Wednesday, December 29, 2010

WHYYYYYYY!


Greetings Ladies. I just want to remind you that you are writing an essay this break.

I also want to stress that you should be presenting BOTH historical and literary evidence in your essay. You are expected to have these things in your Islam and Iran and Communism notes. You also have a reading journal full of evidence from the book.

REPEAT: Your essay must cite evidence from your historical notes AND the memoir!

You also must EXPLAIN WHY THE HISTORICAL AND LITERARY EVIDENCE IS IMPORTANT!!!!!!! WHY? WHY? WHY? Please be detailed about this. You explanation why is expected to be about 2 - 3 detailed, thoughtful sentences.

WHY!?!?

Monday, December 27, 2010

Persepolis Essay Peer Review

In case you didn't get the peer review sheet before you left, here it is. If you don't have a peer (i.e. someone your age) to do the review, you must do a self-review.


IDEAS

1. Does the essay have a thesis statement that includes the following:

q Clearly show her opinion in answer to the task?

q Describe my interpretation of how and why the Iranian Revolution was important to Marjane and/or Iran?

q Identify historical details about Iran and Islam?

q Identify literary details and characters from Persepolis?

q Use correct punctuation, grammar, and spelling?

2. Highlight it in pink.

3. Does each paragraph have a topic sentence for each paragraph? YES NO

4. Highlight them in pink.

5. Does each topic sentence accurately describe the main idea about the paragraph? YES NO

6. What do you suggest the writer add or take away to make the ideas more clear? ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________

Interpretation (EVERYONE needs to improve in this area! Make sure you are explaining why and how your quote or paraphrase shows your thesis!)

1. Does each of the paragraphs have specific & accurate facts, details, & examples that connect to the thesis? YES SORT OF NO

2. Highlight them in green.

3. Does the writer explain WHY the evidence is important to answering the essay’s question?

Think WHY?!?!? YES SORT OF NO

4. Highlight the explanation in blue.

5. Does the writer use proper MLA citation for direct quotes or paraphrasing? YES SORT OF NO

6. What is unclear about why the evidence is important? (Again, EVERYONE needs to improve here!) ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

ORGANIZATION

1. Is the essay organized into indented paragraphs?

YES SORT OF NO

2. Does the essay have a clear introduction paragraph? Put an “I” next to it.

3. Does the essay have a clear conclusion paragraph? Put a “C” next to it.

4. Are the paragraphs in a logical order that makes sense and build on one another to create an enlightening argument? YES SORT OF NO

5. Does the writer use transitions to make a bridge from one paragraph to the next?

YES SORT OF NO

6. What could the writer add or take away to make the essay more organized and the ideas clearer? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________

CONVENTIONS

1. Does the writer use correct grammar, punctuation, conventions, language? YES NO

2. Are there major spelling errors? YES NO

3. Does the writer follow Standard Written English with no text speak or abbreviations?

YES SORT OF NO

Gone Fishin’

1. Does the writer start her essay with an interesting, provocative hook? YES SORT OF NO

2. Highlight the hook in yellow.

3. What kind of hook is it? A provocative question A fact or statistic A personal anectdote (story) A historical or current event

4. What is interesting or intriguing for you about this hook? _______________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Videos of Iran's History for the Persepolis Essay


Some resources for your essay. When you watch the videos, it may be really helpful to use your historical notes as you watch.

Video montage of Iran's history 1900 - 1978. Can you name all the people and events?

Video montage of Iran's history 1978 - present.
This includes the Islamic Revolution and events afterwards.

Video of the ancient city of Persepolis.
We saw this video in class.
Here is the second part of the video for further information.

Here are some other links about the ancient city of Persepolis.

Vocabulary: Monday, December 20 2010


pessimism (n.)
the belief that only bad things happen; the anticipation of negative events

Examples



optimism (n.)
the belief that good overcomes bad; the view that all things have a positive side


Examples

Monday, December 20, 2010

Persepolis Essay Options


Ok, Ladies! We have finished reading Persepolis and have excellent Reading Journals. Eh-hem!

We have been working on writing essays in response to our readings of
Persepolis. You have three options. Choose ONE.

Then do a 5 minute Free Write in response to the essay question.


Next, highlight the important key words in your free write. They will help you write a thesis.

Then, grab a pink Finding Your Thesis sheet. Collect as much information as you can and draft a thesis for your essay. Yes. It is difficult. Use that fabulous brain of yours!!!

GO!


Option 1
Dreams of Persepolis: Why does Satrapi give her memoir the title Persepolis?

Description
  • You will write a compare and contrast analysis of Persepolis the city and Persepolis the memoir.
  • Your goal is to understand what Persepolis the city was like and why it was so important to Iran’s history.
  • Secondly, your goal is to show how this aspect of Iran’s history is important to the Iranian Revolution.
Option 2 Teenage Revolution: Why does Satrapi tell the memoir of her adolescence with the story of the Iranian Revolution?

Description
  • You will write an analysis essay explaining how Marjane’s story of adolescence is like a revolution, the Iranian Revolution.
  • Your goal is to compare Marjane’s adolescence to the Iranian revolution.
  • Secondly, your goal is to show how the setting of Iran (including its history) influenced Marjane as a teenager.
Option 3 Revolutionary Advice: If you were one of the adults in Satrapi’s adolescence, what advice would you give her as she leaves Iran?

Description
  • You will write an essay in the form of a letter giving Marjane advice for her new life in Vienna.
  • Your goal is to show how a person’s history can be useful to her in the future, how she can learn from other’s experiences and choices.
  • Secondly, your goal is to show why Marjane had to leave how the Iranian Revolution can help Marjane make choices for the kind of life she wants.

Friday, December 17, 2010

Vocabulary: Friday, December 17, 2010


proletariat (n.)
the class of working people and wage earners who often do not hold much wealth

Examples

Sentence

Antonym

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Vocabulary: Thursday, December 16, 2010


to assimilate (v.)
  • to absorb or incorporate into something else
  • to become like a larger group
Examples


Sentence


Antonym

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Homework for Groups M & O!!


Homework Due on Monday, December 13

1. Read from page 53 to page 102.

2. Complete 2 panel/quote entries per chapter = 12 entries in your chart

OR

Write written and/or drawn responses to each chapter (a big, fat, juicy paragraph - about a page), which must include the following:

§ Reference to an important panel or quote

§ Your reaction to those important panels or quotes.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Researching Islam & Iran/Persia


For your exam on Wednesday, you need to have complete understanding of the basic beliefs and practices of Islam as well as the modern history of Persia and Iran, dating from the 1908-ish to the present time. These ideas and facts should be recorded in your notes. Follow the keywords and structure on your notes sheets.

Here are some links that I recommend for reliable information.

About Islam

Intro to Islam

Beliefs & Daily Lives of Muslims

The Five Pillars of Islam

Understanding Persia & Iran's History

The Qajar Dynasty

Pahlavi's Dynasty

Oil Nationalization

Islamic Revolution & Ayatollah Kholmeini

A slidecast highlighting the Islamic Revolution with photos from the Revolution

For some background information to Persepolis, check out this slidecast.


Ok, that's enough for now, right?

Friday, December 3, 2010

Persepolis Reading


For Monday, read up to page 39.

Group M, you should have at least 2 panel/quote notes PER CHAPTER. Go!

Make sure you have your notes on Islam and Persia/Iran complete! Bring them to class!

Vocabulary: Friday, December 3, 2010


obligatory (adj.)
required, mandatory

Examples & Sentence


Antonyms

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Vocabulary: Wednesday, December 1, 2010


avant-garde (adj. & n.)
(adj.) daring, being the first/only one to do something (adj.)
(n.) someone who dares to do something no one else has done (n.)

Examples & Sentence

Antonyms