Writing 8

Classroom Goals:

This class is designed to provide instruction for students for improving the craft of writing. The course of study will challenge the student to grow in her/his ability to use correct composition style, grammar, develop strong sentences, build well-structured paragraphs, and, in turn, complete output appropriate for each task at their grade level. Mechanics, proofreading, editing, and the stamina the writing process requires will be addressed and refined.

Marking Period Grades:

Classwork/Homework/Homework Quizzes……………………………………40%

Projects/Essays.…………….............…………………………………….…….……….50%

Participation………………………...............…………………………………………….10%

Course Description:

Class time will focus on analyzing mentor texts, learning writing mechanics with a focus on generating complex sentences, thesis statements, complete and detailed paragraph, and logically organized final drafts. Through the writing process of drafting and revision, the student will produce writing that addresses prompts utilizing appropriate tone for the task and audience. The culminating project is a writing portfolio that will serve as a resource moving forward into the next grade levels.

Assignments:

This class will be organized into two-week instructional units that each focus on a particular type of writing activity and format. We will review all aspects of writing styles- expository, descriptive, informative, persuasive, and narrative- in a variety of tasks:

• Adventure stories

• Autobiography/Biography

• Book reviews

• Brochures/Pamphlets

• Character Sketches

• Descriptions

• Diaries

• Encyclopedia or Wiki entries

• Fables/Legends/Myths

• Fantasy/Science Fiction stories

• How-to-do-it articles

• Humorous stories

• Letters

• Magazine articles

• News articles

• Persuasive letters and essays

• Reviews

• Drama

• Short stories

• Sequels

• Speeches

• Anecdotes

• Complaints

• Editorials

• Interviews

• Writing a Description

• Classification Essay

• Process Analysis Essay

• Comparison/Contrast Essay

• Cause and Effect Essay

• Writing a Synthesis Essay

• Writing an Argument

• Writing an Analysis

• Creative Essays

• Satire

• Research Report

• Memoire

• Poetry