Composition

The above pieces are student submissions for the PNNU Writing Task. This writing assignment is given periodically, throughout the academic year, in response to scheduled readings of books, short stories, poems, and plays.

PNNU Writing Task:

1. Students must select a prompt and identify the main theme. 

2. The theme must then be defined as either positive or negative and as either necessary or unnecessary. One complete sentence must be written in the corresponding categories (of the PNNU chart) for each of the two chosen perspectives.

3. Next, the two sentences must be combined, with the use of an appropriate conjunctive adverb, to form a compound sentence that will serve as a thesis statement.

4. The thesis is then divided into three color-coded parts, representing Plato's three appeals of argument: Logos, Pathos, and Ethos.

5. The thesis is written as the first sentence of the introductory paragraph, and it is followed by three more color-coded sentences — each representing one of Plato's appeals.

6. Three subsequent paragraphs will be written to expound on the final three sentences of the introductory paragraph. Each of these paragraphs will match its corresponding introductory sentence in color. This will conclude the body.

7. Finally, the conclusion will be written to illustrate the main points of the essay, establish closure, and convey a final impression. 

The two above pieces are class submissions for the Rotational Writing Assignment.

Rotational Writing:

1. In a live, Smart-Board presentation, the teacher will compose a short paragraph to serve as the beginning of a fictional narrative.

2. Each student will copy the paragraph on a sheet of paper.

3. Once this is done, a five-minute timer will be displayed on the Smart Board.

4. When the timer is initiated, each student will compose an original paragraph to follow the paragraph.

5. After the five-minute bell sounds, each student will pass his paper to the student behind him. The timer will be reset, and the students will continue writing from the points where their colleagues have ended.

6. When the final bell has rung, the paper will be submitted, and each student will receive a composite assessment combining the scores of all of his contributions to the full narrative.

Extra credit assignments, like those shown above, are always welcome in Mr. Henok's class! Such compositions may be in response to our class readings, or they may entail unrelated, preapproved topics.