Thursday, October 31st.

Happy Halloween! 

New paper due dates:
Friday, November 1st- Write intro, conclusion, and Works Cited page.
Monday, November 4th- Bring typed draft for proof-reading.
Tuesday, November 5th- No school. PD.
Wednesday, November 6th- Papers due to Schoology by 7:29 AM. No late submissions. 

Wednesday, October 30th

Ok... so massive failure with my fabulous voice-over instruction. . .  Mid-day I added some other videos on how to construct an outline. Check these out today if you need further help.

I will be available for Titan Time for BOTH Thursday and Friday for extra help on your papers..  come on in!



FOR TODAY:

1. Using your outline, you will start writing the body of your letter.
Skip over I on your outline and go right to II.  This is drafting. It does not need to be perfect, you just want to get your ideas down on the paper.

Things to remember as you write:

• You are writing AS GHOBASH. It is first person point of view. You will use I. 
• Establish a clear topic sentence for each section. 
• Think about descriptive writing techniques as you write. Specific details. Imagery (show don't tell). 
• Transitional techniques/words as you go from idea to idea.. example to example. Here is a handout showing transition words and phrases. Please use this. Transition Words and Phrases.
• When you provide examples make sure that you explain how they connect back to Ghobash's argument/stance. 
• When bringing in quotes.. remember I.C.E. (Introduce. Cite. Explain). Do not just drop quotes into your writing. Must use a tag-line... Dr. Andrew explains, ". . . . " (33). 
• Do you have 2 quotes from Ghobash? 1 quote per article? 
• As you are writing... keep thinking..  "Is this related to Ghobash's point of view?" "Am I explaining HOW it is related to the point of view?"

Have the draft of your body of your letter done as much as humanly possible when you come to class on Thursday. 

Tuesday, October 29th

1. R& C

2. Construct the outline for your letter. The outline will function as the structure for the BODY of your letter.

Here is a video taking you through how to write an outline. Use it to help guide your structure of your paper. Watch it... pause it when necessary. Construct your outline while watching it.   Be as specific in your outline as possible. This will make writing from the outline easier.

I am providing a template. You can fill it out, or use your own paper. Ignore the reference to the counter-argument.

Two terms that the outline references:

WARRANTS: Explanation of how your examples tie back to your thesis.
BACKING:  Specific evidence or data... or other's opinions to use to support ideas/reasoning. (You may not get to for this paper)

Remember, you will need to integrate your evidence/research into your letter.

** My video has not been working, so try these:

→ Thesis- Outline How To Video  This is a good instructional video.

→ 5 paragraph outline video- How to
(My template that you were given does not sketch out the introduction or conclusion.)
 I use the Roman numeral #1 to plan out the three main sections of the paper. (A, B, C)

Here is the outline template link:  Outline Template 

(Both of these links can also be found under "Writing Links" for future reference)


 

Monday, October 28th

Working from your thesis, you will need to find two articles that will help support Ghobash's thesis.

Things to consider:

• What evidence would help support Ghobash's argument? 
• What statistics/data would help illustrate Ghobash's point of view/stance?
• What do other experts have to say on this issue? This stance?
• What is the other side to the argument?

I have posted under "LMC Research Databases" some ideal databases for this project. You will be able to access them at school with no log in. If you are at home, you will need to go through the LMC's page to access the passwords.

You will be looking for ideas, data, evidence that will help you illustrate your point. Think of your thesis like the TOP of a ladder... evidence, data, testimonies are all rungs that help us conclude or reach our thesis. The thesis is the end result..  Research is the steps to the thesis. 

Database Searching Tips

Database Searching Help-

Database Search Help #2

Once you find your two articles, please make sure you collect the works cited information.

Basic Style for Citations of Electronic Sources (Including Online Databases) 
from Purdue OWL:
Here are some common features you should try to find before citing electronic sources in MLA style. Not every web page will provide all of the following information. However, collect as much of the following information as possible:

• Author and/or editor names (if available); last names first.
• "Article name in quotation marks."
• Title of the website, project, or book in italics.
• Any version numbers available, including editions (ed.), revisions, posting dates, volumes (vol.), or issue numbers (no.).
• Publisher information, including the publisher name and publishing date.
• Take note of any page numbers (p. or pp.) or paragraph numbers (par. or pars.).
• DOI (if available), otherwise a URL (without the https://) or permalink.
• Date you accessed the material (Date Accessed). While not required, saving this information it is highly recommended, especially when dealing with pages that change frequently or do not have a visible copyright date.

Author. "Title." Title of container (self contained if book), Other contributors
       (translators or editors), Version (edition), Number (vol. and/or no.), Publisher,
       Publication Date, Location (pages, paragraphs and/or URL, DOI or permalink).
       2nd container’s title, Other contributors, Version, Number, Publisher,
      Publication date, Location, Date of Access (if applicable).

EXAMPLES: 

Alonso, Alvaro, and Julio A. Camargo. “Toxicity of Nitrite to Three Species of Freshwater
      Invertebrates.” Environmental Toxicology, vol. 21, no. 1, 3 Feb. 2006, pp. 90-94.
      Wiley Online Library, doi:10.1002/tox.20155. Accessed 26 May 2009.

Langhamer, Claire. “Love and Courtship in Mid-Twentieth-Century England.” Historical 
      Journal, vol. 50, no. 1, 2007, pp. 173-96. ProQuest,
      doi:10.1017/S0018246X06005966. Accessed 27 May 2009.

WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR ARTICLES:
Start reading and find evidence that you can integrate into your soon-to-be written letter. You will need a minimum of one quote PER article.

FYI: Tomorrow you will be writing an outline for your letter. PLEASE BRING EARBUDS. 

Friday, October 25th

By the end of class today.. Have the following completed:

• Read and thoroughly noted all OSG's letters. 
• Have selected a specific issue that OSG addresses in his letters (Family, education, technology, organized religion, Islam, father-son relationships, etc.). This is a broad general thematic issue.
• Found a minimum of two quotes from OSG in his 4 letters that addresses this issue. Keep track of the page number for citation. 
• Have a preliminary thesis or topic sentence that demonstrates the POV of Ghobash on this issue. What is going to be his angle? Stance on this topic? This POV needs to be faithful to the evidence that Ghobash has demonstrated in HIS writing. This is NOT your stance. 

Thesis statement help: For this paper, we will be using a simple formula. 

A thesis is basically an answer to an intellectual question. Ask a good question... structure your answer as your thesis. 

Formula:  Although (insert counter argument to stance),  (Subject) + (Opinion).

** Suggestion... I would write the second part of the sentence first.. .then do the "although" counterclaim part.

EXAMPLE:

Question: How does Ghobash feel about the impact of technology in the modern world? 

Example: Although technology has the ability to unite the different groups of people, technology, specifically social media, has detrimentally become a tool to purposefully divide. 

Counterclaim
Subject
Attitude or opinioni

To make sure that we are on the right track, please post your ISSUE and prelim thesis on Schoology. 

Friday is so close to. . . CATURDAY!! 

Thursday, October 24th

Happy 50th birthday to my big brother, Marty!

1. R&C

2. Start/continue reading the letters, "What is True Islam" and "'Islam is a Religion of Peace'"

Things you need to notice and to take notes on when you are reading:

1. What is the structure of OSG's writing. 

• How does he start his letters.
• What does he tell or describe first? (Intro)
• Where does he present his topic sentence/thesis for his letter?
• Approximately, how many examples does he give? 
• How does he explain his examples?
• How does he tie these examples back to his driving point?
• How does he conclude his letters? 
• What kind of headings does he use? How are they designed to inform what is to come in the letter?
• What functions as the introduction... the body... and the conclusion to his letter?

2. What is the tone of his writing? 

3. What key words does he use? Does he define them? 

4. What words are ALWAYS capitalized? 

5. What are OSG's goals for writing the letter? How does he achieve these goals?

6. How does OSG establish Ethos? 

7. What descriptive writing techniques does OSG use? At what times? What subjects is he particularly descriptive?  When is he succinct (to the point)? 

8. What transition words do you see OSG using? When does he use transitions? 

9. How does OSG explain his ideas? 

10. How much evidence does he use? 

2. When you have thoroughly read through/annotated/taken notes on the last two letters... It is strongly suggested that you re-read the first two letters with the same process. 

By the end of FRIDAY... Have the following completed:

• Read and thoroughly noted all OSG's letters. 
• Have selected a specific issue that OSG addresses in his letters (Family, education, technology, organized religion, Islam, father-son relationships, etc.) 
• Found a minimum of two quotes from OSG in his read-letters that addresses this issue. Keep track of the page number for citation. 
• Have a preliminary thesis or topic sentence that demonstrates the POV of Ghobash on this issue. What is going to be his angle? Stance on this topic? This POV needs to be faithful to the evidence that Ghobash has demonstrated in HIS writing. This is NOT your stance. 

NOTE:  If you select religion, or Islam as your issue... you will need to be very delicate in your writing. You are writing it as Ghobash. For example, when he references the Prophet Mohammed, he follows with the abbreviation PBUH ("peace be upon him") because it is customary to follow the name with this phrase.

Check out the cat's reaction. . . 

Wednesday, October 23rd

1. Review Point of View- The mode. The angle.

2. Small group discussion- Point of view and Letters to a Young Muslim. 
    Use your questions and evidence from Tuesday to help guide your discussion.
    Please integrate the "accountable talk" stems into your discussion.

3. Letters to a Young Muslim Pastiche

Pastiche:  An imitation or re-creation of an already published work.

Assignment:  In this assignment, students are encouraged to demonstrate their sensitivity to, and understanding of, a literary work by providing an original writing composed after the manner of that work. You will be writing a pastiche over Letters to a Young Muslim. 

Letters Pastiche- Other Perspective Assignment
English 10 District Scoring Guide- Other Perspective

TO START: Read two more letters from Omar Saif Ghobash's Letter to a Young Muslim.
Letters to a Young Muslim (2 letters)

You will want to read these closely.. thinking about HOW Ghobash writes.
What POV does he take on specific issues.

Assignment due dates: 
*This is generally what we want to have done by the end of this class day.
Thursday, October 24th- 2 remaining letters read. (Note taking)
Friday, October 25th-  Completed: a list of notes about Ghobash's writing style, and the manner in which he addresses certain large topics of concern.  Settle on what topic you will address. Establish a tentative thesis/topic sentence for your letter. Select a few quotes that you feel Ghobash clearly states his stance on your topic.
Monday, October 28th- Research on your topic. Find evidence that you can use to integrate into your writing.
Tuesday, October 29th- Sketch out a rough outline of your letter.
Wednesday, October 30th- Writing rough draft of letter.
Thursday, October 31st- Finish up rough draft of letter- Print off for proof reading on FRIDAY.
Friday, November 1st- Proof reading of draft.
November 4th, 11:59 PM- Final draft due to Schoology. No late submissions accepted.

Tuesday, October 22nd

2 Major ways to consider POINT OF VIEW: 

FIRST: In literature, point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers “hear” and “see” what takes place in a story, poem, or essay.

1st person POV- Narrative point of view. Uses: I, we.

3rd person POV-
                  Limited: Outside perspective addressing one or two characters.
                  Omniscient: Outside perspective that is all knowing.

SECOND: Point of View: the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation.

Practice... in your NOTES:

1. Letters to a Young Muslim- 1st person POV. Narrative.

• In your notes, provide 2 examples of 1st person POV/ Narration

2. Letters to a Young Muslim- Point of View (angle of considering things)

• In your notes... provide a quote demonstrating Ghobash's point of view on the following issues:  1. Social media. 2. Post 9/11 radicalism  3. Critical thinking.  Post what you think his stance is.. and the quote supporting your finding. 

3. Letters to a Young Muslim- Costa's Levels of Critical Thinking

• Write a question for each Costa's Level of thinking addressing POV in Letters to a Young Muslim. 

Oh... and a shout out by Ambassador Ghobash... NBD.

Monday, October 21st

1. Small group discussion- Letters to a Young Muslim. 

First 20 minutes:
Using Costa's Level of Thinking, you will write 2 questions PER level about Letters to a Young Muslim. * 2 Level 1 Questions   * 2 Level 2 Questions   *2 Level 3 Questions = 6 questions in total
Costa's Level of Thinking Handout

Second 20 minutes:
We will be having a deliberate discussion addressing Ghobash's text. We will be practicing accountable talk during discussion. With your conversation, we will be using the questions you have written.  You will be working to cite examples from the text in your discussion.
Accountable Talk Stems

2. In Schoology: Write 3 of your best questions and identify each level of questioning.

Small group discussion EXPECTATIONS:
1. Stay on task.
2. Everyone participates.
3. Take notes of your discussion.
4. Think about the purpose of this format for this conversation.

Tuesday, October 15th

1. Literary terms S-T quiz. Schoology

2. District Reading Assessment- Schoology

Monday, October 14th

1. Read Letter 2- Letters to a Young Muslim. "The Grey Area." Annotate as you read. (What. How. Why.)

Copy found here:
https://drive.google.com/a/lsr7.net/file/d/0B0JovK5TY2svLXVjT244NFJGTnY0akVPZnRCbUN2Z2Z4a3Zv/view?usp=drivesdk

2. Answer the questions posted to Schoology.

Remember: Literary terms test S-T on Tuesday. 

Thursday, October 10th

1. You will have time to finish the Omar Saif Ghobash interview assignment from yesterday.

2. Kahoot time! You may partner up, or group up. Keep track of your places for each Kahoot.

Kahoot- Figurative Language

Kahoot- Descriptive Writing

Kahoot- Grammar! 

Kahoot- Capitalization!

REMINDERS:
Last vocab test is next TUESDAY, October 15th.

Wednesday, October 9th

Putting it all together...

Omar Saif Ghobash Interview

1. Pull out biographical, cultural discussions points of significance that reflect your understanding
of the preface, and the first letter in Letters to a Young Muslim. 

2. In Schoology: You will select 4 examples from the Ghobash interview.
   A. You will post the reference from the interview.
   B. You will select a specific example from the preface and or Letter #1 that reflects what
        you selected in the interview.
   C.  You will explain the connection that you see between the two references (A&B).
   D.  Identify effective writing techniques in the writing example you have selected from the
         text.

Tuesday, October 8th

1. R & C.

2. From the Preface, put in your notes the following:

• Ghobash's main reason/purpose for writing this book (in your own words) AND two quotes from the text that supports your reasoning.
• 4 facts about the author that supports his ETHOS (his credibility as a source). For example, Ghobash is thoughtful about looking at culture- he speaks five languages, and aware of other cultures. 
• 4 facts about Ghobash's life. 
• 3 key terms presented in the writing and their definition.
• 3 quotes/examples of effective descriptive writing and identified technique. 

3. Read the first letter, "The Questions You Face" (1-5). Annotate your reading for descriptive writing techniques and aspects of culture.

Good annotations are a good mixture of WHAT (what is happening), HOW (how it is happening), and WHY (why is it happening).

Keep in mind the specific things that I am having you look for and put in your notes (above). They are a mixture of WHAT, HOW, and WHY. Use these to guide your reading and note taking.

LAST LITERARY TERMS QUIZ will be on Tuesday, October 15th. S-T plus a few more. 

Monday, October 7th

1. Review:

Descriptive writing techniques.

• Use of imagery (Visual, auditory, kinesthetic, olfactory,  gustatory) 
• Specific key details
• Use of figurative language
• Concrete nouns and adjectives and effective verbs

Definition of culture. 

Sociology understands culture as the languages, customs, beliefs, rules, arts, knowledge, and collective identities and memories developed by members of all social groups that make their social environments meaningful. Sociologists study cultural meaning by exploring individual and group communication; meaningfulness is expressed in social narratives, ideologies, practices, tastes, values, and norms as well as in collective representations and social classifications.
http://www.asanet.org/topics/culture

2. Today we will be reading the preface from the book, Letters from a Young Muslim by Omar Saif Ghobash. Pages: xv-xxi. Annotate and take notes while reading. Look for examples of descriptive writing and aspects of culture. Good annotations are a good mixture of WHAT (what is happening), HOW (how it is happening), and WHY (why is it happening).

GOALS for reading this text: 

We will be looking at this text for its descriptive writing techniques AND for its presentation of culture. We will be examining the narrative/descriptive manner in which Ghobash writes, plus recognizing how this book is reflective of an individual's experience/understanding of culture.

COLE's Classroom's NORMS for Culture Discussion: 
1. Be respectful in discussion of culture.
2. Be open-minded.  . . get out of our personal comfort zone.
3. Ask why.
4. Treat other cultures and practices the way we wish others to treat ours.

Friday, October 4th

1. Literary terms quiz N-P.

2. Read and Chill.

Schedule today:

Thursday, October 3rd

1.Finish up the 3 descriptive extracts (annotations and accompanying questions). Turn the questions, only, in to Mrs. Cole.

2. Show what you know: (Submit to Schoology)

Read extract 5- "The Third Policeman."

• Identify 3 techniques of descriptive writing used by the author. Name the technique and provide the example. 
• With each example, explain what you feel is the intended purpose by the author for using this technique. (What are they trying to achieve using this technique).  
• When you are done with identifying and evaluating... Please select one of the three paragraphs and ADD a sentence after the last sentence of that paragraph. Keep with purpose/meaning of the paragraph. This sentence you will need to utilize TWO descriptive writing techniques. 
• Identify (name) what two techniques you utilized. 

3. Study for literary terms test tomorrow- N-P (plus a few more).

Wednesday, October 2nd

1. R & C.

2. Lesson on importance of critical thinking/ reading text.

3. Goal of descriptive/narrative writing.
 
Using language that shows:

• Use concrete nouns and adjectives.
• Include specific details. 
• Create figures of speech. (Metaphors. Similes. Personification)
• Rely on your five senses. (Imagery)

Techniques for describing places and things:

• Use proper nouns (with proper capitalization).
• Use effective verbs.  (Action verbs... avoid "Be Verbs"... Is, are, am were)
• Use action and people in the description. 

Techniques for describing people:

• Describing a subject's appearance and speech.
• Revealing what you know about a subject. 
• Reveal what others have to say about the subject. 

--------------------------------------------------------

3. Descriptive Writing- Identification, analysis and PRACTICE.

Read and annotate the first 3 reading passages... identifying descriptive writing techniques used by the authors. (Use your notes!)

~Read Extract 1 and do Exercise 1. Questions 1 and 4 asks you to evaluate the effects of descriptive writing. (You will be looking at HOW the techniques are used.. and their effects.
On questions 2-3, please utilize techniques of descriptive writing to answer the questions. .  select a technique or two to try to implement into your responses.

~Read Extract 2 and do Exercise 2. Questions 1, 2, and 3 ask you to evaluate the effects of descriptive writing. On question 3, please utilize techniques of descriptive writing to answer the question. 

~Read Extract 3 and do Exercise 3. Do question 2 where you examine descriptive writing techniques. Do questions 3-4 utilizing techniques of descriptive writing. You do not need to do question 1.

REMINDER: Literary terms quiz N-P (plus a few more) on FRIYAAAAY!  

Tuesday, October 1st

1. Turn in Joy Harjo written responses with 4 annotated poems.

2. Read the Description/Narrative chapter. Take notes. Pages 229-236.
Descriptive and Narrative Writing- PDF Chapter

Things to consider when reading a non-fiction text (for instruction purposes):

• What is the goal of the reading?
• Why were you given the reading?
• What format is the reading? How can we use the knowledge of this format to help us read?
• What can work as headings? Bullet points in your notes?
• What terms/definitions are presented? 
• What functions as main points? What are examples for the main points? 

Key to DESCRIPTIVE/NARRATIVE WRITING..... Show... Don't Tell!