Fourth Task!

This week's task is a practice activity for Part B of the exam.
Read the article below, and identify the thesis and main ideas. You should write about one sentence for the thesis, and one sentence for each main idea.

There are some words in the text that you might not be familiar with. I have written them here with their definitions.

lever: a handle
to dispense: to distribute, or give out
sanitary: free of germs or dirt
budget: an amount of money set aside for a purpose
motion-sensing: a device that senses motion (eg to turn the hand dryer on)
absenteeism: when people are absent

Don't Touch That Towel!
By Shannon C.
I think our school would benefit by investing in automatic motion-sensing hand dryers. I have several reasons for this. Children can get sick from the germ-infested paper towel dispensers we now have. There is also terrible waste when students continuously pull the lever, dispensing towels they don't really need.
First of all, this automatic hand dryer is very sanitary. Instead of pulling on a lever that has been touched by a large number of students, users can just stick their hands under the blow-dryer. No germs can get on them because there is nothing to touch.
In addition, if we buy this automatic hand dryer, we can save the school budget and trees. The money we save by not wasting paper towels can be used for educational things,such as field trips. We could even go to a tree farm and see how many trees we saved. Cutting fewer trees will make a big difference in the environment.
If the electricity happens to go out, the hand dryer, like all electric appliances, will go out too. That is ONE bad thing, but we know the lights don't go out that often. We will store extra paper towels in the custodian's room for emergencies.
So I think there is much to be said for this automatic motion-sensing hand dryer. Administrators will be glad to know that absenteeism will be lowered. Money can be saved. Finally, if the trees could talk, they would probably shout for joy, knowing that a whole school is saving a forest. Let's install automatic hand dryers at our school as soon as possible.

Third Task

Well done, Grade Sixes! To have reached this stage, you have chosen your topic and done some research about it. You have identified a person or organisation that is working to improve the issue or problem you are researching. It's been great to see and hear about all of the interesting information you've uncovered. This week in class, you are going to develop your theses, and begin planning and drafting your essays.

This week's task: Find and print 3 articles related to your topic, and bring them to class. You will need them to plan and write your essay. Post the website address for each article, and a short description of the article on the blog under 'Third Task'.

Second Task

Last week, your task was to become an EXPERT on a particular issue or problem.

THIS WEEK, you need to dig a little deeper.

Find a person or organisation that is working to improve the issue, or solve the problem that you have researched. In your own words, write a paragraph about what they are doing to help.

Remember to include links to any websites you have used for research.

First Task

In class, we have been discussing different issues from around the world and the ways that people deal with and react to them. You have read news articles in class and analysed them.

Your task this week is to choose an issue that is important or of interest to you, and become an expert on that issue. You could find an issue or problem by looking at news websites (have a look at some of the links I've posted), reading newspapers, watching or listening to the news, or talking with friends, teachers and family members about what they think is interesting and important.

Write responses to the following, and include links to any websites you have used:

1. Briefly describe the issue or problem that you have chosen. (Give details about Who, What, When, Where and Why it is a problem.) You will use this for your final report, so make sure you give plenty of detail.
   

The comment Bahar has posted is a good example of what you need to do for this task.

YOUR COMMENTS MUST BE WRITTEN IN YOUR OWN WORDS! DO NOT CUT AND PASTE SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS WRITTEN!!!!

Your Mission

Sixth Graders - read this veeeeery carefully...
This week, you are beginning your non-fiction adventures. This is the last piece of writing we will do for the year!!

The Task: Research a person or organisation that is working to deal with an issue or problem in their community. Present your findings as a research essay. You will work on this research essay in class and at home over the next few weeks, and submit the final copy to me in the English exam during exam week. (As soon as I know the date, I will tell you!) I will post an example of a research essay for you to look at when you begin the writing process.

Guidelines:

• You must post to this blog at least once a week. Each week, there will be a question to answer, or a task to complete. Your answer must be submitted as an online comment.
• Your comments must include links to any websites you have used for research.

Weekly Outline:

• Week One (week beginning 11th May)

Select your issue or problem, and begin researching it.

• Week Two (week beginning 18th May)

Select and find information about a person or organisation who is working to solve or improve this issue/problem.

• Week Three (week beginning 25th May)

Develop your thesis and essay plan. Begin writing your essay in class.

• Week Four (week beginning 1st June)

Continue writing your essay and conferencing with your teacher and classmates.

• Week Five (week beginning 8th June)

You will complete and submit your research essay during the English exam this week. You will NOT be able to conference with Miss Kemp during the exam.