Journals 3rd 9 Weeks• Worth 100 points EACH Semester• Must be ¾ a page.• 1st 5 minutes of each class.• Every entry must be formatted with

– The Journal #– The Date– The “Title”

Every entry must have the 3 formatting items in the top corner of the page. Only 1 entry per page. Longer entries may take up 2 pages if necessary.

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #57January 8, 2014On-Demand CHOPPED

Watch an episode of CHOPPED and create a Compare/Contrast chart to note the similarities and differences between CHOPPED & ON DEMAND WRITING.COMPARE

Similarities between the show & testCONTRAST

Differences between the show & test

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:Your school is putting together a useful handbook to tell new students about the opportunities your school offers. The handbook will let students know about clubs, sports, and other school activities. Your teacher has asked you to write an article for the handbook. Writing Directions:Write an article for the handbook to inform new students about a club, sport, or school activity they might want to join. Be sure to describe the club, sport, or activity and the benefits it offers.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:Many young people enjoy collecting objects like stamps, wristbands, stickers, rocks, baseball cards, and postcards. You should consider several things before starting a collection. What would you like to collect? Is your choice affordable? Where would you keep your collections? How would you organize your collection? Writing Directions:Select a collection you would like to begin or one you already have. Write a speech to present to a group of seventh-grade students. Explain how to start a collection of your chosen item. Include facts, examples, or definitions in order to describe and explain how to plan the collection.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:A group of seventh-grade students planted a community garden. The members of the group take turns working in the garden to make sure the plants are healthy and watered. When the fruits and vegetables from the garden are picked, they are given to a neighborhood food program. Workers for the food program deliver meals to senior citizens. The fruits and vegetables from the garden make the meals healthier and less expensive. The members of the group would like to let the community know about the program. Writing Directions:Write an article about the garden or another project that could benefit your community. The article will be included in a pamphlet to be distributed to families in the neighborhood. Explain the purpose of the project, the work involved, and how it would help people in your community.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:Sometimes spending time alone can be enjoyable. Some students use that time to read, spend time outside, write in a journal/diary, or just update personal information on various web pages and apps. Many other activities, such as catching up on homework, can best be done alone. Writing Directions:Write a narrative to share with your classmates. Tell about a real or imagined experience when you or someone else spent time alone and enjoyed it. Give details about what you or the other person did and why the time was enjoyable.

Journal Entry #1

Form ofTechnology

Average Hours Used

Possible Health Problems

Television 5 Decrease in physical fitnessMP3 players 2.5 Hearing lossInternet & Video Games

3

Increased cases of nearsightedness; wrist, finger, and elbow pain; back and neck pain

Cell Phones Up to 7 (all of the above can be

accomplished on many cell phones)

Elbow and wrist pain; finger and thumb pain

Writing Situation:Some young people use various forms of technology for almost as many hours a day as they sleep. Studies now show that these young people use some kind of technology about seven hours per day. The effects of such extreme usage can cause many problems. For example, schoolwork may suffer as a result. As the chart below shows, technology overuse can also cause health problems.

Writing Directions:Write an explanation to be delivered to your class on how overuse of technology can interfere with your success in school. Include facts, examples and forms of technology in your speech.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:Our school district has adjusted their policy on snacks sold to students. Snacks now have to follow health guidelines and have nutritional value while remaining low in sugar, sodium and other additives. This change has caused some schools to stop selling snacks all together. Writing Directions:Take a stand regarding snack sales in your school. Write a letter to your school principal explaining your stand and persuade him/her to consider your thoughts.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:“I forgot.” At one time or another we all say these words. People forget appointments. They forget important dates or events. They forget to return library books. They forget to do their chores. Most of the time, these problems are easy to solve. If you forget to bring a pencil to class, you can always borrow one from a classmate…problem solved! If you forget to pack your lunch, you can always just eat in the cafeteria that day. Sometimes, however, the problem is much harder to handle. Forgetting can sometimes lead to bad grades, hurt feelings or in some cases permanent damage.Writing Directions:Write a narrative to share with your classmates about a time when you or someone else forgot something important. Include details about the consequences of the event.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:Your teacher has a decision to make. Your class has been given an assignment to find and classify twenty different plants. Your class will go to either a garden or a park. The garden is a community garden in a neighborhood close to your school. The garden contains mainly vegetable plants that are taken care of by volunteers. The park is a state park that is an hour away from your school. The park contains trees, grasses, and wildflowers that grow naturally in your area. Writing Directions:Decide whether you would vote to visit the garden or the park. Write an e-mail to your science teacher in which you present an argument for your vote. Use details, reasons, and explanation to support your choice.

E-mail Format

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:Leaders in your county are considering a law that would require all dog owners to keep their dogs on their property or on leashes while out in public. The county has received many complaints in the last month about dogs running across busy streets, into neighbors’ yards, and through elementary playgrounds. Some citizens have expressed fears for their safety. If this law is passed, anyone who breaks the law will have to pay a fine. County leaders are seeking public opinion as they consider this law.Writing Directions:Decide if you think this law is a good idea. Write an e-mail to the county leaders giving your opinion about whether this law is necessary or not. Use specific details to support your opinion.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:The Chinese philosopher Confucius said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Almost everyone would like to get paid for doing something that they love. However, job satisfaction is just one of many factors to consider when choosing a career path. For example, how much money do you need or want to make? Is the respect of others very important to you? How much stress are you willing to have in your life? There are pros and cons to EVERY job/career path.Writing Directions:Decide which type of job/career is most appealing to you. Write an explanation for your school newspaper about your chosen career for the future. Your article should support your choice logically and effectively.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:Schools have been focused on making students more active and lead healthier lifestyles. PE and recess may provide some activity during the school day, but it is the habit of walking and/or riding a bike to and from school that can make the biggest health difference. Your school and community are trying to think of ways to encourage students to do just that—walk or ride a bike to school. Writing Directions:You’ve been invited to represent the student body and speak at a PTO meeting to give valuable student input on this issue.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, once said, “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” Some people are too afraid to try things for fear of failure. President Roosevelt believed that not trying at all was worse than any threat of failure. Writing Directions:Write a narrative about a real or imagined experience of a person that tries something new even though there is a fear of failing. Your narrative will be published on the school website for parents, students, teachers, and community members to read.

Journal Entry #1Combination Day January 27, 2014Parts of Speech RemindersOrganize your NOTECARD to calculate your COMBINATION.

Sentence Count—Word Count—Part of Speech CountNOUN (n.) VERB (vt./vi.)

CONJUNCTION (conj.)

ADVERB (adv.)

PRONOUN (pron.)

ADJECTIVE (adj.)

PREPOSITION (prep.) INTERJECTION (interj.)

LEAVE ROOM FOR NOTES!!

ARTICLES: a, an, the

Person, Place, Thing, Idea, Quality AND

Verb + ING = GERUND

Words that describe actions or forms of TO BE: is, am,

are, was, were, be, being, been

I, you, he, she, it, we, they ALSO: these, those, that, this, such, everyone, whoever, whatever

Words that DESCRIBE nouns/pronouns EX: other,

only, various, similar, common, true, major, important, different

Words that DESCRIBE verbs, adjectives, or adverbs EX: almost, nearly, never, often, only, even, far,

soon, less, really, well, more

See the Preposition Song Lyrics!!

and, or, but, nor, so, for, yet, because, if, since, until,

although

agreed, duh, hey, hallelujah, indeed, no, please, whoa,

yikes, yes, oops

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #58January 28, 2014SPAM Practice

TOPIC: Sentence Combination ActivityDetail 1- Successes/Growth

Are you writing MORE sentences? Using MORE variety?Detail 2- Room for Improvement

What areas still need improvement?

Write out a SPAM paragraph using the TOPIC and DETAILS listed below (Remember: TDSSDSSC)

The COMBINATION for this paragraph should be 8-8-?. Challenge yourself to start EVERY sentence with a different word!

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #59January 31, 2014Gratitude Day!

Topic: Showing Gratitude for ________________

Detail 1: ___________________ Detail 2: ___________________

Monthly Challenge:Your paragraph

MUST use 8 DIFFERENT words

to start each sentence AND one

of those 8 sentences MUST

start with an INTERJECTION!!

(Remember: TDSSDSSC)

Write your TOPIC & 2 DETAILS at the top of your page, then wait for the timer!!

Dear Mr. Curtis,I just wanted to take a minute to let you know

how much you are truly appreciated. For one thing, you have definitely earned the right to be called the “voice of the Tigers.” Yes, there are many “voices” echoing through any gym the Tigers are playing in, but there is NO voice as energetic as yours. When I hear, “Here we go Tigers, here we go (clap, clap),” I want to rise to my feet and chant along with you—and I’m sure the team appreciates the extra “boost” that your enthusiasm provides. Another reason you deserve some gratitude is the way you support the team off the court. Bryant has shared with me how you pray with the team on occasion and I’m so appreciative of that. Even though I’ve never heard those particular words of encouragement, I’m glad that you are showing that type of Christian leadership with the team. All in all, your commitment to the team as a parent, a “preacher,” and a cheerleader is unparalleled and I just wanted you to know that all your efforts don’t go unnoticed…THANK YOU!! Sincerely,

Hope Foster

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #60February 6, 2014Starry Night

Copy the following chart in your journal. Leave LOTS of room for notes!

LINE SHAPE/FORM SPACE

COLOR VALUE TEXTURE

Journal Entry #1Scavenger Hunt Sample:Analysis of Anne Sexton's "The Starry Night"

Anne Sexton, inspired by Van Gogh's "The Starry Night," creates a multi-layered artistic creation in her poem "The Starry Night". Anne Sexton infuses her poem “The Starry Night” with themes of life, death, fire, color, and power. The speaker is ultimately drawn to the night as a source of power in which she can separate from herself and reach oblivion.

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #61February 11, 2014Ekphrastic Phrase Poetry

Write an EKPHRASTIC

poem about Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” using Pattern #1.

Absolute phraseAbsolute phraseAbsolute phrase

Independent clausePrepositional phrasePrepositional phrasePrepositional phrasePrepositional phrasePrepositional phrase

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #62February 12, 2014EKPHRASTIC Poetry

Using this painting by Picasso write an

ekphrastic poem like the ones you practiced

with Constance Alexander

(four stanzas, 8 lines, 16 words,

3 words/1 word pattern).

“The Old Guitarist”

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #63February 13, 2014Starry Night INTRO

3-4 Sentences

2-3 Sentences

1-2 Sentences

1 Sentence

7-10 Sentences Total

BIG IDEA—Inspiration (in general)

ART as inspiration/“Starry Night” by Van Gogh

Poetry & Lyrics INSPIRED by “Starry Night”

Introduce ALL 3 artists/works

Journal Entry #1Combination Day February 17, 2014Parts of Speech RemindersOrganize your NOTECARD to calculate your COMBINATION.

Sentence Count—Word Count—Part of Speech CountNOUN (n.) VERB (vt./vi.)

CONJUNCTION (conj.)

ADVERB (adv.)

PRONOUN (pron.)

ADJECTIVE (adj.)

PREPOSITION (prep.) INTERJECTION (interj.)

LEAVE ROOM FOR NOTES!!

ARTICLES: a, an, the

Person, Place, Thing, Idea, Quality AND

Verb + ING = GERUND

Words that describe actions or forms of TO BE: is, am,

are, was, were, be, being, been

I, you, he, she, it, we, they ALSO: these, those, that, this, such, everyone, whoever, whatever

Words that DESCRIBE nouns/pronouns EX: other,

only, various, similar, common, true, major, important, different

Words that DESCRIBE verbs, adjectives, or adverbs EX: almost, nearly, never, often, only, even, far,

soon, less, really, well, more

See the Preposition Song Lyrics!!

and, or, but, nor, so, for, yet, because, if, since, until,

although

agreed, duh, hey, hallelujah, indeed, no, please, whoa,

yikes, yes, oops

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #64February 21, 2014Trustworthiness

A. Make a LIST of the people you TRUST.

B. Explain how they EARNED your trust.

C. Watch the 1950’s video on trustworthiness and write a definition for the word.

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #65February 24, 2014Title Brainstorm

RHYME ALLITERATION

PUN WILD CARD IDEAS

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #66February 26, 2014Planning StrategyTurn your Journal Page into the Open

Response Planning Page:

I am to do… Outline

Key Terms RespondBe accurate. Be neat. Be thorough.

Journal Entry #1Writing Situation:According to Webster’s Dictionary a trustworthy person is “one who can be relied on to do or provide what is needed or right; worthy of confidence; dependable.” Each year, the Character Counts Coalition of Murray/Calloway County sponsors an essay contest challenging students to write about one of the six pillars of character. These essays are designed to be a little bit informative, a little bit persuasive and sometimes a little bit narrative. Hopefully, the essay will encourage good character traits within our community. Writing Directions:Write an essay for the community of Murray focusing on the importance of TRUSTWORTHINESS in your everyday life.

Journal Entry #1Journal Entry #67February 28, 2014Gratitude Day!

Topic: Showing Gratitude for ________________

Detail 1: ___________________ Detail 2: ___________________

Monthly Challenge:Your paragraph

MUST use 8 DIFFERENT words

to start each sentence AND you must have at least

ONE example of parallel structure in

your note!

(Remember: TDSSDSSC)

Write your TOPIC & 2 DETAILS at the top of your page, then wait for the timer!!

Dear Murray Middle School PTO,I just wanted to take a minute to let you know

how much you are truly appreciated. For one thing (and most recently), you out-did yourselves on this years’ Teacher Appreciation Week. Of course, we always look forward to our catered lunches throughout the week, but this year you seemed to go above and beyond (by the way, chicken pot pie day was ingenious). Every single day of the week, the food was great, the décor was welcoming, and the hospitality was unparalleled. Another reason you deserve some gratitude is the way you support teachers AND students throughout the year. Without your financial support, we wouldn’t have some of the technology that makes our classrooms more effective (not to mention the other activities and projects you support). It’s not just about finances though—the strong parent involvement at our school makes MMS a better place to work. All in all, your commitment to the school and ALL those who work and learn here is appreciated more than you know (and definitely more than you are ever told!).

Sincerely, Hope Foster