Choose two or three of the following quotes that you think speak to each other. Explain what they mean, discuss their similarities and differences, and illustrate how they pertain to life (yours or everyone’s) in general.
You can’t escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.
— Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president (1809-1865)
You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him.
— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, German poet, novelist, playwright, scientist and philosopher (1749-1832)
Our duty is to be useful, not according to our desires, but according to our powers.''
— Henri F. Amiel, Swiss writer (1821-1881)
The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had the means, time, influence and educational advantages, but what he will do with the things he has.
— Hamilton Wright Mabee
[T]he tragedy of life doesn't lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn't a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream...It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin.
— Benjamin Elijah Mays, American educator and president of Morehouse College (1895-1984)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
ASSIGNMENT #3
PERSUASIVE ESSAY
For assignment #3, you will be writing a 3-page, (12 point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced) essay persuading your reader to agree with your viewpoint regarding a controversial topic. You may choose one of the topics presented in class, excluding abortion.
Remember, this is a persuasive argument, so state your opinion clearly and appeal predominantly to your reader’s sense of reason. Do not rely heavily on emotional or ethical appeals. Use logical appeals to support your claim. Make sure you address counterarguments; this is a critical part of effective argument.
Plan your essay carefully before you begin writing. Writers cannot write an effective essay if they do not know what they want to say. Decide what you want to say: organize your arguments and choose your supporting evidence before beginning your first draft. Prewriting will help you develop a more unified and cohesive essay. Narrow your topic to a specific aspect you can develop in a well-written essay. Decide if you need to define any terms for your intended audience or to provide any necessary information.
Organize your essay carefully so ideas flow smoothly. Pay attention to paragraph unity and coherence. Make sure all claims are supported by evidence.
Write your essay in the third person (no “I” or “me”).
Give your essay a unique title and use a hook that catches your reader’s interest. Make sure you have argued your point effectively enough to change your reader’s mind.
TIMELINE
5/3: Assignment #3 Persuasive Argument Rough Draft Due (Remember, no rough draft=no pass)
5/10: Assignment #3 Persuasive Argument Final Draft Due
For assignment #3, you will be writing a 3-page, (12 point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced) essay persuading your reader to agree with your viewpoint regarding a controversial topic. You may choose one of the topics presented in class, excluding abortion.
Remember, this is a persuasive argument, so state your opinion clearly and appeal predominantly to your reader’s sense of reason. Do not rely heavily on emotional or ethical appeals. Use logical appeals to support your claim. Make sure you address counterarguments; this is a critical part of effective argument.
Plan your essay carefully before you begin writing. Writers cannot write an effective essay if they do not know what they want to say. Decide what you want to say: organize your arguments and choose your supporting evidence before beginning your first draft. Prewriting will help you develop a more unified and cohesive essay. Narrow your topic to a specific aspect you can develop in a well-written essay. Decide if you need to define any terms for your intended audience or to provide any necessary information.
Organize your essay carefully so ideas flow smoothly. Pay attention to paragraph unity and coherence. Make sure all claims are supported by evidence.
Write your essay in the third person (no “I” or “me”).
Give your essay a unique title and use a hook that catches your reader’s interest. Make sure you have argued your point effectively enough to change your reader’s mind.
TIMELINE
5/3: Assignment #3 Persuasive Argument Rough Draft Due (Remember, no rough draft=no pass)
5/10: Assignment #3 Persuasive Argument Final Draft Due
Sunday, April 25, 2010
WEEK FIVE BLOG ENTRY
WEEK’S BLOG:
Access the following website, watch the short video, read the article, and respond to the following writing prompt.
(THE STORY IS PASTED BELOW IN CASE THE LINKS DON'T WORK)
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/multiple-pedestrians-ignore-dying-new-york-hero-hugo-alfredo-tale-yax/19452892?ncid=webmaildl1
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/multiple-pedestrians-ignore-dying-new-york-hero-hugo-alfredo-tale-yax/19452892?ncid=webmaildl1
Writing prompt: Why do you think the passersby acted the way they did? Try to explain their reactions. Do you agree with their responses, or do you think they should have responded differently? Explain what you think would have been the appropriate response. Provide support for your argument. (This should take at least 3-4 sentences. Elaborate on your answer.)
----------------------
(April 24) -- A homeless man who was stabbed while saving a woman from a knife-wielding attacker lay dying in a pool of his own blood for more than an hour while several New Yorkers walked past without calling for help.
Surveillance video obtained by the New York Post shows that some passers-by paused to gawk at Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax early Sunday morning and yet kept on walking.
One man came out of a nearby building and took a cellphone photo of the victim before leaving. Another leaned over and vigorously shook the dead man before walking away. But most people never stopped.
Firefighters arrived more than an hour and 20 minutes after Tale-Yax collapsed. By that time, the 31-year-old was dead.
"They needed to help and call the police. I don't get it," resident Ramon Bellasco, 46, told the Post.
The incident happened at 7:21 a.m. almost a week ago at 88 Road and 144th Street in the borough of Queens, but police didn't have a clear idea of what happened until recently.
Tale-Yax is seen on the grainy video approaching a man who was threatening a woman with a knife. The man turned and stabbed Tale-Yax but most of the action is out of the security camera's field of vision. Both the stabber and the woman then fled in different directions and Tale-Yax stumbled a few paces before collapsing face-down on the sidewalk.
Within a minute or so, the first of a long series of people begins walking by Tale-Yax without going to his aid.
Police told the Post they received four 911 calls at around the time of the attack reporting a woman screaming, but found nothing. They said they received no other 911 calls.
The incident is reminiscent of the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese, also in Queens, in 1964. In that case, dozens of people witnessed some or all of the attack and yet no one did anything to stop it.
No arrests have been made in the latest slaying, and police have been unable to identify the woman Tale-Yax was trying to help.
Access the following website, watch the short video, read the article, and respond to the following writing prompt.
(THE STORY IS PASTED BELOW IN CASE THE LINKS DON'T WORK)
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/multiple-pedestrians-ignore-dying-new-york-hero-hugo-alfredo-tale-yax/19452892?ncid=webmaildl1
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/multiple-pedestrians-ignore-dying-new-york-hero-hugo-alfredo-tale-yax/19452892?ncid=webmaildl1
Writing prompt: Why do you think the passersby acted the way they did? Try to explain their reactions. Do you agree with their responses, or do you think they should have responded differently? Explain what you think would have been the appropriate response. Provide support for your argument. (This should take at least 3-4 sentences. Elaborate on your answer.)
----------------------
(April 24) -- A homeless man who was stabbed while saving a woman from a knife-wielding attacker lay dying in a pool of his own blood for more than an hour while several New Yorkers walked past without calling for help.
Surveillance video obtained by the New York Post shows that some passers-by paused to gawk at Hugo Alfredo Tale-Yax early Sunday morning and yet kept on walking.
One man came out of a nearby building and took a cellphone photo of the victim before leaving. Another leaned over and vigorously shook the dead man before walking away. But most people never stopped.
Firefighters arrived more than an hour and 20 minutes after Tale-Yax collapsed. By that time, the 31-year-old was dead.
"They needed to help and call the police. I don't get it," resident Ramon Bellasco, 46, told the Post.
The incident happened at 7:21 a.m. almost a week ago at 88 Road and 144th Street in the borough of Queens, but police didn't have a clear idea of what happened until recently.
Tale-Yax is seen on the grainy video approaching a man who was threatening a woman with a knife. The man turned and stabbed Tale-Yax but most of the action is out of the security camera's field of vision. Both the stabber and the woman then fled in different directions and Tale-Yax stumbled a few paces before collapsing face-down on the sidewalk.
Within a minute or so, the first of a long series of people begins walking by Tale-Yax without going to his aid.
Police told the Post they received four 911 calls at around the time of the attack reporting a woman screaming, but found nothing. They said they received no other 911 calls.
The incident is reminiscent of the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese, also in Queens, in 1964. In that case, dozens of people witnessed some or all of the attack and yet no one did anything to stop it.
No arrests have been made in the latest slaying, and police have been unable to identify the woman Tale-Yax was trying to help.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
WEEK FOUR BLOG ENTRY: 6 Word Memoir
As we talked about in class.
This is the 6 word memoir.
Let's see what words you choose.
Be wildy creative with six words.
I'll start with a strange one:
This is the 6 word memoir.
Let's see what words you choose.
Be wildy creative with six words.
I'll start with a strange one:
Monday, April 12, 2010
MYWRITINGLAB
Don't forget, you have a Diagnostic Test, Ten Sections, and then at the end of the quarter, a Post-Test for My Writing lab. Try to do a little bit each week.
YOU ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE 10% CREDIT FOR THIS PART OF THE CLASS IF YOU TAKE THE DIAGNOSTIC BY THIS FRIDAY!!!
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
TC BOYLE, "TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN"
Pre-Reading Questions:
What is a food chain?
How do they work?
Draw one.
Some ecologists now refer to food chains as food webs.
What do you think they mean by that?
Have you ever done something and been completely shocked by
the unintended result of your actions? Explain.
HERE'S THE LINK TO THE STORY:
http://goapes.wikispaces.com/file/view/Top+of+the+Food+Chain.pdf
What is a food chain?
How do they work?
Draw one.
Some ecologists now refer to food chains as food webs.
What do you think they mean by that?
Have you ever done something and been completely shocked by
the unintended result of your actions? Explain.
HERE'S THE LINK TO THE STORY:
http://goapes.wikispaces.com/file/view/Top+of+the+Food+Chain.pdf
How does the following quote relate to the TC Boyle story?
“Unlike many other laws, the laws of nature are all strictly enforced.”
Ashleigh Brilliant
Monday, April 5, 2010
ASSIGNMENT #2
HERE'S A GOOD ONLINE RESOURCE FOR THIS ESSAY: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/03/
For assignment #2, you will be writing a 3 page, (12 point, Times New Roman font, double-space) essay describing one of your neighbors, past or present.
Remember, this is a descriptive piece, so you should utilize all of your powers of description: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. Your description should capture the minute as well as the global (one brick of the Great Wall, and the Great Wall from space).
For this essay, you must use at least one example of synesthesia. What is synesthesia, you ask? Good question...finding out is your homework for Wednesday.
Brainstorming is crucial with description: watch your neighbor carefully (if you are describing a current one), take creative notes, think of stories involving the person, ask family members for their impressions of the neighbor. The more vivid details you have on your subject, the easier it will be to write the essay.
Organization is also important with this genre. Organizing a descriptive essay can be difficult. Remember, this is not one long 3 page paragraph; this is a well-organized essay with a strong introduction, clear and coherent body paragraphs, and a dazzling conclusion.
You may use the first person for this essay.
What you are trying to do is to create a dominant impression, so that the reader gets an overall feeling of the person you are describing.
TIMELINE
4/12 Assignment #2 “My Crazy Neighbor” Rough Draft Due (Remember, no rough draft=no pass)
4/14 FURLOUGH DAY—NO CLASS
4/16 Assignment #2 “My Crazy Neighbor” Final Draft Due
For assignment #2, you will be writing a 3 page, (12 point, Times New Roman font, double-space) essay describing one of your neighbors, past or present.
Remember, this is a descriptive piece, so you should utilize all of your powers of description: sight, sound, smell, touch, taste. Your description should capture the minute as well as the global (one brick of the Great Wall, and the Great Wall from space).
For this essay, you must use at least one example of synesthesia. What is synesthesia, you ask? Good question...finding out is your homework for Wednesday.
Brainstorming is crucial with description: watch your neighbor carefully (if you are describing a current one), take creative notes, think of stories involving the person, ask family members for their impressions of the neighbor. The more vivid details you have on your subject, the easier it will be to write the essay.
Organization is also important with this genre. Organizing a descriptive essay can be difficult. Remember, this is not one long 3 page paragraph; this is a well-organized essay with a strong introduction, clear and coherent body paragraphs, and a dazzling conclusion.
You may use the first person for this essay.
What you are trying to do is to create a dominant impression, so that the reader gets an overall feeling of the person you are describing.
TIMELINE
4/12 Assignment #2 “My Crazy Neighbor” Rough Draft Due (Remember, no rough draft=no pass)
4/14 FURLOUGH DAY—NO CLASS
4/16 Assignment #2 “My Crazy Neighbor” Final Draft Due
Sunday, April 4, 2010
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