You received a lot of material back today: the Precise/Vivid quiz; the Giver paper; the Nonfiction Question quiz. Hope you did well. If not, or if you have any questions on anything, just let me know. I'll be happy to speak with you about anything.
A couple of you still need to turn in a nonfiction book title and a film title. Let's finish this tomorrow so all of us can start reading and watching. You do not want to wait to get started. Use your time wisely.
Good start to our discussion of applying the four questions to our analysis of the Costco article. We will be completing our analysis tomorrow and then do the same to the Costco video. Remember the four questions whenever you read a nonfiction piece.
PURPOSE
AUTHOR
EVIDENCE
SOURCE
See you soon.
Monday, November 18, 2013
Honors 11-18-2013
Turn in those papers before you go to sleep tonight. I will not start to assess any paper tonight unless the author specifically requests it at which point I will take them in the order they were submitted.
Don't forget to polish up the works cited as well.
A few of you need to choose your nonfiction book and documentary film yet. Get it in now! Time's a wastin'!
We worked with the nonfiction questions today, and we will pick that up tomorrow. Remember,
PURPOSE
AUTHOR
EVIDENCE
SOURCE
Those are the big four with bias, credibility and both sides being equally represented as related questions.
Here's a link to the Killer Whale clip. We'll look at it tomorrow a little more closely.
See you soon.
Don't forget to polish up the works cited as well.
A few of you need to choose your nonfiction book and documentary film yet. Get it in now! Time's a wastin'!
We worked with the nonfiction questions today, and we will pick that up tomorrow. Remember,
PURPOSE
AUTHOR
EVIDENCE
SOURCE
Those are the big four with bias, credibility and both sides being equally represented as related questions.
Here's a link to the Killer Whale clip. We'll look at it tomorrow a little more closely.
See you soon.
Sunday, November 17, 2013
Standard 11-17-2013
I have a new hero. His name is Bat Kid. If you don't know who he is check this out.
He is one amazing kid and the thousands of volunteers are pretty cool, too. How does something like this happen? The power of social media. Let's talk a little bit about this tomorrow.
Of course, that's after we do the work we were going to do with our Costco material. We have a little clip to look at considering the Black Friday shopping day and then an article as well. We'll be using this information to apply the big nonfiction questions we've been talking about. I know most of you know them because you did so well on the Nonfiction Question Quiz. Plenty of 5s to go around. Well done. Now I want you to focus on the big four primary questions:
Who is the author?
What is the purpose of the article?
What is the evidence?
What are the sources?
The secondary questions on the bias and credibility of the author and the article are important as is the question on both sides being equally represented. They stem from those primary four. Eventually, you will be applying these questions to the material yourself, so be sure you know how to use them and what to look for.
You will receive your papers tomorrow. There were plenty of good ones. I have to say that Sam Catrell's writing was especially noteworthy for the depth and insight it offered. Well done, Sam!
Your nonfiction book title and your film title are also due tomorrow. It will be an easy five points for you if you come through. Don't make any hasty decisions. Be sure you have looked into it carefully. I want you to care about what you will be presenting so that you can deliver a passionate presentation. Don't let me down. Don't let your classmates down. Don't let yourself down.
See you soon.
He is one amazing kid and the thousands of volunteers are pretty cool, too. How does something like this happen? The power of social media. Let's talk a little bit about this tomorrow.
Of course, that's after we do the work we were going to do with our Costco material. We have a little clip to look at considering the Black Friday shopping day and then an article as well. We'll be using this information to apply the big nonfiction questions we've been talking about. I know most of you know them because you did so well on the Nonfiction Question Quiz. Plenty of 5s to go around. Well done. Now I want you to focus on the big four primary questions:
Who is the author?
What is the purpose of the article?
What is the evidence?
What are the sources?
The secondary questions on the bias and credibility of the author and the article are important as is the question on both sides being equally represented. They stem from those primary four. Eventually, you will be applying these questions to the material yourself, so be sure you know how to use them and what to look for.
You will receive your papers tomorrow. There were plenty of good ones. I have to say that Sam Catrell's writing was especially noteworthy for the depth and insight it offered. Well done, Sam!
Your nonfiction book title and your film title are also due tomorrow. It will be an easy five points for you if you come through. Don't make any hasty decisions. Be sure you have looked into it carefully. I want you to care about what you will be presenting so that you can deliver a passionate presentation. Don't let me down. Don't let your classmates down. Don't let yourself down.
See you soon.
Honors 11-17-2013
I have a new hero. His name is Bat Kid. If you don't know who he is check this out.
And actually, how about the entire city? The kindness and generosity that we are capable of is amazing. And how does something like that happen? Ah...the power of social media. Perhaps that is something that we will take a look at later this week.
Your papers are due tomorrow. Once you submit it in the folder, I will assume it is ready to be assessed. I won't look at any before 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, but after that, I will dive right in.
We started to take a lot at the Sea World situation on Friday. We got a taste of it, but there is more I want to look at in an attempt to apply the four main questions I want you thinking about whenever you read a piece of nonfiction. Come on, you know what they are by now. Say them with me!
Who is the author?
What is the purpose?
What is the evidence?
What are the sources?
In addition to those, you should be asking about the bias and credibility of the author and the article as well as checking to make sure that both sides are being fairly represented. We will use our Sea World article and perhaps another gander at the Sea World video tomorrow as a practice run.
I'll also be looking to collect everyone's nonfiction books and documentary selections. An easy five points on the line. Be sure you choose carefully not only so you don't feel the need to switch somewhere down the road, but so that you can make a passionate presentation in December because you care about the material you are talking about. Can't wait to see what awaits.
See you soon.
And actually, how about the entire city? The kindness and generosity that we are capable of is amazing. And how does something like that happen? Ah...the power of social media. Perhaps that is something that we will take a look at later this week.
Your papers are due tomorrow. Once you submit it in the folder, I will assume it is ready to be assessed. I won't look at any before 6:00 p.m. tomorrow, but after that, I will dive right in.
We started to take a lot at the Sea World situation on Friday. We got a taste of it, but there is more I want to look at in an attempt to apply the four main questions I want you thinking about whenever you read a piece of nonfiction. Come on, you know what they are by now. Say them with me!
Who is the author?
What is the purpose?
What is the evidence?
What are the sources?
In addition to those, you should be asking about the bias and credibility of the author and the article as well as checking to make sure that both sides are being fairly represented. We will use our Sea World article and perhaps another gander at the Sea World video tomorrow as a practice run.
I'll also be looking to collect everyone's nonfiction books and documentary selections. An easy five points on the line. Be sure you choose carefully not only so you don't feel the need to switch somewhere down the road, but so that you can make a passionate presentation in December because you care about the material you are talking about. Can't wait to see what awaits.
See you soon.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Honors 11-14-2013
Two weeks until Thanksgiving! Wow! time is sure rushing by. Soon enough we'll all be vacationing on the beach in Florida as we enjoy winter break. Okay, well maybe, we'll be slogging through our vacation shoveling snow off the driveway, but regardless, it will be vacation. For now you need to be focusing on a few different items.
First, make sure you are turning that paper into something amazing. Hopefully, you made good use of your peer edit time today and improved your paper. A couple things I noticed are weak claims and superfluous words. You need to make a claim. A claim is an opinion. Is your claim an opinion or is it just saying there are differences between the film and the book? If that is all you are saying then you are not completing the paper the way you should. Go back to the original hand-out. Read over the rubric. You are evaluating not just sharing the deviations. As for the superfluous words, you should embed a link to one of the words or phrases that appears naturally in your writing. Do not add words like "Animal Farm movie link" to the paper and attach the link to them. Attach the link to the words that naturally appear in the paper. One more day tomorrow to ask questions about the paper. I'd love to have the class examine a paper or two under the microscope of the document camera. Volunteers?
Many of you identified your nonfiction books and documentary films. You've earned your five points. The rest of you have until Monday, but I won't complain if it is all decided by tomorrow. One thing to consider, if you change your sources after Monday, November 18, then you will be docked a point. Do your research. Know that the selections you are giving me are the ones you want to work with. Monday is the deadline.
Okay, we will look at the killer whale article tomorrow. You should be thinking about those nonfiction questions we discussed yesterday (don't worry, period one, we'll catch you up). You need to be applying them to any piece of nonfiction you read. I want you to have them down cold. We'll see how you do.
Sorry I forgot to remind everyone: Pizza Party for Period Six Tomorrow! It will take place in period six. Bring your appetite!
See you soon.
First, make sure you are turning that paper into something amazing. Hopefully, you made good use of your peer edit time today and improved your paper. A couple things I noticed are weak claims and superfluous words. You need to make a claim. A claim is an opinion. Is your claim an opinion or is it just saying there are differences between the film and the book? If that is all you are saying then you are not completing the paper the way you should. Go back to the original hand-out. Read over the rubric. You are evaluating not just sharing the deviations. As for the superfluous words, you should embed a link to one of the words or phrases that appears naturally in your writing. Do not add words like "Animal Farm movie link" to the paper and attach the link to them. Attach the link to the words that naturally appear in the paper. One more day tomorrow to ask questions about the paper. I'd love to have the class examine a paper or two under the microscope of the document camera. Volunteers?
Many of you identified your nonfiction books and documentary films. You've earned your five points. The rest of you have until Monday, but I won't complain if it is all decided by tomorrow. One thing to consider, if you change your sources after Monday, November 18, then you will be docked a point. Do your research. Know that the selections you are giving me are the ones you want to work with. Monday is the deadline.
Okay, we will look at the killer whale article tomorrow. You should be thinking about those nonfiction questions we discussed yesterday (don't worry, period one, we'll catch you up). You need to be applying them to any piece of nonfiction you read. I want you to have them down cold. We'll see how you do.
Sorry I forgot to remind everyone: Pizza Party for Period Six Tomorrow! It will take place in period six. Bring your appetite!
See you soon.
Standard 11-14-2013
Identifying main ideas. Applying our nonfiction questions. Those are a couple things we will keep working on in the coming classes. We have been working as a class, but soon you will be working as a table, and soon after that, you will be expected to do the work on your own. With that in mind, I want you to KNOW those questions. Okay, I'll say it: Quiz tomorrow. Better be able to write down five things (five questions) you need to be thinking about as we read nonfiction.
Some of you selected nonfiction books today and your movies too. Don't be hasty. I want you to choose the right combination for yourself. If you are rash, you'll be locked into something you'll regret. Identify a few topics you like and then select your book and film.
I have an assignment hand-out that we will go over tomorrow. Yes, you will be making a presentation over the book and film, but you'll find out more details tomorrow.
I'll pass out those precise/vivid quizzes tomorrow.
See you soon.
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Honors 11-13-2013
Well, well, well. We definitely did not get as far as I had hoped today (especially in periods 1 and 2). We need to nail the key questions to ask when reading any piece of nonfiction. We also were going to read an article about the Sea World/killer whale battle that is going on. (By the way, great documentary just released: Blackfish). We'll get to the article tomorrow, but for the sake of time, I'll share those nonfiction questions with you right here. Now these are not all-inclusive, but they are key questions I want you thinking about whenever we read nonfiction.
1) What is the purpose of the article? (What is the main idea the article is trying to get across?)
2) What evidence does the article offer for support? (What are the arguments? Are the arguments credible?)
3) What are the sources for that evidence/those arguments? (Are they credible sources?)
4) Are both sides equally represented? (Is there bias in the presentation?)
5) Who is the author? (What are his credentials? Is he credible? Is he biased?)
Okay that may appear to be many more than four questions, but the questions in parentheses are really just there to help you understand the original questions and allow you to probe deeper into the texts. I want you to know these. Memorize these. Have them readily available. If we read nonfiction, you need to bring these to the discussion.
Tomorrow's main focus will be on editing our Animal Farm papers. We have been given Lab D for tomorrow's editing. Help yourself out by having as polished and complete an effort as possible. The closer you are to finishing the piece, the more help tomorrow will be. If you come with a shoddy, incomplete effort, then you will not benefit as much from the peer edit.
Keep looking for those nonfiction books and documentary films. Several people have already given me their selections. That means they can start reading and viewing. The sooner you do the same the sooner you can start doing the same. Let's not wait until Monday. Let's make it a goal to have these selected by Friday. Remember, five points hang in the balance. But choose wisely. You'll be deducted a point for switching after the 18th.
Some super personal selections so far. I'll be typing up a list and posting it in the classroom so that you can see what your peers have selected.
See you soon.
1) What is the purpose of the article? (What is the main idea the article is trying to get across?)
2) What evidence does the article offer for support? (What are the arguments? Are the arguments credible?)
3) What are the sources for that evidence/those arguments? (Are they credible sources?)
4) Are both sides equally represented? (Is there bias in the presentation?)
5) Who is the author? (What are his credentials? Is he credible? Is he biased?)
Okay that may appear to be many more than four questions, but the questions in parentheses are really just there to help you understand the original questions and allow you to probe deeper into the texts. I want you to know these. Memorize these. Have them readily available. If we read nonfiction, you need to bring these to the discussion.
Tomorrow's main focus will be on editing our Animal Farm papers. We have been given Lab D for tomorrow's editing. Help yourself out by having as polished and complete an effort as possible. The closer you are to finishing the piece, the more help tomorrow will be. If you come with a shoddy, incomplete effort, then you will not benefit as much from the peer edit.
Keep looking for those nonfiction books and documentary films. Several people have already given me their selections. That means they can start reading and viewing. The sooner you do the same the sooner you can start doing the same. Let's not wait until Monday. Let's make it a goal to have these selected by Friday. Remember, five points hang in the balance. But choose wisely. You'll be deducted a point for switching after the 18th.
Some super personal selections so far. I'll be typing up a list and posting it in the classroom so that you can see what your peers have selected.
See you soon.
Standard 11-13-2013
Those questions are coming along. I like the way you called them out, remembered them and then started to apply them to the article on Jackie Robinson and the movie 42. We still have some work to do on that last one, but don't worry, we will keep coming up with ways to use those questions.
One of the big ways was introduced today. You must read a nonfiction book and then view a movie that is either based off of the nonfiction book or watch one that is related to the book. It can be a Hollywood blockbuster or it can be an independent documentary. Either way you will be reading the nonfiction book, watching the film, and then making as presentation over how the two different mediums present the same (or similar information). Both mediums (the text and the film) have advantages and disadvantages. Your job will be to examine both and then present those advantages and disadvantages. You'll be responsible for a little more as well, but you can look for that tomorrow in class when I distribute the hand out.
For now here is a link to nonfiction books that have been turned into films. If you can't find anything on that list you can always try this one. In addition, here is a list of nonfiction books with brief descriptions after them. You don't need to choose any of these books. They key is for you to find something that is of interest to you because you are going to be spending an awful lot of time on it. Don't be rash. Choose wisely.
See you soon.
One of the big ways was introduced today. You must read a nonfiction book and then view a movie that is either based off of the nonfiction book or watch one that is related to the book. It can be a Hollywood blockbuster or it can be an independent documentary. Either way you will be reading the nonfiction book, watching the film, and then making as presentation over how the two different mediums present the same (or similar information). Both mediums (the text and the film) have advantages and disadvantages. Your job will be to examine both and then present those advantages and disadvantages. You'll be responsible for a little more as well, but you can look for that tomorrow in class when I distribute the hand out.
For now here is a link to nonfiction books that have been turned into films. If you can't find anything on that list you can always try this one. In addition, here is a list of nonfiction books with brief descriptions after them. You don't need to choose any of these books. They key is for you to find something that is of interest to you because you are going to be spending an awful lot of time on it. Don't be rash. Choose wisely.
Nonfiction Titles
Into the Wild (man escapes to Alaskan wilderness)
Where Men Win Glory (Pat Tillman and Afghanistan)
Zeitoun (Katrina aftermath)
Under the Banner of Heaven (scathing look at fundamentalist Mormons)
Ghost Soldiers (prisoner of war rescue)
Black Hawk Down (American soldiers in Somalia)
Into Thin Air (climbing and dying on Mt. Everest)
Between a Rock and a Hard Place (man cuts off own arm to live)
The Wild Parrots (man bonds with parents)
Dirt: The Ecstatic Skin of the Earth (yup, it’s about dirt)
Half the Sky (plight of repressed women)
The Payback (economics)
Silent Spring (birth defects due to chemicals)
Black Boy (black in America)
The Autobiography of Malcolm X (Malcolm X)
This Boy’s Life (young boy in America)
In Cold Blood (true crime)
Angela’s Ashes (poor in Ireland)
Perfect Storm (storm over water)
War (book about war in Afghanistan)
Death In Belmont (true crime)
Devil in the White City (murders in Chicago)
In the Garden of Beasts (Americans in Nazi Germany)
The Last Lecture (man’s advice to his children)
I am Malala (young girl shot by Taliban)
Killing Kennedy (book on Kennedy)
Band of Brothers (WWII book)
The Heart and the Fist (Navy Seal and Humanitarian)
Seal Team Six (memoirs of navy seal)
Dreams of my Father (Barack Obama)
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (growing up female and blackin the 1930s)
A Walk in the Woods (Appalachian Trail)
Fast Food Nation (food in America)
And the Band Played On (AIDS at the start)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
The Executioner’s Song (death penalty)
The Blindside (football)
An Innocent Man (true crime/death penalty)
Eat, Pray, Love (woman stuff and travel)
A Long Way Gone (African child soldiers)
See you soon.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Honors 11-12-13
I was in such a hurry to get upstairs to the IMC and Lab B for our nonfiction work, that I failed to celebrate today's unusual date: 11-12-13. You still have a few hours to enjoy it!
All three periods requested a peer review day for the Animal Farm paper you are currently working on. We settled on Thursday as long as I can get one of the labs. It looks good for right now but I'll tell you for sure tomorrow. Regardless, the final copies look good to go for Monday.
Don't forget to compile your list of four questions you should always have in the back of your mind whenever you are reading nonfiction. They don't need to apply to a specific article of nonfiction; instead, they need to be able to be applied to any nonfiction piece of writing. Write them down and bring them to class tomorrow.
The BIG, HUGE, VASTLY IMPORTANT Nonfiction Book Documentary Film Presentation assignment was distributed today. About a dozen individuals have locked in on their book and documentary already (and earned their five points in the process). You want to be sure you tell me both--IN WRITING--by Monday, November 18 to earn your five points. After that, your earnings will decrease. (Past earnings do not in any way reflect future possible earnings).
I shared with you a substantial list of nonfiction titles and documentary films, but that is not an exhaustive list. Feel free to go elsewhere to find a book and film that work for you. You'll be attached to the book and film for the next 4-6 weeks. You'll be making a BIG, HUGE, VASTLY IMPORTANT presentation that will require you to be in front of your peers for well over ten minutes. You better be sure you find something that interests you. Something you care about. Something you can get excited about. Something you are passionate about. Get the idea?
Once you select your material, don't wait. Start reading. Start watching. I'd read actively, taking notes along the way. I'd watch the film at least twice (once for viewing and once for a deeper analysis) taking notes along the way. Have a general idea of what you will be presenting before you start either so that you can be taking notes on the material that will be most beneficial.
More to come.
See you soon.
All three periods requested a peer review day for the Animal Farm paper you are currently working on. We settled on Thursday as long as I can get one of the labs. It looks good for right now but I'll tell you for sure tomorrow. Regardless, the final copies look good to go for Monday.
Don't forget to compile your list of four questions you should always have in the back of your mind whenever you are reading nonfiction. They don't need to apply to a specific article of nonfiction; instead, they need to be able to be applied to any nonfiction piece of writing. Write them down and bring them to class tomorrow.
The BIG, HUGE, VASTLY IMPORTANT Nonfiction Book Documentary Film Presentation assignment was distributed today. About a dozen individuals have locked in on their book and documentary already (and earned their five points in the process). You want to be sure you tell me both--IN WRITING--by Monday, November 18 to earn your five points. After that, your earnings will decrease. (Past earnings do not in any way reflect future possible earnings).
I shared with you a substantial list of nonfiction titles and documentary films, but that is not an exhaustive list. Feel free to go elsewhere to find a book and film that work for you. You'll be attached to the book and film for the next 4-6 weeks. You'll be making a BIG, HUGE, VASTLY IMPORTANT presentation that will require you to be in front of your peers for well over ten minutes. You better be sure you find something that interests you. Something you care about. Something you can get excited about. Something you are passionate about. Get the idea?
Once you select your material, don't wait. Start reading. Start watching. I'd read actively, taking notes along the way. I'd watch the film at least twice (once for viewing and once for a deeper analysis) taking notes along the way. Have a general idea of what you will be presenting before you start either so that you can be taking notes on the material that will be most beneficial.
More to come.
See you soon.
Standard 11-12-13
Love that date today. I heard from Gabe Spencer in period three that a couple got married at 9:10 on 11-12-13. That's funny. Or creative. Or weird. But it's memorable regardless.
Today should be memorable for you because you turned in your Giver papers. From this point forward this quarter, we will be focusing on nonfiction writing as you undoubtedly could tell from today's discussion. We broke down the key differences between fiction and nonfiction. I highlighted that two big differences are that a nonfiction text will often have a works cited page and an index in the back of the book. They become more reliable if they are able to demonstrate where all their information came from. Works cited page and an index. Don't forget them!
We also went over some key questions that you need to be thinking about whenever you begin reading a nonfiction text. Based on our discussion we settled on several key questions. I shared them below and offered a little elaboration in parentheses.
1) What is the purpose of the article? (What is the main idea the article is trying to get across?)
2) What evidence does the article offer for support? (What are the arguments? Are the arguments credible?)
3) What are the sources for that evidence/those arguments? (Are they credible sources?)
4) Are both sides equally represented? (Is there bias in the presentation?)
5) Who is the author? (What are his credentials? Is he credible? Is he biased?)
Often we accept what we read as true, especially if it is in a newspaper or magazine. However, to become better readers, we need to be more discerning readers. We need to be skeptical sometimes. If we keep those questions in mind when we read, we are less likely to be duped into believing something that isn't true or supporting something that is not worthy of our support. Read with your eyes open.
Tomorrow, we will look at another short nonfiction article and apply our questions to it. Will we also have a quiz over the questions?
We will visit the IMC for a nonfiction book. Do you know what you will be reading?
See you soon.
Today should be memorable for you because you turned in your Giver papers. From this point forward this quarter, we will be focusing on nonfiction writing as you undoubtedly could tell from today's discussion. We broke down the key differences between fiction and nonfiction. I highlighted that two big differences are that a nonfiction text will often have a works cited page and an index in the back of the book. They become more reliable if they are able to demonstrate where all their information came from. Works cited page and an index. Don't forget them!
We also went over some key questions that you need to be thinking about whenever you begin reading a nonfiction text. Based on our discussion we settled on several key questions. I shared them below and offered a little elaboration in parentheses.
1) What is the purpose of the article? (What is the main idea the article is trying to get across?)
2) What evidence does the article offer for support? (What are the arguments? Are the arguments credible?)
3) What are the sources for that evidence/those arguments? (Are they credible sources?)
4) Are both sides equally represented? (Is there bias in the presentation?)
5) Who is the author? (What are his credentials? Is he credible? Is he biased?)
Often we accept what we read as true, especially if it is in a newspaper or magazine. However, to become better readers, we need to be more discerning readers. We need to be skeptical sometimes. If we keep those questions in mind when we read, we are less likely to be duped into believing something that isn't true or supporting something that is not worthy of our support. Read with your eyes open.
Tomorrow, we will look at another short nonfiction article and apply our questions to it. Will we also have a quiz over the questions?
We will visit the IMC for a nonfiction book. Do you know what you will be reading?
See you soon.
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