We are going to the computer lab Wednesday.

When you revise an essay, you will use all the writing skills we have learned so far this year. It is best if you read Ms. Avery’s notes. In early essays, she may have written “You have many incomplete sentences” or “Use spell check.”

In some cases, we did not learn a writing skill, i.e. the hook, until mid-semester. You may choose a beginning-semester essay so that you can write a complete thesis and organize topic paragraphs. 

The chart below is a list of skills we have learned, and you may use this as a guide to writing a complete essay.

	Fiction	Nonfiction
Capitalization, Punctuation  & Spelling	Capitalize first letter of every sentence Capitalize proper nouns Spell numbers less than 100 Use clear end marks Correct quotation marks for dialogue	Capitalize first letter of every sentence Capitalize proper nouns Spell numbers less than 100 Use clear end marks Correct quotation marks and parentheses for citations
Word Choice	Limit “to be” verbs Descriptive actions Use imagery Dialogue Complete (varied) sentences, limit 2 clauses	Limit “to be” verbs Complete (varied) sentences, limit 2 clauses Includes variety of subordinate conjunctions and advanced vocabulary
Introduction	Hook is an action or character’s question that grabs the reader’s attention	Hook (Definition, Imagine statement, Famous Quote) Thesis Statement
Supporting Details	Clear beginning, middle, end Character and setting details match the main plot	Clear topics Exact examples Makes connections to the thesis

Choose ONE of the first semester writing assignments to revise and improve an essay.

01 Letter about a summer movie (Persuasive)

02 Favorite Activity, Interesting/Ridiculous Person, I Admire or When I Grow Up (Expository)

03 First Day of School (Personal Narrative)

04 Rhapsody in Blue (Narrative)

05 Caring Person (Expository)

06 Mystery Character (Response to Literature)

Reconstruction Poem

You will compose one theme and arrange ten quotations into a poem. I am evaluating your ability to match quotations from multiple texts to one theme. I am also evaluating your ability to use correct citation punctuation.

Design a poster that follows this outline.

Theme Sentence “Quotation 1” (Citation) “Quotation 2” (Citation) “Quotation 3” (Citation) “Quotation 4” (Citation) “Quotation 5” (Citation) “Quotation 6” (Citation) “Quotation 7” (Citation) “Quotation 8” (Citation) “Quotation 9” (Citation) “Quotation 10” (Citation) First Name Last Name

Remember the theme is a sentence about how these quotations make sense together.

Finish Quotation Marks Notes

Part 2 Citation

In a response to literature or research project, avoid plagiarism by using quotation marks for references.

Rule #7 When a quotation consists of more than one sentence, put quotation marks only at the beginning and the end of the whole quotation. However, consider revising if you are copying more than three sentences at a time.

Rule #8 When quoting two lines of poetry, use a slash to separate the first line from the second.

Example: Bess fears for the Highwayman’s safety and thinks “the hours crawled by like years, / Till, now, on the stroke of midnight, / Cold, on the stroke of midnight” because she must warn him.

Rule #9 Refer to the author and page number at the end of a direct quotation.

Example: Vera Claythorne appears as a strong female character because “her glance and voice had the slight suggestion of command in it that comes from having occupied a position of authority” (Christie 20).

Example: When I read “her glance and voice had the slight suggestion of command” (Christie 20), Vera Claythorne appears a strong female character.

Reconstruction Poem

Consider the narrator’s conclusion at the end of The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street. Borrow ten lines from any of the civil rights literature and the play, and arrange these lines into a poem. Here is an example of a three-line reconstruction poem:

“There are weapons that are simply thoughts, attitudes, prejudices…” (Serling 684)

“It is hard to understand a culture that justifies the killing of millions…” (George 529)

“I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment I still have a dream.” (King 170)

Quotation Marks Notes

Part 1 Dialogue

In a narrative use quotation marks when writing what a character says aloud.

Rule #3 A direct quotation by a character begins with a capital letter.

Example: The Highwayman says, “One kiss my bonnie sweetheart.”

Rule #4 When an expression identifying the speaker interrupts a quoted sentence, the second part of the quotation begins with a lowercase letter. Note the comma placement.

Example: “Give me liberty,” said Patrick Henry, “or give me death!”

Rule #5 A direct quotation followed by the narrator’s identification will be set off by a comma, question mark, or exclamation point, but not a period.

Example: “One kiss, my bonnie sweetheart,” said the Highwayman.

Example: “Give me liberty or give me death!” shouted Patrick Henry.

Rule #6 When you write dialogue (a conversation), begin a new paragraph every time the speaker changes.

Rule #7 When a quotation consists of more than one sentence, put quotation marks only at the beginning and the end of the whole quotation.

Example: “One kiss, my bonnie sweetheart. I’m after a prize tonight,” said the Highwayman.

Students interpreted a comic strip and re-wrote the dialogue in paragraph form.

“Stupid weather!” exclaimed Lucy.

“Are you complaining again? Do you realize,” Linus accused his sister, “that you spend all your time complaining?”

“Why shouldn’t I complain? It’s the only thing I’m really good at,” Lucy grumbled.

Finish Socratic Seminar notes.

Participation Goal

1. To speak at least three times 2. To focus on the speaker 3. To ask at least two questions 4. To refer to the text at least twice 5. To take notes on others’ comments

6. To say “I want to connect _______ to …” in reference to another participant 7. To say “I agree with…” and explain 8. To say “I disagree with…” and explain 9. To say “I have a question about…”

Students created name plates with a list of five questions and one participation goal from the choices above.

Notes, notes, and more notes!

Socratic Seminars are structured conversations in a large group.

I. Socrates, Greek philosopher

   A. Born 469 B.C.

   B. His father was a sculptor/mason.

      1. did not follow his father’s profession (unusual)

      2. instead went to a school of logic

   C. At school, asked a lot of questions

   D. Taught young people to ask questions

      1. first, community leaders appreciate this

      2. later, charged for corrupting the youth

II. Seminar

   A. Name Plate

      1. first name only, big and bold

      2. respond to speakers by name

      3. refer to question list on the back

   B. Students are participants. Teacher facilitates.

   C. Goals

      1. Participants choose one participation goal.

      2. Facilitator decides group goal

   D. Evaluation

      1. take turns speaking

      2. listen carefully

      3. always respond to speakers by name

      4. on topic

      5. refer to notes and text

You will write these on the back of the name plate.

Leveled Questions

I. Factual (1)

   A. One correct answer can be easily found.

   B. Key verbs: define, identify, name, recite, complete, list, recall, who, what, when, where

   C. Example: List the ingredients of peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

II. Interpretive (2)

   A. Processing skill/concept

   B. Key verbs: contrast, group, compare, paraphrase, interpret, organize

   C. Example: Write an organized recipe for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

III. Evaluative (2)

   A. Strategic thinking beyond the text

   B. Key verbs: evaluate, judge, predict, hypothesize, revise, invent, critique, design

   C. Example: Design a plan to feed everyone in your class peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.

Notes: Quotation Marks

Use quotation marks to enclose a person’s exact words.

Rule #1 A comma or a period should always be placed inside the closing quotation marks.

Example: While he was in prison, Richard Lovelace wrote a poem containing the well-known line “Stone walls do not a prison make.”

Example: “Stone wall do not a prison make,” a well-known line by Richard Lovelace, describes how our thoughts are a powerful trap.

Rule #2 A question mark or an exclamation point should be placed inside the closing quotation marks when the direct quotation is a question or exclamation. Otherwise, it should be placed outside.

Example: Who said, “Give me liberty or give me death”?

Example: “Give me liberty or give me death!” said Patrick Henry during the American Revolution.

Theme or Position

When you read an essay, ask yourself if the author is explaining or persuading.

A theme is an idea most of us may agree because of our similar culture and values.

An author’s position is an individual’s opinion that challenges or persuades the reader/audience.

What is Chief Dan George’s position about the environment? What is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s position about civil rights?

Persuade means to convince another to agree with a position. There are varying degrees of persuasion.

1. Appeal to shared values

2. Encourage a change

3. Criticize the status quo

What type of persuasion George and King using?

An author’s approach to persuade includes

1. Appeal to Emotion (Uses literary devices)

2. Appeal to Reason (Uses facts)