Tuesday Jan 22nd

Today I collected your Eulogy paper and your Big Wave assignment from the weekend.

Next we discussed the next unit of grammar: compound and complex sentences. You had time to read, take notes, and attempt a few problems beginning on page 556.

Class/Homework:
Take notes on pages 556/557 & 559
Do problems:
Page 557 #1-10, #11-20, answers only
Page 560 #1-5 write out the sentences
#11-15 write out the sentences

January 18th

Today we discussed a little about Pearl S. Buck and her background.

Next we read a few pages together to start The Big Wave. You had the remainder of the hour to work on the questions and read up until page 17.

Homework:

• The questions for The Big Wave worksheet (front and back completed)
• The final package of your Eulogy. On Tuesday you MUST turn in your rough draft (with signs it has been edited), your final copy, and the rubric (see the blog entry below. Copy and paste in a WORD document and print off a copy). If you do not have a printer or yours is not working, you must bring it to school on a disc so I can print it for you. I will only print off what you bring me.

EULOGY RUBRIC

EULOGY RUBRIC

____/20 main focus is to honor your subject and tell the audience what he/she should be remembered for

____/20 carefully edited and contains about 250 words, (about 1 1/2 pages long), uses proper MLA style heading w/name/date/hour/teacher/class (see your red MLA book if you have questions)

____/10 contains specific details or an anecdote about the subject to illustrate what they are remembered for

____/10 gives a conclusion (does not leave the reader/audience hanging)

____/60 TOTAL

Thursday Jan 17th

Today you brought in your rough draft of your eulogy. Remember that a eulogy is a usually a speech written in honor of a person who has passed away.

A handful of students chose to share their eulogies aloud with the class. Afterward we took time to critique them. Take those same points of critique and apply them to your eulogy if you chose not to read yours.

• Does your eulogy center around honoring your subject and telling your audience what he/she should be remembered for? Or does your eulogy go a bit too far creatively and lose that focus?


• Does your eulogy share anecdotes/short detailed stories to SHOW your audience what he/she should be remembered for? Or is your essay very TELLING in nature?

Remember that there is a word count of about 250 words (a little more or a little less is fine). Also, make sure if the eulogy is about yourself to write it in 3rd person.

I will post a rubric for this assignment tomorrow. Your final package for this assignment (including the rough draft, the final draft and the rubric) is due when you come to school on Tuesday.

HOMEWORK:

Although I am not assigning it or grading it, it would be in your best interest to edit your rough draft thoroughly so you will be able to turn in the best possible paper on Tuesday!

Wednesday Jan 16th

Today we corrected the MLK packet and I colleceted it.

Next we discussed the Eulogy assignment.

Here are some of the requirements and options you have:

• 250 words (a little less or a little more is fine)
• includes specific details
• your main focus should be to celebrate the life of yourself or someone else
• ask yourself: what do I (my subject) to be known for? what mark did he/she/you make on the world?

You may choose to write a eulogy:

• about yourself using 3rd person
• about a family member or someone close to you (they may be living or not)
• about a famous person you know/care a lot about

You must have a strong connection with the subject so you are able to include vivid, specific details.

Your rough draft is due tomorrow. You MUST have a completed rough draft in class or you will not be able to participate in the editing session. Your rough draft can be handwritten, but it must skip lines. You may also choose to type it.

Tuesday Jan 15th

Today we watched some video of MLK speeches and saw some powerful images. We discussed his voice and his words and his body language as he spoke.

We also heard a song by Will I Am that was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.

Finally we read the last portion of MLK's The Drum Major Instinct Speech that he gave two months before he died. It talked about what MLK wanted to be known for when he passed.

This will lead into a new writing assignment we will begin tomorrow.

Homework:
Think about the things you want to be known for when you pass away.

Also, complete worksheet Writing Effective Sentences in the packet I handed out on Monday. This should be completed when you come to class tomorrow.

Monday Jan 14th

Today we began discussing Martin Luther King and his ability to be a powerful orator. We read together one of his speeches, "I See the Promised Land". During this we also discussed Primary Sources, their importance, and why we should question what we hear/read. Why isn't Wikipedia a good source of information? (I gave you a good illustration why :)

Homework:
Page 106/107 of the worksheet following the Martin Luther King speech you were given. Make sure you have it completed by tomorrow.

Also, make sure you have your $1 for The Big Wave book by Wednesday! Thank You!