Monday, October 31

Hi. Happy Halloween - remember your 10% teacher tax tomorrow on all candy that you get trick-or-treating. Chocolate only.

Freshmen: Today we talked about Step 7 - Polish, Edit, and Publish. You are to do two things after completing this step: 1. Submit your final essay copy to turnitin.com by 8 AM Friday morning, November 4. Then, 2. search out a possible publisher for your essay. This may take on any number of forms from online to magazine to newspaper. You need to submit it by Friday, November 11.

CNF: Today we talked about Who Killed the Electric Car? (turns out the butler did not in fact do it.)

Honors Prompt 2

Directions: Post a comment (a paragraph or more) in response to the prompt. In your post, you are expected to respond to what other students have written on the subject (unless, of course, you are first), as well as providing your own thoughts. Sign your post with your first name, last initial, and class period. This is due by Sunday evening, October 30. Thank you.

Explain how the writing advice in The Elements of Style is compatible with the writing advice presented in They Say I Say.

Tuesday, October 25 and Wednesday, October 26

Freshmen: Today we learned about Ken Rand's 10% Solution. There are notes about it on the blog. Your job is to do the following:
1. Perform the 10% solution on your essay.
2. Give it another read-through to make sure it is as good as can be.
***Remember, DO NOT include your name in your header, but do include your lead and conclusion technique, as well as your original word count, the goal, and the current word count.
3. Submit it to turnitin.com under the assignment Seven Step Essay by Friday, 10/28 at noon.
4. Between noon on Friday and Sunday, log in and complete the peer review assignment.
5. After noon on Sunday, log in to turnitin.com and revise your essay and improve it as much as you can based on your peer's feedback. Bring that best copy of your essay to class on Monday.

Also, remember to read for 20 minutes Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 from They Say I Say are due on Thursday, as is Chapter 4 Vocabulary.

CNF: Today we conducted a seminar on Chapter 1 from Freakonomics and began a documentary.

10% Solution Cheat Sheet

The 10% Solution Cheat Sheet

To find your word count:
1. Click Tools.
2. Click Word Count.
3. Type in how many words your document is below your name.
4. Subtract 10%. The total is your goal (Draft 2 = Draft 1 – 10%).
5. Write down your goal below your current total. Meet or exceed it – don’t settle for close.
6. WHEN FINISHED, BELOW YOUR FIRST TWO NUMBERS, WRITE DOWN THE FINAL WORKD COUNT FOR YOUR DOCUMENT.
To perform the 10% Solution:
1. Click Edit.
2. Click Find.
3. Enter the syllable you are searching for.
For each syllable you search for, ask…
1. Do I keep it?
2. Do I cut it?
3. Do I change it?
*Whatever you decide, the decision should be made with this goal in mind – improving your piece.
**Remember that cutting or changing may require changing other things as well – see the big picture.
Syllables to search for:
-ly
of
that
Pronouns: I, he, she, etc.
-ion
was
were
very
about
-ing
by
how (case sensitive)
And (case sensitive)
But (case sensitive)
Because (case sensitive)

Monday, October 24

Freshmen: Today we talked about Step 6 in our 7 Step Essay Process: Clarify and Tighten the Information, or in other words, revision. Your task tonight is to read your essay aloud to yourself with a pen in your hand and revise - expand, contract, improve. Read for 20 minutes the next three nights, completing Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of They Say I Say. Honors students need to meet at 7:30 Wednesday morning, having read The Elements of Style.

CNF: Today we watched a documentary about cheating in Sumo. We will conduct our seminar on Chapter 1 on Wednesday.

Friday, October 21

Freshmen: Today we studied two techniques for citing from your source material. There is an entry on the blog that gives you the low-down on how to do this. You are required to use each technique at least once in your essay, and I would like to see you integrating the moves they discuss in They Say I Say as well. Your essay is due Monday, and I have changed the due date for They Say I Say - Chapters 4-7 are due Thursday now, not Monday. Also, check the vocab schedule as it has changed a bit and we have a quiz upcoming.

CNF: Finish Chapter 1 from Freakonomics for Monday.

Essay Draft Requirements:

In order to earn full credit for the essay you are writing for Monday, you must do the following:
1. Use one of the lead techniques we learned in class. Identify it in your header.
2. Use one of the conclusion techniques we learned in class. Identify it in your header.
3. Use at least one in-text and at least one blocked citation.
4. Use standard format.
5. Have a compelling title centered, properly formatted, at the top.

How to Cite a Source

Citing Sources:
1. In-text citation:
a. Used to quote a chunk of text 2 sentences or shorter.
b. Should be placed in quote marks.
c. Should be followed by source and page number in parentheses, THEN a period ending the sentence.
2. Blocked citation:
a. Used to quote large chunks of text.
b. NOT placed in quote marks.
c. Single-spaced and indented.
d. Last sentence ends with parentheses containing source and page number, followed by final period.

Go to https://docs.google.com/a/judgememorial.com/document/d/1sVkhg4zy5yaB-urEYhtyNPSC_T4GWIskWExKi94pEGM/edit?hl=en_US&pli= for an example.

I am posting that page hoping you can see it. If not, my apologies, but it is the same one I showed you in class today.

Thursday, October 19

Freshmen: Today we took a look at the leads you crafted for your essay and learned five different techniques to use when crafting a conclusion. We also began Step 5, which is drafting and developing the information into an essay. Due for Monday is Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7 of They Say I Say and a typed, completed draft of your essay. You may use your 20 minutes of nightly reading to read They Say I Say.

CNF: Today we began Chapter 1 from Freakonomics. You should have a dozen notes, reflective of your inner dialogue with the text, designed to spark discussion in our upcoming seminar.

Prediction: Judge 35, Juan Diego 21.

Tuesday, October 18 and Wednesday, October 19

Freshmen: Today we focused on Step 4 of our 7 Step Essay Process, which is playing with leads and plans. We planned out the order in which the information should appear in our essays, but the more important thing we did was get an overview of several different types of lead techniques to choose from when opening an essay. Your homework tonight is to write up two different leads, each a different type and each on a different sheet of paper. Bring them on Thursday. You are also to read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday. You can read from your own book or from They Say I Say - Part II (Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7) are due next Monday.

CNF: Today we began Freaknomics. Read the Explanatory Note, Preface, and Introduction for Thursday. No notes required.

Monday, October 17

Freshmen: Today we saw a presentation on the Ulster Project. Your homework is to read for 20 minutes. Bring your research with you to class next time.

CNF: Today we wrote an essay as a final wrap-up to Blink. Bring a copy of Freakonomics to class on Wednesday.

Monday, October 10

Freshmen: Today we collected your essay responses to vos Savant's essay on spelling, and we took the chapter 3 vocab exam. We will look at all your research tomorrow - be sure to bring in your 3x5 cards, and your interview or survey. We will figure out tomorrow what "they say" about your subject so that we can figure out what you are going to say.

CNF: Today we conducted our final seminar on Blink. Bring it tomorrow, however. We will begin Freaknomoics next week, so be sure to bring a copy of it on Monday.

Thursday, October 6

Freshmen: Today we applied the principles from the first three chapters of They Say I Say to a couple of essays on spelling (yes, essays on spelling - they actually are pretty good). We'll continue the process tomorrow, but the idea is we are practicing these "moves" for the "big game" - the essays you are currently conducting research for. Read for 20 minutes tonight and remember your research is due Monday, as is chapter 3 vocab.

CNF: We read in an attempt to get chapter 6 and the conclusion of Blink read for Monday's seminar (this means really groovy notes, too). Don't freak about the economics here, but get Freakonomics for after the break.

Freshman Honors Prompt 1

Directions: Post a comment (a paragraph or more) in response to the prompt. In your post, you are expected to respond to what others, as well as the book They Say I Say, have to say on the subject. Sign your post with your first name, last initial, and class period. Thank you.

Prompt: The authors of They Say I Say argue that "writing well means entering into conversation with others" (xvi). In other words, in order to write well on any given topic, you must respond to what others think, say, and write about your topic. Do you agree? Support your answers with evidence.

Tuesday, October 4 and Wednesday, October 5

Freshmen: Today we focused on reading chapter 1-3 of They Say I Say and on conducting our research in class via reading our sources and getting answers to our questions. You need to have your research complete for next Monday. Do not return your sources - you will need them for citing at a later date. Read for 20 minutes Tuesday and Wednesday, and remember to finish Chapters 1-3 in They Say I Say for Thursday's class.

CNF: We had a seminar/began preparations for the end of the book. We will complete the book by Monday and have our final seminar on that date. You need Freakonomics for after the break.

Monday, October 3

Freshmen: Today we took a look at the questions that will guide your research as well as your interviews or surveys. Tomorrow in class you need to have a copy of your sources - print up the internet source you will use and bring a copy of your non-internet print source. We will spend a fair amount of time in class researching your topic. Also, because are finding out via research what "they say" about your topic, we are reading chapters 1-3 this week from They Say I Say. This is due Thursday. Note: You may use your 20 minutes of reading homework time as well as your in class reading time to read these chapters.

Honors: We will meet at 7:40 AM on 10/5. Bring a copy of The Elements of Style that day.

CNF: Today we concluded Chapter 5 (period 7) and conducted a seminar on Chapter 5 (period 8).