Rubric for Classic Essay

Just a reminder that your outlines were due earlier this week.

CLICK HERE for the rubric for this essay.

Peer Review on Monday/Tuesday.  This is worth 25 points.

How writers write

We watched these videos today in class about how writers have different approaches to writing

Practice ACT Round 2

We took another practice ACT Writing Test.  This will be our last one this year.  YEAH!!!  I really want students to focus on what they wrote about last week and make improvements this week.  I will be looking to see how you changed your essays to reflect the self-evaluations you did last week.

If you were absent, please get with me for your writing prompt.

Practice ACT

Today we took a practice writing ACT test.

Check with Mrs. Meeks to get a copy to do for makeup work.

TKAM Personal Reflection Essay

Many schools across the United States are dropping To Kill a Mockingbird from the curriculum in favor of more “modern” literature.  In a personal reflection essay, write a 400-500 words defending the merits  of TKAM as part of  a high school curriculum, the lessons learned from the novel and the impact the novel has had on you personally.  Be sure to include specific examples and quotes from the novel along with your own personal insights. Make sure to pay particular attention to spelling, grammar, sentence structure and variety and voice. The use of I, you and we is appropriate in this type of essay.

This entry should be posted on your blog by Friday evening, March 29th  at 9:00 p.m.

Blog Responders need to have commented on your assigned blog posts by Monday, April 8^th at 2:00 p.m. if you wish to have full credit. Remember we are starting over on the rotation.  For example if you are No. 5 on the list you will comment on No. 4 and No. 3 on this list.

5000 days project

We had a great week last week watching a documentary about two brothers.

Extra Credit

Freedom Festival entries will no longer be required but rather will be extra credit. Entries must be received by Friday to get extra credit.

We are watching 5000 Days Project - Two Brothers this week.  You will be writing a response to the movie after it is over on Wednesday/Thursday.

How to change USER NAME

First go to peopletimes.nytimes.com

Second click edit profile.




Washington Post

When you want to comment just click add comment and then there will be a thing called Create ID click that and there you go!

Ask Becca or Jiho for more info

Blog Post 7 and 8

CLICK HERE for the assignment for this week.

Bloggers of the Week

Congratulations to Elisa, Mikaela and John as our bloggers of the week.  Great job.

Blog Post #6 - Lists and Poetry

Here is the video we watched in class:




CLICK HERE for the assignment sheet for this week

Last Week - BLOGGERS OF THE WEEK

Sorry I forgot to post about the bloggers of the week:

Drum roll....

Sunny - CLICK HERE for her blog

McKenzie - CLICK HERE for her blog

Savannah - CLICK HERE for her blog

Congratulations

"How To" Blog posts round 2

Just a few reminders about your how to posts.

Make sure to infuse your personality into your writing.  Even if your topic is technical, write with your own voice.  The reader should be able to identify and relate to you on a personal level.  You will have more credibility if you have personality


Posts due on Friday by 9:00 p.m.

Comments due by Monday at 2:00 p.m.

On Time Blog Comments and Posts

It is your responsibility to make sure your Blog Posts and Blog Comments actually post to the web.  From this time on, only those comments posted by 2:00 on Monday will be counted as on time - even if you promise you posted your comment earlier.  If you wait until the last moment to check to see if your blog comments posted and there is a problem, you will be out of luck.

BLOGGERS OF THE WEEK.....

We had three nominations this week for Bloggers of the Week:

CLICK BELOW to go to the blogs:

 Ian Boggess:

Mikaela Arnson:

Mercedes Ng:

Congratulations!!

Blog Post #4 and #5

Blog Posts Week 4 and Week 5– How To

Directions:  For the next two weeks your writing task is to teach something using words.  Using the seven steps listed in the article we read in class, create a 300-500 word post demonstrating How To do something.  Be creative.  The key to this assignment is detail, clarity, organization, and visuals. 

Reminder: 

Bloggers:  These assignments are due Friday by 9:00 p.m.  If these posts do not appear on my blog feed by that time, they will be considered late.  If you complete the posts by Monday morning at 8:00, you can still get 80% credit for the assignment. 

Blog Commenters:  Your comments need to be posted to the blog post of the week by Monday at 2:00 p.m.  If you post your comment on Tuesday, it will be considered late.  If you post a comment after that time, you will receive no credit. If for some reason you cannot post your comment directly on the blog due to some technical difficulty, please email me your comment so you can receive the credit for the assignment.

How To Write A How-To Blog Post

Guest post by Blog Manager Robbi Hess

If you’re like many people who read blog posts, it’s likely because you want to learn something, right? In a world crammed full of work, life, spending time with family and pets, giving your time to a blogger and her blog post is a gift. If you like to walk away from a blog post having learned something or if you write blog posts and want your readers to walk away having learned something, writing a great how-to article is the way to go.

Here are seven steps to penning a great how-to article for your next blog post:

1.Choose a topic that you’re passionate about and one in which you have a deep understanding. If you’re uninterested with the topic, it will show through in your words and if you are unsure of the topic, your reader will walk away more confused than enlightened.

2.Choose a headline that lets your reader know exactly what he will learn, for example: How To Travel Cross Country With Your Cat, or Seven Steps To Make Your Blogs Sing.

3.Start your how to piece with an overview. Explain to the reader why you’re writing the how to and what your expertise. Explain who will benefit from the topic and how.

4.If your how to requires planning and preparation (How To Give Your Dog A Bath) explain what supplies are needed, how much time will be necessary, and any tools necessary. If your how to article will require your reader to have prior knowledge, you can either direct them to an article you’ve written previously or explain where they can get the prerequisite knowledge.

5.Pen your how to with the assumption that while your reader is eager to learn what you’re writing, she has no prior knowledge. What is obvious to you may not be obvious to the reader. For example, if you’re a master chef and are writing a How To Make The Perfect Pie blog post, assume that your reader will need exact measurements rather than “a pinch of salt” or a “pre-warmed oven.”

6.Use photos or videos, if possible, to illustrate your points. Write the how to in simple language and break the entire how to into easy to read bullet points or numbered steps.

7.Wrap up your how to blog post with a summary paragraph. Invite comments and success stories from your readers. Keep the comments open to those readers who may not have been successful at implementing your how to knowledge.

 What expertise do you possess that would lend itself to a how to blog post?

Blog Posts done by Friday.

Just a reminder to get all of your posts done by Friday night if you want full credit.  I will check my blog feed to see which students fulfilled this assignment on time. It is a difficult for students to get their comments in on time if you do not have your posts done on time.

Also, feel free to blog about other topics as well.  In fact, I hope you will do this.

Mormon Bloggers

Here is the article we discussed in class.  Here is another link to some Mormon bloggers who are making a difference with their own interests and talents.

CLICK HERE for the link to the list of blogs.

Check out these people are sharing the gospel through their examples and passions.

CLICK HERE for the link from the article we read in class "Why I can't stop reading Mormon housewife blogs"

Here is the video we watched in class today:

Blog Post of the Week!

Each week I will select a Blog Post of the Week.  Nominations for this honor will made by students.  If your blog post is selected as the Post of the week.  It will be linked to the class blog and you will receive a honored place on the wall in class. Extra credit may also be included.  (OK there may be some chocolate involved as well.)

This will only work if the students take the time to nominate their classmates.  Let's all recognize extra effort and champion those students who make us laugh, think, ponder, shake our heads and enjoy life.

Blog Review Post #3 Week of Feb 4

This week you are in search of blogs that are of interest to you.  There are blogs about every subject.  If you are going to "join the conversation, " being an active voice in topics that already interest you is a great way to get started.

Are you interested in Baking, Motherhood, Crafts, Snowboarding, Politics, Computers, Poetry, Interior Design, Sports....?

ASSIGNMENT:  Search out 3 blog sites.  Post the links on your blog.  Explore the each of these blogs and write a 100-200 word review about each of these blog sites.  Please see the instructions below as your write your reviews.  These reviews need to be posted by Friday evening so the responders have  plenty of time to fulfill their assignments. You will have time in class on either Wednesday of Thursday to work on your reviews.  Since blogging sites are often blocked at the school, you will need to do your research at home and then use your notes to write your reviews in class.

Here are the elements to consider when writing a Blog Review:

Elements to Cover When Writing a Blog Review

§  Design - The first thing that you see when looking at a website is its design. Is the design pleasing to the eye? Is the site cluttered or difficult to navigate? Are there any glaring design flaws or glitches, or is the site a work of art?

§  Focus – What is the focus of the site? If you can’t figure it out, then the author is doing something wrong. Focus should be apparent without hunting around too much. Typically by using design elements, or simple headlines or sub-headlines a site must convey its focus.

§  Content – The most obvious element to cover in your review is the site’s content. Does the content of the site match its focus? If not, there is a problem! Is the content easily readable? Does it make sense? What are some of the highlights? Is there a page, article or section of the site that really stands out as being fantastic?

§  Writing Style – Writing style is one element that many people often ignore. Does the author share his/her voice? Do you find yourself relating to what you read? Is the style professional or does the author blab on about their dying goldfish in every post?

§  Grammar and Punctuation – Does the site use proper grammatical elements? Are there spelling mistakes and punctuation errors all over the place?

§  Message Effectiveness – Overall, do you find that the site is effective in putting out its message?

§  Website Audience – Who is the intended audience for this site or blog? Are the intended and actual audiences different?

§  Info about the author – Is there anything interesting to note about the author? e.g. I was watching the news last night and they were talking about a blog written by a boy with cancer. Is the author an expert or do they have no idea what they are talking about? Do they have any qualifications to write what they are writing?

§  Anything else you think is important – Of course, there are other elements that you can discuss as well. Anything about the site that stands out, good or bad, should always be covered in a review.

Blog Post #2 Week of Jan 28

Blog Post Week 2

Personal Reflection:  Many popular blogs are in this format.  This week please write a 400-500 word post reflecting back on the experiences you had the previous week either in Mexico or visiting various college campuses.  Often times it is while we are doing activities outside our normal routine where the most clarity about life comes.  While thinking about the previous week, please answer the following three questions:

Who am I?

What was a born to do?

What is stopping me?  

Your response to these blog posts should have been completed by last week.  If you did not get your responses finished, make sure they are complete my Thursday of this week.

I'm Back/Homework Policy Relaxed

Hi friends.

So I thought I had been updating our class blogs all week but apparently I have not.  That is what a concussion will do for you.  I was trying to get my doctor to send a picture of my cracked thoracic spine but he couldn't do it.  It actually isn't that impressive.  It looks like a little hair on the x-ray.  However, it sure hurts more than a hair. I also have a mild concussion but am feeling better and will be returning to school on Monday.  I have felt pretty foggy headed and have had a lot of headaches but those are getting less severe as time as gone on.

Just so everyone is clear.  I am going to let everyone turn in any missed assignments from the entire term with no penalty until Thursday of this week.  If you missed any assignment in any class, you can turn it in for no penalty as long as it is in my Thursday this week.  After Thursday, the regular late work policy will apply.

Blog Addresses

CLICK HERE for a revised list of the class blog addresses.

Blog Post #1

Blog Assignment #1

Assignment:  Choose a blog name that is reflective of your gifts and talents.  Simpler the better.  Watch the tutorial on the blog for specific directions if you get stuck.  Make sure you have this set up by class on Wednesday/Thursday. Go to blogger.com.  Make sure you have a gmail account set up or you will need to create one before you can start to blog.  Your posts should be up by Friday evening at 6:00 p.m. so your classmates have a chance to respond over the weekend.  I will check for responses Tuesday.

Post #1 – Write a paragraph titled “My Perfect Day” as a way to introduce yourself to blogging community.  For example:  What would you eat? What would you do? Who would you be with? Be specific in your description.  Feel free to use humor and be creative. Add a visual element.

Post #2 Choose at least two quotes from “Sharing the Gospel Using the Internet” and write a well- developed paragraph on each quote.  Make sure to title your post to reflect the meaning and essence of your writing.  Add a visual element.

CLICK HERE for a copy of the article

Post #3 – Write a well-developed paragraph on the following question:  How can you use your talents and interests to “join the conversation” online?  How can you be am ambassador for the gospel by using your individual gifts?  Make sure to title your post to reflect the meaning and essence of your writing.  Add a visual element.

How to Create a Blog

Here is a step by step tutorial on setting up your blog: