All Boys, All Blogged: December 9, 2014

Focus: How can we strengthen the content of our synthesis essays?

1. Warming up with a self-help round of admitting our weaknesses

"Hi. My name is________________, and I ___________________ (admit your writing weakness)."

"Hi, ________________. I can help."


2. Peer editing each other's body paragraphs

Round 1: Give feedback on the weakness your partner just identified

Round 2: Follow along with Ms. Leclaire's presentation (help me help you, kids)


3. Offering you some ideas for your conclusions and giving your time to compose and revise

HW:
1. A heads-up: I will be giving you feedback and a completion grade tonight (you should have an intro and two body paragraphs at least).

2. Please finish writing your conclusion and revising your two body paragraphs.  Tomorrow will be our final day of in-class editing.

3. Final drafts due this Friday, December 12.  Late essays are penalized five points a day.

4. Turn in your school copies of The Kite Runner as soon as you're done with them.

All Boys, All Blogged: December 8, 2014

Focus: How can I improve my body paragraphs?

1. Warming up with bear hugs and other good things

2. Group of editing of one brave volunteer's first body paragraph

3. Partnering up for peer editing of the first body paragraph using the official rubric

4. Revising first body paragraphs and finishing second body paragraphs

HW:
1. Please finish revising your first body paragraph and finish composing your second body paragraph before class tomorrow.

2. On Friday, bring your Kite Runner books to turn in (if you have a school copy).

3. Final drafts are due this Friday, December 12.  Late essays receive a 5 point deduction per day.

4. A heads-up: You will be taking a cumulative grammar and vocabulary test as part of your final exam; instead of taking it on the day of your final, you will take it on Monday, December 15.

All Boys, All Blogged: December 5, 2014

Focus: How can we improve our synthesis essays?

1. Warming up with an invigorating book talk by the one and only Justin

2. Taking the vocabulary "quiz" on Chapters 21-25 (for the first and only time, this quiz is open note)

3. Returning to your body paragraphs: Revising your first body paragraph and composing your second body paragraph

*Your challenge: Include at least one Kite Runner vocabulary word in your essay.*

HW:
1. Finish revising your first body paragraph.

2. Finish composing your second body paragraph.

3. Final drafts are due Friday, December 12.

4. A heads-up: You will be taking a cumulative grammar and vocabulary test as part of your final exam; instead of taking it on the day of your final, you will take it on Monday, December 15.

All Boys, All Blogged: December 4, 2014

Focus: What revisions do our introductions need, and how can we form strong body paragraphs?

Please welcome Mrs. Ackerman!  Before you leave class today, please make sure that your thesis and topic sentences have been checked by one of us.  Feel free to solicit feedback on your introduction as well.

1. Warming up: What differentiates an "A" introduction from a "D" introduction?

2. Revising your own introductions into "A" quality paragraphs

3. Breaking down the anatomy of a body paragraph, old-school style

4. Drafting your own body paragraphs

HW:
1. Finish revising your introduction if you did not finish in class.
2. Complete your first body paragraph before class tomorrow. Follow the example from class today.
(A heads-up: FINAL DRAFT will be due FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12.)
3. Tomorrow's vocabulary quiz will be open note. You're welcome.

All Boys, All Blogged: December 3, 2014

Focus: How can I write powerful topic sentences for a synthesis essay?

PLC: Shortened Class Today

1. Warming up: Setting up your essay document and voting on your best thesis

___________ (your last name) Hero's Journey Essay

2. Developing two powerful topic sentences based on your thesis:

Topic sentence #1: Take your first heroic trait, apply it to both works, connect it to your larger theme,  consider any similarities or differences, and try to make it a bit more specific than your thesis.Whew!

Here's my thesis: 

Amir from The Kite Runner and Bruce Wayne from Batman Begins reveal that crossing the threshold and battling the inner dragon are the two most significant steps in the hero's journey because both actions require the hero to defeat a difficult past.

Here's how I would write my 1st topic sentence:

Both Amir and Bruce initially hesitate to cross the threshold in the early part of their heroic journeys because they are daunted by their pasts; however, they eventually cross into the world of the unknown, demonstrating that true heroes must channel their fear of the past into hope for the future.

Here's how I would write my 2nd topic sentence:

Although Amir is more overpowered by his inner dragon than is Bruce, both heroes ultimately defeat their dragons, revealing that one must conquer past demons in order to complete the heroic journey.

3. Starting your introductory paragraphs

HW:
1. Please finish your topic sentences in class if you have not yet done so.

2. Finish your introductory paragraph; Ms. Ackerman will join us tomorrow to give you feedback on your introductions and topic sentences, so make sure you're caught up!

3. Study your Kite Runner vocabulary for Friday's quiz.

4. If you have any make-up work, the final deadline for submitting it is Friday, December 12.

All Boys, All Blogged: December 2, 2014

Focus: How do I channel my thoughts on the hero's journey into a concise thesis?

1. Warming up with an overview of how in-class writing time will work this week

2. Looking through the blue handout together and starting to work on the outline

Offering you a quick mini lesson on isolating scenes if your other hero's journey comes from a movie

Let's say that you're arguing that Dori serves as a mentor for Marlin in Finding Nemo.  How can you incorporate an example from a film?

Find a very specific scene (no longer than five minutes) and read it symbolically.

Too broad: Dori helps Marlin out multiple times along the way.  She is carefree and encourages him frequently to let go of his painful memories from the past.

Nice and specific: In the scene in which Dori and Marlin are trapped inside of the whale, Marlin clings to the whale's mouth, refusing to fall down into the whale's belly.  Dori shouts at him to let go, and when Marlin asks her how she knows that nothing bad will happen, she replies, "I don't!"  Her willingness to let go of control and trust the world around her incites Marlin to do the same.  The moment in which they physically let go symbolizes an important shift in Marlin; by following Dori's example, he can finally release his guilt and anxiety and enjoy the journey.

3. Trying out three different thesis statements together

HW: 
1. Finish the blue packet if you did not finish in class today.

2. Make your flashcards for the final Kite Runner vocabulary list; quiz this Friday.

3. Bring your charged laptop to class this week for some serious writing!

All Boys, All Blogged: December 1, 2014

Focus: How can the hero's journey deepen our understanding of The Kite Runner?

1. Warming up with happy Monday thoughts!

2. Offering you a quick and engaging overview of Joseph Campbell's hero's journey

As you watch, please take out your hero's journey charts (or your hero's journey Google doc) and take notes on how the different steps are being defined.  

3. Viewing one of Joseph Campbell's lectures on the hero's journey and Star Wars

Continue with your notes; these will help you significantly when you start writing your essay in the second half of class today.

4. Brainstorming how Amir's heroic journey compares and contrasts to the hero's journey of your choice; by the end of class, please complete both columns in your hero's journey chart.

HW:
1. If you did not finish your hero's journey chart in class today, please finish it tonight.

2. Complete Step Two on your blue handout, which is the four-columned graphic organizer on the back of the first page.

3. Start making flashcards for your vocabulary quiz over the final Kite Runner list; quiz this Friday.