Warm Up # 1: Tuesday, December 18

My best friend and I knew that we were going to grow up to be ugly. On a backyard lawn—the summer light failing west of the mulberry tree where the house of the most beautiful girl on our street stood—we talked about what we could do: shake the second-base dirt from our hair, wash our hands of frog smells and canal water, and learn to smile without showing our crooked teeth. We had to stop spitting when girls were looking and learn not to pile food onto a fork and into a fat cheek already churning hot grub.

We were twelve, with lean bodies that were beginning to grow in weird ways. First, our heads got large, but our necks wavered, frail as crisp tulips. The eyes stayed small as well, receding into pencil dots on each side of an unshapely nose that cast remarkable shadows when we turned sideways. It seemed that Scott’s legs sprouted muscle and renegade veins, but his arms, blue with ink markings, stayed short and hung just below his waist. My gangly arms nearly touched my kneecaps. In this way, I was built for picking up grounders and doing cartwheels, my arms swaying just inches from the summery grass.

1. How does the author “hook” his reader?A) Famous quoteB) DefinitionC) Startling StatisticD) Startling Statement

2. This author’s style is marked by its use of:E) Imagery and figurative languageF) Rhythm and poetic devicesG) Vocabulary and literal languageH) Use of the second person

3. Quickwrite: Do you think teens have a pressure to look a certain way? Explain. What pressure do boys have? Girls? What measures do teens take to achieve good looks? Do you? Why or why not?

Warm Up # 2: Wednesday, December 19

1. How does the author “hook” his reader?

A) Famous quoteB) DefinitionC) Compelling QuestionD) Startling Statement

2. Which of the following best describes the organizational pattern of this passage?

E) Cause and EffectF) Compare/ContrastG) Claim/Supporting DetailsH) Definition/Example

3. List the 2 sources the author uses to support his/her claim.

NEW YORK — Stressed out by your high-pressured job? Don’t assume your kid is any less stressed out by school. Especially if she’s a she.

Young people experience stress at a high rate, and females more than males, an extensive Associated Press/MTV survey shows. A similar divide exists in terms of fears and safety: Girls and young women are less likely to feel safe in their neighborhoods, in schools, or from terror attacks.

The source of stress changes as we get older, the survey shows. Among 13-17 year olds, school is by far the most commonly mentioned source. Among 18-24 year olds, it’s jobs and financial matters. In all, fully 85 percent of young people said they felt stress at least sometimes.

“I’m a pretty high-stressed person,” says Katie Duda, 21, who’s finishing up a degree in culinary arts and awaiting the birth of her first child in a few weeks. “But if I’m not stressed out, I’m bored.” Right now, it’s the responsibility of parenthood that is stressful to Duda, who lives in Bakersfield, Calif

Academic performance top cause of teen stress

Warm Up # 3: Thursday, December 20

Quickwrite: If you knew the world was going to end tomorrow, how would you spend your day today?

Warm Up # 3: Thursday, December 20

1. How does the author “hook” his reader?A) Famous quoteB) DefinitionC) Startling StatisticD) Startling Statement

2. This author’s style is marked by its use of:E) Short paragraphs and playful tone.F) Complicated vocabulary and short,

choppy sentencesG) Use of extended personification and

extended metaphorH) Critical tone and long paragraphs

3. Quickwrite: If you had to choose three living people to honor on a postage stamp, who would it be and why?

Can I Get One Sheet of the Lady GaGas Please…By: Katharine Q. Sleeve New York Times September 26, 2011

Let’s face it: the United States Postal Service has not been known for its pizazz in stamp design. But starting next year, along with weather vanes and bonsai plants, there may be some startling new options for those who choose to pay their bills by mail and send their love letters sealed with a kiss.

The service announced Monday that it was tossing out its rule that its stamps honor only dead individuals and will be opening up this postage-stamp-size billboard space to the living, as well.

Eager — some might say desperate — to engage the public as postal revenues decline, the service has asked citizens to jump on Facebook and Twitter and submit the names of five living people they would like to commemorate.

Postal officials said they hoped the move would create some excitement and even prompt some young people to engage with snail mail, at least for special occasions.

Warm Up # 5: Wednesday, January 2

Quickwrite: 10 line minimum. If you could travel back in time to any

time when would it be and why?OR

Imagine you are writing a narrative about time travel. Write a passage from the story.

#6Thursday, January 3

Excerpt “A Sound of Thunder”Eckels glanced across the vast office at a mass and tangle, a snaking and humming of wires and steel boxes, at an aurora that flickered now orange, now silver, now blue. There was a sound like a gigantic bonfire burning all of Time, all the years and all the parchment calendars, all the hours piled high and set aflame."Unbelievable." Eckels breathed, the light of the Machine on his thin face. "A real Time Machine."

An author’s style describes his, or her unique way of writing, including language, imagery, diction (word choice), and syntax (sentence structure). 1. Which of the following best describes

Ray Bradbury’s syntax?a. Short and choppyb. Long and ramblingc. Marked by semicolonsd. Fragmented

2. Which of the following best describes Ray Bradbury’s use of imagery?

a. Cleanb. Warmc. Imaginatived. literal

#7Friday, January 4

Directions. The commas and periods have been deleted from this biography on Ray Bradbury, the author of “A Sound of Thunder”. Rewrite the paragraph and add punctuation where you see the (*) symbol. Be sure to capitalize first letters of new sentences.In a career spanning more than seventy years* Ray Bradbury has inspired generations of readers to dream* think* and create* a prolific author of hundreds of short stories and close to fifty books* as well as numerous poems* essays* operas* plays* teleplays* and screenplays* Bradbury was one of the most celebrated writers of our time*

#8Friday, January 11

Directions. The commas and periods have been deleted from this biography on William Shakespeare. Rewrite the paragraph and add punctuation where you see the (*) symbol. Be sure to capitalize first letters of new sentences.William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26 *1564 * in Stratford-upon-Avon, England * written records give little indication of the way in which Shakespeare’s professional life molded his artistry * all that can be concluded is that over the course of 20 years * Shakespeare wrote plays that capture the complete range of human emotion and conflict*

Warm Up # 9: Monday, January 141. Cite the statement from the text that

best represents the author’s claim (assertion)?

2. Which statement best describes the author’s presentation of argument?

A) The author is vague about the point he is making.

B) The author does not make his main point until late in the article. Use of extended personification and extended metaphor

C) The author implies animals have more feelings than humans.

D) The author clearly explains his argument and supports it.

2. Cite an example the author uses to support his/her claim.

Can Animals Feel?Might animals have feelings such as empathy and caring? Stories abound of animals showing concern for people in trouble. For example, Elian Gonzales, the five-year-old who spent two days floating alone in the Atlantic Ocean after his mother drowned during their escape from Cuba, says dolphins surrounded and protected him from a shark attack. Another shipwreck survivor credits a sea turtle with keeping her afloat until help arrived. In Africa, when a toddler wandered into the jungle, monkeys brought him food, taught him how to hunt and climb trees, and defended him when, years later, he showed fear when approached by humans. Stories such as this, of animals coming to the aid of humans, go back to ancient times.

Warm Up # 10: Tuesday, January 15

1. Cite the statement from the text that best represents the author’s claim (assertion)?

2. Cite an example the author uses to support his/her claim.

3. An explicit argument is directly found in the text. An implicit argument is implied (the reader must infer based on information given). What type of argument is the author of “Oh Deer!” using?A) ExplictB) Implicit

Oh Deer!The deer population in Ohio is absolutely out of control. The number of deer in Ohio has increased by 40% in just under a decade. This has caused a number of problems. Deer-related car accidents are soaring; they have cost Ohioans more than $1 billion in damages. The deer themselves are robbing smaller animals of their necessary shelters and food sources; thus, they are disrupting the delicate ecosystem of Ohio’s natural habitat.

Warm Up # 11: Wednesday, January 16

1. Cite the statement from the text that best represents the author’s claim (assertion)?

2. In this paragraph, the author probably hoped to:

A. prove that Alexander Hamilton was correct

B. Show that all the Founding Fathers were supportive of the cause

C. Present little-known information about America’s political history

D. Convince the reader that America should have supported the French Revolution.

3. The authors argument isE. implicitF. explicit

Viva la Revolution!Americans were divided in opinion over the French Revolution. Thomas Jefferson and other Republicans felt America should support the French rebellion against the French monarchy because France had supported America’s battle against the British monarchy. Jefferson saw the French revolution as being the “spiritual sister” of America’s own revolution. However, Alexander Hamilton pointed out that it had been France’s king who had lent support to the American colonies, not the revolutionaries. He and other prominent Federalists argued that France had only come to the colonists’ aid in order to strike a blow against Britain—not for any selfless motives.

Warm Up # 12: Thursday, January 17

1. Cite the statement from the text that best represents the author’s claim (assertion).

2. In this passage, the student supports his argument by

A. Citing specific data supporting his claimsB. Providing general observations and

opinions against homeworkC. Using quotations from studentsD. Using direct quotes from teachers

3. The authors argument isE. implicitF. explicit

No Homework Tonight…Homework should no longer be assigned to students. The days of carrying home a book bag for the sole purpose of completing mind-numbing assignments serves no purpose. Teachers argue that homework extends learning and teaches responsibility, but I say it simply teaches kids how to rush to find an answer or copy a ‘smart kid’s’ homework. Extracurricular activities and part-time jobs keep many students from completing homework. When it is completed, students often stay up late to do the work, thus causing them to disrupt their sleeping patterns. The next day of school begins on the wrong foot, and the vicious cycle continues. At the heart of it is meaningless homework. During the seven hours kids are in school, teachers ought to use the time to achieve their learning goals for students. Assigning homework just makes everyone’s life more chaotic and frustrating.

Warm Up # 13: Friday, January 18

1. Cite the statement from the text that best represents the author’s claim (assertion)?

2. Is the author’s argument-A. ImplicitB. explicit

AtlantisIn the year 360 B.C., the Greek scholar Plato wrote about an rich island paradise with grand mountain ranges, fertile valleys, and gardens teeming with a variety of animals. Located near the Pillars of Hercules, this large island served as a waypoint for distant travelers. Full of resources and precious metals, it housed an extraordinary city full of wealthy, learned people.

Ever since Plato wrote about this “lost” city of Atlantis, it has captured the imagination of scholars, explorers and dreamers. Almost as long, a debate has existed over whether the lost city was myth or reality. Even today, scholars and scientists are divided on whether or not the city ever existed.

HOMEWORKDirections: Choose one of the following RAFT assignments. 1 Page Minimum. Be creative!

Role Audience Format Topic

Ann Bolyn William Shakespeare Letter We miss you

Biographer Students Encyclopedia entry (make sure you put EVERYTHING in your own words)

William Shakespeare

Poet Readers Rhyming Poem (15 line minimum)

The Bard

You Friend Letter So you broke up, time to move on

Author Teens Narrative Love at first sight

You Parents Text Message Exchange

You are out with someone your parents don’t like