Transcript Day 1 Bellringers & welcome!

Day 1
Bellringers & welcome!
Day 2
“No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main”
~John Donne
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Respond to this quote. What might it mean? Try
to write at least 5 complete sentences and create a
paragraph with your response.
Hint: Think about the idea of “community.” Is our
classroom a community? Is it important?
Day 3
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Watch Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whTwjG
4ZIJg
Write down at least 10 tips you learned from
this video-- be prepared to share with the
class.
Why are these skills important?
Hold on to the tips you wrote down. They
will be of use to you throughout this unit!
Day 4
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Very soon, you will be taking the
county-wide writing assessment that
looks at your knowledge of how to
write a persuasive paper.
Pretend you are a preparing to write an
essay on why there should be more
time in between classes.
Write down 5 reasons you would use to
convince your reader that more time is
necessary.
Day 5
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Please read the worksheet
“Introduction to the Student”
Copies are at the front of the room
Day 6
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Examine a self-portrait by Vincent
Van Gogh, a famous artist. Think
about how he expresses his voicehis style of personality. Look
carefully at the details.
What is he saying about himself?
How do you know?
Think about how you would paint
a self-portrait. What colors would
you use? What expression would
you have on your face? How would
you be dressed? What is the
background of the painting? Make
a simple sketch of your own self
portrait, and write a few sentences
describing what your self portrait
would look like.
Day 7
Write down the two nouns in each sentence. Some
nouns may be compound.
1.
Each February, there is a major snowstorm.
2.
The daisies in the garden are dying.
3.
The children on the merry-go-round were
laughing.
4.
There are no longer any animals in that zoo.
5.
Uncle Pete has been studying to become a pilot.
6.
After the party there were dirty plates everywhere.
Day 8
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No bellringer
Day 9
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In your Language Network book
(orange book under your desk) answer
questions 1 – 10 on page 5.
Day 10
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Listen carefully to Beethoven's Symphony
No. 9.
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What kind of “voice” does this music have?
Pretend the music is a kind of self-portrait.
Write two statements that capture the voice of
this “self portrait.”
Think about tempo (how fast the music goes)
and volume.
How does this music make you feel? What is the
music trying to convey?
Day 11
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In your Language Network book
(orange book under your desk) answer
questions 1 – 10 on page 10, part A.
Day 12
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Copy down these notes:
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Diction refers to the author’s choice of words. In order to write well, you
have to find the perfect word.
The perfect word is clear concrete and exact. In other words, it says
exactly what you want it to say, is specific, and creates just the picture
you see in your mind.
Some words are especially overused and tired, certainly not perfect.
These words have lost their freshness and impact. Avoid them at all
times!
Consider these words “forbidden” and eliminate them from your
vocabulary: good, nice, pretty, beautiful, fine, bad, thing, really, very,
terrible, wonderful, a lot
Words don’t simply have meaning. Words have denotation and
connotation.
Denotation is the literal meaning of the word, and connotation is the
meaning suggested by a word, the feeling evoked by a word.
Day 13
Fill in each blank with a noun.
1.
The _______ we saw was a _________.
2.
We went to the _____ to see a ______.
3.
_________ is not my favorite _______.
4.
In three ______ the _____ will be over.
5.
Many of the _____ were not ready for the ______.
6.
Put your ______ on the _______.
7.
We must remember that ______ is not a ______.
8.
Walking through the ______, they found a ______.
Day 14
A redheaded woman was there with Trout. Kate could see
her rummaging through the cabin, dumping drawers
and knocking things from the shelves of cabinets. (Louis
Sachar, Holes)
1.
2.
3.
What picture do you get when you read the second
sentence?
How would the meaning of the sentence change if we
changed some of the words? For example: Kate could see her
searching through the cabin, emptying drawers and taking
things off of the shelves of cabinets.
Write a sentence describing a small boy making a mess in a
restaurant. Choose words that are clear, concrete, and exact.
Use “perfect” words.
Day 15
Write the two nouns from each group and identify them as people,
places, or things.
1.
able baby musician
2.
rabbit really chair
3.
Prison mountainside write
4.
Misery rusty success
5.
Only forest swamp
6.
Sailor tiny explored
7.
Hunter nurse into
8.
Bedroom school rough
9.
Lion kindly kite
10.
Tame table dog
Day 16
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Free write for approximately 15
minutes. You can write about whatever
you want. (Add it to your bellringers
sheet). You can make up a story, write
about what’s on your mind, or use the
time to write down a concept you’ve
been learning at school– basically, get
in the habit of writing for a set amount
of time!
Day 17
He spent hours in front of the mirror trying to herd his
teeth into place with his thumb. He asked his mother
if he could have braces, but he asked at the wrong
time. (Gary Soto, “Broken Chain”)
1.
What is Gary Soto implying about the narrator’s teeth
when he uses the verb herd in the sentence?
2. How would the meaning change if the sentence were
written like this? He spent hours in front of the mirror
trying to push his teeth into place with his thumb.
3. Fill in the blank with a strong verb that creates a clear
picture in the reader’s mind like Soto’s does. Avoid
obvious verbs such as brush, comb, or fix. Be creative!
She spent hours in front of the mirror trying to ___________
her hair in place for the party.
Day 18
Identify each of the following numbered items as a fragment (F),
Run-on sentence (RO), comma splice (CS) or complete
sentence (S).
1.
The movie Double Jeopardy is about a woman who is
unjustly framed for murder.
2.
Because her husband fakes his own murder.
3.
The wife went to jail for six years, her son was taken away
from her.
4.
But when she got out of jail.
5.
She went to find her husband she wanted to kill him in
revenge for his framing her.
6.
She had already served time for the murder, and she
couldn’t be convicted twice.
7.
Illegal to be convicted of the same crime twice.
Day 19
Write a short description of a dog (at least 3
sentences). First, decide whether you want
to describe a fancy, pedigreed dog or a
scruffy mutt. Then capture the dog by
using strong diction. Don’t explain that the
dog is fancy or scruffy. Instead, use perfect
words to create a picture of the dog for the
reader.
Day 20
There was a scurrying around and then eight of them
snatched up their guns, formed into twos, and
marched out behind the office. He wheeled his horse
about and trotted toward me. I jumped back and
plunged for the tavern doorway.
1.
2.
3.
Look at the boldfaced word (snatched) in the first sentence.
Notice how clearly you can “see” the action because of that
strong verb. How would it change the meaning of the
sentence if it read… eight of them picked up their guns?
What does the use of the word plunged in the third sentence
tell you about the narrator’s attitude toward the other
characters in this passage?
Use the word plunged in a sentence, but instead of having
the word express fear and desperation, have it express
excitement and happiness. Remember that in many cases the
context of the word determines its deeper meaning.
Day 21
Use the following instructions to write your own original
sentences.
1.
Write a sentence about sports that includes one
proper noun and one common noun.
2.
Write a sentence about animals that includes two
common nouns.
3.
Write a sentence about an interesting place that
includes one proper noun and two common nouns.
4.
Write a sentence about your school that contains one
proper noun and one common noun.
5.
Write a sentence about music that includes one
common noun and two proper nouns.
Day 22
“n you at the ivory-n-ebony
crooning “I Left My Heart. .” to momma,
winkin n smiling n jazzin n profilin
n sangin n sangin
n sangin n soundin
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeee” (Crystal Williams)
1.
2.
3.
The words in this song imitate the way someone talks. Why do you
think Williams uses these kinds of words instead of standard English
words?
How would the impact of the passage change if we wrote the lines in
formal language? “And you at the piano/ singing to momma/ winking
and smiling/ and singing/ and sounding sweet.”
Now write a short poem that captures the way you sound when you
talk to your friends. Use slang (no bad words!) and creative spelling
to make your poem sound like talking when you read it aloud.
Day 23
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Imagery is a type of figurative language which uses words to
paint a picture in the reader’s mind & often appeals to the 5
senses.
Directions: Copy the paragraph below and underline the words
which “paint a picture” in your mind and/or appeal to the 5
senses.
“I opened one eye when my alarm clock buzzed. My room was
still dark, but I could smell coffee. When the scent of sizzling
bacon hit my nose, my mouth watered and my stomach
rumbled. I knew Mom would cook it until it was brown and
crunchy, just the way I like it. My feet met the cold, hard floor as
I leaped out of bed. I threw on my fluffy, red sweatshirt and
tattered jeans and headed for breakfast.”
Day 24
“When smoke crept over a green field. The
smoke teased people’s eyes and noses. And
it seeped into their clothes. Standing in the
smoke were some 5,000 reenactors.”
(Winkler, “Fighting for History”)
1.
Write down all the verbs in the sentence.
2.
Are these strong or weak verbs? How do you
know?
3.
Write your own sentence using strong
verbs.
Day 25
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Analogies are logic puzzles. You must look at the
words to determine the relationship in the first set and
find the matching relationship for the second
(incomplete) set.
Copy and start with these simple analogies:
1. Pistol : weapon :: rose : _______________
2. Light: dark :: low: ___________
3. Old : new :: beginning : ___________
4. Find : lose :: construct : ____________
5. Photographer: camera :: doctor : __________
Day 26
1.
2.
3.
“Filch hobbled across to his desk, snatched up the
envelope, and threw it into a drawer” (Rowling, Harry
Potter and the Chamber of Secrets)
Which words help you visualize what is happening in
this passage?
What is the mood of this passage? How are the
characters feeling? How do you know?
Create a sentence of your own that helps your reader
visualize what is happening. Create a mood and we
will try to guess it when you read it aloud.
Day 27
Fill in each blank with a proper noun.
1.
After much thought, he gave the bracelet to ______.
2.
The author she likes least is ______.
3.
On _______ there were two new houses being built.
4.
We finally decided to buy a _______.
5.
Some day I would like to see _______.
6.
After a heated contest, we beat _____ by two points.
7.
Television isn’t the same without _______.
8.
The explores crossed the _______ during their first
expedition.
Day 28
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What would you do with a million
dollars if you had to spend all of it over
the weekend? You can’t save any of ityou must spend it all!
Write a 7-9 sentence paragraph
explaining what you would do with the
money & how you would spend it.
Day 29
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Make a stack of your study guides on my desk.
Make a neat stack of your To Kill a Mockingbird books
on my desk.
Get out several sheets of paper and clear your desk
except something to write with (pencil, blue or black
ink pen).
Make sure you have something to do after the test that
does not involve talking (reading, puzzle, writing, etc)
Day 30
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Copy down these notes:
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Detail is what makes writing come alive.
Detail includes facts, observations, reasons, examples, and
incidents that a writer uses to develop a subject. Specific
details create a clear mental picture for the reader by
focusing on particular details rather than random things.
Detail helps the reader understand what you’re writing
about exactly as you want him/her to.
Details helps to focus the reader’s attention on important
ideas and shapes the reader’s understanding of a topic.
Detail allows the reader to participate as an equal partner
in the “world” the writer has created and to follow the
writer’s ideas in the way the author intends.
Day 31
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Think of a shopping trip to your favorite mall. Think about
everything you would look at in the mall.
Now make a list of details you might focus on when writing
about the trip to the mall.
Decide your focus: people, clothes, food, stores, things you
might find, or specific parts of the mall. You decide. Write
your focus!
Now write down your attitude or mood– are you thrilled,
critical, neutral, angry, or something else?
List as many details as you can to support your attitude.
Write a paragraph about your experience at the mall using as
many details as possible.
Day 32
“He was an old man. His blank, heavily wrinkled face was
surrounded by a halo of crinkly white hair and whiskers that
seemed to separate his head from the layers of dirty coats piled
on his smallish frame. His pants were bagged to the knee,
where they were met with rags that went down to the old
shoes. The rags were held on with strings, and there was a rope
around his middle.” ~Walter Dean Myers, “The Treasure of
Lemon Brown”
1.
What are all the vivid details of this passage? How do the
details help you understand the focus of the passage?
2. Using this paragraph as a model, write a similar paragraph
about an old cat. Use lots of vivid detail.
Day 33
“When he ran, he even loved the pain, the hurt of running, the burning in his
lungs and the spasms that sometimes gripped his calves. He loved it
because he know he could endure the pain, and even go beyond it. He
had never pushed himself to the limit but he felt all this reserve strength
inside him: more than strength actually– determination. And it sang in
him as he ran, his heart pumping blood joyfully through his body.”
~Robert Cormier, The Chocolate War
1.
What is the main idea (topic sentence) or focus of this paragraph? State
it as simply as you can. How do the details in this paragraph support the
main idea?
2.
The details in the first sentence describe the physical sensation of pain.
The next three sentences, however, focus on another characteristic of
pain. What is this other characteristic of pain? How do the details of the
last three sentences help the reader understand the other characteristic
of pain?
3.
Write a simple topic sentence about something you love to do. Then, list
all of the details you can think of that would help someone else
understand why you love what you do.
Day 34
Describe a room that is unbearably hot. In your
description, use words that are clear,
concrete, and exact. Use a vivid adjective to
describe an object in the room. The adjective
and object should help your readers
understand the feeling of the room.
Remember, don’t simply state that it’s hot.
Instead, create a picture for the reader,
capturing how the heat affects the
surroundings.
Day 35
“She’s this old wrinkled bat with bad breath, so
kids avoid her. I tried to sit downwind of her
breath, but it was right after lunch and she
kept burpin’ little bursts of garlic.” ~Tears of a
Tiger
1. Sketch a picture of this scene. What details are
in your sketch? Why are they memorable?
2. Write two sentences about someone you want
to sit next to. Use Draper’s sentence as a
model, substituting positive details for the
negative ones.
Day 36
“And his tears could fall unwanted on his sheet, but his
1.
2.
sobs were so gentle that they did not shake the bed, so
quiet they could not be heard. But the ache was there,
thick in his throat and the front of his face, hot in his
chest and in his eyes. I want to go home.” ~Ender’s
Game
What is this scene describing? How is the character
feeling?
Can you relate to this feelings? Write down a specific
story from your own life that is similar to this.
Day 37
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Metaphors, similes, and personification belong to a class of
language called figurative language.
Figurative language is any language that is not used in a
literal (meaning exactly what it says) way
We use figurative language because it’s a rich, strong, and
vivid way to express meaning.
Using it allows us to say much more using fewer words
When using figures of speech, be sure you are not using
cliché, stale and overused phrases (“quiet as a mouse” or
“pretty as a picture” for example)
Day 38
Metaphors compare two things directly; similes
compare things indirectly, usually using signal words
such as as, like, than, similar to, and resembles.
Fill out the following practice chart:
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Figure of Speech
I got a flood of mail today.
Alice sang like a cow.
Jeff was taller than the Empire State Building.
The shoes cost a king’s ransom.
Metaphor or simile?
Day 39
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We discussed similes and metaphors last time
(please review your notes). This time, we need
to know personification, which is a special
kind of metaphor that gives human qualities to
something that is not human, such as an
animal, an object or an idea. For example, “the
tree sighed sadly in the cold.” (a tree can’t sigh
like a human!)
Practice writing examples of metaphors, similes,
and personification for the terms listed here:
Day 39, continued
Literal Term
Metaphor
Simile
Friendship
Leah’s friendship is
a lighthouse.
Leah’s friendship is
like a lighthouse.
Football game
Cleaning your
room
Shirt
Cafeteria lunch
Personification
Leah’s friendship
wrapped my
sadness in a warm
blanket.
Day 40
“I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi,
a desert state sweltering with the heat of injustice and
oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of
freedom and justice” ~MLK
1. Identify two examples of figurative language in the
passage. Are the figures of speech metaphors or
similes? How do you know the language is figurative?
2. What does the figurative language add to the passage?
3. Rewrite this passage without figurative language. How
do the two compare?
Day 41
Solve the following analogy puzzles:
1.begin : end : : open : ___________________
2.detective : inspector : : teacher : _____________
3. incognito : disguised : : foolish : _____________
4.insect : mosquito : : dog : ___________________
5.nose : face : : elbow : ___________________
6.intelligence : stupidity : : beautiful : ___________
7.bird : parrot : : vermin : ___________________
8.tires : ambulance : : knob : ___________________
9.clue : hint : : cup : ___________________
10. boy : girl : : day : ___________________
Day 42
“He gossips like my grandmother, this man
with my face, and I could stand
amused all afternoon
in the Hon Kee Grocery,
amid hanging meats he chops . . .” ~”The Cleaving”
1. Look at the first line. Is like my grandmother a simile?
Explain.
2. Is this man/ with my face figurative? If so, is it a metaphor or
simile? Explain.
3. Write a poem or several sentences in which you compare
yourself to a family member or friend. You should have at
least four lines and use one metaphor.
Day 43
“The Tangerine Times printed a special pullout section on the Lake
Windsor Middle School sinkhole. The photos were spectacular.
They had one huge shot of the splintered walkways sticking up
in all directions, like Godzilla had just trampled through the
store.”
1.
Is the phrase the splintered walkways sticking up in all directions
literal or figurative? Explain.
2. …like Godzilla had just trampled through there is a simile. Why
is it a simile and not a metaphor?
3. Write one sentence that describes a park. First describe it
literally (how the park really is), then support your description
with the simile. Use this pattern for your sentence: The park
______________________________, like ____________________.
Day 44
Directions: Write the word that correctly completes each sentence
1.I would (advise / advice) you to put the chalupa down, sir.
2.The critics’ cruel reviews had a bad (affect / effect) on the play’s financial success
3.If Y2K causes computers to shut down, we’ll need an (all together / altogether)
new system.
4.It is (plain / plane) to see who is the guilty one in this classroom.
5.I don’t know (who’s / whose) handcuffs these are, but they better come up and
claim them.
6.(They’re / Their / There) going to see Eminem in concert next Saturday.
7.Ever (sense / since / cents) Elvis died, my life has been empty and meaningless.
8.Will you (accept / except) my marriage proposal?
9.I can’t (bare / bear) another minute of English 9, or I’ll scream!
10. Which (one / won) is the next contestant on The Price is Right?
Day 45
“My mother’s hair, like little rosettes, like little candy circles all
curly and pretty because she pinned it in pincurls all day,
sweet to put your nose into when she is holding you, holding
you and and you feel safe, is the warm smell of bread before
you bake it, is the smell when she makes room for you on her
side of the bed still warm with her skin, and you sleep near
her, the rain outside and Papa snoring” ~The House on
Mango Street
1. List the 4 metaphors and similes in this passage. Be sure you
can explain why they are what they are.
2. 2Why doesn’t she simply say, My mother’s hair smelled good?
3. Write a paragraph describing someone’s hair that you don’t
like. Use at least one simile and one metaphor.
Day 46
Write down the word that correctly completes each sentence:
11.My wife was (formally / formerly) known as Emily Lee—not Emily
Thompson.
12.Grading papers is one of the (principal / principle) ways I spend my time.
13.(Its / It’s) not too late to start shopping for the Christmas Holidays.
14.Rufus is going to the Opelika-Auburn game (to / too / two).
15.Rufus (threw / through / thorough) his puppy into the laundry basket.
16.How many times can Auburn (loose / lose) before the season ends?
17.I can’t (quite / quiet) hear in my left ear, so you’ll have to speak up, sonny.
18. Didn’t you (hear / here) me? I’m stone-deaf in my left ear!!!
19.After vacationing in Siberia, I’ve got a cold, and my voice is (horse /
hoarse).
20.The sun (shone / shown) down on the Loachapoka Syrup Sopping
Festival.
Day 47
“The camp faced a wide cove or white sand and palm trees.
The bay was so perfectly blue, it looked like it had been
retouched for a tourist brochure. Across the bay stood
protective mountains, shoulder to shoulder, across the
Concepcion peninsula.” ~Sisterhood of the Traveling
Pants
1. Write the examples of personification in the third
sentence.
2. How would the sentence change if it were written like
this: There were mounts across the Concepcion peninsula.
3. Describe a place you like to go in the summer. In your
description use at least one example of personification.
Day 48
Directions: Mark each of the following sentences as Formal (F) or Informal (IF).
If a sentence is informal, underline what marks the sentence as informal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
The test was a piece of cake.
The student did very well on his English test.
You can’t see very well when it’s raining at night.
Don’t tell me that I can’t go to the game!
Idioms are a type of informal language
The dinner jacket was made out of an expensive grade of cotton.
He’s gonna kill that man if he sees him again.
When you take your driver’s test, don’t be nervous.
The quiz covers Chapters 10 through 13.
The waiter spent more time than necessary washing the dishes.
Day 49
Please copy down these notes:
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We studied similes, metaphors, and personification. Now we will discuss
more types of figurative language: hyperboles, symbols, and irony.
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These figures of speech are not comparisons, however, their meaning goes
beyond what is actually said
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A hyperbole is an exaggeration that is based in the truth. For example, “I’m
so tired, I could sleep for a week!” This is an exaggeration because no one can
literally sleep for a week straight.
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A symbol is something that stands for something else– they mean more than
they say. For example, a rainbow is a symbol of hope. If a rainbow appeared
in a story about shipwrecked children it would symbolize hope.
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Lastly, irony is saying the opposite of what you mean. For example, if lunch
was really terrible and you say “nice lunch,” you are really implying the
opposite of what you mean. Sarcasm is also a type of irony.
Day 50
Directions: Mark each of the following sentences as Formal (F) or Informal (IF).
If a sentence is informal, underline what marks the sentence as informal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
He told the woman that everything’s going to be alright.
Coca-Cola contains far too many calories for someone watching her
weight.
After passing the graduation exam, you can get your diploma.
I can’t believe that you fell for that old joke.
The designer couch was too expensive for the couple’s home.
Children are often very similar to their parents.
Basket-weaving is an incredibly difficult and beautiful art form.
As long as you behave in that manner, you ain’t passing this class.
E-mail is revolutionizing the way people communicate.
As soon as the light turns green, hang a right on Magnolia Avenue.
Day 51
Practice with hyperbole, irony, and
symbols. Fill in the following
charts:
Sentence start
Hyperbole
I was hungry enough…
My head was…
She ran so fast…
When he lifted the box…
Symbol
What the symbol
stands for
1) Lion
Bravery
2) Skull and crossbones
Death
3)
4)
5)
Day 51, Continued
Sentence
Your favorite team just lost by a wide margin and you are
pretty disgusted about it. You say “great game!”
You are traveling in the mountains and see a beautiful
meadow of flowers. You say “nice view!”
Your best friend is learning to ride a dirt bike and you say
“man, I wish I could do that!”
Your best friend has to stay home and baby-sit his little
brother, which you wouldn’t want to do. You say, “man, I
wish I could do that!”
Ironic
(figurative)
Not ironic
(literal)
Day 52
Translate the following words into formal English
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
ain’t
wanna
gonna
hafta
lemme
bursted
brung
oughta
sorta
theirselves
Day 53
“He could shoot a bumblebee in the eye at sixty paces, and he was
a man who was not afraid to shake hands with lightning”
~Felton, Pecos Bill and the Mustang
1.
There is an example of hyperbole, an exaggeration that is
based on the truth but carries the truth to such an extreme
that it is no longer literally true. Of course, Pecos Bill couldn’t
literally do these things. What, then, is the purpose of saying
he could?
2.
Compare Felton’s sentence with this one: He could shoot well,
and he was not afraid of anything. Which sentence helps the
reader better understand Pecos Bill? Why?
3.
Write a sentence about a great basketball player using
hyperboles.
Day 54
Translate the following words into formal English:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Nowheres
hisself
kinda
weirdo
pooped
wimp
fatso
a lot
must of
brang
Day 55
“Flowers and other things have been laid against the wall. There are little flags,
an old teddy bear, and letters, weighted so they won’t blow away. Someone
has left a rose with a droopy head.” ~Bunting, The Wall
1. This passage is from a book about the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington,
D.C. There are several symbols in the passage. Identify the symbols and
explain what they mean.
Symbol
What it means
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
2. Look at the sentence about the rose. Remember that it is a rose, but it’s
also something else. What does the rose usually symbolize? Why does
it have a droopy head here? What does the droopy head add to our
understanding of the symbol and feeling of the passage?
Day 56
Directions: Rewrite the following informal sentences into formal English.
1.We ain’t got no money.
2.Say what?
3.My bad!
4.Hang a right at the Amoco Station.
5.Steve got hooked up with a job at Wendy’s.
6.Chill out! Everything’s gonna be fine.
7.You’re driving me up the wall.
8.Knock it off, or you’re going to get a referral.
9.I can’t tell you the answer off the top of my head.
10. As the woman crossed the room, she caught the officer’s eye.
Day 57
“As I reached for the porch to steady myself, there was a sense of
quiet movement in the darkness. The moon slid from its dark
covers, cloaking the earth in shadowy white light, and I could
see Mr. Morrison clearly, moving silently, like a jungle cat, from
the side of the house to the road, a shotgun in his hand.”
~Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
1.
Traditionally, darkness symbolizes evil and deception, and light
symbolizes goodness and truth. What is going on in this
paragraph? How does the use of traditional symbolism help you
understand this passage?
2. Mr. Morrison is described as moving silently, like a jungle cat. Is
jungle cat a symbol? Explain thoroughly.
3. Write a paragraph describing something lurking in the darkness
to break into a car. Use the traditional symbolism of light and
darkness to create a mood of impending evil.
Day 58
Directions: Place commas wherever they are necessary in the following sentences.
1.Brian you need to work harder if you want to keep this job.
2.The old man spent his days looking out of the window and he spent his nights
sleeping.
3.“If you aren’t willing to help” my sister said “then please wait in the other room.”
4.In fact I don’t know how anyone could like lima beans.
5.Fighting against high waves the young swimmer wondered if he would reach the
shore.
6.Populating the lake at the art museum are swans ducks turtles and fish.
7.When Dave went out to feed the chickens he noticed the new pony was nowhere
in sight.
8.You understand I’m sure that we are not now able to raise your salary.
9.The kitten shivering in the wet cold morning air tried to sneak into the warm
kitchen.
Day 59
“All this last day Frodo had not spoken, but walked half-bowed,
often stumbling, as if his eyes no longer saw the way before his
feet. Sam guessed that among all their pains he bore the worst,
the growing weight of the Ring, a burden on the body and a
torment to his mind.” ~Tolkien, The Return of the King
1.
The ring in this book is, in fact, a ring: however, it is also
something else. That makes the ring a symbol. What do rings
usually symbolize? In other words, why would Tolkien use a
ring as a symbol?
2. How does the use of a symbol help you understand the passage?
3. A rainbow is often used as a traditional symbol of hope. Write a
paragraph describing a scene of misfortune and misery. In your
description, use the rainbow to symbolize hope for better times
ahead.
Day 60
Directions: Label each sentence either “C” for correct usage of
capitalization or “I” for incorrect use of capitalization. If a sentence is
incorrect, rewrite it correctly.
_____1. Marla said, “we walked to the store yesterday.”
_____2. “Do you think,” Sam asked, “That the dog is loose?”
_____3. Sondra said, “Someone may take my place at the game.”
_____4. Tony and I have tickets to the indians versus the warriors game tonight
at the stadium.
_____5. That plate of English muffins looks delicious.
_____6. Dr.Tibbets is the author of Funny Bunny.
_____7. Because I had the flu, mother took me to the doctor.
_____8. I love to watch re-runs of Gilligan’s Island every summer.
_____9. “Please finish reading Gone with the Wind tonight,” Mrs.Thompson
announced.
_____10. We had to cancel our trip to the Museum of Science and industry.
Day 61
1.
“We divide the world in
columns
when we stick to our own kind.
We nurture our suspicion,
keep our stereotypes in line.
We have to keep our distance
So we’ve another kind to blame.2.
How come,
if we’re so different,
we both react the same?”
~Holbrook, “Major Differences”
Read the stanzas very carefully.
Several of the lines say one
thing, but they mean quite the
opposite. In other words, they’re
ironic. What do the lines says
and what do the lines mean?
Look at it 2 lines at a time and
write down your response.
Write a stanza of poetry about
the importance of green
vegetables. In your stanza, don’t
come right out and give your
opinion. Instead, use irony (not
sarcasm) to convey your ideas.
Day 62
Directions: Label each sentence either “C” for correct usage of capitalization
or “I” for incorrect use of capitalization. If a sentence is incorrect, rewrite it
correctly.
_____11. The High School students enjoyed the concert at Westview Auditorium in
Duluth.
_____12. The small boy whispered, “may I please have a new toy?”
_____13. Marcus and I will travel the southeast this June.
_____14. Kristen O’Grady is a student of Indian history.
_____15. Leo said, “I did well on that spanish test.”
_____16. Let’s hurry up and get to Geometry before we’re tardy for the fourth time.
_____17. Mr.Thompson (Who loves poetry too much) is ready for Christmas break.
_____18. He is going to go home to Brewton, Alabama. (he enjoys visiting his family.)
_____19. Last december, my family went to Disney World.
_____20. We watched The secret garden in English class today.
Day 63





Grab a copy of the Georgia End of Course Test
packet from the front table.
For the next couple weeks we will be
completing a section of this practice every day
Today: Complete # 1 – 11 in the packet
TAKE YOUR TIME! THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT!!
Do not write on the document– add it in your
bellringers
Day 64




Get a copy of the EOCT packet at the
front of the room
Complete # 12 – 21
TAKE YOUR TIME! THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT!!
Do not write on the document– add it
in your bellringers
Day 65




Get a copy of the EOCT packet at the
front of the room
Complete # 28 - 37
TAKE YOUR TIME! THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT!!
Do not write on the document– add it
in your bellringers
Day 66




Get a copy of the EOCT packet at the
front of the room
Complete # 38 - 45
TAKE YOUR TIME! THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT!!
Do not write on the document– add it
in your bellringers
Day 67




Get a copy of the EOCT packet at the
front of the room
Complete # 46 - 54
TAKE YOUR TIME! THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT!!
Do not write on the document– add it
in your bellringers
Day 68




Get a copy of the EOCT packet at the
front of the room
Complete # 55 - 63
TAKE YOUR TIME! THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT!!
Do not write on the document– add it
in your bellringers
Day 69




Get a copy of the EOCT packet at the
front of the room
Complete # 64 - 79
TAKE YOUR TIME! THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT!!
Do not write on the document– add it
in your bellringers
Day 70




Get a copy of the EOCT packet at the
front of the room
Complete # 80 - 90
TAKE YOUR TIME! THIS IS VERY
IMPORTANT!!
Do not write on the document– add it
in your bellringers
Day 71
Copy these notes:
 Imagery is the use of words to create a sensory experience.
 People often think imagery just refers to creating a visual
picture for the reader, but imagery includes any experience with
the 5 senses
 Imagery captures words in what we see, what we hear, what we
touch, what we smell, and what we taste.
 Visual imagery is most common, but writers experiment with all
of the sense experiences in writing.
 Imagery is another way to make writing alive and interesting
 Imagery can be figurative or literal.
 Imagery, like the other elements of voice, is a tool the writer can
use to create a specific experience or feeling. The more specific
= the more powerful
Day 72
“The silence was delicate. Aunty Ifeoma was scraping a burnt pot in the kitchen,
and the kroo-kroo-kroo of the metal spoon on the pot seemed intrusive.
Amaka and Papa-Nnukwu spoke sometimes, their voices low, twining
together. They understood each other, using the sparest words. Watching
them, I felt a longing for something I know I would never have. I wanted to
get up and leave, but my legs did not belong to me, did not do what I wanted
them to do.” ~Adichie, Purple Hibiscus
1.
Imagery is the re-creation of sensory experiences through language. Which
of the five sense (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) is most important here?
Write down words that lead you to your answer.
2.
The kroo-kroo-kroo of the metal spoon on the pot is described as intrusive.
What does this mean? What images is contrasted with the sound of the
metal spoon on the pot? What effect does it have on the passage?
3.
Describe the school hallway between classes. Focus on the sounds that are
important in the scene. Use made up words that imitate a sound, as Adichie
does in the passage.
Day 73
“Well, after a long time I heard the clock away off in the town go
boom—boom—boom—twelve licks; and all still again– stiller
than ever. Pretty soon I heard a twig snap down in the dark
amongst the trees– something was a-stirring. I sat still and
listened.” ~Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1.
What kind of imagery is used in this passage? How does these
images affect the reader?
2. Twain uses imagery to set up a contrast between sounds and
quiet. List these images he creates and tell whether they are
“quiet” or “sound” images.
3. Write a paragraph that describes the sounds you hear in your
classroom right now. Use the above paragraph as a model.
Day 74
“Something warm was running across the backs of her
hands. She saw with mounting horror that it was
mixed slime and blood running from the dog’s mouth.”
~King, Cujo
1.
What kind of imagery is used in this passage?
2. How does imagery in this passage help create the
horror of the situation?
3. Pretend your best friend just threw up. You are
helping your friend and you accidentally touch the
vomit. Write at least 2 sentences describing this
(gross!) experience.
Day 75
“Back in Montana you had steep craggy mountains that rose ten
thousand feet into the clouds. Here the only hills were manmade highway bridges– smooth, gentle slopes of concrete.”
~Hiaasen, Hoot
1.
What kind of picture do you get when you read the first
sentence? What kind of picture do you get when you read the
2nd sentence? Sketch a picture of each.
2.
Which does the speaker like better– the craggy mountains or
the highway bridges? Base your evidence from the text, not your
own opinion. How does the imagery in the passage help you
understand the speaker’s attitude?
3.
Consider two places you’ve visited and decide which one you
liked better. Use visual imagery to express which one you like
more.
Day 76
Copy these notes:
 Syntax is the way words are arranged in sentences. In other
words, syntax is sentence structure. Syntax includes these
important elements:





Sentence parts
Word order
Sentence length
Punctuation
When we study syntax, don’t get caught up with trying to
master the fine points of grammar– but do be careful and focus
on the basics!
Day 77
“He was a year older than I, skinny, brown as a chocolate bar, his
hair orange, his hazel eyes full of mischief and laughter.”
~Santiago, When I was Puerto Rican
1. Look carefully at the way the sentence is written. All of the
words that follow the word used to describe the he of the
sentence. They are adjectives and adjective phrases. This is
not the way words are usually ordered in English. What effect
does word order have on the meaning of the sentence?
2. Write your own sentence describing someone that is written
in this same manner.
Day 78
“When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie
down, I resolved to open a little– a very, very, little crevice in the lantern.
So I opened it– you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily– until at
length, a single dim ray, like a thread of a spider, shot from out the
crevice and fall upon the vulture eye.” ~Poe, “The Tell-Tale Heart”
1.
Look carefully at the first sentence. There are several groups of words
called phrases (very patiently, without hearing him lie down, a very, very
little) that interrupt the flow of the sentence. Why do you think Poe
wrote the sentence like this?
2.
Look at the 2nd sentence. What is the purpose of the dashes? How do
these dashes, and the words they set off, involve the reader in the action
of the passage?
3.
Write a sentence about doing homework. Try to imitate the way Poe uses
phrases to slow down the way you read the sentence. Use at least one
dash.
Day 79
“He found that he was often angry, now: irrationally angry at his
groupmates, that they were satisfied with their lives which had none
of the vibrance his own was taking on.” ~Lowry, The Giver
1.
What is the purpose of the colon in this sentence?
2.
How would it change the effectiveness of the sentence if we rewrote it
like this? He found that he was often irrationally angry at his
groupmates because they were satisfied with their lives which had none
of the vibrance his own was taking on.
3.
Write a sentence that uses a colon to connect important idea. The
words which follow the colon should explain and emphasize the
words that come before the colon. Use Lowry’s sentence as a model.
Start this way:
Ashley found that she was much happier now: ________________
Day 80
“Like sunshine after storm were the peaceful weeks that
followed.” ~Alcott, Little Women
1.
Write this sentence on your paper. What is the subject of
the sentence? (underline it) What is the main verb (circle
it)? Is this the usual word order of subjects and verbs in
English?
2. How would the meaning and impact of the sentence be
different if it read: The peaceful weeks which followed were
like sunshine after storm.
3.
Reorganize this sentence. Start with the simile and reverse
the normal order of the subject and verb. Spring break
came like a time of calm winds after a hurricane.
Day 81
Copy these notes:

We examine tone last because understanding tone requires an
understanding of all the elements writers use to create it: diction,
detail, figurative language, imagery, and syntax.

Tone is the express of the author’s attitude toward his/her audience
and subject matter. It can also be the expression of the speaker or
narrator's attitude toward his/her listener or subject matter.

It is the feeling that grows out of the material, the feeling that the
writer creates for the reader.

Tone can be any of these words (and many more!): abusive, accepting,
admiring, angry, anxious, bitter, calm, cold, confused, critical, dry,
grim, joyful, loving, mocking, peaceful, sad, silly, somber, thoughtful,
etc
Day 82

1.
2.
3.
“Rachel/Rachelle and some other [idiot chatter] about the
movie date before Mr. Stetman starts class. I want to puke.
Rachel/Rachelle is just “Andy-this” and “Andy-that.” Could
she be more obvious? I close my ears to her stupid laugh
and work on the homework that was due yesterday.”
~Anderson, Speak
What is the attitude of the narrator toward
Rachel/Rachelle? What words clue you in?
What is the tone of the passage? How do you know?
Write a short paragraph about an awful lunch. Your tone
should be disrespectful and mocking. Create a mocking
tone!
Day 83
“The Navy guy and I told each other we were glad to’ve
met each other. Which always kills me. I’m always
saying “Glad to’ve meet you” to someone I’m not glad
at all I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say
stuff like that though.” ~Salinger, The Catcher in the
Rye
1.
What is the narrator’s attitude towards people in
general? How do you know?
2. Write a paragraph about meeting someone famous.
Your paragraph should have an admiring and
approving tone.
Day 84
“It is my observation that dogs feel certain basic emotions like
affection, fear, confusion, and joy. I’m not sure they’re capable
of feeling sadness or jealousy or if they can get their feelings
hurt. But I believe I dog can get embarrassed! Take the clippers
to a long-haired dog and see if she doesn’t slink off behind the
barn.” ~Black, “Dog Emotions”
1.
Does the narrator like or dislike dogs? How do you know?
2.
What is the tone of this passage? How do the detail and diction
of the last sentence affect the tone of the passage?
3.
Write a paragraph or two that uses a lighthearted and playful
tone to characterize a friend you really like who has some funny
habits. Follow the Black’s paragraph: a simple explanation
followed by a funny example.
Day 85
“I’m boiling with rage, and yet I musn’t show it. I’d like to stamp my
feet, scream, give Mummy a good shaking, cry, and I don’t know
what else, because of the horrible words, mocking looks, and
accusations which are leveled at me repeatedly every day, and
find their mark, like shafts from a tightly strung bow, and which
are just as hard to draw from my body” ~Anne Frank, Diary of a
Young Girl
1.
What is the tone of the passage?
2. What words inform you of the tone? Write down specific words
or phrases from the passage.
3. Write a paragraph expressing your anger about something.
First, list the diction, detail, imagery, and figurative language
you can use to create the tone. Then, write your paragraph.
Day 86
“We went with sandwiches, thick, poor-man’s ham from
Aldi’s supermarket, slapped onto wheat bread and
slathered with a thin film of mayonnaise.” ~Asgedom,
Of Beatles & Angels
1.
What is the speaker’s attitude towards the
sandwiches?
2. How did you figure out the speaker’s attitude toward
the sandwiches?
3. Write a sentence which expresses your attitude toward
a great dinner you’ve recently eaten. Don’t explain
your attitude– use diction and detail to express it.
Day 87
On a sheet of paper without your name on it,
please answer the following questions:
1) What did you like about this class?
2) What did you not like about this class?
3) What was your favorite activity or assignment?
4) What was your least favorite activity or
assignment?
5) How could I make this class better?
6) How could I be a better teacher?