Week 4: Jan 25-29

A writing assignment was given on Tuesday:

Purpose: Use literature to persuade an audience to change its attitude toward risk.
Audience:
1. peers (students roughly your age)
2. does not share your attitude toward risk
3. very familiar with 3 works under discussion

Evidence: Use “Two Sisters of Persephone”
“Gallipoli”
“The Road Not Taken”
(choose 2 of 3. Not all three!)

Counterargument: Required
Introduction: Funnel with thesis
Persuasion: Use pathos, ethos, and/or logos

Draft #1 Due Monday, 2/1
Length: 900-1000 words

Week 2: January 11-15

Mon. 2nd period finished reading "A Sound of Thunder" and began working on the assignment: page 514,#1-7; one full page is the minimum length. Please write in complete sentences.

Tues.1st period received the "Sound of Thunder" assignment today. 2nd and 5th periods worked on editing. We discussed the difference between editing and proofreading. Editing, the more complex process, leads to suggestions for the writer about purpose, audience, meaning, and credibility. A good editor wants you to express yourself as clearly as possible; he is your friend!

Also, the persuasive techniques of pathos, logos, and ethos were introduced, and common popular examples were discussed.

Spring Semester, Week One (Jan. 4- 8)

Mon. Welcome back! We reviewed the final and practiced sentence combining.

Tues. Students composed some thoughts on CHANGE. The topic: "What needs to change?"
In order to do this, we brainstormed things on world, country, school, and home level. Then, a K-W-L chart helped us to identify what we know and what we want to know about our topic. Students then wrote 250 words in class on their topic.

Wed. Notes on building credibility (which you'll be quizzed on):
1. Use facts
2. Understand other points of view
3. have an approporiate focus (don't try to "do to much")
4. think about your audience ahead of time
5. "Say what you mean, mean what you say..."

Thurs. Class examined a letter to the editor and discussed credibility issues of the writer. Students identified at credibility issues in 4 of the 5 areas introduced in yesterday's class. After discussion, students wrote a rebuttal letter, keeping in mind the need to maintain their own credibility.

1st period was a little different: this class received notes on the persuasive methods of pathos, ethos, and logos. We then studied a poster and identified where the techniques were being used, how they interact, and how effective they were.

Fri. Students discussed cause and effect, and read Ray Bradbury's short story "Sound of Thunder."