Friday, December 23

Short block due to Winter Concert/Reindeer Games schedule.
Collected essays (also OK to submit before midnight through Google Docs).

Watched video shorts by Vlogbrothers Hank and John Green on rants and negative cognitive bias (Logic Fails!)

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 23: Essay responding to the 2003 AP prompt due (will count as a ten-point grade).

Thursday, December 22

This lesson taught by Mrs. Bidwell in Ms. Bishop's absence.

Students finished writing the response to the AP argument prompt for 2003.
If time permitted, they shared their responses in their writing groups.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 23: Essay responding to the 2003 AP prompt due (will count as a ten-point grade).

Wednesday, December 21

This lesson taught by Mrs. Bidwell in Ms. Bishop's absence.
Students finished writing the response to "Shifting out of Neutral."

Students shared their writing in groups, then self-evaluated using the detailed rubric for AP Argument essays.

Students received and discussed the AP argument prompt for 2003.
Began writing to the prompt as time permitted.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 23: Essay responding to the 2003 AP prompt due (will count as a ten-point grade).

Tuesday, December 20

Reviewed the prompt, "Reflecting on the points Gold makes in his article 'Shifting out of Neutral,' in your view, where should teachers draw lines around moral judgements when teaching? When should they include or exclude their own opinions? "

Students began work on an argument addressing that prompt.

DUE DATES

TUESDAY, December 20: Revised Rogerian argument is due.

Monday, December 19

Discussed what it means to "interrogate" a text.
Read "Shifting out of Neutral," from Teaching Tolerance.  Students annotated for places they can challenge, support, or connect to the argument.
Groups shared observations on the article--"interrogating the text" together.

Groups reflected on the prompt, "Reflecting on the points Gold makes in his article 'Shifting out of Neutral,' in your view, where should teachers draw lines around moral judgements when teaching? When should they include or exclude their own opinions? "

Shared rubric on evaluating an argument written to an AP prompt.

DUE DATES

TUESDAY, December 20: Revised Rogerian argument is due.

Friday, December 16

Short classes today due to two hour delay schedule.
Vocabulary Quiz.

Close observation, Time Magazine's Person of the Year cover.
Read and discussed Haaretz image analysis article of the photograph.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 16: Vocabulary quiz; Blizzard Bags due. Read "Analyzing Visual Texts as Arguments" (131--139).
TUESDAY, December 20: Revised Rogerian argument is due.

Thursday, December 15

Supportive groups met, shared drafts of Rogerian arguments.
Revision suggestions.

Previewed visual texts to accompany assignment in packet, "Analyzing Visual Texts as Arguments" (131--139).

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 16: Vocabulary quiz; Blizzard Bags due. Read "Analyzing Visual Texts as Arguments" (131--139).

TUESDAY, December 20: Revised Rogerian argument is due.

Wednesday, December 14

Discussed how, based on reading "Terror's Purse Strings" first and second-hand evidence relates to appeals to reason, authority, and emotion.

Reviewed the essay "Why Can't Environmentalism Be Colorblind?" on page 101 of the packet, analyzing it for the impact of first-hand evidence.  What appeals does this kind of evidence seem to support?

Reviewed the assignment for a Rogerian argument, to draw from last week's opposition argument and incorporate a concession and refutation in a 300--600 word essay.
Rough drafts due to discuss in topic-centered support group tomorrow; final drafts to be due on Tuesday.

Students checked in with groups.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, December 12: Read 111--131 in your Chapter 3 Packet.
THURSDAY, December 15: Rough draft Rogerian argument is due.

FRIDAY, December 16: Advanced Word Power Lesson Five and unit review quiz. Blizzard Bag Lesson #1 Due!
TUESDAY, December 20: Final draft Rogerian argument is due.

Tuesday, December 13

No school Monday, December 12 due to snow day. 

Referring to the essay "Terror's Purse Strings" on page 109 of the Chapter 3 packet, groups met to reach consensus on.

• The purpose/thesis of the essay.
• Identifying examples of first-hand vs. second hand evidence.
• Identifying the appeals of each piece of evidence: to pathos, ethos, or logos: emotion, legitimacy/authority of the writer/argument, and logic.

Discussed the essay as a whole class.

HOMEWORK: Review your identifications of evidence in the essay, and amend them as needed. Look them over for any patterns or associations of types of appeals.  

DUE DATES

MONDAY, December 12: Read 111--131 in your Chapter 3 Packet.

FRIDAY, December 16: Advanced Word Power Lesson Five and unit review quiz. Blizzard Bag Lesson #1 Due!

Monday, December 12 Blizzard Bag Lesson #1: Microfiction

In the event of a snow day on Monday, December 12, please complete this lesson at home.  It should take you about 45--50 minutes to complete.

Tansy Undercrypt is a prominent writer of the new genre sometimes known as microfiction.  Your assignment today will be to read and study several pieces of microfiction, create a definition of what microfiction is, and to write a piece of your own to submit for a grade.

Don't be surprised if you find microfiction, and especially Tansy Undercrypt's microfiction, to be completely addicting.  (I do.)

1. Make your way to Tansy Undercrypt's web page.
2. Select any six pieces of her work.  (Don't worry--that's less than it sounds like!)
3. Write a VERY brief summary of each piece that you read. (One sentence should do it.)
4. Write an original definition of microfiction.  (Don't Google it--I will be checking!  Use your own fine mind on this one.)
5. Write one piece of microfiction of your very own, and revise it to hand in to me.

You may want to use Google Docs to write your definition and microfiction.  You can then "hand it in" simply by sharing it with me at cbishop@grsd.org.

Your work will be due no later than Friday of this coming week.

Friday, December 9

Groups shared Logical Fallacies posters.  

Selected favorites; put up all posters inside or outside the classrooms.

Supportive issue groups met, shared opposition arguments.
Discussed the process, insights gained.

Reminder: if you haven't yet done so, read and annotate the essay "Terror's Purse Strings" on page 109 of the Chapter 3 packet.

• Identify the purpose/thesis of the essay.
• Using two colors of highlighter (or a similar strategy) highlight and identify examples of first-hand vs. second hand evidence.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, December 12: Read 111--131 in your Chapter 3 Packet.

FRIDAY, December 16: Advanced Word Power Lesson Five and unit review quiz.

HOMEWORK FOR MONDAY, December 12

Read pages 111--131 in your Chapter 3 Packet.

REMEMBER: Friday, December 16 will be a Word Power Chapter 5 + Review QUIZ.

Thursday, December 8

Students worked on their 200--300 word (ie, brief, c. 1 page) opposition argument.

DUE DATES

DUE TOMORROW, FRIDAY, December 9:

Logical Fallacies poster due (at least 4 fallacies, illustrated with examples from social media).

Opposition argument due.

Read and annotate the essay "Terror's Purse Strings" on page 109 of the Chapter 3 packet.

• Identify the purpose/thesis of the essay.
• Using two colors of highlighter (or a similar strategy) highlight and identify examples of first-hand vs. second hand evidence.

NOTE: The opposition argument is DUE at the start of class on Friday: I will be collecting this tomorrow for a score (out of 5 points, for completion and attempt at fairly representing the opposing view).

Wednesday, December 7

REMINDER: For Friday, finish Logical Fallacies Posters!
Recap of purpose of acknowledging an opponent's position in persuasive argument.

Read and discussed two sample op-ed pieces, annotating them for places the author acknowledges the opposing view.
Created supportive writer's groups for those who want them for purposes of developing their 200--300 word (ie, brief, c. 1 page) opposition argument.
Groups briefly checked in.

NOTE: For those who will be out tomorrow, the opposition argument is DUE at the start of class on Friday.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, December 5: Glossary of Argument Terms vocabulary quiz.
FRIDAY, December 9: Logical Fallacies poster due (at least 4 fallacies, illustrated with examples from social media).

Tuesday, December 6

REMINDER: For Friday, finish Logical Fallacies Posters!
Students wrote preliminary thesis statements for their three "hot button" topics.
Discussed purposes of argument: sometimes to clarify, sometimes to vent... sometimes to persuade.
Discussed role of acknowledging an opponent's position in persuasive argument; Rogerian argument.

Assigned a 200--300 word (ie, brief, c. 1 page) opinion piece taking the opposing view to one of the students three preliminary thesis statements.
Began research and writing.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, December 5: Glossary of Argument Terms vocabulary quiz.
FRIDAY, December 9: Logical Fallacies poster due (at least 4 fallacies, illustrated with examples from social media).

Monday, December 5

HOMEWORK: Choose the three possible topics for argument you feel most passionate about; write them down.
This class short due to late start schedule.
Glossary of Argument Terms vocabulary quiz.

Introduced online resource, Thou Shalt Not Commit Logical Fallacies.
Reviewed logical fallacy activity on page 109.
Groups wrapped up brainstorms on controversial topics.
Presented lists of topics for argument to the class.

DUE DATES

MONDAY, December 5: Glossary of Argument Terms vocabulary quiz.
FRIDAY, December 9: Logical Fallacies poster due (at least 4 fallacies, illustrated with examples from social media).

Friday, December 2

This class taught by a sub in Ms. Bishop's absence.
Watched film version of Nicholas Nickleby.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 2: Glossary of Argument Terms vocabulary quiz. POSTPONED due to Ms. Bishop's illness.
MONDAY, December 5: Glossary of Argument Terms vocabulary quiz.
FRIDAY, December 9: Logical Fallacies poster due (at least 4 fallacies, illustrated with examples from social media).

Thursday, December 1

Assigned Logical Fallacies poster, due Friday, December 9: 4 logical fallacies illustrated with examples from social media.
(Began review of logical fallacies activity on page 109 of the handout, but moved this activity to Friday, after the quiz, to allow students to revise if needed.)

Watched the PBS Idea Channel short, "Five Fallacies" as students took notes.
Reviewed the group annotations on claims within the article "Felons and the Right to Vote."

Groups met to brainstorm lists of controversies for a potential Op-Ed piece.

DUE DATES

FRIDAY, December 2: Glossary of Argument Terms vocabulary quiz.