Book Submission Requirements

Formatting

• 12 pt Times New Roman (EVERYTHING should be this size and font)
• Poems single-spaced (with an extra space between each stanza)
• Prose double-spaced
• Final submission does not need to be a full 2 pages long (you can cut out material as you revise)
• A thoughtful and interesting title!
• Do not include the prompt at the top of the page.  You need to make your ideas evident to the reader without writing the prompt out.
• At the top of the page, write your full name
• At the top of the page, also write the category your piece fits into (see below)
• PERFECT spelling and grammar 

How to submit

• Print out a hard copy – print on only one side of the paper (so no double-sided printing) and DO NOT staple.
• Paperclip to your hard copy any art you would like to submit with your piece
• Email your piece to nestmgrade8book@gmail.com
• The subject of the email should be the category of your piece
• Copy and paste your submission into the body of the email
• ALSO attach the document to your email (the document name should be your last name only)
• Scan any artwork and attach it to your email

Categories

• Research/Philosopher
• Love
• Religion/God
• Want vs. Need
• Making judgments/prejudice
• Literary (about a book)
• Pop Culture/Current Events
• 24 hours/death
• Nature vs. Nurture
• Jealousy
• Obedience/Fear
• Hope

State Test Woes & Extra Credit

Ellen Sands and I were talking about this week's ELA test and she mentioned an extra credit project she was offering to her 7th grade students that might interest you as well.  I'll follow the same parameters as Ellen.   Here's the deal:

Your Task:  Write a FORMAL email to the directors of The New York State ELA.


Step One:  Read these articles about testing:

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/talking-pineapple-question-state-exam-stumps-article-1.1064657

http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2012/04/pineapple-and-hare-pearsons-absurd.html?spref=fb&m=1

http://www.pinkwater.com/pzone/

http://www.ny1.com/content/top_stories/159741/-pineapple--question-on-state-english-exam-mystifies-many-city-students

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/education/students-required-9-hours-english-math-exams-state-dummy-questions-article-1.1063239#ixzz1sQTbTOun

Step Two:  Write your email

• Address them as Mr. Katz, Ms. Shyer, Ms. Wallis
• 1st paragraph: Introduce yourself (name, age, grade, school, dates you took the exam, title of the exam you took)
• Body paragraph (s): Your concerns.  BE VERY SPECIFIC
• Closing: thank them for  their time and that you look forward to hearing back from them
• Sincerely, Your Name

Step Three:  PROOFREAD / SPELLCHECK YOUR LETTER BEFORE SENDING

Step Four:  Print out a copy of the email for me, so that you will  get your extra credit

Link to their emails:

http://www.p12.nysed.gov/apda/contact-apda.html

Literary Terms to Review

Below you will find a list of literary terms with which you should be familiar for the state test.

Here is a link to a reliable website for definitions:

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/fiction_glossary.html

Literary Terms to Review:

Character
Characterization
Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
Dialogue
Figurative Langauge
Flashback
Foreshadowing
Hyperbole
Imagery
Irony
Literal Language
Metaphor
Mood
Narrator
Onomatopoeia
Plot
Point of View (and the different types)
Protagonist
Setting
Theme
Tone

State Test Prep, Part I

Here's a link to all the past English 8 State Tests.  We've done parts of some in class, but most of the multiple choice should be new to you.  Email me with any questions!

http://www.nysedregents.org/Grade8/EnglishLanguageArts/home.html