Friday, November 30th

1. Independent reading.

2. Turn in practice round of Step 6. Questions or help with the homework.

3. FOR MONDAY: PICK 2 of your Boot Camp topics. JUST TWO. You will construct an extended paragraph structure for both topics. You should already have Step 5 done for these. You will write "backing" and "transition" just like we did for the practice for today.
Keep these out of your notes..  They need to be attached to your Steps 2-5. Clearly label each step.

We will add Step 7 of Writing on Monday. (We are almost done!)

Wednesday/Thursday, November 28th/29th

1. Independent reading.

2. Review Steps 1-5 of Writing.

3. Step 6 of Writing- Go over process in class.

4. PRACTICE: 
Respond to the following prompt: Should LSN adopt "online academy" during snow days? Why or why not?

1. Write answer out as a thesis (restate the question, answer, provide the why)
2. Do Step 5 of Writing. (3 major reasons why)
3. Do Step 6 of Writing. (Add in specific examples, write out a warrant)

• Briefly jot out warrant.
• Write the words "backing" and "transition" as place holders knowing these will come. 
• Consider where your counterclaim will logically appear. 

You will turn this practice in to Mrs. Cole on Friday.

Tuesday, November 20th

1. 10 minutes- Silent reading

Make sure that the following is in your notes for Monday, November 26th. 

2. Step 6 of Writing: Extended "paragraph" structure
** Notice Step 5 has been lightly highlighted.

 I: Thesis/Claim: 
                    A. Supporting point #1 (Broad point... written as a topic sentence)
                                   1.  Example #1
                                          -warrant
                                         - backing
                                         - transition
                                   2. Example #2
                                         - warrant
                                         - backing
                                         - transition 
                    B. Supporting point #2 (Broad point... written as a topic sentence)
                                   1. Example #1
                                          -warrant
                                          - backing
                                          - transition
                                   2. Example #2
                                          -warrant
                                         - backing
                                         - transition
                   C. Supporting point #3 (Broad point.... written as a topic sentence)
                                 1. Example #1
                                         - warrant
                                         - backing
                                        - transition 
                                2. Example #2
                                          - warrant
                                         - backing
                                         - transition 

Things to note:
1. Number of examples is not a fixed formula.
2. Transitions do not have to be written out in this step. This serves as a reminder of where they will go.
3. As we evolve, warrants won't be written out in outlining... you will just know they have to always follow evidence.

TERMS: 
Claim- argumentative/ analytic stance on specific topic.

Warrant- the explanation of how your evidence connects back to your claim

Backing- Additional justification for the warrant. Secondary sources usually fill this role.

Counterclaim- Acknowledgement of opposition position.

Rebuttal- Response to the opposition's position.

Monday, November 20th

LMC- Book talks

Select an independent reading book.

Friday, November 16th

1. Step 4 of Writing needs to be done for your 4 Boot Camp topics.

• Switch with a partner. They will look over each thesis to make sure that it is actually an argumentative thesis. 
• Write what type of claim they are using.
• Make sure that it is not a descriptive statement.
• Make sure that it is has all three parts of a thesis. 
• Check capitalization, spelling, punctuation. 

2. Step 5 of Writing: Basic "Paragraph" Structure
               I- Thesis
                  (Ask for reasons why this is true)
                   A: (Broad) Supporting reason #1
                   B: (Broad) Supporting reason #2
                   C: (Broad) Supporting reason #3

For MONDAY:
Do Step 5 for all 4 Boot Camp topics. Clearly label this step and keep all of these steps out of your notes. They will be turned in at the end of Boot Camp.

November 14th/15th

1. Quiz over Art of Communication and Steps 1-4 of Writing.

2. Write a THESIS (Step 4) for each of your Boot Camp topics. Keep them separate from your notes. Clearly label your step. Add it to your earlier 3 Steps of Writing.

3. Work on Noredink.com: Sentence fragments and sentence structure. This is due by Friday.

Tuesday, November 13th

Step 4 of Writing- Thesis

1. Review the 11 thesis statements on the following handout as a small group.  You will collect notes as a group on each statement.

Identify if they are strong or weak.. .and why? What is the type of claim that is being used? What type of claim would be better utilized? You will, as a group, rewrite the weak thesis statements. You will turn in a GROUP NOTES/ REWRITES to me. 

Thesis Practice Handout

2. You will have a quiz over the first 4 Steps of Writing, Art of Communication, Cole's Rules of Writing. This will take place on Wednesday/Thursday, November 14th/15th

November 12th

Catch up Day!

Make sure that the following are completed:

1. You have Steps 2 and 3 done for 4 Boot Camp topics. You have selected these topics.
These Steps need to be separate from your notes and clearly labeled. We are adding Step 4 in the next few days.

2. Thesis examination (2 statements)- From Wednesday/Thursday

3. Thesis "Got to Care" work from Friday

4. Final Literature Circle Reflection- From Wednesday/Thursday.

5. Make sure that you have CLEAR and COMPLETE NOTES on Steps 1-4 of Writing, plus Rules of Writing. There will be a quiz over *Art of Communication *Steps 1-4 of Writing *Rules of Writing on WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY.

Friday, November 9th

1. Remember, the ultimate aspect of success in thesis/claim writing comes from the care in which you approach the content. You must start caring and forming opinions about the world around you! Therefore, read the following articles. Please note the opinions of the authors do not necessarily reflect my own.. the purpose of these specific articles are to engage your opinions on timely subjects.

No One Cares About Climate Change

Average Cost of Raising a Child

Emma Watson- WP

Why India's Narendra Modi

2. For each article, draw a t-chart in your notes and on one side take notes on WHAT YOU LEARNED and on the other side write WHAT YOU THINK.

This is, of course, is a style of higher level annotation where you are not only keeping track of new information... but also starting to form opinions about what you are reading!!  As you are gathering the "what"... you are starting to think of the "why" and "how".

Be thinking about the formula of the thesis/claim and the checklist as you are doing this activity.

2. When you have finished this, you will write a thesis for each article. A total of 4 thesis statements.

3. You will need to EACH of your thesis statements for each article to Schoology.

November 7th/8th

1. Literature Circle Final Meeting: 
You will have your discussion and then do your final group report. Turn in your journal response.

2. Do a final reflection in Schoology on the literature circle process.

3. Step 3 and Step 4 of Writing Review.

• You should have all the notes for Step 3 and 4 in your notebooks. 
• You should have also have a brainstorm done for each of your Boot Camp topics.
• You should have done a "Break down the topic" for each of your Boot Camp topics

4. Review through the material in the following link: Indiana University- Thesis Statements
Supplement your current notes. This will talk you through the process of developing a topic, through identifying a strong or weak thesis statement.

5. In SCHOOLOGY- you need to work through the following:

•  Discuss the strengths of the following thesis statements: 

Examples of good thesis statements:

• "The ability to purchase television advertising is essential for any candidate's bid for election to the Senate because television reaches millions of people and thus has the ability to dramatically increase name recognition."
• The organizational structure of the United Nations, namely consensus voting in the security council, makes it incapable of preventing war between major powers.

FOR FRIDAY.... read and take notes over the following handout: 

Thesis Handout 

Monday, November 5th

I will talk through the following two days when I return on Tuesday.
Make sure that you get the following material in your NOTES!!

1. Step 3 of Writing- Breaking Down the Topic is due today. You should have broken down each topic to a manageable size. Label these clearly.

STEP 4 of Writing: Writing a THESIS OR CLAIM. 

Definition of THESIS: arguable main idea of a paper or paragraph

Purpose of Step 4: to provide analysis and argument of a topic, as well as providing a clear road map for the writer and the reader. 

Formula of a thesis: Subject + Attitude or Belief about this subject + Blueprint = Thesis

Other thesis formula options: 

By examining _____, it is clear that ______. 

Although researchers believe/ or have argued ________, closer examination shows _________. 

Checklist for evaluating a thesis:

1. Is the thesis/claim debatable? 

2. Does it answer an intellectual question? 

3. It is not a statement of fact (consider the audience). 

4.  Does it clearly point the direction of the argument (limiting it scope).

5. Is the language vivid and clear?

6. Is the point I’m making one that would generate discussion and argument, or is it one that would leave people asking, “So what?” (does it pass the "how" and "why" test?)
7. Does it use an active verb? (Avoids "Be Verbs... is, are, am, were)

To assist in knowing how to approach a subject in order to make a claim about the material, you can utilize one of these four types of claims:

Types of claims:

Claims typically fall into one of four categories. Thinking about how you want to approach your topic, in other words what type of claim you want to make, is one way to focus your thesis on one particular aspect of your broader topic.

1. Claims of fact or definition: These claims argue about what the definition of something is or whether something is a settled fact. Example:

• What some people refer to as global warming is actually nothing more than normal, long-term cycles of climate change.

2. Claims of cause and effect: These claims argue that one person, thing, or event caused another thing or event to occur. Example:

• The popularity of SUVs in America has caused pollution to increase.

3. Claims about value: These are claims made of what something is worth, whether we value it or not, how we would rate or categorize something. Example:

• Global warming is the most pressing challenge facing the world today.

4. Claims about solutions or policies: These are claims that argue for or against a certain solution or policy approach to a problem. Example:

• Instead of drilling for oil in Alaska we should be focusing on ways to reduce oil consumption, such as researching renewable energy sources

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3.  Review through the material in the following link: Indiana University- Thesis Statements
Supplement your current notes. This will talk you through the process of developing a topic, through identifying a strong or weak thesis statement.

Friday, November 2nd

1. You will turn in your 2 Ted Talk handouts and brainstorms.

You should have 4 brainstorms done for your Boot Camp topics for STEP 2 of Writing.

Write down the following in your notes... :)

2. Step 3 of Writing is "Breaking Down the Topic".
The purpose of this step is to make the topic size match the paper size.

The process for this step is to take a topic that develops from your Brainstorm (Step 2), and carry it into Step 3. Your goal for this step is to make the topic size manageable for the amount you are expected to write. You are also looking at the hierarchy of ideas when it comes to the topic.

Think about writing a 5 page paper... World War II is too large for 5 pages. Needs to be broken down into something more manageable. ** Rule of thumb. How big would the book in the library be if you found it on that topic? If it is "book sized" it is too big for a small paper.

The TEMPLATE for STEP 3:
(1) What comes before the topic (larger issues/categories)
              |
         TOPIC
              |
(2)  What falls below the topic (smaller issues/categories)

An EXAMPLE for STEP 3

Teen experiences      Steps of education
                \                  |
               High School
                  |               \
              Activities      College/career prep
               |      |                            \               \
  Athletics    Academic           IB Courses    Technical Education

(Keep going until you have met a topic size that is appropriate for the size of your paper)

3. IN YOUR NOTES... Practice with the following two "practice" topics:

1. Lee's Summit. 2. History
This practice should be done IN YOUR NOTES.

4. For Monday- 
Do Step 3 of Writing for EACH of your 4 chosen "Boot Camp" topics.
This will be 4 total.
Make sure to clearly label as Step 3 these and DO NOT embed these in your notes.

Don't forget your literature circle books!