Content Objective: Students will write informatively in a variety of genres. 
Language Objective: Students will produce posters, pamphlets, comics and news articles based on their informational research. 

Agenda: 
1.) Bell Work: Read your independent reading book for 15 minutes. 
2.) Reading Journals: Write about your favorite minor or supporting character in your book. Who are they and what is their relationship to the book's main character(s)? What stands out about them and why? How do they develop within the course of your novel? 
3.) Check-off that you have submitted your vlog to Ms. Floch's English Channel (you can double-check that it has been uploaded by clicking on the "Ms. Floch's English Channel" tab on top of this page). All videos must be uploaded to this channel to be considered submitted. 
4.) Now that you have produced a video blog, we will begin the "writing" part of your assignment. Based on your research you/your group will produce either an informational: 

• pamphlet
• poster
• comic
• news article 
• any other informational genre of your choosing that is based on your research and writing - this must be cleared with Ms. F. before you begin working. 

Here are some instructions on how to create pamphlets, posters, comics or news articles. 
Due Date: You will present both your vlog and your writing piece on May 5 (A-Day) or 6 (B-Day) 
5.) Before you create your actual projects, make sure to sketch or rough draft it first. You will finish your projects next period (May 1 (A-Day) and 2 (B-Day). 

Assignments: 

• Reading Journals
• Begin writing projects 

Content Objective: Students will use technology and research to create informative video blogs on iMovie. 
Language Objective: 
Students will be filming informative video blogs based on their research.

Agenda: 
Again, we will spend all of this period filming. Make sure to finish your project approximately 10 minutes before the end of class as it will take a few minutes to upload to Youtube. 
An easy way to add your Works Cited page to the end of your movie is to print your Works Cited page and take a photo of it with your iPad, then add it to your iMovie project through the Camera Roll. Make sure to include both citations of your sources as you go as well as a Works Cited page in MLA format at the end of your video. 
Your project is not submitted until it is uploaded to Ms. Floch's English Channel. Make sure to check with Ms. Floch before returning your iPads. 

If you missed this assignment, there now is a make-up assignment for the video blog under the 4th Quarter Make-Up Assignments tab. 

Assignments: 
Finish your video blog
Generate ideas for the writing portion of your assignment: Are you going to create a poster/pamphlet/news article/song/poem etc? This must be cleared with Ms. F. before you start working on it for the next two periods.

Content Objective: Students will use technology and research to create informative video blogs. 
Language Objective: Students will be filming and editing video blogs. 

Agenda: 
We will be filming for the entire period. Make sure to check out your iPad#, name your project and finish the bulk of your filming, so that you can focus on editing next period.
Remember to cite your sources while you are filming.  

Assignments: 
Continue filming video blogs

Content Objective: Students will use technology and research to present their findings.
Language Objective: Students will begin filming informational video blogs using iMovie on iPads. 

Agenda: 
1.) Read your Independent Reading book for 15 minutes. 
2.) Reading  Journals: Write for 5 minutes about anything that stood out to you in your reading. This could be a connection, a contrast, any reaction you had, a question, prediction or anything else that stood out to you. It cannot just be a summary of what you read. 
3.) Today and the next two periods, you will be filming your video blogs. Find a rubric for this project here. 
4.) iMovie Tutorial
5.) iPad Check-Out from Ms. Floch
6.) Begin filming; remember to cite your sources! 
7.) iPad Check-In five minutes before class ends. 

Assignments: 

• Reading Journal
• Beginning of Project

Content Objective: Students will be able to identify and evaluate credible sources. 
Language Objective: Students will conduct sustained research and compile a Works Cited page for their video blog. 

Agenda: 
1.) Bell Work: Read your independent reading book for 15 minutes. 
2.) Reading Journal: Write for 5 minutes on something that stood out to you in your reading. This can be about a character, a plot point, a line of dialogue, a stylistic choice of the author or anything else that spoke to you in your reading. It cannot just be a summary of what you read. 
3.) Finish your research at the Media Center, remember, you need to have at least 5 credible sources.
4.) Create a Works Cited page for your vlog using www.easybib.com Always double-check that your sources are formatted correctly. 
5.) Make a script or plan out your vlog. You are going to start filming next period, so do everything you need to in order to be ready to get started. Plan on multiple takes and on editing your vlog thoroughly. 
6.) Share all of your notes, your Works Cited page and your script with all members in your group. 

Assignments: 

• Reading Journal
• Research notes and Works Cited page

Content Objectives: Students will be able to identify and evaluate credible sources for informational writing. 
Language Objectives: Students will conduct sustained research for informational writing. 

Agenda: 
1.) Bell Work: Article of the Week - Pick up a copy of The Wall Street Journal from Ms. Floch and read for 10-15 minutes. 
2.) After reading, answer the following quetions: 

• How do the articles you read reflect on our society? 
• What are some differences you are noticing between informational writing (specifically news writing) and narrative or argumentative writing? What is the purpose of informational writing? 

3.) For the next two days, we will be conducting research for your informational topic at the Media Center. Remember to make sure to have five credible sources to support your topic. You can check all requirements for this project here. Sites like Wikipedia, Ask.com or about.com are not considered credible sources. 
4.) Check off your topic with Ms. Floch before beginning your research. 
5.) Research and keep note of your links and information you want to use both for your Works Cited and to cite within your vlog. 
6.) Check-off research notes with Ms. Floch

Assignments: 

• Article of the Week Response
• Research notes and topic check-off

Content Objective: Students will identify and apply techniques of informational writing. 
Language Objective: Students will brainstorm and develop topic ideas and guiding questions for video blogs. 

Agenda: 
1.) Bell Work: Independent Reading
2.) Reading Journal: Write on anything that stood out to you in your reading. This could involve characters, plot, the opening of your book, dialogue, questions you have while reading... 
3.) In addition to regular written blogs, video blogs or "vlogs" become increasingly popular for informational purposes. Here are two examples by John Green who is publishing the vlog series "Vlogbrothers" with his brother Hank. 
"Why Are American Health Care Costs So High?"
"The American Dream" 
4.) Based on these examples, you are going to create your own vlog about a topic you think people should know more about or a (world) problem that needs to be explained/people should be aware of. 
Find the assignment and a schedule for research and due dates here. 
5.) To generate some topic ideas, write down 10 things you think people should know more about. 
6.) Now, write down 10 (world) problems that we need to solve/be aware of. 
7.) Find a partner (groups can be between 1 and 3 people, 3 is the absolute maximum) to work on this project with. Together, brainstorm what your topic for your vlog (and subsequent writing project) is going to be and come up with 10 questions that should be answered about this topic within your blog. 
8.) At the end of the period, read The Wall Street Journal (get a copy in Ms. Floch's room) for 10 minutes. 
9.) On the same paper that your bell work is on, write about the differences you noticed between informational writing and any other kind of writing. How is newswriting in particular different from any other writing in an English class? 

Assignments: 

• Turn in Reading Journal
• Turn in Exit Slip
• Determine a topic for your vlog

Content Objective: Stuents will apply techniques of informational writing and satire. 
Language Objective: Students will write satirical "10 Step Guides" and reverse them to serious lists. 

Agenda: 
1.) Bell Work: Continue reading your Independent Reading book. 
2.) Reading Journal: Write for 5 minutes on anything that stood out to you in today's reading. This could be about the book's opening, its main character, or anything else that stands out to you and you would like to reflect on further. 
3.) Finish your "10 Step Guide", modeling Rick Reilly's "Weighed Down By Too Much Cash?" or my example on how to be a rookie teacher. 
4.) On your draft, mark, what you thought was your strongest point and your weakest point. Your strongest point is what you either would want to open with or what you would want to lead up to; your weakest point may need to be changed or reworked to stand stronger among the rest.  
5.) Work for five minutes on your weakest point; try to make it stronger, either by changing it or by adding more explanation and detail. 
6.) Now, reverse your list: come up just with 10 steps on how to "actually" be a great parent/sibling/girlfriend/boyfriend/co-worker etc. 
7.) Turn in your satirical 10 Step Guide and your reversed, serious list. 

Assignments: 

• Reading Journal
• 10 Step Guide
• Reversed List

Content Objective: Students will apply techniques of informational writing and satire. 
Language Objective: Students will write satirical "10 Step Guides".

Agenda: 
1.) Bell Work: Independent Reading (you will need to bring your own book or check one out from the library). 
2.) Reading Journal Questions: 

• Briefly summarize what you read. 
  
• Cite two pieces of textual evidence that stood out to you in your reading. Why were they interesting?
  
• What made you decide on the book you are reading? What about it stood out/seemed interesting to you and why?
  

3.) Independent Reading Project: Book Sign-Up: Fill out this form so I know which book you are reading. 
4.) This quarter, we will be delving into informational writing, meaning it is usually based on research and meant to inform or explain. The following project will serve as an introduction to informational writing. 
5.) Read Rick Reilly's "Weighed Down By Too Much Cash?" and my draft of "Congrats, newly minted teacher!" as examples for what your 10 Step Guide should look like. Note that both of them are using satire, meaning, they are telling you exactly how NOT to deal with money or how NOT to be a teacher. 
6.) Using these two examples as a model, write your own "10 Step Guide". You may choose from the following options or pick your own topic (please clear with me first):
 Congrats, newly minted...

• babysitter
  
• parent
  
• fast-food worker
  
• high school student
  
• graduate
  
• dieter
  

• boyfriend/girlfriend
  
• wrestler
  
• athlete
  
• brother/sister
  
• SBO
  
• employee/manager
  

Assignments: 

• Bell Work: Reading Journal Questions
• Book Sign-Up
• "10 Step Guide", finish on April 9/April 10