Expository Writing 2/18 – 2/22

 

Monday

 

No School: Presidents’ Day

   

Tuesday

 

1. Journal: How was your weekend?  Would you define it as good, bad, or neither/both?  Why?
2. Grammar of the Day 10

3. Writer Workshop: Successful Definition Essays
    a. Review Guidelines for a Successful Definition Essay, pp. 121-122.

        1) Tip 3: term, class, characteristics (paragraph 1, p. 118)

        2) Tip 4: thesis (controlling idea) and placement – refer to student sample pp. 119-120.

    b. Refine OLs and have checked during period.

    c. Begin drafting if ready – have at least introduction done for tomorrow.

 

Wednesday

 

1. Journal: 8 minute free write.
2. Grammar of the Day 11

3. Writer Workshop: Intro Construction and Thesis
    a. Review rubric for Definition Essay (handout/overhead).

    b. Check introduction together:

        1) Does your intro include the term, its class, and its defining characteristics?

        2) Does your intro have a thesis (controlling idea) which indicates the direction your essay will take?  Where is it placed?

        3) Fix or complete intro paragraph now.

    c. Finish your rough draft for tomorrow.

 

Thursday

 

1. Journal: How are you feeling?  Explore in as much detail as possible and try to define your state.

2. Grammar of the Day 12

3. Writer Workshop: Organization & Paragraph Topic Sentences
    a. Examine Writing Strategy: Make the Organization Reflect Your Purpose, pp. 124-125 together.

    b. Is your organization fulfilling your purpose?

        1) Write down your thesis statement (controlling idea).

        2) Write out your purpose implied in the thesis statement (controlling idea).

        3) Write out each of your paragraph topic sentences.

        4) Answer the following questions:

            a) Does this ordering of paragraphs best fit my purpose? Why or why not?

                1 – If your essay is more of an expression of opinion, ordering from your least to most important points makes sense.

                2 – If your essay is more factual or historical, ordering chronologically or spatially would make sense.

            b) Is each of these topic sentences a logical sub-category to my thesis?

            c) Is each of my topic sentences supported by specific examples, illustrations, explanations, and descriptions?

        5) Fix topic sentences, ordering, and detail as needed.

    c. Begin revisions when ready.

    d. Have RD checked during today’s activities.

 

Friday

 

1. Journal: 10 minute Open Write.

2. Grammar of the Day 13
3. Writer Workshop: Conclusions (and intros too!)
    a. Examine the book’s suggestion for your intro, #9, p. 122

    b. Examine student-model conclusion, p. 120.

    c. Examine possible conclusions (handout).

    d. Apply: write or revise your conclusion to include restatement of definition/thesis and use of one or more of our conclusion ideas.

    e. Apply: if you are dissatisfied with your introduction, go back and use one or more of the ideas from today’s handout.

    f. Finish any drafting or revisions you’d like today.  Peer reading and proofreading will be Monday and Tuesday.

4. Check in late RDs.