September 16, 2011 Day 2“Only Playing the Best” Conventions

• Do you notice any odd uses of sentence punctuation in Paragraph 1?

• What happens when a writer uses too many exclamation points?

• Do you know what a gimmick is?• Take out the extra exclamation points.• Does making this change diminish your

understanding of the excitement the character is feeling? Explain.

A strategy designed to attract attention

• Define vocabulary appropriate to the theme of literary selections.

• Interpret connotative meanings of vocabulary terms.

• Demonstrate knowledge of how words function in a complete sentence.

• Utilize the newly acquired vocabulary terms to make predictions about the stories we will read.

Student GoalsMr. Finger will be visiting us to

discuss HSA requirements and PSAT.

“Contents of the Dead Man’s

Pocket”by Jack Finney

“The Leap”by Louise Erdrich

DeleteriousDilemmaEpiphanyFoolhardy

IncognitoIronic

MetamorphosisPrecarious

Risky Vocabulary

Group RolesGroup Role/Job Responsibilities

Tech Specialist Use the computer appropriately. Set and complete goals.

Historian Writing down all required information including everything on the concept web

Seeker Using the dictionary to locate accurate definitions and parts of speech

Overseer Making sure all directions are being followed and all work is accurate and clear

• Define and identify the part of speech for the theme term using the dictionary

• Web from theme term with known synonyms

and antonyms • Using a dictionary, other resources, and

Visuwords.com, make sure the concept web has at least 15 synonyms/antonyms.

Phase 1

Jeopardy

safety

surety

risk

hazardous

danger

menacingly

peril

• Select and number the 8 most difficult words from the concept web.

• Use a dictionary and Visuwords.com to define and identify the part of speech for each of the words.

• Determine the connotative meaning of each word. Label it positive, negative, or neutral.

Phase 2

1. Menacingly – (adverb)meanly or with negative intentions2. Peril – (noun) danger or doom3. Hazardous-(adjective) dangerous and unhealthy4. Risk-(noun) a calculated chance that may not result in success5. Surety – (noun) to be certain

Phase 3• On the back of the web, write an original,

complete sentence for 4 of the 8 words you selected.

• Everyone is responsible for a sentence!• Use color to identify the word you

chose.• Include context to help a reader

understand the meaning of the new word.

1. The criminal glared menacingly at the prosecution when the jury’s decision to condemn him to death was read aloud at the murder trial.

2. Smoking is irrefutably hazardous to one’s health, so officials strongly discourage teens from engaging in this risky behavior.

• Be prepared to share the vocabulary terms you have defined.• Be prepared to share the original

sentences you composed.

Phase 4

Full Credit• The web contains more than 14 valid

synonym/antonym branches.• All required words are labeled for part of speech and

correctly defined in your own words.• All required words have been correctly labeled for

connotative meaning.• There are three or more context-rich, original

sentences.• The group worked productively the entire class

period.• The group used technology to include information not

readily available in a classroom dictionary.

Extension• Create a mini-poster for one of the most

difficult or challenging vocabulary terms from the activity

• Be sure to include the word, a simple accurate definition, the correct part of speech, an illustration, and any other important information about the word (such as word parts, origin, or other forms of the word)

Homework• Complete Extension activity and turn in on

Monday, Sept. 19.

• Week 3, Countdown for Testing, due Mon., Sept. 19.