Good Morning,
 
Today is Tuesday, March 11, 2014.  Please work on your PEER EDITING AND REVISING YOUR NARRATIVES today.  I will continue to conference with you throughout the period. 
 
Please remember all of the characteristics of a Narrative that you must include in your essay:

• It must tell a story somehow (have a plotline/sequence of events)
• It must have a setting (you may use flashback and flash-foward) to help create the mood
• It must have characterization of your subject. The subject's personality should come through.  (Remember, show how this experience is personal to the subject)
• It should be from either 1st person or 3rd person point of view
• It must have a meaningful THEME (purpose, message)
• You should include as many elements of style that you can:
• description
• imagery
• dialogue
• figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, hyperbole, symbolism, etc.)
• colorful adjectives and action verbs

Your revision (Draft 2) is due tomorrow at the beginning of the period. Tomorrow is Wednesday. We will have a quick lesson on punctuation (comma usage, specifically comma splices and run-on sentences.  Then you will complete a self-edit.

Your final drafts are due on Thursday.
Turnitin information will be available tomorrow.

Have a great day!
MM

p.s. There is a blog open on millertimeenglish.weebly.com for this class.  I will post updates and upload handouts from our lessons.  Please use them to apply to your work.

 

Hello Everyone,

Today is Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Welcome to Writing for College.  Congratulations!  This is your last semester of High School English!  Unfortunately, I am at a conference in Albany today and tomorrow.  I had planned to meet you yesterday; however, Mother Nature thought differently. 

I will get you all set up on our class blog and review our syllabus with you when I come back on Thursday.  For now, please complete the following assignment:

Assignment:

Write a letter to me, Ms. Miller about you so that I can get to know you.  Express yourself honestly.  Please print out and hand in. 

The letter should be about a page, give or take.  (can, of course be more if you’d like)

Due at the end of the period.  (I will write one to you, as well.)

 Questions to Get You Thinking…and Writing

1.      Who are you? What’s your name?

2.      What defines you as a student? What defines you as a person?
3.      As a teacher, what do I need to know about you in order to help you succeed academically this semester?
4.      As a mentor, what do I need to know about you in order to help you achieve your personal goals this semester?
5.      What interests or hobbies do you consider your passion? What is it you about this interest or hobby that thrills you?
6.      What is your favorite book and what is it about this book that makes it your favorite? Has any book changed your life in some way? Tell me about it.
7.      What comes easily to you with regards to writing? What presents a challenge for you?
8.      What is your philosophy on life?
9.      What ideas, people, places, activities, cultures, etc. have you wanted to learn more about but haven’t had the opportunity?
10.  Who is your favorite person in the entire world?
11.  Who would you most like to meet?
12.  What is one thing that concerns you?
13.  What makes you proud or what are you proud of?
14.  Tell me about your short term goals (within the next year). What about your long term goals (within the next 5-10 years)?
15.  What colleges are you applying to? Do you have a first choice? What might you major in?
16.  Quirky Fact: What is one fact about you that makes you unique? For instance, do you have an obsession with watching Project Runway? Or, maybe you can bend all of your fingers backwards? What about a hidden talent? Any collector’s items that you’ve accumulated over the years?

p.s.  If anyone would like to get in touch with me today or tomorrow, my email address is:
tmiller@smithtown.k12.ny.us

Good Morning, Musees,

Your research papers are due today.  :)  Hard copies should include:
...from bottom to top

Draft 1 with Works Cited on
Peer edit sheet
Final Draft with works cited on top

If you have more than two drafts, that is absolutley great!

You may submit onto turnitin.com by 12 a.m. tonight. 

Turnitin.com information is in yesterday's post.

You may have the first half of the period to "finish up..."

I will go over our presentation process today.  :)

MM

Good Morning Musees,

It's Tuesday, January 14th.  Please work on your peer reviews, revisions, conferencing with me, letters, powerpoints, or anything for WFC.  My advice is to put your cellphone away so that you can focus.  :)

There are two assignments open on turnitin.com for your reearch papers.  I opened two (one draft 1 and one revision) as some of you have asked if you can submit your paper first to see what the originality report is before you submit your final copy.

You do not HAVE to do this, but you may if you would like.  Please submit your FINAL PAPER to the assignment that says:

Research Paper Career/Argument REVISION.


TURNITIN
Your class ID is:

Period 1:   6953235
Period 6:   6953245

Your password is:  muse

I can't wait for presentations tomorrow!  :)

Have a great day!
Ms. Miller

Happy Friday, Musees,
 
 
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
 
 
Here is the direct link to the OWL website for MLA research paper citations, etc.  If you are stuck, missed a mini-lesson, or simply don't remember, please use this website to look up the correct way to format.  It has tons of resources. 
 
Please refer to previous blogs if you were absent in the past days.
 
Research papers (final draft, hard copy + turnitin) are due on Wednesday, January 15th.  We will begin presenations on this day, as well.
 
Reminder:  Monday, we will take the period to write professional formal letters to your interviewees.
 
Have a great weekend!
 
Ms. Miller

Good Morning, Musees,

Today is Thursday, Jan, 9th.

1.) Good News.  The due date for your final submission of your research paper (both hard copy and turnitin.com) is now:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15TH.

**There will be NO EXCEPTIONS.  POINTS WILL BE TAKEN OFF IF YOUR PAPER IS SUBMITTED AFTER THIS DATE.**

2.) Please submit your title sheet for your Interview with your Interviewee's signature and information.

3.) If you are absent, please remember to read all blogs and handouts that you missed.  These are for you to use and apply to your paper.

4.) I will take next Monday to do a lesson on letter writing.  You must write and send a professional thank you letter to you the person you interviewed.  You will write them in class and send them independently.

Have a great day! 

Remember, I am available for conference during class and by appointment.

Good Morning, Musees,

Just a couple of things to help you:

1.) Assignment Drive - Miller WFC, Research, 2014, MLA Author Page Citation

2.) The following website will assist you with any question you have regarding formatting in MLA style. Use this now, next semester, in college and after college. It's great!

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/

3.) Peer Review Sheets are on the table.  Everyone must do a peer review.

4.) Your final assignment is to put together a BRIEF powerpoint or presi presentation that, in a nutshell, portrays to the class the information you learned and your thoughts on it.  It can be personal, but must be informative and educational.  You may use first person.   Your presentation can be anywhere from 3 to 5 minutes. You may have 5-10 slides. Be creative.  This is awesome practice for college.

5.) Final Research Papers are due on Monday, January 13th, at the beginning of the period.  We will begin presentations Monday also.  Please hand in a hard copy, as well as submitting to turnitin.com

I AM AVAILABLE FOR CONFERENCING DURING CLASSTIME OR BY APPOINTMENT.

Have a great day!
MM

Hello Musees,

Please read the following and then go to millertimeenglish.weebly.com to access the documents that you are asked to read in today’s task.
So far, you have created an outline of your information that graphically organized your points and supporting evidence.

• You can use various methods of organization for layout of your paper:
• Analogy, cause and effect, chronological, compare/contrast, logical connections, order of importance, process, etc.

So far, you have a rough draft of your research paper in front of you. 

Just a reminder note: This is an Analytical Research Paper.  In other words, it analyzes and makes a conclusion about the information you found about your career or college major choice.  You will use persuasive writing to make your conclusion and present an opinion about your topic, and then use the information to support this opinion.

Be ready for hardcore peer review tomorrow.  Your final draft is due at the end of this week on turnitin.com, as well as a hard copy.  Your powerpoint presentation is due on Monday, January 13^th.  We will begin presenting on Monday, January 13^th.

Today’s task: Complete a self-analysis on the following:

WORKS CITED:

1. In your MLA works cited window in NoodleTools, you should have all the correct information for ALL of your sources.  (Correct title, author, website, database or source, date of publication, etc., etc., etc.)

INTRODUCTION

1.  Should contain your thesis, an attention getter, and some background information of what your topic is and what you will be discussing.  Your intro can be one to two paragraphs.
2. Possible attention getting headers:  Compelling fact or statistic, powerful quote, rhetorical question (avoid “you”), anecdote or story, description of a problem, condition or issue

BODY OF PAPER:

1. Each paragraph in the body should be restricted to one idea and have a topic sentence.
2. The topic sentence of each subsequent paragraph should relate or have a connection somehow to the thesis
3. Explain any unfamiliar terms or ideas in simple language for the “everyday” person
4. Avoid unnecessary repetition of ideas.
5. Try to vary sentence patterns
6. Transition between ideas.  Topic changes should flow logically from  one to the next

IN TEXT CITATIONS:

1. Important theories, unusual or specific facts, and quotations should all be cited in the text
2. Direct Quotes: In research papers, you should quote from a source

a)      to show that an authority supports your point

b)      to present a position or argument to critique or comment on

c)       to include especially moving or historically significant language

d)      to present a particularly well-stated passage whose meaning would be lost or changed if paraphrased or summarized

3. Paraphrase/Summarize: You should summarize or paraphrase when

     a)      what you want from the source is the idea expressed, and not the specific language used to express it

            b)      you can express in fewer words what the key point of a source is

4. Now please read and apply the “IN TEXT CITATION” POWERPOINT attached in the post in Weebly.
5. Now please read and apply the “How to quote or paraphrase MLA” document in the post on Weebly.

 

Good Morning Musees,

Happy Friday!  Please work on your research paper over the break.  I am creating a website in my weebly account for resources for you to use over the break for research.  Please use them to guide your research.  In the account, will be all of the documents from the assignment drive, as well as handouts discussing MLA format, in line citing, paraphrasing and direct quoting, etc.

The website is:
millertimeenglish.weebly.com
Under WFC

Feel free to email me if you have any questions or need guidance over the break. I will be working from home. :)

Your rough draft is due on Thursday, January 2, 2014.  Your interview will be due Friday, January 3rd. Please submit the cover sheet as well as your notes from your interview.

Please make sure that you have shared your googledocs document on which you are working so that I may check out your progress or assist you if needed.

My email address is tmiller@smithtown.k12.ny.us

Have a wonderful holiday!
Ms. Miller

Good Morning Musees,

Today is Wisdom Wednesday, December 18th.  I will be at a curriculum writing workshop at West tomorrow, so you will have a sub.  Please diligently work on your research paper both in and out of class.  Everyone should have the following by the end of this week: (Friday evening)

1. A minimum of 20 notecards (but in reality, you should have more than this)
2. Your working thesis statement written, either:
    a. in a google docs working document that is shared with me (this can be your working paper), or
    b. in the thesis statement section of your dashboard

3. A detailed working outline either:
    a. in you Notecard board, or
    b. on your working google docs document that is shared with me

4. An introduction paragraph with your working thesis and some kind of hook.  Remember, your introduction will generally introduce the focus you will take in your paper.

 
The above info does not include your works cited in Noodle Tools and your annotations of articles from last week.

Your rough draft is due the day we come back.  It must be completed, but will be rough, meaning:
You will have one week to peer edit, self edit, revise your content and transitions, reorganize, refine, insert the correct in-text citation elements, print your work cited, edit for spelling and grammar, etc.

Have a great two days, and I will see you Friday!
MM

Good Morning Musees,

Happy Monday!  Today, we will discuss the thesis statement and outline.
Please review the due dates for each part of the paper.

Your working thesis statement is due tomorrow.

Your outline is due on Thursday (this week)...

Your Introduction paragraph is due on Friday...

Plug away in and out of school.  I have taken away any other assignments so that you may work on your research project. 
Have a great day!
MM

Hello Everyone,

We are currently deep into our Research Papers.  Please stay tuned with the documents posted on the assignment drive.  These are all from class lessons and resources for you to use in your papers.

The point breakdown and due dates must be heeded.

At this point, go to the assignment drive and look at the lesson for Tuesday, December 10th.
Read this and make sure that you are up to speed. 
Due Thursday 12/12 - All 7 sources, printed (either on googledocs or hard copy), and annotated.
Due Friday 12/13 - Your 15-20 Research Questions printed out.

Please remember.  You must work on this outside of class.  There is homework all this week.

Have a great day!
MM

Good Morning Musees,

Happy first day of your two-day week!  Today we will have our first discussion about your research paper and project.  Your homework this long weekend is to complete your career research inventory.  You may begin this in class at the end of today and during class tomorrow. 

You will be working on your research paper, participating in mini-lessons and homework assignments to strengthen your skills, writing in your Writer's Notebooks, which you will receive back after Thanksgiving break, and blogposts responses.

The research paper and project will be due sometime in the first two weeks in January and then presentations will begin. 

I will give you more process due dates as we go along. 

I want you to have fun with this project! 

MM

Hello Musees,

Today and tomorrow you may work diligently and independently on your Expository Essays.
On the table, are Peer Review Sheets, one pile for Cause and Effect Essays and one pile for Compare and Contrast Essays.  Please use the correct Peer Review Sheet for the paper that you are READING.

You may write all over your peer's essay while you are reading and carefully read and fill out the Peer Review Worksheet.  This is a VALUABLE tool.

Reminder:  Remember all of the things that we have learned and apply them to your essay.  For example:

• paragraph structure for C & E and C/C essays
• transitional words and phrases
• variety in sentences
• answering the "so what?" question
• incorporating elements of style into your essay
• avoiding personal pronouns
• supporting your claims with examples
• avoiding the taboo comma splices, fragments and run-ons
• using MLA format

Your essay will be due Monday morning when you first come in.
It should include from bottom to top:

1. outline
2. draft 1 (this will be written on by your peer)
3. peer review sheet
4. draft 2 (final draft)

Of course some of you may have drafts in between.
** If you were absent any days this week, we did the following:
Assignment drive, under RULES OF GOOD WRITING:
Tips to Avoid Personal Pronouns (word document, four pages)
Clauses (pp)
Run-ons (pp)
Avoiding Sentence Fragments (pp)

Have a fab day!
MM

Good Morning Musees,

It's Tuesday. November 19th.  Today we will review sentence structure.  Woo Hoo!
Today and tomorrow... grammar review!
As this is much needed, we are doing a review on sentence structure.
Expository essays will be the assessment for this.  They may be due Thursday or Friday. If you do not have your Draft 1 completed, please do so for homework tonight.

MM

The grammar powerpoints, personal pronoun handouts and writing tips are all located in the assignmment drive under the folder RULES OF GOOD WRITING.

Good Morning and Happy Monday, Musees,

The due date for your Expository Essays are postponed until the end of Wednesday.

Here is the reason:

Today and tomorrow for the first 15 minutes of the period,  we will be reviewing
1.) Avoiding personal pronouns in your academic writing
2.) sentence structure, avoiding comma splices, run-ons and fragments

TYour peer review sheets will be available tomorrow. :)
Have a great day! 
MM

Good Morning Musees!

Today is Thursday, November 14th.  Please work on your expository essays.  See yesterday's post for instructions.  Remember, an outline is required.

Go back to your notes to make sure you apply the characteristics of Compare and Contrast OR Cause and Effect.

Have a great day!
MM

Good Morning Musees,

Today, we will review some Cause and Effect and Compare/Contrast characteristics, as well as some reminders about thesis statements and paragraph organization.

Assignment:  Choose either a Cause and Effect Essay OR a Compare/Contrast Essay.  You may choose any topic that you like.  The requirements are to go back and review all of your notes and the information that we learned about this type of essay, and apply these in your writing.

Reqirements:

• 2 pages
• MLA style
• Outline required
• Peer Review required
• Due Tuesday, November 19th
• You will have tomorrow, Friday, the weekend and Monday to work on this.  You may use the first half of Tuesday to finalize.

Good Morning Musees,
 
I am out today. Please print your compare/contrast paragraphs and peer review with a partner.  Answer the following questions either on your peer's paper or on a separate sheet.  You may write on your peer's paper.  Then conference with each other and do your revisions.  The final is due tomorrow.  Please submit all copies.  Have a great day.  MM

Peer-Editing Worksheet: Comparison and Contrast

 Read your partner’s paragraph and answer the following questions in complete sentences. 

 1.         Does the paragraph have a clearly stated thesis/topic sentence? What is it?   Does the thesis emphasize similarities, differences, or both?

2.         Does the paragraph treat the same or similar points for each of its two subjects? List the points discussed below.

First subject                                                                 Second subject

1.                                                                                 1.

2.                                                                                 2.

3.                                                                                 3.

                       

3. Are these points discussed in the same order for both subjects?

4.         Are transitional words and expressions used appropriately to make the points of comparison and contrast clear? List the transitions that are used.

5.         Are additional transitions needed?  If so, where?

6.         How does the author “hook” the reader?

7.         Does the author provide an interesting conclusion that leaves the reader thinking?

8.         Does the writer include sufficient examples to allow the reader to clearly understand the basis of comparison and stated comparisons and contrasts? Give an example of how the writer does this.

10        Does the author answer the “so what?” question?  Is there a purpose for this comparison/contrast?  

11.       What could the writer add to this paragraph?

12.       Are all points relevant?  What could the writer take out of this paragraph?

13.       Reread the paragraph and make any grammatical/surface area corrections. 

Good Morning Musees,
 
I am out today. Please print your compare/contrast paragraphs and peer review with a partner.  Answer the following questions either on your peer's paper or on a separate sheet.  You may write on your peer's paper.  Then conference with each other and do your revisions.  The final is due tomorrow.  Please submit all copies.  Have a great day.  MM

Peer-Editing Worksheet: Comparison and Contrast

 Read your partner’s paragraph and answer the following questions in complete sentences. 

 1.         Does the paragraph have a clearly stated thesis/topic sentence? What is it?   Does the thesis emphasize similarities, differences, or both?

2.         Does the paragraph treat the same or similar points for each of its two subjects? List the points discussed below.

First subject                                                                 Second subject

1.                                                                                 1.

2.                                                                                 2.

3.                                                                                 3.

                       

3. Are these points discussed in the same order for both subjects?

4.         Are transitional words and expressions used appropriately to make the points of comparison and contrast clear? List the transitions that are used.

5.         Are additional transitions needed?  If so, where?

6.         How does the author “hook” the reader?

7.         Does the author provide an interesting conclusion that leaves the reader thinking?

8.         Does the writer include sufficient examples to allow the reader to clearly understand the basis of comparison and stated comparisons and contrasts? Give an example of how the writer does this.

10        Does the author answer the “so what?” question?  Is there a purpose for this comparison/contrast?  

11.       What could the writer add to this paragraph?

12.       Are all points relevant?  What could the writer take out of this paragraph?

13.       Reread the paragraph and make any grammatical/surface area corrections. 

Happy Friday Musees!  (Is it Friday already?)

Today, we will continue our discussion of Comparing and Contrasting.

Homework due Tuesday
Write a compare and contrast paragraph about  a topic of your choice.
Brainstorm/outline your thoughts first.
Have this printed out for peer review first thing Tuesday morning.
The structure should be consistent and obvious to your reader.

1. Remember to have a purpose
2. Remember audience
3. Remember transition words and subtext
4. Remember elements of style (word choice, action verbs, colorful adjectives, show don't tell, figurative language, dialogue, etc.)
5. Remember to try more sophisticated sentence structure (complex, compound, and complex compound sentences)
6. Remember to play with more sophisticated vocabulary (but don't over do it! :))
7. Remember your voice!
8. Rememeber your topic/thesis.

Good Morning Musees,

Happy Wisdom Wednesday...

Today's discussion will focus on the philosophy and structure of compare and contrast paragraphs.  Soak in the information you learn today.  Underline and annotate your handouts.  Think about how comparing and contrasting is part of your daily thought process throughout your life.

Your homework tonight is to think of a topic that you want to write a paragraph on and brainstorm ideas.  Have some brainstorming notes to work with tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will dig deeper into the different ways you can structure and express your ideas in a coherent, meaningful sophisticated way.

There is a Compare and Contrast Folder in the Assignment drive with documents for this unit in it.

p.s. Your Writer's Notebook is due today.  :)

Have a great day!

Good Morning Musees,

Happy Monday. This week we will discuss various ways to express comparison and contrast.  BUT FIRST,

Do Now:  Please immerse yourself in the following grammar and usage exercises.  See how you do!  :)  Then we touch base and reflect.

1.      Clauses, sentences and fragments

http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/test_n_games/practice_tests/fragments.htm

 

2.       Usage

http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/test_n_games/practice_tests/usage.htm

3.      Punctuation

http://www.uvu.edu/owl/infor/test_n_games/practice_tests/punctationandmechanics.htm

 Today, we will read information about the philosophy behind compare and contrast paragraphs.  We will continue with this on Wednesday.  Your homwork is to complete your Writer's Notebook for submission on Wednesday.  :)

Have a great day and a fantastic day off tomorrow!

MM

Happy Halloween Musees!

Please work on the assignments that are due tomorrow.
1.) Cause and Effect Paragraph
2.) Blog response to Malcom Gladwell's article on shopping.
3.) Writer's Notebook due Wednesday, November 6th.

The Cause and Effect Essay must be in MLA format. :)

Please do a peer edit with someone.  You don't have to fill out a seperate sheet.  Just use the Cause and Effect checklist and write on your peer's paper and briefly conference with him/her.

Have a great day and if you are not going to be here tomorrow, have nice and safe weekend.
Ms. Miller

Hello Musees,

Happy Wisdom Wednesday...

Please work on your:
Cause and Effect Paragraphs due Friday
Your blog post due Friday
Your Writer's Notebooks


IMPORTANT NOTE:  Writer's notebooks will be due next Wednesday, as the end of Quarter 1 is Friday, November 8th.

If you were absent yesterday, please make up the class assignment blog.

Have a great day!
MM