AGENDA 2/27

TW: Synthesis (Locavores)

Continue to gather sources for local issues research paper--email experts using my template, set up and conduct phone or in-person interviews as needed, search local newspapers, the city and school websites, and other online sources

HW: Be prepared to discuss Benjamin Barber's "America Skips School" on Monday: Identify the most significant paragraph, sentence, and symbolic word, and be prepared to discuss how Barber uses exaggeration/humor, repetition, and the diction of democracy within the text to craft his argument. Further, look for points of overlap between "America Skips School" and The Pact as we wrap our education unit.

AGENDA 2/26

Local Issues Guest Speakers, final round: SMMUSD School Board Members Laurie Lieberman and Ben Allen

HW: Prepare for tomorrow's synthesis essay. Here are some tools:
PowerPoint on writing body paragraphs
General notes on Synthesis
PowerPoint on how to approach the prompt
Focused Learning Targets (Learning Objectives Sheet) for Synthesis
Full sample essay on the Space prompt
Solutions List for Synthesis Essays

AGENDA 2/20

Local Issues Guest Speaker Notes: Didi Mumford and Betty Macias, City Human Services Division

HW: Be prepared to turn in Guest Speaker Notes tomorrow (7 sets). Finish The Pact this week if you haven't already, and add your online comments to the discussion board post (#5) on Turnitin. If you haven't already, complete your independent reading book check, and please bring your sign-off reading record sheet tomorrow so I can double-check that I've given you credit for indie reading.

AGENDA 2/19

PPT of Next Steps for Local Issues Paper
(including research questions to answer)

Email template and directions for contacting local experts by email

Annotated Bibliography directions (due Monday on or before 9:59pm)
Resource for MLA citations for Annotated Bibliography

Shortcut link to school district's website: http://www.smmusd.org/
Shortcut link to city website: http://www.smgov.net/
Shortcut link to Seascape, the Santa Monica City newsletter: http://www.smgov.net/departments/CMO/PageBuilder.aspx?pageid=9434
Shortcut link to Santa Monica Daily Press: http://smdp.com/
Shortcut link to Santa Monica Mirror: http://www.smmirror.com/
Shortcut link to Santa Monica Observer: http://www.smobserved.com/

AGENDA 2/18

Guest Speaker Notes: Kim O'Cain, Analyst for Office of Sustainability and the Environment
Santa Monica: Water Self-Sufficiency by 2020

HW: Turn in local issues next step if you haven't already--personal stake paragraph, 3 research questions, and 3 potential sources. Handwritten neatly in ink or typed. Finish reading The Pact by the end of this week and comment online on the Turnitin discussion board regarding Chapter 11 and "Delusions of Grandeur"

AGENDA 2/14

Happy Valentine's Day!
Local Issues Guest Speaker Notes: School Board Members Ralph Mechur and Nimish Patel

Turn in local issues next step if you haven't already--personal stake paragraph, 3 research questions, and 3 potential sources. Also, turn in synthesis introduction paragraph on USPS. Handwritten neatly in ink or typed.

HW: Finish reading The Pact by the end of next week and comment online on the Turnitin discussion board regarding Chapter 11 and "Delusions of Grandeur"

AGENDA 2/12

Field trip debrief: What did you enjoy about yesterday's performance?
Local issues project, next steps...
For Friday, please write the following:
1) a paragraph explaining your personal stake or interest in/experience with this issue
2) 3 topic-specific research questions (e.g., "What is the process for..." "What steps might need to happen..." or "What constraints might affect...")
3) the names of three local experts or sources you might consult (e.g., search The Santa Monica Daily Press archives, email Ms. Baxter, set up a telephone interview with Sam Morrissey in City transportation, etc.)

Introduce synthesis through college activity