Assignments for 11/28 - 12/2

Reminder: you should be keeping up with your book club book as well as an independent reading book. For some of you, your book club book might take up most or all of your required reading time. For others, you may finish your required book club pages and then move on to your independent choice. (Do not stop reading early just because you finished the necessary pages or chapters for your book club - everyone should still be reading 30 minutes every day *outside of class*.)

Monday, 11/28
Read 30 (book club book takes priority)
Word Voyage Lesson 2 (adjective or adjective phrase openers)

Tuesday, 11/29
Read 30 (book club book takes priority)
Word Voyage Lesson 2 (adjective or adjective phrase openers)

Wednesday, 11/30
Read 30 (book club book takes priority)
Word Voyage Lesson 2 (adjective or adjective phrase openers)

Thursday, 12/1
Read 30 (book club book takes priority)
Word Voyage Lesson 2 (adjective or adjective phrase openers)

Friday, 12/2
Read 30 (book club book takes priority)

Assignments for 11/7 - 11/11

Monday, 11/7:
Read 30
Study for Word Voyage unit test (Wednesday)

Tuesday, 11/8:
Read 30
Study for Word Voyage uni test (Wednesday)

Wednesday, 11/9
Read 30

Thursday, 11/10
Read 30
Electronic draft of expository essay due by class on Monday

Friday, 11/11
Read 30
Electronic draft of expository essay due by class on Monday

Exposing Hot Topics in Middle School English

As we wrap up the fall term, we're turning our attention from seasonal, sensory-based poetry to expository writing. Everyone will have the chance to choose a topic that piques their interest, find at least one article with which to engage in a dialogue, and then share their work in a well-planned expository essay. So far, topics are ranging from the heated presidential election to the scary clown craze and everything in between!

A useful resource (for this assignment and beyond) is the Online Writing Lab through Purdue University. Students, keep these links handy as you hone your thesis and plan your paragraphs:

Expository writing overview: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/685/02/

Thesis writing: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/588/01/

We will spend much of next week planning and drafting in class. If possible, bring a computer or iPad to use for this purpose Monday through Friday.

And just because we've moved on from poetry (for now), don't stop noticing those small moments of beauty all around you; keep those seed ideas handy for when poetry comes back to campus full force in January and February!

Enjoy your No Homework Weekend, 7th Graders!