I know your syllabus says that the class blog is here, but it has actually moved. Please find our new, improved class blog here: https://sites.google.com/site/freemanosaurus/

There is a writing component of your final exam. Instead of having you do the writing on the day of the exam, I am having you do the essay early. You had the opportunity to work on it in class today, you may work on it over the weekend, and you will have all class period Monday to work on it. It is due at the end of the hour Monday.

Notes: This is to be a five (5) paragraph essay. Be sure to have a THESIS STATEMENT in your introductory paragraph (at the end of intor paragraph). The next three paragraphs should each focus on ONE argument to support your position. You should also offer rebuttal of the opposing argument (“The other side might say ______ but they are wrong because ______.”). You may do this in your three body paragraphs or you may write an additional paragraph before your conclusion that rebuts the opposition. Then your conclusion should summarize your arguments and restate (in different words) your thesis. Easy, right?

I would post the prompt here, but it won’t do you much good without the other information, so you can find it all here: Final Exam Persuasive Writing.

E-mail me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns! madeline.freeman(at)gmail.com.

I promised I’d post this for students who didn’t turn in this assignment.

You’re welcome, Kim.

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MLA Style Practice

Directions: Using the notes given in class, write appropriate MLA Works Cited page citations for the following works (on a separate sheet of paper). Be sure to use quotation marks and underlining where appropriate. Also, be sure to use a hanging indent (like these directions!) Also, be mindful of double spacing.

1. The Bonesetter’s Daughter (book); Amy Tan; Putnam; NY; 2001

2. Bird by Bird (book); Anne Lamot; NY; Oct. 1995; Anchor Books

3. Detroit Free Press; 19 January 05; Airbus’ New Airliner: Winged Cruise Ship (article); p 2 B

4. an article called History Moving North written by Robert D. Kaplan and published February of 1997 in the Atlantic Monthly; found on pages 21 to 27

5. article title: Body Dissatisfaction in Adolescent Boys and Girls: Objectified Body Consciousness, Internalization of the Media Body Ideal and Perceived Pressure from Media; authors: Christine Knauss, Susan J. Paxton, Francoise D. Alasker; publication date: Nov. 2008; access date: 10 May 2010; volume 59 no 9/10; pages 633-643; found via WilsonSelectPlus (OCLC First Search); journal title: Sex Roles

6. article found online via WilsonSelectPlus (OCLC First Search); authors: Brit Harper, Marika Tiggermann; title: The Effect of Thin Ideal Media Images on Women’s Self-Objectification, Mood, and Body Image; journal title: Sex Roles, volume 58, no 9/10; published May 2008. accessed 10 May 2010; p. 649-57

Favorite – 24 May
Write about your favorite something.

Cell Phones – 25 May
What role do cell phones play in your life? Are they necessary in today’s society? Explain. What would happen if cell phones were to cease working today and never start working again? Why?

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 Monday: We listened to Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Focus for listening: How does what King has to say connect with what is happening to our characters in the novel?

Find audio and text of the speech here: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Tuesday: Argumentative essays due today. They will be accepted Wednesday without penalty and Thursday (but at a deficit on Thursday). Essays will not be accepted after Thursday.

What parts of King’s speech are illustrated in The Bluest Eye? Use excerpts from the speech and specific references to the text to support your answer. **Your response should be at least a page long.

Example: In the third paragraph of the speech, King says that “the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the…chains of discrimination.” We see this in The Bluest Eye in many scenes, including when Pecola goes to the store to buy the Mary Jane candies. Mr. Yackobowski, the white store owner, doesn’t even really look at Pecola and does not want to touch her hand to take her money.

Et cetera.

Fights – 20 May
What things prompt people to fight? Are there any reasons that are particularly good or bad? Or, explain the reasons for a fight you’ve been part of. **Note: “Fight” doesn’t necessarily mean a physical fight.

Relatives – 21 May
Who is your favorite relative? Describe this person. Why is he/she your favorite?

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Don’t forget, your essay is due on Tuesday. Below are some of the informational sheets, if you don’t have them:
Argumentative Essay Information Sheet
Basic Guide to MLA Citations

Also, read The Bluest Eye to page 131 by Tuesday. The assignment can be found here: TBE Study Guide Part Three.

Spring – 17 May
What is your favorite thing about spring? Why? If you don’t like Spring, what season do you like? Why?

Fiction – 18 May
Imagine you could be an active participant in a work of fiction (book, movie). What work of fiction would you participate in? Why? Would you be an existing character or someone else? Would you adhere to existing story lines or change them? Be creative!

Free Write – 19 May

Write on the topic of your choice for about five minutes.

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Your argumentative essay is due less than a week from today! It’s due Tuesday, May 25.

You should be read to at least page 93 in The Bluest Eye–and you should have the questions for Winter done. We’ll be talking about the book tomorrow.

Argumentative Essay – 11 May
How ar you doing on your essay? What still needs to be done? If you are lost, what questions do you need to ask? What information/guidance do you still need?

Dreams – 12 May
Describe a dream of yours, either one you’ve had while sleeping or one you have for your life.

Free Write – 14 May
Write on the topic of your choice for about five minutes.

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For Monday, you should be read to page 93 in The Bluest Eye and have the Winter study guide questions answered. They can be found HERE.

Monday we will be taking a look at just how to write our argumentative essays. Fun times! Come armed with questions, comments, and concerns.

Favorite Toy – 10 May

What was your favorite toy as a child (or what’s your favorite toy now)? What made it your favorite?

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Today we began a Part One review of The Bluest Eye. You have a quiz on Part One (“Autumn”) on Wednesday. The review is also due Wednesday.

We will be in the computer lab on Thursday to work on your argumentative essays.

Weekend – 26 April
Write about what you did over the weekend. Or write about what you wish you’d done over the weekend.

Genetic Modification – 27 April
More and more farmers and food manufacturers are genetically modifying their crops to reduce susceptibility to disease, improve flavor, and reduce costs. Do you think genetically modifying foods is a good idea? Why or why not? Give specific examples to support your answer.

Wednesday – 29 April
Describe, in detail, what you did on yesterday’s “day off.”

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 Monday: Informational packet about argumentative essays and questions to answer

Tuesday: Two articles about different ethnic groups and their reaction to some prevailing ideas of beauty and reflection questions

Thursday: Intro to The Bluest Eye; HW: Read the prologue and think about the answers to some questions regarding it in preparation for class discussion Friday

Friday: Discuss the prologue; class discussion; HW: Read pages 9-23 and answer the given questions (if you don’t have them, e-mail me and I can send them to you)

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Note: If you got a 68% or lower on your Literary Terms (open note) quiz, you may schedule a retake with me for before or after school next week. You are encouraged to do this.

You Should Go Here- 21 April
Have you ever traveled to a place that you found very meaningful and rewarding? Write to persuade others to visit this important place. (Or free write.)

Military – 22 April
In many countries, citizens are required to serve in the military for a year or more. Do you believe the U.S. should institute a similar practice? Why or why not? Use specific examples to support your answer.

Blessings in Disguise – 23 April
Sometimes something negative turns out to be positive–a “blessing in disguise.” Describe a time in your life when something bad turned out to be good. (Or free write.)

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On Wednesday, you were assigned an argumentative essay. You will find the specifications below.

If you’re looking for a place to start researching, try http://www.mel.org. Click on MeL Databases on the main page. I suggest starting with the WilsonSelectPlus database, but feel free to check out others.

On Thursday, you were given two linking texts to read over. On Friday we discussed them and we viewed three videos having to do with Photoshop and the idea of “beauty.”

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Argumentative Essay

Due: Tuesday, May 25

  Objective: To research a thesis and write an argumentative essay.

• In an argumentative essay, you must take a position and support it (argue that your position is correct or should be addressed, etc.).
• You should also refute the opposing side (i.e., tell why the other side is incorrect: “Some may argue that a young girl’s body image is not affected by what she sees on TV and in the media; however, research shows that…”).
• You may not use first person (“I think…”) or second person (“As you can see…”)

 

Topic: The effect of society’s view of beauty/attractiveness

• Note: Your interpretation of this topic is key. The topic is broad and you can take it in a direction that seems interesting to you.

  

Specifications:

• at least two (2) pages (typed, double spaced, size 12 Times New Roman—yes, it must be typed!)
  • If you do not have a computer at home, you will need to make arrangements to type up your assignment.
• The essay will have to conform to MLA standards for format. We have discussed this briefly, and will talk about it again to refresh your memory.
• 3 sources, 5 citations
  • All in-text citations must be formatted in MLA style (info to follow).
    • Be sure to credit any ideas or information you get from an outside source, even if you put it in your own words (it’s called paraphrasing). If you do not give credit to your source, it is considered plagiarism and you will receive a zero (0) on the assignment, no discussion.
  • All sources must be listed and cited in MLA style (info to follow).
• We will have a limited amount of time in the computer lab. It is likely that you will have to do research on your own time.

 

 Due Date:

• This essay is due Tuesday, May 25.
  • You may submit rough drafts to me up until Thursday, May 20 to have critiqued and returned 
• Yes, I will check to see if you MLA formatting is correct.
• You may submit your final draft before the due date.

  

Final Notes:

• If you have any questions during the writing of this essay, do not hesitate to ask me to help!