Narrative Unit Journal Prompts

New Journal Grading Period

1-6-14 Journal Entry:

What is the closest thing to an alien you encountered over Christmas Break?

Analyzing Bias, Stereotype, & Prejudice

1-6-14 CLASSWORK + ______

Bias: An emotional reaction or opinion of a situation/person based on personal experience or beliefs. One-sided, not objective. Bias may be positive or negative

Stereotype: An assumption that all members of a group will exhibit the same behaviors and characteristics as some members of the group. Example: All cheerleaders are snobby.”

Suspicion: The act of mistrusting something, especially something wrong, without evidence or proof.

Prejudice: A negative opinion of a person/situation formed before knowing the facts. (based upon stereotypes and/or assumptions)

Discussion Questions for “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street.” 1-17-14 CLASSWORK +______5

1. What is the theme of this screenplay?

2. How does fear contribute to what happened on Maple Street?

3. What conflict(s) have you discovered in this screenplay?

4. What is a mob mentality? Why do the characters of this screenplay develop a mob mentality? What has caused this mob mentality?

5. Give at least one example (found in the screenplay) of the following terms below: Look at your notes on these terms from Monday, 1/13/14.

 Suspicion  Bias  Prejudice  Stereotypes 6. What is the alien figure’s tactic for destroying the neighborhood? What does that tell you about mankind?

7. How does the hysteria in this text compare to the real-world anti-communist hysteria of that time?

1-22-14 CLASSWORK +______

List the important plot events (in order) for “Monsters are Due on Maple Street”

1-24-14 CLASSWORK +______

5 Write the two definitions for the word “fallout”: 1.

Tape your annotated quote from “Monsters…” below

[annotated quote glued here]

Work with your group to paraphrase the quote below. Restate it in your own words with the same meaning and concept order.

[paraphrased quote here]

1. How do the two meanings of “fallout” work together to add to the meaning of this quote? 1-27-14 CLASSWORK +______5

Evaluating the theme quote from “Monsters…” Preparing to write a Response-to-Literature Opinion essay

1. Re-read the quote and your paraphrasing of it. What is the author trying to say—what is his message?

2. Choose which element of the quote you find most meaningful or intriguing to respond to (in an essay).

a. There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices, --to be found only in the minds of men. b. Prejudices can kill and suspicion can destroy. c. A thoughtless, frightened search for a scapegoat has a fallout all its own.

3. Create a statement of belief (in your own words) that communicates the essential meaning (life lesson) of the play as it relates to the part of the quote you chose. It must be stated as an opinion (This will become the thesis for your essay) Write it below:

1-28-14 CLASSWORK +______

Creating an excellent Thesis statement:

A thesis statement :

___IS: IS NOT:______

A statement of opinion Not a fact!

Yes: A person’s mind is their strongest form of weapon. Fact, not a thesis: The residents in the play lived on Maple Street. Takes a stand Not an announcement

Yes: A person’s mind is their strongest form of weapon. No: I am going to discuss today how the mind works as a weapon.

Announcement: My subject is… I am going to discuss today… My thesis statement for this essay is…

Narrow and Specific Not broad and general

Too broad (too huge of a topic): The world is in a terrible mess. –NARROW IT DOWN. Too general (not detailed enough): Drug addiction is a big problem.

-Why is it a problem? -What is the issue? -Who is it affecting? -How is it a problem?

Yes: Marijuana addiction is affecting teenagers and raising drop out rates in high schools.

Something that can cause controversy Not boring or unimportant

No: Pitbulls are cute dogs. Yes: Pitbulls are vicious dogs that attack humans any chance they get.

Also remember:  Use specific words! (Avoid words like “good” “things” “better” “problem” )  Don’t use slang or familiar language

If essay is about a piece of literature, make sure to include title, name of author and type of writing/genre somewhere in your thesis (or introduction)

In the drama, “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street,” by Rod Serling…

Write your Improved Thesis here:

1-28-14 CLASSWORK +______

Choosing excellent reasons (or “proofs”): 1. Write the numbers 1 – 11 in your journal. 2. Look at the thesis statement below, and the possible reasons listed to support it. Decide which reason is the best—the strongest one to support the thesis. Which is the second strongest? And so on. List them in order of strength and effectiveness. (#1 - #11) 3. Now, for those reasons you assigned #6 – 11 (the six weakest, least effective reasons) write a few words next to the letter, to explain why you think it is a weak reason.

Thesis: 7th graders should be able to choose where they sit in a classroom

Reasons: a) Students feel angry when they can’t sit where they want b) Teachers don’t have the right to tell kids what to do c) If allowed to choose where to sit, a student is more comfortable and can learn better d) It will promote the sense that the teacher respects them, and they will be more likely to return that respect. e) If students can sit by their friends, then they will talk less and get their work done f) It will make students happy g) The students will be excited on the day they choose their new seats. h) Seating charts make students feel powerless and disinterested in class i) Martin Brown, a boy with ADD, would be a more successful student if he could sit in the front row. j) If they choose their own seat the students could maybe sit by a window. k) Choosing their seat, gives the student an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to make good choices and be responsible for their in-class behavior. What about your top 3-4 makes them seem “strong”?

What about your bottom 3-4 makes them seem “weak”?

Based upon your evaluation of the above reasons, list several aspects that make a proof (or reason) strong: STRONG REASONS: 1. Are important, they matter 2. Are true 3. Are based upon logic, not on emotion 4. Affect a large group of people 5. Have a lasting effect 6. Clearly relate to and support your thesis 7. Are different from one another

When creating reasons or proofs, it is also helpful to choose ones that address these important human issues:  Education  Health  Social justice  Religion  Ethics  Personal freedom and opportunity  Cultural mores and beliefs  Racial  Economic (micro and macro)  Government  Politics and Power  International Relations/War & Peace Look at your thesis statement, and create at least 6 reasons/proofs to support it: “And I know this is true because….” (3) “Because in “Monsters are Due on Maple Street…” (3)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

1/28/14 HOMEWORK + _____

Now choose your three strongest reasons from your list, and re-write them here. Change the wording to make them specific, logical, important and able to affect a large group of people. 1/31/14 Classwork + ______

Practice writing excellent leads (interest hooks)

For ALL of these – “Go Global” word your lead in a way that a large group of people will be able to relate to it.

Ask a Question: Asks the reader a question to get him thinking about a situation related to your topic. Ex. Why is it that kids who used to be so close to their parents, seem to only want to talk to and spend time with their peers, when they become teenagers?

Yours: ______

Interesting or Surprising Fact or Statistic: Gives reader some information that they didn’t know before. Ex. Studies show that over 85% of families with teenagers report significant parent/child conflicts and a lack of satisfaction over the quality and closeness of the family relationship.

Yours: ______A Bold or Shocking Opinion: Presents a bold or shocking opinion. Ex. All teenagers should be sent to a military-type boarding school between the ages of 13 – 18.

Yours: ______

A Brief Anecdote: Presents a short (2-3 sentence) story to demonstrate a situation related to the topic. Ex. Up until I was about eleven years old, you could call me a real “Mama’s Boy”. I loved my mother with all my heart and wanted to be by her side all the time. But after I turned 13, I experienced a huge attitude shift. It seemed like everything my mother did and said completely annoyed me, and I could barely stand to be in the same room with her for more than a few minutes or I’d become angry.

Yours: ______

Ex. “Family is that dear octopus from whose A Quote or Old Saying: Provides a direct quote from someone (and cites them) or a well-known saying tentacles we never quite escape, nor, in our inmost hearts, ever quite wish to.” -Dodie Smith Or: Ex. They say you can never really judge a man, until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes.

Yours:

Consensus Builder: Makes an interesting observation about the way things are in the world, and generalizes it enough so that most people can relate to it. Ex. By the time they are teenagers, most kids would rather spend time with their friends, than with their parents.

Yours:

Think of your thesis -- How does it evidence itself in the world (among your peers, city? Country, the world?) Who does it affect? (if possible think of several different groups affected) How does it impact them? For how long? How seriously? Why does it affect people or why does it matter? Where does it occur? How often? Why would people want to stop this –or why would they want to promote it?

2/3/14 Classwork + _____ 5

Your writing plan and connection sentences are at the end of your introduction. It serves two purposes: 1) gives reader a glimpse of how you will “prove” your thesis; and 2) connect the introduction to the body of the essay. (one sentence summary of entire plot as it relates to thesis) Thesis:

The most deadly virus contaminating people is prejudice and suspicion, which has a long, lingering impact on society.

-(Thesis)This truth is dramatically demonstrated in the drama, “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” by the late Rod Serling. -The citizens of Maple Street allow wrong assumptions to blur their thoughts on reality, ultimately causing their own destruction because they fear the unknown.

-(Thesis)Prejudices and suspicions can lead to extreme measures and lead us to do things we would not normally do. -This truth is intensively demonstrated by the events in “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”, a drama by the late Rod Serling. In this Twilight Zone episode, the residents of Maple Street turn from neighbors into an angry mob as their suspicions of one another are escalated by unusual events.

My Connection Sentence:

2/3/14 Classwork + _____ 5 My complete Introduction:

-Interest hook/Lead -Thesis -connection sentences

Body Paragraphs

TRANSITION + Here is your very cool, best reason or proof

Now add discussion about why this proof is important, how it helps “prove” your thesis, when it matters, where it matters, to who it matters, what it affects, how it affects the future… or… examples (statistics) from life of this proof being demonstrated 2/4/14 Classwork + _____

Conclusion

Step One: Restate thesis.

Restate your thesis two different ways.

1) (Insert concluding transition here) 2) (Insert concluding transition here)

Example: Thesis: Mankind’s most powerful weapon is his mind.

In conclusion, a person’s thoughts and actions work as powerful weapons. Yours:

Step Two: Restate and summarize your three reasons in 1-2 sentences.

Example: The characters of “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street” work themselves into frenzy while seeking the comfort of a scapegoat, which ultimately proves that the strength of mankind’s mind can lead to disaster.

Step Three: Discuss how these reasons demonstrate/prove your thesis.

1) Example: The evidence shown above supports my claim by proving how durable and effective mankind’s mind can be.

Step Four: Explain why it matters! -Why is the thesis important? -to people, the planet, the future, etc. -How can this life lesson be applied to life in a meaningful way?

Overall, it is essential to know the powers and strength of a person’s mind because it has the power to destroy and alter the actions of society, now and in generations to come. 12/6/12 Fact vs. Opinion : + ____

1. What is the definition of a fact? 2. What is the definition of an opinion? 3. How are they different from one another?

FACT: A statement that can be proven to be “true” or disproven as “false”

OPINION: A statement of personal belief or judgment that CANNOT be proven as “true” or “false”. Valid opinions are based upon facts.

4. Write the letters A - J in your journal. For each of the following statements, record if it is a fact ‘F’ or an opinion ‘O’

A) Corona is west of Riverside B) Corona is a great city to live in C) Tiger Woods is ten feet tall D) Tiger Woods is too tall E) Tiger Woods is a great golfer F) The sun is 99,000,000 miles away from the earth G) The sun will rise tomorrow H) It is really hot outside I) It is 85° outside J) Writing essays will be fun!

Now: 5: Write 3 facts about the Orphan Train Program 6. Write 3 opinions about the Orphan Train Program

Now, browse through the text of the play and develop three proofs or reasons that support your opinion statement (thesis). These can be paraphrased in your own words and cover several elements or events of the play. [Each will become the topic of its own body paragraph) List them below A. ______B. ______C. ______

4. From the text of the play, locate a specific excerpt that demonstrates each of your proofs in #4. Note the page # it comes from. For A. ______pg.__ For B. ______pg.__ For C. ______pg. __

NOTE: Each of your essay’s body paragraphs with have a proof/reason, a quote from the text (correctly cited), and a discussion about how the proof is relevant or examples and evidence to support it. 5. Brainstorm your conclusion. Make sure you include the three elements below, in any order that is most effective:

A. Tie it all together: Discuss how the three proofs work together to “prove” that your thesis is a valid opinion. B. Restate your thesis—same meaning, different words. C. Give it legs! Describe why your thesis is important. How and why it should affect people, the planet, the future. How can this life lesson be effectively applied in a meaningful way? Take it out into the world and make it matter! Jan. 6, 2014

+ _____ = ______% 65

TA’s Also, leave the journal opened to the LAST page, and write the student’s name on the upper right corner of that page.

Thanks!