Character Analysis - Final Drafts

Final drafts are due on FRIDAY, 11-9-12.  You must turn in a hard copy.

As you revise, consider the questions on your revision form and make the necessary changes to your paper.  You will be graded based on the organization and content of your paper as well as whether or not you use MLA format.

 You need to submit the following with your final draft, stapled together in this order (top to bottom):

1.    Final draft

2.    Revision sheet

3.    Rough draft

4.    Planning guide

You will receive a Language Arts CLASSWORK grade for the submission of your planning sheet, rough draft, and revision sheet.

You will receive a Language Arts TEST grade for your final draft.

Character analysis essays

Students have been working very hard on character analysis the last couple of weeks.  After writing along with me for an essay on "Rikki tikki tavi" and taking apart a sample essay on "Thank You Ma'am," students are now writing their own essays to analyze Roger's character in Hughes short story.

Students received planning sheets today.  Completed planning sheets are due on Monday, 11-5-12.  This deadline is VERY IMPORTANT, as without a completed planning sheet, students will not be able to begin drafting and will fall behind (and earn zeros) on subsequent assignments.

With our planning sheets on Monday, we will move to drafting and revising.  The final draft will be a test grade in Language Arts, and drafts will be counted as classwork grades.

To access the full text of "Thank You Ma'am," please click here.

Email me at clairehardin@hotmail.com with any questions!

IB Learner Profile...for Rikki tikki!

This week, students are working on a mini-project (meaning it is a classwork grade and not a test grade) for "Rikki tikki tavi."

The Task:  Re-examine the IB learner traits that we went over before reading “Rikki tikki tavi” (review the Power Point below).  Decide on the FOUR TRAITS that you think Rikki exhibits most in the story, and create an IB profile for him (think Facebook profile!) on a half sheet of poster board.

For each trait you choose, you must provide TWO specific examples from the story along with your explanation of how he demonstrates the trait in that part of the story.

For each example from the text, you must cite the author’s last name and the page number in parenthesis.

Include a photo of Rikki (either hand-drawn or printed from an online source) and make your profile colorful (but please, no glitter).

The Rubric: Four IB traits are included on the profile – 25 pts

Two examples from text are included with each trait – 25 pts

Explanations of how each example shows Rikki tikki demonstrating the trait– 25 pts

Profile is neat and colorful – 25 pts

Projects are due on Friday, October 19, 2012

Ib Learner Profile from shinojosa37

Greeting Card Project

Greeting Card Project

DUE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2012

Today, students were assigned a final project on A Wrinkle in Time, our summer reading selection. Students will complete the following book report, in two parts:

Think about the characters and situations in this novel. Imagine that one character is sending a card to another character. What kind of card would that character send and why?

Task: There are TWO parts to this project.

1. Create a card from one character in this novel to another character (50 points)

*Your card must be handmade by YOU. You may create your card on the computer, as long as it is your original work.

*Your card may NOT be created on notebook paper. Use white or colored printer paper, construction paper, cardstock, a piece of cut-out poster board, or anything else you like – as long as it is NOT on notebook paper!!

*You may create any kind of card EXCEPT a birthday card (sympathy, get well, miss you, thinking of you, apology, anniversary, friendship, love, congratulations, etc.)

*Be as creative as you like – use markers, glitter, magazine cutouts, poetry, anything you like!

GREETING CARD RUBRIC

Card displays an understanding of the characters/plot of the novel:30 pts
Followed directions: 10 pts
Neatness/Creativity: 10 pts

2. On a separate sheet of paper, include the following (50 points):

*In one paragraph (6-8 sentences), explain why you created the card you did.

*In another paragraph, explain the importance of this choice and how the novel would be different if the card had actually been sent.

WRITTEN PORTION RUBRIC

Paragraphs meet length standard (6-8 sentences) and address topics: 20 pts
Paragraphs reflect a thorough understanding of characters and plot: 30 pts

THIS ASSIGNMENT WILL BE ONE 100 POINT PROJECT/TEST GRADE in READING.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome back!!

Welcome back, 7th grade students and parents of Phillips Academy! 

Week one is under our belt, and I can honestly say that this is one of the dearest, sweetest, most pleasant and intelligent groups of 7th graders I have had the pleasure of meeting.  I am so excited to continue to get to know each child as we work and grow together this year.

The first test for my class is on Wednesday, August 29, 2012.  Students are memorizing "Attitude" by Charles Swindoll - a passage that I believe is worth knowing by heart.  In a world where so many things are beyond our control, it is important to remember that the thing that has the greatest impact on our success is 100% within our control.   I try to remind myself of this every day, and I encourage each of my students to do the same.

Students were given this assignment on Tuesday the 21st, and on the 29th they will write the passage from memory for their first test grade. 

Don't wait until the last minute to study!!  I have encouraged students to break it into manageable chunks to memorize a little at a time.  Practice writing it from memory, since that is what you'll do for the test.

 

Writing a novel is not impossible!

Don't miss the two final workshops in Writing a Novel is not Impossible, author Nadria Tucker's amazing series that breaks down the novel-writing process. Added bonus: These workshops will be the first in DISCO's brand new headquarters on the ground floor of Woodrow Hall, in Woodlawn.

 

As always, the workshops are free to attend, but space is limited and registration is required.

 

Landscape and SettingAges 13-18 | Saturday, June 16, 2-3:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

Sometimes the setting of a novel is just where the action takes place. In other novels, the setting operates more like a separate character. In this workshop, Nadria will guide discussion of all the ways to use landscape and setting in your own novel. 

[Register for Landscape and Setting] 

 

He Said, She Said

Ages 13-18 | Saturday, June 30, 2-3:30 p.m. | Limit 12 students | Woodrow Hall

In the first installment of Writing a Novel is not Impossible, Nadria and the workshop participants talked about drawing rich, believable characters. In this final workshop, we'll come full circle and discuss the importance of rich, believable dialogue between characters. 

[Register for He Said, She Said] 

Happy Summer!

Congratulations to all seventh graders (and their parents!!!) on a great year.  I hope your summer break is restful and a lot of fun.  

See you in August!!

Student summer writing idea:  Snap a photo a day and comment on it any way you like!

Also, a cool perspective on conflict.