Writing (Eureka Week)

 Writing!

1. Read in your book pages 74-154.  That's to Ally chapter 5.

2. No copy work this week! You will want to read carefully all that is required this week.  There might be some generous vanguard bucks for those that are prepared.

3. Continue working on your research papers.  

This week I want you to add to your papers.  

• Add 1-3 more paragraphs to each main point.  These paragraphs should support your main ideas.
• Try and have the last sentence of your last paragraph in your first point tie into the next point. Do that with each section.  
• Write a concluding paragraph.  
• Your paper should be a full outline or rough draft at this point.  
• You now have all of December to finish it up and have different family members read it for you and help you make corrections.  
• It will be due on January 7th.  You will present your papers as a speech.  So as you finish up your papers, practice reading it as a speech.  We only have 45 minutes in class, so we will break into small groups and you will give your speech to a few others.

4.  Do 2 more pages in your writing books.  You should be through at least 20 pages. Bring your books to class.

5. Some fun grammar! We have previously talked about nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, subject, object and articles.  We didn't have copy work, but I want you to make notecards for these terms from last time and for the new words below.  They will be added to the notecard game.

Now we are going to cover; adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, clauses and phrases.  


adverb - An adverb is like an adjective, but instead of describing a noun or a pronoun, it tells you more about a verb, an adjective, or even another adverb. An adverb describes how, when or where something happens. 

For example: He smiled politely. Liz drives slowly.  We arrived late.  Jo lives there. I'm only joking.

conjunction - A conjunction is a linking word.  It joins other words and groups of words together.  Without conjunctions, sentences would be short and jerky.

For example: He closed his eyes.  He didn't fall asleep.  The conjunction but can turn these into a single sentence:  He closed his eyes, but he didn't fall asleep. Some common conjunctions are: and, but, or, yet, therefore, so, because, although, while.

preposition - A preposition is a word that tells you how one thing is related to another.  It is normally attached to a noun or a pronoun.  A lot of prepositions show where one thing is in relation to another thing. 

For example: The dog is lying on the bed. 

Other prepositions show when something happens in relation to something else.

For example: Mike's parents are coming to stay before Christmas.

Here are some common prepositions: in, on, under, to, before, after, around, near, down, over, up, past, between, into.

Lots of verbs look as if they are followed by prepositions (for example, to break down, to cheer up, to break in), but in fact, in these cases, these little words are thought of as part of the verb.

clauses and phrases - Sentences can be made up of clauses (groups of words that contain verbs) and phrases (groups of words without verbs).

A sentence is a group of words that makes sense on its own.  Most sentences have a subject and a verb.

We will be doing some fun stuff in class with all this new information!  Be prepared by knowing what each thing is!

And now for the spelling words!

assistant - a person who helps in particular work.

extraordinary - very unusual or remarkable.

galaxies - a system of millions or billions of stars, together with gas and dust, held together by gravitational attraction.

globular - globe-shaped; spherical.

telescope - an optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear nearer.

magnitude - the great size or extent of something, of great importance.

priorities - the fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important.

analyzed - discover or reveal (something) through detailed examination.

information - facts provided or learned about something or someone.

originated - have a specified beginning.

frequencies - the rate at which something occurs or is repeated over a particular period of time or in a given sample.

usually - under normal conditions; generally.

unusual - not habitually or commonly occurring or done.

hypnotic - exerting a compelling, fascinating, or soporific effect.

apologetically - regretfully acknowledging or excusing an offense or failure.

automatically - without conscious thought or attention; spontaneously.

uncontrollably - not controllable. unable to contain.

lawyer - a person who practices or studies law; an attorney or a counselor.

mosquitoes - a slender long-legged fly with aquatic larvae.

electricity - a form of energy resulting from the existence of charged particles (such as electrons or protons),                                either statically as an accumulation of charge or dynamically as a current.

assistant extraordinary

galaxies globular 

telescope magnitude

priorities analyzed

information originated 

frequencies usually 

unusual hypnotic 

apologetically  automatically

uncontrollably lawyer

mosquitoes electricity 

 

November Writing (History Week)

1. Read through page 73 in "every soul a star," by Wendy Mass

2. Write this quote in your book.  This is at the very beginning of the book. 

And when he [the author of the universe] had compounded the whole, he divided it up into as many souls as there are stars, and allotted each soul to a star.  And mounting them on their stars, as if on chariots, he showed them the nature of the universe and told them the laws of their destiny.

-from "Timaeus" by Plato (427-357 BCE)

3. Please go to this website to learn how to cite your sources for your research paper. Citing Sources

What to bring to class:

    1. The beginnings of your paper; Introduction, Thesis Statement, and at least 1-2 paragraphs under each major point. 

    2. Works Cited list. This does not have to be perfect yet, I just want a list of the resources you have used so far.  You should use at least 3 different sources in your research.

4.  Do 2 more pages in your writing books.  Write in your best handwriting.  Is it improving? 

5. Spelling words from "every soul a star."

civilization - the stage of human social and cultural development and organization that is considered most advanced.

eclipse - an obscuring of the light from one celestial body by the passage of another between it and the observer or between it and its source of illumination.

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

confiscated - take or seize (someone's property) with authority.

humiliating - causing someone to feel ashamed and foolish by injuring their dignity and self-respect.

achievement - a thing done successfully, typically by effort, courage, or skill.

maintenance - the process of maintaining or preserving someone or something, or the state of being maintained.

labyrinth - a complicated irregular network of passages or paths in which it is difficult to find one's way; a maze.

approaches - come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time.

asteroid - a small rocky body orbiting the sun.

clique - a small group of people, with shared interests or other features in common, who spend time together and do not readily allow others to join them.

click - an act of selecting an option on an electronic interface by pressing a button or touching a screen.

embarrassing - cause (someone) to feel awkward, self-conscious, or ashamed.

participants - a person who takes part in something.

disappointment - sadness or displeasure caused by the nonfulfillment of one's hopes or expectations.

awesome - extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or fear.

experience - practical contact with and observation of facts or events.

conditioning - the process of training or accustoming a person or animal to behave in a certain way or to accept certain circumstances.

materialistic - excessively concerned with material possessions; money-oriented.

appreciate - recognize the full worth of - understand (a situation) fully; recognize the full implications of.

Pictures!!!!

civilization  eclipse 

important  confiscated 

humiliating  achievement 

maintenance  labyrinth 

approaches  asteroid 

clique  click 

embarrassing  participants 

disappointment  awesome

experience  conditioning 

materialistic  appreciate