Mr. Heller's Class

"Your heart is free…have the courage to follow it." ~ from Braveheart

Unit 4 Syllabus

1. Ellis Island Photo Essay: January 10
2. 1852 Letter: January 12
3. Paul Revere: January 18
4. Jim Murphy Text: January 23
5. Glory questions: January 24
6. Sullivan Ballou letter: January 25
7. Civil War Double Bubble Map: January 27
8. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings: February 8
9. Native Americans: February 9
10. Alice Paul Flow Map and Questions: February 23
11. Iron Jawed Angels writing assignment: February 29
12. Unit 4 Test: Week of March 5

Video Insertion Test

This is a test post to see if I can embed a video.

Test Video1

Internet Assignment Due 12/14

Describe, in one complete sentence,how artists and authors are similar. (You may write more than one sentence.)

Vocabulary Review Units 5 – 8

Roots: log, ono, nym, onym, tain, ten, tent, fer

1. analogy: words that draw comparisons and similarities

2. dialog: a conversation between two or more people

3. eulogy: kinds words spoken about a person who has passed away

4. logo: a word, name, symbol, or trademark designed for easy recognition

5. logical: words that make sense

6. acronym: an abbreviation formed by combining the first letters in words; example: CSMS

7. pseudonym: a fake name

8. anonymous: not named or identified

9. synonym: one of two or more words that have the same meaning

10. eponym: a person for whom something, such as a city, building, or street, has been named

11. abstain: to hold back from an activity by choice

12. detain: to hold back or delay or prevent someone from doing something

13. tentative: uncertain or hesitant; not fully agreed upon

14. extend: to hold out or stretch out

15. tenant: a person who holds the right to live in a residence

16. chauffeur: a driver

17. infer: to bring together information to reach a conclusion; an educated guess

18. prefer: to choose one thing over another; to value more highly

19. differ: to carry a different opinion or idea

20. conference: a meeting that brings people together

Unit 2 Internet Assignment due 11/7

If you completed the internet assignment for Unit 1 you know how this works. Make sure to include only a first name and last initial or a first initial and last name. Also, remember that I have to approve your message before it goes live. Here is the question for you to respond to:

In your chosen book, share 1 sentence that describes the setting well.. Make sure to quote directly from the book, and include the page number where you take the quote. In a 2nd sentence, describe why this sentence does a good job of showing the reader the setting.

Unit 2 Information Posted

Please check the “Pages” list on the bottom left of this webpage to see both the 8th Grade Unit 2 Syllabus, complete with assignments and due dates, the 8th Grade Unit 2 Choice Assignments, and the 8th Grade Unit 2 Book Study Project.

Vocabulary Review Units 1 – 4

Friday, October 14, we will take a quiz to review the first four units of vocabulary study. In addition to the print copy you received, here are the words and their definitions for you to study.

Roots: mob, mot, mov, grad, gress, pos, sid, sess, sed

1. demote: to move down in grade, rank, or status
2. mobility: the state of being able to move about freely
3. motivate: to do something that makes a person move into action
4. promote: to raise or move to a higher grade, rank, or job
5. removal: the act of moving something away
6. aggressive: hostile, pushy
7. degrade: to reduce someone’s worth or value; to move down a step in social status
8. digress: to stray away from the main topic
9. gradual: a slow change
10. upgrade: to move up a step or level
11. depose: to remove from office or power
12. expose: to put something out for others to see
13. juxtapose: to place side-by-side for purpose of comparing and contrasting
14. post: to put something up on display for others to see
15. transpose: to put into a different order or place; to reverse or transfer the order of something
16. reside: to settle into a place to live
17. sedative: medicine used to help a person settle into a state of calmness
18. sedentary: fixed to one spot
19. sedan: a closed automobile that has enough room for four people
20. session: a meeting, class, or assembly where a group sits together

All Late & Missing Work due by October 21

Parents and students – make sure that all missing work, makeup tests, and such is done and turned in by Friday, October 21. This is the last day of the first quarter that I will be accepting late work.

Remember, there is a two week period to get late work in, then it will not be accepted.

Please see me at lunch or after school to discuss your grade and do make up tests.

Narrative Assignment

Due on September 29. 2-4 pages.

Write your own short story about a real or imagined experience that effectively explores the effect of an urban setting on characters and plot.

Rubric:
1. Detailed description of urban setting
2. Setting is a key element in the story
3. Interesting plot
4. Conventions

Extra Credit for Unit 1

One of our objectives is to be able to identify an author’s point of view and analyze it, using supporting details and evidence to validate our opinions. Use this objective as a basis for watching this excellent 6 minute video about the Chicago Fire:
Chicago Fire Video

There are a handful of experts who are interviewed in this video. From their perspective, is the fire an accident waiting to happen OR is it a complete surprise that no one could have predicted? What evidence do they cite to support their opinions?