7th Grade: Assignment # 8

The Task: Answer the following 2 questions & then email them to me at
rvergara@elmsd.org.

1. What feelings to you think Jonas had about his father and the rules under which the community lived after watching the Ceremony of Release of the newborn twin?

2. Do you sympathize with Rosemary? Do you think she was brave or cowardly? Explain


Due Date: November 4

7th Grade: Assignment # 7

The Task: Define the following words, use them in a sentence & then email them to me at rvergara@elmsd.org.

fleeting, horde, realm, glum, suppress

Example:

1. Mimic - to copy or imitate

I warned my son to watch his behavior because his younger cousin would mimic everything he did.

8th Grade: Assignment # 7

The Task: Define 4 of the following words, use them in a sentence & then email them to me at rvergara@elmsd.org.

blustered, detachment, discontent, estuary, instinctive, obscured, poultice, strenuous

Example:

1. Feinted - a movement made in order to deceive an adversary

The boxer feinted with this left hand and then jabbed with his right to strike his opponent.

8th Grade: Assignment # 6

The Task: In an 8-10 sentence paragraph please explain what you think "the red badge of courage" means and explain whether or not you think Henry earned it.

Due Date: Thursday, October 6th

7th Grade: Assignment # 6

The Task: In a brief 6-8 sentence paragraph, compare and contrast Jonas' society with our society. (Be specific and use the transitions we worked on in class)

Due Date: Friday October 7th

8th Grade: Assignment # 5

The Task: Choose TWO sets of words from the following list and write a compound sentence using both words (That's a total of TWO sentences per student)

1. Enact, Reinstate
2. Ergonomic, Synthesize
3. Vigorous, Composure
4. Allege, Reinstate
5. Invigorate, Instantaneous

Example:

1. The mayor was forced to reinstate the employee after the state committee agreed to enact the new law protecting his rights.

Due Date: Sept. 28th

8th Grade: Assignment # 4

Research "Nat Turner" and share two facts about him. Do this in the same fashion as last year. The first person to post will start with 1,2....the next person will then begin with 3,4, etc. Please carefully read the posts prior to your own posting so that we may avoid repeating information.

Due Date: Monday Sept. 26th

7th Grade: Assignment # 5

Conjunction: a word that joins words or groups of words

THE TASK: Choose 3 conjunctions from the following list and write three separate sentences (using one in each sentence) about something you have learned about either the Inuit, Cliff Dwellers, or East Indian cultures. (You may write all three sentences about one culture but you do not have to.)

after - because - provided - until - but - or - nor - for - when - although

Example:

1. I was impressed with the inner fortitude of the Inuit because they were able to survive while living in a very difficult climate.

2. The Cliff Dwellers left their homes when they realized the drought was making it impossible to grow enough food to survive.

3. Traditional dances and religious celebrations played an important part in the daily lives of most Native American cultures until the Europeans crossed the Atlantic Ocean.

Due Date: Friday Sept. 23

8th Grade: Assignment #3

The Task: Write a 4-5 sentence paragraph describing why or why not you think Frederick Douglass should be considered one of the eminent human rights activists in our country's history. (Remember to be specific).

Due Date: Monday Sept. 19th 7:30 AM

PS. This is an actual "blog" and should be posted on this site. If you do not have access to a computer, you can hand in a hard-copy.

7th Grade: Assignment # 4

The Task: On this blog - write two or three sentences about what you have learned about the Inuit (you do not have to force every detail that we've learned into your sentences). Some of your answers will overlap - that's okay!!

Due Date: Monday 7:30 AM

PS. Again, this is to be written on the blog and NOT a hard copy like the previous assignments.

7th Grade: Assignment # 3

Task: Complete Ex 1 AND Ex 4 on loose-leaf for UNIT 1.

Due Date: Wed Sept. 14th

8th Grade: Assignment # 2 (Vocabulary)

THE TASK: Complete Ex 1-4 for Unit 1 in your vocabulary book.

Due Date: Tuesday September 13

7th Grade: Assignment # 2 (Vocabulary)

THE TASK: Complete Ex 2 & 3 for Unit 1 in your vocabulary book.

Due Date: Monday September 12

8th Grade: Assignment # 1 (HARD COPY)

NOTE: This is a "hard copy" assignment, which means that your work should be written down on paper and handed in to me.

The Task: Find a newspaper, magazine, or internet article on the 9/11 Memorial and write a one page summary describing what you learned. You are required to use the worksheet (#4) I gave you in class in order to give me the proper information and help you complete the writing...but you do not have to answer every question.

Due: Friday September 9th

Good luck!!

2 Helpful sites: 911memorial.org & 911remember.com

7th Grade: Assignment # 1* (HARD COPY)

NOTE: This is a "hard copy" assignment, which means that your work should be written down on paper and handed in to me.

The Task: Find a newspaper, magazine, or internet article and write a one page summary describing what the article is about. You are required to use the worksheet (#4) I gave you in class in order to give me the proper information and help you complete the writing...but you don not have to answer every question.

Due: Thursday September 8th

Good luck!!

Mr. V

Last Summer Assignment: (All Students)

We're one long weekend away from the start of the school year...yes, it's true. Two things I would like you to do for the last assignment. `

1. Find and newspaper or magazine article...read it and write a brief 5-7 sentence summary on the blog about it. Stick to what you learned as a younger student when writing about the article: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How - you learned the 5W's in 1st grade...their value has not diminished. If your paragraph does not answer those questions - then you're paragraph is not complete. I want the top of your paragraph to include the title of the article and the author.

2. Bring the article in to class on our first day, September 6th. Good luck and have a great LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!

V

Assignment # 7 (ALL STUDENTS)

Well boys and girls, this could be an interesting weekend...with Hurricane Irene creeping up the coast (personification - lol). This assignment will therefore be a topical one...not not tropical. Topical infers something that is current with what is happening right now....

THE TASK: Write a brief paragraph (8-10) sentences detailing some of the things you and your family are doing to prepare for the storm. If you're going to be contrary and say that you're not doing "anything" for the hurricane then write a longer paragraph (15-20) sentences about the economic status of our country right now in 2012. Please list at least 3 causes for our recession and 3 ways our current administration can help us get out of it.*

Good luck...




















* Just kidding

Assignment # 6 (All Students)

I've decided to throw a softball up to the plate (metaphor) with this assignment.

THE TASK: All you have to do is ask me ONE question that you have about the upcoming school year. The only requirement is that it cannot be a repeat of someone else's question. Once I read your question, I will try to answer to the best of my ability. (Editor's Note) FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CANNOT BLOG AND ARE EMAILING ME THE QUESTIONS - PLEASE BE PATIENT IN WAITING FOR MY RESPONSE - I DO PLAN ON BEING IN MY CLASSROOM THIS WEEK TO CHECK MY SCHOOL EMAIL)

Example: Mr. Vergara, will the work we did on your blog REALLY count towards our 1st quarter grade?

(Yes, it's that easy. I look forward to sharing these questions at our annual "Parent Back to School Night" in September.)

BTW - The answer to the aforementioned question is "in more ways than you can ever imagine"...

Assignment # 5 (ALL Students)

Task: Write an 8-10 sentence critiquing a movie or dvd that you have recently watched. I want you to give me insightful information and thoughtful opinions - NOT a summary of the movie. I'm interested in "hearing" your voice as a writer and at your writing mechanics (spelling, grammar, vocabulary). I've provide an example for you below...

EXAMPLE:

I recently watched "Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps" on HBO. As this was my second viewing of the film (I saw it in the movie theater last fall), I was giving it a second chance ONLY because I loved the original movie, "Wall Street" so much. After leaving the theater upon viewing the sequel for the first time, I felt cheated and angry at director Oliver Stone for not being more creative with his film. Mr. Stone has made some of the most memorable films of the last 30 years: Platoon, the aforementioned Wall Street, Born on the 4th of July, JFK,- I could go on...so how could he take one of the greatest movie characters of all time (Gordon Gekko) and make him so one dimensional? With that said, I sat down the other night and watched the film again...and you know what? It wasn't as bad as I remember - perhaps my expectations were lower or maybe I was just happy to have 2 hours to myself without changing diapers or watching Thomas The Tank Engine Train with my son. In any event, I suppose the main purpose of this paragraph is to remind you that sometimes you need to give things a second chance. Was this sequel a great movie? No. However, it was definitely worth a look...but if you DO want a great movie, rent the original movie - just watch it with your parents (it's Rated R).

Assingnment # 4 : Compound Sentences (ALL STUDENTS)

A compound sentence is a sentence composed of two or more more independent clauses but no subordinate clause.

Instead of writing TWO sentences such as: Today is the first day of August. It is Monday. You would write:

Today is Monday, and the first day of August.

THE TASK: Write 3 COMPOUND SENTENCES about any topic or topics you like.

EXAMPLE:

1. I went to see Motley Crue in concert last weekend, and I'm going to see Whitesnake in three weeks.

2. Today I'm taking my kids to IHOP, but we have to clean the house first.

3. I spoke to Mr. Watson yesterday; we planned to get together with Mr. Fernandez before the summer is over.

GOOD LUCK!!