Synthesis Essay Final Day

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Your essay is due today by 9 P.M. and should include:
1. An introduction with four sentences. The final sentence should be your thesis.
2. Two body paragraphs
1. Topic sentence with because
2. Evidence and footnotes
3. Three sentences of commentary at the end of the paragraph
1. Sample quote: "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said"
1. Commentary Sentence 1: This evidence suggests that effective communication in a relationship requires listening for implied meanings because it points to the importance of understanding a partner's unspoken feelings and needs.
2. Commentary Sentence 2: Consequently, if couples do not pick up on each other's subtle cues, they will likely encounter conflict since failing to grasp nuances can lead to misunderstandings.
3. Commentary Sentence 3: Therefore, due to the fact that perceiving unexpressed emotions and ideas is an important aspect of communication, it reveals that relationships require reading between the lines to foster mutual comprehension and intimacy.
3. Padlet wall for quotes.
1. Add the name and the credentials of the person providing the evidence.
2. Sharon Smith, a psychology professor at Berkeley, "QUOTE."
3. A study from Stanford university found "QUOTE."

Homework:

1. Work on your K-L vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 11

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Today we will write our introduction and topic sentences, along with adding evidence to our first body paragraph.
1. Padlet wall for quotes.
1. Add the name and the credentials of the person providing the evidence.
2. Sharon Smith, a psychology professor at Berkeley, "QUOTE."
3. A study from Stanford university found "QUOTE."

Homework:

1. Work on your K-L vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 10

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Today we will identify quotes from the sources and add them to a Padlet wall.
1. Padlet wall for quotes.
1. Add the name and the credentials of the person providing the evidence.
2. Sharon Smith, a psychology professor at Berkeley, "QUOTE."
3. A study from Stanford university found "QUOTE."

Homework:

1. Work on your K-L vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 9

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Today we will begin our second synthesis essay. We will begin by breaking down the prompt of many different essay topics.
1. Remember to argue ideas not things.
2. We will use your notes from last week and go step by step.

Homework:

1. Work on your K-L vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Independent Reading Assignment

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: 

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. We will begin by reviewing vocabulary we have studied this year so far.
2. We will also begin an assignment about the books you have read so far this quarter.

Homework:

1. Work on your I-J vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

A Break from Writing

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: 

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. We will begin by reviewing vocabulary we have studied this year so far.
2. We will also begin an assignment about the books you have read so far this quarter.

Homework:

1. Work on your I-J vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 8

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Yesterday, we practiced writing commentary. Today we will finish our essay and turn it in.
1. Add footnotes
2. Add conclusion
1. Restate the most important factors for a relationship. Explain why those factors are essential.
2. Based on those factors, tell Carly what you think she needs to do.
3. Add one of our sentence patterns three times in your essay. It can be in the intro, conclusion, or one of the body paragraphs. Highlight the sentence that has the sentence pattern.
4. Grammar and spell check
2. After you are finished writing, you can turn in your essay. It is due today.

Homework:

1. Work on your I-J vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 7

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Yesterday, we practiced writing commentary. Today we will finish writing the commentary for our essays.
1. Here are a sample of quotes to use in your essay.
2. We will use these templates to write the commentary portion of our paragraphs.
1. Sample quote: "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said"
1. Commentary Sentence 1: This evidence suggests that effective communication in a relationship requires listening for implied meanings because it points to the importance of understanding a partner's unspoken feelings and needs.
2. Commentary Sentence 2: Consequently, if couples do not pick up on each other's subtle cues, they will likely encounter conflict since failing to grasp nuances can lead to misunderstandings.
3. Commentary Sentence 3: Therefore, due to the fact that perceiving unexpressed emotions and ideas is an important aspect of communication, it reveals that relationships require reading between the lines to foster mutual comprehension and intimacy.
2. Sample quote: "Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair"
1. Commentary Sentence 1: This evidence confirms the idea that trust is delicate yet critical in a relationship because it highlights how easily trust can be damaged and difficult it is to restore once lost.
2. Commentary Sentence 2: Consequently, if one partner violates the other's trust, it can rupture the relationship since the betrayal may cause lasting hurt that makes regaining confidence in the relationship challenging.
3. Commentary Sentence 3: Therefore, due to the fact trust is fragile and important, it suggests that maintaining trust through honest communication and reliability is essential for a healthy, lasting relationship.
3. Synthesis Essay Conclusions

Homework:

1. Work on your I-J vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 6

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Create your new vocabulary list. Use words from the I-J list from the Big Book of Words.
2. Yesterday, we started reading the sources and looking for ideas for our essay. Today we will
1. Here are a sample of quotes to use in your essay.
2. We will use these templates to write the commentary portion of our paragraphs.
1. Sample quote: "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said"
1. Commentary Sentence 1: This evidence suggests that effective communication in a relationship requires listening for implied meanings because it points to the importance of understanding a partner's unspoken feelings and needs.
2. Commentary Sentence 2: Consequently, if couples do not pick up on each other's subtle cues, they will likely encounter conflict since failing to grasp nuances can lead to misunderstandings.
3. Commentary Sentence 3: Therefore, due to the fact that perceiving unexpressed emotions and ideas is an important aspect of communication, it reveals that relationships require reading between the lines to foster mutual comprehension and intimacy.
2. Sample quote: "Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair"
1. Commentary Sentence 1: This evidence confirms the idea that trust is delicate yet critical in a relationship because it highlights how easily trust can be damaged and difficult it is to restore once lost.
2. Commentary Sentence 2: Consequently, if one partner violates the other's trust, it can rupture the relationship since the betrayal may cause lasting hurt that makes regaining confidence in the relationship challenging.
3. Commentary Sentence 3: Therefore, due to the fact trust is fragile and important, it suggests that maintaining trust through honest communication and reliability is essential for a healthy, lasting relationship.
3. Synthesis Essay Conclusions

Homework:

1. Work on your I-J vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 5

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Yesterday, we started reading the sources and looking for ideas for our essay. Today we will
1. Here are a sample of quotes to use in your essay.
2. We will use these templates to write the commentary portion of our paragraphs.
1. Sample quote: "The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn't said"
1. Commentary Sentence 1: This evidence suggests that effective communication in a relationship requires listening for implied meanings because it points to the importance of understanding a partner's unspoken feelings and needs.
2. Commentary Sentence 2: Consequently, if couples do not pick up on each other's subtle cues, they will likely encounter conflict since failing to grasp nuances can lead to misunderstandings.
3. Commentary Sentence 3: Therefore, due to the fact that perceiving unexpressed emotions and ideas is an important aspect of communication, it reveals that relationships require reading between the lines to foster mutual comprehension and intimacy.
2. Sample quote: "Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair"
1. Commentary Sentence 1: This evidence confirms the idea that trust is delicate yet critical in a relationship because it highlights how easily trust can be damaged and difficult it is to restore once lost.
2. Commentary Sentence 2: Consequently, if one partner violates the other's trust, it can rupture the relationship since the betrayal may cause lasting hurt that makes regaining confidence in the relationship challenging.
3. Commentary Sentence 3: Therefore, due to the fact trust is fragile and important, it suggests that maintaining trust through honest communication and reliability is essential for a healthy, lasting relationship.

Homework:

1. Work on your G-H vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 4

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Yesterday, we started reading the sources and looking for ideas for our essay. Today we will
1. Collect quotes to use in our essay
2. Start an outline for our essay.
3. Refine our thesis statement by adding BECAUSE
4. Create topic sentences for each of our paragraphs
5. Include the quotes we want to use for each paragraph

Homework:

1. Work on your G-H vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 3

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Vocabulary review game
2. Yesterday, we started reading the sources and looking for ideas for our essay. Today we will
1. Collect quotes to use in our essay
2. Start an outline for our essay.
3. Refine our thesis statement by adding BECAUSE
4. Create topic sentences for each of our paragraphs
5. Include the quotes we want to use for each paragraph
3. If we have time we will start writing a body paragraph

Homework:

1. Work on your G-H vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 2

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Yesterday, we started working in breaking down the prompt for our synthesis essay. We identified the abstract ideas in the prompt to help us already think about the topic.
1. Create a command and conquer question.
2. Use your conquer question to gather information from your sources.

Homework:

1. Work on your G-H vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

Synthesis Essay Day 1

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: break down a prompt and brainstorm ideas

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Create your new vocabulary list using words from G and H. Your list should have 20 words from the Big Book of Words.
2. Today we will work on a specific kind of essay: synthesis.
1. This type of essay requires you to read information from many different sources to create your own argument.
2. We will start with an easy topic: high school relationships.

Homework:

1. Work on your G-H vocabulary list. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

The Machine Stops Final Day

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

After today I should be able to: Reflect on the meaning of the short story.

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Have the guest teacher play this video for the whole class. It is based on the short story we read.
2. Complete the discussion question in Google Classroom. It is due today. Make sure your write at least 8-10 sentences in your response. Read the instructions carefully for the assignment.
3. Turn in your copy of the short story along with your annotations.

Homework:

1. Work on your vocabulary list #3. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

The Machine Stops Discussion

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

Nuance Academy: Using all 11 patterns

After today I should be able to: participate in a collaborative discussion about a complex text.

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Write a loose sentence and then rewrite it using the 11 sentence patterns below. You will have 12 sentences total.
2. Today we will have a class discussion about the short story. You will be graded on how often you talk during the discussion.

Homework:

1. Work on your vocabulary list #3. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

The Machine Stops Day 6

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

Nuance Academy: Using all 11 patterns

After today I should be able to: summarize the background to E.M. Forrester's short story and identify a theme you want to track.

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Write a loose sentence and then rewrite it using the 11 sentence patterns below. You will have 12 sentences total.
1. 
   
   
2. Fortunately/Unfortunately sentences to describe the difference between Kuno and Vashti.
3. Chart the ideas you are tracking in this short story.
1. PDF of the short story for copying and pasting.
2. Padlet Wall for tracking quotes.
4. Today we will continue reading the short story, "The Machine Stops."
1. Read for 15 minutes. Practice your notice and note strategies.
1. Epiphany
1. A character or group of characters suddenly understands something.
2. For example, "In an instant I knew..."
3. Question: How might the realization that...change...?
2. Tough Question
1. When the characters ask a question that either they or you don't know the answer to.
1. This questions makes we wonder if...
3. Contrasts and Contradictions
1. A character thinks and behaves in a way that we don't expect.
2. An element of a setting is something we would not expect.
3. Question: Why did...How can this help us understand or predict...?
4. Patterns
1. A word is repeated again and again
2. An idea is repeated again and again (but with different words, i.e. war, battle, fighting, etc.)
3. An image is repeated several times
4. An action keeps happening
5. Really, anything that gets repeated throughout the book can possibly be a pattern.
6. Question: Why is the author continually bringing up...?
1. You must also put a question mark next to parts of the text that confused you.
2. Complete a one-pager about the beginning of the short story.
1. Draw a diagram of the room that Vashti lives in.
2. Generate a list of five adjectives that describe Vashti and Kuno. Circle the one that best describes each character. Come up with a symbol for each character.
3. Create a list of things in the short story that are like something that exists today. For example, The Machine is like the internet. Which thing on your list are you most surprised that Forrester was able to predict?
4. Draw a picture that represents one of the problems people face in the world of the short story.
3. How to track my ideas that I chose. The idea is an example of a pattern.

Homework:

1. Work on your vocabulary list #3. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

The Machine Stops Day 5

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

Nuance Academy: Absolute phrase.

After today I should be able to: summarize the background to E.M. Forrester's short story and identify a theme you want to track.

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. Collect homework from Friday.
2. Write 10 sentences with an absolute phrase at the beginning.
1. An absolute phrase modifies the entire sentence, adds descriptive context, and is set off by commas within a sentence. It's a handy grammatical structure to make sentences more vivid and detailed.
1. His head full of ideas, Mr. White carefully planned each stage of the essay.
3. Adjective ("Her eyes bright with excitement, she opened her present.")
4. Noun ("The sun high in the sky, we sought shade.")
5. 
   
   
3.  Today we will continue reading the short story, "The Machine Stops."
1. Read for 15 minutes. Practice your notice and note strategies.
1. Epiphany
1. A character or group of characters suddenly understands something.
2. For example, "In an instant I knew..."
3. Question: How might the realization that...change...?
2. Tough Question
1. When the characters ask a question that either they or you don't know the answer to.
1. This questions makes we wonder if...
3. Contrasts and Contradictions
1. A character thinks and behaves in a way that we don't expect.
2. An element of a setting is something we would not expect.
3. Question: Why did...How can this help us understand or predict...?
4. Patterns
1. A word is repeated again and again
2. An idea is repeated again and again (but with different words, i.e. war, battle, fighting, etc.)
3. An image is repeated several times
4. An action keeps happening
5. Really, anything that gets repeated throughout the book can possibly be a pattern.
6. Question: Why is the author continually bringing up...?
1. You must also put a question mark next to parts of the text that confused you.
2. Complete a one-pager about the beginning of the short story.
1. Draw a diagram of the room that Vashti lives in.
2. Generate a list of five adjectives that describe Vashti and Kuno. Circle the one that best describes each character. Come up with a symbol for each character.
3. Create a list of things in the short story that are like something that exists today. For example, The Machine is like the internet. Which thing on your list are you most surprised that Forrester was able to predict?
4. Draw a picture that represents one of the problems people face in the world of the short story.
3. How to track my ideas that I chose. The idea is an example of a pattern.

Homework:

1. Work on your vocabulary list #3. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.

The Machine Stops Day 4

Big Idea: Ideology, utopia, and imagination

Nuance Academy: Simple Email, add variety

After today I should be able to: summarize the background to E.M. Forrester's short story and identify a theme you want to track.

Reading: You should have two books read by October 1st.

Agenda:

1. The email below uses simple, declarative sentences. Choose 6 of our patterns and rewrite the mail to add variety.
1. Hi Jane, I lost my phone. I looked all over for it. I looked under the couch cushions. I looked in the fridge. I do not know why I looked in the fridge. That was silly. I looked in the bathroom. I looked in the closet. I looked in my coat pocket. My phone was in my coat pocket. I am not a smart man. But I am happy I found my phone. Now I can call you. Let's get pizza for dinner tonight. We can have a fun pizza night. I am excited. See you soon! Your friend, Bob
   
   
   
2.  Today we will continue reading the short story, "The Machine Stops."
1. Read for 15 minutes. Practice your notice and note strategies.
1. Epiphany
1. A character or group of characters suddenly understands something.
2. For example, "In an instant I knew..."
3. Question: How might the realization that...change...?
2. Tough Question
1. When the characters ask a question that either they or you don't know the answer to.
1. This questions makes we wonder if...
3. Contrasts and Contradictions
1. A character thinks and behaves in a way that we don't expect.
2. An element of a setting is something we would not expect.
3. Question: Why did...How can this help us understand or predict...?
4. Patterns
1. A word is repeated again and again
2. An idea is repeated again and again (but with different words, i.e. war, battle, fighting, etc.)
3. An image is repeated several times
4. An action keeps happening
5. Really, anything that gets repeated throughout the book can possibly be a pattern.
6. Question: Why is the author continually bringing up...?
1. You must also put a question mark next to parts of the text that confused you.
2. Complete a one-pager about the beginning of the short story.
1. Draw a diagram of the room that Vashti lives in.
2. Generate a list of five adjectives that describe Vashti and Kuno. Circle the one that best describes each character. Come up with a symbol for each character.
3. Create a list of things in the short story that are like something that exists today. For example, The Machine is like the internet. Which thing on your list are you most surprised that Forrester was able to predict?
4. Draw a picture that represents one of the problems people face in the world of the short story.
3. How to track my ideas that I chose. The idea is an example of a pattern.

Homework:

1. Work on your vocabulary list #2. It is due by Sunday at 9PM.
2. Read your independent reading book.