Analyze This

While you're continuing to work on your essays, We'll spend class time honing our paraphrasing and rhetorical analysis skills.  The readings will all be in class, so you can devote homework time to making your research essay a thing of beauty.  You'll be bringing a hard copy to class on THURSDAY for some hands-on revising and editing.  Then the final draft will be turned in through Googledocs by Midnight on Sunday.  Tempus fugit!

MONDAY, 10/1 Focus: Analysis (11-12.RI.1; 11-12.RI.2)
We Are Still Only Human
• paraphrase exercise
• beginning analysis:  first paragraph + outline

TUESDAY, 10/2 Focus: Analysis/Writing (11-12.W.2)
We Are Still Only Human
• developing the essay
• rhetorical analysis DUE

WEDNESDAY, 10/3 Focus: Analysis (11-12.RI.1; 11-12.RI.2)
The Death of Benny Paret
• SOAPS and Rhetorical Devices: groups
• Discussion

THURSDAY, 10/4 Focus: Writing Production (11-12.W.4; 11-12.W.5)
Scientific American Research Essay
• Reviewing/Revising
• Editing Machine!

FRIDAY, 10/5 Focus: Introduction to Literary Analysis
The Novel Unit
• Introduction
• Expectations

Being Resourceful

So, now that we have identified an area of interest and crafted a good essential question about it, we can begin our research adventure.  With so much information, so many sources, it's imperative we know how to separate the wheat from the chaff.  That's where Mrs. Overcash comes in.  She'll walk us through the process we'll be using for the rest of the year and the REST OF OUR LIVES!!!  Be patient, pay attention, and keep up with each part of the program; you'll be glad you did.

MONDAY, 9/24 Focus: Research (11-12.W.8; 11-12.W.9)
Scientific American Research Project
• Questions about questions: creating supporting questions
• Data bases vs Search engines
• Entering sources in Noodletools

TUESDAY, 9/25 Focus: Research (11-12.W.8; 11-12.W.9)
Scientific American Research Project
• Evaluating websites and resources
• Writing annotations (Noodletools)

WEDNESDAY, 9/26 Focus: Research (11-12.W.8; 11-12.W.9)
Scientific American Research Project
• Research work time

THURSDAY, 9/27 Focus: Research (11-12.W.8; 11-12.W.9)
Scientific American Research Project
• Research work time
• Annotated sources DUE

FRIDAY, 9/28 Focus Research/Writing (11-12.W.8; 11-12.W.9; 11-12.W.5)
Scientific American Research Project
• Planning the Paper:  Question answering
• Organization: Structuring

Why? How? How much?

As we begin working toward our first research project, we will be calling on our six-year-old selves to generate real, important, ESSENTIAL questions.  Before entering the library for next week's actual research, we'll be spending some time in the English portion of Xtreme on all the pieces that will make your experience not only successful, but enjoyable and valuable. Stay tuned!

MONDAY, 9/17 Focus: Research preparation (11-12.W.7)
Library
• information about essential questions
• testing out questions
• research question DUE Wednesday, 9/19

TUESDAY, 9/18 Focus: incorporating quotations (11-12.W.8)
Drawing from sources
• choosing quotations judiciously
• citing and documenting

WEDNESDAY, 9/19 Focus: Writing clearly (11-12.W.5)
Less is more
• exercise:  cutting out the fluff
• exercise:  choosing the right word

THURSDAY, 9/20 Focus: Organizing information (11-12.W.4)
Outlines? Structural choices
• deciding on direction
• mapping it out

FRIDAY, 9/21 Focus: Close reading (11-12.RI.4, 11-12.RI.5, 11-12.RI.6)
We Are Still Only Human
• How to deal with difficult text
• Identifying the central idea

Breaking it Down

This week in Xtreme, Language Edition, we'll be taking a close look at the elements that go into crafting an effective essay.  With a focus on Stephen J. Gould's Just in the Middle, we'll devote each class period to a brief overview of the key components of an essay--components you'll be identifying and employing in our work throughout the year.  Think of this week as a sampler of what's to come.  While your reading outside of class will be limited this week, there are a few readings and writing assignments to complete, so be ready.  The notations in parentheses are references to the Common Core State Standards, for which you will be held accountable this year. 

MONDAY, 9/10 Focus on Diction  (11-12.RI.4)

                             • Connotative/denotative language: figurative and literal use

                             • Context in relation to word meaning and intent; technical use

                             • Key terms: use and refinement over the course of the essay

TUESDAY, 9/11 Focus on Central idea (11-12.RI.2)

                             • Main ideas:  SOAPS review with focus on S & P

                             • Supporting ideas: interactions and development throughout

                             • Summary:  objective vs subjective; crediting author, using
                               quotations 

                       (Exercise: Just in the Middle summary—DUE  Wednesday, midnight)

WEDNESDAY, 9/12 Guided Practice/Googledocs

                              • Summary-writing workshop:  (Summary Exercise DUE) 

THURSDAY, 9/13  Focus on Structure (11-12.RI.5)

                             • How Gould presents his case

                             • Naming the parts

                             • effectiveness—engaging, clear, convincing

FRIDAY, 9/14  Focus on Point of View (11-12.RI.6)

                             • Identifying ethos

                             • relating ethos to effectiveness/art of text 

                               (Exercise--The Kindness of Strangers--DUE)