WRITING LAB: FEELING LUCKY?

STANDARD: L.6.1, L.7.1, L.8.1 Concepts: Writing and Conventions EQ: What is the difference between luck, fate, and hard work? Warm up: Get out your journals and Writing Bug- "Your Luck's About to Turn" Lesson: 1. Edit/revise your final copy of Writing Bug (Luck) 2. Open a new Word document 3. Title the document- Writing Bug Luck 4. Use MLA format with heading in top right (name, date, class period) 5. Type your final copy 6. Create or save to a folder for my class- MCNEILL 7. Wait for further instructions

January 21-22nd- Computer Lab

Log in to your computer. Go to funbrain.com, All games, and find grammar gorillas. Practice parts of speech. Go to Odyssey and play Language Arts or ELA Extension folders. If you have time, play grammar games on left side of screen. You may also work on other projects or assignments for other academic classes. Enjoy! -Ms. M.

October 21-23rd 2013 WRITING ASSIGNMENTS

Welcome to Writing Enrichment (7th/8th grade) and Study Skills (6th grade). For the next two days you will be completing various writing assignments for my class involving the 6+1 writing traits and a mini-research activity. Directions: Day 1- Format and type your timed writing (#1) in a Word document. Create a folder for my class- name it MCNEILL. Save as: timed writing 1- your name. Pay attention to conventions for this writing. Correct any mistakes (spelling, capitalization, subject-verb agreement, fragments/run-ons). Make sure you have a topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding statement. (Minimum 1 paragraph) *If you finish early, you may play games on this site, but they must be language arts/reading related. Most games are on the LEFT hand side with the exception of Free Rice (in green at the bottom of this page). COOL MATH is never allowed in the lab. All games or research sites must be approved prior to you using them and you MUST have an internet form SIGNED to be on the internet. Day 2- Choose ONE of the three topics on your 100 topic sheet and type it out in the same format as Day 1 Timed Writing. Make sure you have a heading, title, and at least 1-3 paragraphs (you may write more if you choose). Format: Times New Roman; 14 point font. Headings are SINGLE SPACED. Body paragraphs are DOUBLE SPACED. Indent (TAB) each paragraph. When you finish typing your second writing, choose ONE from the following menu for your mini-research project: CHOICE MENU: (CHOOSE 1) 1. CHOICE #1: Research an URBAN LEGEND or myth. (Bigfoot, Chubakabra, UFOs/Roswell, Bloody Mary, Loch Ness Monster)Keep track of your secondary sources (internet sites). Take notes on 5 W+H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How) Be able to explain your legend or myth to the class and decide if you believe in the legend/myth. Write a 1-3 page summary of your research, then...write a concluding paragraph stating your opinion/belief about the legend. Use your source to back up your position statement. CHOICE #2. Write a creative, scary story of your own (1-2 pages, double-spaced). You may write it in 1st or 3rd person, but your story must include at least three characters, a basic "plot," conflict (man v. man, man v. nature, man v. society), and have a beginning, middle, and end. You need to use sensory details, create a "spooky" or ominous "mood," and show 5 parts of the plot: introduction (setting/characters), rising action, turning point, falling action, and a resolution. CHOICE #3: Research the SALEM WITCH TRIALS using the links below: Make sure you take notes on the 5Ws +H (Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How)and keep track of your sources. Write a 1-3 paragraph summary of the trials. Then, research the McCarthy hearings/trials. Take notes and keep track of your sources. Write a 1-3 paragraph summary of your research and answer the following questions in a Word document. 1. How do the Salem Witch trials compare to the McCarthy hearings? 2. What "real world" behaviors or news relates to these trials? 3. Do you think, according to your research, that the "witches" accused in the trials were real? (Additional reading/higher order thinking- http://www.salemwitchtrials.com/books.html) 4. Do you think our government (or other countries) use fear as a tactic for motivating citizens? Why/Why not? 5. What did you learn from this assignment? CHOICE #4: Tell-Tale Heart- Edgar Allen Poe EQ: What is the difference between tone and mood? Warm up: Read the intro paragraph in the following link: http://poestories.com/read/telltaleheart Lesson: READ "The Tell-Tale Heart" (link above) Write 1-3 paragraphs about the story elements: characters, setting, basic 5 parts of the plot: exposition, rising action, turning point, falling action, resolution- and answer the following questions in a WORD document. Save as POE assignment-MCNEILL and "save as" in my folder you created yesterday. 1. What is the TONE of the story (author's or narrator's attitude) 2. What is the MOOD of the story? Quote a few lines from the story to show your understanding of the text. 3. What point of view is the story written from? (1st or 3rd?) 4. How does the point of view affect the mood (eerie/creepy) of the story? 5. How does this story compare to other scary stories, movies, or tv shows of today? Which do you like better? Explain.

RESEARCH PAPER DIRECTIONS

STANDARD: ELAW8.2 (DOCUMENTATION OF SOURCES)

DATE: 2-25-13

EQ: How do I organize and cite textual evidence using Works Cited and parenthetical documentation?

DIRECTIONS: WE ARE GOING TO WORK ON FORMATTING YOUR PAPER TODAY.

1.       Sign for your computer.

2.       Log in and go to Word.

3.       Open a “NEW” document.

4.       Choose Times New Roman, 14 pnt. font

5.       In the top, right-hand corner- Type the following (single spaced; right justified)

Name

Date

Class period

6.       Enter twice and type your title. Capitalize your title. Enter twice.

7.       Go to PAGE LAYOUT at the top.Under “paragraph,” click the small arrow.

Go to “LINE SPACING” and choose DOUBLE.

8.       Tab for your introductory paragraph, each body paragraph, and your conclusion.

9.       Your WORKS CITED page will be your last page. You will type your heading (Name, date, class period) on it as well. When you are finished typing your entire paper, your Works Cited goes on its own page with your heading and the words “Works Cited” will be centered on the page. Your sources will be alphabetical and numbered. (See the following websites for examples):

http://www.umuc.edu/library/libhow/mla_examples.cfm

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/12/

Message to all classes...

Changes coming for fall...
As your teacher over this year, I have tried to prepare you for life outside the classroom and hopefully given you some life skills and "real world" application as well. One lesson you will need to learn in life is flexibility. We may not always like the changes that are thrown our way, but we learn to deal with them, hopefully gracefully. It is with a heavy heart that I say I will not be teaching most of you next year, but be assured that you are in expert hands. As I understand it I will be teaching 8th grade "regular" classes and welcome the opportunity to grow and learn the new Common Core standards that all ELA will be using this year. You may still use all resources on the sites I've given you. All the summer work you did (hopefully the reading) will not be wasted. Good luck as we approach the new year and continue to grow and learn all we can. You will be better for it and you have made me a better teacher having taught you.
With gratitude,
Ms. M., your "Captain"

Amazing resources for summer...

Want to do some summer reading online? Join us in our online bookclub...go to
masoncreekpc.blogspot.com for directions on how to read from Follett books or our online bookclub at bookglutton.com 

...and don't forget your online grammar book with interactive writing topics! my.hrw.com 
You will need your username/password that you used this year to access it.

Questions? Email: tracymcneill@att.net

Have a great, restful summer...read some good books and have some great stories for your narrative writing when we come back ;)

-Ms. M.

6th grade: ELEVEN

You will be reading the short story, "Eleven," by Sandra Cisneros. In addition to your in class reading you will complete a journal and other writings related to the story. Start brainstorming your childhood memories...are there things you do now that remind you of when you were younger? Also, you need to be practicing Odyssey, OAS, and CRCT review at home nightly. Don't tell mom and dad that you do not have homework! 7 CLASS DAYS UNTIL TESTING...and...you are going to ROCK it!!!
- Ms. M.