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English I
Journalism
Reading Lab

 

Writing to Win

I just completed my third year of training for the Writing to Win program which is supported by the State Department of Education. I will be attempting to implement this three level improvement plan during the first semester of the 2007-08 school year. Because of this change, some of the information found below may no longer be accurate. Most likely this will only apply to assignments used in previous years. Also, at this time I'm not sure of the status of the State Writing Test for freshmen.

Writing

Students will be focusing on numerous genres in writing during the first quarter of the school year. These will include descriptive, expository, persuasive, and creative writing. A strong focus on essay writing (expository and persuasive) is undertaken because all ninth graders are required by the state to take the state writing test, which is usually scheduled in early October. The past two years freshmen have written persuasive essays on a topic of the state's choice; forty minutes are allowed to complete a polished essay. I'm pleased to say that freshmen classes have typically scored very well on these tests, so we will continue to emphasize these skills. Freshmen will continue to use essay writing throughout the school year, so it's an important concept for them to learn.

Descriptive Writing

Expository notes

Persuasive notes

Intro and conclusion notes

Writing to Win notes

Assignments may include any or all of the following:

Literacy autobiography
Name (based on House on Mango Street)
Poster Activity
Restaurant research

Six Traits Review

Six Traits Story (based on The Very Hungry Caterpillar)

Expository Writing

Intro notes
Conclusion notes
Transition notes
Sample paper

Persuasive Writing