Write Like a Ninja

This picture was taken in our classroom. Can you figure out where?

Today we're going to write 
like ninjas:

Fast. Silent. Deadly.

Okay maybe not deadly. 

A few things we need to address today:

1. Yesterday was your 10% marker. Go to NaNoWriMo and update your word count now.
2. Now fill out this form!
3. Remember when we talked about sensory details? Here is a great list of words you might be able to use to create descriptions.
4. I'm grading your English Journals this week. We won't be using them much while you write for NaNoWriMo.
5. I know you have a lot of writing to be doing at home, but don't forget reading! By now you should be done with one book and reading your second. You have TWO book reviews due soon!

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!

Sensory Details

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7yRpkzZKhonnYhPGlzr9ILc0ZpzVQyLRsQi9ApDlif_7XK47k_XFOWYouAXQZ1ctodxbByYtgtEd810SnMl6N3oHLszafM44AjRJh6K4UUsXlmEyUtoHjQDUGVt2WSS7x9-JI7fwg8o/s1600/open-163975_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF7yRpkzZKhonnYhPGlzr9ILc0ZpzVQyLRsQi9ApDlif_7XK47k_XFOWYouAXQZ1ctodxbByYtgtEd810SnMl6N3oHLszafM44AjRJh6K4UUsXlmEyUtoHjQDUGVt2WSS7x9-JI7fwg8o/s1600/open-163975_640.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://pixabay.com/">pixabay.com</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Hey!<br />
<br />
While you're reading (not talking), you need to get a couple tabs open:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Your highlighted copy of "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez</li>
<li>Socrative! (<a href="http://m.socrative.com/" target="_blank">http://m.socrative.com</a>&nbsp;is the address)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>Goal #1:&nbsp;</b><br />
<br />
Yesterday you highlighted sensory details in "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings."<br />
<br />
You're going to choose your favorite, most descriptive sensory detail from what you read yesterday.<br />
<br />
In Socrative, you'll be doing the following:<br />
<br />
Choose the best sensory detail from the story and (1) type it into Socrative, (2) explain which sense it appeals to, and (3) explain how the description affects you as a reader.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Goal #2:</b><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Reread the passage from your group novel listed below.&nbsp;</li>
<li>Find specific instances where the author uses sensory details and copy them into your English Journal.</li>
<li>State which sense each quotation appeals to, and how it affects you as a reader.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/szbqgwpl7u4530l/Sensory_Details_Chart.docx?dl=0" target="_blank">(You may want to create a chart like this one in your English Journal if you think it would be helpful.)</a></div>
<br />
<br />
<b>Of Mice and Men:</b> pages 99-100 (First two pages of last chapter)<br />
<b>Saint Iggy:</b> Pages 46-48 – A vile description of the apartment building where Freddie<br />
sells drugs and a bunch of addicts hang out all strung out.<br />
<b>Lord of the Flies:</b> Pages 134-135 – the description of the boys slaughtering the sow.<br />
<b>Romiette and Julio:</b> pp. 178 – 180 – the description of Terrell’s gang threatening<br />
Romiette &amp; Julio<br />
<b>Secret Life of Bees: </b>pp. 191-193<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Goal #3:&nbsp;</b><br />
If you read this, Mrs. Roberts and I still want high fives, but you'll need to tell us who your favorite character is in your group novel, as well. **Be careful: We might ask why.<br />
<br />
You have all period to fulfill this goal. I hope you read it.

How Authors Describe...

Source

Monday!



I am sorry I had to miss class last Friday. Hopefully Mrs. Roberts didn't cause too much trouble while I was gone.






Scoring your English Journal:

Today you're going to evaluate your English Journal. You'll need to open it in one tab and this SCORING GUIDE in another tab.

Copy and paste this into your English Journal at the top. and complete the blanks based on the scoring guide.

 I believe I have earned a _________ (enter a number from the scoring guide) on my English Journal because _______________________________(explain why you earned that score based on the scoring guide).

"A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings:"

This week we're going to be looking more at how authors create descriptions. Authors use sensory details to make the setting and characters seem more real. Sensory details refer to how things smell, taste, feel, sound, and look, but show rather than tell.

Today, you'll need to spend some significant time reading "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings." You'll need to open that link and click file/make a copy for your own use. I will explain how we will do this.