Transcript Interdistrict Writing Exam

Interdistrict Writing Exam
Josefino Rivera, Jr.
Survey
Unit 3: Making Moral and Ethical Decisions
24 March 2009
Interdistrict Writing Exam
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Who takes the exam?
– All 8th graders from Blach, Crittenden, and
Graham
– All 9th graders from MVHS
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Why?
– The timed write is an opportunity to assess the
writing abilities of our incoming 8th graders and
how much they grow in their 9th grade so we can
identify what we need to do to make you better
writers.
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When?
– Wednesday, 3/25 and Thursday, 3/26
When I am given a writing prompt,
what do I do?
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Identify what the prompt is asking me to do
Figure out what kind of writing response the prompt
requires: descriptive, persuasive, compare and contrast,
literary analysis, etc)
Brainstorm how most people would respond to the prompt
Brainstorm an innovative way to respond to the prompt
Brainstorm texts and experiences that can be used as
evidence (provided there is none that you are required to
use)
Draft thesis statement
Organize ideas using an outline
Start writing the introduction and thesis statement
Write the body following the claim, context, evidence,
warrant format
Finish with a conclusion
Reread essay and check for clarity and grammatical errors
Title my essay
Identify What the Prompt is
Asking Me to Do
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What makes a good friend?
– Reword any vague or unfamiliar terms
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Nouns (and their adjectives)
Verbs
– Friend: an acquaintance that you enjoy hanging
with, someone who is always there, someone
you can trust
– Good: positive influence
– Makes: puts together, characteristics
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What are the characteristics of an
acquaintance that you enjoy hanging out
with that has a positive influence on you?
What makes a good friend?
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In the margins, list as many responses
to this prompt that you can in one
minute.
Figure Out What Kind of Writing
Response the Prompt Requires
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Descriptive?
Persuasive?
Compare and Contrast?
Literary Analysis?
Brainstorm How Most People
Would Respond to the Prompt
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# of 9th graders at MVHS = ~450
# of 8th graders combined = ~450
Total # of 8th and 9th graders = ~900
Brainstorm How Most People
Would Respond to the Prompt
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Fun
Loyal: they “got your back”
Great sense of humor
Do things together
Have things in common with me
Brainstorm an Innovative Way
to Respond to the Prompt
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From:
– Fun
– Loyal
– Great sense of
humor
– Do things together
– Have things in
common
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To:
– Unit 1: Developing
Personal and
Cultural Identity
– Unit 2: Becoming a
Scholar and a
Leader
– Unit 3: Making Moral
and Ethical
Decisions
Brainstorm an Innovative Way
to Respond to the Prompt
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From:
– Unit 1: Developing
Personal and
Cultural Identity
– Unit 2: Becoming a
Scholar and a
Leader
– Unit 3: Making Moral
and Ethical
Decisions
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To:
– Friends aid in
developing my identity
as a gay Filipino
American.
– Friends contribute to
aspects of my personal
identity.
– Friends support me in
becoming a true scholar,
not a gamer.
– Good friends help in
making ethical
decisions, not hinder
them.
Brainstorm Texts and Experiences
that can be used as Evidence
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Other Disciplines
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Survey
World Studies
Algebra/Geometry
Earth
Science/Chemistry
– World Language:
Spanish, French,
Japanese
– PE
– Music, Art, Photo,
Drama, Dance
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Other Texts:
– Books we’ve read
– Books from other
classes
– Books from previous
years
– Books for fun
– Movies
– TV shows
– Magazines
– Newspapers
– Song lyrics
– Clubs
Brainstorm an Innovative Way
to Respond to the Prompt
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Other Disciplines
– World Studies
– Algebra/Geometry
– Earth
Science/Chemistry
– World Language:
Spanish, French,
Japanese
– PE
– Music, Art, Photo,
Drama, Dance
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Other Texts:
– Books we’ve read
– Books from other
classes
– Books from previous
years
– Books for fun
– Movies
– TV shows
– Magazines
– Newspapers
– Song lyrics
– Clubs
Draft a Thesis Statement
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Level 1: Uses the language of the prompt.
– A good friend is…
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Level 2: Uses the language of the prompt
and a because clause.
– A good friend is because…
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Level 3: Does not use the language of the
prompt; has original thinking.
– Relationships of all kind contribute to one’s
identity, but good friends aid in establishing
strong ethical values.
Organize Ideas Using an
Outline
I.
II.
Introduction and Thesis
Body
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
III.
Claim
Context
Evidence
Warrant
(Repeats ~3 times)
Conclusion
Organize Ideas Using an
Outline
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Remember, your thesis statement
becomes a road map:
– Relationships of all kind contribute to
one’s identity, but good friends aid in
establishing strong ethical values.
Various kinds of relationships and their various
contributions to one’s identity
 Good friends aid in establishing strong ethical
values
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– Differing values
– How they establish those values
Introductions
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Common:
– The generalization: “In
life, friendships are very
important…”
– The rhetorical question:
“Have you ever had a
friend?”
– The clichèd approach:
“Friends are full of ups
and downs…”
– Too specific: “There are
so many lessons I
learned from my friend
Sharla.”
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Innovative:
– An anecdote (or
personal story):
“When I was in the
7th grade, I called a
girl the n-word.”
– Interesting statistics
– A compelling quote
– A comparative
metaphor: “Friends
are like geometrical
angles.”
Write the Body Following the Claim,
Context, Evidence, Warrant Format
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Claim: Sub-thesis
Context: Information to make your
evidence fit more naturally
Evidence: Personal experience or
other texts
Warrant: Explanation of how the
evidence supports your sub-thesis and
ultimately your main thesis
Finish with a Conclusion
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Common:
– “To sum up…”
– Restating your
thesis.
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Innovative:
– Finish the anecdote you started:
“Though I didn’t know what the
n-word meant, I knew its power
and that was enough. But still,
Amy forgave me.”
– Refer back to the metaphor you
started with
– Make worldly connections:
“Perhaps if we took the lessons
from good friends and applied
them to the international sector,
we might have a more global
community.”
Reread for Clarity and
Grammatical Errors
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There, their, and they’re
Its and it’s
Fragments or run-ons
Comma splices
Title My Essay
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Title should hint at the thesis of the
essay.
Homework
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Timed Write: “What makes a good
friend?”
Give yourself only 40 minutes.
Bring tomorrow to peer edit.
Exit Card
3
New things I learned today
2
Things I already knew
1
Question or concern I still have