Enrique's Journey Reflection

Reflect on Enrique's decision (along with his mother) to hire a smuggler? Do you think this was a good decision? Why or why not? Use sentence variety in your answer. See the chart.

Reflections on Our America and LeAlan's Speech

What were your reflections on LeAlan's speech and Our America? Give specific examples and talk about them.

Enrique's Journey and the article "All Alone"

How do Enrique's Journey and the article "All Alone" relate? Use a piece of textual evidence from each to show what they have in common in one paragraph.

Six Word Memoir for LeAlan from Our America

Think back to the six word memoirs you did to sum up your lives earlier in the year in your Writer's Notebooks. Think of a six word memoir that would sum up LeAlan's life in Our America. Give two reasons with explanations why the six word memoir fit LeAlan's experiences based on what you read. Citations are not required for this response, but make sure that you elaborate.

"Chicago"

"Chicago" Read the poem below. What is the theme of the poem? In other words, what do you think that the poet is trying to say about Chicago? Write a paragraph in proper form in which you use citations (line numbers)and explain your evidence. (Hint: Look at repetition-it will help you figure out the theme) http://carl-sandburg.com/chicago.htm

Explaining Theme

Explain the theme (large message/lesson about life) that the person who made this poster is trying to communicate. Explain what the theme means by giving at least two examples from your life. Make the connections specific and clear.

Reflecting on Poetry

Welcome to blogging! Look back at one poem or song that we have read so far. What is one line that stood out for you that you think has an important lesson about life (theme)? Explain why the line is important in life in great detail.

Research Practice

Directions: Skim the article below. Give me one summary, paraphrase, and direct quote from the article with a citation for each. Remember the citation for an internet article is the title of the article in quotes. Taking Your Children to Europe By Rick Steves Resources for Traveling with Kids in Europe Common sense and lessons learned from day trips at home are your best sources of information. Take Your Kids to Europe is full of practical, concrete lessons from firsthand family-travel experience, and the only good book I've seen for those traveling with kids ages 6–16 (by Cynthia Harriman, Globe Pequot Press, 8th edition, 2007). The best book I've found on traveling with infants is Lonely Planet's Travel with Children (5th edition, 2009), which covers travel worldwide, including Europe. For families interested in hiking, biking, and sailing abroad, pick up Adventuring With Children: An Inspirational Guide to World Travel and the Outdoors (by Nan Jeffrey, Avalon House, 1995). Cadogan offers many worthwhile books in its Take the Kids series, including books on London, Paris, Ireland, and more. Also consider: •Fodor's Around London with Kids, Around Paris with Kids, Around Rome with Kids, and Family Adventures. •For solo parents, there's Brenda Elwell's Single Parent Travel Handbook (Globalbrenda Publishing, 2002). European families, like their American counterparts, enjoy traveling. You'll find more and more kids' menus, hotel playrooms, and kids-go-crazy zones at freeway rest stops all over Europe. Your child will be your ticket to countless conversations. Traveling with an infant or toddler can be challenging, but parents with a babe-in-arms will generally be offered a seat on crowded buses, and sometimes be allowed to go to the front of the line at museums. Grade-school kids are often the easiest travelers, provided you schedule some kid-friendly activities every day. They're happiest staying in rural places with swimming pools and grassy fields to run around in. High-schoolers feel that summer break is a vacation they've earned. If this European trip is not their trip, you become the enemy. They crave the bright lights and action of the big city. Ask for their help. Kids can get excited about a vacation if they're involved in the planning stages. Consider your teen's suggestions and make real concessions. "Europe's greatest collection of white-knuckle rides" in Blackpool might be more fun than another ruined abbey. My kids are young adults now, but I remember what it was like taking them to Europe. I've included the lessons I've learned from parenting in Europe, along with tips collected from readers on this website's Graffiti Wall. International adventure is a great foundation for a mountain of memories. The key to a successful family trip is making everyone happy, including the parents. Planning You'll need the proper documents. Even babies need passports. If you're traveling with a child who isn't yours (say, a niece or grandson), bring along a signed, notarized document from the parent(s) to prove to authorities that you have permission to take the child on a trip. Even a single parent traveling with children has to prove the other parent has given approval. Specifically, the letter should grant permission for the accompanying adult to travel internationally with the child, including dates, destination countries, and address and phone number where the parent(s) at home can be reached. Family Travel Forum provides a sample form that you can print or use as a guideline. If you have a different last name from your child, it's smart to bring a copy of the child's birth certificate (with your name on it). For parents of adopted children, it's a good idea to bring both the birth certificate and adoption decree. You may want to bring extra passport photos with you. Since infants and toddlers change so quickly, carry photos that were taken for the passport, as well as ones taken close to your departure date. For children at any age, take an official copy of his or her birth certificate, along with a photocopy of the child's passport. Keep these separate from your passports — these documents will allow you get a replacement passport for your child quickly and easily. Most parents hold onto their kids' passports, but if you have older children that will be out on their own, you might get them a money belt or neck pouch for carrying their cash and ID. You'll find that because you are in a foreign country, your kids are more likely to stick close to you. But if you're worried about your younger children getting lost, be ready to drape a lanyard around each kid's neck with emergency contact information, or consider ordering custom dog tags (see www.dogtagsonline.com). Give each child a business card from your hotel so they have local contact information. Another option is a ID Inside wristband, with a hidden pocket that holds a disposable ID card. You can easily switch out the ID card, updating your hotel name and contact information as you travel. Or try the Lost & Found Temporary Tattoo, a washable tattoo with a space for you to write a contact phone number. Before your trip, encourage your kids to learn about the countries, cities, sights, and people they'll be visiting. Even simple Wikipedia articles can provide enough background to pique a child's curiosity. Read books such as The Diary of Anne Frank for Amsterdam or The Thief Lord for Venice. Watch movies together, such as The Sound of Music for Salzburg, The Red Balloon for Paris, or The Secret of Roan Inish for Ireland. Your hometown library can be a great resource for age-appropriate books and movies. Get a jump on foreign phrases, learning the top 20 or so before you leave home. Capitalize on whatever hobbies your kids have or games they play that may relate to the history of the places you're visiting, especially if your family has some sort of connection to the "old country." Give your kids the chance to try out foreign specialties in advance by eating at ethnic restaurants, or get a cookbook and make meals together at home. Many US cities host celebrations of different cultures — look for Greek, French, Italian, Hungarian, or other European festivals in your town for your family to enjoy. http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/tips/kids.htm

WWII Poem

Read the poem below. It was dedicated from one WWII soldier to another. What do you think the theme of the poem is? Explain and give at least one example from the poem in your answer. MY BUDDY They say he died in glory, What ever that may be. If its dying in a burst of flame, Then glory's not for me. In the briefing room this morning, He sat with clear eyes and strong heart, Just one of many airman Determined to do his part. My buddy had the guts alright, He sought not glory nor fame. He knew there was a job to do, My crew all felt the same. But death had the final word, In its log it wrote his name. For my buddy died this afternoon In glory - in a burst of flame. (Dedicated to Mike Shanley who gave his life ditching on his 6th mission)

Vacation

Tell me about one activity that you did with your family. Write one detailed paragraph.

"Chicago"- Exta Credit

Read the poem below. What is the theme of the poem? In other words, what do you think that the poet is trying to say about Chicago? Give two examples from the poem in your explanation.

"Chicago"
HOG Butcher for the World,
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat,
Player with Railroads and the Nation's Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling,
City of the Big Shoulders:

They tell me you are wicked and I believe them, for I
have seen your painted women under the gas lamps
luring the farm boys.
And they tell me you are crooked and I answer: Yes, it
is true I have seen the gunman kill and go free to
kill again.
And they tell me you are brutal and my reply is: On the
faces of women and children I have seen the marks
of wanton hunger.
And having answered so I turn once more to those who
sneer at this my city, and I give them back the sneer
and say to them:
Come and show me another city with lifted head singing
so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning.
Flinging magnetic curses amid the toil of piling job on
job, here is a tall bold slugger set vivid against the
little soft cities;

Fierce as a dog with tongue lapping for action, cunning
as a savage pitted against the wilderness,
Bareheaded,
Shoveling,
Wrecking,
Planning,
Building, breaking, rebuilding,
Under the smoke, dust all over his mouth, laughing with
white teeth,
Under the terrible burden of destiny laughing as a young
man laughs,
Laughing even as an ignorant fighter laughs who has
never lost a battle,
Bragging and laughing that under his wrist is the pulse.
and under his ribs the heart of the people,
Laughing!
Laughing the stormy, husky, brawling laughter of
Youth, half-naked, sweating, proud to be Hog
Butcher, Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat, Player with
Railroads and Freight Handler to the Nation.

Favorite Book

Tell me about a book that you have read that you consider to be your favorite. What was the book about? Why did you enjoy it? Responses must be five sentences to receive full credit.

Body Paragraphs Practice

You need to come up with a body paragraph for the following topic sentence:

Fall is the best season because it is scenic.

Include the topic sentence, support, explain, support, explain in your paragraph.

Inspiration

Tell me about one time that you worked your hardest and tried your best. What happened? Why were you so determined?

Introduction Review

Write the introduction to the following essay 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.

Song Theme Practice

Think of a song that has a strong message to it (that is not violent or sexual). Tell me the name of the song, the message, and give me one sentence from the song that shows the message. Be sure to explain how the song shows the message. Your response should be at least ten sentences long.

Extra Credit Theme Practice

Read the story below. What do you think the theme is? Explain in one complete paragraph. Be sure to give an example from your life to explain your thinking.


Adapted fom the novel- Call Me Maria

There once was a greedy baker who wanted to charge a starving man for the smell of his fresh-baked goods, aromas which gave the poor manpleasure and hope. He took the beggar to court to make him pay for what he was taking from him. The judge, to everyone's amazement, agreed with the banker. "If a man enjoys the smells of your labor, good panadero, then he must pay you in kind." The judge gave the poor man some coins from his own pocket and called both men to the bench. "Now, my brother, I want you to put those coins in your pocket and jingle them so the baker can hear the sound of money and thus you will settle your debt to the baker.

Theme Practice

Explain the theme (large message/lesson about life) that the person who made this poster is trying to communicate. Explain what the theme means by giving at least two examples from your life. Make the connections specific and clear.

Walk Two Moons

"Don't judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins."

Reflect on this quote, what are some possible meanings of this quote? What situations might it apply to? When do people tend to judge others? Is it ever helpful?

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

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 passed away. 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.