compare contrast essay will be graded as follows:

Accurate information - 50 points
transitions - 20 points
Interpreting and analyzing - 20 points
Grammar and vocabulary - 10 points

thursday, June 4, 2010



TO DO:


1. Begin the rough draft of your compare / contrast essay. You have written directions....directions are also below on this blog.

2. During this class period, you should complete your opening paragraph, and at least three of the body paragraphs according to the outline provided.

3. Be sure to use transitional statements between paragraphs!

4. I will check your work nd guide you through the process today. Whatever you do not complete, IS HOMEWORK! Rough Draft is due tomorrow. No exceptions.

5. If you are doing your work in class today, you may also ask for photos for your posterboards that you will contniue to work on tomorrow.

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

ENGLISH 1 – TO DO


1. Constructed Response

Reread the Robert Frost Poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay” on handout provided. Now read Johnny’s interpretation of it on page 178 of The Outsiders. Do you agree with Johnny? Why or Why not? What exactly does Johnny mean when he tells Ponyboy to “STAY GOLD”?


2. Posterboard

Complete Research on 1960’s and current day with instructions previously distributed. Use the POSTERBOARD provided and split it down the middle. Use it to compare / contrast the times. Each group should choose ONE area of interest (ex: economy, war, technology, fashion, ettc. Use visual effects (illustrations) of the comparisons.


Compare / Contrast Essay

3.

When complete read directions for compare/contrast essay below and begin. Rough draft is due Friday, June 4.

COMPARE / CONTRAST ESSAY – Due Friday, June 3, 2010

1960’S OUTSIDERS COMPARED TO CURRENT DAY TIMES AND TEENS

OUTLINE
Use the information acquired during your research to compare and contrast 1960’s life in the USA compared to now and its affects on teenagers’ lifestyles and the decisions they make.

I. Opening Paragraph

Opening paragraph includes a thesis statement plus three or four sentences. Your thesis statement should include the things you researched. You should choose at least four. These are the ideas you’ll develop in the body of your essay.

Sample Thesis Statement

“Times have changed in many ways from 1967 to now; the economy, racial issues, feminism, technology and war all have an impact on the way teenagers grow up, form relationships, make decisions and how they spend free time.” ………add more to complete opening paragraph……

Then, you should be able to compare the following in separate paragraphs with the facts you already acquired . Don’t overcomplicate this part of your essay!!!

II. Second Paragraph – compare and contrast economies.
III. Third Paragraph – compare / contrast racial issues / feminism
IV. Fourth Paragraph – compare contrast technology
V. Fifth Paragraph – compare contrast war

VI. Sixth Paragraph - Now, you need to THINK….

How do these differences change the behavior of teenagers today? Or do they?
THINK about the Outsiders…the greasers and socs….think about gang activity……think about how technology affects free time……compare yourself and your friends to them…..

VII. CONCLUSION

Finally, sum up your thoughts in a closing paragraph that includes your opinion.
Do you have compassion for the Greasers and relate to their situation?
Would you prefer to live in the 1960’s compared to now? Why or why not?
What major changes in society might you expect by the year 2050 and what might teenagers be like then?


You must use the rubric provided and be sure to include all above components in your TYPED DOUBLESPACED ESSAY. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS!!!!!

The Outsiders

The following poem by Robert Frost is what Ponyboy recited to Johnny when they were watching the sunrise. At the end of the novel, Johnny interprets the poem and tells Ponyboy to “stay gold.” Read the poem and interpret it for yourself. Explain in a short paragraph and illustrate.

Nothing Gold Can Stay – Robert Frost

Nature's first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.

Research Project – Part 1 - The Outsiders - May 19-21

1. Research life in the Midwest in 1967 and then find out the same information for present day, Philadelphia, 2010. You will be using this information to write a compare / contrast essay. Those directions TBD.

Find out the following:

1. Economy

What was the average cost of the following?
Loaf of bread, gallon of gas, movie ticket, pair of blue jeans, box of cereal…and 5 other things of your choice.

What types of jobs were common? What was minimum wage? Was the average yearly income?

World Affairs / Government

2. What was going on in the world at the time? Was there war or peace? What was the state of affairs in USA? Who was President and Vice – President?

Prejudice

3. What forms of prejudice existed in the US and give examples of each. Was there racism? Classis? Sexism? Lookism? Ableism? Ageism? Use chart attached to determine if each existed and if so how and why.

Lifestyles

4. How did people live? What did people do for entertainment? How did technology affect people’s lives? What was the average size of a family? How common was divorce? Single parent homes? No parent homes?

April 6-9

* Introduction to Shakespeare. read text - 778-782....

*Write twenty questions with the answers from information derived from those pages

*Copy definitions from handout into notes

* Review types of prose and poetry used in Romeo and Juliet

*Write five paragraph essay as per following instructions:

Friday, April 9, 2010


Shakespeare Test – 70 points (breakdown below)


1. Write a short three paragraph essay about Shakespeare, the theater and types of verse that Shakespeare used in Romeo & Juliet. You must include at least 10 facts from the text that we reviewed. UNDERLINE each fact so I can easily identify it. Do NOT JUST LIST facts…this is an essay! Each paragraph should be at LEAST 4 sentances long! The following guideline should help you get started:

a. First paragraph – introduction – include thesis statement….example might be…..

Shakespeare, a master of his art, wrote dramas in which he used prose and poetry to enthrall the audiences of 16th century England. ……..

b. 2nd Paragraph – discuss Shakespeare’s life….

c. 3rd Paragraph – Discuss the theaters and how they evolved

d. 4th Paragraph – Discuss the style in which Romeo and Juliet was written. Tell me about different poetic styles and how they are used.

e. Conclusion – give me your input / opinion on what you have learned and what you expect from reading Romeo and Juliet.


YOU MAY USE YOUR NOTES….


Test will be graded as follows:

1. Correct ten facts underlined – 20 points
2. Sentence structure and grammar - 10 points
3. Use of transitions ( connect each paragraph) – 10 points
4. Proper information in each paragraph – 20 points
5. Neatness – 10 points

Friday, March 19, 2010

Objective

Use all of the information that you learned to organize an essay in the "Dr. Seuss" format and create a collage for the lyrics and author of your choosing. This will require that you use written and visual organizational and creative skills.

Lyrics must be approved by me prior to beginning essay or collage. If you have already received my written approval, you may begin essay today. If not, contniue research on computer to find a song rich in meaning and poetic devices to work with. It must be a minimum of 20 lines long.

Use the specific directions and rubrics provided in the prior blog of March 16 and the handout. Artistic materials will be provided when you are ready to create the collage. The ESSAY must be completed and submitted to me prior to beginning the collage. Each will be graded separately. Each is worth 100 points. Final date for completion for both is Thursday, March 25.

Thursday, March 18

Read and identify poetic devices in two poems - American Hero and Base Stealer on page 476 in text
Do critical thinking questions on page 478.

Complete "Wandering lonely as a Cloud" essay page 457 in text. Remember, essay format as follows:

1 - introduction - include facts about poet and be sure to use transitional phrase.

2 - Paragraph about the meaning of the poem - what is it about? USe an example from poem to back up your idea or interpretation.

3 - Identify poetic devices, show examples and explain how the poet uses them to enhance the poem (make it better).

4 - conclusion - go back to author bio - page 458 - and give another fact - refer back to poem and wrap up all of your ideas in a neat and clean finish!

Poetry Project

MASTERY OBJECTIVE

Learn how to identify and then effectively use poetic devices to ultimately improve written and oral communication skills.

1. Choose a song, poem or rap that is at least 20 lines in length. You may use a variety of sources including your text book or the internet to seek lyrics. Be sure that your choice has depth of meaning and you can identify at least three poetic devices within it ( metaphors, similies, etc)

2. Get poem or lyrics approved by me prior to continuing!!

3. Look up biography of the author. Write 10 facts about author in notebook.

4. Print two copies of lyrics or poem. Use one to Identify poetic devices and submit. Other copy will be used for collage part of project.

5. Write a four paragraph essay using Dr. Seuss guidelines that were provided. Remember to use transitional sentances between paragraphs. Remember to use quotations and examples and explain how they affect and/or enrich the poem or song.

6. Final copy of essay due on Friday, March 19. It is to be double spaced and TYPED!!!

Part 2

1. Create a collage.

The collage must include the following components:
a. lyrics or words to poem
b. At least three poetic devices identified.
c. The biography of the author.
d. At least 5 images representative of the song or poem (imagery).

All presentations will take place the week of March 23.


Essay will be graded as follows:
1. Understanding the meaning of song / poem
2. Ability to identify and explain devices used.
3. Organization of thought.
4. transitions and clarity.
5. Proper format (intro, meaning, poetic devices, conclusion) as provided in Dr. Seuss.
6. Grammar and vocabulary (use rich, descriptive, and interesting words as you did with imagery essays).

Collage and presentation will be graded as follows:
1. Neatness (type or artistically illustrate).
2. Creativity
3.Effective use of imagery and symbols ( does it make sense).
4. Speak clearly.
5. Eye contact and body language.
6. Effectively explain meaning, poetic devices and author info.