If you missed Friday, September 17th...

Dear Juniors,

If you missed class today, we completed the following:

1. We attended the lab in order to type the green triangles for our five paragraph essays. Students in class submitted TWO COPIES of their essay to me. One copy included the green triangle, the other copy was stapled together and then given to me. We will use this copy at a later date.

2. IF YOU MISSED CLASS, YOU NEED TO SUBMIT TWO TYPED COPIES of your FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY on MONDAY!

HOMEWORK:
None, unless you missed class. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Cheers,
Crampton

WEDNESDAY, September 15th

Dear Junior English students,

If you missed class today, we completed the following:

1. JOURNAL #2 "In Defense of the Five Paragraph Essay."
                  Kerri Smith, the author of "article of the week #2" praises the "Five Paragraph Essay" format. Why does she say the five paragraph structure is so significant to students? Tell me what you thought of the article regarding ANY points of interest. Now,  my young friends, justify your English teacher's reasoning for actually beginning the year with the Five Paragraph Essay.

2. Everyone submitted their article of the week to me.

3. We worked in our groups to complete our individual parts and then compile the sections for a unite whole. Well done, guys!

4. We then looked at two five paragraph essay written by former students. The Odyssey essay is quite strong. The Alice in Wonderland is not.

HOMEWORK:

1. I believe you are ready to write your own five paragraph paper. We have practiced together, and you have practiced on your own! Please follow the instructions listed below. YOU NEED TO HAVE THE TRIANGLE ready for class on FRIDAY, as we will go to the lab for you to type your essay. I will place some triangles outside the door for those of you that missed class.

Final Five Paragraph Essay

Instructions and Prompts

Instructions:

1. Dear Juniors,

You will have the opportunity to “prove” that you understand how to write a strong five paragraph essay. I am asking that you select from one of the following prompts, triangle your work (in color), return with the triangle and then we will head to the writing lab for you to write your essay. Your triangle and your completed five paragraph essay are due by the end of the period on  _________________________.

2. To assist with your assignment, you may use any practice work we completed together in class. In addition, you may use any homework assignment you completed

PROMPTS:

1. Does the use of performance enhancing drugs violate the “spirit of sports?” Is there an ethical difference between using performance enhancing drugs and using performing enhancing technologies in nutrition, training, and equipment? What are your views on this subject?

2. Increasing reports of bullying can be partially attributed to the popularity of violent video games. The 2008 study “Grave Theft Childhood” reported that 60 % of middle aged school boys who played at least one mature-rated game hit or beat up someone, compared to 39% of boys that did not play mature-rated games. Video games often reward players for simulating violence, and thus enhance the learning of violent behaviors. What are your views on this topic?

3. Should the words “under god” be included in the Pledge of Allegiance? Many individuals believe that school children are being coerced and the Pledge of Allegiance is a violation of church and state. The government should not be asking impressionable school children to affirm their allegiance to God at the same time that they are pledging their allegiance to the country. Indicate your views on this topic?

4. Should felons be allowed the right to vote? If you are a convicted felon, why do we want people with that type of judgment selecting our representative? Barring felons from voting is one way society sends the message that committing a serious crime has serious consequences. Indicate your views on this topic?

5. Should marijuana be a medical option? Evidence indicates that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting and other symptoms caused by such illness as multiple sclerosis, cancer and AIDS, or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them. Marijuana is less toxic than many drugs that physicians prescribe every day. Indicate your views on this topic.

6. Social networking sites entice people to spend more time online and less time interacting face-to-face. The sites offer time wasting activities that supplant more productive activities. Indicate your views on this topic.

Take care, Juniors
Cheers,
Crampton

Dear English Students,

STOP MISSING CLASS, my fine young friends.

If you missed class on Monday, September 13th, we completed the following:

1. We worked in groups to compile and complete a five paragraph essay.
2. Each group member was asked to complete a section of a five paragraph essay.
                   a. One student wrote the Introduction and Body Paragraph #1
                   b. One student wrote Body Paragraph #2 and then will focus on editing the other parts on Wed.
                   c. One student wrote Body Paragraph #3 and the Concluding paragraph
3. Upon your return, I am happy to "guide you" through this process.
4. Each individual part is required in class on Wed., at which time we will work on organizing the parts in to a complete whole.

Cheers, Crampton

What did we do in class today, Crampton?

Dear Junior English Students,

"What did we do in class," you ask?
"Well, let me enlighten you!"

1. We completed your first journal entry. From now on you will experience a journal entry each class period.

JOURNAL ENTRY #1 entitled "Boy, 12, faces grown up murder charges"/ Article #1

Please use your annotated article to respond to the following journal prompt.

After reading and annotating the article, identify two points of interest from the article. In addition, indicate two points that you found confusing, and then two points that you found emotional. Tell me about those "colors." Basically, why were you interested, confused, and emotionally connected to the text?  Next, justify your opinion regarding the prosecution of minors as adults. I look forward to your response.

NOTE: We had a great discussion on the article. Well done, juniors!

2. I gave each student a copy of "Article of the Week #2" entitled "In defense of the five paragraph essay." For homework,  please annotate and notate the article with 7-10 annotations/page.

3. We practiced writing introductory and concluding paragraphs. Visit with with me about the structure for these paragraphs.

HOMEWORK:
1. Read "Article of the Week #2" and annotate/notate with 7-10 annotations/page. This assignment is due on Wed. Sept. 15

2. Complete the practice prompts for Introductory and Concluding paragraphs. PLEASE SEE ME IF YOU MISSED CLASS!

If you missed class on Tuesday, September 7th...

Dear Junior English Students,

If you missed class today, we completed the following:

1. I returned your colored practice paragraph and your "Where I stand." assignment.
2. We discussed your homework for the previous class period involving thesis statements. Remember that a THESIS STATEMENT is YOUR OPINION and THREE REASONS.
3. We then reviewed passive vs. active voice.
4. Finally, we selected one of the thesis statements you wrote for homework and then we "triangled" the three body paragraphs together in class.

HOMEWORK:
1. I asked students to write the three body paragraph that we triangled in class. This is due on Thursday!
2. Students were reminded that their annotated (7-10/page) article entitled "Boy, 12, faces grown up murder charges" is due on Thursday.


Please let me know if I can assist you in any way. A few of you are missing class, and this is a concern for me.

Cheers,
Crampton

If you missed class on Thursday, September 2nd... SHAME on YOU!

Dear Junior English Students,

If you missed class today, we completed the following:

I explained your homework assignments to you:
1. I explained the "Article a Week" assignment. You will receive an article a week, usually on a Monday or a Tuesday, but the days may change.You are to annotate the article using particular colors: WHAT DOES ANNOTATE MEAN, Crampton? "ANNOTATE" means to underline text in order to strengthen understanding. "NOTATE" means to record information nex to text in order to strengthen understanding.

So.........Your first annotated article is due on Thursday, September 9th!

• If you  find a section of text confusing then you would underline it using BROWN.
• If you are able to make a connection ot your own life then you would underline that section of text using your PURPLE.
• Another way to annotate is by asking QUESTIONS about the text. RED is the color you will use for this annotation.
• If you come across a VOCABULARY word that you don't know use YELLOW!
• If a piece of text touches you emotionally, then BLUE is the color for that annotation.
• If a piece of writing is poetic to you, then use BLACK!
• If text gives you a different perspective then GREEN is your annotation color.
• ORANGE is the color you will use if you come across text that you find interesting.

Your homework is to read this article. and then annotate it with 7-10 annotations/page. In addition, you are to include a notation for each annotation.

2. We also practiced writing THESIS STATEMENTS in class. Remember that a THESIS is your opinion plus three valid reasons. We practiced thesis statements in class.