Hello everyone!Today's class was all about talk, and although I went on and on about various topics, I hope it was informative. - First off we reveiwed, to some extent, the killer multiple choice test you wrote. The upshot was the questions were very tough, and there was not always one clear right answer, so the marks will not count.
- We then reviewed the sample student essays you marked for homework. One point we discussed at length was the use of concrete examples to support your argument, and the variety of examples that would be suitable. For example, students included references to many movies and some novels in their responses to those questions.
- Finally, I assigned more reading, - up to page 270 in the Martin Luther King essay - and I handed out the peer-editing sheets for the essay, which is due next Thursday. You must have peer-editing done and included with the essay.
Remember, for this essay, I want to focus on your ideas and incorporation of suitable support. I really don't want to be side-tracked by editing errors, run-ons, fragments, and spelling mistakes. Please proof-read and make sure your essays are well-organized; each paragraph should have one controlling idea.O.K. enough chatter for now. Off to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer - I'm sure you could work that into an AP essay, couldn't you?
Yeesh! Once again, we did not manage to get to that essay. Sorry. Perhaps next day, I will plan for you to review the essay in groups - you can discuss what you see as the claims, the warrants, the counterarguments, etc. Today we had a great presentation from Mrs. Berry about citations. Here are a couple of links she sent - one for getting your essay marked, PaperRater, and another for detecting plagiarism, Plagiarisma. Then, we read an article for teachers by Renee Shea, one esteemed author of our textbook. She explains different approaches to writing the persuasive essay. Hopefully this will be of help to you while facing the AP exam. As mentioned, I will be absent on Thursday, but will be in the school. Be good - that goes without saying - the last TOC wrote, "These students (you) just teach themselves!" How nice!Homework: write the introduction and thesis for the persuasive essay I assigned (on one of the essays we have read) - the white handout with four choices on it, not the pink AP prompt. Get it? Hope so. Have a great week!
Yes, my daughter is 8 years old. I am hosting the big party tonight - 15 little kids - do you think I can handle it? Anyway, take a peak into Fun 4 Kids if you're at Park Royal tonight - the woman going crazy will be me!In today's class, you gave me some helpful and hopefully insightful feedback, in the form of a journal entry, on the four essays you read and presented to the class. Thanks, and I apologize that it took so long. Also, I am sorry we didn't really get to discuss the Hayakawa essay today. I know you are all busy, so I don't like to make you do work when you don't have to. The good news is I hope that essay will serve as an example for argumentation and may help you write your own persuasive essay, should you choose the topic of bilingualism. I did handout a sample AP prompt for you to consider. How would you write a persuasive essay in 40 minutes on that topic? Next day, we will look at some feedback from a marker about that essay, and different approaches students took. Also Mrs. Berry is coming to teach you about MLA format next class, so that should be exciting! You know Mrs. Berry the marathoner, the triathlete, and the librarian. How cool is she?Anyway, I just ordered some books from Amazon for us - all AP Prep Books. There are online forums about test-taking for the exam too, in case you want to look.I'm off to party - not the way you imagine, Ali! Have a great weekend - with no homework - you are soooo lucky!
Today's class was a good chance for you to practice mulitple choice questions in a similar fashion to the AP exam. Most of you finished 30 questions in about 40 - 50 minutes. You can see there will be a fine balance between speed and accuracy on the exam. Keep in mind the actual exam has 55 multiple choice questions in 60 minutes. One person left with a textbook that is mine - please return it. For homework you need to read the Toulmin argument handout explaining the structure and offering tools for analysis of an argument. After reading that, please read Hayakawa's essay Bilingualism in America and annotate the essay or take notes about the parts of the essay you consider to be the claim, warrant, data, counterargument, rebuttal, etc. What is the thesis of the esssay?Also remind me about the $25000 scholarship opportunity. See ya!
O.K. Let's try this: here are the links to the three - make that four (thanks, Norma!) - presentations you have sent me. I have changed the sharing settings, so I think this works now.https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac_89em3huv8ZGRmcnh2ZGpfNGR2Yzhiamti&hl=en&authkey=CP3YksgH
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac_89em3huv8ZGRmcnh2ZGpfMGY2NHhwY2Q0&hl=en&authkey=CIqYsMIJ
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac_89em3huv8ZGRmcnh2ZGpfOGM5OWM0amd6&hl=en&authkey=CIenmt0D https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac_89em3huv8ZGRmcnh2ZGpfMTZjOGdxcTdmeA&hl=en&authkey=CJ6Z7e0HI think they are in order - Notes of a Native Speaker 1 and 2; 3 and 4; then Mother Tongue; and Aria. It has only taken me 40 minutes to work this out - but I'll be faster next time.
In class today, we finished the presentations, began to review the fallacies (know terms like Straw Man, Ad Hominem, Red Herring, Hasty Generalization, Begging the Question, Post Hoc for the test.) More on these later. Also, you should read the handout for the essay topics I gave. I will have you prepare a thesis for next week although the assignment will not be due for three weeks. Reminder: Grad write-ups need to Mr. Luchsinger by Wednesday! No text talk!Multiple Choice Test Wednesday!
The presentations continued. Some good information was shared, and if presenters email me the presentations, I can add them to my Google docs collections, and then post them. The test will be on Wednesday next week, so hopefully many of you can make it! :)Monday, we will finish the last presentation, which was sadly disrupted by the bell. Then I think we should go over the essays a bit more - I would like to add some info in a couple of areas. That's all. Homework: for each statement on the worksheet, identify the logical fallacy (use the handouts I gave you.) I will try to get the Power Point I showed last week and upload it too. In addition, there are loads of sites online that you can use for information.Enjoy the weekend!
Hi all,Thanks for the good presentations today - as I mentioned in class, I am really impressed with the depth and volume of information you were able to provide concerning this essay. You have certainly shown an aptitude for embracing new terms and ideas and working hard to assimilate those ideas into your working thought-processes. You should be proud. The class discussion was also superb, and it was nice to hear from some of you, via presentation or discussion, who rarely speak in class. We'll continue presentations next day; I hope for full attendance and am sorely disappointed by those who did not make the effort to show up and support their groups. Excused absences aside, when you need to contribute to a group effort, it would be helpful to be reliable. Here is the chapter 3 and 4 presentation for Notes of a Native Speaker:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0Ac_89em3huv8ZGRmcnh2ZGpfMGY2NHhwY2Q0&hl=enEmma, I closed your presentation, assuming it was saved on the desktop - my fault - so if you read this, and you can please send it to me, I can post it to Google Docs.See you all Thursday.
