Mr. Sharpe's Class
The Student's Magazine
Welcome to The Student's Magazine, where student's work can be published for all the world to see. Throughout the year students will be writing and creating a variety of products that demonstrate success with the Common Core Standards for 8th Grade. Come back often and see if your work gets published next!
Research Based Narrative Writing Assignment
Students were asked to Plot Map the story "My Favorite Chaperone" and then use the results to write an effective summary of the story. In the summary attached above, Nicole Montes shows a very effective ability to identify the plot of a story and then use that structure to summarize the story. Nicole's summary shows her natural writing abilities as well as her ability to follow the instruction given in class as to how to summarize a narrative
The following two students have done an amazing job of undertaking the task of writing a narrative based in some research of a historical event. Students were allowed to choose any historical event that they wanted, and were asked to research the event and use their research as a basis of making their story realistic in setting and action. Both did an amazing job of incorporating their research in a way that made their writing entertaining and enjoyable to read. Students were asked to create an effective plot structure to their story and then to try to incorporate dialogue as much as possible to carry the action forward. I feel they both did the best they could at both of these challenges. Students were also asked to learn to use the past tense for narration and the present tense for the dialogue in an effort to make the reader feel as if they are in the room with the characters as they are speaking. If you read their work, it is obvious they are learning how to draw their readers into the action.
The Prison Interview
Each reading we do throughout the year has certain objectives we focus on during our reading. Before we read, we take notes that are intended to help us focus in on those objectives. Here is an example of some exemplary notes completed by Jacob Suplee on narrative structures.
By Jessica Alvarez
Jessica takes us into the mind of a killer who is being interviewed in prison after their crime. She shows a strong ability to weave together a plot structure and let it be carried forward by dialogue. She also makes us think about the human condition as most really good storytellers do. Great job Jessica!!
Most texts throughout the year also have some vocabulary development associated with them as well. For this, we use Vocabulary Squares where students are to provide the word, the definition, a synonym, an antonym, and either a sentence using the word or a picture that shows clearly the definition of the word. Here is a good example of a completed vocabulary squares by__________
The Window
By Leaha Alvarez
Leaha Alvarez also produced a compelling tale that demonstrates the ability to create a plot and allow dialogue to carry the action forward. Leaha's story of a young girl dealing with the unfortunate and difficult truths of life is a story worthy of your time to read it!!
Once again, Willy A. Goodstudent has outdone himself. His story, "New to the School, Old Hat at Making Friends" is a compelling story about his first day here at Barstow Junior High School. Willy makes you feel like you are there with his vivid descriptions of the scenery, and the dialogue he uses to allow us to hear the conversations that the characters are having. What a way to wrap up Collection 1--
Informative Research Reports Using Thesis and 3 Ways Organization
VeSean Young has been an outstanding student from the beginning of the year. His efforts have begun to show in this first essay of the year. Students were taught how to organize an essay using Thesis and 3 Ways Organization and asked to cite the sources of their evidence within their essay. Students were asked to research how Laotian people became involved with the Vietnam War, and subsequently how this led to an influx of Laotian immigrants to the United States. VeSean has written a very informative research report here!
With Collection One coming to an end, students were asked to write an Informative Research Report to explain "The Best Ways for Someone to Adjust to a New Land". There have been a number of essays that show the great progress students have been making in learning the Thesis and 3 Ways organizational pattern as well as practicing the ability to use evidence within their essay to prove their points. However, the following essays written by Kaylee Wilder and Rebekah Zepeda showed just that extra effort that helps to make a student successful. Great job ladies-- no surprise that both of these ladies were also among the students of the month for September!!!
Coming Soon
