And a Child Shall Lead (today)-EXTRA CREDIT RESPONSE

So, as I was reading and preparing to formally introduce the Holocaust and World War II to all of you, I came across an interesting article for all of you that saw the play. Amazingly, there is one person who is still alive who worked on a newspaper in Terezin. For those of you who do not remember, out of the 15,000 kids sent to the camp, only about 100 survived. After surviving Terezin, this man also survived Auschwitz (the death camp); it is pretty amazing that this man is alive. I included the link to article that I read about him. If you are interested in Writing extra credit, you need write a brief summary of the article and your thoughts by Jan 8th.

www.boston.com/lifestyle/articles/2010/12/12/the_past_is_present

And a Child Shall Lead Reactions

What did you think of the show? Talk about what happened, the actors, the theater, your thoughts about the performance. Now that you have seen the show, is the Holocaust something that you think you would be interested in learning more about?

If you did not attend, please write about how you spent your day.

Below is the address for the theater:
http://www.adventurestage.org/pages/and_a_child_shall_lead/169.php

Persuasive Practice

Write the introduction to the following persuasive prompt:

________________ is the best season. Persuade others to agree with you.

Here is the organization your introduction needs to follow:
-An observation
-This makes me realize
-A thesis statement with three reasons

One day, as I was walking home from school, I noticed how the sidewalk was covered with leaves. With every step I took, there was a loud crunch that made it hard to talk to my friend as I walked home. At one point, my friend and I stopped and began to have a leaf fight. We picked up handfuls of leaves and started to chuck them at one another. This made me realize how much I enjoy fall as a season. Fall is an incredible season because it is still nice enough to go outside and be with friends and have fun doing silly activities like having leaf fights with friends. Summer can be too hot to be outside; winter can be too cold. Fall is just right. I believe that fall is the best season because the weather is just right, all of the change in color in trees is beautiful, and because of the most enjoyable holidays all happen during fall.

Latinos and Immigration

Watch the short video:

Immigration from Equal Voice on Vimeo.

Be sure to mention the DREAM Act in your response. If you don't know about the DREAM Act, read the article at the link below:

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20101106/OPINION/11060320

Assignment:
How are latinos (both legal and illegal) affected by immigration today? Your response is not limited to just the video. Draw upon what you seen in the video, personal experiences, or other sources in your response. This response requires at least one strongly developed paragraph.

Enrique's Journey (Extra Credit Opportunity)

This was the short video shown in class that you responded to in your composition books. I put it up here in case you wanted to view it again on your own.

Enrique's Journey from Donald Sinatra on Vimeo.

Here is another video you can view for extra credit. To earn the extra credit, you must post one substantial paragraph sharing your thoughts about the documentary.

Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address-March 4, 1865

Second Inaugural Address
Washington, D.C.
March 4, 1865

This is the last paragraph of Lincoln's speech:

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nation's wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan--to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations."

Assignment: What theme do you think Abe Lincoln is trying to get across here? Pay attention to the date the speech was given; this will help you to infer the theme. He gave this speech before the end of the Civil War. How might this message apply to wars going on today? I am expecting one detailed paragraph in response.

Starting Personal Narratives

Looking back at your notes containing different ways to start a personal narrative, use one of the strategies to start the following personal narrative:

Topic: Write a personal narrative about something that really excited you.

Don't forget-
1. Use one of the strategies from your notes.
2. Focus in on one specific time... don't start to write a story that took place over weeks or months.
3. Start to hint at a theme (message that you are trying to get across to the reader) by the end of the paragraph.

Extra Credit Blog Entry

Go to the address below and click on John Field's narrative. He was a former slave who was interviewed in the 1930's as an old man about his experiences during slavery.

http://www.civil-war.net/narratives/slavenarratives.asp

What are some things that were important to him during slavery? After? What do you think about his experiences?

What did the typical Civil War battle look like?

Look at the images from the video below:

Civil War Reenactment from David Reid on Vimeo.

Assignment:
What did you notice? Be specific. Talk about the location, people's appearances, and the actual battle. Is this what you visualized when you think about typical Civil War battles? Explain in one paragraph.

Getting Personal in Your Personal Narrative Writing by Including Character Feelings and Reactions

Mrs. Novick is going to go over the process for posting in the blog with you. All of your writing is read by me (Mr. Barr) and given a grade. Your blog entries count as 10% of your Writing grade.

We will blog throughout the school year. I will post questions and you will share your thoughts and ideas in response in the appropriate area. When posting, please keep the following in mind:

~Please do not put your entire name. Please write your name as Jesus G. Room 302. This is posted on the internet and can be viewed by anyone. I want to ensure your safety.

~All comments go through me first. Your comment will not immediately post; I will post them. Any inappropriate comments will be deleted and will not be posted for viewing.

~Type what you are going to say in Microsoft Word first, use spell check, copy and paste it into the blog and then submit.

__________________________________________

I wrote a really short personal narrative that I’d like to share with you. It’s about when my car broke down one time in the school parking lot.

Yesterday, when I was leaving the school parking lot my car could go forward, but not backward. Then, all of a sudden, it worked! I drove out of the parking lot and down the street. Then, it made an odd noise and it stopped, right in the middle of the road. I quickly called for a tow truck.

Now. Look at this next one. It is the same story, but I added in my reactions and feelings. See if you can notice what is different about the writing of this small moment.

Yesterday, when I was leaving the school parking lot, I noticed my car was acting strangely. It could go forward, but not backward. I was worried. Then, all of a sudden, it worked! I drove out of the parking lot and down the street. What a relief! Then, it made an odd noise. Thump! It stopped, right in the middle of the road. I was so upset, I thought I might cry. “What am I going to do now?” I thought. I quickly called for a tow truck.


Assignment:

I want you to think about including character feelings and reactions in your writing. Remember that in order to get the highest score possible for a narrative, you need to have these types of character reactions and feelings. Retell a small moment paying close attention to character reactions and feelings.


Here is a student example from last year that earned full credit:
(I put her character reactions in bold)

brittany S. room 304 said...
Five years ago, I was helping my mom get ready for the Fourth of July. I was so excited that time was already here. We all knew that my uncle was really sick but we thought he was going to pull through because he was so strong and determined. I was happy that he might get better but I was also sad that he was sick and couldn't be here for the Fourth of July. I still kept my hopes up. Then as we were going to bed the hospital called and said that there was a drastic change and that he was doing better. I was so relieved. Then we all went to bed and we were just excited that he was doing better and that he might come around. Then just as we were going to bed and falling asleep we got another call from the hospital saying that he was doing really bad and that he might die tonight. After that we didn't sleep at all we just stayed up.I was so sad and was thinking of the worst. Then a couple hours later we got a call that he past. I was so sad that I started to cry, but yet I smiled because I knew that he wasn't suffering anymore. We knew that he was in a place far better than the place he was in.

* this was a small thing because we all knew that he was dying*.

Reflections on 8th Grade

Please tell the story of your favorite memory from 8th grade. Be sure to include character reactions in your story.

Civil Rights Overview

Look at the timeline below and write about one event that you found interesting:

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/civilrightstimeline1.html

Be sure to explain what happened and why you thought it was interesting. To receive full credit, be sure to write one thoughtful paragraph in your response. Try to also build connections with your research topic in your response.

Danger in Forgetting

Danger In Forgetting from Facing History and Ourselves on Vimeo.

After viewing the video:
What is the danger in forgetting about the Holocaust? Explain in one good paragraph.

"Alone"

Assignment:
Read the following short piece from a memoir that starts with exposition (explaining what it feels like to be alone) and then transitions to narrative. I am providing you with the exposition part. You need to write a little narrative that relates. Tell me a story about a time that you have felt alone.

"Alone"

Some days I wear alone like a coat, like a hood draping from my head that first warm day of Spring, like socks bunching up inside my sneakers. Like that.

Alone is how I walk some days, with my hands shoved deep in my pockets, with my head down, walking against the day, into it then out again.

Alone is the taste in my mouth ome morning, like morning breath, like hunger. It's lumpy oatmeal for breakfast when Mama doesn't have time to cook and I still don't know how much oatmeal and water and milk will make it all right.

However, one period of time that I really felt the most alone was when...

Memoir Practice

Think about a place that means a lot to you, a place that when you look back you have a lot of memories that you associate with it. Tell me about the place and two of the memories that you have had there and what you think about those experiences now that you are older and wiser.

Night

Night

Persuasive Practice

Write the introduction to the following persuasive prompt. Be sure to have an observation, this makes me realize, and thesis with three reasons.

________________ is the best season. Persuade others to agree with you.

Christmas Vacation

Tell me about one special event or activity that you did over break using the sentence transofrmers we studied in class.

Write at least two paragraphs telling me about the activity or event and a few sentneces at the end telling me how you used the sentence transformers.

Racial Cleansing in America

Go to the address below:
http://cds.aas.duke.edu/audio/index.html

Scroll down to look for "Racial Cleansing in America." Once you have found it, click listen to the podcast.

Assignment: What do you think about what happened in the small town? Share your opinion, but be sure to back it up with what you just listened to online.