Writing 1 Class Notes–Week 7 (2/29)

 Dear Students

Happy Leap Day, everyone!  In honor of leaping around in time, our Quick Write was about time capsules.  We watched a short video on the opening of a time capsule buried by Samuel Adams and Paul Revere in 1795.  Students had three options to choose from on this topic.

After that, we reflected on the themes and characters of the short stories that were assigned last class period in Literature:  “The Gift of the Magi” & “After Twenty Years.”  After reflecting, they got into small groups to discuss and report their findings back to the class.  We found that even though they are very different stories, we could still find common themes on generosity, honesty and the struggles of the working class.  They are enjoying these O. Henry stories and have two more for next week along with a Short Story Packet.  I gave the warning to make sure to read carefully for next week as there is a STRONG possibility there might be a “pop” quiz.

For Writing, students were to bring a copy of their Propaganda Projects (Part A) to class.  The purpose of this was to invite a fellow student to Peer Review their work.  If there are any changes they need to make, they have a week in which to do so.  The final draft of Part A of this assignment plus the write up on it are due next week.

Along with that, Part B of the Propaganda assignment is due:  The Brief Blog Post.  For this assignment, you find an advertisement that has a good use of propaganda and rhetorical devices.  You will analyze the commercial for those two items (see example posted on GC) and then post it on our class’s discussion forum.  In order to get the points, you will need to respond to another classmate’s original post and give them constructive feedback.  Ideas for that are included in the assignment description.

Last, we reserved some time to work on Grammar worksheets together.  After passing out and looking at a Venn diagram on Linking Verbs, we used them to complete two worksheets on different sentence patterns:  N-LV-N & N-LV-ADJ.  Varying sentence structures is one way to make your writing more interesting.  Many students finished in class, but if not, they are to be finished as homework.  Please note, we are one week behind on Grammar, so mark your syllabi accordingly.

Homework 

Read “Makes the Whole World Kin” & “The Furnished Room”

Short Story Packet #1

Part A:  Create Your Own Propaganda

Part B:  Brief Blog Post

N-LV-N

N-LV-ADJ

Class Notes–Week 5 (2/15)

 The snowflakes flew today-finally!  They are actually a welcome sight, but may have kept some at home today as we were down a few students.  If you were gone, just read these and you’ll be in good shape!

Our Quick Write today was a creative one!  After watching this video, students brainstormed some ideas for villains compiled a to-list for this villain’s day off.  It is humorous to imagine Darth Vader’s downtime from being a bad guy.  Maybe he binge watches “Wild Kratts”? 

After that, we got down to the business of Writing.  As a reminder, the writing assignment is not a traditional essay as we have been working on in this class.  Instead, this is a writing project with two parts.

 Last week Part A of our Propaganda Project was introduced where students use propaganda techniques and choose to compose a poster, a speech or an advertisement.  After answering a few questions about that project, I reminded students they will need to bring a copy of their projects to class next class for Peer Review.

Today, Part B:  Brief Blog Post was introduced.  In this part, students will choose an advertisement (Youtube is a good source) and they will analyze it for propaganda techniques and rhetorical devices.  They will post their analysis and link to their ad.  In order to get full credit, they will need to comment on another classmate’s post.

Literature

Today’s class was the last day of discussion about Animal Farm because we have officially finished it!  Before students take the Animal Farm Final Exam posted on Google Classroom, I wanted to pause and allow students to think deeply about the connections between characters, themes, symbols and allegorical elements of the novella.  We accomplished this by diving into a “Hexagon Discussion.”  Honestly, I was impressed with the deep thinking that took place–I heard many insightful connections!  At the end of discussion time, each group shared their most profound connection–students will be graded on the quality of their assertions.

I passed out our next book which is a collection of short stories by O. Henry.  They are to read two of them and complete a Short Story Worksheets.

Deep discussion takes time!  Because of that, I did not assign any Grammar worksheets.  Take a break from that and next class we’ll dive in with both feet.

Have a wonderful week off of CHAT and reach out with any questions you might have.  I hope to get Grade Reports out early next week, so keep an eye out for those.

Blessings,
Mrs. G

Homework

About Part A:  Create Your Own Propaganda

Create Your Own Propaganda

About Part B:  Create Your Own Blog Post

Post Your Blog Post (due (3/7)

Animal Farm Final Exam

Read:  “Gift of the Magi” & “After Twenty Years”

Short Story Worksheets

Writing 1 Class Notes–Week 5 (2/8)

 Greetings!

The weather was unseasonably warm and our class was in high spirits.  What a joy these students are to teach every week!

Secrets!  We had several Quick Write prompts dealing with secrets, surprises or mysteries today.  Students could pick one and respond in writing.  They had fun sharing some mysterious activities by neighbors–both fictional and in real life!

After that, we had a wonderful, insightful class discussion on Animal Farm in the Literature section of our class.  We have read up to chapter 8–almost done with the book–and today’s discussion topic centered around the theme of truth and lies.  I asked students to take a moment to think about the role deception played in the events so far.  They shared thoughts within pairs and then with the large group.  They had some very interesting observations relating to real events in world history.  We watched a short video on the role propaganda played in Animal Farm and then students generated some examples of propaganda from the novel.  

Since we are wrapping up the novel next week, we took some time to think about all the different characters we’ve met so far. They had some time to brainstorm 3 strengths and 3 weaknesses of one of them.  For homework, they’ll need to write a “character sketch” that details these aspects of their chosen character.  They should finish the novel and complete the Reader Response questions.

For Writing,  the Final Drafts of the Urban Legend essays and Endnotes were due today, I rolled out the next writing assignment.  This time, we won’t be writing an essay, but instead diving into a writing project.  Fittingly, the topic is propaganda and there will be two parts to this project.  Part 1 of the Propaganda Project is student choice.  They will choose to compose a poster, write a speech or create an advertisement based on either Animal Farm or a real life issue.  In Part 2 of the project, they will do a write up explaining why they made the creative choices they made. After that, they worked in pairs, on a propaganda worksheet and were assigned to watch an Edpuzzle video/Quiz on the topic during the week. There is no Pre-Write for this project; you will need to be ready to Peer Review it on 2/29. 

At the end of class, I assigned the Grammar worksheets, practicing identifying and classifying prepositional phrases.  Prepositional phrases function either as adjective phrases or adverb phrases, and it can be tricky to tell what kind of phrase it is.  They have these as homework.

Blessings on your weekend!

Mrs. G

   

Homework

Read Ch. 8 & 10 Animal Farm

Ch. 9 & 10–3 Responses

Animal Farm Character Sketch

About the Propaganda Project

Propaganda Edpuzzle & Quiz

Classifying Prep Phrases

Prepositional Phrases -- Adj or Adv

Links for This Week

Propaganda Video 

Propaganda Techniques Worksheet and KEY

CHAT Writing 1 Class Notes–Week 4 (2/1)

 Hello All,

It was great to have class again this week amidst this crazy, wonderful, warm winter weather!

As usual, we started out with a Quick Write on the topic of their choosing:  Read-alouds, handwriting, or pies.  They are random–but based on the National Days calendar.  It was fun to hear what they had written about!

We spent the bulk of our time on Writing.  I have returned the Urban Legend Rough Drafts and we went over some areas of weakness that were common in the papers I have graded.  First, we talked about a “Secret Weapon”:  A Formula for Essay Writing.  We revisited all the components of a well-written essay and discussed what elements are essential for each part by filling in an outline.  Students may keep that for reference in the future.  

After that, we talked about the importance of citing sources to avoid plagiarism.  With the prevalence of tools like ChatGPT (AI) and the ease of simply cutting and pasting, it’s more important than ever for students to be equipped to use these tools in an ethical manner.  We discussed some strengths of AI and some weaknesses and a few students had some great ideas!  

One way to use these tools with integrity is to cite sources.  We reviewed the basics of MLA citations and Caroline gave us a quick tutorial on how to do an awesome Works Cited page.  One key she gave was:  when in doubt, check with Purdue OWL.  Thanks, Caroline!  Urban Legends Final Drafts are due next week!

We are moving along in Animal Farm and are up to chapter 6.  We broke into groups and had a 4 Square Style Discussion over the significant events in those chapters.  I told the students I wish we had the entire class time to just talk about the book and many agreed.  Instead of reader response questions, they have a take home quiz to complete on Google Classroom.

Alas, time moves on and Grammar awaits.  Today’s topic was on a Simple Sentences Review and the other was practice on prepositional phrases.  Make sure to correct your work before you turn it in!

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Homework

MLA Citations

Urban Legends Final Draft

Urban Legends End Notes

Urban Legends Endnotes

Take Home Quiz #2

Simple Sentences Review

Prepositional Phrases Practice

Links For This Week

Essay Formula + Citations Two Ways/Using AI