5.1. "The Girl Who Changed Pakistan"

I was struck, probably like many Americans, by this story last week and thought about how far it was from my daily life, which alone made me want to read more about it. Anyway, click here for the reading, "The Girl Who Changed Pakistan," from Newsweek.

Vocabulary Unit B.1.: Learn the Words

Vocabulary Unit B.1.: The Words

Here's a set of flashcards to help. Here's a link to a spreadsheet with the words and their meanings from Unit 1. If you prefer, you can use your vocabulary book. Remember, the quiz is on Friday.

4.4. "Insult or Honor?" Constructing a Thesis

Objectives:
Analyze the structure of Latinate words
Write a thesis.

The Text:“Insult or Honor?” from Upfront Magazine

1. As you read, find five Latinate words and analyze their structure. Keep them on the same list as yesterday's.
2. After you read, complete a prewrite:

The article present arguments for and against using Native American names for sports teams. What do you think? Write a letter to Redskins owner Daniel Snyder expressing your opinion on the issue.

Vocabulary B1. Scatter and Space Race

Here's a link to a page where you can find the "Scatter" and "Space Race" games to practice the Vocabulary. (It will open in a new browser window.)

If you want to play the game in class on Friday as your quiz, make sure that you have a Quizlet account (they're free and I recommend you use a Google account to sign up). The site will ask if you want to upgrade to a "Premium" account for money, but remember that I will never ask for you to sign up for any paid site. If you scroll down, you'll see the free, basic account.

4.3. Structural Analysis of Latinate Words

Perform structural analysis on these words:
Here's a spreadsheet with common prefixes, suffixes, and roots to help you.
Steps:
inscrutable
1. Cut into meaningful chunks: in-  scrut -able
2. Define the suffixes: able - "able to be"
3. Define the prefixes: in - "not"
4. Define the root: "scrut" is like "scrutinize," which means "to look at closely," so I think "scrut" means "look at closely.
5. Look up the word and evaluate your guess. "I got this one exactly right."

Try it with these words:

foretaste

germinate

interminable

interrogate

recompense

renovate

available

homicide

indispensable

transparent

illiterate

Remind 101

4.2. Should Students Be Paid for Good Grades?

Here's an article for today's exercise:

“A Is for iPod . . . or Pizza . . . or Cash” from Upfront Magazine

1. Type a "Chain of Main Ideas" summary of the article (make sure you are saving these somewhere so you can cut and paste them in later.

2. Prewrite an essay for this writing prompt:

"The article reports different people's attitudes towards the idea of rewarding students for good grades with money or prizes. Arguments are presented, both for and against. Do you think that rewarding students with such enticements is a good idea? Write a logical essay that expresses your position. Make sure to use reasons, facts, and arguments to make your position as strong as possible."

4.2. Constructing a Logical Prewrite W1/.W4.

Objective: This week we are going to focus on one of the most useful skills that a person can have - coming up with a position in an arguments and reasons that we are right.

One of the biggest challenges for young people when they are asked to create an argument about an adult topic is that they don't naturally think about the kinds of things that adults care about. Young people are very good at some things - basic ethical considerations like fairness, concerns like safety and community rules, and recognizing the importance of money to a topic. However, things that adults think about easily after years of worrying about it can be very difficult for teens. So, practicing thinking about these things - time, money, education, safety, health, responsibility, the environment, and patriotism - both get teens ready to think like adults and help them make great arguments in English and Social Studies classes and write stronger essays. This kind of practical intelligence is valuable, and I think young people enjoy being able to think like this, because it helps them understand an adult world that can sometimes be a little mysterious to them.

However, our job as students and teachers isn't just to help kids succeed in the world, but also for them to succeed in school. Learning to arrive at a position (even it's one that's the opposite of what you thought would be the best one) and finding supporting reasons to convince others to share that position helps a person write great logical essays.

Here's the material that you will need to master this week. Creating a Logical Prewrite.


Here's a set of flashcards with the information on quizlet, where you can also find the Space Race game.

4.1. Text: Prompt Packet 2: Logical Only

There are seventeen writing prompts in the packet, all of which ask you for a position and reasons. Complete a thesis for each one on a single document. When you are done, you should have seventeen numbered sentences.

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Practicing the Five Fingers: "The Friends of Kwan Ming"

Here's the link to today's story - it's a little easier than the previous ones, but still worthwhile I think - it's important to get a mix of easy-to-read and more difficult.