Gibson_Homework




 * Monday 6/8 **
 * Period 3 -- Complete the Editing for Wordiness Sheet #2 for tomorrow, Tuesday 6/9. **
 * Periods 2 & 7: Finish reading Chapters 46-48 in //Watership Down// by Wednesday 6/10. **


 * Friday 6/5 **


 * No homework assigned for Periods 3-4-6 **
 * NOTE: Period 3 -- Once again I forgot to give you the Editing for Wordiness Sheet #2 homework today. (I'll try to remember to give it to you on Monday!) **


 * __Periods 2 & 7:__ **
 * Read Chapters 42-45 in //Watership Down// by Monday 6/8. Be prepared for a class discussion on Monday. **


 * Thursday 6/4 **


 * __Periods 2 & 7:__ **
 * Read Chapters 42-45 in //Watership Down// by Monday 6/8. Be prepared for a class discussion on Monday. **


 * __Periods 3 & 6:__ **
 * Today in class you received Editing for Wordiness Sheet #2. Due tomorrow, Friday 6/5. **
 * __Period 3 only:__ **
 * I didn't give you the assignment above (Sheet #2) today. You will receive it tomorrow in class, and it will be due on Monday 6/8. **
 * Below is Editing for Wordiness Sheet #2. **

Name Date Period

**__Editing for Wordiness Homework #2__**

Directions: Edit the following sentences for wordiness. That is, draw a line through unnecessary words/phrases without altering the meaning of the sentence.


 * 1) Our theory that the moon is made of cheese turned out to be a total and complete failure.
 * 2) “Our busy time schedules don’t allow or permit for further or more additional homework or outside-of-class assignments,” they argued.
 * 3) Ms. Baxter, I heard through the grapevine, intends to retire in three year’s time.
 * 4) In 2015 our company’s annual yearly profit is estimated to be at about $2 million.
 * 5) I thought to myself, I’ve never had a better friend of mine than Tony D.


 * Wednesday 6/3 **


 * Periods 3-4-6: **
 * Today in class you received Editing for Wordiness Sheet #1. Due tomorrow, Thursday 6/4. Here is the sheet you received. **

Name Date Period

**__Editing for Wordiness Homework #1__**

Directions: Edit the following sentences for wordiness. That is, draw a line through unnecessary words/phrases without altering the meaning of the sentence.


 * 1) School starts at 8:10 a.m. every morning.
 * 2) Before Josh could get a job with the government, he had to undergo a check into his school records and his personal past history.
 * 3) Our group planned to get to the library by noon, but we had to postpone until later our study session when Julia said she couldn’t make it until 1:00 p.m.
 * 4) Harry made an unintentional mistake on test question four by not carefully reading the directions.
 * 5) “No!” Nikki yelled. “I’m not lying. This is an actual fact!”


 * Periods 2 and 7: **
 * Read Chapters 39-41 for a quiz tomorrow, Thursday 6/4. Your quiz will be to summarize "The Story of Rowsby Woof and the Fairy Wogdog" on pages 396 - 407. You may use the book for the quiz and any notes you prepare ahead of time. **

Look up and write down the meaning of these phrases/words:
 * Tuesday 6/2 **
 * Periods 3-4-6: **
 * Here is the sheet you received in class today. Due Wednesday 6/3 **
 * 1) ** chip off the old block (idiom) **
 * 2) ** geezer (noun) **
 * 3) ** rerun (noun) **
 * 4) ** kin (noun) **
 * 5) ** sass (verb) **


 * Periods 2 and 7: **
 * Read Chapters 39-41 by Thursday for some sort of quiz. **


 * Monday 6/1: **
 * No homework for Periods 3-4-6 **


 * Homework for Periods 2 and 7: **
 * Today in class you took notes on General Woundwort and Efrafa to prepare for your quiz tomorrow. Scroll down to Friday to see the speech you will be writing in class tomorrow as your quiz. You will be allowed to bring in your notes, but you won't be able to use the book. **


 * Homework assigned Friday 5/29: **
 * Periods 2 & 7 -- NOTE: READ THIS CAREFULLY. **
 * Read Chapters 34 - 38 in //Watership Down// by next Tuesday 6/2, and be ready for an in-class assignment on Tuesday. Here is the prompt you will be asked to write on in class next Tuesday: **
 * Name __Date__ ___ Period__ **

__**// Watership Down //**** Chapters 34-38 General Woundwort **__

__** Directions: **** Lagamorph Meadows, a leaderless warren in another county, has heard of Efrafa and its powerful leader, General Woundwort. Without a leader of their own, the rabbits of Lagamorph feel vulnerable, so they are considering asking General Woundwort to take control of their warren. Because **__**//you// __have direct knowledge of General Woundwort and Efrafa, the rabbits of Lagamorph have invited you to advise them.__** __** In two days you are going to address the entire Lagamorph Meadows warren. Write the speech you will give to help them make their decision. **** Write **__**no less than a page and a half__. Use specific details from the book, as well as your thoughtful analysis of General Woundwort as a leader and Efrafa as a model community.__**

__** No homework assigned Friday for Periods 3-4-6 **__

__** Homework assigned Wednesday 5/27 (due 5/28) and Thursday 5/28 (due Friday 5/29): **__


 * Periods 3-4-6 __-- On Wednesday you received Vocab Sheet #2 and on Thursday you received Vocab Sheet #3. Follow the same directions for these two assignments as you did for Vocab Sheet #1 on Tuesday. (Scroll down to see them.) You will have a test on all 24 words from these three vocab assignments on Friday 5/29.__**

__** Make sure you have read Chapters 30-33 for a test on Friday. Here's what you should be prepared to answer: 1) How is the story of El-ahrairah and the Black Rabbit of Inle different from the other El-ahrairah stories found in earlier chapters of the book? **__ __** 2) Hazel and many of the other rabbits decide to go Efrafa to get more does. Their plan to escape from Efrafa with the does is not fully formed until Blackberry has a sudden revelation by the river. Explain what he realizes, and why the idea is familiar to the reader. **__
 * Periods 2 and 7 __-- NOTE: READ THIS CAREFULLY.__**

__** Homework assigned Tuesday 5/26: **__

__** Today in class you received a sheet with eight vocab words and definitions. These words were words you looked up last week. Tonight, on a separate piece (or pieces) of paper, write out the word, its definition, and then draw a picture that helps you remember the meaning of the word. **__
 * Periods 3-4-6: __Freak the Mighty Vocab Homework Sheet # 1.__ Due Wednesday 5/27.**


 * Periods 2 & 7: __Remember that your notes for Chapters 18-29 are due on Wednesday 5/27. (I extended the original deadline by one day.) For Friday 5/29 -- read Chapters 30-31-32-33 for a quiz/test on Friday.__**

__** Homework assigned Friday 5/22: **__
 * Periods 3-4-6: __No homework over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.__**
 * Periods 2 & 7: __Remember that your notes for Chapters 18-29 are due on Wednesday 5/27. (I extended the deadline by one day.)__**

__** Homework assigned Wednesday/Thursday 5/20-5/21: **__


 * For Periods 2 and 7: __Finish reading and taking journal notes for Part 2 of //Watership Down// -- that means, chapters 18 through 29, pages 121 through 251. Due Wednesday 5/27.__**


 * For Periods 3-4-6: __Complete the vocab word sheet you received in class today. Here is the sheet below in case you lost it. Due Friday 5/22.__**

__ Name __Date __Period__

**Homework Assigned Wednesday 5/20 and due Friday 5/22**


 * Directions: Look up the meanings of the words and phrases below, and write them down on this paper. NOTE: Some of these phrases and idioms won't be in the dictionary. You can type them into a web browser (like Google), hit enter, and then discover what some of them mean. These are words/phrases/idioms you will encounter in upcoming chapters of //Freak the Mighty.// **


 * 1) Siamese twins (noun) –


 * 1) in the yard (idiom) --


 * 1) name, rank, and serial number (phrase) –


 * 1) parole (noun) –


 * 1) gruel (noun) –

6. chop suey (noun) --


 * On Monday 5/18 and Tuesday 5/19 all 6th grade students will take the end-of-year MAP tests. I will see hardly any students these days, so there is no assigned homework. **
 * HOWEVER . . . Periods 2 and 7 please keep working on your //Watership Down// journals even though we probably won't see each other in class until Wednesday. Make sure you have finished reading and taking notes on Part 2. (See the extended deadline note below.) **
 * __NOTE: Deadline extended to Wednesday 5/27.__ **


 * NOTE: All classes have their One Pager Sheets due on Friday 5/15. (You've had five weeks to complete it.) **


 * No new homework assigned Thursday 5/1 for Periods 3-4-6 **


 * Homework for Periods 2 & 7: I've moved the due date for your journal notes on the 16 chapters in //Watership Down// from Friday to Monday 5/18. Your next deadline is to read and have notes for Part 2, Chapters 18-29, by Tuesday 5/26. __NOTE: Deadline extended to Wednesday 5/27.__ **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 5/13: **


 * Periods 3-4-6 only -- D **** ue Thursday 5/14: **** Look up the definitions of the next group of six words on the sheet I gave you in class today, Wednesday. (This is the third Vocab sheet you've received this week.) Write your answers on the sheet. Due tomorrow, Thursday, in class. **


 * Homework for Periods 2 and 7 only: **
 * Your focus in class and at home until June 10 is to read and make entry journals for Chapters 2 - 49 in //Watership Down//. __NOTE: You must read and complete your journal pages for Chapters 2 - 17 by Friday, May 15.__ As I tell you every day in class, keep working steadily to pace yourself so that you will have all 49 chapters read and your accompanying journal pages finished by June 10. **


 * Homework assigned Tuesday 5/12: **


 * Periods 3-4-6 only -- D **** ue Wednesday 5/13: **** Look up the definitions of the next group of six words on the sheet I gave you in class today, Tuesday. Write your answers on the sheet. Due tomorrow in class. **


 * Homework for Periods 2 and 7 only: **
 * Your focus in class and at home for the next three weeks (possibly longer) is to read and make entry journals for Chapters 2 - 49 in //Watership Down//. NOTE: You must read and complete your journal pages for Chapters 2 - 17 by Friday May 15. **


 * Homework assigned Monday 5/11 and due Tuesday 5/12: **
 * Periods 3-4-6 only -- Look up the definitions of the six words on the sheet I gave you in class. Write your answers on the sheet. **


 * Homework for Periods 2 and 7 only: **
 * Your focus in class and at home for the next three weeks (possibly longer) is to read and make entry journals for Chapters 2 - 49 in //Watership Down//. NOTE: You must read and complete your journal pages for Chapters 2 - 17 by Friday May 15. **


 * Homework assigned Thursday 5/7 and Friday 5/8: **


 * __Periods 2 and 7:__ On Thursday you received my sample of the type of journal entries you'll be making for Chapters 2 through 50 in //Watership Down//. As I explained, this will be focus of the final month of classwork and homework. You began by making your first journal for Chapter 2 in class today. You must complete it by Monday to show me. But keep on working in your journal as you read each chapter. It's a long book, and you must work on this journal project steadily to make sure you complete it by the second week in June. I'll give you a firm due date soon. **


 * __Periods 3-4-6:__ No homework over the weekend. **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 5/6 and due Friday 5/8: **
 * Periods 2 and 7 only -- Write the rough draft of a letter ( **** minimum one-page) **** to Ji-li Jiang, author of //Red Scarf Girl//. You can tell her that you enjoyed reading her memoir and why. Or you can tell her the many things you learned while reading it. I will make editing suggestions and return it to you on Monday so that you can write a corrected final copy for mailing. **


 * Homework assigned Tuesday 5/5: **
 * 1) Period 4 -- As announced last Thursday, 4/30, you will have the Final Test on //Red Scarf Girl// tomorrow, Wednesday 5/6. Scroll down and you'll see the questions on the test. **


 * 2) Periods 3 and 6 -- If you didn't finish it in class, finish your Hero response at home to turn in on Wednesday. Remember: Write a minimum of a half page (maximum one page) about a real-life hero, either someone you know personally, or a real person in history. **


 * 3) ALL CLASSES -- Turn in your //Red Scarf Girl// book from home, the specifically-numbered copy you received and signed for in February. Anyone who returns it by tomorrow will receive a small grade credit for doing so. Anyone who hands it in after Wednesday 5/6 will not receive a "0" grade, but will also not receive the ''A" credit. **


 * Homework assigned Monday 5/4: **
 * Bring in the copy of //Red Scarf Girl// you signed out and have been keeping at home. DUE BY WEDNESDAY 5/6. **


 * Homework assigned Thursday 4/30 for Monday 5/4: **


 * Periods 2 and 7: Due Monday --Your final paper on //Red Scarf Girl.// **


 * __Periods 3 and 6__ -- You have a final test on //Red Scarf Girl// on Monday 5/4. **
 * Period 4 -- You will have the test on Wednesday, 5/6. **


 * Here are the test questions so you can study for the test. Happy May and thanks for being responsible to check the website. **

Name Date Period _


 * Red Scarf Girl: Final Test**

55 points (15 possible points)
 * 1) In two or three sentences, explain who the following characters are.


 * //(Example://** Chang Hong **//Poor answer//**//: A girl Ji-li knows. **Better answer**: She is a friend of Ji-li’s. Even though she is a member of the Red Guard Committee at school, she cares about what happens to Ji-li and tries to help her. Chang Hong’s brother has epilepsy//.**//)//**


 * 1) Song Po-po --


 * 1) Du-Hai –


 * 1) Ji-Yong –


 * 1) Six Fingers –


 * 1) An Yi –

In a paragraph explain (1) why the newspaper refers to Ji-li’s family as the “Half-City Jiangs.” (2) How does Ji-li react when she learns about this, and what does she almost do? (15 possible points)


 * C **** oming-of-age stories ** follow adolescent main characters as they change, losing their childlike innocence and gaining an adult understanding of the world. They often must endure painful physical or emotional experiences before they learn that their previous unexamined beliefs are false. By the end of the story, they are more mature.

In no less than three paragraphs explain how //Red Scarf Girl// fits the definition of a coming-of-age story. Use specific details from the book to fully explain what happens to make Ji-li realize that her family is more important than Chairman Mao and the Communist Party. (25 possible points)


 * Wednesday 4/29: Make sure you look below for the assignments due tomorrow. **
 * ALSO -- Period 6 only -- Do Exercise 7 on page 320. Follow the directions and turn it in tomorrow, 4/30, with the other two homework assignments due tomorrow. **


 * Periods 3-4-6 only: You will have a final test on //Red Scarf Girl// next week. Tomorrow, Thursday, I will give you the topics you will have to know for the test. **


 * NOTE: Periods 2 and 7 are working this week in class on writing a rough draft for a formal paper due Monday 5/4. The paper must prove that //Red Scarf Girl// is a coming-of-age story. **
 * It must also: **
 * -- be a __minimum__ of two pages. **
 * -- include some information from: the article **** from the book //Wild Swans// that **** students were given; the short video students watched in class; and the two propaganda posters on the board in class. **
 * -- be typed in 12 pt. Times New Roman font and use standard margins. Papers not following these type requirements will be handed back to be redone with a loss of grade points. If a student cannot type or print out the paper, I need to know ahead of time, and the student __must__ bring in a signed note from a parent (in the parent's handwriting) explaining the situation. **
 * -- be accompanied by the student's rough draft. **
 * -- reflect careful editing for correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar. (I've told students that I am in the classroom available for four days to look over their rough drafts for needed corrections.) **
 * -- show a neat presentation. (No torn, messy, crumpled papers will be handed back to the student, with a loss of points, for retyping. **
 * -- be handed in during class on Monday 5/4. The Parent Information Form must be signed and handed in with the paper. If absent on this day, the student must hand in the paper the first day back to class. Students were given two weeks to complete this assignment, and I allowed them five full days to work on it in class. **


 * Homework assigned Monday 4/27 and due Thursday 4/30: **
 * In your //Elements of Language// textbook at home, read pages 314-316. Then do the following: **
 * -- Exercise 3 on page 315 **
 * -- Exercise 4 on page 316 **


 * No homework assigned Wednesday 4/22, Thursday 4/23, and Friday 4/24: **
 * All 6th graders are taking the PARCC tests, so I won't see my classes again until Monday 4/27. **


 * Homework assigned Tuesday and due Wednesday 4/22: **
 * Do Exercise 22 on capitalization on page 412. Due tomorrow, Wednesday **
 * Homework assigned Monday 4/20: **
 * Homework assigned Monday 4/20: **


 * Do Exercise 23 on capitalization on pages 412-413. Due tomorrow, Tuesday. **


 * No new homework assigned Friday 4/17 **


 * Homework assigned Thursday 4/16 and due Friday 4/17: **
 * __Reminder for all Periods__ -- Your cautionary poems, which were assigned on Tuesday, are due tomorrow, Friday. **


 * Periods 2 and 7 only: Remember -- on Tuesday you were assigned to finish Red Scarf Girl by tomorrow, Friday. You can expect a quiz on some major plot events from these chapters -- The Rice Harvest; The Incriminating Letter; Sweeping. IN FACT -- BECAUSE YOU CHECKED HERE TONIGHT, HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS ON THE QUIZ TOMORROW. **
 * 1) JI-LI CUTS HERSELF WHILE HARVESTING RICE. WHO SUDDENLY APPEARS IN THE DARK TO HELP HER. EXPLAIN JI-LI'S REACTION. **
 * 2) WHEN THE RED GUARDS RETURN TO JI-LI'S HOME, SHE RUSHES TO HIDE AN INCRIMINATING LETTER THAT DAD WROTE. EXPLAIN WHERE SHE HIDES IT AND WHAT HAPPENS AFTER. **
 * 3) IN "SWEEPING,"WHAT DRASTIC SUGGESTION ABOUT JI-YUN DOES MOM SUGGEST TO JI-LI, AND WHAT IS JI-LI'S RESPONSE? **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 4/15 __for Period 3 only:__ **
 * Do Exercise B on page 361 of your //Elements of Language// textbook you keep at home. **


 * For ALL classes -- **** Homework assigned Tuesday 4/14 and due Friday 4/17: **


 * We've read some humorous cautionary poems the last few days. Write your own funny cautionary poem to read in class on Friday. It should be at least eight lines long. It doesn't have to rhyme, but it can if you wish. **


 * No homework assigned Monday 4/13 for Periods 3, 4, and 6. **


 * Homework assigned for Periods 2 and 7 on Monday 4/13: **
 * This is just a continuation from last week -- make sure you finish //Red Scarf Girl// (and don't forget to read the Epilogue) by Friday 4/17. **


 * Homework assigned Friday 4/10 and due Monday 4/13: **
 * __NOTE:__ Every class has an assignment over the weekend reading //Red Scarf Girl//. Please check below to see what your class's assignment is. **


 * __Periods 3 and 6 only__ -- We began reading the chapter "Locked Up" on pp. 173-190 in class. Finish reading this chapter over the weekend to be prepared for a quiz on the major plot actions in this chapter. **


 * __Period 4 only__ -- We began reading the chapter "Junior High At Last" (pp. 156-172) in class. Finish reading this chapter over the weekend to be prepared for a quiz on the major plot actions in this chapter. **
 * __Periods 2 and 7 only__ -- For Monday, make sure you've read up to page 217. Be prepared for a quiz on the chapters "An Educable Child" and "Half-City Jiangs." **


 * Homework for Periods 2 and 7 only: Finish reading Red Scarf Girl by Friday 4/17. **


 * Homework assigned Tuesday 4/7 and Wednesday 4/8: **
 * As we celebrate April as National Poetry Month, either (1) choose a poem from a book or online site, OR (2) write a poem of your own. We will share these poems by reading them aloud in class on Friday 4/10. Please time reading your poem out loud so that it takes only about one minute. (Remember -- Friday is the school-wide Talent Show, so we'll have only 30 minutes for class.) **


 * No homework assigned Wednesday 3/25 **


 * Homework assigned Tuesday 3/24 for Wednesday 3/25: **


 * Read pages 150 - 160 in //Red Scarf Girl.// **


 * Homework assigned Monday 3/23 and due Tuesday 3/24: **


 * Read pages 140 - 149 in //Red Scarf Girl.// Using complete sentences, write down the answers to these questions: **
 * 1) Explain what happens to Teacher Wei (who is also An-yi's mother) on pages 140 - 141. **
 * 2) Explain what happens to Ji-li's Aunt Xi-wen while she's sweeping the street on pages 141-143. **
 * 3) Explain what happens to Du-Hai's mother on pages 143 - 145. **


 * BONUS: These will be the questions on Tuesday's quiz. You won't be able to use the book **** while taking **** the quiz, but you will be allowed to refer to your homework paper. **


 * No homework assigned Friday 3/20 **


 * Homework assigned Thursday 3-19 **


 * For Periods 2-3-6-7 only: **
 * Read pages 118-122 in //Red Scarf Girl// for Friday. **
 * Period 4 only: **
 * Read pages 118-122 in //Red Scarf Girl// Friday 3/20. **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 3-18 for Periods 2-3-6-7 only: **


 * Read pages 118-122 in //Red Scarf Girl// Thursday 3/19. **


 * No homework assigned Tuesday 3/17 -- Happy St. Patrick's Day! **


 * Homework assigned Monday 3/16: **


 * __ For Periods 2-3-6-7 only __ -- Read from page 100 to the middle of page 108 in //Red Scarf Girl// and be ready for a quiz on Tuesday 3/17. **


 * NOTE: There will be no homework assigned Tuesday-Friday 3/10-3/13. Students are taking the PARCC tests in different classrooms on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, so I won't even see many classes for these three days. __BUT -- STUDENTS, PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE ONE PAGER SHEET IS DUE ON MONDAY 3/16.__ **


 * Homework assigned Monday 3/9: **
 * Read Chapter 5 in //Red Scarf// Girl. You'll have a quiz on Chapter 5 on Tuesday 3/10. **


 * NOTE: SNOW DAYS ON THURSDAY 3/5 AND FRIDAY 3/6. **


 * Because of the long snow delay, Ms. Parker are listing the quiz questions below so you can prepare. **
 * Quiz Red Scarf Girl -- Chapters 3 and 4 **


 * 1) ** Directions: Number the lines of plot action below to show their chronological order. **


 * _ Ji-li is upset when she sees a da-zi-bao written about her, an accusation that she received preferential treatment in school from a teacher. **


 * _ One Monday, school is canceled indefinitely. Students arrive at school and begin to write da-zi-bao attacking their teachers. **


 * _ Ji-li, An-yi, and Zhang Jie read a da-zi-bao written by their classmate Yin Lan-lan in which Yin Lan-lan says she’s been a victim of the corrupt educational system. **


 * 1) ** Directions: Explain your answers to the questions below in sentence format. **


 * 1) When school resumes, each class is to choose ten students to become Red Successors. Ji-li is nominated, but Du Hai stands up and tells everyone that Ji-li’s has a bad family status. He says that Ji-li’s grandfather was the worst kind of enemy! The next day, Ji-li’s father confirms that Du Hai’s accusation is true. What was her grandfather, and what does Ji-li’s father tell her to make her feel better? **

__** Additional quiz question for Periods 2 and 7 only: **__


 * 1) Near the end of Chapter 4, Ji-li cries during the after-school meeting with Du Hai and the other newly elected Red Successors. Ji-li leaves school and stops outside to look at something. The last eight lines in Chapter 4 are an extended simile. Explain what she sees and what two things the simile is comparing. **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 3/4: **


 * Today in class you received a copy of //Red Scarf Girl// to take home and leave there until I ask for it back (sometime in late April probably). __Keep this book at home -- do not carry it back and forth to school. We'll use a cIass set to read from at school.__ **
 * In class we began reading Chapter 3 "Writing Da-Zi-Bao". Finish reading it at home tonight, and then also read Chapter 4 "The Red Successors". __Be ready for a quiz on these two chapters on Friday__ (assuming we'll be off tomorrow, Thursday 3/5 due to snow). The quiz will require you to demonstrate that you know the major plot developments in these two chapters. **


 * Two Homework Assignments listed on Friday 2/27: (One due Tuesday 3/3, and one due Wednesday 3/4) **
 * A. **
 * Homework assigned Friday 2/27 and due Tuesday 3/3 **


 * Directions: Use the website below to write down the meanings of the vocab words __as they are defined on the website.__ Write the definitions on a piece of notebook paper. **


 * Go to this website -- [] **


 * 1) ** red (n.) **
 * 2) ** black (n.) **
 * 3) ** Red Guard (n.) **
 * 4) ** Red Successors(n.) **
 * 5) ** da-zi-bao (n.) **
 * B. OPTIONAL EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENT -- assigned Friday 2/27 and due Wednesday 3/4. (__Optional means you don't have to do this assignment if you don't want to__.) **


 * Directions -- To receive full credit for a 30 pt. homework assignment you must: **
 * 1) Attend one of the performances of the school musical //Peter Pan. (//All 6th graders will see the in-school dress rehearsal performance on Friday afternoon during Periods 6 and 7. There will also be three public performances over the weekend -- Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, and Saturday evening.) **
 * 2) Write __at least a one-page review__ of the show on notebook paper (or you can type it using Times New Roman font, 12 pt. type size). Edit your review for correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization, and make sure your review is neatly written or typed. **
 * 3) Write a thoughtful review in which you praise what you enjoyed about the show and what the student actors, singers,dancers, and members of the stage crew did especially well. Remember -- your classmates worked very hard for months to put on a good show for your entertainment, so please focus on the positive. **
 * 4) Hand in your finished review no later than Wednesday March 4th. Staple this sheet (which you received in class on Friday) to the back of your review. **


 * No homework assigned Thursday NOTE: __SCHOOL WAS CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW ON THURSDAY__ **


 * No homework assigned on Wednesday 2/25 (I was out sick.) **


 * Homework change today, Tuesday 2/24: **
 * The due date for the February One Pager assignment has been changed. It is now __not__ due February 27; the due date has been changed to Friday March 13. **


 * No homework assigned Monday 2/23. Students will be taking a practice test for the PARCC at various times this week. **


 * __For Periods 2 and 7 only__ -- Homework assigned Friday 2/20 and due Monday 2/23 **


 * Buffalo Sentence **


 * Directions: The string of words below is a sentence. Analyze the meaning and explain it. **


 * Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. **


 * Homework assigned (actually, this is a reminder) Thursday 2/19 and Friday 2/20: **
 * Today in class I gave you the February One Pager sheet. You need to fill it out and return it by Friday 2/27 (not tomorrow). **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 2/18 and due Thursday 2/19: **
 * Today in class you were given the sheet below that includes the poem "Conversation with an American Writer", as well as some biographical information about the poet and questions for you to answer. You worked in groups in class to analyze the poem and answer the three questions at the bottom of the sheet. **


 * __For tonight's homework,__ make sure you look up and define the following words in the poem. (The 11 words are listed below after the three questions.) If you didn't finish defining these 11 words in class, then do so at home and bring them in tomorrow. **

// by //// Yevgeny Yevtushenko //
 * Conversation with an American Writer **

“You have courage,” they tell me. It's not true. I was never courageous. I simply felt it unbecoming to stoop to the cowardice of my colleagues.

I've shaken no foundations. I simply mocked at pretense and inflation. Wrote articles. Scribbled no denunciations. And tried to speak all on my mind. Yes, I defended men of talent, branding the hacks, the would-be writers. But this, in general, we should always do; and yet they keep stressing my courage. Oh, our descendants will burn with bitter shame to remember, when punishing vile acts, that most peculiar time, when plain honesty was labeled “courage”...


 * Yevgeny Yevtushenko is a Russian writer. ** He wasborn July 18, 1933. He became a celebrated poet and spokesman for the younger post-Stalin generation of Russian poets, whose internationally publicized demands for greater artistic freedom and for a [|literature] based on aesthetic rather than political standards signaled an easing of Soviet control over artists in the late 1950s and ’60s. Yevtushenko was a gifted orator with a magnetic personality. His fearless fight for a return to artistic honesty soon made him a leader of Soviet youth. He revived the slangy, unpoetic language of the early Revolutionary poets and reintroduced such traditions as poems about love and personal feelings, which had been discouraged under Stalinism.

Directions:


 * 1) Define words you are unfamiliar with. (There will be many.)
 * 2) The poet is Russian and he is talking to an Amercian. How does knowing that help the reader understand the poem?
 * 3) The poet says he is not courageous. Do you agree? Why or why not?

1. stoop (verb) 2. cowardice (noun) 3. colleague (noun) 4. foundation (noun) 5. mock (verb) 6. pretense (noun) 7. inflation (noun) //not the definition about prices// 8. denunciation (noun) 9. hack (noun) 10. descendant (noun) 11. vile (adjective)
 * ELA Homework assigned Wednesday 2/18 and due Thursday 2/19 **
 * Directions: Look up the definitions of the 11 words below. Write the definitions down on a piece of notebook paper. **


 * We were off on Monday 2-16 and Tuesday 2-17 **


 * No homework assigned Thursday 2-12 and Friday 12-13. **


 * No homework assigned Wednesday 2-11 **


 * Homework assigned Monday 2/9 and due Wednesday 2/11: **
 * We've been examining poetry and the subject of courage this week. You are to choose __one__ of the two assignments below (either A or B). **
 * A. Write an original poem of no less than 10 lines on the topic of courage. Your poem does not have to rhyme. **
 * OR **
 * B. Create an illustration on an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of paper that somehow represents or depicts courage. You must be very neat and include color in your illustration. You also have to write an accompanying paragraph explaining how your illustration expresses the topic of courage. **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 2/4 and due Thursday 2/5: **
 * 1. Bring in the copy of //Out of the Dust// that you have kept at home the last few months. **
 * 2. Tomorrow you have an essay test. Today in class we showed you the two questions/prompts you have to answer on the test tomorrow. I also gave you the whole period today to prepare notes, which you can use during the test. You will also be allowed to use the book as you write your two essays. (The first question on the test you have had a week to prepare.) Below are the two questions so you can prepare tonight at home for the test. **


 * A. //__Out of the Dust__// __Final Essay: Courage__ **


 * Directions: ** People who lived in the Dust Bowl region during the Depression years had to face many difficulties with courage. Cite at least five examples in the novel //Out of the Dust// where Billie Jo displays courage. Also, cite at least three examples from the documentary //Surviving the Dust Bowl// where real people displayed courage. Use specific details from the text and the film to support your answer.


 * B. //__Out of the Dust__//__:Final__ __Essay Choice Prompts__ **


 * Directions: ** Choos**e** __**just one of the prompts below**__ and write an essay answering it. Circle the number of the prompt you are answering. Use specific details from the text to support your answer.
 * 1) Explain why Billie Jo doesn’t want to live with Aunt Ellis. (See pp. 4-5; p. 70; p. 213)
 * 2) Billie Jo finally runs away from home (pp. 197-198). Explain why meeting the man on the train makes her change her mind and return home to Daddy. ) (pp. 200- 203)
 * 3) Considering how much she loved her mother, the reader can understand why Billie Jo is hesitant to accept Louise into her heart. Explain how Louise’s actions help Billie Jo eventually accept Louise as a stepmother. (pp. 212-214; pp. 216-218; pp. 223-224; pp. 226-227)


 * Homework assigned Tuesday 2/3 and Wednesday 2/4: **


 * Review your homework from the assignment I gave you last Wednesday and which was due last Friday. (Scroll down to see it again.) Remember what I told you in class -- that you will be able to use your notes when answering this essay prompt on the final essay test for //Out of the Dust,// which will be on Thursday 2/5. So please look at your homework to make sure you will be able to do a good job answering the prompt. **


 * No homework assigned Friday 1/30 **

**Look through OOTD and select five situations where Billie Jo’s actions show courage. On a piece of notebook paper, write down your five situations (with the page numbers noted). Don’t make a simple one-sentence bullet list; instead write a summary of her actions in sentence format. (This will help you prepare for this essay question you will have to answer soon:** **//Explain how Billie Jo shows courage in OOTD. Use at least five separate scenes from the novel to explain your answer in detail.)//**
 * Homework assigned Wednesday 1/28 and due Friday 1/30: **


 * NOTE: School was cancelled Monday 1/26 and Tuesday 1/27 for snow. **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday or Thursday or Friday depending on the class: (NOTE -- A few classes who received this assignment on Wednesday have turned it in already. Some classes I extended the due date until Monday. Some classes got this assignment on Friday.) __Final due date for everyone is Monday 1/26.__ **
 * You were given a piece of paper with three questions on it. The answers to these questions can be found in the nonfiction sections at the end of //Out of the Dust//. (These sections have no page numbers.) The answer to the first question can be found in the section called "Q & A with Karen Hesse". The answers to the second and third questions can be found in the section called "Excerpts from Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal Acceptance Speech, June 27, 1998, Washington, D.C." Make sure you write your answers in complete sentences on a piece of notebook paper. Use correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. The questions are listed below. **

Name __Date__ _ Period

__**Homework assigned**__ **___ and due__ __**

Read the very last section at the back of //Out of the Dust//, and on a piece of notebook paper answer the following questions.


 * 1) What served as the inspiration for Bayard Kelby (Daddy) according to the author? Explain your answer in detail.
 * 2) What two separate things inspired the author to focus on the kerosene accident in the book? Explain your answer in detail.
 * 3) After her editor asks her what the book is really about, what does the author say the book is “all about”? Explain your answer in detail.


 * No Homework assigned Tuesday 1/20 -- EXCEPT for those students in Periods 2 and 7 who still have to do their Fish Bowl presentations. Make sure you are prepared to hand in your notes tomorrow or Thursday after your group goes. **


 * All Periods: Homework assigned Friday 1/16 and due Tuesday 1/20: NOTE: Periods 2 and 7 -- Scroll down to see your extra assignment. **


 * We went as a class to the Media Center back in early December, and you chose a book for me to approve as your One Pager personal reading selection for December-January. Next week you will type your book review onto a page in the Media Center's Book Review section. Over the weekend you will write your book review at home and then turn it in during class next Tuesday 1/20. Your book review should provide details about the story and the main characters (or major content, if your book is nonfiction). But be careful not to divulge anything that would ruin the story for a potential reader Aside from content, your review will be graded for correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. **


 * In some classes today (the Internet was down for hours) I showed you our Media Center's Wiki Page for book reviews. If you didn't get to see it, or if you want to look at it more closely, here's the link: **


 * http://murrayhill.wikispaces.com/Read_Review **

Book Review Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare This book is actually a play, but don’t let that stop you from reading this gripping story. You’ll feel like you are riding a rollercoaster; one minute you will be laughing and the next you will be sniffling and wiping away tears. Romeo Montague is a teenager who meets Juliet Capulet at a party, and they instantly fall madly in love. A happy story, right? Well, not exactly. You see, their families have been feuding for years. In fact, recently the two families have engaged in so many sword fights all over town that the Prince has threatened death to the next family that instigates a fight. Will Romeo and Juliet’s love bring a stop to the violence and healing to their families? The answer is yes – but not in ways you might imagine. This story has some of the most entertaining characters you’ll ever encounter: a hilarious nurse; a witty (and maybe slightly nuts) buddy to Romeo; a helpful (or is he?) friar, and so many more. Oh, and don’t let the language put you off; it’s easy to understand (and there are helpful notes to explain things that might be confusing). There is so much action in Romeo and Juliet that your head will spin. I loved this book, and I know you will too! Larry O. Mr. Gibson’s 8 th Grade Class
 * I also showed you a sample from a former student. I've posted it below so you can look at this one too as a guide. **


 * NOTE: Periods 2 and 7 -- If your group did not present yet, prepare your notes for your Fish Bowl discussions, which we will continue next week. **


 * Homework assigned Thursday 1/15 and due Friday 1/16: **


 * Bring in on a piece of paper the following information: **
 * 1. The name of the book you chose for your December-January One Pager book **
 * 2. The author's name **
 * 3. How many pages in the book **


 * A reminder: We went as a class to the Media Center back in early December, and you chose a book for me to approve as your One Pager selection for December-January. Next week you will type your book review onto a page in the Media Center's Book Review section. Over the weekend you will write your book review at home and then turn it in to me in class next Tuesday 1/20. Aside from content, your review will be graded for correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and capitalization. **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 1/14: **


 * Periods 2 and 7 only : Work on your Fish Bowl notes. **


 * No homework assigned for Periods 3-4-6 **


 * Homework assigned Tuesday 1/13: **


 * Periods 2 and 7 only : Work on your Fish Bowl notes. **
 * Periods 3-4-6: Read from the page you ended on in class to page 206 again, and be ready for a brief quiz on these pages on Wednesday. **


 * Homework assigned Monday 1/12: **


 * Periods 2 and 7 only : Work on your Fish Bowl notes. **


 * Homework assigned Friday 1/9: **


 * All students should complete their Cornell Notes for the three chapters of their choice (see Wednesday's homework below to refresh your memory) to turn in on Monday. In addition to the these Cornell Notes on three chapters, see below for additional homework. **
 * Periods 2 and 7 only : Work on your Fish Bowl notes. Group 1 will go on Monday, Group 2 on Tuesday, Group 3 on Wednesday, and Group 4 on Thursday. **


 * Periods 3, 4, and 6 only: Read //OOTD// from where we left off in class today to page 206. You will have a brief quiz on Monday so you can demonstrate that you read these pages. **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 1/7 and due Friday 1/9: **


 * Students are to read chapters in //Out of the Dust// (they are to continue reading wherever the left off earlier) and choose any three chapters (each chapter chosen has to be at least one page long however) to do Cornell Notes Sheets for. NOTE: Due to our shortened days on Wednesday and Thursday, students were given the entire class time to work on this assignment. **


 * Welcome back from our long Winter Break. There is no homework assigned Monday 1/5. **


 * There is no homework assigned Monday 12/22 and Tuesday 12/23. Have a restful and enjoyable **** Winter Break **** ! **


 * Homework assigned Friday 12/19 and due Monday 12/22: **
 * Choose 20 __different__ words from the Spelldown list below. As you did for Thursday's homework, write the words on a piece of notebook paper. (You can use the same piece of paper if you wish.) **


 * Homework assigned Thursday 12/18 and due Friday 12/19: **


 * Choose any 20 words from the word list below and write them down on a piece of notebook paper to bring in to class tomorrow. **
 * height || eclipse || idiosyncratic || epilogue ||
 * analyze || dynasty || knave || antagonist ||
 * complexity || eligible || lackadaisical || etymology ||
 * literature || empathy || nonchalant || idiomatic ||
 * particular || ingenious || odyssey || onomatopoeia ||
 * preposition || mayonnaise || parallel || synchronicity ||
 * concentrate || miniature || sedentary || heirloom ||
 * ridiculous || reprehensible || unconscious || complement ||
 * reign || segue || nondescript || currant ||
 * possessive || vacuum || heterogeneous || emblematic ||
 * recipient || nemesis || hoist || acceleration ||
 * garment || occurrence || eccentric || dumbfounded ||
 * virtually || hyperbole || ephemeral || insinuate ||
 * satisfactory || fortuitous || heinous || counterfeit ||
 * suspicion || corroborate || incognito || catastrophe ||
 * impossible || acknowledge || kaleidoscope || perturbance ||
 * restaurant || acquaintance || liaison || annihilate ||
 * allude || colossal || zealot || braggart ||
 * characterization || etiquette || specious || embezzle ||
 * chronological || epitome || archetype || malady ||
 * turmoil || buffoon || jostle || broccoli ||
 * vanquish || orthodoxy || scaffold || thoroughbred ||
 * pedestrian || malignant || lightning || cacophany ||
 * gaudy || alliance || deceitful || autonomy ||
 * cosmopolitan || procedural || Wednesday || unwieldy ||
 * countenance || entrepreneur || fracass || ken ||
 * fluctuate || hazard || credence || circumstantial ||
 * grovel || plague || bevel || connoisseur ||
 * reverance || regime || imbue || pummel ||
 * misdemeanor || unscathed || ensue || conquer ||
 * dilapidated || dissuade || austere || lassoes ||
 * parasite || homocidal || extinct || scent ||
 * beneficiary || recompense || persuant || cistern ||
 * canvass || adjacent || abusive || bona fide ||
 * gruesome || interrogate || ecstatic || chauffeur ||
 * quibble || resume || acumen || rhetoric ||
 * paradoxical || dynasty || flaunt || pneumonia ||
 * foremost || harangue || profess || feasible ||
 * quaint || shepherd || dilemma || sedentary ||
 * inimitable || wholesome || asparagus || cylinder ||
 * turmoil || buffoon || jostle || broccoli ||
 * vanquish || orthodoxy || scaffold || thoroughbred ||
 * pedestrian || malignant || lightning || cacophany ||
 * gaudy || alliance || deceitful || autonomy ||
 * cosmopolitan || procedural || Wednesday || unwieldy ||
 * countenance || entrepreneur || fracass || ken ||
 * fluctuate || hazard || credence || circumstantial ||
 * grovel || plague || bevel || connoisseur ||
 * reverance || regime || imbue || pummel ||
 * misdemeanor || unscathed || ensue || conquer ||
 * dilapidated || dissuade || austere || lassoes ||
 * parasite || homocidal || extinct || scent ||
 * beneficiary || recompense || persuant || cistern ||
 * canvass || adjacent || abusive || bona fide ||
 * gruesome || interrogate || ecstatic || chauffeur ||
 * quibble || resume || acumen || rhetoric ||
 * paradoxical || dynasty || flaunt || pneumonia ||
 * foremost || harangue || profess || feasible ||
 * quaint || shepherd || dilemma || sedentary ||
 * inimitable || wholesome || asparagus || cylinder ||
 * dilapidated || dissuade || austere || lassoes ||
 * parasite || homocidal || extinct || scent ||
 * beneficiary || recompense || persuant || cistern ||
 * canvass || adjacent || abusive || bona fide ||
 * gruesome || interrogate || ecstatic || chauffeur ||
 * quibble || resume || acumen || rhetoric ||
 * paradoxical || dynasty || flaunt || pneumonia ||
 * foremost || harangue || profess || feasible ||
 * quaint || shepherd || dilemma || sedentary ||
 * inimitable || wholesome || asparagus || cylinder ||
 * quibble || resume || acumen || rhetoric ||
 * paradoxical || dynasty || flaunt || pneumonia ||
 * foremost || harangue || profess || feasible ||
 * quaint || shepherd || dilemma || sedentary ||
 * inimitable || wholesome || asparagus || cylinder ||
 * foremost || harangue || profess || feasible ||
 * quaint || shepherd || dilemma || sedentary ||
 * inimitable || wholesome || asparagus || cylinder ||
 * inimitable || wholesome || asparagus || cylinder ||
 * inimitable || wholesome || asparagus || cylinder ||


 * Homework assigned Tuesday 12/16 and due Thursday 12/17: **


 * Creating Complex Sentences **


 * Directions: ** Write ten complex sentences. Writers make a complex sentence by using a subordinate conjunction to add a dependent clause onto an independent clause. Due Thursday 12/18

//dependent clause independent clause// //independent clause// //dependent clause//
 * ** Some Subordinating Conjunctions: ** after, although, as, as if, because, before, even if, if, lest, now that, since, than, though, unless, until, when, whenever, while ||
 * Example: ** **A.** While the cats were sleeping, the mice came out and played.
 * B. ** The mice came out and played while the cats were sleeping.

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__** No homework assigned Monday 12/15 **__

__** Homework assigned Thursday 12/11: **__

__** Study for the test tomorrow on compound sentences. Because you acted responsibly and checked this website, I'm giving you a reward -- some of the test questions, with the correct answers: **__ __** 5. Compound sentences are joined (a) by using a comma followed by a **__

__** FANBOYS word, or (b) by using a colon. Answer -- FALSE **__

__** 9. Within two months, there were eight stage productions playing in London. **__ __** ANSWER: THIS IS NOT A COMPOUND SENTENCE **__

__** Directions: List the seven coordinating conjunctions (the FANBOYS). **__

__** 24. ANSWER: For And Nor But Or Yet So **__

__** GOOD LUCK ON THE TEST! (You'll improve your chancea by studying. Scroll below for a refresher on compound sentences, and look at your textbook at home too.) **__

__** Homework assigned Wednesday 12/10: **__

__** Make sure you complete the assignment assigned yesterday (see Tuesday's listing below) to turn in tomorrow, Thursday 12/11. AND -- If you did not finish the rough draft of the essay about who is most responsible for Ma's "The Accident" in class today, complete it tonight to bring in tomorrow. **__

__** Homework assigned Tuesday 12/9 and due Thursday 12/11: **__

__** Pretend you are Billie Jo. Write a letter (one page minimum) to your best friend, Livie Killian, who left Oklahoma for California. Bring Livie up to date on the important things that have happened since she left. **__**In your letter, include two compound sentences, and underline them with a different color to highlight them. __Write neatly, and use correct punctuation and capitalization. Check your spelling.__**

__** Homework assigned Monday 12/8 and due Tuesday 12/9: **__

__** Find two examples in any published text where a writer uses a compound sentence (for example, in a book, a magazine article, or on an online source). Write them down, cite the source, and bring them to class tomorrow. You can use your December-January One Pager book, or you can use your grammar textbook at home. However, if you do use your textbook, you may NOT copy sentences from any page that discusses or gives examples of compound sentences. The object is for you to find compound sentences as they naturally appear in a text. **__

__** No homework assigned Friday 12/5 **__

__** Homework assigned Wednesday 12/3 and due Thursday 12/4: **__

__** DIRECTIONS -- Look at the sentences below. Then, on a piece of paper (1) write out only the sentences that are compound sentences. **__ __** (2) Next, circle the connector – that is, either the FANBOYS word or the semicolon. (3) Finally, underline each of the independent clauses on either side of the connector. (Remember: Another word for independent clause is //sentence//.) **__ __** Sentences: **__ __** 1. My brother, Jake, and I went to Disney World with our aunt and uncle. **__ __** 2. Ji-li Jiang spoke to the sixth grade class last month, and she showed slides from her childhood in China. **__ __** 3. The Great Depression, **** starting with the Stock Market crash in 1929, **** devastated our country during the 1930s. **__ __** 4. I was surprised and relieved to learn that lead pencils contain no lead, for I used to chew my pencil all through third grade. **__ __** 5. Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms are often referred to by musicians as the Three B's; millions have loved their music over the centuries. **__ __** 6. Billie Jo is a red-haired, freckle-faced, tall thirteen-year-old girl when //Out of the Dust// begins. She turns fourteen in August 1934. **__ __** 7. A square yellow sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants, lives in a pineapple; he resides with his pet snail, Gary, in the city of Bikini Bottom on the floor of the Pacific Ocean. **__ __** 8. The year 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of Charlie Chaplin's world-famous character "the Little Tramp"; Chaplin is one of the most important figures in the history of film. **__ __** 9. //Peter Pan Live// will be on television tonight, and I plan to watch it! **__ __** 10. Compound sentences are one of the four basic sentence types; the other three types are called simple, complex, and compound-complex. **__

__**Homework assigned Wednesday 12/3 and due Thursday 12/4: **__

__**Tonight, write a paragraph about Billie Jo and her father. You can write anything you wish about them. (Remember that you have the book at home to refer to.) **__**Your paragraph must be at least six sentences. And, your paragraph must include two compound sentences. __You can look at page 143-144 in your textbook for a refresher on compound sentences, and you can scroll down to see the definition with two examples.__**

__**Homework assigned Tuesday 12/2 and due Wednesday 12/3: **__

__**All Periods: (But -- Periods 2 and 7 -- scroll down to see a second assignment.) **__

__** Read page 143 in your grammar textbook about compound sentences, and then do Exercise 16. Write out on a piece of paper **__**only __the sentences that are compound sentences.__** __** Remember that in class we defined compound sentence this way: **__ __ Topic: Compound Sentence __

__ A compound sentence consists of two or more independent clauses, which have been joined by (1) a comma and a coordinating conjunction (a FANBOYS word), or (2) a semicolon. (Note: Another term for independent clause is sentence.) __

__ Examples: __

__ A. Maura began working at the hospital last year **, and ** she quickly made a name for herself as a hard worker. __

__ B. Maura began working at the hospital last year ** ; ** she quickly made a name for herself as a hard worker. __ __ Note: The term FANBOYS is a mnemonic -- a word or words that help us remember something. The coordinating conjunctions used to make a compound sentence are: __ __ F or __ __ A nd __ __ N or __ __ B ut __ __ O r __ __ Y et __ __ S o __

__** Periods 2 and 7 only: What do the five sentences below have in common? Explain your answer. **__

__** Never believe a lie. **__

__** Dara checked the calendar every day. **__

__** Emma faced a dilemma. **__

__** It's hard to embarrass reliable, responsible, and serious students. **__

__** That liar looks familiar. **__

__**Homework reminder: **__ __** The One Pager sheet is due tomorrow, Tuesday 12/2. You chose a book for personal reading during the first few days of November. You were given the rest of the month to read the book and answer the few questions on the One Pager sheet. Here's the sheet in case you misplaced yours or didn't pick up another one from the pile in class. **__

__** ELA One-Pager Due date: December 2, 2014 **__ __** Mr. Gibson/Ms. Parker **__

__ My Name:_ Period:_ __

__ Title of the book: __

__ Author(s) of the book: __

__ Date I started reading the book __Date I finished the book:_

__ Total number of pages in this book: __

How I rate this book (1-10):

__** Answer this prompt: **__ Choose the most interesting (or most exciting or most dramatic) part of the book, and explain below -- in a __paragraph of at least five sentences --__ why you chose this particular part. (If you need more space to write your answer, you can use the other side of this paper.)

What do you think was the author’s purpose in writing this book?:

Who do you think is the intended audience for this book?:


 * ACADEMIC HONESTY ** --By signing below, I am indicating that I read the book, and the information on this page is accurate:

Signature


 * No homework assigned Friday 11/21 **


 * Homework assigned Thursday 11/20 and due Friday 11/21: **


 * 1) Complete the homework sheet you received in **** class today. **
 * 2) Study for the quiz on appositives tomorrow, Friday, 11/21. **
 * Because you came to the class website tonight, here's a bonus -- two of the questions on the quiz tomorrow. **


 * C. ** **Directions: Change one of the two sentences below into an appositive and combine it with the other one to make one sentence. Set off the appositive with a comma (or commas). Make your commas big so they can be easily seen.**

12. (a) The Missouri River flows from southwestern Montana to St. Louis, Missouri. (b) It is the longest river in the U.S.


 * A. True or False – Directions: Write T or F on the line below to show your answer.**

__2. An appositive that interrupts a sentence is set off with two commas.__

__**In case you left it at school, h ****ere is the homework sheet. **__

__ Name __Date _ Period__

**Using Appositives to Combine Sentences**

// Monroe and I strolled through the arboretum**__, the most peaceful and beautiful spot in town.__** // or // Monroe and I strolled through the most peaceful and beautiful spot in town**__, the arboretum__**. // or The arboretum**__, the most peaceful and beautiful spot in town,__** is where Monroe and I strolled.
 * Writer’s Tip: ** One way that writers can combine two or more short sentences is by making one (or more) of them into an appositive. Look at these examples:
 * 1) Monroe and I strolled through the arboretum.
 * 2) The arboretum is the most peaceful spot in town.
 * 3) The arboretum is the most beautiful spot in town.
 * After combining: (The appositive is underlined.) **


 * Directions: ** Combine the sentences below by turning one or more of the sentences into an appositive. Write your edited version in the space below the sentences.
 * 1) St. Valentine is the patron saint of lovers.
 * 2) St. Valentine was never married.


 * 1) My father whistled for Reggie.
 * 2) Reggie was our English setter.


 * 1) A great many adults came to the school concert.
 * 2) They included grandparents
 * 3) They included parents and neighbors.


 * 1) The recreation center was a happy building.
 * 2) It was a place to play.
 * 3) It was a place to meet with friends.
 * 4) It was a place to go after school hours.


 * 1) Nikos is my uncle.
 * 2) He is a talented sculptor.
 * 3) He is an accomplished landscape painter.


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 11/19 and due Thursday 11/20: **


 * Write three sentences. Use an appositive in each sentence -- one with the appositive at the beginning of the sentence; one with the appositive at the end of the sentence; and one that interrupts the sentence. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">For example: **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">1. __An English teacher at Murray Hill MS,__ Mr. Gibson was talking to the class. (The appositive is underlined. See how it comes at the beginning of the sentence?) **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">2. Some teachers talk a lot, such as Mr. Gibson__, an English teacher__. (The appositive is underlined. See how it comes at the end of the sentence?) **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">3. Mr. Gibson__, an English teacher at Murray Hill MS,__ talks a lot! (The appositive is underlined. See how it interrupts the sentence by coming somewhere in or near the middle of the sentence?) **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">BUT -- IN YOUR HOMEWORK, DO NOT PUT IN THE COMMAS. Why? Because you'll switch papers with another student tomorrow, and you'll have to figure out where to put the commas in each others' sentences. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Homework assigned Tuesday 11/18 and due Wednesday 11/19: **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Last night your homework was to read p. 318 in your //Elements of Language// textbook at home and then do Exercise 6 on p. 319, doing ****<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">sentences 1-2-3-4 only. Tonight, your homework is to do the remaining sentences on page 310 -- numbers 5-6-7-8-9-10. Today in class I asked students to tell me if they didn't have access to their textbooks at home (and that's a separate issue: you need to find your textbook asap). If you told me you couldn't use your textbook, I gave you a copy of pages 318-319 so you could do your homework. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Homework assigned Monday 11/17 and due Tuesday 11/18: **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Today in class our drill topic was appositives. An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that renames or further identifies another noun (or pronoun) usually right next to it. For example: //Mr. Gibson, an English teacher, was talking to the class.// In that sentence, the noun phrase "//an English teacher"// is an appositive because it renames or further identifies the proper noun //"Mr. Gibson".// **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Your homework is to read p. 318 in your Elements of Language textbook at home and then do Exercise 6 on p. 319. __Only do sentences 1-2-__ ****<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">__3-4.__ ****<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">//HERE ARE THE FOUR SENTENCES IN CASE YOU CAN'T LOCATE YOUR TEXTBOOK.// **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Directions: Copy down the sentences below (or print them out), and then add the commas needed to set off the appositive. If a sentence has the appositive commas correct as is, then just write C for correct. **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">1. The park a beautiful place for a party was lit by streetlights and had a bandstand. **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">2. Our hosts Mr. and Mrs. Washington greeted us at the entrance. **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">3. Some of the men were wearing boaters straw hats popular at the time. **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">4. My friend Eliza Wolcott sat in the shade at our table. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Homework assigned Friday 11/14 and due Monday 11/17: **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">In class today, you began reading pages 45-51 in //Out of the Dust.// These pages include the chapters "Apples", "Dust and Rain", "Harvest", and "On the Road with Arley". In class Friday, I let you begin reading these chapters and doing Cornell Notes for two chapters -- "Dust and Rain" and On the Road with Arley". If you didn't finish them, do it over the weekend and bring them in on Monday. Below you'll find some information about what kinds of things you could write on your Cornell Sheet. PLUS -- Remember that today in class I gave you the information sheet below, which also has on the reverse side a sample of a Cornell Note sheet I filled out for the chapter "Fields of Flashing Light". You can use this too as a guide for the kinds of things to write on your Cornell Notes. **


 * Taking Cornell Notes when you are reading a literary text: **

The kinds of things you might record when reading //Out of the Dust// include:

1) ** Figurative language ** -- For example: similes, metaphors, personification


 * 2) **** Structure -- ** Did the author arrange lines on the page in certain ways to create meaning? (This is found in poetry but not often in prose.) Does the poet sometimes leave extra space between stanzas, and what effect does this have on meaning for the reader?

3) ** Sensory words ** -- Does the poet use words that create sense feelings in the reader? (Examples: //I was hot.// Better = //My skin **__sizzled__** in the **__blazing__** noon-day sun.//

4) ** Characterization ** – What does a character do or say (or have others says about him/her) that lets the reader know what kind of person the character is?

5) **Plot development** – How does this chapter connect with earlier chapters or scenes, or how might this chapter foreshadow (that is, suggest) what comes next?

6) ** Conflict ** – Do you see a conflict (maybe an ongoing one) between characters in this chapter? Or is there an internal conflict (the character is struggling with feelings or torn between two ideas)? Is there an external conflict of some sort, like humans fighting against bad weather?

7) **Words and Passages** – Do you see examples of good word choice? Or maybe words or terms or even passages you don’t understand? Or perhaps great lines or stanzas you want to note for discussion?


 * NOTE: You won't find all these things in every stanza or chapter. But remember: This is close reading, so you are expected to do hard thinking and analysis when taking notes. You can do it! **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Homework assigned Thursday 11/13 and due Friday 11/14: **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Read page 314 in your Language textbook at home, and do Exercise 3 on page 315. Follow the directions. This will be good practice for the quiz on serial commas on Friday. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Homework assigned Tuesday 11/11 and due Wednesday 11/12: **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Today in class we read ****<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">pages 37-39 -- ****<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Spring 1934: Chapters 1 "//Tested By Dust//", 2 "//Banks//", and 3 " //Beat Wheat//" . For homework, read "//Give Up on Wheat//" pages 40-41, and fill out a Cornell Notes sheet for this chapter. Be ready to show me your completed Cornell Notes sheet tomorrow, and be prepared to participate in a class discussion on this chapter. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">No homework assigned Monday 11/10 **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Homework assigned Friday 11/7 and due Monday 11/10: **


 * Today in class you received copies of //Out of the Dust// to keep at home for homework reading. Read Chapter 17 “Fields of Flashing Light”. Using a piece of notebook paper (1) write down at least one simile you find in this chapter, (2) write down at least one example of personification you find in this chapter, (3) look up and write down the definitions of these words: spindly; union suit, (4) be prepared to discuss this chapter in class on Monday. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Reminder: **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">A simile is when you use the words "like" or "as" to compare two different things. //Example: The moon is like a balloon.// **

//**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">The moon smiled down on the couple walking on the beach. **// //**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Napoleon the pig adjusted his glasses before he addressed the crowd. **//
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Personification means that an author has given human characteristics to non-living or non-human things. //Examples:// **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">No homework assigned Thursday 11/6. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">FIRST DAY OF QUARTER 2 WEDNESDAY 11-5 **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">No homework assigned Wednesday 11-5 **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">YOU MUST TURN IN TOMORROW, FRIDAY 10/31: **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">1. YOUR DRILL SHEET FOR THIS WEEK (EXCEPT PERIOD 7 STUDENTS, WHO WILL TURN IN THURSDAY'S DRILL SHEET ONLY). **
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">2. YOUR ONE PAGER SHEET, WHICH IS THE SHEET YOU HAVE TO TURN IN FOR THE PERSONAL BOOK YOU READ OVER THE LAST MONTH. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Thanks for checking here tonight. Here's a gift for being responsible. No, the sentences below aren't answers, but they are two sentences ****<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">that you will have to correct ****<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;"> on tomorrow's test. Now you can figure out two answers ahead of time. Scroll down to the list of nine rules so you can also determine what rule these two test sentences are breaking. Good luck tomorrow! **


 * _ 5. Fall starts at 10:29 p.m. on september 22. **


 * _ 20. “This were an easy test, ” Monica said. **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Homework assigned Wednesday and Thursday 10/29 and 10/30: (__BUT SEE FURTHER BELOW FOR THE HOMEWORK ASSIGNED WEDNESDAY AND DUE THURSDAY.)__ **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">On Friday, you will have a test on the topics we've been doing during our daily drills for the last eight weeks. The test will include 20 sentences, each with just one error in it. You will have to make the necessary correction directly on the test and then select the rule that applies to the correction you made. The rules will be listed in a box on the test paper. Here is the rule box: **


 * # Edit run-on sentences.
 * 1) Capitalize proper nouns, which are the names of specific things.
 * 2) Use quotation marks for the certain types of titles.
 * 3) Use italics to show that certain types of titles. When writing by hand, use underlining to show that the title should be in italics.
 * 4) Edit for fragment. Fragments can’t stand alone as a sentence because they lack a subject and/or verb, and they don’t complete a thought.
 * 5) In a sentence, the subject and verb must agree in number.
 * 6) Edit for a comma splice.
 * 7) Use the correct verb tense.
 * 8) Use correct end punctuation when writing sentences. ||


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">Homework assigned Wednesday 10-29 and due Thursday 10/30: **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;">In a paragraph of at least five sentences, explain why or why not Mr. Hardly deserves our sympathy. Use specific details from the text to support your opinion. (His chapter is listed below Tuesday night's homework if you need to reread it before you write your paragraph response.) **


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 180%;"> Homework Assigned Tuesday and due Wednesday: Billie Jo says her mother “would have thrown a fit” if she had accepted a gift from Mr. Hardly for returning his change. Explain in an answer of at least one paragraph (no less than five sentences) why she said this. The text of "Mr. Hardly's Money Handling" is listed below if you need to review it before you write your answer. **

Mr. Hardly's Money Handling

It was Daddy's birthday and Ma decided to bake him a cake. There wasn't money enough for anything like a real present. Ma sent me to fetch the extras with fifty cents she'd been hiding away. "Don't go to Joyce City, Billie," she said. "You can get what we need down Hardly's store."

I slipped the coins into my sweater pocket, the pocket without the hole, thinking about how many sheets of new music fifty cents would buy.

Mr. Hardly glared when the Wonder Bread door banged shut behind me. He squinted as I creaked across the wooden floor. Mr. Hardly was in the habit of charging too much for his stale food, and he made bad change when he thought he could get away with it. I squinted back at him as I gave him Ma's order.

Mr. Hardly's been worse than normal since his attic filled with dust and collapsed under the weight. He hired folks for the repairs, And argued over every nail and every little minute. The whole place took shoveling for days before he could open again and some stock was so bad it had to be thrown away.

The stove clanked in the corner as Mr. Hardly filled Ma's order. I could smell apples, ground coffee, and peppermint. I sorted through the patterns on the feed bags, sneezed dust, blew my nose.

When Mr. Hardly finished sacking my things, I paid the bill, and tucking the list in my pocket along with the change, hurried home, so Ma could bake the cake before Daddy came in.

But after Ma emptied the sack, setting each packet out on the oilcloth, she counted her change and I remembered with a sinking feeling that I hadn't kept an eye on Mr. Hardly's money handling, and Mr. Hardly had cheated again. Only this time he'd cheated himself, giving us four cents extra.

So while Ma mixed a cake, I walked back to Mr. Hardly's store, back through the dust, back through the Wonder Bread door, and thinking about the secondhand music in a moldy box at the shop in Joyce City, music I could have for two cents a sheet, I placed Mr. Hardly's overpayment on the counter and turned to head back home.

Mr. Hardly cleared his throat and I wondered for a moment if he'd call me back to offer a piece of peppermint or pick me out an apple from the crate, but he didn't, and that's okay. Ma would have thrown a fit if I'd taken a gift from him.

// February 1934 //
 * No homework assigned Friday 10/24 **


 * Reminder: I've been reminding you in class the last two weeks that I'd be collecting the //Out of the Dust// background information notes you took from the PowerPoint slides. I'll collect them on Friday 10/24. If you lost them, you can copy the information by looking below at the homework for Wednesday 10/15. **

Design and write a poem of no less than 15 lines and in a shape so that the shape suggests the subject of the poem. In your poem, __include at least one example of alliteration, and at least one simile.__ Your poem must be neatly done and show careful attention to detail. See the example below.
 * Homework assigned Monday or Tuesday __for all Periods__. Due Friday 10/24. **




 * No homework assigned Thursday 10/16 **


 * Homework assigned Wednesday 10-15 for a quiz on Thursday 10-16: **
 * Last week and this week in class, you viewed and took notes on a PowerPoint presentation about background knowledge for reading //Out of the Dust//. Tomorrow, Thursday, you will have a quiz on the information on these slides. Here is the information again in case you want to double check your notes to make sure you have the information you need to know for the quiz. Note: I will also be checking your five topics notes sheet for completion tomorrow. **

The **Great Depression** was a severe worldwide economic depression characterized by decreasing business activity, falling prices, and unemployment. In most countries it started in 1930 and lasted until the late 1930s or middle 1940s. It was the longest, most widespread, and deepest economic depression of the 20th century.

The **Dust Bowl** was the name given to the American Great Plains region devastated by drought during the 1930s. This 150,000-square-mile area, encompassing sections of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico, suffered the destructive combination of little rainfall, light soil, and high winds. The soil lacked the strong root system that grass provides, so the winds easily picked up the loose topsoil and swirled it into dense dust clouds, the people called "black blizzards."


 * Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR)** was president during the years 1932-1945. He is the only American president to be elected to more than two terms. He got polio when he was 39 years old and so was paralyzed from the legs down for the rest of his life. He visited and then bought property in Warm Springs, Georgia, where he created a foundation to help others with polio. He also led American during World War II.


 * panhandle** – A panhandle is a relatively narrow strip of land that projects from some larger area of land. Oklahoma and Texas both have these kind of panhandle land formations.


 * feedsacks --** "//Repair, reuse, make do, and don't throw anything away//" was a motto during the Great Depression. Very few farm families had enough money to buy new clothes at a store. When farmers brought home big sacks of flour or livestock feed, their wives used the sacks as material to sew everything from girls' dresses to boys' shirts and baby clothes.


 * Tuesday 10-14-14 -- Assigned Tuesday 10-14 and due Wednesday 10-15: **
 * In your //Elements of Grammar// book at home, read pages 336-337, which discuss italics/underlining. You'll remember that in class today I told you that before computers, writers typed on typewriters. Typewriters had no way to create //italics//, so writers would underline the words instead. Your homework asks you to review the types of words and phrases that need to be in italics because they are the names and/or titles of specific categories of nouns, such as book titles, names of ships, movie titles, etc. (You'll see the various categories when you read pages 336-337.) **


 * Then, do Exercise 1 on page 338. You don't have to write out the whole sentence; just write down the words that should be italicized. HOWEVER, FOR YOUR HOMEWORK -- when you write down the words, don't italicize them. **** Instead, __underline__ them. **** Why? Because when you are handwriting, you don't write in italics; you underline words to show that they should be in italics. **


 * For example: **


 * 1. I went to the movies to see The Lion King. **
 * Answer: ** __** The **** Lion King **__


 * The words above -- The Lion King -- **** need to be in italics because it is the name of a movie. I've shown that they need to be in italics by underlining them. **


 * Monday 10-13-14: Today in class we began reading //Out of the Dust.// Since we just began the book, there is no homework tonight. **


 * NOTE: Due to the field trip to Terrapin Adventures on Tuesday and Wednesday, and the MAP testing on Thursday and Friday, there will be no homework assigned the week of 10/6 - 10/10. **


 * No homework assigned Friday 10/3 **


 * Homework Thursday 10/2: Just a reminder -- you have a test tomorrow, Friday, on Seven Key Capitalization Rules. We went over your homework today in class, so now you have that to study with, as well as the information in your textbook at home and the sheet I gave you in class (which I copied below; for some reason I can't number them 1-7, but there are seven there). **
 * NOTE: Here are the answers to the practice quiz we did in class today. The words below were either not capitalized but should have been, or they were capitalized and should NOT have been. Check your paper. **


 * 1. German Shepherd **
 * 2. spring March **
 * 3. Street **
 * 4. "Do . . ." **
 * 5. Peace Prize **
 * 6. I I'll **
 * 7. college **
 * 8. and **
 * 9. Dr. **
 * 10. Jones Beach **
 * 11. General **
 * 12. Have //Newsweek// **
 * 13. Corps **
 * 14. Lima **
 * 15. Revolution European **
 * 16. //Sputnik// **
 * 17. Roman Catholic **
 * 18. North **
 * 19. "The Gulf . . . " **
 * 20. Spanish **


 * . . . oh, and thanks for visiting the class website tonight. For doing so, here's the answer to one of the questions on the test: **
 * On friday I'm flying to minnesota to visit mom and dad. With correct capitalization, it should read: On Friday I'm flying to Minnesota to visit Mom and Dad. **


 * Homework assigned Monday 9/29 and due Thursday 10/2: **


 * 1) Students are to do //Review C – Using Capital Letters Correctly in Sentences// on page 300 of the Holt Elements of Language textbook they have at home. Follow the directions, which ask students to write out the words that should be capitalized. Every sentence has __at least__ one word that needs to be capitalized. **
 * 2) ALSO -- Today in class (unless you were participating in the MAP testing) you received a sheet Seven Key Capitalization Rules. (I've copied it below too.) Use this to do your homework due Thursday, and __also use it to study for the TEST you will have on these seven rules on Friday 10/3.__ **


 * __Capitalization – Seven Key Rules__**

Check your writing to make sure you have followed these seven key rules.


 * 1) **Capitalize the first letter of the first word of a new sentence.**

Ex. **__O__**ne of the world’s great literary masterpieces is //Don Quixote,// written by Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes in the early 1600s.


 * 1) **Always capitalize the pronoun “I”.**

Ex. After signing up for my sophomore World Literature class, **__I__** learned that we were going to read //Don Quixote.//


 * 1) **Capitalize proper nouns (the names of specific people, places,**


 * **organizations, and some things).**

Ex. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; Thailand; Murray Hill Middle School; Mothers Against Drunk Driving; the National Educational Association


 * 1) **Capitalize titles when they come before a name (but not after a name).**

Ex. We met with **__M__**ayor Lopez before the committee meeting.

But. . . We met with Maria Lopez, the mayor of Spencerville.


 * 1) **Capitalize the days of the week, the months of the year, and holidays (but not the seasons).**

Ex. Next **__T__**hursday, **__N__**ovember 24 is **__T__**hanksgiving, probably the key holiday in autumn.


 * 1) **Capitalize the major words in titles of books, movies, and pieces of music.**

Ex. We’ll read **//__O__//**//ut of the **__D__**ust// soon.

I saw The **__F__**ault in **__O__**ur **__S__**tars this summer.

Michael Jackson’s “**__T__**hriller” was a hugely popular song and music video.


 * 1) **Capitalize family relationships if you are using them as proper names.**

Ex. “Let me help you, **__M__**other,” Luis said.

But. . . I helped my mother this morning.


 * No homework assigned Friday 9/26 **


 * There was no school on Thursday. **


 * No Homework assigned Wednesday 9/24 **


 * TUESDAY 9/23: **
 * Homework assigned Tuesday and due Wednesday 9/24 -- Tuesday in class you analyzed sentences to identify the two natural parts all sentences contain -- the complete subject (which includes the simple subject) and the complete predicate (which includes the simple verb). **
 * 1. Take out the sheet with the five sentences you wrote for Monday night's homework. **
 * 2. Draw a slanting line to separate the complete subjects and complete predicates in each of your sentences. **


 * Look at the example below. **

(simple subject -- Montague -- note that Montague is the complete subject in this sentence); (simple verb **-**- scuttled); (complete predicate -- scuttled off through the dark, empty alleyways of the financial district.)

**Montague /** //scuttled off through the dark, empty alleyways of the financial district.//


 * In this sentence, the word Montague is the simple subject. A sentence's subject is who or what the sentence is about. The complete subject is the simple subject with any words that help the subject. **


 * In the sentence above about Montague, the simple verb is scuttled. But the complete predicate is the simple verb plus all the words that help complete the meaning of the verb. **

(simple subject -- Montague); (the complete subject -- Montague the rat); (simple verb **--** //followed); (complete predicate -- followed the drainpipe down to his home below the street.)// // **Montague the rat** **/** followed the drainpipe down to his home below the street. //
 * Here is another example: **

// Montague scuttled off through the dark, empty alleyways of the financial district. //
 * MONDAY 9/22: **
 * Homework assigned 9/22 and due Tuesday 9/23 -- Today in class we looked at a simple sentence and took it apart to see how the writer constructed it and why it works so well. Then you practiced imitating the pattern in class. __For homework, write five original sentences using this pattern.__ Here is the original sentence: **


 * The pattern is: subject (//Montague//) and verb (//scuttled//) followed by one or more prepositional phrases (//through the dark, empty hallways// and //of the financial district).// **
 * Here are some other examples: **
 * // The comet hurtled through the night sky. //**
 * // My grandmother warned us away from the well. //**
 * // I shooed the kittens into the kitchen. //**


 * FRIDAY 9/18: No homework assigned **


 * THURSDAY 9/18: **
 * Homework -- Study for the quiz on Friday 9/19 **
 * Today in class you took a practice quiz on capitalization rules for proper and common nouns. We went over the correct answers, so now you have a study guide for the real quiz tomorrow. In case you were absent or forgot your practice quiz, I've copies it below, with the correct answers. (Formatting issues prevent me from making the practice quiz look the same on this site as it does on your paper. But you can still see the correct answers if you wish to double check.) **

Name _ Date _ Period


 * Capitalization Practice Quiz**
 * NOTE: I’VE INDICATED THE CORRECT ANSWERS IN DIFFERENT WAYS HERE BECAUSE OF FORMATTING ISSUES__**


 * 1) **Directions: Put a check mark on the line if the statement is true. __Do not put anything if the statement is false.__**


 * _ 1. Never start the first word of a sentence with a capital letter. (FALSE)**


 * _ 2. Always start the first word of a sentence with a capital letter. (TRUE)**


 * _ 3. A noun names a person, place, thing, or idea. (TRUE)**


 * _ 4. A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, thing, or idea.(TRUE)**


 * _ 5. A common noun is the name of any, non-specific person, place,**
 * thing, or idea. (TRUE)**

n **Circle the common noun.** n **Then draw a box around the proper noun.** n **//(Remember: Don’t circle or box pronouns.)//**
 * 1) **Directions: In each sentence below:**


 * 1) **My uncle met Justin Timberlake.**
 * common – uncle**
 * proper – Justin Timberlake**


 * 1) **I really want to see the movie //Toy Story.//**
 * common – movie**
 * proper – //Toy Story//**


 * 1) **Please help me catch Buddy, my gorilla.**
 * common – gorilla**
 * proper – Buddy**


 * 1) **Whenever I go into town, I eat at Hunan Manor.**
 * common – town**
 * proper – Hunan Manor**


 * 1) **My little sister Megan eats so fast!**
 * common – sister**
 * proper – Megan**


 * 1) **The Orioles won, and the score was 8-2.**
 * common – score**
 * proper – Orioles**


 * 1) **//A Rat’s Tale// is his favorite novel.**
 * common – novel**
 * proper – //A Rat’s Tale//**


 * 1) **I’ve heard that Shakespeare wrote 36 plays.**
 * common – plays**
 * proper – Shakespeare**


 * 1) **Hamlet, a prince, was very suspicious of everyone.**
 * common – prince**
 * proper – Hamlet**


 * 10.****Franklin Roosevelt was our president long ago.**
 * common – president**
 * proper – Franklin Roosevelt**


 * WEDNESDAY 9/17: **
 * A. Today in class we finished our lesson on respecting and respecting the differences among people. We took a special look at Dr. Temple Grandin and her valuable contributions to society. **
 * B. You were given our first Weekly Drill Sheet today, sheets you will now receive on Mondays and turn in on Fridays. As we went over in class, you will write your daily five minute drills on these sheets. At the end of the week I'll collect them for a class grade. **
 * C. Reminder: Don't forget that your brief writing assignment on what makes you unique is due tomorrow, Thursday. (See Tuesday's homework below for details.) **


 * D. ALSO -- I ANNOUNCED IN CLASS TODAY THAT YOU WILL HAVE A QUIZ ON FRIDAY ON CAPITALIZATION. We'll go over the rules of capitalization again tomorrow. There are many rules for when to capitalize words. The last two weeks we've been focusing on proper nouns, so the quiz will assess your ability to recognize proper nouns, plus a few other capitalization rules. See below for some examples: **


 * Rule #1 -- Capitalize proper nouns because they are the __names of specific__ people, places, organizations, and sometimes things. **


 * Common nou **** n Proper noun **


 * city -- Laurel **
 * doctor -- Dr. Maria King **
 * statue -- Statue of Liberty **
 * school -- Murray Hill Middle School **
 * book -- //Out of the Dust// **


 * Rule #2 -- Always capitalize the word "I". **


 * Example: I like to read mysteries. (//Not// i like to read mysteries.) **


 * Rule #3 -- Always capitalize the first word of a sentence. **


 * Example: Thirty-three students received straight A's in English. (//Not// thirty-three **
 * students received straight A's in English.) **


 * To review capitalization, turn to page 287 of your //Holt Elements of Language// textbook and read through the section called "11d. Capitalize proper nouns."This section (which ends on page 294) contains 12 subheadings, all of them examples of the kinds of proper nouns to capitalize. You don't have to do any of the exercises for homework, but I suggest you look through this section as a way to study for the quiz. **


 * TUESDAY 9/16: **
 * Today in class we discussed differences in people and how they are to be respected and celebrated. We talked about the classic book //1984// and watched a clip from the 1984 Apple Macintosh commercial that alludes to George Orwell's book. HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT: I asked you to write about something that makes you different from others, something that expresses your uniqueness: talents, skills, viewpoints, etc. This could be a paragraph or a page depending on what you want to explain. __ALSO -- We will finish the lesson on Wednesday, so this assignment is not due until Thursday.__ **


 * Monday 9/15: Students visited the Media Center on Monday, so no homework was assigned. **


 * Monday No homework assigned Thursday 9/11. (No school on Friday.) **


 * No new homework assigned Wednesday 9/10, though students need to turn in their completed funny story paragraph on Thursday. **


 * Homework assigned Monday 9/8 and due Wednesday 9/9: **
 * Today in class we looked at nouns, common and proper. I asked you to make a list of 20 nouns you could see in the classroom -- ten common nouns and ten proper nouns. Then I asked you to write a paragraph, making up a funny story about your first two weeks of school -- using any 15 of your 20 nouns. Due Wednesday, not Tuesday. **


 * No homework assigned Friday 9/5, but don't forget that the Autobiographical Letter is due next Wednesday, 9/10 **


 * Homework assigned Thursday 9/4 and due Friday 9/5: **
 * FOR PERIODS 3-4-6-7 ONLY **
 * Today in class students wrote down a job/career they want to pursue as an adult. I asked them to rate on a scale of 0-5 how important writing skills would be to their choice. Then I gave them a small portion of an English test for a real-world job. After we took it, they guessed what the job might be. (No one guessed correctly.) In light of their new understanding, for homework, I asked students to come in with a few sentences explaining how they know believe writing might matter in their job/career choice. **


 * No new homework assigned Wednesday 9/3 **


 * Homework assigned Tuesday 9/2 and due Wednesday 9/10: **
 * Today students were given the assignment sheet for writing an autobiographical letter. We went over the details of the assignment in class. Students may write about anything as long as it is about themselves. There are 25 topics listed on the assignment sheet to help students who can't think of how to begin. These topics are just suggestions however. Students are not required to answer them all, unless they wish to. Students have eight days to complete their letter. To receive full credit, students must use letter format and write at least one side of an 8"x11" notebook page. Typing is not required. Please staple the assignment sheet on top of your letter. **


 * Homework assigned Monday 8/25 through Thursday 8/28: **


 * All classes: **
 * Due by Friday 8/29 -- On Monday in class you received the Back to School Letter. Please review it and return it, __signed by both you and a parent/guardian__, by Friday 8/29. **


 * Due by Tuesday 9/2 -- Please make sure you have a binder to use for English by Tuesday 9/2. Also have by Tuesday 9/2 a composition or notebook to use for daily writing. **