Monday, 10/28/13

Today you’ll determine how details reveal mood by analyzing both a visual and a written text.

We’ll set up reading logs and do 15 minutes of independent reading with a focus on mood.

You’ll write a brief comparison between “Fields of Flashing Light” and a Dust Bowl photograph.

Homework: 20 minutes independent reading with summary.

Tuesday, 10/29/13

Today you’ll look at how to analyze a text more deeply based on the three levels of reading question format.

You’ll do a 20-minute free write on a disaster story.

You’ll read the preface of This Land was Made for You and Me and develop questions for each level.

Homework: Write three questions, one for each level for a book or movie you’ve read or seen.

Wednesday, 10/30/13

Today you’ll examine our essential question in terms of how Woody’s environment shaped him.

You’ll read aloud Chapter 1 of This Land and discuss and practice three levels of questions as we go, looking for characterization (and answers to our essential question) as we go.

Homework: Write down an example of someone whose environment shaped them.

Thursday, 10/31/13

You’ll examine how different components interact to create character by examining the forces applied to Woody in childhood.

You’ll do a 15-minute free write that focuses on the senses and create a “Post-Mortem” of Woody as we know him in Chapter 1.

Homework: Write a paragraph that explains the impact of Woody’s childhood in forming his character.

Friday, 11/01/13

Today you’ll consider how the author uses Woody’s background as a means of showing his later character through analysis in your dialectical journals.

You’ll read for 10 and conduct your book club for 10 minutes.

We’ll read Chapter 2 aloud and do a dialectical journal with focus on how Woody’s struggles shaped him as a person.

Homework: None.

This week we'll learn how to use an author's diction to determine tone and mood. We'll continue practice with word connotations.

For Monday, 10/21/13: We'll read “Prey Ballet” from Patricia Hubbell and look for connotation. You'll do a three-levels-of-reading poster to examine how Hubbell's diction choices.

Also, we'll choose our literature circle books.

Your homework: Write three words that you feel are connotative and tell what you think they imply.

Tuesday, 10/22/13: 

Our focus work will be a 20-minute free write: write a description or story from a photo prompt using interesting diction. 

We'll watch a Prezi on diction, connotation, mood, and tone and read "The Jacket," annotating for diction, mood, and tone as a class.

You'll do an exit ticket: Write down a mood an author could create. Fill in the blank: “An author could be _________about his topic or audience.” (tone) “An author might make you feel __________ with his words.” (mood)

Your homework: Find an advertisement (or draw one yourself) that creates a mood.

Wednesday, 10/23/13: 

We'll set up reading logs and review diction, connotation, tone and mood. 

We'll review the purpose of annotation. You'll re-read “The Jacket” and annotate a section for diction/tone/mood (for a grade).

Your homework: Find an advertisement or other written work that has interesting diction.

Thursday, 10/24/13: 

Your focus work will a 20-minute free write: Write a piece that sets the mood.

You'll create a three-levels-of-reading poster on “The Jacket," examining how diction affects tone and mood in the story.

Your homework: Write a paragraph that sets a mood and tell me what the mood is.

Friday, 10/25/13: 

You'll brainstorm in groups and share out on the writing prompt: "How does Gary Soto use diction to create mood?" 

Then you'll write an in-class analytical essay on this topic.

If you want a format to follow for your thesis statement, use this starter sentence:  “In ‘The Jacket,’ Soto uses the words __________, ___________, and ___________ to create a ____________ mood.” 

No homework; it's Friday!

Welcome 7th grade ELA!

Welcome to 7th grade ELA! Mrs. Giarrusso and I look forward to a year of creativity, lively writing, and interesting discussions and reading.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are literature circle days, while Tuesdays and Thursdays are writing journal days. On reading days, you’ll read for 20 minutes silently, then complete an entry in your reading log. Every Friday we’ll do a book discussion group. On writing days, you’ll write for 20 minutes, sometimes by yourself, sometimes with a partner.

Each day, when you come in to class, your job is to copy down the day’s homework (from the front board) in your planner. We’ll come around and sign it, so be sure to leave it out until we sign it.

You will have homework each day, except Fridays. Doing your homework is an easy way to keep your grade up, and it will help you with whatever we are working on in class.

If you miss class and have internet access, you can check the day’s work and homework on this page. If you (or your parent or guardian) would like weekly updates, you can subscribe to the page by typing your email address into the box on the upper right called "Follow by Email."

To be successful, come to class each day with:

a pen or pencil

paper

your planner

your English binder

Our classroom guidelines:

Treat others with respect.

Allow the teacher to teach.

Allow other students to learn.

Be a good audience for whomever is addressing the class.

For classroom behavior, we use a check system in class. (Each check is 10 minutes of detention. You will receive a warning first.) If you feel there has been a misunderstanding, please speak with me or Mrs. Giarrusso in private (during on-task time in class or before/after class). We want you to be successful and have a positive, interesting year!

Senior Project - Week of May 21

This week's goals: 
Present your project
Edit your rough draft

It's presentation week! This week you'll get a chance to show what you've learned through your weeks of research.

For homework, continue editing your rough draft. Final drafts are due June 1, to be turned in on google docs.

Let's make this last assignment of the year really sing!

Senior Project - Week of May 14

This week's goals: 
Finish your presentation.
Edit your rough draft.

We'll be working on presentations this week, and begin presenting on Monday, May 21. Save your presentation to google docs, so that it's accessible here at school. Remember, if you want a video clip (from Youtube, for instance) in your presentation, you must download it at home first, then put the video into a slide. Links to Youtube and similar sites won't open at school. Download instructions are available on the library web page.

You can sign up for a presentation date, though be prepared to present as early as Monday, in the event that your date needs to be bumped up.

Putting together your presentation is the fun part. (Really!) Enjoy your creation. I can't wait to see what kinds of things you come up with. :)

Senior Project - Week of May 7

This week's goal: Finish your rough draft.

Storyboards are due Monday, May 7. Completed rough drafts are due Friday, May 11.

We're in the home stretch now! Next week, you'll be editing your rough draft and creating your presentation.

Some points to remember when writing and editing:
-Formal papers (such as research papers and most essays) are in 3rd person. You should eliminate 1st person (I, me, my, we, us, our) and 2nd person (you, your).
-Follow the format listed in your "Organizing Your Senior Project" sheet. A copy is available on edmodo if you've misplaced your original. Save your opinion for the section in which it belongs.
-Please reexamine your handout on avoiding plagiarism. If you're uncertain about some of your material, please ask me about it. Before you turn in your final draft, you'll be running it through a plagiarism checker.

Senior Project - Week of April 30

This week's goals:
Complete four more pages of your rough draft. You should have a total of seven double-spaced pages by Friday, May 4.
Complete your storyboard for your presentation by Monday, May 7.

Remember: there are no late grades available from this point onward, so turn things in on the due date. If leaving materials at home is a problem, save everything to your google docs account.

If you need help on your rough draft or presentation, please see me in class, during B or D period, or after school so I can help to keep you on track.