Trimester 2 Ends: another Begins...

Good Day to You All,

      The results are not all in yet so if you didn't do one find it in sharebuilding and save your results.  It is disappointing to me and I know to the debaters as well that instructions were not followed.  We now have to wait until next week to here the final results.  If you don't remember enough to fill out a BALLOT thats ok.  The transcripts from the back channels are available to you.  Go to: Bb9 - Exp Col Am Rev - Go Public - Debates.  Look over the transcripts from the backchannels and think back to what you saw yesterday. 
     
      Once you have done this there are two tracks:
Note:  Both tracks can find the blogs under Bb9 - Exp Col Am Rev - Go Public - Debates
1. DEBATERS... Please type up a letter to the opposing team.  Provide the items below and also thank them for there efforts and participation.  Post your letter in your blog on BB9. 

2. Gallery/Audience Members... Type a blog post.

Both of these pieces of writing will include:
3 observations of things that either went well or need to be revised for a later debate.
2 examples of the Application of Prior Learning.
1 question that still remains about the debate process, historical content, the writing process of a thesis.

      Your observations can include anything you noticed about:
Constructive Speeches
Cross Examinations
Rebuttals
The Moderator
Floor Speeches
BackChannels

      The Aplication of Learning includes anything we demonstrated connected to:
Ethos Pathos Logos
Paraphrasing
Historical Facts and Content
The Tools of Persuasion
Thesis Statements
Supporting Details/Evidence
Use of Primary Sources
      In conclusion, remember that your writing pieces are due TODAY!!!  The trimester ends today so get them in.  Please hand them into your guest teacher. 

See you Monday!

Yours truly,
C

Welcome to Debate...

We have finally arrived!

      Below you will find the backchannels for a dozen chat rooms.  Just as we have done before with Socratic Seminars, you will be responsible as an audience to observe and respond in a responsible manner to the debates. 

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1.  Sign in.
2.  Greet each other appropriately.
3.  Get ready to observe and chat.

Have fun, and remember you will be graded on your conduct. 

Yours Truly,
C

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha STEM Academy

Reminders...

Hey Gang,

Remember...

Today-Field Trip to Planetarium
Tomorrow- Debates are starting at 7:25am in the Science Rooms
Friday- I will not be here and YOUR WORK IS DUE

One last thing... Today find some time to meet with the people you are debating with and decide on the schedule of speakers.  Rebuttal can be decided during the 8 Minutes of prep tomorrow. 

Have fun and be productive. 

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha STEM Academy

Written Discussion #2...

Hello Y'all,

      Happy Monday and away we go!  Last week we started the week by having a written discussion based on a piece of text we read.  This week we will be starting in a similar fashion.  The written discussion today will hopefully give you tons of information on how to improve your writing, shape your writing, and possibly START your writing if you are a little behind.  Below you will see the same information I have at the front of the room on the Smartboard...

1. What do you think the CONTEXT, SUBJECT, and CLAIM are?

Possible sentence starters:

I think your claim is...

Your context is... and really sets up the claim well.

2. Paraphrase the thesis so they have a start on their conclusion.

Possible sentence starters:

So if I understand your thesis correctly, you are trying to make the claim that...

 Your thesis sounds like you are trying to say...

3. Give them ideas for SUPPORTING DETAILS to go in their body paragraphs...

Possible sentence starters:

 Something you could use to support your thesis is...

You could support your thesis with this idea...

4. Write down compliments, questions, or confusions...

Possible sentence starters:

Your thesis really shows you understand what context, subject, and claim are.

I'm not sure what you are trying to say with your thesis. I wonder...

      Use these during the written discussion today to help each other with our writing.  We will be passing our thesis to others in a hope to gain feedback and ideas.  This is a safe place to share ideas, writing, and work.  Good luck and have fun. 

Sincerely,
C
From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha STEM Academy



Exposition & The 5 Paragraph Essay...

Hey STEaM Team,

      Nonfiction, perhaps more than any other type of writing, requires that you read critically.  Make judgements about what seems accurate, biased, or just plain wrong when reading a news storyor an editorial.  Try to discover a writer's intention when reading. 

The desire to know what's happening and what people think about it is a powerful motive for readers.        EXPOSITORY NONFICTION is factual and informative nonfiction writing.  Articles, news stories, and editorials are expository nonfiction.  You probably read some factual and informative writing every day, either on the internet or in a newspaper or magazine. 

    One Teacher's Perspective on Expository Writing. 

    Tim & Moby's Take on 5 Paragraph Essays

    5 Paragraph or 5 Section Essay

    Everything You Need to Know About Your Paper


    Additional Resource on THESIS! 

   We will be doing a collective note taking activity to gain a collective understanding of 3 things: Expository Writing, 5 Section Essays, and Thesis Statements.  For our next session together please bring an article or piece of text you have found that pertains to your space topic.  You will need a piece of text to participate in the Quality Circle Written Discussion. 
Sincerely,
C
From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha STEM Academy

HIGH FIVE THESIS DAY...

Hey Guys and Gals,

      Check out some of these videos on writing a thesis statement!  Remember, your thesis is due today.  I will try to give you as much time as I can today.  If you're finished with your thesis, print it off (so i can write on it), and hand it in.  DO NOT LEAVE CLASS WITHOUT SEEING THAT I HAVE CHECKED YOU OFF!!

A Thesis in 60 Seconds!!

Got Thesis Ol' Chap?

All you need to know about your papers! OUTSTANDING!

Also Great Video on Thesis


C

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha STEM Academy

Conferring and Paragraph Mapping...

Happy Camel Day Y'all,

      Some kind of thesis is due on Friday of this week.  I keep beating this thing called "THESIS" into your noggins, but I promise you it will never go away.  A thesis is the anchor of your papers.  You should all probably know by now that it comes at the end of your introductory paragraph.  If you haven't thought of one or need help, ASK!!!

      Today in class I will be pulling strategy groups with the debators.  I will also be conferring with students who need to meet with me.  In CORE 1 I have a confernece set up with Luke, Max, and Jacob.  In CORE 2 I want to meet with Maya, Andrew, Beth, and Colin.  In CORE 3 I want to meet with Savannah, Antonio, and Dustin.  This is my conference schedule today and I am open for more. 

      To wrap up, there are two modules we have been working on recently:  PERFECT PARAGRAPH, PARAPHRASING, and PARAGRAPH MAPPING & QUALITY CIRCLES and COLLABORATIVE STUDY.  If you haven't finished those... YOU NEED TO!  One more thing: we will be using some form of British Parlimentary Debate style for our debates next Friday.  To start our class, please fill out one quick sheet of Cornell Notes based on the video below. 

BP Debate Style

Yours Truly,
C

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha STEM Academy

Debate Groups At This Point...

Dear 8th Graders,

      This will be the second blog post today.  Below you will find the debate groups from ALL CORE CLASSES...

Debate Topic 10:  Domenic, Ben G, Jackson, Julio, Jason, Charlie Ho, Caitlin, Erik, Seth, Owen, Dustin, Karin, Antonio, Madison, Angie, Kris, Connor

Debate Topic 11:  Maya, Sam J, Colin, Beth, Shawn Ge, Dillon, Livi

Debate Topic 12: Ethan, Jeremy, Nick, Riley, Kristjan, Keegan

Debate Topic 13: Charlie, Nate, Brooke, Danny, Savannah, Charles

      A note on debate groups.  The turn out for the debates does not seem to warrant 4 separate debate topics.  Therefore there may be mix matched teams.  We may just be forced to debate within the perspectives of Britain vs. American Colonies. 

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha STEM Academy

Do I have a Thesis? How About a Quality Circle Team to Help...

Good Day Youngsters,

      Watch this video before reading the rest of the blog.  THIS IS YOUR PRIOITY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK! 

Do I Have a Thesis?

   
      Think about this now that you have watched the video...  How do you think you are preparing to meet this learning target?  This learning target will keep popping up from now tothe end of your projects.

Writing in Social Studies

I can develop a thesis, support with multiple forms of evidence, and provide analysis with an explanation in written form.

      The class time today will be for you to complete a module and work on you writing projects.  Those of you debating, you need to write a constructive speech (your opening remarks).  Those of you who chose a different project You know you have a paper to write to accompany your reading and research.  Good luck.  You're all great.  Below you will find the bread brumb trail to the module for today. 
Hist Lit - Exp Col Am Rev - Go Public - Quality Circles & Collaborative Study

Sincerely,
C

From the cluttered mind of C, Teacher
School District of Waukesha
Waukesha STEM Academy

Over the Weekend...

My buddy Bo looking for carrots. 

Brushing his butt after a great training session.
 (He almost bucked me off right before this.)

I'll let you guys make your own inferences as to what I did this weekend. 

Have a great class!