Favorite Vignette?

We have been reading The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. What is your favorite vignette so far and why? If you don’t remember the name of it, describe it. Try to remember as many details as you can.

Superhero Presentations

You watched Mrs. Fisher's class present their Superhero projects. Please comment on what you saw. Write a paragraph describing one part of the presentation that you learned from watching the presentations. What did you like and what do you think could have been presented a little bit better. Please do not use any student's names, refer to the project by the superhero name.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you learned.

Maya Angelou's Life

You finished watching a biography on Maya Angelou. Write a complete paragraph about her life. You can choose to include the difficult times she has had in her life, the accomplishments or both.

Thanks and I look forward to reading what you learned from the video.

Reflect on Speculative Prompt

We reviewed the NJ Holistic Scoring Rubric and you were able to score your own writing. Evaluate how you could have improved your score. What would you do differently if you were to respond to the same prompt again.

Please respond with at least one complete paragraph. Remember, you should use a word processing package and then paste it in the Comment section of the blog.

I'm looking forward to reading all of your responses.

Thanks - Ms. Ehid

September 8th - Wow!

Hello everyone. Welcome to your class blog. This is where you will be responding to questions and posting some questions. You will be able to read everyone's responses and they will be able to see yours. With that in mind, be sure you use proper English. In other words, do not use text language or AIM language. Spell out each word you want to use. I will be viewing your blog entries and grading them for part of your homework grade.

Your first entry is to be completed Monday night for homework. In class today, we established your Usernames and passwords to be used for class only. I would like you to respond to the writing prompt below. Be sure you use complete sentences.

WRITING PROMPT: Now that I'm in eighth grade, I'm really looking forward to.... because.....One of my goals for this school year is...

Test Essay

Directions: Write a well-thought out paragraph responding to this quote. What do you think Atticus means by this quote. What lesson is he trying to teach Scout? How can you learn from this quote? Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and give a personal experience. (Remember the TREE strategy, Topic sentence, Reason for topic sentence, Explain your reason and End your paragraph)

"First of all," he [Atticus] said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it." (pg. 33)

Do not write the essay, just prepare the brainstorm. You will be able to bring in the brainstorm tomorrow in class to use for the test.

Please Respond in a Complete Paragraph

Please respond in a complete paragraph - remember TREE (Topic Sentence, Reason, Explain the reason, and End). Explain what you think Atticus means when he says the following quote. What was he trying to teach Scout?

"First of all," he [Atticus] said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view-until you climb into his skin and walk around in it."

Let's try again

Let's try to answer the previous blog. So if you need to, please re-read the blog entry. Concentrate on class this time. Later on we will be discussing the theme of prejudice. Right now, I want you to concentrate on the differences between social classes in the book/movie.

I'm looking forward to reading your responses.

Theme of To Kill a Mockingbird

Remember you received a handout in class where you started to think about theme? You were to write what you thought the theme would be for a book that took place during the 1930s. Well, now that we have started to read To Kill a Mockingbird and we started the movie.

Please write in a complete paragraph how the theme of class has to do with the book/movie.

You can think about the students in Scout's class, for example, Burris Ewell, the Cunninghams, etc. Anything you would like to discuss that may deal with the differences in class between the characters.

Remember, a complete paragraph please.

What would your life be like?

Explain what you feel your life would be like if you lived in Maycomb County, Alabama during the 1930s.

Please write a complete paragraph.

To Kill a Mockingbird

We are going to start to read/watch/listen to the book To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I want you to find out some information about the author and/or the book.Please research on the web information about the book or author and post the link the comment section.

Please write a few sentences explaining what you found and what information the web site will display.

I look forward to your comments.

Chapter 6 - The Contender by Robert Lipsyte

Please answer the questions fully. Use complete sentences, no credit will be given if you do not use capitalization or punctuation. Please write in complete sentences.

1. Who is Dr. Corey and what does he do?

2. Describe a time when you didn't know what to expect and felt out of place; similar to how Alfred must have felt when he entered Donatelli's gym. Use at least four sentences.

3. Why does Mr. Donatelli save a ticket for Alfred?

Chapter 5 - The Contender - by Robert Lipsyte

Please answer the questions below in at least three sentences each. Be sure to use complete sentences, that includes capitalization and punctuations.

What does Alfred mean when he says that he wants to be someone special?

How do Jake and Ben Epstein treat Alfred after the attempted robbery?

Figurative Language Test Questions

Please leave a comment if your viewing this blog. Thanks and good luck.

VI: Figurative Language Section (2 points)
Directions: Please label the following examples with the appropriate figurative language term. You may use each term more than once.

Alliteration personification metaphor simile

Esta muerto, and then as if he just heard the news himself, crumples like a coat and cries, my brave Papa cries.

The boys at school think she’s beautiful because her hair is shiny black like raven feathers and when she laughs, she flicks her hair black like a satin shawl over her shoulders and laughs.

The moon that watched.

Until then I am a red balloon, a balloon tied to an anchor.

My Papa’s hair is like a broom, all up in the air.

It’s small and red with tight steps in front and windows so small you’d think they were holding their breath.

They are bad those Vargases, and how can they help it with only one mother who is tired all the time from buttoning and bottling and babying, and who cries every day for the man who left without even leaving a dollar for bologna or a note explaining how come.

You will always be Mango Street.

"What Sally Said"

We read "What Sally Said" in class today. What is your interpretation of the ending of the vignette....Please respond in at least four sentences. Remember the TREE strategy. Topic Sentence, Reason, Explain the reason and Ending sentence.

Then we didn't need to worry. Until one day Sally's father catches her talking to a boy and the next day she doesn't come to school. And the next. Until the way Sally tells it, he just went crazy, he just forgot he was her father between the bucket and the belt.

You're not my daughter, you're not my daughter. And then he broke into his hands.