Persuasive Essay: Standardized Testing

Your group essay is due by Monday!
Make sure you make a plan and divide the work effectively and fairly.
I recommend using the ProCon website for initial arguments, but you should look beyond it as well.
Here is the outline you should follow:

ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY OUTLINE

TITLE (Main Idea):

1. PARAGRAPH 1- “THE HOOK”
1. INTRODUCTION: Introduce your topic with a hook.
2. (What are the two sides to the argument?)
1. SIDE 1:
2. SIDE 2:
3. *THESIS STATEMENT (What is your opinion?):
2. PARAGRAPH 2
1. REASON #1 (Why should someone agree with your opinion?):
2. Possible Objection to your argument you’re your response:
3. SOURCE:
3. PARAGRAPH 3
1. REASON #2 (Why should someone agree with your opinion?):
2. Possible Objection to your argument you’re your response:
3. SOURCE:
4. PARAGRAPH 4
1. REASON #3 (Why should someone agree with your opinion?):
2. Possible Objection to your argument you’re your response:
3. SOURCE:
5. PARAGRAPH 5
1. CONCLUSION (Summarize your thoughts):
2. RESTATE SIDE 1:
3. RESTATE SIDE 2:
4. RESTATE THE 3 REASONS TO AGREE WITH YOU:
5. OVERALL, WHY IS YOUR THESIS STATEMENT CORRECT? What impact does your point of view have on the world?

Logical fallacies and the standardized testing debate

You may do this project in groups from last time :

• Create a group document
• Create the same number of arguments against Standardized testing as you have people in your group.
• Read these descriptions of logical fallacies trying to see if you made any of these mistakes:
• Short descriptions: https://carm.org/logical-fallacies-or-fallacies-argumentation
• Detailed descriptions: http://www.nizkor.org/features/fallacies/
• You need to identify one more logical fallacy than the number of people in your group (group of 3 - 4 fallacies, etc.)
• For more arguments, you can go to the Pro/con website: http://standardizedtests.procon.org/
• quote the argument that contains a fallacy.
• explain how the fallacy applies

Comparing Cultural Values

The list of values from the article we read earlier may help you in your presentation.  Choose one or more from this list.  You may discuss other values that are not on the list.

Remember that you can choose any value as long as you give good examples and evidence to support your choice.

Culture Comparison Presentation

Presentation: Comparing your three cultures

Choose one cultural category to compare across all three cultures (two for 6th graders).  Make a detailed slideshow to share with others (probably students from Ms. Newton’s classes or 4-5th graders from Adobe Acres).  Present it out loud  OR make a video presentation (warning: this can be great if you know how to do it, but it is more time consuming).

FOR EACH CULTURE:

1. Use images to illustrate all of your examples and ideas!
2. What are the most interesting and unique aspects of this category? (Describe in detail and explain how you think they are significant).
3. What particular human behaviors (actions, traditions, rituals, etc.) are unique to to your cultural category?
4. How has it changed over time?
5. How do other aspects of culture relate to or influence this category?
6. What values are demonstrated? Give and explain evidence.
7. Data Comparison: make a graph of data from your 3 cultures and explain what it means.
8. How is this category similar and different to the other cultures?

Prospectus Due this Thursday April 30th (for Periods 2,4,6) 
or Friday May 1st (period 3):

You will need to have a written outline (on paper, google doc, or google slideshow) for your presentation. The outline must cover the points above for each of your three cultures. You will have a short conference with me, talking through your outline and I will give you feedback. THIS IS FOR A GRADE!

Monday 5/11 - Practice presentation: peer review Presenter: ________________      Reviewer: ________________ What was good about their presentation? What would you like to see a picture or visual of? What could use more explanation? Are all cultures represented? What parts (A-H) are missing or incomplete?

GLArts Poetry: Presentation

Choose one poetic device of sound and one of meaning from the Chapparal Poets website.

You may work with one or more partners to present these devices to the class on Tuesday.

The following elements need to be in your presentation:

-Poetic sound device:

• explain what it is 
• choose an image that represents the device to you and explain how it relates to the device
• give two examples from poetry or song that have the device
• Explain why would an author use this device

-Poetic meaning device:

• explain what it is 
• choose an image that represents the device to you and explain how it relates to the device
• give two examples from poetry or song that have the device
• Explain why would an author use this device

-Write a poem with at least four lines that uses both of these devices.  If you can combine your devices with your partners, even better!

Include Previous Poems:

• Type one of your Haikus and one of your Limericks into your document.  Choose one to share in your presentation.  
• You may also share another poem for extra credit.

Culture Research Evaluation & Field Trip

Take a few moments to look at the powerpoint for the Gutierrez-Hubbell House we will be visiting tomorrow.  Then look at the Culture Research Outline.  To what parts of the outline might this experience relate?

Research Evaluation (here is how I am grading your research):

• Research Card quality: 60 points
• I will evaluate three cards per student (20 points possible for each).
• You can choose 2 of the cards, I will choose the 3rd.  
• All 3 cards should not be about the same culture.

• Research Card quantity: 40 points
• 8th graders: 24 completed cards
• 7th graders: 20 completed cards
• 6th graders: 16 completed cards

***YOU NEED TO COPY THE RUBRIC FROM MY DOC INTO YOURS***

CLICK HERE FOR MY DOCUMENT; THE RUBRIC IS ON PAGE 6.

It looks like this:

All research is due by the end of class on Tuesday, April 21st.  I expect to complete the card checks the previous week, so you must have your selected cards done by Friday, April 17. if you have them done earlier, let me know and I will evaluate it as you go.

GLArts: Poetry

Create a Google Doc entitled "'s Poetry"

• Find a haiku on the internet that succeeds in the elements of a haiku we discussed.  Paste the haiku into your Doc (give credit to the author or source). Describe how this haiku . . .
• uses sensory language
• describes a scene and the mood that goes with it
• creates a shift (in tone, meaning, etc.) in the last line
• Type out your haiku from yesterday
• Describe how it accomplishes the elements above
•