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December 17, 2009
Novel Study
Read chapter 8 by 12/18.
Notes from chapters 7, 8 are due 12/18.
Posted by ValerieC at 04:32 PM
Science 8, Chapter 10
Read the biography of Lise Meitner, and answer the questions by 12/18.
Posted by ValerieC at 04:29 PM
December 15, 2009
Science 6, 7 Chapter 8
Read pp. 1-7 of "California Geology", and complete p.8. by 12/16.
Chapter 8 Assessment is due 12/17.
Line drawings from "California Geology" are due 12/18.
Chapter 8 test is 12/18.
Posted by ValerieC at 04:04 PM
December 14, 2009
Science 8, Chapter 10
Read section 10.1, and complete the section review and vocabulary by 12/15.
Posted by ValerieC at 04:18 PM
Science 6, 7 Chapter 8
Complete Lab 8B, p. 55, and read section 8.4; complete the section review and vocabulary by 12/15.
Posted by ValerieC at 04:17 PM
Group C
Coordinating Conjunctions or FANBOYS:
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Please write a paragraph or a short story, nonfiction or fiction, about why "you" like or dislike the Winter holidays. Be specific, and use all of the seven coordinating conjunctions, FANBOYS, or if that affects the fluidity of the writing piece, you may use the conjunctions more than once. The paragraph or short story must be at least seven sentences long.
Due 1/4/10
Posted by ValerieC at 04:04 PM
Spelling/Vocabulary 12/14/09
Spelling/Vocabulary due dates:
Alphetebize, syllables, parts of speech, accent marks, and sentences are due Wednesday, 12/16.
Words written three times paper is due Friday, 12/18.
Test is on Friday, 12/18.
1. communion the act of sharing thoughts and feelings with others
2. ultimate final, utmost
3. calabashes the dried, hollow shells of a tropical gourdlike fruit, used for bowls
4. foo-foo an African food made from boiled and mashed yam, cassava, or plantain
5. tentative hesitant, uncertain
6. pottage a thick soup or stew of vegetables with or without meat
7. consoled made less sad; comforted
8. persistent stubborn, persevering, refusing to give up
9. grandees people of high rank
10. prophesied predicted; foretold
11. capricious whimsical, flighty, tending to change suddenly and without reason
12. imperious overbearing, arrogant, domineering
13. potent powerful
14. ultimatum a final demand whose rejection ends negotiations and leads to a use of force or other strong action
15. kola an African tree whose nuts contain caffeine and yield a flavorful extract
Posted by ValerieC at 03:51 PM
Novel Study
Read chapter 7 by 12/15.
Notes due 12/18.
Posted by ValerieC at 03:50 PM
December 11, 2009
History Chapter 11
Read Section 11.5.
Read Section 11.6 due 12/15.
Study Guide questions due 12/15.
Group collage 12/16
Read Sections 7, 8 12/16
Timeline project 12/17
Test 12/18
Interactive Notebooks for this unit are due 12/18. No new pages have been assigned; I'll just be checking the notebooks for this unit.
Posted by YosaifS at 06:20 PM
Novel Study
Read chapters 5 and 6 by 12/14.
Notes for chapters: 3-6 are due 12/14.
Posted by YosaifS at 06:17 PM
December 08, 2009
Spelling/Vocabulary 12-8-09
Spelling/Vocabulary Due Dates:
Due Wednesday, 12-9-09: syllables, accent marks, alphabetize list, parts of speech, and write a sentence for each word. Extra credit for using all the words in one creative sentence!
Due Friday, 12-11-09: write each word three times.
Spelling/vocabulary test on Friday, 12-11-09.
Spelling/Vocabulary
1. malevolent wishing harm to others
2. oracle a person or place believed to reveal messages from a god or spirit
3. void emptiness
4. abomination something hateful and disgusting
5. prowess bravery, valor; skill
6. benevolent wishing good to others
7. atone to make amends
8. poignant emotionally moving
9. interim a period between; meantime
10. intricate complex, elaborately detailed, hard to follow
11. brusqueness curtness; rough and abrupt speech
12. emissary a person sent on a mission
13. impending about to happen; imminent
14. cowries brightly colored, glossy mollusk shells used as money in parts of Africa and Asia
Posted by YosaifS at 03:27 PM
Novel Study
Read chapter 3, and in chapter 4, pages 26-32 by 12/9.
Posted by YosaifS at 03:26 PM
History Chapter 11
Read chapter section 11.4 by 12/9.
Posted by YosaifS at 03:25 PM
December 04, 2009
Newspaper Article Review
Review a newspaper article.
List the author, audience, location, as well as illustration and caption, if any.
Diagram one sentence with subject, verb, and pronouns.
Summarize the article (this can be one or more sentences.)
Write a letter to the editor, with your positive or negative review.
Be ready to discuss your article in class.
This is a daily assignment worth 2 points.
Posted by YosaifS at 04:36 PM
Novel Study
From reading chapters 1 and 2, please answer the following questions:
a. How does Okonkwo feel about his father, Unoka? Why?
b. Okonkwo is a wealthy man and a noble. What are the signs of his wealth?
c. In Chapter 1, Achebe describes the "harmatan." What context clues does he provide to help readers unfamiliar with the word "harmatan," understand it?
d. Who do you think would get along better in present-day American society, Okonkwo or Unoka? Why?
Include these as journal notes due Monday, 12/7.
Posted by YosaifS at 04:27 PM
Writing
Expository 5-Paragraph Essay Assignment
Choose one of the following prompts:
1. Personal Goals Many students have personal goals, such as making the honor roll, playing a musical instrument, or being a top scorer in a video game. To be successful in reaching goals, it helps to have certain qualities. Some of these might include self-discipline, determination, or a positive attitude. Think about a goal that you would like to achieve. In a well-developed composition, state your goal. Describe at least two qualities you will need to reach your goal, and explain why each quality is important to be successful. (MCAS Grade 7, 2004)
2. Challenges All of us face challenges in life. One challenge might be making new friends. Another challenge might be learning how to play a sport or a musical instrument. In a well-developed composition, describe a challenge that you or someone you know has faced. What lesson did you learn? Support your ideas with examples and details. (MCAS, Grade 7 Make-up, 2002)
3. A Memorable Day Most people have had a day that stands out in their minds. It might have been a day when they went somewhere special or something memorable happened. Think about one day that stands out in your memory, who was there and how you felt. Write an essay explaining what made this day memorable. Support your ideas with examples and details. (Department of Education, Tennessee)
4. Honorary Person The U.S. Postal Service has honored many individuals from presidents to singers to cartoon characters, by placing their portraits on postage stamps. Whom would you nominate to honor with a postage stamp? Think about why this person should have his or her own stamp. Write an essay indicating whom you would choose and explain why that person should be honored with a postage stamp. Support your ideas with examples and details.
Instructions, timeline and points:
Write a 5-paragraph essay with the components we reviewed in class (powerful or interesting first sentence of the introduction, and the thesis statement being the final sentence of the introduction; three supportive points in the three paragraphs; and a summarizing conclusion. Use the model essay as an example. Read the prompt, and give yourself time to think about the prompt before you begin planning to write the essay. Complete the outline. Evaluate, proofread, edit and revise your first draft using the rubric.
The outline is due Tuesday, December 8.
The first draft is due Wednesday, December 9.
Peer edit is due Thursday, December 10.
The final draft is due Friday, December 11.
Your essay will be worth the following points:
Title page 5
Introduction 10
Paragraph 2 10
Paragraph 3 10
Paragraph 4 10
Conclusion 10
Total: ___/55
How to Write a Five Paragraph Essay
While the classic five paragraph essay is a form seldom if ever used by professional writers, it is commonly assigned to students to help them organize and develop their ideas in writing. It can also be a very useful way to write a complete and clear response to an essay question on an exam. It has, not surprisingly, five paragraphs:
• an introduction
• three main body paragraphs
• a conclusion
We'll look at each type of paragraph, and at transitions, the glue that holds them together.
Introduction
The introduction should start with a general discussion of your subject and lead to a very specific statement of your main point, or thesis. Sometimes an essay begins with a "grabber," such as a challenging claim, or surprising story to catch a reader's attention. The thesis should tell in one (or at most two) sentence(s), what your overall point or argument is, and briefly, what your main body paragraphs will be about.
For example, in an essay about the importance of airbags in cars, the introduction might start with some information about car accidents and survival rates. It might also have a grabber about someone who survived a terrible accident because of an airbag. The thesis would briefly state the main reasons for recommending airbags, and each reason would be discussed in the main body of the essay.
Main Body Paragraphs (3)
Each main body paragraph will focus on a single idea, reason, or example that supports your thesis. Each paragraph will have a clear topic sentence (a mini thesis that states the main idea of the paragraph) and as much discussion or explanation as is necessary to explain the point. You should try to use details and specific examples to make your ideas clear and convincing.
Conclusion
Your conclusion begins with a restatement of your main point; but be sure to paraphrase, not just repeat your thesis sentence. Then you want to add some sentences that emphasize the importance of the topic and the significance of your view. Think about what idea or feeling you want to leave your reader with. The conclusion is the reverse of the introduction in that it starts out very specific and becomes a bit more general as you finish.
Transitions
Transitions connect your paragraphs to one another, especially the main body ones. It's not effective to simply jump from one idea to the next; you need to use the end of one paragraph and/or the beginning of the next to show the relationship between the two ideas.
Between each paragraph and the one that follows, you need a transition. It can be built in to the topic sentence of the next paragraph, or it can be the concluding sentence of the first. It can even be a little of both. To express the relationship between the two paragraphs, think about words and phrases that compare and contrast.
• Does the first paragraph tell us a pro and the second a con? ("on the other hand . . .")
• Does the second paragraph tell us something of greater significance? ("more importantly . . .")
• An earlier historical example? ("even before [topic of paragraph 1], [topic of paragraph 2]")
• A different kind of consideration? (money versus time).
Think about your paragraph topics and brainstorm until you find the most relevant links between them. Click here to see more suggestions for transition words.
You'll also want some kind of transition from the last paragraph to your conclusion. One way is to sum up your third body paragraph with some reminders of your other paragraphs. You don't need to restate the topics fully (that comes in the conclusion) but you can refer to a detail, or example, or character as a way of pulling your ideas together and signaling that you are getting ready to conclude.
http://www.infoplease.com/homework/wsfivepara.html
**For students who were absent today, please pick up an outline and rubric on Monday.
Posted by YosaifS at 04:14 PM
December 03, 2009
History 7th grade Chapter 11
Read Chapter 11, Section 11.1-3.
Workbook notes, pp. 68, 69.
Vocabulary quadrants for all new vocabulary words (9)in Chapter 11, on the far left/right side of the pages in the textbooks, (some are highlighted, some are not.)
Create a T-chart, with four underlined spaces for the word, definition, a picture and a sentence.
Due 11/4/09.
Posted by ValerieC at 03:26 PM
Writing
Read and highlight the model essay, "Champs, Survivors, and Ordinary People," due 12/4/09.
Highlight the essay components in the text listed on the right-hand column. For example, in the Introduction paragraph, the introductory sentence is, "In order to survive in this world, people sometimes go to great lengths."
The next component is the thesis statement.
Posted by ValerieC at 03:19 PM
Novel Study
"Things Fall Apart"
Read Chapters 1-2 due 12/4/09
Journals and books assigned on 12/4/09.
Reading journal notes due on Monday, 12/7/09.
Posted by ValerieC at 03:17 PM
December 02, 2009
History 7 Chapter 10
Study guide/review revisions: due 12/3/09
Chapter 10 test is 12/3/09
History Chapter 10 Review/Study Guide
1. a. Which cities/countries/continents grew in population and importance along the Muslim trade routes?
b. What were *some of the items traded?
2. Describe one condition that led to the cultural blending in Islamic civilization.
3. What influence did the Muslim cultural contributions have n medieval Europe?
*Some infers three or more.
Please write your answers in complete sentences, and be thoughtful—this is your study guide!
Posted by ValerieC at 04:50 PM
Reading Response
Choose one of the two short stories, "The Fall of the House of Poe?" and an excerpt of "The Red Girl," by Jamaica Kincaid.
Read the storie and record your notes on the "Note Taker," graphic organizer. The title of the story is the source. Remember to cite the page numbers of the important quotes you choose.
This is worth 10 points, and due 12/3/09.
Posted by ValerieC at 04:33 PM