The Passage Project

The Passage Project

Orientalism Notes: here, here, and here.

Orientalism in a nutshell: here

Edward Said's article "Orientalism Reconsidered" here

Over the break, while you read the book, think about which project option appeals to you. Knowing about these project options should help you focus your annotations as you read.

We will have time to work on this in class the week after Thanksgiving, but you should also plan to spend some time on it outside of class, as well. If you would like to bring some technology to class (iPad, laptop, etc.) to use during class while working on this, you certainly may. Please note: I am not responsible for the safety of your technology while you are on campus. I have a cabinet with a lock that you may use if you'd like me to hold it for you, but even then, I cannot guarantee it. (Teachers get stolen from, too, unfortunately.)

Please note that the assignment prompt states that this is a technology-based presentation. Go back to 1998 with your posters, people. :)

I'm excited about this project! I hope you are, too. If you have questions over the break, please email me (BestEnglishTeacherEver at Gmail dot com). I'm spending part of the break out in the boonies, so if I don't answer right away, you know why.

Persuasive Essay Due Tonight [K/H]

Please turn in  your paper on TurnItIn.com. If you have questions about how to do that, please email me at BestEnglishTeacherEver@gmail.com as soon as possible. Please do not email me your paper unless we've already had a conversation about it.

To submit the paper, go to my class (class codes were posted the first week of the year, scroll all the way down) and click on the assignment. Upload it.

Before you do, make sure it meets these requirements:

• size 14 font
• Times New Roman
• 1 1/2 in margins all around
• No more than 26 lines

THE PROMPT IS:

Write an essay stating your position on whether it is more valuable to learn from a formal education or life experiences.

Quizlets for Vocabulary

On-Level: Unit 5 review: Quizlet Unit 5

K/H: Units 9 & 10 review: Quizlet Unit 9 and Quizlet Unit 10

If you haven't used Quizlet before, it's a really cool way to review flashcard-type information. Start with the blue Flashcard button, then click the other blue buttons (Learn, Speller, etc) across the top to continue review.

Persuasive Introductions PowerPoint

Here are the notes: Persuasive Introductions

Persuasive Writing: Rhetorical Patterns and Variations for Sentences

Class notes for rhetorical sentence patterns and variations: Rhetorical Patterns

Things I've noticed that are present in all high-scoring persuasive papers:

No matter what the prompt is, you need to:
- You have to talk about something that matters, either to you or to your audience.
- You have to make them care.
- You need to use persuasive language. Forceful language.

Passage to India Materials

Character List: Here

Glossary of Indian Terms: Here

(See the previous post for reading homework --- on the calendar.)

Current Calendar - K/H

Third Grading Period Calendar: Current Calendar

New Vocabulary Lists

K/H Vocab for Units 9 and 10: Here it is!

On-Level Vocab for Unit 5: Here it is!

Persuasive Writing Scoring Guide from TEA

They have finally posted the scoring guide for the writing portion of our exam!

I've posted the rubric before, and it's certainly been helpful - but this one has real student samples of writing, scored, with annotations from the grader!

Here it is: Persuasive Writing Scoring Guide

DIDLS Notes

By popular demand - a set of notes about DIDLS!

DIDLS Notes

Big City/Small Town Persuasive Example

Persuasive topic: Is it better to live in a big city or a small town?
Board Notes from 10/31.

There are some things I want you to notice about this example:
- The thesis is very simple, but it still picks a side (big cities) and it gives a "because..."
- The counter argument and rebuttal both begin with transitions (underlined) that make it clear to the reader that the direction of the paper is changing. Without these transitions, the changes in direction would be lost in the reader's mind. Try to read the counter argument and rebuttal without these transitions. They don't make sense, do they?
- Notice the forceful language in the rebuttal. "Time is everything" sounds urgent, doesn't it? The word "clearly" lets the audience know what side you're on. The phrase "lifesaving medical care" is also urgent, and when you add " - especially for children" well, that just seals the deal, right? Who wouldn't want "lifesaving medical care - especially for children"?