Assessment for the DYO

You will be graded on a scale of 1 -4 (1= needs improvement, 2= approaching standards, 3=meets standards, 4= exceeds standards) on the following criteria:

1. Followed directions completed (project has all components)
2. Amount of information (how many sources - primary, secondard, print, internet)
3. Quality of information (relevance)
4. proper bibliography
5. Clarity of writing - (proofread and revised, understands the conventions of written English)
6. Reflection and statement of process (depth of understanding about the process of the project)
7. adhered to the time line and was able to manage time appropriately - work is turned in a timely fashion
8. conferenced with Ms. Sackstein prior to turning in work
9. Understands and uses the technology appropriately and creatively
10. Blog is attractive and creative looking

40-39 = A+
38-37 = A
36-35 = A-
34-33 = B+
32-31 = B
30-29 = B-
28-27 = C+
26-25 = C
24-23 = C-
22-21 = D+
20-19 = D
18-0 = F

DYO Assessment - Possible Standards addressed

ELA
· locate and use school and public library resources to acquire information.
· recognize that one text may generate multiple interpretations.
· preview informational texts, with guidance, to assess content & organization & select texts useful for the task
· identify the author's point of view, such as first-person narrator & omniscient narrator
· Use indexes to locate information and glossaries to define terms
· Clear concept of the main idea
· Engages the reader by establishing a context and developing reader interest.
· Support ideas with examples, definitions, analogies, and direct references to the text
· include relevant information and exclude irrelevant information.
· use paraphrase and quotation correctly.
· connect, compare, and contrast ideas and information from one or more sources.
· use graphics, such as graphs, charts, and diagrams, to enhance the communication of information.
· cite sources in footnotes and bibliography, using correct form, with assistance.
· Aware of varying writing styles and purposes. Writes in alignment with the genre specific task.
· Evaluate the validity and accuracy of information, ideas, themes, opinions, and experiences in text to:
· evaluate examples, details, or reasons used to support ideas
· identify propaganda, with assistance
· identify techniques used to persuade, such as emotional and ethical appeals, with assistance
· identify differing points of view in texts and presentations
· identify cultural and ethnic values and their impact on content
· identify multiple levels of meaning
· judge a text by using evaluative criteria from a variety of perspectives, such as literary and personal, with assistance.
· draw conclusions and make inferences on the basis of explicit and implied information
· Revise and improve early drafts by restructuring, correcting errors, and revising for clarity and effect.
· Evaluates and compares his/her own and other’s work with regard to different criteria and recognize the change in evaluations when different criteria are considered to be more important.
· Use standard English skillfully, applying established rules and conventions for presenting information and making use of a wide range of grammatical constructions and vocabulary to achieve an individual style that communicates effectively.


Social Studies

• History of the United States and New York Students will use a variety of intellectual skills to demonstrate their understanding of major ideas, eras, themes, developments, and turning points in the history of the United States and New York.
• Important ideas, social and cultural values, beliefs, and traditions from New York State and United States history
• illustrate the connections and interactions of people and events across time and from a variety of perspectives.
• interpret the ideas, values and beliefs contained in the Declaration of Independence and the New York State Constitution and United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, and other important historical documents
• describe the reasons for periodizing history in different ways.Students investigate key turning points in New York State and United States history and explain why these events or developments are significant.

Major American History topics covered

Early Americans
Exploration
Early Colonization
13 original colonies
Building of a Nation
Revolutionary War
Declaration of Independence
Constitution
Articles of Confederation
Slavery
Manifest Destiny
Westward Expansion
Women's suffrage
Industrial Revolution
Acquisition of new lands
early American presidents
early Civil War - causes of
Maps - geography - 5 themes

Possible Genres for your final blog project

Journal entries

letters

timelines

1 act play

character profile

poem

essay

monologue

game

obituary

feature article

news article

advertisement

book review

experiment

map

descriptive paragraph (using sensory details)

political cartoon

cartoon

editorial or opinion piece

You should generate written drafts prior to posting... remember, you should always revise, revise, revise

Last project of the year - DYO - Choose your own adventure - It will be due on June 6th

It has been decided!

For your final project, you will be creating another blog... there was so much positive feedback, that I thought this format, would be a good opportunity for everyone.

There will be some different criteria - (an no official handout/assignment sheet) - this post will serve as that.

You will select a topic that we have covered this year that you have interest in and that you would like to learn more about. (the last few topics will be women's rights, manifest destiny and westward expansion, and the causes of the Civil War).

1. You will create a new blog and invite me to it
2. You will do some ou research with both primary and secondary sources (and create a bibliography) some of these sources will have to be print sources (not just internet sources)
3. You will be doing multi-genre style posts not just journal entries...
4. You will have to do at least 10 different posts of varying lengths
5. You will have some visual representations of your topic
6. You will have a glossary of important terms that you've come across in your research for your topic
7. You will work alone, by yourself, not with any friends, independently
8. You will NOT plagiarize... i.e. you will put all things in your own words and cite accordingly otherwise... use quotation marks when you borrow completely... (a good way to know if it is your idea or someone else's is to do a "brain dump" before you start... whatever is on the paper the first day is what you know everything else needs to be cited)
9. Make sure to give the reader a good idea of what your topic is about... why should we care?
10. You will have a reflection that talks about your experience... What did you learn? What challenges did you face? What would you do differently? What came easily? What are you most proud of?
11. You will also have a statement of process that will walk us through your process... How did you go about the project? What standards did you address? How would you grade yourself?

DUE JUNE 6, 2008

Reminders

On going assignments -
Poetry project due on Friday - yes, this Friday.

Independent reading with reading logs (to be kept in your reader's sourcebook). You should be keeping a record of your finished books - you should have 25 by the end of the school year.

Lit. cirlce books and blogs. Each group should have a blog where you discuss what you have read - specifically things that interest you and/or author's craft. Things that are confusing or cause for concern can and should be discussed too.

Check the blog daily.

Sonnets - help for the project

a sonnet is a 14 line poem with a particular rhyme scheme. There are 2 general kinds of sonnets that are popular: The Shakespearean Sonnet and the Petrarchan Sonnet. They are both 14 lines, but the way they are broken down is different.

The Shakespearean sonnet (the harder one of the two in my opinion)

3 - rhyming quatrains written in iambic pentameter (5 feet, 10 syllables)

1 rhyming couplet to end the poem.

The rhyme scheme is as follows: abab cdcd efef gg

The petrarchan sonnet is split into two stanzas: an octave (8 lines) and a sestet (6)

The rhyme scheme is a b b a a b b a (octave)

sestet can be any of the following rhyme schemes:

c d c d c d

c d d c d c

c d e c d e

c d e c e d

c d c e d c

http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/Writing-a-Sonnet.id-1748.html - This is a good site that is easy to follow.

I hope this helps... don't forget your reflection.

The project is due on Friday when we return, 5/2

Question About Our Poems

For the poem drafts, do we need a specific font, size...etc???

Vacation

I hope everyone has a GREAT vacation!!!

Does slavery still exist in America?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89750307 - read this link about tomato working farm hands...

Is this slavery? What do you think?

teacherease

Please stop emailing me about assignments that are incorrect on teacherease. Some assignments take longer to grade. If you have received your work back and it is still incorrect, see me in person, with your work to show me the error and it will be corrected. Without proof, there will be no corrections.

Writing poetry

http://www.poetrymagic.co.uk/approaches.html - this link has some good approaches to writing poetry if you are stuck



http://www.poewar.com/poetry-writing-tips/ - poetry writing tips



http://www.garlikov.com/teaching/poemwrit.htm - a guide to writing poems for people who feel they can't...



Let me know how helpful these sites are.

Slavery websites

Slavery in America

Melrose Interactive Slavery Environment

Understanding Slavery: DiscoverySchool.com

Underground Railroad--History of Slavery, Pictures, Information
Here are some good sites on slavery.... use them to feel inspired while you write your poetry.

Goals (james)

My goals for the year are to pass with a better than a C grade. I also want to participate more and manage my time better

This is for Ms.G

My mom said the guy I was talking about today knows alot about slavery from his family.

On the ELA exams. I think that im not going to do that well. Because every time I took the ELA exams, I always get a 60 are lower.

When I edid, its kind of hard for me. Its hard for me because im a slow typer, and the fact that im not good with comeputers.

My goals for the rest of the year is to pass my grade.

Poetry Writing!

I'm still having trouble writing a poem. I have problems because when I'm going to start writing I only focus on rhyming and using words that sound smart and that makes me forget the main idea of what my poem is about. I tried to follow the Poetic Devices but I don't really understand what they mean. I kind of need help writing a poem that doesn't sound the same as the same old poems that only rhyme =)

-Andrea

Goals for the rest of the school year(StephanieT.)=)

My goals for the rest of the year is...
-To pass
-To try to finish all my work
-Try my best to work hard
-Try my best to stay on task, and not to talk
-Try my best to participate fully
-Try my best to not get distracted

Dear Ms. Moreno,
I tried my best to find the 2007 homework, but I have not succeed(unfortunitely) so therefore I have created my own post.

*Enjoy*
Stephanie T. 702

Goals

is posting our goals on the blog our homework?

My goals [Stacey]

My goals for this year are to:

-Pass the 7th grade ELA test.
-Read as many books as I can.
-Stay out of trouble.
-Complete all projects and assignments on TIME.
-Not be late to class.

Poetry Project

Over break, please draft your poems. You may email them to me and I will send you feedback or on Monday, please bring in some of what you've worked on. The more you do on your own, the more I can conference with you.

Let's really work on trying to revise together once the work gets done.

editing

whats hard about editing to me is finding the commas and what doesn't go in a sentence ,but whats easy to find is what makes no sense in a sentence for example: I think George Washington is the best president.That's wrong because he is not the best president he was the best presidents because hes not alive anymore and not the president anymore.So that means you have to put was not is.

my goals

my goals or this year is :


- get good grades
-pass the 7Th grade
-not get suspend or a detention

Holiday Work will be given out on Wed.

Please read 1 book and do a written book talk to be turned in on Monday when we return.

There will be two packets handed out on Wed. that focus on drilling of English language skills. Both should be handed in on Monday when we return.

Congratulations

to those who participated in today's town hall at the museum of the city of NY. It was a very exciting and stressful day for all involved.

702's free speech did an excellent job in the first round, but the judges failed to see their genius. Don't worry guys (Tessa, Mike, Andrea, Taylor and Stacey), I thought you guys were great.

731's death penalty group made it all the way... congrats to Rachel Ann, Emma, Cassandra and Julian. You guys did a great job and the judges did recognize your genius.

I'm proud of everyone and we really made our school proud today. WJPS's first official win of anything.

Independent Reading Book Recommendations...

Visit the book lovers forum to see some 8th grade reading recommendations according to one school district. I know your parents were interested in some reading choices. Here they are:

http://bookloversforum.blogspot.com/

Hakim's metaphor

We had some confusion today about "king Cotton" - who wasn't actually a person, but a cash crop in the south.

Hakim used the metaphor "King Cotton" by comparing this crop to the king to show how it ruled the south. It took everything over and I believe she talked about how it was made by the blood and sweat of many slaves... that is the truth.

a cash crop -A crop, such as tobacco, grown for direct sale rather than for livestock feed. Cotton replaced tobacco as the south's most prosperous crop.

It was because of cotton that slavery had a resurgence in the south during the early 19th century. In the south, that period of time is called the antebellum period (before the war (Civil war)). Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin making it quicker and easier to remove the seeds from the cotton plants which made the need for cotton picking to go faster to keep up.

http://www.ushistoryplace.com/newmaps/us10/intro.html - this link talks all about cotton and slavery.

http://www.slaveryinamerica.org/history/hs_es_cotton.htm - this site is good too. Goes all into the different developments and slavery.

Continue to consider these themes as you work on your poetry projects which are due on May 2.

702- Weekend presentation share out

Due to the firedrill and loss of time in class, each member of each group should post to this blog about what they learned in their chapter. If you we responsible for facts - post about that...



Please make sure to mention what chapter you worked from, what you learned and how it applies to the themes of slavery that you will need for your project.



Make sure to read each other's posts and make notes from people's information.

3rd drafts of Compare/Contrast essays due tomorrow

Please bring in your 3rd drafts of compare/contrast essays with all earlier drafts. Please highlight changes in your 3rd draft. Anything added, changed and/or subtracted should be highlighted in the earlier draft.

To Be Used for Extra Credit...

If you want to finish writing and revising your senator/representative letters based on your constitutional projects, I will accept them as extra credit. I would like to send them out to the respective congress people.

Quiz tomorrow - Wed. 4/9

The first time we had a quiz after the treasure hunt, there was an issue with people not taking the lesson seriously. In an effort to make sure that everyone understood the material, we worked on getting the information a second way today.

You will have a quiz in class tomorrow... you will not be able to use your notes. Whichever quiz is the higher grade, that is the one that will count.

Study the packet given out... review the questions.... review your notes...

Reminders...

Continue reading 3 chapters a night in your lit. circle book and record your findings in your reader's notebooks. Author's craft should be your focus.

Create a blog for your lit. circle and start posting to your new group blog... please invite me to it.

also...
3rd drafts of compare/contrast essays are due on Friday with revisions. Some second drafts lacked any real thought or revision.

The final drafts will be due on Wed. 4/16. with all other drafts attached.

Reflection

Our school is very big on reflecting on work done... not just on what is done well, but what can be done differently and what has improved...

After you complete a major assignment, reflect on the job you've done in your writer's notebook. Think about how you've improved and what you will take away from the experience. What did you learn?

Compare/Contrast essays

The Compare/contrast essay that you selected to move foward with will count as a midterm assignment when the final is turned in.

You should have 3 drafts and a final draft making 4 all together.

This final draft with all other drafts attached (the other drafts will count toward your grade) on Wed. April 16th.

Lit. Circle homework

Read 3 chapters in your lit circle book and make notes about author's craft in your reader's sourcebook. All of your work will be checked when we do notebook checks during the week of April 14th.



Please make sure to bring both of your notebooks to class - April 16 - April 18.

Historical Fiction Publication

Here are a list of people who's stories I have received:

• Ashley (not a final)


• Lawrence


• Adriana


• Raymond


• Gabby


• Adam


• Tessa


• Anthony


• Jonathan P


• Christina P


• Dimitri


• Philip


• Nina


• Michelle


• Kassie R


• James B


• Andrea


• Yusef


• Rachel Sui


• Antonio (not a final)


• Taylor

If your name is NOT on this list, then I don't have a final electronic draft of your story. Please provide one if you would like to be included in the publication.

Historical Fiction Publication

I still haven't received electronic copies of your short stories. In order for me to put together a proper publication, I need everyone to email me their work. Many still haven't.



Please make sure you send me a copy of your work via email ASAP so that I can finish putting together the 7th grade publication.



If I don't get your story via email by Tuesday, you won't be a part of the publication.



Thanks for your timely response.

Congratulations to the Constitution Project Winners... now the work begins

Congrats to:
702: Tessa, Michael, Andrea, Stacey and Taylor - Free Speech
731: Emma, Rachel-Ann, Julian and Cassandra - Death Penalty

Please email me a copy of your finished presentations ASAP.

We will meet on Monday at lunch to discuss what happens now...
Please return your permission slips no later than Monday.

TownHall is on April 14th.

Compare/Contrast draft 2

After you have selected the compare/contrast draft you want to continue on with (Washington/Adams or War of 1812/Revolutionary War)...



Write a second draft and attach the first draft... make sure to compare and contrast as discussed in class.

Second drafts of one essay are due on Monday, 4/7

Bibliography

http://www.liu.edu/CWIS/CWP/library/workshop/citmla.htm - this link will explain how to do the bibliography for books and websites...

It is really easy to understand.

I hope it helps.

Ms. Sackstein

Does anybody know the name of the author who writes our textbook?

Today's Quiz

I hope toaday everyone learned a good lesson about following directions. We asked you to look at the blog every day... we told you to bring your notes to class. We told you would need to know this information. Some of your were still surprised.ns

You will not be able to drop this grade and/or do it over. Please try to follow directions better when they are given. We do ask you to do things for a reason and we're sorry that it had to come to a quiz for each of you to get the point.

Remember, one of the standards does address the ability to follow multi-step directions. It's a listening skill.

Please post a reflection about what you learned from this experience to this blog....

Tonight's reminders

Your constitution projects are due tomorrow... please come prepared with your finished presentations... looking forward to seeing our class work.

Also, you need to have a hand written bibliography on loose leaf paper. It should include all of the sites you visited for the treasure hunt and the class text. It will count as a quiz. It is due tomorrow. For every day it is late, you will lose 5 points.

Stephanie Missing Work(1/18)=)

I think that our country's formatation is fair, because everyone worked for freedom and in the long run it was granted. Now I don't understand because it's happening all over again. There is a big war, and we are fighting for freedom. I feel that their should be no war, and their will finally be PEACE!!! Too many peoples lives were taken over a war, that was first over a big deal, but now it's for oil. It doesn't make sense. I think that our country fought enough.

Stephanie Missing Work(1/3) =)

My main concerns for the E.L.A. exam are not answering the questions carefully, and correctly. I'm not too nervous about the multiple choice, but on the other hand I'm nervous about my writing and my notes.(Will they be neat enough, easy to read?)

Today's Treasure Hunt

Please continue work on your treasure hunts... in class tomorrow you will have time to work from the text book, but you will have no more than class tomorrow to finish.

On Thursday, you will have to turn in a copy of your works cited from this assignment. You will do your own works cited. It will be graded like a quiz.

In class on either tomorrow or Thursday or Friday, you could possibly get a quiz on the work you've been working on in the treasure hunt. Please be prepared with your notes. Take this assignment seriously.

Your Constitution projects are due on Thursday... you should be ready for presentation on Thursday and we will be selecting a winner on that day.