHS112.”)
9. All entries must be submitted by ___________ Eastern time as comments on this post. If you have questions about the contest, please feel free to post them in the comments section as well, and we’ll answer you there.
10. We will use this rubric (PDF) to judge editorials. The top editorials, as judged by The Times and the Center for News Literacy at Stony Brook University, will be featured on The Learning Network. (As with all our contests, if you win, you can then follow these steps to make sure we can use your last name.)
Research project page here.
Personal Paper Typing Template: click here.
Personal Paper Assignment Instructions and Idea List: click here.
Personal Paper Typing Tips:
Use typing as a chance to refine and improve your ideas and word choice. Read your first draft as if you were a stranger, hearing the story and thoughts for the first time.
World Problem Research Project: click here for detailed instructions.
Thursday, March 26: Our focus is on the Accordion Structure (esp. Intro/Concl) and MLA formatting of source references.
Plagiarism Project -- Accordion Structure
Plagiarism Project -- MLA Format Bibliography and In-Text Citations
Plagiarism Project -- Hooks and Punches
Plagiarism Project -- download Evidence / Analysis template here.
Lost your rubric? Print this.
SBAC Practice -- Performance Task
Download template here.
Access test here.
Personal Paper Final:
Easy introduction ideas here
Easy conclusion ideas here
Follow these instructions to turn in your paper:
1) Before printing, PROOFREAD as if your grade depended on it! (It does.)
2) Be sure you have ONLY your assigned code and not your name on your paper. Also remove or change any names that might compromise anyone else's privacy.
3) Do you only have one or two lines on the last page? See if you can save paper with a small adjustment of margin or other formatting. But KEEP the font size as it was in the template!
4) Print. Staple final paper together in order.
5) Turn in final paper to teacher SEPARATELY from your draft/pre-write.
Personal Paper Typing Template: click here.
Personal Paper Typing Tips:
Use typing as a chance to refine and improve your ideas and word choice. Read your first draft as if you were a stranger, hearing the story and thoughts for the first time.
Research Project: click here.
Plagiarism Project: Writing Center 10/31/14
REMINDER: This project _counts_ for the 200 word challenge...see if you can achieve an error-free first page!
To be turned in (in this order, with #1 on top and #4 on bottom):
1 Final paper (clean manuscript)
Include intro, body, conclusion, and works cited, in template format
Include word count (for whole file, including works cited)
Reminder: minimum 3 paraphrases AND 2 direct quotes, total of at least 3 sources cited!
2 Body draft: the one on which your evidence was verified, and which was peer edited
On top of body draft, write the NAME of the person who did your verification/editing
3 Annotated packet
4 Rubric for scoring
Plagiarism Project: Writing Center 10/27/14
Today we are typing the thesis and the body paragraphs of your plagiarism paper.
Later this week we will edit the body and write a complete intro and conclusion, to be typed on Friday.
Download typing template here and SAVE to your student folder.
Personal Narrative: Writing Center 9/26/14
Correct, revise, improve and finalize your personal narrative.
BEFORE PRINTING, update your word count in the heading.
BEFORE PRINTING, give your paper a title (centered, over the first paragraph).
BEFORE PRINTING, type a final "author's statement" at the end. How do you feel about this paper now? What are the main improvements you have made from the previous draft? Is there any feedback you would particularly like from MsB?
After printing, staple your FINAL paper ON TOP with your previous draft underneath. Turn in to MsB.
If you have time remaining, you may play Free Rice (English vocabulary version). For extra credit, at the end of the period you can show MsB the screen verifying how many grains of rice you donated.
To change the difficulty level on Free Rice, answer one question, and at the bottom of the next question window there will be link to "change level."
Download typing template here and SAVE to your student folder.
Write a complete draft of your personal narrative.
Use checklist for reference.
Stuck? Stumped? Need inspiration? Check out the great examples at Teen Ink:
Personal Narrative--Examples from Teen Ink Magazine
College Essays--Examples from Teen Ink Magazine