Cranking Up with Writing

My goodness how fast the year is flying by!!!!  I cannot hardly believe the school year is half over with.  Christmas has come and gone and the state mandated tests are quickly approaching.  I have cranked it up with the 8th graders and their writing exercises in hopes to improver their skills in the 6 short weeks that we have left.  I am harping on teaching them how to write and argumentative essay b/c I believe that is what their writing test will be over.  Here is what we are doing next week Jan. 13-17:
(Notice all of the journal topics are controversial/argumentative type topics.  Helps us get in the "pick a side and argue" mode.) 

Monday

Journal—Are parents clueless about child predators on the Internet?   Assign Vocab. Wb Less. #20—Due Friday   Work together aloud with students on prom board and draft the intro paragraph with thesis statement for the argumentative essay over artificial sweeteners. (We Do)

Tuesday

Journal—Should animals be used for research?   Work together aloud with students on prom board and draft the conclusion paragraph with a ‘so what and sum up’ for the argumentative essay over artificial sweeteners. (We do) Students must hand in all of their papers from last week and last two days in conjunction with this essay assignment.  3 grades will be assigned from all paperwork.

Wednesday	Journal—Are we too dependent on computers?   Begin working on the argumentative essay from the Buckle Down book p.160 about cell phones. (You Do) Walk them through the pre-writing steps, R.A.F.T.S. and 3 stair-step graphic organizers,  which are due at beginning of class tomo.
Thursday	Journal— Is cheating out of control?   Continue working on the argumentative essay example in the Buckle Down book p.160 about cell phones. R.A.F.T.S. and 3 stair-step graphic organizers (pre-writing) due at beginning of hr.   Rough draft due at end of hr. tomo.
Friday	Grade Vocab wb Less. #20   Argumentative essay rough draft (from  the Buckle Down book p.160 about cell phones) due at end of hr.

And one final note--our community lost a great man yesterday.  Ted Fariss passed away late last night as he lost his battle with cancer.  I am personally very saddened by this shocking news.  My heart goes out to Robetha, Monty, and Val.  Our prayers are with them during this tragic loss.  This truly does make a person realize how fragile life is and to live each day as if it were your last.