First, let’s take a look at the job shadows. Go ahead and put your beautiful job shadow on the desk or leave it up on your screen (if you haven’t printed it yet) and walk around. Take a look at their work. Be impressed. Give compliments.  Note colors.

Next, we’ll be taking the job shadows and preparing a short 1-2 minute speech for next Tuesday. Individually, you’ll give us information about either the occupation you job shadow-ed or one you’re interested in. Here’s how the Keynote/PP should go.

• Slide 1: What’s the job? What do people do on a daily basis?
• Slide 2: What is the salary range and what other perks are there?
• Slide 3: What are working conditions like? Where do you work?
• Slide 4: What kind of education and qualifications do you need?
• Slide 5: How easy/difficult is it to get a job?
• Slide 6: What sort of person would like it?

Remember, images are key and this site is a good one to get started on info.

Next, I’m going to ask you to take the in-class writing (remember this?) and revise/expand it for a grade.  It should be about 300 words and do a good job both of explaining the quote and giving details from the novel to explain how the quote does and doesn’t relate to the book.  When you’re done, cut and paste the essay here. Use the Add/Notes function; the title should be your name.

Finally, the sub (thank you!) will give you a copy of All Quiet on the Western Front.  The homework is to read the first chapter.

Image Credit: mclc.osu.edu

In small groups, you’re going to create a short Keynote or PowerPoint presentation that will explain the basics of what goes on in your book and evaluates whether or not the book should be considered for full-group 10th grade curriculum or small-group book circles.  Here’s how the presentation should go.

Slide 1:  Title slide. Simple, with the title of the book and maybe a picture of the cover (see Amazon or other book site).

Slide 2: Wha t X is about. Less than 10 words on the slide, but you’ll tell us the basic plot without giving away the ending. Pics?

Slide 3: What the main character is like.  3 words (ex. compassionate, cynical, cautious–George from OMM).  Explain why you chose these words. Pics?

Slide 4: An excerpt from the book that shows the writing style. A quote of less than 20 words. Give us context for the quote and then explain what it means.

Slide 5: Should this book be for all 10th graders. Explain.

Slide 6: Should some kids read this in small groups?  Who would like it?

Slide 7: End with a pretty picture and a quote from the book or author.

I’ll give groups time to work on this in class and then we’ll present.

Finally, I’d like you to read the following article describing a Virtual Job Interview (use this if that doesn’t work) and answer the following questions in a blog post.

1. What is Second Life?
2. How is Mr. Gould dressed? The author? Why?
3. What are some positives to having interviews in Second Life?
4. What are some distractions to having interviews in Second Life?
5. How do you think job hunting and the workplace will change when you are ready to enter it?

Then, individually, we’ll take one theme you decided on Tuesday and search for an appropriate, interesting, or challenging quote that relates to it and the book you’re reading. Here are 3 good quote search sites to use:

• Quoteland
• Wikiquote
• Quotations Page

After you have your quote, explain how it relates to your novel by explaining what you think it means and then directly comparing it to 3 events or characters in the novel. 200 words.

Next, we’ll talk about interviews. How do we need to act during an interview? Here is one site with ideas. We’ll brainstorm some more ideas and then using these lists of job interview questions, we’ll run interviews in groups of 3. You’ll have your résumé (your homework) to help you.

Finally, I’d like you to read the following article describing a Virtual Job Interview (use this if that doesn’t work) and answer the following questions in a blog post.

1. What is Second Life?
2. How is Mr. Gould dressed? The author? Why?
3. What are some positives to having interviews in Second Life?
4. What are some distractions to having interviews in Second Life?
5. How do you think job hunting and the workplace will change when you are ready to enter it?

HW: Keep reading your book circle book. Make the job shadow happen.

Image Credit: Photoshopstar.com

We’ll start with the cover letter.  2nd period needs to go through the whole thing, including what a cover letter is, how it’s formatted, and how to use the Seattle Times jobs listings to find a job.  6th period needs to peer edit cover letters. Here is what readers need to look for.

Reader 1: Check to see the three parts of the letter are there A) Why I’m writing and where I found the job listing B) Why–specifically–I’m qualified and C) When and how I’ll contact you again.

Reader 2: Check for grammar and other mechanical errors as well as to make sure that the letter uses proper business letter format.

Next, we’ll get started with the book circle books. Let’s just read for about 10 minutes from the book. Then, use this worksheet to decide on one particular theme that resonates throughout the book.

Finally, you’ll take one theme you decide on and search for an appropriate, interesting, or challenging quote that relates to it and the book you’re reading. Here are 3 good quote search sites to use:

• Quoteland
• Wikiquote
• Quotations Page

After you have your quote, explain how it relates to your novel by explaining what you think it means and then directly comparing it to 3 events or characters in the novel. 200 words.

HW: 2nd period: Rough draft of cover letter.  6th period: Final draft of cover letter. Remember your job shadow’s due date has moved to March 5th.

• Design: Does it look clean and professional?
• Verbs: Do the descriptions of your work and other experience start with strong verbs?
• Grammar: Is the resumé error free?

Then, we’ll read about 10-15 minutes in our book circle books and then create a short multiple choice quiz for what we’ve read so far.

Our next trick is to see what a cover letter is and why they are necessary.  Then, we’ll use the job listings at the Seattle Times and pretend we have the job qualification for one of them.  The rough draft of the cover letter is due the Tuesday we get back from break.

If we have time…let’s check out the Seattle Times: What this Job Pays.  Choose one of the jobs, read the article, and be ready to report to the rest of the class on the pay, benefits, and conditions of that job.

HW: Final draft of the resumé and first draft of the cover letter.

Image Credit: creativeenergyblog

In small groups, we’ll use a reader response journal to pick and choose 5 quotes that are interesting, surprising, or infuriating to respond directly. Also, figure out what reading speed everyone needs to maintain in order to finish by March 5th

Next, I’ll go pretty quickly through the results from the in-class WASL-like writing we did in class.  You’ll get your essays back and your results. We’ll spend a bit of time time talking about what makes strong writing.

I also want to mention how I expect the job shadow to go and run you through the résumé process. I’ll give you some in-class time to get started on your résumé. (Here are some places to help: Monster, collegegrad.com, resume-help.org, Pages template.

Finally, if we have time, let’s check out the Seattle Times: What this Job Pays.  Choose one of the jobs, read the article, and be ready to report to the rest of the class on the pay, benefits, and conditions of that job.

HW: Finish résumé and keep reading.

Editor 1: First, check to see the writer has included several quotes from reliable sources and set each one up. For example, According to Dr. Brillianta from Cerebral University, “Later school start times can improve student achievement by more than 20%.” (Edutopia)

Editor 2: Next, check to see that the writer includes all 5 of the stages of persuasion: attention, need, satisfaction, visualization, and action.  If anything is missing, tell the writer.

Editor 3: Finally, look for logos, ethos, and pathos. Is any aspect of the writing strong in one of these. Comment.  Does the writer need to pay more attention to one of these?  Explain.

If we have time, we’ll talk about logical fallacies, but I want to give you a good amount of time to make a serious dent in making a persuasive essay final on Tuesday.

Also, I’d like us to start exploring some possibilities for book circle books in February. Start here (KCLS), here (GoodReads YA), and here (New Jersey librarians).

HW:  Finish persuasive essay