The Good Earth

On Monday, we will begin our first novel of the year, Pearl Buck's The Good Earth.

"In The Good Earth Pearl S. Buck paints an indelible portrait of China in the 1920s, when the last emperor reigned and the vast political and social upheavals of the twentieth century were but distant rumblings. This moving, classic story of the honest farmer Wang Lung and his selfless wife O-Lan is must reading for those who would fully appreciate the sweeping changes that have occurred in the lives of the Chinese people during the last century.

Nobel Prize winner Pearl S. Buck traces the whole cycle of life: its terrors, its passions, its ambitions and rewards. Her brilliant novel—beloved by millions of readers—is a universal tale of an ordinary family caught in the tide of history." (Amazon.com)

We will be reading the novel together in class and after each chapter there will be critical thinking questions to accompany the reading. There are several excellent resources available for students to review as we work through the book. 

http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/china_1900_earth.htm

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/goodearth/

In 1939 a movie was released about the book, if you can find it, it is worth watching. 

Study Stack

Looking for help with vocab? Spend 15 minutes a day at Study Stack. Our words can be found at:
http://www.studystack.com/flashcards-1656246

Writing Prompts for the Week

This week students have three options for their writing assignment. All three options require students to use dress ups and sentence openers. All three options require a key word outline (KWO), rough draft, and final draft.

1. Humane Society Story Contest: No more than 350 words using the prompt "My pet has taught me..."
2. Scholastic Letter to Congress: Write a letter to Congress arguing that veterans should be given the chance to adopt the military dogs they worked with. Should be a minimum of 400 words with facts cited.
3. Scholastic Invention Contest: Write between 300 and 500 words on what you believe is the most important invention to mankind. Trace the history of the invention and how it has evolved. Create a timeline to accompany the piece.

VIP Day

Book Report Genres

Genres for 8^th Grade Book Report

·                 Classic – fiction that has become part of an accepted literary canon, widely taught in schools

·                 Comic/Graphic Novel – scripted fiction told visually in artist drawn pictures, usually in panels and speech bubbles

·                 Crime/Detective – fiction about a committed crime, how the criminal gets caught, and the repercussions of the crime

·                 Fable – narration demonstrating a useful truth, especially in which animals speak as humans; legendary, supernatural tale

·                 Fairy tale – story about fairies or other magical creatures, usually for children

·                 Fanfiction – fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from, a particular TV series, movie, etc.

·                 Fantasy – fiction with strange or otherworldly settings or characters; fiction which invites suspension of reality

·                 Folklore – the songs, stories, myths, and proverbs of a people or "folk" as handed down by word of mouth

·                 Historical fiction – story with fictional characters and events in a historical setting

·                 Horror – fiction in which events evoke a feeling of dread and sometimes fear in both the characters and the reader

·                 Humor – Usually a fiction full of fun, fancy, and excitement, meant to entertain and sometimes cause intended laughter; but can be contained in all genres

·                 Legend – story, sometimes of a national or folk hero, that has a basis in fact but also includes imaginative material

·                 Mystery – fiction dealing with the solution of a crime or the unraveling of secrets

·                 Mythology – legend or traditional narrative, often based in part on historical events, that reveals human behavior and natural phenomena by its symbolism; often pertaining to the actions of the gods

·                 Poetry – verse and rhythmic writing with imagery that creates emotional responses

·                 Realistic fiction – story that is true to life

·                 Science fiction – story based on impact of actual, imagined, or potential science, usually set in the future or on other planets

·                 Suspense/Thriller – fiction about harm about to befall a person or group and the attempts made to evade the harm

·                 Tall tale – humorous story with blatant exaggerations, swaggering heroes who do the impossible with nonchalance

·                 Biography/Autobiography - Narrative of a person's life. A true story about a real person.

·                 Essay - A short literary composition that reflects the author's outlook or point.

·                 Narrative nonfiction - Factual information presented in a format which tells a story.

·                 Speech - Public address or discourse.

T Shirt Finalists

All readers are invited to vote for the shirt they think should represent the 8th grade class for this year! Vote by commenting on this post with the number of the shirt you would like to vote for. Family votes do count, but if you vote anonymously, you must put your name in the comment. I have deleted a bunch of large number anonymous votes. You may only post for those family members that live IN YOUR HOUSE!

VOTING HAS NOW CLOSED

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Science Lab #2