Please return all textbooks or library books that you have to the Tech Prep Office any weekday between 9 and 11 a.m.
You may want to put a sticky note or bookmark on the book with your name and teacher's name.
All diplomas will be held until all books are turned in, so please be sure to get them to the school ASAP.
Please read the graduation information thoroughly, and continue to check the South Side Facebook/social media accounts and website for updates. I will also post updates here.
Graduation will be held on Tuesday, May 19 at 10:00 and 2:00
Approx. 97 students will graduate at each time.
10 a.m. Graduation: Last Name A-L (Gates open at 9:15)
2 p.m. Graduation: Last Name M-Z (Gates open at 1:15)
There will be 6 tickets per graduate.
Seniors will park near the baseball field and at Meridian Baptist church and must enter and exit from the baseball stadium gate.
All guests must enter at the main stadium entrance and must have a ticket, regardless of age.
All guest MUST wear a face covering. Masks are optional for students.
Graduation ceremonies will be live-streamed via Youtube.
Please read the attached PDF for attire, rain plan, other notes, etc.
Pick up robes, gold tassels, tickets, and other attire on Friday, May 15 from 9-11 a.m.
As I found out late last week, all senior grades are due to South Side on Friday (May 1) morning; therefore, this will be your final week for distance learning.
Please use this week to submit anything that you have not yet submitted if you would like for it to be considered to improve your S2 grade. Your S2 grade cannot be lower than your Q3 grade; however, it can improve.
I have extended the deadlines for all previous assignments to Wednesday, April 29 at Noon (12 pm). Please watch this brief video regarding your research paper, as our final research assignment is the paraphrasing focus from last week and NOT the term paper itself.
THE ABSOLUTE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT ANY WORK IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 AT 12 NOON.
If you would like ANYTHING to be considered for your S2 grade to improve from last quarter, it MUST be submitted by Wednesday, April 29 at 12 pm noon.
This week, there is no new assignment for CommonLit.org
Catch up on/submit anything that you may be missing from previous weeks.
This week, there is no new assignment for Methods of Research.
Catch up on/submit anything that you may be missing from previous weeks.
Have a great week, and I look forward to compiling all of your assignments on Wednesday, April 29 at 12 noon.
IF and ONLY IF you did NOT already make an account the first week, please be sure to make one using the class code 89EPEE. Write down your username and password so that you can complete your weekly assignment.
This Week for Methods of Research: Paraphrasing Focus
Before starting anything, please be sure to watch my brief weekly overview screencast here. This screencast does include information about the Works Cited Page, which we will not start in this class until next week; therefore, you may want to watch only the first couple of minutes this week.
If you have not yet submitted your parenthetical citation form from last week, you should do so before submitting the paraphrasing form, as you will need to cite on it.
One extremely useful research skill is paraphrasing, which can be used to add ample research to your paper without direct quote overuse. Most of the body paragraphs of research writing will be comprised of paraphrased, parenthetically cited research.
Review the “How to Paraphrase” PowerPoint found here, and read some of the examples.
Once you have re-familiarized yourself with paraphrasing, complete and submit the form found here.
Note: On this form, you will have to copy and paste 2 direct quotes from your sources, paraphrase them, and explain why that piece of information would be fitting and relevant to your research paper.
Login to your commonlit.org account using the credentials from the account that you made last week.
IF and ONLY IF you did NOT already make an account the first week, please be sure to make one using the class code 89EPEE. Write down your username and password so that you can complete your weekly assignment.
You may use this link to access this week’s assignment, or it should pop up when you log into CommonLit.org.
This Week for Methods of Research: Parenthetical Citations and Finalize Sources
Watch my brief weekly overview about parenthetical citations here.
One extremely useful research skill is understanding parenthetical citations in MLA 8, which is required any time you take information from a source, including when using direct quotes or paraphrases. Most of the body paragraphs of research writing will be comprised of paraphrased, parenthetically cited research.
Watch my parenthetical citations overview (with a student sample) screencast here. In this screencast, I go through a few brief citation reminders and discuss the parenthetical citation PowerPoint linked below. In addition, I show you in-text examples using a student's research paper.
Once you have thoroughly reviewed the parenthetical citations basics, submit the form here. This form is due and will expire Friday, April 17 at Midnight. If you do not know what to do or are confused, revisit the resources provided above. OWL Purdue has every single MLA citation rule on its website.
If you have not yet found all 3-5 sources for your research paper (a career you'd like to pursue), please do so ASAP, as we will begin making a works cited page next week. Finalize your sources, and review how to make a works cited page using Owl Purdue and Easybib.
Please use the resources from last week to evaluate sources.
Login to your commonlit.org account using the credentials from the account that you made last week.
IF and ONLY IF you did NOT already make an account last week, please be sure to make one using the class code 89EPEE. Write down your user name and password so that you can complete your weekly assignment.
You began finding resources on TNTEL and watched my screencast last week. This week, watch Mrs. Parnell’s TNTEL Overview screencast here. It is extremely informative and much better than mine.
Continue finding and saving sources (1-2) on TNTEL. If you have not yet submitted your form regarding your experiences with TNTEL,please do so here. This is the SAME FORM from last week, so if you have already submitted it, you do not need to submit it again. This form will close and is due on Friday, April 10 at midnight.
If you need to revisit the database information, please look at last week’s assignment post below.
Once you have found 1-2 TNTEL sources that you would be likely to use in your paper, spend some time browsing the web, and find 2-3 valid websites that you might use to research the career you have chosen. Be sure to save the source or bookmark it so that you are well prepared to use it on your works cited page.
For each website that you find, please use this rubric to determine the website’s credibility. Do not use a source that is not credible, valid, and directly relevant to your topic. In addition, be sure that your website source is a .org, .gov, or .edu whenever possible. There are of course exceptions.
You do not have a form to submit for your website source, but again, please be sure that you have saved it and could add it to your future works cited page. If you have questions about the validity of a source, please e-mail the link to me.
At this point, you should have 3-5 sources (Including 1-2 articles from TNTEL, and 2-3 websites).
Keep up the good work, and keep finding those sources!
Please sign up for my REMIND if you have not already done so. Instructions/class codes are in my initial e-mail and at the bottom of this page. I have linked all links in the text below and in the buttons above for your convenience.
This Week for your Common Lit Assignment:
Login to your commonlit.org account using the credentials from the account that you made last week.
IF and ONLY IF you did NOT already make an account last week, please be sure to make one using the class code 89EPEE. Write down your user name and password so that you can complete your weekly assignment.
You may use this link to access this week’s assignment, or it should pop up when you log into www.CommonLit.org.
This assignment is due by and will close on Friday, April 3 at Midnight.
This Week for your Methods of Research Assignment (You will actually have TWO weeks to complete the following methods of research assignment):
This week, we will begin methods of research as well as continue with our CommonLit assigments. We will be practicing research methods in anticipation of returning to school or using these methods for college and career research.
I have prepared a brief YouTube video explaining your topic (a career you'd like to pursue) and expectations for the Tennessee Electronic Library Database, so please watch it here. PS: I am aware that it’s funky. This is life now.
Determine a career you want to pursue, and begin researching it using the TN Electronic Library Database. See below for more information about how to do this.
To understand the TN Electronic Library Database, you must first familiarize yourself with Databases and their purpose. To do this, watch the following YouTube Videos.
Then, spend some time on the TN Electronic Database. Browse for information that might be useful for your career topic of choice. The url is: https://tntel.info/
Your goal is to find 1-2 sources that you could likely use in a research paper about your career.
As you are researching, BE SURE TO SAVE ANY OF THE DATABASE SOURCES THAT YOU LIKE. Bookmark them, save them, create a TNTEL account, or save them to your Office 365 One Drive.
I highly suggest that you save them to your One Drive to save the information. One drive will automatically create a folder with the article in it. You can download the One Drive (and any Microsoft App) to your cell phone and log in using your credentials at any time.
When you have found 2-3 sources and saved them, submit the docs form linked here.
To complete this form, you will need to log in using your Office 365 credentials, which is the same as your email credentials.
This form will close on Friday, April 10 at midnight and is due then; therefore, you will have two weeks to learn the TN Electronic Database. Please use your time wisely in doing so.
Week of March 23-March 27
Please read my initial distance learning information email and respond to it immediately.
Please not that this is the page ONLY for 3rd block English IV. If you are in 4th block Honors English IV or 2nd block Honors English III, you may ignore this page.
Create your account, and be sure to write down your user name and password because each week we will be completing a CommonLit exercise and some methods of research practice. Methods of research practice will begin on Monday, March 30.
As you know, we have been reading George Orwell's Politics and the English Language. For this week's CommonLit practice, you will be reading another work by Orwell titled, "Shooting and Elephant." As you read the text, click the circular "Q" icons to answer the guided reading questions that will aid in your comprehension. Then, answer the assessment questions and discussion questions before submitting. If you prefer to have the text read aloud to you, utilize the "read aloud" button.
Complete the CommonLit assigment by Friday, March 27 at midnight. It will automatically send me your work if you created the account with your class code.
Copy of Distance Learning Email and REMIND information:
To My Dearest Third Block Seniors,
Part I: Welcome Back Welcome back to school!I look forward to trying out distance learning with you all and hope that we can use the digital resources at our disposal to continue learning.Please know that I miss each of you dearly and hope that throughout this experience, we can all learn a bit more about ourselves and our priorities.I hope that we may truly understand the value of education, community, health, friendship, and family. I know that many of you are stressed, unsure, overworked, bored, anxious, or tense.I hope to provide some semblance of normalcy in a chaotic world as we open our minds to analyze literature via CommonLit and to embark on a bit of preliminary methods of research. I will also consider a Pygmalion study for the future. I am not certain what the next weeks will look like, so we will take everything one week at a time. Part II: What you need to do.
Students only: Please respond to this e-mail. If you do not respond within 48 hours, I will call you and your parents. (I have CC'd parent e-mail addresses found in PowerSchool for reference only and so that parents will also have my email address. Parents, if you check your e-mail more often than your student, please pass the information on. Parents, please feel free to email me as needed, but I would like the responsibility of response and work to be on the students.)
My mdlivingston.weebly.com webpage will be my distance learning hub.
To my website mdlivingston.weebly.com I have added a tab called “English IV P3 Weekly Assignments” and will update it regularly.
I would like to remind you as well tocheck your school emails regularly!This is super important! Make it adailyhabit.
Also check my class website regularly! Again, make it a daily habit.
I have also set up a class Remind, soplease sign up for the class Remind!This will allow you to text me via the app, opening up an additional line of communication.I can also share files via Remind if needed.
Be sure to add your first and last name when it prompts you. Parents are welcome to join as well.
Part III: Contacting Me Option 1: Office hours- I will be sitting at my computer each week day (M-F) from 10 am-12pm. At this time, I will respond to any Emails/Remind texts/Questions/other inquiries immediately.Please use this time each day, if at all possible, to work on coursework for my class so that you can have immediate access if you have any questions. Option 2: I have a TON of information on my website, so please utilize it before e-mailing, calling, or Remind texting, as I am likely to refer you back to resources whenever possible. Option 3: Of course, please feel free to contact me at any time and do your work at any time, whether it is during my office hours or not, and I will get back to you as soon as I can.
A few reminders for when you e-mail me or text me via Remind:
Please be sure to tell me your first and last name AND the assignment that you are working on. Please do not assume that I have your phone number or e-mail saved or that I know what your question is about.
Always reference the resources I have provided for you BEFORE asking a question.I have spent much time compiling these resources so that you can access them as needed, so please use them.
I plan to do all course work via my website, and all work will be cell phone compatible.If you have significant technology issues and require a paper packet, please let me know ASAP. Otherwise, everything will be completed digitally for the safety of all students, faculty, and staff. Until further notice, I will aim to post all new assignments by 10 am on Monday mornings, and all assignments will be due by Midnight on the Friday night of that week. I know that this is a lot of information and new for many of you, but I am excited to start English IV Virtual Academy with this wonderful group of students.Online classes will be a reality for you in the future, so hopefully we can all gain positive, constructive time in your lives. Againplease respond to this email IMMEDIATELY by clicking REPLY (NOT reply all!). I must have confirmation of receipt from EVERY student. You all are wonderful, and I look forward to discussing literature and learning a few research skills with you as we embark on this new learning path! You may utilize your relationships during this time, as you have access to everyone's email addresses. I suggest that you turn to each other and communicate openly with me and your classmates during this challenging time.
I look forward to hearing from you soon! Sincerely, Mrs. Livingston