September 29, 2010

-reading response-writing

-grammar??

Housekeeping

• dictionaries!

Reading Response JournalPurpose

• The journal is a place to explore your reactions to any in-class readings (articles, stories, novels, plays, poems, etc.)

• The purpose is not to summarize or retell the story, but is to think about and interpret what you have read.

• These are powerful skills you will need for English 11 and 12.

Reading Response Questions

Non-fiction (Articles, Biographies, etc.)

• What does this story remind you of in your own life? Why?

• What does this story make you wonder about? Why?• How did what you read today make you feel? Why?• What is confusing in this story? Why? (Be specific)• What in the story upsets you or bothers you? Why?• What do you know now that you didn't know before? • In your opinion, what is the most important fact or idea in

the story? Why?

A (5) You responded using a wide range of questions and retold only to help explain your responses. You consistently explained your thinking and made connections with other stories or your own life. You may have shown you have thought about the way it was written. Your response was a good length for the time given, well written and shows excellent understanding of the story. B (4)You responded using a variety of questions and retold parts of the story only to help you explain your responses. You often explained your thinking and opinions. You have made some connection with other stories or your own life. Your response was a reasonable length for the time given. It was reasonably well-written and shows a good understanding of the story.

C+ (3) You responded using the questions as a guide, with only a bit of retelling. You tried to explain some of your thinking and opinions. You might have made a connection with other readings or your own life. Your response was a reasonable length for the time given. While your writing could be stronger, it was mostly clear and shows some understanding of the story.

C (2)You have done some retelling, but tried to respond using the questions. You have not explained your thoughts or opinions. Your response may be a bit short for the amount of time given. Your writing was often unclear and does not always show you understand the story. C- (1)You are just retelling the story. You have not tried to answer any questions. Your response is too short for the amount of time given. Your writing was often unclear and does not always show you understand the story. F (0) You have not made a response or it is too short to be considered acceptable.

Sample 1

This story basically tells us about the islamic revolution that took a place in Iran in late 70s from the girl named Marjane who was growing up in that particular time in Iran. . . . . It’s interesting how Marjane as a child started thinking of becoming a prophet and the way her grandma was trying to play with her. . .

Sample 2

There are some themes in the graphic novel when I read. First of all, authority is controled by religion and politics. Woman should wear the veil even though they don’t know the reasons. Students should separate by sex when they were at school. Second, . . .

Sample 3

I like the story very much because I can persenaly relate to it. On top of that it’s well written, ditteled and sarcastic, which makes me want to read more.I have always been in favour of picture novels since I was reading tintin as a child; that allows me to emagen the carecters easier, some time when I’m reading an story, I get lost in my amagination and lose the point of the story

Reading Response• Now that you’ve read two more chapters of Persepolis,

do another journal response.

• Choose a question from the inside cover of your journal. Or choose one or more of the following questions:

– Do you like Marjane? Why or why not?

– What do you think will happen next in the story? (Do not do this one if you have read the whole book or seen the movie!!)

– Will you read the rest of the story or see the movie? Why or why not?

Writing Support for Paragraphs, p. 49

• Last class we read two paragraphs about Family.

• The strongest was about “Changes in the Family,” p. 47, because it had– a clear topic sentence– easy to find reasons – specific examples for each reason

• See outline on p. 49

Writing Support for Paragraphs, p. 50

• Let’s look at another paragraph, “Goodbye Tony,” p. 50

• What is the author’s point?

• What three reasons does she give for her point?

Activity 3, p. 53-54

Each question has four statements. Identify which is the main point (P) and which are supports (S) as shown in the example.

1. P – The apartment has some real drawbacks2. P – Some people have poor eating habits3. P – Children are at risk at the school.4. P – There are definate advantages to having a cat as

a pet5. P – Ron might be having a heart attack.

Writing Suppport for Paragraphs, p. 50

• The other thing the writer of “Goodbye Tony” does is give us specific examples for each reason.

• For example,

Reason 2: He was bossy– Example 1: He refused to see the Chris Rock comedy in favour of an

action movie.– Example 2: Told me to just close my eyes during the bloody parts.

• Specific examples help us to “see” and imagine the writers details and examples

General vs. Specific

General:

I bought a new car.

Specific:

I bought a red, 2005, 4-door Toyota Echo Hatchback.

Writing Support for Paragraphs, p. 51

• Let’s look at some more sample paragraphs on the same topic that will show us how specific details make a paragraph easier to understand, more interesting, and more convincing.

• Read paragraph A and B on p. 51 and 52.

Writing Support for Paragraphs, p. 53

• Paragraph B gives us clear reasons and specific examples for being in school.– Reason 3: “To fulfill a personal goal: to finish

something.”• Example: I quit high school• Example: dropped out of job-training program• Example: gave up on my high-school equivalency

• Paragraph A gives only vague, general reasons.– Reason 2: “to fulfill my dream.”

• Example: need an education• Example: need courses for the position I think I can handle

Activity, p. 58-59

• Each of the five points is followed by two possible details.

• For each point, we will take turns reading the choices aloud.

• We will discuss which choice provides specific details.

Activity, p. 58-59

1. b 2. a3. b4. b5. a

Handout, Activity, p. 61Rewrite the sentences, replacing the underlined words with more specific words.

Read Example.

Student Sentences:

1. At the shopping center, we visited several stores.. . .such as Shoppers Drugmart, Computer Apple Store, Jewellery Store, and

London Drugs.. . .for different purposes. First we bought a pair of shoes for my younger

brother and second we went window shopping to a couple of stores and finally I bought a hat in a Eddie’s Hat store.

Activity, p. 61

2. Sunday is my day to take care of chores.. . .my laundry, cleaning my house, and cooking traditional

food.. . .laundry, gardening, and cleaning the house as well. . . .laundry and a deep-cleaning of my house.3. Lola enjoys various activities in her spare time.. . . shopping, watching movies, and hanging out with her

friends in her spare time.. . . biking, horseback riding, driving, and dancing in her

spare time.

Activity, p. 61

4. I spent most of my afternoon doing homework.. . . . doing drawing, practice writing, and reading.. . . my homework in math, writing, and an assignment in

socials.

5. We returned home from vacation to discover that several pests had invaded the house.

. . . had mice, cockroaches, and bedbugs that invaded the house.

. . . racoons and a bear had invaded my house.

. . . we sprayed pesticides on the flies and bees.

How to make sentences more specific

• Use exact names

• Use lively verbs (powerful)

• Use descriptive words (modifiers) before nouns

• Use words that relate to the five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch

Activity, p. 63

1. It didn’t have salt enough, cold, and was too greasy.

The soup was too salty and the dessert was not too sweet.

2. All the animals escaped from the zoo when the doors opened automatically by mistake.

The black furry dog dashed away.

Activity, p. 63 (Cont’d.)

3. At Denman Street and Comox there was a huge accident; a truck ran into a store and broke two windows. Luckily no one was hurt.

A brand new Honda collided with a four door Chrysler mini-van on the street.

4. The serious and upset instructor came into the silent room to give us the new schedule.

The instructor came into the room with a whole bunch of math quizzes in her hand.

My short haired, curly haired pretty blonde instructor walked into my classroom with no intentions of giving us any homework.

Homework

• Read Articles, Ch. 44, p. 581 and do all the activities. AK will be posted on the website by Sunday night. We will take up any questions on Monday.

• Do the last activity on the handout given out in class (or find it in your book, p. 75-76).