ARGUMENTATIVE/THESIS WRITING TIPS

Helpful Links to help you remember what an argumentative essay is and how to format it. We pulled a few videos that are short and to the point. If you take the time to watch, we promise they will help. Please comment when you watch and let us know what you think.

ARGUMENTATIVE HOW TO GUIDE 

How to write a THESIS STATEMENT

Argumentative Outline- Using the topic of social media as an example

57 Bus- Please take a moment to complete the attached Hate Crime Survey!

Please complete the attached questionnaire on Hate Crimes. 

Feel free to comment on any feelings or thoughts you have on the topic.  Please make sure all comments are appropriate!

Hate Crime Survey

Check your Email!

New year, new unit. 

I hope everyone had a great holiday and winter break and was able to get back on track last week. You had three assessments (not fun) we needed to get done:

1. Reading Inventory
2. NJSLS Form B
3. Unit 2 Summative Assessment

Now, on to the new stuff. First, if you haven't made any New Year's resolutions my suggestion would be to re-organize yourself for the remainder of the marking period (and school year). You've heard by now we're continuing "remote learning" until at least the end of February. Have a plan to be successful. 

Check your Emails!

One thing I'd like everyone to learn to do is check your email regularly! From, College Professor Shares 8 Email Tips That Students Need to Learn:

As a psychology professor, I’m often asked by students and parents for college success tips. The first and most straightforward piece of advice is what I preach every lecture, “Don’t forget to check your email.”

Checking and using your school email will instill important habits for your work or college careers. It will also help avoid any miscommunication and help you stay organized in class.

New Unit - The 57 Bus

Please complete this Anticipation Guide:

Remote Learning Re-Start & Beowulf vs Grendel

UPDATED: Now that we've gone totally remote a few important things to remember:

1. Be present. This means of course doing your best to attend class meets, but also being responsive - check your email daily, comment and respond in classroom under assignments, be current and don't fall behind in your work. 
2. Class schedule is the same as when we were in school. You will follow the same schedule, but virtually, Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri. English will post in Google Classroom Wednesdays as well as possibly holding open Meets to review or reinforce any skills and help with current assignments. We will also have "Office Hours" throughout the week, but you can still reach out whenever you need. 
3. Be organized. Please do your best to stay current with the reading and assignments. We will do our best to make things easy on you. If you need help getting organized - ask.
4. Monday (11/30) and Tuesday (12/1) we will be live in your class Google Meet to review Remote Learning expectations, go over Office Hours, answer any questions you have and offer help getting caught up with the first half of "Beowulf." We will also be discussing ideas covered in last week's reading and questions as well as brainstorming thoughts on the One Pager or Essay.

On to Beowulf - this week we are going to focus on a number of things. Please be prepared to discuss and write about the following:

• Theme
• Symbolism
• Values
• Setting
• Character Traits

What is the setting of the story and the comparison between Grendel's lair and King Hrothgar's mead-hall/palace. What do the stark differences between the two symbolize?

What are the major character traits of the two main characters of Beowulf and Grendel? How does the matchup between the two represent the theme of the story? Think: Heaven and Hell, God and the Devil, Good vs. Evil, Light vs. Dark, and so on...

In modern times, we still read, watch and consume stories about a hero taking on villains.

And to document what we read and discuss as we approach the halfway point of Beowulf, you're going to be asked to cite, annotate and infer from the Grendel excerpt and the fight chapter:

Citations - quotes from the text. Find any line that you feel is important to the story and cite it.

Annotations - What do you want to remember about this quote or the section of the story? Make a note to help.

Inferencing - Take what you already know and jot down what you think is going on or make a well reasoned prediction.

The movie Beowulf is now available on Netflix if you want to watch. Here is the scene when Beowulf defeats Grendel:  

And an older version (1999):

Boasting

One of the key scenes in Beowulf is the boast. In this scene Beowulf arrives to meet King Hrothgar. He essentially yells out his resume and beings to detail his credentials and accomplishments through kenning, hyperbole and alliterations:

“Hail, Hrothgar! I am Beowulf Higlac is my cousin and my king; 

The days Of my youth have been filled with glory. 

My people have said, the wisest, most knowing and best of them, that my duty was to go to the Danes’ Great King. 

They have seen my strength for themselves, Have watched me rise from the darkness of war, Dripping with my enemies’ blood. I drove Five great giants into chains, chased All of that race from the earth. I swam In the blackness of night, hunting monsters Out of the ocean, and killing them one By one; 

Death was my errand and the fate..."

Here is the movie version (not great - or complete) to give you an idea: 

Your assignment is to write your own boast from the framework in the story. 

Show the reader/viewer why you are a big deal.

On the graphic organizer you will essentially fill in the blanks. You will notice the main points of Beowulf's boast are started for you, it is up for you to finish the boast and make it your own. Does not have to be 100% truthful. If you make us laugh, it's a bonus. If you make us cry, even better. Have fun with it and be creative. You must follow the directions and include the literary elements (kenning and alliterations) where necessary but other than that you can write (and eventually perform) whatever you want. Just be hyperbolic with your credentials. Exaggerate and embellish.

You're going to upload a recorded version (Cohort A, B and D) in the assignment. In school we will view them and at home will make them available to everyone. 

I also wanted to share some of the results that stood out from the Beowulf Anticipation guide: