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Learn about adverbial and adjectival phrases and clauses, as well as subordinating conjunctions. Write complex sentences and differentiate between main and subordinate clauses.
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Monday, March 4Today’s Objective: Identify, use, and understand the function of adverbial and adjectival phrases and clauses and subordinating conjunctions. Write complex sentences and differentiate between main versus subordinate clauses. • WU: Clause Types • Finish 2014 STAAR; score and plot weaknesses. • HW: None • Tuesday’s Conference: Preslie @7:45
Clauses • A clause is a group of words with a subject and verb. • An independent clause is a complete sentence. • A dependent clause is a fragment. • When a sentence begins with a dependent clause, the DC ends with a comma. • DC, IC: Until I turned twelve, the kind of friends I had were what you’d expect. • IC DC: The students performed the play which was written by Shakespeare.
Tuesday, March 5Today’s Objective: Today I will reinforce what I know about expository writing including how to develop a clear controlling idea. I will show what I have learned by writing a rough draft of an essay. • WU: The “ex” factor • Writing an expository essay: • Brainstorming • Controlling idea • Rough draft • HW: Finish the rough draft of your essay • Tomorrow’s conference: Morgan @ 7:45 Don’t write your name on your paper! I will give you a number to use.
Wednesday, March 6Today’s Objective: Today I will learn a new revision strategy: FOUR+, so that I may learn to improve my writing. I will show what I have learned by revising my rough draft and writing a final copy. • WU: The “FOUR plus” strategy • Revise your essay using the “Four+” strategy • Write the final draft of your essay. • HW: Revised draft due tomorrow • Tomorrow’s conferences: Shreya @ 7:45 and Alexis @ 3:45
What is the FOUR+ Strategy? + • The FOUR+ Strategy is a simple revision strategy to remember. It will help you remember the important parts of the revision process.
So… how does the FOUR+ Strategy work? • F= Focus on the thesis. • Make sure you have a controlling idea and stick to it like white on rice. • O= Organize with word glue • Transitions and repeated words • U= Use DRAPES • And ba-da-bing and pitchforking and explode the moment • R= Revise and edit • Check your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. • += Add something special • Think Annie Dillard: sentence length & fluency, figures of speech, anaphora, alliteration, imagery
How will I use the FOUR+ Strategy today? Place an F before places in your essay where you state your thesis or connect to it. Place an O before transitions or other examples of word glue. Place a U before places where you have used DRAPES, pitchforking, ba-da-bing, or explode the moment. Place an R where you make changes to improve your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation. Place a + where you have employed strategies to make your writing beautiful: alliteration, anaphora, figures of speech imagery, sentence length, sentence fluency
How will I use the FOUR+ Strategy? Obviously, if you don’t have any places to put an F, an O, a U, an R, or a +, then you need to add those things. Use the back and draw arrows if you need more room. More lined paper is available on the front table if you need it, but you don’t have to re-write your essay. I want to see the letters on your page and where you have added things in to improve your essay. Your grade will come from your use of this strategy. A sample paragraph follows on the next screen.
(+)The sun shines, the birds twitter, and a gentle breeze cools the air. I take a deep breath, filling my lungs with fresh air, and I feel my tension fall away. (F) Working in my garden fills me with peace and serenity. (+)Modern life is a frenzied freeway that speeds by and carries us along, which is why the simple acts of (U) digging in the dirt, weeding, planting, and pruning fill me with (F/O) serenity. There’s something special about the (+) cool feel of dirt that grounds me. I feel part of nature in a way I never could (U) inside my car or in front of my computer. There is a (F/O) peace, (O) too, that comes from knowing that my work will produce fruit or flowers or vegetables, redolent with flavor and fragrance, for my family’s enjoyment. (O) When I am in my garden, (U) my black and white cat Lena rubbing against my legs, the sun shining on my face, the fragrance of an old fashioned rose heavy in the air, (F) I feel as if no worries can touch me, and all my problems disappear. (F) Serenity is important to me because my working life is lived in a middle school where the halls are chaotic and filled with drama. It’s wonderful to go out in the garden and take a deep breath of (F) peace.
Thursday, March 7Today’s Objective: Today I will analyze my knowledge of essay construction and grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. I will plot my analysis on a chart. • WU: Clause Types(in journal). • Essay Scoring • HW: None
Clauses Practice – Write the 2 dependent clauses in this sentence and then write a sentence of your own that mimics this one. • As Harry passed the window, he saw her deep in determined conversation with her friend Marietta, who was wearing a very thick layer of makeup. • The strange creature, which was still steaming and shaking itself, opened its mouth and began to make noises.
Essay Scoring • Score the essay using your Expository Scoring Rubric from last week. • Write your comments on the scoring page. YOU MUST USE THE LANGUAGE OF THE RUBRIC! Remember that having a clear controlling idea, and a specific personal example are required for a “4.” • Bring the essay to me when you finish scoring. • All essays will be scored by two people and the scores added together.
Friday, March 8Today’s Objective: Today I will watch the videos of A Morning of Shakespeare so that I may improve my performance for next year. • A morning of Shakespeare videos • HW: None Have a wonderful Spring Break!
Free write and include sentences that model these 3. • She heard something rustling on the matting, and when she looked down at the floor, she saw a snake gliding along watching her with eyes like jewels. • Crossing the lawn that summer morning, Douglas Spaulding broke a spider web with his face as a single invisible line on the air touched his brow and snapped without a sound.