Is Equality a Worthwhile Goal?

Collected the investigative journalism articles today.  I'll start assessing hem tonight.  Period one, you are up first.

Gave my sample QBT today.  It was obviously a work in progress since I went about 15 seconds over.  I still need to edit it down, but hopefully, you saw the key things you need to do to be successful in yours.

Remember to type up a paper with what you are going to say for your QBT.  Include sections on the intro, the synopsis, the sell and the conclusion.  Remember to say the title and author in the beginning and repeat them at the end as well.  We'll start Wednesday with volunteers but officially kick it off on Monday, October 6.  On that day, everyone needs to be prepared to present.

So is equality a worthwhile goal?  We heard plenty of arguments for both sides.  After the obvious discussion points of race, gender and religion, some of you looked deeper into how far we should take the equality idea.  I believe you'll find that tonight's highlighted and annotated reading of "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut fits right in with today's class discussion.  Come to class tomorrow with your thoughts and questions but also consider this:

What are you willing to sacrifice in the quest for perfection?  

Can't wait to hear what you think.

Until next time...

Investigative Journalism and the QBT

Tomorrow is almost here and that means that the investigative journalism paper will soon be published and submitted to me.  You'll be giving me a typed, double-spaced, hard copy tomorrow when you walk into class.  Please print it at home as our school printer is not prepared to handle an onslaught of student printing.  It'll wear out quicker than  Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s tires.

Do yourself a favor.  Give your paper and the rubric to a trusted editor and have him/her give it one final read and assessment.

Double check to be sure your Works Cited page is attached.

Did you identify all your sources?

Be sure not to stack your quotes.

Make sure your points are clear.

Then print it and bring it to class.

Now onward! To the QBT!

I still say the the QBT is as fun to present as it is to say: Quickie Bookie Talkie! I'm even laughing as I type it!

Here's what I'm expecting you to do for the QBT. IN 60 SECONDS!

1) Pick the book.  (should be already completed)

2) Read the book. (should be already completed)

3) Start planning the following parts of the QBT:

     A) Your introduction-it needs to be brief but catchy in some way; be clever but quick
   
     B) Title and author-do not forget to say these two; that will be a an error proportionate to eating seven chili dogs 30 minutes before running a marathon (trust me...not a good idea)
   
     C) Organize your ideas on the plot of the story into a couple sentence summary.
     Use just the highlights.
     Then cut those down to the highlights of the highlights.
     And then use only the key highlights of the highlights.
     Remember your whole speech is only 60 seconds!
   
     D) Now you are on your selling point or points (no more than 2).  You need to figure out what makes this book of yours special.  What makes it unique?  Why should someone read it? Don't say it has a lot of action.  Tons of books have a lot of action.  Find something different about your book. Then discuss it efficiently and effectively.  Convince people to read your book (or not read your book if you are going in that direction).

     E) Time is running out.  The seconds are whizzing by faster than a Katniss arrow.  But you still have to wrap up the QBT.  No you can't say any of the following:

I'm done.

That's it.

I'm finished.

The end.

Time to clap.

Or anything like those.

Make it clear that you are finished and none of those will be necessary.  Offer one good closing sentence; you know, end with a jolt or a clever twist.  Make it good!

That's the QBT.  We'll start as early as Wednesday (depending on volunteers) and as late as next Monday.  I'll give a sample tomorrow or Tuesday.  We ALL need to be ready to go by next Monday.
60 seconds.

30 points.

The QBT.

Until next time...

The QBT Intro

The QBT!

QBT? What's a QBT?

It's a Quickie Bookie Talkie!  Fun to say and fun to present!

I told you about the QBT today.  Hopefully you've read your book and started to organize some thoughts in your head as to what you will be saying in your 60 second QBT.  I promise to have more detail on the blog come Sunday.  Check back here then for all the nitty-gritty details.

Your big focus this weekend will be on the investigative journalism submission.  Make it the best you possibly can. Have a typed, double-spaced, hard copy, complete with Works Cited, in class on Monday.  Be sure to print it at home because the ink level at school is pretty low.

If you are out of ink, think of a different way to print it.

If your printer doesn't work, think of a different way to print it.

If your Wi-Fi isn't working, think of a different way to print it.

Just have it printed and in class on Monday.

Thanks.

Until next time...

Sharing Day

Today, we shared.  We heard a nice variety of topics and had some good discussions over how individuals might improve their papers and how those specific changes might help all of us.  Some key points made included:

1) Every statistic must be cited.  Whenever you have a statistic, a fact, a number, a questionable statement then you must identify the source where you found the information.

2) We STILL need to clearly identify every person in our papers.

3) Word usage: be aware of the words you use and avoid needless repetition of the same words.

4) Read your writing aloud. As individuals shared today, they read their writings aloud and found errors they hadn't noticed before.

5) Do not offer a lengthy paragraph made up entirely of one quote.

6) Be sure to discuss and explain the quotes whenever necessary.

7) Don't make assumptions unless you can prove them to be true.  (At that point they aren't assumptions any more.)

8) Use the OWL to correctly write your Works Cited page.

There's probably more but that is enough for now.  Be sure to work that allusion in your paper.  Be sure to proofread.

We are looking to have a complete, typed, double-spaced, properly-headed, Work-Cited-included printed  hard copy in class on Friday.

I'm not here tomorrow but be on your best behavior and be ready to work.

Until next time...

Works Cited

Ah...those are two words you probably haven't heard in a while.  You probably haven't missed them either.  But they are back now and they are likely to stay for the rest of the school year.

Welcome Back, Works Cited!

Alright, settle down.  Anyway, we went over the Works Cited format today in class, and I gave you the wonderful website OWL (sponsored by Purdue) to use as your first resource for all your citation needs.  If you have a question on how to cite something, the OWL will know how to do it.  It's also easy to use.  USE IT!

Today we also discussed/reiterated the importance of clearly identifying every one of your sources. Doing so lends credibility to the source and validity to your paper.  Those are good things to have.

Tonight, polish those papers.  Complete that works cited. Come with specific questions to ask about your paper.

Tomorrow we share, perhaps for the last time.  We have volunteers already identified but if time remains perhaps we can look at yours as well.

Until next time...

Time to Revisit the Writing

Today we spent time discussing what your investigative journalism article has in common with other investigative journalism articles, including a mentor text on sleep texting.  Here's the link should you want to see it again.  

As table groups you found what you shared in common.  Some of these included:

-leads
-titles
-quotes from at least three sources
-quotes from experts
-allusions
-POW! words
-specific details
-identified sources
-clearly stated issues
-statistics
-narrative segments
-and a few others

Tonight you need to revisit the writing and sharpen it even more.

Add an interview and information from an expert source.

Add another POW! word or two.

Add an allusion to make the writing more vivid.

Add statistics that support what you are saying.

Add a sentence that clearly identifies what it is you are writing about.

Come to class tomorrow with a paper that is even stronger than the one you came with today.  It takes time and effort. Tonight, you can make sure that time and effort pay off.

Until next time...

Peer Edit Day and Progress Reports

Let me address the progress reports first.  There is no language arts grade on the progress report that went home today.  In order to present a fair and accurate assessment of your production, I need to wait until Tuesday to update HAC, thus, no grades are showing up on your progress report. If you and Mom and Dad can wait until next Tuesday, then you will find a first quarter grade on HAC at that time. Feel free to email me should you have any questions.

Our peer editing day was today.  There were a lot of good conversations going on about the articles. I was impressed with some of what I saw.  Students helping students improve-helping each other without teacher assistance-is an important step in the learning process.

This weekend you need to revise your investigative journalism article and make it as strong as you can.  Write it as if you were submitting the final copy on Monday.  Then come to class with specific questions on the paper that you wish to discuss.

Here is a link to the checklist I shared in class.  Realize that it contains most of the items that I will be using to assess your writing once you submit it.  If I were you. I'd want to check it out myself to be sure I am doing what I need to in order to be successful.  

A willingness to work hard will lead to success.  Are you willing to work hard?

Until next time...

Practice for Tomorrow's Peer Edit

Peer Edit Day is tomorrow.

Be sure to have your complete rough draft typed on Google Docs so that you can share it with your peer editor.  You might also wish to bring a hard copy of the investigative journalism piece if you want to mark up the text.  Either way be sure you have a complete draft in class tomorrow.

Today we talked about conference techniques.  The Big Four you need to focus on tomorrow include:

1) Listen attentively when the writer is speaking and reading.

2) Offer intelligent, thoughtful feedback that will enable the writer to improve his/her piece.

3) Tell the editor specifically the questions and concerns you have about your writing.

4) Edit unto others as you would have them edit unto you.

Finally, in the paraphrased words of Malcolm Gladwell: If you want to be successful, then you have to be willing to work hard.

Come to class tomorrow ready to work hard.

Until next time...

Interviews

Had some very revealing interviews with five different football players today.  As I completed a sample interview with the five athletes I learned a lot about the amount of time students spend on activities outside of school.  I don't see how academic performance can't be effected.

The real point of the interviews, however, was not the result but the process.

How to approach an individual and ask for an interview.

How to gather basic information (name spelling is number one!).

How to come prepared with a list of questions to guide the interview but not to be locked into the questions so much that important follow-up questions go unasked.

How to probe for deeper, more significant, QUOTABLE responses instead of settling for meaningless tripe.

How to close the interview making sure a "Thank you" is offered.

A good interview might be the difference between a successful paper and a forgettable one.

Don't write a forgettable investigative journalism piece.

You wrote a lot today.  I think today was probably the best day we have had this week.

Tonight you need to complete three pages (three sides) of writing in your writer's notebook or 1-2 pages of typing on your Google document.  We'll open tomorrow's class looking at what you accomplish tonight.

Peer editing day is coming Friday.

THE deadline is early next week.

Until next time...

Connotations and Allusions

The progress on the investigative journalism papers seems to have hit a brick wall. It's time to push through the distractions, laziness, procrastination and fear and complete what needs to be completed.

Interview those sources!  You should have a minimum of three, but they need to be three sources that give you useful, quality information.  I saw someone today who settled for one word answers to three questions.  Not much quotable in a "NO" response.

Don't interview your peers in front of their friends.  It will be all about the humor and the material they give you won't be useful.

Interview people outside your comfort zone if they could help to strengthen your paper.  Many of you are not thinking beyond your peer group for interviews.   That's going to leave you with a less than substantial and less than meaningful paper.

Research what you need to find solid background information.  Give credit to the websites and/or magazines and include a Works Cited.  Look on OWL if you have any questions on format.

Write.  Offer a blend of narrative and informational text.  There is no right way to start.  Try a variety of methods and choose the one that works best.

We are looking at having a peer editing day on Friday.

We also discussed connotation and allusion today.

Connotation is the definition a word has based on our experiences and viewpoints.  it's the baggage a word carries with it.

Allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, thing, idea or event.

You should try and include an allusion in your writing.  We looked at some slides (here is a link to it) and came up with ideas the allusions could get across.

Just like with POW! words, try to get at least one allusion into your writing.

Now start writing!

Until next time...