NYSESLAT Writing - Descriptive Paragraph

One of your writing assignments will be to write a paragraph that describes what is happening in the picture.  The reader should be able to imagine the entire scene without ever looking at the picture.  Look at the picture and think about the following:

• What is the setting? 
• Who are the people and what are they doing?
• What might they be thinking or feeling?

Remember, your paragraph has to have a well-written topic sentence, supporting details, clear conclusion, and writing conventions of standard English. See the RUBRIC page above for more information on how your work is graded.  

 

Congratulations, class of 2012!

My darling girls, Gladys, Diana, and Jocelyn,
It was a privilege to have you in my class and in my life.  Thank you for showing me that learning looks like hard work and dedication.  Thank you for showing me the teacher in me.  Until you came into my classroom, I had a job.  Now, I teach.

I am so very proud of all of you.  You will achieve you goals because you can and because you believe on yourselves and I believe in you.  Your parents' hearts must be bursting with pride.  Years from now, I hope that you will look back on this day as the least of your accomplishments.  And stop by and see me sometimes.

Yours,
Ms. Sakhno

Living up the Street by Gary Soto

Chapter1 "Being Mean"
Vocabulary - mean, industry, broom, violent, provocation, orneriness, prevention, intend, feign, hurl threaten
Questions:
1. Who are the characters?
2. How does the author describe them?
3. Where does the story take place? (setting)
4. Why are the kids "being mean"?
5. Why did the Sotos want to fight the new kids?
6. What is ironic in the kids' decision to burn down the house?
7. What are the similarities and differences between Gary's and the Molinas' mothers?

Chapter 2 "Father"
Vocabulary - alley, garden, lawn, rake, stiff, conspicuous, bow, eulogy, casket, bury.
Questions:
1. Describe the father.
2. Why is the author paying so much attention to the garden scene?
3. Who scares the boy the most?
4. Why can't Gary hear "the things in [his] heart'?

Comparison Essay
Introduction - You are writing about the differences between Gary's family and the one on TV in "Father Knows Best."  Introduce both to the reader and explain why the boy is comparing the two. Write your thesis statement including points of contrast I & II.

Body Paragraph I - Point of contrast I.
Topic A
Support 1
Support 2
Topic B
Support 1
Support 2

Body Paragraph II - Point of contrast II.
Topic A
Support 1
Support 2
Topic B
Support 1
Support 2

Conclusion - summary of points, restatement of thesis, and a final comment.

NYSESLAT test-taking strategies

You cannot fail this test! You can do your best and show how much English you have learned in one year.  The information below may help you during the test.
Listening Strategies:


• Pay attention to the introduction. (“Listen to the article about…”)

• Read the questions.

• Take notes as you listen.

• Pay attention to intonation, rise in the volume of the voice, pauses, etc.

• Don’t get stuck on words you don’t know.

• Look down to concentrate.
Practice listening here or come for Rosetta Stone in the library Tues & Wed 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Reading Strategies:

• Read the questions first.  Look them over and decided what information you are asked to look for in the text.  Remember, if you have a question about something, then it's important!
• Look for dates, names, titles - they stand OUT!
• If you see a word you don't know, read the entire sentence and try to figure out the meaning.
• Write a summary of the text.  Use your own words to retell.  

Writing Strategies:

• Understand the TASK & GUIDELINES.  Read the task carefully.  
• Plan ahead: introduction, Body Paragraph I, II, conclusion.
• Make sure your thesis statement is well-developed.
•  Re-read your essay to see if you've made any grammatical/spelling mistakes.

Literature Response Unit

Week #1. What is fiction? What is the message of the poem? Ho does the author convey his message?

Vocabulary: fiction, literature, quote, interpret, patience, fortitude, character traits, convey, symbolism, repetition, stanza, synonym.

Quotes: "Literature is the question minus the answer."
            "Fiction is the truth inside a lie."

Readings: Aesop "The Tortoise and the Hare"
           Berton Braley "A Little further"
           Salman Javid "The Journey"
           Rudyard Kipling "If"

Homework: find either a definition or a quote on fiction and/or literature.  Explain how the poet conveys the message that people are adventurous and curious.

Weeks 2-4. What is (plot, characterization, setting, protagonist)?

Vocabulary: drama, play, characters, dialogue, action, pity, language, deaf, mute.

Quotes: "Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved"

"Self-pity is our worst enemy and if we yield to it, we can never do anything wise in this world." 

Readings:  Miracle Worker, a play by William Gibson
The Story of My Life, an autobiography of Helen Keller
 
Week 5. - What is a theme?

Vocabulary: theme, controlling idea, unifying message

Readings: Miracle Worker, a play by William Gibson
The Story of My Life, an autobiography of Helen Keller

Happy Thanksgiving!

Read & listen to an essay on Thansgiving

Expository Essay Unit

Expository Speech Sample
In preparation for your speech you can use the following suggestions (from http://www.best-speech-topics.com)
1. Expository speeches are speeches that inform audiences about an idea or a process.  You would help your audience to either understand the process or actually perform the process.

2. The second category of expository speeches encompass those that discuss a past or current events. In this type of speech, you would offer audience members a clear idea of the main circumstances that occurred during the event you are speaking about.

3. The final category of speech topics is the definition speech topic. This speech could be about anything that is either tangible, alive or visible.


With any of these categories, you must decide how to organize the details of your speech. For some of the categories, a chronological order might work best. For others, you may need to work through the details in emotional order. Still, with other expository speech topics, choosing to show the details in terms of a spatial order might be your perfect option.

Post your work online using Googledocs. 

Expository Essay Topics.