Good Morning Musees,

 

Today is Wisdom Wednesday, May 7, 2014

 

Do Now:  Review the different types of Logical Fallacies.

 

Witha partner, write 10 original examples of the 10 logical fallacies (appeals to ignorance, pity, bandwagon, broad generalizations, circular thinking, either-or thinking, half-truths, oversimplification, slanted language, and testimonials) using your thesis topic.  Label each fallacy.  Then sign a pledge that you will completely avoid logical fallacies in your essay J!

Hello Musees,

We are now going to learn about persuasion and argument.

Do Now:

 

"Thaw with her gentle persuasion is more powerful than Thor with his hammer. The one melts, the other breaks into pieces."

~ Henry David Thoreau

 What does this quote mean to you? Do you agree or disagree.  Why?  Share your thoughts. Blog it.

Compare/Contrast New Yorker Activity

 

Please post your paragraphs here: In the following cartoon, study the two women in detail:  their clothing, ages, facial expressions, and so forth.  Notice the name of the perfume the taller one is holding.  For a paragraph that compares and contrasts the women, jot down similarities and differences.  Ask yourself, “What is going on here? What is my impression of each woman? Do the similarities or differences between them add to the humor of the cartoon?” Then, with a partner, plan and write your paragraph. Then switch with the couple next to you and compare each other’s paragraphs.

Good Morning Musees,

Happy Monday.   Welcome back. This week we will discuss various ways to express comparison and contrast. BUT FIRST,

Do Now: Please immerse yourself in the following grammar and usage exercises. See how you do! :) Then we touch base and reflect.

1. Clauses, sentences and fragments

http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/test_n_games/practice_tests/fragments.htm

2. Usage

http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/test_n_games/practice_tests/usage.htm

3. Punctuation

http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/test_n_games/practice_tests/punctationandmechanics.htm

 We will then discuss some tips on how to avoid personal prounouns in your  academic writing.

 

Have a great day!

MM

Hello Musees,

Today is Monday, April 7th.  This week, you are working on your Cause and Effect Essay

Criteria:
2-3 pages
MLA format, typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-point font
Final Draft Due: Friday, April 11th
Peer Review
Apply ALL aspects of Cause and Effect that we learned
** You may want to research facts or statistics to add credibility to your argument.  Be sure to cite correctly if you do.

Use your handouts (all on the Assignment Drive) class discussion, blog exercises and to assist you.

TOPICS: You have a choice of:

1.) A traditional cause and effect essay.  See assignment drive for suggestions.  Remember to consider short term and long term causes and effects, as well as main and contributory causes.

2.) A spacial interpretation:  See handout and use our Vietnam Memorial Wall excerise for the philosophy.

Today 4/7: Brainstorm
Tuesday 4.8: Write draft
Wednesday 4/9: Write draft and Peer Review
Thursday: Peer Review and Revisions
Friday: Final edit for mechanics, etc. and submit

 

Cause and Effect Essay:
Sense of Place/Spatial Interpretation

After viewing both Vietnam Memorial websites, brainstorm with a partner and create a claim (an introduction paragraph is fine, with a thesis) for a potential cause and effect essay based on the following:

Looking at:

1.   How spaces manipulate and control you

2.   How spaces encourage certain behaviors

3.   How spaces encourage certain ideals/values/beliefs

 

Task:

In this task you will take a virtual field trip to the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. On your field trip, you are to look specifically at the construction/plan of the Vietnam War Memorial (“The Wall”). In looking at the memorial, your objective will be to make an overall claim/argument about the site. What ideal, value, belief, or behavior is this site conveying and thus what is its effect on those who visit the site?

 

Think and Write Together Activity

In a group of four or five classmates, read the following passage aloud. Then follow the directions below.

Creative risk takers are often achievers who tend to start their own businesses or become leaders in some other way.  Researchers have identified two different types of home environments that tend to produce creative risk takers: (1) “high expectation families” that enthusiastically support the child and expect great things from him or her and (2) very poor, alcoholic, or broken homes where the child receives almost no support and few positive expectations.

Directions:

1.)  Analyze possible reasons why households of the second type tend to produce creative risk takers.  Write down your three best reasons.

2.)  Peruse the following sites to add to your perspectives. 

3.)  Write a group cause and effect paragraph relating to this subject.  Base your paragraph on your group’s discussion, perspectives and findings.

4.)  Post your paragraph onto the blog, with your names.

 

http://leadership.uoregon.edu/resources/exercises_tips/skills/leadership_characteristics

http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/08/03/good.leader.traits.cb/

http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2013/02/18/the-most-successful-leaders-do-15-things-automatically-every-day/

 

We are beginning a unit on the Cause and Effect Essay.

Here is a task to get you thinking of this idea:

The Science of Shopping. 
Task:  Please read the following.  Blog post is due Wednesday.

Every day spaces manipulate our behaviors to gain a certain, desired effect. Shopping is no different; in fact, this is where major department and specialty stores can entice you to buy without even advertising their merchandise. Read SECTION 1 of the following article from The New Yorker, "The Science of Shopping," and respond to the ideas presented. How much of this do you believe to be true? How does it make you feel to know that you are manipulated in this way or that there is the intent to do so? Respond in a thoughtful blog post and discuss a store you've been to that either supports or refutes the article's content. p.s. Think about cause and effect!

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Wednesday, March 19th

The Perfect Date OR My Worst Day Ever!

With your group, put your ideas together from your brainstorm.  Describe, step by step, how to prepare the perfect date (or if you did "how to prepare for the perfect date, that's fine, too) or the step by step events of your worst day ever.  Work on the computer to come up with a working paragraph in Microsoft Word. Remember, you must be clear, detailed, and organized (and appropriate!!). When finished, copy and paste your final paragraph into a comment box of this post. Be sure to list BOTH or ALL of your names so that you each get credit for this blog post. Remember, your ideas will be posted for all to read, so be sure to be concise and, again, APPROPRIATE!

You have 10 minutes to do this.

By the way, what type of process analysis your paragragh?  Directive or Informative?

Next, please read pages 208-211 in the Process Analysis: Explainin Step by Step (Chapter 4) pdf document.  You may find this either on the Assignment Drive under Miller WFC Process or it is also downloaded to millertimeenglish.weebly.com

Good Morning,
 
Good Morning Musees,

Today is Tuesday, March 11, 2014. Please work on your PEER EDITING AND REVISING YOUR NARRATIVES today. I will continue to conference with you throughout the period.

Please remember all of the characteristics of a Narrative that you must include in your essay:

• It must tell a story somehow (have a plotline/sequence of events)
• It must have a setting (you may use flashback and flash-foward) to help create the mood
• It must have characterization of your subject. The subject's personality should come through. (Remember, show how this experience is personal to the subject)
• It should be from either 1st person or 3rd person point of view
• It must have a meaningful THEME (purpose, message)
• You should include as many elements of style that you can:
• description
• imagery
• dialogue
• figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, symbolism, etc.)
• colorful adjectives and action verbs

Your revision (Draft 2) is due tomorrow at the beginning of the period. Tomorrow is Wednesday. We will have a quick lesson on punctuation (comma usage, specifically comma splices and run-on sentences. Then you will complete a self-edit.

Your final drafts are due on Thursday.
Turnitin information will be available tomorrow.

Have a great day!
MM

p.s. There is a blog open on millertimeenglish.weebly.com for this class. I will post updates and upload handouts from our lessons. Please use them to apply to your work.

Hello Musees,

Today is Monday, March 3rd.  Task for today:

1. Hand in your hard copy "essay sandwich" to me.
2. Submit your essay to turnitin.com.  Information is on your syllabus and posted below.
3. Read and annotate the article "How to Write with Style" by Kurt Vonnegut. Be ready to discuss.

Turnitin.com information:'
Period 2 - Class ID - 7618435
Period 6 - Class ID - 7618440

Password - muse

The next essay we will discuss is a Narrative Essay.  We will begin tomorrow.

Hello Musees,

Today is Wisdom Wednesday, February 26, 2014.  This week, we have been working on our Descriptive Essays.  Below are the requirements:

1. 1-2 pages
2. typed, double spaced, Aerial or Times New Roman font, 12-point
3. MLA formatting
4. creative title
5. use all elements of style that we have learned so far
6. DUE FRIDAY is a full rough draft, ready for peer review.  Peer review sheets will aslo be available tomorrow if you are finished then.  Every student must have a peer review and peer review someone else's essay
7. Final draft due MONDAY, MARCH 3RD. 
8. Submit to turnitin.com Monday morning together in class.

Have fun with this!  Use the models that we discussed, as well as ALL class notes.

***************************************************************************

Thank you for all of your letters to me.  Below is my letter to you so you can get to know me.  :)

Dear Writing for College Students,

I have been teaching for 11 years and love it.  I do love teaching seniors because I feel it’s an exciting time in your life.  Next year, you will be going out into the world to college.  What defines me as a teacher is that I am big on teaching life skills and philosophy.  While the subject matter and skills are important, I love to guide students in their development and decision making skills as human beings.  I like to get to know my students so that I can help them learn in the ways that inspire them. I love to run, read, dance and write.

I am a philosopher at heart and will bring philosophy into just about any discussion.   I love the summer and the beach.  Bring me to a tropical environment anytime.  I actually did an internship for my first career on Tortola, one of the British Virgin Islands. I believe in understanding multiple perspectives.  I feel that people should travel and learn about other cultures as much as they can.  If you have the chance to study abroad in college, I encourage you to do so. The rewards are invaluable.  I also studied British Literature in England for a summer.  I love England.  I would move to London if it made sense in my life right now.  I am a great writer, but sometimes when I speak, I tend to go off on tangents.   If any of you have had me as a teacher, then you have witnessed this.

Some quirky things about me?  Hmmmm.  I’m addicted to coffee and I love brown sugar in my coffee.  I have a phobia of bees.  So far, I’ve avoided being stung.   My favorite animals are plovers and zebras.  Plovers because I identify with them (I can elaborate upon request) and zebras because I think they’re beautiful.  I love to cook.   I could live on a diet of fresh seafood for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  In fact, I would be happy living on a boat.

If I could be a full time student for the rest of my life, I would be happy.  I love to learn and believe that everyone should be a lifelong learner. I have been to three colleges, New York Institute of Technology for Hotel & Restaurant Management and Tourism, East Stroudsburg University for a change of career and Masters in English/Secondary and Professional Education, and StonyBrook University for a 2nd Masters in School District and Building Leadership.  I’m not sure what the next few years holds, but I am happy to still be teaching.  I am looking forward to this semester, and I hope you are, too.

Here’s to a fantastic rest of your senior year!

Sincerely,

Ms. Miller

The newly married Mr. and Mrs. float from the church doors into the shiny white limo that awaits them at the curb. As they enjoy their first 20 minutes of marriage on the ride to their reception site, they look out the window and observe “their” day: a day without a cloud in the sky, the color of pale blue for miles on end, and the sun shining brightly up above. They marvel at how the day couldn’t have been any better for a wedding day. As their eyes move from the bright sun to the moving cars that shared the road, they find themselves staring into an unexpected sight: a long, black hearse driving along side their limo. It was an odd site to see on such a blissful day, and as the hearse moved past them, the newly Mr. and Mrs. couldn’t help but wonder what the people in the black limo following the hearse, the family members of the deceased, thought about the day.

Your Task: (Please write your response in a new Word document):
To practice your descriptive ability, and keeping in mind the descriptive model critiqued Friday in class and for homework, describe the day from the perspective of either the newly married bride and groom traveling in the white limo, or the grieving family members of the deceased in the black limo. Try experimenting with the various Elements of Style in your response.

Hello Musees,

Today is Tuesday, February 11th.
 
Please post your 6 Word Memoirs by tomorrow morning.  Remember, your memoir should tell a story about you.
 
Today we will discuss ELEMENTS OF STYLE in writing.

1. What is style?
2. How do we define a person's style?
3. What are some styles that people may be classified as?
4. What do we measure them by?

Homework:
Read the excerpt "Huts on the Beach" from William Golding. 
On your handout, answer the following:
 

Read “Huts on the Beach,” opening to chapter three of William Golding’s novel Lord of the Flies

• As you read, highlight and annotate the details Golding includes in his description: does he use more objective or subjective details? What elements of style do you pick up on?
• List what you believe Golding’s dominant impression is meant to be

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• After you have read the entire excerpt, find examples of Golding’s words and details that appeal to the following senses: visual (sight), olfactory (smell), gustatory (taste), auditor (sound), tactile (touch).

How do these elements of imagery add to the overall piece? What is their effect?
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Good Morning, Musees,

Today is Monday, 2/10/14.  (If you were absent, please see me for assignments).

Do Now:

In an NCTE (National Council of Teacher's of English) blog, the following was stated:

"Many of us think of writing in two ways. One we spell with a little "w" -- it's the writing such as notes to ourselves, photos at our niece's wedding, text messaging with our friends, and maybe even reports for work. The other we spell with a capital "W" -- it's the writing that we do when we have an assignment in school or when we're feeling creative. But writing, whether big "W" or little "w," is integral to our lives in the 21st century and many, many people, young and old, are writing every day."

What do you think are the qualities of good writing? That is, what qualities should you focus on improving in Writing for College this semester in order to make your capital "W" writing "good"?  Please respond in a thoughtful comment of a paragraph.

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This week, we will be talking about writing style, expressing your own ideas with confidence, and using powerful words in your writing.  Put thought into them and make them count!


Six Word Memoir Assignment

Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in 6 words and he replied, “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” In just these six words we're able to gain much insight into Hemingway's life and lifestyle. Even more, we gain insight into what he believed defined his life story. In true Hemingway fashion, there is an entire website dedicated to teens and adults uploading their own 6-word memoirs. Your first "mini-assignment" is to create your own six word memoir that you will then upload to this blog post.

What to do:
1. Visit the website called Smithmag and peruse the six word memoirs uploaded there by thousands of people. Start to get your mind rolling as to what words you will choose to define your life thus far.

2. Keep in mind that a memoir is an account of one's personal life and experiences, so start jotting down and brainstorming a list of words that come to mind when you think of your life thus far.

3. Show thought and creativity with word choice and syntax. Arrange and rearrange words to come up with a powerful six word memoir. How about using words that pack a punch rather than the average choices? Experiment with grammar and punctuation. Use semicolons, colons, dashes, periods, commas, etc. to help give strength to some words and/or phrases over others.

4. Remember, you can ONLY use six words; no less and no more.

5. Once your six word memoir is acceptable enough for you in defining your life thus far, post it to this blog post!

Due Date: TOMORROW! In order for this post to count, your Six Word Memoir must be uploaded by the start of class on Wednesday. 

  

Hello Everyone,

Today is Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Welcome to Writing for College. Congratulations! This is your last semester of High School English! Unfortunately, I am at a conference in Albany today and tomorrow. I had planned to meet you yesterday; however, Mother Nature thought differently.

I will get you all set up on our class blog and review our syllabus with you when I come back on Thursday. For now, please complete the following assignment:

Assignment:

Write a letter to me, Ms. Miller about you so that I can get to know you. Express yourself honestly. Please print out and hand in.

The letter should be about a page, give or take. (can, of course be more if you’d like)

Due at the end of the period. (I will write one to you, as well.)

Questions to Get You Thinking…and Writing

1. Who are you? What’s your name?

2. What defines you as a student? What defines you as a person?
3. As a teacher, what do I need to know about you in order to help you succeed academically this semester?
4. As a mentor, what do I need to know about you in order to help you achieve your personal goals this semester?
5. What interests or hobbies do you consider your passion? What is it you about this interest or hobby that thrills you?
6. What is your favorite book and what is it about this book that makes it your favorite? Has any book changed your life in some way? Tell me about it.
7. What comes easily to you with regards to writing? What presents a challenge for you?
8. What is your philosophy on life?
9. What ideas, people, places, activities, cultures, etc. have you wanted to learn more about but haven’t had the opportunity?
10. Who is your favorite person in the entire world?
11. Who would you most like to meet?
12. What is one thing that concerns you?
13. What makes you proud or what are you proud of?
14. Tell me about your short term goals (within the next year). What about your long term goals (within the next 5-10 years)?
15. What colleges are you applying to? Do you have a first choice? What might you major in?
16. Quirky Fact: What is one fact about you that makes you unique? For instance, do you have an obsession with watching Project Runway? Or, maybe you can bend all of your fingers backwards? What about a hidden talent? Any collector’s items that you’ve accumulated over the years?

p.s. If anyone would like to get in touch with me today or tomorrow, my email address is:
tmiller@smithtown.k12.ny.us