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In Class Learning Activities
These activities are subject
to change as the term progresses. We will be very flexible on
this -- listening to and respecting the needs of the class as a
whole.
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Things to Do Outside Class
(These will be determined at the end of each
class session, depending on group and individual needs.)
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Week 1
- Map out the course. See the big picture, zoom in and out for perspective.
- Explore the attitudes, skills, and knowledge
necessary for writing well.
- Develop techniques for writing with purpose.
- Discover writing topics and plan the first
formal composition. Observe Paper Format.
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TIPS:
Read one article or story per week to develop vocabulary and
improve spelling. Bring articles to class to share with your
classmates and to use in discussion. Also, we will use stories
from the Langan text. From these readings, we might discover
subjects for writing. Keep a Learning Journal. Write, write,
write. Share your reflections in class. Discover
more topics for writing. |
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Week 2
- Peer readings: Paper #1.
- Explore the value of collaborative writing.
- Plan the second formal composition.
- Begin to develop Portfolios and Learning
Journals
- Use your dictionary and develop a spelling/vocabulary
log.
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Week 3
- What is a sentence? What is not a sentence?
How can you tell them apart?
- Explore Fragments.
- Proofread the compositions in your portfolio
to find fragments. Work with partner or group.
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Week 4
- Explore Run-Ons.
- Proofread the compositions in portfolio to
find run-ons and rewrite. Work with partner or group.
- Plan the third formal composition.
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Week 5
- Peer reading of the third composition and
revise. Work on commas and end marks. Reread each others' papers
and correct punctuation errors.
- Explore figurative vivid language. Use strong
active verbs. Create pictures with words to revive "dead"
papers in your portfolio. Work with partner or group to empower
each other with new words or ideas.
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Week 6
- First holistic writing practice (fourth paper).
Study the rubric and scoring guide, and then peer edit.
- Explore strong, active verbs: Use consistent
verb tenses and subject verb agreement. Use irregular verbs correctly.
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Week 7
- Revisit spelling logs for "commonly
confused words" and develop a list of troublesome words.
- Work on Portfolios. Share ideas with group.
Share articles and find topics for writing the fifth composition.
- Take a sentence skills test for practice.
Look for weaknesses so that we can attack them in class.
Take the mastery tests in the Langan text for practicing the
weak areas.
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Week 8
- More on effective word choices.
- More sentence skills practice: capital letters,
numbers and abbreviations.
- Share learning journals and discover topic
for planning the fifth composition.
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Week 9
- More on Punctuation: apostrophes, quotation
marks.
- Use proofreading techniques on several old
"drafts."
- Refresh portfolio.
- Take second holistic writing practice test.
Use rubric to self-evaluate after lengthy peer review.
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Week 10
Prepare for Finals
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Week 11
Finals
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