Persepolis - Day 10

First of all - it is time to buy our next book!  Please own a copy of Shakespeare's Othello for class on Monday. You can buy a copy at the bookstore for $9.

Last night you made some decisions about your thesis and your topics:

• At this point, you should know where you land on the question: do visual images help or hinder understanding of complex issues?
• At this point, you should have a sense of two reasons why your thesis is true or be able to name two ways of how visual images impact understanding.
• At this point, you might have a sense of a counterclaim - an opposing view to your thesis.
• Thesis clarification - the counterclaim is not a part of the thesis statement, but the two reasons / topics for your first two body paragraphs will be part of it.

We'll pause to work with a partner to share what you have, and to see if they think it works - and for you to give them feedback!

Then, it is time to turn our attention to the body paragraphs and the analysis of the evidence.

• Persepolis body paragraph activity

We will also start to talk about counterclaims today.

For Friday, your homework is to expand your outline using this form. 

Persepolis - Day 9

Our work for today is about structure and evidence. Use this handout for class and homework:

• Shaping your argument

The homework is to complete the basic outline (on handout) and submit your work to Schoology by the start of class tomorrow.

Persepolis - Day 8

Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend!

We have a few tasks for our short time together today:

1. Complete the posters you started last week (a portrait of Marji)
2. Discuss the ending of the novel, based on your homework
3. Assign the essay for this unit
1. Persepolis Argument Essay Assignment

The homework for tonight is listed at the end of the assignment.

Persepolis - Day 7

Greetings! I am out of town today on a youth retreat with my synagogue. Here is the plan:

1. You will watch the film version of Persepolis
2. While watching the film you will complete a set of questions

Over the weekend, there is an assignment in Schoology - some concluding questions about the film. Be sure to complete it before the start of class on Monday.

Persepolis - Day 6

Happy Wednesday! Today you will be working in groups of 3-4 - you can choose them!
Here is the handout to guide your work.

For Friday, read pages 126-153 and write a journal response

Persepolis - Day 5

How do we respond to tragedy?

Today we'll spend most of the time writing, thinking about the many tragedies, disasters, political controversies, and social issues impacting our daily life.  We'll consider the ways in which our responses to these are similar to / different from Marji's, and why that might be.

For homework tonight you will write a journal response to pages 103-125. There is no particular prompt and you are now turning it in just yet. Focus on a topic or idea or question you have from these pages. You may want to click here to refer back to the journal response rubric in case you forgot what a great journal response could include.

STAR testing and American Street essays

We are going to take the STAR reading test today. Please do your best on this reading comprehension test. Again, this is so I can understand how you read and learn, then offer you specific help. Do your best.

• Click here to go to the link for the test.
• For your username, use the same name you are logging into the Chromebooks and computers with.
• Your password is your student ID number - but ONLY the number - i.e. 221XXXX - if you are unable to gain access after TWO tries, please ask for help before trying a third time.
• You will be presented with two choices - select STAR Reading
• Sometimes, the system will request a “Monitor Password.” If this happens to you, the password is “admin”
• If you are presented with a list of teachers, please select “Rigler”
• Take the test! Do the best you can!

With the remaining time, we will talk about the essays you wrote for American Street.

Persepolis - Day 4

Happy Homecoming Friday!!

We'll start today with this individual writing about literal and figurative language.

Then we'll have a series of fishbowl conversations about the three chapters you read for today. Here are questions we'll use to guide the discussion. 

For this weekend there is no specific homework - use the time to make sure you are caught up!

Persepolis - Day 3 - Literal and Figurative Meaning

Today our focus is on different layers of meaning - literal and figurative.

These handouts will take you through the process of explaining these ideas and guiding your work.

• Literal and Figurative meaning - group work
• Literal and Figurative meaning - sample

After we talk through the sample together:

1. Review your assigned chapter with your group
2. Make a copy of the handout above, share it with group members and me
3. Complete the chart
4. Present your chart to the whole class

As a reminder, you are reading pages 54-79 for Friday and writing a journal response.

Persepolis - Day 2

Happy Tuesday!

Today we will continue our look at the elements of graphic novels, building on the work you did with your groups yesterday. After a piece of individual writing, you'll return to your groups for a look at the pages (10-32) you read last night.

Resources for today:

• Persepolis - individual writing #1
• Reading a graphic novel
• Comics terminology

Homework for tomorrow: Read 33-53 & write a journal response

Persepolis - Day 1

Happy Monday!

Today you will meet your new group for this unit. Together you'll spend time annotating and discussing the opening pages of the book. Refer to this handout for details:

• Persepolis - Day 1 group work

As a reminder, your homework for tonight is to read pages 10-32 and write a journal response.

Introduction to Iran

Today we'll watch this video to help provide us with a sense of life in Iran, the setting for our next book, Persepolis. Here are some questions for you to write about in your journals while we are watching:

• What are two things you learn about the history between the United States and Iran?
• What are two things you learn about the culture of Iran beyond the food?
• Over the course of the show, what are two things that surprised you?
• What are two questions you have based on what you saw?

We will be sharing our responses as part of our discussion after the show.

Here is a map of Iran:

or we can zoom out a bit:

or maybe this perspective helps:

Remember, your homework for the weekend is to read and annotate the introduction and pages 3-9.

Introduction to Graphic Novels - Part 2

Happy Tuesday! I hope you had a great long weekend!

Today we'll continue our overview of graphic novels and then you will work with a partner to create one of your own! OK, just one page of it, but it will give you a chance to get to understand all of the components of graphic novels.

• Reading a graphic novel
• Make your own graphic novel page

Introduction to Graphic Novels

Woohoo!! You finished your first essay for Freshman English!!

Congratulations! I'm excited for you and I'm looking forward to reading what you have to say about American Street!

And now - we're on to our next unit!

American Street - Day 18

Final writing day!

Today we will review the rubric and the assignment. Here are links to everything you need:

• Essay assignment
• Brainstorming activity
• Crafting a thesis
• Thesis and evidence homework
• Outline
• Essay rubric

Also, don't forget you need a copy of Persepolis for class on Tuesday!

American Street - Day 17

Today we will briefly review the outline form, including a close look at the conclusion. After that, you will have the rest of the period to work on your own!

Happy writing!

American Street - Day 16

Happy Monday! Happy October!

Today we will work on outlining the different sections of your essay - the introduction, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. We will use this worksheet to guide our work.

• American Street - essay outline

Your homework is to complete the outline for two of your body paragraphs. If you'd like to do more for tonight, you can, but it is not required.

Also, the next book we will be reading is called Persepolis. Please buy it from the bookstore ($14) or elsewhere if you'd like. You will need it in class on Tuesday.