This semester class will cover various aspects of journalism (such as its history and influence)and the skills that the practice of journalism demands (reading, writing, etc.).

These assignments will be used by students only if Mrs. Foster designates. These are assignments that should be used if the school is closed due to an outbreak of swine flu or some other major difficulty. Scroll down to find your class's assignments.

FOR JUNIORS (British Literature):
DAY ONE : Writing to Persuade
Read this information first!
You would normally be given 60 minutes to complete the Writing to Persuade section of the HSPA.

Persuasive prompts present controversies arising in either between people, within a school setting, or in a society such as a town or city.

On the HSPA, students will need to respond and offer their opinion(s) in a persuasive letter or essay format. The audience for the letters and essays may be an individual -- friend, relative, neighbor, teacher, principal, or representative of an organization-- or members of an identified organization, such as the student council, PTA, etc. (or, in this case, Ms. Foster).


HSPA Language Arts Tutorial Cluster 2: Writing to Persuade

ASSIGNMENT: Read and respond to Prompt A
(below).

PERSUASIVE WRITING PROMPT A
________________________________________
WRITING SITUATION
The New Jersey School Board Association is concerned about the growing amount of new information in all disciplines especially in the area of the sciences and world affairs. They have made a proposal to increase the length of the school year to twelve months in order to increase time for learning. This proposal has become a controversial issue among students, teachers, and parents in your community. Your student council has decided to ask for student input in the form of a letter to the school board. You decide to write a letter expressing your position on this issue.
WRITING TASK
Write a letter to the president of the school board stating your position on year-long school which will increase classroom time for learning. Support your position with reasons, examples, and/or other evidence. Convince your readers to take your position seriously.




DAY TWO
Assignment: Read and respond to Prompt B
(below).
________________________________________
WRITING SITUATION
Recent news reports have called attention to school violence. Your high school is concerned about potential situations that could arise. They are considering purchasing hidden cameras, metal detectors and other security devices. The money for these purchases will come from the students' activities budget, which could have an effect on upcoming social events. Many parents, students and teachers are questioning the proposal. In an attempt to hear the voices of as many students as possible, your principal suggested that concerned students write him a letter expressing their opinions about this situation. You decide to write a letter.
WRITING TASK
Write a letter to the principal either supporting or opposing the proposal to purchase security equipment using funds from the student activities account. Support your position with reasons, examples, facts, and/or other evidence. Convince your readers to take your position seriously.

________________________________________

DAY THREE
Assignment: Re-read both your first day essay and re-write, making all corrections necessary.

DAY FOUR
Assignment: Re-read both your second day essay and re-write, making all corrections necessary.


DAY FIVE
Assignment: Read and respond to Prompt C
(below).

Persuasive Writing Prompt C
WRITING SITUATION
A frequently debated issue is whether or not violence in the media including video games, movies, songs, etc. has negative effects on young adults. Some people believe that there is a need for censorship and the elimination of many products while others believe it is unnecessary to ban potentially violent media and media products. Your school newspaper decided to devote an upcoming issue to this controversial topic.
You decide to write a letter to the editor of your school newspaper expressing your views about the effects of violence in the media.

WRITING TASK
Write a letter to the editor of your school newspaper with supporting or opposing whether violence in the media has negative effects on young adults. Support your position with reasons, examples, facts, and/or other evidence. Convince your readers to take your position seriously.
_______________________________________

DAY SIX
Assignment: Re-read both your fifth day essay and re-write, making all corrections necessary.

DAY SEVEN
Assignment: Re-read all three essays and choose what you feel is your best. What grade do you feel this essay would be given? Why?

BE SURE TO BRING ALL WORK TO SCHOOL WITH YOU WHEN CLASSES RESUME.



FOR WORLD LITERATURE (CP)STUDENTS:
DAY ONE
FIRST, Consider the Middle Ages and the Code of Chivalry, the code of behavior for a "knight in shining armor." Nowadays, some people cynically say that “Chivalry is dead.” Is it--or are there in our society a group of people who are sincerely trying to follow a code of excellence and self-discipline? Brainstorm your ideas on this topic in preparation for writing your essay.

DAY TWO
Draft the essay that is described above.

DAY THREE
Review and proofread the assignment that is described above. Email a copy of it to Mrs. Foster at mary.foster@boontonschools.org. Be sure to save a copy for your own use.

DAY FOUR
Go to www.majortests.com. Read the two sample essays for the SAT. Notice the guidelines that are given. (It would also be helpful for you to look at other areas of the site such as “grammar” and “reading comprehension”.

DAY FIVE
Look at this essay prompt from www.majortests.com : “A man should never be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than yesterday.” – Alexander Pope (a major British writer)
Brainstorm your answer to this assignment question: Do we learn more from finding out that we have made mistakes or from our successful actions?”

DAY SIX
Draft your essay to the question above.

DAY SEVEN
Review and proofread the assignment that is described above. Email a copy of it to Mrs. Foster at mary.foster@boontonschools.org. Be sure to save a copy for your own use.

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FOR ENGLISH I - HONORS STUDENTS:

DAY ONE
FIRST, Go to your account at Classzone.com. If you do not have an account or have difficulty in opening your account, please contact Mrs. Foster at mary.foster@boontonschools.org.
THEN, go to page 330, “The Scarlet Ibis.” Read and consider the question at the “What Do You Think?” section of the page at the bottom of the page. Instead of talking over the idea with a partner (as the text suggests), write down whether or not it’s ever a good idea for one person to try to transform another. Be sure to give reasons (more than one) for your opinion. After you have written your response to this section, read the story.

DAY TWO
Go back to the story. (If necessary, re-read it to refresh your memory.) On the back of the same paper that you wrote your response above, answer the question on page 345 in the “What Do You Think Now?” section. Then, on separate paper, answer questions 1, 2, 5, 8, and 9.

DAY THREE
Go to page 346. Read and do “Vocabulary Check,” “Vocabulary Skills: Similes,” and “Your Turn.” Email the results of this assignment to Mrs. Foster at mary.foster@boontonschools.org. (Keep the paperwork from Days One and Two. These will be collected in school when classes resume.)

DAY FOUR
Go to page 360, “The Gift of the Magi.” Read and consider the question at the “What Do You Think?” section of the page at the bottom of the page. Do the “Quick Write” assignment at the bottom of the page. After you have written your response to this section, read the story.

DAY FIVE
Go back to the story. (If necessary, re-read it to refresh your memory.) On the back of the same paper that you wrote your response above, answer the question on page 369 in the “What Do You Think Now?” section. Then, on separate paper, answer questions 1, 2, and 3. On the back of this same paper (that has the answers to questions 1-3) do the “Vocabulary Check” (#1-5) on page 370.

DAY SIX
Go to page 371. Read the assignment given in the “Revisit the Story” section. Do this assignment and send it to Mrs. Foster at mary.foster@boontonschools.org. (Keep the other papers until classes resume in school.)

Day SEVEN
Go to www.go.hrw.com. When the site comes up, scroll down to “GO Resources” and type in L9-371.* Click “Search.” When the next page opens, click on “Twister” and read O. Henry’s famous story, “The Ransom of Red Chief”. Be able to discuss the plot of the story, the surprise ending, and the irony involved in the kidnappers calling themselves “Two Desperate Men.” (We will be writing about this in class.)

*This information is also located on page 371 in a small section called “Learn It Online.”

Boonton High School
Mary Foster