Yesterday, students took a listening comprehension test.  If you were absent, I will be doing a make-up on Monday of next week during 10th period.  If you can't make it, please let me know so we can make arrangements.  

Have a great weekend!!

Eastern Catskill Mountains 

This section is known as the Devil's Path

What is the personification in the above quote?

1st effort on poems from "Mother to Son" are due today.

Classwork:

Lesson 5- Figurative Language

Here are some more examples of personification:

**Quick Assessment: Write your own example of a metaphor

 

Today's Classwork/Homework- Due Tomorrow, 10/26/11        

 

Write an extended metaphor poem in the same style as Langston Hughes answering the mother in "Mother to Son."  Use a different metaphor (rather than crystal stairs) to describe your own insights about life.  

 

Here's an example:

 

Sample “Mother to Son” Poem

Extended Metaphor

Little Soldier

By Julia L.

Mama,

Life ain’t easy;

I know this now.

You give me the strength to fight the battle.

Life is a battle,

Obstacle after obstacle.

I was once a soldier,

Naïve to the death and hardship of war,

But with your wisdom, I am now commander.

Commander of my own troops,

Me, myself, and I.

I may lose a few battles now and then,

And I will certainly triumph over the war.

Thank you for being my trainer.

Thank you for helping me with my quest.

Thank you for being wise and kind

And revealing the key.

The key to the door.

The key to life.

Life ain’t easy,

But I will fight to the finish.

Fight to the death.

Here are the notes for today:

Figurative Language- language that can not be taken literally.

metaphor- a direct comparison of two unlike things without using the words "like" or "as."
   ex. Skip is a clown.

simile- a comparison of two things using "like" or "as."
   ex. She runs like the wind.

personification- giving nonliving things living qualities
   ex. The basketball danced around the rim.

Today, we are reading "Mother to Son" by Langston Hughes  http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/83.  He is famous as being a Harlem Renaissance poet and writer of short fiction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harlem_Renaissance

Langston Hughes'
Mother to Son

---

Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor --
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now --
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

Summary (Conclusion) Paragraph

What is a summary paragraph?
The summary paragraph comes at the end of your essay after you have finished developing your ideas. The summary paragraph is often called a "conclusion."

What does it do?
It summarizes or restates the main idea of the essay. You want to leave the reader with a sense that your essay is complete.

How do I write one?
1. Restate the strongest points of your essay that support your main idea.
2. Conclude your essay by restating the main idea in different words.
3. Give your personal opinion or suggest a plan for action.

Example:

Overall, the changes that occurred in hockey have helped to improve the game. Hockey is faster and more exciting as a result of changes in the past 120 years. For these reasons, modern hockey is a better game than hockey in the 1890s.

Supporting (Body) Paragraphs

What are supporting paragraphs?Supporting paragraphs make up the main body of your essay.

What do they do?They develop the main idea of your essay.

How do I write them?

1. List the points that develop the main idea of your essay.
2. Place each supporting point in its own paragraph.
3. Develop each supporting point with facts, details, and examples.

To connect your supporting paragraphs, you should use special transition words. Transition words link your paragraphs together and make your essay easier to read. Use them at the beginning and end of your paragraphs.

Examples of transition words that can help you to link your paragraphs together:

-For listing different points: first, next, then, finally

-For counter examples: however, even though, on the other hand, nevertheless

-For additional ideas: another, in addition to, related to, furthermore, also

-To show cause and effect: therefore, thus, as a result of, consequently

 Like all good paragraphs, each supporting paragraph should have a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a summary sentence.

Introduction Paragraph

What is an introduction paragraph?
The introduction paragraph is the first paragraph of your essay.

What does it do?
It introduces the main idea of your essay. A good opening paragraph captures the interest of your reader and tells why your topic is important.
 
How do I write one?
1. Write the thesis statement. The main idea of the essay is stated in a single sentence called the thesis statement. You must limit your entire essay to the topic you have introduced in your thesis statement.
2. Provide some background information about your topic. You can use interesting facts, quotations, or definitions of important terms you will use later in the essay.
 
Example:
     Hockey has been a part of life in Canada for over 120 years. It has evolved into an extremely popular sport watched and played by millions of Canadians. The game has gone through several changes since hockey was first played in Canada.

Today we are finishing up class work that will be collected for a quiz grade on "Raymond's Run."  Please make sure that if you were absent, all work gets made up in a timely fashion. 

Tomorrow, I will be doing a lesson on essay writing.  All students have an essay due for social studies this week, and it is important that they know how to organize their thoughts.  Here's a helpful site with some quick tips for writing different types of essays.

http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/essay/

It's Yankee Candle Time!!

In an effort to raise some funds for our upcoming field trip to see "Sister Act" in New York City (info. and permission slips will be distributed in class this week), we will be participating in a Yankee Candle fundraiser.  Students will receive the fundraising packets, including catalogs and order forms in class today, October 12. 

**All money is to be collected, documented on the order forms, and handed in to Mr. Manley no later than Monday, October 24, 2011.

In class, we are continuing to read "Raymond's Run."  Make sure to keep up with all reading if you are absent from class. 

Here are the notes for this week.  We'll be reading the short story "Raymond's Run" by Toni Cade Bambara.  Here's a website with informantion about the author:  http://socialjustice.ccnmtl.columbia.edu/index.php/Toni_Cade_Bambara

“Raymond’s Run”

 by: Toni Cade Bambara

setting- Harlem, present day

narrator- Squeaky (also the main character) 1^st person point of view

Words to Know

relay- a race where several team members are used to finish

      Ex. The Unites States lost the 400 meter relay at the track meet.

clutch- to grasp and hold tightly

      Ex. I watched the student nervously clutch the note she had written.

prodigy- a person with great talent

      Ex. Tiger Woods was a child prodigy when it came to golf.

sidekick- a close friend

      Ex.  Many superheroes have a trusty sidekick.

periscope- a device that lets one see beyond the area he/she is in.

      Ex.  To see above the water the captain of the submarine used the periscope.

Literary Element

Conflict- A struggle between two forces

5 Types:

Person vs. Person

Person vs. nature

Person vs. society

Person vs. technology

Person vs. themselves\

**No Homework Tonight**

A Chance to Redeem Yourself!

Please write the following sentences on separate paper to be handed in.  Each has a missing apostrophe that you will need to put in the correct spot.

1.  Artists techniques vary for making pictures look three-dimensional.

2.  In this picture, one roads edges seem to meet in the distance.

3.  Notice the size of the womens heads that are closest to the viewer.

4.  They look larger than the womans head who sits behind them.

5.  An artists use of light can also suggest depth.

Characters are the people, animals, or objects in a story.  To understand a character, look at the character's traits, emotions, and motivations.
1. A character's traits are behaviors that show his or her personality.
2. Emotions are the feelings the character expresses in thoughts, words, and actions.
3. Motivations are the reasons a character does something.  Motivations can be expressed through a character's thoughts, words, or actions.

Today, students will be reading a selection called, "Ana's Crusade."  The main focus will be character and conflict.  This assignment is to be handed in during class for a quiz grade.

Still Hangin' in There!!

Yesterday, we continued our work with the different literary genres.  We also, practiced working with singular possessive and plural possessive nouns.  Some students still seem to have some issues with the rules. 

Here they are for future reference:

A possessive noun shows ownership.  Singular nouns add an apostrophe and "s" to form the possessive (worker/worker's).  Most plural nouns add an apostrophe after the s to form the possessive (workers/workers').  Plurals that don't end in s (men/mice) add an apostrophe and "s" (men's/mice's) to show possession.

Proverb of the Day: "A person is known by the company he/she keeps."

Here are the notes for the day:

Literary Genre- type/style of writing

Fiction                   Nonfiction

Drama                       Biography

Fable                         Autobiography

Fairy Tale                  Essay

Fantasy                     Literary NF

Folklore                     Informative NF

Historical Fiction        Speech

Horror

Humor

Legend

Mystery

Mythology

Poetry

Realistic Fiction

Science Fiction

Short Story

Tall Tale

Tonight's Homework:

Complete both sides of worksheet on plural and possessive nouns.