English II A

You can read your literature textbook at http://my.hrw.com/

You can find additional sources at http://go.hrw.com/

 

Week of  Sept. 8

Monday

 Pronoun review.  Begin project on the presidential elections

Tuesday

 Pronoun review.  project on the presidential elections

Wednesday

 Pronoun review.  project on the presidential elections.  Writing biographies of the candidates

Thursday

 project on the presidential elections

Friday

 project on the presidential elections

Obama notes from the source Tri-County’s Sunday

This can also be accessed from MSNBC—search for article “Obama: from Unknown to Nominee”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26328759/page/4/

Name – Barack [“blessed” in Arabic] Hussein Obama Jr.

Age-birth, Date-Location—47, Aug. 4, 1961, Honolulu

Experience—U.S. Senate, 2005-present; Illinois state Senate 1997-2004; constitutional law instructor, University of Chicago, 1993-2004

Education—Ocidental College 1979-1981;bachelor’ degree in political science, Columbia University, 1983; law degree Harvard University 1991

Family—wife, Michelle Obama; two daughters

Books—Dreams from my Fathers, The Audacity of Hope

Parents—met in a Russian language class at the University of Hawaii.  She (an anthropologist) was 18 [her first name is Stanley as her father wanted a boy].  He was a scholarship student from Kenya.  Two years after his birth his father left to study at Harvard; he returned once when Barack was 10.  His step-father, Lolo Soetero, took the family to live in Indonesia, where he was exposed “to poverty and beggars, crocodiles and roasted grasshoppers” (A7).  His mother’s second marriage broke up and they returned to Hawaii.

This article continues—these are sample notes—remember to put quotations around phrasing that you copy exactly.  All notes will be cited in text.

 

Other articles that may give you background

McCain-- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26328761/

Biden-- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26288748/

Palin-- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/?&&id=25970882&

 

This is a sample of a beginning Works Cited page—it is in this webpage so it will format differently in Word.

Works Cited

“Who Is Barack Obama? Obama: From Unknown to Nominee, a Meteoric Rise.”  Tri-County Sunday.  24 August 2008: A6-A7.

“Who Is John McCain?  McCain:  Rebel with a Cause Chases the Presidency.”  Tri-County Sunday.  24 August 2008:  A8-A9.

Fineman, Howard.  “Biden the Clear Frontrunner for Veep.”  MSNBC.  19 Aug. 2008.  12 Sept. 2008. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26288748/.

“VP Pick Palin Makes Appeal to Women Voters.”  MSNBC. 29 Aug. 2008. 12 Sept. 2008 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/?&&id=25970882&.

CNN on the Issues

Iraq

The Iraq war looms as, perhaps, the most important foreign policy issue during the 2008 election. With thousands of U.S. troops stationed there and sectarian violence always threatening to engulf the country, candidates will have to grapple with the day-to-day events taking place more than 6,000 miles away.

Afghanistan

The war in Afghanistan, begun in late 2001 after the September 11 terrorist attacks, has been ongoing for nearly seven years. An uptick in violence during the summer of 2008 renewed focus on the conflict.

Energy

While each candidate agrees that the United States depends far too much on imported oil and gas, opinion varies on how to lessen the burden and how to promote research and development of other energy sources.

Environment

Most scientists believe that a rise in the Earth's temperatures is worsened by the effect of greenhouse gases. The debate centers on how much government should regulate industry and whether that will affect climate change or be an expensive boondoggle.

Health care

Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls propose solutions to deal with one of the most critical issues facing millions of Americans.

Abortion

Abortion, a perennial issue in American politics, remains resonant for voters and candidates this election year.

 

Writing the Book Report:

1. First think about the book. Jot down some notes about the book. What was
the main idea of theme? How did it affect you? What did you like best?
Least?

2. Present the book. Use the name and author as your title. Then repeat them in
your introduction. Tell what kind of work it is – novel? Science fiction?
Nonfiction? Biography? Tell the subject. Make your reader want to know
more.

3. Summarize. In the body of the report, summarize the book briefly.

4. Tell about the setting and characters. For a narrative, describe the setting and
the main characters.


5. Explain. Explain something important about the book, such as why
something happened, how the book is put together, or what the author’s
purpose was. Also mention the theme – the general idea of the books, such as
survival or growing up.

6. Support your point with details. When you make a statement, back it up with
examples or quotations.

7. Stick to one tense. Do not shift tenses needlessly. To tell what a character
does, use the present tense only.

8. Give a personal reaction. How did you feel?

9. Make a recommendation. Should your reader read the book? Why or why
not?

Tips on writing a book report:
1. Plan.
2. Present the book.
3. Give a brief summary.
4. For a narrative, tell about plot, setting, characters.
5. Explain something important.
6. Use examples and details.
7. Stick to one tense.
8. Give a personal feeling.
9. Make a recommendation.