Week 4: Argumentative Essays
This week we will be writing an argumentative essay. Please see pages 14-17 in your book for more information. First, let's choose a topic. You should choose a controversial topic so that you can argue both sides of the issue. After choosing a topic, you will need to make a thesis statement.
Things to remember when writing your argumentative essay:
You MUST choose one side or the other when you write an argument paper!Don’t be afraid to tell others exactly how you think things should go because that’s what we expect from an argument paper. You’re in charge now, what do YOU think?
| Do… | Don’t… |
| …use passionate language | …use weak qualifiers like “I believe,” “I feel,” or “I think”—just tell us! |
| …cite experts who agree with you | …claim to be an expert if you’re not one |
| …provide facts, evidence, and statistics to support your position | …use strictly moral or religious claims as support for your argument |
| …provide reasons to support your claim | …assume the audience will agree with you about any aspect of your argument |
| …address the opposing side’s argument and refute their claims | …attempt to make others look bad (i.e. Mr. Smith is ignorant—don’t listen to him!) |
Here are some topic suggestions for your argumentative essay:
* Corporal punishment in schools- is it okay or not?
* Girl's Generation: I got a boy video. In the video, there is a hat with bad language on it, some feel this was inappropiate. What do you think?
* Human Rights of Laborers- should we improve the laws to protect laborers?
* Cosmetic surgery- If you do not like your appearance, is it okay to change it with cosmetic surgery?
*Nimby versus pimfy. This is the idea of nimby (not in my backyard) and pimfy (please in my front yard) and it refers to the idea that people oppose having negative things like a garbage disposal plant or jail near their house (nimby) but they want hospitals or schools near their house (pimfy).
* Park Geun Hye- South Korea's first female president. Do you think a woman can be president and especially a single, unmarried woman?
* Lance Armstrong- is it okay for athletes to use performance enhancing drugs?
The essay must be 500 words. Remember, to argue both sides of your theseis statment and support your argument with facts and evidenece.
Week 3: Short Stories
Have you ever written a short story? If not, here is your chance and if so, let's try it again! Although there are many kinds of short stories, we are going to talk about 3 different kinds of short stories: drabbles, flash fiction and vignettes.
Do you know what a drabble is? Check out this link for information about drabbles:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drabble
Can you write a drabble? First, think of a theme or topic for your drabble. Remember it can only be 100 words. Here is an example:
Snot
John thrust his finger into his left nostril and explored. Almost immediately he found a lovely specimen. He pulled his finger out slowly, so as not to lose his prize. It perched on his fingertip; green, slimy and sticky. John strung it backwards and forwards between his finger and thumb, amazed at how far it stretched. Finally, tiring of the game, he wiped it on his jeans and flicked it away. It landed on the floor and began to grow. Horrified, John watched it transform into a monster that lurched threateningly towards him. John turned and fled from the bogeyman.
Next are flash fiction. Check out this link for more information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_fiction
Flash fiction is a short story of 1000 words or less that includes a conflict, a resolution, environment, dialogue and character. Here is an example:
Our yard doesn't have trees, so Robert and I made our clubhouse under the butterfly bush.
"First we need a flag," Robert said.
I ran to the house and came back with a poster board and a box of crayons. I crawled under the lower branches and laid the material on our worm-proof tarp floor.
"Hand me Raspberry Red," I said.
Robert scanned through the sixty crayons, pulling red ones. "Cherry Pie... Bloody Nose... Raspberry Red!" He handed me a stub no longer than my pinky.
"Wow, you used it a lot!"
"It's my favorite," I said, tracing two crossed spoons, which was our secret signal. "Now I need Garbage Green."
"Whacky Khaki... Squished Toad... Baby Caterpillar... Garbage Green!"
I ripped the whole paper from it and used its whole length to color the flag's background.
"There! How does it look?" I said, holding the flag.
"Looks great! Now where will we find red spoons? You know, for the signal."
"They don't really have to be red. My dog chewed up my silver crayon. He looked like he had fillings."
Robert laughed. "Lucky he didn't chew on your Bloody Nose one. That would have been disgusting."
Just then, my little sister Nancy peeked in our club house.
"Why are you hiding under the bush? Eating cookies in secret?"
"Am not! Go play with your dolls and leave us alone."
She crawled right in, covering half the tarp with her fluffy skirt, and breaking one of my crayons in the process.
"Hey, watch it! You're sitting on my Tarantula Bl..."
I didn't have time to say "Black." Nancy scampered to the house, screeching and brushing her skirt frantically with both hands.
I winked at Robert. "I think I'll keep my crayon box here to protect against intruders."
Finally we have vingettes, let's read about these:
vi·gnette
/vinˈyet/
Noun
| |
Verb
|
Week 3: Response Essay or Compare/Contrast Essay
Can you believe it is week 3 already? Time flies when you are having fun, right? Last Friday, we all watched the Disney movie "Brave". Check out the trailer here:
Now that you have watch the movie, you can decide which kind of essay you want to write; response essay or compare/contrast essay.
For a response essay, you need to write about your reaction to the movie. How did the movie make you feel? What is your opinion of the movie? Remember to support what you think with references to the characters and scenes in the movie. Start with an outline, write a thesis sentence about your reaction to the movie. Decide what to include in the introduction, body and conclusion of the essay.
Here are some questions to consider and possibly use in your response essay:
1. At the beginning of the movie, there was tension between Merida and her mother. Why was this? Merida had an idea of how to fix her problem and thought it would be easy. Do you think there is ever an easy fix to a complicated problem?
2. In the movie, Merida asks her parents to really listen to her. Do you think parents/adults need to listen more to the opinions/thoughts of the youth? Why/why not? This TED talk by Adora Svitak explores this theme. Adora is only 12 years old and suggests that adults have a lot to learn from kids. Watch it here:
3. Why wasn't the spell reversed when Merida apologized to the clans or sewed the tapestry back together? Does Merida act for her own good or for the good of others? Explain your answers.
For a compare/contrast essay, here are some suggestions:
Compare/contrast Merida's relationship with her mother or father to your own relationship with your parents. How are the relationships similiar? How are they different?
Compare/contrast Merida with another Disney princess like Snow White or Cinderella for example. Explain what characteristics are the same and different between the 2 princesses.
The essay must be 500 words. Good luck!
Week 2: Diamante Poems
Diamante poems are fun to write. Below you will see a diagram which shows you the structure of a "Diamante Poem." As you can see, it is shaped like a diamond, and that's where it gets its name.
NOUN
ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE
ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE
ING-VERB ING-VERB ING-VERB
NOUN NOUN NOUN NOUN
ING-VERB ING-VERB ING-VERB
ADJECTIVE ADJECTIVE
NOUN
Similar to a haiku, the Diamante Poem uses words to create an impression without relying on full phrases. Try and use your THESAURUS to make your words more interesting. Instead of "cold" why not use "freezing" or "chilly." There are three different approaches you can take:
Just one topic: You can keep your poem about one thing only, and explore more words to illustrate it. The first noun and the last noun could be the same or about the same thing.
Related Dynamically: Instead of using opposites, you could change your poem in the middle to contrast two things that have a relationship. One of my students started with "Cheeseburger" and finished with "Global Warming." Can you guess the connection? Fastfoodcreates paper waste and the meat is from cows who produce methane. Very creative! How about North Korea and South Korea, or School and Academy, or Apple and Microsoft? iPad and Galaxy? The possibilities are endless.
Nabi has already completed his very own Diamante Poem, you can read it here:
Have fun and post your diamante poem today!
Week 2: Odes-Have you written an ode lately?
What is an "ode?" Let's ask Wikipedia:
An ode is typically a lyrical verse
written in praise of, or dedicated to someone or something which captures the
poet's interest or serves as an inspiration for the ode.
In fact, the "greatest poem ever
written" is an ode written by the famous English poet John
Keats. He died very young, and many believed if he'd lived longer
that he could have rivaled William Shakespeare as one of the greatest writers
ever.
One day, while he was sitting under a tree, a
nightingale bird landed in the branches and began singing. At the time, he was
very sick, so he felt envious of the bird's freedom and health. Thus, "Ode to a Nightingale" was born, and many
consider this to be a "perfect poem." Let's listen:
Keats is truly amazing. For our purposes, we are going to change things a little
and basically write a poetic letter to something or
somewhere instead of someone. Imagine what you might
say in a letter that begins with:
Dear Seoul,
Dear California,
Dear North Korea,
Dear iPhone,
Dear Sadness,
Dear Boredom,
Dear English,
Dear K-Pop,
Dear EOP,
Dear Mirror,
Dear Necklace,
Dear Sleep,
Dear Money,
Dear Starcraft,
Dear Angry Birds,
Dear Pizza,
Dear Broccoli,
Dear Facebook,
Dear Harry Potter Series,
Dear Green/Red cards,
The possibilities are endless, and I want you
to write a poetic letter using lots of descriptive writing and philosophical
insight. Think of that object or place as a friend or enemy that you know very
well. Personify it. Metaphorically give it
qualities that are human, and have fun poeticizing the things you love, hate, or
hate to love or love to hate about that thing.
This should be written as a letter and a poem
mixed together in a style of writing we might call "lyrical prose." Imagine your
sentences are music, and each word a note. You can start thinking about:
Alliteration: using words with similar
sounds in one sentence, sort of like a tongue twister.
Example - "The sweet sound of your soft
voice silences my spirit into a still sleep."
This sentence has a smooth ring to it, all because "s" was used repeatedly in a musical way.
This sentence has a smooth ring to it, all because "s" was used repeatedly in a musical way.
Repetition: repeating a
sentence structure for more emphasis. Politicians use this a lot when they make
speeches.
Example - "We can make change.
We can fight for freedom. We can be the light
through the world's darkness. We are America, and yes we
can!"
Requirements:
So try and use these while you write your
ode. Include a picture and be creative (and clean) with your formatting. Have
fun!
_____________________________Fine Examples:
Nabi (my dog) has been busy composing his Ode to Wide Open Space, check it out here:
http://nabispaws.blogspot.kr/2012/08/ode-to-wide-open-spaces.html
Here is a really good one from a KMLA students,
Seung Hyun in the 14th wave.
Ode
to ZzaPaGeuTi
By
Seung Hyun Ryu (Amy)
Dear ZzaPaGeuTi (짜파게티),
Do you remember back when I was in elementary
school? I’d come home
after a long and busy day, and immediately look for you. Thankfully, you were
always there beside me whenever I needed you. However tired I was, you, with
your warm brown scent, always made me feel comfortable and re-energized. Not
only did you reduce my stress and tiredness of getting through the day, but you
also helped soothe my feelings of homesickness for Korea. Ever since I was
young, the thing I always miss most when I’m away from
Korea is the food. Luckily, I could easily meet you, dressed up in your fancy
clothes in the Chinese marts of England. It’s a secret
to my good friend La Myun (라면), but I love you much more
than her. While La Myun has a fiery temper, you are always warm and sweet
towards me.
You might find it a little surprising that
after all these years of scarcely talking or meeting, I would suddenly write a
letter to you. This surprise would have been doubled I suppose, because I began
this letter full of praise for you while I have totally ignored you all this
time. To make things a little less confusing, I will be very straightforward
with you. The reason why I’m writing this letter is to apologize for something that happened
between us a long time ago. Even after all these years, I feel guilt over what I
have done to you. Thus, I have mustered up the courage to write this letter.
I’m sure that you recall the day that I introduced you for the first
and last time to a friend I had made in England. Her name was Paulina, and she
was a delicate little girl who had never lived outside of England. Well, when
Paulina came over to my house, I introduced you to her. You were my favorite
friend, so there was no reason for me to hesitate in doing so. I had absolutely
no worries about whether Paulina would like you or not. After all, why
wouldn’t she love you as much as I did, when you were so
deliciously kind and always extending your long, long noodley arms to help
someone in need?
However, to this day, I just cannot forget
the expression on Paulina’s face when she saw you. She was horrified by your color, and asked
how I could possibly like someone who looked like you - someone who had a dirty
mud color and a mop of straggly hair. She did not even bother to get acquainted
with you, and announced that she would not speak a word to you because, on the
whole, you looked like a bowl filled with dirty worms. Not only you, my dear
friend ZzaPaGueTi, but also I was greatly affected by this incident.
Regretfully, I was not old enough to realize that it was my friend
who was shallow to judge you based on appearances. I should not have cared what
Paulina said. Although you look a little odd in England, because of your dark
skin color and straggly curly hair, that is simply because there are not so many
like you in England, as there are in Korea. Furthermore, I should have been wise
enough to realize that I loved you regardless; never mind what you look like.
Regretfully, I failed this wisdom at such a young age.
Hopefully, it is not too late to ask for your
forgiveness. Although I have feigned not to notice you all these years, it was
mainly because I did not have enough courage to beg for your forgiveness. And
not because I didn’t want
to be your friend again. It was only when I was young and ignorant that I
foolishly felt embarrassed by you, for being who you are. I dearly hope that you
will understand me with your warm sweet heart, and once again embrace me with
your long delicate arms.
Hope to hear from you soon,
With Love, Seung Hyun
Week 1: Setting Goals
At the start of a new year, people often set resolutions or goals for the following year that they would like to achieve. For your first challenge, you wil create 3 goals that you would like to accomplish over the next 30 days. A goal is the end result of your efforts to change a behavior or create a new one.
Now that you have an idea about goals and goal setting, go to page 6 in your writing book. Use this page to brainstorm and create your goals. Watch this video for inspiration on goal setting:
We will revisit our goals in a couple of weeks to see how you are doing. Good luck!
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