Weekly Blog Post

Week of  November 17-21

This week I had a meeting with the Lions Club. I was there for almost two hours. No I didn't have to stay but I wanted to honestly see how they operated. It was very interesting because they just laid out onto the table and talked about things openly. For example, concerns, private matters, club matters, events, finances, etc. The main things that we brought about the Leo's Club is how Dr. Auden is going to join the Lions Club to be the advisor for the Leo's. The other concern was financial. One of the women in the Lions Club was concerned that people wouldn't pay and that we wouldn't have correct bank accounts. I did let them know that we do have to have two separate banking accounts and that since we are under the Lions Club I am pretty sure that it states that they will be helping us with the finances. I am posting this now because I am going camping this weekend and won't be able to post tomorrow. I'm super excited and will have a blog post with what I have done!

English Standards:

SL 3:   Evaluate a speaker's point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
W 8:    Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print an digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; access the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation including footnotes and endnotes.

I can tie in these standards to my week because while at the Lions Club I was listening to all that they were saying and the way that they were saying things and bringing them up really shows how much they love the club and hate how the community isn't vey involves. It hurts them to know that they have many members that they pay for and they never show up to anything, and then when they need the communities backing they never really get it. I can also use the other standard because for Mrs. Cervanes I type up an essay for her which has to do with a certain Civics standard that I feel that I can tie into my project. So, I have been researching a lot on the internet just to write the essays.

Weekly Blog Post

Week of November 10-14

This week we had to start the week off by doing the application and taking the test to get in to West Hills. The test honestly reminded me of a dumbed down version of the ACT. It was honestly really boring in my opinion, but what tests are ever fun. After that I got the flu and Wes leaving school early because I honestly wasn't feeling good at all. I am pleased to find out that Dr. Audet is willing to join the Laton Lions Club to be our Leo's Club advisor because all of the current members have so much on their plate already. Then I also found out that the Lemoore Lioms Member, Mr. Bob Casus, has offered to pay our Leo's starter fees which is probably a a big sigh of relief to the Lions Club because I feel like they are so stressed out because they have so much going on lately.

ENGLISH STANDARDS

• RL6  Analyze a case in which grasping point of view requires distinguishing what is directly stated in a text form what is really meant.
• RI6  Determine an authors point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness, or beauty of the text.
• L3  Apply knowledge to language to understand how language functions in different contexts, to make effective choices for meaning, or style, and to comprehend mere fully when reading or listening.

I can use these standards due to the West Hills test. There were honestly probably more that I didn't notice, but I feel as if these standards are sufficient. The test was difficult, but after taking the ACT this test honestly wasn't all that hard anymore. There was a lot of reading and grammar and tying things together in the entire English portions of the test. 

Weekly Blog Post

Week of October 27.

This week I honestly feel like I didn't accomplish much. I mainly just covered my civics standard by writing an essay and got the Leos starter kit. To get my civics standard I did write an essay because I felt like it was hard to tie in any more standards into my project. I focused on how the media influences politics and how it could influence the Lions Club. I also got the Leos Starter kit on Tuesday but haven't really had a chance to go through and study it. Next week will be more successful because I will be able to go to the Lions meeting since this weeks was cancelled.

English Standards:

• RI 5  Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.
• RI 7  Integrate and evaluate multiple sources of information presented in different media or formats as well as in words in order to address a question or solve a problem.
• W 7  Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.

I can tie in these standards because while writing my civics paper I did have to do research and understand what the media did to influence politics. I was reading off of the internet and also using what Mrs. Cervantes told me in order to support what I was saying. I gave peoples opinions, how politicians utilized the media and also how the Lions Club could benefit if they told the media about their financial situation.

Fresno State Trip

On Monday we went to Fresno State to pitch our project ideas to a class of future entrepreneurs. Then we split up into groups and they gave us creative and useful ideas on how to further our projects.
My group gave me some ideas that I hadn't really thought of. For example, they told me that I should start off by trying to get someone to sponsor us for food. So, every meeting we have we can feed the Leo's without breaking our bank. They also told me that me and David should team up with each other. Reason being, I would get his support so more people want to join and then when they start building the skate park the Leo's could volunteer their time in constructing it and keeping it clean. Then they told me that I should ask the schools to send out letters to the parents and let them know what I'm doing, because it would get their kids out doing something but they would be staying out o trouble.
Finally they told me that I should reach out to big time members in the community. They said that if I make them aware of my project then they would more than likely be willing to sponsor and support it.

Common core standards:

• SL 6  Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating a command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

I can use this standard because in my opinion I needed to be formal and very direct for people to understand what my project was about. When I was up presenting I was very formal because I felt that it was appropriate,  BUT when I was talking to my group I was a lot more relaxed and natural. I felt as if adapting my speech was very useful that way they understood that I was serious about it, but not just because I'm being graded on what I'm doing. To show them that this club is something that I really do want.

Weekly Blog Post

Week of October 20 to October 24

This week we went to Fresno State to pitch our ideas in front of one of their classes. If you would like to know more about it then you can look into it by clicking my previous blog post. I have also had to write a reflection on what I have achieved so that Ms. Pilcher can have a better idea. The teachers have recently asked us to continue writing reflections just so they have more evidence on what we have been doing with our projects. I have been fairly busy this week with sports, studying for my ACTs and just other every day stuff. So, its obvious that not much was accomplished.

Common Core Standards:

• SL 1d  Respond thoughtfully to diverse perspectives; synthesize comments, claims, and evidence made on all sides of an issue; resolve contradictions when possible; and determine what additional information or research is required to deepen the investigation or complete the task.

I can tie in this standard because at Fresno State we split up into groups after we all presented and they gave us different ideas from their perspective of things. They gave me some ideas in which I do think that I should really look into. Such as, finding sponsors for my club, teaming up with David, and different activities I should hold to keep people interested.