Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label writing. Show all posts
Friday, June 15, 2012
the Lit Circle Assessment
... is available as a Google Doc. Be sure to carefully follow all instructions!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Romeo and Juliet essay checklist
Name: Period:
My Romeo and Juliet essay…
_________ Is
written in the “literary present” tense
When writing about literature, make it seem as
though the story is taking place right now. For example [present tense verbs bolded]:
Romeo and
Juliet wish to be secretly married.
Friar Laurence, despite his advice to go slowly, agrees to marry them. He hopes
that the marriage will bring the feuding families together.
_________ Uses
formal words rather than slang / conversational style
“Romeo is
strongly attracted to Juliet,” is better than “Romeo wants to get with
Juliet.” “Love makes him act foolishly,” is better than “Love makes him go
bonkers.”
_________ Does
not use “you”
_________ Eliminates
unnecessary “I think” or “I feel” statements (they’re usually redundant)
_________ Smoothly
integrates quotes
“Fate is a
powerful force; as Romeo puts it, he is ‘Fortune’s fool,’” is better than, “Romeo
says, ‘O, I am Fortune’s fool!’
This quote is saying that…”
_________ Has
no noticeable errors in conventions (spelling, grammar, etc.)
_________ Is
shared with jvahomework@gmail.com
Author’s Note (explaining revisions,
improvements, etc.)
Friday, April 13, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
sample persuasive letter
Improve the letter at the following link. Carefully follow the instructions!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Friday, October 7, 2011
Journal #20
How did Mr. Anderson acquire his word-fu? (In other words, his vast knowledge of the English language.)
Tell the story.
We'll write for 7 minutes.
(This isn't a freewrite, so go ahead and make corrections / think about what you're doing!)
Tell the story.
We'll write for 7 minutes.
(This isn't a freewrite, so go ahead and make corrections / think about what you're doing!)
Journal #19
Freewrite and don't stop.
Don't correct. If you can't think of something, write, "I can't think of something," until you think of something. Then write that.
Don't stop!
(Remember: it's not a race. You don't have to write super-fast.)
WHEN FINISHED:
How did you do this time?
1. How many words? How many words per minute?
2. Did you write all the way through? Rate yourself from 1-10.
3. Briefly explain your rating. Compare your results with last time's. Was there a difference? If so, why? If not, why not?
Don't correct. If you can't think of something, write, "I can't think of something," until you think of something. Then write that.
Don't stop!
(Remember: it's not a race. You don't have to write super-fast.)
WHEN FINISHED:
How did you do this time?
1. How many words? How many words per minute?
2. Did you write all the way through? Rate yourself from 1-10.
3. Briefly explain your rating. Compare your results with last time's. Was there a difference? If so, why? If not, why not?
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Journal #18
Connecting reading and writing is one of the best ways to improve both!
Today's theme: connections!
You might...
* Make a personal connection to your book.
* Connect your book to something we've done / studied in class
* Connect your book to something in the wider world
Criteria:
Be specific. Give an example or two from the book.
A page. 100-200 words, but focus on quality over quantity.
DO NOT merely summarize your book!
Today's theme: connections!
You might...
* Make a personal connection to your book.
* Connect your book to something we've done / studied in class
* Connect your book to something in the wider world
Criteria:
Be specific. Give an example or two from the book.
A page. 100-200 words, but focus on quality over quantity.
DO NOT merely summarize your book!
250 words: the 3rd and 4th steps
1. Combine your 250-word pieces into one coherent essay.
2. When you've finished this step, see Mr. Anderson for further instructions.
3. Those instructions are...
2. When you've finished this step, see Mr. Anderson for further instructions.
3. Those instructions are...
1. Copy and paste your 500-word essay above your existing essay. (In other words, you'll have two copies in the same document.)
2. WITHOUT LOSING INFORMATION, revise for conciseness, by reducing your essay to 400-420 words.
The goal is "tight" prose.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
250 words more
Take ONE SENTENCE from your 250 words.
Write 250 words expounding on / expanding that sentence. Be as specific as you can!
Add it to your existing Google Document. Don't create a new one.
Write 250 words expounding on / expanding that sentence. Be as specific as you can!
Add it to your existing Google Document. Don't create a new one.
Monday, October 3, 2011
more thoughts about writing
1. Forget the five paragraph essay. It's what you write for a teacher. In this class, we write for authentic audiences, for authentic reasons--most emphatically NOT just for the teacher.
2. Write more about less. We don't want 3 short paragraphs about nothing--give us one great paragraph about something.
3. Be yourself. Write in your style, in your voice. Tell us about your life.
Most important, remember: Everything written is a work in progress.
2. Write more about less. We don't want 3 short paragraphs about nothing--give us one great paragraph about something.
3. Be yourself. Write in your style, in your voice. Tell us about your life.
Most important, remember: Everything written is a work in progress.
Journal #16
Reflect.
What will you do differently in your own writing? What can you take away from today's lesson?
What will you do differently in your own writing? What can you take away from today's lesson?
250 words about one word
1. Go to Google Docs
2. Write 250 words about one word
3. Title it "Firstname Lastname 250 words"
4. Share it with jvahomework AT gmail DOT com
5. Done!
2. Write 250 words about one word
3. Title it "Firstname Lastname 250 words"
4. Share it with jvahomework AT gmail DOT com
5. Done!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Journal #14
Freewrite and don't stop.
Don't correct. If you can't think of something, write, "I can't think of something," until you think of something. Then write that.
Don't stop!
(It's not a race. You don't have to write super-fast.)
When you're done, reflect:
1. How many words did you write?
2. Did you write all the way through? Rate yourself from 1-10.
3. Briefly explain your rating.
Don't correct. If you can't think of something, write, "I can't think of something," until you think of something. Then write that.
Don't stop!
(It's not a race. You don't have to write super-fast.)
When you're done, reflect:
1. How many words did you write?
2. Did you write all the way through? Rate yourself from 1-10.
3. Briefly explain your rating.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Journal #12
Predict Mr. Anderson's comments on your revised Alchemist essay.
1. One thing to improve (not including spelling / grammar / punctuation)
2. One thing done well
3. Another thing done well
1. One thing to improve (not including spelling / grammar / punctuation)
2. One thing done well
3. Another thing done well
Monday, September 26, 2011
an invitation to CHS's Open House
In a one-page letter (100-200 words or so), invite a family member to tomorrow's Open House.
Include:
* The time
* The location
* The activities / agenda
* The reasons you want them to attend
* Any other important information
How you phrase the letter is up to you.
To find relevant info, sign into Skyward, check your "Message Center," go to "expired" messages, and see the announcement from Mr. Broome!
BEFORE PRINTING, ensure that someone else in the class has given you feedback, especially for conventions (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.). We want this to be a perfect letter.
At the bottom of the letter, provide a space for the family member to respond and sign the letter:
"I can / can't attend the Open House. ___________ "
Return the signed letter tomorrow.
Include:
* The time
* The location
* The activities / agenda
* The reasons you want them to attend
* Any other important information
How you phrase the letter is up to you.
To find relevant info, sign into Skyward, check your "Message Center," go to "expired" messages, and see the announcement from Mr. Broome!
BEFORE PRINTING, ensure that someone else in the class has given you feedback, especially for conventions (grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.). We want this to be a perfect letter.
At the bottom of the letter, provide a space for the family member to respond and sign the letter:
"I can / can't attend the Open House. ___________ "
Return the signed letter tomorrow.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
second homework assignment: revising the Alchemist essay
Using the principles we discussed in class, comment on / mark up your Alchemist essay, and then revise it.
In a packet, you'll turn in...
1. The principles of effective feedback (handed out Thurs)
2. Your practice with the sample paper (completed Thurs)
3. Your original Alchemist essay
4. Your revised Alchemist essay
5. An author's statement explaining and justifying the changes (100-150 words)
Due Tuesday, Sept. 27th
In a packet, you'll turn in...
1. The principles of effective feedback (handed out Thurs)
2. Your practice with the sample paper (completed Thurs)
3. Your original Alchemist essay
4. Your revised Alchemist essay
5. An author's statement explaining and justifying the changes (100-150 words)
Due Tuesday, Sept. 27th
Journal #10
Write about what you can take away from today's lesson. Something you learned. Something you might do differently going forward. Something interesting.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
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