Essay assignment

State Reports 2013

Part 2: Essay

 Now that you have learned about your state, you are going to use that information to convince others why it is such a great place to visit. Write an essay that will tell your audience about the location, landforms, climate, history, resources, industries, and places of interest in the state.

 Start with an introductory paragraph. Catch your audience’s attention by starting with a question based on a fun fact. Then tell where your state is located in the US and what it is bordered by. Then share some fast facts.

 Next is the body of the essay. Use persuasive language to show your audience that it is the best state in the US with the most interesting features. Describe the landforms, bodies of water, and climate of the state. Next, tell a bit about the state’s history. Third, write about the natural resources and major industries of the state. Last, share some of the major cities and places tourists to the state should visit.

 Wrap up your essay with a concluding paragraph. Remind the audience why the state you researched is so great and end by encouraging them to visit soon!

 Use the notes you took while researching to help you fill in the organizer. Remember you don’t need to use complete sentences in the organizer. Its purpose is to help you gather and organize your ideas. Then, on your first draft, turn those ideas into sentences. Think about everything we have learned in writing this year. Use details and chose your words precisely as well as transition words like first, also, another reason, and finally to flow from one topic to another.

 Sign up for a conference with me when you have finished your rough draft. Some of this assignment will be done in class and some will be done at home. The final drafts will be typed, either at school or at home. You will share the final draft of your essay on Author’s Night! 

Write Around the Clock- Author’s Night song lyrics

Write Around the Clock

To the tune of “Rock Around the Clock”

One, two, three o’clock, four o’clock, write

Five, six, seven o’clock, eight o’clock, write

Nine, ten, eleven o’clock, twelve o’clock, write

We’re gonna write around the clock tonight

 

Put your glasses on and join me, hon

We’ll have some fun when the clock strikes one,

We’re gonna write around the clock tonight,

We’re gonna write, write, write ‘til broad daylight.

We’re gonna, write, gonna write, around the clock tonight.

 

When the clock strikes two, three and four,

If the book is great, we’ll yell for more!

We’re gonna write around the clock tonight,

We’re gonna write, write, write ‘til broad daylight.

We’re gonna, write, gonna write, around the clock tonight.

 

When the chimes ring five, six and seven

We’ll be up in story heaven!

We’re gonna write around the clock tonight,

We’re gonna write, write, write ‘til broad daylight.

We’re gonna, write, gonna write, around the clock tonight.

 

When it’s eight, nine, ten, eleven, too,

I’ll be writin’ so proud and so will you.

We’re gonna write around the clock tonight,

We’re gonna write, write, write ‘til broad daylight.

We’re gonna, write, gonna write, around the clock tonight.

                                                                    

When the clock strikes twelve, we’ll blink and then,

Start a-writin’ round the clock again.

We’re gonna write around the clock tonight,

We’re gonna write, write, write ‘til broad daylight.

We’re gonna, write, gonna write, around the clock tonight.

State reports information

Title with state name

Your name

June 4, 2013

 

Have you always wanted to see where the first shots of the Civil War were fired? If you said yes, come to South Carolina! South Carolina is located along the southeastern coast of the United States. To the east is the Atlantic Ocean. South Carolina is bordered by North Carolina to the north and Georgia to the south and west. Its area is 32,007 square miles, which makes it the tenth smallest state in the country. The capital of South Carolina is Columbia. South Carolina’s nickname is “The Palmetto State” after the state tree. About 4,625,000 people live in South Carolina. South Carolina has many interesting features that make it a great place to visit.

Here are a few things to remember as you continue writing: Indent at the beginning of a new paragraph. Don’t skip lines or put page breaks between paragraphs. Your essay should have 6 paragraphs- intro, geography, history, resources/industry, places of interest, and conclusion.

Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence. It can be a catchy opening or question, like, “Did you know that South Carolina was named for King Charles II of England?” You can also use a simpler, more direct statement such as, “South Carolina has a fascinating history.”

Follow the format of the example. Type your essay in Times New Roman or Arial font in size 12 or 14. Use 1.5 or 2.0 spacing (this makes it easier to read). Put the title, your name, and the date of Author’s Night (June 4, 2013) at the top of your essay. Each piece of information should be on a separate line and centered on the page. Underline the title of your essay.

Make sure you proofread your essay on your own and ask someone else to proofread it too, even after I take a look at it. Read your essay out loud to make sure it all makes sense. Check for correct capitalization and punctuation. Remember, all proper nouns, including state and city names, must be capitalized. Make sure you included transitions!

Finally, end with a concluding paragraph. Remember, part of the reason we are writing these essays is to convince your audience that the state you studied is the best state. Check that you used persuasive language like, “South Carolina is an exciting place to visit for many reasons.” Wrap up your essay with a wish/hope for your audience. For example, “Book your plane ticket soon. You won’t want to miss visiting South Carolina!”

 

Use the links below to continue researching your state at home!

http://www.census.gov/schools/facts/ (use for population)

http://www.infoplease.com/states.html (good for history, resources/industry)

http://www.netstate.com/state_geography.htm (use for geography, climate)

http://ipl.org/div/stateknow/

http://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/index.php

 

 

Vocabulary words 4/17-4/23

1. arid: dry but not desert-like

2. desert: an area that receives less than 10 inches of  rain a year

3. savanna: a grassy plain with few trees

4. aqueduct: a pipe used to bring water from a distance

5. crude oil: a nonrenewable resource that comes out of the ground in the form of a thick, black liquid; crude oil must be separated, or refined, into different groups of chemicals before it is used to make different products

Write 3 sentences using  all 5 of your vocabulary words. Each sentence should be at least 7 words long. Your sentence should be detailed enough so the reader can understand what the word means.

Don’t write a sentence like: I saw a desert.

Do write a sentence like: Deserts and places with arid climates can be hot or cold but they both receive little rainfall.

Sentences should be written in the comments section by Tuesday, April 23 at 9pm. Make sure you proofread! Remember correct capitalization,  punctuation, and spelling!

**Remember: No commenting on Shabbat. All comments must be related to vocabulary or language arts or contain a compliment. Comments should not only contain smiley faces.  🙂

Vocabulary words 4/10-4/16

1. perimeter: the distance around a figure

2. area: a measurement of the surface inside a shape; area is measured in square units

3. formula: a general rule for finding the value of something; often written using letters, or variables, to stand for the quantities involved

4. hub: center of activity

5. transcontinental: across a continent

Write a sentence each using area and perimeter to give an example of when you could use each of them in the real world.

Write a third sentence using formula and how it is related to area and/or perimeter.

Write a fourth sentence about the Midwest using both hub and transcontinental.

Sentences should be written in the comments section by Tuesday, April 16 at 9pm. Make sure you proofread! Remember correct capitalization and punctuation!

**Remember: No commenting on Shabbat. All comments must be related to vocabulary or language arts or contain a compliment. Comments should not only contain smiley faces.  🙂

Vocabulary words 3/13-3/19

1. numerator: the number above the bar in a fraction; tells how many equal parts are described

2. denominator: the number below the bar in a fraction: tells how many equal parts there are

3. equivalent fractions: 2 or more fractions that name the same whole

4. mixed number: a number with a whole and a fraction part

5. improper fraction: a fraction that has a numerator greater than or equal to its denominator

Pretend you’re teaching someone about fractions. First, write a short explanation of how to make equivalent fractions in the comments section just below by Tuesday, March 19 at 9 pm. Include an example to show your point. You can use / to write you fractions. (Ex: 1/2)

Then, write a sentence with an example to explain words #4 and 5.

Proofread! Remember correct capitalization and punctuation!

**Remember: No commenting on Shabbat. All comments must be related to vocabulary or language arts or contain a compliment. Comments should not only contain smiley faces.  🙂

Vocabulary words 3/6-3/12

1. pioneer: a person who settled in a part of the country and prepared it for others

2.plantation: a large farm that produced crops to sell; often refers to farms in the South

3. secede: to pull out or separate from; the states of the Confederacy seceded from the USA during the Civil War  (1861-1865)

4. Union: the Northern states during the Civil War, still called the USA

5. Confederacy: the Southern states during the Civil War, called the Confederate States of America

6. segregation (n)/segregate (v): the separation of/to separate people based on their race

Write 4 sentences using all 6 words in the comments section just below to teach about the history of the Southeast by Tuesday, March 12 at 9 pm. Each sentence must be at least 7 words long. Remember correct capitalization and punctuation! Make sure your sentence shows an understanding of the word.

Don’t write a sentence like: He was in the Union.

Do write a sentence like: Lincoln’s goal during his presidency was to reunite the Union and the Confederacy into one country.

**Remember: No commenting on Shabbat. All comments must be related to vocabulary or language arts or contain a compliment. Comments should not only contain smiley faces.  🙂

Vocabulary words 2/20-2/26

1. angle: formed by 2 rays or 2 line segments  (called sides) that share the same vertex (endpoint)

2. protractor: a tool used to measure angles; there are 2 types- full-circle and half-circle

3. degrees: angles are measured in degrees

4. types of angles:

– acute: 0-90 degrees

– right: 90 degrees

– obtuse: 90-180 degrees

– straight: 180 degrees

– reflex: 180-360 degrees

Describe an angle using four of the bold and underlined words in the comments section just below by Tuesday, February 26 by 9pm.

Remember correct capitalization and punctuation!

Example: Angle CAR is part of a trapezoid. It is made up of 2 line segments that meet at a vertex, A. The angle is an obtuse angle. If you use a half-circle protractor, you would see that it is 165 degrees.

**Remember: No commenting on Shabbat. All comments must be related to  vocabulary or language arts or contain a compliment. Comments should not only contain smiley faces.  🙂

Vocabulary words 2/13-1/19

1. quotient: the result of dividing one number by another number

2. divisor: the number that divides another

3. dividend: the number that is being divided

4. remainder: the amount left over when one number is divided by another number

Example: In 32\8=4, 32 is the dividend, 8 is the divisor, 4 is the quotient, and the remainder is 0.

Write a number riddle using all four words in the comments section just below by Tuesday, February 19 by 9pm. 

Your riddle should contain at least 3 clues and should end in a question. You can include the answer or leave it blank for your classmates to solve in the comments.

Remember correct capitalization and punctuation!

Example: The dividend is the product of 4 x 6. The divisor is one less than the product of 2 x 2. There is no remainder. What is the quotient?

(Answer: 8)

 **Remember: No commenting on Shabbat. All comments must be related to vocabulary or language arts or contain a compliment. Comments should not only contain smiley faces.  🙂

Vocabulary words 1/30-2/5

1. reservior: a place that holds water

2. canal: a waterway that has been dug by people across land for boats to travel through

3. waterway: a system of lakes, rivers, and/or canals through which boats can travel

4. mill: a building or factory containing machinery for grinding grain into flour or for processing textiles, wood, paper, steel, etc.  

Write 3 sentences using all 4 words in the comments section just below by Tuesday, February 5 at 9pm. Each sentence should be at least 7 words long. Remember correct capitalization and punctuation! Make sure your sentence shows an understanding of the word.

**Try to use compare/contrast words in at least one sentence!**

Don’t write a sentence like: I saw a canal.

Do write a sentence like: Canals are built by humans unlike waterways which are naturally formed.

 **Remember: No commenting on Shabbat. All comments must be related to vocabulary or language arts or contain a compliment. Comments should not only contain smiley faces.  🙂