7th Grade English Language Arts (Period 1) Assignments
- Instructor
- Mr. Bruce Luu
- Term
- 2015 - 2016 School Year
- Department
- Language Arts
- Description
-
Upcoming Assignments
No upcoming assignments.
Past Assignments
Due:
Assignment
Exposition of student's narratives is due.
Exposition needs to have minimum of two details and transition sentence to the next paragraph. (Rising Action)
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Assignment
Culminating Project for Lord of the Flies
Choose one of the following projects to show your understanding of the text. I’m looking for analysis, creativity, reflection on the text, and originality. Remember all those class discussions we had? You did an amazing job, and I think you have more to say. Reveal your opinions and ideas through your project. LET ME SEE WHAT YOU THINK.
- Create a newsletter that includes an article covering the rescue of the boys from the island as it might have appeared in one of their hometown newspapers. Some of the details may be invented but try to keep the tone of the news article the same as the tone of the story. Be sure to include a headline! Your newsletter must be 2-3 pages in length. Use a plain, easy to read font. Consider using the MS Publisher program to create your newsletter.
- Create a littleun’s journal describing his experiences on the island. The journal should cover all major events on the island. Be sure to use language that is appropriate for a six year old child. Drawings can certainly accompany the littleun’s words. Because this is one of the easier choices, more is expected.
- Draw or paint a “before or after” picture. Create an impression of one the characters before he landed on the island and your impression of him after he’d been on the island. Use the book for details and description. Write a single-spaced, one-paragraph explanation of your drawing, including 2-3 descriptive quotes. Your illustration need to be large enough for peers to see if placed on display.
- Create a survival manual for living on the island with the other boys. This manual should include all the important materials, strategies and essential knowledge for survival. Your manual must include, but is not limited to, an illustrated cover, a table of contents, examples and illustrations of the strategies offered, clearly defined and logical instructions for survival in different circumstances.
- Make a 3-D model or draw a color map of the island. Include important locations such as Castle Rock, the scar, the bathing pool, the mountain, etc. Consult encyclopedias, photos, or videos of tropical locations for the appearance of coral reefs and tropical vegetation. With at least three quotes from the novel to support your model or drawing, write a single-spaced, one-paragraph summary that explains your creation.
- Create a pictorial representation of the beast. Your visual could present a realistic or an impressionistic depiction. Be inventive with your choice of medium and design. Include a single-spaced, one-paragraph summary that explains your creation and includes one or more quotes from the novel to support your depiction of the beast. Your illustration needs to be large enough for peers if placed on display.
- Create a mask for the following characters: Ralph, Piggy, Simon, and Jack. The masks should reflect the nature of each of the characters.
- Imagine that an illustrated edition of Lord of the Flies is going to be released. (Think graphic novel!) Choose ten scenes or events from the book that would make interesting illustrations. Describe what the picture would show and tell where in the book you would insert them. Include with each scene illustration a quote from the scene to support your choice.
- Use fabric paint, markers, or … create a T-shirt that could be sold at a book promotion for Lord of the Flies. Along with the title of the book, include at least one quotation that you believe best captures the essence of LOF, and illustrate a scene from the story. Write a single-spaced, one-paragraph explanation of your shirt.
- Create a collage of no less than ten quotations for one of the major characters that illustrates his personality, his personal journey in the book. Quotes must span the entirety of the book. Include page numbers for each quotation used, Spice up your collage with visual and include a single-spaced, one-paragraph rationale that explains why you selected each quote.
Rubric
- The project is relevant and shows connections to The Lord of the Flies.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
- The project shows analysis and attention to intellectual thought.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
- The project follows the requirements listed.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
- The project is creative.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
- The project is original.
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Total: ____/50
Comments:
Due:
Assignment
Chapter 12 Discussion Questions:
1. What is Ralph dreading most?
2. What explanation does the officer give for his arrival on the island?
3. When Ralph finally begins to sob uncontrollably, what is he weeping for?
4. If you had been Sam and Eric, and Ralph had appealed to you for help, what would you have done? Before you answer, consider their position and their remark to Ralph that both Jack and Roger were terrors. Do you blame them for not helping Ralph, or do you understand why they felt they couldn't? Explain.
5. What is your reaction to the fact that the officer from the naval cutter saw the smoke on the island and came to the rescue?
6. Why do you think Golding describes the savages as "little boys on the beach" and Jack in particular as a "little boy"? What point do you think he is trying to convey to the reader with this shift in wording?
Due:
Assignment
Finish reading chapter 11 Lord of the Flies
Chapter 11 Questions:
1. After all that has happened, why does Piggy still try to reason with Jack to get his glasses back?
2. Why do the twins suggest they all paint their faces before going to Jack?
3. Jack boasts that his tribe does whatever he wants. Why is this true? Why might the boys prefer Jack's leadership to Ralph's?
4. What happens to the conch? To Piggy?
5. With Ralph's two allies, Simon and Piggy, both dead and Sam and Eric now tribesmen, what are the odds that Ralph will survive? Will he, as Simon believed, get ball all right? Why or why not?
Due:
Assignment
Finish reading Chapter 10 of Lord of the Flies
Answer Chapter 10 discussion questions
1) As Ralph and Piggy discuss the murder of Simon, Ralph admits the truth but Piggy rationalizes the situation. Which response is more typical of human beings in general? Why? What do the two boys' response indicate about each of them?
2) Piggy suggests that they let the signal fire go out at night and relight it every morning. Why? How does Ralph react?
3) When Ralph tells Piggy that he is frightened "of us" and wants to go home, he is echoing Simon's earlier statement that perhaps the boys themselves are the beast. Was Simon right? Does Ralph have reason to be frightened "of us"? Explain.
4) What does Jack's denial that they killed the beast reveal about him? What does his plan that they keep "on the right side of the beast" suggest about the way in which people frequently deal with their fears and superstitions? Do you think Jack truly believes there is a beast? Why or why not? Does his continuing to promote the existence of the beast to the others give him any advantage over them?
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Assignment
Chapter 9 Discussion Questions:
1. After Simon regains consciousness and goes to the mountaintop, what does he discover? What does he do?
2. What is Ralph talking about when Jack tells his tribe to start dancing? Why do you think he does this?
3. Do the chanting, dancing boys recognize Simon? Why or why not?
4. Both the dead parachutist and Simon end up either blowing or washing out to sea. Why is this significant?
Chapter 7-9 Quiz next class.
Due:
Assignment
Finish reading Chapter 8 of Lord of the Flies
Answer discussion questions for Chapter 8:
1) Why do you think no one supports Jack when he challenges Ralph's authority, but then many of the boys end up sneaking off after Jack anyway?
2) What problem does the loss of these boys create?
3) What shows the boys are not just hunting for meat, but are actually enjoying their savagery?
4) Jack leaves the sow's head on a stick as an offering for the beast. What does it say about Jack that he would do something like this?
5) Summarize what the Lord of the Flies tells Simon. Do you think it is telling the truth? Why or why not?
*Be sure to provide evidence to support your answer.
Due:
Assignment
Finish reading Chapter 7.
Answer Chapter 7 questions:
1) What does Ralph daydream about while Jack is in charge of the hunt? What does this show about his feelings and character?
2) What in this chapter shows that the boys are becoming more savage?
3) What shows that even Ralph is susceptible to savagery?
4) How does Jack challenge Ralph? Why do you think Jack does this?
5) What do the boys see and what is their reaction to it?
6) How has the conflict between Jack and Ralph affected the plot with regards to the "Beastie"?
Due:
Assignment
Finish reading Chapter 6 of Lord of the Flies
Answer Chapter 6 Discussion Questions
1) Why do the twins assume that the dead parachutist is the beast?
2) As the biguns, except for Piggy, set out to find the beast, what image of the beast forms in Simon's mind? What does this image mean?
3) What does Jack say the new place he and Ralph have just explored would be a good place for? How does he suggest it could be defended?
4. Comment on you reactions to Simon's encounters with the Lord of the Flies. Do you think Simon is hallucinating because of the heat? Remember that Simon is only a young boy, about eleven or twelve. Do you think what the Lord of the Flies says about the other boys is true, and that they (the Boys) will "do" to Simon if he tries to interfere?
Chapter 4-6 Quiz on Tues./Wed.
Due:
Assignment
Be sure to check out you copy of Lord of the Flies from the school library if student does not have a copy of their own.
* Read Chapter 5 this weekend.
Answer the following discussion questions for Chapter
1) What conclusion does Ralph come to about being chief?
2) What do Ralph, Piggy, and Simon each say about beasts?
3) Why is Ralph considering giving up leadership of the group? How do Piggy and Simon react?
4) What does Piggy say about Jack's feelings for him and for Ralph? What conclusion does Piggy come to?
5) Consider Piggy's statement about there being nothing to fear except people and Simon's remark that if there is a beast it may be the boys themselves. Do these two comments have anything in common? Do you think Piggy's And Simon's statements make sense? Explain.
* Review Chapters 4-6 for Quiz on Tues/Wed,
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Assignment
Persuasive Writing Assignment
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Assignment
Create and Outline in your notebook:
1) Student's Position on the topic
2) 1st Key point that supports your position
- Include textual evidence
3) 2nd Key point that supports you position
- Include textual evidence
4) Counter Claim (Others would argue that...)
- Include textual evidence for or against your position
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Assignment
Students are to revised/edit their essays this week. They are also to evaluate the strength of their essay and have parents sign off their editing checklist
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Assignment
Research/Analytical Essay Due
Students have been working on their essay on Google Drive. Parents with access to their student's google account will be able to access the essay.
Their rough draft should be completed the Thursday/Friday we come back from Thanksgiving Break. 12/3 or 12/4.
Due:
Assignment
Students are to do a close read of the article "Recycled sewer water free for anyone willing to car it home"
Marking the Text
1) Number the paragraphs
2) Circle/Box key terms, names of people & places, dates, and numbers
3) Underline the author's claims and other relevant information
In their notebook:
Students are to write the author's purpose.
- If it is to inform, what is the author trying to teach?
- If it is to persuade, what is the author trying to convince the reader to do?
State two details and explain how they support the author's purpose.
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Assignment
Students are to read assigned article: "Turn on the taps! Bottle water industry is bad for the Earth"
Students are to Mark the text for close read.
1) Number the paragraphs
2) Circle Key Terms, Names of People & Places, Dates, and Numbers
3) Underline the author's claims and other relevant information.
In their notebook;
-Write down the author's purpose (Think PIE)
* If it is to persuade, what is the author trying to convince the reader of?
* If it is to inform, what is the author trying to teach?
* If it is to entertain, what emotions is the author trying to invoke?
-Provide 2 details to support your answer and explain.
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Assignment
Students need to complete the outline for their research essay. Attached is the handout for students to use to complete using their resource note cards. We have been researching in class using chromebooks/ipad and a set of encyclopedia in class using the resource cards.
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Assignment
Click on the link above. Read the article and answer 7 questions in your notebook.
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Assignment
Introduction to Research Packet
Students should have narrowed down their topic for their research paper.
They will also need to create their own explanatory essay questions. There should be a purpose for their research.
"I am working on the topic of __________________________ because I want to find out ____________________________________ so that I can help others understand ___________________________________."
Once they have created their research question, evaluate it by asking yourself:
1) Why is it interesting?
2) Why is it relevant (important) to others?
3) How is it researchable?
Be aware that your essay must:
- Ask a question worth answering
- Find an answer that you can support with good reasons
- Find reliable evidence to support your reasons
On the due date, students will submit topic and research question for approval.
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Assignment
"Seeing the World"
- In your notebook: How much of you life is spent looking at a screen? (TV, Computer, Video Games, Ipad, Tablet, Phones, etc) Has anyone told you that it is negative to be spending so much time staring at the tv, playing video games, on your phone, etc? Do you agree or disagree? Why or why not?
- Annotate the poem "Seeing the World"
- Answer the 5 questions at the bottom of the poem.
- On the back, create a bullseye (4 lines from the poem, 4 drawings, 4 explanations, and the theme in the middle)
- Write a analytical snapshot.
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Assignment
Annotate the poem "Seeing the World"
Create a bullseye for the poem
Write an analytical snapshot
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Assignment
- "The Rider" Annotations (1 example of each type of annotation)
1) Purpose (p)
2) Question (q)
3) Language (l)
4) Draw (d)
5) Connection (=)
6) Confusion (?)
* Writing "I don't understand" or "I don't get this" does not count. You have to write the reason why you don't understand. ie. "I don't understand what the author means when he/she wrote...." If it's a word you do not understand, look it up in the dictionary and write "l" for language.
- Be sure you have completed the 5 questions on the back of the poem "The Rider"
- The Bullseye is also due and you will need to have 4 different examples including the theme of the poem "The Rider"
- The Analytical Snapshot paragraph of "The Rider"
All of this was worked on in the last two weeks except for the Analytical Snapshot paragraph.
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Assignment
Common Assessment Periods 1,3,5 Thursday
Common Assessment Periods 2,4, Friday
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Assignment
In their notebook, students are to draw a representation of the line assigned to them.
Underneath their drawing, students are to explain how their drawing relates to their quote.
Students on the right right of the classroom:
"his loneliness could not catch up to him."
Students on the left side of the classroom:
"A victory! To leave your loneliness... while you float free..."
Periods 2 & 4 will have to find 2 more quotes from "The Rider" and draw a visual representation based on the lines they choose and explain how their drawing relates to their lines.
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Assignment
What are some life lessons you have learned from books, movies, or your parents?
1)
2)
3)
What is a theme/central idea in a story? (Give an example and explain how that theme is shown in the story.)
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Assignment
Notebook check. Students need to make sure they have finished their daily writing assignment. These were done in class everyday. Be sure they are completed.
- "Why me?"
- Notes on Annotation
- Their interpretation of "For Sale; Baby Shoes, Never Worn
- What is loneliness? What constitutes happiness? Can you escape loneliness? How?
Due:
Assignment
Annotate "My Papa's Waltz"
- There should be a total of 9 annotations.
1 for the title and 2 for each stanza.
- There should also be 6 different marks:
P, Q, ?, =, L, and D representing Purpose, Question, Confusion, Connection, Language, and Draw
- Anything highlighted or underlined needs to have a comment. (Why did u mark this specific spot?)