Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Journal Prompts for 2008-2009

September            What makes you laugh? Give a specific example of an event that happened that made you laugh, or discuss a movie or book that made you laugh.

 

October            What is your most indispensable possession?  Why? 

 

 

November            What things are better than going to school? Why? Discuss the three things in detail and make me feel like I was with you, enjoying them, too.

 

December             If you could only take three people with you on a trip around the world, who would you take and why?  Make a connection to a book you have read or a movie you have seen.

 

January            What is the best gift you have ever given to another person?   Think of a gift someone has given in a book you have read or movie you have seen.  Describe how your gift and the gift from the book or movie are similar and different.

 

February            Who is your best friend?  What makes your best friend your best friend?  Think of a book you have read or a movie you have seen that includes best friends.   What is similar about your friendships?  What is different?

 

March            What talents do you have? Do you like having these talents?   Can you think of a book you have read or a movie you have seen where someone has a similar talent?  How about someone who does not like his or her talent, but finds it helpful in the end?   Describe in detail.

 

April            What three words describe you right now? Be very detailed in your answers and try to think of three distinct words.   Use a dictionary or thesaurus to enhance your writing.

 

May             If you could do eighth grade all over again, what would you do differently?

 

 

June            What would you like me to remember about you when you graduate?

Monday, December 8, 2008

Help with Studying?

For many of the quizzes and tests you will have in language arts this year, there are helpful activities available to use as study guides.   Look at the links in the left column of my web page for study help.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Persuasion Rules and More in Room 36

We've been studying the ways to win arguments for the past several weeks in language arts.   Talking about persuasive techniques like bandwagon, anecdotes, statistics, rhetorical questions and more has (hopefully) increased our ability to argue persuasively. 
We've also been talking about extending the answers to  open-ended questions in an attempt to write more detailed answers.
Right now, we are looking at Introductions and how to make them great by using good leads and riveting issue statements.
One class is reading The Pigman by Paul Zindel.   Others will begin To Kill a Mockingbird after the December holiday.