Mrs. Stoker's English 2 News
February 2017
What's New
After we return from a long President's Day weekend, we will start our Success unit to apply skills learned this year. In addition to reading and analyzing a biographical novel and informational texts, students will be interviewing successful people about the obstacles they overcame and the keys to their success. They will then share their findings in class. You can view a video interview about the three doctors who wrote the novel we will be reading: The Pact. While growing up amidst poverty, violence, and drugs in tough inner-city Newark, New Jersey, they forge a pact to support each other in rising above their situation and pursuing medical degrees, so they can give back to their community and inspire others to do the same. Their journey is riveting, and their accomplishment is truly inspirational.
Finally, students will continue to work on assigned Study Island topics to reinforce skills they use in class and to prepare them for Missouri End-of-Course (EOC) testing after Spring Break. Every year, our department finds that Study Island helps students to better understand the EOC testing format and to gain confidence in analyzing a variety of written texts. Study Island practice represents a significant portion of your child's grade, so I encourage you to check on progress throughout the quarter.
Key due dates for assignments are provided in detail in the respective curriculum sections below. However, if you would like to receive the same weekly text reminders from me that I send to my students, please text the message "@e04535d" to the cell number "81010" (without the quotation marks, of course).
Argumentative Writing Unit
Key February Due Dates:
- Feb 9 -- Finish Works Cited page in EasyBib and export to Google Docs
- Feb. 10 - Finish transferring supporting evidence found in the article packets to the Research Checklist
- Feb. 10-12 -- Write an essay outline using information from the Research Checklist
- Feb. 13-14 -- Type essay rough draft
- Feb. 15 -- Peer-review essay
- Feb. 16-21 -- Type final draft and upload it to Turnitin.com
We will be completing each step of the writing process in a computer lab during class time. If a student does not use their class time wisely, then they will have to complete these steps at home on their own time.
Success Unit
In addition, students will practice taking the EOC assessment in an online format similar to the actual testing conditions they will experience after Spring Break.
Key February Due Dates for Success unit:
- Feb. 22 - Begin The Pact reading and analysis in class
- Feb. 27-28 - Practice EOC online test format
- March TBD - Interview or research a successful person about their obstacles and keys to success
Study Island
Last month, students completed two initial topics, and points were awarded in the grade book (Technical Meanings and Author's Point of View). If a student is behind in completing these two topics, they can still do so and receive credit, but they will also need to move forward and complete the additional topics outlined below.
This month, four topics need to be completed by March 9:
- Evaluating Arguments
- Analyzing Documents
- Supplying and Developing Evidence
- Organizing Ideas
Two additional topics can be completed for extra credit:
- Gathering Relevant Information
- Citation Formats
In order to complete a topic, students must achieve a score of 80% during a 10-question practice session. Students can re-take as many sessions as needed to achieve this mastery level, and If a topic becomes challenging, students can click on a lesson link to refresh their knowledge of the topic.