December 13

Homework

• Drafts of expository, narrative, and descriptive essays (if necessary)
• 2nd or 3rd Draft of expository OR narrative OR descriptive essay (if necessary)
• Informal essay draft (if necessary)

Have a merry Christmas!  See you back in class on January 3!

December 6

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting ("You are the worst hero ever!")
• Story draft (if necessary)
• Tut Expository (if necessary)
• Tut Narrative (if necessary)
• Tut Descriptive (if necessary)
• 2nd or 3rd draft of Expository OR Narrative OR Descriptive essay
• Informal essay draft

November 29

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting:  Great!  Now I'm stuck.
• Final Story Draft (If necessary)
• King Tut Expository Draft 1 (If necessary)
• King Tut Narrative Draft 1 (If necessary)
• King Tut Descriptive Draft 1 (If necessary)
• Choose one King Tut essay for a 2nd draft (Choose either your expository, narrative, or descriptive essay for a second draft.)
• Informal Personal Essay (Only if you have completed everything else!)

November 15

Homework

• Any late or missing work. (You can check the gradebook online. Let me know if I need to resend your link!)
• Story Draft 2 or 3
• Expository Essay
• Narrative Essay
• Descriptive Essay

November 8

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (What would you do with an empty town?)
• Create a list of 10 quality adjectives
• Other work in this order 
• Story draft (2nd or Final)
• King Tut expository essay
• King Tut narrative essay
• King Tut descriptive essay

November 1

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (There was a flash of shiny red ribbon.)
• Outline for King Tut descriptive essay
• Other work in this order
• Story draft (2nd or 3rd)
• Tut expository draft (only a rough draft has been assigned)
• Tut narrative draft (only a rough draft has been assigned)

October 25

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (NASA receives a mysterious message from an astronaut that got separated from his spacecraft and flew off into space twenty years earlier.  He says he's at the edge of the universe.)
• Like last week there are three assignments you could be working on depending upon where you are in the process of each (a hazard of only meeting once a week :-) ).  Work on them in the order listed below.  If you do not have a particular assignment because I am editing it this week, skip that assignment and go on to the next.
• Story draft --- this is the story that is based on the picture you were given in class
• King Tut Expository essay
• King Tut Narrative essay:  The essay draft will be due November 1.

October 18

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (The creatures had always been there.  it just took her a few years to realize she was the only one who could see them.)
• Currently, there are three assignments you could be working on depending upon where you are in the process of each (a hazard of only meeting once a week :-) ).  Work on them in the order listed below.  If you do not have a particular assignment because I am editing it this week, skip that assignment and go on to the next.
• Story draft --- this is the story that is based on the picture you were given in class
• King Tut Expository essay
• King Tut Narrative essay:  We began the outline in class.  The essay draft will be due November 1.

October 11

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting ("I wouldn't do that if I was you. Dwarfs don't like McDonald's.)
• Second draft of story
• King Tut essay---first or second draft (focus on your introductory paragraph.)

October 4

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (The narrator was running late and just showed up to a story already in progress.  S/he doesn't know who the heroes and villains are or even what genre the story is.)
• Finish Expository Essay (This week we reviewed topic and concluding sentences and introductory and concluding paragraphs.) 

September 27

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (We thought the employees in costume at the amusement park were only pretending.  We were wrong.)
• Complete an outline for an expository essay on the Discovery of Tutankhamun's Tomb.  You do not need to use any other resources than the one I gave you.
• You may begin composing your expository essay.

September 20

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (Green mist swirled inside the only bottle among the empty jars.  The peeling label read, "Do not touch!")
• Finish your flashback story.  Remember to take some time to "explode" important moments in your story!

September 13

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting * (The last message from the starship was, "Let us drift.  It's for your own good."
• Use the outlines you completed for homework last week to create paragraphs.  Here's an example.
• Begin composing the story based on your picture.  We will be experimenting with flashbacks in this story.  You will want to begin your story at a moment of action, then you will use a flashback to explain what happened leading up to this event.  Once you come to the moment you have already described you will continue the story to the end.
• Make sure you use clear signal words to indicate that you have traveled back in time
• Use the past perfect tense (had + verb) in your flashback to indicate that that this part of the story was complete before your opening scene.
• Check out the links below if you need to review flashbacks or past perfect verb tense!

Flashbacks
Past Perfect Information 

*Complete Freewriting after all other assigned writing is complete.

September 7

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting* (Take out the book closest to you.  Open to page 55.  The second sentence on the page is your writing prompt.)
• Pre-write/Brainstorm your story.
• Look closely at the picture.**  What is actually happening?
• Then think about what caused this scenario.
• Next think about how this scenario ended.
• Your pre-writing/Brainstorming does not need to be in complete sentences, nor does it need to be in an outline.  This is just a record of thoughts you might use.

* Complete Freewriting only after you have finished the rest of your assigned writing.

**  If you were not in class, you can choose a picture from here.

August 30

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (It was then that I knew peanut butter was the solution to all my problems.) *
• Write for 100 minutes on any topic in any form.  (If you're stuck, you may use the Freewriting prompt above!)

*Complete Freewriting after your writing assignment if you still need something to work on to complete your 100 Writing Minutes.

April 26

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Any late or missing work (Contact me if you have questions about what might be late or missing.)
• Persuasive Essay (Note: Our last class will be May 17th.  Please have the rough draft of your essay turned in no later than May 10th.  The earlier you finish your rough draft, the earlier you will finish your writing work for the year. :-) )

Since only one of you was around today for writing class, there is no new instruction and therefore no video of the class.  Use your time wisely to complete your rough draft.  We will be discussing in-text citations and creating a Notes page next week.

April 12

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (A ball of fire streaked through the morning sky.  "Alert the dwarfs at once!")
• Any previous assignments (Compare & Contrast drafts, Fairy Tale drafts) if necessary.
• Finish researching your persuasive topic, create an outline, and begin your rough draft if you have time.

Note:  We will be using the Chicago Style to cite our sources.  Be sure to keep track of your sources in order for you to create your bibliography and notes pages.  The links to your right will bring you to the Purdue OWL where you can find examples and more citation information.

April 5

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (A senile old superhero goes out to fight crime.  None of the younger heroes respect him anymore, but all of the villains have a soft spot for him.)
• Writing.  We are at that time of year where everyone is working on something slightly different.  Here is a list of the writing assignments you may need to do in order.  If you're not sure which assignments are for you, give me a call, email, text, Facebook message, Marco Polo, Snapchat, or whatever works best for you!
• Expository Essay Draft (If necessary)
• Compare & Contrast Draft (if necessary)
• Story Draft (If necessary)
• Persuasive Essay:  Continue gathering sources and compiling your research.  Remember that you should have a list of positive arguments already (why your opinion is right).  Now you should add some counterarguments (why your opponent is wrong) like we discussed in class this week.  Come to class with all your arguments this week; we will be organizing your outlines on Thursday and getting ready to begin writing!

Need a reminder of what we discussed in class?  Check out this link.

March 29

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (He had lived in this house all his life, but now he was standing in a hallway he'd never seen before.)
• Compare & Contrast essay draft (IF necessary)
• Story Draft (IF I am editing your draft this week or you have finished your final draft, this does not pertain to you.)
• Continue gathering sources for your persuasive essay.
• Develop 3-5 positive arguments in favor of your opinion. These are reasons why your opinion is correct.

March 22

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting
• Final Draft of Compare and Contrast Essay (Many of you have completed this)
• Final Draft of Expository Essay (Most of you have completed this)
• 2nd or 3rd Story draft
• Begin finding sources for your persuasive essay

So, how do I know what is a good source?

·         Look at the author.  Is the author of the book or article a recognized expert in his field?  By what institution are they employed?  (A Harvard professor is a better source than a teacher at a community college.)  If you don’t know off hand, the author’s biographical information  on the back cover, back flap or at the end of the article is helpful!)

·         Look at the publisher.  Is it published by a recognized academic institution?  Oxford University Press or Eardmans are usually a better choice than, say, We Publish Anything Press.

·         Look at the date.  This is especially important for scientific information.  Newer secondary sources are often considered more accurate than older ones.

What about internet sources?

                The same criteria for books applies to internet sources as well.  However, keep in mind…

·         The website.  Aunt Murial’s Homepage is a less credible source than the Smithsonian Institute’s Website.

·         The URL ending.  A .com site can be any old site.  An.edu site is an educational (usually a college or university) site.  If you don’t know anything else about the credibility of the host of the site, you can more safely guess that an educational site is a good source!

March 8

Homework

• Writing Minutes (There is a link to the file to your right.)
• Compare & Contrast draft (if necessary)
• Story Draft (I will be returning the drafts I received last week via email today in order for you to work on them this week.)
• Brainstorm 2 or 3 possible topics for a persuasive paper.  These topics should have opposing viewpoints.  We will be discussing forming opinions on topics in depth next class, but if you have a possible idea or two about what you want to write already in mind, the next steps will be much easier!

March 1

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (You live alone.  One day you come home and find a sword and an old, leather-bound book on your coffee table.)
• 2nd or 3rd draft of Compare & Contrast essay
• Write a 2 or 3 paragraph example of propaganda.  Have fun with it! 
• Propaganda can support something either true or false
• Propaganda relies on an unsupported emotional response 
• Or propaganda will be supported by demonstrably false data

In class we watched two examples of propaganda.  The first example here, is American propaganda, which you probably agreed with, but it was based on emotions only.  The second example here, is German propaganda which is based on false data.  (*Note: Parental controls may not let you see the second video seeing as it IS Nazi propaganda.  Don't worry, it's not inappropriate; as a matter of fact, it is quite boring: 2 minutes of merry shoemakers.) 

This week's weather report shows the potential for ANOTHER storm on Thursday.  If SEEDS is canceled this week, you do not get a week off.  Instead check the website and your email for next week's assignment and any information you may need to complete it.  I will post the class's assignment here, and email individuals as necessary.

February 15

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (Everything was covered in ice---even the people.)
• 2nd or 3rd draft of Compare and Contrast Essay (I may have your draft to edit.  If so, you can't complete this assignment this week.)
• We peer-edited your stories in class.  Take the suggestions and evaluate them.  Use the feedback (or not) to complete the first draft of your fairy tale.

February 8

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Try to finish a rough draft of your Fairy Tale, but even if it's not quite finished, bring what you have written to class next week.  Your character chart should help you create a memorable character different from the stock characters in a fairy tale.  Remember to use dialogue in at least one place!

Need to review what we have discussed in class?  Check this out!

February 1

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting ("Why are you here?"  "I promise I won't cause trouble this time."
• Expository Essay final draft (if necessary)
• Compare & Contrast Essay second draft (if necessary)
• Work on your character worksheet
• Continue working on your fractured fairy tale

January 25

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (You have the ability to freeze time.  When you do, everyone freezes too.  One day you freeze time, but when you look out your window, you see someone walking around.)
• Expository Essay Final Draft (if necessary)
• Compare & Contrast Essay
• Begin work on your Fractured Fairy Tale

January 18

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (Write about what you saw in the water.)
• Final Draft of Expository Essay (if necessary)
• Second Compare & Contrast Essay
• "The Three Little Pigs" in dialogue (IF you have time)

January 11

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (Write about a black horse, a red truck, and an old man.)
• Begin work on your 2nd Compare and Contrast essay
• Read Dialogue worksheet

January 4

Due to the impending storm, there will be no class tomorrow, January 4.  Please use your time this week to work on any late or missing work!

See you all on the 11th!