commas, semi colons, colons recuperation program

Students will recoup up to half of the "missed" points on their quiz last week by completing the following assignment:

1. Define commas-

2. Define semicolons-

3. Define colons-

4. List 5 of the 9 ways a comma could be used-

5. List the 4 ways a semicolon is used-

6. List 4 of the 6 ways a colon could be used-

7. Write 5 original sentences that demonstrate mastery of the punctuation element: 5 commas used properly, 5 semicolons, 5 colons.

Commas:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Semicolons:
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Colons
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Friday, November 13, 2009

To Do List:

1. grammar link assignments 2.2-2.6
2. commas 173-178 (all assignments graded)
3. semi colons, colons 179-182 (all assignments graded)
4. Quiz Points Recuperation Program

A.C.T. - like Writing Outline in Reverse

The A.C.T. - like writing has been assessed. You've been given a score from 1-6, just like on an actual A.C.T. Now, go back and write an outline for Mr. Roark. Make corrections if you did not do it correctly the first time. Please consider is all your topic sentences relate back to your thesis and answer the WHY question. For example, if you said athletes should be held to a higher standard than non-athletes, 3 reasons would be ...1.) they represent the school and are a reflection of the Sparta community 2.) sports are a privilege and not a right, therefore athletes must be above reproach 3.) higher standards help create an environment where excellence is the expectation. Those would be 3 reasons to be covered in a properly prepared paper.

Follow the outline listed here:

Thesis Statement: What was yours?


Concluding Statement: What was it?


Point one: List your topic sentence:
a.
b.

Point two: List your topic sentence:
a.
b.


Point three: List your topic sentence:
a.
b.

Consult your paper for hints. I graded them all and made comments. Most of you need alignment/format requirements met for a 6. We will discuss/assess your outlines tomorrow.

Monday with Mr. Toporski

For Monday, November 9, 2009...

Students should complete and submit the following items:
1. an outline from their A.C.T.-like writing (see above post)
2. read end marks and dashes information in packets
3. complete exercise A on pg. 2 of end marks (with porcupine cartoon above it), 29.1 end marks handouts (pgs. 169, 170), end punctuation handout B and A, the Dash handout Exercise: Application in Literature, Dashes 29.5 (pgs. 189, 190)

Friday, November 6, 2009

Students should take and submit the quiz today.

Commas, Semicolons, and Colons + the untimed writing on Shakespeare.

Final six weeks exam Recuperation Program

For those students who are reworking topics on the exam...please submit your "reworks" by Friday, November 6, 2009. Hilight or underline key words of topics within sentences.

The following reworks are available:
1. Writing Skeleton - draw a full page skeleton and label each part correctly
2. prepositions - write 5 original sentences with 5 prepositions (other than those on the exam) used properly.
3. adverbs - write 5 original sentences with 5 adverbs (other than those on the exam) used properly.
4. conjunctions - same as above

For the "Parts of speech number game" and the "Definitions and examples"...students must write the definition of all 8 basics parts of speech; then use each p.o.s. in an original sentence. LABEL each p.o.s. being focused upon.

example:
Articles - articles are words that serve as adjectives and modify nouns or pronouns (like a, an, the).
Sentence - An instrument of surgery is a scalpel.

Follow up to A.C.T. like writing

Each student has been given a student model to follow when responding to A.C.T.-like writing prompts. He/she has also been given a rubric with the requirements for a "6." Some focus points for the 5-point essay response (which is A.C.T. like writing):

1. determine thesis; place at end of intro.
2. determine concluding statement; place as last statement...state your thesis in a fresh way.
3. have 3 points to support, defend, justify thesis; place as topic sentences at the beginning of body paragraphs...these body paragraphs should EACH be a reason WHY for your thesis.
4. include points of proof in introduction and conclusion
5. follow the 6 rubric (clarity, coherence, parameters)

Friday, November 6th will be a Punctuation Quiz

Please prepare for the punctuation quiz on Friday, November 6th by taking notes on all topics (commas, semicolons, colons), memorizing definitions, and "working the sentences." Students will be expected to know definitions, and recognize proper usage.

If you don't take notes, or record definitions, it will be impossible to study for the quiz.

Semicolon, Colon Information

Semicolon, Colon Information (Students should have notes on the following topics for Semicolons, Colons):

1. semicolon definition
2. joining parts of a compound sentence....
3. with commas to separate
4. before a conjunctive adverb
5. colon definition
6. to introduce
7. greeting
8. between numerals
9. between sentences to explain or summarize
10. introducing a formal question

Semicolon, Colon Assignments:
1. P. 179, 180 and TBA for semicolon
2. p. 181, 182 and TBA for colon

Comma Information

Comma Main Points (students should have notes for the following topics):
1. commas in a series
2. commas with introductory elements
3. commas with interrupters (key word phrases)
4. commas with quotations
5. commas in compound sentences
6. commas with non essential clauses
7. commas with dates, place names, and letters
8. commas to avoid confusion

Comma Assignments are as follows:

1. p. 171, 172 (monday, 11.2)
2. p. 173, 174 (homework for 11.2)
3. p. 175, 176 (tuesday 11.3)
4. p. 177, 178 (homework for 11.3)

Applied Grammar: the Grammarfest Begins

The following is a list of topics that will be covered the next 6 weeks. Students should take notes on ALL of the following topics for their folder/notebook/portfolio:


group 1: commas, apostrophes, colons, semi-colons, dashes, end punctuation.
group 2: sub/verb agreement, pronoun/antecedent, adjectives, adverbs, what they modify, verb forms, pronoun forms and cases, comparative & superlative modifiers, idioms.
group 3: subordinate, dependant clauses, run-on, fused sentences, comma splices, sentence fragments, misplaced modifiers, verb tense shifts or voice shifts, shifts in pronoun person or number.

sentences will be assigned for each topic, collected, and passed back.

Please store all notes and worksheets IN the folder/notebook/portfolio.

A.C.T.-like writing for October 29, 2009

Mr. Roark
Applied Grammar
Writing Sample: 5-point essay
30 minutes

In some high schools, teachers and parents have become concerned with disciplinary actions as they relate to athletes, as opposed to the students who are not part of the athletic programs. Some parents and teachers think all students should be subject to rules of the athletic handbook and experience consequences based on that language. Others feel sports are a privilege and not a right. Still others would like for the athletes to only be subjected to the overall rules of the school and not the athletic handbook. Despite the stricter athletic handbook in most high schools, there have been cases recently where high school athletes were allowed to participate in sporting events, despite misdemeanor or felony charges, and even convictions, perhaps because administrators feared legal action by lawyers of parents and students. In your opinion, should high school administrators hold athletes to a higher standard than typical students who do not participate in an athletic program?

In your essay, take a position on this question. You may write about any of the points of view given, or you may present a different point of view on this question. Use specific reasons and examples to support your position.

Welcome Back

schedule:
1. wed. - final six weeks exam over 8 parts of speech
2. last wed. - 5-paragraph essay was due
3. today and beyond - all "returnees" MUST submit their 5-paragraph essays asap (as many days as they missed, they get to turn it in).


Students should complete the handout given by Mr. Fix. This is a pre-test that will serve as a review for the actual Six Weeks Exam. Please complete it as a quiz (quietly at your seat), omitting exercises 2 and 6. You may not ask questions of your classmates.

Use your handouts, notes, cheatsheets on all parts of speech!

Tomorrow we will play a REVIEW GAME and correct answers will be provided. Bring all your questions.

Schedule for the week of 10.19.09

This week's submission dates:

1. Tuesday - all of your prepositions, conjunctions, interjections worksheets (see previous post for details).
2. Wednesday - five paragraph essay with thesis, concluding statement, and 3 topic sentences representative of 3 main points ALL underlined.
3. Friday - 8 basic parts of speech final exam.

First Six Weeks Exam is Friday, October 23rd

The 8 Parts of Speech is the focus for the first six weeks exam. Please utilize all the notes and PoS packets handed out in order to prepare for the exam.

Review points to consider:
1. definitions of each part of speech
2. examples of each part of speech
3. metaphors for each part of speech
4. identifying parts of speech in sentences
5. utilizing parts of speech correctly in generated sentences

5-Paragraph Essay Due on Wednesday, October 21

On Wednesday, October 21, students must have the following submitted to Mr. Roark:
1. a final copy of their 5-paragraph essay
2. 2.2 - 2.4 attached to the back of the essay in chronological order

Please be sure to follow MLA format.

Underline your thesis, concluding statement, and topic sentence for the middle 3 paragraphs.

Draft Begins in Earnest

On Tuesday, October 13, students started their draft for the 5- paragraph essay. Here is the assignment (some of this has already been assigned and addressed with an earlier post):

Pop Quiz
Mr. Roark
Applied Grammar

Prepositions
Finish the preposition assignments. Check assignments 65, 66, and 69 vs. your key when finished. Write down your score out of 25 and submit it to Mr. Roark when you are completely finished with the next part…..

Conjunctions
Start Conjunctions and work through Conjunctions: exercises 71, 72, 73, 74

When you are done, take out your writing packet and finish your outline/skeleton from yesterday or write it for the first time. Then, write your introductory paragraph for your 5 paragraph essay.

Example:
1. Thesis – “Music appreciation class should be a requirement at Sparta High School.”
2. Conclusion- “A class such as music appreciation has a lasting effect on a student, one that will yield complex and multidimensional results.”
3. 3 points:
a. MA can serve as a uniting force for ALL students.
b. MA is transferable to any vocation.
c. MA creates aficionados and connoisseurs, instead of consumers.

Sample paragraph:

Music appreciation class is a class that is not currently offered at Sparta High School. The administrators see fit to offer yearbook, lifelong sports, journalism, even tech. explorations, but there is no music appreciation. Music is the tie the binds men’s souls. It is one thing that seems to be ever-present. Music is in the personal ipod. Music is in the mall. Music is in movies. Music is everywhere. But is it understood or appreciated? A fun, but educational, class could be a uniting force for all Sparta students (point 1). The lessons learned could be transferable to any vocation (point 2) and the class could create aficionados and connoisseurs, instead of consumers (point 3). Music appreciation class should be a requirement at Sparta High School (Thesis).

Writing Progression Continues

After our in class, group Writing Process Assignment on Friday, students should have 2.2-2.6 completed in their writing packets.

We are building to the 5-paragraph essay. Please tie up loose ends.

8 Parts of Speech Completed This Week

Prepositions, Conjunctions, and Interjections work:
1. Prepositions: exercises 64, 65, 66, 68, 69 1-5 only)
2. Conjunctions: exercises 71, 72, 73, 74, 75 (1-5 only), 76, 77 (1-5), 78, 79, 82 1-10 only
3. Interjections: exercise 83, 84

This work packet is due Tuesday, October 20th, 2009.

Contact Mr. Roark if you have questions.

Writing Update

Use 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 to get you started. Follow each page's instructions. Update your personal folder/portfolio.

I will grade your college application essays and return them this week.

The focus will now be working through the writing process.