English @ CCHS
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english skills - fall 2019

Welcome to English Skills!

overview

English Skills is a requirement for any CCHS student with more than one credit of English to finish. It is the first class all students take - two packed modules that will introduce you to the essential reading and writing skills you'll use during your time at CCHS.

driving questions

  • How do we write clearly and directly?
  • Why is it important to become a writing ninja, especially in an age of texting and Snapchat?
  • What is the value of learning the writing process, rather than just putting something down on paper?
  • How do we break down texts to understand them better?

goals

  • The student will master clear and direct writing.
  • The student will develop and employ their ability to revise and edit personal writing.
  • The student will be able to analyze and discuss their writing using grammatical language.
  • The student will utilize reading strategies to read for comprehension and analysis.

c-tachs

  • Reading
    • Cite strong textual evidence to support analysis of explicit and implicit meaning of text
    • Read and comprehend complex literature and informational text independently, accurately, and for deep understanding
  • Writing
    • Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence
    • Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to the task, purpose, and audience
    • Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach
  • Language
    • Demonstrate command of conventions of standard English grammar when speaking and writing
    • Demonstrate command of standard capitalization and punctuation
    • Spell correctly
  • Speaking and listening
    • Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions
    • Analyze the important points of an oral presentation
    • Present information, findings and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective

week 1 schedule
​(26 - 30 august)

Modes of writing (paragraphs)

NOTE: Activities here are usually organized to parallel your syllabus (introduce, expose, practice, create, reflect) - but because these two weeks are so packed, a day-to-day schedule is a little easier to follow. However, everything outlined here matches the activities listed on your syllabus.

MONDAY
  • Warm-up: how do you feel about reading and writing? (choose a Tell Tale card)
  • Go over expectations and syllabus
  • Take Day 1 Pre-assessment survey (not graded)
  • Mechanics mini-lessons: verbs, nouns, adjectives, adverbs 
    • Practice: parts of speech handout, part I

TUESDAY
  • Review Reading and Writing Handbook
  • Attend mechanics mini-lessons: subjects/verbs, phrases and clauses
    • Practice: subjects and verbs worksheet
    • Practice: phrases and clauses worksheet
  • Attend mini-lesson: paragraph modes - informative, persuasive, narrative
    • Take notes on the three modes (purpose and structure of each)
    • Give editing checklist overview
  • Complete independent work: 
    • Draft an informative paragraph responding to one of the given informative prompts:
      • What should a visitor to BV know about the town?
      • Summarize a book you've read recently or a movie you've seen.
      • Explain how to make your favorite meal.
      • What have you learned about CCHS so far?
    • Draft a narrative paragraph responding to one of the given narrative prompts:
      • Describe a day something in your life changed significantly.
      • What are you grateful for?
      • Describe your proudest moment thus far.
      • Write about an object that tells the story of your life.

WEDNESDAY

  • Participate in Connections Lecture
    • Take notes on purpose of being able to make connections and key categories (as written on the board)
  • Attend mini-lesson: blog post writing and formatting
  • Complete independent work: 
    • Draft a persuasive paragraph that makes connections between three random ideas: form an opinion about one of the words in the quote on the board and defend your opinion using three random topics from the board
      • Use this planning worksheet to get you started

THURSDAY
  • Attend mechanics mini-lessons: conjunctions, prepositions; commas, semicolons
    • Practice: parts of speech handout, part II
    • Practice: commas and semicolons worksheet
  • Finish drafting all three paragraphs (informative, narrative, perusasive)
    • format with MLA
  • Conference with Morgan about paragraphs
  • Revise as needed

FRIDAY
  • Wrap up paragraphs and submit final drafts
  • Get syllabus signed off

week 2
​(3 - 6 september)

reading and writing process

TUESDAY

  • Review syllabus and expectations for the week
  • Attend mini-lesson: commas, part 2 (differentiating between rules)
    • Practice: commas, part 2 worksheet
  • Attend mini-lessons: close reading strategies, essay format
    • Take notes
  • Read Shirley Jackson's  "The Lottery"
    • Read and annotate together
  • Discuss story as a group
  • Create an essay outline in response to one of the following prompts:
    • Who is to blame for the lottery?
    • Is "The Lottery" a relevant story to read today?
    • Would you recommend "The Lottery" to others?
    • What is "The Lottery" saying about tradition?
    • What is the most twisted element of "The Lottery"?
    • How does Jackson use tone to throw off the reader?
    • What message might Shirley Jackson have been sharing through this story?
 
WEDNESDAY 
  • Attend mini-lesson: homophones
    • Practice: homophones worksheet
  • Attend mini-lesson: essay structure, integrating quotes and citing
  • Draft five paragraph essay after outline has been approved
    • Incorporate at least one direct quote from the story
    • Include in-text citation and Work Cited annotation
      • Use this link to create a citation for "The Lottery"
  • Self-assess essay with rubric
  • Turn in essay draft by the end of class

THURSDAY
  • Conference with Morgan about essay draft
  • Revise essay as needed and re-submit

FRIDAY
  • Take English Skills Post-test (earn 80% to pass; you may use your almighty handbook)
  • Get syllabus signed off!


resources

Week 1 Syllabus
Week 2 Syllabus
​
Use this link to create a citation for "The Lottery"

Reading and Writing Handbook

Picture
Click on the thumbnail to access a PDF of the Reading and Writing Handbook.
​
If, somehow, you lost your handbook, please DO NOT print one yourself... let me know, and I'll get you another one. The handbook is here just for added reference.
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The Mission of Chaffee County High School

“Chaffee County High School strives to engage and educate students through systemic and targeted interventions so they can make a positive impact on their community." 

Contact Us

  • Home
  • About
  • Research
  • Reading & Writing
  • Recent Modules
    • Connect >
      • Board Game Reviews (mini)
      • CCHS Powtoon
      • Coco!
      • Creative Writing Seminar >
        • Calvin and Hobbes
        • Pieces of art
        • Tell Tale Cards
      • Dragon Post
      • Editorializing
      • E-mail Etiquette (Dead Poet's Society)
      • E-mail Etiquette (Star Wars)
      • English Skills
      • Go Write Outside
      • Nature Poetry
      • Passion Project
      • Persons, Places, Things
      • Photo Essays
      • Rebel Girls >
        • Jane Goodall
      • Stereotypes
      • Teach Me Something
      • Virtual Reality-ing
      • What Music Means
    • Construct >
      • 2018 in Review
      • Book Censorship
      • Live Anywhere
      • Picture Book Inquiry
      • Propaganda Bombs
      • PSA Powtoon
      • Self-Improvement
      • State of the Union
      • Rant to Reason
      • TED Topics
      • Who Cares?
    • Be Curious >
      • Art Time is Fun Time!
      • Caper with the Classics
      • CCHS Librarians
      • Emma: Friend or Foe?
      • Fahrenheit 451
      • Found Poetry
      • Google Expeditions
      • Hero's Journey
      • Irreverence
      • Macbeth
      • Poetry
      • The Lottery
      • "Worthy" Art