Class Work

1. "I Can't Think" in-class writing - Quick Write - 15 minutes - take a few minute to review the article.

Essay topic: Do you agree or disagree with Beagley? Is society on information overload, or are we the most fortunate society to have existed since the beginning of time?

2. Group Activity

A. "Why Reality TV is Good for Us" by James Poniewozik: http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,421047,00.html
B. "When Reality TV Gets Too Real" by Jeremy W. Peters: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/business/media/08reality.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
C. "The Whole World Is Watching" by Thomas I. Friedman: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/opinion/27friedman.html
D. "YouTube This!" by Joe Queenan: http://articles.latimes.com/2007/jul/08/opinion/op-queenan8 (This article slams article "C".)
E. "Why the Internet Will Fail"  by Clifford Stoll: http://threewordchant.com/2010/02/24/why-the-internet-will-fail-from-1995/
F. Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation by Dan Tapscott:
http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/jan98/feat_6/digital.html
OR
http://www.consulttci.com/Book_reviews/growing_up_digital.htm

Join one of these groups. Do the following:
1. Read the article.
2. Discuss the article.
3. Identify the thesis - what's the point of the essay?
4. Identify the key reasons why the author believes this point is true.
5. Explain why the author is or is not correct. Share an example or two from your life.

Your group will share what you discovered with the class. You have 30 minutes to read, discuss, and prepare to share.

Homework: Read all articles. Write a two-three sentence summary of each. Then, write a one-page reflection on the article that you agree OR disagree with the most. Explain your point of view and provide an example from life to support your brief argument.

October 27, 2015 - Tuesday

Class Work

What "gadget" did you research? What did you discover about its history?

What are the dangers of technology? How real is too real? Are video games good for children?

Today we will explore.

The Veldt by Ray Bradbury - video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVlWeA3RhcQ


Short Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSoigRHHNLM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px7ihSd9bXM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYQuOX-NQIY

Class Activity
"I Can't Think" by Sharon Begley
http://www.sharonlbegley.com/the-science-of-making-decisions

Read the entire article for homework.

Homework
Read the "I Can't Think" article and be ready to discuss and write in class on Thursday. Have an example ready from your life or from the news.

October 22, 2015 - Thursday

Class Work

1. We will finish the presentations. Please take out your "quiz" notes and continue. Keep your fingers crossed! We need the equipment to work - GO TECHNOLOGY!
2. App discussion - Share your app remarks with several others in the class. List your app on the board. Let's see which was most popular!
3. Did you realize that there is no future in Back to the Future?
4. "There Will Come Soft Rains" by Ray Bradbury - as we read this, keep track of the futuristic inventions that are just the norm today.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzbtlcAsIeTnTlNmSnhOV010bHM/edit?pli=1 (Story)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzhlU8rXgHc Story read by Leonard Nimoy

5. Homework: Look around your home. Take an inventory of the technology there. Pick one item to study.

• Who invented the item?
• What caused a need for the item?
• What did it look like originally?
• What does it look like now?
• How much does it cost?
• How has the item changed/evolved in your life time?
• Are there any dangers associated with the item?
• Have some fun, what do you think the item will be like in the future? Think about size, cost, and function.
• If you do not see a future for your item, what will replace it? Why won't it be needed? (Think about land-line phones.)
• In 20 years, will you still own/need one? Explain.

Write this in paragraph form. The "history" part needs to be researched. Credit your sources.

October 20, 2015 - Tuesday

Class Work

Today is presentation day! You are the star. Be sure you have your homonym/twins/triplets presentation posted on CANVAS or otherwise ready to go.

At the end of each presentation, you will take the quiz! (handout provided)

If time permits, we will complete an in-class writing.

Topic: Favorite App! What is your favorite app? How much time do you spend using it? What makes it so wonderful? What do you have to do to use it? In other words, what are the instructions? How dos this app improve your life, or does it?

Finally, convince readers that they should download the app and start using it!

If we do not have time to complete this in class, finish it for homework.

October 15, 2015 - Thursday

Reminders:
1. The final copy of your health/food persuasive essay is due Tuesday. Post in CANVAS.
2. Presentations on the "twins/triplets" words will be given on Tuesday. Be sure to post your visual by the beginning of class on Tuesday. If you are making a paper poster, please take a picture of it and post the picture in CANVAS. (See the October 13 blog post for instructions.)
3. Your two quiz sentences are due today. Sample sentences may be found at http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

Class Work

1. Work on your presentation. I need the questions to test our knowledge of the homonyms you will teach us. I need a paper copy. I will compile the questions.
2. Work on your visual for the presentation. Show me your progress.

*******************************************
New unit . . .
Have we been invaded by technology? Are we prisoners or are we the most fortunate generation to ever live.

1. Groups of four . . . Create a list of all of the technology available to us in America 2015.
2. Look back at the list. Which items are beneficial? Which items are dangerous? Which items are both?
3. How dependent are you on technology? What technology have  you used in the last 24 hours?
4. How much has technology changed in your life time?

Readings: Read the articles and answer the questions. Post your responses in CANVAS by Tuesday, October 20, 2015.
A. "The Whole World Is Watching" by Thomas L. Friedman http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/27/opinion/27friedman.html?_r=0
Questions:
1. How does Friedman choose to begin his article? Is the introduction effective?
2. Is our world more transparent than the world of our great grandparents? Explain.
3. What is a "digital fingerprint"? Is a digital fingerprint a blessing or a curse in your life?
4. Google yourself. Who are you in cyberspace? How much information is "out there" about you? What might a future employer think about the information?
5. Has your privacy been invaded or are you safer because of technology?

B. "When the Patient Is a Googler" by Scott Haig
http://content.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1681838,00.html
Questions:
1. What reasons does Haig give to explain why he does not want googlers as patients?
2. I a paragraph or two, agree or disagree with Haig. Should patients research their symptoms on the Internet before seeking medical advice? What are the dangers? What are the advantages?

October 13, 2015 - Tuesday

Class Work

1. Peer editing activity:

Your draft should have posted to CANVAS. If it did not, let me know.

We will use the paper copy today. Your paper will be read by three others. (See peer editing sheet - handout)

Homework: Revise your draft. Post the final copy in CANVAS by Tuesday, October 20, 2015.

2. Taking care of writing "twins" . . .

• You will adopt one of these often confused set of look-alikes. (Draw a slip out of the box.)
• Look up the difference between the two or among the three.
• Find or draw illustrations to identify each.
• Show the "definition" of each.
• Use each correctly in a sentence.
• Create two questions to use as a quiz to "test" the class. Give these to me on Thursday, October 15, 2015.
• Show on PowerPoint, Prezi, or on a poster.
• We will share on Tuesday - that means that you will have some of the class time to work on the presentation on Thursday.

Topics:

A. Fewer/less

B. Number/amount

C. Between/among

D. Each other/ one another

E. all ready/already

F. their/there/they're

G. hear/hear

H. affect/effect

I. compare to/ compare with

J. farther/ further

K. infer/imply

L. passed/past

M. if/weather

N. maybe/may be

O. each other/one another

P. it's/ its

Q. than/then

R. Maybe/may be

S. affect/effect

T. peace/piece

U. vain/vane/vein

V. who/which/that

W. whose/who's

X. your/you're/yore

Y. to/too/two

Z. ware/wear/where

 

October 8, 2015 - Thursday

Reminder: The draft of your food/health essay is due on Tuesday, October 13, 2015. Your draft needs to:

• Identify the topic -what is "it"?
• Note the causes/history of the topic.
• Share the effects of the topic.
• Provide solutions and call readers to action.
• Provide reasons and evidence for each claim.
• Give credit to the sources you used in the essay by using in-text citations.

Post on CANVAS. Also, bring a paper copy of your draft to class for a peer editing activity. You may print from the room.

Class Work

1. In-text citations . . . all you need to know to make this EASY!
2. Simple examples: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/
http://content.easybib.com/citation-guides/mla-format/how-to-cite-a-parenthetical-citations-mla/

3. Sample Essay: http://www.dianahacker.com/pdfs/hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf
Same essay: https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/Handouts/Hacker-Sample%20MLA%20Formatted%20Paper.pdf (Just in case one site won't open, the other one should


4. Using transitions - write with style: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/transitions.htm

Happy writing! You have the information. Now, put it all together on paper.

October 6, 2015 - Tuesday

Class Work
1. Share charts - groups of two or three - Discuss.

• Do you understand the claim?
• Are the reasons sufficient? If so, what makes them so?
• Is there enough evidence for each reason?
• In what ways is the evidence believable?

Submit your chart - take a picture of it and submit it on CANVAS. If you created an electronic version, simply post. (I have a camera you may use if you need to take a picture and can't do it on your phone.) The space is now available for an electronic submission.

2. Work on the conclusion - call to action.
Now that you have outlined most of your essay, it is time to think about what you would like your audience to DO about the food/health problem. You may do this much like you did the earlier chart.
Tips: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/composition/endings.htm
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/2/60/
Don't: http://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/ending-essay-conclusions
Examples: https://www.asdk12.org/middlelink/la/writing/stepup/writing_conclusion.pdf

• You want the audience to ________________________.
• Why?
• Because: Reason #1, Reason #2, (possibly) Reason #3
• Be sure you have a result or two for each reason. The reader is asking:
• What will happen if I do this? What are the benefits?
• How much time do I need to invest in order for this to happen?
• How much will it cost?
• Will others benefit?
• Etc.

You also need a strong concluding sentence.

Homework: Either write a concluding paragraph or create a conclusion chart. Post either in CANVAS by Thursday. (15 points)

Spend the rest of the class working on the draft of your essay. Feel free to listen to music using headphones if that will help you focus. You may stay in the room; however, feel free to work at a space outside of the room.  Meet back here 10 minutes before the end of class to report your progress.

October 1, 2015 - Thursday

This was the homework:
Write the introduction to your "food/health" essay. Post in CANVAS. (25 points)

In addition, you started your research and summarized your progress.

Class Work
1. Share your introduction - groups of five. (A paper copy will work best. If you can print from here, do so. If not, go to the computer commons and print now. We will gather back here in 7 minutes.)
2. Gather in one of the four corners of the room or in the "study" wing.
3. Read your introduction to the group.
4. As a member of the group, listen. Discuss the strengths of each introduction. Also, offer a suggestion if the essay did NOT capture your attention. Remember that the goals of this introduction were to capture the attention of the audience and to introduce the topic.

**************************************************************************
1. How is your research progressing? 8:30 am group - here is an additional place for finding excellent information - your own school library is on-line 24/7. Take a look! (See handout)
2. Now that you have something to prove - a thesis - you need to prove that it is true!
3. Consider this - (Take notes on claims, reasons, and evidence.)
4. For homework, create your own chart. Provide three reasons for your claim. The evidence comes from your research. If you have no evidence for a reason, that is the jumping off point for further research! Bring a paper copy of the chart to class on Tuesday. (25 points)
5. After you have strong evidence, it will be time to state some results. Start thinking of this segment as a second claim. (If the reader believes you, what do you want the reader to do?) Conduct additional research where you look for solutions.) Post three possible solutions in CANVAS and cite your sources. (Use two or three different sources.) (15 points)
6. You may use the rest of the time to conduct research and to work on your chart.