Students begin the year by doing close readings of published personal narratives. We do mini-lessons on sensory language, and we do many short journal writes to prepare students for the larger task. We also read articles about the college admission essay. Students are then expected to go through the writing process, meaning they write at least three drafts, they peer edit, and they have their work edited by the teacher. Many students complete more than three drafts in order to create a polished piece of writing.
Sensory Language & Pre-Writing Work:
I Am Poem Reflection Questions
Sample Reflection Questions - 1
Sample Reflection Questions - 2
Sample Reflections Questions - 3
Mentor Texts & pre-reading activities:
Articles:
Do's and Don'ts of the Admission Essay
Tackling the Dreaded College Essay
College Application Essay as Haiku
Peer Editing Review:
Directions & Rubric:
Personal Narrative Directions & Question Options
Teacher Example:
Ms. La Pan's Personal Narrative Example
2019-2020 Student Examples:
2018-2019 Student Examples:
2017-2018 Student Examples:
2017-2018 Reflection Examples:
2016-2017 Student Examples:
Personal Narrative - Anonymous
Personal Narrative - Anonymous 2
Personal Narrative - Anonymous 3
2015-2016 Student Examples:
Personal Narrative - Sebastian
2015-2016 Reflection Examples:
2014-2015 Student Examples:
2014-2015 Reflection Examples:
2013-2014 Student Examples:
UbD Unit Overview: