Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 7 (March 3)

 Greetings!

It was so good to see the students; including our week off and the week my son subbed for me, it's been 3 weeks since I've seen their smiling faces. 

Below are our Quick Write prompts for the day.  

• Tuesday, March 1, is National Minnesota Day!!  What do you like the most about Minnesota?  What might you say to convince someone to move to or at least visit Minnesota?  If you were to have visitors from a far away place come to Minnesota, what sights would you like them to see?
• Wednesday, March 2, is World Teen Mental Health Day.  What does it mean to be mentally healthy?  What do you do to be mentally healthy?  How do you help others who might be struggling with their own mental health?
• Friday, March 4, is National Grammar Day  (It’s “imperative” that we “march forth” on this day!)  Write either a rant or a praise about what you think of this system for understanding language and communicating with one another.

We usually do a quick Homework Check between our beginning of class activities and instruction.  Students can hand in their work for this week when they come to class next week.  With the exception of their rough drafts.  Those should be finished and put on the Google Classroom assignment for the Problem/Solution or Cause/Effect Rough Draft. 

Speaking of the  Problem/Solution or Cause/Effect Rough Draft, we took some time for each student to share about their topics.  The framework for this essay is fairly straightforward.  As we went around the class sharing topics, I was impressed with wide variety of topics and their good ideas.  I look forward to reading their rough drafts this week.

We turned our attentions to our short stories.  We watched a short Lego animation of a story that is assigned for next week, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras Country."   After that we broke into small groups to share funny stories that had happened in their lives.  It seemed that a number of the students had not read all of the stories assigned for this week.  When that happens, I often find a good "pop quiz" is in order.  

For our Grammar lesson, we're still learning about commas.  We've looked at commas with compound sentences, commas with complex sentences, and commas with introductory phrases/clauses.  This week, we are adding commas to sentences with appositives and phrases that "interrupt" a sentence.  We did almost half of the assigned work during class, so that students could ask questions.  

Have a great weekend.  

Blessing,

Mrs. Prichard

Assignments for Next Week

• Short Stories by Twain, Crane, Jewett, Gilman

• 2 Short Story Worksheets
  

• Week 7 - Appositive Phrases

• Week 7 - Appositive & Parenthetical Phrases

• Week 7 - Interrupters Phrases

Links for This Week

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 7 (March 3)

Quick Write (3/12)

Week 7 Short Stories -- Audio Versions

Have a great weekend!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 6 (March 4)

 Greetings!

We had a full day in class this week.  Breaks are nice, but I like it when we're back together.

For our Quick Write today, the students had options that came from their own suggestions:  1) If you could teach anything, what would you teach and why? 2) What is your favorite Bible verse?  Why? 3)  If you could bring someone back to life, who would it be and why? and 4) Discuss the benefits/evils of video games.

Our Words of the Day came from Ethan and Nina from Writing 1  -- 

italics -- fr. Latin italicus, "from Italy, Italian"  -- a type of print with lines sloping to the right  (Note:  This type of print was introduced in the late 1500s with an edition of Vergil, and it became known as the "italic type."

bombinate -- fr. Latin, bombitare, to hum -- to hum or buzz like a bee

Between our beginning of class activities and instruction, we do a quick Homework Check.  Along with misc. worksheets and other homework, I handed back the final drafts of their Mystery Stories.  These were AMAZING!  They did a wonderful job on this writing assignment.  During this time I also reminded them about my homework correcting practices -- I correct homework one day during the week before the next week's class.  All work that was handed in on time will get corrected, but if it was turned in late, it might not get corrected until the following week.

The students are on to their next writing assignment, which is either an Cause/Effect Essay or a Problem/Solution Essay.  (There are some resources listed in the links below.)  We talked briefly about this writing assignment.  If students are still unclear about what they want to write, they should check the sites below.

For our literature portion of the class, we started with our book, Great Short, Short Stories and looked at three stories by Russian authors (Tolstoy, Chekhov, and Pushkin)  Before some small group discussion, I asked the students to consider these questions:  1) When was a time when God became more than you thought He was; 2) When did you do something wrong and tried to justify it; 3) When was a time when you felt jealous of others and insecure about yourself.  All of these were connected to themes in our stories. I was delighted to here such thoughtful and wise responses coming from the members in the groups.  For next week, we will read stories by British authors.  

For our Grammar lesson, we're still learning about commas.  We've looked at commas with compound sentences, commas with complex sentences, and commas with introductory phrases/clauses.  This week, we are adding commas to sentences with appositives and phrases that "interrupt" a sentence.  We did almost half of the assigned work during class, so that students could ask questions.  

Have a great weekend!  The weather looks like it will be marvelous!!

Blessings,

Mrs. Prichard

Assignments for Next Week:

• Cause/Effect OR Problem/Solution Pre-Write and Rough Draft
• Short Stories: Read Dickens (45); Wilde (189); Kipling (101); Munro (140)
• Short Stories Questions (both sides -- for one story or for 2 separate stories)
• Wk6 - Appositive Phrases
• Wk6 - Appositives & Parenthetical Phrases
• Wk6: Commas with Interrupters

Links for This Week

Class Notes

Examples of Cause/Effect Essays

Organizing a Cause/Effect Essay

How to Write a Problem/Solution Essay

A Sample Problem/Solution Essay

Tamera M. Prichard

Writing Instructor at CHAT

Writing 1, Writing 2, Writing 3

ACT Prep, British Literature

Cause/Effect Essay

Definition

            A cause and effect essay focuses on why things happen and what their results or consequences are.  Causes are the reasons why something happened.  Effects are the direct results or consequences of an event.  The study of causes and effects are central to many disciplines:  science, history, sociology, psychology, etc.     

Choosing a Subject

            Consider recent experiences, conversations, and headlines for possible ideas.  It can focus on current events, political or social events, or developments in medicine or technology.  It can also focus on every day events.  For example, what happens when you procrastinate?  Or, what are the effects of eating too much junk food?

Thesis Development

            A thesis statement in a cause and effect essay usually focuses on causes or effects but not on both.  The thesis statement should offer your opinion or stand about a cause or an effect.  Remember, a good thesis statement should be short and to the point, contain one clear main idea, and take a stand or express your opinion.          

Organization

            Cause/effect essays generally focus on the causes of the effects of an event, problem, or phenomenon.  Some essays examine both causes and effects.  The thesis announces whether the cause or the effects will be examined, and the supporting sentences or paragraphs develop those causes or effects.        

Tips on Writing

– Before you start writing, determine whether you will be covering the cause, effects, or both.

– List all of the causes and effects you can think of for the situation.

– Examine each cause or effect to determine whether it is a direct cause or effect of your event.  Keep in mind the difference between direct and indirect causes and effects.

– When examining causes and effects, decide the value and importance of each item.

– Clearly establish the relationships between the cause and the effect.

– Avoid mistaking coincidence for cause and effect.

– Avoid oversimplification.  

– Don’t confuse affect for effect

– Affect is a verb meaning “to influence.”

– Effect is usually used as a noun meaning “result.”

– When used as a verb, effect means “to make or to cause to happen.”

Essay Guidelines

– Due dates:  Pre-Write due February 27; Rough Draft due March 5; Final Draft due March 19

– Essay length:  700 – 900 words (between 3 and 6 pages)

– Rough drafts can be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced.

– Final draft format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay

Cause/Effect Essay

Definition

            A cause and effect essay focuses on why things happen and what their results or consequences are.  Causes are the reasons why something happened.  Effects are the direct results or consequences of an event.  The study of causes and effects are central to many disciplines:  science, history, sociology, psychology, etc.         

Choosing a Subject

            Consider recent experiences, conversations, and headlines for possible ideas.  It can focus on current events, political or social events, or developments in medicine or technology.  It can also focus on every day events.  For example, what happens when you procrastinate?  Or, what are the effects of eating too much junk food?

Thesis Development

            A thesis statement in a cause and effect essay usually focuses on causes or effects but not on both.  The thesis statement should offer your opinion or stand about a cause or an effect.  Remember, a good thesis statement should be short and to the point, contain one clear main idea, and take a stand or express your opinion.     

Organization

            Cause/effect essays generally focus on the causes of the effects of an event, problem, or phenomenon.  Some essays examine both causes and effects.  The thesis announces whether the cause or the effects will be examined, and the supporting sentences or paragraphs develop those causes or effects.           

Tips on Writing

– Before you start writing, determine whether you will be covering the cause, effects, or both.

– List all of the causes and effects you can think of for the situation.

– Examine each cause or effect to determine whether it is a direct cause or effect of your event.  Keep in mind the difference between direct and indirect causes and effects.

– When examining causes and effects, decide the value and importance of each item.

– Clearly establish the relationships between the cause and the effect.

– Avoid mistaking coincidence for cause and effect.

– Avoid oversimplification.  

– Don’t confuse affect for effect

– Affect is a verb meaning “to influence.”

– Effect is usually used as a noun meaning “result.”

– When used as a verb, effect means “to make or to cause to happen.”

Essay Guidelines

– Due dates:  Pre-Write due February 19; Rough Draft due March 5;  Final Draft due March 19

– Essay length:  700 – 900 words (between 3 and 6 pages)

– Rough drafts can be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced.

– Final draft format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay

Writing 2 Class Notes -- Week 8 (March 6)

Greetings!

It's March.  Do you think Spring will be here soon?

Our Quick Write for today was fairly light-hearted -- "What would happen if you were invisible?" The consensus for both Writing 1 and Writing 2 is that  this could be fun, mischievous, and even temporarily advantageous, but it might not be that great if it were permanent.

The Words of the Day:

chamois -- (French "sha-mwah") -- an agile, goat-like antelope; a soft leather cloth
charade -- (French; chatter, riddle) -- an intentional pretense or deception; a game where you act out a word or phrase

chapeau -- (French, fr. Latin; capella; hat, hood) -- a hat

chandelier -- (French; fr. chandler -- a candle-seller) -- a branched , light fixture

The students were assigned to bring to class 2 discussion questions for each of the four Short Stories which they were to read this week.  We used these questions as springboards for our discussions of these stories.

Our last portion on the class was spent in discussing the rough drafts of the Cause/Effect Essays that I handed back to the class.  As I point out common writing errors, this is an opportunity to talk about grammar in the context of their own writing.  Three highlights from this discussion:  1) No using the word "things;" 2) No contractions; and 3) No "there is/are/was/were/will be/etc." sentences.  If students have any questions about the comments I made on their rough drafts, they should feel free to send me an e-mail.

Assignments for Next Week:

--  Final Draft Cause/Effect Essay

-- No "5 Corrections" explanation for this essay

-- Read the short stories by Chopin (p. 30); London (p. 122); Mansfield (p. 130); and Gilman (p. 50)

-- Complete Worksheet for  "The Silk Stockings" story

-- Write 2 discussion for the other 3 stories.



This week's blogs

Class Notes

Kate Chopin & Silk Stockings

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Prichard

Cause/Effect Essay

Cause/Effect Essay

Definition

            A cause and effect essay focuses on why things happen and what their results or consequences are.  Causes are the reasons why something happened.  Effects are the direct results or consequences of an event.  The study of causes and effects are central to many disciplines:  science, history, sociology, psychology, etc.     

Choosing a Subject

            Consider recent experiences, conversations, and headlines for possible ideas.  It can focus on current events, political or social events, or developments in medicine or technology.  It can also focus on every day events.  For example, what happens when you procrastinate?  Or, what are the effects of eating too much junk food?

Thesis Development

            A thesis statement in a cause and effect essay usually focuses on causes or effects but not on both.  The thesis statement should offer your opinion or stand about a cause or an effect.  Remember, a good thesis statement should be short and to the point, contain one clear main idea, and take a stand or express your opinion.          

Organization

            Cause/effect essays generally focus on the causes of the effects of an event, problem, or phenomenon.  Some essays examine both causes and effects.  The thesis announces whether the cause or the effects will be examined, and the supporting sentences or paragraphs develop those causes or effects.        

Tips on Writing

– Before you start writing, determine whether you will be covering the cause, effects, or both.

– List all of the causes and effects you can think of for the situation.

– Examine each cause or effect to determine whether it is a direct cause or effect of your event.  Keep in mind the difference between direct and indirect causes and effects.

– When examining causes and effects, decide the value and importance of each item.

– Clearly establish the relationships between the cause and the effect.

– Avoid mistaking coincidence for cause and effect.

– Avoid oversimplification.  

– Don’t confuse affect for effect

– Affect is a verb meaning “to influence.”

– Effect is usually used as a noun meaning “result.”

– When used as a verb, effect means “to make or to cause to happen.”

Essay Guidelines

– Due dates:  Pre-Write due February 20; Rough Draft due March 6;  Final Draft due March 20/

– Essay length:  700 – 900 words (between 3 and 6 pages)

– Rough drafts can be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced.

– Final draft format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay

Cause/ Effect Essay

Cause/Effect Essay

Definition

            Cause and effects focus on why things happen and what their results or consequences are.  Causes are the reasons why something happened.  They answer the question, “Why did the event happen?”  Effects are the direct results or consequences of an event; they respond to the question, “What happened because of the event?”  The study of causes and effects are central to many disciplines:  science, history, sociology, psychology, etc.  

Choosing a Subject

            Consider recent experiences, conversations, and headlines for possible ideas.  It can focus on current events, political or social events, or developments in medicine or technology.

Thesis Development

            The topic sentence or thesis should present the event or phenomenon that will be analyzed and announce whether the causes, effects, or both will be examined. 

Organization

            Cause/effect essays generally focus on the causes of the effects of an event, problem, or phenomenon.  Some essays examine both causes and effects.  The topic sentence or thesis announces whether cause, effects, or both will be examined, and the supporting sentences or paragraphs develop those causes or effects.        

Tips on Writing

– Before you start writing, determine whether you will be covering the cause, effects, or both.

– List all of the causes and effects you can think of for the situation.

– Examine each cause or effect to determine whether it is a direct cause or effect of your event.  Keep in mind the difference between direct and indirect causes and effects.

– When examining causes and effects, decide the value and importance of each item.

– Clearly establish the relationships between the cause and the effect.

– Avoid mistaking coincidence for cause and effect.

– Avoid oversimplification.  

– Don’t confuse affect for effect

– Affect is a verb meaning “to influence.”

– Effect is usually used as a noun meaning “result.”

– When used as a verb, effect means “to make or to cause to happen.”

Essay Guidelines

– Due dates:  Pre-Write due February 20; Rough Draft due March 6;  Final Draft due March 20/

– Essay length:  700 – 900 words (between 3 and 6 pages)

– Rough drafts can be typed or hand-written, but must be double-spaced.

– Final draft format:

– Typed (if this is not possible, please let me know)

– 1 inch margins

– Name and date on the upper right hand corner

– Number the pages on the lower right hand corner

– Title centered above the text of the essay