Exhibition Info and Announcements

FINAL EXHIBITION INFORMATION!!!

• Date: Tuesday, November 1
• Time: 5-6:30 pm  (students will need to be there no later than 4:45 to set up their projects)
• Location: Durango Public Library

HOMEWORK

Finish projects, finish essays.  Everything is due by the end of class on Thursday.  Please look at the "When Your Project is Due" Handout (linked on the Student Resources page) for what you need to do before the end of class on Thursday.

Project Work Time

Reminders:

• EVERYTHING is due by the end of class on Thursday.
• EXHIBITION will be on Tuesday, 11/1.  I will have the location for you tomorrow.

Project Work Priorities

1. Essay Revisions: Everyone should have feedback from me at this point.  If you did not get your essay to me, or if you did not receive feedback because your essay did not meet the minimum requirements, you need to schedule an appointment to meet with me during office hours on Tuesday or Wednesday.
2. Project Work: Refine!  Finish!  Make it amazing!  Now that I am done with essay feedback, I am happy to give you feedback.  :)
3. Citations: Make sure that you are using MLA (parenthetical references in text + works cited page) throughout your essay.  Check the Writers INC books in my room, pages 259-264.
4. Proofreading: Make sure that you have someone proofread your essay carefully!  Your goal should be to have no proofreading errors in your final draft.

HOMEWORK

Work on essay revisions!

SLC Practice and Project Work

SLC Practice
Every student does a full run-through of their SLC, receives feedback from 2 other students on their performance.

Project Work Time
Work on projects.  Remember, 3rd draft essay that meets the Minimum Feedback Requirements (see my post from a few days ago for these) must be emailed to me by the end of class.

HOMEWORK:
None!  SLCs tonight.

SLC Notecards and Project Work Time

SLC Notecards
Using the freewrites from yesterday for a reference, create an SLC notecard for Humanities.  Make sure it follows the required format (see today's activity list for detailed instructions.

Show notecard to Lori when done.  This is your ticket into project work time!

Project Work Time
Start working on your project.  Remember to manage your time well, and to plan out what you need to do before you start working.  Seek feedback, and refine, refine, refine!

HOMEWORK

• Revise Truth of War Essay.  DUE: Emailed to me by the end of class on Wednesday.
• Bring all SLC notecards (Spanish, Humanities, Biology, and Math) and evidence to Humanities tomorrow for a practice run of your SLC.

Essay Critiques and SLC Preparation

Essay Critiques
Complete critique of essay 2nd drafts and responses.

SLC Overview
What they are, what to expect, why we do them.

SLC Brainstorming

1. In your group, brainstorm (talk, then write) a list of all of the skills, behaviors, and knowledge we work on in Humanities class.
2. Debrief as a class, get list on the board.

SLC Freewrites

1. What skill is hardest for you in Humanities?  Why do you think you struggle with this?
2. What behavior do you need to work on the most in Humanities?  Why is this behavior a problem for you?
3. What content area, or knowledge is most difficult for you to master in Humanities.  Why do you think this is hard for you?
4. Choose the most pressing of the issues above (the one you think is most important for you to work on).  For that issue, how can you make sure that you improve in that area?  What have you already tried?  What do you want to try in the future?

SLC Notecards OR Essay Revisions.

HOMEWORK:

Revise essay to get it ready for Lori's feedback.  To get feedback from me, your essay must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Must have a title
2. Text must be in 12 pt font, Times New Roman
3. Meet minimum paragraph requirements (Intro + at least 4 body paragraphs + Conclusion)
4. Double-spaced
5. There is quoted evidence in every body paragraph of the essay (not required for intro and conclusion)
6. Every quotation is set up correctly
7. The essay must be spellchecked and free of typos (if I find more than 3 typos, I stop giving feedback)
8. The essay must be free of slang and IM speak

3rd Drafts must be emailed to Lori no later than the end of class on Wednesday.

Bring all project supplies with you to class for Tuesday!

Project Critiques and 2nd Draft Writing

Project Critiques:
Do 2 rounds of peer critique, 1 critique response, then show Lori the whole pile.

Work Time:
Work on writing your 2nd draft of the essay you have outlined.  As you write your draft, use the outline as a guide!  Remember, your essay should include everything in your outline, but should fill in the gaps and expand on the basic ideas you put in your outline.

HOMEWORK
Finish the 2nd draft of your essay.  Have it PRINTED before class on Monday.  It is crucial that you have it ready when you walk in the door so that we can start critiques promptly and give you more work time!

IF YOUR ESSAY IS NOT PRINTED BEFORE CLASS, IT IS LATE, AND WILL BE DOCKED 50%.  NO MORE EXCUSES!

Setting up Quotes, Project Proposals

Setting Up Quotes:
See the handout linked on the Student Resources page.

Project Proposal:
See the handout linked on the Student Resources page.  This is due, typed and printed, in class tomorrow.

HOMEWORK:
Finish Project Proposal (if you didn't finish in class).  PRINT!

Essay Outlines, Continued

Essay Outlines
Finish them!  Show to Lori when you are done.

Rough Drafts
When essay outline has been checked, move on to your 2nd Draft.  Use your outline as your guide!

Project Proposals
You could also start working on your project proposal.  See the handout for details.

HOMEWORK:
Finish your outline, EMAIL IT as an attachment to lori.teacher@gmail.com

Essay Outlines

Essay Outline Overview

1. Basic Structure (See student resources page for the Essay Outline Format handout)
2. Outline Example (Again, see student resources page for the link to this)

My Expectations:

1. You do the heavy cognitive lifting.  I will help you with organization, structure, and decisions, but you have to do the thinking for yourself.
2. Try to work through your difficulties on your own first.  Use your resources (outline format and example).
3. Ask two students for help before asking me.
4. When you do ask me for help, have a specific question for me.

HOMEWORK:

Have your Truth of War outline at least halfway done when you walk into class tomorrow.  This means everyone should have outlined the introduction and at least two body paragraphs (if your essay is longer, you will need to do more).

WWII Quiz and Sequencing Your Paper

WWII Quiz
Take the WWII quiz.  If you were absent, you'll need to stay after school on Tuesday or Thursday to make it up.

Starter #17
Read through your first draft.  Underline or highlight the three strongest sentences in your draft.

1. Write each of the three best sentences in your starter.
2. Looking at this draft, what ideas are you going to keep?  Why?
3. What are you still unsure about/struggling with?
4. What is the purpose of an outline when you are writing?  how can you use them to make your writing better?

Logical Sequence

Now it's time to start thinking through the basic topics you want to cover in your paper, and putting them in order.

1. Make a list of the topics you want to cover (go paragraph by paragraph).
2. For each topic, write a sentence or two explaining why you put it where you did. 

HOMEWORK

Finish the logical sequence activity above.  You should come into class tomorrow with a finalized perspective statement, and a list of the topics in order, with the reasons you put them in that order.

First Drafts: Truth of War Essay

Starter #16

1. What are your strengths when you're working on a project?
2. What do you struggle with when you work on a project?
3. What strategies have you used in the past to overcome difficulties with a project?

First Drafts

1. Read essay, answer questions, discuss.
2. Write your own terrible first draft.  Don't worry about organization, incoherence, grammar, etc.  Just get your idea on the page.  The more ideas you have, the better!

HOMEWORK:

1. Study for WWII Quiz on MONDAY.
2. Finish first draft of truth of war essay.  Have at least one typed, single-spaced page when you come to class on Monday.  You don't need to print it, just be able to pull it up on a computer when asked.  Handwritten first drafts are also allowed.

NWEA Testing

NWEA Testing
Spend all class doing NWEA tests.  If you are absent, there will be a specific make-up day later this month.

HOMEWORK
Work on your perspective statement that answers the question, "What is the truth of war for a soldier?"  Play with language, metaphor, simile, write some versions with different words and language.

Study for the WWII Quiz.  Quiz is on MONDAY.  I have a review session after school today.  If you cannot attend the review session, you will need to study from your WWII content rubric.

Truth of War: Ideas!

Starter #15

1. What part of the writing process is most difficult for you?   Why do you think this is hard for you?  (Brainstorming, drafting, organizing thoughts, critique, revision, more revision, proofreading, finalizing)
2. How do you usually come up with ideas for writing?  

Perspective Statements

Follow the directions on the perspective statement critique handout.

When you're done with the critique, on the back of the critique handout, write:

1. What new ideas do you have for your own paper after looking at other people's  perspectives?
2. Read through what other people did with your perspective statements.  Based on the revisions they made and what they said, what is one revision you want to make to your perspective?
3. Revise, wordsmith, hone your perspective.  Play with different word combinations and sentence structures.  Come to class on Friday with a perspective statement you think you can write about!

HOMEWORK:

Finish and PRINT your Slaughterhouse Five Seminar Reflection.  It is due at the START of class tomorrow.  Make sure you print before class!  Proofread!  Check to make sure you have your evidence!

Slaughterhouse Five: Seminar Reflection

Starter #14
Write a one sentence answer for each question.  If you want to challenge yourself, try using NPAs, verbal phrases, or concessives in a few of these!  What is the truth of war for...

1. Roland Weary
2. Mary O'Hare (look in Chapter 1)
3. Paul Lazzaro
4. English prisoners
5. Edgar Derby
6. Tralfamadorians
7. Billy Pilgrim

Slaughterhouse Five: Seminar Reflection

Paragraph 1: Reaction

React to a comment or idea from the seminar.  Walk the reader through what that comment makes you think, and why.

Paragraphs 2 and 3: Detailed Response

Write a two paragraph response to one of the main seminar questions.  Make sure you are using EVIDENCE.  Quote the book!!!

• Is this book an anti-war novel?  Why/why not?
• How do the aliens in the book relate to war (hint: think metaphorically!)?
• Did Billy Pilgrim really get kidnapped by aliens and travel in time?
• Why would Billy Pilgrim want to believe in the Tralfamadorian views of time and free will?
• What is the truth that Vonnegut is trying to communicate about war?
• Are you Billy Pilgrim?  (hint...think about his mental characteristics, and about what Vonnegut is trying to see about how humans act...or don't act)

Paragraph 4: Connections
Make a connection between the ideas in S5 and the seminar and something else.  You could connect it to a personal experience, a movie, another book or text, an art piece, a play, a philosophical idea...anything!

Paragraph 5: Lori's Choice Question
What connections can you make between AQotWF and Slaughterhouse Five?  Think about themes they share, and use evidence from the books to back up your opinion.

Seminar Make Up: IF YOU WERE ABSENT, OR WANT TO RAISE YOUR SEMINAR GRADE
Type two full pages, double spaced, 12 pt. font, on two of the main seminar questions that are listed above.  If you are doing this to raise your seminar grade, you must choose two questions that you did not write about on your seminar reflection.  Make sure you use evidence and quote the book to back up your opinions.  TEA paragraphs encouraged!  Proofread carefully before printing.

HOMEWORK:
Finish the Seminar Reflection.  Make sure to proofread it carefully before printing and turning it in.  DUE: Thursday, start of class (please note that you will not have any class time on Wednesday to work on this).  If you want to finish it and turn it in on Wednesday, that would be fantastic!

Slaughterhouse Five Seminar

Starter #13

1. Look at the "Got It" column in your rubric for WWII.  Put a star next to bullet points you feel confident about, and a dot next to the bullet points you think you really need to study. 
2. What topics do you need to study the most?  What techniques will you use to study these topics, and why?

Please Note: I will NOT be testing you on the last category (map of Europe).  Do not spend time studying this!

WWII Quiz: Study Time

Your WWII Quiz will be on Monday, October 10, 2011.  Use the study strategies guide I gave you for the WWI Quiz (it should be in the references section of your binder) to study for your quiz.  

Plan on studying on your own for 15-20 minutes a night.  If you start doing this now, you should be in good shape by the time you take the quiz.

Slaughterhouse Five

For those of you working on your seminar reflection tonight, here are the main seminar questions:

• Is this book an anti-war novel?  Why/why not?
• How do the aliens in the book relate to war (hint: think metaphorically!)?
• Did Billy Pilgrim really get kidnapped by aliens and travel in time?
• Why would Billy Pilgrim want to believe in the Tralfamadorian views of time and free will?
• What is the truth that Vonnegut is trying to communicate about war?
• Are you Billy Pilgrim?  (hint...think about his mental characteristics, and about what Vonnegut is trying to see about how humans act...or don't act)

Lori's Choice Question

• What connections can you make between AQotWF and Slaughterhouse Five?

HOMEWORK:

NONE!  Enjoy your night off.