writing

Wednesday, 1/15; DWA II – Day I

7th Grade Informative/Explanatory District Writing Assessment

You will have two class periods for this assessment. When you are finished, please SHARE your document with me. I will handle printing it! Please take your time.

Tips:

  • Use the highlight feature to pick sections of the texts to use in your essay. Highlight them and type a note or two on how you might use it.
  • Be sure to say, “According to…” or “So-and-So says…” or “In the article…” EVERY TIME you use something from one of the articles.
  • You should use something from all three sources.
  • PROOFREAD! SPELLCHECK!
  • Use an example to start the essay, and then ANSWER THE QUESTION (“Technology has had several important effects on communication today. The above was just one example…”).
  • What do all three articles have in common? What are all three trying to say?

 

 

7th Grade Informative/Explanatory District Writing Assessment

 

Technology is anything created for a specific purpose. A ruler, cell phone, lined paper, and a rocket ship are all technology. Basically, anything that helps make our lives easier is considered technology. In today’s world, technology is growing and changing rapidly to suit our needs. Specifically, it is helping how information is communicated like never before. As you read, think about the ways technology has impacted the way we communicate today.

 

You are going to study three sources that talk about technology and communication:

 

As you study these sources, think about what they show you about technology and how it is used to communicate information.

 

Finally, using these three sources, you will write an informative/explanatory essay explaining your thinking.

 

For the essay, your focusing question is:

According to these sources, how has technology had an impact on communication?

 

Remember, a good informative essay:

 

  • Has a clear introduction
  • States a focus/thesis clearly, precisely, and thoughtfully
  • Uses specific cited evidence from the text(s) to support and develop the topic and explains that evidence
  • Concludes effectively
  • Uses precise language
  • Shows control over conventions

 

 

Your essay will be scored using the following criteria:

  • Purpose and Organization: Is the main idea clearly communicated? Is the essay clearly focused? How well did your ideas thoughtfully flow from beginning to end using effective transitions? How effective was your introduction and your conclusion?
  • Elaboration/Evidence: How well did you integrate relevant and specific information from the sources? How well did you elaborate your ideas? How well did you clearly state ideas using precise language that is appropriate for your audience and purpose?
  • Conventions: How well did you follow the rules of grammar usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling?

Tuesday, 10/29: Proofreading, Vocab, TMA, Narrative Prep

SMYK’s are now due Thursday!

Proofreading, 10/29.  fragment, run on, apostrophe or plural error, word misuse, no mistake

1) Yesterday, I downloaded from iTunes the album My Love is Like a Cheese it’s by the band Love Baby Kiss Doll.   2) I thought I’d like it a lot, and I did.  3) Everybody’s phone or music player should have this album on it.   4) If you’re going to buy only one album this year, it should be this one.  5) Especially if you’re into space country music and stuff like that.
6) Although there are many compelling songs, my favorite song on the album is called “Take the Skinheads Bowling.”  7) It’s a very wistful song about the good ‘ol days bowling with punk rock dudes.  8) Do you remember those days? I wouldn’t think that you would.   9)  This song also has an abundance of rocking guitars and a defunct section featuring JayZ.
10) My one complaint is that the album is too long, and my enthusiasm started to ebb by the end.

 

“Vocabulary, 10/29.” (13)
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  1. _____
  2. _____
  3. “If there are no other ideas, then it’s agreed we blame the media.” _____
  4. Since I hadn’t studied, I was ______ about my chances on the difficult test.
  5. The hill with the M on it is known _____(ly) as Madonna Mountain, but its real name is… (Bonus: en Espanol.)
  6. Mr. Calandro is trying to _____ a sense of kindness in the students of Laguna.
  7. The replays of the rescue ____ TV watchers all over the country.
  8. The _____ of two full moons in one month is called a blue moon.
  9. The root of this word means “shape.”   ______
  10. He didn’t think the judgement was fair, so he only paid the money ______(ingly).
  11. There is always a ______of food and drink at the MidState Fair.
  12. True or False? Always taking the same route to school is a good example of an idiosyncrasy. 
  13. * She has several positive ______(s) that make her a good fit for the job.

 

Narrative Prep. Checking Show not Tell’s!

Prompt and Instructions.
Think about your SnT:
Does it tell the story? What’s the conflict? What was the “inciting incident”? (How did this ball get rolling?)
How is it resolved?
Conclusion: What effect did this have on your life? Now you can slide back into Telling mode.

Tomorrow, you will write it live!

 

Alyce and Edward.

 

 

Thursday, 8/30: Adjectives, Vocab + RELAY , Show not Tell, Outsiders

Tomorrow’s Test: Adjectives, Vocabulary, Outsiders, Classwork, Husker Du?

“Adjectives, 8/30.” Copy the word and say whether it is an adjective or not.

  1. The running we do in PE is easy.
  2. I like the sound of running water.
  3. Yesterday we were running through the field.
  4. She was part of an elite gymnastics team.
  5. Dally gave her a roguish smile.

Vocabulary, 8/30.” (11p) Write the word.

aloof2ironic-pics-14 

  1. _____
  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. laugh : happy :: _____ : hurt
  6. I tried to act cheerful, but it was just a __. I was really depressed inside.
  7. Her gentleness was a(n) _______ in her job as a veterinarian.
  8. If you make the Scholar List you are a part of the educational _______.
  9. Even after I read the poem three times, the meaning still ______(ed) me.
  10. The ____ firefighters battled the dangerous fire and saved the family.
  11. It would be ironic for a pilot to be scared of heights.   True / False

 

VOCABULARY RELAY #2!

Next Writing Assignment:

SHOW not TELL
“Don’t tell us that the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.”
-Samuel Clemens

cool, pretty, fun, scary, weird, ugly
What does each of these things LOOK like?

These are actually opinions, NOT descriptions! (Yes, I know they are technically adjectives.)
What’s “cool” to you could be “gross” to me or your mom!
You need to show us what this looks, sounds, tastes, smells, feels like!

Describe in detail what this might LOOK/SOUND like:
Compare two examples…

“My Room is Such a Mess” due next Thursday, 9/6.
Show me the most nightmarish room imaginable. I want to feel, see, hear, taste (ewww), smell everything.
1 page (350+ words), ink, ndp, title. mess(y), gross, disgusting, dirty, stinky, etc. No opinions, just WDILL?

The Outsiders

 

Tuesday, 8/21: Vocab, Motto, Slang, Dig It?

Due Today: Vocabulary definitions.  I will be checking them while you work.

“Vocabulary, 8/21/18.”  All answers will be vocabulary words. Use your pink sheet and your group homies to help you. For #1-4, choose which word best fits the picture, and be prepared to explain why you think so. If you can justify more than one word for a picture, you might receive bonus credit.
sage bleak1wpiStock_why-do-we-conform

  1. _____
  2. _____
  3. _____
  4. _____
  5. pain : pleasure :: confusion : ______
  6. rules : requirements :: happiness : ____
  7. For Esteban, the word dropout had the ____ of a gang member with a can a spray paint.
  8. I was able to _____ the meaning of the word from the way it was used.
  9. Nobody could _____ why he liked school so much even though he got all F’s.
  10. Even though I was nervous, I tried to act cool and ______.

 

Motto
by Langston Hughes          
I play it cool   
and dig all jive.
That’s the reason
I stay alive.
My motto,
As I live and learn
is: 
Dig and Be Dug
In Return. 		 “Motto, 8/21.” (in your notebook)

1) What is a motto?
2) What do you think he means by “Dig and Be Dug In Return”?
3) What other saying(s) have you heard or use might mean something similar?

Audio Feature: The concept of “digging.”

Short Explanation Paper Assignment. Due Friday.