Real Lives

During the 3rd Marking Period we will explore the real lives of real people: their stories, their dreams, their thoughts and feelings, achievements and failures.
November 26 - November 30
READ-ALOUD: Benjamin Franklin Biography
Independent Reading: Biographical and Autobiographical sketches, excerpts.
WRITE: a variety of autobiographical and biographical sketches

Wednesday 11.07 Friday 11.09

While I am away learning new and exciting teaching methods, you, my dear students, have things to do. Please, read the directions carefully:

1. Click on the link to access a site we've visited before. Short Stories Link.
2. Choose ten (10) stories of your choice. The stories can be children's, mystery, crime, etc. I make it up to you (as I usually do) what to read independently.
3. Make a GoogleDoc New Document titled "short stories - NAME".
4. Invite me as a collaborator (OlgaSakhno@MSN.com).
   
5. For each story provide the following:

• Title
• Author
• Characters
• Setting
• Plot (Introduction, Climax, Resolution)
• Point of View (see the wall above the bookshelves for help)
• Theme (lesson/moral)

I will grade your work EVERY DAY. That means you have to read and respond IN CLASS. All your entries are timed. I AM WATCHING YOU! MAKE ME PROUD!

Wednesday 10.31 - Thursday 11.01

Text #4: "The Cage" by Martin Raim
Reading/Critical Thinking Objectives:

• Identify extended elements of the plot: Introduction, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action & Resolution.
  
• Identify setting and the influence of setting on the Plot.
  
• Read for details/answer comprehension questions; teacher model re-reading techniques for context clues.
  
• Make inferences based on common knowledge as well as on repetive details in the text.
  
• Introduce lexical textual analysis as a basic building block of understanding emotional power of the story.
• Theme is a unifying subject or an idea is a story.
  Theme in a short story is usually a lesson or moral that relate to other texts as well as to human nature. The theme of a piece of fiction is its view about life and how people behave. Students brainstormed the theme for "The Cage" and came up with universal ideas relatable to other texts and to human nature.

Writing Objectives/Collaborative Learning - Evaluating a Story

Students examined individual story elements such as characters, plot, setting, and theme. Students learned to evaluate a short story based on the following guidelines:

• Entertainment
• Believability - Are the Characters believable? Are the reasons convincing?
  
• Originality - Are the writer's thoughts original or unique?
• Emotional Power - Does the writing evoke strong emotional response?

Students read each other's stories (see the links below) and peer-evaluated fiction based on the four guidelines. The poster contains original quotes that illustrate the four elements of evaluation.

Tuesday 10.30 - Students Publish Their Versions of Short Story "Victor"

Students re-wrote "Victor" by James Howe from another character's point of view. The students retained the basic elements of the plot as well as first person narration. They chose either Dad or Victor as a narrator to tell the same story from another point of view.

Dad's Point of View:
"I Let out my Feelings" by Hakeem
"How It Happened" by Geoffrey
"My life has gone to pass all because my son is hurt" by Jeffrey
"Miracle" by Francisco
"Father" by Kevin
"My Point of View for Cody" by Marko
"The Feelings of Dad" by Sergio
"When Things Go Bad" by Tania
"Father's Feeling" by Enrique
"Cody's Father" by Alex

Victor's Point of View:
"Suspicion" by Abass
"Old Man" by Ariel
"Victor" by Junior
"The Box" by Juan
"The Day I Made Cody Wake Up" by Brandon
"A True Friend" by Katherine
"Miracles" by Mariel
"Lending a Hand" by Tatiana
"The Visit" by Michael

Wednesday 10.25 - Monday 10.29

Text #3: "Victor" by James Howe

Reading/Critical Thinking Objectives:

• Identify basic elements of the plot (beginning, middle, end)
• Identify setting.
  
• Introduce foreshadowing through characterization and setting.
  
• Read for details/answer comprehension questions; teacher model re-reading techniques for context clues.
  
• Make inferences based on common knowledge as well as on repetive details in the text.
  
• Introduce lexical textual analysis as a basic building block of understanding imagery.
• Point View: class discussion. Who is telling the story? How would the story change if someone else would tell the story? Is it a first person narrative or an omniscient author?
  

Writing Objectives/Collaborative Learning:

• Class creates a sun characterization chart of main character. Students use this opportunity to collaborate with each other and the teacher and learn how organize information graphically.
  
• Creative writing: students re-write the story from another character's point of view. They have to conform to the same basic plot and setting and create at least one dialogue.

Tuesday 10.23.07

Text #2: "The Stranger" by Sue Baugh (BL)

Reading/Critical Thinking Objectives:

• Identify basic elements of the plot (beginning, middle, end)
• Identify setting: plot quotes that define setting and discuss how the setting mirrors the basic plot.
• Introduce foreshadowing through setting.
• Read for details/answer comprehension questions
  
• Read for main idea
• Make inferences based on common knowledge as well as on repetive details in the text
  
• Make predictions

Writing Objectives/Collaborative Learning:

• Short answers that include quotes from the text.
• In groups, create story maps and character charts. Students use this opportunity to create their own way of organizing information graphically.
• Creative writing: extend the plot; implement setting and characterization as parts of the action.
  

Monday 10.22.07

Text #1: "Nuts for Nuts" by Brenda B. Covert

Reading/Critical Thinking Objectives:

• Identify basic elements of the plot (beginning, middle, end)
• Identify setting and characters
• Read for details
• Read for main idea
• Make inferences
• Make predictions
• Distinguish between fact and opinion
• Vocabulary/spelling worksheet

Writing Objectives:

• Short answers that include quotes from the text.
• Creative writing excercise that relates to the text.

Bonus homework: cross-curricular review (math & social studies)

Short Stories Unit from 10.22 until Thanksgiving

As outlined by the English Department Literature Curriculum this unit will include six components:

• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking and Critical Thinking
• Vocabulary and Literary Convention
• Monthly Activity
• Technology

Culminating Exam (Performance Objective): Read a short story and identify literary elements.

Global Issues Newsreport Due 10.12.07

Read a news story of your choice about any of the global issues (global warming, AIDS/HIV, terrorism, cancer, etc.) and make a comment following the guidelines below:

• The article has to be about CURRENT GLOBAL events.
• Indicate the source of information.
• Give a short synopsis of a story.
• If you copy the exact words of the article, use quotations.
• Give your personal opinion about the issue.
  
• Use Standard American English writing conventions.

News Report Due 10.02.07

Read a news story of your choice and make a comment following the guidelines below:

• The article has to be about CURRENT events.
• Indicate the source of information.
• Give a short synopsis of a story.
• If you copy the exact words of the article, use quotations.
• Give your personal opinion about the issue.
  
• Use Standard American English writing conventions.
  

Due September 28

You will maintain a reading journal throughout the semester for your independent reading. The reason I ask you to keep a journal is to learn the foundations of literary analysis and literary elements while working with the text with which you are comfortable.

Due September 28 are the following journal entries:

• Title (" __ ")
  
• Author (Capitalize First and Last Name)
  
• Setting (place/time)
• Characters: start a T-chart. Left column - name of the character. Right column: notes/quotes (discussed in class).
• Plot summary.
• Brief review (if finished).

Monday, September 17th

Provide a brief summary of the news article you've read today. Make sure to indicate the source of information (internet address/author). If you want to email a Microsoft Words attachment, please, include the link.

September 11, 2001

Look at the picture to your right. What does it represent? Make up a title for this picture.

Current Events

Write a short summary of the latest news you've read online. Remember to use Standard American English writing conventions. (No IM language, please.)

English freshmen class

You have picked out a book from the classroom library shelf. Why did you choose that book? What is it about? Will you continue reading it or will you put it back on the shelf?

If you can name these people correctly, you will get 90 in my class regardless of your test scores or homework assignments. Your classroom participation still counts!

Welcome, students! This blog will be our way of web communication with each other. Here, you will find homework assignments, classroom notes, useful links, grading rubrics, and other great stuff.