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Davis School District

January 21-25, 2008: Third Term Begins!

Monday, January 21

• Human Rights Day
• Thank you, Dr. King!
  (And not just for the day off!)

Tuesday, January 22

• No School for Students
  

Wednesday, January 23: Welcome to the Third Term!

• New Classes/New Seats
• Hall Passes/Reading Contracts
• The Vocabulary of Persuasion: Take notes! (And don't lose 'em!)
• Journal #5: "The Right to Privacy"
  Write a response to Betsy Hart. Maintain appropriate voice, a clear sense of purpose, and effective word choice for this audience. (100+)
  

Thursday, January 24: Computer Lab 137

• Online Essay Scoring: Baseline Persuasive Essay
• Using Word, write an essay on this topic: In an effort to save money, your local school board is considering eliminating elective subjects such as art, band, and auto mechanics. What is your position on this issue? Write a letter to the school board stating your position and supporting it with convincing reasons. Be sure to explain your reasons in detail.
• Save your essay, but don't close it.
• Login to the Online Textbook
• Select "Online Essay Scoring" >>> "Next" >>> Topic #8
• Copy your essay from Word and paste it into the box.
• Select "Get Your Score"
• Read the evaluations.
• Log out.
• More to come on persuasive essays....
  

Friday, January 25

• Bad Signs: Which Grammar Punk rule does this sign violate? Correct it & submit your response.
• Journal #6: TV Survey
• "The Trouble With Television": Evaluate the Argument
• Term Writing -- Persuasive Writing: So, what's your thesis?
• Homework: Decide on your opinion statement for your own persuasive essay.
  

January 28 - February 1, 2008

Monday, January 28

• Submit Opinion Statement: Persuasive Writing Step #1
• Bad Signs: Which Grammar Punk rule does this sign violate? Correct it.
• Journal #7: "The Star-Spangled Banner"
• NBTT Vocabulary List: gallant, animosity, spangled, facilitate, banner, rampart, peril, raucous, misconstrue, patriotism
• Vocabulary Worksheet
  

Tuesday, January 29

• Finish Vocabulary Worksheet
• Persuasive Writing Step 2: Reasons that Support Your Opinion Statement
• Massive Purple Text: pp. 321 & 322
• Outline Persuasive Essay: Due Tomorrow!
  

Wednesday, January 30: Computer Lab

• Persuasive Outline due!
• Step #3: Draft Persuasive Essay: Find some facts, statistics, and expert opinions to support your thesis!
  (Just make sure you are using valid information.)
  And don't forget to address the counterclaims!
• Still need to finish the Vocabulary Worksheet? Here's a dictionary!
  

Thursday, January 31

• Vocabulary Worksheet due!
• Bad Signs: What's wrong with this one? Correct it.
  About this e-mail: How many errors can you find in the message?
• Journal #8: "Honesty is the best policy." Is this always true? Are there times when lying serves a greater good? What is your personal philosophy on lying? Relate an example from your own experience that illustrates this philosophy.
• Begin Nothing But the Truth: 1-23
  

Friday, February 1: Reading Contracts due!

"...students today are not what they used to be. There is no love of literature...Young people don't read at all today -- outside of school requirements. They come to literature reluctantly at best, fighting me every inch of the way. It's not as if they aren't bright. They are. And I like them and their capacity for independence. But the other side of that independence is a lack of caring for anything beyond themselves." --Miss Narwin, Nothing But the Truth (p. 8) The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. --Mark Twain (1835-1910)



• Journal #9: Copy these quotations into your journal. Is Miss Narwin correct about most of today's teenagers? Why or why not? Are you a typical teen in this respect? Do you see any danger for a culture that doesn't read? Discuss. (100+)
• Nothing But the Truth: 24-49
• Bad Signs: What's wrong with this one and this one? Correct them.
  

February 4-8, 2008

Monday, February 4: Draft of Persuasive Paper due!

• See "Writer's Model" (pp. 323-24) of the Massive Puple Text: Label your essay in the margins just as that writer did. Turn in Persuasive Draft.
• Review List: Gigantic All-Inclusive Word "Cells" Test on February 15th!
• Bad Signs: What's wrong with this one? Correct it.
  Here's that one I was telling you about last week!
• Nothing But the Truth: 49-66
  

Tuesday, February 5

• Bad Signs: What's wrong with this one? This one? Correct 'em.
• Nothing But the Truth: 67-99
  

Wednesday, February 6

• Journal #10: "Our society is always asking schools to do what is not done at home." --Miss Narwin (p. 90)
  Is this true? Consider the many things schools are expected to do today. Is Miss Narwin correct? Why or why not? Do schools take on too much responsibility? Discuss.
• Quiz: Elements of the Persuasive Essay
  (This is a lot like the sort of passage that will appear on the CRT tests, where you will have to analyze and revise rough drafts.)
• Nothing But the Truth: 99-120
  

Thursday, February 7: Thompson Computer Lab

• Online Essay Scoring: Second Persuasive Essay
• Using Word, write an essay on this topic: Your principal is considering a new grading policy that replaces letter or number grades on report cards with pass or fail. What is your position concerning this issue? Write a letter to your principal stating your position and supporting it with convincing reasons. Be sure to explain your reasons in detail.
• Save your essay, but don't close it.
• Login to the Online Textbook
• Select "Online Essay Scoring" >>> "Next" >>> Topic #10
• Copy your essay from Word and paste it into the box.
• Select "Get Your Score"
• Read the evaluations.
• Log out.
• Was this score better than your last one? It should be!
  

Friday, February 8

• Nothing But the Truth: 121-150
  

February 11-15, 2008

Monday, Februrary 11

• Journal #11: Identify biased statements (and explain why each is biased) in the articles about Philip Malloy on pages 113 & 121.
• Nothing But the Truth: 151-186
• Does this story sound anything like Philip's?
  

Tuesday, February 12

• Finish Nothing But the Truth: 187-197
• Character Values Chart & Your Verdict
• Bad Signs: Wow! Look at 'em all!
  

Wednesday, February 13

• Turn in Character Values Chart & Your Verdict
• Return Persuasive Essay Drafts:
  Suggestions for Solving Common Problems in Persuasive Essays
• Final Draft with Signed Editor's Checklist due February 20th!
• Patriotism / "Star-Spangled Banner" Worksheet
  
  

Thursday, February 14: Thompson Computer Lab

• Find an expert opinion and/or collection of facts/statistics that support your Persuasive Essay.
• Revise First Draft: See tips and suggestions here and here!
• Create Works Cited: Citation Machine Helps!
• Study Word Cells Tonight!
  

Friday, February 15

• Gigantic All-Inclusive Word "Cells" Test (100+ cells)
• Finish Patriotism / "Star-Spangled Banner" Worksheet
  

February 18-22, 2008

Monday, Februrary 18: Presidents' Day

• No School
  

Tuesday, February 19

• Finish & Turn in Patriotism / "Star-Spangled Banner" Worksheet
• Sentence Fluency Handout
• Word Choice/Fluency Worksheet: "Working with Words" -- Do #s 1-20 on a separate sheet of paper.
• Persuasive Essay (Final Draft) due Tomorrow!

Wednesday, February 20: Persuasive Essay Final Draft due

• Word Choice/Fluency Worksheet: "Working with Words" -- #s 21-40
• Assignment: Rewrite this to improve fluency.
• Journal #12: Read "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins. Write 100+ words about your thoughts on poetry: What is it? Do you like it? Why or why not? Does it have to rhyme? Who is your favorite poet? Do you have some poems memorized? Discuss poetry and why it is or is not a positive force in your life.
  

Thursday, February 21: Thompson Computer Lab

• Last Day for Independent Reading Extra Credit
• Online Essay Scoring: Third and Final Practice Essay for DWA
• Using Word, write an essay on this topic: Your state legislature is considering a bill that would require a person to earn a high school diploma before he or she could receive a driver’s license. What is your position on this issue? Write an essay to convince your state legislature to accept your point of view.
• Save your essay, but don't close it.
• Login to the Online Textbook
• Select "Online Essay Scoring" >>> "Next" >>> Topic #4
• Copy your essay from Word and paste it into the box.
• Select "Get Your Score"
• Read the evaluations.
• Log out.
• Was this score better than your last one? It should be!
  If you can score a 5 on this one, you are ready for the
  Direct Writing Assessment, which will be on March 4th!
  

Friday, February 22

• Finish & Submit "Working With Words" (both sides)
• Conventions Handouts: Capitalization & Punctuation Standards
  (Bad Signs & Grammar Punk Improve Conventions)
• Journal #1: Copy "George Gray" onto the next blank page in your journal. Space and punctuate correctly.
  

February 25-29, 2008

Monday, Februrary 25

• Review Word "Cells" Final Tests
• Intro to Spoon River Anthology & Poetic Terms
• "The Hill" (Study Questions) from Spoon River Anthology
• Meet Aragog! (And read his epitaph!)
• Grammar Punk: Roll the Bones! (Review Comma Rule #1)
  

Tuesday, February 26

• Grammar Punk: Review Yesterday's Abominations -- Comma Rule #1
• Spoon River Anthology: The Rhodes Affair
• Read each of these epitaphs carefully: Eugene Carman, Clarence Fawcett, Mrs. George Reece, Jack McGuire, Nicholas Bindle, Henry Phipps, Ralph Rhodes, Thomas Rhodes
• Note the cross-references, and learn the "whole story."
• On a separate page, summarize the story.
• Briefly describe each character involved, paying particular attention to the voice (tone) conveyed by the epitaph.
• Turn in your summary and character descriptions.
  

Wednesday, February 27

• Spoon River Anthology
  Two-fers: Summarize each relationship in three sentences. Note the poetic elements and ironies in each combination.
  Albert Schirding & Jonas Keene
  Benjamin Pantier & Mrs. Benjamin Pantier
  Roscoe Purkapile & Mrs. Purkapile
  Hamilton Greene & Elsa Wertman
• Epitaphs (Voices from Beyond the Grave): Write a couple using the plan sheet.
  

Thursday, February 28: P.T. Conferences

• Thompson Computer Lab: DWA Prep.
• Evaluation of Timed Essays Using Six-Trait Scale
• Spoon River Anthology: Check the searchable database to find connections and cross-references! Find at least one epitaph that intrigues you in some way. Read it carefully and come prepared to summarize it for the class tomorrow.
  

Friday, February 29

• Journal #2: Free Choice -- Write 100+ words about anything you want.
• Summarize (in writing) the epitaph you studied yesterday in the lab. (No more than five sentences.)
• In-class Assignment: Analysis of Thematically-Linked Collections from Spoon River Anthology -- Choose one of the collections, read the epitaphs, and write a statement about Spoon River that each of the epitaphs in the collection would support. What do you know about the town based on the epitaphs in the collection you read?
  

March 3-7, 2008: DWA Week

Monday, March 3

• Journal #3: Welcome to March! Here comes spring and with it the end of the third term. Three months from now you will no longer be in junior high school. How do you feel about that? What are your goals (personal, social, academic) for the end of ninth grade. (100+)
• Return/Discuss Persuasive Essays
• Paired Epitaphs Assignment: Due March 12th
• Grammar Punk: Avoiding the Abominations (Comma Rules 1 & 6)
  

Tuesday, March 4: Direct Writing Assessment

• Direct Writing Assessment: Bring a Pencil or Two
• Write your heart out!
• If you're absent, you have to make it up before Friday!
  

Wednesday, March 5: Thompson Computer Lab

• Interactive Fiction: What is it?
• Example of Interactive Fiction: Zork
• Begin The Voices of Spoon River
  

Thursday, March 6: Thompson Computer Lab

• VOSR
  

Friday, March 7: Thompson Computer Lab

• Last Day for VOSR in class! Did you solve all the issues?
• Didn't get enough? (You can play from home!)
  

March 10-14, 2008

Monday, March 10

• Journal #4: What did you think of the game? Do you think it helped you understand the epitaphs? Are you a "gamer"? Can a game be both fun and educational? Discuss the link between learning and enjoyment. (100+)
• Final Review Spoon River Terms: Judge Somers, Chase Henry, Editor Whedon, Carl Hamblin, The Town Marshal, Jack McGuire, Ollie McGee, Fletcher McGee, Cooney Potter, Fiddler Jones

Tuesday, March 11 (Sub.)

• Final Test (multiple-choice) on Spoon River Anthology
  

Wednesday, March 12: High School Orientation (1st Period)

• Paired Epitaphs Due: The Classroom Graveyard
• Journal #5: On the next blank page in your journal, write your own poetic epitaph. Include at least one metaphor and some parallel structure. What do you think you'll want to say to world after you've shuffled off the mortal coil?
• Review Spoon River Tests
• Grammar Punk: Independent Clauses, Dependent Clauses, and Phrases
  (Homework: Finish Side 1 of Worksheet by tomorrow!)
  

Thursday, March 13 (Sub.)

• Grammar Punk: Sentence Structures (Worksheet Side 2)
• "The Lady or the Tiger?"
• Check your grades now! Yes, it's an assignment.
  

Friday, March 14

• Journal #6: "Practice Makes Perfect." Is this true? Why do professional athelete and musicians (like Neil Peart) still practice even though they are already the best at what they do? At what are you willing to practice for the rest of your life? At what do you hope to be great? (100 +)
• "What They Learn in School"
  

March 17-21, 2008

Monday, March 17

• Continue "What They Learn in School" (It's due Wednesday!)
• Begin Fahrenheit 451: Books & Study Guides
  The Fireman & The Girl (pp. 3-11)
  Hello Mildred! (pp.11-15...)
  

Tuesday, March 18

• Fahrenheit 451: Hello Mildred! (...pp.15-21)
  The Dandelion (21-22)
  The Mechanical Hound (pp. 22-28)
  Clarisse's Life: The Society of Fahrenheit 451 (pp.28-31)
  Remind you of "What They Learn in School"? Or us?
• Journal #7: Read the cartoon about school. What is the cartoon saying about school? What point is it making. Is this how you perceive school? Why or why not? (100+)
• Homework: Finish "What They Learn in School" Questions
  

Wednesday, March 19: Independent Reading Points due Today!

• Turn in "What They Learn in School" Questions
• Journal #8: Read this article. Have you ever had a similar experience in school? (Do tell.) Do you agree with the writer's conclusion? Discuss the role of conformity in education: How much is necessary? How much is too much? Consider Clarisse's description of her school, the cartoon we read yesterday, and today's article. Discuss. (100+)
• Fahrenheit 451:
  Captain Beatty & The History of the Fire Department (pp.31-35)
  The First Alarm (pp. 35-41)
• Homework -- Read the following and be ready for a reading quiz tomorrow:
  Montag's Doubts: Mildred & Her "Family" (pp.41-48)
  A Visit from Captain Beatty (pp.48-53)
  The Happiness Boys (pp. 53-63)
  
• Summary of Beatty's Lecture
  

Thursday, March 20: Thompson Computer Lab

• Last Day of the Third Term -- We made it!
• Fahrenheit 451: Censorship & F451 Assignment #1
  • Leave this web site open in one window.
  • Open a word processing program as well.
  • Open a new document with two columns..
  • In the first column, complete the Censorship assignment.
  • In the second column, complete F451 Assignment #1.
  • Make sure your name is on the document.
  • Save the document to your own server space.
  • Print.
  • Submit.
  • Here's one man's answer to the question of whether or not Beatty's definition of happiness fits our society: "Wake Up, Mildred!"
  • Here's another, more recent sample: "We Have Met the Enemy..."
    

Friday, March 21: Teacher Comp. Day

• No School
• Journal #?: Two (related?) Poems -- Which do you prefer and why? Consider the rhyme, rhythms of language, content, truthfulness, and anything else you think merits attention. Do either of these poems reflect your own feelings or experience? (100+)
  "The Grammar Lesson" by Steve Kowit
  "The Student Theme" by Ronald Wallace
  Two more (related?) Poems -- Which do you prefer and why? Consider the rhyme, rhythms of language, content, truthfulness, and anything else you think merits attention. Do either of these poems reflect your own feelings or experience? (100+)
  "Loud Music" or "Elevator Music"?