September 16 , 2011 Day 2 “Only Playing the Best” Conventions

1. September 16, 2011 Day 2“Only Playing the Best” Conventions • Do you notice any odd uses of sentence punctuation in Paragraph 1? • What happens when a writer uses too many exclamation points? • Do you know what a gimmick is? • Take out the extra exclamation points. • Does making this change diminish your understanding of the excitement the character is feeling? Explain. A strategy designed to attract attention

2. Student Goals • Definevocabulary appropriate to the theme of literary selections. • Interpret connotative meanings of vocabulary terms. • Demonstrate knowledge of how words function in a complete sentence. • Utilize the newly acquired vocabulary terms to make predictions about the stories we will read. Mr. Finger will be visiting us to discuss HSA requirements and PSAT.

3. “Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket” by Jack Finney “The Leap” by Louise Erdrich

4. Risky Vocabulary Deleterious Dilemma Epiphany Foolhardy Incognito Ironic Metamorphosis Precarious

5. Group Roles

6. Phase 1 • Define and identify the part of speech for the theme term using the dictionary • Web from theme term with known synonyms • and • antonyms • Using a dictionary, other resources, and Visuwords.com, make sure the concept web has at least 15 synonyms/antonyms.

7. safety menacingly peril risk Jeopardy hazardous surety danger

9. Phase 2 • Select and number the 8 most difficult words from the concept web. • Use a dictionary and Visuwords.com to define and identify the part of speech for each of the words. • Determine the connotative meaning of each word. Label it positive, negative, or neutral.

10. 1. Menacingly – (adverb) meanly or with negative intentions 2. Peril – (noun) danger or doom 3. Hazardous-(adjective) dangerous and unhealthy 4. Risk-(noun) a calculated chance that may not result in success 5. Surety – (noun) to be certain

11. Phase 3 • On the back of the web, write an original, complete sentence for 4 of the 8 words you selected. • Everyone is responsible for a sentence! • Use color to identify the word you chose. • Include context to help a reader understand the meaning of the new word.

12. 1. The criminal glared menacingly at the prosecution when the jury’s decision to condemn him to death was read aloud at the murder trial. 2. Smoking is irrefutably hazardous to one’s health, so officials strongly discourage teens from engaging in this risky behavior.

13. Phase 4 • Be prepared to share the vocabulary terms you have defined. • Be prepared to share the original sentences you composed.

14. Full Credit The web contains more than 14 valid synonym/antonym branches. All required words are labeled for part of speech and correctly defined in your own words. All required words have been correctly labeled for connotative meaning. There are three or more context-rich, original sentences. The group worked productively the entire class period. The group used technology to include information not readily available in a classroom dictionary.

15. Extension • Create a mini-poster for one of the most difficult or challenging vocabulary terms from the activity • Be sure to include the word, a simple accurate definition, the correct part of speech, an illustration, and any other important information about the word (such as word parts, origin, or other forms of the word)

16. Homework • Complete Extension activity and turn in on Monday, Sept. 19. • Week 3, Countdown for Testing, due Mon., Sept. 19.