PBH Due 2.24.14 (and other dates too!)

Hello All,

Please do the following:

1. Compare and Contrast Essay

Those of you who were present on Friday, February 14th received the packet and those of you who were not present, please read below and click the link to read article stories about the refugee experience. Please note that there is a change to the Movie/Book Review date which is no longer the 28th of February but is now March 3rd.

February Break Essay Assignment: Compare/Contrast Essay

         People have been refugees all throughout history and even though each story is unique, they are all universal.  We have been reading the fictional story of Ha and her family during the Vietnam War in the novel Inside Out & Back Again as well as informational texts of other refugees from various conflicts, such as the Bosnian War, from our curriculum workbooks.  Your task is to write a compare/contrast essay in which you discuss the universal refugee experience using the texts provided.  You must use the WWII article in this essay (provided).  If you do not want to use the second provided article by Bashir, go to the link below and choose any of the other refugee stories there: http://www.amnesty.org.au/refugees/archive/C12/.   Be sure to annotate your texts and use strong relevant evidence that will support your thesis and analysis!!  This is due on Monday, 24 February 2014.  Your March Movie/Book Review is due on Monday, March 3  2014. 

Remember!! Your heading must be college block style, last name numbered pages, 12 font, Times New Roman, double space lines within the paragraphs as well as between paragraphs. DO NOT TRIPLE SPACE BETWEEN PARAGRAPHS!

Although this essay is due on Monday, February 24, 2014, the date you must type on this compare/contrast essay must be March 3, 2014.

Lastly, you must come prepared with your essay typed, printed and on top of your desk so that we can do written peer evaluation reviews on Monday the 24th. Check your printers early to make sure ink and paper are available. If not, with your parents permission, go to your local library, Kinkos, Staples, Office Max, UPS or FedEx stores to print your work. PLEASE TRY NOT TO WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE!

Your essay must follow the format below:

Introduction Paragraph:

Hook (thought-provoking question, anecdote, quote, etc.)
Filler (3 sentences)Explain the quote you used without giving away too much information. Please do not start off your explanation with, "this quote means..." or "I think this quote is trying to say..." or any other cheesy and unprofessional sentence starters. Just say what you have to say without having to introduce that you are going to say it.Thesis/Focus Statement (what you are proving and three supporting examples à one sentence)

3-4 Body Paragraphs:

Topic Sentence
Quote/Evidence 1
Explanation of evidence 1
Quote/Evidence 2
Explanation of evidence 2
Quote/Evidence 3
Explanation of evidence 3
Conclusion/Wrap-Up

Conclusion Paragraph:

Restatement of Thesis/Focus Statement
Restatement of Body Paragraph Topic Sentences
Thoughtful statement to leave the reader thinking (Clincher)

2. Movie/Book Review - Due March 3, 2014
We are still exploring the refugee experience, and, although we have taken a little break from reading the novel, we have not taken a break analyzing the impact of war within a society. What you will explore and analyze is: what is the importance of holding on to your family and community when war seeks to divide it? First you must have a "working definition" of what is a family and what is a community. This must be in the body paragraphs including evidence from both the text and the movie. The movies you can select from below are as follows:
1.) Life Is Beautiful (Highly Recommended) French movie with English subtitles
2.) The Pianist
3.) The Devil's Arithmetic
4.) The Hiding Place

Check your local library for these movies or Netflix! Happy watching and reading!

Please follow the outline below:

Introduction Paragraph:
Hook (thought-provoking question, anecdote, quote, etc.)
Filler (3 sentences) Explain the quote you used without giving away too much information. Please do not start off your explanation with, "this quote means..." or "I think this quote is trying to say..." or any other cheesy and unprofessional sentence starters. Just say what you have to say without having to introduce that you are going to say it.
Thesis/Focus Statement (what you are proving and three supporting examples à one sentence)

Body Paragraph # 1 (Focus on the importance of family in both the movie and novel):
Topic Sentence
Quote/Evidence 1
Explanation of evidence 1
Quote/Evidence 2
Explanation of evidence 2
Quote/Evidence 3
Explanation of evidence 3
Conclusion/Wrap-Up

Body Paragraph # 2 (Focus on the importance of community in both the movie and novel):

Topic Sentence

Quote/Evidence 1
Explanation of evidence 1
Quote/Evidence 2
Explanation of evidence 2
Quote/Evidence 3
Explanation of evidence 3
Conclusion/Wrap-Up 

Conclusion Paragraph:
Restatement of Thesis/Focus Statement
Restatement of Body Paragraph Topic Sentences
Thoughtful statement to leave the reader thinking (Clincher)

3.)  Pre-College Research Debate Articles - Due 2.25.14
Please note that although I did not specify certain topics in the search engine, you may still find information relating to your topic within the articles you select to read.  However, what I did, was to put together key words/phrases that will filter out articles about supporters of the war. Please note that you are not limited to the key words/phrases I provided. Feel free to modify the keyword search to match your own needs.

Please copy and paste the following as a Google search: "counter argument articles about the Vietnam war" "necessity of the vietnam war" "journal articles about the importance of the vietnam war" "purpose of the vietnam war" "benefits of the vietnam war". Print the best three articles that  could be used against you during the debate.

I will try to add more as time progresses, however, it most likely will remain the same. However, if you find something please share!

Continue to check the BlogSpot for updates!

If you have any questions, please email me at thereadingcafe@aol.com M-F before 7 pm or call Dial-A-Teacher @ 212.777.3380 M-F between 4-7 pm. Please note that this number is not available during holiday or vacation breaks.

Enjoy!

Miss. N