Month: October 2016

HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH
Like we did in class together today!

STEP 1:   Get a topic

STEP 2:  Brainstorm anything you can think of around the topic

STEP 3:  For your first sentence of the paragraph, ask a question about the topic.

Example:  Why are maps important tools to humans?

Example:  Have you ever wondered why everyone needs to celebrate their birthday?

STEP 4:  For your second sentence of the paragraph, start with the TOPIC, the word ARE, and then write three things you think are true about the topic.

Example:  Maps are navigation tools, helpful for learning about a location, and show scale of larger areas.  (three things)

Example:  People celebrate their birthdays because they are marking the passage of time, people like gathering with friends, and having celebrations are fun.  (three things)

STEP 5:  For each of those three things, write 1-2 sentences to add to your paragraph.

Example:  Navigation tools like maps give you an overview of the area and allow you to travel to new places.

Example:  Since the early ages, we have had a need to mark the passage of time, either with a calendar, a clock, or with special occasions. A birthday is a personal marker of time given it shows how long you have been on the planet and how much life experience you have had.

STEP 6: Write a concluding sentence. This sentence is what the reader walks away with. It is the “SO WHAT?” Why did you write this paragraph and what do you want us to think about the topic. It will be what the reader will remember most.

Example:  Next time you are lost or in a country you are unfamiliar with, make sure you check out a map so you can find your way!

Example:  On your next birthday, remember that your special day means more than just eating cake and having fun, because it also marks a special moment in your life!

STEP 7:  Put it all together into one paragraph that is 7-8 sentences long. Make sure you indent at your first line. Give the paragraph a title.

STEP 8:  Have someone edit your work. Make changes. Write a final draft. Put your name on it!!!

 

Hello Everyone!

To practice both our writing and speaking skills, we are going to be doing an activity called the SPEECH JAR. Everyone will be providing topics on slips of paper, and then I will fill the jar with them. Each person will then draw a topic from the jar to do a short speech on for the class.

This first speech will be a prepared one.

• The speech should not be more than one minute long, give or take 10 seconds.
• You should provide us with up to three interesting facts about your topic, which may require some research.
• Your speech should have a strong introductory sentence that is not, “Hello, my name is so and so and I would like to talk about ….”
• Your speech should have a strong concluding sentence that is not, “And thank you for listening to my speech.”
• You can read your speech from a sheet of paper.
• Your speech should be in the format of a paragraph, which we will be practicing in class.
• You will have two days to prepare your first speech, due on Wednesday, October 26th. You will be given some class time to prepare.

Our second speeches will be extemporaneous speeches.

• Same requirements as above, but you will only have an hour to prepare your speech after drawing a topic.
• Speech topics will be drawn in the morning, and then speeches will be delivered in the afternoon!
• This speech activity will be announced the morning we are doing them!

A good speaker uses:

• Inflection/Tone
• Expression/Enthusiasm
• Enunciation (each word is clear)
• Volume
• Eye contact
• Appropriate hand gestures
• Good body posture
• Appropriate speed — not too fast, not too slow.

Some tips:

• Start with a web brainstorm about the topic
• What would be your opinion on this topic? That could be your topic sentence.
• Find three supporting facts. Don’t make them too long or too complicated.
• Write a quick outline. What three things do you want to say? Write it in short form first, then write a bit more about each of those points.
• Try not to start each sentence in the same way. Avoid always saying, “I think…”
• Avoid repetition. Each sentence needs to be different.
• Don’t start sentences with words that are meant to be connectors between ideas. For example: But, However, And, Because, Although

Here is the Speech Jar Rubric ! And here is the Sample Speech About Mondays from class. Good luck!

 

Ms. D

Hello! On here, post your questions we brainstormed in class about things we learned during the “Action for Human Rights” Unit. Then, classmates will respond with answers! Review the comments (and your unit binder) in preparation for the quiz.

The quiz will be online in Google Forms, using your iPad to respond. It will involve short answers and multiple choice. It will involve all subject areas discussed during the unit. I don’t do the marking based strictly on points or percentages. I use a rubric. Marking will be done as follows:

A   Almost all answers correct; 1-3 questions do not have clear answers. Provided excellent detail to show thinking and participation during the unit. You can clearly see how the person was paying attention during our discussions.

B   Most answers correct; 3-6 questions need answers that are more clear. Provided a good level of detail to show thinking. While there are some errors, the student participated well during the unit and knows their stuff!

C+ Most of the key ideas are in the student’s answers; however, there are more than six questions where more detail was needed to show thinking and a correct answer. The student participated well in the unit, and for next time needs to add more detail to show they were listening.

C/C-  There are significant errors in the student’s answers. More detail is needed to show thinking. Some one-word or blank responses. Needs to work on listening well during discussions.