Lesson #6 - Commenting

You are required to thoughtfully comment on at least 2 "all-star" blog posts from my last blog post.  My hope is that you will get to know other readers and writers and that you will learn from your peers.  Each comment should be at least 1 paragraph long (5-7 sentences).


A good, thoughtful blog comment might:

• praise interesting ideas in the original post, specifically (don't just say "nice job")
• ask for clarification of any unclear parts of the original post
• add the responder's own thoughts to original ideas to build strength
• contradict or challenge (respectfully!) by explaining another aspect or asking a question to further dialogue
• contain personal connections (to the self, the world, another text, or another part of the same text) to deepen thinking about the post

***  AND good, thoughtful blog responses  always

* are respectful and coherent
* use standard vocab, spelling, and grammar
* show consideration of the original blogger's work and thought

Sample starters: 

• When you said __________ I thought________
• I love the line ____________ because___________
• When you said ____________ it got me thinking about________

****Always remember....Additionally, as a writer, you will want to begin crafting your blog posts with your audience in mind.  Think about how you might invite people into the ideas you are writing about.  For instance: 

• how could a creative title draw people in? 
• how can the use of questions invite people to comment?
• how can you craft your blog post so that it sounds less like a boring homework assignment and more like a conversation people are dying to join? 

Make sure to check back on Wednesday, because I will be adding additional all-star posts here.

My intention is...that by reading one another's work, great things will happen.  For instance: 

• You can get book recommendations
• You can get into conversations about books you have read, too, or topics that are interesting to you
• You will become a better writer because not only are you reading work, but you will begin to care more when you know that people are reading your work

Lesson #5 - All Star Mentor Posts

Dear students,

As I've been reviewing your blogs, I've noticed some improvements in most of your blogs.  I almost feel as if I need to write this blog post to different groups of students...the students who are actively writing thought-provoking posts and the students who are either missing blog posts or are not digging deeply into the interpretation of the text and extending with a deep connection to the theme of the text.  You are such an exceptional and avid group of writers and readers, and it is disappointing to see some students not rising to the occasion of really thinking through your reading, and just considering our blog posts to be just another homework assignment.  

• Most importantly, I want you to push yourself in your blog to not just include your theory/theme but to also choose one of these 9 options each week too.  Include the option you are trying out as a label to your post.  
• Remember, retell should only be used to give context for your ideas.  I do actually read your posts:) I can tell if you just wrote three paragraphs of retell or a review as if you are on Amazon.
• Please, please write with an academic tone.  It can still be personal, but the work you post should represent your best self: capitalization, italicizing titles, sophisticated sentence/paragraph structure, etc.  

Beyond writing long, I want you to focus on EXTENSION.  This is the last part of the critical reading process. Ask questions like: Does this relate to me? People my age? What is the author trying to tell me about this? Does this relate to a bigger issue in our world?  I will be looking for smart extension work.

Here are some "All Star Mentors" to inspire you to write.  I encourage you to read these posts and see what they are doing not only as writers, but what does it seem they are doing as active readers while in their books?  

Calliope

Kate 

Eve

Dean

Cassie

Elizabeth

Olivia

I will continue to add more all-star blog post here up until Wednesday.

I'm looking forward to being inspired by your next round of posts!

Mrs. Butler

Lesson #4 - Putting Your Best Foot Forward.....

Part One: Grammar
One of the biggest differences between writing that stays in your notebook and writing that gets published online is that you have to be on your A-game when it comes to formatting your reading responses.  When you are emailing or texting your friends, that is a different kind of writing and a lack of conventions (following grammar rules) may be appropriate. Our blogs, though, are a way of practicing writing in an academic setting.  Please practice using academic writing on your blogs. I'll be looking for the following conventions that you should already be familiar with on your blog:

• Italicize and capitalize the title of your book.
• Use purposeful paragraphs when you switch to a new topic or idea
• Capitalization in general: you know what gets capitalized! Don't scare me! 

Part Two: Write for an Audience

Your thoughts are no longer living in your mind and your peers will be reading your thoughts beginning in the next blog post.  That means that you need to write with your audience in mind.  It is important to think about the following: 

• Give your reader a bit of context so that he or she can understand what you are writing about. Context can be attained in 1-2 sentences and includes the title of the book plus a brief introduction to the character, setting and conflict. For example, "I have been reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, set in a dystopian, futuristic society that forces 12 children to participate in an Olympic-style game, only it is to the death.  The reader is allowed inside the mind of Katniss, the main character, as she fights her way through the games."
• Try to "bookend" your post thoughtfully: use a lead/hook to begin and try to leave your reader thinking at the end. 
• As a courtesy, if you are writing about the end of a book, put a "spoiler alert" in the post so that anyone who hasn't read the book doesn't see what happened in the end, just in case they want to read the book.  It is very possible to write a reading response thoughtfully without giving away the entire plot. 
• Continue to reveal the theme/theory of the book.  What is the big meaning of the story?  In this blog post please compare your book with another book you have read.   
• Connect with your book.  Immerse yourself within the confines of the book and deeply resonate with the book and connect it to your life, the world or another literary piece.  I want to be able to escape into your brain to see how this book as changed you. 

Lesson #3 - Lesson #3 - Social Action/Nonfiction

I have read and been inspired by a number of social action stories.  Here are links to read and discover on your own.  There is also a link for the documentary made about the O Ambassadors Club and MLK Club.  I hope you are moved by one.  Please write your lesson #3 blog post in response to someone that changed your thinking about life, and make sure you follow our nonfiction guidelines for your blog post mentioned below. 




One of my favorite magazines and online journals is Good.  They run a regular series called People Are Awesome and it's one of my favorites.  Please read one of these stories or about any of the following influential people and respond to them on your blog this week.  

1. A Chance for Victory - Documentary about O Ambassadors and MLK Club of SOMS ***This must be viewed at home.
2. Time Magazine 2015 Person of the Year
3. Teens Make a Difference Day
4. CNN Hero of the Year  And the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2015.

Approach the article  like an appreciation: what did you appreciate about this person? 

Also remember to consider the "extension" aspect of reading:                                                                                                            

• What is the author trying to say to you as a person? 
• What is the article/documentary truly about?
• What have you learned about this person?
• How has this person changed your thinking about life? 

Lesson #2 - What should your blog post look like?

This post is for all students... but especially students who are struggling with how to

structure a basic blog post or relying too much on retell or writing a book review.

Please remember that your blog is a place for you to RESPOND to your reading, not

to retell the plot or to merely "review" it.  I want to know where your mind wanders

while you are reading or after you put the book down.  If you don't naturally do this,

the discipline of having to write a response weekly will help you practice.

Paragraph One: Hook your reader in with an enticing lead.  Give the reader a few

sentences of context (character, setting, conflict, theme) so he or she has the basic

idea of what is going on.  Let your reader know why you have chosen this book.

Paragraph Two: Introduce your THEORY, or your idea about what the book is 

actually about. What is the true meaning of this book to you?  Your theory can

be about any macro idea or micro detail that is interesting to you. Then, UNPACK 

your theory...which means you can elaborate on why you believe it or how you came to it, 

to begin with. You can use textual evidence to unpack your theory.  Reveal the theme of 

the story as well.

Paragraph Three: CONNECT your theory to the world outside of the story.  What

does the author want you to know, feel or think?  Can you relate to it at all? What does

this story have to say about the world or people?

I will also be looking for you to be writing about a different book in this blog post, unless 

you have been approved otherwise.  

I will also be looking for at least two words from our prefix tree lists (pre- or co-).

Lesson #1 - What do I write about?

A few Guidelines

1. This blog is a part of Reading Workshop.  Therefore, all content on your blog must be related to your reading and writing life in some way.  Please do not use this blog as an online journal.
2. My expectation is that we are a community of readers and writers.  I will be monitoring all blogs and trusting that your words that appear online will come from a place of respect for your fellow classmates as well with a tone that is appropriate for school. 
3. Also, please type in readable colors and fonts.

For the time being, starting now, the minimum requirement for blog length is 3 Paragraphs.  (at least 7 sentences/per paragraph)  

Here are some Sample Blog Prompts to get your fingers clicking...

Character/Protagonist Questions: 

1. Describe a character relationship that has evolved or changed over the course of the story.  Do you think that all relationships change over time? Why? How? Or why not? Explain.
2. How did your protagonist change by the end of the story? Was it for better or worse? What does this teach you about character change in the lives of real people? Yourself?

Conflict/Resolution/Theme Questions: 

1. Describe both the internal and external conflicts in the story.  Do you agree with how they are being handled? Explain. Can you relate?
2. Why do you think the story resolved the way it did? What theme did it reveal? Did you like the ending? What does it teach the reader about life?
3. How would you rewrite the ending or a scene? Why? What would that change about the theme and what a reader would take away? 

Zooming in On Details Questions:

1. Quote a line from the story that really spoke to you personally.  Unpack it and describe why. 
2. Connect with the story!

Happy Writing...

Blog Requirements

Google Blogger

How to Create a Blog

1. Go to www.blogger.com (a google app) and sign in with your GAFE gmail account.
2. Click on "Create a Blog" button
3. Title your blog "Your name Reading Blog"
4. Create your blog's URL address (see if it's taken).
5. Click "Create a Blog"
6. Click on Blog you created

Privacy Settings and Options

1. Click on Settings (Basic)
2. Scroll down to permissions. 
3. Click on "edit" next to Blog Readers. 
4. Then click on "Private - only these readers" and add me as a reader (mwteacher1@gmail.com).  

Add a Profile

1. Click on Posts inside of your blog.  
2. Then click on your name on the right side of the screen.  
3. Then click on Edit Profile.  You must complete the entire profile.  
4. Your introduction must be about you as a writer and a reader.  
5. View my blog for example. http://butler255.blogspot.com/
6. You don't have to complete:
1. Audio URL
2. Homepage URL
3. Wishlist URL
4. IM username
5. Location - should only be NJ
6. Random Question

Change your Layout  - Make sure your gadgets are added in the side bar

1. Layout...Add a Gadget - then click on More Gadgets (+ Fish or +Puppy)
2. Layout...Add a Gadget (+My Blog List)
3. Layout...Add a Gadget (Blog Stats - Title:  Total Pageviews)
4. Layout...Add a Gadget More Gadgets:  (Followers)
5.  Layout...Add a Gadget (Blog Archive)

You cannot add the gadget (Google+)

Change your Background (Template)

1. Go to template and (add a background)

• Join Mrs. Butler's class blog site and personal blog site.  (You must visit each of my sites and click on Join this Site.)
• View my classroom blog always when you have questions.