Today's Menu ~ May 10

Please read "Notorious Spelling Mistakes: Famous Mashed Words." Has a spelling error ever "cost" you?

Read "Richard Corey"...one of your sources for your synthesis essay. Answer the multiple choice questions. You will see this format next year on the End-of-Level Literacy Exam.

Synthesis Essay: A synthesizing song! :)

Synthesizing Song
Let’s go into the book!
Jump in! Take a look!

When you read it,
read it,
Then you learn it,
learn it.
See with new eyes! Synthesize!

Read another book.
Take a different look.
See with new eyes! Synthesize!

Take the things that you are reading every day.
Take the things that you are reading every day.
Piece them all together in a new way.

Let’s go into the book!

Good synthesis papers DO acknowledge the OTHER SIDE.

HOW-To-Synthesize Resources:

• Synthesis Writing from Drew University
• TECHNIQUES FOR DEVELOPING SYNTHESIS ESSAYS

Review for test....test on Wednesday!

Today's Menu ~ May 6

Work on synthesis essay:

1. Create outline.
2. Develop questions for your survey.
3. Create survey.
4. Post on a page on your blog.
5. One of you post a link to one of your surveys on the class wiki.
6. Here's a "How-To" list of the steps.

TEST date change...we will test on this unit next Wednesday!

HUGE thanks to 3B for helping me put the cookbooks together...the singing and teamwork were wonderful!

Today's Menu ~ May 4

Today:

1. Presentations!
2. New synthesis essay...one per group! Here's the prompt.
3. For your topic create a survey of questions.

Thursday:

1. Test over three novels.
2. Good news! The test is open-novel!

Today's Menu ~ April 30

Today, may we work on the following:

1. Check this list of blog topics. Is your blog current?
2. Twelve-sentence story for your duck...will this be the literary work you submit for publication or are you working on another?
3. Group Review...Presentations are Tuesday!

On TUESDAY:

• Presentations.
• Assign synthesis essay...this one will be an essy per group essay that requires a survey using Google Forms. I know....coolness!
• Review for test.

On Thursday:

• Unit test.
• Work on synthesis essay and survey.

Duck Anthology Contest!

Please click on the above "Contest" page to enter your recommended title!

Thanks!

Today's Menu ~ April 28

National Poetry Month and our thematic unit continues with "Mirror," which I shared with you (check your Google Docs). REMINDER: "Make a copy." Then please read, complete the TPCASTT, and then share with me.

Ponder on this quote: "All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others."

• What literary/figurative language term(s) is/are used within Orwell's quote?

NEW BLOG Post: Now that we have completed Animal Farm, write a post about the effectiveness of Orwell's using animal to portray his message about utopias.

Finalize presentations...ready, set, present.

HOMEWORK: Duck Time! Complete a twelve-sentence short story worthy of printing in our anthology. Check here for guidelines for each sentence.

Today's Menu ~ April 26

First, let me say thanks for your kindness and understanding as I have dealt with my mother's situation. She is getting to go home today after nearly a two-week stay in the hospital, and I am nearly as excited as she is!

While I am gone today:

1. Animal Farm quiz!
2. Work in your groups to prepare your final presentations for Wednesday. Yes, you may use your mini's...as long as you remain on task. Thanks, in advance, for being responsible.
3. Read "Shooting an Elephant."

On Wednesday:

• Presentations
• Review for Test.

Homework:

• Finalize and practice your presentation.