Journal #14. Words for spelling/vocab quiz on Thursday (charismatic to complaisant). Introduce Lynne Truss's Eats, Shoots & Leaves. Introduce Punctuation Manual assignment. Develop personal list in your own handwriting, of punctuation rules and examples--as you come across them in Eats, Shoots & Leaves.
Hmwk: Read "Forward," "Publisher's Note," and "Preface." Make additions, as appropriate, to Punctuation Manual.

Journal #17 (What does Christmas mean to you?) Begin Dickens' Christmas stories unit. Read a precursor to A Christmas Carol:"The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton."
NB: I'm assuming that you have previously read A Christmas Carol. If you have not, or you need to review it, here's a link to the text: A Christmas Carol from the Project Gutenberg (includes the illustrations from the 1843 first edition!). Don't be fooled into thinking that you know the text well if you've only watched The Muppets Christmas Carol or even the George C. Scott version. There is no substitute for actually interacting with Dickens' text. Take care of this responsibility by Monday, Dec. 4.
Hmwk: finish reading "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton."

Intro rubric for assessing "A Christmas Tree" illustrations. Develop category criteria in small groups.
Hmwk: Complete individual revision of illustration rubric:

1. Would you like your own illustration to be assessed using this rubric? Yes/No. Explain
2. Are there squares on the rubric that you do not understand? Identify.
3. Do the criteria in each category progress in an even, logical fashion?
4. Revise all of the squares that need work.

Spelling/vocab quiz. Dickens' Christmas Stories:

• A Christmas Carol
• "The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton"
• "A Christmas Tree"
• "The Poor Relation's Story"

Test review questions:

• According to Dickens' stories, what is the "Christmas Spirit"?
• What is/are the purpose/s of ghosts in Dickens' stories?
• What is/are the mechanism/s Dickens uses to effect change in his characters who need to change?
• Is the poor relation really a poor relation? Explain.
  • Does he believe that he is a poor relation? Explain
• What do you think Dickens wanted his readers to take from "The Poor Relation's Story"?
• Look for similarities between A Christmas Carol and the other stories.

Hmwk: Complete preparation for Dickens' Christmas Stories Test.

Assessment of effectiveness of language in rubric developed by class. Each student applies rubric to two illustrations. After assessment, discuss rubric questions:

1. How well did the rubric work for the illustrations you assessed?
2. What needs to be added to the rubric?
3. Should something be deleted from the rubric?
4. Does the rubric yield a fair grade of an illustration? What is "fair"?

No hmwk.