7th Grade English (Period 3) Assignments

Students need to finish writing their persuasive article. They had time to work on them in class. We will be reworking their rough drafts in class on Monday. The final drafts will be due on Tuesday.

Students are required to submit a bookreport project on June 5. This was assigned to them a few weeks ago. Books have been selected by students. Attached below is the project paper! The project is worth 100 points and will NOT be accepted after June 5th! Happy reading!

There are two items of importance to note:


1. BOOK REPORT PROJECTS ARE DUE ON FRIDAY!!!! I know I am shouting in the language of technoloy, but that is how important this project is!

2. This week we are working on persuasive writing in-class. Students will have little homework, as they are going through each step in the classroom. Please ask your student about what they are doing or ask to see what they are working on. They will take their work home until I collect it on Thursday (at the earliest) or Friday (more likely). Each student will have a topic selected and conduct in-class research to back up their assertions. Students MAY CHOOSE to do additional research on their own outside of class to strengthen their argument.

Students are following an author's argument. We demonstrated doing this in class using the article, "Mirror, Mirror". They are to create an author's argument mobile. Please see the attached directions and worksheet. I will provide string on Thursday.

Students were given a fact and opinion graphic organizer based on "America the Not So Beautiful" They need to have it completed by Thurs. 5/21/09 We will be using it to pair share on Thursday. Also, students need to have their videotaping permission slip and their book report notification slips signed and returned by Thursday.

Fact V. Opinion worksheet ---started in class.

Assigned on Friday 5/8/09

Student will have two sheets of questions to answer based on the three texts assigned in class. Students will have time to work on the questions in class. Whatever they do not finish, they will take home for homework.

***Note: Number three on the second page requires a full page of work. It should be done on a separate piece of paper.

PS A little typo in the attachment! It should read Unit text questions.

Persuasion logs

Students have 24 hours to track their use of persuasion and the persuasion others try to use on them.

Part One: Students were given the article "Smile" in class. On the back of the article, they are to answer the following question:

Is this article persuasive? Why or why not? Expand on your thoughts.

The answer should be written in PARAGRAPH FORM.

Part Two: Students were asked to writ a short article (like "Smile") that convinces the reader to do something nice (ie. help out at home, give hugs, be polite, do community service, etc.)

We discussed Fesitval of Books attendance and review grammar from Friday's video.
Two worksheets were given as homework.

**Worksheet on appositives.

**Worksheet on subjects and predicates.

These are due on Tuesday

Students must create a word chandelier by selecting two root words. Please see the attached sheet.

1st half of class: Students attended the book fair. Hopefully, they found several cool books that they would like to add to their home collection. They may wish to ask parents for money and purchase books. It is open all next week.

2nd half of class: Students were given a spelling/grammar sheet that focuses on plural forms and dropping a 'y' and adding 'i'. If they did not finish this in class, this is due on Friday.

Students read THE TREASURE OF LEMON BROWN in class(p. 475 in the Literature Book.) If they did not finish it, then the must finish it as homework. There will be a short quiz on it Tuesday.

Please download the attachment for Spring Break Extra Credit.

****Hamburger Graphic Organizer---Use the graphic organizer to lay out your assigned response.

Paragraph one: Top bun=Thesis, Bacon=background (plot summary, about the author, etc.)

Paragraphs two-four: Cheese=Citation(evidence/quotes from the text)
Meat=Meaning or explain how the citation/evidence supports the thesis.

Paragraph five: Closing bun=Conclusion

***"After Twenty Years" response. This will be a five-paragraph essay! Identify the theme and explain how the author establishes the theme by presenting evidence from the text. Hint: You might want to use the notes you made during your dispatch.

Students should fill in the five rectangles on their "Recurring Theme" worksheet. Each students was assigned a story....either PAPA'S PARROT or THE WHITE UMBRELLA. Most of this was completed in class. If not, it was sent as homework.

**Added Note 3/24 ---Apologies for the site being down for all of those who tried the other night. I am not sure what was going on.

Students have a graphic organizer to fill out in regards to using a gender lens. Students should pick a character from "Seventh Grade" to use with the graphic organizer. They are to then answer the payout question. (Does the character fit the stereotype of a man/woman as set by society.)

Written summary worksheet.

This is an extra credit opportunity for any student checking the website. Please download the attachment and print it to redeem. This offer valid only on March 17th!

Students are to complete pages 443-444 (PAPPA'S PARROT) in the textbook. Next week we will have a quiz over chapters 1-5 in FREAK THE MIGHTY.

There was not going to be homework tonight, but too many students did not do the homework assigned on Friday. Students must complete their homework tonight. It will not be accepted after Tuesday. Lit. book Pgs. 443-444

Read "PAPA'S PARROT" (p.442). Be ready to provide a theme for the story on Friday.

Students are to finish reading "TWO KINDS" on their own. The story can be found on P. 16 of their textbook. Students must then choose the most memorable moment in the story and illustrate it. They should include a caption underneath the illustration. YES---stick people are fine!

Students should make sure they have read "The Big Deal" worksheet on theme. Students should complete the theme graphic organizer provided to them. Please list the theme from "Two Kinds" (p.16) and provide evidence/explanations to support their choice of theme.

Students should have read through chapter 5 in FREAK THE MIGHTY.

PETALS!!!!

We are creating a character trait garden for our classroom. Students are using a petal handout to focus on a character trait of a character of their choice (Victor, Michael, Mr. Bueller, Theresa---from "7th Grade" by Gary Soto, p. 116-121) The character's name and trait will go in the middle. The petals will contain evidence supporting the claim. Petals are divided into four pieces of evidence: actions, words/dialogue, beliefs/thoughts, and interactions. Petals should include page numbers where evidence is found. Students may decorate the petals as they see fit in order to make our garden as lovely as can be! Students may draw their own petals (they complain that mine looks like a band-aid flower!)

If you were not here on Friday (2/13), please read through page 6 in FREAK THE MIGHTY. HOMEWORK: By Tuesday (2/17/09) Make sure you have read "7th Grade" by Gary Soto (Literature Book pgs. 116-121) and answer questions 1-6 on pg. 121.

Write a paragraph that explains what you think identity means. What makes up identity? One thing? Two things? Be prepared to share your ideas with the class.

Students will answer questions 1,2,and 3 from p. 712 of the textbook.
They are reading "Cremation of Sam McGee" in class. They may refer back to the poem to answer the questions. This is a short assignment given to all classes to help set up the next unit: RESPONSE TO LITERATURE .

This is the last week of our unit/semester. We will be reviewing expository writing, narrative writing and research skills by working on the essay assignment for Mrs. Escalante in class. Students will be required to bring their essay and materials every day. They will be given rewrite assignments on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to what we cover in class. Students should come prepared with their introduction to the essay for Tuesday's class. In addition, their text book will be required on Wednesday through Friday. We will begin reading a great amount from it in the upcoming unit.

The file containing the directions for The Great Wall essay is located below! Please feel free to print an extra copy if needed.

Marley and Me Extra Credit

25 points

Due 1/30/09 (Friday)

See website for details.