8th- Utopia Project Calendar

Utopia Calendar--daily focus and due dates

December 3 No School (Grade Day)	4 6 Character-istics Due	5 5-6 Details Due	6 Work Day Drafting of  Page #1	7 Work Day Typing and Finalize Page #1
10 Final Draft #1 Due	11 Work Day Drafting of  Page #2	12 Work Day Typing and Finalize Page #2	13 Final Draft #2 With Illustration Due	14 Work Day Drafting of  Page #3
17 Work Day Typing and Finalize Page #3	18 Final Draft #3 with Illustration Due	19 Work Day Drafting of  Page #4	20 Work Day Typing and Finalize Page #4	21 Final Draft #4 with Illustration Due
24 Winter Break	25 Winter Break	26 Winter Break	27 Winter Break	28 Winter Break
31 Winter Break	January 1 Winter Break	2 Winter Break	3 Winter Break	4 Winter Break
7 Work Day Drafting of  Page #5	8 Work Day Typing and Finalize Page #5	9 Final Draft #5 with Illustrations Due	10 Work Day Drafting of  Page #6	11 Work Day Typing and Finalize Page #6
14 Final Draft #6 with Illustration Due	15 Work Day Drafting of  Page #7	16 Work Day Typing and Finalize Page #7 (Your Choice Page)	17 Final Draft #7 with Illustration Due	18 Map Due
21 Work Day	22 Graph/ Chart/ Table Due	23 Work Day	24 Index Due	25 Finish Cover BOOK DUE!

8th- Utopia Project Targets

Students will receive scores for all 5 targets, for each completed page. 

Writing Target: I can write an intriguing lead that makes the reader want to keep reading.

0	1	2	3	4
I do not know what a lead is.		I can write a lead, but it may not hold the reader’s interest.	I can write an intriguing lead that makes the reader want to keep reading.	I can write an exceptionally intriguing lead that makes the reader want to keep reading.

Writing Target: I use precise and descriptive language to create visual images in the reader’s mind.

0	1	2	3	4
I do not know what precise, descriptive language is.	I use general, ordinary language in my writing.	Most of the time I use general, ordinary language but I do stretch occasionally to make my writing create an image in the reader’s mind.	I use precise and descriptive language to create visual images in the reader’s mind.	I use exceptionally precise and descriptive language to make my writing come alive.

Writing Target: I use transitions and vary sentence beginnings to give my writing good rhythm and fluency. 

 

0	1	2	3	4
I do not know what transitions are or how to vary sentence beginnings.		I try to use transitions and vary sentence to improve my fluency, but it often sounds stiff, repetitive or stilted.	I use transitions and vary sentence beginnings to give my writing good rhythm and fluency.	I use transitions and vary sentence beginnings to give my writing extremely good rhythm and fluency.

Writing Target:  I use correct conventions in my writing.

0	1	2	3	4
I did not edit my writing.	I have several convention mistakes in my writing.	I have 1-2 convention mistakes in my writing.	I use correct conventions in my writing.	I use correct conventions in my writing, even with especially difficult words and punctuation.

Aesthetics: I have taken time and effort to develop work that has a professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations).

0	1	2	3	4
I have not taken time and effort to develop work that has a professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations).		I have taken time and effort to develop work that has a somewhat professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations).	I have taken time and effort to develop work that has a professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations).	I have taken time and effort to develop work that has an extremely professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations).

8th- Soundtrack Project

October 18, 2012

Project Update: Due Monday, October 22, 2012
Our classes have been working on their 1st Trimester project for the last two weeks.  The project is based on the personal reading book that they have been reading during their PowerTime class.

Assignment:
Create a soundtrack to accompany an incident in the novel you read independently.

Requirements:
1.  Design a booklet using the template provide in class on the school computers. (Students were to copy and save this document on their flash drive or email it home.)

2.  Find an incident in your novel that fits the coming of age concept.  Write about the incident, include an introduction, the incident with quotations to support, and a conclusion explaining the lasting impact of that situation on the character/s in the novel.

3. Find two songs that would fit the above incident, provide the song lyrics, and most importantly, justify why you chose those songs, and how they fit your incident.

4.  Create your own original lyrics for one song.  Then write a justification, explaining why your song fits with the incident from the novel.

5.  Create the soundtrack booklet, using the template provided.  It should include a cover that illustrated the mood of the incident and should have a catchy title.

6. Create a table of contents- also in the template.

7. Finally, fill your booklet with images, your explanation of the incident from your novel, lyrics from all THREE songs and detailed justification for each song.

8.  Done...Due Monday, October 22, 2012. 

The students will be evaluated using 6 targets that were given to them at the beginning of this project.

TARGETS

1.) Identify and explain the incident in the story and cite textual evidence in your explanation.

Reading/Writing Target:  I can write an interpretation of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.

0	1	2	3	3.3
I cannot write an interpretation of literary text.	I can write an interpretation of literary text but it is not supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation of literary text but it is not always supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation and extend my thinking of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.

2.)  Justification 1 – How does your song choice support the explanation of the incident from the story?

Reading/Writing Target:  I can write an interpretation of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.

0	1	2	3	3.3
I cannot write an interpretation of literary text.	I can write an interpretation of literary text but it is not supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation of literary text but it is not always supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation and extend my thinking of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.

 3.)  Justification 2 – How does your song choice support the explanation of the incident from the story?

Reading/Writing Target:  I can write an interpretation of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.

0	1	2	3	3.3
I cannot write an interpretation of literary text.	I can write an interpretation of literary text but it is not supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation of literary text but it is not always supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation and extend my thinking of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.

4.) Justification 3 – How does your original song support the explanation of the incident from the story?

Reading/Writing Target:  I can write an interpretation of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.

0	1	2	3	3.3
I cannot write an interpretation of literary text.	I can write an interpretation of literary text but it is not supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation of literary text but it is not always supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.	I can write an interpretation and extend my thinking of literary text that is supported by textual evidence.

5.) Create original song lyrics (poem) that accompany the incident in the novel.

Writing Target:  I can produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

0	1	2	3	3.3
I cannot produce clear and coherent writing.	I can produce somewhat clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style may not be appropriate to task, purpose and/ or audience.	I can produce somewhat clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.	I can produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.	I can produce exceptionally clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

6.) Create a CD cover for your soundtrack.  Include the title of your soundtrack, the title of the novel your read, the songs you have chosen, the song you created and any other information that you think is necessary.

Aesthetics Target:  I have taken time and effort to develop work that has a professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations.

0	1	2	3	3.3
I have not taken time and effort to develop work that has a professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations.	I can produce somewhat clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style may not be appropriate to task, purpose and/ or audience.	I have taken time and effort to develop work that has a  somewhat professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations.	I have taken time and effort to develop work that has a professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations.	I have taken time and effort to develop work that has an extremely professional appearance (straight lines, typed or nicely printed, black lined text, simple, but neat illustrations.