Sunday, February 12, 2023

Introductions, Conclusions, Titles (GENERAL)

 


INTRIGUING TITLES ARE ALWAYS A PLUS  
It will be connected to it in your conclusion's clincher!
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INTRODUCTION 

--> Your first sentence should be an grab attention & hook the audience’s interest.

--> The middle of the intro gives background, general, and/or basic information about your following paragraphs. It introduces the body of your essay.  Depending on the type of essay, this middle section could be one sentence or up to ~three sentences. 

--> The last part of your introduction is your THESIS STATEMENT.   

Remember: 
It summarizes your 3 body paragraphs’ points.

If your essay has only 2 body paragraphs, it summarizes those.
If you have only 1 body paragraph it summarizes (with a tagline) that 1 body paragraph.

EXAMPLE: Is it possible to dance on water? If that water is frozen and the dancers wear blades on their feet, it is entirely possible and enchanting. When dancing, acrobatics, and skating meet, the result is figure skating. The art and sport of figure skating has a rich history, stringent training regimens, and exciting superstars.
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CONCLUSION (special clincher rule - last 2 sentences)

--> Briefly recap the three points (paragraphs). You can elaborate (slightly). Remember! No new arguments/reasons!

--> The last paragraph should also help your reader feel glad that they read your essay.

REMEMBER THE RULE FOR THE LAST TWO SENTENCES

--> One of the sentences should tell the reader, "the most significant" point in your essay.

--> One of the sentences should repeatreflect, or refract the topic sentence (hook) AND @ least be part of your TITLE.   (TT/CC)

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Thursday, December 8, 2022

All That is Gold Does Not Glitter (The Riddle of Strider)

All That is Gold Does Not Glitter   (The Riddle of Strider) 

by J.R.R. Tolkien

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.



Saturday, October 8, 2022

Writers Mark 2022-23 Curriculum Outline

 

 Some of these will be covered in class and others will be homework assignments.

Some of the topics will take more than one week to cover.

 

  1. Writing from KWO (from source text, audio or video source, real time lectures, from brainstorming)
  2. Resume
  3. Writing with DRESS UPs (integrated grammar study in essay writing)
  4. Classic tale re-writes
  5. Writing with OPENERs (integrated grammar study in essay writing)
  6. Creative Constraints
  7. Narrative (4 types / 1st person-6 / 2nd person-1 / 3rd person-3)
  8. Letter (handwritten & friendly-formal)
  9. Writing with DECs
  10. INTRO/CONCLUSION study / TT/CC connection
  11. Cumulative Tale (emphasis: cadence, alliteration, rhyme, assonance)
  12. Recitation(s)
  13. Writing with M3s
  14. PORTFOLIO update
  15. Writing with all stylistic & grammatical techniques (integrated grammar study in essay writing)
  16. Informative Historical Research Essay (no opinions)
  17. Advanced Literary Devices pt. 1 (OWLs) (integrated literature analysis study in essay writing)
  18. Expository Great Art Essay (w/opinions)
  19. Research / KWO review w/ integration of multiple sources
  20. Biography
  21. Descriptive 4 lessons (show v. tell)
  22. Caldecott (5 paragraph study w/ 5 source minimum)
  23. P.O.V. (Personification, Anthropomorphic, Creative)
  24. Persuasive (logos, pathos, ethos)
  25. Advanced Literary Devices pt. 2 (OWLs) (integrated literature analysis study in essay writing)
  26. PORTFOLIO update
  27. Argumentative (heavily logos)
  28. Analytical/Analysis (analysis of data - 3 lessons) literature, character  <-our focus
  29. Review Essay Book review form to be used. Book for 2022/23: ___TBA __
  30. Historical Essay
  31. Reflective (subset of analytical) * if time allows
  32. Compare/Contrast  
  33. Process (How to, Sequential, Instructive)
  34. Speech (introduction, roadmap, 3 points, recap, conclusion)
  35. Poetry  (Haiku, Where I’m From, &/or Psalm)* if time allows
  36. PORTFOLIO update

Friday, September 9, 2022

Writers Mark - a Brief Description

Writers Mark® successfully equips students with tools to significantly improve their writing skills. Its methods not only build written and oral communication skills, but also improve critical thinking. Weekly essays are an integral part of the Writers Mark curriculum. Completed essays culminate in an end-of-the-year portfolio.


Writers Mark® teaches essential outlining, composition, and proof-reading strategies such as: keyword outlining, stylistic techniques, rhetorical devices, grammar, punctuation, and editing.

These critical writing tools are defined and practiced in order to improve students' understanding and subsequent application of these devices.


Writers Mark® Essays
  • Narrative  tells a story/conveys an experience (4 types)

  • Descriptive creates an image 

  • Expository explains, informs, describes a topic in a clear, correct fashion (analytical)

  • Compare & Contrast a type of analytical + descriptive essay 

  • Persuasive/Argumentative

  • Research  a type of informative essay

  • Literary Analysis

  • Personal Improvement resume, letters




The SAT and ACT both test knowledge of these rhetorical and literary devices.
It is never too early to become familiar with them.
 

Monday, September 5, 2022

Mastering 4s

(4)s or "ing openers" must be set up in a very specific grammatical way

RULE 1  
The first part of the sentence should be a dependent clause or phrase followed by a comma

RULE 2  
RIGHT after the comma, the person or thing "doing the ing" is mentioned. 

RULE 3  
This part of the sentence (after the dependent clause or phrase) is an independent clause

RULE 4  
That independent clause must be happening at the same time as the "ing dependent clause."


EXAMPLES:

(4)Drumming her fingers on the desk, Kaitlyn stared blankly at the teacher.

(4) Brushing the eraser shavings off the paper, he felt the orange crumbs slip through his fingers.

(4) Opening the wardrobe doors, the kids squealed in surprise at the wonders inside.

(4)  Wading into the river, he searched for the mermaid who had saved him when the ship crashed on the rocks the night before.


Here are some great "ing" words to use in your 4s






Thursday, September 1, 2022

KWO rules

1. You MUST handwrite your KWO.

2. Always write the complete title  (& author if applicable).

3. 3 words maximum per sentence.

4. Numbers, symbols, and abbreviations –> do not count as words. (Do not overuse!)
     Symbols Rule: It must take less time to draw the symbol than to write the word.

5. Remember to number the sentences. 

6. Keep track of the paragraphs.

7. Proper names and places and businesses/organizations – you can write out completely.  These do not count against the 3 word rule.

8. You can also write out all the words in a  “Quote.”




EXAMPLE: