Blogging Monthly Book Reviews

You will be posting your monthly book reviews on Mrs. Switaj’s web log page on your language arts class period “Monthly Book Reviews” page. Please precisely follow the steps of the process written below to be successful!

1. Open a word document and word process the text from your monthly review into the word document. Start with the title and author of the work. Include your first name and last initial (do not post your last name). Be sure to edit your writing. Use the grammar and spell check tool to double check your work.

2. Highlight the text and right click on the highlighted text. Then click on copy to move text to the clipboard.

3. Go to your class period’s “Monthly Book Reviews” page and scroll down to the comment section of the web log page. Click the cursor in the comment box. Press the Ctrl key and the letter v at the same time to copy your text in the comment section.

4. Be sure to put your first name and last initial in the correct rectangle. You will need to enter an email, but the email will not be posted with your comments. Complete the request, and then click on the Submit key when you are done.

5. I will receive an email that your comment has posted. When I approve the comment, it will show up on the “Monthly Book Reviews” page.

6. Your posts and comments must be school appropriate. Remember, too, your audience. Besides other students, teachers and administrators, and the World Wide Web will be reading your posts.

 

The more children read, the better reader they become. Research supports this. Similarly, parents can have a positive effect on their children’s progress in reading comprehension merely by talking to them about what they read. There are many tips to conversing about literature. One secret is to avoid using questions that require just a simple yes or no answer. Instead, peruse the links below to ask questions that will show you are interested in what is being read, as well as generate longer answers that will make students reflect upon, and process and act upon what they are reading. Last, parents help their children by modeling reading behavior. While reading you are not the only one learning – your children are learning that reading is a valuable activity. They will read more, and the more children read…

http://iusd.org/parent_resources/questionsencourage.htm

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/skill-builder/reading-comprehension/48617.html

Your Guide to Blogging Monthly Book Talks

            All students will post a review of their monthly independent reading novel beginning with the novel due at the beginning of October

To post your original review on the “Monthly Book Talks, Period 6” page, you must follow exactly all instructions provided. You will not be able to send your work via email to Mrs. Switaj, unless you are specifically instructed to do so. Nor will you be given extended time or be excused from the requirements.

To post comments on your class web log page, “Monthly Book Talks, Period 2,” scroll to the bottom of that page and enter your comment. You will need to use an email address to do so. The email address is never posted on the web log page. However, you will USE ONLY YOUR FIRST NAME AND LAST NAME INITIAL in the rest of the comment area. This way I can give you credit, and you can practice Internet safety.

Comments posted must demonstrate critical thinking about the review posted. While saying you like the novel or that you want to read it now that you have learned about it is okay, you must also show your reasoning. Always explain the “because” of your response. In other words, full support and evidence must be attached to a comment. Finally, just as you will do for any original posting, you must write in academic language and utilize excellent conventions. (Hint: First word process your text, no matter how small, in Word, and then use Spell and Grammar Check and edit your work before copying and pasting it into the comments section on Edublogs).

Mrs. Switaj’s web log is found at: https://switajka.edublogs.org/. You need to  finish your work for the review in the computer lab time allotted in February on Monday or finish this at home. .

Score Sheet – Monthly Booktalks

 

ITEM	SCORE
	Points Possible
Student posts an original review of a novel that demonstrates critical thinking.	/10
Student writes a review that summarizes and evaluates the novel, or ensures this within the context of the tool used.*	/20
Student uses appropriate word choice and voice, and excellent conventions.	/10
TOTAL:	/40

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions for Acceptable Applications

Regardless of the method you choose to review your novel, you must include both a summary and an evaluation of the book. You must also include the title (italicized) and the author. Last, you must always include your first name and last initial. Never use your full name when posting to the Internet. Additionally, since this can be viewed by anyone surfing the Web, take pride in the work you do. Last, read all directions carefully!!!!!

1. Word: Write a one paragraph review of the novel, which includes a summary (story elements & theme), as well as an evaluation of the story. First, word process it in Word so that you can edit it, including using Spell and Grammar check. Then scroll down to the comments section at the bottom of the “Monthly Book Talks, Period 6” web log page. Copy your text and paste it in the comments section. Post the comment. A notice is sent to my email. I will approve the comment so it will post on the web log page.

*Beginning in January:

2. Prezi: Some of you are familiar with this tool. You will need to be able to store your work on the website on which it was created and post a link to it in Edublogs by scrolling down to the comments section at the bottom of the “Monthly Book Talks, Period 6” page. Copy the link to your Prezi and paste it in the comments section. Post the comment. A notice is sent to my email. I will approve the comment so it will post on the web log page.

3. Newspaper Snippet: Generate your own newspaper clip about the book you have read at www.fodey.com/generators/newspaper/snippet.asp. Email a copy of your snippet saved as a JPEG file and attached to the email to switajk@riverview.wednet.edu. Include in the email a caption that evaluates the book. I will post your snippet and caption on the web log page.

4. Glogster: Some of you are familiar with this tool. You will need to be able to store your work on the website on which it was created and post a link to it in Edublogs by scrolling down to the comments section at the bottom of the “Monthly Book Talks, Period 6” page. Copy the link to your Glogster poster and paste it in the comments section. Post the comment. A notice is sent to my email. I will approve the comment so it will post on the web log page.

 

5. Wordle: At www.wordle.net, you can create a beautiful word cloud. HOWEVER, you will need to save the wordle as Anonymous on the wordle website and then post the link you copy from the web address as a comment to the “Monthly Book Talks, Period 6” page. You will need to include a caption that evaluates the novel with the wordle.

6. Other preapproved applications: The focus is on preapproval. You must get my approval, and you must be familiar enough with this app that it does not become a liability with which to work. Also, considering our limit of 20 MB per upload allowed by Edublogs, you will probably need to be able to store your work on the website on which it was created and post a link to it as a comment in Edublogs.

 

“FUMBLERULES” FOR WRITERS

• Avoid run-on sentences they are hard to read.
• Don’t use no double negatives.
• Use the semicolon properly, always use it where it is appropriate; and never where it isn’t.
• Reserve the apostrophe for it’s proper use and omit it when its not needed.
• Do not put statements in the negative form.
• Verbs has to agree with their subjects.
• No sentence fragments.
• Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
• Avoid commas, that are not necessary.
• If you reread your work, you will find on rereading that a great deal of repetition can be avoided by rereading and editing.
• A writer must not shift your point of view.
• Eschew dialect, irregardless.
• And don’t start a sentence with a conjunction.
• Don’t overuse exclamation marks!!!
• Place pronouns as close as possible, especially in long sentences, as of 10 or more words, to their antecedents.
• Writers should always hyphenate between syllables and avoid un-necessary hyph- ens.
• Write all adverbial forms correct.
• Don’t use contractions in formal writing.
• Writing carefully, dangling participles must be avoided.
• It is incumbent on us to avoid archaisms.
• If any word is improper at the end of a sentence, a linking verb is.
• Steer clear of incorrect forms of verbs that have snuck in the language.
• Take the bull by the hand and avoid mixed metaphors.
• Avoid trendy locutions that sound flaky.
• Never, ever use repetitive redundancies.
• Everyone should be careful to use a singular pronoun with singular nouns in their writing.
• If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a thousand times, resist hyperbole.
• Also, avoid awkward or affected alliteration.
• Don’t string too many prepositional phrases together unless you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
• Always pick on the correct idiom.
• “Avoid overuse of ‘quotation “marks.”‘”
• The adverb always follows the verb.
• Last but not least, avoid cliches like the plague; seek viable alternatives.

William Safire, late New York Times columnist, wrote a weekly column called “On Language” in the late 1900s about new and unusual usages of language.

Here are some helpful links!

formats, reference lists, and in-text citations:

https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/

http://web.plattsburgh.edu/library/instruction/files/apa_guide_quick.pdf

You can also access Citation Machine at http://citationmachine.net/index2.php for reference list entries.