SENIORS: Your children's book is due today!!! YAY!!!  I can't wait to read them!  HAVE A GREAT SPRING BREAK!!

SOPHOMORES: Today's agenda was: working Grammar #11, updating Goodreads, and finishing the deconstruction of the Butterfly essay (group work) and the Childcare essay (independent work).  If you didn't get that done, it is your HW over the break.  Here is what you need to circle and label:
The argument (what is being argued), the claim (what side has the writer taken), the purpose (inform/assert, win/prevail, explore/inquire, negotiate differences/find a solution), the type of argument (fact, values, policy), what appeals are being used (logos, pathos, and ethos), what kind of evidence is being used (statistics, facts, testimonials, anecdotes, examples, descriptions, quotes from an authority), and lastly, identify any fallacies.  HAVE A GREAT SPRING BREAK!

SENIORS: Your children's book is due tomorrow!  Yay!

SOPHOMORES: Today's agenda was: Grammar 9 and finishing the group work in which an argument essay was deconstructed.  Make sure you spend some time with your independent reading book, as we will be updating our accounts on Goodreads. 

SENIORS: You have 2 more days to finish your children's book; no excuses!

SOPHOMORES: Besides Grammar Exercise #8, we got into groups and deconstructed an argument essay.  Don't worry if you were absent; you can catch up tomorrow.

SENIORS: Only 3 more days to complete your children's book; don't delay!

SOPHOMORES: Besides Grammar Exercise #7, we watched some videos and analyzed them for the 4 purposes of argument, the 3 basic categories of argument, the 3 basic appeals of argument, and looked for the 7 common fallacies in argument.  Turn in the Topic Sentence HW and the technology essay if you have not already done so.

SENIORS: It is now crunch time!  Your children's book is due this Friday!  That means everything is done; we could publish it if we wanted to.

SOPHOMORES: We did a lot today; besides a grammar exercise, we learned that an essay can have several different formats (not just pro, con, pro, pro), and we also learned to write thesis statements that could work for both sides of an argument.  It's easy to argue what you believe, but it is also important to understand what the alternatives are.  There was a handout about this; if you didn't finish it in class, it is HW due tomorrow, and if you were absent, you'll need to get the handout from Austin upon your return to class. 

SENIORS: You have one week left to complete your children's book; that includes cover, illustrations, and text.

SOPHOMORES: Argument essays were due today, along with an update on your independent reading book through Goodreads.  We also did another grammar exercise, took notes on a powerpoint presentation concerning some nuances of argument, and I collected your notebooks, checking for the following: response to prompt on whether or not the United States should get involved in the policies of other countries; 5 grammar exercises; argument/persuasion definitions, notes from Kony 2012, credible source for technology essay, and outline for that essay.

SENIORS: Your children's book should be at an intermediate stage now; your story has a beginning, middle, and end; also, you have your illustrations done and matched up with your text.  Now, polish your writing: mechanics are correct and the fonts look good.  Everything you're using is "right," and it's just a matter of putting it all together.

SOPHOMORES: Tomorrow we will do independent reading book updates on Goodreads, so make sure you bring your book and have something to say.  Also, work on your final draft of the argument essay; you will have some time to work on it tomorrow, but not a lot, so have it finished or mostly finished.  I will collect the essays at the end of the period.

SENIORS: Keep at that children's book!
SOPHOMORES: Besides a grammar exercise, we reviewed elements of an argument and did a peer edit of the argument essay on the use of technology.  The corrected, final draft of the essay is due Friday, March 23.

SENIORS: Children's book work.
SOPHOMORES: Today we did a diagnostic essay on argument.  The prompt was: We are well aware of the power of technology to influence tastes, knowledge, opinions, and lifestyle.  We are becoming overwhelmingly dependent on technology.  Is this dependence on technology beneficial or something of which we should be suspicious?  Discuss the question.  Support your position with evidence from your reading, observations, and personal experience.
     Don't forget to use a credible source to support your opinion.

SENIORS: Keep at that children's book!
SOPHOMORES: We did a grammar exercise and used netbooks to find a credible source for the argument essay you're going to write tomorrow.  If you were absent and reading this, you need to think about the following: Is our dependency on technology good or bad?  The first thing you need to do is narrow down the topic: instead of writing about technology, write about computers, cell phones, or TV entertainment.  Then decide if you are for or against it.  After that, support your decision with observations, personal experiences, and credible sources who feel the same way you do.  Be ready to cite your sources.

SENIORS: Keep working on your children's book; due Friday, March 30.

SOPHOMORES: Find and begin reading your independent reading book if you haven't already done so.  Also, for Monday, bring a counter argument to the Kony 2012 video (can be text or video).

SENIORS: The due date for your children's book is Friday, March 30; the last day before Spring Break.  That means everything is done and put together; the final product, either hardcopy or digital.

SOPHOMORES: We began a new unit today: argument.  You might be familiar with persuasion from your 9th grade English class.  There are subtle differences between  argument and persuasion; see me so I can explain the handout to you.  We watched KONY 2012 to determine if argument or persuasion was being used. 
     We will be writing in Goodreads tomorrow, so make sure you bring your new independent reading book with you and have something to say about it.  Also, I will be collecting the thesis HW.

SENIORS: The due date for the completed children's book is Friday, March 30.  That means your book is totally finished whether you are submitting a hard copy or have it in a digital format.  If you notice the due date, that is the last day before Spring Break, so won't have any HW if you complete your book on time.

SOPHOMORES: Hope the CAHSEE didn't fry your brains too badly!  Remember to bring your notebook with you to class on Thursday.  Also, you should have a new Independent Reading Book; be reading in that book so you can have a response for Goodreads on Friday.

SENIORS: Keep working on that children's book!
SOPHOMORES: No news today due to the CAHSEE.  Get some good sleep tonight and eat a good breakfast tomorrow!

SENIORS: Now we begin comparing our text to our illustrations, making sure the text and the illustrations go together to tell a story.  Also look for correct mechanics in your text.  Tomorrow and Wednesday, if you are in Periods 1 and 4, do not come to Room 860; go instead to the PAC (this is due to the CAHSEE testing).

SOPHOMORES: CAHSEE testing is tomorrow and Wednesday!  Get a good night's rest, and make sure you eat a good breakfast!  Check the library so you report to the right room at the beginning of the school day.  Good luck!  Finish your HW (thesis handout, both sides) and have it ready to turn in on Thursday. 

SENIORS: Illustrations are due TODAY!  On Monday, be prepared to put your text side-by-side with your illustrations and work on turning everything into final draft form.

 SOPHOMORES: Today we went over more CAHSEE writing strategies, wrote a final book review for your independent reading book in Goodreads, and finished the final drafts of the essays for War and  The Bracelet.  
        Here's something easy you can do over the weekend to help you with the writing portion of the CAHSEE: think of 3 historical people, 3 people that you know, 3 historical events, and 3 inventions.  Some of you might go into "brain freeze" during the test; so if you have some ideas in your head when you walk in the door, you'll be able to write instead of going into a panic.
 

SENIORS: Everything is due tomorrow: rough draft and illustrations.  The grading period ends tomorrow, so all of this stuff has to be done!
SOPHOMORES: Both essays are due tomorrow: War and The Bracelet.  Also, be ready to write a review of your independent reading book on Goodreads tomorrow.

SENIORS: Work on those illustrations!  Or send me your rough draft if you haven't already done so.
SOPHOMORES: We worked on essays, did a CAHSEE practice (on Black History Month), and tried to find thesis, connections to thesis, and personal connections to an essay.  Keep working on those essays and share them with me.

SENIORS: Time is running down for creating/finding the illustrations for your children's book.  The illustrations are due this Friday and are worth 100 points.

SOPHOMORES: Today's practice CAHSEE was a main idea exercise on ASTHMA.  We also looked at the CAHSEE grading chart for essays and looked at an essay that received a 3.  Lastly, we had computer time to work on the War essay, which is due tomorrow.

SENIORS: Keep at it with those illustrations as they are due this Friday, March 9.  Also, share your rough draft with me if you have not already done so (make sure I can edit).

SOPHOMORES: The Bracelet essay was due today (5 paragraphs).  The War essay is due Wednesday, March 7.  The CAHSEE practice for today was titled How to Choose a Password.  We put a business letter template in your notebook and reviewed some CAHSEE strategies.

SENIORS: Still creating those illustrations for your children's book.  The due date for the illustrations is Friday, March 9.  Many of you still haven't shared the rough draft of your children's book.  If you are one of those people, please share it NOW.  Thank you.

SOPHOMORES: Today we updated our books in Goodreads and continued the 5 paragraph essay on The Bracelet.  The Bracelet  essay is due Monday, while War is due Wednesday.

SENIORS: Still working on creating your portfolio of illustrations for your children's book.  I'm also still checking notebooks.  Last day for that is this Friday.

SOPHOMORES: The "War" essay is now homework, just continue to share your work with me through googledocs.  Today we began a new writing assignment based on the short story "The Bracelet."  The task is nothing new: find the theme and relate literary devices to that theme.