Summer Reading Reflection

Now that we have discussed the summer reading assignment and you have re-read your summer reading essay, it is time to determine how you can improve your writing on essays this year. Please create a blog post of two paragraphs called Summer Reading Analysis. 

To help you with this assignment, please refer to the summer reading essay rubric and the Google Presentation we viewed in class.

Remember that for "Conventions," teachers looked at 3 things:
1. Pronouns - no first- or second-person. So, no "I," "me," "we," or "you"!
2. Verb tense - writing about literature should be in the present tense.
3. Informal language - there should be no contractions, abbreviations, or slang in your essays.


You will be graded on this reflection as follows:

• 9-10: thoughtful, accurate reflection on steps student should take to improve
• 7-8: thoughtful reflection on steps student should take to improve
• 6: attempt to reflect on steps student should take to improve
• 0-5: post is not complete or demonstrates little thought 

DUE:
Friday, 9/27

Writing Prompts for "This I Believe"

You will choose any three of the following writing prompts and post a response on your blog. These prompts are designed to provoke your thinking about your own views and beliefs. If you do this assignment well, you should have a strong foundation for your final "This I Believe" essay. Each response should have its own post. Please title the posts in the following format:
"This I Believe" - Prompt #

DUE:
Blog post #1: Honors - 9/20; CP - 9/23 (for HW)
Blog post #2: Honors - 9/24; CP - 9/23 (in class)
Blog post #3: Honors - 9/25; CP - 9/27

1. As a teenager, what do you believe are the most important “rules to live by”? When did you learn those “rules,” and who taught you?


2. Can you think of someone who has taught you a valuable lesson about life? Can you remember the exact moment when that lesson occurred?


3. Finish this sentence: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned about life, it is...”


4. Have you ever changed your mind about something that you were previously certain about?


5. We all tend to judge people by their appearances, even though looks can be deceiving. Have you ever prejudged someone incorrectly based on appearances, or has someone ever prejudged you unfairly based on how you look?


6. Everyone has problems or challenges to overcome in life. What has been the most challenging or rewarding moment in your life?


7. Did you ever have to confront someone very different from you? If so, what happened? What did you learn?


8. Have you ever been disappointed because someone made you a promise that they failed to keep? Or have you broken a promise that you made to someone else?


9. Have you ever been in a situation when you didn’t quite have the courage to take action in a situation when you felt you should?


10. Have you ever had a “do something” moment—a time when you realized you had to take action in order to make a change happen?

HONORS - Food For Thought Response: "Failure Is An Option"

After reading the National Geographic article "Failure Is an Option," choose one of the following topics, and respond with a post on your own blog. Your post should be at least one well-developed paragraph in length. For both topics, your purpose is to explain the transition from failure to success.

Topic 1
Think of a time when you experienced failure. This experience does not have to involve school. How did you persist and adapt to learn from this failure? [REMEMBER: This will be posted on the internet, for anyone to see; think carefully before publishing!]

Topic 2
Quickly research one of the following individuals or products:

• Steven Spielberg
• Terry Fator
• Kurt Warner
• J.K. Rowling
• New Coke (Coca Cola product)
• Arch Deluxe (McDonalds product)

Explain how the individual experienced failure, or how/why the product failed. Then explain how the individual persisted to achieve success, or what the company did to learn from its failed product.

DUE: Next class meeting.

Welcome to HHS!

I look forward to working with you in English class this semester. Let's get started by setting up your blogs!

You will be doing much of your writing this year on a blog that you will create today. It is important that you complete all of the posts, as they will become a significant component of the portfolio you will put together at the end of the semester. 

1. Log into your school Google account.

2. Navigate to Blogger. (Open this site in a different tab or window.)

3. Click "New Blog" on the left-hand side of your page to create your blog.

4. Give your blog a title that follows this format: First name Last initial's English 9 Blog. For example, if your name is John Smith, your blog should be called John S. English 9 Blog.

5. Give your blog a custom URL that follows this format: First name Last initial English 9 Blog. For example, if your name is John Smith, your blog URL should be johnsenglish9blog.blogspot.com. 

6. Choose a template (you may choose whatever template you like, and you can feel free to change this later).

7. Once your blog is set up, fill out this form to make sure I have all of your blog information. THIS STEP IS VERY IMPORTANT! I will be reading and commenting on your blog posts throughout the semester, and I will need this URL to grade your portfolio.

8. Finally, write an introductory post of one or two paragraphs on the following topic. Please use the subject line An Important Book for Me. 
Think of a book that has been meaningful in your life. In your blog post, please provide the title and author of the book and describe why it is meaningful to you. 

Please review this article about online safety for teens. Remember, you should never post personal information online! 

Cartoon from http://www.allvoices.com/cartoons/c/94263908-back-to-school