HW due Friday - Finish all station work and study for Asia Map quiz

Here is another blank East Asia Map

Timeline directions - due next Wednesday, 040412

Timeline directions and a sample rubric handout

Chinese symbols and designs website - use these to fill space or add design motifs to your timeline

Some websites to help you write your original event descriptions:

Timeline of Chinese History and Dynasties

Timeline

Wikipedia - Timeline of Chinese History

SS7 notes - Intro to traditional Chinese Beliefs

Here are the notes from today.

Stations this week starting 0326. Most work due 0330

Stations are as follows:
All due Friday, 0330
1. Isearch Presentation and Printout (save to Google) 20 points
1a. create a new document and cut and paste the following elements from your Isearch and Interview documents:
1.a.i. Introduction
1.a.ii. Best Argument and best piece of evidence to support that argument
1.a.iii. The argument against your position and why this argument does not work.
1.a.iv. Who did you interview and two things you learned from the interviewee.

2. Outsiders - Read through Chapter 5 and take notes

3. Timeline notes - 30 total - date and title of event - 3 min events in 9 categories, and 1 min in the last two categories. Use the text, classroom resources and the internet.

Handouts - Note Chart and China Unit Q/A (first part of study guide)

4. Read SS Ch 17 - Illustrated six panel pencil sketch with 15 - 25 word captions each of 6 details from the chapter.
5. China Political Map - Map and directions here

Also, last Friday with the substitute teacher - complete if you were absent:

Journal - How did the skills of brush painting relate to a sport, hobby or skill you are very good at? Explain how practice has helped you improve. Tell a real story about this.

You must post your typed assignments to Google

In order to earn credit for your typed assignments, you must post the work in your shared LASS7 collection.
These are the assignments that must be posted to earn credit:
Final Isearch
Final Story 1
Interview write up

See you Monday...

Today in class, due this week...

Today, we took the Chapter 16 pop quiz, worth 7 points. The curve was set at 6 after grading Core 2's quizzes. If you were absent on Monday, you will take this quiz upon your return.

We also took some introductory notes on China. We followed these up with some videos about some features of Chinese culture.

Due this week:
1. EQ 16 - originally due today, will be due Tuesday, 032012
2. Story Draft 3 - due 032012 -  typed, double spaced, copy in class and saved to Google docs - base your corrections on lower marks in any area given during peer editing last Thursday. Focus on your lower rubric scores and try to improve those areas the most. Read your paper out loud a couple of times and various errors will be more obvious.

3. Interview writeup due 032112. Refer to the previous blog entry for details.

Thurday Night HW and the Interview

Due Monday, 3/19 -
Read SS Ch16
Write 3 EQ - Question and 3 points min for draft answer
Study for Pop Quiz - 5 fill in the blank questions.

Due Wednesday, 3/21 -
Interview typed
You must complete your interview this weekend.

The typed interview follows the progression from personal questions to opinions about the issue. Almost all students have written specific questions for their intended interviewee. Students may need to shift their questions in the course of the interview to get their target information answered as much as possible.

The following questions are sample questions that show the preferred progression of questions:

1. Profession - title, education needed, where employed, how long. In what ways do they like their job.
2. Professional involvement with issue - how does the issue effect your job. Were you trained to handle this issue. Do you know people in your profession that have dealt with this issue? Can you relate a story about this issue professionally?
3. What is your personal opinion about this issue. What are the pros and cons of the issue for you? Is the state of affairs surrounding this issue the best way of dealing with this issue in your profession?

Therefore, you will type up the interview with the following format:
5 paragraphs 1 -1/2 to 2 - 1/2 pages long:

1. Introduction - who is being interviewed and the issue that will be covered.
2. Personal professional background.
3. How this issue affects their profession.
4. What they feel about this issue personally.
5. Conclusion.

Use quotes sparingly and only to illustrate decisive ideas and well worded twists on the issue.
This is NOT a Q/A list of questions and answers.

See you Monday,

Mr. R

Story Draft One Activity - HW due Thursday - bring second reworked draft to class

Today in class, we read two others drafts of student stories in groups and commented on these stories on this form, that should be attached to the story read.

After this activity, we discussed each paper, one at a time in our groups, so readers could comment and ask questions about the drafts, and likewise so writers could ask clarifying questions about the comments.

If a writer needed to explain ideas in their paper in detail, then the writer should consider incorporating those ideas into the writing so that the paper needs no explanation. Either their is too much detail in the paper that must be edited out, or there are not enough essential details needed to make the story clear to the reader.

After the small group discussion, we discussed the activity as a class. Here are some comments that students made, that may be helpful as students rewrite their second drafts tonight.

Tonight's homework, due tomorrow in class -
1. Bring a typed second draft (saved in Google as second draft - separate from first draft) ready to be edited in class Thursday.

2. Core 2 - Bring your story sketch (handwritten, half page min) based on the story parts (strips) activity we did in class on Tuesday.

3. Due next Monday - SS: Chapter 16 - 3 EQ Q&A. (This is Thursday Night's HW)

4. Tableaus will be performed in class tomorrow after a shorter edit activity on Thursday.

Also,
3. Work on your Interview.
a. The interview should be completed this weekend, so that you are ready to do the write-up on Monday. b. The write-up, due next Wednesday, is NOT a Question and Answer transcript, but follows a paragraph format with occasional quotes.
c. If possible, try to do the interview via email, so the actual answers are typed for you, instead of a long transcript of questions and answers that requires a much longer interview time frame. (No transcript of the interview is required as part of the assignment.

SS Test (Notes here) and work due Tuesday, March 13

SS Chapter 14 - 25 MC Questions (No EQ)

Notes to study from presented in class:
Ch 14 Part One
Ch 14 Part Two
Africa Slideshow

Work to turn in Tuesday -
1. Isearch Interview questions (5 pairs)
2. Story - typed double space, complete first draft - also saved in Google
3. Story Worksheet (2 sided)

Save new drafts separately and editing suggestions.

For now on, save each new draft of a typed document that is edited in class or by Mr. Rodgers on Google as a new document, with the number of the draft.

For example, you complete a draft and save it in Google.
1. This is "draft 1 of Title" of assignment.
2. Print out this draft (double space required for in class editing step by students or Mr. Rodgers)
3. Mr. Rodgers may highlight actual text and add comments in parentheses about the target text that needs changing in some manner. Sometimes the changes should respond to a question asked.
4. Before you make any changes to this draft, with the draft open in edit mode, Make a Copy under the File menu.
5. Save this copy as "draft 2 of Title"
6. Then make your changes.
7. If we are editing this second draft, print it, double spaced for class.

These steps are important to save so, as a writer you can see your improvements, and watch the changes as the piece progresses. At the end of each multiple draft writing assignment, you will be required to show edited drafts with in class comments or at least print out of one Mr. Rodgers set of comments, if no class edited drafts are available. If you lose these edited drafts, you will lose 2 of 4 points possible for these copies.

It is advisable, as well, to get your parents involved in the edit process, but only after the second draft phase has taken place in class, and you have made all corrections to that point. When your parents edit, it is important that they are not rewriting or "fixing" the paper overall, but asking you questions, that you should respond to by creating a better story that answers their questions and concerns about your paper.

Due this week... and... No school this Friday - Teacher Inservice Day

Monday -
1. Chapter 14 test review in class. Two EQ questions will be given to the class, and posted here.
2. African Story Tableaus will be practiced one last time, and each group will be selected at random to perform Monday through Wednesday.
3. Some station work time will be available, however, note that a good majority of students completed their stations last week.
4. Students should find an expert adult to interview for their Isearch topic. Students should ask parents, family friends, teachers and other community members they know if they know a person who would be interviewed. We started this process last week, and spent a considerable amount of time discussing how to find an "expert."
Explanation - an expert can be someone who deals directly or indirectly as an issue in their career with the topic. They do not need to be a researcher in the field.
Example - on the issue of a controversial topic like the death penalty speaking with a police officer would suffice since they may have worked a murder crime scene or know people who have. Obviously, the warden of San Quentin would have some major feeling about
HW - study for Ch 14 test and complete any station work due Tuesday.

Tuesday -
1. Chapter 14 Test - 25 MC questions and answer one of two EQ questions (5 points possible) for a total of 30 points possible on the test.
2. station work is due from last week (See previous blog post).
HW - Email Mr. Rodgers with the Interview Topic, name and job title of the Interviewee and their profession.

Wednesday -
1. Following the in class activity - an exquisite corpse of story parts, write a one page sketch of a story from the mixed up parts of your group's story patchwork activity in class. Due Thursday.
2. Isearch presentation work up: Next week, students will present their final Isearch findings as follows:
a. Explain thesis
b. Explain best supporting argument with a major piece of evidence
c. Explain the best opposing argument with a major piece of evidence
d. Explain one unanswered question or major area not covered in the student paper.
e. Describe the Interview - who and one important detail they brought up that surprised the student or seems to go against common sense assumptions made about the topic.
f. This presentation will help the class (and teacher) decide what our controversial debate topics will be in the coming weeks.

Parent help is encouraged this week with the Interview

Please see the following posts about the "Interview." This process has been discussed in depth in class and students have already been encouraged to ask for parent help last week.

Your son or daughter need an "expert" in the field that deals with their Isearch controversial topic.
This "expert" may be a police officer or a lawyer on the issue of the death penalty, or a beautician who definitely sells beauty products that may have been animal tested or not. You may know someone like a prison guard at San Quentin or an Oncology researcher, but the odds that you may know an expert at this level for the topic that your son or daughter has covered in the Isearch Project may not be likely. Also, the closer a person is on the topic, or the higher up on the food chain of the topic, the less time they may have to take an interview from a middle school student, or may also be less likely to discuss specific confidential and/or delicate issues surrounding the topic. In all cases, I have been surprised at the level of contacts that some parents have often completely by the six degrees of separation that help bind us together socially as a society.

Overall, the contact is not as important as the information reaped from the interview by following a thorough interview process with the focus on a final, well written interview.

Students always have a lot of questions, and we have had major discussions this past week, and I am sure this coming week as well in class. If you have any questions, please email me at teacher@erodgers.net.

The interview - due Wednesday, March 21

(Parent help is encouraged this week):

After the interview is set up, the student should make sure that they have at least five sets of questions that start with simple career choice type questions, and move up slowly, towards the most controversial elements of the issue. 

These five sets should be a pair of questions, one a complex question that must be answered with an explanation (similar to our EQ question used for Social Studies quizzes that students have written all year). The second part should be a followup question that asks to clarify a specific detail about the interviewee's answer in order to focus and get more information. At times, students will need to refocus the interviewee on the basic idea behind the question.

Students should draw on their research and Isearch papers to develop some of these questions. Students should try to find the interviewee's best arguments and pieces of evidence or personal experiences that support their opinions.

There are two methods of accomplishing the interview - 

1. In person or on the phone. Students will be taking a considerable amount of notes. It is suggested that the student record the conversation with the interviewee's consent, so that they can write up the most important parts, and pull key quotes necessary to write up a concise interview.

2. Via email. Students will send the first half of each pair of questions, and then send a second set of followup questions, or rephrased initial questions to help the interviewee answer the questions more thoroughly.

Writing the interview:

1. This is not to be a verbatim transcript of questions and answers.

2. The interview should introduce the interviewee, when and where the interview took place and how questions were recorded.

3. Typically each major question should be transformed into a paragraph, where key quotes are used only to reveal very important details about the topic, especially those details that surprised the student, or seem to go against common sense assumptions that most people have about the issue.

The interview should take place by the end of this week, March 16, and is due March 20th, as a first draft that is:

1. double spaced, typed 

2. a copy brought to class and 

3. saved in Google Docs and placed in a new collection: Controversial topic. The documents should be saved as "Interview (Topic - profession)." Example: Interview (Animal Testing - Oncologist).

4. Title format: Topic - an interview with (title first last name), (Profession) Example:

Animal Testing - 

An interview with Dr. Dave Smith, Oncologist

Finding an "expert" interviewee for your controversial topic

(Parent help is encouraged this week):

Due Wednesday -

Students should find an expert adult to interview for their Isearch topic. Students should ask parents, family friends, teachers and other community members they know if they know a person who would be interviewed. We started this process last week, and spent a considerable amount of time discussing how to find an "expert." 

Explanation - An expert can be someone who deals directly or indirectly with the issue in their career or professional field.

Example One - On the issue of a controversial topic like the death penalty, speaking with a police officer would suffice since they may have worked a murder crime scene or know people who have. Obviously, the warden of San Quentin would have some professional positions about the death penalty, but it may hard to get an interview with him.

Example Two - On the issue of animal testing, a person who works at the makeup counter at Macy's or at a beauty salon or beauty supply store may not have done the research, but have dealt with this issue in various product lines for years, or have been asked for products that do not involve animal testing on occasion. 

Once a person has been found, students should call or email the person to introduce themselves, and set up a SEPARATE interview time to ask their first set of questions. This allow the interviewee to think about what they might say, and most likely remind themselves of specific anecdotes that will help the student understand the issue better.

After the interview is set up, the student should make sure that they have at least five sets of questions that start with simple career choice type questions, and move up slowly, towards the most controversial elements of the issue. Students should draw on their research and Isearch papers to develop some of these questions. They should try to find the interviewee's best arguments and pieces of evidence or personal experiences that support their opinions.

The interview should take place by the end of this week, and is due March 20th, with a double spaced typed copy brought to class and also saved in Google Docs and placed in a new collection: Controversial topic. The documents should be saved as "Interview (Topic - profession)." Example: Interview (Animal Testing - Oncologist).

Daylight savings started today...move your clocks forward by one hour.

See you at school on time. So, if your clock said 9 am when you got up Sunday morning, change it to 10 am. If you don't set your clocks you will wake up an hour late on Monday.

Work from Friday and notes on next week

Mr. Phillipson was our substitute teacher today.

Here are the assignments that were completed in class and turned in today:
1. Journal - prompt...? (on board, will be posted on Monday)
2. Film notes from the film - Sahara

The assignments passed back to you today... are due on Monday:
1. 10 MC questions for Chapter 14
2. Story draft climax and resolution

See previous posts for work due next week. Have a great weekend. Mr. R

Stations due on Tuesday, 031312

Stations - Detail
1 - Write 5 complex (2 part) interview questions for a possible interviewee - each question should ask a complex (EQ style) question and one followup question that asks for more information related to the first question.

2 - Outsiders - read and take notes using the two column note tables. Left column - chapter summary; right column - three quotable lines or passages and the page number for each that reveal an important detail about the story in an interesting or well written manner.

3 - Journal TOC - find all journals in the "to be passed out" work and place in your Journal Folder. Place all of your journals in order.

4 - Story type both part one (setting and conflict with leading events that foreshadow the climax) and part two (climax and resolution). Resolve any details that are different in each part. Also, add any new dialogue that was inspired by the Protagonist/Antagonist Dinner 5 pt XC option (separate assignment - one page).

5 - Chapter 14 - use your sample MC assignment and notes from the chapter and the slideshow to quiz each other about the chapter, for the test on Tuesday.

HW - other work to complete independently -

Due - Detail
031212 - Interview in class activity notes
031212 - African Story Tableau Practice (to be performed on 0312 through 0314) by each station group.

031312 - Chapter 14 Test. 25 MC and answer 1 of 2 EQ - 30 points possible.

Interview Strategies Activity Period 6 030612

Expert interview panel activity

Interview Strategies

In-depth Interview Techniques - from 030512