Hello Students & Families.
Just a reminder that this is STAR testing week, so make sure to (1) come to school (2) get sleep and (3) eat healthy and substantial breakfasts all week long. This way you'll be in your best form for the tests--we want your scores to reflect YOUR abilities, not a ZOMBIE'S!!! See your there!
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Work Cited for China/Japan Research
Here is a link to a page that gives guidance on how to format a works cited (bibliography) page in MLA format.
You should have at least 3 sources for these papers; I am anticipating that you will have more. Please do your best to get the formatting right, as this will be a skill you need for the rest of your academic careers, and it also helps ensure that you don't plagiarize!
Keep up the good work!!
You should have at least 3 sources for these papers; I am anticipating that you will have more. Please do your best to get the formatting right, as this will be a skill you need for the rest of your academic careers, and it also helps ensure that you don't plagiarize!
Keep up the good work!!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Rubrics ROCK!
Hi everyone! Hope you are enjoying the long weekend; I know I certainly am!
Attached here is a blank rubric that I created with my rubistar account. You can use them however you'd like, and you do not have to use this at all. The rubric MAY be printed out, then handwritten on this template. You can also download it and type directly into it, if you wish.
Some things to remember from our discussion about creating your own rubric:
Attached here is a blank rubric that I created with my rubistar account. You can use them however you'd like, and you do not have to use this at all. The rubric MAY be printed out, then handwritten on this template. You can also download it and type directly into it, if you wish.
Some things to remember from our discussion about creating your own rubric:
- Have high, but fair, expectations for yourself (don't make yourself fail just because you misspelled one word, but create a rubric that will help guide you to write a high-level compilation that represents excellent 7th grade work).
- Look to the 6 traits of writing (you do not have to include all of them, or any of them; this is your rubric!): IDEAS, VOICE, ORGANIZATION, WORD CHOICE, SENTENCE FLUENCY, & CONVENTIONS. Ask yourself: Which of these is essential to this writing?
- Create row categories that are specific to this task, which is to write personal narratives about the 4Rs in your life. Remember the example of "arguments and reasons" in the Persuasive Essay rubric as an analogous .
- I WILL use these rubrics to grade your final packets (final score will be a % of the total points that you determine possible). I WILL use my own expectations (which don't think will be too different from for own!) as you hand in the individual essays so that I can guide you to any necessary revision.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Four R's
The 4R's writing project will see us to the end of our writing class! Below you will find the attachment with the timeline for completing each stage of the assignment.
If you happen to have "writer's block" as you try to figure out how each of these qualities show up in your lives, remember you shouldn't be thinking along the lines of a straightforward essay, but rather conceiving of a narrative that depicts some way in which an "R" as had an effect on you. "Responsibility" can be more than just household chores and homework (although a narrative could be constructed around these things--humor could easily be employed to illustrate your relationship to these things), responsibility can refer to holding oneself accountable for one's actions, feeling regret, taking action, or feeling responsible for the actions of others, just to name a few things.
Try to think outside the box, and do this through the prewriting you do this week. If you would like to listen to the full story that we listened to on This American Life, it may inspire you. Click on the play button by the story entitle "Resurrection." This author really learned about responsiveness as he came to understand his relationship to his brother.
Attached here is the 4Rs assignment with the due dates. Be well and keep writing!
If you happen to have "writer's block" as you try to figure out how each of these qualities show up in your lives, remember you shouldn't be thinking along the lines of a straightforward essay, but rather conceiving of a narrative that depicts some way in which an "R" as had an effect on you. "Responsibility" can be more than just household chores and homework (although a narrative could be constructed around these things--humor could easily be employed to illustrate your relationship to these things), responsibility can refer to holding oneself accountable for one's actions, feeling regret, taking action, or feeling responsible for the actions of others, just to name a few things.
Try to think outside the box, and do this through the prewriting you do this week. If you would like to listen to the full story that we listened to on This American Life, it may inspire you. Click on the play button by the story entitle "Resurrection." This author really learned about responsiveness as he came to understand his relationship to his brother.
Attached here is the 4Rs assignment with the due dates. Be well and keep writing!
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A Samurai's Tale Final Essay Prompt
Hope that everyone had a relaxing and fun spring break. Welcome back. Here is the final assignment for Haugaard's A Samurai's Tale.
Write a short essay (3-5 paragraphs, TYPED) about the main character of A Samurai's Tale, Murakami Harutomo, that answers this question:
What quality of character does Harutomo possess that allows him to overcome each obstacle in his life?
REMEMBER to support your claim (the quality you claim he possess) through examples from the book. These do not have to be direct quotes (but can be), and you should cite the page number to which you are referring. This essay will be scored on how well you support your claim, not whether your argument is "right" or "wrong"; you will prove this via the strength of your writing!!
THEN...
Compose a haiku that describes the essential qualities that a samurai must possess, as you have interpreted from your reading of this book. Remember that a haiku is a poem that consists of three lines, the first having 5 syllables, the second having 7, an the third having 5. Make it good (!) and study Taro's poetry in the book to get ideas of the tone you are looking for. Please center the poem at the end of your essay.
DUE MONDAY, APRIL 2ND.
Write a short essay (3-5 paragraphs, TYPED) about the main character of A Samurai's Tale, Murakami Harutomo, that answers this question:
What quality of character does Harutomo possess that allows him to overcome each obstacle in his life?
REMEMBER to support your claim (the quality you claim he possess) through examples from the book. These do not have to be direct quotes (but can be), and you should cite the page number to which you are referring. This essay will be scored on how well you support your claim, not whether your argument is "right" or "wrong"; you will prove this via the strength of your writing!!
THEN...
Compose a haiku that describes the essential qualities that a samurai must possess, as you have interpreted from your reading of this book. Remember that a haiku is a poem that consists of three lines, the first having 5 syllables, the second having 7, an the third having 5. Make it good (!) and study Taro's poetry in the book to get ideas of the tone you are looking for. Please center the poem at the end of your essay.
DUE MONDAY, APRIL 2ND.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Hey Girls!!
Here is a link to April 3rd Science Workshop for 7th and 8th grade girls at Sonoma State! Looks pretty cool...don't tell the gentlemen about it.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Samurai Chapters 8-12
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