Welcome to Ms. Bonstein's 8th grade AC Language Arts!
Course Content: A study of language arts encompasses the areas of reading,
writing, speaking, and listening. The course includes all of these
communicative elements, but the emphasis is on reading and writing,
along with the building of knowledge and analysis of many common root words
for the English language. Speaking, grammar, vocabulary, journal writing,
spelling, capitalization, and punctuation will be integrated throughout the
curriculum. Later in the year we will hold formal debates!
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Check out my blog site, too: http://msbclass.blogspot.com/
You will each be asked to comment on a blog post from time to time!
E-mail: linda.bonstein@cobbk12.org
Current Focus: Research - For help, please use the O.W.L. site listed below
or the Cobb County Research Guide found on Bonstein Docs page of this
website.
1. Choosing a Topic – Topics ranked by interest week of 1/17
2. Overview and Introduction to Research Paper Steps-lesson by 1/23
3. Locating and Evaluating Sources – lesson on Wednesday, 1/25 (You will
need 5 sources-no more than 2 online sources, others can be books,
encyclopedia, or periodicals; one expert interview is allowed)
4. Taking Notes and Keeping Track of Sources (Including Bibliography
Cards) – lesson on Thursday, 1/26: Work on these until you have at least 25
cards (at least 25 cards are due by Monday, 2/6/12)
5. Write a Thesis Statement, Title and Final Outline –your statement,
title, and outline is due by Wednesday, 2/8.
6. Media Center Research (to add to your cards)– 2/8/12
7. First Draft with source documentation within the text – Friday, 2/10,
lesson on Works Cited formatting
8. Works Cited formatted – Monday, 2/13
9. Proofreading and peer editing – Wednesday, 2/15
10. Final Copy due at beginning of class Friday, February 17, along with
notecards, outline, rough draft with revisions, Final Copy with Works Cited
at the end: 3 to 5 pages typed double-spaced, one inch margins, 12 point
font, your last name and page number in the upper right hand corner of each
page (use Header tool in word processing).
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Classwork (CW) and Homework (HW): Current focus is Research Papers!
Monday, February 6 - CW: DGP, punctuation continued (comma exercises p. 193,
194 in workbook), ck. notecards, research handbook work on
thesis/title/outline (p. 53-68, half of exercises 5 and 7), Roots 10 sheet
HW: A/R by Wed., final outline/thesis/title by Wed., Roots 10 and review by
Thurs.
Tuesday, February 7 - CW: Journal, research paper handbook on parallell
structure for outlining (and do 3 exercises for practice), effective google
search tips, punctuation work continued
HW: see Monday
Wednesday, February 8 - CW: DGP, media center for A/R (or turn in
alternative), ck. outline/thesis/title, punctuation work, Roots CW and
punctuation work
HW: Roots 10 and review due tomorrow, rough of research paper by Fri.
Thursday, February 9 - CW: Journal, mini-lesson on drafting and on in-text-
citations (also called parenthetical citation), ck. punctuation and Roots work
HW: research paper rough draft with citations due tomorrow, Roots 10 quiz
Wed. next week
Friday, February 10 - CW: DGP, Works Cited mini-lesson and exercise on p. 97,
ck. drafts and late work, late ARs
HW: Works Cited in correct format due Monday, revised draft for peer editiing
due Wed., Roots 10 quiz Wed.
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Monday, January 30 - CW: DGP, thesis review, Journal, Honoring our Heroes pre-
write and start rough
HW: continue research process (come up with a "working thesis/working
outline" so you can begin or continue note-taking), study for Wed. Roots 9
quiz, A/R by next Wed. (2/8)
Tuesday, January 31 - CW: Writing process for Honoring our Heroes essay
HW: Roots 9 quiz tomorrow, continue research and note-taking, A/R by next Wed.
Wednesday, February 1 - CW: DGP, Roots 9 review with partner, revise and work
on final for H.O.H. essay
HW: Final H.O.H. essay due tomorrow, continue research and note-taking, read
for A/R
Thursday, February 2 - CW: Journal, Honoring our Heroes final and drafts due,
notecard lesson (p. 40-47 and ex. 7 on 45 in research handbook)
HW: 5 source cards and 25 notecards are due Monday, final outline and A/R due
Wed., Roots 10 and review due Thurs.
Friday, February 3 - CW: DGP, Punctuation and Meaning, Conquring the Comma
presentation
HW: see Thursday
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Monday, January 23 - CW: DGP, Roots 9, research paper process
HW:internet sources evaluations by tomorrow, Roots 9 due Wed., A/R by 2/8,
bring notecards
Tuesday, January 24 - CW: Journal with misplaced modifier emphasis (from DGP
yesterday), ck. Roots 9 CW and ck. internet sources evaluations, explain
research unit packet, schedule, sample paper, and student topics
HW: Roots 9A, 9B, 9C due tomorrow, bring notecards, begin research process
(research schedule at top of this page), read for A/R (by 2/8)
Wednesday, January 25 - CW: DGP, ck. Roots 9 abd late work, mini-lesson on
locating sources through Cobb Virtual Library, research handbook work
HW: notecards needed, begin preliminary research to focus in on your topic,
read for 2/8 deadline
Thursday, January 26 - CW: Journal on research uses, work back, creating
biblio cards mini-lesson, research handbook work (pgs. 10-14, exercises 2
thru 5; pgs. 18-23, ex. 1 & 2; pags. 29-35, exercises 29-35)
HW: see Wed.
Friday, January 27 - CW: DGP, finish research handbook exercises, start
Honoring Our Heroes essays if time allows
HW: study for Roots 9 Wed. quiz, continue with research process (create a
working outline and begin taking notes: remember to do biblio. cards for your
sources! see above for research schedule and resources info!)
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Tuesday, January 17 - CW: Reflect on writing and improvement, ck. pre-writes
and "Illegal Words" handouts, media center
HW: read!
Wednesday, January 18 - CW: Middle Grades Writing Assessment today (1st and
2nd), 7th pd. begin continuation of FFA vs. Charly
HW: read!
Thursday, January 19 - CW: PSAT practice questions and sample essay, internet
sources evaluation mini-lesson, research paper choices, Charly vs. "FFA"
HW: internet sources evaluation due Tues., Roots 9 due Wed., read (A/R or
alternative due 2/8)
Friday, January 20 - CW: Finish Charly vs. "FFA" activity and write 3
paragraph essay on the text vs. the film
HW: see Thurs.
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Tuesday, January 10, 2012 - CW: focus groups on 4 domains on the writing
test, toolbox items, and strong verb sentences; student writing conferencing
HW: read for next A/R (2/8), bring a blue/black pen tomorrow,finish strong
verb sentence work (due Thurs.), see www.foliowriting.com with your log-in to
see full folio results
Wednesday, Jnauary 11, 2012 - CW: practice writing assessment 1st and 2nd
pd., 7th continue 1/10 work
HW: see Tuesday
Thursday, January 12, 2012 - CW: topic brainstorming and practice pre-writes,
ck. SVP HW, copy toolbox list, continue individual conferences
HW: finish all 4 pre-writes from class by tomorrow, "Illegal Words" handout
due Tues., read for A/R or alternative (due 2/8)
Friday, January 13, 2012 - CW: Evaluate and assess student responses from the
practice writing test, ck. pre-writes, continue individual conferences
HW: "Illegal Words" handout due Tues., read for A/R or alternative (due 2/8)
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Supplies: Paper, blue or black pens (no gel or aqua color), spiral notebook,
4 dividers with notebook paper in a 3-ring binder, 3 x 5 notecards, tissues,
suggested to have a flash drive, will need to get 1-2 paperback book(s) later
this year
Suggested organization (binder divider titles):
1. DGP/Grammar, 2. Roots, 3. Writing,
4. Literature
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*Word processing tips - For Word 2003: to set font to 12 pt., use the top
toolbar; to set margins, go to "File -> Page setup -> margins"
to set spacing to double go to "Format -> paragraph -> line spacing"
to do a word count, highlight text you are counting (exclude your title and
your name, date, pd.), then go to tools, word count; for name in top right
corner, click on View -> Header and Footer, right justify within the header
box and type your last name followed by a space, then go to the header box
and click the insert page number, then close the box.
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Special Notes: See bottom of page for research information, including how to
cite your sources! See the Bonstein Docs page of this website for class
Powerpoints and handouts. Also, do not delete your papers or essays from
whatever word-processing program files you may have!!
Writing: With an emphasis on the writing process, especially the importance
of revision, we will complete many writing projects throughout the year:
baseline, narrative, expository, research, and persuasive, response to
literature (in the form of literary analysis), as well as a poetry unit!
Grammar and convention information is at the end of this webpage. In
addition, many resources are listed to help you practice in these areas!
Reading: A/R Test deadlines are twice each quarter. If you are looking for
a good book to read, please access the following webpage, then you may cross-
check your choice with the A/R list that you may access from the school web
page, go to the media center, or check with me. The classics list on the
site is particularly good (at least most of them would be suitable, but not
all).: http://www.hplibrary.org/teens/booklists/booksforteens.html
Mrs. Bonstein
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GRAMMAR/CONVENTIONS - WEBSITES TO HELP YOU!:
"Grammar Girl" podcasts! Go to http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/
She also has published an excellent book - Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty
Tips for Better Writing (author Mignon Fogarty)
Punctuation practice:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/print/grammar/g_overvw.html
Grammar: I recommend that you read and practice at the
following websites, depending on what your need(s) are:
http://www.dailygrammar.com/archive.shtml
http://members.cox.net/teachro/
(you choose what you need to work on at both of these sites)
Prepositions - webster.commnet.edu/grammar/prepositions.htm
http://www.readbygrade3.com/prep.html
http://depts.gallaudet.edu/englishworks/grammar/main/prep.htm
Predicate nominatives -
http://home.att.net/~rguimaraes/Predicate_Nominatives_and_Adjectives.htm
http://yourpage.blazenet.net/bterney/pnpa.htm
Diagramming sentences - Many examples!
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/diagrams2/diagrams_frames.htm
http://members.cox.net/teachro/
Also, the Princeton Review book Grammar Smart: A Guide to Perfect Usage is
an excellent resource that I recommend if you are struggling with grammar
concepts. And remember Monday morning help sessions at 8:10 AM!
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Bibliography OR Works Cited information:
How to cite your references (the following is for MLA style; you may be
asked to use APA style for social sciences research in high school or
college):
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html
For electronic sources:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_mla.html#Electronic
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