Rhetoric & Comp – Wednesday, April 29th

Quickwrite #41:  Watch How To Start a Movement and use it as inspiration for writing.  (I rewatched this and my first thought was, “they are way too close together.”  Then, I realized it just made me a little jealous. . . )

DEADLINE:  By the end of Friday, I need your FINALMG.  Use this week to finish up, get feedback, ask questions, finalize (this means save as PDF* and fill out your checklist to correspond with your final copy), and make your Flipgrid presentation. Finalizing details on the April 22 post and videos w/ e8mg20 flipcode.  Students who don’t complete a version of this paper, will be dropped from SWIC dual credit.  (It won’t count as a fail or withdraw fail, you just will be unenrolled in the course and receive no credit.)  Students who are enrolled in DC but don’t complete the full version of the paper have given up the ability to earn an A as their SWIC course grade.

*If you only use Word Online and don’t have this capability, make sure it is ready to go and drop Mrs. C an email.  I’ll convert it for you.

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS: Again Thursday from 10a – 12p as usual. “Hope to see you there!”

(REPOST) DIGITAL FILE MEMORY BOOK:  See the handout here Memory book 8a semester 2020 covid 19 adapted or on the SPRING2020 tab above and watch a video talk through with flipcode rcmg20 (check the new topic Digital Memory Book). This project is due no later than the end of day Tuesday 5/12.

Tuesday, April 28th – ALL CLASSES

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS today from 10a – 12p via zoom (original Tuesday/Thursday invite – I just sent it to everyone again in today’s email/Google classroom post).  Stop in if you have questions, want extra feedback, or just want to check in.

Keep moving forward and work toward finalizing those MG Papers.

❤ Mrs. C = )

Rhetoric & Comp – Monday, April 27th

IMPT:  Today is the last day to let Mrs. C know if you want to participate in the optional BOOK CLUB.  We will be reading The Poet X and I will safely deliver copies of the book to your GC address tomorrow if you need one.  There are NO tests, NO quizzes, NO summaries, NO papers to write.  JUST reading a book and getting together once a week on zoom to discuss with other interested readers.  If you want to join, send me an email with your address for delivery.

*All future book club business will just be done by group email.

Quickwrite #40:  We’ve been pretty focused on screens lately – from Netflix to social media to school work to the news.  Might be good to use a pen and paper and get back to that notebook.  Today, just write about what’s going on with you.  How are you doing?  What’s the shelter-in-place been like?  How has your schedule changed?  Etc.  You can title it APRIL 2020.

DEADLINE:  By the end of Friday, I need your FINALMG.  Use this week to finish up, get feedback, ask questions, finalize (this means save as PDF* and fill out your checklist to correspond with your final copy), and make your Flipgrid presentation. Finalizing details on the April 22 post and videos w/ e8mg20 flipcode.  Students who don’t complete a version of this paper, will be dropped from SWIC dual credit.  (It won’t count as a fail or withdraw fail, you just will be unenrolled in the course and receive no credit.)  Students who are enrolled in DC but don’t complete the full version of the paper have given up the ability to earn an A as their SWIC course grade.

*If you only use Word Online and don’t have this capability, make sure it is ready to go and drop Mrs. C an email.  I’ll convert it for you.

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS:  Tuesday and Thursday from 10a – 12p as usual. “Hope to see you there!”

DIGITAL FILE MEMORY BOOK:  Today is the day for info on the 2019-2020 Senior Memory Book (remote learning style).  See the handout here Memory book 8a semester 2020 covid 19 adapted or on the SPRING2020 tab above and watch a video talk through with flipcode rcmg20 (check the new topic Digital Memory Book). This project is due no later than the end of day Tuesday 5/12.

English 8 – Monday, April 27th

IMPT:  Today is the last day to let Mrs. C know if you want to participate in the optional BOOK CLUB.  We will be reading The Poet X and I will safely deliver copies of the book to your GC address tomorrow if you need one.  There are NO tests, NO quizzes, NO summaries, NO papers to write.  JUST reading a book and getting together once a week on zoom to discuss with other interested readers.  If you want to join, send me an email with your address for delivery.

*All future book club business will just be done by group email.

Quickwrite #27:  We’ve been pretty focused on screens lately – from Netflix to social media to school work to the news.  Might be good to use a pen and paper and get back to that notebook.  Today, just write about what’s going on with you.  How are you doing?  What’s the shelter-in-place been like?  How has your schedule changed?  Etc.  You can title it APRIL 2020.

DEADLINE:  One week from today, I need your FINALMG.  Use this week to finish up, get feedback, ask questions, finalize (this means save as PDF* and fill out your checklist to correspond with your final copy), and make your Flipgrid presentation. Finalizing details on the April 22 post and videos w/ e8mg20 flipcode.

*If you only use Word Online and don’t have this capability, make sure it is ready to go and drop Mrs. C an email.  I’ll convert it for you.

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS:  Tuesday and Thursday from 10a – 12p as usual. “Hope to see you there!”

UPCOMING:  Details on the final senior project on Wednesday so watch for them (and work to finish up that Multi-genre so they don’t have to overlap too much).

Friday, April 24th – ALL CLASSES

How’s that MG paper going?  I’m loving the progress I’m seeing on everyone’s papers.  From papers that are polished and finalized to genuinely interesting ideas, we are getting this thing DONE.

REMINDERS:

  • Info on finalizing on Wednesday’s web posts.
  • 4th Quarter checklist on tab above if you are working on catching up.
  • New/Last Senior project info next week – so make an effort to work this paper this weekend, so you don’t feel overwhelmed.
  • As always, reach out if you have questions.  Virtual Office Hours again next week Tuesday & Thursday from 10a – 12p.  (Maybe an extra on Wednesday – I’ll see if it’s needed.)

NEW & OPTIONAL:  

The recent survey sent out has revealed that some of you are interested in a book club.  Here’s the plan.

  1. Book selection:  The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo.  This is a novel in verse so it won’t take us long (and we only have 3 weeks).  It’s a quick read with real-feel characters.  (It is a book we read in Multi-cultural Lit last semester, so a couple of you have read it there and a couple of people have read it on their own.)  Also, I have copies of this book.
  2. Email me NO LATER THAN MONDAY 4/27 if you want to join in (again completely optional). AND send me your local address.
  3. We will start on Tuesday 4/28 – so either let me know you will purchase the ebook online (or see if you can check it out of the library) or let me know you need a book.
  4. I have several of these in my classroom at school that you can borrow.  They have not been touched since we left the school.  If you need a book, I will wear gloves, put each book needed in it’s own plastic bag, and deliver it to your door – NO CONTACT.  (If you are working from out of town, I won’t deliver.)
  5. Then, we’ll set a schedule with a couple of target dates and a couple of zoom call times.
  6. Again, this is for connection, this is for community, this is for reading great YA Lit and finding a reason to think and talk with peers.  JOIN US!

BOOK RETURN INFO:  Mr. Depew is still working on a plan for locker clean-out, textbook return, etc., however, if you have classroom library books that you are finished reading, and you would like to go ahead and return them, you can stop by the high school office between 7:30am – 11am Monday – Wednesday and drop them off.  There is a crate labeled CONNOLLY under the teacher mailboxes in the office mail room.  It is also okay to return them later at the textbook return.

 

Optional Xtras for Writers Who Want to Advance Their “Game” – 4/23/2020

Today’s focus pulls from brain science.  Check out the article attached here How to Hijack Emotion

If you’d like to see this concept in action, do the following:

  1. Read this student written example (from an actual paper about body image) Read This One First
  2. Take a second to jot down your thoughts about the writing
  3. Then read this student written example (same topic different student) Read This Last
  4. Then jot down your response to the second piece

Of course, we know writing is dependent upon audience, genre, and context.  But if you note your own emotional reaction, you can feel the difference in these approaches.  Does this make one better than the other? Is one more manipulative?  There are no “right” answers to these questions, but they offer us something to think about and as writers, something to try.

I’ve put together a set of slides that offer suggestions to improve reader engagement.  Check them out below.

Reader Engagement

 

English 8 – Wednesday, April 22nd

FOCUS: Finalizing your MG papers!  (These can be turned in starting today anytime through May 4th).  You can still get help from your WRITE CLUB or friends or Mrs. C.  Check out the details here MULTI-GENRE 2020 finalizing and by watching quick videos on Flipgrid (e8mg20).  I’ll talk you through these finalizing slides and show you how to save your document as a pdf.

Extra Office Hours:  I sent out an email with an invite to an extra zoom session today.  If you need advice on your paper, stop by between 10 & 12.

Deadlines:

  • FINALMG due no later than end of day May 4th
  • Check the 4th quarter checklist tab above for target/due date reminders.

Rhetoric & Comp – Wednesday, April 22nd

FOCUS: Finalizing your MG papers!  (These can be turned in starting today anytime through May 1st).  You can still get help from your WRITE CLUB or friends or Mrs. C.  Check out the details here MULTI-GENRE 2020 finalizing and by watching quick videos on Flipgrid (rcmg20).  I’ll talk you through these finalizing slides and show you how to save your document as a pdf.

Extra Office Hours:  I sent out an email with an invite to an extra zoom session today.  If you need advice on your paper, stop by between 10 & 12.

Deadlines:

  • FINALMG due no later than end of day May 1st (You NEED this to not be withdrawn from SWIC Dual Credit)
  • Check the 4th quarter checklist tab above for target/due date reminders.

Grades:  If your grade changed drastically (see yesterday’s email), it’s because you have not made significant progress lately on your paper.  When you approach Mark#2 and/or finalize your paper, that grade will change.  But you have to complete work to earn credit.

Optional Xtras for Writers Who Want to Advance Their “Game” – 4/21/2020

To continue yesterday’s extra thoughts (which I let Tom Romano introduce for me), I’ve provided you with some notes on Grammar B and Alternate Style.  You will notice some overlap from yesterday’s reading and todays’ notes (and between these two sets of notes also).  However, I think it’s useful to think about how we can categorize these ways to attempt to subvert conventions/the rules.  Maybe try some of them out in your MG or your notebook or your upcoming senior memory writings.

GrammarB-Alternate Style