Source File:  JHS0729 of 8/8/97 from 2/25/97. Modified 8/22/01.

Date:  Goal 10.  8/9/91

X.        GOAL   10.   

Give students adequate general composition practice. Students may elect to do as many   composition projects as they wish, progressing at their own speed, following the detailed guidelines in the Directed Theme and Writing Ladder Selection Series (See Selection 1245, "Writing Ladder Selection Sequence.")

A.        CONTENT OUTLINE

            Selected composition topics and their selection number or source for directions.

            [See Selection 1540, Master List of Composition Assignments]

1.         What My Last Year's English Class Was Like.

2.         What I want to learn in English this year. [SN1461]

3.         English Experience Theme.  [SN56A, 56B; SN1905A, B, C.  SN1906]

4.         Autobiography.  [SN55, *1413, 1902A]

5.                  Reading Experience Theme.  [SN48A]

[Note that I have not encountered any students since I taught at Cass Technical High School who have been able to complete this assignment.  Remedy:   find sample theme notebook from Cass Technical High School English teaching, and let students read several samples of the Reading Experience Theme so they have a concrete example of how the composition can be done.]

6.         Books I have read more than once.

7.         Book Report One.  Free Reading. [SN1492, 1493, 1494.  *SN1558] 

8.         Book Report Two.  Adolescent Fiction.

9.         Book Report Three.  Fiction Classic [SN1497.  SN1438.  *SN1474]

10.       Book Report Four.  Non-Fiction Reading Ladder, First Rung.

11.       Book Report Five.  Non-Fiction Reading Ladder, Second Rung.

12.       Book Report Six.   Non-Fiction Reading Ladder, Third Rung.

13.       Combined Resources Report.   Selections may be developed under this section to teach students to make reports in their own words; paraphrase, precis, and summary writing; anti-plagiarism practice, etc.  [To be developed.]

14.       Short Story Analysis/Report.  Selection 1264.  See also Selection 1267A, Story Frame; 1268A, Plot Relationships Chart; 1269A, Story Map; 1270A, Prediction Chart; 1271A, Knowledge Chart; 1272A, Story   Summary; 1273A, Story Chart; 1274A, Character Map; 1275A, Compare/Contrast   Chart (Venn Diagram); 1276A, Story Pyramid.

15.       Magazine Report.

16.       Library Combined Resources Report.

17.       Précis and Summary Writing.

18.       Author Project.  [See English 6 lesson plans from Cass for directions.]

19.       Research Paper.   See Selection 1209, "Steps in Writing a Term Paper."  Also see black notebook of collected resources suitable for writing a term paper on the subject of the Creation/Evolution Debate.    [It might be possible to develop additional   notebooks of resources for other subjects for guided practice in writing term papers.]

20.       Creative Writing Exercises. See lesson plan notebooks from Southeastern pertaining to preparatory exercises for the Scholastic Writing Awards contest.

21.       Debate Case preparation.

22.       College and Scholarship Application Essay Writing.

23.       Free Writing Compositions.  See Selection 1414 directions.

24.       Letter Writing.   See NCTE/USPS book on letter writing. [SN1433, 1434]

B.         INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

1.         Selections as listed above for directions for composition assignments.

2.         Sample Theme File of previous student work.

3.         Current textbook resources as required.

4.         Current essay contest opportunities.

C.        TEACHING STRATEGIES

1.      At the beginning of each semester, have students do writing in class, doing assignments with complete, detailed instructions.  Have students come to the desk for teacher assistance one at a time.   Prepare significant themes in duplicate once they are revised and perfected.   The student will keep one copy in the English Notebook; the teacher   will keep one copy in an alphabetical loose-leaf file for continuing reference. This should be done especially for the themes pertaining to short and long term goals, and resolutions.

2.      Some assignments should be taught by whole class instruction. Students should then have the option to write additional compositions of that type for additional credit.  This would be suitable for Free Writing Compositions, and Letters, for example.

3.      Individual students may progress on the Writing Ladder and Assignment Ladder to higher levels of complexity as they demonstrate the ability to do so.

4.      Collaborative learning may be implemented using the small-group conference procedure for theme evaluation and correction.   [Develop this procedure from the notes of 2/14/73 from Cass Technical High School lesson plans.]

D.        EVALUATION PROCEDURE

1.         Most   compositions will be graded holistically with the suitable holistic rating scale.

2.         An occasional individual composition may be rated using the analytical rating scale.

3.         Compositions requiring extended effort or research may be given a grade which is counted ("multiplied") an appropriate number of times to reflect this.

4.         Composition credit may be earned as extra credit to count toward raising the student's grade.

5.         Students who need makeup work for long absences may be given credit for Free Writing Compositions and other composition credit completed during or after their absence.