Expository Writing 5/6 – 5/10

 

Monday

 

1. Journal: 10 minute open write
2. Language of the Day #49: Vocabulary

3. Writer’s Workshop: Proofreading of 1st Application Essay

a.      Count off by fives

b.      Pass essays around the class.

c.      Based on your number, check for the following:

1.      Spelling & Vocabulary

2.      Commas

3.      Run-ons and sentence fragments

4.      Subject-verb & Pronoun agreement

5.      Consistent tone

d.      Feel free to write on it even if it’s a final copy – the idea is that since there can be no mistakes, writing on it won’t hurt anything.

e.      When done, return paper to author who will then decide whether to turn it in or take it home for more work.

4. Turn in 1st application essay FC today or tomorrow – graded for acceptable completion only.

   

Tuesday

 

1. Journal: What has been the most difficult thing you have ever done?  Why was it so difficult?  How did you overcome the difficulties?
2. Language of the Day #50: Vocabulary

3. Writer’s Workshop: Application Essay 2

a. Turn in application essay #1 FC for completion grade.  (drafts in your portfolio)

b. Handout: Application Essay Practice

1. Review basic concepts of the Application Essay Study.

2. Today, PW, OL, and Draft response to Essay Two.

 

Wednesday

 

1. Journal: none
2. Language of the Day #51: Vocabulary

3. Writer Workshop: Application Essay 3/4
    a. Pre-write, outline, draft choice of Essays 3 or 4 from their Application Essay handout. 

    b. If needed, finish draft of Essay 2.

 

Thursday

 

1. Journal: What personality trait or quality would you like most to come across in your application writing?  Explain.  How do you accomplish that?
2. Language of the Day #52: Vocabulary

3. Turn in 1st Application Essay FC if you haven’t already.

4. Writer Workshop – Controlling your tone & voice

    a. Tone: your attitude, how you come across to your reader; Voice: your unique writing style

    b. Ways to control tone and voice

        1) Often overlooked: content!

        2) Figurative language: metaphors, etc.

        3) Diction: words can determine perception of intelligence, ability to be precise and clear, and tone.

        4) Sentence style: can be long and winding or short and simple.

    c. Through our exercise on p. 234-235, you had the opportunity to practice both controlling tone/voice and perceiving it in the writing of another.  Now, let’s try that with an actual piece of writing – a short one – application essay 2 (misconceptions). Click HERE for a handout version of this assignment.

        1) Have a peer reader read your essay and summarize the tone in a word or phrase: happy, friendly, serious, cynical, ambivalent, etc.

        2) Look at how your essay was perceived.  Then answer the following questions at the end of your Essay 2 rough draft:

            a) Was that the tone you intended? 

            b) Do you even agree with the tone your reader thought he/she heard? 

            c) What word would you use for your own tone?

        3) Now, rewrite Essay 2 immediately after your first rough draft and the answers to the preceding questions, this time creating an entirely different tone to your essay.  For example, if your original tone was friendly, rewrite it now as serious; if it was serious, make it humorous; if it was bland, make it intense.  You get the idea.

        4) Having completed this new draft, answer the following questions after the draft:

            a) Which version do you like better?  Why?

            b) What exactly did you do to change the tone/voice of the second draft?  Be specific.

        5) When done, have both drafts and your answers checked/turned in.

 

Friday

 

INTERIM DAY: turn in interim to be completed

 

1. Journal: Make a quick list of people here at Hilliard Davidson whom you wish you would have thanked for something but never did. (2-3 minutes)  Why do you think you never thanked them?  Be honest, no one is judging you.
2. Language of the Day #53: Vocabulary

3. Writer Workshop: Thank you letters
    a. Handout: The Senior Thank You Letter

    b. Complete drafting today and have checked.

    c. Bring stationary, envelope, stamp (as needed) Monday.