Monday, April 13, 2026

Bell Work - Grammar review handout from practice test...answer each question and then explain why you chose each answer.

We will go over the grading rubric used by the state for grading essays. We will discuss the differences in each of the graded areas for 1-4.

We will read and grade four different sample essays and discuss why we believe they deserve the grade we give them.

You will receive your own essay back to grade in each area and you will be asked to explain why you have given yourself the grade you have based on the rubric.

 

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Bell Work - Grammar review handout from practice test...answer each question and then explain why you chose each answer.

Get the video transcript and pull up the YouTube video of "$50bn Ponzi Scheme: How Madoff Did It"

We will finish the video and you will answer the following questions:

3. What is the "classic trick" Madoff used to make his payments?

4. What is the source of "profit" in a Ponzi scheme?

5. What usually happens to a Ponzi scheme?

We will discuss answers as a class.

 

 

I am going to give you a reading that we are going to read together. This is a book review, or an informational text, that gives information about the book and its topic, as well as an opinion of the quality of the book. The book being reviewed is "The Wizard of Lies" by Diana Henriques. Notice Dianan Henriques is not the author of this book review. the author of this review we are reading is Liaquat Ahamed.

 

As we read the first paragraph, keep this in mind:

Determine the central idea in the first paragraph of "How Bernard Madoff Did It." How does this idea emerge and what details shape its development?

I will read paragraph 1 to you as you follow along.

You will reread paragraph 1 and answer the following questions:

6. According to Ahamed what makes the Madoff scandal different from others?

7. What does Ahamed mean by "others found a certain 'voyeuristic' pleasure in the financial 'travails' of the rich and famous"?

8. What might "travails" mean in this context?

9. Why was the public "morbidly fascinated" by the Madoff scandal?

 

Now annotate paragraph 1 to help you find your central idea. Ask yourself these two questions:

          Who or what is the paragraph about?

          What does the author want me to know?

Determine the central idea in the first paragraph of "How Bernard Madoff Did It." How does this idea emerge and what details shape its development? In other words, use textual evidence to explain your central idea.

We will finish reading the article and you will answer the last two questions:

10. In two or three sentences describe how a Ponzi scheme works.

11. What makes a Ponzi scheme a crime?

Write the following vocabulary on your own paper

1. festering - putrefying or rotting

2. refuse - anything thrown away; waste; rubbish

3. subterranean - existing below the earth; underground

4. Dante-like - referring to a famous Italian poet of the 14th century, and in this case his vivid descriptions of hell in the poem "Inferno" from the "The Divine Comedy"

5. miasma - pollution in the atmosphere, esp. noxious vapors from decomposing organic matter

6. forlorn - expressive of hopelessness; despairing

7. ambling - going at a slow, easy pace; strolling

8. gauzy - transparently thin and light

9. rickshaw - a small two-wheeled passenger vehicle drawn by one or two men, used in parts of Asia

10. repulsed - produced a feeling of aversion or distaste

11. distress - pain or hardship

12. exploit - to use selfishly for one's own ends

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The following indefinite pronouns are plural: 

both               few             many             several

Ex: Have both of them been informed?

Ex: Many of the staff volunteer with local charities.

The following indefinite pronouns are singular or plural, depending on how they are used:

all               any               more            most               none               some

Ex: Most of the job was finished.

Ex: Most of the jobs were finished.

Ex: Has any of the shipment arrived?

Ex: Have any of the shipments arrived?

 

 

 

Today, you will begin writing your argumentative essay for the prompt:

     Do juvenile killers deserve life behind bars?

We will talk through your introductory paragraph before you work on your own. 

 

You MUST use at least two of the three articles:

     "Stanley 'Tookie' Williams"

     "Do Juvenile Killers Deserve Life Behind Bars?"

     "Justices Bar Mandatory Life Terms for Juveniles"

 

Introductory Paragraph:

   Hook

   Background Information

   Thesis

 

Body Paragraphs:

   Topic sentence - restate first piece of evidence in the thesis

   Important evidence - quote straight from article

   Detailed analysis - how that piece of evidence supports your opinion

   Important evidence - another quote straight from article

   Detailed analysis - how that piece of evidence supports your opinion

   Ending statement - restate your first piece of evidence in different words

 

Concluding Paragraph 

   Three to four sentences explaining what you have stated in your paper, only reworded so you aren't being too repetitive

 

accept - to receive

Ex: Gary did not accept the bribe.

except - to leave out; to exclude

Ex: Everybody except me knew the answer.

affect - to influence

Ex: Working part time did not seem to affect his study habits.

effect - a result of some action

Ex: Teens need to understand the effects of their actions on others.

allusion - an indirect reference to something

Ex: This story has an allusion to "Noah's Ark" in it.

illusion - mistaken idea or a misleading appearance

Ex: Stripes embellish the surface to create the illusion of wood grain textures.

between - refers to two things at a time

Ex: A strong bond exists between the twins.

among - refers to all members of a group rather than to separate individuals in the group.

Ex: We distributed the pamphlets among the crowd.

fewer - used with plural nouns and tells "how many"

Ex: There are fewer whales than there once was.

less - used with singular nouns and tells "how much"

Ex: We should have bought less meat and more vegetables.

 

Setting up your document in Word:

Times New Roman

12 Font

Double spaced

 

Your name

English I

My name

Friday's date 

                                                          Title (Centered)

NOTE: The first two body paragraphs will be your claim and the third body paragraph will be your counterclaim.

 

 

 

Bell Work - Choose the word that makes the sentence complete. Use the definitions you wrote yesterday.

Your argumentative essay for the prompt:

     Do juvenile killers deserve life behind bars?

We will talk through your introductory paragraph before you work on your own. 

 

You MUST use at least two of the three articles:

     "Stanley 'Tookie' Williams"

     "Do Juvenile Killers Deserve Life Behind Bars?"

     "Justices Bar Mandatory Life Terms for Juveniles"

 

Introductory Paragraph:

   Hook

   Background Information

   Thesis

 

Body Paragraphs:

   Topic sentence - restate first piece of evidence in the thesis

   Important evidence - quote straight from article

   Detailed analysis - how that piece of evidence supports your opinion

   Important evidence - another quote straight from article

   Detailed analysis - how that piece of evidence supports your opinion

   Ending statement - restate your first piece of evidence in different words

 

Concluding Paragraph 

   Three to four sentences explaining what you have stated in your paper, only reworded so you aren't being too repetitive

Singular subjects take singular verbs.

     Ex: Patty attends college.

     Ex: That boy delivers newspapers.

Plural subjects take plural verbs.

     Ex: They attend college.

     Ex: Those boys deliver newspapers.

In a verb phrase, the first helping verb agrees in number with the subject.

     Ex: A boy in my class has been delivering newspapers.

     Ex: Two boys in my class have been delivering newspapers.

1. people (walks, walk)                                11. Lauren and Sierra (laughs, laugh)

2. you (is, are)                                              12. everyone (is, are)

3. house (has stood, have stood)              13. otters (has swam, have swam)

4. we (talks, talk)                                          14. students (graduates, graduate)

5. Joan (was, were)                                     15. boulder (weighs, weigh)

6. cattle (is running, are running)              16. firefighting (saves, save)

7. result (is, are)                                          17. Phoebe (reads, read)

8. they (believes, believe)                           18. jets (flies, fly)

9. crews (sails, sail)                                    19. children (sings, sing)

10. women (seems, seem)                          20.to whisper (is, are)

 

Bell Work - You will complete a review handout for "Subject-Verb Agreement"

Give the subject and then choose the verb that agrees with it. 

1. A heaping basket of turnip greens (was, were) sitting on the counter.

2. The cost of two new snow tires (was, were) more than I had expected.

3. The community college course on collecting stamps always (attracts, attract) many people.

4. The members of the Pak family (meets, meet) for a reunion every year.

5. The carpeting you saw in the upstairs and downstairs rooms (is, are) going to be replaced.

6. The turquoise stones in the Navajo ring certainly (is, are) pretty.

7. One friend of my brothers (says, say) that I look a little like his teacher.

8. The package sent by my cousins (was, were) smashed in the mail.

9. Not all the singers who tried out for the school choir (sings, sing) equally well.

10.Burt, not Anne and Laura, (has, have) borrowed the bicycle pump.

We will read the article "Justices Bar Mandatory Life Terms for Juveniles"

You will complete the questions that go with the article.

We will listen to the story and discuss as we go. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ask for the "The Nuclear Tourist-Text Questions" and complete the handout...You should answer each question fully.

Things to know: Connotation is an idea or feeling that a word invokes...in other words, how does that word make you feel when you hear it?

You will complete the "Nuclear Tourist - Reading Informational Text" handout

 

 

Bell Work - Complete the "Pronoun-Antecedent Review Handout"

Monday, February 16, 2026

President's Day - No School!!!

 

 

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Bell Work - Complete the Semicolon Review Handout

We will begin reading the following articles in preparation of writing our informative essay:

     1. How did Bonnie and Clyde Die?

     2. Bonnie and Clyde

     3. 9 Facts About Bonnie and Clyde

Our writing prompt will be: Describe the life and crimes of Bonnie and Clyde. 

You will begin typing your essay today, but first we need to set it up:

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Bell Work - You will complete a three-page semicolon review

You will begin typing your essay today, but first we need to set it up:

 

Thursday, February 19, 2026

Bell Work - Colons

Use a colon to mean "note what follows."

Use a colon before a list of items, especially after expressions such as the following and as follows.

Ex. The only articles allowed in the examination area are as follows: pencils, compasses, rulers, and protractors.

Ex. During summer vacations, Juanita read biographies of the following people: John Ross and Annie Wauneka.

Ex. In Washington, D.C., we visited four important national sites: the White House, the Washington Monument, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial.

Do NOT use a colon between a verb and its complements or between a preposition and its objects.

Incorrect     At the amusement park we rode: the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, the bumper cars, and the water slide. (The list serves as the direct object of the verb rode.)

Correct       At the amusement park we rode the roller coaster, the Ferris wheel, the bumper cars, and the water slide.

Incorrect     Our family has lived in: California, Arizona, and Texas. 

Correct       Our family has lived in California, Arizona, and Texas. (The list serves as the object of the verb rode.)

 

Practice     Add colons where needed. If any are correct, put a "C" in front of the number.

1. My niece has several items embossed with that logo a poster, a nightgown, a notebook, and a clock.

2. Sherry's favorite artists are Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, and Margaret Burroughs.

3. The directions were as follows Cover with plastic wrap, place in microwave oven, and cook for at least ten minutes.

4. I prefer my bicycle to a car for three reasons I don't have to pay for gasoline, I don't need insurance, and I don't waste time looking for a place to park.

5. In Cuba, which is a Spanish-speaking country, most of the people are of Spanish, African, or Spanish-African descent.

6. We should buy a house Our taxes would be lower, and we'd have more spaces.

Your essay is due at the end of class today.

Friday, February 20, 2026

 

1. Dorothy tell me about your scholarship.

2. Ana is the only student in our school in fact who has ever lived in China.

3. Dr. Eastham the only pediatrician on the staff has office hours today.

4. Accepting the award will be Emily James the producer of the documentary.

5. Elephants the largest mammals in Africa are now considered endangered.

6. This manuscript reads like the work of Sandra Cisneros.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will answer the following question in TIDE format:     

    Why was it hard for Frances Gabe to get along with her neighbors?         

         Topic Sentence         

         Important Evidence         

         Detailed Analysis         

         Ending Statement     

Use a comma after the salutation of a personal letter and after the closing of any letter.

Ex:    Dear Marcus,         Sincerely Yours,

Use a comma to set off an abbreviation such as Jr., Sr., or M.D., that follows a person's name.

Ex:    Elena Moreno, M.D.         

Russell Davis, Jr., has been elected mayor. (Notice the abbreviation in the middle of the sentence has a comma both before and after it.)  

Find the following words in the margins of your story and write down the definitions on a sheet of paper:   

 chimed   

 attending     

 delicately     

 fluttered     

 manipulated     

 tremulous

Bell Work - Complete the review handout over "Conventional Uses of Commas"

You will complete the Comprehension Check on page 729 (Questions 1-4) and answer questions 2 and 3 in TIDE format.

You will begin working on the "There Will Come Soft Rains - First Read Extension Questions" handout...you should complete at least question 1 before the end of class.