August 30

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (It was then that I knew peanut butter was the solution to all my problems.) *
• Write for 100 minutes on any topic in any form.  (If you're stuck, you may use the Freewriting prompt above!)

*Complete Freewriting after your writing assignment if you still need something to work on to complete your 100 Writing Minutes.

April 26

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (You are trapped in a boring sitcom with an annoying laugh track.)
• Any late or missing work (Contact me if you have questions.)
• Knight Essay OR a 7-paragraph essay on the topic of your choice.  (You may choose to use your notes and outlines on knights to write an essay, or you have the option of writing on a topic of your choice.  To write on a topic of your choice you will need to gather three sources---they don't have to be long---and use them to take notes and create a master outline for a 7-paragraph essay.)

Note: Our last class will be May 17th.  Please have the rough draft of your essay turned in no later than May 10th.  The earlier you finish your rough draft, the earlier you will finish your writing work for the year. :-)

April 12

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (A ball of fire streaked through the morning sky. "Alert the dwarfs at once!"
• Any late work (Choice Essay, Winter Activities, Three Favorites, Dolphins)
• Outline your 7 paragraph Knights essay (Remember we divided Becoming a Knight into three sub-topics:  Page, Squire, Knight Ceremony.)

April 5

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (A senile old superhero goes out to fight crime.  None of the younger heroes respect him anymore, but all of the villains have a soft spot for him.
• Writing.  We are at that time of year where everyone is working on something slightly different.  Here is a list of the writing assignments you may need to do in order.  If you're not sure which assignments are for you, give me a call, email, text, Facebook message, Marco Polo, Snapchat, or whatever works best for you!
• Final Draft of Essay (If you still need to)

THEN

• Winter Activities Essay (If necessary)

THEN

• Three Favorite Things Essay (If necessary)

THEN

• Dolphin Essay (If necessary)

THEN

• Chimpanzee outlines.  The is ONLY a note-taking activity, and only to be done after you have completed your Dolphin Essay.  ONLY complete individual outlines for each source and use them to create a master outline.  IF, however, you do have time to write an essay from your master outline, I will use it as extra credit.

March 29

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting (He had lived in this house his entire life, but now he was standing in a hallway he'd never seen before.)
• 2nd or 3rd (Final) draft of your essay on the topic of your choice. (Most of you have completed this.)

THEN

• Winter Activities and 3 Favorite Things essays (Some of you may only need to complete one of these, and most of you have finished them already.)

THEN

• Use your four note-taking outlines to create a master outline.  We began this process in class.  Use your master outline to write a 5 paragraph (3 body paragraphs from your outline, an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph essay on dolphins. Remember your dress-ups and openers!

Our writing steps

• Choose your subject
• Ask yourself questions
• Gather Sources
• Read a simple source (encyclopedia)
• Brainstorm topics (make sure you have extra!)
• Choose your topics
• Create an outline
• Take notes
• Make a master outline
• Write!

March 22

Homework

• Writing Minutes
• Freewriting
• 2nd or 3rd (Final) draft of your essay on the topic of your choice. 

THEN

• Winter Activities and 3 Favorite Things essays (Some of you may only need to complete one of these, and others may have finished them already.)

THEN

• Complete your four note-taking outlines about dolphins.  Using one complete outline for each source is helpful even if there is no information on a certain topic from a given source.  The presence of the entire outline helps you, even subconsciously, keep in mind how the topic relates to the whole.  So, because you have four sources you will create four outlines with space for taking notes.
  
  
  Try not to copy unless you plan to use the words as a quote!  Instead, summarize the thought.  Keep track of the bibliographic material as you go; it will make writing your bibliography much easier later!

Our writing steps

• Choose your subject
• Ask yourself questions
• Gather Sources
• Read a simple source (encyclopedia)
• Brainstorm topics (make sure you have extra!)
• Choose your topics
• Create an outline
• Take notes
• Make a master outline
• Write!

DON'T PANIC!

Because we're working on a number of different projects, there will be extra time built into next week's schedule.  Write for 100 minutes this week and be prepared to finish up next week.

March 8

Homework

• Writing Minutes (There is a link to the file on your right.)
• Finish your Winter Activities essay
• 2nd draft of the essay you wrote on the topic of your choice
• IF you have finished your Winter Activities essay, and I know a number of you have, begin a second informal essay on your three favorite ___________.  You can write about your three favorite books, movies, meals, vacation spots, sports, or something else.  

1. Choose Subject (My Favorite ________________)

2.  Brainstorm topics 

3. Create Outline

4. Ask yourself questions and take notes (Who? What? When? Where? How? Why?  Remember, this         is an informal essay, so you are the expert source.)

5. Write (Remember your dress-ups and openers!)

Here is your checklist: