Attention all students, your parents need to check out the information posted on the 7th Grade Team Blog. Before Friday February 12, they need to log on the Power School to  take a survey that lets the school know if you’ll be coming back or not next school year. Thanks!

Roots and Shoots MS approves of this! It makes a HUGE difference saving paper!

Save this worksheet in your Catherine, Called Birdy folder.
(Remember, do not open it first or you will be unable to save it later. RIGHT CLICK AND SAVE IT FIRST!)

To start we will fill out attributes for Catherine. As we read on, we’ll ladd more attributes for Catherine and make more webs for other characters.

chide

converse

delusion

despicable

dolt

heedlessly

humility

meddle

snare

turmoil

For the homework due Monday, you’ll need to do five things…
#1 Write your own definition
#2 Write one synonym
#3 Write one antonym
#4 Write a sentence using the word
#5 Write a journal entry using all ten words

betrothal

docile

excessive

feign

inflammation

plagued

ponder

putrid

smitten

sulk

For the homework due Monday, you’ll need to do five things…
#1 Write your own definition
#2 Write one synonym
#3 Write one antonym
#4 Write a sentence using the word
#5 Write a journal entry using all ten words

Here’s today’s worksheet to be cpmpleted in ELO. When you are finished, save it to your computer. We’ll go over it tomorrow in Humanities.

I hope you enjoy writing to your pen pal at the American School in Israel (AIS).  They have spent a lot of time writing letters to you and now it’s your turn to write back.

Follow the Friendly Letter Guidelines and write a 5 paragraph letter.

1. Introduction
2. Life in China/Shanghai
3. Life at school (SAS)
4. Life with family and friends
5. Conclusion

Use the rubric at the right as your guide for scoring. Your letter should have a strong “voice,” clear organization and be free from mistakes.

Due Date:  Wednesday 1/26/10

Feudalism writing assignment

Now you know about Feudalism and the social hierarchy in Medieval Europe.   What was life like for the people themselves?  How did the lives of peasants differ from nobles?  You will learn about the daily life of one of the social classes and write a narrative from the perspective of a person living in the Middle Ages.

Online Feudalism activity. Go to the following website, choose a guide or character you want to learn more about. Learn about what their life was like in the Middle Ages. Write a first-person account of daily life for them. Make up a name, use some appropriate Old English vocabulary, develop a voice and describe your life for us. Feel free to give yourself a family and describe them as well. Have fun with it.

www.PHSchool.com

Web Code: lgd-8501

What: Write a narrative in 1st person – about 1 page typed

When: Rough draft due Friday 1/29/10

Final copy due Tuesday 2/2/10

*Post your finished feudal narrative to your blog*

Examples of Feudal Narratives

Now that you know about the feudal system in Europe and have created a pyramid to show it, it’s time to describe it in one well-written paragraph. Due on Friday 1/22/10 at the end of ELO. Your Pyramid and Paragraph need to be printed and attached to be displayed in class.

Assessment:  You will be graded on three traits of writing (Ideas, Organization, Conventions)

Feudal paragraph samples

Suggested Paragraph Format:

1. Topic sentence – make a point that you are going to prove or back-up.

2. Supporting sentences:

a. 1^st supporting sentence (describe one aspect or branch of Feudalism)

b. 2^nd supporting sentence (describe another aspect or branch of Feudalism)

c. 3^rd supporting sentence (describe another aspect or branch of Feudalism)

d. 4^th supporting sentence (describe another aspect or branch of Feudalism)

e. 5^th supporting sentence (describe the relationship between branches of Feudalism)

3. Conclusion sentence – summarize your point in a well-written sentence

Focus – using transitions effectively in writing

Transitions take the reader from one sentence to the next and from one paragraph to the next. Transition, both words and phrases, provide a coherent framework for the paper. These transitions will help your writing to be easy to understand to a reader.

Whenever you have trouble finding a word, phrase, or sentence to serve as an effective transition, refer to the information in the table for assistance. Look in the left column of the table for the kind of logical relationship you are trying to express. Then look in the right column of the table for examples of words or phrases that express this logical relationship.

Feudalism

Feudal Pyramid details

The Feudal System was introduced to England following the invasion and conquest of the country by William I (The Conqueror).

The system had been used in France by the Normans from the time they first settled there in about 900AD. It was a simple, but effective system, where all land was owned by the King. One quarter was kept by the King as his personal property, some was given to the church and the rest was leased out under strict controls.

A simple plan showing how the Feudal System works

The King

The King was in complete control under the Feudal System. He owned all the land in the country and decided who he would lease land to. He therefore only allowed those men he could trust to lease land from him. However, before they were given any land they had to swear an oath to remain faithful to the King at all times. The men who leased land from the King were known as Barons, they were wealthy, powerful and had complete control of the land they leased from the King.

Barons / Lords / Tennants in Chief

Barons leased land from the King which was known as a manor. They were known as the Lord of the Manor and were in complete control of this land. They established their own system of justice, minted their own money and set their own taxes. In return for the land they had been given by the King, the Barons had to serve on the royal council, pay rent and provide the King with Knights for military service when he demanded it. They also had to provide lodging and food for the King and his court when they traveled around the country. The Barons kept as much of their land as they wished for their own use, then divided the rest among their Knights. Barons were very rich.

Knights

Knights were given land by a Baron in return for military service when demanded by the King. They also had to protect the Baron and his family, as well as the Manor, from attack. The Knights kept as much of the land as they wished for their own personal use and distributed the rest to villeins (serfs). Although not as rich as the Barons, Knights were quite wealthy.

Serfs / Peasants / Villeins

Serfs, sometimes known as villeins, were given land by Knights. They had to provide the Knight with free labour, food and service whenever it was demanded. Villeins had no rights. They were not allowed to leave the Manor and had to ask their Lord’s permission before they could marry. Villeins were poor.