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This is where you will find our daily writing assignments.
Copy (ctrl/c) and Paste (ctrl/p) the Date, Prompt, and Response section into your site. Then, respond! Don't forget to PUBLISH!
Date: Friday, May 3rd
Prompt: In the beginning of the year, we discussed how characters (and people) change over time. Explain how you've changed this school year? In what ways have your matured? How have your perspectives and beliefs changed? What types of situations have you been in that have challenged your views?
Response:
Date: Wednesday, April 10th
Prompt: If you could solve one problem in the entire world, what would it be?
Sometimes our best writing happens when we write about serious topics we are passionate about, but sometimes we need to blow off steam and write in a more humorous, sarcastic tone. Pick one... make it known!
Example:
Passionate, serious tone: If I could solve one problem in the entire world, I would end homelessness. There is nothing more important than having a place to root yourself and grow up....
Humorous, sarcastic tone: I can't imagine life without Netflix. It boggles my mind that some people survive even though they don't have access to it! This is a problem I would love to solve.
Response:
Date: Tuesday, April 9th
Prompt: Create your own holiday. What would you celebrate? How could you get others to join in the fun?
The only rule- the holiday can NOT be about you or a friend! For example, National Nolan Day is not okay for this prompt! Consider something to celebrate that is genuinely important to many people are is not currently a holiday!
Response:
Date: Friday, April 5th
Prompt: Congratulations! You have completed the Lit Circle unit and (hopefully) finished another book for this school year! Today, think back over the journey your characters have traveled. Consider the ways they have grown and changed.
Then, write two paragraphs.
- What does it mean to be courageous? Use parts of the story to support your thoughts.
- Where is hope found? Use parts of the story to support these thoughts as well.
Response:
Date: Tuesday, April 2nd
Prompt: (Continued from April 1st.) Yesterday you were to do Step 1 and 2. Today, do Step 3.
Here's the example I gave you yesterday... Pay special attention to the highlighted notes and what I wrote for Step 3.
Step 3: Draft it. -->
Response:
Date: Monday, April 1st
Prompt: Recreate one scene from your lit circle book from the perspective of another character.
Step 1: Find the scene. Reread it at least twice. Make sure the scene allows a perspective that would be quite different from the narrators.
Response:
Step 2: Summarize the scene in your own words. -->
Date: Thursday, March 21st
Prompt: Write a letter to the sponsor you have had for the Free Books you've received this school year.
In your letter create three paragraphs: introduce yourself, explain what you've liked about the books you've received, and discuss why you are thankful for generous people like your sponsor.
Your letter must be properly formatted. Use your research skills to refresh your memory about how a letter needs to be formatted or click here for some penpal letter tips. And, of course, use proper punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and sentence structures.
Response:
Date: Wednesday, March 20th
1/2 Hour:
1/2 Hour:
Prompt: What is your first impression of the lit circle book you chose? Write using the skills you learned about today in Quill.
Response:
3/4th Hour and 5/6 Hour:
3/4th Hour and 5/6 Hour:
Prompt: Reflect on the lit circle practice you did. What did you notice about yourself? What came easy? What seemed more challenging? What goal can you make for yourself over the course of this lit circle unit?
Areas to Reflect on:
- Reading the text
- Sharing your thoughts and experiences
- Listening to your group members
- Asking open ended questions
- Making your group members feel comfortable
Response:
Date: Monday, March 18th
Prompt: What is the bravest thing you've ever seen someone do? What made it brave? How did it affect you or others?
Response:
Date: Friday, March 1st
Prompt: Reflect on the Argumentative Research Unit. What did you learn about yourself? Think about the following categories:
- Ability to be resourceful.
- Ability to write an essay.
- Ability to find specific research.
- Ability to include a counterclaim.
- Ability to expand on your thinking.
- Ability to write strong sentences.
- Ability to choose compelling word choices.
- Ability to follow a due date.
- Ability to ask for help.
- Ability to initiate on your own.
Response:
Date: Friday, Feb. 22nd
Prompt: -->
If you really want a challenge, direct your advice to a specific group: teachers, 6th graders, parents, etc. Otherwise, just do general life advice!
Response:
Date: Monday, Feb. 11th
Prompt: In order to successfully complete the work in Unit 6, you will need to be organized and keep up with the work.
What types of situations might interfere with your ability to be organized and on pace with the learning?
How can you prepare for this in advance and eliminate these complications? What strategies are you willing to try in order to become more organized and keep up with the work?
Response:
Date: Thursday, Feb. 7th
Prompt:
Oxymorons are fun. An oxymoron is created when two words that seem to be opposites sit next to each other. Good oxymorons can inspire great writing.
This serendipitous word game will give you an oxymoron. Click HERE and then click the buttons on the bottom of the web page to end up with either a Positive-to-Negative Oxymoron or a Negative-to-Positive Oxymoron.
Write a story or poem that could be titled with the oxymoron you created.
Response:
- Write your oxymoron here-->
- Write your story or poem here-->
Date: Wed, Feb. 6
Prompt: Respond to one of the two Shakespeare quotes.
Remember there's no right or wrong way to respond. You COULD explain what you think the quote means, explain whether you agree with the quote or not, share what it reminds you of, add your own thoughts to it, disagree with it, etc.Response:
Date: Monday, Feb. 4
Prompt: Use the embedded chart to think through the following. Your job is to create a team of four people to explore a newly found planet. Explain the "true color" you'd like for each team member.
Response:
1. The Pilot:
2. The Doctor:
3. The Researcher:
4. The Photographer:
Date: Friday, Feb. 1
Prompt: Explain what you believe are your strengths and weaknesses.
Response:
Date: Thursday, January 24th
Prompt: Describe how you work with others.
Response:
Date: Wednesday, January 23rd
Prompt: Tell me about yourself.
Response:
Date: Tuesday, January 22nd
Prompt: Respond to the quote from MLK.
---Respond can mean many different things:Explain what you believe the quote means.Explain whether you think it's good advice or not.Describe your own experiences with this topic.Add your own ideas to the topic.Disagree and explain why.Make a connection to the quote or the author of the quote.Response:
Date: Thursday, January 17th
Prompt: Begin writing the story of The Highwayman from the perspective of Tim the Ostler. It does NOT have to be in verse.
Response:
Date: Wed, January 16th
Prompt: Write about the word "procrastination." You could share your definition, your experiences, your argument about why people do it, etc.
Response:
Date: Monday, January 14th
Prompt: We have just completed our first read of "The Highwayman." Thoroughly answer as many of the following questions as possible.
1. Write a Somebody Wanted But So Then to explain the events in the plot.
2. Who is the true hero of this story? Explain why you think so.
3. What message or lesson about life is the author trying to convey? What's the theme? How do you know?
4. Why might the author have put certain text in italics at the end of the story?
5. What might the color red symbolize (represent) throughout the story? Where do we see it?
Response:
Date: Friday, January 11th
Prompt: <--
Response:
Date: Thursday, January 10th
Prompt: <--
Response:
Date: Wednesday, January 9th
Prompt: -->
Response:
Date: Tuesday, January 8th
Prompt: -->
Response:
Date: Monday, January 7th
Prompt: Describe the following people with as much detail as possible. Think about the senses (see, hear, touch, taste, smell).
Response:
- Waitress:
- Truck Driver:
- Dentist:
Date: Thursday, January 3rd
Prompt:
Pick one of the "events" you wrote about from yesterday's prompt. Copy and paste it into the response for today. Then begin to work on fictionalizing it. Figure out how you can add or modify the story so that it is more entertaining.
Example:
Original: On Monday, December 31st at 11pm I found a lost, cold cat. He ran to my open garage for warmth. He was very friendly. I took him inside my house. My son, Hudson, was so excited to have a cat inside. My dog, Max, wasn't sure what to think. We kept him overnight and someone came for him the next day around 8:00am.
Fictionalized: It was New Years Eve and a cold, dark night. The sliver of a moon was hidden behind the clouds and there were no stars to be seen. I had just stepped outside to take out the garbage when I heard a small, desperate meow. I stopped in my tracks and looked around. At first, I didn't see anything out of the ordinary. I began to continue on my quest, when I heard it again. Turning my head to the left, I noticed a quick moving shadow darting out from the bushes. My pulse quickened, but I breathed a sign of relief when I realized it was a small kitten moving towards me. He seemed to be limping. Unsure what to do, I crouched down and put my hand out. He came right to me and jumped in my arms. His meowing was incessant. He was clearly in distress. I looked over his small, cold body and noticed a gash on his back. He was bleeding. Immediately, I knew what I had to do. My boys would be so excited to have a kitty. I picked him up and headed inside.
Changes:
- I spent time developing the setting and making it more dramatic by creating a mysterious mood.
- I changed it from a cat to a kitten.
- I made the appearance of the kitten a bit frightening.
- I made the kitten injured and in distress.
- I made it seem like I was going to keep the kitten.
Original:
Fictionalized:
Changes:
Date: Wednesday, January 2nd
Prompt:
Make a list of "events" that happened over winter break. Elaborate on each of them with as many "factual" details as possible. Try to leave out your own opinions and emotions.
Example:
- The day before Christmas Eve is one of my favorite. I spend the entire morning at my mom's house. We drink coffee, turn on Christmas music, chat, and make lots of yummy food for friends and family who come over on Christmas Eve. This tradition has been going on since I moved out when I was 18. I look forward to this special time with my Mom every year.
- On Tuesday, December 26th around 7pm we took down our Christmas tree and all of our Christmas decorations. This was okay since we set up the house the day after Thanksgiving. I am glad to have less clutter in our home.
- On Monday, December 31st at 11pm I found a lost, cold cat. He ran to my open garage for warmth. He was very friendly. I took him inside my house. My son, Hudson, was so excited to have a cat inside. My dog, Max, wasn't sure what to think. We kept him overnight and someone came for him the next day around 8:00am.
Response:
Date: Friday, December 21st
Prompt: Choose one of the prompts to respond to...
- We know that Charles Dickens, the author of A Christmas Carol, strongly felt that those living in poverty needed love, compassion, and support. Why do you think he created such a cold-hearted, greedy, selfish character such as Scrooge? What did he want wealthy people to understand?
- Pretend to be Charles Dickens. Write a letter to Ebenezer Scrooge. The topic: Greed.
- Explain how the Grinch and Scrooge are similar and different.
Response:
Date: Thursday, December 20th
Prompt: If the aliens of "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" we to return today, how might their strategy be different and/or the same? Write the next episode.
Response:
Date: Tuesday, December 18th
Prompt: When we evaluate an argument, we need to decide if the argument is strong or weak DESPITE our own personal beliefs about the topic. Practice by reading the prompt and response below. Then evaluating the argument by completing the sentence starters.
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Prompt: Are we our own worst enemies?
Response: People are their own worst enemies. We are our worst critics. When I make a mistake, I am the first to recognize it, and I'll feel terrible about it for days. Additionally, Psychology Today explains that negative self thoughts become automatic for many people. This means that the hurtful thoughts we often have about ourselves become so automatic that we don't even realize they are occurring.
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Response: The writer does/does not have enough evidence to support her argument.
I know this because...
I noticed that the evidence she used was...
One way she could have made the argument stronger would be...
Date: Monday, December 17th
Response:
Date: Friday, December 14th
Prompt: Recently there have been more fights than usual happening around school. Explain why you think these fights are happening. Discuss ideas for preventing these fights. Share a message you would like your peers to know.
Response:
Date: Thursday, December 13th
Prompt: We've been discussing how to evaluate an argument. Yesterday, Mrs. Powers talked to you about a weak argument vs. a strong argument. Today, create your own list of arguments. There should be five of them and they should be in order from weak to strong. (It is okay to make up facts... I know, that's an oxymoron.)
Here is your CLAIM:
Using too much technology does (or do not) affect sleep patterns.
Response:
- -
- -
- -
- -
- -
Date: Wednesday, December 12th
Prompt: Identify a theme from The Outsiders. Then explain why that lesson would be an important lesson for ALL people EVERYWHERE to learn. If possible, think of other stories that have that same theme.
Response:
Date: Monday, December 10th
Prompt: Imagine you are in a forest and you can only have three animals with you. Which animals would you like to have with you and why?
Response:
Date: Thursday, December 6th
Prompt: Explain what is happening in this picture. (P.S. Go beyond what you see. Create the story behind it.)
Response:
Date: Tuesday, December 4th
Prompt: To "stand on a soap box" is an idiom that came from the time period when people would speak to large crowds in the streets. In order to rise up above others, they would stand on top of a dry goods box, such as a soap box. Sometimes people would speak out as preachers, with an important message for passerbyers, other times someone would "preach" messages that were persuasive in nature.
Your job... stand on your own metaphorical soap box. What do you want the world to know, think about, or do?
Response:
Date: Thursday, November 29th
Prompt: Explain how the learning process has been successful and/or challenging for you this week. Consider your True Color Personality Results in your response. (If you don't know your True Color, look at the graphic below to gain insight.
I noticed that when the structure was organized and predictable I learned a lot. For example, when I was at the Topic Sentence station and Mason was coaching, it was calm and those around me were honest. This helped me learn that the topic sentence should be clearly tied to the rest of the paragraph.
I also noticed that the learning was in my hands more than other learning environments. I was told I could learn whatever I needed most. I struggled to know which station I needed to attend, but after I took a minute to plan my tasks, I felt much more accomplished.
Overall, this personalized learning style is helpful for me when I focus on the learning and take the time seriously.
Response:
Date: Wednesday, November 28th
Prompt: Respond to as many of the following questions as you'd like. Be prepared to discuss.
TOPIC SENTENCES
How might writing topic sentences in an essay help you to become a better communicator?How is a topic sentence similar to a thesis?EVIDENCE AND ELABORATION
Where would we see the need for evidence and elaboration in the real world?How might understanding this concept help you in other classes?TIE BACK TO THESIS
What positive impact does tying back to the thesis have?Why is this an important strategy to use in an essay?How might this relate to our lives outside of school?Response:
Date: Tuesday, November 27th
Prompt: What have you learned today?
Response:
Date: Monday, November 26th
Prompt: Would you prefer to be a pirate or a ninja for a day? Why? Give plenty of reasons to explain your choice.
Response:
Date: Wednesday, November 14th
Prompt: Of all the inventions our world has seen, compare the effect of the wheel to electricity. How have they both impacted the world? Which one is more important?
Response:
Date: Tuesday, November 13th
Prompt: Beginning an Essay. If your essay directions were below, how would you organize your thoughts BEFORE you began writing your essay? How would you get started? What would you do first?
We all have people we admire. They might be family members or friends. They might be singers, dancers, or actors. They might even be fictional characters. Whom do you admire most? Write an essay that names a person you admire and describes the qualities that make you like the person.
Response:
Date: Monday, November 12th
Prompt: See picture -->
Remember to start your response with a topic sentence and use specific sentence structure.
Response:
Date: Friday, November 9th
Prompt: Explain what Veterans Day means to you.
Response:
Date: Wednesday, November 7th
Prompt: Inform your 6 year old reader how to clean his or her bedroom.
Response:
Date: Tuesday, November 6th
Prompt: Explain why honesty is (or is not) an important part of friendship.
Response:
Date: Monday, November 5th
Prompt: See Image --->
Response:
Date: Thursday, November 2nd
Prompt: <--- See Image
Response:
Date: Thursday, November 1st
Prompt: See Image -->
Response:
Date: Tuesday, October 2nd
Prompt: There are TWO responses I want you to do.
1. We know Cherry is a Soc. We also know Socs are NEVER nice to Greasers. So, why might Cherry have been nice to Ponyboy and Johnny? List a FEW ideas.
Response:
2. Cherry said to Johnny and Ponyboy, "You've seen too much to be innocent." What do you think Cherry meant by that? How do you know?
Response:
Date: Monday, October 1st
Prompt: Explain how Ponyboy's character trait of "thoughtful" impacts what happens in the story, in chapter 1, when he is on the way home from the movies.
Response:
Date: Friday, September 28th
Prompt: Create something more unhealthy than Krispy Kreme bacon cheddar cheeseburgers. Then, SELL this to a crowd!
Response:
Date: Wednesday, September 26th
Prompt: What would the ideal family look like? In other words, what should (or shouldn't) happen in a perfect family? How should the perfect family communicate? Work through problems? Make decisions? Etc.
Response:
Date: Friday, September 21st
Prompt: What, in today's world, makes a person an outsider? Who are the 'outsiders' of today?
Response:
Date: Thursday, September 20th
Prompt: Is it okay to change the way you act based on the people you are with? Explain. Give an example. Tell a story.
Response:
Date: Wednesday, September 19th
Prompt: Imagine you are on a plane going to a newly discovered island! Write about what this island is like, who (or what!) you find on the island, and what you plan to do once you get there!
Response:
Date: Tuesday, September 18th
Prompt: Watch this video. Explain how this video illustrates the difficulties of self-control. Share why having self-control can benefit a person.
Response:
Date: Monday, September 17th
Prompt: Write about a character who views the world, or part of the world, in a similar way as yourself.
For instance, Harry Potter views family as those he trusts the most. Those who are loyal to him. Those who support him. Since his actual family (aunt, uncle, cousin) do not fit that description, he does not feel like they are his family. Instead, he treats his friends, Ron and Hermoine, as his family. I feel the same way. My family is great, but they don't always understand me as well as my friends do. They are still my family, but I also think of my best friends as family too. Both Harry and I believe that we create our own families. :)
When you think about views, think of a character who feels the same way as you about sports, friendship, dating, bullies, good vs. evil, parents, siblings, etc.
Response:
Date: Friday, September 14th
Prompt: Providing feedback to another learner is very important. What feedback would you offer to the learner who wrote the paragraph below? Put your advice into a sandwich like the picture.
Middle school is ful of fun adventures. Not only do you get more freedom, but you even get to chose you're classes. you get passing time between classes too use bathroom or talk too you're friends. You shud understand that Middle School does have some bad things, but overall, it is beter than elementary school.
Response:
Date: Thursday, September 13th
Prompt: Yesterday, in class, we discussed the idea of self-discovery. We looked at questions such as, "How does a person change over time?" and "What are the components of self-identity?" Mrs. Powers also told the story about her brother and how he was impacted by a terrible accident when he was your age.
Additionally, a novelist by the name of Ralph Ellison, wrote a book titled Invisible Man. This book was written in 1952 and explored many of the issues relating to African Americans during the early century. He was quoted as saying, “When I discover who I am, I’ll be free.”
Respond below by sharing your thoughts about self-discovery. What does self-discovery mean? What thoughts or questions are bouncing around in your head? What do you hope to discover or explore around this topic during this unit?
Response:
Date: Wednesday, September 12th
Prompt: Which door would you most like to step though? Why? What happens when you step through that door?
Either explain your choice or tell a story about what happens after you step through the door.
Response:
Date: Tuesday, September 11th
Prompt: Watch the Failure Museum video.
Then: Define Failure. Describe how you feel about, or deal with, failure. Explain how failure impacts learning. Tell a story about a time when you failed at something; describe the feeling you had and the way you responded. Make goals surrounding the topic of failure for this school year.
Response:
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