The Beginning

Good morning,

Today we begin something new, something different, something you can make into whatever you need it to be.   START HERE.

Writing Prompts and Persuasive Letters

Good Morning,

We have a prioritized "To Do" list today. Attack these tasks IN THIS ORDER!

1. Persuasive on-demand writing assessment:  Down load the prompt here.  You can write your response on paper or on the computer, but you must turn in a hard copy to me before you leave today.

2. Print your persuasive letter and works cited page and turn them in.

•  I HIGHLY recommend letting me look at this before you print it.  
• Click the print icon in docs. 
• Say OK to open the PDF. 
• Scroll through the PDF yourself looking for problems. 
• When you think it is perfect bring it to me. 
• Quietly, people are working.

3. Address a label that will go on the envelope with your letter.
4. Write a review in Goodreads.  You need two for April by Monday!

Citations, Citations, Citations

Good morning,

Your letters are coming along nicely. I'm worried about your "works cited" page.

1. Open your persuasive letter.
2. At the bottom of your letter insert a page break. (Insert/Page Break or Control+Enter)
3. At the top of your new page you need a complete heading, Name, Date, Period
4. Write "Works Cited" at the top of the page. (center it)
5. Add your sources in MLA citation format.  Example MLA page.
6. Format your citations using CitationMachine or EasyBib or Citelighter.
7. Remember to cite EVERY article or source you read even if you did not mention that source in your letter.

I've decided to separate your grades for this project, one grade for your letter and another for your works cited page.

An example citation. Yours might be a little different.

We Need Postage!

There wasn't much to post this week.  Students were making their fabulous persuasive speeches every day. Extra time went to drafting and writing groups. On Thursday we watched the live feed of the Dalai Lama speaking at SDSU.  His talk covered themes about compassion, responsibility, respect, honesty and non-violence.  It was the best character education lesson ever.  (I got to hear him speak live Wednesday afternoon at USD, so I had a preview of what he would be saying.)

Next week we will have a modified schedule for three days because of testing.  Persuasive letters will be finalized by Thursday or Friday.  We will be mailing them, so we need stamps.  There is a tiny bit of extra credit for students who bring in an extra stamp for a classmate who needs one.

Also, the grading period ends next Friday.  Student GPAs on this progress report will determine which freshmen are eligible for the hour lunch on advisory schedule days.  Fall eligibility will be determined by June grades and CST scores, so do the best you can on the tests next week and the week after.

Presentations / Articles / Articulation

1. Presentations
2. Articles (cont from yesterday)
3. Articulation Info: Tomorrow (Friday the 13th) we will be meeting in the back of the library. The counselors will be giving you a presentation about classes for next year and you will go on-line to pick the classes you want to take. (This would be a very bad day to be absent.)

Do you know yet who you are writing to for your persuasive letter?

Create a doc for your letter. (Name it correctly 3NamePersuasiveLetter.)
And share it with me.

 A complete draft of your letter is due Tuesday 4/17.