S+Cook,Shila+Jo

**Office: Room 216 Education Center** **Office Phone: 778-8153** **Office Hours: Tues and Wed 2:15-3:10** ** E-mail: shila.cook@maine.edu **
 * Teacher: Ms. Cook**

=Summary of Unit=

T his unit will use evidence, such as a podcast, glogster, virtual flashcards, comic life, a position paper, and an I-Movie. All to show understanding in the MLR B3 in the L.A. English Section. The final unit goal will be to make a podcast showing all fo the skill and understanding that should have been accumulated during the unit. Students will need to know how to make a strong convincing argument and be able to support it using evidence from other texts and sources. This podcast will then be presented in front of the class in an assessed presentation. =Establish Goals= Maine Learning Results: English Language Arts- B. Writing B3 Argument/Analysis Grade 6-8 Students use a writing process to communicate for variety of audiences and purposes

= = =Students will understand that= •academic essays state a clear position. •academic essays are stronger because of a clear position. •academic essays are supported with relevant evidence.

= = =Essential Questions= •Why will academic essays be stronger by stating a clear position? •How will me academic essays be stronger by supporting my position? •How will supporting my academic essay with relevant evidence impact my paper?

= = =Students will know= •Terminology: thesis, clear position, relevant evidence, facts, opinions, argument, conclusion •Critical Details: How to make an arguable opinion how to add in supporting evidence, what makes a thesis •Sequences and Timelines: introduction, thesis, position, support, ideas, conclusion

= = =Students will be able to= •Explain: Students will be able to synthesis information from the reading. •Interpret: Students will be able to judge the difference between facts and opinions. •Apply: Students will be able to produce an essay that supports an idea. •Perspective: Students will be able to argue an idea while excluding extraneous information. •Empathy: Students will be able to relate information from the reading to their argument. •Self-Knowledge: Students will be able to recognize a logical argument.

**Performance Task Overview** ** You are going to take the side of a forest ranger or of a logging company executive. The forest rangers are arguing to keep Baxter State Park a reserve, ** ** and the logging executives are arguing mass tree removal. Make a podcast of your position that will be sent into the Governor of Maine who will then ** ** choose a side based on the arguements in the podcasts. My class is based on a 200 point scale. Project and papers are going to make up 75 of the points, homework is 50 points, coming to class prepared is 25 points, tests and quizzes make up 35 points, and participation is 15 points. **

=Expectations= 1) Absent/Late Policy- If you are absent it is your job to come see me and get what you missed. Assume that we always have homework on the days that you are absent. I am not going to remind you that you need to come see me, it is your job. If you miss a quiz you need to make it up within the next five school days or it goes in as a zero. If you are late to my class 3 times then you will be receiving a detention that needs to be done in my classroom in the two days that follow the day the detention was given. 2) Assignment Policy- If you pass your assignment in on time you are eligible for full credit. If you pass it in one class late then the highest grade you can receive is a 90. If it is any later than that it goes in the grade book as a zero. 3) Prepared For Class- You get three chances to come to class unprepared (this includes leaving something in your locker, or at home). After the third time I'm going to give 10 minute detentions that need to be done either in study hall, recess, or after school. 4) Plagiarism Policy- Plagiarism is simply not alright in any case. Although sometimes you don't mean to do it there are no exceptions. If you do not understand how to cite something come ask me. If you have plagiarized then the assignment is an automatic zero and we will have to find a time to take about why it was plagiarized. If it happens again you will be sent to the principal, and if again the parents will be involved.

=Benchmarks=

• I Movie Debate- // A group of three will make a short movie explaining how to recognize a logical argument. Do it creatively, and have fun! //
==== • Blog- // Students will record their research for their paper and final project in blog entries. We will set up the blog for this in class, and there will need to have at least //  //  5 entries. // ==== =Grading Scale= **A** (93 -100), **A-** (90 - 92), **B+** (87 - 89), **B** (83 - 86), **B-** (80 - 82), **C+**(77 - 79), **C** (73-76), **C-** (70 - 72), **D+**(67 - 69), **D** (63 - 66), **D-** (60 - 62), **F** (0 - 59).