Wednesday, February 23, 2011

English 8: Assignment # 8

In Sandra Cisnero's The House on Mango Street, the protagonist Esperanza used "hair" as the jump off in introducing the members of her family.  She focused most of the vignette on her mother because that's who she has her strongest feelings for in her family. 

Assignment: Try to emulate Cisneros' vignette "Hairs" by picking a characteristic or trait about each memebr of YOUR family.  You have to pick at least FIVE family members to write about - remember, it does not have to be a long description of each.  However, the reader needs to be able to learn something specific about each family member...and yes, I would like you to spend a little more time on the member of your family that is closest to you.  Remember to use as much figuartive language as possible, as you are writing a vignette and not "just a paragraph."  Good luck...I can't wait to read these.

English 7 (ALL CLASSES): Assignment # 8

Read this carefully, DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS to this topic.  Instead, EMAIL ME directly at RVergara@elmsd.org

Assignment:  Edit the following paragraph.  Retype it and make the corrections.  Correct all the mistakes in BOLD and do not create any new errors, so BE CAREFUL!! Not every sentence will have an error. Good luck!

     There are many wonderful artists, musicians, and writers that I could have chosen for you to research.  However there are three people who I think are especially important for student to know about:.   Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, and Billie Holiday.  These three women deserve a closer look, especially during "Black History Month. 
     It is my hope that you did more than just cut and paste information from a website.  True learning can only take place when a student wants to learn on his/her own and goes beyond the expectations of the teacher many people think that learning only takes place in the classroom with a teacher.  Although teachers (and parents for that matter) play an important role in the learning process - its the student who needs to shoulder the responsibility and educate themselves, too.  For example the student who decided to go and listen to music by Billie Holiday on one of the many music sites offered online is the student who will truly learn something.   Furthermore, the student who goes out and finds some of Maya or Toni's poetry or books is the one who will have a huge edge on the other students. 
   Obviously, I didn't pick the names of these ground-breaking woman out of a hat. They were chosen four a particular reason and with the intention that many of you wood take it a step further.  If you did, then I'm proud of you and more importanly, you should be proud of yourself.  If you didn't, theres still time to educate yourself...make it happen, captain!!

Monday, February 21, 2011

English 7 (PERIOD 4): Assignment # 7

Please Note:  This assignment is for Period 4 only - each class will have a different topic to research.   So if you're in my Period 1 or 3 English class - go back to the home page now and look for the assignment that pertains to YOUR class.  Listen James, just focus on your class - if you want extra credit, do this on loose-leaf and hand it to me when we come back next week.  Thanks.

I did an assignment similar to this with the 8th graders, so if you're confused you can look at the 8th Grade Assignment and view how this should look - of course, you'll have to wait until at least 2 students complete their post (you'll see what I mean).  Basically, I want you to brush up on your researching skills and work together as a class to create a fact based document about someone.  I want each student to "piggy-back" the student who posted before you and "add" to the list of details/facts.  We have 19 kids in the class, by the end of this we'll have hopefully have 38 "notes" on our subject. It's important to read what has previously been posted  as to not have any repetition.

Assignment: Please research   Mya Angelou (writer, poet) and post two interesting facts/details about her.  You must use at two different sources (doesn't have to be online - feel free to use a book, encyclopedia, magazine, etc.)  and include your source in parenthesis.  You are not permitted to use "Wikipedia" or any on it's off-shoots.  Remember to read your classmates comments before posting, we do not want any repeats!  Good luck and look for a new assignment on Wednesday!!

For example:  Topic:   W. Axl Rose (Singer - Guns N Roses)

Lets say Emily posts the following three facts:

1. Axl sang in his church choir as a boy. (Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis)
2. He wrote the lyrics to "Sweet Child O' Mine" about his girlfriend, Erin Everly. (Rolling Stone.com)
3. Axl and guitarist Izzy Stradlin performed "Salt of the Earth" with the Rolling Stones in Atlantic City  December 19, 1989. (Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis)

The next person to post might be Tyler.  His post would look like this:

4. Axl walked off-stage in St. Louis in 1990 instigating a riot that injured hundreds of people (VH1.com).
5. He and guitaritst Traci Guns formed the band LA Guns in 1984 (The Most Dangerous Band in the World by Mick Wall
6. Axl challenged Motley Crue singer, Vince Neil to a fight during an interview with MTV's Kurt Loder in 1989 (Vh1.com)

....and the next student would start with # 7.   Got it?  Good.....enjoy!!

English 7 (PERIOD 3): Assignment # 7

Please Note:  This assignment is for Period 3 only - each class will have a different topic to research.   So if your in my Period 1 or 4 English class - go back to the home page and look for your class. Listen, read this carefully, stop rushing ahead....go back to the home page and find YOUR class.  I'm waiting.   Still waiting...thank you. 

I did an assignment similar to this with the 8th graders, so if you're confused you can look at the 8th Grade Assignment and view how this should look - of course, you'll have to wait until at least 2 students complete their post (you'll see what I mean).  Basically, I want you to brush up on your researching skills and work together as a class to create a fact based document about someone.  I want each student to "piggy-back" the student who posted before you and "add" to the list of details/facts.  We have 23 kids in the class, by the end of this we'll have hopefully have 46 "notes" on our subject. It's important to read what has previously been posted  as to not have any repetition.

Assignment: Please research   Toni Morrison (writer, poet) and post two interesting facts/details about her.  You must use at two different sources (doesn't have to be online - feel free to use a book, encyclopedia, magazine, etc.)  and include your source in parenthesis.  You are not permitted to use "Wikipedia" or any on it's off-shoots.  Remember to read your classmates comments before posting, we do not want any repeats!  Good luck and look for a new assignment on Wednesday!!

For example:  Topic:   W. Axl Rose (Singer - Guns N Roses)

Lets say Emily posts the following three facts:

1. Axl sang in his church choir as a boy. (Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis)
2. He wrote the lyrics to "Sweet Child O' Mine" about his girlfriend, Erin Everly. (Rolling Stone.com)
3. Axl and guitarist Izzy Stradlin performed "Salt of the Earth" with the Rolling Stones in Atlantic City  December 19, 1989. (Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis)

The next person to post might be Tyler.  His post would look like this:

4. Axl walked off-stage in St. Louis in 1990 instigating a riot that injured hundreds of people (VH1.com).
5. He and guitaritst Traci Guns formed the band LA Guns in 1984 (The Most Dangerous Band in the World by Mick Wall
6. Axl challenged Motley Crue singer, Vince Neil to a fight during an interview with MTV's Kurt Loder in 1989 (Vh1.com)

....and the next student would start with # 7.   Got it?  Good.....enjoy!!

English 7 (PERIOD 1): Assignment # 7

Please Note:  This assignment is for Period 1 only - each class will have a different topic to research.   So if your in my Period 3 or 4 English class - you can hit "back" on your computer and find the proper class.  Seriously...I'm waiting.   No, the "back" button to get back to the blog.  Try it again...lol. 

I did an assignment similar to this with the 8th graders, so if you're confused you can look at the 8th Grade Assignment and view how this should look - of course, you'll have to wait until at least 2 students complete their post (you'll see what I mean).  Basically, I want you to brush up on your researching skills and work together as a class to create a fact based document about someone.  I want each student to "piggy-back" the student who posted before you and "add" to the list of details/facts.  We have 21 kids in the class, by the end of this we'll have hopefully have 63 "notes" on our subject. It's important to read what has previously been posted  as to not have any repetition.

Assignment: Please research   Billie Holiday (singer) and post three interesting facts/details about her.  You must use at least two different sources (doesn't have to be online - feel free to use a book, encyclopedia, magazine, etc.)  and include your source in parenthesis.  You are not permitted to use "Wikipedia" or any on it's off-shoots.  Remember to read your classmates comments before posting, we do not want any repeats!  Good luck and look for a new assignment on Wednesday!!

For example:  Topic:   W. Axl Rose (Singer - Guns N Roses)

Lets say Olivia posts the following three facts:
1. Axl sang in his church choir as a boy. (Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis)
2. He wrote the lyrics to "Sweet Child O' Mine" about his girlfriend, Erin Everly. (Rolling Stone.com)
3. Axl and guitarist Izzy Stradlin performed "Salt of the Earth" with the Rolling Stones in Atlantic City  December 19, 1989. (Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis)

The next person to post might be Hector.  His post would look like this:

4. Axl walked off-stage in St. Louis in 1990 instigating a riot that injured hundreds of people (VH1.com).
5. He and guitaritst Traci Guns formed the band LA Guns in 1984 (The Most Dangerous Band in the World by Mick Wall
6. Axl challenged Motley Crue singer, Vince Neil to a fight during an interview with MTV's Kurt Loder in 1989 (Vh1.com)

....and the next student would start with # 7.   Got it?  Good.....enjoy!!

English 8: Assignment 7

Okay 8th graders, time to be role models for the 7th graders.  Please recall our post on Sandra Cisneros and The House on Mango Street when we posted a running list of facts about the article.  Time to do that again, except obviously we'll use a different topic...and instead of two facts, we'll try three this time.

Assignment: Please research  Otis Redding (singer) and post three interesting facts/details about him.  You must use at least two different sources (doesn't have to be online - feel free to use a book, encyclopedia, magazine, etc.)  and include your source in parenthesis.  You are not permitted to use "Wikipedia" or any on it's off-shoots.  Remember to read your classmates comments before posting, we do not want any repeats!  Good luck and look for a new assignment on Wednesday!!

For example:  Topic:   W. Axl Rose (Singer - Guns N Roses)

1. Axl sang in his church choir as a boy. (Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis)
2. He wrote the lyrics to "Sweet Child O' Mine" about his girlfriend, Erin Everly. (Rolling Stone.com)
3. Axl and guitarist Izzy Stradlin performed "Salt of the Earth" with the Rolling Stones in Atlantic City  December 19, 1989. (Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis)

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

English 8: Assignment # 6

In a 7-8 sentence paragraph, please describe both what you learned (think about the 7 principals) and what was your favorite part of  our assembly for Black History Month.  Please include:
  • Topic Sentence (Remember to make it general)
  • Specific details (use For example, For instance,)
  • Elaborate on your example (explain your point further)
  • Concluding Sentence (give the reader something to think about)
  • Proofread before posting (check your spelling, grammar, diction)
Due Date:  Friday February 18th :  7pm

English 7: Assignment # 6

In a brief 5-6 sentence paragraph, please describe both what you learned (think about the 7 principals) and what was your favorite part of  our assembly for Black History Month.  Please include:
  • Topic Sentence (Remember to make it general)
  • Specific details (use For example, For instance,)
  • Elaborate on your example (explain your point further)
  • Concluding Sentence (give the reader something to think about)
  • Proofread before posting (check your spelling, grammar, diction)
Due Date:  Friday February 18th :  9pm

Friday, February 11, 2011

Periods 3 &4: Assignment # 5

Assignment:  Please do the following work based on our lesson on class:

Convert five sentences into hyperboles.

Hyperbole examples:

1. You snore very loud......You snore like a freight train.
2. She was happy to see you....Her smile was a mile wide!
3. It's raining hard outside....It's raining cats and dogs!
4. I miss you very much...If I don't see you soon I'm going to die.
5. I knew our relationship was ending  .....I heard your suitcase say goodbye.

These are mine...you are to create YOUR OWN examples, people!!   (Updated 7:45pm)
Deadline:  Monday, Feb 14th 7:30 AM

Period 7: Assignment # 5

Assignment: Based on your reading in class, write down two things you learned about Sandra Cisneros and/or The House on Mango Street.  Keep a running total together as a class and DO NOT repeat anything. 

Deadline: February 14th (12:10 pm)

Period 1: Assignment # 5

Assignment:  Please answer the following questions about Lois Lowry's The Giver.

1. How would you describe the setting of the story?
2. Please describe the protagonist.
3. How would you describe the use of language by the characters in the story?
4. Why is the protagonist feeling "apprehensive" in chapter 1?

Deadline:  Monday, Feb 14th 7:30 AM

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

3rd Quarter Assignment: # 4 (8th Graders)

In your own words, please define the following "points of view."

1. First Person
2. Second Person
3. Third Person
4. Third Person Omniscient
5. Third Person Limited

DEADLINE:  7:30am 2/11

3rd Quarter Assignment: # 4 (7th Graders)

 Read the following poem and write at least two examples of figurative language (hyperbole, simile, metaphor, personification, allusion, repetition, onomatopoeia, or alliteration)


Racism has a human heart
An artery of cruelty & death,
It bleeds the blood of anger
Like Nero playing his fiddle while Eden burns

Racism creeps through our streets

He plays with his friends terror & delusion,
But whimpers in the corner when challenged by true intellect

So challenge him to a game of chess

He will fiercely attack the weaker minds
Be careful not to fall into his river of ignorance

Education will minimize his strength
And allow you embrace equality

Deadline: 7:30am 2/11

Friday, February 4, 2011

3rd Quarter Assignment: # 3 (8th Graders)

Assignment: Read the quote below and write a response following the guidelines.

"Preservation* of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures."
                                                                                                     - Cesar Chavez
*7th Grade Vocabulary Word
  • Interpret the quotation in your own words
  • Agree or Disagree with the quote and explain why
  • Explain who Cesar Chavez is and why he would say this
  • Response must be at least 7-8 sentences 
Deadline: 7:30 am 2/10

    3rd Quarter Assignment: # 3 (7th Graders)

    Assignment: Read the quote below and write a response following the guidelines.

    "Preservation* of one's own culture does not require contempt or disrespect for other cultures."
                                                                                                         - Cesar Chavez
    *7th Grade Vocabulary Word
    • Interpret the quotation in your own words
    • Agree or Disagree with the quote and explain why
    • Response must be at least 4-5 sentences
    Deadline: 7:30 am 2/10