Monday, Jan 30, 2012

Lit Terms and spelling week 2:  The form for the spelling words has changed.  Make sure you have the new paper.

There are three Lit Terms this week that all tie in to each other.  The three of them count as the one term for this week and may be written in the same entry on your form.

Protagonist: The main character or hero of a story - Harry Potter.  Protagonists can be people, places, or things.

Antagonist: The person or thing working against the Hero - Voldemort.  Antagonists can also be people, places, or things.

Foil – The dude who gets under your skin or pushes your buttons. - Malfoy or Snape.  They are not necessarily good or bad - they just make Harry's life more unpleasant.  Again, foils can be people, places or things. 

Spelling – Week 2

1.  Duress – Forced against your will

2.  Allocation – Amount you get

3.  gourmet – Fancy food

4.  Ulterior – selfish motives

5.  Municipal - City

6.  Replete – Full, complete

7.  Defiantly - Rebellious

8.  Ecstatic – Very Happy

9.  Desperately - Frantically

10.  Disappearance – Vanish 

Semicolons and Conjunctive Adverbs – Yay!!!

·      Use a semicolon BEFORE a conjunctive adverb and use a comma after it when the word connects two independent clauses in a compound sentence.

·      Common Conjunctive adverbs are: 

·      Also, besides, finally, however, indeed, instead, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, next, still, then, therefore, thus

Examples:

·      I am faced with my looming death; therefore, life becomes a very precious thing.

·      We want to eat dinner; therefore, we must set the table.

·      I love to keep fish in a tank; however, I can’t stand regular fishing.

English 10:

-Greek page 23 - Due Wednesday

-Vocabulary and spelling week 2 - Due Friday

-Please include an example sentence using a conjunctive adverb in your vocab worksheet.  Highlight it or mark it so I can see it easily.

-Notes on Conjunctive adverbs and semicolon use.

-Myths due today. 

-Reading Logs due Friday.  YOU MUST have a parental signature for these to be counted!!

English 8:

-Greek page 23 - Due Wednesday

-Reading Logs due Friday.  Parental signatures required.

-Notes on Semicolon use and conjunctive adverbs.

-Bring your lit books tomorrow.

History: 

-Discussion and dissection of political attack adds.   Political games discussed. 

-Work in the computer lab on History day projects.

-English 7:

-Lit Terms and spelling week 2

-Notes on Semicolon use and conjunctive adverbs

-Bring your lit books tomorrow. 

-Persuasive essays due Tomorrow.

-Reading Logs due Friday.

Wednesday - Jan 25, 2012

English 10
-Finish watching "Clash of the Titans" in class. 
-Read the Mayan story in the World Myths book on pages 61-68.  Write a 1 page summary of this myth, and look especially for the elements that make this story a myth.
-Persoanl Myth essay due on Friday.
-Spelling Test on Friday.
-Greek 14, 15 due today.
-Vocab week 1 due Friday

English 8: 
-Students practiced finding and marking direct objects, indirect objects in sentences.  Lots of practice on the board.
-Worksheet page 94 on identifying direct and indirect objects.  Due Thursday.
-Greek 14, 15 due today.
-Spelling Test Friday.

History 8
-Topics and groups were chosen for Wyoming History Day projects.  Beginning to brainstorm about these topics.

English 7
-Persuasive essays continued.  We finished taking notes on what makes a good persuasive argument.
-We looked at two examples of essays and disected them for the various parts.
-A template was passed out for students to write their persuasive essays on.  You need to write an outline on the back of the paper (10 points) and the real essay can be written on the front (20 points)
-Spelling Bee Thursday
-Spelling Test 1 on Friday

Tuesday - Jan 24, 2012

English 10 - Continue watching "Clash of the Titans."  We'll finish this video tomorrow and then begin working on our myths.

English 8 - We continued on with our Amendments presentations.  These are finally done.  We will be moving on to research and citations next week.

History 8 - Mr. Olson came in and talked to the students about Wyoming History Day projects, rules, expectations, etc.  It was quite informative.  Students should have an idea about what kind of project they might want to do, and who they may or may not want to do it with by tomorrow.

English 7 - We discussed the types of news that students should be looking for with their current events (The first one is due this Friday.)  Summaries should be between 1/3-2/3 of a page, with an opinion that looks for the larger picture and that is between 4-6 lines.  Please follow the format on the wall for these.

Lit Skills - Lesson 38

Monday - Jan 12, 2012

Lit term and Spelling - Week 1 - Winter semester 2102.  This format has changed, so make sure you talk to me about the new way we are doing this.

Lit Term 1 - Figurative Language:

The use of words, phrases, symbols, and ideas in such a way as to evoke mental images and sense impressions.

Spelling:  Week 1 – Winter 2012

1.            Juvenile – Youth

2.           Accrued – gathered

3.           Puree – Blended

4.           Potassium – Chemical/vitamin

5.           Lullaby – baby song

6.           Peruse – Look through

7.           Laborious – Hard work

8.           Trespass – Invade

9.           Impel – force

10.   Immaculate – Neat and tidy

English 10: 
-Hand out New vocab sheets.  Students will find thier own 5 vocab words each week from now on to be turned in on Fridays.  
-Greek page 14,15.  Due Wednesday
-Passed out new Lit terms log.  Copies on the back table.  These are not homework.  They are to be kept till the end of the quarter and turned in all at once. 
-10 new spelling words and 1 lit term - see above.
-Continued watching "Clash of the Titans" in class. 

English 8:
-Spelling Week 1 - Quiz on Friday
-Lit Term Week 1 - Quiz on Friday
-Greek Page 14, 15 - Due Wednesday
-Continue Amendment presentations

History 8:
-Continue Amendment presentations

English 7:
-Spelling Week 1 - Quiz on Friday
-Lit Term week 1 - Quiz on Friday
-Introduction to Persuasive Essays.

Notes: - We didn't get through all of this today, but will continue tomorrow.

A good persuasive essay topic should always be the subject of the argument. A successful argument will conform to the following guidelines:
• It must make a statement of case
• Recognize any opposition
• Defense, with your strongest argument last

The main function of the introductory paragraph is to introduce the topic of the essay. You should begin your introduction with a general statement about the topic, and end the paragraph with your thesis statement. Your opening statement should relate to the thesis statement, but should not replace it.

The real power of your essay resides in the body of your essay. The body contains the main argument on the topic, and is where you want to persuade your reader to see your point of view. There are a few steps you can take to write a solid body to your essay.

• Acknowledge any truths there may be with the opposition early
• Use one paragraph per major argument that supports your point of view
• Save your best argument for your last paragraph
• Do not develop a con point better than you do a pro point


The conclusion of your essay should begin by restating your thesis, and then working down to a final broad statement. Many readers will only remember the conclusion of the story, so you need to make this paragraph your strongest one yet. Be sure to restate the most important points of your essay to keep them fresh in your reader’s mind.