Homework 8/25

-UPLOAD both drafts of "Who Are You Anyway?" to Turnitin.com
At 11.59 pm, no papers will be accepted!
-Complete the parts of speech review - pages 32-33 in the Language Network book
-Study for your vocabulary quiz and your The Curious Incident... test

Something is wrong with google docs

so here is the "Who Are You, Anyway?" assignment again for those who lost it.

Introductory Writing Assignment – Who Are You, Anyway?

As a student at LMSA, you will inevitably learn much about yourself and your peers as readers, writers and creative thinkers; however, before you begin this journey, it is important to reflect on how you already see yourself as a student of great literature.

Your first assignment is to write, directed to me, a letter of introduction. This letter should be at least two pages (typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman 12 font… that’s the font that I am using right here. Know it, love it, and get used to it, my little chickadees!) It should describe the kind of student you are. Within this letter, you should:

• Start off with an anecdote (small story) about a reading experience you have had

• Explain your attitudes about reading and writing

• Identify texts that inspire you. (Texts include books, magazines, newspapers, music and movies.) What common element ties these together?

• Describe the best reading experience you ever had. What made this profound?

• If you don’t like to read, tell me why. (Was there a bad experience?)

• Tell me what literacy means for you. Look up the definition if necessary or create your own (and tell me how you created it).

• Define the goals you have for your English class this year, and explain how they relate to your experience in your Language Arts class last year. Consider relating it to your initial story. This will give your paper appropriate closure.

Make sure that you consider the practices of good writers. Do not forget to do the following:

• Consider your audience (me!)

• Organize your ideas (ONE idea per paragraph)

• Develop your points with supporting evidence

• Be specific in your language choices and in your ideas.

• Use spell check, grammar check, and watch your mechanics. (Woe to you should you spell any words as you might in a text message!)

It’s ok to be honest… I know some people don’t share my passion for English… yet! Remember that this is your opportunity to share with me something about yourself. Take advantage of it and good luck!

Due Dates:

Draft One – August 15, 2008

Draft Two—August 25, 2008

Homework 8/21

-Write ten discussion questions for the last part of The Curious Incident...
-Write your final draft of "Who Are You Anyway?" due on turnitin.com on August 25th. After 11.59 pm, you will not be permitted to submit and you will receive a zero on the paper.

A note to parents and Homework 8/18/08

-PARENTS-
Today students were given a Week 3 Progress Report. They will receive 10 points for getting those signed by you (and zero points if they do not get them signed). Please ask your students to keep you updated on their grades!

-Students will write discussion questions on pages 93-143 from The Curious Incident...
-Because this section is also very illustration/graph heavy, I want you to think about a journey you once took (it can be as small as your first trip to the grocery store), and create a pictoral representation of this journey. It can be a map, a graph, or anything you want to create. You can label places, but try to use as few words as possible.

Homework 8/14

-Review pages 90-140 of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
-Write ten discussion questions from the above pages
-Work on the parts of speech song you were assigned in class. If you have already finished, GREAT! If not, talk to your group members this weekend!

NOTE. The "Who Are You Anyway?" paper was to be typed in Times New Roman, size 12 font, double spaced. Double spacing means spacing between lines. This means, in Word, you go to Format, click on Paragraph, then when the box pops up, select Double in spacing. Handwritten papers are unacceptable.

Homework 8/11-8/12

-Study for your vocabulary quiz (Lesson One)!
-Complete draft one of "Who Are You, Anyway?"
-Write ten discussion questions for The Curious Incident... from pages 43-90
Both of my freshmen classes did an excellent job with discussion questions today! Keep up the good work!

Homework for 8/7 - 8/8

-In your reading journal, write 10 discussion questions from The Curious Incident... (pages 1-43). Make sure the discussion questions are not YES or NO answers. Those are not discussion questions! Your questions will be used to begin a class discussion on Monday/Tuesday, so make them good ones!
-In your journal, list some of your favorite things about reading, your favorite things about English class (in general, not mine), music, and movies. This list will be used for an assignment you will receive Monday/Tuesday.

First Homework Assignment - 8/4/08

--Have your contract signed by your parent (and don't forget to sign it yourself!) These points are easily earned!
--Write a biopoem for the character of your choice from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. In case you have forgotten the format, here's a link:
http://library.thinkquest.org/11883/data/biopoem.htm
--Complete your first twenty vocabulary note cards. Remember, the word and your initials on the front, the definition on the back.