Beginning of summer!

Hello all!

Today is the last day of school. Congratulations to all of the graduates and welcome new students! Though the school year is over, summer is the perfect opportunity to begin using a writer's notebook.

Here are things that I include in my own writer's notebook:

• Story ideas
• Short poems
• Scenes for a story
• Information about characters
• Funny things that my family says/does
• Crazy dreams that I have
• Questions that I have about the world
• Favorite books, songs and why I like them
• Snippets of events from my day (though I save the majority of these for my journal)
• Plot lines for a short story

Materials you will need:

• a small notebook
• a pencil/pen (I prefer to use a really cool pen)
• your brain (which includes your imagination)

The possibilities are endless. The point of the writer's notebook is that the ideas are mine. I write down things for fun, and these ideas may become printed stories. 

This is NOT a mandatory assignment! However, be prepared to write when you return in the fall. HAPPY SUMMER and KEEP WRITING! :D

Resume Template 8th Grade

8th Grade Resume

Click on the link below:

You can view this to see the template for the resume. You may also copy and paste it onto a word document. Please do not make any changes to the document.

Resume Template

Resumés and Book Reviews

8th grade students will begin working on a resumé this week!

7th grade students will start writing book reviews.

Stay tuned for more information and due dates!

Room 102

Hello Room 102! Welcome to Ms. Chaps' Class Blog :)

Please click on the link below:
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/animals/

How to Make a Book Jacket

Book Jacket Rubric

As part of the project on memoirs, students must create a book jacket for the project.

Here is the rubric that I will use to assess the students' work:

MEMOIRS!!!!

Happy May!!

We have started memoirs in almost all of the writing classes.

-->

Questions:

·      What is a memoir?

·      Why do people write memoirs?

·      How is a memoir different from an autobiography?

·      Why study memoirs?

Vocabulary:

·      nonfiction

·      hook

·      dialogue

·      hyperbole

·      cliché

·      symbolism

·      tone

Characteristics of Memoirs

·      a series of memories; a description of an event from the past

·      written in first person

·      based on truth

·      reveals the feelings of the writer (tone)

·      has meaning; shows that the author has learned a lesson(s) from the experience

What's due?

• a 4-5 page mini-memoir
• either a book cover or keynote presentation advertising the student's book

Due dates:
Room 106: May 20
Room 103: May 24
Room 105: May 31
Room 104: May 28


Here is the rubric for the final draft of the memoir:

Rubric for book cover/presentation to come...

POETRY PACKETS DUE SOON!!

REMINDER:

Poetry Packets are due this week!

Please make sure that you turn in:

• your poetry packet with all drafts completed
• 4 final typed poems (1 which Ms. Chaps chooses, 3 of your choice)

Due Dates:

Room 106 - Tuesday, April 30th 
Room 103 and Room 105 - Friday, May 3rd
Room 104 - Monday, May 6th (the date has been pushed back because of the visit to Midway Airport)

Below is the rubric (click on the image to enlarge it):

Argumentative Writing

Hello Families,

We have already started working on argumentative essays in English class. I am teaching students how to use the Internet for research and what makes a credible source. Students are expected to write a 5-paragraph essay as well as create a bibliography.

Here are a list of the due dates by class:

Rooms 104 and 106:

• Rough draft: March 22
• Final draft: April 5

Rooms 105 and 103:

• Rough draft: April 1
• Final draft: April 12

Thank you for all of your support!

Below is a reference guide that shows students how to use the advanced search tool in Google. Click on the image to enlarge it.

To Write in Cursive or Not to Write?

Please complete the survey below. Once you have submitted your survey, allow your partner to complete it as well.

Handwriting Survey 

Argumentative Writing

Hello all!

For the next two weeks, students will be working on an argumentative essay. On Friday, we discussed the components of an argumentative piece, what makes a good argument, and the types of questions that the students can ask.

Information will be sent home this week outlining the details of the project. Thank you for your support!

Writing Contests!

Here is a link to a contest:

http://www.scholastic.com/bookfairs/contest/kaa_about.asp

Keynote presentation

Keynote Project:

After visiting the museum and seeing the effects of genocide, you are now going to research current acts of genocide. With your group members, choose one of the following areas to report on:

·      Armenia

·      Cambodia

·      Rwanda

·      Darfur

You will create a presentation to promote awareness. On your glogster, you must include the following information:

1.     Describe the region(s) affected

2.     Describe who is involved in the conflict (victims, perpetrators, bystanders)

3.     Explain the cause of the conflict

4.     List the actions that must be taken for the genocide to end

Be sure to cite your sources! Here is a list of resources to use:

·      http://www.ilholocaustmuseum.org/pages/genocide_today/107.php

·      http://www.ushmm.org/genocide/

·      http://www.genocidewatch.org/

·      http://endgenocide.org/

Paperman 2

Practicing Plot

After watching the video, complete the form with your partner.

Paperman Plot Check

Biography Project

Reminder: Final biography project is due on Friday 1/25/13

The final project includes:

• biography paper
• bibliography (list of sources)
• 2 journal entries
• biography poem

Below is the criteria for the biography poem:

Biography Poem

Directions: Take out a sheet of loose leaf paper and write your name on top. Think about the person whom you are writing a biography about. If your person is no longer living, then change the verbs to past tense (e.g. “is” to “was”).

            Line 1            The person’s first name

            Line 2             Who is… (describe the person)

            Lines 3-9        Choose 7 of the following line starters:

                                    Who is the son/daughter of…

                                    Who is the husband/wife of…

                                    Who is the brother/sister of…

                                    Who loves…

                                    Who fears…

                                    Who believes…

                                    Who wants…

                                    Who needs…

                                    Who would like to see…

                                    Who uses…

                                    Who gives…

                                    Who says…

            Line 10           Who lives…

            Line 11           The person’s last name…

Ms. Chaps’ Example:

Eleanor

Who was the longest serving First Lady

Who was the wife of Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Who was the niece of Teddy Roosevelt

Who loved visiting the poor and sick and playing with her dog, Fala

Who feared not being loved by others

Who believed in the future of the town, Arthurdale

Who would have liked to see a woman run for president

Who gave up familial happiness to serve her country and to be a symbol of peace

Who lived in Hyde Park, New York until her death

Roosevelt

Biographies Part 2

Hello all!

Students must bring in the rough draft of their paper, because we will be peer editing on Friday.

Rough Drafts due: Friday 1/18
Final Copy including the bibliography and 2 journal entries due: Friday 1/25.

Thank you,
Ms. Chaps

Biography Rubric

Here is the rubric for the biography paper itself.
Please click on the image to enlarge it.

Biographies

Quick reminder:

Students must complete biography notes for Monday 1/14/13.

Here are two links that students can use to find information about the person they picked:

http://www.biography.com/

http://www.britannica.com/

Each site creates citations in MLA style, so students can simply copy and paste the citation onto a word document. The following links can also help you make a citation in MLA style.

http://www.bibme.org/

http://www.easybib.com/

http://citationmachine.net/index2.php

A reference page should look like this:

Hello all,

Quick reminder that bio poems are due on Monday. Your bio poem must include the poem (written or typed) and at least 3 pictures that relate to the poem. You may print out the pictures from the internet or draw them. If you have any questions, please email me.

Next week, we will begin working on biographies. I will be sending home a note as well as posting information on the blog.


Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Ms. Chaps