WELCOME TO COMP. 1

Composition I focuses on improving student writing skills.

This year we will be exploring narrative, informative, descriptive, and persuasive writing.

Students will become familiar with standards and terminology for the PSSA.

Every Friday we will part from formal writing and jump into our journals.

All work will be graded. Students MUST meet deadlines. Late work will not be accepted.
All work must be completed. Partial essays, projects and journals will receive a zero.

Monday, May 7 - Friday, May 11

Monday-Wednesday
1. Students will finalize their research projects.
2. All papers must be proofed by 3 students.

Thursday
1. Turn in your research paper

Order:
A. Cover page
B. Outline
C. Final Draft
D. Works Cited Page
E. Bibliography Page
F. Proofed rough draft
G. Notes

(All papers must be bound !)

Friday- Journal:

2 pages:
Describe a perfect word

or

Writer's Choice

Research Paper

Weekly Plan

Monday- Turn in outlines

1. Individual conference to discuss outline

Tuesday - Thursday
1. Continue to record notes
2. Begin to write rough drafts

Friday- Journal Day and NOTEBOOK CHECK

Journal Topic:

Write 1-10 lines from your favorite song. (Make a bibliography entry for the song/ artist)

Discuss how these lines have an impact on your life, how they inspire you or how they motivate you.

or

Write two pages on the topic of your choice

Monday - Thursday (4/23-4/26)

Monday and Tuesday:
Students will go to the library to collect research. (Tangible!!!!)

Wednesday and Thursday:
Continue working on your research

Create a working outline
-Turn it in for 25 points

Friday: Journal Day

Friday, 4/20/07
Journal Day

Something is rotten in your refrigerator. Write a scene in which the condiments residing in the door shelves plot to take over the prime real estate on the top shelf, front and center. Will milk be spilled? (And who'll be crying?)

or

Write two pages on the topic of your choice

We will meet in the library on Monday and Tuesday to continue our research project.

Have a safe weekend!!

Monday, April 16

Using the Power Library

1. Students will report to the library for both classes

2. Students will be introduced to different search engines

3. With the help of Mrs. Christian and Miss Hoffman, students will begin to research their projects

Power Library Link:

http://www.powerlibrary.org/Interface/POWER.asp?ID=PL4142

Nettrekker
Nettrekker.com


Students will do preliminary research on a subject of their choice. (They must use
Nettrekker: Username: Berwickhs Password: Library
Power Library
An Official Website
Tangible sources
(NO random Google searches will be accepted for research. Also, any information from Wikipedia will not be accepted.)

Requirements:
Research paper requirements
~Must be 2-21/2 pages long
~Times New Roman 12pt font, double space
~Do not adjust the margins of the page
~The paper will follow the five paragraph format, but will be more than five paragraphs long
~Must create an outline
~Have 4 sources minimum cited in the paper, that includes direct quotations, partial quotations, and paraphrased material
~1 of the sources must be tangible (books, magazines, etc.)
~Must take notes on 8 sources, 2 must be tangible
~All of the 8 sources will be on the bibliography page. The 5 used in the paper will be on the works cited page
~Option of creating note cards or note book

Once the research is completed, students will organize their notes, write a profile article and prepare for an oral presentation on their subject.

Visual: (must include one)
PowerPoint
Collage
Creative visuals


1.4.11B Write complex informational pieces
1.5.11A Write with a sharp, distinct focus

Notebook Check!! (10 pts.)

1. Begin to take notes on your topic
-Remember:
-Record all bibliography information on a single page. (use the following link to create your entry:
www.noodletools.com

-Take notes: Be sure to place quotation marks around direct and partial quotes
-Remember to write down all page numbers next to your notes

Tomorrow is Journal Day

Monday: Library (Miss Hoffman will introduce research tools)
Tues.- Thurs. Research in library

1.4.11B Write complex informational pieces

MLA IN-TEXT CITATIONS:

http://www.dianahacker.com/resdoc/p04_c08_s1.html

Sample Paper:
http://dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf

Monday, April 10, 2007

Reading about a selected topic and taking notes

GOAL: Students will read about their selected topic to assure that it is suitable for our research project

-Students should spend the entire class READING about their topic.
-Students may record a list of links that may prove useful to their project
**Students will use proper methods to record notes (direct quotes, paraphrased material and partial
quotes)
-Students will record bibliography entries


**Students must have a basic knowledge of their topics before they begin their research

1.2.11B Use and understand a variety of media and evaluate the quality of material produced

NO JOURNAL TODAY!!

1. All students should spend the period researching their topic. Please take notes and keep track of websites. YOU MAY NOT USE WIKIPEDIA!!!!!

Have a wonderful and safe holiday!!
Mrs. C

Monday, 4/2 and Tuesday, 4/3 - research

1 Using the following link, we will explore the elements of a research paper.

http://www.bucknell.edu/Documents/ISR/mla.pdf

http://dianahacker.com/pdfs/Hacker-Daly-MLA.pdf

2. We will discuss the following:
-the purpose of citing within a paper
-Direct quotation and paraphrased work
-The WORKS CITED AND BIB. PAGE
-The form of a research paper
-Where to find information
-Citing information

Links to electronic citing:

http://www.noodletools.com/

http://www.citationmachine.net/

Question/ Answer link:
http://mtsu32.mtsu.edu:11178/171/tips.htm

1.4.11B Write complex informational pieces
1.5.11A Write with a sharp, distinct focus

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

1.Select a topic for the research project

2.Organize Subtopics

Today, each group will assign the subtopics to the group members


Discuss note taking and citing

1.4.11B Write complex informational pieces
1.2.11B Use and understand a variety of media and evaluate the quality of material produced

Journal Day


It's 3 a.m. and your nightly slumber was interrupted by a screeching sound. The noise is coming from your closet. What can it be? Scared as you are, you still decide to take a peek. Describe what you find.

You may write your journal using the prompt

or

Write two pages on the topic of your choice

Have a safe weekend!!

3/13-3/15
1. Over the next two days, we will take those timed prompts from Monday and finish them.
2. Please take your time, add detail, organize and proof

3/15- Peer edit
Have your paper proofed by 5 classmates. Use the Persuasive rubric from the PSSA Link.

PSSA Link:http://www.pde.state.pa.us/a_and_t/lib/a_and_t/Gr11WritingSamp.pdf

go to page 25

Monday, 3/12
Timed Prompt

-Writing a persuasive essay

1. Teacher read PSSA instructions to the class.
2. Students wrote for 30 minutes on the following prompt:

Write a letter convincing the administration to change to our current cafeteria system. (i.e. incorporate a fast food restaurant into our cafeteria, revamp the current lunch system, or allow students to leave school during lunch time

*State your opinion clearly
*Support your opinion with specific details
*Present your ideas clearly and logically
*Use words and well-constructed sentences
*Correct any errors in spelling, punctuation and capitalization


HINT:
Allow 4-5 minutes of the session to set your focus. This will help you leave enough time to develop your content and organize your ideas during the 30 minute session

Because a clear focus will help you complete the other stages more easily and successfully, you should work carefully

Monday, 3/5/07
Adjectives : Chapter 18 Writing and Grammar

Read page 378 and 380

-Complete exercise 1 page 380
-Create 15 sentences containing adjectives
-Underline the adjective and draw an arrow to the word they modify.
- Complete exercise 2 on page 382
- Review all answers from today's work

Tuesday, 3/6/07
Read the sections:
Articles: 382
- Complete Exercise 4 on page 383
Nouns Used as Adjectives: 383
-Complete Exercises 5 and 6 Page 384
Proper and Compound Adjectives: pages 384-85
-complete Exercise 7 page 385

Wednesday, 3/7/07
Read the following sections:
Pronouns Used as Adjectives: Page 386- 387
-Complete Exercise 10 on page 387

-Complete: The Section Review pg 389
Exercises 11, 12,13,14, and 15
(Read and peer grade in class)
-This will be graded by students and entered into the gradebook

Thursday, 3/8
Take the Diagnostic Test on Page 379
Complete SKill Check A and SkillCheck B - To be turned in for a quiz grade.

Wednesday, Feb. 14 (Happy Valentine's Day)
Free Writing Journal Day

-Students will write a two page journal on the topic of their choice.

-Make sure each journal entry is dated.

Students will rewrite their 5 paragraph INFORMATIVE ESSAY
(Students will make revisions discussed during the individual teacher conference)

All Papers are due on Tuesday, 2/13

2/6-2/8

Individual Conferences

Students will review their 5 Paragraph, Informative Essay with the teacher.

-Students will restructure and evaluate their essays

-Students will begin to rewrite after the conference

REVIEW THE THREE INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPHS.

Students should check their format as it is reviewed in class. Time will be given in class to complete revisions.

1. Students should create a full outline for the 5-paragraph essay on one of the three paragraph topics
2. Once the outlines are completed, students should begin to write their essay

Writing an Informational Essay
Informational Writing: Material through which an author shares ideas, facts, or instructions by helping the reader to compare familiar items with items that are not familiar.

-Informational Writing is used in completing school projects, applying for and carrying out the duties of a job, and performing personal communications.

Types of Informational Writing include: Letters, biographies, definitions of simple abstract ideas, summaries, instructions or directions, description of a method or process, explanation of causes and effects, analysis of facts or ideas, comparisons of facts and ideas, expression of opinion through critique or review.

1.5.11 d WRITE WITH A COMMAND OF THE STYLISTIC ASPECTS OF COMPOSITION
1.5.11c WRITE WITH CONTROLLED ORGANIZATION
1.5.11a WRITE WITH A SHARP , DISTINCT FOCUS
1.5.11 b WRITE USING WELL-DEVELOPED CONTENT APPROPRIATE FOR THE TOPIC