English - R8C & EMF8B

EMF8B:

Chapter 1

Chapter 3







Debates:

Our debates will begin Tuesday, Feb.17. 

The order of debaters will be drawn randomly, meaning that everybody needs to be ready to present.

Here are the details of what was discussed in class:

• Debate Planner - I've provided feedback/comments on all the ones that were handed in
• Debate Outline
• Debate Rubric

Well, we've been going to the library regularly, so it's time to share what we've been reading. Our first series of booktalks is about to begin.

What is a booktalk?

For one, a booktalk is an opportunity for us to find out what others in the class are reading; at the same time, a booktalk is not a book report.  For a more detailed description, please click here.

Your presentation should be short, no longer than 5 minutes max.  Your booktalk also includes a written component, which is nothing more than a script of what you'll be telling us.  For the sample of the script of the booktalk I presented on Walter Dean Myers' Monster, click here.

Remember that there are three things you need to have ready on your presentation day:

1. Two copies of your script; one for display on the reading tree and the other to get evaluated.
2. A picture or photocopy of your book's cover.
3. The actual book so you can show it to us and read a short  selection.

Presentation schedules for each class can be found here:      R8C       EMF8B

Finally, for a copy of the marking scheme for your booktalk, click here.

Six-Word Memoirs

For the final assignment of our recount unit, we’re switching things up a bit by crafting our own six-word memoirs.

A six-word memoir is exactly what it sounds like:  a memoir in exactly six words – no more, no less.  Literary legend has it that Ernest Hemingway, presumably at one of his frequent outings at the local watering hole, was challenged to write a short story in six words.  Hemingway, being Hemingway, took the bait and came up with the following:  “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

Jump ahead to the year 2006, when the editors of the online magazine SMITH challenged its readers to tell their life stories in six words.  The project was a huge success, the six-word memoir phenomenon went viral and has since spawned a series of books and a long list of websites dedicated to the same cause.  Not surprisingly, the idea really appealed to teenagers, already well-trained in the art of brevity through texting and Twitter, including the SMITHTEENS site.

After having discussed that a six-word should tell something specific about our personality or should retell a specific, memorable event, we took a look at various samples of other six-word memoirs.  Through our discussion, we also established that a good six-word memoir tells its story without being too obvious about.

For example, “My best friend was a wallflower” tells me that the author probably is somebody who doesn’t care how others might categorize people.  This memoir infers that cliquish labels such as ‘cool’ or not mean nothing to the author, but it does so without stating the obvious, such as “Don’t care who my friends are.”  Similarly, “Different foods on plate mustn't touch” tells me that a person is very particular about certain things, perhaps even obsessive-compulsive about them without stating “I really care about certain things.”

Our assignment itself is quite simple:  Write a minimum of five 6-word memoirs and then choose the one you like best.  Create a single Powerpoint slide using Google Drive and use a picture to add a visual element to your memoir.  There will be a computer lab period to work on this part of the project.

Six-Word Memoir Rubric  

Stay tuned to see this year's editions!

 

Here's the annotated version of the poem: "The Raven" (with side notes)

"I Was There" recount assignment

For those of you who have seen it, think Forrest Gump in writing...

• Outline
• Rubric

Here's what you'll need to hand in:
1. graphic organizer
2. rough draft(s)
3. final copy

Where I'm From Poem

Here is the original poem:

Page 1
Page 2

Due date: Monday, October 20 (R8C and EMF8B)

Notes from class:

“Where I’m From”

·       Does not have to rhyme

·       Be descriptive – find a creative way to say simple things (ex. food)

·       5 senses: What does it look like? … smell like? …sound like? … feel like? …taste like?

·       Final 3 lines have to be the same as original poem

·       No lists!

·       Alliteration

·       Metaphors and similes (comparisons)

·       Personification

·       Onomatopoeia

·       Juxtaposition

Letter of Recommendation

Due dates:

• R8C: Monday, September 22

• EMF8B: Monoay, September 22

Remember, your letter should be written from the point of view of the person who best knows your skills for your dream job.

You will need to hand in three things on the due date:

1. graphic organizer (the one with my comments on it; for a copy see Recent Handouts on home   page of this blog)

2. your letter - double-spaced, in pen or typed

For those who wanted the sample read in class, click here: Zookeeper Letter of Recommendation

Finally, here's the rubric that will be used to mark your final copy: Letter of Recommendation Rubric

Any questions?  Ask!