Daily+Assignments

//Week 1 Objectives://

Introduction to course Create a list of "good" writing; this is a start to our ongoing discussion Read and annotate "Summer Rituals" by Ray Bradbury and complete attached: HW: get course paperwork signed. Finish annotating "Summer Rituals" and complete the post-reading questions if you didn't finish in class
 * Wed 1/29--**Writing Survey

writing do-now (create a document named "Do-Nows"): Why are you awesome? Read [|"What's in a Name?" by Sufjan Stevens] and annotate as you go. Consider what he's doing, what appeals to you, what stands out, if he fits our criteria of "good" writing, etc. Share out. Add to our list of good writing! Discuss: how do we define ourselves? What is the value of our names when it comes to our identity? Look at another sample of a "name" assignment. Complete the assignment below. This is due Monday--we hope you're willing to share!
 * Thurs 1/30--** set up Google Docs [[file:GoogleDocs directions.doc]] Put your "Summer Rituals" assignment in the folder. Also print it out so we can go over it together!

Think about who you are. Do you like your name? Have you wanted a different name? Does your name suit you? How important is your name to you? Now that we’ve looked at a couple of approaches to this question, write a piece that somehow addresses the question, “What’s in a Name?” as it pertains to you. Here are some options: è Create a nameplate (see my example) è What does your name say about you? è What experiences have solidified your name for you? è In what ways do you still have to grow into your name? è How do you compare with others of your name? Here's an example I did: HW: nameplate due tomorrow
 * //What’s in a Name?//**

With remaining time, finish nameplate assignment HW: name assignment due for Monday
 * Fri 1/31--** Writing benchmark: I want you to compose a "Writing Biography". In other words, what's the story of you as a writer? What has shaped who you are as a writer up to this point? How would you define yourself as a writer? Try to // show // your ability and not just // tell. // This needs to be finished by the end of the block and put in your class folder.


 * Mon 2/3--SNOW DAY**

**Tues 2/4--**do-now: visit [|teenink.com]. Read a minimum of 5 essays. Find an essay that strikes you as being particularly good. Print it out and make some notes on it as to why it is effective as a college essay. Be ready to share out with the group mark up this essay:. What is this writer doing? What is this writer communicating about himself in doing this...i.e., what do the examples he uses "say" about him? How is this a risk? HW: Read through the standards for narrative writing ; also consider what pieces we’ve read so far in class. Come up with a list of options for how to approach this assignment--the options can be as creative as you like, but remember, they must meet the standards! Also--look at sample narratives on the wiki. Click on the Narrative Unit in the table of contents =)

**Wed 2/5--** Another Snow Day =(

**Thurs 2/6--**Imagery exercise Read "Cruddy First Drafts" by Anne Lamott--react in writing. Share out. Start your narrative! I've put our notes about good writing here! Don't forget what we've talked about! HW: work on your narrative

**Fri 2/7--**Introduce graded discussion Go over HSPA scores and the open-ended responses Open-ended work: read a model open-ended question and identify what constitutes an effective open-ended response. Use this time to draft and conference for the narrative HW: read and annotate your readings for the graded discussion; complete the open-ended responses for "Indian Education" for Monday

In your narrative, you will have to demonstrate usage of semicolons, dashes, and commas. Highlight these as you go. drafting and conferencing HW: have a minimum of one graded discussion response done for class tomorrow; I’ll be doing a quick-check to see that you are on the right track with response development and support; continue working on narrative
 * Mon 2/10-- ** do now: go back to Sufjan Stevens' essay, "What's in a Name?". Look at how he uses dashes, semicolons, and colons. How does each form of punctuation function in his essay? Try to identify the "rules" and different uses. Share out.

Visit [|this site]. Swap out words that are in your current narrative for some here. Notice the difference in diction--play around until you get some lines that sound awesome! conferencing and drafting for your narrative, or working on graded discussion prep HW: full draft of your narrative is due Thursday for peer conferencing; graded discussion prep is due Friday
 * Tues 2/11-- ** do now: class engagement sheet

work on essay or graded discussion prep HW: complete draft due tomorrow; print BEFORE class.
 * Wed 2/12--** do now: comb through your essay; look to create several short sentences to help "punctuate" your paper with sentence variety.

See you next week =(

**Tues 2/18--**narrative free-write: What do you feel good about in your draft? What do you feel you need to work on? Come up with a simile or metaphor that describes your draft (no clichés!).

peer review of narratives, read aloud style! Get into groups of 4. Read your process writing out loud to your partner. Then, each person will read his/her essay out loud as well (it’s important to // hear // your writing, not just read it). Use the questions below to guide a discussion about your process and your first draft. Your peers should respond as follows: // Sayback as best you can what the writer seems to be trying to articulate. What idea(s) or thinking is starting to emerge on the page? Try to say it back at the writer even if it’s fragmented or confusing. What is the center of gravity of the piece? Or what is the heart? Why? Where do you want to know more, and what specifically do you want to know // With remaining time, revise narrative HW: graded discussion prep due tomorrow! Print responses BEFORE class. Narrative due Friday.

HW: narrative due on Friday
 * Wed 2/19--**Graded discussion with self-assessment

Basic, interpretive, essential questions: what are they? Disney Movie question writing activity Look at CITR model passage with developed questions and responses: [|Read the Brady editorial] and use chart to develop one basic, one interpretive, and one essential question. Under each question, write down your ideas/answers. Introduction to "They Say, I Say"--look over templates; identify their use in "Hidden Intellectualism" HW: read introduction to //Freakonomics//
 * Thurs 2/20--** Introduction to socratic seminar: what is it? To what standards does it connect?

Revisions to graded discussion responses--due by the end of class. You need to highlight changes you make and resubmit both original copy and the new copy. Remaining time: read //Freakonomics// HW: have chapter 1 of //Freakonomics// read and annotated for Monday
 * Fri 2/21--**Do now: label narrative
 * 1) Title your narrative!
 * 2) highlight varied uses of different forms of punctuation
 * 3) in a NEW color, highlight short sentences that you created for emphasis
 * 4) in a NEW color, highlight where you used vivid imagery
 * 5) Leave me notes about anything else you want me to pay attention to or give you feedback about as I read =)

Complete persuasive reading and open-ended questions for "I am a Vegetarian Rancher", due tomorrow. With remaining time: read //Freakonomics;// remember that you should be annotating! HW: open-ended questions due tomorrow
 * Mon 2/24--** Read and annotate [|//The Indoctrination Myth//] and answer the following questions:
 * 1) //What// does Gross take issue with that results in his //New York Times Sunday Review// opinion piece?
 * 2) Describe Gross’s organization--that is, how does he structure the piece? Start with the basics – intro, body, conclusion – mark up the text to indicate where each section begins and ends, then describe what he’s doing in each of these parts. (Annotate paragraph by paragraph)
 * 3) Consider the author's use of transitional signal words--underline each of them.
 * 4) What is his thesis? Underline and label this.
 * 5) How does Gross develop his ethos? Give examples to support. Does he strike you as credible and trustworthy? Go beyond the fact that he is a professor of sociology at the University of British Columbia, though that certainly helps!

Use remaining time to read //Freakonomics// (chapter 2 with annotations due tomorrow) HW: argument response needs to be completed for tomorrow
 * Tues 2/25--** Argument response assignment: Find an editorial online (go to online news sites and look in the opinion, editorial, or op-ed sections) that interests you and to which you can write a one page response. In your written response, employ "They Say, I Say" templates and label each use (see assignment example) [[file:argumentresponsewithsample.docx]]

Do now: Please read through this handout. you will need to be familiar with these devices in order to effectively participate in today's activity. [|Letter from Birmingham City Jail] (excerpts) and rhetorical analysis HW: //Freakonomics// socratic seminar is on Fri!
 * Wed 2/26--HSPA review:** Go to the 2010 Holistic Scoring Manual and look through appendix C--I want you to read one 4, 5, and 6 essay (these are considered passing). //Essays are responding to the quote: "The richness of the human experience would lose something...if there were no limitations to overcome"//

**parallelism and anaphora.** Revisit King’s piece and Sufjan Stevens’ piece--identify where they use parallelism and anaphora and it’s effect. Modeling activity: Go back to your narrative. Copy and paste a paragraph from your original in a new document (title this document "Parallelism and Anaphora"). Then, rewrite the paragraph in a way that demonstrates 2 uses of anaphora and 2 uses of parallelism (the rewrite will be below the original, so that you can actually see the comparison). Pay attention to the effect it's having. Please highlight and label where you use both of these devices. HW: keep reading //Freakonomics// and preparing for the socratic seminar
 * Thurs 2/27--**do-now: [|Visit this site], click on "parallel structure" and complete one of the exercises.

Socratic Seminar for //Freakonomics// Self-assessment and sharing out Continue reading Freakonomics HW: //Freakonomics// chapters 3 & 4 due Tuesday--yes, with annotations!
 * Fri 2/28--**Do now: consider the last graded discussion we had. Set a specific goal for yourself for today’s discussion that is tied to one of the standards on the rubric

//Week 5 Objectives://

**Mon 3/3--** do now: HSPA review connotation and denotation exercise: “Offensive Play”--how do the connotations and denotations of these words help you understand the title? What is the effect of putting these two words together? Revisit "The Indoctrination Myth" and identify ethos, pathos, and logos at use Work on graded discussion or Freakonomics HW: Freakonomics chapters 3 & 4 are due for annotation on Wed


 * Tues 3/4--NO CLASS due to HSPA**

argument research OR work on graded discussion prep HW: come up with topic ideas for your conventional wisdom paper
 * Wed 3/5--**Read sample conventional wisdom essays and annotate:
 * What is happening in the opening? How effective is it?
 * What is the conventional wisdom identified?
 * Where is the opposing viewpoint addressed?
 * Where is the support for the argument/thesis?
 * Where is the thesis?
 * Ethos/Pathos/Logos
 * Any other rhetorical devices
 * Comment on what's happening in the last paragraph

argument research or work on graded discussion prep HW: graded discussion prep due for tomorrow
 * Thurs 3/6-- **do now: make sure you have contributed 2 ideas to the Google doc before doing anything else

HW: Complete the conventional wisdom argument outline (this is shared with you--make a copy of it in your folder) for Monday Finish reading //Freakonomics// for Tuesday (through epilogue); create questions for socratic seminar (2 basic, 4 interpretive, 4 essential) for your assigned chapters.
 * Fri 3/7--**Graded discussion with self-assessment
 * Chapters 3 & 5:** Liza, Matt, David, Phil, Mia, Chloe, Sabrina, Morgan
 * Chapters 4 & 6:** Will, Tara, Hannah, Dayna, John, Cynthia, Joel, Juliana

//Week 6 Objectives://

Revise outline if necessary before submitting to me. Be sure that you include links and some description of the sources you think you're going to use. I need to see that you have information to work with! If you don't do this, I won't take your outline. Prepare for tomorrow's socratic seminar on Freakonomics
 * Mon 3/10--** Outline swap--give a peer feedback on his/her outline. Where do you want to know more? Where might ethos need strengthening? Is conventional wisdom accurately presented?

Socratic seminar on Freakonomics
 * Tues 3/11 --**do now: create a goal for today's seminar

Conferencing and drafting Start writing your argument paper and sign up for a conference slot for this week! HW: complete a paragraph of your argument paper for tomorrow
 * Wed 3/12--** do now: review standards for the argument paper. Make notes, identify significant language, seek clarity where needed. Share out.

conferencing: you must have 1-2 paragraphs to share with one of us during conferencing. BEFORE YOU CONFERENCE: highlight and annotate your use of "They Say, I Say". See the sample:. Also come prepared with desired feedback--what is it you want us to be looking for? What questions or concerns do you have? Where do you need some direction? Conferencing and drafting HW: have a minimum of 2 paragraphs of your argument paper for tomorrow
 * Thurs 3/13--** check your conference slot. Prep the paragraph(s) you will be sharing with us (see below)

conferencing: you must have 1-2 paragraphs to share with one of us during conferencing. BEFORE YOU CONFERENCE: highlight and annotate your use of "They Say, I Say". See the sample:. Also come prepared with desired feedback--what is it you want us to be looking for? What questions or concerns do you have? Where do you need some direction? Conferencing and drafting HW: have the body of your argument paper done for Monday
 * Fri 3/14--** check your conference slot. Prep the paragraph(s) you will be sharing with us (see below)

//Week 7 Objectives://

REMEMBER: this all contributes to your ethos, which is being assessed with the standards and therefore affects your grade! conferencing
 * Mon 3/17--** do now: comb through your paper. Every time you use a source, make sure you are doing the following:
 * You are NOT using parenthetical citations. Instead, you are explaining what your source is WITHIN your sentence. Go back to [|"The Indoctrination Myth"] and notice how he introduces sources.
 * If you use someone's name, tell us who that person is (experience, job, etc.) This might mean that you have to do a quick search on this person.
 * Don't use quotes to list facts; use quotes to share people's opinions and insights

Second round of conferencing drafting and graded discussion work HW: full draft of paper due Thurs
 * Tues 3/18--**do now: recall the skills of parallelism and anaphora (remember how effectively they were used in Martin Luther King's persuasive piece). Spend some time making use of these devices in your paper.

Second round of conferencing drafting and graded discussion work HW: full draft of paper due tomorrow
 * Wed 3/19-- ** do now: recall how to create ethos, pathos, and logos. look for where you use these and start labeling this in your paper. If you find that you are not using one or more of these, you must intentionally make those revisions today!

Sayback as best you can what the writer seems to be trying to articulate. What idea(s) or thinking is starting to emerge on the page? Try to say it back at the writer even if it’s fragmented or confusing. What is the center of gravity of the piece? Or what is the heart? Why? Where do you want to know more, and what specifically do you want to know
 * Thurs 3/20--**do now: What do you feel good about in your draft? What do you feel you need to work on? Come up with a simile or metaphor that describes your draft (no clichés!).
 * peer review of arguments, read aloud style!
 * Get into groups of 4. Read your process writing out loud to your partner. Then, each person will read his/her essay out loud as well (it’s important to hear your writing, not just read it). Use the questions below to guide a discussion about your process and your first draft. Your peers should respond as follows:
 * With remaining time revise paper

//HW: graded discussion on Monday//

//**paper due Wed 3/26. What needs to be labeled on your paper:**//


 * where you explain the conventional wisdom
 * where you provide support for the opposition
 * where you use ethos, pathos, and logos
 * where you properly introduce sources
 * where you create parallelism and anaphora
 * your thesis
 * use of "They Say, I Say"

work on graded discussion prep //HW: graded discussion on Monday// //**paper due Wed 3/26. What needs to be labeled on your paper:**//
 * Fri 3/21--** Introduce synthesis using essential question technique (read article; develop essential questions; find a second article that also helps answer that essential question. Use the document I shared with you to complete this assignment.
 * where you explain the conventional wisdom
 * where you provide support for the opposition
 * where you use ethos, pathos, and logos
 * where you properly introduce sources
 * where you create parallelism and anaphora
 * your thesis
 * use of "They Say, I Say"

//Week 8 Objectives://

//HW:// //**paper due Wed 3/26. What needs to be labeled on your paper:**//
 * Mon 3/24--**Graded Discussion
 * where you explain the conventional wisdom
 * where you provide support for the opposition
 * where you use ethos, pathos, and logos
 * where you properly introduce sources
 * where you create parallelism and anaphora
 * your thesis
 * use of "They Say, I Say"

Introduce synthesis paper in small groups, brainstorm ways in which the Big Pharma readings answer the question of autonomy. Use [|this chart] as your guide. Share out. Begin viewing [|"Digital Nation"] --you should be taking notes for your paper //HW:// //**paper due tomorrow. What needs to be labeled on your paper:**//
 * Tues 3/25--**Do now: print out the synthesis chart you created on Friday (no, I didn't forget!). Share out.
 * where you explain the conventional wisdom
 * where you provide support for the opposition
 * where you use ethos, pathos, and logos
 * where you properly introduce sources
 * where you create parallelism and anaphora
 * your thesis
 * use of "They Say, I Say"

Finish viewing [|"Digital Nation"] --you should be taking notes for your paper! Discuss observations and possible connections to the issue of autonomy--compare this to the list we created for Big Pharma. Start working on outline (due Friday)
 * Wed 3/26--**do now: based on what we viewed yesterday, what are some possible connections you are seeing between the issues of technology brought up in the film, as well as the question of how much autonomy we have?

Finish outline (due tomorrow). Submit for approval before you move on.
 * Thurs 3/27--** Do now: read model paragraphs and identify where synthesis is happening

Americans in particular have developed a dependence on prescription meds over the past few decades. Medicines have become a “Plan A” for almost all Americans who can afford them. A more recent phenomenon that coincides with our dependence on prescription medications is what seems to be an addiction to technology and the internet. In the film, Digital Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier, produced and directed by Rachel Dretzin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) students were followed and studied for their constant multi-tasking whether it was walking and texting or studying and Facebook compose one of your body paragraphs today HW: have two body paragraphs for Tuesday
 * Fri 3/28-- ** Start drafting your paper. Keep track of where you create synthesis. See example below:

share your paragraph with a peer and get feedback continue drafting paper HW: have another body paragraph for tomorrow
 * Mon 3/31--**do now: highlight where you believe you are creating synthesis in your paragraph. Synthesis always has to happen in writing...

highlight where you believe you are creating synthesis in your paragraph. Synthesis always has to happen in writing... conferencing and drafting HW: have another body paragraph for tomorrow
 * Tues 4/1--** do now:

highlight where you believe you are creating synthesis in your writing. conferencing and drafting HW: continue working on your paper.
 * Wed 4/2--** do now: peer review

spend today revising your argument HW: Synthesis paper is due at the start of class Monday. Argument revisions are due tomorrow. Make sure you email me or tell me if you revise your argument.
 * Thurs 4/3--**Introductions and conclusions

Your options for today: HW: synthesis paper due at the start of class on Monday, as well as your discussion questions
 * Fri 4/4--**Introduce final exam and explain last graded discussion
 * work on synthesis paper
 * develop discussion questions
 * work on exam


 * Mon 4/7-- ** final graded discussion (based on your paper)


 * Tues 4/8--EXAMS 1 & 2 **