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. 

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.

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!

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. :)

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. :)

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).

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". 

http://wilkinsfreeman.info/Short/RevoltOfMotherNEN.htm 

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".

http://digitalcommons.colby.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2798&context=cq