1. 10/26/15 – Quick Write 0 Think of a teacher of yours, either past or present, that you would consider your “champion,” someone who you knew truly cared about you and wanted you to succeed. What did this teacher do to make you know he or she cared about you? Can liking a teacher make a difference in the way you learn?

2. Rhetorical Devices 0 Rhetorical devices are used by writers to convey meaning and cause the reader to feel a certain way about the subject. 0 They are used to persuade, invoke emotion, or to add meaning or impact to a subject. 0 Tone, diction, rhetorical questions, and repetition are examples of rhetorical devices. 0 Now that you have heard me read “What Students Really Need to Hear,” read through it on your own and annotate any rhetorical devices that you see.

3. Rhetorical Devices 0 Repetition: Repeating the same word(s) or phrase in order to make an idea more clear or impactful. 0 Rhetorical question: A question asked just for effect or emphasize a point; no answer is expected. It is designed the make the reader think something specific. 0 Tone: The attitude of the writer towards his or her subject, which is conveyed by word choice and viewpoint, which causes the reader to see the piece as serious, humorous, depressing, etc. 0 Diction: A purposeful style of writing or speaking that is created by specific word choice. Creates tone, mood, and atmosphere that convey the writers feelings and is designed to make the reader feel a certain way.

4. The Main Event 0 Mielke uses repetition to emphasize what the “main event” of school is (“The main event is not x. The main event is y.”). 0 In your table group, create your own list of “main events” that represent your viewpoint of school. (“The main event is not being in dress code. The main event is…...”). 0 There needs to be a minimum of 4 main events from each table group. Write them down, you will share them with the class and turn them in (one paper per table group).

5. 10/27/15 - Grammar 0 In order to improve our writing (both persuasive and overall), we will begin today with some explanation of and practice with the semicolon ( ; ) and the colon ( : ). 0 When the bell rings, have your quick write journal open to the back page (where you wrote the previous grammar lessons).

6. Semicolons ; 0 A semicolon ( ; ) signals a pause greater than one indicated by a comma but less than one indicated by a period. The most common use for a semicolon is joining two complete and related thoughts (independent clauses) into one sentence, especially when the second thought furthers the first thought. 0 The bank teller determined the bill was counterfeit. There was no serial number on it. 0 The bank teller determined the bill was counterfeit; there was no serial number on it. 0 Write the definition and the second sentence.

7. Colons : 0 A colon is used to introduce particular information. One of the most common uses of a colon is to signal to the reader that a list will follow. 0 On the camping trip, please bring the following items: a flashlight, a sleeping bag, and two boxes of matches. 0 There are a number of complaints I have about the tenant: she tore the plaster in the living room, her dog stained the carpet, and she has not paid her rent in three months.

8. Correct Semicolon Use? 0 Traffic is worse than we expected; therefore, we won’t be home before midnight. 0 The teller worse a blue suit; the police were called immediately. 0 The police were called immediately; screeching through the streets.

9. Correct Colon Use? 0 I couldn’t believe what I had heard: the man told the story of his passage across the Pacific Ocean as if it were little more than a minor escapade. 0 There were three particular qualities about him that intrigued me: his audacity, his confidence, and his sheer strength. 0 She put on a large red coat: therefore, she no longer wanted the heater on.

10. Town Hall Debate 0 To test your ability to persuade (using ethos, pathos and logos), you will be assigned a specific viewpoint on education. 0 With this viewpoint, you will be a participating citizen in a town hall debate that’s being held in order to propose and discuss the town’s school system. 0 To prepare, craft three argument points that you can bring up during the debate. There must be one argument using each of ethos, pathos, and logos.

11. 10/28/15 – Vocab Test 0 When the bell rings, please have everything off your desk except your quick write journal, a blank piece of paper, and a pen/pencil. 0 Trivia: Name the American author who wrote “Slaughterhouse Five”

12. Vocab Test 0 In one cohesive, connected paragraph, use each of the following words (in whatever order you want): 0 Belie, magnanimous, eclectic, debilitate, callous. 0 You will get two points for using the word correctly; you will get three points for using the word correctly in a manner that provides context that shows you understand the meaning of the word. 0 When you’re done, please turn your paper over.

13. “What’s Holding Back American Teenagers?” 0 As you read Laurence Steinberg’s article, “What’s Holding Back American Teenagers?” annotate in order to address the following questions: 0 What is the central idea of the article? What is holding back American teenagers? 0 What point does he make regarding elementary versus secondary schools? 0 What does he define as participation and “belongingness” in American schools, and how do American students perform in the two categories compared to other countries? 0 What counterpoint to his own argument does Steinberg present? Why does he do this?

14. Working Thesis 0 A thesis statement must be clear (what is your argument?), specific (how will you support your argument?), and arguable (is there an alternate viewpoint that could be voiced?). 0 High school students should spend more time in school (clear) because the current system is failing to create capable students (specific). 0 Do you all agree with this? I’m guessing your answer is “NO!”. Therefore, it is arguable.

15. Working Thesis 0 Based on the info you have gathered over the past week, craft a working thesis that assigns blame to one of the following: students, teachers, or government. 0 Teachers are to blame for the current flaws in American education because… 0 Remember, your thesis must be clear, specific, and arguable. 0 This won’t necessarily be your final thesis statement for your persuasive essay.