Cleopatra - Literary Elements

Hello all! Christmas break is upon us - just 3 more school days! AHHHHH!!!!!

Please finish Cleopatra over your break. There are no reading check questions; please use your literary elements notebook to record the following:

1. Major events in the plot section

2. Thoughts about what the theme of the story may be in the theme section (Are any life lessons revealed? Any main ideas which keep popping up?)

3. A list of new characters in the characterization section and notes on how the characters change throughout the story

4. Descriptions of where the story takes place in the setting section

5. Thoughts on the conflict in the conflict section - what type of conflict drives the story? Who is involved? How do you know?

I will check notebooks when we return from break. Happy reading!

Grammar Quiz FRI

Please review your grammar sheets from the last two weeks. Your quiz Friday will include questions about:

- Compound subjects and predicates

- Compound sentences

- Sentence fragments

- Run-on sentences (to be covered tomorrow)

Cleopatra Reading Check Questions due next MON.

Hello everyone! Please read these directions carefully! The following questions are for pages 51 - 108. Remember, if you want to divvy up your work evenly, read about ten pages a night. When you get to a question that says ACE - please make sure your answer that question with supporting evidence from the text to back up your answer. You are not required to answer all questions with ACE - only the questions that say "ACE."

1. What caused all the blood in the palace hallway?

2. ACE: To whom does Cleopatra's father compare her and how does that make her feel?

3. What does Tryphaena write in her message to her father and Cleopatra?

4. ACE: Who does Cleopatra think will need to speak to Caesar? Why?

5. ACE: What did Cleopatra write in the letter to Tryphaena, and why does she write this?

6. Why does Cleopatra issue a royal decree forbidding anyone from the ship to dive for treasure?

7. On the island of Malta, why did Cleopatra ask Isis to forgive her?

8. ACE: What does "Auletes" mean and how does it mock Cleopatra's father?

9. ACE: Once Cleopatra was at sea again and on her way to Sicily, what indicated that "reason" had once again returned to Cleopatra?

10. ACE: What does Cleopatra discover about her father when she talks to him about Julius Caesar?

11. How is Cleopatra learning to become queen?

12. According to Ptolemy, what should a person do when visiting Rome?

13. What advanced technology do the Romans have?

14. What did Cleopatra see on the walls of Roman buildings?

15. ACE: Why doesn't Cleopatra bow to Pompey?

16. What trick does Pompey try as he speaks to Ptolemy and Cleopatra for the first time and why is it ineffective?

17. What is the Triumverate?

18. What big news does Olympus send to Cleopatra by mail?

19. Who is Marc Antony?

20. Describe the streets of Rome.

Making Inferences

Directions: Read each passage and then respond to the questions. Each question will ask you to make a logical inference based on textual details. Explain your answer by referencing the text.

Kyle ran into his house, slamming the door behind him. He threw his book bag on the floor and plopped on the couch. After six hours of playing Grand Larceny VII, he ate some pizza and fell asleep with a slice in on his belly and his feet on his book bag. When Kyle came home from school the next day, he was noticeably distraught. He balled up his report card and placed it inside of a soup can in the garbage. He then flipped the soup can upside down and relocated garbage from other parts of the can, arranging over the soup can. He then plopped down on the couch and picked up his controller.

1. Why is Kyle distraught? __________________________________________________________
How do you know this?

2. Why does Kyle put the report card in a soup can? ________________________________________
How do you know this?

3. Was Kyle’s report card good or bad and why was it like that? ______________________________
How do you know this?

Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her palms. She was weeping mournfully and wearing all black. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a name: “Oh... John…” And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text message was from John. She opened up the message and read the few bare words, “I need to get my jacket back from you.” Anastasia threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.

4. What relationship do John and Anastasia have? _________________________________________
Why do you feel this way?

5. Why is Anastasia sad? _____________________________________________________________
How do you know this?

Cassie rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her face. The beams were warming the back of her neck when she slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little too good for a Thursday. Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up at the clock. “9:48,” she shouted, “Holy cow!” Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she grabbed, brushed her teeth in two swipes, threw her books into her backpack, and then ran out the door.

6. What problem is Cassie having? _____________________________________________________
How do you know this?

7. Where is Cassie going? ____________________________________________________________
How do you know this?

Kelvin was waiting in front of the corner store at 3:56. His muscles were tense and he was sweating a bit more than usual. The other kids gathered in front of the little storefront were much more relaxed, even playful. They joked back and forth lightly to each other but for Kelvin, time slowed. 3:57. “Don’t worry, Kelvin. He ain’t even gonna show up.” Kelvin hoped that he wouldn’t. A black four-door Camry with tinted windows pulled up and parked across the street. Kelvin gulped. 3:58. A group of teenagers piled out of the car. James was in the front. “Hi-ya, Kelvin. Glad you could make it,” James said. Kelvin felt smaller.

8. Why is Kelvin waiting at the corner store? _____________________________________________
How do you know this?

9. Are James and Kelvin friends? _______________________________________________________
What in the text supports your idea?

10. Why is Kelvin so nervous? _________________________________________________________
What in the text supports your idea?

ACE Examples for "The Emperor's New Clothes"

1. The emperor loves clothes more than anything else. The very first sentence of the story states that the “Emperor was so fond of clothes that he spent all his money on them. He did not care for his soldiers, or for the theatre, or for driving in the woods, except to show off his new clothes.”

2. The following quote to describe the Emperor’s fondness for clothes: “He had an outfit for every hour of the day, and just as they say of a king, “He is in the council chamber,” so they always said of him, “The Emperor is in his dressing room.” The author is pointing out that the Emperor spends more time with his clothes than he does running his empire. This shows that he is not a very good ruler.

3. The author states that the swindlers “claimed they were weavers and said they could weave the finest cloth imaginable. “Their colors and patterns, they said, were not only exceptionally beautiful, but the clothes made of this material possessed the wonderful quality of being invisible to any man who was unfit for his office, or was hopelessly stupid.” This shows that the swindlers are planning to take advantage not only of the emperor’s love of clothes, but also of his pride as a ruler. They plan to keep the expensive materials for themselves while "weaving" the garments, which would bring them a profit. 

4. The Emperor thought, “Those must be wonderful clothes.” He thought that they must be the clothes for him. 

5. The emperor hopes to figure out who is unworthy of their position. By wearing the clothes, the Emperor believes that he “should be able to find out which men in my empire were unfit for their posts, and I could tell the clever from the stupid.”

6. The Emperor sends someone else because deep down he fears that he may be stupid or unfit for office. The author states:

“But he felt rather uneasy when he remembered that whoever was not fit for his office could not see it. He believed, of course, that he had nothing to fear for himself, yet he thought he would send somebody else first to see how things were progressing.” The Emperor chose “honest, good, intelligent” officials.

He wanted to make sure everyone else could see them because he doubted himself. “Am I stupid? Am I unfit for office?” 

7. When the emperor realizes he does not see any clothes, he begins to think he is stupid and unfit to rule. "What is this? ...I do not see anything at all. This is terrible! Am I stupid? Am I unfit to be Emperor?” Everyone the Emperor sent to see the material reported back that it was beautiful. He had probably been pleased to know that the people working for him were smart and fit for their jobs, but now his own intelligence and fitness as a ruler were called into question.

8. They can envision the material because it is described elaborately by the swindlers and because the Emperor and the officials do not want to admit to being unable to see anything which would make them unfit for office or stupid. The officials repeat to the Emperor the descriptions of the cloth that were given by the swindlers. The swindlers described the colors to the old minister and explained the curious pattern. The old minister listened carefully so he might tell the Emperor what they (the weavers/swindlers) said.  “Is it not a beautiful piece of cloth?” said the two swindlers, showing and explaining the magnificent pattern. When the officials accompanied the Emperor to see the cloth, they both repeated again about the cloth being “beautiful”.

9. The child possesses innocence and honesty, whereas the Emperor and his trusted officials are afraid of being exposed as unworthy of their positions. Once the child, who did not need to be fit for any office, could see that nothing was there, then everyone else (except the Emperor and his servants) could admit it too. Compared to the quality of the material, the quality of the child’s honesty is truly wonderful.

10. The Emperor was too proud and afraid to back down. He could not admit that he was fooled; he had to maintain his dignity. As stated in the text: “And he held himself stiffer than ever, and the chamberlains walked on, holding up the train which was not there at all.”

11. The swindlers are great actors and convincing salesmen. They craft their con around people’s insecurities. The swindlers are good liars.

“They set up two looms and pretended to be very hard at work…”

“..they worked at the empty looms till late into the night.”

The Emperor and his councilmen were worried that they were unfit for office because they could not see the cloth. Their own insecurities prevented them from stating what was right in front of their eyes.

“I will send my honest old minister to the weavers,” thought the Emperor. “He can judge best how the cloth looks, for he is intelligent, and nobody is better fitted for his office than he.”

“Heaven help us!” “Why I cannot see anything at all,”

“I am not stupid,” thought the man, “so it must be that I am unfit for my high post. It is ludicrous, but I must not let anyone know it.”

“Doesn’t my suit fit me beautifully?” And he (Emperor) turned once more to the mirror so that people would think he was admiring his garments.

Cleopatra Reading Check Questions through p. 50, due THURS

1. According to Cleopatra's father, why should amazing ideas "from learned men" stay within the palace walls?

2. What bad news does Olympus share with Cleopatra on 15 Januarius?

3. Why did the people of Egypt hate Cleopatra's father?

4. Describe Father's plan to come out of hiding and reclaim his throne.

5. Where is Ptolemy going on a ship and why?

6. Give two examples observed by Cleopatra while at the agora that confirmed what Olympus said about her father.

7. What was found nailed to Bucephalus' stall?

8. After a messenger brings news to Cleopatra that her father's ship is leaving, where does Cleopatra go to see for herself?

9. What does Cleopatra do once she realizes her father has not yet left?

10. Who was trying to poison Cleopatra?

ACE Questions for thought - The Emperor's New Clothes

Remember ACE: Answer // Cite Evidence // Expand!

1. What is a major weakness the emperor possesses? (Check the first couple paragraphs.)

2. A council chamber is a room where important people, such as rulers or elected officials, meet to work and make decisions together.  What does the author say about a king that cannot be said of the Emperor? What can be said about the emperor instead? What does this say about the Emperor’s character as a ruler? Quote from the story to support your answer.
 

3. The word swindler means someone who profits by cheating or tricking someone else. How are the swindlers in the story hoping to make a profit? Describe the swindlers’ claim.

4. What is the Emperor’s first thought about the clothes the swindlers claimed to make?

 

5. What does the Emperor hope to achieve by wearing these exceptionally beautiful clothes of wonderful quality? 

6. Why does the Emperor send other people to see how the weavers are progressing? What are characteristics of the officials the Emperor sends to look at the cloth? Why did the Emperor wait so long to see the clothes for himself? 

7. When the Emperor finally sees the cloth for himself, what is his reaction? 

8. How do the Emperor and his council members “see” the clothes? What makes the description believable? 

9. At the end of the story, as the Emperor paraded his new “suit” in a great procession, a little child said, “But he has nothing on at all.” Based on your reading, what quality does the child possess in comparison to the Emperor and his trusted officials? 

10.Why did the Emperor continue to walk in the procession even though he heard (and believed) the child and the crowd were right when they stated, “he has nothing on at all!”?

 

11. How did the swindlers trick or cheat the Emperor and his people? How were the swindlers able to deceive everyone? Include in your answer details about the swindlers and the Emperor and his councilmen.

 

Cleopatra Reading Questions, pgs. 3 - 25 (due next TUES, 11/24)

Please remember to write in complete sentences and to use proper grammar, punctuation and capitalization. Also, please remember that you will need at least one thing written in your literary elements notebook - do you have any comments on characterization? Setting? Theme? Conflict? Jot them down in their appropriate section.

1. Who is Cleopatra's father?

2. Who is Mento?

3. Why has Ptolemy gone into hiding?

4. To which god does Cleopatra pray?

5. How old is Cleopatra when her father goes into hiding?

6. Why do the Egyptians believe that Alexander the Great is the Messiah? Give two reasons.

7. Who is Arrow?

8. What does Cleopatra do so that she is able to roam about the village unnoticed?

9. Why does Puzo look after Cleopatra?

10. Why did Cleopatra enjoy going to Pharos Island?

11. Who is Neva and what two things does Cleopatra wish to tell her?

12. Why does Cleopatra believe she will make a good queen?

13. Give an example of Bernice not being very imaginative.

14. What did Arsione request of Cleopatra?

15. According to the reading, what makes a "good friend?"

8th Grade Creative Assignment - 8th GRADE ONLY

Due next Monday, 10/26:

Create a fake Twitter page for a famous historical figure or a book character. Using what you know about this person's or character's personality, major life events, beliefs, etc - create at least 5 posts on your fake Twitter page that that person might write if he/she had a Twitter. Please use hashtags. One of your 5 posts MUST be a re-tweet. Responses from that person's or character's contemporary are optional and would be a great addition!

You can use any template you want, including pen and paper; you can also create an actual fake Twitter account and print out a page from the Twitter account. I do need at least one picture (can be drawn) where the profile picture goes.

Here is a fake Twitter page template (scroll down to find it) that you can download and edit, but if you use this, you must replace all the pictures with pictures of your person. You may send this project to me as a digital file or you can hand-write it or print out a hard copy. You can also search Google for fake Twitter templates. https://www.smore.com/dhbe-fake-social-media

Have fun!

Written Assignments Format

Please follow these guidelines when turning in any typed writing assignments (informal, hand-written assignments that you may complete and turn in during class do not apply):

- Use Times New Roman, size 12 font.
- Set your margins to "Normal."
- Double-space all assignments.
- Put your name in the upper left corner of the document, followed by the date on the line underneath.

***I will be modeling this for you in-class tomorrow during L.A., so don't stress if you don't know what some of these things mean. Just please know that after I show you tomorrow how to use these features, all of your written assignments will be required to use them.

6-1 Creative Writing Assignment

This week's assignment is a journal entry from the perspective of a life form (carbon-based like us? human? completely alien? you decide!) who existed on Mars before the massive climate changed wiped out the oceans there. Your journal entry should:

- Be creative! 

- Have been written at the very beginning of the climate change, in the middle, or towards the end

- Address what life/society was like on Mars back then for your fictional creature and how life might

  be or was affected by the climate change and the disappearance of the oceans

- Be less than 300 words (remember, it's just one journal entry; you don't have to tell the whole story 

  - just a slice of it!)

- Be written from the first-person perspective ("I")

- Be written in the present tense, as though whatever you're writing is current

- Be in the format that will  be posted in my subsequent blog post

Have fun and email me if you have any questions!

Creative Writing 6-1

Hi everyone! Please read the following about your assignment which is due next Tuesday.

I REALLY enjoyed hearing everyone's poetry today. There were some awesome themes running through your pieces and it was great. This week, I'd like to focus on metaphors and similes in our poetry.

Metaphors and similes are what we call figurative language - language we use in our writing to appeal to the senses. Metaphors and similes use comparisons to convey meaning; they both compare things in a way that makes the description of whatever you're writing about interesting and intriguing. While they are both used for comparisons, they are used in different ways:

Here are two examples:

Note that "like" and "as" are used for similes and not with metaphors. 

Your assignment this week is to write a poem using at least TWO of these: you may use two similes, two metaphors, or one simile and one metaphor. OR, if you're feeling adventurous and want to explore figurative writing, use more! Please make sure your poem is at least twelve lines long. Happy writing!

Caspian Reading Check Chapters 6-8

These questions are due MONDAY, SEPT. 28th. I am giving you a little extra time to complete these particular questions because some of them require you to think more deeply about the story and to draw your own conclusions. Make sure you're using specific examples from the text to support your answers and, as always, use complete sentences and check your spelling. :)

1. What creatures does Patterwig send to meet Caspian at the end of Chapter 6?

2. Which of Caspian's friends arrives at the Dancing Lawn during the war council? What news does he bring?

3. Where does Doctor Cornelius suggest that Caspian's army should take refuge? Why?

4. What magical object does Caspian decide to use? What effect does it have?

5. After telling the children his story, why does Trumpkin conclude that "no help has come?"

6. How do the children prove their value to Trumpkin?

7. Caspian is taken to meet many of the Talking Beasts and Dwarfs that live in hiding. What difference in their reaction to Caspian do you notice between the Black Dwarfs and the Red Dwarfs?

8. How do Nikabrik and Trumpkin reflect the reactions of the Black Dwarfs and the Red Dwarfs?

9. How does the meeting with Glenstorm and the Centaur change the way Caspian and the others view their future plans?

10. Why didn't Trumpkin want Caspian's army told about the use of the Horn? Do you agree with Trumpkin's reason? Why or why not?

Reading Check 2: Caspian Chapters 3 - 5

This week's reading check questions are from chapters 3 - 5. If you like to pace your reading throughout the week, I suggest reading between 6 and 8 pages a night.

Questions:

1. Why were the soldiers frightened by the sight of the children?

2. Who had been telling Prince Caspian about the old days of Narnia? How does Caspian's uncle Miraz react when Caspian declares his fondness for the old days?

3. Who is Caspian's new tutor?

4. Why did Caspian's tutor take him to the castle tower in the middle of the night?

5. What does Caspian learn about his tutor's true identity?

6. Why do the Telmarines fear the sea and the woods?

7. What happens that prompts Doctor Cornelius to encourage Caspian to flee the castle?

8. What "greatest and most sacred treasure of Narnia" does Caspian take with him when he leaves? According to Doctor Cornelius, what power does this treasure hold?

9. How does Edmund account for the fact that Cair Paravel is in ruins even though the children left Narnia only a year earlier?

10. Early in Chapter 3, the Dwarf identifies himself as a "dangerous criminal." Given what we've learned so far from the Dwarf, what might his crime be?

11. Doctor Cornelius tells Caspian, "Everyone except your majesty knows that Miraz is a usurper." What does Doctor Cornelius mean? (Hint: You may need to use a dictionary to look up the word usurp.)

Homework for WED, 9/2

Good evening friends! (Please don't forget to read your Caspian chapters this week (Chapters 1 and 2) and to complete the reading check questions in the previous post. They are due next Wednesday! You should be reading a few pages each night and answering the questions as you go along.) 

Tonight's homework is a writing assignment. You may hand-write it, type and print it, or share it with me via Google Docs. Choose from the following two options below, and please remember that when writing a paragraph:

- You should begin with a topic sentence (or main idea) that lets the reader know where they're going.
- The body of your paragraph (the sentences after your main idea) should support or "prove" your main idea with details or facts.
- Your closing sentence should summarize your overall message.
- Middle school paragraphs should be between 6 to 8 sentences long.


1. Write a paragraph that predicts what will happen when the Pevensie children return to Narnia in Prince Caspian. What will Narnia be like when they return? What or who will they find? Do you think they may encounter any trouble when they arrive?

2. Write a paragraph about this past summer. Was it awesome? Was it just kind of "chill"? Did you do a lot of cool stuff, or go anywhere special?

Remember to use your best grammar and spelling. See you tomorrow!

Reading Check 1

Hi guys! Welcome back!

Each week, you'll be reading from our current book and answering what's called a "reading check" while you read. The questions will be posted here - you will have a week to complete the questions and turn them in. Your answers may be typed or hand-written, or sent to me via Google Docs (we will go over this process in class). Please make sure your answers:

- are complete sentences
- start with a capital letter
- end with punctuation
- avoid pronouns and use specific character names instead


Reading Check Questions, Prince Caspian: Chapters 1 & 2

1. Why are the children at the train station at the beginning of the story?

2. How do the children discover that they are on an island?

3. What do the children discover when they follow the stream away from the beach?

4. What object does Susan find near the well in the ruined castle? Why does it make her feel sad?

5. What four points does Peter list to prove to the others that they have returned to the land of Narnia and the castle of Cair Paravel?

6. What items do the children take from the treasure chamber? What item that belonged to Susan is missing?

Thinking about the story:
7. Why do you think the author decided to place his characters in a train station at the beginning of the story?

8. What words does the author use to describe the odd sensations the children feel as they wait at the station?

Friday's Assignment

Please complete the following assignment individually. These are review items for your final on Monday. (We will have a bit of review right before the final as well.)

https://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/run-ons_ex1.htm

https://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/run-ons_ex1.htm (this one is extra-hard; there will not be questions like this on your final - but I challenge you to try your best!)

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/cgi-shl/quiz.pl/fragments_add1.htm

http://www.softschools.com/quizzes/grammar/parts_of_speech/quiz395.html

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/parts-of-speech-quiz.htm

When you're finished you may have SSR time.

Final Study Guide

Hello! Here's a quick rundown of the things you will need to know for your final.

1. Identifying subjects and predicates
Remember, a sentence needs a subject and a predicate to be complete. A subject is who or what the sentence is about, and a predicate is what the subject is or does.

2. Identifying parts of speech
Know each part of speech and be able to identify them in a sentence:
noun
pronoun
verb
adjective
adverb
preposition
conjunction
interjection

3. Capitalization
Be sure to know which types of words need to be capitalized (always capitalize the beginning of a sentence, a person's name, and other proper nouns).

4. Punctuation
Use punctuation at the end of a sentence and use commas to separate items in a list.

5. Run-on sentences
If two or more clauses are in the same sentence, you must separate them with a comma and a conjunction.

6. Sentence fragments
If a sentence is missing a subject or a predicate (and you're left asking a question at the end of the sentence), the sentence is incomplete and is a fragment.

You will also have a short reading segment on your final and will be asked a few reading comprehension questions.

It's the home stretch, guys!

6-2 Cleopatra Questions, pgs. 124 - 150

***Due next WEDNESDAY***

1. What is the summer solstice?

2. Who is Cicero?

3. Where had Cleopatra met Cicero before?

4. According to Cicero, what does Marc Antony refer to Cleopatra as?

5. What was Cleopatra's "folly" and what is the result of such folly?

6. Give two negative facts about Crassus. 

7. Cleopatra does not know which god to pray to. What was Theophilus' response to this questions?

8. Why was Cleopatra angry at herself after her encounter with Marc Antony at the soldiers' barracks?

9. How does Marc Antony's second encounter with Cleopatra differ from the first?

10. What does Marc Antony agree to do for Cleopatra?

11. Why was Cleopatra's fatigue after visiting Ostia "most pleasant"?

12. Why does Cleopatra's opinion of Cicero change so drastically?

13. On her way back to the villa, what two truths does Cleopatra recognize?

14. Who is Octavian and what does he have in common with Cleopatra?

15. Why does Cleopatra write in Greek, instead of Hebrew, when writing to Theophilus?

16. What keeps Cleopatra and Ptolemy from leaving Rome now?

Last Creative Writing Assignment!!!

Hey guys! This is your last Creative Writing assignment for the year! Please read the details of this assignment carefully because it will be counted as a test grade.

Your story prompt is "Stranded on a Desert Island."

Here's what happened:

Our Language Arts class (if you're in 6-1, it's the entire 6-1 class, and if you're in 6-2, it's the 6-2 class) was on a plane headed for Tahiti. We were on a field trip to research wildlife on pacific islands. Unfortunately, there were some issues with the flight, and our plane went down. The pilot ejected from the plane. Your class and I (everyone survived the landing) are now stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the South Pacific. There is no WiFi or cell service. We have no idea where we are, and there are no buildings or inhabitants here. The only things we have are:

- Whatever you'd pack in a suitcase for a really cool field trip to Tahiti (no, you would not pack a machete)

- Whatever was on the plane (the plane is, to our surprise, still in tact)

Your writing assignment is a journal entry, written four weeks after the plane crash. In your journal entry, tell me what's transpired over the last four weeks. What happened after the crash? What's the current situation? Has anyone tried to signal for rescue? Has anyone gotten sick? Give me the details of what we now look like as a class four weeks after being stranded on an island.

You will be graded on:

Format (Times New Roman, double-spaced, size 12 font)
Spelling (use your resources - spell check, Google, a dictionary...)
Capitalization
Punctuation
Avoiding run-on sentences
Avoiding fragments
Evidence of proofreading (when I read your story, can I tell that you went back and read through it                                                when you were done to make sure everything made sense?)

Have fun! This is due the next time I see you for creative writing!

6-2 Cleopatra Questions, pgs. 109 - 123

1. Describe the process of crucifixion in medical terms.

2. Why is the death of an Egyptian prisoner more humane than the death of a Roman prisoner?

3. Where did Cleopatra spend her summer?

4. Cleopatra was very low in spirits. When she when for a walk along the beach, what one thing did she think might go wrong?

5. What royal decision did Cleopatra make at this point?

6. While walking back to the house why was Cleopatra saddened by the red glow she saw in the sky?

7. Why hadn't Cleopatra ever gone to the contest?

8. In the letter from Theophilus, why did he write in Hebrew?

9. Theophilus mentioned that steam ships had been invented but it was decided that they would not be made. Why?

10. What good news and bad news did Olympus share with Cleopatra?

11. What did Cleopatra learn about Puzo when she and Neva almost drowned?

12. Why did Cleopatra return to Rome? Give two reasons.

13. Why does Cleopatra "mock her father"?

14. What did Cleopatra warn Puzo and Neva about?

15. According to Julia, what were Rome's two greatest enemies?

Grammar Assignment 5/8

Correct the following run-ons or fragments. Please be sure your spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are correct.

1.   No native people on Antarctica.

2.  Because it is too cold.

3. Although scientists and other workers live in Antarctica for about a year at a time.

4. These people there to study many things.

5. Ninety-five percent of Antarctica covered with ice.

6. Antarctica approximately 70 percent of the world’s fresh water in its ice.

7. A desert an area that gets very little precipitation.

8. Antarctica receives only two inches of rain each year.

9. Also has very high winds.

10. Brown bears include the grizzly and the kodiak, the largest brown bear is the kodiak.

11. Kodiak bears weigh as much as 1,700 pounds, they grow to a height of ten feet.

12. Females give birth to as many as four cubs, the cubs stay with their mother two

or three years.

13.  Many people are afraid of bears, encounters with bears are actually infrequent.

14.  Grizzly bears are solitary animals, they do not want to interact with people.

15. Generally, bears attack only when they are surprised, or when they are protecting

their young.

16.  People should always store food and garbage properly, bears could be attracted by

the smell.

17.  Never try to outrun a bear, it can run more than 30 miles per hour.

Sentences from: Holt, Reinhart and Winston, Writing Effective Sentences

6-2 Cleopatra Questions, pgs. 76 - 108

Hello everyone. The answers to these questions are due next WED., May 13th. Please remember to use complete sentences, to spell out "Cleopatra," to proofread/check spelling, and to avoid beginning sentences with pronouns.

1. According to Ptolemy, what should a person do when visiting Rome?

2. What advances did the Romans have in bathing?

3. How did the Romans take care of insect problems?

4. What did Cleopatra see on the walls of Roman buildings?

5. Who hosts the banquet in honor of Cleopatra and Ptolemy?

6. Why doesn't Cleopatra bow to Pompey?

7. What trick does Pompey try as he speaks to Ptolemy and Cleopatra for the first time?

8. How does Cleopatra stop Pompey's trick?

9. What is the Triumverate?

10. What news does Olympus send to Cleopatra by mail?

11. Who becomes queen after Tryphaena is killed?

12. Who is Marc Antony?

13. Describe the streets of Rome.

14. Who is Cleopatra's new friend?

15. What do Cleopatra and her friend do after they leave the theater?

Grammar quiz for Friday, May 1st

Part 1:

DIRECTIONS The following paragraph is confusing because it contains some sentence fragments and run-on sentences.

Rewrite the following sentences correctly, eliminating any run-on sentences or sentence fragments. You may need to add or take away words. 

Although penguins look clumsy on land. They are graceful in the water.  Their bodies are perfectly suited for swimming and diving. They a streamlined torpedo shape. Their wings are shaped like flippers penguins use them to propel themselves through the water at speeds up to 30 miles per hour.  Use their webbed feet to steer. Most penguins can even swim like porpoises. Leaping out of the water to breathe and then diving back in with one graceful motion. Penguins frequently need to dive deep to catch prey. Sometimes descending to depths of over a thousand feet. The water pressure can be great enough to collapse lungs. Penguins special air chambers in their bodies. When a penguin dives, the chambers squeeze, air is forced into the lungs. The extra air keeps the lungs from collapsing. The chilly waters that penguins prefer would be too cold for most birds, penguins are insulated by waterproof feathers and a thick layer of fat. Penguins more than make up for being awkward on land. By being perfectly suited for the water.

Part 2:

Write the correct word.

1. (Their / they're / there) going to get ice cream. 

2. I threw the ball over (their / they're / there). 

3. They ordered (their / they're / there) lunch at the counter. 

4. (You're / your) so funny. 

5. Can I proofread (you're / your) essay?

6. Let's go (to / too / two) the store. 

7. I have (to / too / two) dollars. 

8. I'm hungry, (to / too / two). 

6-2 Cleopatra Questions, 51-75

Please remember to write in complete sentences. Spelling, punctuation, capitalization, and grammar are part of your grade.

1. What caused all the blood in the palace hallway?

2. Who does Cleopatra's father compare her to and how did that make her feel?

3. Name one way the royal ship kept away from pirates.

4. What does Trypahena write in her message to her father and Cleopatra?

5. Why does Cleopatra think she will have to speak to Caesar herself?

6. What did Cleopatra write in the note to Tryphaena and why did she say this?

7. What did Cleopatra ask Olympus to do?

8. Who is the god, Dionysus?

9. Why does Cleopatra issue a royal decree forbidding anyone from the ship to dive for treasure?

10. On the island of Malta, why did Cleopatra ask Isis to forgive her?

11. What does "Auletes" mean and how did it mock Cleopatra's father?

12. Once Cleopatra was at sea again and on her way to Sicily, what indicated that "reason" had once again returned to Cleopatra?

13. Who did Cleopatra and Puzo visit in Syracuse and what did Cleopatra learn about this person?

14. What did Cleopatra discover about her father when she talked to him about Julius Caesar?

15. How is Cleopatra learning to become a queen?

Correcting Run-On Sentences Practice

Copy and paste the link into your browser. Then, complete the answers  by writing a grammatically correct form of the sentence on your own paper.

http://englishforeveryone.org/PDFs/Run%20on%20sentences.pdf

6-2 Cleopatra Questions

6-2 Reading Questions

Cleopatra, pgs. 26 – 50

Due TUES., April 28^th

Please answer the following questions in complete sentences. You do not need to write the question. Just remember to use complete sentences and to avoid starting a sentence with a pronoun.

1. According to Cleopatra’s father, why should amazing ideas from “learned” men stay within the palace walls?

2. What is a secret that Cleopatra and her friend Olympus share?

3. What bad news did Olympus share with Cleopatra on 15 Januarius?

4. Why did the people of Egypt hate Cleopatra’s father?

5. Describe Father’s plan to come out of hiding and reclaim his throne.

6. Where is Ptolemy going on a ship and why?

7. Why did Cleopatra visit the agora?

8. Who was the Arab in the flowing dishdasha?

9. Give two examples observed by Cleopatra while at the agora that confirmed what Olympus had said about her father.

10. What was found nailed to Bucephalu’s stall?

11. Why did Puzo make Neva and Cleopatra return so abruptly after visiting her island?

12. Who is Theophilus and what does his name mean?

13. Olympus, Theophilus and Cleopatra’s visit was interrupted by a messenger. What news did he share with Cleopatra?

14. Where did Cleopatra go to see for herself whether her father was leaving Alexandria?

15. What did Cleopatra see when she finally reached the top of the lighthouse?

16. Was Cleopatra’s father leaving Alexandria? How did she know for sure?

17. Who does Cleopatra bring with her when she joins her father on the ship?

18. Who was trying to poison Cleopatra?

6-1 Book Report Project

Hellloooooo 6-1. Here is all the info you'll need for your book report project. Remember to budget your time accordingly and pace your reading in order to complete your report on time.

Your book report project is due on Friday, May 15th.


Identifying Literary Elements
Your report will need to identify the following literary elements in the story you choose:

1. Theme - Identify the theme of your story and briefly explain why that's the theme you chose.

2. Setting - Include location and time.

3. Main characters - Identify the main protagonist, the main antagonist, and give an example of a static character and a dynamic character.

4. Conflict - Identify the main conflict that drives the story.

5. Plot - Summarize the plot by identifying the exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and denouement. We will talk more about these elements during class - don't worry! :)

The Work (dun dun dunnnn!)
There are two parts to this project. Part 1 is Identifying Literary Elements. Part 2 is an oral presentation.You have a few options for Part 1 of your book report.

Options for Part 1:

1. Video News Report
Present your information via a "news broadcast." You can feature your friends/family if their parents give you permission. Get creative! Maybe... have a Plot segment instead of Sports? :) And, yes, this project still requires you to give us the information in person for your oral report.

2. Book in a Box
Redecorate a cereal box to advertise your story. The box must include all of the Literary Elements, so take time to plan the layout of your box. Example: Instead of listing ingredients on the side, list the main characters and the static/dynamic characters.

3. Book Report Sandwich
Make a 3D representation of your story by turning into a sandwich! Nommmm! The top slice of bread should contain the title of the book and the author's name. Then the rest of your sandwich should identify the literary elements. For example, the lettuce should contain the plot summary, the tomato slice should contain the main characters, etc. If you use paper, be sure to staple your sandwich together!

4. Newspaper Front Page
*This must be typed*
Using a template from Word or from the Web, create a news story about your book by dedicating the first page of a newspaper to the story. You will need to identify the literary elements using different newspaper columns, "photographs," etc. Suggestions: Use a date that fits in with the setting of the story; draw/scan pictures of the characters as you imagine them; conduct imaginary character interviews and type them up into columns...

5. PowerPoint or Prezi
Use one of these formats to present the literary elements from your story.

Grading
Your rubric is as follows (total of 100 points):

Part 1 - Identifying Literary Elements
Name on project - 2 pts.
Theme - 10 pts.
Setting - 10 pts.
Characters - 8 pts.
Conflict - 10 pts.
Plot summary - 20 pts.
Creativity - 10 pts.

Part 2 - Oral Presentation
Preparedness - 10 pts.
Speaking (be loud and clear!) - 10 pts.
Eye Contact - 5 pts.
Sources properly cited - 5 pts.


If you're reading this before we discuss it in class, don't stress. I will be going into detail during class. :)

Helloooooooo! 2/19

Tonight's homework is a grammar exercise. Please use what you know about run-on sentences, sentence fragments (or incomplete sentences) and capitalization to rewrite the following sentences correctly.

1. Leigh collects pictures of her favorite singers she has a large collection.
2. She even has some old pictures. Of the beatles.
3. She goes to many concerts sometimes she gets autographs of the stars.
4. She has lots of pictures in her room it looks great.
5. Leigh also has a good collection of tapes. From rock to hip-hop.

Parts of Speech

Your quiz Friday will have two parts:
Part 1 - Matching
You will need to match the parts of speech with their definitions.
Part 2 - Identifying
You will be given a sentence in which you will need to identify a given part of speech.

I've posted below one of my favorite graphics for parts of speech, but very quickly, here is my ultra-short rundown of the definitions, in case that helps you study:

Noun - specific person/place/thing/idea
Pronoun - substitute for a noun
Adjective - describes a noun/pronoun
Verb - action/state of being
Adverb - describes stuff other than a noun or pronoun
Preposition - location/relationship
Interjection - emotion
Conjunction - connector

For 8th Grade Grammar

Use this as a resource when studying for Unit 4!