Classwork/Homework

Please attend M/W/F morning resource if you need writing assistance or if you have incomplete work to finish.

Reading/Writing

This week we will continue with parts of speech (verbs), continue comprehension work with a Call of the Wild excerpt, and continue exploring strong sentences, powerful paragraphs and excellent essays.

Permission slips were sent home for parents to sign so that students may view the movie Swing Kids in class next week. Students who are not done with the book projects or have not turned in a parent-signed permission slip will not be viewing the movie. Swing Kids is set in pre-World War II Germany, where two high school students attempt to be swing kids by night and Hitler Youth by day, a decision that acutely impacts their friends and families. More info about the movie is viewable online at Wikipedia or IMDB.

The Multicultural Book Project has intermediate dues dates listed on a blue form that was distributed when the project was assigned. Each student was to have read 1/3 of his or her book by November 21, and 2/3 by the end of this week. Books must be completely read by December 7. The final project, with all written components, is due December 17. Please see complete information below.

BOOK PROJECT #2 

TOPIC:  MULTICULTURAL

PROJECT DUE DATE:    
Monday, Dec. 17, 2012 

This book project is designed to help you improve your reading and writing skills and to continue developing your understanding of another culture. There are five main parts to complete along with reading the book you’ve chosen:

1. A provided Day-to-Day Bookmark to use while reading the book

2. For fiction:  A provided story web to show your understanding of the story

For nonfiction:  A basic outline of the book with specific details of two chapters

3. A word-processed 200-300 word expository connection paper

4. A list or chart of cultural vocabulary/information you learned

5. A neat, well-designed cover for your project

Completion Checkpoints

The following checkpoint dates will help you complete this project on time without leaving a lot to do at the last minute. Bring the completed work to class on the specified date, and on-time completion scores will be recorded. 

____ Fri., Nov. 16--Parent signature is due.

____ Wed., Nov. 21--At least 1/3 of the book has been read, which is page _______.

____ Thurs., Nov. 29--At least 2/3 of the book has been read, which is page _______.

____ Wed., Dec. 5-- The cover for your project is due.

____ Fri., Dec. 7--You have finished reading the whole book (even the author’s note if there is one).

____ Mon., Dec. 10--The connection paper is due.

____ Wed., Dec. 12--The story web or outline is due.

____ Fri., Dec. 14—Cultural information/vocabulary is due.

____ Mon., Dec. 17 (FINAL DUE DATE)—All parts are due organized according to the directions given (see below).

Note: Be sure to bring your book to class each day.

Chosen Book

My book is fiction or nonfiction: _________________________.       

The title of the book I chose is:_______________________________________.

The culture my book focuses on is:____________________________________.

Connection Paper Expectations

Word-process a 200-300 word expository paper connecting something from the book with:

~a personal experience,

~another story or book you've read,

~a TV show or movie you've seen, and/or

~a real life issue or event from your community or other place in the world

In your expository paper connection, be sure to:
~clearly explain the section from the book before writing or telling your connections;
~elaborate--include lots of details;
~use literature terms such as internal conflict or external conflict, human vs. nature, human vs. self, plot (events for nonfiction), setting, major/minor characters, protagonist, dynamic/static character, climax, theme, etc;
~at the end, include the number of words you wrote.

Cultural Information

Create a list or chart of cultural vocabulary words or cultural information you learned from the book you read.  If your book does not provide enough cultural information, you may need to do some additional research. Your final list should have at least 10 items, and you may include pictures when appropriate.

Project Cover

Create a neat, well-designed cover for your written work.  It should include:

___     a.   book title

___     b.   author

___     c.   genre

___     d.   graphic with color

___     e.   student name

___     f.    date

___     g.   class

Organization

Paperclip your work together in the following order:

TOP

a.   cover

b.   story web (for fiction) or outline (for nonfiction)

c.   200-300+ word connection paper

d.   cultural vocabulary/information list or chart

e.   Day-to-Day Bookmark

f.    this project information sheet

BOTTOM

The following was was a blue handout to be signed and turned in at the beginning of the project.

Commitment

I understand the required items and due dates for this book project.  

Student Signature:  ___________________________________________

Parent/Guardian Signature:  ____________________________________