After the Harlem Renaissance

Read this short article first!

You will plan a topic to explain your thoughts about how ideas of race were changing in America during the early 20th century.  You can talk about the Harlem Renaissance, Great Migration, or anything you know and think.
This is a personal reflection, so it's fine to use "I think" statements and ideas.

Look at the links below to get more information, or google related terms.

Race Relations in the 1930's and 40's

The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow: 1921-1938 (click links on timeline)

Great Migration (focus on events before 1941)

Poetry for today

We are going to focus on the artists, poets, and musicians of the Harlem Renaissance next week. For today, check out the poets of that era in this link. Read at least three different poems and be ready to share and discuss which you liked best in small group.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/browse/poets#school-period=9

Here's mine. I like the voice and honesty of the speaker. I also like the extended image of the staircase. It sounds like the speaker shares my values. Plus it's a cross-gender speaker, which is interesting.
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177021

Explaining Metaphors

Make a comment to this post. Write at least five sentences.  When you're finished, read all the comments and do what the next direction says.
Do NOT read the other comments first!

Read the last two stanzas of "Introduction to Poetry" again.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.

They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.

Write five sentences to explain:
What image is poetry being compared to?  What are students being compared to?  What might students think poetry is like that?  What does this metaphor reveal about the students' feelings?  How do YOU feel about poetry?

Explaining Song Lyrics

We will begin our Poetry unit this week.
Last week I asked you to find song lyrics you like.  Remember, the topic must NOT be inappropriate for school!  If it has a vulgar word or two, we can black it out.  If I think the song is inappropriate (too much sex, bigotry, or violence) I will give you a song.  Probably a Country song.  A really boring one.

Today during small group, you will explain what your song is about.  These questions are already on your QT4 Writing file, but here they are again in case something crazy happens (or you just want to do it one paper):

Is your song telling a story, teaching a lesson, or establishing a mood?
If it's a story, what happens?  If it's not a story, does it remind you of any characters from a book, TV show, or movie who might feel that way?
What is the message?
What is your reaction to the message?
Why do you like the song?

Write at least fifteen sentences.  You can just start putting your ideas down, or you can reply to each question separately.

Have fun!

-JD

p.s. No, you can't listen to the song unless you brought your OWN ear phones!

8th Grade - Creatures of the Deep

In your QT4 Exit Slip file, write 15 sentences using this RAFT format:

ROLE - You are a scientist planning the next Census of Marine Life
AUDIENCE - Members of Congress trying to decide on a budget
FORMAT - Giving a speech
TOPIC - Explain why it's important to know what kind and how many organisms are in the ocean

For each of these Target Words that you use correctly in context, you may write one less sentence (5 words and 10 sentences, 3 words and 12 sentences, no words and 15 sentences, etc).  You may use "family" words (eg. adaptation, variety, vastness).
However many words you use, you MUST write at least ten sentences.

Here are the Target Words:
ambassador     adapt     biology     census     contact     distinct     
hypothesis     maximum     vary     vast     vehicle     

If your sentences are 100% complete, I will bump you up a level in Fundamentals.

6th Grade - Identity Crisis

Have you ever felt like people don't really know you? Shirley Jackson asks this question in her short story, "Louisa, Please Come Home." In the story, Louisa decides to run away from home. Find out what happens when she tries to come back...

Pretend that you are eighteen years old, and you decide to run away from home.
Explain your plan to make sure you would never be caught.
Write fifteen sentences in your QT4 Exit Slip file.

You may write one less sentence for each of these Target Words that you use correctly:
conspicuous    deceive    error    genuinely    
identity    impostor    recognize    reside    unique    

ANIMAL FARM Project

Instead of taking a test, to wrap up our work on Animal Farm you will write your own story.

Either rewrite a chapter or write a sequel chapter to the book.  Show or explain a major change that would improve the lives of the animals.

Narrative stories will still follow the fable format, using talking animals as characters and teaching a lesson about life.  However, you need to consider logical consequences for any changes you make.
For example, Snowball could come back with a team of horses and trample the humans and pigs.  However, this would probably result in the police or even National Guard coming out to slaughter all the murderous animals.  Not exactly a happy ending for anybody.

Think about:
How could the animals change the power structure?
What rules would the new "government" have to follow?
What supports would they need to put in place to make sure the leaders don't become corrupted like the pigs were?

Your story can be a narrative (just telling the story) OR you can explain what would need to happen (like a textbook).  If you really want to get creative, you could write a new "constitution" for the animals and explain how power of the leaders would be kept in check.

Animal Farm narrative papers need to be at least 500 words.
Expository papers (telling information) need to have at least four headings and must be at least 400 words.

If you have a rough draft finished and ready for peers to read when we get back from break on 3/24, your "Writing" grade for QT3 will be boosted to 100%.