First Semester Final

CLICK HERE FOR THE FINAL. (Ms. Black will give you the password.)

Ms. Black will give you paper copies of the readings you will need for the final.

Good luck.
Come visit me next semester.
(All of you.)
(Preferably not all at once.)
(But that would be okay, too.)

Final Preparations

Let's read!

Today we make sure everyone is prepared for the end of the semester (i.e. your final).

You need:

• A tab for this blog
• A tab for your English Journal
• Enthusiasm! (Trust me, the world is a much simpler place if you muster up a bit of enthusiasm about it. These are my parting words of wisdom.)

Today you will:

1. Take a look through the blog posts from this semester. You should definitely go all the way back to September. (In fact, you should probably start there.)
2. In your English Journal, make a list of all of the key terms and concepts we have studied.
3. Choose five or six that you personally need to review, and create an example that demonstrates each concept after you have reviewed the material
4. Work alone or with a partner. You can help each other fill in missing links.

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!

Finishing up our McBride Letters

We have a number of things to do and talk about today. Make sure you read through this carefully.

Goal #1: Peer Review

• Review your partner's letter for areas of strength and areas that need improvement.
• Work to improve areas that need it. (Work together or separately)

Goal #2: Finalize your letter

• Response letter to McBride is due BEFORE you come to class tomorrow
• Finish it before you come to school tomorrow.

Goal #3: Calling in your response letter:

• You must call in your letter.
• Use the number posted in the classroom or use the "Call Me" button on this blog. 
• Read your letter to the voicemail.
• Practice before you call.
• Due by 9:00 PM Friday 1/16 for full credit
• (This is the easiest grade to get all semester, people. Make it happen.)

Important things to know:

• Your English journals will get graded sometime next week. Make sure they're up to date.
• A study guide for the final can be found here. I will also give you a paper copy.
• NaNoWriMo regrade requests will not be accepted after tomorrow.
• Don't forget to bring us a copy of your published NaNoWriMo novel for extra credit! (You'll need to bring it before the final for it to count for this semester.)

Response to McBride, Part II

We'll read when the bell rings.

Goal #1: Independent Reading/Book Reviews

Your book reviews are due today! Go to the "Independent Reading/Book Reviews" tab at the top of this page to find the form you will need to fill out.

In another tab, you'll need to open your reviews in Goodreads to get the URL links.

Goal #2: Working on your McBride response letter

Yesterday you began composing your letter to Mr. McBride in regards to his article, "Hip Hop Planet," by summarizing his main points. Today we're going to focus on the second half of your letter in which you share your thoughts and opinions about his argument.

Response to McBride

Return to your normal seats.
Please make sure you get a book and your homework out.
DON'T FORGET: Two book reviews are due tomorrow. They should be posted in Goodreads.


We have been reading and analyzing James McBride's Hip Hop Planet; now it is time to write about it more formally. Today we will work on the first part, the summary. Tomorrow we will work on the response portion.
I've sent you a document to write your assignment. Look for it in your "Shared with Me" or "Incoming" section.

Assignment:  Summarizing and Responding in a Letter to James McBride

• Now that you have considered the topic of hip hop and its global influence, you will write a summary and response in the format of a letter.
• Your task is to compose a letter to James McBride with the purpose of letting him know what you think about the claims he makes about the importance and power of hip hop in his essay.
• The first portion of the letter will be a summary where you show McBride that you understand the main points of his essay. The second portion of your letter will be a thoughtful and formal response to his ideas.

It might be helpful to review what you did with SOAPSTone last week. Find those responses HERE.

Charting the Text

Alright, so we're not done with James McBride's article yet. Every time you read it, there is more to be found and understood and expanded upon. All of these activities will help you with the writing assignment you're going to get.

Today we're going to focus on how McBride has structured the text. I will give you a sheet in class (paper?!?!) to guide your analysis. It is due before the end of class today.

(If you are absent, email me and I will send you this to complete at home.)

Homework: Stylistic Analysis. Tonight you will look closely at the word choices McBride makes in his essay. (If you are absent email me and I will send you this to complete at home.)

Important Dates:

• Wednesday, January 14
• TWO book reviews due on Goodreads.
• I will ask you to give me your links in class. You will not have time to write them in class. 
• Click on the "Independent Reading/Book Reviews" tab at the top of the page for more information.
• Friday, January 16
• If you want to ask for a regrade on your NaNoWriMo document, you must send me and email by Friday.
• Click on the "NaNoWriMo Scoring" tab at the top of the page for more information.