Monday, March 20, 2023
Sunday, February 12, 2023
Introductions, Conclusions, Titles (GENERAL)
It will be connected to it in your conclusion's clincher!
--> Your first sentence should be an grab attention & hook the audience’s interest.

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.
--> The last paragraph should also help your reader feel glad that they read your essay.
--> One of the sentences should tell the reader, "the most significant" point in your essay.
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.
- Writing from KWO (from source text, audio or video source, real time lectures, from brainstorming)
- Resume
- Writing with DRESS UPs (integrated grammar study in essay writing)
- Classic tale re-writes
- Writing with OPENERs (integrated grammar study in essay writing)
- Creative Constraints
- Narrative (4 types / 1st person-6 / 2nd person-1 / 3rd person-3)
- Letter (handwritten & friendly-formal)
- Writing with DECs
- INTRO/CONCLUSION study / TT/CC connection
- Cumulative Tale (emphasis: cadence, alliteration, rhyme, assonance)
- Recitation(s)
- Writing with M3s
- PORTFOLIO update
- Writing with all stylistic & grammatical techniques (integrated grammar study in essay writing)
- Informative Historical Research Essay (no opinions)
- Advanced Literary Devices pt. 1 (OWLs) (integrated literature analysis study in essay writing)
- Expository Great Art Essay (w/opinions)
- Research / KWO review w/ integration of multiple sources
- Biography
- Descriptive 4 lessons (show v. tell)
- Caldecott (5 paragraph study w/ 5 source minimum)
- P.O.V. (Personification, Anthropomorphic, Creative)
- Persuasive (logos, pathos, ethos)
- Advanced Literary Devices pt. 2 (OWLs) (integrated literature analysis study in essay writing)
- PORTFOLIO update
- Argumentative (heavily logos)
- Analytical/Analysis (analysis of data - 3 lessons) literature, character <-our focus
- Review Essay Book review form to be used. Book for 2022/23: ___TBA __
- Historical Essay
- Reflective (subset of analytical) * if time allows
- Compare/Contrast
- Process (How to, Sequential, Instructive)
- Speech (introduction, roadmap, 3 points, recap, conclusion)
- Poetry (Haiku, Where I’m From, &/or Psalm)* if time allows
- 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.
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
Monday, September 5, 2022
Mastering 4s
(4)s or "ing openers" must be set up in a very specific grammatical way.
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.
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: