Homework Due December 16, 2008

ELA:
-Read for 4 steps.
-Write WWWs 10x.
-Finish slam poem and write it on loose-leaf so that it can be collected and checked.

MATH:
-NONE!

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
-Practice reading your poem and performing it.
-Ms.Beyer would be coming to class on Friday.

HW due on Wednesday, 11/3

ELA:
Read for 4 steps
Write sentences using WWWs
Injustice: unfair act
Ambiguous: unclear
Mischievous: trouble-making, malicious
Articulate: well-spoken
Sully: to taint, to spoil

Math:
Finish the two worksheets on percent change from class today

Poetry:
Write your two poems
One is on point of view; the other was the finish your in-class assignment.

HW due on Tuesday, 12/1

ELA:
Read for 4 steps
Write your WWWs 10X:
injustice (adj.)
ambiguous (adj.)
mischievous (adj.)
articulate (adj.)
sully (verb)
Find definitions
Write two paragraphs based on the painting, The Sources of Country Music, 1975, by Thomas Hart Benton. You will write the first paragraph based on the point of view one person in the painting and the other paragraph from the point of view from another person in the painting. SEE ABOVE.

Math
Finish your classwork
Do you HW work sheet

Homework due on Friday

ELA:
Study for your WWW quiz. Make sure you know the definitions of the words and what characterization is as well as character conflicts. I want examples of the different types of conflicts.
Read for 4 steps
Read notes on the blog about point of view (this will be posted on Monday)
Read "White Scarves" again and the background information I gave you in class. Then, tell me from what point of view is the poem. Why did the author choose the specific speaker of the poem? What effect does it have?

Math:
None

Word Wall Words 7

Lucid (adj.): clear, easily understood
Tentative (adj): uncertain
Cognizant (adj.): aware
Defiant (adj.): challenging

Homework due on Wednesday, 11/19

Math: No homework. Good job on your testing today.

ELA:
Write sentences using your WWWs
Read the blog notes on characterization and conflicts.
Read for 4 steps (1 hour)

Reminders:
Bring your pennies for the penny harvest

Characterization: Conflicts in stories

The plots of most stories centers around conflict. A conflict is a struggle between opposing forces. There are two main kinds of conflict in stories: external and internal.

External Conflict.
A struggle between a character and an outside force is an external conflict. Characters may face several types of outside forces. The outside force may be another character. It may be the character and the community. The outside force may also be forces of nature. For example, a story might be the main character struggling against the arctic cold.

Man against man.
Man against nature.
Internal Conflict.
A struggle that takes place in a character's mind is called internal conflict. For example, a character may have to decide between right and wrong or between two solutions to a problem. Sometimes, a character must deal with his or her own mixed feelings or emotions.

Man against himself.
The Importance of Conflict.
Conflict is necessary to every story. In short stories, there is usually one major conflict. In longer stories, there could be several conflicts.

Conflict adds excitement and suspense to a story. The conflict usually becomes clear to the beginning of a story. As the plot unfolds, the reader starts to wonder what will happen next and how the characters will handle the situation. Many readers enjoy trying to predict the final outcome.

The excitement usually builds to a high point, or climax. The climax is the turning point of the story. Something has happened to resolve the conflict.

Reading for Conflict.

As you read a story:

identify the main characters
decide what conflict they face
look for steps they take to settle that conflict
see if the steps cause other conflict
watch for clues and try to predict what the characters will do
enjoy the buildup of suspense
put yourself in the story
decide if you would have solved the conflict in the same way