Thursday, May 30, 2013

Your Work is Due When?

Good morning,

A quick recap of things we talked about today and due dates. 

  • 5/31 Friday: Your feature article is due in Google docs. (You do not need to print it.)
  • Revisit THE ASSIGNMENT SHEET if you need to. 
  • We drew numbers for your presentations that begin Wednesday 6/5 next week. If you weren't here be sure to ask Mrs. R what your number is. Students will present in the order of their numbers regardless of the date. Be ready to present when your number is called. (Unexcused absences will lower your grade.) We will finish presentations on 6/11 during our final block.
  • We will return textbooks as a class on Tuesday 6/4.  Bring all of your textbooks to school that day. You may keep any books you need to study for finals. 
  • Book reviews are due on Thursday 6/6. Be sure to submit links to both of your book reviews via the BOOK REVIEW FORM
  • If you have any late work outstanding the very last day I will even think about accepting it is 6/6. 
  • Return any books you have borrowed from Mrs. R. 
Today we also reviewed the presentation criteria that you will use for scoring presentations. 

  1. Presenter clearly and enthusiastically presents about his or her topic for 3-5 minutes.
  2. Presentation includes strong visuals (with minimal text) or a creative representation of the material.
  3. Presenter is a credible expert on the topic speaking knowledgeably, citing references and other experts, including relevant statistics and informative facts. 
  4. Presenter engages the audience with eye contact, questions, and humor, while educating them about the topic of the presentation. 
I also showed you this presentation with tips for presentations. Remember minimal text. 
If you wish to use a slide based presentation strategy please use a Google Presentation (shared with Mrs. R) or a Prezi (set to public and email a link to Mrs. R.). If you wish to make a video or another form of project check with Mrs. R and good luck. 


Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Amazing Progress and Fabulous Infographics

Good morning,

We will read at the bell.

I have another quick survey for you. Please fill out THIS FORM. Your data (aggregated) will become part of our lesson in a moment. (Wondering what aggregated means? Google it.)

Today I will attempt to demo http://piktochart.com/ If you are ready to play with infographics great. If you are still trying to get a draft together then focus on that.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Progress and Infographics

Good morning,

We will read at the bell.

Then complete this form regarding your progress on your article.

Then some of you can begin playing with infographics.
46 Tools for Making Infographics

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Feature Article Prep

Good morning,

We will read at the bell.

This week we have looked at a second example of a feature article and annotated it to see into the author's work more deeply.  Are you prepared to do the same work with regard to your expert project?

  • Are you prepared to write an article that includes both narrative and expository?
  • Do you know enough specific stories related to your topic?
  • Do you know enough about the past, present, and future of your topic? 
  • Who can you interview to get some quotes related to your topic that could become part of your article? 
  • Have you done enough research on your topic? 
  • Will you be able to blend stories and examples about your topic with expository information for the reader?



Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Time Sequencing in Feature Articles

Good morning,

We will read at the bell.

One of the qualities of a good feature article is that the writer can give the reader a "big picture" of the topic he or she is writing about. Being able to write about the past, present and future of the subject is an important part of this.

Look again at the article you read yesterday. Find and label the places where the article is talking about the past, present and future of passwords. Notice how the author transitions between those sections.  How does he sequence them in the article?

Do you know enough about the past, present, and future of your expert project topic? Write a list of questions you still need to find answers about. Do some research on those tonight.

Monday, May 6, 2013

Reading today with the Say Something Protocol

We will read at the bell.

Today you will read an article called "Kill The Password". You will read with a partner and use the protocol below. We are looking at an example of an expert project here.  (If you are absent start reading the article on your own. The link goes to the online version.)

Friday, May 3, 2013

Getting Newsy With It

Good morning,
Palm Beach Post, July 27, 1969

Testing is over and we have reached the final six week grading period of the year.  By now you should have selected your last recommended book for independent reading, returned your Gatsby book to the library, and begun some more serious research into your expert project.

We will read at the bell.

Yesterday (or Wednesday for period 3) I showed you how to use the Google News Archive.
Today I would like you to use it to find a source related to your topic and blog about it. Use the snipping tool to add an excerpt picture from your news article. Include a caption and a link back to the original article.  Or use Google Scholar to find academic research about your topic.

The Palm Beach Post - Jul 27, 1969
Images added from At Last Man Enters The Moon Age, The Palm Beach Post  July 27, 1969

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Using the Google News Archive

Good afternoon,

We read at the bell.

Our lesson today is about how to use the Google News Archive to find information about your topic from a long time ago.

Here is a video about how to do it and you can watch it again at home if you need to.