Mr. Reed's 8th Grade English Classroom 2008-09 » Uncategorized http://reed2008.edublogs.org Our Online Writing Workshop Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:50:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 en hourly 1 Post a Debate http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/11/20/post-a-debate/ http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/11/20/post-a-debate/#comments Thu, 20 Nov 2008 21:17:53 +0000 Mr. Reed http://reed2008.edublogs.org/?p=20
If you want your fellow students to debate a particular issue, simply post your essay on your blog, and send an email with a short blurb that states the topic along with a concisely stated thesis (proposition) that summarizes your position.
Send Email to sir.reed@sbcglobal.net: I will then post an announcement on our class web site directing students to visit your blog and add comments.

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]]> http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/10/21/patriots-pen-application/feed/ 0 A Patriotic Launch into our Quarter 2 Focus: Expository Writing http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/10/21/a-patriotic-launch-into-our-quarter-2-focus-expository-writing/ http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/10/21/a-patriotic-launch-into-our-quarter-2-focus-expository-writing/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 03:11:15 +0000 Mr. Reed http://reed2008.edublogs.org/?p=18 patriotism2.jpg

Your first essay only needs to be between 350 and 400 words. The topic ties into our new novel for this next quarter as well as a good topic to reflect on during this election season. What is true patriotism? How should we remember our veterans? This is the theme of a writing contest sponsored by Veterans of foreign Wars. After reading the CRT responses for this week’s topic, write your own essay on “Why America’s Veterans Should Be Honored?”
2008-2009 Theme
“Why America’s Veterans Should be Honored”
Entry Deadline
Nov. 1, 2008
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]]> http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/10/13/portfolio-week/feed/ 0 The House on Mango Street http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/09/11/the-house-on-mango-street/ http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/09/11/the-house-on-mango-street/#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 00:39:36 +0000 Mr. Reed http://reed2008.edublogs.org/?p=12

As you work on your drafts for this quarter’s writing theme, I encourage you to read samples of published memoirs. One collection of autobiographical memoirs that you may enjoy is entitled The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros. She has many excellent “vignettes” of her life in this 128-page collection of personal memories. Check it out!!

]]> http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/09/11/the-house-on-mango-street/feed/ 0 What’s in a Name? http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/08/27/whats-in-a-name/ http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/08/27/whats-in-a-name/#comments Thu, 28 Aug 2008 05:10:04 +0000 Mr. Reed http://reed2008.edublogs.org/?p=9
This first quarter’s theme for writing workshop explores your personal writing territories. We’ll launch off by exploring themes related to your names. What’s in a name? Shakespeare’s Juliet once said, “That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Her tragedy was wrapped around the barriers built around her name. You can write about the origin or history of your name, the story of how you were named, advantages or inconveniences about your name, why you like/dislike your name, or any other memoir related to your name.

]]> http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/08/27/whats-in-a-name/feed/ 0 Voicethread http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/08/26/voicethread/ http://reed2008.edublogs.org/2008/08/26/voicethread/#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:46:36 +0000 Mr. Reed http://reed2008.edublogs.org/?p=5 Here is an example of a voicethread that allows for peer feedback on any piece of writing that you compose. This is an essential part of revision in our writing workshop. Your writing improves as you learn to listen to what works and what doesn’t work in your writing. Comments can be selectively invited, or you can allow just the students in your class or you can broaden it to students in my other English class. Here is an embedded “voicethread” that walks through the six traits of writing:

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