Article of the Week and Book Reviews

Hello Everyone!
Sorry I cannot be here with you today. I will see you tomorrow or Friday when we do our Socratic Seminar!

Today, you have two goals:

1. Read and respond to an Article of the Week on Newsela
2. Make sure your book review is complete and turned in (in the inbox or shared with me on Google Drive)

Article of the Week

It is called Rioting in Baltimore shuts down much of city; worst since 1968 and is on Newsela. You won't be able to see it unless you sign in first. Make sure you click "Sign in with Google" to sign in! You probably want the "1210L" setting. (you can also find it here, but you won't be able to change the level.)

You will need to write two paragraphs in your English Journal:

In the first paragraph, summarize the article (use the sentence frames on the wall if you need to).

In the second paragraph, share your opinions on what is happening in Baltimore. Were/Are their actions justified? What are acceptable forms of protest? Why do you think these people turned to rioting in the first place?

Book Reviews!

These are due today!! Yay!

You may turn it in on paper in the inbox, or share it with me on Google Drive. 

Important note: It is important that you share your OPINIONS. Use the chart as a guide, and in this assignment, you need to be using "I" to share your thoughts.

If you finish these things:

• make sure your English Journal is up to date
• read

Article of the Week - Nepal Earthquake

Today's Goal: Read about the recent earthquake in Nepal to learn about current events for our Article of the Week.

The Plan:

1. Read
2. Go to this link to read an article about the earthquake in Nepal that happened this past weekend.
3. Respond to the article in your English Journal using the questions below.

Questions to answer in your English Journal:
1. According to the article, what is significant about the magnitude and power of this earthquake?
2. What happened in the cities of Nepal when the earthquake hit?
3. What happened at Everest when the earthquake hit?
4. What facts and ideas show how this earthquake will affect the country and people of Nepal in the future?
5. If you were going to add another picture or a chart to this article to help readers better understand an important point, what would it be and why?

Thrill-Seeking Article of the Week

Happy Monday! I'm sorry I couldn't be here with you today.

Today's Goal: Read about how brains are affected by risk-taking. Complete an Article of the Week entry in your English Journal

The Plan: 

1. Read the article "Thrill Seeking: What Parts of your Brain are Involved"
2. Create a new entry at the top of your English Journal for today's Article of the Week
3. Use your own words to summarize the article in one paragraph. What does the article inform us about? (You can use the summary frame to help you.)
4. In another paragraph, answer the following questions:

• How might this information affect your choices? 
• Do you think participating in extreme sports could affect decisions in other parts of your life? Why or why not?

If you finish, you may:

1. Read
2. Work on making sure all of your English Journal Entries are up to date and complete! The list is by the door. You need all of them!

Have a wonderful day! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

Article of the Week #9

Reflection on a Hub Cap.
Kool Cats Photography

Reflecting on Your Writing Process
Now that you have completed your letter, copy and paste these questions beneath your letter. Take a few minutes to respond to them. Once you are done, you may move on to the AOW below.

1. What do you think are the strengths of your letter to James McBride?
2. What aspects of your letter, if any, could be stronger?
3. Which class activities helped you the most in writing your final letter?

Article of the Week #9

• Write this in your English Journal.
• Your AOW is in your binder in Newsela. It's about Charlie Hebdo.
• Read the article and respond in your English Journal by writing two paragraphs: one to summarize, and one to respond with thoughts on the issue.
• Class code: NIIJN

Don't forget!

• Call in your McBride response letter before 9pm tonight!
• Make sure your English Journal is up to date! Check the blog on the days that you're missing to find the assignments you should have.
• Bring us your NaNoWriMo book for extra credit!

AOW - TED Talk #2

Last Friday we reinstated Article of the Week, and we watched a TED Talk about being wrong. You wrote a response in your English Journal. Today we're going to watch one more.

After today, you should have THREE entries in your English Journal so far for this grading period. If you do not have these three entries, you need to do them (or you won't be happy with your English Journal grade in January). 

This Ted Talk is by a woman named Chimamanda Adichie. She's from Nigeria, and has some interesting stories to share with us. 

In your English Journal, respond to this TED Talk in the usual way:

• Paragraph 1: Write a summary of Chimamanda Adichie's TED Talk. What is her main argument? What is the "danger of a single story?" What examples does she give to support her argument?
  
• Paragraph 2: Share your opinion of Chimamanda Adichie's talk. What do you like or dislike about what she has to say? How might this relate to your own life and experiences?

Article of the Week - TED Talk

Today we're going to return to something that we haven't done in a while: Article of the Week!

It's going to be a little different today though. I have a TED Talk for you. We're going to watch a video. Before we get to that though, I have a question for you.

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations where we are wrong. How does that feel? Is it okay?


In your English Journal, write at least two paragraphs:

Paragraph 1: 
According to Kathryn Shulz, what is the value in being wrong? What are her main arguments about being right or wrong?

Paragraph 2:
How have your views about rightness and wrongness changed? What is your overall opinion of this talk? How might it affect you and your peers?


Things to Work on at Home (Homework):

• Continue working on your summary document. You should have your blurb and examples by this point. Work on writing WHY the examples you have are strong.
• Write your NaNoWriMo reflection (Part III).

AOW #6

 #Read

Goal #1: Update Goodreads

• By the end of next week, you should be finishing your first book of the grading period. 
• Right now, go log into Goodreads and update your "Currently Reading" shelf. 
• Update your status to show what page you're on right now.

Goal #2: "Advice" of the Week

• This week, I have found some advice for you from other young adults who have completed NaNoWriMo before!
• Click here to view the advice. Read through it carefully.
• Pick 2-3 quotes that you find helpful for you.
• Write a paragraph or two about those pieces of advice and how they help you specifically. 

If you get this far:

Have you finished one of your independent reading novels for the six week grading period? You can begin writing your book review! Do it now while the book is fresh in your mind, and it'll be less you have to do later.

You may also continue working on your character questionnaire or your conflict questionnaire.

If you're feeling nervous about NaNoWriMo, there is also more advice from a couple authors (including Scott Westerfeld) to read at your leisure if you click here.

Article of the Week #5

Books Out.
When you get here, fill out this survey
for the school.
Then keep reading.

If you did not download the NaNoWriMo Student Handbook, you'll need to do that. Click download, open it with Adobe, and "Save As" a PDF onto your desktop.

It's time for another article of the week.
This week it is a blog post about classic books called "What Makes a Book a Classic?"

1. Read it carefully several times to make sure you understand the author's points. 
2. Write a response in your English Journal.
3. Your response should be two paragraphs, one summarizing what the article said and the second is your response to the article.
4. Possible ideas for your response are listed below. 

YOU MAY WANT TO DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING IN YOUR RESPONSE. (Pick one or two)
To what extent do you agree/disagree with the author's points?
Discuss what books you think are classics. What makes them "classics"?
Discuss examples from novels you have read that relate to the author's points?
What are some other criteria for determining whether a novel is a "classic"?
How can this article help you write your own novel?
What "universal truths" might you be interested in writing about?
Why is it that most books do NOT become "classics"?

Come back after school if you didn't finish this. I see many AOWs unfinished every week. This is unacceptable. We are here for you to use the computers.

Take a look at some of the book blurbs your peers wrote about their "ideal novel." If you need inspiration, these might give you some different things to think about.


On Monday we have a guest speaker coming. She is an author and a novelist, and will be able to answer some of questions about writing a novel. Please fill out this form:

AOW #4

You have some work to do today. Are you ready?

1. Today is Friday. That means you get to read an Article of the Week! You will not be on Newsela today. Instead, open this article called "The 9 Ingredients of Character Development." Make a copy to annotate. In your English Journal, write one paragraph to summarize the article, and one paragraph to share you thoughts and opinions.
2. Have you filled out the form for your book reviews? The link is on the top of the page and it says "Independent Reading/Book Reviews" on it. Make sure you have submitted that form.
3. Go back into Goodreads and edit/finish your book review.
4. Catch up on your English Journal.
5. Check Powerschool. Are you missing anything?

We are collecting your group novels today so you do not have to take them to the library. If you do not have it today, you have until next Friday, October 17 to return it to the library.

Also, on Monday, you will have an assessment to show your understanding of what we have been working on in the past five weeks. If you want to know what to do to prepare, the answer is to practice looking for characterization, setting, mood, sensory details, and conflict in your own independent reading novels. If you can do that, you will be fine.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sensory Details and AOW #3

READ.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies," said Jojen. "The man who never reads lives only one.” 

― George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

Yesterday you made a chart in your English Journal and began reading a passage from your group novel to look for sensory details. We will continue that process today. If you do not know what your passage is, or don't know what the chart could look like, ask a neighbor or scroll down to yesterday's post.


What else are we doing today Ms. Black?

Article of the Week!

I know that we usually do Article of the Week on Fridays, but we're switching it up a little bit. 

There is a new Newsela article in your binder. 

1. Read it.
2. Take the quiz.

You do not have to write a summary. Today, focus on the quiz. Ask questions if you have them. If you are not taking the quizzes, it will affect your grades.


Bonus:
Give Ms. Black a thumb's up if you read all the way to the end!

AOW #3

Hello everyone.

After we read, you will be taking another Reading Quiz. Yay!

I, or Mrs. Roberts, will give you the password. 

BEFORE YOU START: Take a look at the chart pictured here. (It is also on the wall next to the inference chart.) Remember, we take points off if you are not proofreading. Seriously, capitalize the beginnings of your sentences. Also, use periods at the end of them.

CLICK HERE for the quiz.

You will have 7 minutes.

Article of the Week:

• You have a new article in your Newsela binder. Log in, read it.
• Write two paragraphs in your English Journal under today's date. The first paragraph is your summary. The second paragraph is your reaction to the article.

Use whatever time you have left to look at what you're missing in your English Journal. Here is a handy-dandy list of all the entries you should have so far. This chart is behind my desk. Use it.

Important Reminder:
The grading period ends on October 10. You should have read at least two books by then. Next week we will be talking about writing book reviews for those books. Make sure you have at least one finished.

AOW (Article of the Week) #2

Source: memegenerator.net

Happy Friday!

Let's read.

Last week I told you we would be reading an Article of the Week each Friday. This is what you'll be working on today.

1. Open Newsela and log in by clicking "Sign In With Google."
2. Click on "Binder" in the top left corner. Scroll all the way to the bottom to find today's article. It is about high school students who don't get enough sleep.
3. Take the quiz at the end of the article (There is definitely a quiz! I checked!)
4. You will need to write two paragraphs in your English journal today. In the first paragraph, write a summary of the article. In the second paragraph, write your opinion of the article and explain why you feel the way that you do. 

Article of the Week #1

Source: YA Book Lover Blog

Let's Read!

Today you will be reading and summarizing your first Article of the Week, or AOW as we like to call them sometimes.

I keep sending you to new websites, and today is not any different. Right now, follow these directions:

Go to b.Socrative.com.

Scroll all the way to the bottom. Do Not Create an Account.

Enter Classroom Number 6867.

Wait for a question on your screen.

Today's Article of the Week is called "Obama announces plan to "degrade and ultimately destroy" ISIL". You will find it in your binder in Newsela.

1. Read the article.
2. Take the quiz
3. Open your English Journal and above yesterday's summary, write today's date and title it.
4. You will write 2 paragraphs here. In the first paragraph, summarize the article. In the second paragraph, write your thoughts about the issue.

  Important Information:
You must bring your ID on Monday. You'll need it.