Chapter 3, and a bit of grammar

Today's Goal: Practice with more grammar, read chapter 3, and discuss the characters.

The Plan:

1. Talk about essay revision
2. NoRedInk.com practice.
3. "A Day in the Life" activity
4. Read Chapter 3.

IMPORTANT DATES/ASSIGNMENTS

• TONIGHT:
• Finish chapter 3 in Of Mice and Men (work on character chart on Google Classroom)
• Finish NoRedInk practice
• Complete your TRACT Practice Sheet
• Wednesday, June 1
• TRACT Practice due
• There are no slides. You will need to look them up on the internet or in a dictionary
• Friday, June 3
• 10-point revision due, if choosing to take the opportunity.
• Click here for the document you need.
• You will need to PRINT it, ATTACH it to your original essay, and TURN IT IN by 2:45pm on Friday, June 3.
• Friday, June 3
• TRACT/CIDE Vocab Quiz
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat
• The document for this can be found in your Google Classroom folder in Drive, or on Google Classroom.

Chapter 2

Today's Goal: Meet more of the characters in Of Mice and Men and address the social issues that are present in the story so far. Attempt to live a day in the life in the 1930s through a small simulation activity.

The Plan:

1. A Quickwrite on Google Classroom
2. Read Chapter 2 and work on character/issues tracker (on Google Classroom)
3. A Day in the Life activity

IMPORTANT DATES/ASSIGNMENTS

• Today, Friday, May 27
• I will no longer accept ANY revision requests after 4pm. 
• There will be no exceptions. 
• Take this seriously.
• Today, Friday, May 27
• You are receiving your in-class essay back at the end of class.
• DO NOT throw it away.
• Wednesday, June 1
• TRACT Practice due
• There are no slides. You will need to look them up on the internet or in a dictionary
• Friday, June 3
• TRACT/CIDE Vocab Quiz
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat
• You will get the document for the written portion of that assignment soon.

Of Mice and Men - Let's begin!

Today's Goal: Read the first chapter of Of Mice and Men and begin to track the characters, what they look like, and what they might represent.

The Plan: 

1. Book Love?
2. Read Chapter 1 of Of Mice and Men
3. Character/Social Issues Tracking Chart (we will fill out the first two columns for George and Lennie.)

IMPORTANT DATES/ASSIGNMENTS

• Today, Thursday, May 26
• I'm collecting your Anticipation Guide
• Vocab Practice CIDE due
• No other homework unless you have make-up work.
• Tomorrow, Friday, May 27
• I will no longer accept ANY revision requests after tomorrow at 4pm. 
• There will be no exceptions. 
• Take this seriously.
• Friday, June 3
• Vocab Quiz
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat
• You will get the document for the written portion of that assignment soon.

Grammar Practice and an activity

Today's Goal: Practice our comma placement using a new tool called No Red Ink. Begin to think about some of the new themes and ideas you will encounter in Of Mice and Men with an activity.

The Plan:

1. No Red Ink
2. Activity

No Red Ink

• CLICK HERE to visit the website
• You are going to sign up using your CARLSBAD Google acct. (@carlsbadusd.net)
• I will provide you with the class code. (It will also be on the School Loop assignment if you are/were absent).
• No Red Ink is a tool that we can use to practice grammar and sentence composition.
• We will take the first 20-30 minutes of class to work on the practice that you have been assigned. If you finish, great! If you don't, you have until 10pm tonight to get it completed in order for it to be on time. It shouldn't take you very long.

Intro Activity for Of Mice and Men

If you weren't here, you missed out.

IMPORTANT DATES/ASSIGNMENTS

• Today, May 25
• No Red Ink Practice assignments due today. Please finish the activities you don't finish in class. 
• Tomorrow, Thursday, May 26
• Vocab Practice CIDE due
• There are no slides available. Use the internet or a dictionary. I believe in you.
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat
• You will get the document for the written portion of that assignment soon.

Monday/Tuesday

This is a post for two days.

Ask and ye shall receive: we're going to watch To Kill A Mockingbird (the movie).

Your homework is to read your Book Love book, since you'll have a book chat on June 8, and you'll need to have finished your book by then.

Other than that, do something awesome with your family, go outside, and enjoy the fact that you get to be here.

Also, if you didn't get Of Mice and Men today, you'll need to get it by Wednesday.

On-Demand Essay

Today's Goal: Complete your on-demand writing assignment

The Plan:

1. Complete your on-demand writing assignment

If you are absent, there are only two opportunities to make it up after school. You may want to email me about those plans.

Homework/Important Dates:

• Friday, May 27
• This day is the LAST day I will accept any revisions for anything related to TKAM that you feel like you could improve on
• This may include P4R questions and any other classwork we have done since the beginning of the trimester
• I will not look at anything if you do not send me the appropriate email about it, on or before this day.
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat #2

Outline Time!

Notice how this picture is out of focus and confused?
This will NOT be you today.
Focus is going to be your middle name. 

Today's Goal: Prepare for tomorrow's in-class essay!

The Plan:

1. Take a quick look at the rubric.
2. Note a shortened, condensed version of your outline.
3. Get to work.
4. A MODEL essay about a different topic, if you'd like to look at it!

A giant list of things you need tomorrow!

• Blank Lined Paper
• Writing utensils
• Your yellow (or white) outline
• Your book, To Kill a Mockingbird
• The other texts that have been provided, which include:
• "The Roots of Moral Courage"
• The article about Malala
• The article about Schindler
• The article about Mandela
• The two political cartoons
• literally nothing else is needed, nor allowed.

Homework/Important Dates:

• Friday, May 20
• On-Demand Written Essay. You can find lots of information about this on School Loop.
• You will be required to write a Works Cited Page at the end. This means you need to look up and create the citation for To Kill a Mockingbird (YOUR VERSION of the book)
• Click here to see the rubric.
• Friday, May 27
• This day is the LAST day I will accept any revisions for anything related to TKAM that you feel like you could improve on
• This may include P4R questions and any other classwork we have done since the beginning of the trimester
• I will not look at anything if you do not send me the appropriate email about it, on or before this day.
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat #2

Organizing Your Essay

It's an outline! Get it?!

Today's Goal: Write a solid, clear thesis statement to be approved by Ms. Black. Work on organizing your essay for the on-demand writing on Friday.

The Plan: 

1. Book Love
2. Thesis Statements!
3. Time to work on essay organization!

Here's some real talk:

You will get today and tomorrow to work on your essay outline in class. If you use that time, your life will be much easier on Friday. If you do not, it will not change the expectations set for you. You will receive the same time as everyone else, and your grade will be based off of what you have written. You need to be able to advocate to yourself on your behalf - I believe in you. Make this time together, here, in the present, count.

Thesis Statements:

• I will be visiting every person to read over their thesis statement today.
• See yesterday's blog post for some models for you!
• You will receive a 1, 2, or 3 if you did it. 
• 1: Need to revise; will meet with Ms. Black to work on it! (This is a good thing)
• 2: minor revision needed; please see the models for examples
• 3: Awesome! You're headed down a great path. Share it with someone else to see if there are any other details you could add/change to improve, and then get started on your outline!
• From there, I will work with students who need to revise based on these numbers.

Homework/Important Dates:

• Friday, May 20
• On-Demand Written Essay. You can find lots of information about this on School Loop.
• Friday, May 27
• This is the LAST day I will accept any revisions for anything related to TKAM that you feel like you could improve on
• This may include P4R questions and any other classwork we have done since the beginning of the trimester
• I will not look at anything if you do not send me the appropriate email about it, on or before this day.
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat #2

Example Thesis Statements

Today's Goal: Assess the last two "texts" you are provided for your synthesis essay, and begin to plan out your essay in advance. Use models for thesis statements to write your own thesis statement.

The Plan:

1. Book Love
2. Political Cartoons - A Discussion
3. Synthesis Essay Organizer
4. Model Thesis Statements

Model Thesis Statements

As I read through your responses on Google Classroom, I noticed a bit of struggle in answering the question about what moral courage is. 

SO. Here are some examples. Yay! I've chosen other concepts like "moral courage" to model with. 

Empathy:

Empathy is having the ability to understand and share someone else's feelings. A person who is empathetic would challenge prejudices against disadvantaged people, find commonalities with people different from themselves, and always try to put themselves in others' "shoes."

Optimism: 

Optimism is when one has hope and confidence that the future is bright, or that there will be successful outcomes of plans, projects, or ideas. Characteristics of optimistic people include: expressing gratitude for all aspects of life no matter how small, donating free time and extra money to causes that work to help the future, and having the will to keep trying even with a possibility of failure.

Prejudice:
Prejudice is the act of harboring an unreasonable and unjust opinion or attitude towards a person or group of people based on race, culture, beliefs, appearance, or other identity. To act with prejudice is to laugh at or make jokes about any of these identities, to fear that a group of people different from oneself will become too successful or more successful, and to believe or assume that stereotypes generalizing a group of people are true for all people.

Confidence: (Bonus: I wrote a whole opening paragraph for this one. The thesis is bolded.)
            Speaking in front of crowds is never easy. Neither is telling your crush you like them, or being a starter in your first-ever Varsity game, or simply having a difficult conversation with someone you respect, or admitting your bad choices. Everyone experiences those scary moments, and everyone gets through them the best they can. It's no secret that it's easier for some than for others though, and the key to why might be in their confidence levels. As Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right." Having confidence means that a person has the feeling of self-assurance due to their appreciation and belief in his or her own abilities or qualities. Someone who exhibits great confidence in their everyday life would be unafraid to be wrong and/or ask for help when they need it, would seek out reasons to celebrate even small victories and the victories of other people, and would speak with certainty (avoiding "um" and "I'm not sure" and "I think).

Homework/Important Dates:

• TONIGHT: Write your thesis statement. I will be reading and assessing them tomorrow.
• Friday, May 20
• On-Demand Written Essay. You can find lots of information about this on School Loop.
• Friday, May 27
• This is the LAST day I will accept any revisions for anything related to TKAM that you feel like you could improve on
• This may include P4R questions and any other classwork we have done since the beginning of the trimester
• I will not look at anything if you do not send me the appropriate email about it, on or before this day.
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat #2

Nelson Mandela

Today's Goal: Read one more article about a person in our history that might exhibit "moral courage."

The Plan:

1. Book Love!
2. Read the Nelson Mandela article together
3. Something else if we have time (It's a weird schedule. We're going to have to play by ear.)

Homework/Important Dates:

• Friday, May 20
• On-Demand Written Essay. You can find lots of information about this on School Loop.
• Friday, May 27
• This is the LAST day I will accept any revisions for anything related to TKAM that you feel like you could improve on
• This may include P4R questions and any other classwork we have done since the beginning of the trimester
• I will not look at anything if you do not send me the appropriate email about it, on or before this day.
• Wednesday, June 8
• Book Love Book Chat #2

Character and Moral Courage

Today's Goal: Read about two people who exhibit aspects of moral courage.

The Plan:

1. Book Love
2. Use the Say Something Protocol to read two more articles that you may use for your On Demand Essay
3. Exit Ticket on Google Classroom

Your Purpose for Reading Today:

These are on Google Classroom. This, as well as your annotated articles, is your ticket out the door.

• How do Malala Yousafzai and Oskar Schindler exhibit qualities of moral courage?
• How would you define moral courage?

Important information about your on-demand essay on May 20 (There have been some changes)

• You will be writing this on paper. (not on a computer)
• Items you may bring and use on May 20 include:
• pencil
• Your texts (annotated)
• Your Essay Organizer (You will receive this next week.)
• Nothing else.

Boo Radley Returns

Today's Goal: Finish the book.

The Plan:

1. Chapter 26-28 Quiz
2. Read 29-31
3. If time, watch more of the film

Synthesis Essay: Moral Courage

Today's Goal: Define "moral courage." (and not, like, with the dictionary definition... with your own words.)


The Plan: 

1. Review Chapters 26/27
2. Learn about your synthesis essay. I will provide you with a handout.
3. Work with "The Roots of Moral Courage" to gather information about what it means to have moral courage. 
4. Read Chapter 28

SYNTHESIS ESSAY PROMPT:

Introduction

A foundation is looking to present the Moral Courage Award to members of society who have made the world a better place through their courageous acts.  Recipients can be from any era in history.  A committee is being formed to construct the criteria for the award.  You have been asked to be a member of this committee and to contribute your ideas for the criteria.  For example, some people believe that doing the right thing even when nobody is looking is one indicator of moral courage. Therefore, that might be a piece of criteria on your list.  

Prompt

Write an argumentative essay in which you define moral courage and identify the qualities of courage that people should display to earn this award.

In your essay, you must synthesize at least 4 of the texts provided (so far you have two), and To Kill a Mockingbird must be one of them.

This means that, once you define "moral courage" and identify the qualities, you will need to use textual evidence/examples to explain how those qualities fit into your definition.

Important Dates/Homework:

• Read Chapter 28 tonight
• Chapter 26-28 Quiz TOMORROW (Thursday, May 12)
• Be able to define moral courage in one sentence, and list three qualities that someone would have if there were to be a morally courageous person.

Moral Courage

Also, read with a pencil/highlighter in hand.

Today's Goal: Learn the "Say Something" Protocol when reading with a partner, and explore multiple aspects of a text using SOAPSTone.

The Plan:

1. Chapter 22-25 Quiz
2. Review of Poetry Classwork yesterday
3. Using the "Say Something" Protocol
4. SOAPSTone

Homework/Important Dates:

• Read Chapter 26 and 27 for homework
• Ch. 26-27 Question on Classroom
• Quiz THURSDAY (26-28)

Bonus: Some anonymous short poems from yesterday, written by your peers:

Example 1:

I see America 
I do something good
I think I should
But it's not recognized 
I hide 
I wait until the sun rise
I hope the sun comes
I live america

Example 2:

Sometimes you have a dream,
This can affect your spring,
You want to have the same rights,
then you need to learn how to fight.
You are born, you live, and you die,
so, don't make your life pass by.

Example 3:

Tom was innocent
and everyone knew.
But they were just scared
to admit what was true.

By setting him free,
they would have to make up their mind.
This action would be,
very foreign to their kind.

Though they don't like blacks,
they could have made the right decision.
But they didn´t
their racism blurring their vision.

This however was still a step
For Maycomb to have a better rep.

Example 4:

Tom Robinson's Perspective:
I walk by harmlessly day by day

Only to find an intriguing witness sway me away

Why would I expect to be treated the same

No one will justify that I did not play
They sneer at me and mock me

Oh how I wish to be free

When all these white humans stare at me
Maybe there is a way to take away the pain

Why do I have to stay under their rein?

Another Perspective

We're taking a trip today -
from Alabama to NYC

Today's Goal: Make thematic connections between To Kill a Mockingbird and two poems by Langston Hughes.

The Plan:

1. Book Love
2. Review P4R from the weekend
3. Poetry Analysis! (use slides below and Classroom)
4. Read Ch. 24 if time.

Poetry Analysis:
You will need these slides today. You will work with a partner to follow the directions on these slides, in order to analyze two poems by Langston Hughes. If you are absent, you will need to complete this on your own, or come in after school to get help.

CLICK HERE for the poems if you need them

Homework/Important Dates:

• Don't forget about the P4R due today on Classroom
• Read Chapter 24/25 in To Kill a Mockingbird
• Quiz, Chapter 22-25, TOMORROW
• No vocab this week. We start our last two roots of the trimester next week.

Adding a Visual

Today's Goal: It's rainy and gloomy. We're going to watch To Kill a Mockingbird - the movie.

The plan:

1. Vocab Quiz - CARN/VIT
2. Discussion - P4R time
3. Movie

Ch. 21/22/23 P4R:

1. (Chapter 21) This chapter contains (especially in its second half) imagery that foreshadows the verdict given at the end of it. Find evidence of the foreshadowing, document it here, and explain how it is succeeds at foreshadowing the verdict.

2. (Chapter 22) What is Miss Maudie's grown-up advice to Jem?

3. (Chapter 23) Closely read the conversation between Scout and Jem. Share what you think the most relevant comment/question you find (no quote bombs), and why. Why do you think Lee chose this conversation to happen between two children in the novel? What are we meant to get out of it?

4. (Chapter 22/23) What is a piece of wisdom or advice from Atticus that stands out to you? Why?

Homework/Important Dates:

• Read Chapter 23 this weekend.
• Chapter 21-23 P4R due Monday (on Google Classroom).

Or Not Guilty?

Today's Goal: Close read Atticus' closing remarks to look for powerful language and rhetorical appeals.

The Plan:

1. Book Love
2. Chapter 17-21 Quiz (15 questions)
3. Close Reading of Atticus' Speech

CLICK HERE for the quiz

CLICK HERE for the partner close-reading activity.

Follow along with the slides below if you'd like:

(If you are absent, you will need to work through this activity on your own, using the Google Form linked above.)

Homework/Important Dates:

• Read Chapter 22 tonight.
• Your Vocab Quiz will happen on Friday, May 6 (Tomorrow)

Rhetorical Devices: Making an Argument

This is a statue of Aristotle.

Today's Goal: Learn about Aristotle's three rhetorical devices for argumentation.

The Plan:

1. Book Love!
2. Quickwrite on Evidence Chart
3. Take some notes while watching some videos.
4. Read Atticus' closing argument from Chapter 20.

Quickwrite on the back of your Evidence Chart:

(please write in complete sentences; write 2-3 detailed sentences for each.)

1. What aspects of these testimonies line up? (are the same?)
2. Where do the testimonies conflict? (what’s different?)
3. Write down your prediction: Based on all of the evidence provided, how should the jury rule? Is Tom guilty or not guilty? What do you think will happen based on that ruling? (If you already read the end, Evaluate the decision and what happened afterwards. Did they come to the right conclusion?) 

Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

We will be taking notes on the following videos. If you are absent, you will want to/need to watch them on your own in order to take notes.

• Basic Overview
• Ethos, Pathos and Logos in Advertising
• How they work together

Homework/Important Dates:

• READ Atticus' Closing Argument
• Highlight/Underline one instance of powerful language that you think Atticus uses. 
• Be ready to share your example and explain why you think it is powerful when you get to class tomorrow.
• Read Chapter 21 tonight.
• Chapter 17-21 Quiz on THURSDAY, May 5 (TOMORROW)
• Your Vocab Quiz will happen on Friday, May 6 (This Friday)
• Click here for the slides

Guilty?

Today's Goal: hear from our last witness testimony: Tom Robinson. Identify and analyze each of the testimonies using our trial evidence chart.

The Plan:

1. Book Love!
2. Listen to Tom Robinson's testimony
3. Work on Evidence Chart
4. Get started on Chapter 20.

Homework/Important Dates:

• Read Chapter 20 tonight.
• Finish Evidence Tracker - Your evidence tracker is due on WEDNESDAY, May 4.
• VIV/VIT Vocab Practice is due on WEDNESDAY, May 4.
• Chapter 17-21 Quiz on THURSDAY, May 5
• Your Vocab Quiz will happen on Friday, May 6 (This Friday)
• Click here for the slides

The Victim Speaks

Today's Goal: Continue our analysis of the events leading up to Tom Robinson's trial based on the witness testimony provided.

The Plan:

1. Book Love!
2. Read (and REREAD) Chapter 18, paying close attention to the witness testimony of Mayella Ewell.
3. Start Chapter 19 if we have time (we might).

Homework/Important Dates:

• Read Chapter 19 tonight (Trust me, it helps).
• Finish Evidence Tracker for HECK TATE and BOB EWELL and MAYELLA EWELL
• Your evidence tracker is due on WEDNESDAY, May 4.
• VIV/VIT Vocab Practice is due on WEDNESDAY, May 4.
• Chapter 17-21 Quiz on THURSDAY, May 5
• Your Vocab Quiz will happen on Friday, May 6 (This Friday)
• Click here for the slides