Assignment for Tuesday 10/21

We did extensive brainstorming in preparation for an ACT-style essay based on the following prompt: 

Your borough has received a large donation to improve the quality of life for area residents. Two proposals have been made. One proposal is to extend the subway system to reach more areas of the borough. The other proposal is to widen the major roads so that there are fewer traffic jams. Only one proposal can be put into effect. The borough president has announced that the final decision will be based on which proposal will most improve the quality of life for area residents. Write a letter to the borough president explaining how your choice will most improve the quality of life for area residents.

So the assignment for Tuesday is to write a letter based on that prompt. The letter needs to have an introduction, one or two well-developed paragraphs, and a conclusion. 

Email me for --

• two internet articles with supporting information for the essay.
  
• a sample student essay that we analyzed in class.

Assignment for Thursday 10/16

The schedule is crazy. There are no classes Thursday, and next Tuesday follows a Monday schedule, so I will not meet with you till Thursday 10/16. That's three days, so I'm giving a three-part assignment. Because the assignments are based on handouts, you'll need to email me so I can send them as attachments.

Do not come to class without having taken responsibility for contacting me and doing the work. Absence is not an excuse. 

Assignment for Tuesday 10/7

Organizing Ideas in Writing: Paragraph Unity

In class, we looked at strategies for organizing ideas, specifically 2-part and 3-part paragraph structure. You can email me for that handout or get it from me in class Tuesday.

Neighborhood Interview Essay

We gave feedback on the neighborhood interview essays that people had written. Specifically, we looked at strategies for creating "fatter juicier" paragraphs. Bring your essay on Tuesday, and we'll work with that.

Since the assignment was to develop revisions that we started in class, there's no new assignment for you. Simply come prepared with your typed essay on Tuesday.

Do come prepared.  Fair Warning: I am going to start marking people absent if they come to class without their assignment. Being a warm body in the classroom doesn't count. Doing the work counts.

Assignment for Thursday, 10/2 (NO CLASS ON TUESDAY 9/30!)

Neighborhood Interview Project

We are starting to get into a neighborhood project in preparation for the neighborhood prompt on the ACT. The assignment for Thursday is to act as a sociological researcher and interview three people who live in your neighborhood.

 In the posting just below this one, I’ve listed the many interview questions that the class came up with. 

On Thursday, you should bring with you --

• at least 2 full pages of interview notes (these can be handwritten)
• your typed report on your interviews

In your report --

Introduce your three people and give the reader an overview of the project

For each person, select three points that were --

• most important to them, and/or
• most interesting to you.

Report the information that each of  your people gave on those three points.

Conclude: What do the interviews tell us about the neighborhood?

See below for the interview questions brainstormed by the class. Feel free to add your own questions on topics that especially interest you or your interviewees.

Email me if you have questions! Absence is not an excuse for not doing assignments. Credit for assignments will be reduced by 25% for each day that they are late. 

Journal Topics

You can use this time to get caught up on your journal. I have posted a whole collection of suggestions in case you are having trouble getting started. At the top of this webpage, look to the right under Labels. The third link down is suggestions for journal topics. I will continue to add to this list.

Interview topics for Thursday 10/2

We brainstormed lots of interview questions. You don’t need ask them all! You would drive your interviewees crazy! But these questions will give you something to choose from and get you started.

 ·      how long lived in neighborhood           

·      occupation                       

·      demographics (ethnic groups, age groups, gender break-down . . .)

·      why you moved there

·      kids in school there?

·      quality of schools

·      opinion –

·      like the neighborhood?

·      safe?

·      taxes

·      real estate values

·      rules

·      cleanliness

·      noise

·      comparison with other neighborhoods

·      how it has changed

·      transportation/commute

·      local government

·      who

·      like/dislike

·      attractions/entertainment

·      churches, temples, mosques . . .

·      restaurants

·      quality of life

 You can go into detail on any of the subjects that you or your interviewees are interested in. Feel free to add questions of your own.

NO CLASS NEXT TUESDAY!!!

In honor of the Jewish holidays, there will be no classes next week on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. 

See postings below for assignments and journal topics.

Assignment for Thursday, 9/25, and thinking ahead

For Thursday, 9/25

Neighborhoods – Data Collection:

If you haven’t already done so, collect and bring in at least three neighborhood newspapers.

We’re going to start doing some thinking about neighborhoods. Bring in three items that represent something about your neighborhood.

Get caught up on your journal writing. I’m posting some topics on my blog if you need some ideas to get you going.

 

Thinking Ahead:  For Thursday, 10/2

Neighborhoods – Developing a Framework:

Imagine that someone from very far away has come to your neighborhood. You are their host. This visitor is a very curious person who wants to learn about this place. Imagine giving them a tour of your neighborhood. To what three places would you take this visitor?

Write a paragraph about each of the three places that you would take this visitor to. Each of your three paragraphs should have two parts:

o      Describe the item or place that you should show this person.

o      Analyze – why is that thing or place important enough to include in your top three choices?

 

Type. In order to really say something, you should have approximately a page (or more ;-). 

• Bring in your first draft and a revised version with corrections.
  
• Bring two copies of your final draft.
• Be sure to save a computer copy of each assignment. It will help you later!!