SENIORS: We started the rough draft of the query letter.  Please note: Even though the next two days will be different because of CSTs and I might not see you on Wednesday or Thursday, the final draft of the query letter is due this Friday.

SOPHOMORES: We did an On Demand writing assignment which consisted of writing a short essay connecting the poem "The Hangman" with Night.  The essay was turned in at the end of the period.  In the meantime, continue with your work on the synthesis essay (Due Friday or over the weekend through email).

SENIORS: Now that your children's book is finished, it's time to publish!  Even if you don't intend to publish your book, you will need to learn how to write a professional query letter.  Your homework is to find an agent and a publisher; I provided websites for your search during class.  Have those names and addresses for tomorrow.

SOPHOMORES: We started on the conclusion of your synthesis paper.  This week will be dedicated to working your rough draft into final draft form, which will be due on Friday (or over the weekend).  This is a hard deadline, as we need to begin the poetry unit on Monday (one week from today).

SENIORS: Your children's book is due today!  If you can't give it to me in person, take it to the office and have someone put your book in my mailbox.

SOPHOMORES: You started writing your synthesis essay on the Netbooks.  Make sure you have  the rough draft of your introductory paragraph and your body paragraphs done for Monday.  Also, I asked you to write down your 6 sources as an exit slip.

ALL STUDENTS: Please read the previous blog.  See you all tomorrow!

SENIORS: Hope you had fun today!  Work on your children's book at home because it is still due this Friday, April 26, at the end of the period.

SOPHOMORES: We worked on identifying the THESIS, CDs, and CMs of another mentor text, Searching for an Identity in a Society Full of Labels.  That THESIS is to go in your notebook under the title THESIS.  Also, by this time, you should know which 6 sources you're going to use for your synthesis essay.  Four sources must be from things we've done in class, and two sources are your own.  We began working on the introductory paragraph of your essay.  The goal is to have the introductory paragraph and body paragraphs done by Monday, April 29; so if you're absent until then, work on those things.

SENIORS:  Work your  children's book; the completed project is due this Friday at the end of the period.

SOPHOMORES: I collected the homework (Atomic Arrows), you voted for ASB officers, and we began writing the synthesis paper by establishing the thesis and identifying the articles that will help with the support of the thesis.  Have this ready to go for tomorrow.

SENIORS: Now is the time to start the actual building of your children's book.  Think of the following: How big is my book (based on the age group you're writing for--remember, little hands can't manipulate big books), what am I making it out of (computer paper, colored computer paper from Kinkos, construction paper, something fancy from Michael's), powerpoint (an email book)?  I strongly recommend that you type your text, as most of you have a hot mess for handwriting. The due date for your book is Friday, April 26.

SOPHOMORES: You were given a mentor text, Atomic Arrows, which we annotated for structure, concrete details, author's commentary, examples of synthesis, and other devices such as rhetorical questions, repetition, strong language, etc.  You were also asked to determine the thesis of the essay.  You will start writing YOUR synthesis essay on Monday.  Think about what your thesis will be; remember the overlying questions of What is the Nature of Man?  Also think about what texts you can use to support your thesis.

SENIORS: It is now time to put together your ideas, your text, and your illustrations to create your book!  Think about the size of your book (whose hands will be turning the pages?), are you REALLY going to do the drawings or find them on the internet?  Out of what will you make your book--construction paper? Computer paper?  Power point?

SOPHOMORES: In your notebook, under the title Synthesis Notes, we wrote about the things we would expect to see in a synthesis paper; things like concrete details, explanations of how and why your sources connect and support your thesis, and fully developed points (i.e., examples take 3-4 sentences, while commentary and explanation take 2-5 sentences).  We then got into groups of 3 and analyzed some student writing, looking for the above.

SENIORS: Please continue to work on your children's book, due this coming Tuesday.

SOPHOMORES: In order to balance out the negativity of most of the readings we've done, we watched a short video about Alice Herz, a Holocaust survivor who is 108 years old.  If you were absent for this, Google her name and the video will come up.  Watch it and write in your notebook (title it Hope) your observations on this wonderful, gentle lady.  Also, we worked in partners and started generating ideas, questions, answers, and thoughts about the Nature of Man, based on everything we've done so far.  Monday will be a Socratic Seminar, so some prepared with something significant to say.

SENIORS: Still working on that second rough draft; you're turning it in on Tuesday.

SOPHOMORES: We annotated an Oprah Winfrey article called What I Know for Sure and responded to that article in our notebook (titled Oprah).  Also, we re-took the Human Nature Opinion Survey and compared it to the first time we took the survey.  In the notebook, we wrote about whether or not there was a change in perception and why that did or did not happen.  Lastly, we found all of the handouts and writings we've done for this unit to 1) create questions for a Socratic Seminar and 2) have all the information for the writing of a synthesis paper.

SENIORS: Continue working on the second rough draft of your children's book.  You should have 4 sheets of computer paper, with each sheet divided into 4 squares (this gives you 32 "pages").  Transfer your first rough draft onto your second rough draft, making changes, corrections, and completions as necessary.  Be as complete and precise as you can, although we know it might not be "perfect" yet.  The second rough draft is due Tuesday, April 16; turn in both drafts so I can see your progress.

SOPHOMORES: I collected the homework (the handout with  Doctor My Eyes and Columbine Teens).  With a partner, we did Say Something and summarized the Robert Ardrey article Man is Innately Aggressive.  The homework was to do the same for the Thomas Hobbes article Man is Evil and Warlike."  I will collect the homework first thing tomorrow.

SENIORS: Those of you who turned in your storyboards got them back; look over my comments and make corrections.  Those of you who didn't turn in your storyboards can still do so, but for a reduced grade (hey, some points are better than no points).  We now move on to the second rough draft; focus on clearer storylines, grammar, spelling, punctuation, message, and title.  If you started your story with "once upon a time" or " once there was a", change it; those beginnings are overdone.  The second rough draft is due Tuesday, April 16.  You will need more computer paper; only this time, fold it into 4 sections (instead of 8 sections like last time).  Try to be as thorough, complete, and perfect as you can; this will make the transition to your final draft much easier.

SOPHOMORES:  We started off with a warmup on a separate sheet of paper that I collected; on that paper, respond to the following: Thinking back on the last two chapters of NIGHT, what event stands our in your mind the most.  Why is that event important?  Why do you think you remember that event more than anything else that happened in those chapters?  Now that we are finished with NIGHT, do not return it to the library; you will need it as reference material for the synthesis paper that is coming up next week.  Also, there is a new handout that continues our thinking about "The Nature of Man."  See me for the handout; the questions that go with the Columbine side are: 1. Have video games changed us?  2. Does video game technology affect a developing brain more than a developed brain?  3. Has video game technology affected out sense of empathy?