Writing 2: October 2023

Thursday, October 26, 2023

Writing 2 Class Notes–WEEK 9 (October 29)

It was good to see the students again after our Fall Break. I hope they all had a chance to relax a bit. They came back and were ready to learn!

Quick Write

Today our focus was on the dialogue. We looked at an excerpt of dialogue from Ender’s Game and pulled out some Craft Moves we noticed the writer used. Some of those included indenting when a new speaker speaks, showing rather than telling by using expressive dialogue tags along with having the characters doing something while they are dialoguing. Last, we noticed that sometimes the writer used dialogue tags and sometimes he didn’t. We decided it made the text more “readable”.

After noting those moves in our Craft Moves chart, I gave them a scenario and students had a chance to write some snappy dialogue keeping those craft moves in mind.

Homework Check

We did a brief check in on homework. It can be challenging to have several assignments going at once–part of being a student in this style of classroom–and also as they move ahead academically. I sent out grade reports yesterday which is helpful for students to use to keep track of their progress.

Literature

We took a deep dive into discussing our novel, Peace Like A River today using a strategy called “Hexagonal Thinking.” After choosing groups, students received a packet of blank hexagons and others that had quotes and themes from the book. A hexagon has six sides, therefore each term or concept CAN connect to up to six others. Using critical thinking, students decided where the terms best fit in the web of hexagons provided. The goal is to move each hexagon into the position where it BEST fits within the overall web. They could connect any given term to several others, being intentional with the placement.

They recorded three of their most powerful connections on a worksheet and shared their best one at the close of the class.

There were many moving parts–and students found there was no one right answer–as long as they could justify their connection. Some students found this invigorating, and some found it a challenging stretch to make these connections. I think they all exercised some critical thinking and had a good time reviewing what they have read in the novel so far.

Writing

Essay 3 Rough Draft and Prewrite were due today. The homework is to have a friend or family member complete a Peer Review. It is due next week.The final is due November 9.

Grammar

No grammar discussion this week! Next week we will cover Participles.

Homework

Essay 3 Rough Draft

Essay 3 Prewrite

Essay 3 Peer Editing Worksheet

Links for This Week

Quick Write (10/26)

Craft Moves Chart

Friday, October 13, 2023

Writing 2 Class Notes--Week 8 (October 12)

Hi All!

I hope the overcast, autumnal weather is calling you to cozy up with a good book over our break this week. After a very scientific poll, we all admitted to being very ready for Fall Break!

Quick Write

We started out with the Craft Move of exercising our Writer’s Voice.

The scenario: a couple is breaking up in a coffee shop. The assignment is to narrate the moment from the point of view of the barista.

The barista might be gossipy, cynical, or hopelessly romantic.

Do it in the voice of a sportscaster.

They had fun with this one!

Writing

One reason for being SO ready for a break is that students have worked very hard to meet their deadlines–and this week was a big one. I appreciate the effort put forth and am proud of them! This week, Essay 1 & 2 Final Drafts were due along with Endnotes. The Peer Review worksheet and Pre-write for each essay (if they haven’t turned those in earlier) were also due today. I will be grading that work over the break.

As is our practice in Writing class, once we turn in one essay, we begin the next. Essay # 3 is entitled “A Tale of Two ____________”--a compare and contrast essay. Though we did not read the mentor text by Rick Reilly together, it is posted in our Class Work on GC. We did spend some time brainstorming, sharing topic ideas and getting started on our Prewrite. There was some excitement over the topic! The Rough Draft and Prewrite are both due next class (Oct. 28) and we will do a Peer Review in class.

Grammar

We’re continuing with a unit on phrases in sentences. Students have reviewed preposition phrases and we covered gerund phrases last week. For this week, students worked on two worksheets dealing with infinitives. Infinitive phrases combine the word “to” with a verb. (For example, to sing, to jump, to swim, etc.) Infinitive phrases can function as nouns, adjectives or adverbs. These phrases can also have adjectives or direct objects. One example from the worksheet had an infinitive phrase that was functioning as a noun, and in the sentence it was the direct object. No one said grammar was easy!! (See posted information/videos for more teaching on infinitive phrases if more reinforcement is needed). If they didn’t turn them in, the corrected worksheets are due next class period.

Literature

This week, the Peace Like A River project was introduced. Students will choose a project from the list to present in a few weeks. Over break, students should post an answer to the question on Google Classroom about their project choice. Once approved, work can begin. Presentations will be 11/30 & 12/7. Keep reading your books and complete the Quiz over chapters 15-17 on Google Classroom.

I hope this is a restful AND productive break for you, dear students!

Blessings,

Mrs. G

Homework

About Essay 3 with Mentor Text

Pre-Write Essay 3

Rough Draft Essay 3

Infinitives Practice–1

Infinities Practice-2

Read Peace Like a River Ch. 15-17

Ch. 15-17 Quiz

Peace Like A River Project

Peace Like A River Project Proposal Question

Friday, October 6, 2023

Writing 2 Class Notes--Week 7 (October 5)

Greetings All!

What a beautiful day! The beautiful autumnal colors are reminding me of God’s goodness towards us–he is SO faithful! Yes–we have a good inheritance in Him (Psalm 16:6).

In that vein, we started today off by reframing any negative thinking we might have by replacing those thoughts with those of gratefulness. I asked students to list three things they are grateful for before looking at some funny pictures I posted. The instructions were to come up with something creative to write in response as their QuickWrite today. Not surprisingly, they generated some inventive writing.

We spent the bulk of our time in class on Grammar today. Since we didn’t get the Misplaced Modifiers lesson last week, we double dipped on grammar today by learning about gerunds. It’s our first lesson in the phrases unit. After some teaching on both concepts, students were given time to work on their worksheets. I have posted some additional teaching videos if more reinforcement is needed. The two worksheets on modifiers and the two worksheets on gerunds are due next week. Make sure to correct them before turning them in!

Switching gears, we discussed the deadlines for Writing. Next week, the Final drafts for Essays 1 & 2 are due. Along with submitting their Final Drafts, students need to submit all of their process pieces: Pre-Write Peer Review & Endnotes for each essay. I handed out one copy of the Endnotes worksheet so we could read it together to make sure expectations are understood. I explained that the Endnotes are an opportunity for them to reflect on their writing and there is real value in this “meta-cognition” exercise. Reflecting on their own writing encourages ownership and helps students think beyond the “product.” That is where the real magic is.

Though we didn’t have time to read aloud today, students are to keep reading Peace Like a River at home (Chs. 13 & 14) and complete a 3 Response Worksheet.

Homework

Misplaced Modifiers 1

Misplaced Modifiers 2