Writing (Imaginative Arts Week)

 Writing

1. Finish reading "The Bronze Bow."

2. Write this passage from the book.

    A quick guttural sound burst from the soldier. Daniel looked away. Who could believe that a Roman—?

    “I think she would want to say good-bye to you,” he said.

    The soldier waited, not understanding. Daniel looked down the road and caught the white flash of Jesus’ robe. Then he straightened his shoulders.

    “Will you come in to our house?” he asked.

(Chapter 24, page 254) 

3. Write in your handwriting books.  I didn't get a chance to look at them because I was gone, but remember you can earn $$$ for finishing your handwriting books.  This is the last chance!  Bring them to class.

4. Write a letter to a friend or someone that would appreciate getting a letter.  It should have all of these things.

• Hand written.  
• 3-5 paragraphs, like an essay.  
• It can be about anything you want.  
• Put it in an envelope.
• Address it, stamp it, take a picture of it, (so I can see that you did it) and then put it in the mail.

I was surprised to learn that one of my older children did not know how to send a letter in the mail.  I know it's almost old fashioned, but it's a skill you should know.  The return address is your address.  The address is the person to whom you are sending it.

Ideas of people you could send a letter to that would really appreciate it.

Parents

Grandparents

Missionaries

Leaders

Teachers

Coaches

Best Friends

Siblings

5. Study your spelling words!  We will do the words for "The Bronze Bow", and if time allows, we will continue with all the past spelling words from all the books we have read this year.)

IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR!

Writing (Eureka Week)

 Writing!

1. Read chapters 11-16 of "The Bronze Bow."

2. Write this passage from the book in your best handwriting.

    “We don’t need a brand,” Joel spoke quickly, in the reasonable friendly way that made everything he said so convincing. “If we choose carefully we can trust each other. We will carry the sign of the bow in our minds. You know—from the Song of David: ‘He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.’ That is our password.”

(Chapter 12, page 139) 

3.  Write 2 more pages in your handwriting books.  Bring your books to class.  You should be up to 40 pages completed.  If anyone wants to go the extra mile and finish their books, I will give $$$ for finished books by Imaginative Arts week.  If you work on it everyday, it could happen.

4. Letter Writing (Informative and Expository Essays). Go to this page for a refresher on how to write an essay. Essay Writing  (Expository is a fancy word for investigating an idea.)

This weeks essay will be informative, but in the form of a letter.  I want you to write to someone about your topic.  This means start with an opener like;

Dear _____,

To whom it may concern,

Finish with something like;

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Your Friend,

Then sign your name.

"The purpose of an informative essay is to educate others on a certain topic. Typically, these essays will answer one of the five Ws: who, what, where, when, and why. Of course, they can also answer "how," indicating how to do something.

Informative essays must never express your opinion or try to convince others to take a certain action or stance. That role is expressly reserved for persuasive essays. Of course, if your informative essay is interesting enough, it may move readers to learn more about the subject, but they'll have to come to that on their own, thanks to the wealth of interesting information you present."

This essay would be similar to your research report and speech, but much, much shorter.  Here are some interesting topic ideas, but if you have something that really interests you, go with that.  Think of it as a question that someone asked you -- and you are giving them the answer to "inform" them of what you know about the topic. It should only be a one page letter.

• How to open a bank account
• World poverty
• Procrastination and its effects
• Homelessness
• Air pollution
• Recycling
• Dream interpretation
• History of women's right to vote
• Foreign cultures
• Folklore
• U.S. stock market
• Dog breeds
• Biographies
• Architecture in Paris
• History of the Titanic
• How to Donate Blood
• A Brief History of Ireland
• Understanding the Link Between Cholesterol and Heart Disease
• How to Buy a House
• Understanding Your Credit Score
• The Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
• The Importance of Regular Daily Exercise
• Top Three Causes of Global Warming
• Reducing Carbon Emissions With Alternative Fuels
• The Many Cost Savings of Hybrid Vehicles
• Understanding Geothermal Heating and Cooling
• Why Cleaning Your Air Ducts Is Important
• If possible, have someone else read your essay and offer their ideas for improvement. Of course, don't forget to pay attention to grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, and other errors as well.

Knowledge Is Power

An informative essay is the best way to explain something complicated - in an uncomplicated way. Even though you're (hopefully) writing on a topic of interest to you, be sure to back up each claim with substantial facts and statistics. Let the content speak for itself, inviting readers to learn more.

5. Spelling Words

unexpected - not expected or regarded as likely to happen.

scowl - an angry or bad-tempered expression.

inferior - of little or less importance, value, or merit 

plane/plain - Plane is a noun, often short for “airplane.” However, a “plane” can also be a flat surface or a tool used to create a smooth, flat surface. Plain is an adjective meaning “simple,” “unadorned,” or “easy to understand.” However, it can also be a noun that refers to an area of flat land. 

synagogue - the building where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious worship and instruction.

important - of great significance or value; likely to have a profound effect on success, survival, or well-being.

mourning/ - the expression of deep sorrow for someone who has died, typically involving following certain conventions such as wearing black clothes.

morning - the period of time between midnight and noon, especially from sunrise to noon.

legionary - a soldier in a Roman legion.

pilfered - steal (typically things of relatively little value).

equipment - the necessary items for a particular purpose.

various - different from one another; of different kinds or sorts.

chafing -  the irritation of skin caused by repetitive friction, usually generated through skin to skin contact.

incredulous - (of a person or their manner) unwilling or unable to believe something.

solemnly - with deep sincerity.

hesitated - pause before saying or doing something, especially through uncertainty.

attention - notice taken of someone or something; the regarding of someone or something as interesting or important.

relieved - no longer feeling distressed or anxious; reassured.

intermittent - occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady.

vengeance - punishment inflicted or retribution exacted for an injury or wrong.

unexpectedscowl

inferiorplane/plain

synagogueimportant

mourningmorning

legionarypilfered

equipmentvarious

chafingincredulous

solemnlyhesitated

attentionrelieved

intermittentvengeance

Writing (Leadership Week-usually Eureka Week)

 Writing!

1. Read chapters 6-10 in "The Bronze Bow."

2. Write this passage from the book in your best handwriting.

The man’s figure was not in any way arresting. He was slight, with knotted arms and shoulders of one who has done hard labor from childhood. He was not regal or commanding. He dressed simply in a plain white tallith that reached to his feet. His white head covering, drawn closely over his forehead and hanging to his shoulders, hid his profile. Yet when he turned and stood before the congregation, Daniel was startled.

All at once nothing in the room was distinct to him but this man’s face. A thin face, strongly cut. A vital, radiant face, lighted from within by a burning intensity of spirit.

(Chapter 4, page 47) 

3. Write 2 more pages in your handwriting books.  You should be up to page 38.  Some of you are still trying to catch up.  Maybe just do 2 pages a day until you are all caught up.  I love the improvement that I'm seeing!  Keep it up!

4. Essays

Go to this link if you need a refresher on how to write an essay.

Writing Essays

This week we will do picture inspiration narrative essays.  Things you know:

• How to write a narrative.  You learned this a few months ago. A narrative is a story.
• How to be inspired by a picture.  You did this a few weeks ago.  Use some figurative language.
• How to write an essay.  You did this last week.

Now I want you to combine all that knowledge.  Find a picture that inspires you.  Write a 5 paragraph narrative essay about that picture.  It should be about 500 words, and no more than 1 page.  The picture can be on a separate page. Remember essays are short and to the point.

5. Spelling Words

tallith - a fringed shawl traditionally worn by Jewish men at prayer.

shoulders - the upper joint of the human arm and the part of the body between this and the neck.

knotted - fastened with or having a knot or knots.

commanding - (in military contexts) having a position of authority.

congregation - a group of people assembled for religious worship.

startled - feeling or showing sudden shock or alarm.

distinct - recognizably different in nature from something else of a similar type.

intensity - of extreme force, degree, or strength.

impudent - not showing due respect for another person; impertinent.

advantage - a condition or circumstance that puts one in a favorable or superior position.

concentrating - focus one's attention or mental effort on a particular object or activity.

chronicles - a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.

acquired - buy or obtain (an asset or object) for oneself.

magician - a person with magical powers.

regal - of, resembling, or fit for a monarch, especially in being magnificent or dignified.

patience - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

beggar - a person, typically a homeless one, who lives by asking for money or food.

consciousness - the state of being awake and aware of one's surroundings.

glimpsed - saw or perceived briefly or partially.

woman/women - a grown girl. Woman is singular; women is plural.

tallithshoulders

knottedcommanding

congregationstartled

distinctintensity

impudentadvantage

concentratingchronicles

acquiredmagician

regalpatience

beggarconciseness

glimpsedwoman/women

Writing (History Week)

 

1. Read Chapters 1-5 in "The Bronze Bow."

2. Write this paragraph from the book.  Use your best handwriting.

A boy stood on the path of the mountain overlooking the sea. He was a tall boy,
with little trace of youth in his lean, hard body. At eighteen Daniel bar Jamin was unmistakably a Galilean, with the bold features of his countrymen, the sun-browned skin, and the brilliant dark eyes that could light with fierce patriotism and blacken with swift anger. A proud race, the Galileans, violent and restless, unreconciled that Palestine was a conquered nation, refusing to acknowledge as their lord the Emperor Tiberius in far-off Rome.

(Chapter 1, page 1) 

3. Write 2 more pages in your handwriting books.

4. Essay Writing.  This is probably one of the most important types of writing you will ever learn.  Most essays are short and concise.  The papers you have done up to this point have been more involved.  The purpose of an essay is to get your point across quickly and efficiently. 

In the next few weeks we will be doing different types of short essays.  

Writing Prompts (Descriptive Essays)

Picture Inspiration (Narrative Essays)

Letter Writing (Informative and Expository Essays)

Letter Writing(Persuasive and Argumentative Essays)

We are going to start with writing prompts.  Often times when you are applying for a new job, or for college, you will be asked to write an essay on a certain topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

1. Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
2. Writing: Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
3. Revision: Check the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

Go to this google slides page to see a step by step process and some great examples.

Essay Writing

In the end your essay should be 5 short paragraphs-- Introduction, 3 main paragraphs and a conclusion paragraph.  It should not be more than 500 words or 1 page.  Print your essay and bring it to class.  Be prepared to share.

Choose ONE of these writing prompts to write about. 

• Describe your most enjoyable concert experience of all time.  What was the band, who did you go with, and why has it stuck with you as being so fantastic?  Go into detail and feel free to make use of any lyrics.
• Make a list of trendy shoe styles, Choose three from the list, describe each one, and explain why they’re so popular.
• Think of a character from literature you might like to trade places with. Describe this character and explain why you’d want to make the switch.
• Are you shy, silly, or sensitive? Quiet or quirky? Gentle, generous, or gregarious? There are hundreds of words we can use to describe our character attributes or personality. Choose three adjectives that describe you perfectly. Write an essay giving examples of how each word accurately fits your personality.
• Describe the most beautiful scene in nature that you can imagine.
• Describe a storm. This could be a thunder storm, a snow storm, a hurricane, a tornado, a hail storm, a rain storm, or any type of storm.
• Describe your bedroom the way you want it is, and then describe the way you want it to be, if it should be different.
• Describe your best friend so that the reader can picture him or her.
• Think of your favorite place. What do you like about this place? What do you do there? How does it look, smell, and feel? Now write an essay describing your favorite place so that your reader will be able to picture it.
• Some people prefer dogs as pets, some like cats, and others prefer birds, snakes, fish, rabbits, pigs, horses, and other animals. What is your perfect pet? What does it look like? Is it soft or hard? Does it make any sounds? Now describe your idea of a perfect pet so that your reader can picture it.
• Each season of the year is beautiful in some way. Think of which season is your favorite: winter, summer, spring or fall. Think of what your town looks like during that season. What does it feel like? Is there a smell or taste to it? Now write an essay describing an outdoor scene during your favorite season of the year.
• Flowers always make a yard or a room look very pretty. Think of a garden or a bunch of flowers you have seen. Make it even better and prettier in your mind. What does it look and feel like? Does it smell? Describe the garden or a bunch of flowers so that your reader can see it and smell it in his or her mind.
• We all eat to stay alive, but everyone has a favorite food. What is your favorite food in the world? What does it look like? How does it smell and taste in your mouth? Describe your favorite food so that your reader can see it and almost taste it as well.
• Everyone has a favorite game, dominoes, checkers, cards, Clue, Chutes and Ladders, Monopoly, and so on. What is your favorite game? What does it look like when you play? What sounds do you hear as you play? Describe your favorite game so that the reader can see it and hear the action as you play.

5. Spelling Words

unreconciled - not reconciled. (reconciled)- restore friendly relations between.

acknowledge - accept or admit the existence or truth of.

patriotism - the quality of being patriotic; devotion to and vigorous support for one's country.

conquered - (of a place or people) having been overcome and taken control of by military force.

foolhardy - recklessly bold or rash.

brilliant - exceptionally clever or talented.

fierce - showing a heartfelt and powerful intensity.

against - in opposition to.

recognized - identify (someone or something) from having encountered them before; know again.

complexions - the natural color, texture, and appearance of a person's skin, especially of the face.

remembrance - the action of remembering something.

reputation - the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.

conscience - feeling or voice viewed as acting as a guide to the rightness or wrongness of one's behavior.

knuckles - a part of a finger at a joint where the bone is near the surface, where the finger joins the hand.

oppressor - a person or group that oppresses people.

auxiliaries - a person or thing providing supplementary or additional help and support.

transparent -  allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen.

clamoring - (of a group of people) shout loudly and insistently.

embroidered - (of cloth) decorated with patterns sewn on with thread.

annoyance - the feeling or state of being annoyed; irritation.

all ready/already - The phrase all ready means “entirely ready” or “prepared” ( I was all ready to leave on vacation ). Already means “previously” ( The plane had already left the airport ) or “so soon” ( Is it lunchtime already? ).

unreconciledacknowledge

patriotismconquered

foolhardybrilliant

fierceagainst

recognizedcomplexions

remembrancereputation

conscienceknuckles

oppressorauxiliaries

transparentclamoring

embroideredannoyance

all ready/already