Reminder - Send electronic files to Mrs. Moreno

...at mary.moreno@att.net
All PowerPoint, Animation, and other technological drafts should be sent before Sunday.
Great work this week!

Reading logs due Monday at the start of ELA class. Please be sure that all columns (including reading strategies used) are filled in.

Last day of persuasive drafting

Reminder: All students are expected to complete drafts of two DIFFERENT forms of persuasive writing by the end of ELA class tomorrow. Monday will begin a week of revision.
731 will use the laptops in class period 2. 702 is NOT scheduled to use the laptops, so please be prepared to draft without technology. You can always print your material so you can work on it in class.
If you are producing a poster or other artwork, please begin to bring in your supplies.

Reading logs are due Monday, March 2. Please have these ready for collection at the start of ELA class.

Homework: Read/Respond Feb. #14

Plan for the rest of this week....

We were impressed with the focus and amount of work completed using the laptops today. Tomorrow, 702 will use them period 3.

Remember, we are set to have two pieces ready for revision by the end of the school day on Friday. Next week is reserved for making things clearer and better.

For those doing posters/other artwork: Bring all art supplies by Monday, including oaktag, markers, and other things you may need.

For those working on PowerPoint and/or Word (speeches, letters, editorials, etc.): Please make sure to create and use Google Docs. There should be no one who says "I left my work at home" or my "thumb drive broke".

We will publish by the end of next week and start presenting the week of March 9 (which is MATH test week).

See you tomorrow.

Persuasive Stations

Today students did a great job of identifying thier topics, subtopics, audience, and methods of persuasive writing. You guys came up with some amazing ideas. Tomorrow, you will sit in issue groups (by topic) and begin the drafting process. Mrs. Moreno and I are compiling a variety of resources for you to use...models of letters, editorials and other writing pieces. You will also be able to conduct research on the laptops. We've reserved them for several periods during this week.

By the end of this week, you will have produced at least two works-in-progress and next week, we will revise. Publishing for all pieces will happen at the end of next week.

Homework: Read/Respond Feb. #11

Writing Superstars

Class 731 impressed today with a great writing session. Students listened to a podcast yesterday in which a young man told us not to wear saggy pants because, among other reasons, they create bad impressions and may cost you a job. We discussed the pros and cons of wearing saggy pants. Then students wrote persuasive paragraphs that either convinced the reader of the pros or the cons of wearing saggy pants. Today, we shared, revised, edited and published. Check out the work on the classroom bulletin board.

Many of you will be on the ski trip tomorrow. Mrs. Moreno and I are going to use the class time to work with small groups. Class 702 is encouraged to bring in games as we will have a class bonding day.

On Friday, we will pick up persuasive analysis and writing as we brainstorm school issues that we may bring to Mrs. Schneider's attention as we lobby for a more productive and enjoyable school experience. Remember, we will be working in groups of people who share our ideas, but we will produce individual persuasive pieces that fit our interests and talents.

Homework: Read/Respond Feb. 3.

Persuasive Writing

Class 702 analyzed the article, "Fashion Police" today, looking for ways in which sources in the article met the criteria for effective persuasive writing. They did a great job of analyzing the podcast from NPR in which a young man spoke of his recent distaste for those who wear sagging pants. Class 731 will hear that podcast Monday.

Next week, we will continue to analyze persuasive writing...looking at among other things:
Commercials aimed at teens
Public service announcements
Martin Luther King's famous speeches and letters

Homework: Class 702 Reading Logs due Monday
All: Read/Respond January 21.

Get ready for a great February!

Next Writing Unit...

Now that testing is over (WHEW!), we will begin to work on a persuasive writing unit. Students will select an idea, thing, person, or issue of which they feel very strongly -- and either write a speech, an essay, an editorial, or design persuasive artwork. We will examine a variety of persuasive, video clips, and other media.

731 has already begun to view some persuasive film clips and formulate ideas for speeches.

A note on the Reader's Sourcebooks: Nearly all of Class 702's books have been graded (and most returned). The average so far is a 90, a GIGANTIC improvement from the previous two Sourcebook checks. Keep up the great notetaking, classwork, and nightly reading responses. For model Sourcebooks, see Mrs. Marks. If your Sourcebook was not 100, view a classmate's whose was...and see what you can do to improve for next time.

Reading Logs due Friday, Jan. 30.