Writing 2 Class Notes -- September 26

Greetings!

We had a good class this week.  For our Quick Write, the students wrote 5 alliterative sentences.  We had short and long sentences in which the students used words that began with the same beginning sounds. I also drew a tree with an apple on the ground telling that that it was a clue about a significant event of the day.  A couple had an idea that it was connected to Johnny Appleseed.  In fact, September 26 was Johnny Chapman's birthday

I handed back their final copies of their Personal Essays.  I grade the the papers in three areas:  mechanics, organization, and content.  The total possible score for the paper is 30 points (10 points for each section).  I tend to be an easy grader; it's hard to evaluate a student's skill, effort, and improvement.  Over the course of the year, I am looking for each student to improve in all three areas of mechanics, organization, and content.  I especially look for corrections made from suggestions and comments made on the rough draft.

The students handed in their rough drafts of their Process Analysis essays.  I will go over those this week and hand them back next week.  If a student ever is late with a rough draft, they can have it in to me by the next Sunday.

We have not spent a lot of time on specific Grammar lessons.  I gave the students handouts for this week and for next week.  I would like the students to read the handouts that they've gotten in the past weeks.  Rumor has it a pop quiz might be planned for next week.

Part of next week's assignment includes watching some videos.  I've found some good, short, and to-the-point instructional videos that can help with our grammar and writing instruction.  Last week's videos are for optional viewing.  For the videos about clauses and verbs, the students are to watch one for each section and to write 3 things about grammar they have learned.  Below are the video options:
Last week's Grammar:  Phrases
Gerund phrases
Participial phrases
Participle phrases
Prepositional phrases
Prepositional phrases
Appositives
Restrictive/Non-restrictive phrases
More on Restrictive phrases

This week's Grammar:  Clauses
Dependent Clauses #1
Dependent Clauses #2
Mr. Grammar's Subord. Clauses
Subordinate Conjunctions
Clauses
Subordinate Conjunct. part 1
Subordinate Conjunct. part 2
Subordinate Conjunct. part 3

Next week's Grammar:  Verbs & Tenses
Verb Overview
Troublesome verbs
Simple verbs

During our literature discussion of My Antonia, we discussed Willa Cather's descriptions of the land and nature through Jim Burden's perceptions.  If you love the plains and wide open spaces, Cather's descriptions are delightful.  If not, they seem a bit sad and lonely.  We also discussed the hard-working and sacrificing natures of the early farmers on the plains.

Next Week's Assignments:
-- Finish Book 3 (p. 94 - 124) "The Hired Girls."
-- Using the study guide answer 3 questions from Week 6.  Write out your answers.
-- Watch 1 video about Clauses and write 3 things about grammar that you learned.
-- Watch 1 video about Verbs and write 3 things about grammar that you learned.

The weather has been spectacular.  Enjoy!
Mrs. Prichard