Directions: For this month, I am not providing a minimum amount of writing pieces that you will have to complete. The only requirement is that you write five sentences for each prompt you choose to do! Enjoy the process, as always!! Perhaps this time, you will be adding prepositional phrases and clauses for the extra details that make your writing pop!!
During the month of December, are there any specific traditions and customs you embrace? If so, take a moment to write about them, including information about what makes them so special! Would you describe yourself as more of a winter person or a summer person? Explain why you made the choice you did, and also talk about why the other possibility was not selected. For example, if you decided that you enjoy winter more than summer, talk about what you enjoy about winter, and explain why summer is not your favorite.
Are there particular hobbies that you enjoy more in December (or during the winter) than you do at any other time of year?
Have you ever gone on a sleigh ride, and if so, write about what it was like!
Do you find the snow beautiful, and if so, describe what the first snowfall of the year looks like to you!
Do you mind the winter weather, especially the cold and precipitation (snow, sleet, rain)? Talk about this in your paragraph.
Describe your perfect December day!
Do you or your family ever go sledding or skiing during December (or the winter, in general)? If so, write about what it’s like or describe a particular family event!
If you take part in the holidays this month, do you enjoy the shopping and decorating that are included in these celebrations? Describe how you do both!
In cold weather, do you prefer mittens or gloves? Tell why, how you use them, and the differences between these two types of outerwear!
Do you enjoy wearing coats, jackets, scarves, and hats during the colder months or would you rather live in a warmer climate in which all of these items are not necessary? Provide effective examples as you write!
AND...
YOUR CHOICE!! You can use #12 as a time to write a paragraph about anything you want!! Be sure it has five complete sentences, but the rest is entirely up to you!!
Using the words below (“December Writing Prompts”), write down all the words you can find within those letters!! Be sure the words you select have letters that are included below; if a letter is shown twice, you may use it twice!! Have fun!
The words are...December Writing Prompts (You can use the back of this paper or attach a lined sheet of paper, too--and if you are looking at a website right now, please don't write on the screen:)) Ha!
Examples of words you can make from “December Writing Prompts”: word/words, proceed
Here are some Jumbles, too!
This is a figure of speech in which language is twisted and we have to read closely to figure it out. [miodi] _________________________________
This group of words does not have a subject or a verb; it begins with a positional word.
This group of words does have a verb, and sometimes a subject, and it includes a conjunction, which starts it off. [celuas] _________________________________
The first thing we do when we look at a map, chart, diagram, graph, poster, or other visual representation is to find its [etlit] __________________________________.
In Science, an [ntmleee] is something found naturally on earth and is included in the periodic table. Gold and silver are examples!
Something that follows a “cause” is known as an [feeftc] _____________________.
Something that is true or has been proved is known as a fact; something that is someone’s point of view is known as an [nioponi] ___________________________.
For the month of November, it is important for everyone to complete at least one persuasive essay. The template is on the Lessons page, if you need some guidance as to how each paragraph should be constructed. There are still several hard copies left (which some people already received last Thursday). We will review the template again this week to be sure everyone understands what you need to do. Keep in mind that each of the five paragraphs, which completes this essay, also needs to have five sentences of its own. Your completed work, then, would consist of 25 solid sentences in all!
If you are struggling with a topic, please consider using one of our latest ideas (also part of the template resource). If you are especially interested in a topic, you will find it much easier to write about it!! As soon as your essay is complete, please let me know so that I can pair you up with your peer editor! In the meantime, try a second persuasive essay! Since essay writing will take the place of the monthly writing prompts for November, it is important that you write just as much! The sooner you master this type of writing, the faster you will be ready to begin the argument essay (and the easier you will find it:)!
As always, thank you for being such wonderfully hard workers! It is a joy to help guide you each and every day!
Sincerely, Maria
October 23, 2023
Hello RW3 Classes (AM and PM)!
As a reminder, all October Writing Prompts are due next week (October 31 for RW3 Morning Class and November 1 for RW3 Evening Class). I am so happy to have already received many paragraphs through this website and in the classroom! In addition, please do not forget to add words to your Personal Dictionaries as often as you can. Read and write every day, as well!
Since we are beginning work on the persuasive essay, I am hoping we can complete a rough draft by the end of this week! At that point, you will be given a checklist of ways to sharpen your writing independently. You will then work with a peer editor (a person in our class who will also check over your essay and provide helpful feedback to you). When these tasks have been completed, we will conference so that together we can revise any parts of your essay we agree may need polish! Your essay will then be ready to be typed in the computer lab! This part of the process will hopefully take place at the beginning to middle of next week (October 30-November 3).
Note: We may also select your favorite creative writing pieces, which you have completed so far, and type them up, as well. We will then be able to add both types of writing to your portfolios, which are folders we will use to hold our finished writing pieces!!
As always, thank you for working so hard and inspiring each other (and me!) every single day we meet! You're the best!
Sincerely, Maria
October 1, 2023
Welcome to your Homework Assignments Page! This is where you will find any classwork I have assigned, as well as when that classwork is due.
On October 2 for RW3morning class and October 4 for RW3 evening class, your September Writing Prompts are due. The assignment, given on your first day of classes, is for you to select three writing prompts from the handout provided to you, and to create at least one paragraph for each prompt you choose. You also have the option of sending them to me on the Writing Page on this website, on loose-leaf paper as you complete them, or from your notebooks on the due date. I have already seen a number of pages of your work, and I am happy to see most people writing much more than what is required!!
You will receive your October Writing Prompts on Monday and Tuesday (October 2 or 3, depending on whether your class meets in the evening or in the morning). You will need to complete five writing assignments from this list that will be due on October 31 (or November 1) depending on when your class meets!
Enjoy the process, as always!
Sincerely, Maria
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 29, 2023
Hello Class! If you have not yet read The Necklace, a short storyby Guy de Maupassant, please go to ClassicShorts.com, and read it tonight! Our writing assignment on Thursday, March 30, will center around this story, so the earlier you can read this, the better! We will review it in class first, so any complex vocabulary you come across can be discussed at that time!
Also, don't forget to work on your Personal Dictionaries. This is an effective way for you to keep track of new words you encounter, whether in speech or in the written word! We will target Fridays for a day we will share these new words, so start your dictionary today!!
Tomorrow we will begin to employ our Ticket Into Class, which is simply a way for you to showcase something you learned during a previous class!
Have the best night! I look forward to seeing you all first thing in the morning!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 23, 2023
I am enjoying reading the last few final copies of our first essays of the year! It has been especially nice to see a subtle flow in everyone's writing that does not rely on common transitional words. This is quite an accomplishment and truly allows your writing to pop! In the days ahead, we will talk about persuasive writing and how it compares to argumentative writing. What, if any, are the differences between them--and isn't almost every type of academic writing persuasive in some way?
While studying this new unit, you will begin to see how the appositives, phrases, and clauses we have been working on can now find a place in your own writing. Always remember there is a rhythm in writing, just as there is a rhythm in speaking, and sometimes we need to expand our sentences to reflect this!
Look for new homework assignments to be listed here very soon! Until then, try to read, reflect, and write every single day!!
All rough drafts for your expository essays need to be submitted by Friday, March 17 (Saint Patrick's Day, so green paper is acceptable:)) I would love the final copies to be ready by Tuesday, March 21 (if you are working on a rough draft today). All final copies will be placed in your folders/portfolios at that time! Thank you for the great work you all do!! If you have more than one essay ready, please put all of them in your folders!! As the saying goes, the more, the merrier! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 9, 2023
Good Morning, Everyone! Since we are working on expository writing this week, your next assignment, due this coming Tuesday, February 14, will be to write only the step-by-step instructions on how:
to create your favorite recipe
to make a sandwich of any type
to give directions from your house to anywhere else (ex. a store, the mall, a restaurant, this school, a friend's house, etc.)
to play a musical instrument (or do any other hobby, art form, or favorite pasttime)
to study effectively/to do well on a test
to interview for a job
to find the perfect gift
Please select only one topic for your paper. This will become part one of the assignment, so please be sure to bring it with you to class on Tuesday! You can either number or bullet each step...and that's it! This assignment will then serve as an outline for part two of the writing process, so please write a complete sentence for each step. You do not need to send it to me on the Writing Form on this website; simply complete this assignment on a piece of notebook paper, and bring it to class on Tuesday!
Good luck, and enjoy the process!
NOTE: Please be as clear and concise as possible!!
Note: Your future homework assignments will be posted on this page for easy access! We have found this to be the easiest way to access materials for everyone in the class!
For tonight's written homework (2/1/2023), you can use the assignment listed on the Lessons page! Remember to use your notebook or binder to write just the answers. I look forward to seeing all your work on Thursday!