Opinion Writing Prompt and New Hybrid Schedule

For this week you are going to write a one page opinion driven essay, complete your two assessments if you have not and most importantly get comfortable with the new hybrid schedule. 

First, you are going to respond to ONE of the following prompts:

• What ideas do you have to improve your favorite sport?
• The current pandemic caused just about every sports league to make pause and changes in rules and structure. Sometimes these were for player safety, fan safety, or general game play. A few examples would be extra inning rules relieve pitcher use in baseball, allowing five substitutions in soccer, playing basketball in a bubble and playing in empty arenas and stadiums. Think of a sport you love and what would improve it - both pandemic related and in general.
• What has television taught you about social class?
• Netflix has hundreds of shows about social class (Shameless, Selling Sunset, Emily in Paris) whether it is showing wealth, discussing wealth or trying to highlight different classes of people. Is it accurate? Is having wealth or being in a higher class an attainable or even valuable goal? Does the way TV highlight this teach us anything? Positives, negatives? Is it realistic (think reality shows here)? Why do so many families on TV and Netflix live in such extravagant houses? Explain what you think about pop culture's impact on viewing class.
• Are presidential debates helpful to voters or should they be scrapped?
• I'm sure (I hope) everyone has watched either the presidential or vice presidential debates. Besides a fly landing on Mike Pence and hanging out there forever is there any value to it? Do most people have their minds already made up? Are debated actually harmful to viewers or undecided voters? Why or why not? Explain in detail why televised political debates are good or why they should be cancelled.

Please click the link for a further explanation and discussion as to what the prompt is asking. However, whichever prompt you chose, think deep. Think about the world around you and you should be able to develop a strong opinion about sports, politics or tv/Netflix shows. 

• How does it relate to you? 
• What do you think about the issue at hand? 
• Why do you think that way?

Describe your feelings and opinions on the topic in thorough detail. Find quotes from a trusted source on the matter (for example, an athlete, team official, league executive and/or reporter on the third prompt) and use them to support your opinion. 

But most importantly, just write. This essay comes directly from your thoughts and feelings and emotions. Have a strong opinion and write about it completely in a well organized interesting way. 

Assessment notes are in the Weekly Agenda.

Hybrid schedule - We will get used to it and figure out the most efficient way to blend live teaching. Please continue to follow the school bell schedule and stay on task. 

English assignments will be posted Wednesday and we will have office hours throughout the morning and early afternoon. Please let us know if you need to meet. 

Character Analysis and Short Film

You are being asked to write a character analysis on one of the two characters of "Lather and Nothing Else." This sounds a lot tougher than it really is. 

First think about what the prompt is asking you to do. In this case it says:

 "Analyze a character from “Lather and Nothing Else” and explain how a critical decision they made influenced the rest of their life. How would their life be different if they did not make this decision? What dialogue reveals this decision was substantial?"

1. Identify the characters - in this short story there are only two:

• The Barber 
• The Captain. 

Make a written or mental note about each and think about what you learned from the text in regards to who the characters are

What do you know about them? 

What are some key traits you can recognize? 

Do you relate to either one more?

How would you describe each?

2. Think about their actions. You have the barber and the captain. They each made one conscious decision in the story.

• The captain decided to enter that barber shop - why? What could the outcome have been? 
• The barber had a decision to make - what did he eventually do?

3. Cite evidence. Show what parts of their conversation make the decision significant? Was there a twist at the end? Does the reader know something before the character(s)? Or After?

Here is a short film on the story. It's not exactly the Godfather Trilogy, but does a good job highlighting the tension in the barbershop. This should help you with your writing.

As far as citing evidence goes. Please complete the evidence graphic organizer so we know you can do it. Remember to quote based on what you're being asked! 

You can refer to the Blog on the topic for help. You may also find this video helpful as well:

Autobiographical Stuff

This week you're going to complete a couple short autobiographical items. Writing can be difficult and writing about yourself is sometimes the most difficult. We've tried to come up with something unique for you to express yourself in a couple different ways. You'll see two items in this assignment. 

The first is called a "Six Word Memoir" and you can see what it's about HERE. Essentially, you are describing yourself in six words. We'd like to see you follow this template in creating your Six Word Memoir:

1. Take about 2 minutes and write a list of words that describe or pertain to you 

2. Choose two or three words you think you can write about

3. Pick one and free write about it in more detail

4. Turn your writing into a six word phrase or slogan

5. Add your slogan (with pictures, fonts, graphics, color) to a new Slide on the group Slideshow.

The second piece is writing about an achievement - big or small - that you feel is a representation of who you are:

Think of a time when you achieved a personal goal - you might have won an athletic event, or might have gotten a higher score on a test, or you might have learned how to do something new. Tell your readers about the story of how you met your goal. Be sure your readers understand why the goal was important to you. 

Remember to include a (1.) Hook, (2.) Conflict, (3.) Dialogue and develop the plot/story with a clear (4.) Beginning, Middle and End.

And here are the results from last week's This or That Poll. 97 Votes as of Tuesday night

Mr. P(acker) agrees

Somethings we liked...

• Hamburgers (84%) over Hotdogs
• Friends (56%) over The Office; disappointing
• American Football (68%) over real football; also disappointing
• Biden (81%) over Trump
• Jordan (52%) squeaked by Lebron
• Tacos (53%) edged out pizza!
• Eagles (81%) over the Cowboys; also Dak stinks
• In person school (63%) over remote
• Chick-Fil-A (64%) over Popeyes, wrong
• Snapchat (58%) over Instagram
• McClain over Mr. P; blowout
• Star Wars (64%) over Harry Potter
• Hoodies (91%) over Sweaters; casual
• Texting (50.6%) over Facetime (49.4%); closest race
• Rap (82%) over Rock

 

Virtual Learning Feedback and Upcoming English Work

Hope everyone had a great first full week of school. Really happy with the way most of you are working in English. Keep it up. We've got four items to go over this week below. First, I wanted to if anyone has watched "The Social Dilemma" on Netflix? It came out about a week ago and it's really good. It should make you think twice about the may and the amount of time you use social media:

1. We got almost 90 responses back from the "Virtual Learning" poll I posted that first couple days of school. A lot of good points and a lot to think about. Two parts I'd like to share:

So based on your responses, we will post on Wednesday only - one big assignment - but will continue to utilize (and feature more) the daily agenda I tried out last week. This will enable you to just tackle the assignment and easily break it up into chunks, hence, "a little of both." 

We will still have a generic Google Meet for general explanation or Q & A Wednesday and Thursday according to the schedule posted and followed last week. 

Next week, we will be available the same times Monday and Tuesday for appointments. For example, say you are in 3rd period, you get your assignment Wednesday and attempt to work on it over the weekend and are lost, shoot us an email and ask to join for Meet. We'll meet with you anytime Monday between 10:00 and 10:45 to "live" help you out. 

2. Reading Inventory - Everyone must complete it. You may have taken it way back in middle school, but it has been added to our curriculum this school year. It's not hard, though. 

Click HERE and login: Username - usually first initial last name or student ID (jmcclain or 1234567)  Password - Book2011 

3. This week we will be reading and "discussing" The Dangers of a Single Story In this essay, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, describes being stereotyped by a single fact about her. How often do you do this? How often does this happen to you? 

4. New Poll! Please complete this form - Choose This or That and I'll share the responses next Wednesday.

Thanks and let us know if you have any questions!