It is winter break and time to celebrate and relax with friends and family, except for the piles and piles of homework that need to be completed by the time school begins again in two weeks. There is a book that needs to be read, a 3 page front and back math packet, two history chapters, and 30 biology questions to answer. That combined with the five necessary holiday celebrations and friend parties doesn’t sound like a very relaxed break. What is the point of having a longer break if we are just going to get tons of homework? We could just go back to school for all the time spent on homework!
Why do teachers load up the homework on relaxation time? This doesn’t only happen on one or two week breaks. This same predicament also shows up on long weekends of three or four days. Teachers need to realize that heaping on the homework only creates more stress instead of relieving it, which is the purpose of some of the breaks.
Many students end up doing their homework the night before school returns because they were attempting to enjoy the free time. This leads to many sleepy students, not to mention the projects and homework they were up completing. Projects turn out only so-so because sleep deprived teenagers didn’t really care anymore at midnight. Reading material is not understood because minds were wandering, thinking about everything else that needed completing. And some of the assignments weren’t even started while students tried to finish everything else on their plates.
Many teachers will say that this is the students fault for not starting their homework earlier. This might be possibly true; however, it is mostly because of the homework load that students receive. If students have other plans, like a vacation or a family reunion, there might not be time to do the work. Many students will end up with a pile of homework to do before they return to school. Sophomore Allie Johnson agrees with this statement, “It is partly my fault because I have poor time management skills. But I put off my homework so that I can use the extra day(s) to relax.”
Therefore, there needs to be a compromise. Teachers should back off the homework over long weekends and holiday breaks so students can have a chance to relax and spend time with the people they care about. Students should also attempt to knock out some of the homework at the beginning of breaks so that they won’t be so stressed towards the end of breaks. If teachers and students work out a compromise like this, homework will be completed with the best effort possible, and students will have a chance to relax. That sounds like a much better winter break.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Editorial Prewriting
1. What is a problem/issue that our entire student body (our school, community, country, etc.) faces today?
Too much homework over longer weekends and breaks.
2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
Is it really necessary to pile on the work with only one extra day? Put us back in school if you're going to do that!
3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
I would like teachers to realize that long weekends are for fun, not for more and more work.
4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
-late nights before the beginning of school again
-no time to soak up the sun and relax
-examples of projects
-less family time especially over holidays
5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
I will make sure it is a persuasive ending so that some or all readers will agree with my article.
6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
It could change the homework level on breaks and give students more time to relax so they're not always so stressed out.
Too much homework over longer weekends and breaks.
2. What is your view/position on the problem or situation?
Is it really necessary to pile on the work with only one extra day? Put us back in school if you're going to do that!
3. What would you like to achieve with your editorial? (What is the desired result?)
I would like teachers to realize that long weekends are for fun, not for more and more work.
4. How will you persuade your audience to adopt your viewpoint as theirs? List at least 4 persuasive points.
-late nights before the beginning of school again
-no time to soak up the sun and relax
-examples of projects
-less family time especially over holidays
5. How will you motivate your readership to action in your conclusion?
I will make sure it is a persuasive ending so that some or all readers will agree with my article.
6. How will your editorial serve a public purpose?
It could change the homework level on breaks and give students more time to relax so they're not always so stressed out.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Emmy's Peer Edit
1. What are some areas that could use more detail? Why?
I thought it was very good, very detailed. You really understand what the books are about.
2. What additional sources might the author use? Does the lead involve you in the story?
Yes it does. You want to read on a lot.
3. Does the story contain a well defined scene (a detailed description of someone doing something or something happening)? What is it? If not, make a suggestion for a scene that might work.
Not really, I think this was more like a book review. Nothing was really happening in it.
4. What would you like to see or hear more of? Less of? Include, any other suggestions you have for improvement.
I thought it was very good. Maybe have a more clear defined plot of your story.
I thought it was very good, very detailed. You really understand what the books are about.
2. What additional sources might the author use? Does the lead involve you in the story?
Yes it does. You want to read on a lot.
3. Does the story contain a well defined scene (a detailed description of someone doing something or something happening)? What is it? If not, make a suggestion for a scene that might work.
Not really, I think this was more like a book review. Nothing was really happening in it.
4. What would you like to see or hear more of? Less of? Include, any other suggestions you have for improvement.
I thought it was very good. Maybe have a more clear defined plot of your story.
Allie's Peer Edit
1. What are some areas that could use more detail? Why?
You could add more about what the new renovations will look like for people who don't know much about what is happening.
2. What additional sources might the author use? Does the lead involve you in the story?
The lead is very involving. I was exuberent to read this article!
3. Does the story contain a well defined scene (a detailed description of someone doing something or something happening)? What is it? If not, make a suggestion for a scene that might work.
Yes, you understand exactly what renovations are happening at the library.
4. What would you like to see or hear more of? Less of? Include, any other suggestions you have for improvement.
I thought it was fantastic! Just spell of right next time.
You could add more about what the new renovations will look like for people who don't know much about what is happening.
2. What additional sources might the author use? Does the lead involve you in the story?
The lead is very involving. I was exuberent to read this article!
3. Does the story contain a well defined scene (a detailed description of someone doing something or something happening)? What is it? If not, make a suggestion for a scene that might work.
Yes, you understand exactly what renovations are happening at the library.
4. What would you like to see or hear more of? Less of? Include, any other suggestions you have for improvement.
I thought it was fantastic! Just spell of right next time.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Feature Story
The Dakota County Library has many events in the summer and perks for people of all ages. The library offers a fun and sometimes free activities for everyone who wants to join in. There are specific events for children, teens, and adults 55 and older.
Children have the most events to occupy their summer. They can join the reading club which is “a great way for kids to keep up their school education in the summer months”, says children’s librarian Lillian Austen. The kids who join fill out a chart showing how many hours they read and when they turn it into the volunteers it gets moved along the wall. The goal is to make it to the top, around 100 hours of reading during the summer, to get the prize. Children can also join an art contest. They draw and color the most creative picture they can, and if they are lucky they can win a prize! The last activity I learned about is the poetry contest. Kids write their best poem, teaming up with parents or older siblings to help with spelling and grammar. Whoever writes the best and most creative poem gets the prize. These are just three of the activities offered to children during the summer months.
Teens also have a wide selection of activities offered to them during the summer. Although reading for fun isn’t as popular as laying on the beach, teenagers are invited to join the summer reading club. For many teens this is “a popular activity for the hot, hot, days when you just want to stay in the air conditioning,” says young adult librarian Joshua Pace. It also pleases mom and dad when you do something other than become a zombie in front of the television. Another activity offered to teenagers is the poetry contest. It is just like the kids poetry contest, except you aren’t allowed to team up with your parents. These are a few of the activities offered to teens to occupy their time during the summer.
There are also some activities offered to people ages 55 and older. They can join a book discussion group. The adults pick a book and when they decide get together and talk about what they have read and how it relates to their lives today. This is a great way to make new friends and find books to recommend to your friends. The other activity offered to adults is the poetry contest. This contest works exactly like the teen poetry contest. Adults create the best poem they can and the winner receives the prize. These are a couple of the activities offered to adults during the summer months.
Many perks are also offered to library members of all ages. The computers at the library are free for anyone to use and have internet so you can surf the web all you want. For teenagers they offer the volunteen program. Teens help the kids who come in with their reading club sheets and finding books. Teens can also check out video games, so they don’t have to spend all of their hard earned money. The last perk for teenagers is teen e-news. You submit your email address and the library will send you the dates of upcoming events. These are all “great ways for teens to be more involved in their library,” says volunteer coordinator Mary Meyer. The last volunteer opportunity is for adults. You can adopt-a-shelf and once a week come in and keep it neat. This way everyone can find what they are looking for right away.
Children have the most events to occupy their summer. They can join the reading club which is “a great way for kids to keep up their school education in the summer months”, says children’s librarian Lillian Austen. The kids who join fill out a chart showing how many hours they read and when they turn it into the volunteers it gets moved along the wall. The goal is to make it to the top, around 100 hours of reading during the summer, to get the prize. Children can also join an art contest. They draw and color the most creative picture they can, and if they are lucky they can win a prize! The last activity I learned about is the poetry contest. Kids write their best poem, teaming up with parents or older siblings to help with spelling and grammar. Whoever writes the best and most creative poem gets the prize. These are just three of the activities offered to children during the summer months.
Teens also have a wide selection of activities offered to them during the summer. Although reading for fun isn’t as popular as laying on the beach, teenagers are invited to join the summer reading club. For many teens this is “a popular activity for the hot, hot, days when you just want to stay in the air conditioning,” says young adult librarian Joshua Pace. It also pleases mom and dad when you do something other than become a zombie in front of the television. Another activity offered to teenagers is the poetry contest. It is just like the kids poetry contest, except you aren’t allowed to team up with your parents. These are a few of the activities offered to teens to occupy their time during the summer.
There are also some activities offered to people ages 55 and older. They can join a book discussion group. The adults pick a book and when they decide get together and talk about what they have read and how it relates to their lives today. This is a great way to make new friends and find books to recommend to your friends. The other activity offered to adults is the poetry contest. This contest works exactly like the teen poetry contest. Adults create the best poem they can and the winner receives the prize. These are a couple of the activities offered to adults during the summer months.
Many perks are also offered to library members of all ages. The computers at the library are free for anyone to use and have internet so you can surf the web all you want. For teenagers they offer the volunteen program. Teens help the kids who come in with their reading club sheets and finding books. Teens can also check out video games, so they don’t have to spend all of their hard earned money. The last perk for teenagers is teen e-news. You submit your email address and the library will send you the dates of upcoming events. These are all “great ways for teens to be more involved in their library,” says volunteer coordinator Mary Meyer. The last volunteer opportunity is for adults. You can adopt-a-shelf and once a week come in and keep it neat. This way everyone can find what they are looking for right away.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
1. Theme Statement: The Dakota County Library has many events in the summer and perks for people of all ages.
Sources:
1. Librarian
2. Brochures
3. Library member
4. Event planner?
5. Volunteer coordinator
Questions:
1. What events do you offer for kids 12 and under? Teens?
2. What events do you offer for young adults? Parents?
3. What perks are there for kids 12 and under? Teens?
4. What perks are there for young adults? Parents?
5. What do you enjoy about the library? The events offered?
Sources:
1. Librarian
2. Brochures
3. Library member
4. Event planner?
5. Volunteer coordinator
Questions:
1. What events do you offer for kids 12 and under? Teens?
2. What events do you offer for young adults? Parents?
3. What perks are there for kids 12 and under? Teens?
4. What perks are there for young adults? Parents?
5. What do you enjoy about the library? The events offered?
Sunday, May 17, 2009
AP test article
The Advanced Placement tests are finished but there is still approximately a month of school left. Now what? What will classes be doing now that the tests are done? What are some students’ reactions to the end of their Advanced Placement tests?
Most students are delighted that the tests are over. Now it is time to kick back and relax, or is it? Some classes will watch movies while others continue the work. Other classes will have a combination of both, work and fun. Find out what the most common approach to class after the tests is and some students reactions towards the rest of the year.
The tests that classes have been preparing for all year are over. Allie Johnson, a sophomore says, “I feel like my life can finally begin again.” She thinks it is a pretty good time to kick back and relax since her Advanced Placement United States History class has already learned everything that was planned for the school year. Most students feel pretty much the same as Allie does. Senior Ian Sharp says he “feels fantastic.” He took multiple tests this year while others only took one or two. Kate Kelzenberg, a sophomore from Woodbury High School, says she is “relieved and ecstatic,” that her test is finished. This seems like the most common reaction from students that have completed their Advanced Placement tests.
What about the rest of the school year? Not every class will be watching movies for enjoyment until the end of the school year. Allie Johnson’s Advanced Placement United States History class will be reading current events along with watching documentaries on important historical figures. They will, however, also be watching some movies just for fun such as Pearl Harbor and Forrest Gump. Ian Sharp’s classes will mostly just be watching movies for fun, but as a senior he has earned a lot more relaxation time. Kate Kelzenberg says that in Woodbury they will be watching movies with some historical significance and they will also be working on a group project until the end of their school year.
Most students are delighted that the tests are over. Now it is time to kick back and relax, or is it? Some classes will watch movies while others continue the work. Other classes will have a combination of both, work and fun. Find out what the most common approach to class after the tests is and some students reactions towards the rest of the year.
The tests that classes have been preparing for all year are over. Allie Johnson, a sophomore says, “I feel like my life can finally begin again.” She thinks it is a pretty good time to kick back and relax since her Advanced Placement United States History class has already learned everything that was planned for the school year. Most students feel pretty much the same as Allie does. Senior Ian Sharp says he “feels fantastic.” He took multiple tests this year while others only took one or two. Kate Kelzenberg, a sophomore from Woodbury High School, says she is “relieved and ecstatic,” that her test is finished. This seems like the most common reaction from students that have completed their Advanced Placement tests.
What about the rest of the school year? Not every class will be watching movies for enjoyment until the end of the school year. Allie Johnson’s Advanced Placement United States History class will be reading current events along with watching documentaries on important historical figures. They will, however, also be watching some movies just for fun such as Pearl Harbor and Forrest Gump. Ian Sharp’s classes will mostly just be watching movies for fun, but as a senior he has earned a lot more relaxation time. Kate Kelzenberg says that in Woodbury they will be watching movies with some historical significance and they will also be working on a group project until the end of their school year.
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