Holiday Homework

Students need to finish editing and revising their Response to Literature Essay using Ratiocination, type their final draft, and finally upload their essay to the eZine under the category "Response to Literature." On Monday, January 4th, students will hand in their rough draft and typed final draft. Their final draft must be uploaded to the eZine by 11:59 p.m. that night for full credit.

Any students who were absent or did not finish writing the essay in class may view directions here (or look under "Homework for 12.22.09") for writing the body paragraphs and see below for directions on writing the introduction and conclusion.

Introduction

This is the order:
1) Title, author, and brief summary of story 1
2) Title, author, and brief summary of story 2
3) Comparison of two stories
4) Theme statement

Example:
The short story, "Thank You M'am," by Langston Hughes is about a poor boy who tries to steal a lady's pocketbook, but is genuinely cared for by his victim in the end. "Thank You Mr. Falker" by Patricia Polacco describes a young girl who wants to read but struggles through school while also being bullied by her peers. In both of these stories, the adults shine through and help the needy characters. The authors, Hughes and Polacco, describe a theme everyone can relate to: sometimes people do the wrong thing when they want something they do not have.

Conclusion

This is the order:
1. Restate theme statement
2. Text-to-self connection
3. Text-to-world connection

Example:
Sometimes jealousy or desires cause people to act selfish and hurt others. I can relate to this, because when I was in high school I wanted to be part of the popular crowd and I spread an awful rumor about a former friend. I felt so horrible afterwards because she had to move away. So, I think we should all remember that we can't always get what we want; we have to be patient and think about how our decisions affect others.

Homework for 12.22.09

My students have been working on a response to literature essay in class, and we wrote the three body paragraphs today. Some students did not finish, so their homework tonight is to finish writing all three. ALL students need to edit the paragraphs using Ratiocination tonight.

Here are the instructions for writing the three body paragraphs:

Order of sentences-
1) Topic Sentence
2) Evidence 1
3) Linking Sentence
4) Evidence 2
5) Closing Sentence

Roger wanted something that he couldn't afford, so he tried to snatch an old lady's pocketbook. While at Ms. Jones house, Roger admitted, "I wanted a pair of blue suede shoes"(3). Instead of the old lady taking Roger to jail, she took him home, fed him, allowed him to wash his face, and even gave him ten dollars. Roger wanted to do something nice for Ms. Jones but was only able to say thank you. The poor boy learned that he should be careful when he wants something, because there are nice people who want to help.

***The third body paragraph is a little different
1) Topic Sentence
2) Evidence for story 1
3) Explain how evidence relates to theme or give more details
4) Evidencec for story 2
5) Explain how evidence relates to theme or give more details

REMINDER: All direct quotes should be introduced!! Don't forget to write the page number!

Homework for 12.15.09-12.21.09

Students received a Reading Project today. It is due Tuesday, December 22nd.

Here are the details:
Write a five paragraph letter to an author of one of the realistic fiction books you read. In your letter, you will make a text-to-self connection to the book’s main character.

Paragraph 1 – INTRODUCTION – Write a theme statement that shows you are personally connected to the author. Share your personal response to the book.

Paragraph 2, 3 and 4 – BODY – Identify your personal story and thoughts about the theme of your letter. Be sure to use details and evidence from the text to support your statements.

* Tell about yourself and how you compare with the book’s main character by using details from the book to support your connection.

* Ask the author a question based on the character. Did the author have a similar experience to the main character’s experience(s)? Use details from the book to support your connection.

Paragraph 5 – CONCLUSION – Tell how the book influenced your life.

Sample Letter

475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1270
New York, NY 10115

Langston Hughes
c/o Harcourt, Inc.
6277 Sea Harbor Drive
Orlando, FL 32887


December 23, 2009


Dear Mr. Hughes,

My grandmother lives in Florida, and I do not see her very often. When she comes to visit my family in New York, my parents do not let me spend time with my friends for the entire length of her visit. I used to roll my eyes and think that I would rather be playing football than hanging out with an old lady. After I read your short story “Thank You, M’am, I have a new view on spending time with my grandmother. Roger was a young boy on the wrong path until he met Mrs. Jones. Your story taught me how important it is for young people like me to have a trusting relationship with an older person.

I noticed that Roger’s relationship with Mrs. Jones had a positive impact on his life. When I started reading “Thank You M’am,” I was very surprised that Mrs. Jones does not take Roger to the police. Why would she want to take home someone who just tries to steal from her? This part made me very curious.

When they get to her apartment, she shares her meal and an important lesson with him. She shows him that even though people are poor, they can make good decisions. Mrs. Jones explains how when she was young she wanted things that she could not have. After describing how she works hard at a hotel beauty shop, she gives him money to buy the blue suede shoes that he wants.

Mrs. Jones also reminds him not to steal other people’s money in the future. At this point, I understood the purpose of her actions. She is really a clever woman. When Roger says, “Thank You, M’am” at the end, I realized that he learned his lesson about stealing. Roger is able to make better decisions now because of the advice he got from an older person.

I now realize how lucky I am to have my grandmother around. She is a wise and caring woman with a lot of life experience, and she can teach me important lessons just like Mrs. Jones teaches Roger. Sometimes it is hard for me to talk to my parents or teachers about things that happen in my life, because I think they will get mad at me. Thank you for reminding me that I can learn so much from older people like my grandmother. Did you have older people in your life that influenced you?


Sincerely,

Homework for 12.14.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and write three questions that you would want to ask the author of the book you are reading.

Homework for 12.11.09

Read your fiction book for 30 minutes and tell me about a big idea that you see in your book and a story we have read in class. Create a theme statement that fits both.

Homework for 12.4.09

Read for 30 minutes and draw a scene that you feel is important.Tell me why it is important (2-3 sentences)

Class 603- Inferencing questions

Students in class 603 who did not complete the inferencing questions for "The Other Side" need to complete them tonight for homework. Here are the questions:

The Other Side
1. Restate the question, 2. Give evidence from the story,
3. Tell me what prior knowledge you used

1. Why doesn't the girl's mom want her to climb over the fence? The girl's mom doesn't want her to climb over the fence because Clover might get hurt by the white people. I know this because the story said that white people lived on one side which means it was segregated. In social studies I learned that segregation separated the white and black people and there would sometimes be violence.

2. What time period is this story written in?

3. Where do you think this story takes place?

4. Why did Clover's friends look at her funny?

5. Why doesn't Clover's mom ask her to get off the fence?

6. When Annie says, "Someday somebody's going to come along and knock this old fence down" it isn't because the fence is old. Explain what she means.

Homework for 12.3.09

Students are completing the same assignment from Wednesday- see "Homework for 12.2.09."

Students need to make a new inference and support it with details from their book and prior knowledge.

Homework for 12.2.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and tell me about an inference you made about a character or event. Make sure you also tell me what makes you think that. (4-5 sentences)

Homework for 12.1.09

Read your book for 30 minutes and make a prediction about something you think the character in your book will do next. Give me two reasons why you think he/she will do this. (4-5 sentences)

CLASS 603 & 622 Homework

Some students did not finish the essay assigned in class. Here are the directions. This is due TOMORROW.

Response to Literature Essay

Introduction: Introduce the story giving me a short summary of what happens. Then, state your big idea and theme statement

1st Body Paragraph: Tell me how this big idea is shown in the story. 4-5 sentences

2nd Body Paragraph: Tell me about your personal connection (just YOUR story, not how it relates to the story you are writing about) 4-5 sentences

3rd Body Paragraph: Write a text-to-self connection about the big idea (How you can relate to what happened in the story- use comparison language)
4-5 sentences

Conclusion: Restate the big idea and theme statement. Tell me how anyone can apply the theme statement in their own lives.