In conclusion, transition words are key!

HI Everyone!

Transition words are very important to organize your ideas.  Think of your writing as a conversation between you and the reader.  You want to make sure you clearly guide your reader through your writing piece.  Transition words and phrases are key for that.

The tough part is varying the transition words you use.  Don't be a next-aholic!  Move past first, second, third.  Varying your transitions will help to strengthen your writing.  You all know how much I like sentence starters.  Right up until I graduated from college, I always had my starters in front of me when I write.  It's a great way to make sure I don't overuse my favorites.  Writing that's the same all the time is boring!  Shake it up!

This sheet of transition words and phrases will help you vary your writing and stay organized.

Furthermore, use it!!!

Arguments of Policy: Power to the People!

So far in ELA we've studied Argument of Fact- analyzing and providing evidence to prove something is true or false.  We've studied Argument of Judgment- agreeing on a set of criteria then applying that criteria to determine if our subject  is "a good example of something" or a "bad example of something."

We've solved murder cases.

We've committed 18th-century treason.

It is now time to change the world. 

Often people are fully happy to sit back and complain about what is wrong with the world.  They complain how unfair rules are.  They complain about certain laws they don't like.  They even complain about how the same people seem to be chosen as leaders year, after year, after year.  And yet, they generally never once decide to stand up and take a stand for something they believe in.

The art of argument writing, or argument in general, is not something that we only do in English classes.  Using evidence, analysis, claims, warrants, counter-arguments, and rebuttals are all a part of fixing the broken pieces of society and making the world a better place. 

As we prepare to learn more about Argument of Policy- changing rules and laws that we feel need to be changed- don't be a person who just shouts about how unfair it is.  Be the person who organizes, researches, analyzes data, makes an informed decision, respects the opinion of others, and stands up for change... whatever that change means for you.

To spark our discussion, please click this link to our class Padlet identifying rules and laws that you feel need to be changed.

To fix problems we don't have to conquer all the highest mountains in the world.... but we can start with the one right in front of us.  Be a person that others listen to.  Who knows, maybe your argument piece can make a difference.  

TED Talk #5: Technology + Magic = Awesome

I'm ready to yell it from the top floor of the Deering Middle School so that all the world can hear:  Marco Tempest is amazing!  Forget fake sawing people into two pieces.  Who cares about a never ending flower bouquet that turns into a bunch of scarves.  Bunny in a hat, pssshhhh.  They are so 2010.

Techno-Magicians are way better!

What is a techno-magician?

Basically, they are magicians that combine technology and magic. Marco Tempest is the only one I've ever really seen perform, but I plan on checking out more!

Since we do have a budding magician in our Genius Hour ranks, I thought his TED Talk- Augmented Reality, Techno-Magic would be a great talk to share.

Using sleight-of-hand techniques and charming storytelling, illusionist Marco Tempest brings a jaunty stick figure to life onstage at TEDGlobal.

Sit back and enjoy the show.
And
Yes....
Try this at home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Diary of Anne Frank Project Options

Our journey through the short life of Anne Frank has revealed a person, I think it's safe to say, that we could imagine as a friend. We've seen face to face the fear and the longing, the unfairness and the brutality, the sadness and the horrors of the Holocaust. And we've seen it all through the eyes of this remarkable 13-year-old girl.

To complete our experience, it's now time to explore topics, feelings, and moments in Anne's story and create our own responses to them. Here is a link to the Anne Frank: Final Project Options. If anyone is going to DC next week, you may want to take a look at them now to get a jump start. You will find a wide variety of choices for all different interests. Choose a project that fascinates you and jump in! I'm also open to hearing other project suggestions, so please don't hesitate to ask.

Experiencing Anne's story one last time, whether in poetry, artwork, dramatic monologue, eulogy, essay, article, presentation, digital collage, will be the grand finale to end our journey. Take the time to sink in deeply to a part of the play, certain character, or experience. Afterall, we read about other people's lives so we can learn and have our own lives changed. Let your project, no matter the format, be one that you complete with a spirit of excellence and one that you will remember long after we've closed the pages of her story.

                                       

When I Grow Up, I want to be a YouTuber! TED Talk #3

When I grow up, I want to be a doctor, photographer, policeman, fireman, teacher, veterinarian, YouTuber!  Wait, what?!  A YouTuber?!

If any child mentioned YouTuber on a list of dream jobs ten years ago, people wouldn't have had a clue what he was talking about.  Boy, has things changed.

Media has changed.  Communication has changed.  No longer is the Internet a place for professionals and computer geniuses only.  Everyday people are creating and jumping in the deep side of the Web.  It's the ultimate technological power-to-the-people movement.  In this case, the power to create video.  

The pool of video online is wide and deep!  Sometimes funny.  Sometimes sweet.  Some well made.  Some  very well made, but, honestly, most are really, really, really bad.

What fascinates me is that even a horrendously horrible video can still score hundreds of thousands of views. That's right, hundreds of thousands.  It's crazy!

Why do some videos go viral and some fizzle out?  What is the key to getting a large audience for that video of your cat playing the piano?

This guy knows.  I bring you this weeks TED Talk from Kevin Allocca.

Kevin Allocca is YouTube's trends manager.  That means he gets paid to watch YouTube videos all day!  He's got some deep thoughts about web video today.  In this talk from TEDYouth, he shares the 4 reasons a video goes viral.

Here's the link.

Enjoy the video and keep those cameras running when you, your friends, your cat, your parakeet, your dog, your grandpa, or your brother does something interesting.  You never know who will be the next trend in YouTube videos.