Powerful, Amazing Argument Essays!

Jaslin writes about why she thinks the consumption of meat is inhumane.

However, Lucy, a vegetarian, creates a complex and compelling argument in support of the consumption of meat.

Sabine makes a passionate and powerful argument for the rights of professional athletes to kneel during the national anthem.

Rajhasree also, in a beautifully crafted piece, defends athletes who kneel.

Linus argues for the implementation of police body cameras.

Ari writes a convincing case that social media's influence is "picking and tearing"at the way humans have communicated for centuries. 

How To Google Better

Found this and wanted to share...  Make your research easier and more precise with these Google tricks!

http://mashable.com/2011/11/24/google-search-infographic/#Jv_d7LnmwsqE

Checklist for Evaluating Internet Sources

Name______________________________________ 

Partner’s Name______________________________

Source Title _________________________________________________________

Peer Evaluation Checklist for Sources

Who’s in Charge?  (Determine Authority)

Can you find the name of the organization that created the website, the publisher of the book, or the magazine or newspaper the article is from?

______________________________________________________________________________

Are you telling me the truth?  (Determine Accuracy)

Who is the author of this particular text?

______________________________________________________________________________

Are there facts cited?  Does the author say where s/he got his/her info?

______________________________________________________________________________

Is the information current enough for the topic being researched?  Why or why not?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Why is this writer someone to be trusted?  (What’s his/her job title, credentials, etc.?)

______________________________________________________________________________

Are you selling me something? (Determine Motivation)

Is there an obvious bias?  Or is the info fair and balanced?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Is this an appropriate source for your partner’s research, or could there be an ulterior motive to this text?

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

TIME TO USE COMMON SENSE!  Is there anything at all that makes this source seem unreliable in any way?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

All-Star Mentor Reading Responses to "Ashes" and "Faithful Elephants"

Rajhasree's post!
http://18rpaul.blogspot.com/2017/10/reading-response-faithful-elephants.html

Noa's post!
http://18ncostom.blogspot.com/2017/10/ashes-reading-response.html

Ari's post!
http://18arousakis.blogspot.com/2017/10/reading-response-to-ashes.html

Daniel's post!
http://18daaraoreisartu.blogspot.com/2017/10/faithful-elephants-reading-response.html

Ryan's post!
http://18rkearns.blogspot.com/2017/10/reading-response-to-ashes-by-susan-beth.html

Trevor's post!
http://18tlane.blogspot.com/2017/10/ashes.html

Clementine's post!
http://18celorriaga.blogspot.com/2017/10/ashes-by-susan-beth-pfeffer-literary.html

Sabine's post!
http://18sgoldberg.blogspot.com/2017/10/ashes-response.html

Sam's post!
http://18sfranklin.blogspot.com/2017/10/faithful-elephants.html

Possible Focuses for a Non-Fiction Reading Response

- Author's bias, and how you know
- Images/Imagery, especially repeated ones that become symbolic
-Whose perspective is included/Who is quoted and whose isn't, and why
-Author's tone
-Word choice and how it affects readers
-Relationships between claims and counterclaims
-Evidence the author uses to prove point
-Significance of small details
-Author's purpose
-Audience and why

-Unpack lines that use loaded words

-Analyze the emotional effect the author intends

-Author’s use of evidence

-Analyze the portrayals of people and objects/ topics in the text

-Whose perspective is included/excluded and why

-Main idea and supporting ideas

-Treatment of controversial issues

-Tone/attitude of the author

-Repetition and purpose

-Rhetorical devices

-Text to world connections/how the text fits into larger topics

-Figurative language and its effects

Due Dates for Reading Responses 2017 - 2018

Ways to Plan a Reading Response - Compiled list of 803, 812, and 813's ideas

803's Ideas:
-List ideas for each paragraph-Create a web or chart-Choose your evidence/quotes
-Plan your topic sentences (supporting ideas)
-Read story again considering your claim, maybe add annotations
-Free-write a little about each piece of evidence
-Decide on the order of ideas/quotes
-Look back at annotations, synthesis page, notebook
-Try out a few different hooks
-Create a traditional outline (I, II, III, A, B, C)
-Create a boxes and bullets outline

812's Ideas:

-Create a “boxes and bullets” outline

-Plan your topic sentences

-Finalize your claim

-Choose your quotes

-Create a plot mountain

-Review your annotations – highlight ones that are relevant to your claim

-Draft a few possible hooks

-Plan your body paragraphs

-List ideas to include in each paragraph

-Recheck the rubric

-Plan text-to-world connection for conclusion

-Align your evidence with your claim; revise claim if necessary

-Make a traditional outline (I, II, III, a, b, c)

-Create webs

813's Ideas
-Create a “boxes and bullets” outline

-     
-Choose your evidence/quotes

-Draft a few possible hooks

-Make a list of ideas to include

-Decide what ideas go in what paragraphs

-List other details from the text

-Re-check the rubric

-Add more annotations to the text (related to claim)

-Reread the story/text

-Plan your topic sentences

-Start selecting transitions

All-star synthesis pages on "Ashes" and "Faithful Elephants" from Round 1!!

Synthesis Page All-Star Mentors

Here are some synthesis pages from the past!  Emulate them for your next synthesis page!

Changing the Design of your Blog

Changing the Template
Click on "design" on your blog to get to the set-up page. Click on "theme" on the left hand side. Scroll down to pick a template you like! (Just please make sure it's a template that still shows the dates of your posts!)

Adding Gadgets

Click on “design” at the top right hand corner again.  Click on “layout” on the left hand side.  Click on “add gadget”.  When you find one you want, click on the “+” sign.  Be sure to save changes! As you customize your blogs, feel free to utilize all the tools available to you on blogger. The following are required:  

1. List (REQUIRED):  Please make an online list and call it “Finished Book List.” As you finish a book, add it here.

2. Blogroll: you can create a list of blogs you are reading on the sidebar. Everyone will be responsible for commenting on a handful of other blogs, so this is a great place to put the blogs you plan on keeping up with.  Each time an author posts something new, it automatically moves that blog to the top of your list. You can add in the blogs once I add them to our home base blog, thestarryvoid.blogspot.com. 

3. Labels: Label each post according to your focus (for example, “character change” or “theme”).  You can also label posts according to topic (“friendship” or “sports”) or title (“Hunger Games”).

Additional Guidelines
1. This blog is a part of a school project. Therefore, all content on your blog must be related to your reading and writing life in some way. Please do not use this blog as an online journal.
2. My expectation is that we are a community of readers and writers. I will be monitoring all blogs and trusting that your words that appear online will come from a place of respect for your fellow classmates as well with a tone that is appropriate for school.
3. For my own sanity, do not add any kind of sound gadgets to your blog.  Also, please type in readable colors (no pink or yellow) and fonts (avoid ones that are cursive or all caps, especially). 
Thanks!  Let's get this blogging started!

-Ms. Rear