2/26

Students will complete vocabulary worksheet for chapters 14-19.  Students should

2/25

Today students completed vocabulary work for chapters 11-13.  They were to read the sentence from the text, then they were to try to guess at the meaning of the word by using the context clues in the sentence.  They were to then look up the definition of the word and write the ENTIRE definition on their papers--not one word!  They then completed the matching section on the back of the paper.  They were turned in to be graded.

2/21

Today we talked about and reviewed body paragraphs and conclusion paragraph.  Here is the a link to the video that I showed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zYfztmFD5g

Here also is a link to The Write Stuff powepoint presentation that I showed:

http://www.slideshare.net/ewaszolek/the-write-stuff-essay

If you are looking for more help--google your topic.  There are plenty of videos on Youtube and all kinds of information on Google.

#1 remember to not stress about the FCAT writes.  Writing a 5 paragraph essay is a simple formula--you can do it.

Writing a 5 paragraph essay

Paragraph 1

Introduction:     Hook
                        Background Information
                        Thesis Statement which includes:  Topic
                                                                           Your opinion
Paragraphs 2, 3, & 4

Body Paragraphs:  Topic Sentence
                             Examples (2)
                             Conclusion sentence that ties your examples in to your topic sentence

Paragraph 5

Conclusion:       Restate your thesis in a different way
                        Summarize your essay in a few words or sentences
                        Leave your readers with a lasting impression

Yes I am a slacker. Here is the information for the week of 2/18-2/21

This week we are reviewing for the FCAT writes test which is next Tuesday, February 25th.  

On Tuesday, we reviewed writing a thesis statement.  Below you will find a link to the video that I showed in class:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e2EthZC0aU

All of the following are good resources for writing a thesis:  

1. Creating a Thesis Statement - Purdue Online Writing Lab

   https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/545/01/‎

   Purdue University

   Feb 10, 2014 - This resource provides tips for creating a thesis statement andexamples of different types of thesis statements.

2. Thesis Statements - The Writing Center

   https://writingcenter.unc.edu/.../thesis-statem...‎

   University of North Caroli...

   This handout describes what a thesis statement is, how thesis statements work in your writing, and how you can discover or refine one for your draft.

   You visited this page on 2/13/14.

3. How to Write an A+ Thesis Statement - YouTube

   www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HePQWodWiQ‎

   YouTube

   Feb 19, 2010 - How to Write an A+ Thesis Statement. ... How to write a thesis statement in 4 minutes.by Alex Robson38,407 views; 19:50. Watch Later Writing ...

4. How to Write a Thesis Statement (with Free Sample Statement)

   www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Thesis-Statement‎

   wikiHow

   How to Write a Thesis Statement. Whether you are writing a short essay or a doctoral dissertation, your thesis statement will arguably be the most difficult ...

   ‎Sample Thesis - ‎Getting it Right - ‎Finding the Perfect Thesis - ‎Writing it Well

5. Thesis Statements - Indiana University

   www.indiana.edu/~wts/.../thesis_statement.shtml‎

   Indiana University

   Jan 30, 2008 - How To Write a Thesis Statement. What is a Thesis Statement? Almost all of us—even if we don't do it consciously—look early in an essay for a  ...

6. Tips on Writing Your Thesis Statement

   depts.washington.edu/pswrite/thesisstmt.html‎

   University of Washington

   It is the road map to the argument you will subsequently develop in your paper. The key difference between an opinion statement and thesis statement is that a ...

7. Creating and Argument: Developing a Thesis Statement

   writing.wisc.edu › Writer's Handbook‎

   University of Wisconsin‑M...

   Many papers you write require developing a thesis statement. In this section you'll learn what a thesis statement is and how to write one. Keep in mind that not all ...

8. Writing Tips: Thesis Statements - Center for Writing Studies

   www.cws.illinois.edu/.../writers/tips/thesis/‎

   University of Illinois at Urb...

   Defining the Thesis Statement. What is a thesis statement? Every paper you writeshould have a main point, a main idea, or central message. The argument(s) ...

9. The Thesis Statement - Guide to Grammar and Writing

   grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/.../thesis.htm‎

   Capital Community College

   Although it is certainly possible to write a good essay without a thesis statement (many narrative essays, for example, contain only an implied thesis statement), ...

10. Thesis Statements: How to Write Them in Academic Essays | Jerz's ...

    jerz.setonhill.edu › Writing › Academic‎

    Seton Hill University

    A good thesis is not merely a factual statement, an observation, a personal opinion or preference, or the question you plan to answer. Yes (good example) ...

On Wednesday, we went over Introduction Paragraphs:  

You will find the powerpoint link below, along with an information 

sheet that I handed out:
  http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=writing%20a%20five%20paragraph%20essay%20powerpoint&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CDYQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Flearn.bcbe.org%2Fmod%2Fresource%2Fview.php%3Fid%3D320299&ei=G1IGU_StAsblkAeZ64DQDg&usg=AFQjCNHwX-HYRRWX0W3xLzlksmI1N-H3lg&sig2=xirtvl2kkXlocRzRH3b1TQ&bvm=bv.61725948,d.eW0

Writing an effective introduction to a five-paragraph essay is absolutely essential to producing a successful paper. This takes knowing what an introduction should do and knowing how to write an effective introduction for a standard academic essay. 

1) What should an introduction in a five-paragraph paper do? What is the point or purpose of an introduction in the whole piece? For one, it should be a sort of outline for your essay. Look at the following points to understand exactly what is expected to be accomplished in the all important introduction. 

a) First and foremost, you need to bring the reader into the topic and your thesis. You want to do this immediately. Do not play around with useless words. Be direct. It is OK to give background information, but be concise and short with it. 

b) After bringing the reader into the topic, you need to establish and plant your position or opinion. You do this by introducing the evidence you plan to present. Make clear what you think.

c) Lastly, write your thesis sentence in a powerful and clear way. Use action verbs and not passive verbs. This makes the words sound more alive.

2) Writing your introduction is not as easy as it sounds, but if you follow this step-by-step guide, you should have no problem writing an effective and engaging introductory paragraph. For a five-paragraph essay, the introduction should be four to seven sentences. Be sure to mix up long and short sentences. It's better for the flow.

a) The first sentence should, in an exciting way, introduce the reader to the paper's topic. Do not boringly drag the reader into the essay. Give the reader a figurative wake-up smack with a hard-hitting sentence. Take a look at the opening sentence example: "Death echoes throughout Shakespeare's "Hamlet," reminding the reader of an ever-present force in the plot."

b) Sentences two, three, four, five and six should introduce the argument and why this topic is important in the book, play or poem. Simultaneously, it should begin to show where you stand on the argument or issue.

c) The last sentence should be your thesis statement. The thesis statement should be powerful, clear, and worded well. When writing the rest of your piece, remember to reemphasize your thesis.

On Thursday, we discussed transition words and other basics of the test.  This is the powerpoint we looked at:

Transition Words transition_words.ppt - Swift Classroom

www.swiftclassroom.com/ims/johnsenk/.../transition_words.ppt?id=6020‎

·          

·          

·          

Transition Words. Words to Add, Compare, Contrast,. Exemplify, Summarize, and Sequence. The Functions of Transition Words. Transitions function to connect ...

You visited this page on 2/19/14.

I also handed out an worksheet that you can read about transition words.  Here is the link to it:

http://www.smart-words.org/linking-words/transition-words.html

This is a good presentation for an expository paragraph:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=transition%20words%20powerpoint&source=web&cd=10&ved=0CHIQFjAJ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclassroom.ldisd.net%2Fusers%2F0048%2FBrooke%2520Expository%2520Writing%2520PPT%2520Refined.pptx&ei=qk4GU7i1OdTKkAfY44G4Ag&usg=AFQjCNEHM7EAbAu1Zxu-b43j2LjdSf_rRw&sig2=pRo19JgHYtOjcmii2yqQWw&bvm=bv.61725948,d.eW0

On Friday, we will be discussion Body Paragraphs and Conclusion.

2/12

Today, students were working on the county-wide progress monitoring Persuasive Essay #2.  This is the final county-wide prompt.

Yesterday we read chapter 8 of the novel Things Fall Apart.  If you need to reread the chapter or if you were absent for any of the days that we read, here is a link to the story:

http://kathystefanides.escuelacampoalegre.wikispaces.net/file/view/things-fall-apart-chinua-achebe+(1).pdf

2/7

5th period  Today students had a quiz on the African Terms from the novel.  When finished, they were to finish chapter 5 and then continue and read chapter 6.

6th period  Today they silently finished chapter 5 and continued on to read chapters 6 and 7.   Also, 6TH PERIOD STUDENTS WILL HAVE A QUIZ ON THE AFRICAN TERMS ON MONDAY.  PLEASE STUDY!

2/6

Today we summarized the first four chapters of the book by doing a worksheet.  If you did not finish it in class, you must finish it for homework and turn it in at the beginning of class.  Here it is:

Things Fall Apart Summarizing Activity

Chapters 1-4

1. Compare and contrast Okonkwo and Unoka. You may use a Venn diagram or bullet format, at least 5-7 points for each.

2. Explain the process of  how Ikemfuna feels with living with Okonkwo’s family?

3. Okoye is another member of the tribe and one of Okonkwo's neighbors.  Summarize his conversation with Unoka in Chapter 1.

4. Mbaino is a neighboring village.  Summarize what has happened that has called the men of Umuofia together and the conflict with Mbaino.

5. Describe Okonkwo’s compound (living area).

6. How did Okonkwo begin his prosperous career?

7. Cite at least 2 examples from the novel, on how the people of Umuofia were superstitious.

8. Why should the men from Mbaino fear the clan members of Umuofia?

9. Explain the quote “ that year the harvest was sad, like a funeral.” in Chapter 3.

10. Infer what Okonkwo and Nwoye will do when the time comes to sacrifice Ikemfuna. 

Remember tomorrow you will have a quiz on the African terms.  You can find them posted on this blog website.  Please being your smartphones if you have one, you will use them to take the quiz.  If you do not have one, I will have hard copied of the quiz as well.

If you have not turned in your culture wheel project, please do so.  It will be very difficult to pass this semester if you have a zero.  

2/4

We read chapter 4 of Things Fall Apart 

On Friday February 7th we will have a vocabulary quiz on the African words and terms that were on the worksheet you were given.  The words and definitions are listed below:

Agbala- woman, also used of a man who has taken no title

Ani- an Earth goddess

Chi- personal god

Efulefu worthless man

Egwugwu a masquerader who impersonates one of the ancestral spirits in the village

Ekwe a drum made from wood

Foo foo- a food made from yams

Ilo- a village green where sports, discussions, etc take place

Jigida- a string of waist beads

Kwenu- a shout of approval and greeting

Ndichie- elders

Obi- the large living quarters of the head of the family

Ogbanje- a changeling; a child who repeatedly dies and returns to its mother to be reborn.

Ogene- a musical instrument, a kind of gong

Oye- the name of one of the four market days

2/3

Today we finished up FAIR testing.  We will meet tomorrow in my regular room, where we will continue to read the novel Things Fall Apart.  Please come prepared to read.