Monday, January 7, 2019

Today we focused on writing good leads.  Please click here for the notes if you missed them.  The assignment was an in-class one:  write three new, revised leads,  using the various techniques we talked about in class.  (Again, see the notes from today for this list and an example of each technique.)

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Welcome to JANUARY! Can you believe you are almost halfway through the eighth grade? It won't be long before you start registering for high school classes! 

SPEECHES:  This month we are focusing on writing speeches for the Optimist Club's annual oratorical contest.  This year's theme is "Is there a fine line between Optimism and Reality?"  Ultimately, in just two weeks, you will be expected to write a four-minute speech answering that theme question.  Draft 1 of this speech is due tomorrow, and we will continue to revise that draft throughout the next week. Speech presentations will begin on Monday, January 14.

NHD UPDATE:  Your NHD Draft 1 was supposed to have been completed before winter break.  While you are busy writing your speeches, you can take some time off of NHD.  Each evening, I will give a handful of you feedback on your NHD project.  Once you get feedback, you can start your next draft or you can wait until we are done with speeches.  

NOTEBOOK UPDATES:  We will continue to take notes and have quick writes.  Please refer to the tab on top of my blog, or just click HERE for screenshots of the directions for quick writes and the notes. We are no longer doing DLP sentences. Our next notebook check will be the same week that speeches are presented, on Monday, January 14.

Sunday, December 9, 2018 (originally posted 11/15/18)

Please see the new tabs up above to help you find things more easily! Here is the schedule for the next two weeks in class:

Miscellaneous NHD information from class:

DIRECTIONS FOR BIBLIOGRAPHY DOCUMENT

1. Open a Google Document.
2. Title it with your name, your class period, then "NHD Formal Working Bibliography" (Here is an example of a proper title:  Fred Smith, Per. 2, NHD Formal Working Bibliography)
3. INSIDE the document, write your name, then write your NHD topic.  Then write two subtitles: Primary, Secondary. (See screenshot of correct example below.)
4. Share it with me by adding me to the document, giving me editing privileges please. 

DIRECTIONS FOR NOTES DOCUMENT 11/28

1. Make a Google Doc

2. Title it with:

(Name)(Period) Research Notes

Example:

Folsom 1 Research Notes

3. Share your document with PJ

NHD GROUP PERMISSION PROCESS

Also, remember the criteria if you would like to work with partners.  Below is a screenshot of the handout I gave to you.  Unless you do this and have your parent/guardian contact me, you may NOT have a partner for NHD.  Only a few students have followed through with their part of the bargain.

NOTE-TAKING STRATEGIES

Today, we discussed three note-taking strategies:  concept mapping, outlining, and two-column notes.  You will be expected to choose one of these three (or a combination of them) when taking notes for NHD research.