Mr. Hawley - Burlington School Daily English Lessons

Tuesday - Feb 12, 2013

7th Grade:  Still waiting for Jared to get better so we can have the spell-off between him and Callin for 3rd and alternate in the spelling bee.  Get better soon!\

Today, we put together our lego projects.  Only 2 students from 4th period and 3 students from 7th period were able to successfully put the projects together.  Moral of the story?  Technical writing requires great precision in describing what you want people to do.  But the bigger picture is that your job as a writer is to make the reader's experience as smooth and easy as possible, no matter what style of writing you engage in.  Nobody likes a bumpy ride.  Not in an airplane, not in a car, and not in an essay, or book, or how-to manual. 

Next, we begin our unit on Bias and stereotyping.  Here are the definitions I had students write down in class:

Bias:  Preconceived notions, thought, or opinions you hold.  Often you are raised with these, and don't really stop to think about the fact that someone else might have a different point of view.  Republicans vs Democrats, City vs Country, Chevy vs Ford.  In some countries, bias abounds about how baby boys are much more desirable than baby girls, etc.  Writers often write with a distinct bias.  Our job will be to find that bias, identify it, and consider it in our calculations of how effective an argument is, or is not. 

Stereotype:  Lumping people or groups or things into huge categories and making blanket generalizations.  All boys are better at math than girls.  All girls have better balance than boys.  All city people are democrats, or all country people are republicans.  This is a dangerous way to write and to see the world, which is complex and many layered - NOT black and white, round or square. 

8th Grade:  Read pages 547-563 about the battles of Shiloh.  Answer questions 9-13 on page 563. 

10th Grade:  Lab day to find statistical evidence to back up your persuasive speech.  I also read a persuasive, but humorous article by Dave Barry about what kind of gift to buy a woman.  I have copies in my classroom if you want to read it. 

History:  Chapter 1, pg 13 - 19 in the History of US book.  Summarize the chapter for tomorrow.  Lab work for the rest of the period on History Day Projects.