First Last
March 4, 2014
L.A.
Dictation
St. Patrick’s Day
I. Introduction

II. St. Patrick
A. When he lived
B. Where he lived
C.
The hardships he faced
III. The History of St. Patrick’s Day
A. Why it is celebrated
B.
Modern celebrations
IV. Symbols and Traditions
A. Corned beef
B. The shamrock
C. Snakes
D. Green
V. Conclusion
Topic Sentences
Possible topic sentences to begin each body paragraph. Choose one for each paragraph.
I. Introduction:
(We will write this together in class.)
II. St. Patrick
As you can see, Saint Patrick was a real live human being.
First, we need to know that Saint Patrick was not fictional, but a real person.
As history tells us, Saint Patrick was a real person.
III. The History of St. Patrick’s Day
Next, we can see that Saint Patrick’s Day has a fascinating history.
Clearly, Saint Patrick’s Day boasts a tradition of celebration throughout history.
Moreover, the celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day has a long history.
IV. Symbols and Traditions
Finally, Saint Patrick’s Day brings up images we are all familiar with.
Lastly, there are some famous symbols that are associated with Saint Patrick’s day.
Additionally, Saint Patrick’s Day brings to mind some very specific symbols.
V. Conclusion:
(We will write this together in class.)
Name: _____________________
#__________
Language Arts: March 4-14
This project will have 2 parts: An outline (dictation test) and a typed essay (class work / homework).
1. Dictation Outline: The dictation for the next couple of weeks is an outline about St. Patrick’s
Day.
Points:
37 words
23 capitals
5 heading and number
14 outline formatting marks
19 punctuation marks
5 skip lines
9 indenting
3 margin
5 cursive form
120 total points
2. Essay: We will be reading about St. Patrick’s Day and writing an essay about it. We will be
writing the introduction paragraph and conclusion together in class, and you will be writing the body
paragraphs as independent work and homework. You also will be typing each paragraph for your final
paper. *All hand-written work should be done in cursive!* May the luck of the Irish be with you!
L.A. Schedule March 4-13 (This schedule might change a bit as we go along.)
Tuesday 3/4
1. Dictation Outline: Copy Dictation.
2. Dictation Outline: Underline red, green, and yellow flag words.
Wednesday 3/5
1. Essay: We created an Introduction Paragraph in class.
2. Essay: We read and highlighted information for section II
3. Essay: Pick a topic sentence from the section II list to begin your paragraph. Hand-write a full
paragraph (5 or more sentences) using the information you read about St. Patrick.
4. Dictation Outline: Study the title and section I
Thursday 3/6:
1. Essay: Type the introduction and next paragraph. This paper should have a heading with your
name, date, subject, and assignment. The title should be centered and a line skipped before you
begin the introduction paragraph.
2. Dictation Outline: Study Section II of the Dictation Outline—focus on red/yellow words
Weekend—If you are behind on any part of this assignment, you will need to work on it over the
weekend.
Monday 3/10:
1. Dictation Outline: Study Section III of the Dictation Outline—focus on red/yellow words
2. Essay: You will write the third paragraph (The History of St. Patrick’s Day) tonight. Pick a
topic sentence from the topic sentence list in section III. Write a full paragraph (5 or more
sentences) on a lined piece of paper to hand in tomorrow.
Tuesday 3/11:
1. Essay: Type the next paragraph onto your essay (The History of St. Patrick’s Day).
2. Dictation Outline: Study Section IV of the Dictation Outline about Parades, Symbols, Traditions
Wednesday 3/12:
2. Essay: Finish writing your fourth paragraph tonight.
3. Dictation Outline: Study Section IV of the outline
Thursday 3/13:
1. Dictation Outline: Study the Dictation Outline for the test tomorrow.
2. Essay: Type the fourth paragraph and conclusion (we wrote the conclusion in class).
3. Essay: Be sure that there are no mistakes throughout your paragraph. All five paragraphs, along
with a proper heading and title should be handed in tomorrow!!
Friday 3/14
1. Dictation Outline: Test
2. Essay: Typed essay is due (5 complete paragraphs)
Resources for research: http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day
(this website offers several short videos which can be used for your research)
II. Who Was Saint Patrick?
Saint Patrick is traditionally thought to have lived "between 432-461 A.D., but more recent scholarship moves the dates
up a bit." At the age of sixteen he was kidnapped from his native land of the Roman British Isles by a band pirates, and
sold into slavery in Ireland. Saint Patrick worked as a shepherd and turned to religion for solace. After six years of
slavery he escaped to the Irish coast and fled home to Britain.
While back in his homeland, Patrick decided to become a priest and then decided to return to Ireland after dreaming that
the voices of the Irish people were calling him to convert them to Christianity.
Saint Patrick, who lived during the fifth century, is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. Born in Roman
Britain, he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at the age of 16. He later escaped, but returned to Ireland and
was credited with bringing Christianity to its people. In the centuries following Patrick's death (believed to have been on
March 17, 461), the mythology surrounding his life became ever more ingrained in the Irish culture: Perhaps the most
well known legend is that he explained the Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) using the three leaves of a native
Irish clover, the shamrock.
III. History of St. Patrick’s Day
Since around the ninth or 10th century, people in Ireland have been observing the Roman Catholic feast day of St.
Patrick on March 17. Interestingly, however, the first parade held to honor St. Patrick's Day took place not in Ireland but
in the United States. On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City.
Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as with fellow Irishmen
serving in the English army.
St. Patrick's Day Around the World
Today, people of all backgrounds celebrate St. Patrick's Day, especially throughout the United States, Canada and
Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in many other
locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore and Russia.
In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day was traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish
laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national
campaign to use interest in St. Patrick's Day to drive tourism and showcase Ireland and Irish culture to the rest of the
world. Today, approximately 1 million people annually take part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day
celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions and fireworks shows.
IV. THE SYMBOLS OF ST. PATRICK’S DAY
A. Corned Beef
Each year, thousands of Irish Americans gather with their loved ones on St. Patrick's Day to share a "traditional" meal of
corned beef and cabbage.
Though cabbage has long been an Irish food, corned beef only began to be associated with St. Patrick's Day at the turn of
the century.
Irish immigrants living on New York City's Lower East Side substituted corned beef for their traditional dish of Irish
bacon to save money. They learned about the cheaper alternative from their Jewish neighbors.
B. The Shamrock
The shamrock, which was also called the "seamroy" by the Celts, was a sacred plant in ancient Ireland because it
symbolized the rebirth of spring. By the seventeenth century, the shamrock had become a symbol of emerging Irish
nationalism. As the English began to seize Irish land and make laws against the use of the Irish language and the practice
of Catholicism, many Irish began to wear the shamrock as a symbol of their pride in their heritage and their displeasure
with English rule.
C. Snakes
It has long been recounted that, during his mission in Ireland, St. Patrick once stood on a hilltop (which is now called
Croagh Patrick), and with only a wooden staff by his side, banished all the snakes from Ireland.
In fact, the island nation was never home to any snakes. The "banishing of the snakes" was really a metaphor for the St.
Patrick’s bringing Christianity to the people of Ireland. Within 200 years of Patrick's arrival, Ireland was completely
Christianized.
D. Green
So why do we all wear green?
Probably because you'll be pinched if you don't! School children started this tradition. Green is also the color of spring,
the shamrock, and is connected with hope and nature. Historically, green has been a color used in the flags of several
revolutionary groups in Ireland and as a result it appears in the official tri-color country flag, adopted in 1919.
In addition to that, Ireland is often called the "Emerald Isle" due to the lush natural greenery found on the island. Says
Prof. Mahony, "One of the things that strikes people all the time is how Ireland is incredibly green--it's very far north,
but it doesn't get frozen. When people say that 'Ireland has 40 shades of green,' they are right!"
St. Patrick's Day Quick Facts
Facts about St. Patrick's Day Holiday

St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron
saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide
celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a
provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their
jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green
ribbons in their hair.
Many cities have a St. Patrick’s Day parade. Dublin, the capital of Ireland, has a huge St.
Patrick’s Day festival from March 15-19, that features a parade, family carnivals, treasure hunt,
dance, theatre and more. In North American, parades are often held on the Sunday before March 17.
Some paint the yellow street lines green for the day! In Chicago, the Chicago River is dyed green
with a special dye that only lasts a few hours. There has been a St. Patrick’s Day parade in Boston,
Massachusetts since 1737. Montreal is home to Canada’s longest running St. Patrick’s Day parade,
which began in 1824.
Facts about Saint Patrick

St. Patrick was born in 385 AD somewhere along the west coast of Britain, possibly in the Welsh
town of Banwen. At age 16, he was captured and sold into slavery to a sheep farmer. He escaped
when he was 22 and spent the next 12 years in a monastery. In his 30s he returned to Ireland as a
Christian missionary. He died at Saul in 461 AD and is buried at Downpatrick.
Facts about the Irish

34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine
times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West
Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and
Dublin, Ohio.

The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also
known as “the Emerald Isle.”

The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and
orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.

The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word
“leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which
means “shoemaker.”
Facts about Clovers
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is
14!

One estimate suggests that there are about 10 000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky fourleaf clover.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for
faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.
