Writing an Essay for City of Ember

1. Read the task carefully, underline key words (Still choosing your task?? Go to The City of Ember Post assignment page of this blog)
2. Create a Brainstorm or a web, referring back to the task given to you. Add as many details or "branches" as you can to the web, this will help you! These details will include comments, observations, specific examples from the novel.

3. Organize and Outline...
You can do this using an essay graphic organizer provided to you in class... OR...
Check out the following links from the READWRITETHINK website....

"Note taker site"
http://interactives.mped.org/view_interactive.aspx?id=722&title=

"Persuasive Writing Site"
http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/persuasion_map/

2010 in the News

Welcome back grade 7/8 to a new year... Happy New Year!
With the start of a new year, it's always important to look back and reflect on the events of the previous year... but rather than just read articles (which is fun, and I know you look forward to these kinds of tasks), we are going to explore the new year in other mediums...
Editorial cartoons and photos!

In class on Wednesday we will be exploring some key news events of 2010 through editorial cartoons... (these are most of them)

November - December 2010 - Climate Change Conference in Cancun 

October 2010 - Trapped Chilean Miners

August 2010 - Devastating Floods in Pakistan

May 2010 - Reactions to Gulf Oil Spill

January  - February - Haitian Earthquake and Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics

Analyzing Political Cartoons Guide
Reference: 
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/analyzing-purpose-meaning-political-794.html
http://www.lessonplanspage.com/SSCIPoliticalCartoons912.htm

Symbolism	Cartoonists use simple objects, or symbols, to stand for larger concepts or ideas. After you identify the symbols in a cartoon, think about what the cartoonist intends each symbol to stand for.
Exaggeration	Sometimes cartoonists overdo, orexaggerate, the physical characteristics of people or things in order to make a point. When you study a cartoon, look for any characteristics that seem overdone or overblown. (Facial characteristics and clothing are some of the most commonly exaggerated characteristics.) Then, try to decide what point the cartoonist was trying to make through exaggeration.
Labeling	Cartoonists often label objects or people to make it clear exactly what they stand for. Watch out for the different labels that appear in a cartoon, and ask yourself why the cartoonist chose to label that particular person or object. Does the label make the meaning of the object more clear?
Analogy	An analogy is a comparison between two unlike things that share some characteristics. By comparing a complex issue or situation with a more familiar one, cartoonists can help their readers see it in a different light. After you’ve studied a cartoon for a while, try to decide what the cartoon’s main analogy is. What two situations does the cartoon compare? Once you understand the main analogy, decide if this comparison makes the cartoonist’s point more clear to you.
Irony	Irony is the difference between the ways things are and the way things should be, or the way things are expected to be. Cartoonists often use irony to express their opinion on an issue. When you look at a cartoon, see if you can find any irony in the situation the cartoon depicts. If you can, think about what point the irony might be intended to emphasize. Does the irony help the cartoonist express his or her opinion more effectively?

Once you’ve identified the persuasive techniques that the cartoonist used, ask yourself:

• What issue is this political cartoon about?
• What is the cartoonist’s opinion on this issue?
• What other opinion can you imagine another person having on this issue?
• Did you find this cartoon persuasive? Why or why not?
• What other techniques could the cartoonist have used to make this cartoon more persuasive?What is the event or issue about that inspired the cartoon?
• Are there any real people in the cartoon? Who is portrayed in the cartoon?
•  Are there symbols in the cartoon? What are they and what do they represent?
• What are some of the symbols and icons you believe are common in political cartoon? (7 minutes)
• What is the event or issue about that inspired the cartoon?
• Are there any real people in the cartoon? Who is portrayed in the cartoon?
• Are there symbols in the cartoon? What are they and what do they represent?
• What are some of the symbols and icons you believe are common in political cartoon? (7 minutes)

*** Questions given in class are slightly different than what is listed above (note that some questions are similar)

PHOTO GALLERY - 2010 IN PICS...
A Year in Canadian news - photo gallery
http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/canada/4279/


Images for 2010 - photo gallery


Ivory Coast post election crisis
www.cbc.ca/world/story/2010/12/31/ivory-coast-un-uk.html


North Korea Threat of War - photo gallery and articles
http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/world/4264/


The Rick Mercer Report.... He's always worth listening too... sometimes he's even funny....


http://www.cbc.ca/mercerreport/video.html




Events to start off the new year.... 2011
Flooding of "biblical proportions" in Australia
http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2011/01/01/flooding-australia.html

Social sites government unit

http://schools.nycenet.edu/region4/gchs/rocco/Global%20Studies/index.htm

http://schools.nycenet.edu/region4/gchs/rocco/Global%20Studies/Global%201%20and%202/H1-Complete/Unit%2001%20-%20Social%20Studies%20Skills%20%5BSeptember%5D/07%20-%20Political%20Cartoons/07%20-%20Political%20Cartoons.pdf

http://schools.nycenet.edu/region4/gchs/rocco/Global%20Studies/Global%201%20and%202/H1-Complete/Unit%2001%20-%20Social%20Studies%20Skills%20%5BSeptember%5D/01-%20Maps/01-Maps.ppt

http://schools.nycenet.edu/region4/gchs/rocco/Global%20Studies/unit%201.htm

Why gov needed
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/soc/cecsst/cecsst034.html
Gov formation
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/soc/cecsst/cecsst216.html

Comparative gov
http://www.econedlink.org/lessons/index.php?lid=322&type=afterschool

Types of gov ppt
http://classroom.jc-schools.net/SS-units/presentations/gov-types.ppt

http://www.grafton.k12.wi.us/highschool/schill/government/chapter1/Classification%20of%20Governments_files/frame.htm

Handout types of gov

http://www.lessonsnips.com/docs/pdf/typesgovernment.pdf
Why do we need gov
http://schools.nycenet.edu/region4/gchs/rocco/Global%20Studies/Global%201%20and%202/H1-Complete/Unit%2001%20-%20Social%20Studies%20Skills%20[September]/03%20-%20Government/03-government.ppt