Second Nine Weeks Benchmark

You will take the second nine weeks benchmark for English class today. Do your best and read every question thoroughly. The test is set up for you to progressively do well as you learn material throughout the year. This means, you have not yet learned some of the material covered on the test. That's ok! You should still do your best on every question.

We have covered information for questions 1-16 already this year. 

• Once you are finished with the test, it will give you a chance to review answers before you make the final submission.  
• The next page will show you a Certificate of Achievement. You will need to use this page to complete your Target Tracker/Reflection. DO NOT close this page until you have completely finished your Target Tracker/Reflection. 
• While the benchmark itself is not for a grade, you will get a grade for the reflection sheet.  
• Use the information on the Grade Report page to see which questions you got correct and incorrect. Then, complete the reflection questions on the board on the back of your sheet. 

Once you click on the link below, you will enter in your correct name first and last. No nicknames.

English Benchmark

Creative Writing-Grinch

We have spent a couple of weeks on grammar, prepositions, direct objects, and predicate words. It's time to revisit some creative writing to keep up those skills! Students will need to rewrite the story with the Grinch as the hero throughout the plot (instead of the villain). Your narrative should be about two pages long, and it should include characters, a good plot, and avoid "dead" verbs whenever possible. You may be able to use some suspense strategies, too! There is a document on Google Classroom for you to brainstorm and draft your story. There is also a link on the document where you can view a reading of the original book by Dr. Seuss "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" as an inspiration if you have your own headphones.

This is going to be a practice of "low-stakes" writing. Students should be more concerned with creativity and a cohesive plot than mechanical mistakes or grammar. 

Here is a timeline for the writing process with this piece:

• Tuesday- Inspiration/brainstorm
• After the test, use your head phones to listen to the video below as inspiration. 
• Once you finish, you will brainstorm an idea for your narrative where the Grinch is not the villain. Once you are finished brainstorming, you can begin your rough draft. The story should be about 2 pages long. 
• There is a document on Google Classroom for you to brainstorm and draft your story. 
• Wednesday- Brainstorm/Rough Draft
• If you didn't get to it yesterday, begin by brainstorming a way to make the Grinch the hero of the story instead of the villain. 
• As you write your rough draft
• Add dialogue and good descriptive details to your story. 
• Make sure you are "showing" the reader what is happening through details and description rather than "telling" them. Add details and description whenever possible
• Remove the "dead" verbs from the story. The dead verbs tombstone is in a previous post on the blog. 
• Characters, details, description, dialogue, and a good plot. 
• Thursday
• Finish Rough Draft
• Read your rough draft and make revisions if necessary
• Make sure you have the creative/narrative requirements above

Verbs, DO/IO, PA/PN Review

We will have a test on the recent grammar work we have been doing on Tuesday, 12/12/17.

In order to prepare, students will review in class on Wednesday with a Quizizz. Students may take the quiz on Quizizz at home as a study tool as many times as they'd like.
Here are the instructions to take the Quizizz:
1. Open Quizizz in your browser
2. Enter the 6-digit game code 322140  , and click "Proceed"
3. Now enter your name and click "Join Game!"
4. You will get an avatar, and then see a "Start Game" button. Click it to begin!


On Thursday, students will complete a practice test in class. We will go over the answers together on Monday. If you have misplaced the copy given to you, you may print a new one here:

Verbs, DO/IO, PA/PN Practice Test

Reading Tests

There are a few upcoming tests in reading class.

Roots Test (Roots 7-15) on Friday 12/8/17. We will have a review day in class on Thursday, 12/7/17.
Roots Test Quizlet

Wonder Summative Assessment on Monday 12/11/17
Wonder Quizlet

Character Summative Assessment on Tuesday 12/12/17


Students should not have to study for the tests on Monday or Tuesday, but they can bring their books home to review.

Verbs, DO/IO, PA/PN

We will be learning and reviewing several grammar concepts for the next couple of weeks. Several of the resources that we will use are posted below. If you misplace the copy given to you in class, you can print a new one from the link(s) below.

Verb Notes

Direct Object, Indirect Object, and Predicate Words Notes

Verb, DO, IO, PA, PN Practice

Grammar Review (Friday)

Preposition Poem

Today and tomorrow we will be working on preposition poems in class. Today, students will read some examples of preposition poems, brainstorm for their own poem, and write their rough draft. Tomorrow, students will edit/revise the poem and write a final draft. If students don't turn in the final draft in class on Tuesday, they must turn it in on Thursday, 11/16/17 at the beginning of class.

Here are the complete Preposition Poem Directions.

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship

Caught Ya Grammar

The following CYG sheets were given to students on 11/6/17. If you misplace your copies, you can print a new one from the links below.

CYG 11/6-11/13
CYG 11/20-11/27

Prepositions

Today we worked on a preposition memory cue today in class. The purpose is for students to be able to quickly recognize frequently used prepositions in sentences. The students viewed an example memory cue in class, and they were tasked with coming up with their own idea.

Preposition Memory Cue

Draw a picture that is based around one main object. Draw other items around the main object with prepositions that show their position in relation to the main object. Remember my "Fishy Prepositions" example using a shark as my main object and sea animals positioned around him. You must include at least 25 prepositions. Memory Cue due for a grade on Thursday, 11/9/17. 

Tomorrow, we will take notes on a preposition note taker and complete some practice. If you lose your note taker, you can print it out from here. 

Preposition Notetaker and Practice

Mystery Story rubric/checklist

We have been working on mystery stories in class for the last few weeks. The final draft is due this Wednesday, 11/1/17. Last week, students were provided with the grading rubric and a checklist to use as they revise and edit their stories. If you misplaced the copy given to you in class, you can print from the links below.

Mystery Story Checklist

Grading Rubric

10 for the Win- HTMS Reading Smackdown

This 3 minute YouTube video explains the challenge,

and the events that will occur if we reach

our school goal of 10,000 books by March 25^th –

10 books per student and teacher.

Book Log Form

Using strong verbs NOT dead verbs

A dead verb lets us know an action has taken place, but it doesn't provide a detailed picture of the action. A list of common dead verbs is shown in the picture below. This list also includes the "ing" forms and contractions of dead verbs. Using dead verbs saps the life out of writing. Once you understand what dead verbs are, you can change your sentences haunted by dead verbs into lively descriptive writing.

Keep in mind you want to "show" your reader what is happening through description...rather than just "telling" what is happening with dead verbs.

Imagery in Writing

Create imagery for your readers in your mystery story through figurative language, details, and description. You need to make the reader picture the scene you are describing as if they are really there. Look for opportunities to add figurative language in your writing. Also, look at the chart below when you could exchange a boring or overused word in for a descriptive word!

Roots Quiz

Students have a roots quiz on roots 7-9 on Friday, 10/27/17, in reading class. Students should have one graphic organizer for each of the following roots:
Fin
Spec
Vac

I will check for the completed graphic organizers in class on Friday for a grade before the test. Students should study the root definition, each root word (10 total), and spelling of each root word for the test. Students will also need to write a sentence using the root words.

Here is a quizlet to assist you in studying for your the quiz: Quizlet Fin, Spec, Vac

Strange Visitor and Plot Analysis

Tuesday we read "Strange Visitor" in class. This story is full of suspense and mystery...and it even ends in a cliffhanger! Wednesday, we will work in class on analyzing the plot, conflict, and setting of the story. Many students will finish in class, but if you did not finish, it will be due at the beginning of class on Thursday.

Below is a copy of the story for you to use if you need to work from home. Additionally, there is another copy of the analysis sheet if you misplaced your own copy.

"Strange Visitor"

"Strange Visitor" Plot, Conflict, and Setting Analysis

Mystery Pre-writing

This week we have started pre-writing for our mystery stories. We will go through each part of the pre-writing and writing process in class together. Students were given the two handouts below as part of the pre-writing process. If they misplace their own copies, they can print new ones below.

Mystery Story- Writing a good lead
Mystery Pre-writing Graphic Organizer

Mysteries of Harris Burdick- Mystery Story Inspirations

We are beginning a new unit on "Mystery Writing" this week. Each student will choose one image from the "Mysteries of Harris Burdick" as inspiration for this writing assignment. Below, you will see several pictures from the "Mysteries of Harris Burdick." Choose one picture on which to base your mystery story. You will need to use the caption in your story.

Picture Title: The Third Floor Bedroom

 Caption:"It all began when someone left the window open..."

 Picture Title: The House on Maple

Caption: "It was the perfect lift off..."

 Picture Title: Missing the Venice

Caption: "Even with her mighty engines in reverse, the ocean liner was pulled further and further into the canal..."

 Picture Title: Oscar and Alphonse

Caption: "She knew it was time to send them back. The caterpillars softly wiggled in her hand, spelling out 'goodbye.' " 

 Picture Title: Uninvited Guests

Caption: "His heart was pounding. He was sure he had seen the doorknob move..."

 Picture Title: Archie Smith, Boy Wonder

Caption: "A tiny voiced asked, 'Is he the one?' "

 Picture Title: A Strange Day in July

Caption: "He threw with all his might, but the stone came skipping back..."

 Picture Title: The Seven Chairs

Caption: "The fifth one ended up in France..."

 Picture Title: The Harp

Caption: "So it's true, he thought, it's really true..."

 Picture Title: Another Place, Another Time

Caption: "If there was an answer, he'd find it there..."

Picture Title: Captain Tory

Caption: He swung his lantern three times and slowly the schooner appeared..."

Van, Allsburg Chris. The Mysteries of Harris Burdick. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1984. Print.

Once you have chosen the image/caption you want to use, you will need to brainstorm for your story.  Use the "Mystery Story Brainstorm" document on Google Classroom and answer the following prompt.

• What is the picture title and caption you have chosen to use? 
• Write a detailed description of the picture. Consider the setting you see, any potential characters you notice, and anything that stands out to you from the image. 
• Next, write any and all ideas you have for the story using the picture as inspiration. The ideas do not have to flow together at this point; you are just jotting down ideas for possibilities within the story.  Consider ideas for character(s), conflict, plot, and setting. 

1st Nine Weeks Benchmark

Reading Benchmark

You will take the first nine weeks benchmark for English class today. Do your best and read every question thoroughly. The test is set up for you to progressively do well as you learn material throughout the year. This means, you have not yet learned some of the material covered on the test. That's ok! You should still do your best on every question.

We have covered information for questions 1-13 already this year. 

• Once you are finished with the test, it will give you a chance to review answers before you make the final submission.  
• The next page will show you a Certificate of Achievement. You will need to use this page to complete your Target Tracker/Reflection. DO NOT close this page until you have completely finished your Target Tracker/Reflection. 
• While the benchmark itself is not for a grade, you will get a grade for the reflection sheet.  
• Use the information on the Grade Report page to see which questions you got correct and incorrect. Then, complete the reflection questions below. 
• Mrs. Oliveira will check for your completed reflection at the end of class.

Once you click on the link below, you will enter in your correct name first and last. No nicknames.

ELA 6 Benchmark- 1st nine weeks

Identify Plot, Setting, and Conflict

Conflict/Plot Test and Roots Test

Students will have a test on conflict and plot on Tuesday, 10/3/17, in reading class. They should have their own notes to study for conflict and plot in addition to some practice sheets and quiz. Below is a quizlet to help him review the definitions that will be on the test. They will also need to be able to read a passage and identify the conflict and plot progression.

Conflict/Plot Quizlet


Students have a roots test on the six roots they have learned on Thursday, 10/4/17, in reading class. Students should have one graphic organizer for each of the following roots:
1. Bio
2. Graph
3. Vis/Vid
4. Chron
5. Dict
6. Min

I will check for the completed graphic organizers in class on Thursday for a grade before the test (for Chron, Dict, and Min). Students should study the root definition, each root word (20 total), and spelling of the words for roots 4-6 for the test.

Bio, Graph, Vis/Vid Roots Quizlet  

Chron, Dict, Min Roots Quizlet

Roots 1-6 Quizlet

Caught Ya Grammar

The following CYG sheets were given to students on 9/11/17. If you misplace your copies, you can print a new one from the links below.

CYG 9/11-9/18
CYG 9/25-10/2

Commas

This week students are learning about the seven comma rules they are expected to follow in 6th grade English. We will go through the comma rules together and practice adding commas as needed in preparation for our comma test on Wednesday, 10/4/17.

Comma Rules Notes

Comma Rules Practice

On Monday, we will review all of the comma rules and complete a practice test. Tuesday, we will review the practice test for the final comma test on Wednesday. The test will also have a "Blast from the Past" section covering parts of speech, subjects/predicates, and figurative language.

Here is a quizlet that reminds students of the comma rules and example sentences for each. 

 Comma Rule Quizlet

This is a link to a document with the IXL links to review commas: IXL- Commas

Figurative Language

This week we will be covering figurative language. Students will work on identifying and interpreting several different types of figurative language, and they will even be writing some of their own. Students will take notes on each type of figurative language in preparation for a test scheduled for 9/26/17.

Figurative Language Notes

Metaphor Poem

On Tuesday, students will learn about similes and metaphors. They will be required to write a poem about their favorite activity/hobby that includes metaphors (no similes). They will have time on Tuesday and Wednesday to work on the poem in class, and it will be due at the beginning of class on Thursday.

The requirements for the poem are as follows:
-Proper English heading and titled "Metaphor Poem"
-Minimum of 15 lines
-At least 5 metaphors...no similes
-Begin each line with a capital letter

Hyperbole Tall Tale

On Thursday, students learned about hyperbole. They were asked to write a tall tale using hyperbole throughout to describe a time they got in a little trouble at home. If they write it well with hyperbole, then the "small" amount of trouble should be exaggerated to a big story! Students will work on this story in class for a few days. 

The requirements are as follows:

-Proper English heading and titled "Hyperbole Tall Tale"

-Minimum of 1.5 pages

-Use hyperbole throughout (and other figurative language if you get a chance). 

-Include the following sentence somewhere in your story, "I knew if my parents found out, I would be grounded forever!"

Figurative Language Test

We will have a test on figurative language on Tuesday, 9/26/17.  The test will have four sections:

1.       Match the type of figurative language to the correct definition. 2.       Identify the type of figurative language used in short passages and poems.

3.       Interpret the meaning of figurative language used in a passage or sentences. 4.       “Blast From the Past” with parts of speech and subjects/predicates.

Below is a quizlet to help students study the definitions on the test. There is also a  document with IXL links if students would like to practice other parts of figurative language. 

Figurative Language Quizlet

IXL Figurative Language/Blast from the Past Codes

Roots Quiz

Students have their first roots quiz on the three roots they have learned on Friday, 9/7/18, in reading class. Students should have one graphic organizer for each of the following roots:
Bio
Graph
Vis/Vid

I will check for the completed graphic organizers in class on Friday for a grade before the test. Students should study the root definition, each root word (10 total), and spelling of each root word for the test. Students will also need to write a sentence using the root words.

Here is a quizlet to assist you in studying for your the test: Roots Test 1 Quizlet: Bio, Graph, Vis/Vid

Subject/Predicate Notes and Practice

This week we will review identifying the subject and predicate in a sentence. We will cover the simple and complete subject and predicate this week.  A link to the notes and practice sheet is below. Students will continue practicing this skill on Thursday with a "Sentence Smackdown" activity.  If you misplace the copies given to you in class, you can print what you need from the links below.

Students will review on Friday with a practice test, and they will take a test on subjects, predicates, and parts of speech on Monday, 9/11/17. Tuesday, 9/12/17.
(The test date was shifted according to students' needs.)

Subject/Predicates Notes and Practice

Sentence Smackdown Activity

Subject/Predicate Practice Test

Subject/Predicate Additional Practice KEY (optional)

Parts of Speech Quizlet

You will have a parts of speech quiz on Friday. The quiz will focus on matching the part of speech to its definition, and identifying parts of speech in a sentence. The link below is to a quizlet that focuses on the definitions portion of the quiz. Be sure to look over your notes and practice sheets on identifying the part of speech in a sentence, too.

Parts of Speech Definitions Quizlet

Parts of Speech practice quiz

We will take a practice quiz on parts of speech to check your progress. Make sure you read each question carefully. See the directions below:

• Click on the link below
• Enter the room number posted on the board
• Type your name: (last name, first name) 

Socrative- Parts of Speech

Once you finish the practice test, you may log on to IXL to practice anything you missed on the practice quiz. We will discuss the practice quiz at the end of class or tomorrow if we run out of time. 

IXL

Dear Parent,

I am pleased to tell you that we will be using a website called IXL in our classroom this year. IXL is a comprehensive learning program offering unlimited math and language arts practice problems in thousands of skills—all of which are aligned to Alabama Standards. One of the best things about IXL is that your child can access it from home, so you have a chance to see your child's progress!

To get your child started on your home computer, please follow these easy steps:

1.    Go to https://www.IXL.com/signin/hewitttms (save it as a favorite!)

2.    Enter your child's username and password and click the button to sign in.

       Your child was given their username and password in class. If they misplaced it, the 

       formula for their password is below.

      USERNAME: Name + 4 Numbers from google sign in @ hewitttms           

      PASSWORD: Initials & Lunch Number

      Example:        john1234@hewitttms              jd123456

3.    Click on the name of the subject you’d like to work on at the top of the page and navigate to your child's grade level.

4.    Select a specific skill to practice from the list of skills. You can place your mouse over any skill to see a sample question and click on the link to begin.

In addition to making practice exciting, IXL is designed to help your child learn at his or her own pace. The program is adaptive and will adjust based on your child's demonstrated understanding of the material. All of your child's results will be saved, so you can monitor his or her progress anytime by clicking on the Analytics tab at the top of the page. For on-the-go practice, you can download IXL’s free tablet apps for iPad, Android, or Kindle and sign in with your child’s username and password.

I hope you'll encourage your student to use IXL regularly. Here's to a year of working together to make learning fun for your child!

Parts of Speech

This week we will review the parts of speech in class in preparation for a parts of speech quiz scheduled for 9/1/17. Parts of speech will be the foundation for all of the grammar work throughout this year. It is essential that students have a good understanding in order to do well with the new grammar concepts that will be covered.

Below there are links to the resources given in class for parts of speech. If you misplace the copy given to you in class, you can print a new one below.

Parts of Speech Learning Target Tracker/IXL Codes
Parts of Speech Notes
Parts of Speech Practice 8/21-8/23

Global Scholar

You will take a global scholar test in your reading class this week. Here is the link for the test. You will use the site id on the board and the number on your note card.

Global Scholar

Once you are done with the test, you can read your IDR book silently.

Welcome, Syllabus, Caught Ya Grammar

WELCOME to Mrs. Oliveira's Class Blog for the 2017-2018 school year! This is a great resource for your student to use throughout the year for 6th grade English. On this blog, I will post handouts given in class (so students can print them if they misplaced their own copy), study tips, resources, and even pictures from class. It would be a good idea to save the site as a favorite for easy access.

**If you have a question or your need to contact Mrs. Oliveira, please use my normal TCS email address as follows: Brianna.Oliveira@trussvillecityschools.com


Here is a link to the Mrs. Oliveira's English Class Syllabus
 Remember to keep your syllabus in your English binder throughout the year. You can use it for a reminder of class policies and a reference for information. If you misplace your syllabus, you can print it out from that link. (There may be a chance for bonus points later in the year just for keeping up with your syllabus!)


Here is the link for the first four weeks of Caught Ya Grammar (CYG). Remember, you are expected to complete the daily CYG on your own before we go over it each day in class. I will take up your completed CYG sheet when you are given another in order to give you credit for your work. If you are absent, you are still responsible for completing that day's CYG and checking with a friend. If you misplace the CYG sheet I provided to you, you can print a new one for yourself below.

CYG 8/14-8/21

CYG 8/28-9/4

Poetry Test Review

Interpretation practice
Answer the following questions on your own paper  about the poem below.

1.       How many stanzas does this poem have?

2.       What is the rhyme scheme of the first stanza?

3.       What is the rhythm of the first stanza?

4.       Write your interpretation in 5-7 sentences.Be sure to think deeply about the meaning behind the poem.


Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
BY ROBERT FROST

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep

"Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening By Robert Frost". Poetry Foundation. N. p., 2017. Web. 19 May 2017.

Once you finish your interpretation practice, you may go to the following link to review for the test on Quizizz. Game Code: 137720

Once you finish the Quizizz, study silently until everyone finishes. We will discuss the questions above at the end of class. 

English Benchmark

We will take this English benchmark test online. Make sure you read each question and all of the answer choices carefully. See the directions below:

• Click on the link below
• Enter the room number posted on the board
• Type your name: (last name, first name) 

4th Nine Weeks Benchmark Test

Once you finish your test, you will continue working on your poetry portfolio. You should have your own copy of the instructions, and there is a digital copy posted below. Remember your portfolio is due this Monday, 5/22/17, at beginning of class. 

Poetry Portfolio

Students have been working on several poems over the past couple of weeks in class. Students will need to combine some of their poems together into a portfolio for a grade. Students received the following instructions and rubric in class. The Poetry Portfolio is due at the beginning of class on Monday, 5/24/17.

Poetry Portfolio Instructions/Rubric


Students will take a poetry test on Tuesday, 5/23/17. They should study their notes, connotation/denotation practice, and read over their practice interpretations. In addition to basic terms and types of poetry, students will be asked to read a poem, interpret it with evidence, and determine the rhythm and rhyme scheme of the poem. We have practice all of these skills in class.

Elegy- "A Dog Named Beau"

E

Narrative and Epic Poetry

Narrative Poem: Fresh Prince of Bel Air Theme Song

Ink blot/Poetry note-taker

Once you finish the Comprehensive Grammar Final, you will need to complete the following Quick Write to prepare for tomorrow's lesson. Head a blank sheet of paper and title it "Ink Blot Quick Write"

Ink Blot Quick Write (7-9 sentences total)

• Describe what you see in this ink blot picture in detail.
• Do you think everyone will see what you see? Why/why not?
• Can you make any connections from this ink blot to what you might “see” in a poem? What do you think was the purpose of this quick write knowing that we will begin a poetry unit tomorrow?

 Here is the link to the poetry note-taker that we will use in class. If you misplace your copy, you can print a new one here.

Poetry Note-taker

CYG Quiz

We will take this CYG Quiz online. Make sure you read each question and all of the answer choices carefully. See the directions below:

• Click on the link below
• Enter the room number posted on the board
• Type your name: (last name, first name) 

Socrative- CYG Quiz

Once you finish, log out of the chromebook. Pick up the Grammar Final Practice Test from the front basket. Complete the practice test on your own without friends or notes. This will give you the best idea of your strengths and weaknesses for the upcoming test. Once you finish the practice test, you may log back on to IXL to practice to meet your individual grammar goals. We will discuss the practice test at the end of class or tomorrow if we run out of time. 

Caught Ya Grammar

The previous CYG sheets can be printed out here:
CYG 4/3-4/10
CYG 4/17-4/24


The new CYG sheets that will take us through the end of the year:
CYG 5/1-5/8
CYG 5/15-5/22

Grammar Review

Grammar Review Stations 3

At this station, students will take the Grammar Review Quizizz. 
Game Code: 459915

Roots Final

There will be a final test in reading that covers all of the roots from the year. The students should have received and completed a study guide for the test. The test will be on Tuesday, May 2nd. Here is a link to Quizlet that covers all of the information for the test.

Final Roots Quizlet


Final Roots Quizizz
Game Code:  790933

Presentations Tips

We will begin presenting on Monday. Remember that 70% of this grade is on your presentation skills, rather than your awesome Google Slides (but your Google Slides should still be AWESOME). This video will give you some quick tips for your presentation. It will discuss some common mistakes and what you can do instead.



You should spend class time today finishing your presentation. If you are going on the band trip tomorrow, you will also need to spend some time practicing your presentation.  Remember, you will need to say "Next Slide" when you want the slide to change.
If you are not going on the band trip tomorrow, you will have time in class tomorrow to practice your presentation and add any final touches.

Presentations begin Monday, 4/24/17.

I am somebody Works Cited

Today we will need to create the Works Cited page for the "I am somebody" essay. There are many resources online to help you create citations. We will use a Google Chrome extension to help us in this class, so we need to download the extension.

Go to the following link to download the Google Chrome extension "Cite This For Me"
Once you have the extension, it will appear on your tool bar beside the web address. The icon looks like this: 

The requirements for the Works Cited page are as follows:

• contains at least three credible outside sources

• correctly formatted (MLA format, correctly punctuated and capitalized, double-spaced, labeled, alphabetized, and on a page by itself)

Today, you will need to create your Works Cited page to give credit for the research you used. Once you finish that, begin editing your essay. Read through it and make everything perfect. Check for spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and grammar. 

Revising for Formal Style

             
The Rules of Formal Writing

Complex – Longer sentences are likely to be more prevalent in formal writing. You need to be as thorough as possible with your approach to each topic when you are using a formal style. Each main point needs to be introduced, elaborated and concluded.

Objective – State main points confidently and offer full support arguments. A formal writing style shows a limited range of emotions and avoids emotive punctuation such as exclamation points, ellipsis, etc., unless they are being cited from another source.

Full Words – No contractions should be used to simplify words (in other words use "It is" rather than "It's").  Abbreviations must be spelt out in full when first used, the only exceptions being when the acronym is better known than the full name (BBC, ITV or NATO for example).

Third Person – Formal writing is not a personal writing style.  The formal writer is disconnected from the topic and does not use the first person point of view (I or we) or second person (you).

The following pronouns CAN NOT be used in formal style:

• First Person          I, me, my, mine, we, us, our, ours
• Second Person      you, your, yours, (y’all)

 The following pronouns CAN be used in formal style:

• Third Person he, him, his, she, her, hers, it, they, them, their, theirs, its

Find more at: http://www.skillsyouneed.com/write/formal-or-informal.html#ixzz434Kt1rLQ

Today, you should work with your partner to completely revise your paper to make sure it is in formal style. You and your partner should read through your paper completely and make revisions according to the requirements above. Remember, formal style will be graded thoroughly when you turn in this essay. 

I Am Somebody Project

-Lily Tomlin

We will be starting a new project this week called the "I Am Somebody" Project. You will work to support a solution for the problem you wrote your expository book about. This project will be an exercise in considering others and their needs, rather than our own. You will need to consider what cause will support the problem in your expository book, how you can support them, and how you can convince others to do the same.  You will be working with a partner throughout this project. We will complete all requirements in class together over the next few weeks. There will be a research/writing assignment as well as a multi-media presentation. The requirements for both are below:

Written Essay 

*Each of the following requirements is worth five points* 

Introduction

• includes an attention-grabbing hook

• a brief summary of the problem using research from your expository book

• includes a thesis that clearly states the topic and the author’s opinion of the topic

• lists two different logical reasons that support the thesis

Body Paragraph (each person in a partnership/group is responsible for writing one body paragraph)

• focuses on a single point

• each point is logical and clearly supports the thesis

• includes a clear topic sentence (introducing the point)

• includes at least three supporting detail sentences

• includes at least two outside facts or examples within the supporting details that clearly support each reason

• includes a closing sentence that summarizes and brings the paragraph to a close

• lists reasons (one per paragraph) in the same order as the introduction

Conclusion 

• restates the thesis

• relists reasons

• gives a clear call to action

Works Cited 

• contains at least three credible outside sources

• correctly formatted (correctly punctuated and capitalized, double-spaced, labeled, alphabetized, and on a page by itself)

Vocabulary

• maintains a formal style (not conversational, avoids talking to the reader or about the essay, etc.)

• essay does not use the following: I, you, my, us, we, our, your, mine, yours, ours

Transitions

• uses transitions appropriately between sentences and paragraphs to clarify the relationships between ideas

Conventions (10 points)

• contains no errors in spelling, punctuation, capitalization, or word usage 

Multi-Media Presentation 

This is your chance to show your creativity and “sell” your cause!  Design a multi-media presentation (including images, graphics, music, etc.) that clarifies the information in your speech and compels your audience to take action. The requirements for your presentation are listed below: 

• Multi-media presentation includes an extensive variety (5-8 slides) of images and/or other graphics (charts, graphs, maps, etc.) that clarify the information included in your essay.

OPTIONAL: Include music/sound that appropriately enhances the effect.

• Multi-media presentation includes persuasive sentences to compel your audience to support your cause (could include facts/statistics, questions, etc.).

• Multi-media presentation includes a credits page citing web addresses for images and other graphics found online.

• Speaker pronounces words clearly.

• Speaker makes eye contact with audience throughout the presentation.

• Speaker projects voice loudly enough to be heard.

• Speaker uses pauses effectively (doesn’t rush).

• Speaker demonstrates understanding of the topic (pronounces words correctly, explains ideas accurately, is able to answer basic questions).

• Speaker appears well-rehearsed (presentation flows smoothly, speaker doesn’t stumble over words or forget parts to presentation, etc.)

• Listener pays close attention to each presentation and does nothing to distract other audience members.

English Benchmark

We will take this English benchmark test online. Make sure you read each question and all of the answer choices carefully. See the directions below:

• Click on the link below
• Enter the room number posted on the board
• Type your name: (last name, first name) 

3rd Nine Weeks Benchmark Test

Once you finish your test, you will continue working on the creative writing narrative you started on Wednesday. Students are required to write their story from this picture prompt and tell the story behind this picture. This picture may represent the beginning, middle, or end of your story. It should include characters, a good plot, and avoid "dead" verbs whenever possible. You may be able to use some suspense strategies, too! Your story should have the proper English heading and be titled "Creative Writing-Gray" with your own creative title underneath.The story should be at least 2 pages in length. 

Persuading Commercials

Expository Test/Creative Writing

We will take this test online. Make sure you read each question and all of the answer choices carefully. See the directions below:

• Click on the link below
• Enter the room number posted on the board
• Type your name: (last name, first name) 

Socrative-Expository Elements Test

Once you finish your test, you will work on a creative writing narrative. Students are required to write their story from this picture prompt and tell the story behind this picture. This picture may represent the beginning, middle, or end of your story. It should include characters, a good plot, and avoid "dead" verbs whenever possible. You may be able to use some suspense strategies, too! Your story should have the proper English heading and be titled "Creative Writing-Gray" with your own creative title underneath.The story should be at least 2 pages in length. 

You will have time to finish this story on Friday after the ELA benchmark test. 

Caught Ya Grammar

If you misplace the CYG sheets given to you in class, you can print out new ones from the links below.

Caught Ya Grammar 2/27-3/6
Caught Ya Grammar 3/13-3/20

We took notes on expository elements a few weeks ago. We will have a test on it tomorrow. If you misplaced your notes, you can print a new copy below.

Expository Text Notes

Checklist and Rubric

 The final book is due on Monday, March 13th. 

We will have a day in the computer lab to print our books on Thursday, March 9th. If you are not ready to print on this day, you will need to find another time/place to print on your own.

We are so close to having our books complete!! I can't wait to see everyone's final product!

This is a link to the Expository Book Checklist that we will use in class today. We will use this checklist  to ensure we have every requirement complete. The checklist I gave to you will need to be turned in with your book on the day it's due. If you misplace the checklist given to you in class, you can print it out from this link.

Expository Book Checklist


This is a link to the rubric that will be used to grade your expository book. I will use this rubric to grade your book when it is submitted. We have gone over each aspect of the requirements together in class. If you have a question about anything on the rubric, let me know.

Expository Book Rubric

Table of Contents

Once you have finished your text features, you can make your Table of Contents. Do not just look at what page the information is listed in your Google document, consider how you want your book set up. For a cleaner look, you may want each chapter to begin on the right-sided page. Also, don't forget that each chapter must have a creative title (beyond just naming the topic) at the beginning of the chapter AND in the Table of Contents. 

**The Table of Contents should be the first page after your cover. Remember, to add a new page press Ctrl + Enter at the end of the page you want in front of your new page. See me if you need help with this!

Below is an example of a Table of Contents for this book. You should have a creative title with each chapter. 

                                            Table of Contents

Introduction…………………….......………………....……………..….……………1

Chapter 1 (Creative Title) ……………………………………………………...3

Chapter 2 (Creative Title)…… ……………… …………………………..……5

Chapter 3 (Creative Title)………………………………..………………..……7

Chapter 4 (Creative Title)… …………………………… ………………..……9

Chapter 5 (Creative Title)……………………………….. ………….…………11

Glossary………………………………………………......……………....…...………..13

Works Cited.………………………………………………......………….....…………15

Turn It In

Today, we will upload your paper to TurnItIn.com to check for originality and make sure you have paraphrased well.

Uploading a paper to Turnitin.com

1. Go to Turn It In
2.  Create account
3. When it looks like you need an email address, don’t do that. Just click student at the bottom.
4. Enter Class ID and passwor (on the board), your name, your TCS email address (Sally1234@trussvillecityschools.org), password (use the same password you use to log in to Chromebook), Security question. Then click “I agree and Continue.”
5. After you are logged in, click on our class name
6.  click the blue "Submit" button
7. Click on "Cut & Paste" and change it to "Single File Upload"
8. Add your book topic as the submission title
9. Choose Google Drive
10. Click "Allow"
11. Choose the document "Expository Book + Works Cited" and click "select"
12. Click "upload"
13. Once the paper has uploaded, click confirm

You should be able to view your originality report and make changes as needed. 

Expository Book: Intro, Glossary, Cover Page

Introductory Paragraph (Friday, 2/24/17)

Now that the paragraphs are written, we need to introduce them in an engaging way. Today, we will write introductory paragraphs for our entire book. A good “formula” for this introductory paragraph is a topic sentence, five sentences describing each chapter individually, and a concluding sentence. This formula would equal to seven sentences. This is just a suggestion.

Your introduction should accomplish the following:

• Grab your reader’s attention in a good lead with a quote, a scene, or a critical thinking question.  
• Give clues about the topic of each chapter (without saying “chapter two will be about…”).

Lead Option 1: Quote  

Begin your introduction with a famous quote if you are writing about a person, or quote a fact from your research that shares something interesting about your topic.

Lead Option 2: Scene  

Set up a scene that helps your reader picture your topic in action.

Lead Option 3: Critical Thinking Question  

 Ask a question that makes your reader wonder about your topic.  Be sure to avoid yes or no questions and questions that talk directly to your reader. Ex/ Do not say, “Have you ever heard of Abraham Lincoln?”

Here is link that has examples for all of the suggestion above. It also have revising tips for individuals that finish early: Introduction Examples and Revising Tips

Glossary (Monday, 2/27/17)

You will need to create a glossary for your book. The glossary should have at least eight words used in your book that are specific to your book topic. You need to choose words that the reader may not know on his/her own. Here are the steps to follow for your glossary:

1. Find eight words that are in your chapters that the reader may not know. If you cannot find eight good glossary words, you may need to revise your chapters and use higher level vocabulary. 
2. Make the eight words you find bold font and underline them in your chapters.
3. List each word in alphabetical order in your glossary with the definition of the word. There is already a page for your glossary on your "Expository Book + Works Cited" Google Doc. 

Cover Page (Thursday, 3/2/17)

You will need to create a Title Page for your book. The cover page should be colorful, have a creative title, and have your name as the author.