No class today due to university fair in the afternoon. Please have your short story questions completed for tomorrow.
Month: September 2010
Wednesday September 29/10
Today we’re going to try to get some more recordings done while you work on reading and answering your questions for the short story “We”. The answers will be due on Friday since we will not have class tomorrow.
Tuesday September 28/10
We’ll continue with the recording today, but we’re also going to continue with our short fiction unit.
We’ve studied two theories on why people like to read scary stories/watch scary movies. Today we’re going to take up the questions on the Stephen King essay. I’d like you to then hand in your answers to the “Scared Witless” article questions.
Then we’re going to take down a note on horror fiction.
Next we’re going to read a short story called We while others are working on their recordings.
Monday September 27/10
Today you will be recording your personal essays. Since not everyone will be able to record at the same time, when you are not recording you’ll be working on reading the “Scared Witless” article. We’re going to do a lesson on setting a purpose for your reading first (yes another reading strategy) and then I’ll send off some people who are ready to record.
Friday September 24/10
Today we’ll begin with some silent reading.
Then I want to make sure your work on the Stephen King essay is complete. If your written response and questions are complete then you will need to get a copy of the article “Scared Witless”.
Please remember you will be recording your essays on Monday. If you’re able to record it on the weekend that’s great. Save your recording as an MP3 on your computer and then you can send it to me through edmodo. I’ll go over how to do this today.
If you are not recording this weekend, you will be recording on Monday. Please bring a recording device if you have one.
Tuesday September 21/10
We’re going to try that whole reading strategies thing again today. This time I’ll be marking it.
Then you have the rest of the period to finish up your rough drafts. If you finish early, have a look at your rough draft in indicate areas that you plan to emphasize through tone or by slowing down.
Your rough drafts must be submitted tomorrow.
Friday September 17/10
Today we’re going to be going to room 208. When we get there here are your tasks:
1) Go to our blog and click on This I Believe.
2) Make sure you’ve got your headphones plugged in. Listen to a few of the essays and think about the rubric. What mark do you think each one should get. You don’t need to write this down. Just think about it.
3) After you’ve listened, get working on your essay. Your template should be done now and you should be typing your rough draft.
4) As you are working I will call you up to check your process. Please work silently and independently.
Thursday September 16/10
Your goal for today is to have the template for your personal essay filled out. I will be giving you a mark for having each stage of the process completed. For today I will check that your brainstorming is complete.
Tomorrow I will be checking that your template is complete.
Then tomorrow we will be in the computer lab (208) to listen to examples of essays from last semester and work on typing the rough draft. Please bring headphones tomorrow if you have them!
Wednesday September 15/10
Today we’re going to start with some silent reading so I hope you remembered your books.
After that we’re going to continue with the personal essay. We’re going to do some brainstorming and then some prewriting. If you finish your brainstorming and pre-writing you can move on to your template which was handed out yesterday.
Tuesday September 14/10
We’re going to get right into moderating the essays we read yesterday. Get back into your groups and make sure you’ve given your essay a level 1 2 3 or 4. Be very specific. The criteria you use for determining its strengths and weaknesses are important. Don’t forget the audience and purpose:
Audience: In this case, older teens and adults from a variety of different backgrounds
Purpose: To inform the audience about the writer’s personal belief and explain to them why it is so important.
After you’ve critiqued the essay, be prepared to share your reasons with other students.
Next, I will reconfigure the groups so that you have new groups where each person has a different essay. In your new group you will each take turns reading the essays and discussing the criteria you used to assess it. Then you will put the essays in order from best to worst.
Finally, we will discuss and record the criteria you used to assess the essays.