Ms Oelkers's English Page

Welcome to Ms. Oelkers's 8th grade English class 2009-2010 . . .

Thanks for a great fall. I will miss you but look forward to seeing you again in April! Keep working hard and "be good" for Mr. Pattie . . .

Book Reviews - for kids and by kids: to see this link click here

To get to the homework and handouts, keep scrolling down.

School Supplies:

In order to be successful in 8th grade English, students should have the following supplies:
1. a three-ring binder with sections labeled: Composition, Literature, Language Study;
2. a two-pocket folder in which to keep writing assignments;
3. a working pen in blue or black ink and a separate highlighter;
4. an assignment notebook.
5. (Helpful, but not required - small post-it notes)

What's New Now: We are reading and analyzing Lois Lowry's, The Giver. We are paying particular attention to the ways in which the Elders of the community eliminate differences and control the citizens who live there. We are also discussing the importance of experience and memories for shaping and defining one's sense of self. We will participate in "Socratic Seminar" discussions of the major themes of the novel.

In conjunction with the novel we will write:
1. a description of a personal memory and an explanation of how that memory (experience) has impacted one's sense of self (due 10/27);

2. a 3 ¶ analytical essay of a critical theme in the novel (due 11/19)

3. for extra credit, students may also write a letter to Jonas describing injustices in our own, CMS community.

At the same time, all students will self-select a second "Dystopian themed" novel to read as part of a book circle group. Students will meet in their groups four times over the course of the month. They will summarize the plot, analyze the theme and characters, and identify/analyze important passages in the novel. They will keep a journal about their reading, and they will make a formal oral presentation to the class during the week of Thanksgiving Break (11/23 & 24).

Coming soon: This reading, along with analysis of The Giver, House of the Scorpion, and Pleasantville, will inform the analytical essay all students will write after Thanksgiving. This essay will examine the utopian/dystopian justice/injustice themes we'd been studying. Instruction will focus on helping students craft a thesis statement and gather support for that thesis from multiple sources (literature, film, social studies class, etc.). We will also review the skill of crafting an outline to organize ideas, and we will work on the skills of analysis and elaboration. A calendar describing in class tasks and homework assignments is available through the "downloads" link below.

Homework (assignments are due on or before the date in the far right column)
Remember you should always be reading (2.5 hours/week) - fit it in whenever it works for you.

assigned	ASSIGNMENT	due
11/23	revise and type one book circle journal for "letter" grade	11/24
11/24	select new outside reading book and resume book log - collected every WED.	12/2
11/30	choose essay topic and gather evidence from multiple sources	12/1
12/1	create outline (template available in downloads); reading log due 12/2	12/2
12/2	vocabulary sheet (definitions in your own words please); vocab quiz on 12/10	12/4
12/4	finish reading and answering questions for "The Most Dangerous Game"	12/7
12/7	finish reading "Ransom of Red Chief;" revise your outline	12/8
12/8	fully develop organizing statements/topic sentences for each body ¶ (bring to class); reading log due 12/9	12/9
12/9	write first body ¶; study for vocab quiz	12/10
12/10	read "Open Window;" continue working on essay	12/11
12/11	finish 2nd body ¶	12/14
12/14	revise body ¶s and bring outline to class	12/15
12/15	finish body ¶s and bring to class for help with transitions; reading log due 12/16.	12/16
12/16	revise body ¶s -focus on transitions and analysis; comma practice sheet - comma quiz on 12/22	12/17
12/17	write intro ¶ (use outline and body ¶s to guide you); comma practice 1 sheet	12/18
12/18	write conclusion - it MUST flow from the argument of your essay	12/21
12/21	edit essay - bring to class for final proofread; study for comma quiz	12/22
12/22	FINALIZE YOUR ESSAY; reading log due 12/23
	HAVE A WONDERFUL WINTER BREAK

Downloads

Click here for handouts regarding assignments.

WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR:

Oct: We read The Giver and wrote a descriptive piece.

Sept: We analyzed the summer reading book: House of the Scorpion.

assigned	ASSIGNMENT	due
	finalize descriptive ¶ for Mr. Pattie; consider book circle options	10/21
10/21	read the first 20 pages of your book circle group (how long did it take?)	10/22
10/22	1descriptive ¶ - a personal memory; keep reading book circle book	10/23
10/23	1 expository ¶ - how memory impacted you; keep reading book circle	10/26
10/26	1st book circle journal; fianlize memory piece	10/27
10/27	Finish reading The Giver and complete "amiguous ending" sheet	10/30
10/28	Read book circle book - journal due 11/3
10/30	Socratic Seminar questions for The Giver	11/2
	2nd book circle journal	11/3
11/3	Brainstorm essay topic/gather evidence	11/4
11/4	Intro ¶ template/organizer (pink sheet) for Giver essay	11/5
11/5	Draft intro paragraph for Giver essay; begin to gather evidence for thesis	11/6
11/6	Draft body of evidence for Giver essay	11/10
11/6	Continue to draft essay (integrate a quote)	11/16
11/9	Revise intro ¶ and complete body of evidence (focus on: quote and transitions)	11/10
11/10	book circle journal entry # 3; revise Giver essay	11/12
11/13	Draft conclusion - complete first draft due 11/16	11/16
11/17	Revise and edit essay using pink rubric and checklist as discussed in class; bring draft to class Wednesday for further editing	11/18
11/18	Finalize essay (check quotations and grammar goblins); bring in all components	11/19
11/19	Prepare for book circle presentations	11/23
	END OF FIRST TRIMESTER
11/20	One journal to revise & submit as a letter grade (check blue sheet for expectations)	11/24