Friday 1/29/2016: First Draft Due!

Thursday 1/28/16: Stations --> "Caged Bird," Writer's Workshop, and "Gentleman"

Station day today!

Wednesday 1/27/2016: Writer's Workshop and "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings"

Lots of stuff going on!  We're on our third out of four literary nonfiction texts with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and working on completing our first draft within our Writer's Workshop!

Tuesday 1/26/16

View the slides below for an overview of what we did in class today.

Monday 1/26/15: Notes and Writer's Workshop

Lots of new information today!

Remember, you are responsible for knowing the levels of the rhetorical stucture for the objective portion of your argument writing unit.  Placement of terms within a level does not matter, but the labeling of the level does.

Wednesday Reading/Writing Workshop

For today's activities, homework, and class announcements, view the embedded slides!

Quizalize class codes: 

• Trecek 3-4: kgw342
• Trecek 5-6: mkr860
• Trecek 7-8: vqm961

Student Slides: Tuesday 1.19.2016

Wednesday's Assignments

Wow we're studying a lot!  You get to pick what you complete first, so if you need directions open that are different from what is presented in the classroom, or for homework aids, please refer to the following copy of Wednesday's presentation, or view the slides below.

Formal Argument Writing and Debate

Our next unit of study meets both argument writing standards, nonfiction reading standards, and we will be meeting speaking and listening standards in a formal debate on a topic.

Students: Choose a topic in which to focus your formal argument writing and debate.  Once you have decided a topic, check in with your teacher to be assigned a partner.  Remember, one partner is arguing pro, the other partner is arguing con, but both sides should consider using counter-arguments within their speech.

You will also need to provide an MLA Works Cited page containing the sources you’ve used for your research; secondary sources cannot be older than five years.

*topics are decided on a first-come-first-served basis (per class period). If insufficient partners (pros and cons exist), students will be given the opportunity to change their topic until the next class period, otherwise a topic and partner will be assigned to them, so in-class research time (starting Wednesday 1/13) is not wasted.

Education

• Cheating is getting worse in today’s school systems.
• Reading and math should be taught in all subject areas.
• Standardized tests accurately measure all student abilities.
• Schools should offer cash bonuses for good test scores.
• Schools should rethink how long students spend in high school.
• Arts programs should be included in schools across the nation.
• STEM or STEAM programs should be included in schools across the nation.
• Physical education aids student performance across all academic areas.
• Schools should extend the school year.
• The dropout age should be raised.
• Students should be allowed to skip senior year of high school in exchange for work experience.
• School’s should group students by ability.
• Colleges should use admissions criteria other than sat scores and grades.

Technology and Social Media

• Technology is isolating society.
• Social media sites should be monitored by school administrators or work superiors.
• People should be allowed to obscure their identities online.
• Online learning is as good as face-to-face learning.
• Tablet computers should become the primary way students learn in class.
• Games should be used for classroom instruction.
• Paper books are becoming obsolete in lieu of digital learning.
• Robots are the way of the future.

Arts and Media

• Musical training makes people more successful in work or studies.
• Video games should be considered a sport.
• Pop culture deserves serious study as an element of education.
• The media has a negative effect on adolescents’ self-perception.

Gender and Social Issues

• There is too much pressure girls to have the perfect body.
• There is too much pressure for boys to be masculine.
• Girls should be choosing to pursue careers in math and science.
• Women should be allowed to fight on the front lines alongside men.
• Rights for men and women should be equal.
• Men should have the right to take a paid paternity leave.
• Affluent families should pay more taxes.
• The United States should be able to spy on its allies.
• New generations (Millennials onward) are more self-centered than earlier generations.
• Curse words and crude comedy have become so common they have lost their shock value.

Sports and Athletics

• Parents should not allow their children to play contact sports.
• Sports teams should not use names and mascots that are ethnically or racially based.
• Colleges should fund wellness programs instead of sports.
• College athletes should be paid as an employee of the school.
• Athletes using performance-enhancing drugs should forfeit their titles and medals.
• Home-schooled students should be allowed to play public school sports.
• Bike-share programs are beneficial to communities.
• Sports should not include prizes for participation.

Health and Nutrition

• The use of tobacco products is a problem among teenagers.
• The use of alcoholic products poses a threat to teenagers.
• Healthier lunch programs are a failing cause.
• The government should limit the size of sugary drinks.
• Caffeine abuse is a realistic threat to teens and young adults.
• Students involved in activities and sports should be required to take drug tests.

Science

• Scientists should continue to try and extend old age.
• Human limbs being replaced by technology increases quality of life.
• The public should be concerned about reducing their carbon footprints.
• Scientists should continue to explore the Earth’s oceans.
• Civilians and private companies should continue to develop space exploration programs.

A link to a printable list is located here.