Blog Posts Due Friday!

A friendly reminder HERE

Film Forum - Spellbound

Bloggingheads videos are due on Wednesday.  We'll be watching them in class.  Be sure to look here for details on how you'll be graded and what you need to do to submit your video to me.

In celebration of the conclusion of our spelling quizzes, we're going to watch Spellbound this week.  Choose any two of the following questions to answer. Post your completed answers on your blog by Friday.

1. Choose one subject (person). Describe how winning the spelling bee is important to that subject.
2. Do homonyms get you down?  Pick some that you commonly mix up, and come up with a creative way to remember how to tell them apart in the future.
3. Write down five words that you did not know how to spell until seeing them in Spellbound.
4. Do you have something in your life like the National Spelling Bee? Describe some of the pressure you feel.
5. Should we still have spelling bees? Why? Why not?

Bloggingheads - Day 2

Take a look at the blog post from Tuesday for more details on the steps you need to follow for your Bloggingheads recordings.  Also, bloggingheads.tv has plenty of arguments for you to watch and consider.

Before class on Monday, you need to upload your recorded argument to this Dropbox folder.  Your file name should contain your block number, title and both bloggers' names (example - block8_deathpenalty_ferrebee).

Lastly, you will be graded on the following criteria, so please be aware of what you need to accomplish if you want to earn an advanced score on this summative assignment:

Rhetorical Techniques (40%)
Speaker uses all rhetorical techniques at least once in a persuasive and effective way.  Evidence provided for ethos and logos is accurate and comes from a reliable source.  The presenter excels in using the following argumentative order ethos > logos > pathos.

Rhetorical Issue (30%)
Speakers argument maintains a single rhetorical issue throughout and uses it accurately (forensic, demonstrative, or deliberative).  The selected rhetorical issue fits the topic.

Register/Public Speaking (30%)
Speaker excels in using informal register throughout.
Conversation flows naturally and does not sound scripted.  Speaker speaks clearly and confidently.  Speaker uses good eye contact while speaking and listening.  He or she also allows silence instead of filler words (um, ehhh, ugghh, like) to distract the audience.  The listener maintains focus on the listener.

Let the Bloggingheads Arguments Begin!

Looking ahead to next week, you'll need to complete the steps below for your Bloggingheads Argument Project with your partner.

STEP 1: First, choose your topic and the mode of rhetoric (forensic, demonstrative, or deliberative) with your partner.
STEP 2: Using your mode of rhetoric, start preparing individually for the argument by developing your three points (ethos>logos>pathos)
STEP 3: Rehearse and record your conversation by sitting together in front of a webcam and recording your conversation or by trying the Bloggingheads method of recording a Skype call in split-screen using one of the following programs:
http://www.pamela.biz/en/ 
http://www.evaer.com/index.htm

We'll watch (and I'll grade your arguments) next Wednesday and Friday.

Next Tuesday...

Spelling/vocab quiz on "u" and "v" words and the following roots:

vac	empty	vacation, vacuum, vacuous, vacant
ven, vent	come, go	intervene, convene, contravene, event, convenient, adventure
vert	turn	introvert, irreversible, vertigo, vertex, vertical

Spelling/Vocab Quiz Friday

Look over your "t" words and the following vocabulary roots:

ten, tent	hold	tentative, tenable, tenuous
terr	earth	subterranean, terrain, terrestrial, disinter
theo	god, deity	theology, polytheism, atheist, monotheism

Google Doc Reflection Time

GO SEE DON JUAN THIS WED., THURS., OR FRI. AND EARN A READING BLOG PASS FOR A FUTURE HW ASSIGNMENT!  ON THE BACK OF YOUR TICKET STUB WRITE DOWN THE DATE OF THE PERFORMANCE YOU ATTENDED, SIGN IT, AND TURN IT IN TO ME.
_________________

For Wednesday, you need to write a two-paragraph reflection on the (+) and (-) found at the top of your rubric.  For each paragraph, use textual evidence from your op-ed.

__________________ AN IMPORTANT NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR OP-ED GRADES

COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TASKS:

1. Write your reflection on your Google Doc (see description above).
2. If pathos, logos, or ethos were one of your (-) challenges, you need to demonstrate that you understand how to use these techniques in your Google Doc reflection by revising and typing new persuasive op-ed sections into your Doc.
3. If informal register was one of your (-) challenges, you need to rewrite one of your paragraphs in your Google Doc to demonstrate that you understand how to shift your register for different audiences.
4. Complete your revisions below your reflection and bring your essay to our opportunity period conference.

Sample revisions (to be typed in your Google Doc) –

Original Logos- Second hand smoke kills 50,000 Colombians each year.

Revision - Governments have a responsibility to protect their citizens.  50,000 Colombians died of lung cancer as a result of second hand smoking last year.  Therefore, the Colombian government has a responsibility to ban smoking in public places.     

Circled Issue – You where dead.

Revision – You were dead. 

The Art of Persuasion

Pathos at play.

Post three advertisement examples on your blog and provide a short analysis of which rhetorical technique is being used in each.

You should have an advertisement for pathos, logos, and ethos.

Oh, and don't forget to take your atabrine (whatever that is...)

Share your opinion with the world...

1)  On Tuesday, you'll have a vocabulary/spelling quiz on "s" words, and your vocabulary will be as follows:

schizo, schiz (division, split) [schizophrenic, schism]
scrib, script (write) [manuscript, scribe, scripture]
sec, sect (cut) [sectarian, dissect, section]


2) Over the weekend, please submit your op-ed article to Teen Ink for possible publication.

First, write a cover letter which include the title, approximate word count, and a brief biography. Be sure to write in formal register.

Dear Editors,

Please consider this op-ed article, " " (approx. ___ words) for publication in Teen Ink.

Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Your name
HERE IS THE SUBMISSION LINK Submit at Teen Ink Magazine. 

3) A NOTE FOR THOSE WHO WERE AWAY THIS WEEK - Don't fret.  You need to read a few chapters from Genesis to prepare for next week.  You can read Chapter 4 (Cain and Abel), Chapter 11 (Tower of Babel) and Chapters 21-22 (Abraham and Isaac) using this link to the King James Version.  

DEADLINE extension for Op-Ed articles

I will not be in class today, so your op-ed articles will be due on Friday.  Please come meet with me during opportunity period this afternoon or tomorrow if you'd like a conference before turning in your final draft.

Having read some of your articles in conferences, I'd like to remind you that you are trying to persuade your reader to share your opinion.  Let's practice identifying some of the elements of persuasion today.  Please complete the followings tasks IN PAIRS in the computer lab.  You'll turn in your work on a separate sheet of paper at the end of class:

1) Read this article and identify parts of the author's argument that use logos, pathos and/or ethos to appeal to the reader;

2) Read this article and identify the register and write down three passages from the article that support your assertion.  Also read the discussion posts below the article and summarize the response to Sarah Lakewood's article with which you most agree;

3) Read this editorial sharing an opinion of the violent protests in the Middle East that erupted in September over a YouTube video critical of Islam.  Identify parts of the author's argument that use logos, pathos, and/or ethos to appeal to the reader; and

4) Lastly, put your names, today's date and your block number at the top of your paper and turn your paper to your substitute.

If you have extra time today, ask your partner to read your op-ed and tell you which of the grading criteria you still need to work on to earn a 4.  See you Friday!

Op-ed articles DUE WEDNESDAY!

Take some time this weekend to revise and edit your articles to turn in to me on Wednesday.  If you missed class this week, you'll want to be sure to first read this great article and view this short video.  Both do a good job of explaining all three rhetorical techniques.  Using all three will help you earn a higher score and (more importantly) present a stronger argument.

BELOW ARE THE RUBRIC CRITERIA WE DISCUSSED IN CLASS LAST WEEK.  Read it.  Know it.  Write it. Live it.

STANDARD: Employs an effective use of rhetoric, including controlling tone, maintain a consistent voice, and achieving emphasis through parallelism and antithesis.
50%
TO EARN AN ADVANCED SCORE - 

Pathos, logos, ethos are used effectively and consistently throughout to strong persuasive effect for the reader.

Consistent use of informal register throughout the article.

STANDARD: Uses correct grammar, spelling, and sentence construction

25%

TO EARN AN ADVANCED SCORE - 

Author confidently uses commas when forming compound and complex sentences.  Correct spelling and capitalization are used throughout.

STANDARD: Uses a clear, logical, purposeful, and effective structure.

25%

TO EARN AN ADVANCE SCORE - 

Article is at least 1-page (12-pt, Times New Roman, double-spaced), contains an original title, and uses a clear and logical introduction, body and conclusion.

Spelling and Vocab Quiz Next Class

Spelling "q" and "r"

Vocabulary -
re- (again, back) [repeat, regurgitate]
retro- (back) [retroactive, retrofit]
quer / quis (ask) [query, inquisition]

We've now finished chapter 3 of Genesis, and next week we'll have a writer's workshop for your op-ed articles.

NOTE FOR BLOCK 8 - Here is a link, so you can finish reading Genesis Chapter 3

Happy Halloween...

Happy Halloween from your friendly racoon.

OMG... what happened 2 my register!?!

On Wednesday, I'll collect the following from you:

1) Your first draft (with your hand-written register revisions); and
2) Your second draft (typed, double-space, Times New Roman).

Some of you were finding the difference between informal and formal register challenging today.  Here is a more complete explanation of both (with sample passages) that should help you focus on the conversational, opinionated tone you need to use in your op-ed revisions.

In the Beginning... Our Bible Reading Begins

Today we will begin our reading of the Bible.  We only have a select number of book copies, so please use this link if you have a laptop.

For homework, you need to prepare for your spelling and vocabulary quiz on Monday:

spelling - "o" and "p" from your list

vocabulary roots -
pot - power (potent, omnipotent)
pac - peace (pacify, Pacific)
ortho - straight, correct (orthodox, orthodontist)

Drafting your Op-Ed Article

Using your pre-writing from today's class, print out an objective news article from one of these newspapers that you would like to write an op-ed article on in response:

The New York Times
The BBC World News

Your article should relate to one of the following themes from Persepolis: women’s rights, fear, power, politics, religion, torture, revolution, capital punishment, human rights, government oppression, globalization, family or education.

Next, write your draft op-ed (length - 1 page, font - New Times Roman, double-spaced) using objective and subjective statements to persuade your reader to share your opinion.  I will collect your drafts at the beginning of next class in preparation for our next Writer's Workshop.

Let's Form Some Opinions

For next class, read these newspaper articles about Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year old blogger.

Pakistani Activist Shot - October 9, 2012
Portrait of the Girl Blogger - October 10, 2012

Post an opinion response on your blogs.

Our next spelling quiz will be on Tuesday for "m" and "n" words on your list and the following Latin root words:

mis - hatred (examples - misogyny, misanthrope, misandronist)
pseudo - false (examples - pseudonym, pseudoscience)
ver - truth (example - veracity, verify)

Persepolis Week

I hope you enjoyed the break and the opportunity to read a graphic novel.  We'll be spending this week examining and discussing the novel.

Today you will receive your graded Epic Hero Comic Book.  You need to review the feedback I have provided on your Google Document and write a reflection.  I invite you to attend an opportunity period if you would like to improve your grade.  I will meet with you during opportunity period, but be sure to have completed your revisions and Google Doc reflection, so we can spend the time discussing your writing.

On Friday, we will discuss Persepolis.  Come prepared to discuss the questions you selected in class.  Use your close reading skills to reread select passages and quotes that might help us gain a deeper appreciation for the novel.

WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR COMIC BOOK GRADE?  COME VISIT ME DURING OPPORTUNITY PERIOD ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH THE FOLLOWING TASKS COMPLETED:

1. Visit your Google Doc for detailed feedback. (If you are not sure you have access, email me today, and put “Google Doc link” in the subject line.  I’ll send you the link.)
2. Write a reflection on the Google Doc.
3. Come to opportunity period tomorrow – You must bring your revisions and have completed your Google Doc reflection.  

Sample revision (to be written on a separate sheet) –

      Original Circled Issue – You where dead.

Revision – You were dead.

Fall Break Assignments

I am looking forward to reading your comic books over the break!

Your assignments over the break are as follows:

1) Read Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi; and
2) Post reading blog responses for the following chapters: The Veil, Persepolis, The Sheep, The Passport, and The Dowry.

Reminder for Friday

Comic books DUE!

Please bring your copy of Persepolis to class.

Final Week for Comic Books

We will be finalizing our comic books this week.  They are due Friday, and for Wednesday, you need to revise and edit your book based on the peer feedback you received today.

You will also want to keep the rubric in mind as we approach the due date.

Draft Comic Books Due Monday

McCloud would say, "Nice INTER-DEPENDENT word/picture combination!"

Over the weekend, complete the draft version of your comic books.  We will spend time next week editing and revising them in preparation for Friday's publication!  Here is the rubric I'll be using to grade your work.

In addition, we will have a quiz on Monday.  You need to study j, k, and l spelling words and the following roots and prefixes:

- super-/ sur- (over, above)
- tele- (distant)
- poly- (many)

Comic Books Take Shape!

A nice "larger than life" juxtaposition!

I am enjoying reading the initial pages of your comic books.  This week, we will continue to develop them in preparation for our Friday, October 5th due date.

For Thursday, you need to complete pages 2-3 of your book.

Also, we are studying comma usage this week.  If you are still confused after today's class, review this website; it is full of useful information and examples.

Weekend plans

This week we've finished our juxtaposed comic book covers and have started on the initial pages of our books.

For next Tuesday's quiz, you need to study the following:

Spelling - "g" "h" and "i" words (here is the link)
Vocabulary - biblio, bene and mal/male
(make sure you can use the vocabulary words in sentences that demonstrate understanding of the definition)

Hero Comic Book - the Project QUEST Continues...

The first page of your comic is due Friday. 

Remember to practice some of the seven (7) techniques for pairing words and picture frames suggested by McCloud in Understanding Comics.

Here they are in case you don't have your FRAME handy: word specific, picture specific, duo-specific, additive, parallel, montage, and inter-dependent.

This week at a glance...

We will be testing on Monday and Friday of this week.  As Pre-AP students, it is important that you try your best, so I can use the results to better help you succeed in our class.

For Wednesday, I would like for you to study for your "e" and "f" spelling and vocabulary quiz.  Here is the list.

We'll be adding the following Latin roots and prefix to the quiz:

frater - brother (fraternity, fraternal, etc.)
temp - time (temporary, temporal, etc.)
im - not (immortal, immortality, etc.)

You'll need to define and offer sample sentences for each.  Remember, your sentence must demonstrate your undertanding of the definition of the sample word.

Lastly, I'll be returning your Comic Book Project materials to you today.  You need to complete your book cover for class on Wednesday and be prepared to discuss it with the class.  We'll discuss your use of juxtaposition on Wednesday, and continue working on your writing.

Next Week - Spelling and Roots

Study for your "e" and "f" quiz.  Here is the list.

Also, we'll be adding the following Latin roots and prefix to the quiz:

frater - brother (fraternity, fraternal, etc.)
temp - time (temporary, temporal, etc.)
im - not (immortal, immortality, etc.)

You'll need to define and offer sample sentences for each.  Remember, your sentence must demonstrate your undertanding of the definition of the sample word.

Comic Books and Songs

This week we'll be preparing for two projects.

The first is long term: our comic books. We'll continue to work on yours next Writers Workshop.

The second, due Thursday, will be your song adaptation of Gilgamesh. Your song should incorporate three important lines from the poem: one from the beginning, one from the middle and one from the end of the poem.  In addition, you'll demonstrate your understanding of epic hero and foil by including one reference to an epic hero trait displayed by Gilgamesh and one reference to the literary term foil.

On Thursday, you will turn in a printout of your song lyrics and sing your song with your group.  If you would prefer to record your song and play it for the class, you may choose that as another presentation option.

Since this assignment will be your final Gilgamesh assignment, you will be graded on how well you demonstrate understanding of the poem through inclusion of textual references and the quality of your speaking skills (rehearse!).

Here is a link to a free program that will help you record your song if you'd like to try working with audio production.

Gilgamesh and Spelling Quiz

Reminder: words "c" and "d" on Tuesday!

 

Read Tablet XI of Gilgamesh and post a blog response.  See "What is a Reading Blog" post from last week if you are not sure what you should topically cover in your reading blog.

 

For those who need it - a hyperlink on capitalization:   CLICK HERE

For Friday...

Accept your Google document "Online Writer's Workshop" invitation and add a "Dear Mr. Ferrebee" reflection on your Ishmael essay and feedback.  You might describe what you plan to focus on in preparation for the next essay.  You might discuss something you are particularly proud of in the essay you have written.

Also, you need to begin work on your Epic Comic Book by drawing or creating a visual representation of your hero.  You may draw.  You may collage.  You may use graphic design software.  The sky is the limit for your creativity, but you need to turn in the image on Friday.

Spelling Quiz and Gilgamesh

I am reading through your vocabulary sentences and essays from last week, and I am noticing quite a few spelling mistakes.  We'll begin having weekly spelling quizzes to help you.

On Wednesday, you'll have a spelling quiz on the "a" and "b" words on this list.

You also need to continue reading Gilgamesh - Tablets VIII-X and post an image that explains your response to Gilgamesh's QUESTion.

The Epic of Gilgamesh

Over the weekend, you need to:

1) Finish reading The Epic of Gilgamesh through the end of Table VII;

2) Write one reading blog for Tablets I-III;

3) Write one reading blog for Tablets IV-V; and

4) Write one reading blog for Tablets VI-VII.

What is a Reading Blog?

Reading to Blog

What's more important the book or our interpretations of the book? Can there be a book without there being interpretation? We'll be able to answer some of those questions after we've recorded the history of our relationships with our books.

In order to preserve paper, as well as to promote our communication with the academic world outside of CNG, we'll be keeping blogs about the books we read.

You will write your own blogs, and respond to your blogs as prescribed by your weekly homework blog entry. You should not approach each blog the same way. With variety comes varied thought; therefore, I hope you focus on different topics and take different approaches in each entry.

Here are some possibilities:

-Respond to the text personally: 

I never had my house blown down by a wolf, but I have felt loss. For example, I once abandoned my favorite apartment. I left most of my furniture there, some clothes, even a television!

-Connect text to another book, a film, work of art, a comic or any other creation: 

The Three Little Pigs reminds me of The Matrix. When the Wolf "huffed and puffed and blew his house down" he acted just as Morpheus did for Reeve's character. Suddenly, Reeves was without the security he once felt.

-Ask questions to later answer:
What might the grandmother represent? Why would the Wolf want to blow down the houses? How might I write a better ending? I would then maybe answer these questions in later blogs. 

-Visual Vocabulary 
Select the words you think it was important to define in the text. Match a picture to it on your blog post. 

-Hyperlink 
You might want to use the 21^st century's answer to footnotes when you're talking about something that is not common knowledge. We'll do a demo of how to insert a hyperlink in class.

You may use any combination of these, or you can write your own type of entries. Let your reading guide your entries. We'll take a look at them in class and in conferences.

Ishmael In-Class Essay and Vocabulary Quiz

On Thursday, you will have a short vocabulary quiz on the Latin roots we discussed today.

Also, you will have a 35 minute, timed in-class essay based on our readings from Ishmael.  I encourage you to come to Wednesday's opportunity period if you have any questions.  Your grade will be based on your understanding of our in-class Ishmael readings and your accurate use of capitalization, punctuation and spelling.

Take it or Leave it

For next Tuesday, please have your Ishmael discussion questions ready for class.  In case you've forgotten, here they are:

a.       What does Ishmael imply about the “Takers”?

b.      How has the relationship between Ishmael and the protagonist changed?

c.       Make 2 inferences regarding the “Leavers”?

d.      Define “mother culture”

e.      Do you agree with Ishmael?

A Picture is Worth a Thousand... INFERENCES!

For Friday, choose your favorite picture. Post it into your blog. Then write at least three inferences you are able to make based upon the picture and your prior knowledge.

The QUESTions Blog Titles

For next class, comment on this blog posting, so I will be able to communicate with all of you.

Welcome to Pre-AP 9th grade English

This week you need to begin a blog here. In your blogger profile, be sure to use your full name.  The title you create for your blog should be accurate, original and clever.

For our second class, we will be reading passages from Ishmael, one of your summer reading options.