Pitch Rubric	4 Points: Exceeds Standards	3 Points: Meets Standards	2 Points: Needs Improvement	1 Point: Far Below Standards
Content	Engages the reader’s interest in  reading the proposed article Enthusiastically presents the value of the article Clearly presents writer’s credentials and sources of information Specifically sketches out the layout and number of graphics, sidebars and text Closes the pitch appropriately	Engages the reader’s interest in reading about the subject of the proposed article. Presents the value of the article to the readers Presents writer’s credentials and mentions sources Sketches out the layout of graphics, sidebar and text Closes the pitch appropriately	Engages the reader’s interest in subject of proposed article Presents writer’s credentials Mentions layout Closes pitch	Introduces the subject of the article Focuses on own evaluation of subject May focus entirely on subject May not mention graphics and layout May not close pitch
Form: Structure	Uses clear organization with strong transitions Is directed to a specific audience Paragraphs focus on clear topics and fully explain concepts	Some organization with transitions Paragraphs focus on topics and introduce concepts	Some organization Paragraphs have some focus	May not have organization May not have clear transitions or paragraph breaks Paragraphs may not have focus
Conventions: Grammar	Less than 5 surface errors: spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.	Less than 10 surface errors: spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.	Less than 15 surface errors: spelling, punctuation and capitalization.	Over 15 surface errors Errors may impede reader’s understanding

 

"I Am" Poems

I Am

I am a flower waiting to bloom.
I am an undiscovered book in a long forgotten section of the library.
I am the sound of the wind blowing the leaves.
I am the sun rising in the morning.
I am the first leaf to change color.
I am a writer.
I am a student.
I am Sonia.


I’m Sherab
I’m a star to my mother’s eyes
I’m an evil ruler to my little sisters pride
I’m a sunny day
To those who want to play
I’m a teddy bear
Whenever my friend starts to tear
I’m a memory so clear
That you’ll think you were there
I’m a freedom fighter
To those in Tibet in need
Then I’m freedom
To those who protest for their land that should be free
I’m an eagle
To those who need a path
I’m the wind
For those who need air
I’m the rule
So that kids can share
I’m the sun
To those who shiver for the light
I’m that exotic color
In a 64 crayola pack
I’m a soft blanket
To a baby that cries all night
I’m a mother
To those in need
I’m a friend
I’m a student
I’m Tibetan
And that I’m really proud to be
I’m a person who loves you with all my might
I’m the one who carries you to the light
I’m Sherab

Get Connected (or not)

Since we've been using the new media of blogging, students from 731 were asked whether we are more or less connected now that we have technology like AIM, MySpace, I-pods and E-mail. Here is what they had to say:

I think we are more connected because of the technology we use. For example, we are able to talk to people we don’t see everyday and people that live all over the world. Also, we are busy and can’t always talk to people face to face. –Stephanie Mariano

I think we are less disconnected because we can talk to more people on AIM, MySpace, MSN, etc. Even if you don’t know the person you could learn more about other people’s culture. Also, with the telephone you can talk to people who live either far away or near. –Carolina Gaviria

I think technology keeps us more and less connected to people. The reason why technology keeps us less disconnected from people is because you could keep in touch with your friends or family by phone, computers, sidekicks, etc. But at the same time, it could disconnect you more from people because there’s been cases when a person lives with someone they rarely spent time with that person because they get addicted to the technology they have like the internet, MySpace, [and] AIM. –Jose Velasco

In my opinion, technology has made people more disconnected. There was once a time when friends would meet up with other friends and bonds would become stronger because people would be doing things together. Now, with all the technology we have such as text messaging, cellphones and being able to talk to people on headsets while playing videogames, so many people are being boarded up inside their house. People become so caught up in their videogames and listening to their music that they don’t even notice their surroundings. I have a friend that is always bottled up in his room because he’s busy playing videogames and has become isolated from everybody else in his house.
I don’t think that evolving technology used for communication is bad, it should just be used in moderation because, after all, text messaging and myspace does help us communicate with people overseas and learn about other cultures. However, we still should spend time with our family members and friends outside of our computer screen, because this would help make happy and funny memories. –Sonia Aktar

We are less disconnected because of the technology we use today. The reason why is because if two friends are going separate ways they could still contact each other through technology. By using technology, people can plan when to meet with another person so that they still are connected. In a way technology helps bring people together and without technology it would be hard to keep in touch. The solution to disconnection is technology because if there’s no way to contact that person then you can use technology to reach them.
…Technology can create another path or door open to people in need. For example, the US can help people in Africa or third-world countries by using technology. The technology we use today helps us gain new things and people can reach out to others when they thought they couldn’t find a way. –Cynthia Mahbub

I think we are more connected using technology. I think that because you can communicate with the computer. In the computer, there is AIM. On AIM, we can talk and communicate and tell secrets without meeting each other. This is good because if you’re lazy all you need to talk with is a phone or texting… -James Siguenza

Cash Rewards for Grades: Is this the right way to learn?

Students were asked whether Mayor Bloomberg and the Education Department’s recent program to give money to students who do well in school is a good idea or not. Here is what some of them had to say:

Yes
Most students hate learning because they have no motivation to learn. One solution is to pay the students who get 4’s (on their tests). The students who studied instead of goofing off should get paid for their hard work. This will motivate the other kids to work harder and get good jobs when they grow up. -Monika Hossain

I think that we don’t need to get paid but if we get good grades why not? I already do all my work, so if they pay me I’ll do it with more inspiration. Every once in a while you need to give us a reward. On the other hand, students will only study and learn because of the money… -Suzette Diaz

Students should get paid for test grades. They should get paid because students will become persuaded to study hard enough. They should also get paid, because if they study hard, they could buy supplies to work harder. – Sebastian Betancur

Yes, with a twist: A++ = Prizes
I do think that students should get paid for good grades. I think this because students might be motivated to stay in school if they are getting paid. There are some students who come from families that have financial problems. It would help these families if students were getting paid for doing the right thing. Students will study harder if they know that they are getting a reward. However, some students might be only motivated to get money and not learn, even if they do have financial problems. This might put people who have good grades in school in an awkward situation because their peers might ask them if they could copy their homework. Even though this might happen, I still think that students should get paid for doing well because in my opinion, the pros outweigh the cons.
Instead of the government handing out money for good students, they should give students free textbooks, books, and school supplies at the end of the year. Since the prizes have to do with education, students might want to learn more. The parents of the students will also be saving money because they won’t have to buy school supplies. I also think that it would be really awesome if students go big prizes like laptops and electronic organizers if they graduate with excellent grades because my sister got a Palm Pad when she graduated high school.
-Sonia Aktar

In the Middle
I would like to get money for passing tests. The problem is that I think the students that don’t want to learn still won’t be motivated. Some students might but others probably won’t care. It’s also unfair because what if some students try to pass and they can’t? –Jharline Calderon

I am in-between on this debate. If people start paying children then that would be like buying the kids to do their work. But on the other hand, when children get excited, they will start doing their work for the money. –Jacqueline Rodriguez

I think that [paying students] would motivate students, but they would only learn for the money, not because they love to learn. I don’t have any ideas to motivate students [except] the money so I think they should get paid. I think that if students are going to learn, they will learn because they enjoy learning not because they make them, but I also think that the students who do work hard should get a little reward once in a while. --Marlen Villagomez

NO
I don’t think we should get paid for doing our work because…we are supposed to do our work already. – Emely Oliva

I think it would be great to get paid, but I disagree. We, as students, should already know that school is a responsibility – An anonymous 7th grader.