All Boys, All Blogged: October 10, 2014

Focus: How do we develop effective presentations on our independent reading books?

1. Warming up with a brief and enjoyable quiz on colons and semicolons (www.noredink.com)

2. Checking off last minute details on your summary-response essays

a. Did you delete all comments and brainstorming?  (Make sure you have finished revising before you do this.)

b. Do have a proper MLA heading and creative title?

c. Is it double spaced?

d. Is your thesis in bold?

e. Has it been carefully proofread?

f. Is it printed?  Remember that you must turn in a hard copy in order for it to be counted as on time.

g. If you are absent Monday, you still need to make sure I have your final draft.

3. Introducing you to your independent reading book talks, giving you time to get started, and signing up for presentation dates

4. Offering you a little spoof of Of Mice and Men

HW:
1. A hard copy of your summary response is due first thing on Monday.  Late essays will be penalized 5 points a day.

2. Work on your book talk (due on your presentation day).

All Boys, All Blogged: October 9, 2014

Focus: How does the film version of Of Mice and Men change or strengthen our interpretation of the novel? 

Please bring home the letter on parent-teacher conferences and make sure your parents understand that I will only be at conferences on Wednesday night.

1. Warming up with a quick mini lesson on colons and semicolons

2. Enjoying and analyzing the film version of Of Mice and Men (while I FINALLY give you credit for your annotations and reading journals for Chapters 4-6)

As you watch, please include a few notes on the following:

• What does the film add that wasn't in the book?

• What does the film delete that was in the book?

• Why do you think the film made these changes?  What do you think of them?

3. Wrapping up with a quick thesis:

The film version of Of Mice and Men changes _____________ by _____________ in order to illustrate that _________________.

HW:
1. FINAL DRAFTS ARE DUE OCTOBER 13.  The grade you receive on this final draft is, in fact, final, so please see me or e-mail me if you need more feedback on your rough draft.

2. Finish your independent reading book by tomorrow and BRING IT TO CLASS.

3. Prepare for tomorrow's www.noredink.com quiz on Colons and Semicolons

All Boys, All Blogged: October 8, 2014

Focus: How does the film version of Of Mice and Men change or strengthen our interpretation of the novel? 

1. Warming up with a quick mini lesson on how to "read" movies

Create a Google doc called "___________ (your last name) Film Notes"

As you watch, please include a few notes on the following:

• What does the film add that wasn't in the book?

• What does the film delete that was in the book?

• Why do you think the film made these changes?  What do you think of them?

2. Enjoying and analyzing the film version of Of Mice and Men (while I FINALLY give you credit for your annotations and reading journals for Chapters 4-6)

3. Wrapping up with a quick thesis:

The film version of Of Mice and Men changes _____________ by _____________ in order to illustrate that _________________.

HW:
1. FINAL DRAFTS ARE DUE OCTOBER 13.  The grade you receive on this final draft is, in fact, final, so please see me or e-mail me if you need more feedback on your rough draft.

2. Finish your independent reading book by Friday.

3. By tomorrow, complete your www.noredink.com assignment of the week: Colons and Semicolons

All Boys, All Blogged: October 7, 2014

Focus: How can improve the maturity of our writing style?

1. Warming up with SAS Writing Reviser (let it help you with sentence variety)

I'm going to walk you through the program using Kyle L's essay, and then I'll give you time to play around with it on your own.

Remember that it's a computer program, not artificial intelligence.  You have to use your own brain to interpret the results it will offer you.

I would make any revisions directly in your Google doc, not in SAS.

2. Editing and "grading" each other's essays using the official rubric

3. If time allows, completing your www.noredink.com assignment of the week: Colons and Semicolons


HW:
1. FINAL DRAFTS ARE DUE OCTOBER 13.  The grade you receive on this final draft is, in fact, final, so please see me or e-mail me if you need more feedback on your rough draft.

2. Finish your independent reading book by Friday.

3.  By tomorrow, e-mail me a childhood picture of you with a sibling or best friend (it cannot be an imaginary friend).

All Boys, All Blogged: October 6, 2014

Focus: How can we add maturity to our lead-outs and writing style?

1. Warming up with happy Monday journaling

2. Examining the victories and failures of your rough drafts; please take at least a few minutes to read my feedback and ask questions

3. Whipping those drafts into fine shape with peer and self editing; click HERE for the slides on format, content, and style

HW:
1. Edit your summary-response based on today's lessons.  Tomorrow will be the last day for in-class editing, so you want to bring your strongest, almost A-worthy draft to class. 

2. Independent reading (books must be finished by Friday).

3. Of Mice and Men books must be turned in by Friday.

4. By Wednesday of next week, e-mail me a childhood picture of you with a sibling or best friend (it cannot be an imaginary friend).

All Boys, All Blogged:October 3, 2014

Focus: How can we strengthen our essay content?

Note: The grammar quiz on quote transitions is cancelled because you will be assessed on this skill in your essay. Happy Friday!

You can access the editing slides by clicking HERE or by checking out the "Essay Writing" page on my website.

1. Warming up with your independent reading book (these are the last moments of class time I'm giving you to read this book, men, so use them well!)

2. Looking a strong summary response together

3. Editing your rough draft by smoothing out lead-ins, deepening lead-outs, and including transitions and a concluding sentence.

Click HERE for some helpful transitional words and phrases.

HW:
1. Aim to finish your independent reading book over the weekend if you have not done so; next week, you're going to be worrying about reading The Kite Runner and finishing your Of Mice and Men essay.

2. Edit your paragraph of response based on today's editing.  When you walk in Monday, you should have a complete, pretty good draft ready to go.

3. By Wednesday of next week, e-mail me a childhood picture of you with a sibling or best friend (it cannot be an imaginary friend).

All Boys, All Blogged: October 2, 2014

Focus: How can we improve our essay writing skills?

PLC: Shortened Class

Please click HERE for today's editing presentation.

1. Warming up with peer editing your summaries and thesis statements

2. Previewing and color coding what the summary-response looks like

3. Working on leading into your quotations with context and leading out with close readings (basically, this is writing the rough draft of response)



HW:
1. Finish a rough draft of your response paragraph by following today's lesson on leading into your quotations with context and leading out with close readings.

2. Edit your summary and thesis based on today's peer editing.

3. Study for tomorrow's grammar quiz on quote transitions; please bring your independent reading book on Friday as well.