Bell - Mrs. Hodge

Bell Middle School Welcome to Ancient Civilizations and Language Arts 6th grade Mrs. Hodge

Reading & Writing

Current Language Arts Class & Homework

Current language arts activities... Reading Expository and Persuasive text Reading critically to find the evidence that supports the claim Expository writing using Text Structures Research with bibliography Persuasive writing using text structure with a lead/hook, strong thesis, supporting evidence (premise), counterargument, call to action (if appropriate) and ending with a strong conclusion Always read at home every day!

Reading Log - 30 min. every night & signed by an adult. Final draft of Character Analysis: How characters change over time Bandit's Moon Whipping Boy We will be working on a Persuasive letter to San Diego Unified Board & possibly Union-Tribune Letter to the Editor re: Palomar Mountain Outdoor Camp - possible closure due to funding. More information to come.

Bell Middle School's Non-negotiables in Writing

1. Capitalization

• Capital letters at the beginning of sentences
• Proper nouns
  

2. Paragraphs must be indented
3. Correct end punctuation
4. Complete sentences – must have a subject and predicate (noun & verb) or a complete thought.
5. Subject/verb agreement: The boys were (not was/is)
6. Correct spelling of high frequency words
7. Academic language for your content = word wall or word bank (used and spelled correctly)
8. All writing MUST MAKE SENSE throughout
9. The following sentences must be used in your writing and punctuated correctly:

• compound sentences
• complex sentences (#1 & #2)
  

The above are the very basic essentials of writing. We will also work on the following common problems of writing:

• Sentences – run-ons and fragments
  
• Punctuation – commas w/ introductory clauses and coordinate & subordinate conjunctions (and, but…/if, then, when, while...)
• Pronoun antecedent
• verb tense agreement
• transitions
• multi-paragraph essays with introduction, body and conclusion
  

Ancient Civilization we will be studying this year.
Hunters & Gatherers
Mesopotamia
Egypt
Hebrews
India
China
Greece
Rome