Literary Analysis Reminders

Introduction:
Hook
Background information
Thesis Statement

Body Paragraphs:
Topic Sentence. This sentence identifies the topic of discussion for the paragraph.
Evidence. These are the 2-3 specific details, examples, or direct quotations (select/key phrases) from the novel that explain, support, and/or prove the topic sentence.
Commentary. These sentences  explain and show how and why topic sentence and evidence are connected (your analysis).
Closing Sentence. This sentence closes out the topic of this paragraph and transitions into the next paragraph.
Be choosy about what details you want to include to support your essay. The better your evidence, the more insightful and interesting commentary you will have.

 

Here are some links to videos to help re-explain the thesis statement.

http://teaching.wonderhowto.com/how-to/easily-write-great-thesis-statement-363908/

http://teaching.wonderhowto.com/how-to/write-thesis-statement-easily-363916/

 

Example of Character Analysis Using STEAL:

Character: Reverand Parris
Character Analysis: Hypocrite

Topic Sentence (Assertion): Reverand Parris portrays himself to be something more than he is, which makes him a hypocrite.

Text Evidence/Example/Detail: ” ‘I am a graduate of Harvard College.’ ” (I, 180)  — STEAL: Speech
**Direct Quotation  (Tells the reader that if you go to this section of the text, you will find the exact same words).

Commentary (Effect): Parris wants people to believe that he is worthy of receiving a better pay by claiming to be a graduate of Harvard.  Although he did attend Harvard, he did not graduate from there.  Parris believes that his statement will win him approval in the village by presenting himself in a more elevated manner.

Vocabulary Log, Part 2

Location: Vocabulary Notebook

One new activity that we will add to this semester’s learning is the Vocabulary Log for your Yellow Lists. In your notebook, you have been keeping track of your lists and quizzes, while the activities have been stored in your OWL. Starting this semester, this is the order for your Vocabulary Notebook:

Yellow List
Vocabulary Log
Quiz

The Vocabulary Log is another independent learning opportunity. Here are some of the benefits: 

1. Extends your learning beyond the classroom
2. Helps you to decode the meaning of unfamiliar words 
3. Increases your vocabulary bank for writing and speaking

 FORMAT UPDATE: Here is what your Vocabulary Log MUST look like:

YL# – Vocabulary Log

 Number Date Found Stem or Vocabulary   Complete Sentence  Source Decoded meaning  Dictionary Definition
 Example             1/05  PRIM          ” . . . .  primary school  . . . ”   “Article Title”   & Source Name   prim means first so maybe it means the first school  “preparatory to something else in a continuing process” 
1        
2        
3          
4        
5        

 

 

 

 

 

 

** You must have at least 5 entries in your log.

** Read online newspapers or magazines so that you give yourself the best opportunities to encounter challenging words. :)

Frisco ISD Students Showcase Spelling Skills

Congratulations to our very own Revanth Muppana! Our class is so proud of your accomplishment!

Maus Middle School sixth grader Revanth Muppana finished in second place, falling in seven rounds with the word bacteriophage.

Muppana was defeated only by eighth grader Chetan Reddy of Plano ISD’s Rice Middle School, a four-time winner of the Collin County Spelling Bee, three-time winner of the Dallas Morning News Regional Spelling Bee and three-time participant in the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

This was the first year Maus hosted a spelling bee and sent a student to compete in the county bee. Only sixth graders participated in the competition.

“Revanth’s mother quizzed him over a large list of recommended words, approximately 50 words a night and then 100 words per night,” said Ginger McClendon, Maus sixth grade study skills teacher. “We are so proud of Revanth’s hard work and to call him a friend, student and Mountain Lion.”

Read the entire post here.

Destination Imagination Teams Qualify for State Competition

Fourteen student teams from Frisco ISD schools advanced from Destination Imagination regional competition this past weekend.

Destination Imagination is an educational program in which student teams solve open-ended Challenges and present their solutions at tournaments. In working to solve the Challenges, teams learn important life skills like time management, collaboration, conflict resolution, and creative and critical thinking.

There are seven new Challenges to choose from each year. Each of the Challenges is developed by a team of educators and industry experts who target a particular area of curriculum and its related standards of content and performance. The areas of focus include: Technical, Scientific, Fine Arts, Improvisational, Structural and Service Learning. There is also a non-competitive Early Learning Challenge that allows participants to develop social and problem solving skills.

Up to seven students make up each team, under the direction of an adult Team Manager. Each season takes place from September through May. Depending on the Challenge, teams typically spend two to four months developing and practicing their Challenge solutions.

Regional winners advance to state competition in Katy, Texas on April 12-13. Congratulations to the following teams:

Read the entire post here