**Use “Ctrl+F” (Windows) or “Command+F” (Mac) to search for your CCSD ID.
Please see the Priority Ladder below. You should be working through each step in order.
Summative Assessments (Unit 1 Post Test and Unit 2 Post Test)
Persuasive Speech (it is out of 120 points!)
USA Test Prep Assignments
Any other missing assignments throughout the semester — prioritize larger-point assignments
Extra credit assignment: This week is Teacher Appreciation Week! Use Canva or Adobe Spark to create an e-card for your favorite teacher! Your letter must be at least one paragraph long and specific to the teacher and his or her class.
Note: Thank you to those of you who completed the EPL assignment. I haven’t forgotten to grade them — those who turned them in already will receive extra credit. No late assignments for that assignment will be accepted.
Prioritize your core classes. For some of you, you will have to decide which class(es) you need to pass in order not to get retained. If you’re sitting at all 40s or 50s, realistically, you may have to take an “L” in one class to prioritize the others.
Good morning to our first period and good afternoon to our fourth period!
As you know, Ms. A. will be out today, but you still have Ms. Lowe! Please make sure to take advantage of class time and Ms. Lowe’s help to complete your rough drafts today.
Today’s Lit. Term Tuesday was supposed to be a review of transitions. However, since this is not new, please take a few minutes before jumping into writing to review one or more of the websites below (just click on each “button” to visit the website). As you write your rough draft, ensure you are utilizing transitions within and between paragraphs to connect your thoughts and arguments!
This week, we will complete our persuasive speeches and wrap up unit 2. There is PLENTY of information on this post regarding the persuasive speech, so please be sure to refer back to this post often. Please be sure you are on time and present each day! Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:
Monday, April 19
1. Warm-up: M.U.G. Monday 2. Transferring outlines to drafts 3. MLA Formatting –Please view the information and template on my blog below! 4. Start working on rough drafts
Tuesday, April 20
1. Warm-up: Lit Term Tuesday 2. Complete rough drafts in class
Wednesday, April 21
Reminder: Regular School Day Today! 1. Warm-up: Words on Wednesday: “Said is Dead” -Please view the “Said is Dead” list on my blog below! 2. Work session: revisions and final drafts
Thursday, April 22
1. Warm-up: Test Prep Thursday 2. How to create a Works Cited in MLA format mini-lesson 3. Work session: complete final drafts
Friday, April 23
Reminder: Asynchronous Learning Day!
1. Please use today’s time to complete your final drafts if you did not do so during class time. Please submit your completed persuasive speech by midnight on Sunday via CTLS. 2. You must also record yourself presenting your speech on the Padlet here! 3. Don’t forget that USATP is due by 11:59 pm on Sunday!
Once you’re done with your outline, move on to your rough draft. Since you outlined and organized your ideas in the outlining stage of the writing process, all you have to do is put it all together! Basically, you are taking your organized bullet points and turning them into complete sentences and paragraphs. Make sure you are always considering audience and purpose, as this will dictate your choices in rhetorical appeals and strategies used.
Once you make a copy, please re-title your document to your first and last name.
Said is Dead!
Please use the list below for your Words on Wednesday Warm-up!
Works Cited
Please read the instructions below thoroughly to ensure you know how to complete a Works Cited!
Are ALL of your appeals to logic and credibility (ethos and logos) cited in your paper with quotation marks and parenthetical citations? If not, this is priority #1! CITE YOUR SOURCES! Sources and information that is not properly cited is considered PLAGIARISM and will earn you a big fat zero. Plus, Ms. A. will show you NO chill.
Now that you’ve finished up your rough drafts and included parenthetical citations for ALL of your sources, it’s time to move on to the Works Cited page. Your Works Cited will list all of the sources you have included in your essay.
(Please note that you will have to download the video to your computer to watch it. It is quite long, so it may take a minute to load.)
Or, follow the written steps below to create a Works Cited page, which will be the last page of your essay.
When you’re at the end of your essay, hit “enter/return” until you hit a fresh, new page. At the top of that new page, center-align the title, “Works Cited.” Be sure to capitalize the “W” and the “C”!
Hit “enter/return” one more time and left-align your cursor. (Your cursor is the blinking line that shows up as you type.)
Open up all three (or more) of your sources in separate tabs in a browser. (It’s 2021, quit using Internet Explorer.)
In another tab, open up www.easybib.com. EasyBib is an excellent citation generator you should use for ALL of your essays!
Copy and paste the URL of your first source into EasyBib. Make sure you’re using the “Website” tab.
Click “Cite it.”
On the next page, you may have one or more options of citations to use. Choose the article name that fits yours, and click “Cite this.”
Click “Continue to the final step.”
Now here’s where it can get a little tricky. You’ll have to use your detective skills here, because websites are all formatted differently. First, make sure every word, other than words like “the,” “a,” “an,” “and,” “be,” etc. are capitalized. For example, “Why teachers’ salaries should be doubled – now” needs to be edited as, “Why Teachers’ Salaries Should be Doubled – Now”
Under “Contributors,” include the first and last names of ALL authors listed on the website. The author’s name (or byline, as it’s called in journalism) is typically immediately below the headline, or title of the article.
Include the website title. Again, be sure all major words are capitalized (for example, The Washington Post).
You can leave the publisher/sponsor blank, if it’s not already filled in.
Include the FULL URL.
“Electronically published” is the date that the article was published online. You can typically find this in the byline by the author’s name. If there is no date, use the copyright year, which is typically found at the very, very bottom of the website.
Click “Create Citation.” Hooray! Your first citation is done!
Follow steps 5-15 above for each source. Make sure you’re using the same window on EasyBib, as it will automatically save all of your citations in one place, which is what you want!
Once all of your sources are in one place, copy and paste the entire Works Cited into the page you titled “Works Cited.” Make sure your sources are all in alphabetical order by the first word in the source.
Next, you will have to create a hanging indent. In Google Docs, make sure you have the ruler view on. If you see numbers at the top, the ruler is on. If you don’t, go to “View” > “Show ruler.”
Highlight your ENTIRE Works Cited, with the exception of the words “Works Cited.”
In the ruler, you will see a rectangle and a triangle. Move both over to the right to 0.5.
I hope you had a great Spring Break! This week, we will continue working on our persuasive speeches and take our unit 2 assessment. Please be sure you are on time and present each day! Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:
Monday, April 12
Warm-up: M.U.G. Monday
Introductions and Conclusions
Please view the information on my blog below!
Complete introduction and conclusion
Tuesday, April 13
Warm-up: Lit Term Tuesday (diction and syntax; review rhetorical appeals)
Assessment: Unit 2 post-assessment via CTLS Assess
Wednesday, April 14
Reminder: Regular School Day Today!
Warm-up: Words on Wednesday: Counterclaim
Counterclaims mini-lesson
Complete counterclaim; complete outline of persuasive speech
Thursday, April 15
Warm-up: Test Prep Thursday
How to embed quotations in MLA format mini-lesson
Work session: complete entire outline
Friday, April 16
Reminder: Asynchronous Learning Day!
Please use today’s time to complete your outline (intro, conclusion, and three body paragraphs) if you did not do so during class time. Don’t forget that USATP is due by 11:59 pm on Sunday!
The introduction to a research paper can be the most challenging part of the paper to write. The length of the introduction will vary depending on the type of research paper you are writing. An introduction should announce your topic, provide context and a rationale for your work, before stating your research questions and hypothesis. Well-written introductions set the tone for the paper, catch the reader’s interest, and communicate the thesis statement.
Announce your research topic. You can start your introduction with a few sentences which announce the topic of your paper and give an indication of the kind of research questions you will be asking. This is a good way to introduce your readers to your topic and pique their interest. The first few sentences should act as an indication of a broader problem which you will then focus in on more closely in the rest of your introduction, leading to your specific research questions.
Define any key terms or concepts. It may be necessary for you to clarify any key terms or concepts early on in your introduction. You need to express yourself clearly throughout your paper so if you leave an unfamiliar term or concept unexplained, you risk your readers not having a clear understanding of your argument.
(From WikiHow)
Some suggestions on how to start your speech…
Pose a rhetorical question
Use imagery to pull your reader in (set the scene; opportunity for pathos!)
Be sure to consider your audience and purpose when writing the introduction!
Conclusions
Conclusions wrap up what you have been discussing in your paper. After moving from general to specific information in the introduction and body paragraphs, your conclusion should begin pulling back into more general information that restates the main points of your argument. Conclusions may also call for action or overview future possible research. The following outline may help you conclude your paper:
In a general way,
Restate your topic and why it is important,
Restate your thesis/claim,
Address opposing viewpoints and explain why readers should align with your position,
Call for action or overview future research possibilities.
Remember that once you accomplish these tasks, unless otherwise directed by your instructor, you are finished. Done. Complete. Don’t try to bring in new points or end with a whiz bang (!) conclusion or try to solve world hunger in the final sentence of your conclusion. Simplicity is best for a clear, convincing message.
The preacher’s maxim is one of the most effective formulas to follow for argument papers:
Tell what you’re going to tell them (introduction).
This week, we take a little break from our persuasive speech and continue our reading of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. Please be sure you are on time and present each day — we only have one more week until break! You can do it! Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:
Monday, March 29
1. Warm-up: M.U.G. Monday 2. Review Character Map The character map can be found in “Lesson Resources” or on my blog below. 3. Continue reading The Crucible 4. Ongoing Assignment: Act 1 text-dependent questions The reading and assignment can be found in “Lesson Assignments” or on my blog below.
Tuesday, March 30
1. Continue reading The Crucible 2. Ongoing Assignment: Act 1 text-dependent questions The reading and assignment can be found in “Lesson Assignments” or on my blog below.
Wednesday, March 31
REMINDER: For this week only, we are back to Wednesday as our weekly asynchronous learning day! Please use this day to get caught up on any missing work. I am missing quite a few EPL advertisement projects in particular. Ms. Antonacci will be available via Remind, Email, or Zoom.
Thursday, April 1
1. Complete reading and text-dependent questions for Act 1 2. Start watching The Crucible
Friday, April 2
1. Complete watching The Crucible USATP due by 11:59 pm on Sunday! Assignment: Spring Break Assignment The assignment can be found on my blog below (NOT in CTLS).
Due to our change in schedule last week, this week, we will start our reading of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible!Please be sure you are on time and present each day! Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:
Monday, March 22
1. Warm-up: MUG Monday 2. Start reading The Crucible 3. Ongoing Assignment: Act 1 text-dependent questions The reading and assignment can be found in “Lesson Resources” or on my blog below.
Tuesday, March 23
1. Warm-up: Lit. Term Tuesday 2. Continue reading The Crucible 3. Ongoing Assignment: Act 1 text-dependent questions The reading and assignment can be found in “Lesson Resources” or on my blog below.
Wednesday, March 24
Reminder: This Wednesday is a regular school day! 1. Warm-up: Words on Wednesday 2. Continue reading The Crucible 3. Ongoing Assignment: Act 1 text-dependent questions The reading and assignment can be found in “Lesson Resources” or on my blog below.
Thursday, March 25
1. Warm-up: Test Prep Thursday Scroll down to download the Persuasive Speech Rubric! 2. Persuasive Speech Writing Work Session (complete outline for body paragraphs)
Friday, March 26
Asynchronous Learning Day — No Live Classes Today! Please use this day to complete your speech outline (three body paragraphs) if you did not do so in class on Thursday. **Don’t forget USA Test Prep (due Sunday)!
This week, we will start the week with our persuasive speech and start our reading of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible on Friday. Please be sure you are on time and present each day! Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:
Monday, March 14
1. Warm-up: M.U.G. Monday 2. Assessment: Unit 2 mid-assessment via CommonLit Please take your “Sinners in the Hands” assessment via CommonLit.org. 3. Assignment: The Crucible Anticipation Guide The assignment can be found in “Lesson Assignments” or on my blog below.
Tuesday, March 15
1. Warm-up: Lit. Term Tuesday 2. Choosing supporting evidence for your persuasive speech 3. Providing commentary 4. Brief overview of outline format (download the template below!)
Wednesday, March 16
Change in Schedule — regular classes today! 1. Warm-up: Words on Wednesday (transitional words and phrases) Download the transitional words and phrases document below. 2. Outlining your persuasive speech
Thursday, March 17
1. Warm-up: Test Prep Thursday 2. Mini-debate on Anticipation Guide 3. Start reading The Crucible
Friday, March 18
Change in Schedule — this Friday will be an asynchronous learning day (no live classes). Ms. Antonacci will be holding Unit 1 Assessment make-ups on this day. Please use this day to get caught up on any missing work!
If you need some additional time and/or help to get work completed, please make sure to join the Super Saturday link below! The focus for Saturday, March 13th will be on claims and counterclaims (argumentative writing).
This week, we will continue our work with rhetorical appeals, devices, and techniques, and start some historical context before starting our reading of Arthur Miller’s play, The Crucible. Please be sure you are on time and present each day! Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:
Monday, March 8
1. Warm-up: M.U.G. Monday 2. Continue rhetorical analysis of “Speech to the Virginia Convention” 3. Assignment: “Speech to the Virginia Convention,” Patrick Henry The reading and assignment can be found in “Lesson Assignments” or on last week’s blog post.
Tuesday, March 9
1. Warm-up: Lit. Term Tuesday 2. Fear as a Motivator Padlet 3. Heavy Metal or Jonathan Edwards? 4. Assignment: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,”Jonathan Edwards The reading and assignment can be found in “Lesson Assignments” or on my blog below.
Wednesday, March 10
Reminder: No ReWind Wednesday this week! Please use Wednesday to catch up on any missing work.
Thursday, March 11
1. Warm-up: Test Prep Thursday 2. Assignment: “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,”Jonathan Edwards The reading and assignment can be found in “Lesson Assignments” or on my blog. 3. Assessment: Unit 2 Mid via CommonLit Please follow the directions on your warm-up log to access the assessment.
Friday, March 12
1. Warm-up: Free Friday (Puritan Ten Commandments) 2. Assignment: The Crucible Anticipation Guide The assignment can be found in “Lesson Assignments” or on my blog below.
This week, we will continue our work on the persuasive speech and learn new rhetorical devices to analyze and utilize. Please be sure you are on time and present each day! Please see below for a brief schedule of our week together:
ReWind Wednesday – please see schedule in “Class Board” Reminder: EPL Mini-project due in CTLS by midnight!
Thursday, March 4
1. Warm-up: Test Prep Thursday 2. Patrick Henry: “Speech to the Virginia Convention” The reading can be found in “Lesson Resources” or on my blog below. 3. Assignment: “Speech to the Virginia Convention” Rhetorical Analysis The assignment can be found in “Lesson Assignments” or on my blog below.
Friday, March 5
1. Warm-up: Free Friday! 2. Assignment: “Speech to the Virginia Convention” CommonLit Please complete this assignment on www.CommonLit.org.
