Please use THIS DOCUMENT to read through the nature synthesis essay prompt and (sources E, F & G handed out in class).
This essay will be DUE ON MONDAY, 5/2.
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
Henry David Thoreau and Walden
Some additional sources are linked here to learn more about Thoreau and Walden Pond, as it exists and is preserved today.
The Walden Woods Project
Walden Pond State Reservation with the National Park Service
The Thoreau Society
The Walden Woods Project
Walden Pond State Reservation with the National Park Service
The Thoreau Society
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Read one...
Please read one of these articles and take notes on the concepts presented in this source.
1. Leslie Owen Wilson's "The Second Principle: Types of Creative Thinking"
2. David Kirp's "How to Fix the Country's Failing Schools. And How Not To"
3. Liz Coleman's "A Call to Reinvent Liberal Arts Education"
4. James Heckman's "The Economics of Inequality: The Value of Early Childhood Education"
5. Cindy Long's "Four-Day School Weeks More Popular, But Impact on Students and Educators Unclear"
6. Pete Bavis, Beth Arey and Dale Leibforth's "Advanced Placement: An Open Invitation"
1. Leslie Owen Wilson's "The Second Principle: Types of Creative Thinking"
2. David Kirp's "How to Fix the Country's Failing Schools. And How Not To"
3. Liz Coleman's "A Call to Reinvent Liberal Arts Education"
4. James Heckman's "The Economics of Inequality: The Value of Early Childhood Education"
5. Cindy Long's "Four-Day School Weeks More Popular, But Impact on Students and Educators Unclear"
6. Pete Bavis, Beth Arey and Dale Leibforth's "Advanced Placement: An Open Invitation"
Monday, February 8, 2016
Education unit responsive writing
Throughout this week, please watch one TED Talk from either these talks or these selected talks that relates to and will further extend upon ideas of interest to you from Monday's discussion groups.
In a comparison response, offer a summary of how the TED speaker's ideas are interconnected with the article's claims, and how/why you feel this is an important aspect of educational reform to explore.
In a comparison response, offer a summary of how the TED speaker's ideas are interconnected with the article's claims, and how/why you feel this is an important aspect of educational reform to explore.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Synthesis Project and Presentation
In class today, we will be working on the group synthesis essay
project and a collective response to go along with the subject of
literacy. The directions for this project are as follows:
For this short presentation, you will work in groups of 3-4 to:
1. Consider the following prompt:
Reading has long been considered a fundamental aspect to learning. Benjamin Franklin, amongst countless others, knew of the importance of reading not only to an individual’s growth, but to the growth of society as a whole. It was with this initiative in mind that he and fellow colonial citizens created the public library system in America. Recently, through a variety of economic and technologically progressive circumstances, public libraries (including those in public schools) have been forced to be consolidated in locations, reduced in hours or staffing, or eliminated from communities nationwide entirely.
Imagine that a community is considering these measures be taken in their local library branch and school libraries.
Carefully read the following seven sources. Then, synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that identifies the key issues associated with this problem of eliminating public libraries and examines the implications of these choices for the community.
Make sure that your argument is central; use the sources to support and illustrate your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may cite the sources according to the last name of the author, or the publication for the graphic.
2. Discuss the various stances that could be taken in response.
3. Decide on your group's claim and develop a thesis statement.
4. Choose and justify the sources which you would use to support your position and to develop your counterargument.
5. Outline the main points and supporting details from the various referenced sources.
6. Decide who will present which aspect, so that each person in the group is speaking at least once.
7. Present on Wednesday! If you will not be present, your assignment is to write the synthesis essay.
Read, summarize and respond to your assigned article below:
Article 1: "Why to Read: 10 Reasons Why Reading Books Will Save Your Life"
Article 2: "Reading Books is Fundamental" by Charles Blow, New York Times, 1/22/14
Article 3: "Millennials are Outreading Older Generations"
Article 4: "Next Time Someone Says the Internet Killed Reading..."
Article 5: "The Most Important Lesson Schools Can Teach about Reading"
Article 6: "Reading is not a Skill"
Article 7: "A Country Without Libraries"
For this short presentation, you will work in groups of 3-4 to:
1. Consider the following prompt:
Reading has long been considered a fundamental aspect to learning. Benjamin Franklin, amongst countless others, knew of the importance of reading not only to an individual’s growth, but to the growth of society as a whole. It was with this initiative in mind that he and fellow colonial citizens created the public library system in America. Recently, through a variety of economic and technologically progressive circumstances, public libraries (including those in public schools) have been forced to be consolidated in locations, reduced in hours or staffing, or eliminated from communities nationwide entirely.
Imagine that a community is considering these measures be taken in their local library branch and school libraries.
Carefully read the following seven sources. Then, synthesize information from at least three of the sources and incorporate it into a coherent, well-developed essay that identifies the key issues associated with this problem of eliminating public libraries and examines the implications of these choices for the community.
Make sure that your argument is central; use the sources to support and illustrate your reasoning. Avoid merely summarizing the sources. Indicate clearly which sources you are drawing from, whether through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. You may cite the sources according to the last name of the author, or the publication for the graphic.
3. Decide on your group's claim and develop a thesis statement.
4. Choose and justify the sources which you would use to support your position and to develop your counterargument.
5. Outline the main points and supporting details from the various referenced sources.
6. Decide who will present which aspect, so that each person in the group is speaking at least once.
7. Present on Wednesday! If you will not be present, your assignment is to write the synthesis essay.
Read, summarize and respond to your assigned article below:
Article 1: "Why to Read: 10 Reasons Why Reading Books Will Save Your Life"
Article 2: "Reading Books is Fundamental" by Charles Blow, New York Times, 1/22/14
Article 3: "Millennials are Outreading Older Generations"
Article 4: "Next Time Someone Says the Internet Killed Reading..."
Article 5: "The Most Important Lesson Schools Can Teach about Reading"
Article 6: "Reading is not a Skill"
Article 7: "A Country Without Libraries"
Friday, December 18, 2015
The Season of Giving and Gratitude
This season is often associated with good cheer, generosity, and togetherness! As you get together with others and send well wishes for the holidays and the new year, it is kind and thoughtful to show appreciation and gratitude for the role that someone else has played in shaping you, helping you through a difficult time, or just always being there for you.
I have provided "thank you cards" for you to write a letter expressing your gratitude to this person, putting your great language skills to work to make someone's day or whole Christmas! :)
If you are not in the spirit to do this today, take a card with you to write your letter at home.
You are also welcome to spend some time reading some thoughtful true stories in the most recent, holiday issue of Reader's Digest.
Hope you have a great Christmas break!
If you would like to spend some time reading To Kill a Mockingbird over break, no annotating required, I think you would enjoy it. It is honestly my favorite book ever and I am so happy you will get to experience it also! :)
(we will have our first discussion day on this book on Friday, January 29th, so no pressure!)
I have provided "thank you cards" for you to write a letter expressing your gratitude to this person, putting your great language skills to work to make someone's day or whole Christmas! :)
If you are not in the spirit to do this today, take a card with you to write your letter at home.
You are also welcome to spend some time reading some thoughtful true stories in the most recent, holiday issue of Reader's Digest.
Hope you have a great Christmas break!
If you would like to spend some time reading To Kill a Mockingbird over break, no annotating required, I think you would enjoy it. It is honestly my favorite book ever and I am so happy you will get to experience it also! :)
(we will have our first discussion day on this book on Friday, January 29th, so no pressure!)
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
"Superman and Me" responses
Write one style response (A or B), one voice response (C or D) and one purpose response (E or F) to "Superman and Me," including specific, supporting evidence from the piece within each response.
STYLE RESPONSE:
A. Examine the effect Sherman Alexie creates using repeated images and phrases, possibly for symbolic value, throughout the essay.
OR
B. Examine the way that Alexie's use of the same symbolic image in the beginning and also the end of the piece has an effect on the reader.
VOICE RESPONSE:
C. Explain how you feel Alexie's experiences with books shapes him and his perspective as a writer.
OR
D. How is Alexie's voice reflective of the fact that he is an adult looking back on these experiences with a more mature awareness of what was occurring?
PURPOSE RESPONSE:
E. Discuss the purpose you feel Alexie has in writing this essay, and whom you believe his intended audience to be.
OR
F. Consider if this piece is an essay about reading, culture, or the importance of literacy itself.
STYLE RESPONSE:
A. Examine the effect Sherman Alexie creates using repeated images and phrases, possibly for symbolic value, throughout the essay.
OR
B. Examine the way that Alexie's use of the same symbolic image in the beginning and also the end of the piece has an effect on the reader.
VOICE RESPONSE:
C. Explain how you feel Alexie's experiences with books shapes him and his perspective as a writer.
OR
D. How is Alexie's voice reflective of the fact that he is an adult looking back on these experiences with a more mature awareness of what was occurring?
PURPOSE RESPONSE:
E. Discuss the purpose you feel Alexie has in writing this essay, and whom you believe his intended audience to be.
OR
F. Consider if this piece is an essay about reading, culture, or the importance of literacy itself.
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