Thursday, April 30, 2015

Would You Rather...

Dear students,

For your final blog posts, you will write a persuasive paragraph in a series called "Would You Rather." In each post, I will give you a scenario, and you will have to defend your answer using the following criteria:

  • topic sentence stating your opinion
  • At least 3 supporting sentences defending your opinion
  • One counter argument
  • A concluding sentence summarizing your writing

Here is your "Would You Rather" for today:

Would you rather have a three-day weekend every week or have an extra month of summer vacation?

I cannot wait to see what you will write!

Your teacher,
Ms. B

P.S.-Here is my example:

        If I had the choice to have a three-day weekend every week or have an extra month of summer vacation, I would rather have a three-day weekend every week. If I had a three-day weekend instead of two days, I would get a lot more done! In addition, I would not have to work as much, and I could spend more time working out, shopping, reading, relaxing, and hanging out with my friends. Plus, I would not feel so rushed on my weekends. I could even go out of town for long weekends and visit family and friends! However, some may prefer an extra month of summer vacation because they could take longer trips. I think the benefits of longer weekends out weigh the benefits of an extra month of summer. I prefer having a three-day weekend  rather than having another month of summer vacation.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Poetry Madness: Championship Game!

Welcome to the championship game!!!

Blackmon: Mother to Son vs. Roger the Dog

Ward: Life Doesn't Frighten Me vs. Roger the Dog

Your response must be at least 3 sentences long and include the following:
*Who should win the championship.
*Why you connect to the poem.
*What you like about the poet's craft.

If your response is not detailed and does not answer both parts, it will be disqualified. In addition, if there are multiple grammatical and spelling mistakes, your response will be disqualified.

It takes attention to detail and hard work to be a champion, so your blog post needs to reflect your best writing and thinking. May the best poem win!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Poetry Madness: Final Four, Game 2!

You will need to read the winners of Game 3 and 4 for this round: 

Roger the Dog and Do You Carrot All For Me?

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

  • Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
  • What personal connection can you make?
  • Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.
 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Poetry Madness: Final Four, Game 1!

Welcome to the Final Four! 
You will need to read the winners of Game 1 and 2 for this round: 

Blackmon: Mother to Son and Life Doesn't Frighten Me
Ward: The Eagle and Life Doesn't Frighten Me

Your response needs to be a paragraph with at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

  • Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
  • What personal connection can you make?
  • Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, word choice, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.
 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Friday, April 10, 2015

Poetry Madness: Elite 8, Game 4!

Reread Do You Carrot All For Me and The New Suit. Your response needs to have at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

  • Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
  • What personal connection can you make?
  • Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, personification, alliteration, imagery, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

Make sure your answer is detailed and answers the three questions.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Poetry Madness: Elite 8, Game 3!

Reread Choosing Shoes and Life Doesn't Frighten Me. Your response needs to have at least 3 sentences, but you do not need to summarize the meaning of the poems. Instead, your response should include the following information:

  • Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
  • What personal connection can you make?
  • Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, personification, alliteration, imagery, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.

Make sure your answer is detailed and answers the three questions.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Poetry Madness: Elite 8, Game 2!

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read "Roger the Dog" and "If~" and choose a winner.

In Round 2, you need to answer the following questions in complete sentences:
  • Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
  • What personal connection can you make?
  • Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, personification, alliteration, imagery, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.
Make sure your answer is detailed and answers the three questions.


Monday, April 6, 2015

Poetry Madness: Elite 8, Game 1!

Now that you have read through all of the poems and chosen a winner to advance to the Elite 8, the pressure has mounted. Read "Mother to Son" and "The Eagle."

In Round 2, you need to choose your winner based on the following criteria:
  • Which poem's meaning is more important to you?
  • What personal connection can you make?
  • Which poet's craft do you enjoy more? Poet's craft can include repetition, imagery, personification, rhyme, simile/metaphor, etc.
 Make sure your answer is detailed and explains the three bullet points.

Here is an example of advanced/proficient writing:

Mother to Son has a more important meaning to me because it is talking about a 
woman who was probably a slave telling her boy that life isn't going to be easy and 
I really think that goes close to my heart. And I feel bad for them.

My connection is with the poem, The Eagle.The eagle in the poem sounds like it is 
the oldest and likes to take charge. I have a connection because I am the oldest 
and I love to take charge and boss my little sister around.

I like Mother to Son's poem craft more because it rhymes better and the way it is 
written sounds like the mother is from the South.

Poetry Madness: Game 8!

Read Game 8 poems. Answer each question below. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition) AND your personal connection to the meaning. Don't forget to write with M.I.N.T.S.!



Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing. 

Here is an example of proficient writing:

The first poem, Do You Carrot All For Me?, is about someone who wants to get married. The person keeps using his favorite foods to describe how much he loves her, and what their life is going to be like. 

The second poem, The Castle in the Fire, is  telling a story about a knight fighting a dragon to save a princess. This story is really thrilling with a lot of fighting.

I liked Do You Carrot All For Me? because even though it had no rhyme scheme, it used funny little food jokes to paint a picture in your mind. Also, it makes you smile a little bit. I also like it because the author used metaphors between foods and face features. For example, he says she has "radish" hair instead of "reddish" hair.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Poetry Madness: Game 7!

Read Game 7 poems. Answer each question below. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition) AND your personal connection to the meaning. Don't forget to write with M.I.N.T.S.!

Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing. 


Here is an example of proficient writing:

The first poem, Do You Carrot All For Me?, is about someone who wants to get married. The person keeps using his favorite foods to describe how much he loves her, and what their life is going to be like. 

The second poem, The Castle in the Fire, is  telling a story about a knight fighting a dragon to save a princess. This story is really thrilling with a lot of fighting.

I liked Do You Carrot All For Me? because even though it had no rhyme scheme, it used funny little food jokes to paint a picture in your mind. Also, it makes you smile a little bit. I also like it because the author used metaphors between foods and face features. For example, he says she has "radish" hair instead of "reddish" hair.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Poetry Madness: Game 6!

Poetry Madness: Game 6!

Read Game 6 poems. Answer each question below. Remember to explain WHY you chose the winner based on poet's craft (rhyme, line breaks, punctuation, simile/metaphor, word choice, repetition) AND your personal connection to the meaning. Don't forget to write with M.I.N.T.S.!


Your post needs to include the following:
1. What is the meaning of the first poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

2. What is the meaning of the second poem? (Summarize in one sentence)

3. Based on the criteria, which poem did you choose and WHY?

 ***Please tell me everything you think, but use your best writing.