Test Tomorrow!!!

Review figurative language/ poetical devices: simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, rhyme scheme, etc.
You should be able to define, identify, and create examples of each of these.
You should be able to define, identify, create examples of , and SPELL onomatopoeia!
Much of the test will be quite similar to the pre-test you took a few weeks ago.
You will also be given a new poem and asked to answer two constructed response questions based on it.
STUDY! STUDY! STUDY!

Poetry Exam

All classes will be taking the poetry exam on Thursday. Be sure to review the handout on figurative language. You should be able to define, recognize, and create all types of figurative language and other poetical devices we have discussed in class.

Poetry Project Details:

Your next project will be to create your own book of poetry. The requirements for the project are explained below:

·      Your book of poetry must contain 8 to 10 poems of various styles and subject matter. Don’t write 10 poems about the same thing or in the same style.

·      Your book should have a decorative cover which includes a title (be creative) and your name

·      Include a Table of Contents listing the titles of your poems and the page numbers where they can be found.

·      Each poem should be on a separate page. Do not use looseleaf or any other lined paper. Your poems must be typed. Experiment with different font styles, colors and sizes.

·      Decorate each page with drawings, pictures, images, etc. connected to your poems. Make it look nice. You can use Power Point, Comic Life, or another program to create your pages if you wish.

·      Your poetry should demonstrate your knowledge of figurative language and other poetical devices. Be sure to use what you have learned over the past few weeks.

·      Any poems you have previously written for this class can be used for this project.

·      Acrostic poems are not permitted. If you choose to include haiku, you must put three of them on one page. Collectively they will count as one poem.

·      This should go without saying, but to be perfectly clear; ALL POEMS MUST BE YOUR OWN, ORIGINAL WORK!!! Do not attempt to hand in a poem you found in a book or on a website as your own. I will know and you will receive a grade of “0”, virtually guaranteeing you a failing grade for the marking period. Your poetry expresses YOU! Only YOU can write it.

·      Your last page will be an “About the Author” page. Include a picture (optional) and short biography of yourself as a poet. Feel free to “stretch the truth” about your autobiographical  information and/or your poetical accomplishments. Have fun!!!

·      Attach the rubric to your back cover.

This assignment is due when we return from break. Working on this assignment will be a part of your homework every night. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO IT ALL AT ONCE. This is an ongoing process.  Use the rubric as a guide to evaluate your own project before handing it in.

RUBRICS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN CLASS THIS WEEK! I WILL ALSO POST A COPY ON THE SITE JUST IN CASE YOU NEED AN EXTRA.

Deadline Updates

Due to tomorrow's trip, a few changes have been made in regards to due dates.

Month poems are now due on Wednesday. Be sure to follow the directions and use the rubric to guide you. Decorate your page to fit the theme of your month.

American Dream poems are due on Thursday. Follow the template carefully. You should also decorate your page with related images. The rubric for the poem is below:

REQUIREMENTS	1	2	3	4
DIRECTIONS WERE FOLLOWED CAREFULLY. ALL PARTS OF THE TEMPLATE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED
CONTENT OF THE POEM IS CONSISTENT WITH THE THEME OF THE AMERICAN DREAM
POEM SHOWS A KNOWLEDGE OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE AND POETICAL STRUCTURE
POEM IS TYPED OR NEATLY PRINTED, INCLUDES REALTED IMAGES, AND CONTAINS NO ERRORS

Final Grade: (Average score X 25)

The American Dream

Drafts of your American Dream poem are due tomorrow. Be sure to follow the template.
In case you misplaced it, here it is:

American Dream (Template)

I am the American Dream

From the (specific location or geographical feature) of  (your family’s city/ country of origin)

To the (specific location or geographical feature) of  (town, city, or country in which you live now)

I am ( a metaphor about yourself)

I am the American Dream

I am the American Dream

Through the eyes of my (parent, grandparent, relative, etc.) I have seen (List 2 or 3 things they have told you about your/their “homeland” and/or past)

With my own eyes I have witnessed ( list 2 or 3 important things or events you have witnessed in your life)

I’m like (a simile about you)

I am the American Dream

I Am the American Dream

One day I will (list 2 or 3 things you plan on doing in the future/ dreams, goals, etc.)

Someday I will tell my children (2 or 3 things you will tell them (advice))

I will see them live in a world ( describe the type of world you would like for them in them in the future)

That is my dream

The American Dream 

Month Poems

As discussed in class, you will be writing your own month poems inspired by John Updike's "January".
Remember, your poem should be about a month of the year and it must consist of four 4-lined stanzas. It also must follow the same rhythm and rhyme scheme as "January".  Your poem should include 2 or more examples of poetical devices and/or figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, alliteration, onomatopoeia, etc.)The rubric to grade the final product is below:

Structure: Consists of four 4-lined stanzas

1                             2                         3                            4

Rhyme Scheme: 2nd and 4th lines of each stanza rhyme (ABCB)

1                             2                         3                            4

Content: Contains images related to the title month

1                             2                         3                            4

Figurative Language: Contains 2 or more examples of figurative language

1                             2                         3                            4

Quality: Typed; neat, no errors in spelling, etc.

1                             2                         3                            4

Overall: Grade based on complete calendar page (drawings, decorations, etc.

1                             2                         3                            4

 

FINAL GRADE: (Average of above scores X 25 ) ________

•

Extra Credit Opportunity

I was very pleased with the way the Six-Word Memoirs turned out. I would like to post some of them on the bulletin board. I printed out a few of them, but they take a good deal of ink, and printing out dozens of them on my own printer would not be feasible. So, if you print out a copy of our slide and bring it in to have it included in the bulletin board display, you will receive 5 bonus points on the next graded assignment. This is open to all students. This offer ends on Friday.

* If you are reading this message, pass it on to your classmates who may not check the site on a regular basis.

Homework (831 Only)

Work on your month poems. Be sure to follow all of the directions that were given in class today. You should have at least 2 stanzas completed and ready to share in class tomorrow.

Reminder: Fakebook Projects Are Due On Monday.

For your next project, you will be creating a FAKEBOOK page, an internet-like profile page for the person you have been reading about in your biography or autobiography. In order to complete this project, you must do the following:

• ·      Go to “The Chalkboard” to download the templates for the project. This will be a two-page project; there is a different template for each page, so be sure to download and save both templates.
• ·      Once you have downloaded the templates, you can start to create your FAKEBOOK page.
• ·      The first page is the profile page. Most of you, I am sure, are familiar with Facebook. The layout of this page will look similar to what a Facebook page looks like. It will consist of the person’s name, a profile picture, a status update, some brief biographical information, a friends list, and wall posts by 3 different friends (including YOU).
• ·      Search the internet to find a picture to use as your profile picture.
• ·      Your status update should begin with the date and should make reference to something significant in your subject’s life.
• ·      The friends list should consist of the names of 5 or 6 people that played a role in your person’s life.
• ·      The wall posts that you add to your person’s wall should be from 2 different people who had a major connection to your person. Each wall post should begin with the date. Each post should make reference to a specific event in your person’s life. Be sure to include the name and profile picture of each of these friends to the left of each wall post.
• ·      Your wall post should consist of the title and author of the book you read and a general statement about the person. You can also ask them a question
• ·      For Example: “Hey, Mitt Romney. Thank you for accepting my friend request. I read a lot about you in the book Mitt Romney: American Hero by John Cantante. I was wondering what you have been doing since you lost the election.”
• ·      The second page will consist mainly of biographical information.
• ·      In the “All About Me” section, you will write a brief biography of your person. BE SURE TO DO THIS FROM HIS OR HER POINT OF VIEW!!!
• ·      For the “Blog Entry”, you will be writing about one specific important event in your person’s life. Once again, BE SURE TO DO THIS FROM HIS OR HER POINT OF VIEW!!!  Be sure to begin with the date.  Explain what happened on this date and tell how “you” (your subject) feels about it.
• ·      The “Favorite Quote” section should consist of some type of famous quote that can be connected to your person in some way. It can be something said by or about your person, but it doesn’t have to be.
• ·      The “Hobbies and Interests” section should contain a list of the hobbies and interests of your subject. Don’t make things up. They should be actual and authentic interests.

This project will be graded and counted into your project/test average. Be sure t give your best effort.

This project is due on Monday, December 10^th.

Fakebook Templates

Clicking on the link below will take you to the page where the page templates can be downloaded

FAKEBOOK TEMPLATES

Six Word Memoirs by 821 (last year)

ELA Predictive Assessment

All 8th graders will take the predictive assessment exams this week. The ELA schedule is as follows:
Tuesday: 802, 831
Thursday: 821
Bring sharpened #2 pencils

Homework: Smith Magazine: 6 Word Memoirs

Got to SMITH MAGAZINE'S website by clicking the link below. Look around; check out some of the six-word memoirs that others have posted. Post your own if you'd like to (don't post your full name). Select 3 memoirs that you found on the site that you enjoyed. Copy each of the memoirs down. In a few sentences, explain why you enjoyed each of them. This assignment is due on Wednesday.

http://www.smithmag.net/sixwords/

At Home Journal Inspections

At-home journals will be checked next week. The schedule will go as follows:

Monday: Groups 1&2

Tuesday: Groups 3&4

Wednesday: Groups 5&6

Thursday: Group 7

Remember, you should be writing a full summary and response in your journal 3 times per week. Stay on top of it.

Memoir: Final Drafts

Final drafts are due on Wednesday. Be sure to follow all directions. Use the notes you have taken during the memoir unit. You must attach the rubric to your completed memoir. As always, use the top rubric for a self-assessment. Do your best!


Also: Parent Teacher Conferences take place tomorrow. Remind your parents to come in and speak to your teachers.

MEMOIR RUBRIC: 

Your rubric will be graded using the following rubric. Use it as a guide to write your draft.

Memoir has a strong lead. The writer captures the readers’ interest from the start.

1                              2                                             3                                             4

 The plot has a clear beginning, middle, and end.  Includes an entertaining retelling of the event as well as the writer’s feelings about them (reflection)

2                              4                                          6                                                8

The writer uses a good amount of descriptions and details (“show “sentences) . Dialogue is used effectively

1                             2                                             3                                                4

Memoir is neat and contains no errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc.

1                             2                                             3                                                4

Raw Score: _______                                        Grade (Raw X 5) _______

Important Notice

• As you know, I will not be in school tomorrow (Friday). However, I am providing important work for you to do. Be sure to come to class prepared and ready to work for the substitute. Part of the work will be collected and counted as a quiz.
• 
  
• You are expected to have a "final" draft of your memoir in class on Monday. The actual FINAL draft will be collected on Wednesday, but you must have a completed draft on Monday. We will work on fine tuning your memoirs on Monday and Tuesday. Work hard!

Homework: Revising Our Drafts

You should continue to work on your memoir. You should have a strong lead, a clear beginning, middle, and end, and a well developed reflection explaining what this memory has taught you. Try to incorporate important dialogue into your memoir. Don't force it or put a conversation where it doesn't belong, but try to use to dialogue to advance your story, reveal traits of a character, and/or to make your story come "alive". We will continue to work on this for the next few days. Final drafts will be due next Wednesday.

Homework: Biography

At this point, you should already be reading your biography or autobiography. If you haven't, you are falling behind. Complete the following assignment for tomorrow:

Write a paragraph or two explaining the following:

Who is the author of your book?

• What is the title?
• Why did you choose to read about this person?
• What did you already know about this person before reading the book?
• What do you hope to learn by reading this book?

Do NOT simply write 4 answers on a page. Write a well-constructed paragraph (or two) that addresses all of these questions.

Homework: Memoir (1st Draft)

Use your “map” to help you write your first draft. Remember to begin with a strong lead. Your story must have a beginning, middle, and an end (though not necessarily in that order). You should also include a brief reflection focusing on what you learned from your experience.

You must have this with you in class on Tuesday.

* Be sure to begin/continue reading your biography/autobiography. Be sure to maintain your at-home journal

Homework: Memoir (First Draft)

• If you did not complete the "Creating Your Lead" sheet from class, please complete for homework. This applies mainly to class 831.
• 
  
• Build on your lead to write your first draft of your memoir. Make sure your story has a beginning, middle, and an end. Your memoir should describe an important memory in detail. You should also include a brief reflection explaining what this memory/experience has taught you. 
• 
  
• First Drafts must be in school on Tuesday.
• 
  
• Reminder: If you haven't yet done so, you MUST bring in a biography or an autobiography for approval tomorrow!

Homework Update

Due to the storm and the subsequent week off, I have changed the deadlines on a few assignments:

• The Personal Timeline is due on Wednesday (see original post for details)
• 
  
• Autobiographies/Biographies are due for approval by Friday.

Hurricane!!!

Well, looks like we have an unexpected 4-day weekend.

• Stay safe. 
• Read a book. 
• Do your homework.
• See you on Halloween (I hope)

Homework: Personal Timeline

Create a timeline listing 5 important events from your life. These must be events that YOU actually remember and that involve you directly. The first point on your timeline should be your birth (this does NOT count as one of your events). For each additional event, include the date (as specific as you can be) and a short, one-sentence description of the event. This is due on Monday.

Reminder: Autobiography/ Biography

You must bring in your autobiography or biography for approval by Wednesday, October 31st. Be sure to select a book that is appropriate for your grade level.

Homework Reminder

Due Friday: Select a photograph from your past that brings back a specific memory. Write in detail about the memory this photograph brings back. If you can make a copy of the photo, scan it, or print it out, please attach it to your description.

Welcome to the new site

As most of you know, my site was hacked recently. I am still having major issues trying to get that situation fixed. Until I do (or in case I don't), I have created a new site. I will be posting homework assignments, deadline reminders, etc. on this site on a regular basis. Be sure to check it often.