Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Due: Friday, October 2nd

1. Read in the Reader for College Writers: 
(Green and Blue) Pages 284-285- do questions 1 and 2.
                             Pages 286-288- prepare in your notes, questions 1-6 on page 288.
 
For the students with the (Light blue/castle edition)
 Pages 370-72- prepare in your notes, questions 1-6 on page 372.

Be ready to discuss the reading in class. This means you are talking. Not me.

Class today: Wednesday, September 30th. Thursday, October 1st.

1. You will need to click on the "writing reflection draft" under Writing Links. You need to make a COPY of this document for your drive. DO NOT WRITE ON THIS COPY. 
2. You will, then, read through your own paper and SCORE IT with the scoring rubric. Fill in your your "reflection document" with your scores and answer the questions it prompts. 
3. Next, you will need to switch you paper with a partner. Proofreaders will follow the following instruction:
Proofreaders: 
1. The first read: You will start with the LAST sentence. You will read ONE sentence at a time until you are reach the top of the paper. Yes, you are reading the paper BACKWARDS. In this reading you are ONLY looking for grammatical and spelling errors, and sentence clarity.  Is there subject-verb agreement? Pronoun-antecedent agreement? Sentence mechanics are correct? Diction choices accurate? If you find an error, make a comment in BLUE. Do not fix the error. 
2. The second read: You will start at the TOP of the paper. In this read  you will be looking solely at CONTENT. Does the paper have a CENTRAL THEME? Is the evidence logical and sufficient to the theme? Is the evidence relevant? Does the entire paper support the requirement of the prompt? Does it sufficiently address the purpose of writing? Mark errors or comments in RED. 
3. The third read: You will start at the TOP of the paper. In this read you will be looking solely at STYLE and STRUCTURE. Is the tone appropriate for the audience and the content addressed. Is the a narrative complete with BEGINNING.. MIDDLE... END?  Does each section have a topic sentence that supports the overall claim? Does the paper utilize NARRATIVE OUTLINE? Does is utilize active voice? Does the author utilize critical narrative/descriptive techniques? Do they use effective transitions? Between sentences? Between sections? Mark suggestions and comments in GREEN. 
4. The fourth read: You will be, again, starting at the TOP of the paper. In this read, you will be looking solely at FORMAT. Has the author appropriately addressed MLA style guide? Mark in PURPLE. 
4. In the fifth, and final, read. You will read through from top to bottom and read for the complete experience. Does the entire paper work together? Any last concerns? Mark in ORANGE. 
Pay specific attention to this proofing process. This is an excellent strategy to ensure that your final product achieves its intended purpose. 

AFTER you are done PROOFING. You will need to SCORE the paper with the specific narrative rubric. Please write the scores... PLUS the justification of their scores ON THEIR PAPER.  You will then give them an AVERAGE of the 7 scores.. (Add up all 7 and then divide that number BY 7. Round up.)
NEXT... When you get you paper BACK... you need to complete the "reflection" document..  fill in your partners scores of your paper.. do some comparisons.. 
LAST... Turn your score average in to HRH COLE. 

Monday, September 28, 2015

Class today: September 28th

1. You will be switching your neighborhood draft. As you go through your partner's writing you will be utilizing the narrative scoring guide and the narrative outline template.

2. You have a first draft of your first college application essay due in class on Wednesday/Thursday. This is 700 words maximum. Remember to have the word count at the bottom of the paper. We have reviewed multiple examples of descriptive and narrative writing. We have examined the techniques of narrative and descriptive writing.

You will find your first "it is real now" narrative paper assignment/college entrance essay here: College Entrance Essay Attempt #1

3. Before you begin, you need to pick 3 essay samples from the Johns Hopkins link of "Essays that Worked"
JHU- Essays that Worked

Read and annotate the example of stellar college admission essays from Johns Hopkins. Put these findings in your notes.

In 2013, JH had over 20,000 applications and accepted close to 3,500. The admissions committed chose this essay as outstanding and memorable. WHY? What did it do that makes it so effective and productive?

While you study these samples, you will at the bottom what college admission officers had to say about the successful essays. Use this information.


4. Outline your first narrative piece. The prompt is designed to really make you think. Go through the question thoroughly before you start writing. This prompt is designed to show the University of Pennsylvania who you are. How can you show them who you are and why you will fit at their university?

Though we have studied multiple narrative works, I have provided a narrative template to assist you in writing this paper. This is to be used a guiding structure, but place your focus on developing the narrative and descriptive techniques in telling your story.

I have also placed some handouts on transitions, dialogue, and effective verbs under "writing instruction".   Remember proper MLA heading and formatting.

Your FIRST DRAFT IS DUE on WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY (9/30, 10/1)

Remember your writing goals are: Believable. Effective. Interesting.



Friday, September 25, 2015

Due: Monday, September 28th

1. Read the first draft of "If at First You Do Not See" (241-243)
     Pay attention to the suggestions being made in the side margins.
     The second incarnation of this essay starts on 242, where you will see changes that were implemented. Look at the marginalia to see how improvements were made.

2. You will now read 246-249. Keeping in mind the descriptive techniques, but now considering the Narrative Structure and Components, study how Sullivan constructs the description of her neighborhood, but also presents an underlying THEME.  What is her point? How is her description utilized to support this major point?

3. You will now recreate Sullivan's initial assignment, which was to tell your readers what your neighborhood looks like.... BUT you need to keep in mind the major theme of a narrative work. What is the driving force in your description? What do you want to prove? When your reader is done reading, how would they summarize your neighborhood?  THEME. MESSAGE. THESIS.

Follow the outline structure that MUST be in your notes.... also be referencing the Narrative rubric. Does your writing include the necessary components.

Bring a hard copy of your draft to class with you on Monday...

ALSO... Monday is "TRAVEL DAY" for HOMECOMING....  I am shooting for 95% participation!! Do it, people!

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Due: Friday, September 25th

- Turn in your "Revolt of Mother" Socratic seminar reflection sheet.

1. Review the Personal Narrative Rubric. Look over the criteria on the far left column. This is what you will be targeting for in your writing. I WOULD... put these criterion in your NOTES!Personal Narrative RUBRIC

2. You need to study/review/soak in the following Personal Narrative Outline example. PUT THIS IN YOUR NOTES: Personal Narrative OUTLINE
** This will be the outline format that we will be utilizing for the first paper.

3. Read the following student sample of a personal narrative: Student Sample- Personal Narrative


REMEMBER- SENIOR PICTURES ARE ON FRIDAY. Dress appropriately. Again, this is NOT for you... this is for your parents. :)

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Due: September 23rd/24th

 Socratic Seminar Day- WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY

1. For the Socratic seminar, you will have thoroughly annotated the "Revolt of Mother" text. Remember you are identifying and evaluating the descriptive writing techniques... The HOW. The WHY!

2. We are studying this text as a sample of writing... we are not studying it for its overall literary/story purpose. We are looking at Freeman's writing style, so we can mirror the techniques as we work into our first paper. Study the techniques!!!

For FRIDAY:

1. Review the Personal Narrative Rubric. Look over the criteria on the far left column. This is what you will be targeting for in your writing. I WOULD... put these criterion in your NOTES!Personal Narrative RUBRIC

2. You need to study/review/soak in the following Personal Narrative Outline example. PUT THIS IN YOUR NOTES: Personal Narrative OUTLINE
** This will be the outline format that we will be utilizing for the first paper.

3. Read the following student sample of a personal narrative: Student Sample- Personal Narrative


REMEMBER- SENIOR PICTURES ARE ON FRIDAY. Dress appropriately. Again, this is NOT for you... this is for your parents. :)


Monday, September 21, 2015

Class today: September 21st

1. Descriptive and Narrative Quiz

2. Review of "Revolt of Mother"- Narrative techniques.

3. Read and take notes on the SOAPSTONE analysis process. The link is found here: SOAPSTONE analysis

4. Do another reading of "Revolt of Mother" using the SOAPSTONE process. You are still examining the narrative techniques, but you are adding a level of the HOW and WHY.

Be ready to discuss on Tuesday- (Socratic Seminar).

Friday, September 18, 2015

Class today: September 18th

I am home with a sick baby today. Therefore, the quiz that was scheduled for today will be on Monday. Instead, you will need to do the following:

1. You need to read "Revolt of Mother". 

2. In your notes, as you read, take notes on Freeman's use of narrative techniques and descriptive techniques. 

3. Also answer the following questions in your notes:
- what do you think is Freeman's prevalent message that she is trying to make in "Revolt"?
- what are some of the methods that Freeman employs to present this method?
- how does "Revolt" function as a narrative? 

4. Read and take notes on the following literary critique on "Revolt".


Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Due: Friday, September 18th

1. From your 6 original sentences where you emphasized effective verb usage/ active voice, you will be running through the 4 remaining descriptive writing techniques with the original sentence... each time you will be the new technique to the sentence before.

2. Once you have finished the last sentence, adding in the last technique, you will need to assess if you are writing with an objective tone or subject tone. If you feel your tone is subjective, you will need to rewrite the final product sentence to reflect an objective tone. If you feel the tone is objective, you will rewrite the final product to reflect a subjective tone.

3. Read pages 275-280 for class on Friday. Annotate and take notes. Quiz on Friday. Remember, quizzes will bring back material from Christmas Past ;)

Monday, September 14, 2015

Class today: Monday, September 14th

1. Review your notes on Active versus Passive (voice) construction.

Remember:
           a. Basic English Syntax falls into the pattern, Subject  + Predicate  + Object.
           b. Active voice constitutes the subject instituting the action of the predicate.
           c.  Passive voice constitutes the subject of the sentence receiving the action of the predicate.
           d. If you can add "by zombies" at the end of a sentence AND it makes sense... passive voice.
           e. There are distinct occurrences when passive voice is preferred:
                                                        When to use Active Voice... When to use Passive Voice
           f. If you noticed in the above link, ACTIVE voice is necessary in academic papers.
              We are looking to be able to have control over WHEN to use each type of voice.

2. Once you have reviewed the notes, you will need to take the following online quiz:

Active V. Passive Voice Quiz

You will see that it is a self-monitoring and self-checking quiz. Please try to rewrite the sentence FIRST. Then check if your response was on target. If you achieve the MAIN construction of the sentence, count it a win. There will be some superfluous words that may be in a different order. Keep track of the questions you get right, THE FIRST TIME. When you are done, send me an email with the amount you got correct out of 10. Do this before class on Tuesday.

3. Homework:

You will be writing a ONE sentence description of the following words. You will be focusing upon your use of ACTIVE VERBS with each sentence. ACTIVE VERBS.

- School
- Family
- Fall
- College
- Royals (baseball or English.. you choose)
- Friends

Friday, September 11, 2015

Class today: September 11th

1. We will be reviewing the examples of descriptive writing first in small groups.
2. Introduction to the first technique of descriptive writing: active verbs.
3. Review the two large lists of active verbs. (Under descriptive writing links)
4. Read and take notes on the getting rid of state of being verbs link.
5. Read and take notes on active versus passive voice link.
6. Do the active and passive voice exercises (to turn in Monday)

Due: Friday, September 11th

1. Examine the two reading selections provided in class for their usage of descriptive language. Remember, you are examining the experts for their ability to SHOW NOT TELL!


Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Due: Wednesday/Thursday, September 9th/10th

1. Finish the "Everything is a Quest" reading with annotations and convert annotations into Cornell notes.
2. Read: College Reader- Pages 229-232, 233-241. Annotate and notes.
3. Quiz over reading.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Due: Friday, September 4th

1. Review the Socratic Seminar Handout (See documents on right side). Look at expectations.. scoring guide, etc.
2. Continue with annotation of your text. Please bring it with you to class. Printing off your summer reading annotations may be handy.
3. Make sure that you have a minimum of 6 higher level questions, written by you. You must have these to participate.


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Class (Tuesday 9/1) and DUE: 9/3, 9/4

IN CLASS (Tuesday)
1. Make sure that you have combined your two summer reading docs in one new document. Save under your name and summer reading.
2. Log into Turnitin.com. Use your account from previous years. If you do not have one, create an account with your school email.

Sign in information-  The class number and password:

1st Hour: 10559905
bearcats

3rd Hour: 10559958
bearcats

6th Hour: 10559966
bearcats

HOMEWORK: 
1. Review and take notes on the "annotating a text" handout.
Annotating a Text Handout
2. Review and familiarize yourself with the "informational text features". This will be to your advantage with reading textbooks/essays/articles, etc.
Informational Text Features
3. Watch the "annotating a text" video. Take notes. This will illustrate the annotating process.
Annotating a Text Video

For FRIDAY: 
Be ready for Socratic seminar over The Prestige.