FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3

I've gone over and graded thesis statements for all who turned one in on Friday. If you'd like me to go over it with you, stop by when you have time. It will probably make your work time on Tuesday more productive.

NEED FEEDBACK ON YOUR THESIS STATEMENT? STOP BY ROOM 350!

The smiley face is in honor of Alyssa's "This I Believe" essay. It's also for you to look at in case you feel cranky about the research paper. If you keep up with your reading and writing assignments, we will work together on organizing your paper. Just try your best and think positively!!! There will be much more opportunity for guidance on your paper.

This brings me to THESIS STATEMENTS: I am in the process of going through each of your thesis statements, and in some cases going ahead and starting an outline for you as well. I have tried to write enough comments and suggestions to help get you to the next step, especially since I won't see you until Thursday.

Please stop by when you get time to talk about your thesis statement. I have some of them finished now, and I should have all of them finished by Monday. If you don't get a chance to come by the room, I'll leave your graded thesis statement in your mailbox in the back of the room (in the crate labeled "1").

THIS I BELIEVE ESSAYS

Great job on the essays we read today. I can't believe I forgot about the pep assembly!!!!! Sorry to those of you who didn't get to read yours. We'll look forward to hearing from you on Thursday.

I enjoyed all of the essays......I especially loved Lauren's analogy comparing the isolation at the lunch table to the social structure of life.

I also loved Sara F.'s belief statement that everyone is an artist. I don't think of myself that way, but her essay made me start thinking about different areas of my own life that really do require the "artist" in me.

Also, Alyssa's essay about the importance of smiling was about a simple concept, but the essay points out how much good it can do for someone to be the recipient of a smile; it represents so much more than what it seems on the surface. I'm not sure any of us spend as much time smiling as we could or should.

I enjoyed every essay read today. They were all creative and definitely unique. Round 2 on Thursday!

DON'T FORGET TO RESPOND TO THE FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BLOG IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY!!! THIS MUST BE DONE BY MONDAY, OCTOBER 6.

HEROES WIN!

Great Job to the fast-posting Heroes! We will have to take a lovely blog photo next week to break up the monotony of research. While the Heroes may not be gregarious talkers, you've proven yourselves to be formidable posters. Good teamwork.

IGUANAS???? WHAT HAPPENED? I KNOW YOU KNEW THE ANSWERS!! In your defense, however, your discussion of the "This I Believe" essays was very insightful. I liked Max's comment about the 16-year-old who managed to include positive historical events to balance out the negative. Also, Tamara's comment connecting the author who believed in poetry to her own experiences was good. As a group, you had a very nice mini-discussion.

As for today's class.....I really enjoyed reading your essay drafts. Your belief statements were all very different and creative. Remember that these are PERSONAL essays, so by definition you are including personal information. Don't completely leave that part out or the essay won't be as effective. Overall, though, nice job on these. I can't wait to hear them on Friday.

PLEASE REVIEW THE GUIDELINES FOR THESE ESSAYS (DOWN A COUPLE OF POSTS).

Keep reading those research novels. We'll talk about sources on Friday.

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET RESPONDED TO THE BLOG POST ASSIGNMENT (SEE LAST WEEK'S POST WITH MY PHOTO), YOU MUST DO THIS BY OCTOBER 6!

CLASS TEAMS! FIRST COMPETITION!

Ok, here are the teams.......

THE ORANGE IGUANAS
Tyler T
Max
Tamara
Coleigh
Rachel
Lauren
Kirstie
Ben

HARL'S HEROES
Alyssa
Kaity
Sara
Colten
Sarah
Shawn
Ashley
Tyler V.
Wes

HERE'S THE COMPETITION.......

The first team that has 5 separate representatives answer the following questions correctly gets a picture on the blog of their team with the caption ORANGE IGUANA'S RULE! or HARL'S HEROES RULE!

Questions for the IGUANAS:

1. Who is the author of Brave New World? (first and last name)
2. What is the definition of figurative language?
3. Where should the thesis statement go in a timed writing for Mrs. Harl's class?
4. What is the setting (time and place) for 1984?
5. Barbara Kingsolver's educational degrees were in what subjects (hint: it's on the podcast)?



Questions for the HEROES

1. Who is the author of 1984?
2. What is the definition of alliteration?
3. What two pieces of information should the opening sentence of a timed writing for Mrs, Harl's class include?
4. What is the setting for Brave New World (time and place)?
5. What are two of the main symbols used in animal dreams (hint: it's on the podcast)?

**YOUR ANSWER MUST BE CORRECT AND YOU MUST LIST YOUR TEAM NAME OR YOUR ANSWER DOESN'T COUNT!

TIMED WRITING MONDAY

As you prepare for Monday's timed writing, be sure to do the following:

1. Decide on a thesis statement. MAKE SURE ALL THREE POINTS ARE ARGUABLE, NOT FACTUAL. On a scratch piece of paper, WRITE IT OUT.

2. Write down at least 3 specific examples to support each thesis point.

3. Write down one or two significant themes from the novel. (Hint: think about the author's overall message)

4. Connect the examples to the overall theme, showing how your thesis is SIGNIFICANT TO THE NOVEL AS A WHOLE!

5. Give yourself 40 minutes and do a practice timed writing (one that you will bring with you to class). Try not to peek at your notes if possible.

6. Go back to my TEN TIMED WRITING TIPS post from August and review my advice.

7. Edit your draft.

**You should now be prepared for your 50 point timed writing tomorrow.

TIME TO POST!

Every time you see my smiling face with the "Time to Post!" heading, you'll know it's time for another blog post assignment. Your first posting assignment is the following: (due by Monday, Oct 6).

Answer the following questions:

1. How would you improve this blog to make it more useful to you?
2. What elements do you like and why?
3. How could this blog be used to enhance class?
4. In what ways can you contribute to the blog?
5. What could I add or remove to make this blog more useful?

Happy Posting! BONUS POINTS GO TO THE FIRST 3 PEOPLE THAT POST!

GUIDELINES FOR THIS I BELIEVE ESSAYS

BELOW IS A REMINDER ABOUT GUIDELINES FOR YOUR "THIS I BELIEVE" ESSAYS

This I Believe Essay-Writing Instructions

We invite you to contribute to this project by writing and submitting your own statement of personal belief. We understand how challenging this is—it requires such intimacy that no one else can do it for you. To guide you through this process, we offer these suggestions:

TELL A STORY: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else does. Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenching—it can even be funny—but it should be real. Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.

BE BRIEF: Your statement should be between 350 and 500 words. That's about three minutes when read aloud at your natural pace.

NAME YOUR BELIEF: If you can't name it in a sentence or two, your essay might not be about belief. Also, rather than writing a list, consider focusing on one core belief, because three minutes is a very short time.

BE POSITIVE: Please avoid preaching or editorializing. Tell us what you do believe, not what you don't believe. Avoid speaking in the editorial "we." Make your essay about you; speak in the first person.

BE PERSONAL: Write in words and phrases that are comfortable for you to speak. We recommend you read your essay aloud to yourself several times, and each time edit it and simplify it until you find the words, tone, and story that truly echo your belief and the way you speak.